<*Nawra*> No… *looks in the closet, seeing Marik's lifeless form, the Shadow Rod stuck straight through his heart* Oh… my god…
<*Kibira*> *wanders in from the kitchen, her eyes expressionless* I… I never meant…
<*Nawra*> *choking back tears* Kibira… what happened?
<*Kibira*> *not looking at her* I think it was my fault… This… *twitches her hand, indicating the piece of metal in it*
<*Nawra*> *suddenly realizes that it's the Millennium Seidan, but its black* No… the Shadow Seidan… Where did you get it?
<*Kibira*> *smiles, starting to laugh, but still not looking up* I had it… it's in me… *sighs* If only Liana hadn't tried to save everyone… when I stabbed her… I just… lost it… She was always like that… trying to keep everyone from getting hurt, but always getting her herself…
<*Nawra*> She cares about us, Kibira.
<*Kibira*> *finally looking up* Did she care when I did all this??
<*Nawra*> *tears starting to fall* I don't think she was able do stop you… that wasn't her fault…
<*Ryou*> *walking in with a wicked smile on his face, eying Nawra* What are you doing here? *spots the Pendant glowing against her chest* Ah… you're not really here… Well don't try to change this, Nawra… it's destined to happen.
<*Nawra*> Wrong, Ryou. The Pendant shows me things so I can see how to stop them. And I already know how.
<*Kibira*> *falls to her knees, the Seidan turning back to gold* What have I done??
<Nawra> *awakens with a gasp, realizing she's in Atem's arms*
<Atem> Nawra are you all right?
<Nawra> *quickly getting her bearings* No, I have to stop it! *sees that Marik is in battle with Ryou, and Liana is still struggling with Kibira on the floor, a point of the Seidan at her throat*
<Seth> *is standing in watch, powerless due to the Shadow Rod in his hand* *whispers* It was a setup from the start… he knew Marik would give me the Rod…
<Nawra> *gets up and realizes what ahs to happen* Seth… I'm going to take the Rod from you.
<Seth> No! Taireru might take over!
<Nawra> *shakes her head* I'm taking it. You have to stop the fight.
<Seth> *looks at her oddly* You sure you'll be alright?
<Nawra> *nods, and reaches over, taking the black Rod from his hand*
<Seth> *takes the Millennium Rod from his back belt loop, giving Nawra another glance*
<Nawra> You must get Kibira away from Liana. If she gets hurt, it's over. If you can get her off, I think Liana can set things right… I just need to talk to her.
<Seth> *nods* *rushes over to Kibira and Liana, yanking Kibira off of her, and pinning her to the floor* Calm down, Kibira!
<Kibira> *her eyes are starting to glow red* No! I won't lose!
<Liana> No, Seth!
<Seth> Liana, go to Nawra, now!
<Liana> B-but I-
<Seth> GO!
<Liana> *gets up and goes to Nawra, who is obviously fighting against Taireru in her mind* Nawra…
<Nawra> *sweat is beading on her forehead* Don't worry, I'm fine… Listen, I saw what happens… There's a part of Taireru inside her that's making her do all this. I could tell by how she was acting… you have to get it out of her.
<Liana> The piece of Marik's soul she took when she revived him must've had a bit of Taireru in it!
<Nawra> Or it was put there on purpose… Either way, their souls need to be separated.
<Liana> *nods* I'm not sure if I can… but I'll try.
<Nawra> I know you can. It's one of your powers, just as its one of hers. You've done it before.
<Liana> Marik and Namu… But that was putting souls together! I don't know if I can take them-
<Nawra> You're dawdling! Stop trying to speculate and go do what you need to do!
<Liana> *taken aback* R-right! *runs back to Kibira and Seth, who is holding her at bay* Kibira, this is for your own good! *reaches for her head, but is suddenly yanked back*
<Ryou> *grabbing her by the arm and wheeling her around face to face with him* What do you think you're doing? *clenches her wrist in his hand, drawing blood with his nails* Not trying to stop us, I hope?
<Liana> *gasps, her eyes locked on his* Ryou let me go!
<Ryou> *laughing, putting the Ring to her throat* Do you think I'm going to just go "Oh okay"? You have no idea what's going on- … *falls over, releasing his grip on her*
<Atem> *had hit him over the head with a racket he found in the closet* Go.
<Liana> Thanks. *turns back to Kibira, who is clawing at her Seidan which is just inches from her free hand* *kicks the Seidan farther away* Seth, let her go.
<Seth> *nods and lets her go, staying between her and the Seidan*
<Kibira> *tearing up* You're going to take all this from me again!
<Liana> No, Kibira… Don't you see that you aren't yourself? I'm just going to help you.
<Kibira> Liar! Don't you think I know? Maybe I WANT to be this way! Maybe I like being this way!
<Liana> You like being miserable and fighting with your friends? You've been so upset lately; all you ever do is fight with us now; especially me! What happened to the girl who could finish my sentences??
<Kibira> She's gone! I'm not like that anymore! I've changed! You've changed! Things happen… *starts crying, sinking to her knees* You've become so strong… so grown up… you're so good at everything… and look at me… *looks up at her, her eyes pleading* I'm nothing… all I can do is complain and fight with the people that make me feel like I fit in…
<Liana> *kneels down in front of her, looking her in the eye* Kibira, you're not nothing. Yes, I've become stronger… but you can too. Look at you now… just think of the power that you could have… without the piece of evil inside you. Taireru can't make energy from nothing… you've already got that. You just need to discover it for yourself.
<Kibira> *hugs Liana, her tears flowing freely* I'm so sorry… I never meant for this to go so far!
<Liana> Shh… it's okay. I'm going to take Taireru out of you and put him where he belongs now. *puts her hand on Kibira's forehead, finding the piece of Taireru's soul in her mind easily, and sending it to Marik* There… all done. It's over now.
*After everyone is healed and has calmed down, they all take seats on the floor, deciding what movie to watch*
<Marik> *has his arm around Kibira* I'm glad you're okay now… I'm ashamed that Taireru's been the one to cause so much trouble for everyone.
<Kibira> *looks down* Yeah…
<Ryou> *has been steaming since they all sat down* I really can't take much more of this.
<Liana> *anger mark* Then leave.
<Ryou> I'm not talking about that. Like I said before, you have no idea what's really going on.
<Marik> *snaps* Then enlighten us!
<Kibira> *brushes Marik's arm off of her* Fine.
<Marik> *looks at her* What?
<Ryou> *grins* Finally. *reaches over to her, pulling her into a kiss*
<Everyone else> O.o WTF??
<Marik> Ryou what the hell are you doing!!?? *pulls Kibira away from him*
<Kibira> Marik, Let me spell this out for you. I can't speak for Ari, as she has her own mind, but I never really agreed to this little dating thing with you. I'm falling for Ryou, not you.
<Nawra> *looking between the three of them* Dare I say… I knew this was coming?
<Atem> O.o *confused* They hated each other for so long though!
<Liana> *is expressionless* Interesting turn of events, I must say…
<Marik> B-b-but! Kibira you- … Ari's not- wait!
<Ryou> *sighs in relief* Finally I have something you want…
<Marik> *anger mark* Shut up!
<Seth> Don't start fighting again you idiots. As far as I can see, Kibira is her own person, and isn't bound by what Ari decides. If she chooses Ryou, then it's her choice.
<Marik> Ari hasn't changed her mind… has she??
<Kibira> =_='' No. And believe me she's no happier than you are.
<Marik> With good reason!! You share a body after all!
<Liana> It would seem that there are separate loves for each of our sides… Hikari, Yukikureru, and Kage all have their own minds and their own hearts… But I suppose it does make sense that Kibira doesn't care for Marik. After all *looks at him* You don't have a Yukikureru. In fact…you're the only one of us that doesn't. It's only logical that a yuki would fall for another yuki. I mean, waiting thousands of years to find your true love sounds romantic and all, but… I just don't think its possible in this case.
<Kibira> I'm surprised. I would've thought to meet more resistance to this.
<Marik> There's a lot of resistance to this right here!!! *anger mark*
<Kibira> Marik, you're a nice guy, and if Ari likes you, then more power to you. But just because my Hikari likes you doesn't mean I have to!
<Ryou> Amen to that.
<Marik> SHUT UP!!
<Ryou> *sticks his tongue out as he puts his arm around Kibira's waist*
<Liana> Ryou, don't start being more of a jerk then you already are. Come on, you didn't like it when Marik acted like that before.
<Kibira> *looks at him* She is right you know…
<Ryou> *sigh* Fine… I won't flaunt it so much…
<Marik> *fumes* You are going to let me see Ari sooner or later, aren't you?
<Kibira> Well I can't keep control forever, you know.
<Seth> Ryou always seems to.
<Ryou> Well that's because my hikari is a powder puff. *sigh*
<Nawra> I think Bakura's stronger than he seems, you just don't let him out enough.
<Atem> I think we all tend to take the hikaris for granted a bit.
<Liana> It's only fair when they take us for granted so much =_='
<Marik> Setsuna's not as bad as she was though, right?
<Liana> I'm not sure if I like how she's acting though… now instead of totally ignoring me, she's trying to learn everything so she can do it all herself. I still don't think she gets that all the forms have to work together.
<Seth> They'll get it eventually I'm sure.
<Nawra> *glances at the clock* Holy cow you guys, its almost 1 am!
<Kibira> Serious??
<Liana> Ooo fun. Who wants to watch a horror flick now?
<Kibira> I want to go to sleep *yawn*
<Atem> It is rather late… er… early.
<Liana> That's the point of watching a horror movie though!
<Seth> I think everyone just wants to crash…
<Liana> Aw you guys are no fun… *folds arms*
<Marik> Kibira, can I talk to Ari for a bit?
<Kibira> *blink* Uh… sure… I have been out most of the night. I suppose its only fair.
<Marik> Liana is it okay if we go in another room?
<Liana> You can go in mine… << Just don't start doing anything.
<Marik> O.o Of course not… geeze! *goes downstairs to the basement where Setsuna's room is*
<Kibira> *follows, letting Ari take over*
<Ryou> *folds his arms* He better not be up to something.
<Nawra> As weird as this sounds, Ryou, you two are going to have to share her you know.
<Ryou> Yeah I know… *gets up, grabbing his backpack* So where can we change, Liana?
<Liana> *getting up* Guys can go up and change in the spare room… first door on the right up the stairs. Us girls can take turns in the bathroom down here. *looks at the stairs leading into the basement* I suppose I'll have to wait though…
<Nawra> I'll get in there now then. *grabs her bag and heads for the bathroom*
<Atem> *follows Ryou and Seth up the stairs*
*meanwhile*
<Marik> Ari, did you know about any of this?
<Ari> *is clinging to him, trying not to cry* I knew Kibira was up to something, but I didn't know what… I feel so horrid…
<Marik> It's okay… Kibira hasn't really had much of a chance to get to know me. It's possible that she could change her mind…
<Ari> *looks up at him* I guess we were a little uncaring of her feelings… I never did ask her if she liked you as well.
<Marik> Just as long as I still have you. *holds her close*
<Ari> We should get back upstairs… Setsuna probably needs to come down here.
<Marik> *smiles* Okay… *tilts her chin up and kisses her softly* We can make this work… everything will be okay.
<Ari> *nods, going upstairs with him*
<Setsuna> *has since taken over* Everything alright now?
<Ari> *nods* Setsuna… I'm sorry about Kibira…
<Setsuna> *holds a hand up* It's fine. I deserved some of it.
<Ari> No one deserves-
<Setsuna> I said it was fine. *smiles* Don't worry about it. *goes downstairs to change*
<Crystal> *coming in the room* Oh, Ari you can change in the bathroom. Marik, all the guys are up in the spare room.
<Marik> *grabs his bag and goes upstairs*
<Ari> *sigh* I think Setsuna's mad at me…
<Crystal> What makes you say that? She said it was okay…
<Ari> I know… but… who gets attacked by their best friend, and than says its just fine?
<Crystal> Setsuna, apparently. Listen, I know you're sorry about what happened, and so does she. Rather than make a fuss, she's just moving on to the next part of life.
<Ari> *nods* …Crystal, how much of our minds can you read?
<Crystal> *smiles* It depends… if its something you really don't want anyone to know, I'd really have to try to see what it is… but just random little thoughts I can see easily.
<Ari> Even if the person has no mental powers?
<Crystal> *shakes her head* The mind has its own defenses. Millennium Items or not, people can always hide things deep in their mind so that no one can see it. Why do you ask?
<Ari> O.o No reason…
<Crystal> *raises an eyebrow* You're not trying to hide that you feel something for Bakura or something like that?
<Ari> O.O NO!! It's nothing like that…
<Crystal> *nods* Well I won't ask… if you're asking about how to hide it, than obviously you don't want anyone to know…
<Ari> It's actually something I know, that I want to make sure you don't go looking for in Setsuna's mind.
<Crystal> Setsuna?
<Ari> Yes… I want to make sure that you don't go looking for it.
<Crystal> I don't normally go looking through everyone's mind anyway, Ari. I-
<Ari> Promise me you won't look in Setsuna's mind!
<Crystal> *nods* Very well.
<Setsuna> *at the top of the stairs, just behind them* Ari what are you doing?
<Ari> *turns and sees her* I didn't know you were there, Setsuna! *smiles* We were just talking about playing a game, and I didn't want Crystal to look in your mind for the ans-
<Setsuna> Save it. I heard the whole conversation. I don't have a door on the stairs; remember?
<Crystal> Ari was only trying to protect you, Setsuna.
<Setsuna> I know. This is something I don't want anyone to know… for now. I'm not ready to tell everyone just yet.
<Ari> I didn't give anything away, Setsuna… I just wanted to make sure that no one went poking around for it…
<Setsuna> Ari, its okay. I know you meant well… but please, don't say anything around everyone else.
<Ari> *nods* *spots Seto coming down the other stairs* Here they come…
<Setsuna> Looks like we're all turning into our hikaris. *hugs Seto when he comes over*
<Ari> Well I'm going to go change… *grabs her bag and walks off*
<Seto> *sitting on his sleeping bag* Is everything okay between you two now?
<Setsuna> *sitting next to him and leaning on his shoulder* Yeah. We've been through worse… trust me.
<Crystal> *plops down on her sleeping bag, sighing* I hope we can go a while without anything huge happening now…
<Setsuna> You kidding? With Ryou and Marik both dating Ari and Kibira? Every other day they're going to be at each other's throats.
<Seto> Actually, they were pretty civil when Marik came upstairs… it was surprising.
<Crystal> Hmm… Well, I mean, not even just that… we still haven't seen much of the Kages… We don't even know how many there are.
<Setsuna> *counting on her fingers* Well we know Taireru and Sesu… Reira and Nadirei… Doesn't Ryou have one?
<Seto> *thinks* I'm not sure.
<Ryou> *coming down the stairs* I do.
<Setsuna> *twists around to look at him* What's his name?
<Ryou> Kaminari, I think… I've only let him take control once… What are you talking about?
<Crystal> We're trying to figure out how many of us have one. I don't think I do.
<Yugi> *coming down the stairs with Marik* You do what? *sits next to her*
<Setsuna> Have a Kage.
<Marik> *shudders, taking a seat* Can we not talk about them? It might make Taireru come out…
<Seto> Is it possible that like the yukis, the kages only get angry because we don't let them out of our minds?
<Marik> Taireru's always trying to kill us though…
<Ari> *coming from the bathroom* We don't know that for sure. He wants power, yeah… but we don't know if he'd act civilly around the others if we gave him a chance. *sits between Ryou and Marik*
<Yugi> I have a feeling… that you five are the only ones.
<Setsuna> No… we're not.
<Seto> *looks at her oddly* How do you know?
<Setsuna> …I- I just do…
<Ari> *jumping in* She probably just doesn't want to admit that she's talking to her other spirits.
<Setsuna> *smiles, glad for the save* Yeah… me and my self-reliance.
<Seto> *raises a suspicious eyebrow* How many does she think there are?
<Setsuna> *sweatdrop* More than five?
<Ari> *trying to change the subject* Well are we going to dwell on this or shall we watch a movie… or go to sleep?
<Crystal> *lays down* I'm ready for some shut-eye… that's for sure.
<Yugi> *leans down and kisses her on the cheek before moving to his own sleeping bag*
<Seto> *watches him oddly* I had no idea shorty could be lovey-dovey.
<Yugi> *blushes profusely*
<Setsuna> *bashes Seto playfully* Leave him alone.
<Everyone> *say their goodnights as Setsuna shuts off the light*
<Setsuna> *thinks to Ari: You asleep yet?*
<Ari> *No…*
<Setsuna> *Thanks for changing the subject… I don't know how much longer I can keep this a secret*
<Ari> *Setsuna, your brother is miles and miles away… It's not like saying his name is going to summon him back to Japan. You might as well tell everyone sooner or later*
<Setsuna> *I know…*
<Ari> *…Setsuna?*
<Setsuna> *Hmm?*
<Ari> *I really am sorry*
<Setsuna> *laughs* *Ari you're forgiven. We've been through worse, remember?*
<Ari> *Yeah… all because of your brother*
<Setsuna> *Hey, he's miles and miles away, remember?*
<Ari> *Goodnight, Setsuna*
<Setsuna> *G'night*
<Marik> *sits up to look at Ari and Setsuna* ….