"Yes but Ashleigh wasn't born in Egypt. She was given her power, meaning her actual heart turned into a shard, which is COMPLETELY impossible" Aka pointed out.

"That's the only thing I can't figure out." Neferhenta replied. "Unless...."

"Unless what?" Melhana asked.

"Not all vessals for the Shards are able to use their power." Neferhenta pointed out. "It could be that when she was given her powers from the Millennium Items, that was a trigger for the power she already had as a vessal for a Shard."

"Similar to what happened when I spent all that time sharing a body with Atem." Yugi said.

Then Aka remembered having some kind of wings sprouted on her back.
"That's it! She's half angel! When she was given her power, he angel powers kicked in!" she gasped as Saharia entered.

"Which then must have activated her abilities as a Shard." Yugi added.

"Neferhenta," Kasanagi asked in thought. "I know you said not all vessals can access the Shards' power, right?"

Neferhenta nodded. "Yeah." She said, wondering what Kasanagi was getting at.

"But that doesn't mean that they can't learn to use their power." Kasanagi added.

"No, it doesn't." Neferhenta said. "In theory, anyone born as a vessal to one of the Shards has the potential to become a learned mage, even if they never act on it."

Kasanagi nodded. What she didn't know was that, just outside the door, out of sight, another one of the vessals was listening to the conversation. One of the two closest to Kasanagi's heart.

"And here you are talking about the shards" Saharia said, "I thought you are getting ready to go."
"We had a email from mum" Yana said, letting the girl to read it.
"That's her power alright" she said, "And she doesn't want you guys to take her as an ally until the spell is broken."

"Understandable," Melhana said. "If she's under a controlling enchantment, then taking her as an ally now would be suicide."

"By the way, anybody know where Kaiba is?" Neferhenta asked.

"He's not coming." Yugi replied. "I tried asking him earlier. He said he was taking Mokuba out for his birthday, but my guess is his thickheadedness has a part in that too."

"Something's not right there" Aka said, taking out the exact data plate that Dark Ashleigh had. After a few scrolls, she nearly dropped it.
"Do you mind taking a quick detour?" she asked Saharia.
"I don't know, it may be risky" Saharia replied.

"To where?" Melhana asked.

"They're hunting Mokuba down. He's one of the shards" Aka said.
"That's not good" Yana said.

"Not good at all." Yugi said, getting up. "Melhana, you got your bike?"

"Of course I do." Melhana replied.

"We'll meet you guys there. There's something I've got to pick up at HQ before we go charging in." Yugi said, winking at Melhana.

---

"Mokuba! Hold it!" Kaiba shouted after his younger brother. At Mokuba's request, they'd gone to the amusement park for his birthday (and long-overdue, as his younger brother had reminded him). Unfortunately, he was presently having trouble keeping up with said little brother due to the fact that he was still recovering.

"But the cermony starts in half an hour!" Saharia cried out!
"Then tell them to hold it untill you get there" Aka said.
"I can't!" Saharia replied, making everyone freeze.

"Why's that?" Melhana asked. Yugi on the other hand asked no such question.

"Saharia, we'll get there. I promise you that." He said. "Even if we're a little late, we'll get there."

Saharia sadly nodded.
"They hate people being late" she said as she opened the portal and giving a peice of it to Yugi.
"Use this when you are done" and with that, she walked into the remaining of the portal.

---

"The tornament was a really weird one wasn't it?" Mokuba said as Kaiba caught up. But he saw something in his brother's eyes.
"It's about Ashleigh isn't it?" he asked.

Yugi caught it. "If I can help it we won't be late." He said. "But still, we'll be there no matter what." He strode out of the room, Melhana close behind.

"Let me guess what you're going to pick up at HQ; that secret weapon of yours?" Melhana asked.

"Yep." Yugi replied with a nod.

---

Kaiba nodded. "Something doesn't feel right about this whole thing," He replied. What he didn't notice were two figures approaching the two from behind.

"To tell you the truth, Ashleigh wasn't acting like herself anyway. I wonder what's going on?" Mokuba asked.

---

"What are we waiting for?" Aka asked as the wings sprouted again. Yana transformed to her fairy form.
"Let's go!" Yana cried!

"Your guess is as good as mine, Mokuba." Kaiba said. He stopped suddenly, the Rod (which he had stuck through his belt for whatever reason) started getting warm. It was warning him of something. He turned, seeing both Kaimiri and Ashleigh behind him. "Get behind me, Mokuba." He said, moving to shield his younger brother.

"Seto, is that Ashleigh?" Mokuba asked.

Kaiba only nodded, his eyes narrowed in suspicion and fixed on the duo. This is wrong, he thought. He reached under his jacket and placed his hand on the Rod at his belt, just in case he needed it.

---

Melhana met Yugi back outside of HQ with her halberd, safely wrapped in its covering. Yugi was carrying a package of his own, though Melhana couldn't see what it was through the wrapping. "You got any idea where Kaiba and Mokuba could've gone?" she asked, handing Yugi an extra helmet.

"Nope," Yugi replied, slinging the package over his shoulder. "Looks like we'll just have to make an educated guess to find them."

Ashleigh stood there, her eyes blacker than ever.
"Seto, I'm scared" Mokuba said.

"Don't worry, Mokuba, I'll keep you safe." Kaiba told his little brother gently. He turned his attention to the pair. "What are you doing here? What's happened to Ashleigh?"

"Why, she's under my control, Seto Kaiba." Kaimiri replied. "I guess we haven't been introduced. I am Kaimiri, and I'm here to take what's mine."

"And what would that be?" Kaiba asked coldly.

"I guess you must not know then," Kaimiri said. "You'll find out soon enough what I'm after. My dear Ashleigh, restrain Mr. Kaiba, would you? I fear he will get in the way of what I've come here for."

"Yes master" Ashleigh replied, walking behind Kaiba and straining him from there.
"Seto!!!" Mokuba cried.

"Big mistake," Kaiba said, gripping the Rod in his hand. When he pulled his arm forward, he found himself staring down the barrel of a pistol. "Damn it...."

"Dear, take care of our little issue." Kaimiri said, using a spell to turn his hand immaterial and advancing towards Mokuba.

"Stay away from my brother!" Kaiba shouted.

"Yes master."
Ashleigh aimed the pistol at Kaiba's head, and clicked it.
"One wrong move and you're history" she said, just as Melhana arrived.

"Drop the gun!" Melhana shouted, drawing her halberd. She was stopped by Kaiba.

"Stay out of this, Ankh!" He replied, keeping the Rod levelled at Ashleigh. "You too, Yugi."

"Kaiba, use your brain!" Yugi protested.

Kaiba didn't reply. He was about to lunge for Kaimiri when....

BANG

"KAIBA!" Melhana and Yugi both yelled as Kaiba hit the ground, a shot in his shoulder.

Ashleigh walked towards Kaimiri.
"May I request to deal with the intruders?" she asked.