Chapter 12:

I'll Always Be There

Téa and Shadi ran through the complicated labyrinth that was Yami Yugi's mind. "How do we get out of here?" Téa groaned, feeling her legs start to give out.

"I don't know; the last time I escaped here, Yugi and the Dark Magician helped me. I do not even know where the Dark Magician is. We seem to be in an entirely different area then last time."

"Wonderful…" She sighed, looking at the stairs going left, right, up and down. How the heck do you climb these upside-down stairs? She suddenly felt the room shifting. Startled, she grabbed a hold of Shadi's cloak. "Eeek! This is worse then those rides at the amusement park!"

Shadi ignored the clinging girl. "Most unusual…no matter where we go, it always ends up right side up for us. If I am correct in saying…if anyone saw us right now…we would appear to be…"

Téa squeezed her eyes shut. "I know, I know! We're upside down! Now let's get ourselves right side up!" Téa jumped off the steps and suddenly the room shifted again. Shadi glanced at her and saw her standing sideways on the stairs. She sweat-dropped.

"This isn't any better…is it?" She looked over at Shadi, exasperated.

He shook his head. "These stairs weren't like this last time. It seems the spirits mind has grown even more complicated.

"So, how many traps did you encounter last time?"  She asked.

"Just two…because Yugi saved me. No matter what door we go through, some kind of trap awaits us."

"Ok, we'll just have to try them all then…there has to be an exit somewhere…" She jumped down and rejoined Shadi. "Since going up and down these stairs is no use, it's obvious the exit lies behind one of these doors." She commented, pointed at the door behind them.

Shadi nodded. Téa opened the door behind them.

A long corridor was before them, paintings on every side and two torches hung on each side of a door, with stairs leading upwards.

"Is it safe?" She asked, tip-toeing in carefully.

"I don't know…I have never seen…" He stopped when an arrow shot right through his turban. His eyes grew wide. Téa froze in her spot and sweat-dropped. "Téa, what did you do?" He asked calmly.

"I uh…" She looked down at her feet and saw a stone slab pushed down. "I think I stepped on a switch, that had a trap planted…" Shadi moved forward, and this time an arrow whizzed by Téa, just missing her head. She backed up and more arrows flew out of the paintings. "Ok, this is getting ridiculous. She ran, weaving and dodging arrows, and made it to the doors. Shadi soon followed. "Safe!" She cried happily. All of a sudden, the paintings all aimed their arrows at the two of them. Téa face-faulted. "Or, maybe not…" Shadi grabbed her hand, and dragged her up the stairs, just as the arrows shot the spot they were previously in.

Once upstairs, Téa peeked around the corner. "No paintings…let's go…" Before Shadi could warn her, the steps sunk down, forming a slide. The two of them went sliding down and into a heap on the floor. "When I find Yugi, I am going to smash that puzzle over his head!" She threatened.

"I don't think that's a…"

Téa cut him off. "Oh shut up!!!" She shouted, standing up.

Shadi shrugged and walked passed her and through the door. "I think we are almost free…" He said quietly.

Téa stopped her yelling and walked up to him. "Free? How can you tell?"

He pointed to the door in front of them. Téa walked over to it and opened it up. A long set of golden stairs lead upwards once again. "More stairs…" She fell down exhausted. Shadi began to climb the stairs.

"Come, the millennium key is pointing me in this direction!"

Téa began to count the steps they had ascended. "2045…2067…3000…" Téa crawled up the last step, gasping for air. "I'm going to kill him…even though he's already dead…I'll find a way to bring him back to life so I can kill him again!"

Shadi chuckled. "I'm impressed, Téa. Not many normal humans could survive that climb."

"You aren't normal, I take it?" She spat.

"No, actually."

Téa collapsed. "Figures…" She suddenly had an idea. "Hey, does this mean, you don't tire?"

"Not really, why?"

"Oh, no reason…" She walked over to him. "Just that, for now on, you can carry me!"

"What?" He asked in shock.

"If I walk one more step, my feet will fall off! Bend over turban boy! You are carrying me out of here! It's your fault I ended up like this in the first place!" She jumped on his back. Shadi was about to protest, but sighed and complied. Hoping that it would shut her up. He carried her piggyback style up the rest of the stairs. There were 2000 more to go.

They finally reached the top and he gently set her down. "We're here!" He raised his voice slightly, causing her to wake up.

"Huh? How long did it take anyways?" She asked, standing up shakily.

"Considering your weight, about two hours."

Téa was close to jumping him and strangling him, but held back and walked over to the doors on each side of them. One had a gentle colouring to it, with a kiddie like atmosphere. The other side was dank, moss was growing on the walls, and the eye of Horus was in the middle, with a cryptic feeling. "W…Where are we?"

"At the beginning. If I remember correctly, these are the two Yugi's minds.

Téa ran her hand across the door of the spirit. "Creepy…" She walked over to the other door and smiled. "That's the Yugi I know." She opened the door and was smacked in the face with a stuffed teddy bear. "What the!" She exclaimed.

"It appears that young Yugi's mind is in defence right now. I never encountered this before. He walked in the room, and a small remote controlled car zoomed at his foot, smashing into it. "Ow! Why that…" He was about to step on the car, when a panda bear smacked him in the face knocking him to the floor.

"You ok?" Téa asked, giggling at the sight before her.

Shadi, looking un-amused sat up and tossed the panda back in the room. "I'm fine. Let's go!" He stood up and once again tried to enter the room, this time thousands of animals was thrown out and buried him in a pile of bears and pandas. "Ok, that's it…I give up. It seems he doesn't trust me, Téa you go in there!" He said in a muffled tone. All she saw was his arm, and a finger pointing at the door.

Téa compiled and stood up. She walked into the room, and saw a mess of toys scattered everywhere. "Whoa…Yugi's mom would have a fit if she saw how messy his mind's uh…room was." A few stuffed animals flew at her, but she managed to dodge them. "Yugi, are you here? We want to help you…please don't lock us out…"

***

Joey was beginning to lose hope. Yugi wasn't around when he needed him most, and Rex was already at a 500-point lead. He needed to find a way to knock down his life points, and fast! "There has to be something I can do…" He picked up his next card. "Time wizard…I just don't think I can chance this card again…" He sighed and placed it gently in his hand. "I guess I'll defend for now…" He glanced over at Yugi. "Come on, Yugi…I need you…"

***

Téa glanced around, looking for some hint of life. "Yugi is still unconscious, so he shouldn't have let here…where is he?" She turned around and went back outside. Shadi was pulling himself out of the pile of toys. Téa helped him up. "So much for seeking Yugi's help…"

Shadi lifted the key up. "I was sure it was pulling us in the right direction. I could even sense the young one nearby."

Téa frowned. "Maybe it's broken…" She closed the door and walked over to Yami Yugi's soul room.

"What about in here?" Shadi shook his head. "We already came from this direction…"

Téa leaned against the wall. "Great…does this mean we're stuck?"

"No, sooner or later the possessed spirit will find us…"

Téa shuddered. "Not exactly something I am looking forward to..." Yugi…where are you? Can't you see we want to help…? Suddenly, an idea popped into her head. "Wait a minute…when Yami was losing it…he yanked the puzzle off his neck. He never put it back on! Maybe we can find it and find a way to lure him to us!"

"It might work…let's see if I can locate it." He closed his eyes.

Téa sighed, her arms crossed as she slid down, resting on the floor. "Why do I feel like I am being watched?" She asked herself, turning around behind her. "Hmmm…" She shrugged.  "Shadi? Have you found it yet?"

Shadi opened his eyes and nodded. "Yes, this way…"

She eagerly stood up and ran over to him. "Thank god, I was getting so creeped out here!" She shivered involuntarily.

 "It's close by, do not worry." He opened the door to Yami's soul room and preceded to walk past the long flight of stairs they had climbed earlier, and made a left turn down a long corridor instead. Téa followed closely behind, never letting go of his shoulder.  "It's in here but…this isn't where we first encountered him."

"Just go in! The sooner we get out of here, the better!" A clicking sound was heard and the door opened. Téa looked around her, but darkness shrouded her view. "Where's a light when you need one?" As if by her command, the room brightened up, torches lighting up on each side of the walls. In the middle of the room was the millennium puzzle, and a small figure huddled over it. "Who…who's there?" She asked quietly.

"No! Don't come any closer!" The voice warned, but it was too late. Téa had already been walking, and suddenly the floor crumbled beneath her feet. "Ahhh!" She screamed, reaching for the ledge.

"Téa!" The voice cried. He came into the light, and reached out to her.

"Yugi?" She gasped.

Yugi tried with all his might to reach for her hand, but he was too far away. "You have to get out of there! If you fall…"

 "She'll be lost forever. Right, Téa?" Shadi smirked evilly.

"S…Shadi?" She asked, wondering what he was up too.

"Close…but try again." He joked, as a light surrounded him. Soon, before her eyes, Yami was standing above her.

"Where…what did you do with Shadi?"

Yami chuckled. "After those stupid stuffed toys buried him alive, I was able to take his place. He's still back where I left him."

"So that's who was looking at me in the shadows…" She tried to get a better grip on the ledge. "You jerk! You've been playing with me all along!" She felt her grasp slipping.

"Téa!" Yugi cried, trying to find a way to get around the pit.

"I…I'm ok, Yugi!" She looked back up at Yami. "What's happened to you? You always protected Yugi, me and everyone else. Why are you doing this? Is it just because of a mistake in your past? We all make mistakes! That shouldn't be a cause to go insane! I know how much pain your heart is in…but how can you right a wrong if you are trying to kill those who helped you?"

Yami showed no emotion in his face. "I have my reasons…and it's not any of your concern!" He snapped.

"Yes it is! If you haven't forgotten…" She sighed, and lifted her dangling arm up, holding the ring on the chain. "We're in this together!" She slipped and tried to reach the ledge, but this time, she slid off even more.

"Yami! I know you're still in there! Don't do this to her! She loves you!"

Téa looked over questionably at Yugi. "Yugi?" She asked, puzzled.

"Love?  No, she doesn't love me.  I'm just Yugi to her, just her childhood friend." Came a deep reply.

She glanced up, most likely for the last time. "All this time…you said you trusted me and now you say this?  Why? 

He shook his head. "Because I believed that you always saw Yugi in me…and not who I really was."  He glared and walked over to the edge, about to knock her off for good, or so she thought.

"No!" Yugi cried, helplessly.

"Go ahead…do it…" She cried. "It's obvious you are going to anyways…Yami." She felt herself slip off.

"No, Téa…I'm sorry. It's time something is truly done about this!" He grabbed her wrist, and pulled her up with all his might. Téa climbed up. She collapsed in his arms.

"I knew you weren't evil…" She stood up, and reached out a hand to him.

"Come on, Yami. Let's go! Let's finish this together!" She smiled.

Yami just looked sadly at her and Yugi. "No…it's already finished."

"Yami…?" Yugi asked, sensing deep inside what the spirit was about to do.

"I…can't control these emotions, and I will only put you in danger. It's best I don't follow you anymore. Thank you for accepting me…and showing me true friendship. I haven't felt that in a long time. I'm just sorry it had to come this. But, I will make things right!" The gap repaired itself, as Yami proceeded towards Yugi. He yanked the puzzle out of Yugi's grip. "I'll need this to finish things off!"

Yugi jumped up, snatching the puzzle away. "No! Give it back!"

Yami tugged back on it and then let go with a sigh.

Téa was about to freak out. The puzzle wasn't steady with all of that tossing and grabbing. "Will you guys please stop arguing!" 

Yami nodded and faced Yugi. "Yugi…you have to trust me!"

Yugi looked into his eyes. They were no longer red, it seems Téa got through to him. "Ok…" He lifted the puzzle up, but it slipped out of his grasp and smashed into a million pieces on the floor.

All three sweat-dropped.

"Well, this is going to complicate things…" Yami said in an unusually high-pitched voice. He looked over at Téa.

"Yami…you're…"

He reached out to touch her cheek, and his hand passed right through. He looked over in a panic at Yugi and tried to touch him the same, and sadly he went through him as well.

"Yugi…" He said before disappearing entirely.

"NO!!!" Téa covered her face and sobbed.

"Téa…I can't sense him anymore!" He began to cry too.

"He is a brave man…a truly remarkable pharaoh." Téa and Yugi glanced up and saw Shadi standing above them.

"Is he really gone?" Téa asked, through sobs.

"I don't think so…but for now, we need to worry about saving your other friends. If you really want to see him again, your hearts will find a way.

Finding hope in his words, Téa and Yugi stopped crying. They stood up, holding hands.  "Let's get out of here…" They nodded. A light flashed, and everything went blank.

Joey was down to 550 life points, and Rex was at 700. "Argh! I guess I have no choice!" He threw down 'Time Wizard' and prayed it would win it for him.

Yugi sat up, rubbing his head. The millennium puzzle was still hanging around his neck, but it looked different. Instead of a sparkling gold, it was greenish and cracked. Ages old, with scratches and dirt all over it.

Téa opened her eyes. "Yugi…" She smiled, relived to see her friend safe. She glanced down at the puzzle. "What happened?"

Yugi lifted the puzzle up. "I don't know…but I think this is how it's really suppose to look. It's like…the spirit isn't in the puzzle anymore." He cupped it in his hands and felt tears sliding down his cheeks. "I…I loved him. He was the best friend anyone could ever have, he was like a brother to me…"

Téa cupped her hands underneath Yugi's. "We all loved him in our own way. But remember what Shadi said? He isn't really gone. He may not be able to inhabit your body, but he'll find a way to reach us. If I remember correctly, without a host, he's just…"

(A wandering spirit?)

Téa gasped. "Huh? Who said that?"

(It's been only a few minutes and you've forgotten me already, Téa?)

"Y… Yami?"

(Right. Since I don't have a host, I'm pretty much invisible. Though I think Yugi can see me sometimes.)

Yugi looked up and saw a ghostly Yami crouched down, talking to Téa. "Yami!" He cried, running to hug him. Unfortunately, he went right through him and landed on top of Téa.

"Yugi!" She jumped to her feet. "What was that all about? You almost killed me!"

Yugi stood up, blushing. "Hey, it's not my fault. I forgot that he was invisible!"

Téa crossed her arms and huffed. "Fine, I'll accept your apology this time."

Yugi smiled and then frowned. "Hey! I didn't apologize!"

Téa giggled. "Seriously though, how can you help us, if you can't even touch us or converse with us normally?"

(I'm not really sure, but I do know I can never go back inside Yugi's mind again, unless the puzzle is repaired. Which is slightly impossible at the moment, seeing as it is within the decrypted puzzle. It was a foolish thing that happened…and not very wise.) He floated over to Yugi. (However, if you wish, I could possess you entirely for the time being?)

Yugi jumped back. "That's not funny!"

Yami smiled. (Only joking partner!)

Téa rolled her eyes.

Yugi suddenly heard a commotion and ran over to where Joey was.

"Alright! It landed on time warp! This is it!"

Rex was horrified. "No…not again!!!" Suddenly, it moved once more and landed on the skulls.

"What?" Joey gasped. "Oh no!"

"Joey, you still have a trump card!" Joey looked at his hand. Then he picked up a card and smiled. "Hey, you're right!" He threw down "Devil's Die"

Rex looked puzzled at the card. "Huh?"

Joey rolled a die and it landed on 6. "Hah! Your monsters lose 6000 attack and defence!"

"NO!!!" Rex pulled at his hair.

"Now, REBD attack!" The rest of Rex's life points went to 0. "I won!" Joey shouted happily.

"Yes." Amons said, clapping. "And now Rex's soul is mine!" He watched as a light grew around Rex and soon his body disappeared.

"I'm sorry, man…" Joey said, sadly.

Yugi ran over to congratulate him.

"I knew I could do it with your help, Yugi!"

Yugi smiled. "Anything for you, Joey.

Téa watched her friends smiling happily. Somehow, she felt like crying though. She sniffed and felt tears forming in her eyes. She wiped them away. Yami moved closer to her and noticed her sadness.

(What's wrong?)

Téa jumped back slightly. "I don't think I'll ever get used to just hearing your voice. Um, nothing's wrong. I'm just a bit emotional that Joey won, that's all…" She put her head down and looked at the ring hanging on her necklace. "We'll be ok, right? We'll all make it out of here…?"

(I hope so, Téa. I really hope so…)

He gently placed his hand on her shoulder. Well, tried to anyways. He basically let his hand hover just over her shoulder, so it wouldn't go through it.

Téa, oblivious to his touch, walked over to where Yugi and Joey were. "Hey, Joey. Congrats!" She hugged him tightly.

"Whoa, hey Téa, I didn't think you were that worried."

Téa looked up blushing. "Of course I was. How could I not be? You guys are duelling at such high stakes…" She felt tears starting to overcome her.

Joey wrapped his arms around her, while Yugi placed a hand on her back, trying to calm her.

(She blames herself for all of this. I know it…but one thing bothers me the most.) He looked up at Amons. (This guy seems to have a familiar air about him. Like we've met him before. This whole tournament…it's like…Déjà vu…but why?)

Next up…

Marik Ishtar VS Aaron Jackson

Yugi looked up. "Marik? He's here? I need to talk to him…that is, if he wins this duel."

Marik Yugi form behind. "Not confident I'll win?"

Yugi spun around to face the blond Egyptian.

"I only have a minute!  Yugi…meet me after this duel at the inn outside the castle. I know a way to escape Amons seal. Just trust me, you'll be able to leave. Just make sure you aren't seen by anyone. Come alone. I have a plan."  He left to head for the arena.

"Yugi…" Téa said unsurely. 

He shook his head. "No, it's ok, Téa. I trust him."

Téa sighed. "Alright, Yugi. If you trust him then I do too." She smiled.

Yugi seemed hesitant, but then he reached up and brushed some dishevelled hair out of her face.

"Yugi…?"

He smiled brightly. "Are you going to be ok?"

She nodded. "Yes, I just needed a good cry."

He removed his hand. "Ok, then. Just remember, I'm here if you ever need anything!"

Téa smiled. "I know, thank you."

"You're welcome, Téa!" He turned around to face the duellists.

Téa clutched the ring tightly. "Everything is going to be ok. I just know it!"

To be continued…