Well, I have the next chapter. The one after this may take a few days, I'm getting writers block. +_+ But I'll get it up as soon as possible. In the meantime, enjoy this chapter.
And to answer Crossover Authoress' question about the blue eyes, yes you will be meeting the rest of them. In fact, as soon as I figure out how to write it, you should see them all next chapter. Well, that's that.
ENJOY !_!
"You know Colonel, you should come out with us on patrol sometime, you might see things that we don't."
"Thanks Celt, I'll keep that in mind. Now, I've been thinking,"
"Oh no, that's a dangerous concept." Magenta spoke in feigned shock. O'Neill ignored her and continued.
"I've been thinking, we are trying to get rid of the shadow realm, but that is what allows you here. What will happen to you when we succeed?"
"We will return to our own realm and only appear here when our masters are dueling or one of the owners of the millennium items uses them to summon us. It's as simple as that." Sol answered, the others in the room nodded.
"I will miss being able to talk to them whenever I wish though. Perhaps we can get the pharaoh to come up with some arrangements."
"We may be able to do that Sol, when this is over, I'll ask him."
"Thank you Dark. Well, it is time for my patrol, Red should be returning soon. Would you care to join me Colonel?" Sol stood giving Magenta a brief kiss on the cheek.
"Maybe next time, right now I'm still trying to get this information straight." Sol nodded in acknowledgement and quietly left. "So, all of you knew Siris before Yami?"
"Yes, she showed up about 100 years before he was born. She was the only human who could travel freely in the shadow realm or in the normal realm."
"How come Yami isn't aware of this?"
"She asked us not to tell, and we never had any reason to. Especially since there was no reason why he would ask."
"I suppose there is logic in that. Of course, it makes me wonder, what exactly is she. She can't be human and live through everything she has."
"Perhaps, but she has never told us and not knowing has never effected how things were done." O'Neill had to admit the truth in Magenta's statement. "Yeah, you three are right. I'll wait until this is over, then maybe, if I remember, I'll ask her then."
"You do that, if you get an answer, let us know." Celt laughed, only to stop abruptly. He sat upright and seemed to be listening to something far off. Dark watched him in concern, about to ask what was wrong when Celt stood up and hastily retreated from the room.
"I have to go, I just realized something. Don't worry, I'll be back soon." Celt left the room, leaving the others staring at the spot he had just been, unable to think of any reason for the sudden departure.
/Could it really be? If this doesn't work out Dark is going to kill me, if this escapade doesn't. Well, here is to hoping./ Celt thought as he flitted from tree to tree towards his destination.
~~~~~**~~~~~
Gracefully Sapphire spiraled down from the sky, landing flawlessly in a clearing. She waited for her passengers to disembark, assisting when it came time to get Kaiba off. As soon as they were all on the ground she shifted into her human form and led them silently through the woods.
They followed nervously. While so far she had not done anything to indicate she was leading them to the enemy, there was also no proof that she wasn't. They reached a new clearing, only this one was difficult to enter, they needed to forge through some bushes first. Once inside they noticed a small cabin. Sapphire motioned for them to get comfortable as she disappeared into the cabin.
"Do you think we can really trust her Ryou?"
"I would think so Major. She could have taken us directly to the castle, but she has brought us here instead, wherever here is."
"This is the hideout of a friend. I'm not supposed to know where it is, but I know many things I shouldn't. Here, eat this, he should arrive soon and we'll start to get things sorted out." Sapphire spoke, handing out some food to the three. She took a seat across from them, watching them intently.
"You are curious about something Major Carter. Do not be afraid to ask." Sapphire smiled, and again the group found they could not help but smile in return. Relaxing slightly Carter shifted positions, and carefully considered her question.
"From what I have been told you are the most powerful and loyal monster in Kaiba's deck. Why would you help us even if it appeared like we had someone who looked like Kaiba? If the master you have been obeying is still there, what would make you even think we might be telling the truth about this Kaiba?"
"That is quite the mouthful. But to give you the simplest answer, all of us have noted that our master has felt a bit odd. If what you say is true then that would explain what we have felt. So, you see, it is to my benefit to help you."
"What if it turns out to be false, a trick on both of us?" Ryou asked, brown eyes clouded with concern.
"Then you and your friends will have lost any advantage you had." Sapphire shrugged.
"I suppose it is a risk we must take. I thank you for your honesty."
"You are a polite one Ryou, owner of the millennium ring. How do you put up with the spirit of that item?"
"He isn't so bad, he just doesn't know how to show what he is really feeling. But I know the truth, and so does he." Ryou stated it simply, gently lifting the ring as he spoke. "It is funny, I still can't contact him, and you would think that there would be nothing blocking me here."
"I must apologize, I don't want any others coming here than I am prepared for." Looking up he noted the sincerity in her eyes and nodded.
"Then I will have to wait till we return. And if he wants to know why I didn't contact him earlier, you can explain it, right Sapphire?" He grinned at her 'who me' response, and then the group fell silent, waiting for whoever Sapphire had contacted. They never heard him enter, not even Sapphire, but he let them know when he arrived.
"I hope I haven't made a mistake in coming here. Could you tell me what is going on?" Sapphire stood and approached him, stopping a few feet away.
"I can't let you know what is going on Celt, I'm not sure. I came across some friends of yours and they are trying to convince me that they have found the real Kaiba. I was hoping you could tell me if this were true."
"There is no way for me to know, but Dark should be able to. Why did you want me to come alone Saph?"
"Because I knew you would listen to me. I want to know if what they say is true, will you allow me to come with you to find out?"
"If they are wrong, we'll lose big time. I don't know if I can take that risk."
"Celt, I could have given them away by now, but I haven't. I will not destroy you if they are wrong, because if they are it is a trick on us both. I would need to find the reason behind that before I did anything to you." Celt pondered her words, and soon came to a decision. He went over to the group and effortlessly picked up Kaiba. He then headed out of the clearing, waiting only a moment for the others to fall into step behind. Sapphire lengthened her strides until she was beside him. A questioning glance from Celt and she smirked, elbowing him lightly as she answered.
"I wouldn't want anything to happen to you before you led me to the base. Besides, that may be my master, and if it is I am bound to protect him." Celt smirked back, but said nothing as he led the way swiftly to the others, hoping that he was making the right decision.
~~~~~**~~~~~
"Yugi, all you need to do is concentrate on what you are trying to do, don't concentrate on the item."
"But, don't I need to control what I am doing?" Yugi questioned, holding the puzzle up.
"The way the puzzle works is to create what you desire. All you need to do is concentrate on creating something and the puzzle will use what it needs to make what you are thinking. So, unless you are trying to do something extremely difficult there should be no problem."
"Isn't that a big if? When we go up against Kaiba finally, it is going to take everything we have. What if Yugi has to do something difficult then." Yami gave a small shrug at Daniel's comment.
"There is no way we can predict that, we must have faith that Yugi will be able to handle it. I do."
\\Yugi, are you there?\\ Snapping his head up, Yugi startled the rest of the crew.
"Is something wrong aibou?" Not sure what to say, Yugi motioned for them to wait a moment while he figured out what was going on.
\Celt, is that you?\
\\Yep. Look, I'm coming back with Ryou and Carter.\\
\That's great. Where did you find them?\
\\Look, that isn't all. Just have Dark meet us in the cellar just inside the entrance. It would probably be a good idea to bring O'Neill, Siris, and Bakura as well, just don't bring too many. Things might get a little complicated.\\
\What are you talking about? What did you do now?\
\\You'll see, just meet us there in about one hour. Things will get sorted out then, okay.\\
\All right, I'll do what you ask. But I'm bringing Yami too.\
\\Good, that should be enough, we don't want to make things too confusing.\\
\Hurry up, they are going to have a lot of questions for me.\
\\Will do.\\ Ending the conversation Yugi looked up. Without a word he grabbed Yami's arm and dragged him from the room.
"Aibou, what has gotten into you?"
"Yami, we need to get Bakura, Colonel O'Neill, Siris and Dark. We need to meet at the cellar. Can you get O'Neill and Siris, I'll get Bakura and Dark."
"Of course, will you tell me what is going on then?"
"You'll know just like everyone else. Meet you there." Letting go Yugi hurried off to where he had last seen Bakura, calling to Dark with their link, telling him where to meet him.