Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh or anything I could be sued for.

I've lost…so many things in my lifetime.

Grant you it hasn't been too long…time is not an issue here.

We never age and we never really multiply either.

But we do die.

We can die in a fight or by an accident.

And when that happens…

Well, I'm not too sure because I've never died.

But I can promise you that many have.

One of the things I've lost…

***
"NOOO!"
As Inteli was about to bring his sword down on my neck, I felt slim arms come around my neck and grip onto me tightly, nearly choking me. "Noooo!" Yami moaned as she buried her head into the crook of my neck. "Leave Celtic alone!" In an instant, everyone was still except the sound of my panting and Yami's sobbing as she continued.
"Leave Celtic alone!" she cried again as she shook. "Don't hurt Celtic anymore!"
Oh Yami...
Inteli was in shock as he stared down at the little crying girl that clung to me. "What?" he asked dumbfounded, his sword falling to his side. Not responding, Yami just shook and cried as she hugged me a bit tighter. See Inteli? I said as I glared up at him. She won't go with you. She knows I care for her better than anyone. Inteli stared at Yami as I nuzzled her with my head. "Stop crying Yami." I whispered as the crowd watched us with interest. "I'm fine...don't cry...please." Inteli could only gape as I sat there, letting her crying turn to sniffles. "Yami doesn't want Celtic to die...Celtic CAN'T die..." she whispered in my ear. "Celtic promised he wouldn't leave Yami alone."
I did make that promise didn't I?

And I intend to keep it.

Unlike others…
Putting away my sword, I used my now free hand to gently stroke Yami's hair, calming her down. "I know." I reassured as I held her. "I'll keep that promise." Feeling my side, I could feel that the wound had reopened, so I looked up at the stunned crowd.
Damn it, do I have to?

Ask Dark Magician for help, and he'll never let you forget it.
"DARK!" I cried into the crowd. "Dark, are you here?" Looking around, I tried to stand, but the pain in my side was too great. "Dark Magician!" I called into the crowds in a loud strong voice. "Is Dark Magician here?" As the crowds whispered and muttered to themselves, I gently pulled Yami off me and hugged her again in a more comfortable way than her bringing my head down to her level.
"Celtic!"
Looking up, I saw the familiar purple hat run to me and slam into the ground besides me. "Celtic, are you alright?" Dark asked urgently as he stared at my pained face. "Yeah..." I gritted as wave after wave of pain hit me. "But Yami needs to get out of here...she's had a...big day." Dark nodded in understanding and gently put a hand on Yami's shoulder. "Yami?" he asked gently as she let go of me, tears still falling. "Yami, come on...I'll get you a drink..." But before Dark could move, Inteli the arrogant idiot pointed his sword to Dark. "Hold it!" he cried. "Just where do you think you're going with that girl? My name is Inteli the master swordsman and I've won her fair and square!"
But Dark wouldn't have any of it.
"Blah, blah, blah." he muttered interrupting Inteli as he picked up Yami on his back with the floating spell he made earlier and putting my arm over his shoulder to pick me up. "Listen..." Then looking back at a confused Yami, he turned back to Inteli and continued, Listen asshole, you have ticked...no, you have really PISSED me off more than you can imagine today. You have tried to take Yami; you've hurt my friend. If I weren't so rushed right now, I'd kill you. Don't make me even angrier by attacking me. I am giving you fair warning right now that I am not one to be trifled with. So get back, or get burned. And with that, we spun around and began to walk away. Inteli stood, shocked that someone to speak to him that way. The crowds now laughing at him for losing a duel and the humiliation Dark put him through. They knew I was the real victor.
Me?
I loved every second of it.
"You!" he growled picking up his sword. "No one calls me that!" And then he charged Dark.

Dark turned slightly around so he could lift his wand. "Yami," he said with boredom. "Please close your eyes."

Yami quickly did as she was told.
Turning my head away, I counted softly. "Three...two...one..."
"Dark Magic attack!"
PWHOOM!
Turning back around with a grin, I saw Dark, grinning like there was no tomorrow and his wand smoking. "Why do they always choose to be burned?" he snickered as he turned again and we walked away.
Inteli?
Inteli was on the ground twitching, smoke rising from him.
Oh it was getting better by the second.
Turning to me, I limped by his side, trying to keep some of my weight to myself.
"So, how was your day?" he asked cheerfully as Yami happily
gripped his shoulders and put her head on his back for a rest.
Meeting Yami's happy eyes and looking back at Dark, I grinned, in spite of my injuries.
"It got better actually."

***

As we all stumbled into the restaurant that we were in earlier, the cook turned around and seeing the three of us, he exclaimed, "Yikes! What happened?" Struggling under the loss of blood and the heat the sun had beat down on me, I tried to speak, but when I opened my mouth, nothing came out. Dark, getting the message, quickly said, "Listen, we need a room with three beds and a nurse or a doctor." The cook walked over and gently took me from Dark's slim frame onto his large and stocky one. "Upstairs in the first room to the right..." he began. But as for me, I was so tired and mangled, I felt the world spin, and then everything went black.
***
Turning around, Celtic saw a man run up to him in his unit and grab his arm. "Sir!" he cried. "There's a messenger here for you! It's urgent!" Nodding, and turning his head, Celtic dashed off for the tent in which the messenger lay.

Upon arrival, I quickly threw back the flap, and what I saw nearly made me run out again. "S-sir…" the bloody messenger said. "I-I have a message for y-y-you." His clothes were torn, his hand bleeding, and his face was sliced in many different areas. His eyes were bright and glazed, and his mouth was twitching uncontrollably. Kneeling down to the man and swallowing his fear, Celtic nodded is head. "Tell me." He said. The messenger nodded and continued. "Sir…Celtic…" he began as he pulled out a letter from his blood soaked clothes. "From Lady of the land of the east, your loved one." Taking the letter, I hurriedly opened it and tore out the contents. It read: "The enemy attacked our home, they…they've destroyed everything. Someone told the enemy where we were hiding the village. I am hurt, and afraid I am near death. I am so weak, I cannot even write this to you myself. Please be safe when this reaches you." And that was all. Throwing down the letter, Celtic ran out of the tent and looked around frantically. Spotting a horse in the middle of a brushing, Celtic quickly ran up and took the horse form the man and rode away.

---

"Hello? Can I help you?" a nurse asked at the hospital door as Celtic watched her open it. Nodding furiously, Celtic cried, "Yes! My name is Celtic Guardian and I'm here to see…" But before Celtic could answer, he nurse shook her head. "I know." She said. "She's been saying your name all day. It's sad really." Taking Celtic inside, the sick smell of blood instantly hit Celtic in the face. "Ugh!" he cried as he raised a hand to his mouth to keep from being sick. The nurse said nothing as she continued to the back. Past the mildly hurt patients, past the ones with broken bones. All the way to the back where a small bed lay, used cloths of blood littering the floor. Celtic slowly made his way up to the last bed, looking at the tons of blood spilled on the floor and the never ending pile of bandages and moans filling the tables and the air. As Celtic reached the bed, he gasped.

There, on her side, his beautiful fiancée lay, her head covered with bandages on one side of her face, her arm in a sling, and her body broken and beaten until she looked almost non-monster. "No…" Celtic whispered as he stared at her. "No…" Slowly, the girl awoke at the sound of his voice and smiled. "Celtic…" she whispered. "I always knew you would come back to me. Now we can live out our promises to each other." Celtic smiled as he brushed past the nurse and sat down beside her bed. "Yes." He whispered as he took her hand, tears threatening to spill over. "Yes, it's me. It's you and me and we're going to be together again. Just you watch." Slowly, the girl nodded as she too, had tears in her eyes. "Yes…" she whispered as she smiled. "I know we will be. But…I'm so tired. Please hold me…until I fall asleep." Celtic smiled and nodded, taking the girl gently in his arms, he sat on the bed and rested the girl's head on his shoulder. Then, the girl sighed and closed her eyes, smiling gently. "I always wanted…for you to hold me like this." Celtic nodded as he closed his eyes as well. "Yes…" he whispered. "And so have I."

Then, after what seemed like minutes to Celtic, but which was really an hour, the nurse gently shook Celtic's shoulder. "Sir…" she said. "Sir…we need to clear the bed please. I have to ask you to leave." Blinking, Celtic slowly looked up at the nurse. "What?" he asked. "What do you mean, 'clear the bed'?" But the nurse only shook her head and stared at Celtic sadly. Looking into her sad eyes, Celtic slowly put the girl down and his eyes widened a bit. "What do you mean?" But the nurse only looked at two other doctors who slowly led Celtic out of the hospital. "We…have to clear the bed." She said simply. As Celtic was shoved outside, before they closed the door to lock it, Celtic turned and yelled, "No, what do you mean?" But the nurse came up behind the doctors and shook her head. Then, staring Celtic straight in the eye, she only frowned.

"She's dead. She's been dead for more than a hour."

Celtic stared in shock. "No…!" he whispered falling to his knees. "She…she can't be!" But he nurse just turned away and the doctors closed the door. Hearing the dead bolt lock snapped Celtic back to his senses. "No!" Celtic cried as he got up and threw himself on the door, banging mercilessly on it. "Open! Open this door now! Open it!" But the hospital was silent as Celtic sank to his knees in defeat, one hand still on the door.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
***
"Celtic?"
"...No..."
"Celtic, answer Yami...please!"
What?
Sitting up, I felt the pain of a thousand needles fall into my side and my arms. "Oww..." I had bandages all over my arms and legs, and one going across my chest.
More cuts?
Again?
Hearing a sigh next to me, I saw Yami looking at me with relief. "Celtic is awake." she said happily. Wincing, I looked around. A doorway hung over to the right side of the little room and a drawer stood next to it. There were three beds, each roughly made and a window in the far corner where the moon glinted through. The room was made of wood, and could catch fire easily.

Fire…

Looking at Yami again, I saw that she had pulled a bed close to mine and was sitting on it, while the box sat next to her. "Yami..." I whispered. But another spasm of pain shot through me and I had to lie back down again. Watching me wince and moan like a dying animal in pain, Yami quickly got up and slid her hand into mine. Saying nothing, she only looked on sadly as the pain almost magically went away.

That's strange.

I was in so much pain in a minute and as soon as Yami touched me, it all went away.

Maybe it was just me.

Gasping and feeling sweat form on my forehead a bit, I looked up at her. "Yami..." I said kind of weakly. "What...happened?" Yami looked at me with sad brown eyes and said, "Celtic...you were hurt so badly...Dark got a doctor here...he helped you and then you woke up."
Impressive.
She's speaking very well.
"Yami..." I began again as I sighed, remembering my nightmare. "Where's Dark at?"
"Over here Sleeping Beauty."
Looking over at the doorway, I saw the grinning magician as he stepped out with a glass of water and a bandage around his arm. "You've been asleep for about two days now. I was thinking about kissing you like they do in fairy tales. You know, the helpless princess..." He pointed to me. "In danger and asleep under a spell. Then the brave knight, namely me," Dark flicked his hair around and brushed his bangs as he sighed to himself in admiration. "Comes and kisses the beautiful...err...the princess and she wakes up. Believe me, I was thinking about it, but then I decided that Yami might be a better candidate."
Yami?
Looking over at her, I grinned. "So did you Yami?" I asked. But when she stared back at me with a genuine confused look and a "Yami doesn't understand. Dark kissing a princess? Is Celtic a princess?" I smiled and put a hand to her head. "I am not a princess Yami." I said as I lay back down.
Funny...
Why do I feel a bit disappointed?
Feeling sleep take over me again, the last thing I heard Dark say, "Oh, man! Well, I guess I better go put on some lipstick..."
He better not...
***
I woke up the next day with a big red mark on my cheek.
"DARK MAGICIAN!!!"

"Hmm…I guess it worked Yami."

"Does this mean Celtic is a princess?"

***

We were still in the restaurant later that day after Dark had…ugh…kissed me. I didn't know where he was, but I could guess he was probably upstairs with Yami. I was sitting at a table next to the window trying to rub the stubborn bight red spot off me when Yami walked up and stood next to my table. "Stupi…oh hey Yami!" I exclaimed after noticing she was there, glad I hadn't said, "stupid magician." "Do you want to sit down?" Taking my offer, Yami nodded and comfortably sat in the seat across from me. "I had another dream." She said with a hint of seriousness. Not really paying attention, I carefully went back to rubbing. "Really? Tell me."

Damn you Dark.

"Yes." Yami said her voice getting more and more serious as she looked out the window that was next to us. "It was the red dragon again."

The red dragon?

Still only paying half attention, I asked casually, "Did he give you another ride?" Shaking her head, Yami continued to stare at the people walking outside and past us. "No." she said almost sadly. "He didn't have too much time to talk." Sighing because the lipstick wasn't coming off that well, I just leaned on my hand to cover it and put my attention to Yami. "Was he busy?" I asked. Yami nodded gently and said, "Very. He was very serious and he told me why he was busy. He has an enemy he has to deal with." Turning my eyes to they looked around at the other people eating; I secretly kept rubbing the lipstick spot. "Who was he so busy with?" I asked.

"God of Obelisk."

I immediately stopped rubbing the spot and turned my eyes slowly to Yami who continued to look out the window. The God of Obelisk? But how? He was the most feared duel monster ever. The blue demon. He was so evil that when he ruled, almost nothing was left in his wake. Not even the strongest of warriors were able to take him down. Until…

Until one day, he just stopped. He had risen to power when two bodies were sacrificed for him, but then all the other followers were killed. Then after only four days of destruction and death, he just vanished. And that was it. But now Yami was talking to a dragon that had warned her about the God of Obelisk?

"Yami…" I began as I watched her turn to me. "I'm being very, VERY serious. It's not good to joke about the God. People around here don't like him very much and if you go around saying his name, people are going to think you're one of his followers. Please be careful and don't say his name again." But Yami surprised me by shooting back with, "But Celtic, the dragon told me that the…you know who…would come and try to take me because of the special thing inside me! Don't you understand? He's going to kill Dark and then you!" Getting annoyed, I put a hand to my forehead and said, "Yami, I don't want to hear about the God. Now…dreams aren't real they're just a figment of your imagination. The dragon isn't real. The God isn't coming back. And Dark and I are not going to die. Don't say it again."

I wish I didn't say that…

Instantly, Yami's eyes grew wide and she let her mouth gape a little. "Celtic…" she whispered her hands tightening in her lap. "The dragon asked me to tell you so you would understand…"

The dragon, the dragon, the dragon!

"He wants you to know that he and his other friend can't help us until I can find that special thing inside of me…"

The special thing again…!

"But if the God gets me first then he will be the one to take over the whole world and he'll kill-…"

"Yami!" I practically shouted slamming my hand on the table. "I don't want to hear it! There is NO dragon, there is NO God, there will be NO murders, and I'm not denying that you are special, but you're just a girl and you can't possibly bring a god to power again! Yami, listen to me when I say, dreams. Are. Not. REAL!"

After my ranting, I was breathing quite heavily. The other people were staring at us, but I didn't care. All of that yelling had really hurt me, but Yami…

Yami was ten times worse.

"I…I understand." Yami said quietly as she let her head fall a bit, unable to look me in the eyes. "I won't mention it anymore."

I'm sorry Yami.

"Yami," I said annoyed. "Just listen. Dreams can't hurt you and they can't kill anyone."

I didn't mean…

Yami said nothing as she got up and began to run away from me and out the door.

I didn't…!

"Yami…" I called weakly as I got up after her. "Yami…no…wait!" Reaching for her, I barely touched her, but she was too far out of reach. "Yami, come back!" I called.

But she was already out the door and had disappeared into the crowds.