Notes: It was Azalea542's idea for some of the Bunch to be related. Also, I deliberately decided to use the dub version of the episode with the child spirits to show how bonkers they rewrote it, lol. (Also because it fit the scene so well.) I love you, dub, but seriously WTH.

Chapter Seven

To everyone's surprise and shock, Yusei was just fine when they pulled up at Poppo Time. He was working on his Duel Runner and looked up with a smile. "Hey, guys. I wasn't expecting to see you back so soon."

"You didn't?!" Radley hopped off his motorcycle and pulled out his phone. "What about this?!"

Yusei stared at the message. "I never got that," he exclaimed. He wiped his hands and took out his phone to be sure. "Have you guys already done that?"

"Yes, we just came from there," Kalin said.

Yusei frowned deeply as he got to his feet. "I'm really sorry, Kalin. You know I would have come if I'd known."

"I know, Yusei," Kalin said. "It's alright."

Radley lightly smacked the side of his phone. "It's not alright that this didn't go through!" he said. "There's no indication it didn't!"

"Sometimes technology malfunctions like that," Antinomy said as he appeared in the doorway holding Monkey.

Scotch hurried over to pet the cat. "What if it wasn't a malfunction, though?" he said worriedly. "We didn't hear back from Ishizu either. What if she tried to send something to us and it didn't go through?!"

Radley froze. "If that happened, then our communications are probably being blocked."

Yusei started to dial. "I'll call Ishizu right now and find out if she was trying to reach you guys," he said. In a moment he had the distressing answer. Ishizu had indeed sent a message, just a brief update that she hadn't learned anything about the medallion. But it definitely hadn't gone through.

"Who would block your communications?" Antinomy frowned.

"Supposing our intruder was a living person, I guess them," Radley said. "But on the other hand, if it was a ghost . . ." His stomach twisted. Were the ghosts cracking down on them that hard?

"I'm riding back out with you," Yusei determined.

"Yusei, things are getting dangerous," Kalin objected. "Scotch and Biff were led out to an underground cave by a ghost last night and almost killed. Now the ghosts are also trying to keep us from talking to the outside world?!"

"That's all the more reason I should come," Yusei insisted. "I want to help. I need to make sure you're all going to be okay."

"We'll both come," Antinomy said.

Kalin was still worried, but he could see their friends would not be deterred. He had to smile a bit at that in spite of himself. "I guess it's unavoidable now; we'll have to talk to the ghosts," he said in resignation.

"Then we'd better get the Big Five too," Billy said.

Kalin nodded. "I'll let them know and see if they can come today." He took out his phone.

As it turned out, the Big Five were very much available and wanted to help. They promised to come, and once they arrived in a limousine, the entire group was ready to set out. Radley and Kalin led the procession back down the highway towards Satisfaction Town. As before, they made good time but the ride was tense.

When they arrived and passed into the area surrounding the town, it felt like they passed through an actual filmy substance. Kalin shot Radley a worried look. The ghosts were locking down the area. Maybe once the whole group was inside, no one would be able to get back out. From Radley's expression, he wondered the same thing. He brought his motorcycle around and to a stop to wait for the others. When they were all through, Radley reached and touched the space. It rippled, but his hand could not pass back through.

"What the heck?!" Crump exclaimed.

"We're stranded in here," Radley said. "The ghosts are getting angrier and angrier. If we can't solve this soon, who knows what is going to happen to the town . . . and to us."

Kalin clenched a fist. "I shouldn't have started this investigation," he berated. "All it did was wake them all up and make them thirst for vengeance and blood."

"Well . . ." Scotch shifted nervously. "Maybe we should follow that map and see what happens? Maybe we can wrap everything up. . . ."

Kalin took the box out from his coat. "We're going to try."

Following the map led all of them out near where the miners' cemetery was. Radley shivered. He had been too afraid to come back to this spot after his near-death experience and had done everything he could to avoid it. He was sure he could feel an unnatural chill against his face.

"I never meant for anyone to die," he whispered sadly. "Maybe it was my fault for agreeing to the duels. I'll accept that part of the blame. But you all agreed to them too. And Malcolm was the one who set you up to die. Why only blame me?"

The cold chill suddenly exploded into a swirling whirlwind starting at Radley's feet and moving up his legs. He gasped in shock. "What . . . ?!"

Everyone spun around. "Radley!" Kalin yelled. He lunged to try to pull his friend out of the danger, but someone else raced past him to beat him to it.

"You are not taking him!" Billy screamed. He grabbed Radley, throwing him free of the spirits. "I'll take his punishment for him! Just leave him alone!"

Radley had sprawled on the ground. He looked up in shocked horror. "Billy?! Billy, no! Don't do this!" He stumbled back to his feet.

"Lord have mercy," Lector gasped. He didn't fully understand what was going on, but he knew enough. "We have to try to save him!"

The rest of the Big Five agreed. All of them activated the rings they had been given for the protection of the world. Johnson's especially, with the power of Wind, clashed with the spirits' attack. The whirlwind broke apart, and Billy collapsed backwards into Radley's arms. He looked ashen.

"Billy?!" Radley brushed the wild hair away from the younger man's face.

Billy gave him a shaky smile. "I saved you, Radley. You're going to be okay now."

"You can't expect them to keep their word!" Radley countered. "They could easily come after me again! Sacrifice isn't the answer; we have to stop them without losing anyone!"

"I . . . don't think that's possible," Billy whispered. "I felt their hate. . . ." He moved closer to Radley. "I'm sorry. . . . I know this hurts you. . . . But . . . I had to save you. I had to prove I was willing to die for you. . . ."

"Oh Billy. . . ." Radley looked up helplessly at the others as they started to gather around the scene. What had the vengeful spirits done to him?! Wasn't there anything that could be done?

Yusei took off a glove and grabbed Billy's hand, feeling for a pulse. "It's slowing," he said in concern.

"No!" Scotch wailed. "He has to be okay!"

Billy looked up at Radley, his eyes glazing over. "Although . . . it feels like I should be alone to die, like you were. . . ."

Radley's heart shattered. "I wasn't alone, Billy," he said. "And you shouldn't be." He shut his eyes tightly as he held his oldest friend close. Help him! Please, someone, help him!

Kalin drew an arm around Radley's shoulders. He didn't know what to do. It was haunting to see Billy like this—and also haunting to know Radley was in such pain yet be helpless to do anything about it.

"Billy, you can't die!" Scotch cried. "Radley will never be the same without you!" He blinked back helpless tears. "None of us will be. . . ."

"Of course we won't!" Marty added. "You're one of us! You . . . you always will be." He gripped Billy's shoulder. "I . . . I know I've always been hurt about what you tried to do to me, but . . . we were scared and stupid. We didn't know how to handle what was going on. I didn't want you to go do something like give up your life!"

Billy gave him a weak smile. "I know. . . . But what else could I have done? Any of us would have done the same for Radley, wouldn't we?"

Marty bowed his head. "Yeah, but . . ."

Suddenly Billy choked. He grabbed Radley, his hand shaking. "Radley, they're taking me!" he exclaimed.

Radley snapped to attention. "What?! What do you mean, they're taking you?!"

"They're . . ." Billy screamed. "They're pulling my spirit out of my body! I don't want to go with them! I didn't think it would be like this! I . . . I'm glad it's not you, Radley, but . . . I . . . I'm so scared. . . ." He burrowed against Radley's shoulder, clutching him with all his might. Suddenly he went limp.

"Billy?!" Radley gently pushed him back. His eyes were open and dead, his expression frozen in fear. "Oh God, no. . . ."

Yusei was sickened. ". . . He still has a pulse," he reported, stunned.

Radley looked at him in disbelief. "How is that possible?!"

"We know all too well that it's possible," Gansley said with a heavy sigh. "Our spirits were separated from our bodies when we were trapped in virtual reality. Our bodies remained comatose."

Lector nodded, regarding Radley with sympathy. "Yugi and the others could tell you of other instances like that too."

Radley was gently closing Billy's eyes with a trembling hand. He looked up with a start of hope. "You mean there's a chance he isn't dead and we can save him?!"

"Yeah, if we can find the ghosts and make them let Billy's spirit go," Nesbitt said.

Scotch jumped up. "Then we have to do it! Aren't they right here, though?!" He looked at the cemetery.

Radley frowned. If they really were the ghosts of the miners, they should be. But Kalin's suggestion from before suddenly came back to him. Was there any chance that he was right and the miners didn't hate him? What if they'd been tricked? What if it was the ghosts of the old settlers who had done this, attempting to frame the miners in the process?

"I don't know," he said at last.

Kalin squeezed Radley's shoulder. "I'll take Billy." It was all he could think of to do right now.

Radley let Kalin lift the limp body. He pulled himself to his feet, looking to the cemetery. "Did you people really do this?" he addressed the miners. "Have you fallen so far in your hate that you would destroy the life of an innocent? If you didn't hurt Billy, please, help us find the ones who did and save him! He doesn't deserve to be cut down like this, no matter what he thinks of himself!"

Orbs of lights rose from each grave, circling Radley and Kalin and then flying up the mountainside.

Biff cried out in horror. "More orbs?!"

". . . They don't feel malevolent," Radley said. "Maybe they really didn't do this. . . ."

"They might be going into the mines," Kalin said as they all hastened to follow the lights. "But on the other hand, they could be following the map."

"Just as long as they lead us to Billy," Radley said. He started to scale the mountain.

The others followed, Kalin being especially careful since he was still holding Billy's body.

Yusei came up to him on the path. "Things are escalating too fast," he said in concern. "Why did the spirits go after Radley if they weren't the miners?"

"I don't know," Kalin said. "Radley thought maybe his and Malcolm's war awakened the old settlers, so maybe that's why. Maybe they blamed him for not being able to continue resting in peace."

"And taking Billy's soul . . ." Yusei shook his head. "Why that?"

"Either just to be cruel, or . . ." Kalin suddenly paled. "What if they need a soul for some evil ritual?! Maybe they have to weaken the body to take it. That could be why they tried to kill Scotch and Biff last night."

"Maybe," Yusei said slowly, not convinced. "It could just be as simple as wanting the living to join them. I was always disturbed by this story Leo told me about he and Luna meeting some spirits in the forest outside the City. They'd apparently been killed years earlier by some forest spirits who wanted playmates. The little girl insisted the forest spirits weren't evil because they just wanted to play. Well, maybe it was true that they didn't really understand what it was to kill a person, but the fact is that they still did it."

"These spirits definitely don't want to play," Kalin said.

"No, they might want the living to join them so they'll all suffer," Yusei said.

Kalin sighed wearily. "I absolutely have the feeling they're out for blood," he agreed. "I just don't know how to calm them down."

"You and Johnson might be the keys, since you're the descendants of the warring settlers," Yusei said.

"Or maybe Radley's wrong and sacrifice is the only way to stop this," Kalin said. "Maybe Johnson and I will have to . . ."

"No! No, don't even think that!" Yusei gave Kalin a stern look. "It's bad enough Billy felt like he had to do that to redeem himself. If Radley has to lose you too . . ."

"We're going to get Billy back, though," Kalin said. "Radley will still have him. . . ."

"Kalin!"

Kalin jumped. He very rarely heard Yusei get that upset.

"Do you still not really understand your own worth?!" Yusei clenched a fist. "I was hoping when you almost died in that mining accident it would have driven home how much you're loved."

"I do know, Yusei, but . . ."

"No!" Now Scotch was running over to them. "No, you are not going to do this! You're not even going to think about doing it!" He didn't even try to hide the tears now. "We all care about you, Kalin! And Radley loves you so much! You didn't see what happened to him when he thought you were dead! He couldn't act like that about Billy because he had all of us to be strong for, but when he thought you were gone he completely fell apart! It was awful. . . ."

Kalin stared at him, then looked away. Radley and the Bunch had told him some of what had happened that night, and Kalin knew Radley was still shaken by it. The thought of hurting him further—of hurting any of them—twisted his heart.

Radley was coming back over too, the raised voices alerting him. "Kalin, I won't believe sacrifice is the solution here!" he cried. "And do you honestly not think it would break me in pieces for you to do that?! What about what we were talking about of how no one can ever replace a lost loved one?! What about everything I said to you last night?! Does that mean nothing?! Everything I said was from my heart! I meant every word."

"I know," Kalin told him. "It means everything to me, and I meant when I said I felt the same. But . . . sometimes sacrifice is necessary, unfortunately. I only mean that I would be willing to do that to save you and this town, if I have to. Just like Billy was willing to. And . . . just like you were willing to in the Duel Monsters' world."

Radley looked down at the lifeless form in Kalin's arms. ". . . It's because of what happened in the Duel Monsters' world that I can't let that happen again," he said softly. "My death shattered you. Billy's sacrifice has shattered me." He took Billy's cold hand between his. "I can't lose you, Kalin. And the Big Five shouldn't have to lose Johnson. I have to believe there's another way."

"I hope there is," Kalin said.

"There is, and we're going to find it," Yusei insisted.

"Yes!" Scotch exclaimed. "So let's save Billy and everyone else too!" He ran ahead to the nearest mine opening. "Those orbs are going in here!"

Everyone warily followed him in. This was another section of the mine not often used. The machinery had been built, but it stood silent, as it had for months.

And then suddenly, it wasn't.

"What the heck?!" Biff screamed. "The conveyor belt just turned itself on!"

"Obviously the ghosts did it," Antinomy remarked, as Monkey yowled and hissed in fright.

Nesbitt looked around, worried and tense. "So did we just walk into a trap or what?!"

Radley stepped forward, steering clear of the conveyor belt just in case any malevolent spirits might try to push him onto it. "Hello? Where are you?"

Everyone jumped when several orbs swirled into view and took on the appearances of men. Radley rocked back. He recognized all of them—Duelists he had hired who had lost to Malcolm and been killed slaving for him in the mines.

"Radley," one of them said, stepping forward. "We're not angry with you."

"Drew," Radley said in surprise. "I thought . . . I thought all of you hated me and blamed me for what happened to you. . . ."

"Maybe a few of us had thoughts like that at first, but no! We were looking for someone to blame, but it shouldn't have been you," Drew said. "You never wanted anyone to be hurt. We were just greedy, or selfish, or lost in despair. And Malcolm was the real enemy. He didn't care if people died in the mines. When you died, some of us were sadistically glad about it. But then we saw how afraid you were, and how people still loved you, and we realized you didn't deserve our hate. We wanted you to live. We're not behind what's been happening in town."

"Then . . . it really is the original settlers?" Radley asked. His feelings were mixed. It was a relief to know the truth about the miners. But they still had very real enemies to stop and Billy to save.

"Yeah, it is," a red-haired spirit said as he came forward.

"Mike. . . ." Radley went over closer to them. "Do you know why they've taken Billy's soul?! We have to find them and get it back!"

Mike gave him a sad smile. "You still remember all our names. I guess . . . for some of us, you're the only person who still does.

"They took Billy out of hate. They both hate you and Malcolm for disturbing them and starting war again in Crash Town. They really wanted you, but took Billy when he offered himself in your place."

Drew nodded. "If you follow the conveyor belt, you'll find them. Unfortunately, we don't know how to get Billy away from them."

"They really hate each other the most, even all these years later," Mike said. "It's pretty sad. They're completely swallowed up in it."

"There has to be a way to stop this chain of madness without sacrifices!" Gansley said, slamming his cane into the floor.

"We'll come with you, but I don't know that we can do anything," Drew said.

"You're all spirits," Gansley retorted. "Can't you help Billy?"

They looked at each other. "We can try," Mike said. "But we've been trying all along to reason with these guys and they just keep getting angrier and angrier."

"I guess you don't know what really happened years ago, do you?" Kalin asked. "And whether the shooting was justified?"

A woman dressed in period clothes walked over to them, her expression tired and sad. "Honestly, they both wanted to kill," she said. "That was all they cared about. Thaddeus tried to kill Mr. Kessler first, but Mr. Kessler was all too happy for an excuse to gun him down and get away with it. So I don't know if you can say the shooting was justified or not. Technically, going by the law, yes. But going by what Mr. Kessler felt . . ." She shook her head. "I just want this all to be over. But as long as their hate persists, we linger on too."

"You're . . . his sister," Johnson said in surprise. "My ancestor. . . ."

She smiled a bit. "Yes. You have a family resemblance."

"Do you think there's any chance that Kalin and I can talk them down?" Johnson asked.

"No," she replied matter-of-factly. "But I know you want to try."

"We have to try," Kalin said.

"And honestly, if all else fails, we'll have to seal them away to continue their hate in another realm," Gansley said. "We can't have it poisoning and endangering this town and all of the people."

"I'm sure that's what you'll have to do, alright," Miss Johnson said wearily. "They don't want to stop."

"Hey," Scotch spoke up, "what about the things you wanted kept safe by your friend? Was it old jewelry and a map to someplace?"

"Yes," Miss Johnson said. She started walking towards the conveyor belt. "Let's start heading over there while we talk."

Radley hurried after her. "What was so important about those things?" he asked. "Especially the map? Could it have any bearing on this mess?"

"The jewelry is valuable, of course," Miss Johnson said. "The map . . . well, it leads to the start of the tunnel system that runs under the town."

Kalin blinked in surprise. "Is there anything in the tunnels now?"

"There are a lot of different things, mostly dirt," Miss Johnson smirked.

"We nearly died down there last night!" Scotch exclaimed, indicating himself and Biff. "A ghost tried to kill us by leading us there!"

"Yes, that was my brother, unfortunately," Miss Johnson said.

"Charming," Gansley grunted.

They followed the conveyor belt into the next chamber. This one was much more spacious, with high ceilings and walls far apart from each other. It also carried a far more ominous feeling.

"Does anybody else feel like we just entered a freezer?!" Jimmy exclaimed. He moved closer to Virgil, who was his cousin and close friend.

Biff gripped Scotch's arm. "That means there's ghosts here!" he said. "The bad ones!"

"And they have Billy!" Scotch reminded him.

"And there they are," Antinomy said.

Everyone looked to where he was pointing. The evil spirits were indeed materializing on a ledge high above the conveyor belt. A translucent Billy had been forced to his knees between them, a ghostly dagger held to his throat.

"Billy!" Radley screamed.

". . . Can they really hurt him with that?!" Marty exclaimed.

"We don't want to find out," Yusei said.

"The weapon exists on the spirit plane, so yes, they could hurt him," Miss Johnson said in concern. "Nothing can be done unless we can get the knife away from them."

"No!" Radley moaned.

"Something doesn't make sense," Kalin said. "If they hate each other so much, why are they united on this?"

His ancestor looked over at him. "We hate you people more," he spat. "We were dormant until you reawakened us with your greed and your insistence on mining this dyne. You're going to pay."

"If you'll pardon me, it sounds as though you want to rest in peace," Lector said. "If you could both let go of your hatred, you might be able to do that. I know it isn't easy; my friends and I struggled for a long time with letting go of our hate. But when we decided our friendships mattered more, we were able to set it aside. Don't you two care about anyone? What about your wife, Mr. Kessler? And your sister, Mr. Johnson?"

"They long ago turned against us," Thaddeus Johnson replied.

"Objection! They're still here, waiting for you both to give up your hatred so you can all move on together," Johnson said. He gestured to Miss Johnson still standing near him.

"Yes, that's true," she said. "Even when you were dormant, your hate still bound you here. We can't move on either, because we don't want to go without you!"

"Please, just let Billy go," Radley pleaded. "Even if you can't stop hating me or each other, don't take it out on him."

Mr. Kessler's eyes suddenly glinted. "I have a better idea." In a flash, he had disappeared from the ledge.

In the next moment, Billy's eyes snapped open and he leaped down from Kalin's arms with a maniacal cackle.

"Now I can live again!" he said in what most definitely was not Billy's voice. He shoved Kalin aside and ran towards the conveyor belt. To everyone's shock, he jumped up on it and ran down it to the yawning doorway at the end of the room.

"He's possessing Billy's body?!" Radley burst out in horror.

"The entrance to the tunnels is near there!" Miss Johnson exclaimed. "We won't be able to find him for ages if he gets inside!"

"How did I know there was going to be another complication?" Radley snarled as he gave chase.