Sigh Sorry I'm taking so long, but hurray! Guess whose finally finished with finals?! Me, that's who! falls back My brain's pretty much toast, though, so I've been struggling a bit with this chapter.

Um...I don't think there's anything terribly special you need to know about this chapter...just enjoy it!

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Yugi struggled against the firm grip, his shrieks and cries for help muffled by the hand that covered his mouth. He used his fingernails to claw at the arm around his waist, grunting in satisfaction as he heard a sharp intake of breath as he dug deep enough to draw blood. The arm around the slim waist tightened as Yugi's captor's hand released from his mouth to grip his hands instead. Yugi tried screaming again, but the arm was so tight. He was barely just getting air into his lungs. The edges of his vision were starting to grow black.

"You're not going to pass out on me just yet, little runt," a familiar voice growled. "You don't give off as strong a signal when your unconscious."

Yugi felt the grip lessen and took a deep breath. He groaned as pain shot through his head from the sudden rush of oxygen. The jolting from the running of his captor wasn't helping either.

Suddenly he was thrown against a wall, landing in a rather crumpled heap amidst the dust of the floor. The instinct to survive took over, and despite his pain, Yugi quickly scrambled up to face the other person. His eyes went wide.

"Bakura?!"

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The Spirit of the Ring smiled at the runt's exclamation as he pulled out his Millennium Item and watched the pointers split into two directions. One signal was very strong; four of the metal points were aimed at Yugi. One other point was glowing faintly back down the tunnel he had just come through. But that signal was getting stronger.

"Yes and no," the spirit said, keeping one eye on the boy to make sure he didn't try escaping and the other on the growing presence. He smiled, noticing how quickly the guardian was rushing to his charge. Either he had finished the duel quickly, or he had surrendered on the boy's behalf. The former point would be truer of himself, but this was the noble spirit that had declared that "his friends were never a waste of time." "Bakura" sneered. Ki's foolish bravery and devotion would be his undoing.

"You're the Spirit from the Ring!" Yugi said. "But...but I banished you!"

The spirit narrowed his eyes, rage flaring up deep within him. Yugi pressed himself farther into the wall. The other let the glare last a little longer.

"You'd do best to be silent from now on," he hissed, his attention drawn back to the ring. The signal was strong enough now that Ki wouldn't need to home in on the puzzle around the brat's neck. The spirit turned around and smiled cruelly. Yugi did his best to look unafraid. The little duelist lost his nerve when the stronger man walked over and picked him up by his collar.

"Let go of me!" Yugi yelled, kicking at his friend's body. The spirit snorted and grabbed the Millennium Item around Yugi's neck. The smaller of the two's eyes went wide, and he clasped his own hands over the slender, white fingers. He dared to glare at the spirit.

"Never," Yugi hissed. The Spirit of the Ring was a bit shocked and amused at the boy's determination. But determination wasn't going to win this battle. Yugi found his hands pried away with little effort, and the leather cord easily snapped as the spirit jerked the puzzle back hard. Yugi fell to the ground as he was released, biting down hard on his lip to keep from crying out anymore.

Ki's presence had never felt fainter than it did now. It scared Yugi more than he ever imagined it would. He was so used to the spirit's emotions and thoughts nestled in the back of his mind like a second conscious that sudden disappearance of it was heartbreaking.

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Ki clutched at his chest as he felt his still beating heart being ripped away. He gripped the side of the walls as the pain overwhelmed him, then slowly faded. Growling, the spirit continued down the path. He could no longer sense his counterpart, making the going only tougher. He was completely blind.

"Yugi!" Ki cried out, hoping the boy might respond. He needed a clue, any clue. The puzzle had obviously been taken from his companion, which only made Ki's chest tighten in fear. "Yugi!"

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Yugi looked up as he heard Ki's voice. It was near, almost teasing him with its proximity. He started to open his mouth, then looked up at the spirit hovering around him. His captor smiled and nodded.

"Please call out to him. It," he said, holding up Yugi's puzzle, "doesn't work so well if half the power is missing."

Yugi shut his mouth and narrowed his eyes. If Bakura's dark spirit wanted Ki, he wasn't going to get any help from Yugi. The spirit raised a slender brow and smiled.

"We don't want to corporate?" He made a tsking noise with his tongue. "What a bad little boy you are. Do you know what happens to bad little boys?" There was a glint in the spirit's eyes as he approached Yugi.

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Ki felt an explosion of fear before he heard the scream.

"Yugi!" he cried, running in the direction of the echoing wail.