III.

Joey sat there nervously. He was waiting in the airport for his sister and kept finding things wrong with himself. Thankfully, Yami was still with him.

//You're fine. Relax, she'll be glad to see her big brother. Nothing else will matter.//

'Thanks Yami. I'm glad you're here with me.'

//With the others still in classes right now, I wouldn't leave you alone.//

Joey smiled. Yugi was really lucky to have Yami.

"Flight 682 has arrived at Gate C." The voice announced over the speakers.

//Get going Joey. That's her flight.//

Joey got up and ran to the Gate and waited. It seemed that thousands of people were in his way and even more were getting off the plane. But no Serenity.

'What if she didn't come?'

Yami was saved from having to reply, because just then a beautiful young lady with long auburn hair and clear blue eyes stepped into view and turned. Her smile grew as she saw Joey.

"Big Brother!" She made her way through the crowd, which had parted slightly for her. Serenity flung herself into her brother's arms and they both cried for a minute, feeling a bond being slowly healed.

//Told you it would be alright.//

Joey smiled and was sure that Yami's voice had been unusually thick. But who was he to say anything. They finally parted and Joey looked deeply into his sister's eyes. They were completely clear and stared right back at him, looking at his face closely, as if afraid that she wouldn't be able to look at him again.

"How's your eyes?"

"Wonderful! Thanks to you." She hugged him quickly and they both went to collect her luggage. It was silent between them, but there was nothing tense about it.

They were standing outside waiting for their cab and Serenity was looking at the puzzle curiously. She reached out and lightly touched it and Joey could feel Yami start.

//She's a wonderful person and as strong in heart as you are Joey.//

Joey smiled.

'No she's stronger.'

He turned to his sister and gestured to the puzzle.

"I'm taking care of it for a friend and I don't want to lose it, so I wear it."

"Which friend?"

"Yugi." Serenity smiled and then the cab arrived. It was silent until they arrived in front of the Game Shop. Joey started for it with most of the luggage, but Serenity was hesitating.

"What's wrong, Serenity?" Serenity looked up at him and he could feel the hesitation in her eyes. He was so glad that her eyes had been saved. They held so much that would have been lost.

"What if they don't like me?"

//Not possible.//

Joey smiled at Yami and then put the luggage down and grabbed Serenity's hand.

"Trust me. They'll love you." She nodded and they both walked into the shop. Grandpa was there and turned when the door opened. He smiled warmly at the two of them.

"Ah, you must be Serenity. Such a wonderful young lady. Welcome to the shop and my home." He smiled at her and led them both to what was their living room. Inside, to Joey's surprise, was the whole gang.

Yugi smiled and bowed slightly.

"Welcome, we're really glad you could come. I'm Yugi and that's Tristan, Tea, Mai, the Kaiba brothers Seto and Mokuba and Bakura." Serenity smiled at each one and Joey looked on proudly. All his friends could see how happy he was.

Yami smiled at the scene. Joey felt more complete now it seemed. But something was still bothering him and Yami had a feeling he knew why.

Joey wanted to tell his sister everything that happened, but was afraid that she wouldn't believe him. There were experiences that divided them now and Yami couldn't see anyway around them.

/Yami? How is everything?/

//Fine Yugi. I'm going to stay with Joey for a little while more.//

/Have you figured it out yet?/

//Figured what out?//

/I guess not yet./

Yami was left wondering what his light was talking about. He watched from the background as Joey and Serenity got settled in and then slowly all his friends went home. Yugi excused himself to go to bed and it was just the two siblings.

He turned his attention back to the two of them.

"Joey can I see your Deck? The one that gave me my eyes?"

He felt Joey's happiness at this and smiled his own smile. This was the best thing for Joey.

"Here."

They both watched as she went through the deck. She had stopped on a card and Yami wondered which one it was. She turned it to face Joey and Yami was surprised at her choice.

The Flame Swordsman.

"This is your favourite, isn't it?"

"How did you know?"

Yami saw her sigh. "When I thought I would lose my eyes, I learned other ways to know what was going on around me. One of them was to feel and this card is worn down but still well taken care of."

She looked up and smiled. "It suits you. A warrior of fire. Just like you."

He felt Joey's tears and marveled at the girl. As the two continued to talk about the cards something bugged Yami. He checked on his light and saw that he was alright and Joey was fine with him, so what was wrong.

He looked around his soul room and was surprised to see the Dark Magician.

"Brace yourself, Pharaoh."

That was all the warning Yami got before he was sucked into the Shadow Realm. He blacked out and his only thought was,

//Not again.//

He woke up a little while later and looked around. To his surprise Joey and Serenity lay beside him.

"Why were they brought here?"

"We had thought Yugi would be the one to have the puzzle and that he would be brought. But this other had the puzzle and the girl is so close to him that she was brought as well."

Yami turned to see the Celtic Guardian.

"So why are we here?" The elf pointed and Yami looked and saw darkness. It covered most of the Plains and all of the Mountains. "The castle of Dark Illusions lays within it's Heart. Ever since you defeated the Lord, the creatures of the Dark without a Master have gathered there and they raised the castle."

"And with that Darkness any Card going in their would be committing suicide." The elf nodded.

"Well, I can't do it alone and I don't want Joey or his sister to be hurt, but.."

"I'll protect them and they will go with you."

Yami saw the Swordsman and looked down at Joey and than at the Elf. The Elf shrugged.

"Warriors are loyal to our Masters."

Yami nodded and looked back into the Darkness. What he didn't let anyone present see was exactly how scared he was to go into that, so close to his prison and not being able to see. Not being able to avoid it..