Yuma glanced over at Kat. She looked like she was about to start crying again. It had been a whole week since Black Mist had erased the girl's memories, and she hadn't been fairing too well. Kat now elevated her head on her right hand, while her left hand tried to write the answers to her test. It was no use, though. She just couldn't focus on it enough.

"Kat..." Yuma whispered it so lowly she hardly even heard. Kat glanced up, then just allowed her pencil to drop. Her gaze never left Yuma's as she shrugged. During the same week, she hadn't spoken one word. Not even to Kite or Hart, which really said something.

"C'mon Kat, don't be so down in the dumps. I know this is bad, but I'm really sure we can fix it."

"H-How?"

Kat's voice was tiny and frail, but audible. Yuma was taken aback, having not heard her talk for a week straight. He just smiled and took out a small piece of paper, then wrote down his plan and continued on his test without a word. Kat took it, skimmed over it, then gasped in a quiet voice.

A sly smile crossed Kat's lips as she put the note away. She lifted her pencil again, stared at it, then placed it on the paper an began to actually work on her test. For once, she meant it when she thought Yuma was a genius.

XxXxXxXx

The breeze fluttered by gently, causing Kat's hair and the skirt of her dress to whip around gracefully. She, Kite, and Hart were standing outside, waiting for Yuma and Astral to arrive. The trio had been standing outside for nearly an hour now, but it was Yuma they were waiting on. He was never on time for anything. Kat glanced down at her deck box. A small, golden glow flashed in it for a second before diminishing.

Kite glanced at Kat's iPod for the time. 3:55. He growled and locked the device, then slid it into his pocket and crossed his arms in an impatient fashion. "This is taking way too long. Where the hell is Yuma at?"

"How should I know?" Kat asked, turning back to the blond and teal-haired behind her. She blinked a few times, then turned back around. In the distance, two figures were coming at them rapidly. Kat squinted, then smiled when she recognized the figures as Yuma and Astral. Finally, they were here.

Yuma bolted up the side of the hill, skidded to a stop and panted heavily as he stared at Kat. She wasn't too happy. "You're late."

"Save the lecture, Kat. Here. Put your fingers around it. Astral will do the rest." Yuma held up the Emperor's Key. It shimmered and sparkled in the rays of the now setting sun. Kat blinked, then put her fingers around it. She motioned for Kite and Hart to do the same, which they did. Yuma nodded. "There ya go."

Astral floated over and touched the key as well. A bright, blue light emitted from it, causing them to shut their eyes. It engulfed them quickly. When they reopened their eyes, there they stood, inside the key.

"Nice. Now, where's that troublesome Black Mist?" Kat stared around. A golden light blasted from her deck box, and before she knew it, Heartearth Dragon was in front of them all. It let out a piercing roar before it began looking around too.

Astral smiled. "I see. So Heartearth Dragon has a bond with you that allows it to do this."

"Yup." The cat-green eyes stared up at Heartearth. It seemed to be smiling as it lifted Kat, Hart, Kite, and Yuma onto itself. Astral floated up after them as Heartearth took off.

"So where are we headed?" Hart called from where he sat.

Kat turned back and shrugged. "Not sure."

"We are headed wherever Heartearth Dragon thinks Black Mist is," Astral answered. Heartearth Dragon roared in response, then halted suddenly as cackling made its way through the area. Black sludge began to form around on the ground. It slowly transformed into a black form of Astral, then smirked. Kat glared.

Black Mist.

"What are you doing back here? Really want to be destroyed that badly?" Black Mist asked in a mocking tone. Kat jumped off Heartearth, as did everyone else, and shook her head.

"No. I'm here because I know there's a way for you to give me my memories back. You didn't really erase them. You just locked them away."

"And just how do you think you're going to get me to unlock them?"

"I challenge you to a head-to-head battle against my Heartearth Dragon. If I win, you have to unlock my memories."

"If you loose?"

"Then you can do what you want to me."

Silence swept over the area. Finally, Black Mist smirked and nodded. "Sounds fair to me. Let's get this started."

Kat suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder. She glanced up, then stared at Heartearth Dragon.

Are you sure you'd like to do this?

"Yes."

Alright then. Heartearth Dragon growled, but nodded. The black being ahead of it transformed to his true form, then readied himself. Kat stood in a confident motion and smirked.

The battle had begun.