*Dan*

I tried to get up once more after Etsuo left but Mai had me lay back down. She said that it would take some time for my body to get used to their alien world. Though to me it didn't seem to alien. At least the interior of the building that we were in didn't look like anything I hadn't seen in pictures.

"S-so you're Mai?" I asked. My face reddened. Why was I trying to make short talk?

Mai nodded. "Yeah. Not to be confused with Mei who is the one who brought you here."

I snickered. "Y-you're blond. Y-your sister i-isn't. I-I wouldn't confuse you two."

Mai smiled slightly. She might've been a little harsh on her big brother, but I could tell she was as kind as he.

"S-so. Y-your uncle is the legendary S-spirit King?" I asked, fidgeting. Skah was my idol. He was one of the strongest spirit duelists in all of history. I could only hope to be like him one day. Even just dueling him for a couple of turns would be an achievement for me.

She nodded. "Yes. My older brother said that you wanted to meet him. If you like, I can have him come here."

"Ehhh? You would do that?" I asked.

She snickered. "Hey, you didn't stutter there."

I averted my gaze. Was she mocking me? Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised, it wasn't the first time.

"Is it because you're nervous? Or is it a speech impediment?"

I looked down. "N-nervous."

"Well, you shouldn't be. I'm not going to hurt you. Like I said, I was told to protect you. If I hurt you then I will fail my mission and become a disgrace."

I blinked. She reminded me of the guy who had stabbed Etsuo in the dungeon, but at the same time she was way different.

"W-why is the mission so important? C-can't you afford to make an error?"

She closed her eyes. "An error can make all the difference between life and death. Think about what happened with my siblings and you. Kiara and you would probably still be in Zionia if she hadn't threatened to take Dine's crystal."

I lowered my gaze. "Kiara was doing her mission too."

Mai smiled. "Oh? Well, then, I have respect for what she did. Risking her life like that. However, she could've gone about doing so in a more efficient manner."

I nodded. "I-I wish that she hadn't done that. I-I wonder what the rest of our family is doing."

She turned her back to me. "I imagine searching for you. Say, you seem healthy enough based on how much you're talking. How about we go check up on your sister? Then I can introduce you to my uncle Skah."

I beamed. "I would like that very much!"

She snickered and turned back around. Holding out a hand, she helped me stand up. As I stood up, I noticed that I was wearing what looked like a black skin-tight suit.

"W-what is this?" I asked, looking at my new clothes.

"It's a suit to help you move around with ease here. You cousins and sister were given suits of their own too. If not for them then the darkness would either destroyed you or warped who you are."

"W-warped me?" I asked as I wrapped an arm around her shoulders for support.

"Yes. Your memories and personality would've changed. Only abyssmals can live here. All other beings are taken 'care' of. It's no different from the body's immune system. Some even say that this realm is one giant being..."

I gulped. "T-that sounds terrifying."

She snickered. "Come on, don't be afraid. With that suit on you're safe. At least from the effects of the dark waters. Normally they only take hold if one is submerged for three days. I assume that treasonous uncle of mine told the Zionians that, hence why they've stuck to raiding."

"T-treasonous uncle?"

"My mother's older brother. He's the one who wears the mask."

"Oh, Kuroshi!"

Mai rolled her eyes. "His name isn't 'Kuroshi'. You aren't aware of who he is?"

I shook my head. "N-no. N-never seen how he looks."

She walked me over to the door. "I see," she said as she turned the knob open. Outside of my room was a wide hall which went on as far as I could see. Actually, I couldn't see very far at all as I could barely see anything in the darkness.

"It'll take some time for your eyes to adjust."

"W-will they?"

"You got the blood of Hanketsu running through your veins, so of course they will." She stopped. "You're shaking. Are you afraid?"

I closed my eyes as I recalled the darkness from when my soul was taken. It was dark, so dark and cold. Very little difference between it and this world.

"You can use your fire if you're afraid. Or do you not have fire powers like Reno?"

I opened my eyes and quickly formed a tiny flame in my right hand. It lit the darkness beautifully. I could see Mai and everything around me with much more ease than before. Though the hall still continued farther than I could see which was several meters now.

"Such a tiny but bright flame... Though be careful not to catch anything on fire," she said as she carefully escorted me to the room next door to mine. She had to open the door for me.

Though as soon as I stepped in, I started to miss the darkness.

"Hey," Suzuki said, smiling.

I let go of Mai and stepped back. I had forgotten that she was here.

"Hey, calm down," Mai said, rubbing my back. "She's not going to hurt you. If she were to try, which I doubt, I would protect you. Remember my mission?"

I nodded. Mai really was comforting to have around.

"How is she?" Mai asked.

Suzuki grimaced. "She hasn't shown any signs of consciousness. I fear that she'll be in a coma for more days to come."

Mai walked over to Kiara and stared at the pale yellow stone in her chest. "Seems Dine isn't reacting either. I wonder, which of them will we be seeing when they awaken? Kiara or Dine?"

"Huh?" I said as I kept my distance from Suzuki.

Suzuki sat down on the bed. "She means that Dine might end up taking over Kiara's body."

"What?" I snapped. "N-no... then what... what will happen to my sister?"

"For all we know, Kiara's consciousness might be dead..."

I backed away, hitting the wall behind me. "No! That... that can't be."

Mai took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. This is my sister's fault. Mei should've captured Kiara instead of stabbing her the way she did. That Kiara's body managed to heal upon Dine's core merging with it does indicate that Dine has some control over it."

I let the flame in my hand die out. "No... Kiara." Tears dripped down my eyes. "Kiara didn't do anything wrong! W-why did this have to happen to her? S-she just wanted to be Etsuo's friend!"

I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Relax. We still don't know what will happen. Perhaps Dine managed to save Kiara."

"If it makes you feel any better, I can detect two souls within her body. One of those being her own, and the other Dine's," Suzuki said.

"Y-you can?"

"Yes. It means that Kiara is still alive. But what that means for her persona, well I'm not sure. Dine could very well be doing to Kiara what the shadows of this world do."

"Y-you mean 'warping' her? So the Kiara I know might not return?" I snapped.

"That is a possibility. Let's hope that isn't the case."

I closed my eyes. Oh please, Sky Father, help my sister. I don't want the Kiara I know to be gone. Please help!

"Save your prayers. You god has no dominion here," Mai said in a cold voice.

"Wrong!" I said. I put a hand on my chest. "As part of his creation, I contain within me part of his holy spirit! He is with me always. No, rather he's with us."

Mai snickered. "Right, that spark of divine spirit. Though this world can surely wear it down if you aren't careful."

I stared at her with determined eyes. Though, in a way, it felt odd hearing those words come from my mouth. Considering how I almost gave up on living... I was glad that Nat managed to tell me those words back when he stopped me. I kept reminding myself of them since then whenever I could. Without them, I probably would've had another major meltdown.

"So, you think that's not the case? Interesting."

Suzuki snickered. "Kinda reminds me of that Nori kid who save me."

"Nori?"

"Yeah. He's a little kid who wishes to be a priest. Eita and he saved me from the demon I was becoming. Though it seems to have come at a cost. Nori seems to have vanished. I was never able to figure out if he was alive or not before I left. Hopefully Eita has found out something." She grimaced. "Eita, he tried to stop Reno from taking me. Hopefully those wounds he sustained are healed. They weren't pretty ones according to Reno."

I gulped.

"Well, how about we go outside? I'll show you around the place," Mai said.

I nodded. I needed to get my mind off of what could happen to Kiara.

***

Mai showed me outside. Though I kinda wish that she hadn't. The place resembled the grounds of a haunted house. Not to mention that there was no sky nor stars in the distance. There might've been moons, but I couldn't see them as there was no light for them to reflect back. And then there was the fact that we were on an island seeming floating in the dark waters.

The thick darkness of the world around me gave a sense that it wouldn't be easy for my big brother and the others to save us.

"Hey, kiddo! Is your mom home?" a voice called out. Walking across the swaying bridge leading to the palace was a man who greatly resembled Etsuo.

"I think so," Mai said. She tilted her head at the man. "Though what do you want with her, uncle?"

"I wanted to discuss some..." He turned his golden eyes toward me. "A guest?"

"He's one of the ones who my brother brought with him. He's cousins with Reno and Suzuki."

"Ohh, then he must be the kid Etsuo mentioned. Dan, right?" he asked with a wide grin.

I nodded. "Y-yeah! A-are you Spirit King Skah?"

Skah chuckled. "Wow, haven't heard anyone call me by that title in awhile. Yeah. I'm the famous, or would that be infamous? Skah!"

Mai narrowed her eyes at him.

I snickered. I only met Kuroshi a bit, but I could see how this guy and he were brothers. They had the same goofy personality.

"N-nice to meet you," I said averting my eyes. I couldn't believe it! I was meeting my idol! The man who hadn't been heard of in years! The legendary Spirit King Skah!

"Say, Etsuo said that the mechanics of the game have changed since my era. Would you mind showing me how much they've changed?" he asked as he summoned a deck of cards.

My mouth dropped. That was the legendary deck!

"Such a fan-boy you turned out to be," Mai said, rolling her eyes.

"Uh, but I don't have my deck," I said, lowering my gaze.

Skah frowned. "Ohh. Well, I could lend you some cards, but those are old era. Hmm, guess I'll have to wait for awhile before I can see all these new mechanics."

"S-sorry."

"Hey, don't blame yourself," Skah said. "Oh, but I did manage to have my little brother repair that device you had! Etsuo said that one can virtual duel with it. I have with me the other, though I haven't given it a try yet. I figured you could show me when you woke up. And now that you're awake, how about it? Mind showing me?"

The spirit king grinned widely.

He really was a lot like Etsuo. If I didn't know better, I would think he was his dad instead of Daisaru. Though he was his uncle. Etsuo sure was lucky to have an uncle like him.

Meanwhile, I got stuck with an aunt who stole my soul and used me to try to get my dad to hand over his lands to her. Though she didn't know that when she did it.

I smiled back at Skah. "Sure!"

Skah summoned two devices and threw one at me. I hoped that the chip inside hadn't been destroyed. I turned it on and to my shock, it still worked like normal. I glanced at Skah who showed me his. It too was working like normal. Whoever his little brother was, he did a great job!

I showed Skah how to pick his deck. He had the device scan his deck, which it managed to do successfully. "Ready?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Spirit Duel!" the two of us yelled. The hologram field lit up the darkness, shocking Mai.

Skah started off first. "Let your grace and beauty reign throughout the world! Swan of the Night, come forth!"

A gorgeous black swan with closed wings appeared on his side of the field. After a few seconds, it opened up its wings, unleashing a dance of feathers all around it.

"I set a Secret Card down and end my turn!" Skah said with a confident grin.

Did Etsuo not tell him that one can now summon up to three spirits?

I drew a card and smiled. I didn't expect to get the same hand as before. Hopefully this duel wouldn't end up like the last one. I tossed three digital cards at the field. "I summon Solar Maid: Ama, Solar Star Knight, and Solar Key!"

Skah chuckled. "I remember Etsuo mention those. Let me guess, next you'll use one of the new summoning mechanics?"

"Yup!" I said, smiling.

"Wow, he's like a different person," I heard Mai say under her breath.

I raised my hand up, or what I assumed to be up.

"Solar Star Knight, reach for the power to achieve your dreams! Reach for the drive! Solar Key spread your burning prana over Solar Star Knight! Your power will strengthen the mighty knight of the sun! "

The red armored knight reached his hand up and grabbed the solar key floating over it. The key exploded upon touch into red dust which specked the knight. Red rings appeared around the knight and continued to move up and down. The spirit's armor changed as did his physique. The knight became older looking and his helmet was replaced a golden crown with embedded rubies. A red fur cape appeared around the knight while a golden sphere with a cross appeared in his left hand while his right continued to cling to his prized sword.

"Ohhh, this card reminds me of Osamu!" Skah said, grinning.

I gasped. "The king?"

"Yeah. His nickname is the 'Lion King'. It even has the same golden armor and cape as the king. Hahaha, I bet that if Osamu had a deck, he would have that card as his ace too."

I wasn't sure how I felt about that. My dad didn't like the king very much. Was that why he didn't seem to like my deck when I showed it to him the first time? It reminded him of the man who killed his mom?

"You alright, kid?" Skah asked.

"Huh? Uh, yeah," I said, looking up. "Solar King Leo, attacked the king's swan!"

Skah chuckled. "Secret Card, activate! Dawn of Feathers!"

I gasped. This was bad...

"Dawn of feathers repels your attack and sends it to you directly!" Skah said with a jump in his step.

"Gahhh!" I screamed as my points went down to one-thousand. I had forgotten to account for that card. It could only be used when there was one spirit on his side of the field and there were two or more on the opponent side. Wait, that was why he didn't summon more than one!

"Hmph, seems that the new rules only make this card more fearsome!" Skah said, chuckling.

"I place a Hidden Card and end my turn," I said, throwing a digital card onto the field.

Skah chuckled. "Sorry, kid. But it all ends this turn. I summon Rooster of the Midday Sun and Crow of the Midnight Sun! Next I use this here card," he said, flipping the card in his hand over.

I shook my head. He was right, this was the end.

"Celestial Card: Spirit Merger!" Skah yelled at the top of his lungs. "Combine with the sun of the night, oh sun of the day and show your power! Come on forth, Golden Rooster of the Two Suns!"

The two birds merged together to form a golden rooster with tail feathers that shimmered like the rainbow.

"Now, attack Solar Maid: Ama!"

"Nope!" I yelled. "Solar King Leo prevents you from attacking any card other than itself. Next, I activate my Secret Card! Masquerade of the King! I can attach this card to a spirit with 'king' as a title and raise its attack by five-hundred."

Skah's eyes widened. His rooster with 3100 attack turned its sights toward the now stronger Solar King Leo. Upon hitting the lion, the Golden Rooster exploded into magnificent golden flames.

The Spirit King chuckled as his life points dipped down to 3600. "Nice! But you do know what follows, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

I activate Golden Rooster's effect! When destroyed in battle I can call it back with zero attack! Next I activate Swan of Night's effect! When I have a spirit with zero attack, I am allowed to Spirit Call a new spirit! Oh swan of pitch black night and rooster of two brilliant suns, come together as one and call forth the end! I call upon Divine Bird of the Eclipse!"

An enormous black bird with golden armor appeared over the castle. Its eyes peered down at me ominously.

"Pillar of Eclipse!" Skah yelled. The swan attack my Solar King Leo, sending my points down to 500.

"I, survived," I said, grinning.

Skah chuckled. "Yeah, you did. You truly do have the makings of a future Spirit King. But, I am not going to lose here. And so, I end my turn!"

I drew a card. A smile dotted my face. "I use Celestial Card: Origin Source! Allowing me to defuse all creatures on the field!"

Skah chuckled. "Oh boy."

His large bird reverted back into Swan of Night and Golden Rooster of Two-Suns.

I gulped. I had forgotten that he had summoned it using a Merged Spirit. Worst of all, it was back to it's usual attack.

"C-come together spirits, link together and give rise to a new spirit that will light the future! Solar Knight Leo, Solar Maid: Ama, and Solar Key connect!" The three spirit turned into spheres of light and came together in a brilliant clash. "From the ashes of old comes from a new spirit with flames unlike any other! Emerge, Divine Lion!

The three lights fade away, revealing a golden portal in their wake. A silver paw emerged from the portal.

"He... he just Spirit Merged again without using a Celestial Card," Mai said, shocked.

Skah grinned. "Must be one of those other new methods your brother mentioned."

"Yeah, this is called 'Spirit Connection'," I said with a confident smile. "Divine Lion, attack Swan of Night!"

Skah closed with eyes calmly as the lion destroyed his swan, bringing his points down to 3000.

"You gave up a card with 3000 attack for one with 2100. I take it that you have a trick up your sleeve?" Skah asked as he opened his eyes.

"Yup! Divine Lion's ability is that whenever it destroys a spirit on the turn it's summoned, it can absorb the attack of the destroyed spirit as well as its effects!"

"Well, that's handy! So Divine Lion is now 3600. Though you still got a long ways to go if you wish to win."

"I know," I said with a luminescent smile. I placed down a Secret Card and ended my turn.

Skah smiled back. "Well, you outdid my expectations, I give you that." He drew a card and slapped it down. "It's over. I use Celestial Card: Eyes of the Pharaoh. Your Lion loses five-hundred points and gives them to my rooster."

I lowered my head. My smile remained. "Thanks, for giving me this chance to duel you, Spirit King Skah."

My Divine Lion exploded into golden flames as soon as the rooster struck it down with its massive wings. My points went down to zero and the blast sent me flying.

"I got you," Mai said.

I opened my eyes and saw that she had caught me. My face reddened. It was bad enough having to be saved by my siblings.

"T-thanks," I said, averting my gaze.

"You were amazing out there," she said as she put me down. "I didn't expect you to chip away a fourth of my uncle's points away."

I continued to avoid looking straight at her. "R-really?"

I felt a hand pat the back of my head. "Hey, kid. You aren't going to be able to attract anyone like that."

"A-attract?" I asked while I tilted my head at him.

Skah chuckled. "You remind me a lot of Tekeshi. My brother used to stutter from time to time too. Hard to believe he became a legend as well."

"H-he did?"

"Yup! Especially around girls he liked," he said, winking. "Though despite being a bit of coward, Tekeshi grew up to make something out of himself. So, become like my big brother, and take the world by storm!"

I grinned and nodded. "Thanks, Spirit King!"

Mai smiled and sighed. "Just don't go ahead and betray your siblings and dad now."

I gasped. No way... Tekeshi is... 

*Character Section*

Skah Kuroriku- Sex: Male Age: 35~ Origin: Zionia Species: Angel-Abyssmal Being Hybrid Titles: Spirit King, Rooster Pillar, Swan of the Dark Waters, Golden Rooster, Prince of Birds, Prince of the Dark Waters, He who is like light, White Swan, Majestic Dancer of the Depths.

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed this .5 chapter :3. The next full numbered chapter will be out soon ^_^ ;)**