Author's note: So here we have another update! Not too much happens in this one besides the twins finally meeting Astraia. Hope you enjoy!

Warnings: None

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh and never will. I also do not own the OCs I have mentioned in previous chapters

"Where are we?"

Anzu blinked, looking around the shadow realm with confused eyes, her whip sliding into her hand. Elecktra stood beside her, her flute clenched tightly in both hands, green eyes wide. "I don't know," the Egyptian half-blood answered. "I think we're in Astraia's shadow realm. I think."

"You think?"

"Well I'm not the one who brought us here!"

Anzu sighed, continuing to walk around the misty and dark shadow realm. "This place feels weird," she said in bewilderment. "It feels like you could get lost forever here and no one will find you."

"It feels lonely," Elecktra responded, frowning. "Like hardly anyone ever comes here."

Anzu nodded, her frown now turning into worry. "Where are the boys? Are they even here?"

"Who goes there?"

Both girls turned around to see the outline of a woman standing before them, half her body covered in shadowy mist. A staff was raised in her hands and her voice sounded angry. "No one shall enter the doors to Time and Space and live to tell about it. Prepare to die!"

"Nooo!" Anzu lashed out, her whip wrapping around the woman's staff. As Elecktra brought her flute up to her lips, the boys suddenly appeared, their weapons raised to attack. The mist cleared and they could all see the woman clearly now. She glared down at Anzu, trying to pull her staff out of the whips coils.

Atem glared at her with anger. "Stop this!" he commanded in a tone that made them all shiver. "We were sent her by the Gods. Lord Hermes opened this Shadow realm and brought us here!"

"Hermes?"

They all stared at her, taken aback to hear surprise coming out of her voice. Her angry features softened a little as she stopped fighting Anzu, stepping back to take a good look at them. "Half-bloods," she eventually said, a faint smile tracing her lips. "I should have known; I apologize. I don't receive visitors very often."

Akio appeared next to Anzu, eyes asking if she was alright. Anzu smiled at him, patting his arm. "I'm okay," she answered. "Just a bit surprised."

Astraia stared at the two twins, looking thoughtful. "Twins," she stated quietly. "Not identical, but you look close enough. You are children of Chronos as well, are you not?"

Marik took out his other sword from his hilt, stepping closer to them. "How do you know?" he asked in a steel voice. "You've never met us."

She only smiled at him sadly. "Oh son of Ares, I know all about you six. I've been watching you guys since you started this quest."

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "How?"

She walked past them, staring at a pair of silver doors with Greek hieroglyphics on them. As she spoke, her eyes did not meet theirs. "As the guardian of the doors of time and space, I am allowed to know all sorts of things. I have seen many futures that could be and allow me to tell you I have seen many slivers of different futures that could have been," she turned around to them once more. "And it helps if you're a daughter of Chronos as well."

All of their jaws dropped a little the minute she said those last words. Anzu blinked rapidly, her mouth barely being able to form words. "You…you're a daughter of Chronos…too?"

Astraia nodded gravely. "I am," she answered. "And I know you two are my half siblings. Don't act so surprised, I know my own siblings when I see them."

"You knew we were your siblings the minute you saw us?" Akio asked. "Then why did you attack Anzu?"

"Force of habit. No mortal is allowed to know these gates exist. Most half-bloods don't know it exists. I am to guard these doors for eternity. I have been guarding them since Chronos was cast into Tartarus and that was a very, very long time ago," her eyes held a trace of loneliness in them. "I have been here ever since. I do not age, I do not sleep, I just stand here and guard these doors."

Elecktra stared at her sadly, taking Marik's hand. "But why? Why do you have to?"

"Because I am a daughter of Chronos. Who better to guard these doors?" Astraia replied bitterly. "And it is my punishment for existing."

"Punishment?" Atem asked. "What did you do?"

Astraia only walked back towards the gates, her Grecian styled dress trailing behind her as she walked. "I am here because of who my father is. The Gods were afraid I was rise against them in revenge of my father, so they stuck me here without any company. You six are the first mortals I've had talk to me in a long time," her smile reeked of loneliness. "I know exactly why you're here. You're looking for the Glaive and the Scythe."

"Yes," Anzu answered tiredly. "We were told you might know where they are."

"I know where they are. But whether or not I tell you where they are is up to me. Perhaps I do not think you are worthy to wield them," she stared at them coldly, her dark eyes serious. "It is a terrible burden to carry them. They are full of power and easy to corrupt a person. But on the other hand, I know you've had dreams of the weapons calling you to them. Perhaps you are the rightful bearers."

"Please!" Elecktra pleaded earnestly. "Our world is in danger. The Titans are rising and if these twins are destined to save us, then we have to know where they are!"

Astraia held up a hand. "Calm down little one, don't get upset," she turned to her brother and her sister. "I will tell you where they are, but you must promise me something when you find them."

"What?" both twins asked.

"When the Titans are stopped and our world is saved, you will come here, destroy the gates, and then kill me."

Anzu stepped backwards, eyes wide with horror at what her sister just said. "Kill you?" she asked incredulously. "Why would we kill you?"

"The weapons are powerful enough to kill any immortal. And to put it bluntly, I want to die. There is nothing left for me here anymore. The family I once knew, the friends I had, they're all gone now. I am tired of living in loneliness. Immortality is a curse, not a blessing."

Akio glanced at his sister, both of them staring at each other sadly before nodding. "We promise," Akio said miserably. "And we won't go back on it."

Astraia smiled again. "Good," she straightened her shoulders. "Now, I will tell you where the weapons are. But you must know that attaining them will not be easy. When I tell you of their destination, you will enter their chambers alone, without anyone to help you. There, you will be tested to see if you are worried. The tests are designed to make you face your worst fears. If you pass, then the objects will appear to you."

Akio gulped. "And…where are the objects?"

"In Kyoto, Japan."

Anzu's eyes went wide. "That's where we live," she murmured, shaking her head in bewilderment. "The objects were under our nose the whole time."

"But that's were our Step-father lives," Akio reminded her. "And we haven't seen him for months. What if he sees us there?"

"Don't worry," Bakura grinned. "We'll look after you and Princess. If he bothers you, we'll kill him."

"Bakura," Atem hissed, narrowing his eyes at his cousin. "Don't joke like that."

"I wasn't joking."

Astraia only stared at them in amusement. "You must leave now. You have a very difficult test ahead of you," she waved her staff, and a portal opened again. "This will take you to Kyoto. Now go and please be safe. I would hate to see any of you young ones die before your time."

"Thank you," Atem smiled at her. "And we'll try."

He stepped through the portal, Marik following him with Elecktra and Bakura not far behind. Anzu stepped through afterwards and as Akio began to head over to it, he felt a hand stop him. Astraia looked at him sadly. "Do not trust our father," she warned. "He is not what he appears to be."

"Um okay?" Akio answered. "Thanks?"

He stepped through the portal before she could say anything more, meeting the others as they stood in the middle of a park. Marik let out a sigh, running his hands through his sandy blonde hair. "I'm going to the bathroom. Anyone else need to go?"

The others followed him and soon Akio and Anzu stood alone in the park. Anzu turned to Akio, looking at him questioningly. "What did you need to talk to me about?"

Akio glanced over his shoulder, as if he were afraid someone would hear. "Our father spoke to me-"

"He did?!"

He nodded. "When that Gryphon kidnapped me. He spoke with me, saying that our friends would kill us once the Gods found out what we are. And from the way Hermes spoke to us, I'd say the Gods already know. We aren't safe at the Camp, sis."

Anzu narrowed her eyes. "Our friends wouldn't kill us. Even if their parents told them to."

"Would they?"

Her confidence faltered a little, and for a second, she felt doubtful. "They wouldn't," she said firmly. "They are our friends. They wouldn't betray us."

Akio just pressed on. "Our father said he could protect us. Our friends will attack us if their parents tell them to because they want their parents to notice them! That's how all the demigods are!" he took her hand. "I don't want to see you get hurt or killed."

Anzu sighed, taking her hand out of his. "I'm not a baby, Akio," she grumbled. "I can look after myself. Or did you forget that I'm a demititan too?"

He glared at her. "I didn't forget. I'm your brother; aren't I allowed to be worried about your well-being?"

"Yes, but you could stop acting like I'm so fragile. All our lives you've looked after me, protected me," she took his hand again, her glare softening. "Can't I look after my little brother for once?"

"She's deluded. Don't believe her."

Akio grimaced, annoyed to hear his father's voice in his head again. "I guess," he replied in defeat. "I just think its best we find the objects and save the world."

"That's the Akio I know."

He nodded before a thoughtful look crossed his face. "But before we head to where the objects are, I say we pay a visit to the Stepmonster and tell him we're never coming back."

Anzu grinned, nodding her head in agreement. "Let's."

Review please!