I think I know about what too, Neferhenta thought. She didn't voice her thoughts out loud, as she still sensed the enchantment that was over everyone.

"Well, we should be going on stage now. They will have the words up since we haven't rehersed it" Aka said, and all three walked to backstage.

Once the three of them were gone, Yugi breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks for that, Melhana." He said.

"Don't mention it." Melhana replied. "But you still owe the rest of us an explanation, so don't go thinking that you're off the hook just yet."

"This is the part of the tornament where we give out the awards and listen to preformers. Yes, it's the Closing Ceremony! First up is 3 out of our 4 preformers, Kasanagi, Akatenchi and Yana!!" said the announcer. When the music started, Kasanagi was sitting on the chair, the back facing forward, Aka on the railings and Yana leaning to the side, the set up of the stage was a tagg scene.

Those forced out of the system,
All those fallen out of the loop...
Let's hear your roar!! ...Er, what's that?
I suppose that would be the howling of underdogs?

- No money
- No time
- Can't find a job
- Can't pass exams
- Can't get married...
Poor, poor me!
All the fault of the recession, eh?

Things won't go how I like them to,
And I don't have the courage to fight about it,
Nor any connections to get through the back...
So hey, what am I to do?!

Is it my fault I'm bad?
Yeah, I suppose it must be, huh?
I mean, it's gotta be all me!
It's always all my fault, isn't it?!

Why is it, or so it always seems,
They're always two steps ahead of me?
Effort? Talent? Or is it all luck?
Well, nuts! \(^o^)/ I lack all of that!

Let's say my lack of ability is all in the genetics
I'll even cross the starting line;
Did you just put it there for aesthetics?

- No confidence
- No skills
- No hobbies
- No topics
- No friends...
Wait wait, really?
It must be talent that got me this far!

My dreams as a kid were laughably overblown,
And they fell a little out of reach...
So hey, what am I to do?!

It's all THEIR fault I'm bad!
Heck, this whole town is at fault!
On top of that, this era, too!
And while we're at it, screw the weather!

Ever since we were born, we've all been at different starting lines
Ah, pointless, this is impossible! I give up!
Stop iiit! Talk about brutal!

I only need a teensy bit to catch up;
In finances,
In culture,
In guts,
In sense,
In motivation...

Plus if my parents were celebrities,
My life would be rose-colored sunshine, no doubt...
Oh, such a shame!

Doesn't everyone think so?
Really, don't you think so?
I'm just living as I really am;
Stop trying to be such honor students!

Since before I crossed the starting line, I've lamented the distance to the goal...
Argh, somebody switch on my motivation!
Shove me from the back...

Is it my fault I'm bad?
Yeah, I suppose it must be, huh?
I mean, it's gotta be all me!
It's always all my fault, isn't it?!

Why is it, or so it always seems,
Even though they come from behind, they're ahead?
Effort? Talent? Or is it all luck?
Well, nuts! \(^o^)/ I lack all of that!

The crowd roared with applause, despite the girls didn't get a chance to pratice.

Kasanagi bowed with the other two girls, and left the stage as it was cleared for Sakura. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to change and watch Sakura from the stands." She said, heading for the dressing room and her jeans.

"I be taking my laptop....." Yana started but got interupped by a man, no older than 30.
"Are you Miss Yana Motou?" he asked.
"Um, yes?" Yana answered.
"May I have a word with you alone?" the man asked. Aka knew that it was her que to join Yugi.
*******
"Yana's talking to this man. I'm not sure what to make of it" Aka told Yugi who was in the VIP booth.
"I seen that guy before. He's Kasanagi's Record Producer" Max replied.
"Record Producer?"

Kasanagi joined them soon after. "Seems he's heard something he likes too." She said.

---

Selena stood behind the curtain as the announcer thanked the sponsors and duelists, and everyone else who'd had a hand in the tournament. That's odd, I thought Kaiba would've had a few words to say at the end of all this. She thought.

Selena was in her guise as Kamikaze Sakura, and had changed out of her Turbo Dueling outfit. She now was wearing a black tailcoat with gold trim, a rust-colored vest that was embroidered with a steampunk design to match the one on the cuffs of her tailcoat, a black dress shirt with a white tie, which had a bronze gear butterfly pin on the knot, gray gloves with black fingers, black breeches with a red stripe down the outside the legs tucked into high-heeled, shiny black boots with the tops turned down, with the heels and the tops both being gold. Her hair had been braided and slicked back off her head, with gold strands weaved into the braid, which was held together with a clip that matched the pin on her tie. She'd applied dark wine-colored lipstick, gold eyeshadow, fake eyelashes that were black and gold, egyptian-style eyeliner, and red colored contacts.

She sat down at the piano that was alone on stage, and played.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8GIo_YDHkU

"What is a Record Producer?" Aka whsipered to Kasanagi.

---

"Welcome back" Dark Ashleigh said as she still holding Sho in her hands.

"He helps a singer make an album and get it advertised." Kasanagi whispered back. "Mine is Kurogi-san, the man who's talking to Yana right now."

As the last notes of the song faded out of existance, the crowd clapped and cheered. "Yugi," Kasanagi asked over the cheering, "why didn't Kamikaze Sakura become a musician? She could've even beat her fame as a duelist!"

"I'm not sure," Yugi replied. "I agree with you though."

---

Kaimiri nodded in reply. "I see you've been successful." He said, seeing the unconcious form of Sho Marufuji in Dark Ashleigh's arms.

"I told you we won't be in the protection spell" Dark Ashleigh replied, "And I'm planning to grab Melhana a few minutes before the spell is cast. I know it's risky but it's worth a try."

---

"But there is no way she's dropping the duelist act, not just yet I presume" Aka replied.

Yugi shook his head. "No, she's not." He replied as the last closing remarks were made. After which, the stadium emptied out. "In fact, I don't think she ever will."

***

"Good luck," Kaimiri replied. "But before you go, be sure to secure the boy in a cell, so that he doesn't try anything."

"DAD!!! DAD!!!!!" Yana yelled at the top of her voice, with the laptop bag on her shoulder, "I got some news!" Aka looked at Kasanagi.
"What do you think?" she asked.

---

Dark Ashleigh thought for a moment, then smiled.
"Why not let goody-two shoes do it?" she suggested.

A smile touched Kaimiri's lips. "An excellent idea. It'll give me a chance to see how well that enchantment works on her." he replied.

---

"I think I'll let Yana give the news herself. No need to spoil it for her." Kasanagi replied, recognizing the same glee she'd had when she got her first recording contract.

"What is it?" Yugi asked, trying to get his daughter to settle down and stop jumping up and down.

"That guy was Kurogi-san, one of the best record producers around. And he wants me to do a demo!!! If I do well, I get a record contract!!!" Yana said. Everyone gasped.

---

"But I still put this one in the dungeon. one cuff to the ankle?" Dark Ashleigh said.

"Congratulations!" Yugi said, giving his daughter a hug. "I'm sure you'll get it."

"Same here!" Kasanagi said, grinning. She gave the girl a thumbs-up.

---

Kaimiri nodded. "Sounds all right. He doesn't have any magical potential anyway, so we'll be safe."

"Then, lets go to the dungeon!" and then the pair (draggong Sho) walked to the elevator.

---

"You sure? He wants me to sing Regret Message, which I haven't gone around practicing yet" Yana said, sitting down and taking out her laptop, "Oh, mum was able to send an email."

"What does it say?" Yugi asked.

---

Once they were in the elevator Kaimiri led Dark Ashleigh to the cell he intended to place Sho. "Here we are. Be sure to make sure he's at home." He said sarcastically.

"Ok, I can stay for awhile" Dark Ashlegih said as she placed Sho in the cell and clipped the cuff to his leg. then she left the cell, shutting the door behind her.

---

"I haven't opened it yet" Yana said, setting it up again and headed straight to the emails.

Melhana joined the small group. Her eyebrows met, creasing her forehead. "Something wrong, guys?" She asked.

---

"Damn."

Fubuki looked up. "What's wrong?" The dragon duelist asked.

"Sho isn't answering his phone." the Kaiser replied. "That's not like him. I'm worried."

"Another one of your hunches?" Fubuki asked.

"Same one as before." Ryu replied. "Something's happened to Sho, but I don't know what."

Yana opened the email.

Everyone it said,
I know this is going to sound weird, but I'm one of the vessals of the Sharrds.
I don't know long I have left to live but Kaimiri said he has plans and he wants me alive to see them.
Also, I know that he has some spells that he knows that we don't. I also know, when he finds out that I sent this, he will use a controlling spell, making me to go against you. Only a true loves kiss can break the spell.

Anyway, I'm alright for now, but for how long, I don't know. Melhana, you have to look after Aka for me untill I return. It's really important that she helps you.

I must go. The alarm will go off at any minute. And congratulations Yana for scoring the demo. You be fine. I promise.

I always be with you in mind and spirit,
Ashleigh.
P.S, if the shard is taken away from me, I got another form that will help kick butt. Don't worry about me.

"How d'you think she knew about you getting that demo offer?" Kasanagi asked. Yugi still had his eyes fixed on the email. Even though Ashleigh told them not to worry, he couldn't help but want to rush in and help his wife.

"Yugi, I know that look. No." Melhana said. "You've been around Jonouchi and Atem for too long. You're being a hothead."

"Wha--Melhana, I'm not going after Ashleigh. Not yet anyway." Yugi replied.

"Don't give me that bull crap." Melhana said. She switched to the ancient dialect of Egypt. "The moment you go in there you'll get yourself killed. If they've got the ability to control Ashleigh and make us think she's all right, then I'm damned sure they'll be able to detect your aura before you even think of activating it."

"I won't get killed." Yugi replied in the same languate, albeit with an accent that Melhana lacked. "I'm just as capable a mage as you are."

"Yeah, and you're not thinking properly either." Melhana replied in exasperation.

Aka, who was quite for a while spoke in a serous tone.
"Her power is connected with the Millenum Items" she said, which made everyone jump.

"What?" Yugi and Melhana asked in unison.

"How?" Yugi asked.

"The one who orginally had the power which was Power of Isis, sacrficed herself to try and stop the creation of the items. A bit of the magic which was used to create the items was added to the power, meanining the power changed to the Millienum Items magic. That means, Ashleigh is able to use what the items was orginally used for" Aka explained, "but what Kaimiri, and most of us don't know that her power is not just have the power of the Items anymore."

"What other power does she have?" Yugi asked.

Neferhenta appeared in spirit form. "The Tharankh Yashara, or Shards of Truth as they're called today." She said. "They're...." She hesitated. "Their numbers aren't known by anyone. There could be a few, hundreds or thousands, or even only one. Like anyone else, I don't know. What I do know is that they've been around at least since Ancient Egypt."

"That's what Ashleigh means by saying she's one of the Shards." Melhana said. "But...I'm still a bit on the foggy side."

"She's a vessal for one of them." Neferhenta continued. "The vessals for the Shards are born with them in their bodies, as their hearts. They're the same shape and size as a normal human heart, and they perform the same function, but they're solid crystal. I know it's weird, but it's true."