Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there! My boys are giving me the best gift of all this year: Silence. They know me all too well lol.

While Imhotep teleported Yugi and his friends back to Domino, those that remained discussed what to do about the two quiet visitors.

Solomon was the first to make a suggestion. "I think it would be best to start with introducing the Pharaoh. Direct their attention to the reason they are here in the first place."

"I was thinking along those same lines. Then I can be the one to properly introduce the others," Atem said in agreement. He cast a sideways glance towards the quiet pair, noting the observant gaze coming from Ishizu. He also noted that Odion kept glancing down towards her, as though waiting for some sort of signal. He turned his gaze towards Marik. "Your brother is hesitant about something. You wouldn't happen to know why?"

Marik sighed, then chuckled lightly. "Odion is very...affectionate. I can almost guarantee that the moment I get close enough he'll run up and crush me in a bear-hug. The only reason he hasn't already is probably because Ishizu told him to stay close. This is an unfamiliar place filled with unknown people. My sister has been observing us this entire time, taking in whatever information she can. She's most likely trying to discern who is trustworthy, and who she should keep up guard against. The bickering from a moment ago probably didn't help us."

"No, it probably did not. And unfortunately I fear that without the cooperation of certain people present, it will only get worse." Atem looked towards Kat, as did nearly everyone else.

Kat looked offended at the cautioning glares she was receiving. "What? I can behave," she stated sharply.

"Ka-ib, no offense...but you are not the greatest with words when you become….upset. Ishizu is the reincarnation of Isis….and most of us remember how well the two of you got along…." Malik cautiously reminded her.

"Isis was a stuck up bitch. She always thought she was better than me," Kat replied stubbornly.

"Welp, nice knowin' ya, Tomb Keeper," Bakura joked half-heartedly towards Marik.

"Katrina...perhaps it would be best if you let me do all the talking. Maybe...avoid speaking in general?" Atem suggested nervously.

Kat scowled. "Are you suggesting I hold my tongue?" she questioned bitterly.

"What!? Nooo...just...well….okay...maybe…?" Atem stammered while taking a cautious step away from the offended female.

Kat folded her arms in disappointment, scowling at the group gathered before her. "You're all a bunch of cowards. I've faced ambassadors more threatening than that woman over there." She turned around sharply and attempted to walk away towards the pair across the room.

Atem quickly grabbed her by the arm, stopping her. "Katrina, at least let me try to talk to them first. Remember, I'm doing this for you."

Kat huffed in irritation. "I think your plan sucks…but fine. Don't expect me to keep my mouth shut if they start bringing up that 'Usurper' bullshit!" she warned.

Atem nodded in understanding. "Hopefully we can change their mind about that title before it gets brought up." He looked towards Marik. "I know this is the last thing you probably want to do, but I think it would be best if you approached your siblings alone and invited them over this way."

"Talk about sending me into the lion's pit," Marik stated unenthusiastically. He looked towards the larger Ishtar. "No offense."

"None taken," Malik replied with a half-shrug.

Marik slowly began making his way over to his siblings, a feeling of dread overcoming him. He really didn't want to face his sister right now.

He had made it more than halfway across the room when sure enough, Odion rushed towards him and picked him up in a crushing bear-hug. "It is so good to see you again, Marik!" Odion shouted enthusiastically.

"It's good...to see you...too…" Marik managed to squeak out, barely able to breath. "Can...you put me...down...now…?"

Odion quickly released his sibling and began to profusely apologize as Marik gasped and attempted to catch his breath. "I am so sorry! Please forgive me! It's just that it's been so long since we last saw each other!"

"It's fine, I was kind of expecting it anyway. I can't believe you missed me that much though. It hasn't even been a full month."

"I have spent nearly every waking moment at your side since you were born. To not have you around...I find myself suddenly feeling very alone."

Marik chuckled. "Makes sense. Maybe you should find a hobby, something to occupy your time?" he suggested.

"I have been helping Ishizu at the museum by doing a lot of the heavy lifting. It keeps me busy, but it does not stop me from missing my brother," Odion replied. "Speaking of our sister, she is concerned for you. We saw both you, and what appears to be the Pharaoh, escorting that woman over there...together. Is there a reason why? Also, why is the Spirit of the Ring here? And who is that man that looks like you? Has your darker half found a way to return in a body of its own?"

Marik rubbed nervously at the back of his neck. He didn't like how Odion had referred to Kat as 'that woman'. Did his siblings know who she was? "Oh boy...where to start with all of that? Maybe it would be best if I started with officially introducing you to the Pharaoh. Then we can go from there."

Odion nodded. "Very well." He looked towards Ishizu and signaled her with another nod. She stepped forward, her gaze occasionally switching between Marik and the group across the room.

"It is about time. I was beginning to think we had been brought here for nothing," Ishizu began once she stood beside her siblings. "I must admit, it was quite startling to see two Yugi's appear out of thin air. And it was very strange to see that one was able to use the Shadow Realm to bring us here. I am beginning to wonder why you have not kept us informed on such drastic developments?" Her tone was a mix of accusation and disappointment.

Marik continued to fidget. "Honestly, all of...well...everything...kind of happened over the course of the weekend."

"I see. And I suppose it was too much to pick up the phone and call, or even to send a text?" Ishizu questioned, her gaze burrowing into her younger brother.

"Sister, I've had so much going on that thinking about doing either was the last thing on my mind."

"And what could have occupied your mind so much that informing us of the recent changes to the situation with the Pharaoh was no longer your priority?" Ishizu's words sounded more like she was scolding than asking a question.

Marik unintentionally scowled at his sister, speaking a bit harshly as he became irritated with Ishizu's attitude. "How about you let me properly introduce you to the Pharaoh first? Then maybe you'll understand what's been going on."

Ishizu was taken aback at her younger brother's sudden change in demeanor. "Very well. It is the reason we are here after all."

Marik turned to lead his siblings towards the other group, but the sight of what had transpired in the few short minutes he had left them made him facepalm. "Not again…" he groaned.

Bakura was standing with his arms crossed with one hand doing the exact same as the Tomb Keeper, while Malik had thrown back his head in irritation while also facepalming. Both had been in reaction to the two shorter people that were once again bickering back and forth, albeit a bit more quietly than usual. Kat had a look of irritation on her face while she appeared to be chastising Atem, repeatedly pointing her finger in his face. Atem on the other hand appeared to not care with his arms folded across his chest, eyes closed in an attempt to ignore the female, and nose slightly up in the air as though he were innocent of her accusations.

Forgetting about his siblings, Marik marched over to where the Pharaoh and his girlfriend were once again at odds. "I can't even walk away for a few minutes?" He glared at Atem. "What the hell did you say to piss her off this time?"

Atem appeared offended for a moment at the accusation, then scowled at the Tomb Keeper. "I only mentioned we wouldn't be in this situation if she hadn't decided to make you her plaything. She always has to make things difficult."

"My fault!" Kat shouted, becoming increasingly defensive. "I'm not the one that didn't have the balls to tell his wife that he was fucking her brother! Nooooo….you would rather have kept pretending that I was ignorant of the fact! WE LIVED IN A FUCKING PALACE! The only secrets that existed there were badly kept ones! I could have been deaf and blind and still known!"

Atem quickly faced his former wife, shouting back. "If you knew, then why didn't you say anything!?"

"Because it wasn't my responsibility!"

"Both of you just stop!" Marik interrupted before either could continue with their shouting match.

"Now look, you made my gamiil upset," Kat stated bitterly towards Atem.

Atem was about to fire something back when he noticed the look Marik was giving him...and Kat. He figured the Tomb Keeper must be pretty mad to look at his girlfriend like that. Even Kat appeared to be a bit surprised.

Marik scowled at both. "Is this seriously how things have always been between the two of you? How could you stand being married to one another? You can barely tolerate being in the same room for more than a few minutes!"

"It's not my fault he thought he could keep secrets from me," Kat stated defensibly.

"You should have spoken up," Atem commented bitterly, defending his point in the matter.

"Why? It meant on nights I wanted to get some actual sleep, I could. I had no problem with you going off late in the evening to go talk 'strategy' with your Vizier. I didn't even worry myself with what 'strategy' the two of you were 'discussing'. I know your favorite 'strategy' has always been the 'attack from behind' method," she taunted.

"I only had to start doing that with you so you couldn't bite or scratch me anymore," Atem replied, showing his annoyance towards the fact that Kat had even brought up the subject.

Bakura stormed off and grabbed two bottles of wine from a nearby table, popped the corks on both, took one in each hand, then proceeded to take long drinks from each. He then plopped himself on one of the larger, nearby cushions and made himself comfortable. "Trust me, not enough wine to listen to this bullshit again...but these are a start," he stated in answer to the questioning glances in his direction.

"I didn't bite or scratch that badly. I think you're over-exaggerating," Kat replied to Atem, ignoring Bakura's comment.

"The scarring on my back suggests otherwise," Atem retorted.

"Oh boo-hoo...you have a few 'love scratches'."

"Oh? And what about this?" Atem lifted the corner of his wesekh to reveal faint teeth-shaped scars.

"That was one time…."

"And these?" He pulled back his schenti enough to reveal the upper reaches of his inner thigh to show off more faint scarring.

"No one could see them…" Kat continued to defend her point.

Marik facepalmed again. "Bakura…what god would I have to pray to for this nightmare to end?"

"Tomb Keeper, when you find out, let me know," the pale elemental replied, taking another long swig from one of the bottles in his hands.

Kat and Atem appeared oblivious to those present as they continued their bitter conversation.

"You know what? Set never complained. He was always glad to have my company." Atem teased towards Kat.

"That's because you probably didn't leave him unsatisfied at the end of the night." Kat taunted in return.

"I didn't leave you unsatisfied….did I?"

"Many, many times."

"But you never said-"

"It was one of those things I shouldn't have had to!" Kat interrupted sharply. "Pretty sad when Mal can satisfy my needs better than you can," she stated, adding insult to injury.

Atem quickly placed a harsh glare in the Ishtari's direction. "You slept with my wife?!"

Malik paled. "No! It's not-...I never-...I swear!" he stammered, his hands placed defensibly in front of him as he took a nervous step back.

"Don't worry, we've never had sex. Mal is just very good with his hands," Kat grinned knowingly.

"Was this before or after my entrapment?" Atem questioned bitterly.

Kat placed a concentrated finger on her lips as she tried to recall. "I think it was after your third(?)...maybe fourth(?) host...I think? Not recent, but not before your death either."

Atem folded his arms across his chest, closed his eyes, and turned his head off to the side. "So long as it wasn't before my entrapment in the Puzzle." He peaked an eye back in Kat's direction. "Was he really able to do better with just his hands?" His confidence in his ability to 'perform' had suddenly wavered.

Kat simply smirked as a reply.

Marik had given up and taken a seat near Bakura, his head hung back over the edge of the large cushion. "I can't decide if I want to go back to living in a cave, or just die right now," he stated dryly with an arm over his face.

"Dying is overrated," Bakura commented. "If you think listening to this shit is bad, do yourself a favor and don't cross over to the Afterlife. Those freaks make this look like a casual Sunday sermon."

"Noted." Marik chuckled. He couldn't help the sinking feeling that he had forgotten something… "SHIT!" The Tomb Keeper bolted upright, quickly getting to his feet and rushed to where Ishizu and Odion had been awkwardly standing since he had rushed off. "I am sooo sorry!" he attempted to apologize. How could he have forgotten about them?!

Ishizu stared in shock at the Pharaoh and tiny woman, clearing her throat as she attempted to compose her reaction. "I apologize for being upset about you not contacting us. I had no idea how...complex...everything had become."

Marik laughed nervously. "Complex...heheh...riiiight...so….uh...yeah...it gets a bit….um...more complex."

"How much more complex can it be than being forced to play mediator between the Pharaoh and what appears to be his wife?" she puzzled.

"Ummm...well...how do I put this?" Marik scratched nervously at the back of his neck. "So you see...thing is...um...well...that is...was...his wife...but now...Kat's kind of...my...girlfriend…." He squeaked out the last word, wincing in preparation for his sister's reaction. After what felt like minutes had passed, he cautiously peeked an eye in his sibling's direction. Both Ishizu and Odion were staring dumbfounded at him.

Odion was the one to speak up, to Marik's surprise. "You are dating the Pharaoh's wife?"

"Ummm...yes?" Marik was a bit confused. Where was the yelling and screaming? Why wasn't Ishizu glaring at him with that icy stare of hers while accusing him of 'shaming' his clan again? Was she relieved that he was at least dating a girl this time?

"Marik, you are aware of who the Pharaoh's wife...former wife as you put it...who she is, yes?" Odion questioned, his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

Marik felt uncomfortable. Odion was usually the more reasonable between his older siblings. "I am aware….and I think our clan is wrong. Regardless of how much those two may appear to dislike each other, I can say with certainty that Kat didn't do what they accused her of. Would the Pharaoh's accused murderer spend five-thousand years trying to bring him back? Would she make a regrettable bargain with Anubis himself just to be able to accomplish it?"

Odion's appearance softened, appearing relieved. "I suppose not. Sister, what do you think?"

Ishizu still appeared slightly stunned. "If Marik believes the accusations to be lies, then who are we to argue? He is the head of our clan."

Marik was surprised to hear Ishizu put it that way. "Sister? Is everything okay? You're acting...strange."

Ishizu looked away, as though she were afraid to say something.

Marik stepped closer and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "What is it? Have I done something wrong again?"

Ishizu shook her head. "No. I was just reminded of something our mother said to me before you were born."

"Our mother? You've never spoken of her to me before." Marik was extremely surprised. Had his mother told Ishizu about...Malik?

"She told me that she knew The Betrayer...that he was actually our clan's protector. That the one we called Usurper was nothing more than a woman who had been betrayed by one of her own and falsely accused. It appears that what she told me was true. I see someone who matches the description of the man she described, and there is a woman over there that you claim is not who she is accused of being," Ishizu replied. "Our mother tried to tell me that everything our clan has stood for...that it was all based on lies. I ignored her, but…" Tears began to form in the corners of her eyes.

Marik looked towards Odion, who's expression suggested that the Ishtar matriarch had said the same things to him as well. "Did she try to tell this to both of you?"

Odion nodded. "Yes. She hoped that by telling us, that we would break free from the traditions of our clan. It appears that the only one that was able to do so was the one who never got a chance to know her."

Marik stepped back from Ishizu, then glanced over towards where Malik stood. The Ishtari's eyes (and Marik was certain ears as well) were trained on the group of Tomb Keepers. He toyed with the idea of revealing Malik's slip-up, but after taking a moment to consider the Ishtari's mental state in regards to that particular subject, decided against it. He then faced back towards his siblings. "Maybe she guided me from the Afterlife. The road was a bit rough, but maybe it was meant to be as a test. Either way, I'm happy with where I've ended up. Where we all ended up," he stated, trying his best to reassure them.

Ishizu wiped away one of the tears that threatened to fall, then placed a delicate hand on her brother's cheek. "You are so much like her. You seem to always find a way to understand what others are going through, and the right words to help them."

This made Marik smile. "Thanks," he said as he embraced his sister. "So you're not mad about who I'm dating?" he questioned as he pulled back from the hug.

Ishizu shook her head. "I'm still a bit shocked, but I suppose I shouldn't be. You don't take to just anyone. I've met some of your former 'romantic partners'. They were, shall we say...interesting."

"Who's interesting?" Kat questioned as she popped up near Marik's side, glancing up at him with that curious feline gaze he had already grown accustomed to.

"You are, Habibty," Marik replied with a hint of laughter in his voice.

"Well, I thought everyone already knew that?" she joked, smirking as she did so. She then looked towards Ishizu and Odion. "So...are we past calling me 'Usurper' yet? Or should I go back to telling Atem that he's a fucking idiot?"

Ishizu and Odion glanced in uncertainty towards one another. "So you are the one who once ruled Kemet beside the Pharaoh? I find this hard to believe," Ishizu stated plainly.

"Oh? Why is that?" Kat glared, waiting for whatever insult might come her way. She and Isis had never been on the best of terms, and didn't imagine it would be any different with her reincarnation.

"It's just that, and I don't mean for this to sound rude, you are very...crass in your choice of words. You lack the refinement one would expect of a member of the Royal Family," Ishizu replied.

Marik looked down at his girlfriend, waiting to see how she would reply. Her expression towards his sister made him picture her with her feline ears laying flat and the tip of her tail flicking back and forth in irritation.

Kat's scowl slowly turned into a grin as she chuckled mischievously. "Well, Atem didn't pick me to be his Queen because I was nice. He chose me because I didn't give a flying rat's-ass who I offended. Putting things bluntly was what I was there for. I guess you can say it was kinda good-cop, bad-cop. He was the nice guy, and I was the royal bitch. It helped determine who had the balls to offend the Pharaoh by trying to tell his wife to know her place."

"I see. I suppose that makes sense," Ishizu stated, appearing mildly amused.

Marik lightly chuckled. "Was offending foreign diplomats just a past-time or something?" He recalled one of the 'games' Malik had described earlier that the two royals used to play with their visitors.

"Meh...they were all the same," Kat replied while shrugging. "It got boring...had to make things fun," she added, her grin becoming nearly devilish. She quickly turned her head towards where Bakura was after hearing another bottle of wine being uncorked. Atem had taken one of the bottles and seated himself next to the pale elemental and began drinking. "For fucks sake, Atem! If you drink that on an empty stomach you'll be drunk out of your mind before you finish the bottle!"

Atem raised the bottle as if to say 'cheers'. "Good! Then I can forget about everything that has happened over the past few hours!"

Kat tossed her head back in annoyance and groaned, then looked towards Malik. "You're going to be the one dragging his ass to bed after he passes out. Drunk Atem is handsy, and I'm not dealing with that."

Malik's nose wrinkled in annoyance. "He tries anything with me and I may have to break his hands...unless you request otherwise."

Kat shrugged. "Break em'. I can always get Kura to fix it after he's sobered up."

"Who's breaking what? What did I miss?" Imhotep interrupted, having returned from taking Yugi and the others back to Domino.

"Your dumb-ass father is already in the wine. I told Mal to break his hands if his hands start wandering where they don't belong," Kat replied.

Ishizu and Odion appeared shocked again. "Father?" Ishizu questioned.

Now it was Marik's turn to appear exasperated. "How about I just send you a very long email explaining the insanity I've gotten myself into? Trust me, maybe typing it out will help me understand it a bit better myself."

Ishizu nodded slightly. "Perhaps that would be best. Maybe we can arrange a better time to meet with the Pharaoh as well? There are many questions I would like to ask."

"I'll see to it...and I'll make certain that he behaves in a more fitting manner," Marik stated.

"Atem? Behave in a more fitting manner? He doesn't act 'more fitting', he acts like a royal know-it-all," Kat commented.

"Maybe that's just with you around, Habibty. Anything I arrange between the Pharaoh and my siblings will be without you around...no offense," Marik said cautiously.

Kat appeared hurt by this statement. "Without me? Do I really make things that bad?"

"It would be without me as well," Marik said reassuringly. "That way the Pharaoh won't spend most of his time making comments towards either of us. He can focus on answering my sister's questions."

"Oh…" was all Kat could think to say, holding her head slightly lower than usual.

"Do not worry. If the Pharaoh begins talking negatively about either of you, I will choose to ignore his comments and act as though I did not hear them. I am certain that will keep him on track," Ishizu said in reassurance.

Kat looked at the female Tomb Keeper with a blank expression. "I don't understand...I mean I get that you would do that for your brother...but why for me? You don't even know me."

"You are Marik's lover, are you not?" Ishizu questioned.

Marik slightly paled. "I never put it like that!"

"Oh, perhaps I misunderstood? I thought based on what the Pharaoh said about your girlfriend's sexual habits and the fresh marks on your back, that perhaps the two of you were having sex," Ishizu stated casually.

Her brother paled even further, having once again forgotten about the fresh holes in Ra's chest. Marik glanced towards Atem, hoping he hadn't noticed. The hazed look he received from the Pharaoh suggested that he hadn't before, but he did now.

"I didn't say you could...have sex with her…" Atem said sluggishly, the alcohol already impairing his thought process.

"Fuck this, I'm out. Let me know when the other two are ready to leave," Imhotep stated, not wanting to be around for the impending conversation.

"I think now would be a good time for us to depart," Ishizu said, stopping Imhotep before he left. "I look forward to your email brother. I hope to see you again soon," she said while smiling softly towards Marik.

Marik nodded and smiled in return as he watched the Shadows engulf his siblings before they vanished.

If it isn't obvious by now, Kat and Atem's relationship is/was pretty toxic. I blame this on both being spoiled and able to get away with everything and anything, and neither really knowing what a healthy relationship looked like.

I apologize if Marik is starting to sound a bit too Mary Sue/Gary Stu. It's kind of intentional, and I hope for it to eventually make sense.