Author's note: Yeah, it's been a while since I've updated, but I'm back! I felt the urge to work on the story since I found out the release date of the next Heroes of Olympus book. I'm so excited! Well, review!

Warnings: None

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh or the OCs I have mentioned in previous chapters

"LET ME GO! LET ME GO RIGHT NOW!"

Akio thrashed in the Gryphon's talons, trying to ignore the pain of the claws digging into his arms. The Gryphon ignored him, swooping through the clouds gracefully and gliding against the air currents like a natural. Akio continued to fight, kicking his legs and throwing out his lower body to kick her, but to no avail. He was trapped and she wasn't letting him go anytime soon.

Well, until she dropped him to the ground with a hard thud.

"Ooof!" Akio grunted, rubbing his sore bottom. "Stupid bird-cat thing! That hurt!"

She only cawed at him and he was pretty sure she was laughing at him. He stood up, grumbling as he rubbed his now bruised and bleeding arms. "Where am I?" he called out to her, glaring up at the sky. "Why did you bring me here? Where is my sister?"

"Hello Akio. It's nice to finally meet you."

Akio whipped around sharply, blue eyes widening to the size of golf balls. Standing in front of him was a man dressed a black suit with diamonds cuff links. He stood in front of him with a crooked smile, his golden eyes contrasting smoothly with his dark brown hair. "It's nice to meet you," the man spoke again, stepping towards him with grace. "I hope my Gryphon friend didn't hurt you too hard."

Akio narrowed his eyes, stepping back. "W…Who are you?"

"Oh, I'm hurt," the man pressed a hand to his heart, as if it were injured. "You've forgotten me already?"

Akio shook his head, stepping even further back till he realized he was standing over a ledge. "Stay away from me! Chronos! That's who you are! And I want nothing to do with you!"

Chronos clicked his tongue, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. "My dear boy," he crooned, squeezing his shoulder a little too firmly. "I was wanting to meet earlier, but when you're locked in a prison, it's a bit difficult. How's your sister?"

"Like you care!"

His golden eyes narrowed, but the smile was still kept on his face. "Akio, my son, please don't be so cross with me. I've only been speaking to you through telepathy because I believe you are on the wrong side. Anzu too."

Akio frowned, shaking the arm off him. "Save it. What have you done for me? You let me and my sister live with a drunken asshole who believes we killed our mother! So, before you go around and start asking favors from us, let me tell you to shove it up your ass!"

CRACK

His cheek was on fire, as well as the rest of his body as the Titan slapped him so hard he flew into the nearest tree. Chronos didn't even look guilty; he just examined him with that cold and distant smile he'd been wearing the whole time. "I didn't want to do that, but as my child, I cannot allow you to disrespect , can we continue what we were discussing?"

Akio groaned, but ignored his aching body as he stood up. "What do you want from me and Anzu?"

"I want you to come to my side. The Gods, when they find out who you are, will not hesitate to kill you. They've done that to many Demititan children."

"Really?"

Chronos nodded, feigning sadness for a moment. "It saddens me to say, but if the Gods command it, those Demigod friends of yours will turn on you and hunt you down till your dead."

He shook his head, finding that very hard to believe. Atem, Marik, Elecktra, and even Bakura were all his friends. They wouldn't try to kill him and Anzu…would they? "You're lying! They're my friends! They wouldn't do that!"

"Would they?"

"Yes!"

Chronos laughed, the sound sending shivers down his spine. "You truly are naive. All children live to please their parents; to feel accepted and loved by them. Your Demigod friends are no better. If their parents tell them to do something, they will do it."

Akio growled, his hands curling into fists. "Then what do you want me to do? First you tell me and my sister to find the objects, and now you want us to join you? Which do you want?"

"Both."

"And why me?" he pressed on, ignoring the flash of annoyance on the Titan's face. "Have you even spoken to Anzu?"

"Oh, I've spoken to her in her dreams. I will be speaking with her a lot more soon," Chronos let out a laugh. "So my son, how about you try to convince your sister to come to my side? I can offer her protection."

Akio paused, blinking once. "Protection?"

"I can read your deepest desire. The one thing you want to do most in this world is protect your sister. And when the Demigods attack you, you'll want to make sure her safety is top priority. Come to my side and I can give it to you."

Akio frowned. "I don't know…"

"I'll allow you to decide once you've found the objects," Chronos waved his hand, the gryphon returning and grabbing Akio's arms tightly. "Till then."

"Wait! I still have questions!"

"So long…"

And with that, the gryphon rose into the air and into the night sky.

"You know sitting here all night is not going to bring him back."

Anzu glared at Bakura as he sat down next to her, drawing her legs up to her chest and resting her chin on them. "I can't sleep," she mumbled, not caring if he was listening. "He's my brother. We've never been apart this long. What if she ate him? What if he's…dead?"

She wiped the tears from her eyes, taking in a shaky breath. Bakura took out his scythe, tracing a pale finger around the edges. "He's not dead. I asked the spirits that roam the earth. They said they haven't seen him."

"You…asked around for him….for me?"

"No, I just wanted you to stop crying. You look ugly when you cry," he said bluntly, a smirk on his face. "And plus we kind of need Akio on this quest. Don't you agree, Princess?"

She blushed. "Quit calling me that. Why do you even call me that?"

"…"

"What's wrong, cat got your tongue?"

She grinned as he continued to keep silent. "Aha, so you don't have an answer. What, am I as pretty as one?" she batted her eyelashes, which caused him to scowl in embarrassment. "Aw, I'm not embarrassing you, am I?"

"Of course not! And you're not that pretty. Aphrodite's children are more beautiful."

"Gee, thanks. Sorry that I'm the daughter of a Titan."

Bakura rolled his eyes. "Don't be so dramatic. It's not like you even know him. You want to know something about my father?" he waited until she nodded, pulling something out of his pocket. It was a small black metal disk, with skulls and Greek hieroglyphics carved on it. "I met him once. He gave me this, and I never saw him again."

Anzu stared at it, taking the object from him and examining it in the firelight. "What is it? What does it do?" she paused, looking at him curiously. "Did he give it to you when he claimed you?"

"No. He gave it to me when my mom was murdered."

She couldn't help her jaw as it dropped open, her blue eyes widening to the size of disks. "Your mom was…murdered?"

"Close your jaw. You'll attract flies," she growled at the jibe, but quickly softened up as he continued his story. "I was ten years old when it happened. We were walking home from the supermarket when we were attacked by a manticore. Its tail stabbed her in the chess and I held her in my arms as she died."

Her heart ached at the thought of a young Bakura, terrified, as a monster killed his mother. In fact, she didn't like seeing him sad at all. "I'm sorry, Bakura," she whispered, taking his hand. "I'm so sorry. No child should have to see that."

His scowled darkened. "It was going to kill me, when two of my father's servants appeared. The Furies as mythology calls them. They chased it off before disappearing. My father then appeared, handing me this disk and then left. I arrived at camp a day later and he claimed me there," he lifted the disk from her hand. "This disk, when I use it, can summon anyone from the dead that I want to talk to. The last time I used it…was when I spoke to my mother for the last time."

He didn't even remove himself from her grasp as she moved over to hug him. "I'm sorry, Bakura. I know that probably doesn't mean much, but I'm sorry you had to go through that. You speak of your mother so fondly that it sounds like you were really close," she gave a faint smile. "I never knew mine, so I wouldn't know."

He paused, still not moving away from her. "I could bring her back temporarily."

"What?"

"If you wanted, I could summon her with this and you could speak with her," he groaned as he hugged her tighter. "Okay, you're invading my personal space."

She let him go, her eyes shining a bit brighter. "Do you think I could find out why she consorted with a Titan?"

"What do you think?"

"I-"

She wasn't allowed to finish with the sound of a bird screeching filled the sky. Everyone woke up, weapons drawn instantly, expecting the monster to attack. Instead, a disgruntled and angry looking Akio appeared. "GET BACK HERE YOU!" he screamed in anger. "LET ME KILL YOU!"

"AKIO!"

He jumped as Anzu threw her arms around him, tears falling from her face. "You're alive! I thought you would be gone forever!"

He grinned, hugging her back. "Well, it looks like I'm not," he whispered in her ear. "I met with our father."

"You did?" she whispered back.

"Yeah, but I'll tell you later."

Hermes sighed, standing up and chanting something in ancient Greek. The ground shook a little as a bolt of lightning flashed from the sky and formed a shining looking door. "This is your entrance to Astraia's shadow realm. Obviously, it lies behind this portal," he looked towards the twins with light distaste. "I hope you two find what you're looking for."

"Me too," Anzu whispered as Akio's hand slid into hers. "I hope so too."

Review please! And maybe I'll update this later this weekend