IMPORTANT TW REMINDER FOR START OF CHAPTER: Unfavorable court ruling mentioned with minors as the victims. This a plot device only!

I know I'm probably over-worrying the impact of the TW, especially after the beheading scene in chapter 13, but I'd rather stick on the side of caution. I literally asked someone who is fluent in legalese on how to word it because of the sensitive nature of the topic.

~~This line is just me creating a bit more space up top just in case~~

"Perfect timing. This recently popped up on my radar."

Mkhai opened a case file on a screen. Kat studied it, her face quickly hardening.

"Acquitted?! Who in their right mind would consider those two innocent of something like that?!" Kat shouted in disgust.

"The defense convinced the jury that the children's testimonials were scripted."

Kat glared harshly at the mugshots, a low growl erupting from her chest. "What does your detective work say?"

"That they're scum. Here." Mkhai tossed a manila envelope in front of his sister. "Photo evidence you'll need to leave at the scene. Anything you do won't come back on the families…and since it's not even in the same country, there's no way to tie you to anything."

"Good," Kat said darkly. "They'd better appreciate the fact that I was told specifically to wait for the eclipse. They get to enjoy one more sunrise."

Mkhai leaned back into his computer chair and stretched. "I've got things set up for Im at the preserve. I told him I could find a wild one, but he declined."

"That's good," Kat said, her body and tone a bit calmer than a few moments before. "I don't want him to get used to the feeling that comes with hunting in the wild. Let him continue to feed on the ones in cages."

Mkhai sat quietly for a long moment, staring at a different screen, pivoting his chair slowly back and forth.

Kat glanced over to the screen he was staring at.

"I take it Atem wouldn't agree to help you?"

Mkhai slightly shook his head. "I didn't exactly approach him about it at a good time. Now I don't think he'll do it at all."

"Want me to talk to him?

"...no." Mkhai said with a heavy sigh. "Maybe I'm not supposed to know. I mean, what if our mom lied about who my father was? Or maybe she didn't know? Think of the story of how Perseus was conceived. What if it's like that?"

Kat looked down and away. "Ama-shae was certain that you were sired by Akhenamkhanen. If you weren't, then that means she…"

She winced at the implication that her mother's death might have been in vain. Kat then looked back to her brother and placed her arms in a lazy embrace around his neck from off to the side.

"You need answers. We need answers. I'll talk to Atem."

Mkhai reached a hand up and loosely took his sister's wrist in it as he leaned his head towards hers. "If he agrees…I'll try not to go overboard. I just need to find that something that explains my continued existence. Why I don't die or age, but I don't physically heal in the same way that you do. Why I'm completely incapable of using even basic magic."

"What are you talking about? That brain of yours is all the 'magic' you need," Kat said in an obvious attempt to throw humor into the conversation.

Mkhai forced a small smile, appreciative of his sibling's attempt to cheer him up.

Kat placed a quick peck on his temple. "Don't worry. You will have your answers. Even if I have to pry them from the gods myself."

Mkhai groaned. "Please, no more attacking gods. It's such a headache on my part. It takes away from everything else I could be doing."

"You mean like farming Obsidian Warbeads so your alt can have a pretty talbuk mount?" Kat said with a genuine smile.

"I have ten alts to do that with..not to mention, I have to do it with Netherwing rep too!" Mkhai said loudly in exasperation.

Kat laughed in amusement, then gave Mkhai a quick squeeze. "You. Are. A. Dork. But you're my dork…so it's allowed."

"Gee, didn't realize it wasn't allowed," Mkhai said sarcastically.

"Well, normally only one per family is permitted…but I figured in the case of our family, there needed to be an exception to that rule."

Mkhai shook his head in amusement. "Our family is the exception to a lot of rules."

"Yes, and our family has grown," Kat said with a genuine smile.

"For the time-being. We don't know how long Yugi or Atem will be around."

Kat's smile faded. "I know."

"Maybe with what I find out from Atem, I can figure out a way to prolong things for them?" Mkhai stated as a suggestion.

Kat thought for a moment then shook her head. "No. It wouldn't be fair to Atem to prolong his life any further than what is currently intended. And I don't want this life for Yugi. This life changes people…and not for the better. I wish for him to remain as he is."

Mkhai removed himself from his sister's embrace and sat up straight. He then opened up a document on yet another screen.

"What about him? I'm pretty sure it's not a matter of 'if'...it's 'when'."

Kat looked at the image of Marik on the screen. She then glanced at the 'evidence' Mkhai had been collecting to support his theory.

~ Quick assimilation of complex information necessary to adapt to a modern setting

~ Unphased by an influx of unnatural events in day-to-day life

~ Witnessing the 'death' of an immortal being does not provoke a mortal response

~ Lacks a sense of self preservation when faced with potentially life threatening situations

The list continued on a bit, but the point was made.

Kat looked away. "This doesn't mean anything for certain. It just means he thinks and reacts along a different wavelength. There are plenty of mortals like that."

"Yes…but those mortals don't share a quarter of their blood with Ra," Mkhai pointed out.

Kat clenched her fists. "What happens, happens. Only the Fates know what's in store for him."

"Which kinda sucks. Too bad there wasn't a way to give him the option to choose."

Kat quickly turned her head towards Mkhai, her eyes wide. "What did you just say?"

"I said it's too bad he couldn't choose, instead of being bound to whatever Fate decides. Same with Atem and Yugi. What if they want this life?"

The time fast approaches where you will have to make a choice for another…but that choice will give others the choice you never had.

Kat stared off. Marik could have a choice? Yugi and Atem, would they be allowed to choose their own Fate?

"I have to go," Kat said quickly. She then turned and left, leaving Mkhai puzzled by her odd behavior.

Kat hurried to her room, stopping just inside the entrance. She stared long and hard at the strange object that resembled some sort of convoluted 3D chess board. Her cinniúint klārom…'fate table'.

The pieces currently on the table were simply used to plan strategies against her potential opponents. She liked having the chess-like visual aid. The fact that it often warped to show new possibilities was a bonus. However, she'd never felt inclined to use it as the Elder had suggested.

Kat hated the idea of playing around with Fate and manipulating it to her will like the gods were prone to do, but when it came to her loved ones, she suddenly felt more than willing to compromise on the idea.

She walked over and picked up a piece that she had placed to represent an unknown opponent, then looked at all the pawn pieces that were placed around it. Ever since Atem's resurrection, she'd felt there was someone…something…that had been pitted against her. Who…or what, was this mystery opponent? Was it Fate itself? Was she meant to manipulate the fate of Fate in her favor? That didn't make sense. One couldn't manipulate the 'fate' of Fate. Fate was but a concept, like Ma'at and Isfet. A person couldn't manipulate a concept…could they?

The longer Kat tried to think about it, the more it gave her a physical headache. She placed the piece back on the board, then walked over to the balcony so that she could clear her head while looking out over the gardens.

She closed her eyes as she leaned her head back and basked in the heat of the sun, taking in the sounds of life that existed in her sanctuary. Honey bees buzzed about as they traveled from flower to flower, taking along with them bits of pollen to fertilize others, and nectar for making honey for the hive. A hollow 'plip' could be heard as a fish swallowed a fly from the pond's surface. A pair of birds were noisily fighting over an apple that had fallen to the ground.

Life and Death. Peace and Conflict. All concepts. All symbols of Balance. All were necessary. So what was the balancing aspect of Fate? Was there none?

The moment of calm was shattered by Marik's shouting voice. Kat opened her eyes and looked off into the direction of the training arena. What was he doing there?

"You….manipulated the weight…or something!" Marik shouted in irritation.

Malik was nearly doubled over in laughter. "I didn't need to! And you thought it was easy!"

"It's not funny!" Marik shouted, referring to the spear throw he'd attempted…and massively failed at. He'd put all of his weight into the throw, but the spear hadn't traveled more than a handful of meters before falling and sliding noisily along the arena floor.

"What is going on here?" Kat asked as she approached the pair.

Malik attempted to explain, but was having difficulty catching his breath as he fell to the ground.

Kat stared in perplexion from one Ishtar to the other. "Seriously…what the hell is so godsdamned funny?

"Nothing!" Marik said, still shouting in irritation.

"He thought it was easy!" Malik managed to get out between breaths.

"Thought what was easy?" Kat asked in confusion.

Marik gave up and hung his head in embarrassment, then gingerly pointed towards where the spear he had failed in throwing had landed.

Kat looked at the spear on the ground, then at the one sticking out of the target. From there she was able to deduce the reasoning for Malik's hysterics.

"That's mean. He at least tried. I'm sure you didn't do so great your first time either," Kat chided.

Malik attempted to sit up and calm his fit. "I was barely able to stand. Of course I didn't do so well. What's his excuse?" he questioned, still laughing.

"No one taught him, obviously."

Malik calmed further, his face still showing his amusement. "Okay…okay. I see your point. It was still hilarious to watch though. You should have seen it. So much energy gathered…then wasted. His stance was all wrong, he held it at the most unbalanced point, and the throw itself…I give it a zero out of ten," he said with a chuckle.

"You made it look a lot easier," Marik grumbled loudly.

"Of course I did," Malik said as he stood and dusted himself off. "Like I said, I practically learned before I could stand properly."

He summoned another couple of spears, holding one out towards Marik.

Marik looked at the spear and turned his head away as if offended by the sight of the object.

"Why, so you can laugh at me again?" he asked bitterly with his arms folded across his chest.

"What's this? Giving up simply because you failed on the first try? And here I thought you had a warrior's spirit. Maybe I was wrong? Or maybe it only comes out when playing with painted pieces of paper?" Malik taunted.

Marik quickly looked back at the offensive object in the Ishtari's hand and jerked it into his own. "I'm no quitter," he said sharply.

"Good," Malik said with a hidden smirk. "Now first things first. You can't just hold it wherever along the shaft. You need to find the point of balance where the point and end are equal. It's not in the middle, it's a bit closer towards the point seeing as that is the heaviest part." He demonstrated with his own spear by holding it in an outstretched open palm, balancing the long object perfectly within it.

Marik attempted to do the same, and after readjusting his own spear a few times as it began to tip too far one way or the other, his was sitting balanced in his palm as well.

"Hey, I think I've got this," he said, feeling a small sense of accomplishment at his success.

"This is only the beginning," Malik stated. "Now grasp it firmly, but not too firmly, in your hand, and bring it to eye level while keeping it parallel to the ground." Once again he demonstrated slowly, allowing Marik to study his movements.

Marik did the same, and awaited the next step of instruction.

"Good. Face the foot opposite of the hand you have your spear in towards your target. You will be facing slightly sideways towards your target, but that is okay."

Malik kept slowly demonstrating, with Marik following his movements.

"Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent at the ready. Place your other arm straight in front of you. This will help maintain your own balance. Also, you can use your other hand, like this, to help sight in your target." Malik made an 'L' with his opposing hand, and brought it straight out in front of him at eye level. Marik did the same.

"Now keep in mind, I'm teaching you how to throw from a standing position. Most warriors would get a running start before their throw. This way requires a bit more energy, but done correctly it can still be effective."

Marik nodded in understanding, trying to keep his form. "Got it."

"This next part is probably the most important part. You can do all the rest correctly, but it won't matter if you mess this part up. Always think of your spear, or any weapon or tool for that matter, as an extension of yourself. Put your energy into it, not the throw. Keep it level as you extend your arm." Malik stretched his arm forward a few times without releasing to demonstrate. "Take a breath in, and upon exhale, release. You don't 'throw'. Just let go." Like before, he demonstrated, only this time he released his spear, and it flew towards its target and embedded itself into the center.

Marik took a steadying breath, then did like Malik had instructed. As soon as the spear left his grip, he subconsciously held his breath.

The spear landed several meters from the target, embedding its point into the ground. Marik released the held breath and hung his head.

"Don't look so downcast," Malik stated.

"I still couldn't do it," Marik said dejectedly.

"Really? Is that what you see? Look again."

Marik lifted his gaze, and stared at the long object sticking on an angle out of the ground.

"I didn't hit the target."

"No…but look at both where and how it landed compared to your first attempt."

Marik looked again. First to the first spear, still lying on its side only a few meters away, then to the one that was sticking out of the ground at a much further distance from the other.

"I don't get it?" he said in confusion.

"Your first attempt had no instruction, and so it did not go very far and landed on its side. With instruction, you were able to make it go further and stick into the ground. Think about what you could do if you practiced a bit more," Malik explained.

"I gave it all I had, and I couldn't even throw it halfway to the target. I don't think even with practice I'll ever make it go that far." Marik stated, still sounding downcast.

"Of course not. You don't possess superhuman strength. But if you stand closer, I'm certain that won't be a problem. Most you would have to work on would probably be your aim…which judging by the alignment, you might not have to work too hard at."

"What do you mean 'judging by the alignment'?" Marik puzzled.

Malik grabbed him by the shoulders and aligned him with the spear in the ground, then pointed from over his shoulder towards the target beyond it.

"It lines up with yours…" Marik said quietly in disbelief.

"See? You can do it…you just need to stand a bit closer is all."

A strange form of excitement filled Marik, and he found himself quickly turning to face Kat while pointing towards his spear, a wide smile spread across his face.

"Habibty, did you see that?! I lined it up with the target and everything!" he said proudly.

Kat attempted to hide the giggle that bubbled forth behind her hand. "Yes, I saw it. I expect nothing less considering who taught you."

Marik felt his face flush in embarrassment, and he dropped his face into a palm to hide it. "Oh. My. Gods. That made me sound like a small child."

Kat came up to him, and placed a peck on his cheek. "It was cute," she said with a small giggle.

"It's not 'cute'...it's embarrassing," Marik argued as he removed his face from his hand.

"No…what's 'embarrassing' is that you get to call me whatever paternal title you like now," Malik grumbled as he folded his arms across his chest and looked away.

"I do?"

"You bested the sphinx. You've earned the right." Malik stated.

"Sphinx? What sphinx?" Kat asked slowly.

Malik's eyes widened and his body stiffened. "Sphinx? Did I say sphinx? No. I said…uh…shit…what sounds like 'sphinx'?" he said nervously to himself, trying to cover up the fact that he had pitted Marik against the creature.

"Mal…please tell me you didn't have him do that barbaric trial of proving himself worthy by killing something?"

"Whaaat? Nooo…I would never have him kill a living creature. That's just cruel."

Kat looked boredly at Marik. "You met Thienan, didn't you?"

Marik glanced over towards Malik, who was gesturing subtly to not say anything.

"He was very polite. I answered all three of his riddles correctly." Marik said with a smirk.

Malik's head fell forward in defeat.

Kat's eyes went wide with disbelief. "Three!? You answered three sphinx riddles?! Are you mad?!"

"Well, the first two weren't too hard. The last one almost got me. I had to really think about that one."

Kat pursed her lips and gave Malik an 'I WILL END YOU' glare.

"He started it!" Malik said in nervous defense while pointing at Marik.

Kat lifted her hands and cracked her knuckles, popping her neck as she stretched it one way and then the other. "Mal, we should play."

"Now, ka-ib…let's talk about this," Malik said while nervously stepping away. "You know I wouldn't put him in any real danger."

"Um, Habibty…as much as I would probably find seeing you two fight, entertaining…I need to get back before it's too late. One, I'm kinda hungry; and two, I still have homework." Marik said, creating a distraction to keep his girlfriend from pummeling Malik.

Kat continued to glare at Malik, then pointed sharply in his direction. "Next time…I'm kicking your ass. Stop traumatizing my boyfriend."

"What, dating you isn't traumatizing enough?" Malik commented without thinking.

"Oh. That's it. While he's gone at school tomorrow, your ass is mine."

Malik audibly gulped.

Marik came up from behind and wrapped his arms around his girlfriend. "You know, I would appreciate it if you didn't kick his ass. He is my dad, after all."

Malik winced slightly at the term, but otherwise kept his mouth shut.

Kat sighed and relaxed. "Fine…but only because you asked so nicely."

"Great. So where to for dinner? Hey, Dad, wanna join us?" Marik asked excitedly.

Malik stared unenthusiastically at the two. "Ka-ib…can you just…kill me or something? Just keep me dead until….whenever he gets past this whole 'dad' thing?"

Kat grinned. "You know what? This is so much more entertaining than kicking your ass."

Malik groaned and dropped his head in defeat again.

I like the idea of Marik constantly being an annoying little shit towards Malik. Small payback for the Battle City bullshit.