Hey guys, GG here.... well, quite a chapter the last one was. So Sydney is gonna go all Xena on the monster's ass. LOL. Anyways, I'm afraid there is only one more item for them to achieve after this one and than the final chapters will begin. I can't believe it, but the end to this story is near... ::sniffs:: I'm so saddened... but there still is time! SO I will enjoy the rest as best as I can! So please read on and don't forget to read & review!

Disclaimer: You know the drill.

Chapter Nineteen: The Fight, Escape and Desperation

Joey growled as the rope brushed painfully over his wrists again. He had to find a way to get out of the binds he was tied with and he needed to escape from where ever he was. He knew if he was in trouble than Tea was in trouble too. He let out a sound of frustration and wished that he could get a hold of Tristan. The moron was probably at home sleeping, looking after his sister. Of course, he had volunteered to take care of Serenity at his house instead of his own, knowing that she might be in danger but now Joey was beginning to think that maybe that wasn't such a good idea. He knew Tristan liked her, it didn't bother him that much, it was the fact that he wasn't here with him that angered him. If they were together, he knew he'd be able to escape with his help.

At that moment the door suddenly swung open and a figure casted its shadow on the blonde. A bright light poured through the door and Joey yelped as it blinded him.

"Hey, could ya turn down da lights?!" Joey asked angrily as he struggled to keep his eyes closed,"If ya wanna torture me, than make me watch Oprah or somethin'!"

"I thought maybe you'd like a way out of here," A voice thick of a british accent caused Joey to force his eyes open and examine the figure.

After a minute of squinting, he was able to make out the figure.

"Bakura?!" Joey exclaimed in shock, surprise and relief,"How in da heck did ya find me?!"

"It's quite a long story but," Bakura continued as he stepped towards him and began to untie the tight binds from around his wrists,"I suggest we save it for later. I knocked the guys out but they could be coming at any second."

Joey nodded quickly a couple times as his arms finally became free,"Thank god! Those things were really startin' ta hurt! Let's get out a here!"

Bakura nodded with a wide smile,"Come on! I know the way."



'Man, she is haulin' butt.'

Kaib watched as the battle unfolded in front of him. Sydney handled her staff with ease as the creature headed for her, reaching to grab her but only meeting with air as she jumped and landed on his shoulder, using her staff and slamming it down on the rough skin with a single thrust downward. The creature yelped and grabbed for her again but she merely dropped down from his shoulder, landing on the ground. She turned to looked back at the creature quickly than flipped backwards as he shot at her once again. He missed and slammed into the ground, causing the stone and tile to rip from the floor, causing a gaping whole filled with rubble to form. Yami and Kaiba jumped back slightly and looked at Sydney once more.

The creature roared angrily and turned, raising his arms to release claws from his arms, creating two long sword shaped claws protruding from its wrists. Sydney simply blinked than raised her staff to meet one of the claws as he thrusted it forward with lightning speed. She than ducked to the floor quickly once he raised his other claw, sending it to decapitate her and only met with a pillar, slicing it and causing to it crumble to the floor. Sydney stood quickly and ran towards a nearby wall as he chased her with his claws, constantly slicing at the ground as she went, causing the floor to rip into more torn rock and tile. Once she met with the wall she merely held tightly onto her staff and ran up it, flipping over and onto the creature's back as he sliced for her again, causing a deep gash in the wall and causing it to buckle slightly.

She held the staff high above her and turned to Yami and Kaiba quickly as the creature continually tried to reach for her.

"Hurry you two, grab the Oricle!"

Yami and Kaiba exchanged glances. They weren't exactly thrilled to do as she asked, considering the creature was still standing before them and after seeing the damage he caused to the museum, they didn't want to risk it.

"I will go," Kaiba suddenly choked out, surprising himself, "I'm faster anyways."

Yami looked to him in disbelief,"You could get seriously injured you know that, don't you?"



"Like I have a choice," Kaiba barked in response,"I run faster than you. It'd take you forever to grab for that thing."

Yami sighed and nodded,"Fine, I suggest you go now. I doubt Sydney can distract him for much longer."

Sydney looked to see Kaiba suddenly take a couple steps forward and she almost swore outloud, nearly causing her to lose her concentration as the creature once again raised his claws and reached back desperately for her, trying to get her off of his back. Kaiba took a couple more steps than broke out into a full sprint, aiming to get the Oricle as fast as he could. Sydney was angered that Yami had let Kaiba go for it. She had assumed Yami would have merely used his powers to retrieve it but he must have forgotten he still contained such power.

Kaiba reached the case rather quickly but couldn't figure out how to get the Oricle out. He looked to the side, and then to his other, looking for something to break it open with. His eyes suddenly landed on a exhibit that contained two stainless steel swords and practically cheered outloud. He ran for them, lifting one and returning to the case, lifting it and sending it downward upon the glass, shattering it and releasing the Oricle from its prison. He lifted the smooth blue crystal and let out a sigh of he relief. He turned slightly though, when the creature roared.

Darn it he got its attention!

Sydney panicked for a moment when the creature saw Kaiba standing there holding the Oricle. It let out a huge roar than suddenly turned beneath her, running towards its new prey. She fell to the ground with a thump but got up as quickly as her legs would allow, taking off swiftly towards Kaiba.

Kaiba simply stood there as the creature barreled towards him. He looked to Sydney than to Yami and cursed under his breath, knowing he was in an extremely bad position. Leaving him only one choice - fighting. He suddenly gripped the Oricle tightly in one hand and used his other to lift the sword he had found into the air, realizing that he knew how to fight, but not how to use a sword.

'Guess I'm going to have to learn right now,' Kaiba thought as the creature suddenly held up its two claws and aiming for him, 'God help me...'

He suddenly lifted his sword when the claws came to him and watched in surprise as he blocked them both, locking them in a rather odd position in front of him. The creature roared in anger and annoyance and ripped his claws backward again than went forward, preparing to send them downward again. Kaiba simply ducked from the first one and sent his sword up to block the second. He went to raise his other hand and realized he couldn't handle the sword with just one hand. He needed his other but it was occupied by the Oricle.

Kaiba did what he could,"Yami, catch!"

Yami blinked than suddenly reached outward as the Oricle came flying towards him. He caught it with ease and watched in surprise as Kaiba raised his other hand to get a better grip on his sword. He stood up more confidently, looking the creature in the eyes, showing that he wasn't afraid. The creature let out a bostierous gowl and quickly raised its free claw. Sydney intercepted the long claw, blocking it from taking a strike at the brunette.

She held it fast and growled at Kaiba,"You idiot! You just HAD to smash the case didn't you?!"

"How'd you expect me to get it out?!" Kaiba remarked in return, his sword still held fast and the creature continually tried to push forward,"I couldn't exactly reach my hand through the glass, you know!"

"Whatever!"

The creature boomed,"Enough already!"

The creature suddenly managed to get his claw free and shoved Sydney aside, sending her to smash into a nearby wall. She met the ground quickly and struggled to stand.

"Sydney!" Kaiba yelled as he watched her make contact with the floor.

He than turned to Yami,"Don't just stand there, you moron! Help her!"

At those words, Yami sprung to life and ran to Sydney's side. Knowing that she was in good hands, Kaiba returned his attention towards the creature. It growled, hissed and roared at Kaiba angrily, not being able to push its claw any further forward to injure him. Kaiba couldn't help but grin. If he wanted a fight, he wasn't going to have one. Kaiba suddenly used all the strength he could muster and hoisted the creature's claw upwards, knocking it off balance. Kaiba shot forward, as it regained its composure, meeting the creature's claws blow for blow. The creature continually striked forward, slash by slash to only be met by Kaiba's sword each time. The sound of the metal meeting the claws clanged loudly in the air, causing sparks to eminate from the old sword.

Sydney slowly managed to stand and watched in disbelief as Kaiba met the monster's thrusts, blow for blow. She had no idea Kaiba was capable of such skill. He looked so honorable, his body going forward as he swung the sword quickly and strongly, aggrivating the creature the more stronger his swings became.

"He... is..." Yami slowly began.

"Incredible." Sydney simple put it. Maybe she had been right about Kaiba's powers. He did get everything from the Priest she had spoke of, including his skill as a fighter. She gripped her side suddenly, pain springing to life at the wound that she had gotten from her fall. She couldn't possibly help him now... it was all up to him.

Kaiba suddenly slid to the ground when the creature changed strategy's and dodged his fangs as he lunged forward to slash him with the sharp teeth. He than quickly jumped to his feet and brought the sword back and swung it forward with such force, hitting the creature with all the strength he had, causing him to suddenly stumble backwards, slamming into the wall behind him, knocking down three pillars than smashing the wall and causing debris to fall upon its body. It lay motionless, the weight of the debris keeping him from movement. Kaiba slowly lowered his sword, gasping for breath and slowly rose his arm, wiping his forehead with his sleeve.

"Seto, you freakin' moron!"

He turned at the sound of his name and smiled slightly at Sydney's form as she slowly approached him, Yami not close behind.

"Hey, I got him didn't I?" Kaiba said his brows furrowed. He took a deep breath and let it out, than continued to gasp for air again, trying to regain a normal breathing pattern.

"Why didn't you tell me you could fight like that?!" Sydney demanded, poking him in the chest slightly,"That was absolutely amazing!"

Kaiba grinned,"I wasn't that great."

Sydney suddenly grabbed him by the back of the head and forced him down into a hot open mouthed kiss. Kaiba was shocked and suprised, still breathless from battle and had to pull back only after a couple seconds. Yami turned his head at the scene and examined the large gaping hole that the creature had created.

"You were hot," Sydney told him once he pulled back from the kiss, and slowly leaned forward to rest her head against his shoulder,"I was practically drooling, Seto."

Kaiba let out a soft laugh,"I should fight more often than."

They both jumped as the museum suddenly shook with such a strong force that they nearly fell over. All three of them immediately looked to where the creature had been and were shocked to see his form was gone. Kaiba growled and tried to maintain his balance as the museum continued to shake violently.

"We have to get out," Yami told them over the noise,"He knocked over support beams, its going to cave in."

Both Sydney and Kaiba looked at each other than turned and began to run, Yami quick on their toes. Kaiba ran far ahead, leading them the way they had originally came. He rushed as fast as he could, looking over his shoulder every once in awhile, making sure the two were close behind him. He turned corners and frantically looked around him at the rubble that had suddenly found its way on the ground, trying to find his way through the museum.

"This way!" He shouted over the noise.

Yami and Sydney followed him as quickly as they could, realizing that the museum, was in fact, large. They headed down a long hallway and Kaiba suddenly turned to look back and found that the museum was already starting to cave in. He looked back to see the cave in was following them and picked up his pace, hoping it would encourage the other two to do the same. He stopped dead in his tracks when a loud roar suddenly eminated from behind them.

Yami and Sydney caught up quickly and turned to look at where his gaze was fixed. The creature was stading at the end of the hallway they had just came from, its body mangled from the fall Kaiba had caused it, blood trickling from its form.

"You will never leave here alive!" Its voice boomed down the hallway.

Kaiba knew he couldn't outrun it, not when the museum was shaking. He had only one choice. He slowly turned to Yami and Sydney, his face serious.

"You two go ahead, I'll follow you."

Sydney's face fell,"No way! You are NOT staying in this place."

Kaiba growled at her and grabbed her by the shoulder, pulling her in for a rough hot kiss than pushed her forward toward the exit, which was only a couple more hallways down. Kaiba turned his gaze to Yami and placed a hand upon his shoulder.

"Turn left than right... than follow the hallway down. There should be a corridor, take that left and the entrance is located right there," Kaiba instructed than slowly withdrew his hand.

Yami looked at him open mouthed,"Kaiba.."

Kaiba turned his back to both of them, Sydney's eyes welling up. She couldn't believe this! Did Kaiba think she was stupid! He'd never make it out in time!

"Go," Kaiba hissed at them, watching as the creature slowly approached them,"Take care of her, Yami... please.."

Sydney shouted,"You idiot! I am NOT leaving you here!"

Yami suddenly grabbed Sydney by the waist, hoisted her onto his shoulder than turned the way Kaiba instructed. Sydney kicked and swore desperately trying to break from his hold but Yami held onto her tightly, not willing to let her go.

"Take care Kaiba," Yami said quickly,"Don't make me hate you for not coming back."

Kaiba grinned even though he knew Yami couldn't see it,"Empty words... Yami."

Yami chuckled slightly.

"Go," Kaiba commanded as the museum shook more violently,"Make sure she gets out safely."

Yami nodded and sprinted down the hallway, leaving Kaiba to face the creature before him. It approached him slowly, leaving space between them.

"So this is how its going to end.." Kaiba breathed as he slowly held the sword before himself, eyeing the creature angrily,"You're going cost me my life to save the girl I love."

"Atleast you will die honorably," The creature said sternly.

"Honorably?" Kaiba snorted,"Definitely not one of my usual qualities."

The museum jolted violently, causing Kaiba to struggle to keep his balance as the museum suddenly began to cave in faster, the ceiling come down and smashing the floor. He raised his gaze to the creature, noting that he wasn't planning on moving toward him - there was no real fight to be fought here.

"I get it," Kaiba growled angrily,"You made me do that on purpose so I'd make sure you wouldn't hurt her. Is that it? Does your master want ME to die first?"

"Exactly, Seto Kaiba."

Kaiba sneered,"Perfect."

He looked past the creature and noticed that the caving in was sweeping towards them, like an avalanche of rock, wood and tile. He let out a deep sigh and thought of Sydney, knowing she'd be hurt horribly if he didn't come back alive. He growled angrily at himself and raised his sword high, slowly readying himself to swing it.

"Do you honestly think you will make it out alive?"

"I make my own destiny," Kaiba spat,"You don't tell me whether I live or die. That's up to me."

Kaiba raised his sword and charged toward him, knowing if he was going to go down with the museum, he might as well take that horrid creature with him. Atleast Sydney would be safe and that's all that really mattered to him at the moment. He loved her and he wanted to make sure she made it through this alive.

Besides, this was his fight. He always had a grudge against death - ever since his parents died. It was time he faced death and truly realized that it sometimes HAD to happen.

Seto Kaiba - was going to meet his bleak end, whether his visions told him he was going to or not.