Chapter 18:

The Light and the Dark

It was well into the night, as the cell the trio slept in grew cold and damp. The moon's rays shone in slightly through a small crack in the broken window. Téa's eyes fluttered open. She looked at her surroundings, and the day's events came flooding back to her like a bad memory resurfacing.

"Yami…?" she asked in a low whisper.

A slight muffled sound replied back to her.

"Are you awake?"

She saw his spiky hair move up and down as a 'yes' She sighed.

"I can't stop thinking about Yugi and the others. I'm worried." She saw a slight shifting from the corner of her eye, and then gasped when she looked up and saw two piercing violet orbs staring at her. "Don't do that!" She whispered in a chuckle.

He smirked. "Even though I'm not connected to him anymore, I know deep within that he is fine. You should know that too, if you don't let your feelings overwhelm you."

Téa nodded, feeling slightly foolish now. She pushed herself up into a sitting position. "You're right, as always…"

Yami slid off the bed and sidled up next her on the cold floor. He cringed at the icy touch. "Why did you sleep here?"

Téa blushed. "I wanted you to have the bed, you needed the most rest."

Yami rolled his eyes. "That's very sweet, but…" He scooped her up into his arms, which caused her to shriek slightly, in surprise. He laid her on the bed and leaned down next to her. "I'm fine, it's you who needs the rest now." He said in a soft and sympathetic tone.

She coughed and looked away. "I'm fine. It's you who needs to get better. We'll need you if we want to win this one…" She trailed off, her voice cracking slightly.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I…it's just…I don't want to lose you again. I'm scared. This is the worst battle we've been in yet. Who knows what will happen? You and Yugi mean everything to me…" She sobbed and the forced herself to stop crying. "I can't stand this anymore. I just wish I were home, in my room. Under a nice warm blanket, with my mom downstairs, watching TV and gossiping on the phone. My cat, curled up at my bedside, playing with a ball of yarn." She twiddled her thumbs. "I guess I'm homesick."

Yami put his head down and looked at his puzzle. "Home…" he whispered.

Téa looked down at him, his form shivering on the cold floor. She sighed and shook her head. "Get up here!" She ordered in a playful tone.

Yami stood up and looked down at the bed. "Are you sure? It's just barely fitting you and Ishizu right now."

She patted the bed and raised an eyebrow at his sudden coyness. "I'm sure."

He shrugged and squeezed in next to her. "I told you it was too small!"

Téa giggled, and to his surprise, she jumped right into his lap, and curled up around him.

"T… Téa?"

She laughed at his expression. "What's wrong?"

He blushed. "Nothing…I just…"

"Never been this close to someone in a long time?" He nodded.

She turned his face towards hers with her finger. "Yami…just let it go…"

They leaned in close and let their lips brush gently against each other's.

Téa pushed back and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Téa?" He asked gently.

"Mmm?"

He ran his fingers through her soft hair. "There's something I want to ask you. But, it's hard too…because I've never…asked anyone this before."

She removed her head from his shoulder and turned to face him. "What is it?"

He sighed and looked away. "I…never had a real home for 5000 years. I never had anyone, expect Yugi and his grandfather, who welcomed me with open arms. But…this is something different. Yugi is just a friend, not someone I…just promise me you won't leave me…" He said in a barely audible tone.

"Huh?" She asked, cocking her head to the side.

"Promise me, you won't leave me."

Téa smiled. "Is this because of what happened with Téana? Are you afraid…to be…betrayed again?"

He stiffened. "Yes…" his voice came out raspy.

"Yami…I can't promise I'll survive this…at all. But, for as long as I am with you, I promise I won't leave your side." She snuggled closer to him. "I love you, Yami."

Yami looked at her, his eyes seemed to soften. "Thank you for being there for me, Téa."

She curled up into him and pulled the ratted blanket over them. "Let's get some rest."

He agreed, and the drifted off into a restless sleep.

Later into the night, a tapping sound on the broken window awoke the trio. Téa was the first to get up. She walked over to the window and saw a familiar face with long silver white hair.

"Bakura!" She cried. She opened the window and he and Tristan fell inside.

"There you are!" He said, standing up. 'Is everyone ok?"

Ishizu, who was now awake, nodded. "Yes, Yami is well."

Tristan sighed. "Thank god! We need you man!" He patted Yami roughly on the back. "Yugi might be in over his head this time."

Téa perked up at his name. "Where is Yugi?"

Bakura smiled. "He's fine. "He needs your help though. We must hurry!"

Ishizu frowned. Something didn't feel right. "How did you get in here?"

Bakura pointed to the window. "We climbed of course."

Ishizu narrowed her eyes. "How? There is nothing to grip the ledge!"

Tristan walked up behind Téa. "Enough questions! Let's go!" He grabbed Téa roughly, and pinned her arms behind her back. "The master is waiting!"

Ishizu backed up. "Damn! I should have known!"

Bakura now held Ishizu against her will also. "Listen closely, Pharaoh! If you wish to see these two alive, you'll follow us!"

Yami obeyed hesitantly. "Very well…but don't even think of hurting them!"

Tristan smirked. "Of course…"

***

"FIND THEM NOW!!!" The duel monster hissed. Her fire red locks flying furiously in front of her face. The other duel monsters jumped to their feet and began searching frantically for the missing group.

***

"Do you think they're gone?" Serenity asked.

Marik shook his head. "I don't think so. I suggest we keep moving, and don't stop for anything!"

Everyone nodded and proceeded down the dank tunnels of the underground palace.

"I feel like, something is following us." Mai commented.

Shadi nodded. "Yes, we have been followed for the past half hour now. But they don't wish to harm us!"

Serenity looked behind her and saw a familiar shadow reflecting on the wall, and smiled. "So, it's you! Why didn't you just say so?" The figure chuckled and emerged from beyond the shadows. "Duke! What are you doing here?"

He brushed his raven locks to the side. "Following you of course."

Marik stood in front of Serenity. "What do you want?"

Duke laughed. "Nothing really. I just wish to help. I know a way out of here. I've been here for six nights and I know ever twist and turn in these tunnels."

Mai face-faulted. "Six nights? Why?"

Duke stuttered. "Uh, well. I was…"

Mai giggled. "Looking for Serenity I take it?"

Duke blushed. "Uh, follow me! This is the way!"

Seto fell back, listening to something...or someone. He could swear he heard a voice calling to him. He backed up; retracing his tracks and went in another direction, unknown to the chattering group ahead of him.

***

"We've searched everywhere! There is no sign of Yami or even Téa…or Ishizu." Yugi sighed, feeling exasperated.

Joey patted his back. "Don't worry, Yugi. There is still one place we didn't check."

Yugi looked up at his taller friend. "Where's that?"

Joey pointed to a large door with golden trimmings along the sides. "Maxellus's chambers."

Yugi looked at Joey like he was mad. "What? Are you crazy! We can't just go in there!"

Amazida chuckled. "Relax boys, we'll just take a peek. That's all!" He looked up at the hole in the door.

Joey smirked and walked up to the door, his eye peering inside through the hole.

***

Maxellus was in a very good mood. He was almost ready to complete his plan and become a great god! He could hardly contain himself. A voice from the shadows interrupted his gloating.

"I could here you calling me. What is it you want?"

Maxellus twirled a glass of wine he held in his hand. "I want you to join me. And together we can rid this world of that meddling Pharaoh!"

Seto stepped out of the shadows and walked up to the throne Maxellus was seated on. "I will join on one condition…"

***

Yami quietly followed the fake Bakura and Tristan, who were holding Téa and Ishizu captive. He had to do something. If Maxellus were able to use his, Ishizu and Kaiba's powers, there would be no turning back. And what about Téa? She seemed to be the main piece to this puzzle. Her powers were yet to be awoken, but what would become of her once he was done with her? Yami didn't want to know. He needed a distraction and fast! Then the idea came to him and oh, how he hated it. But did he have a choice? Not really…He took a deep breath. Here goes… Yami turned around to face the group and then threw himself to his knees. "Please! Don't take me to that man! He scares me so much! Please! I'll do anything you ask! I beg you, don't do it!"

Téa tried to hold back laughing, but didn't succeed too well. She saw Yami give her a quick sign before he went back to his fake grovelling.

The fake Bakura and Tristan turned into two 'Doppelgangers' they looked confusingly at each other and scratched their heads.

"Please! I am so scared! I'll do anything!" He threw himself down in a worshipping bow. "Let me be your slave?" He whimpered.

The duel monsters sneered.

Téa took this opportunity to jab her elbow into the creature's chest that held her. It toppled over.

The other one was kneeling beside Yami. "Do you really promise to be our slave?"

Upon seeing Téa free, he smirked. "Not on your life!" He kicked the monsters, and it went soaring into the air. He grabbed Ishizu and Téa's hands and ran off down the hall. "Never in my life…" He muttered. Humiliated with himself.

"You're not a bad actor, Yami!" Téa laughed.

"Whatever…" He mumbled.

***

"Hey, Bakura. Think we should see if they're gone?"

Bakura nodded. "I think so. Let's see." He opened the door slightly, and then felt the door open all the way. About two-dozen monsters were snarling and growling at them, their weapons held high. "Oh dear…"

***

"Don't you think we should have been out of here by now?" Mai asked, hugging herself. She was quite frozen, and from the looks of her friends, they were too.

"Almost there!" Duke said.

"Wait! What's that up ahead?" Serenity asked.

Marik frowned. "We've got company.

The 'Dark Magician Girl' grinned evilly. "Well, well. What do we have here?" She patted her staff. "Get them!!!" She ordered.

The other monsters charged at the group, but a bright light emerged from Marik's deck. Once the light faded, a tall blonde haired girl was in front of them. She was draped in blue and pink and had sparkling green eyes.

"What are you doing with Yugi's card?" Mokuba asked.

"I uh…'borrowed' it from him at the inn." He smiled slyly.

Serenity glared. "I bet…"

Marik ignored the remark. "I didn't even summon her though.

The bubbly blonde 'Dark Magician Girl' slapped Marik's face. "How dare you steal me! Wait till Yugi hears about this!"

Everyone stood stunned.

"She talks?" Rex blurted out.

Ann smacked him upside the head. "Well, if a Kuriboh can move about freely, I don't see why a magician can't talk, dummy!"

Rex gave her a dirty look, rubbing his head. "I forgot!"

Ann smiled. She just loved to tease him.

"If you must know, I am tired of seeing this eyesore, wannabe witch bark orders! I plan to 'end' this now!" She lunged forward, and the other magician smirked and charged towards her.

"You're no match for me, blondie!!!"

The guys watched, mouths half open.

"Ooh, a cat fight!!!" Smirked Duke.

Serenity glared. "Don't you guys have anything better to do?"

Mai sighed. "Boys…"

Even Shadi was watching the girls with a slight smirk.

This seemed to frighten Mai. Serenity and Mai dragged the boys off, while the two magicians battled on.

"How dare you call yourself a duel monster!" The blonde magician said, slapping her darker self.

"Me? You with the prissy pink and blue outfit, and bleached blonde hair? You shame the name 'Duel Monster' she hissed. She grabbed her by her hair and swung her around and into a wall.

"Now, you'll be sorry!" She fired her magic at the redhead, hitting her dead on. The darker one yelled out in pain. "BITCH!!!" She yelled, heaving a dark fireball at the lighter magician. To her surprise, she dodged the attack and flew up into the air.

"I wouldn't call me that if I were you!' She threw a giant ball of energy at the dark witch. Once the flash disappeared, the semi-conscious redheaded magician growled.

 "You'll pay for that when my master finds you!" With that said, she vanished in a flash of purple light.

"We'll see about that!" The blonde 'Dark Magician Girl' said, wiping her hands and smiling proudly.

***

"So, you will join me, if I allow you to have the final fight with the Pharaoh?"

Seto nodded. "Yes, I would much enjoy my revenge. Everyone else is yours, even the little one."

Maxellus seemed to ponder this. "Hmm, very well. It's a deal!' He held out his hand to the priest.

Seto looked at his hand, and begrudgingly shook it.

"You know what to do then."

Seto nodded.

"That jerk! I knew he would betray us!" Joey yelled, tightening his fist.

"What happened, Joey?" Yugi asked.

"That Seto…he's teamed up with that white haired dude. Seems they made a deal. Seto would join him if he could have Yami."

Yugi's eyes widened. "We have to find them, and fast!"

***

"Yami, where are we going?" Téa asked, as they ran up a long flight of stairs.

"To the roof. Where we might have an extra advantage."

Téa was puzzled, but trusted him enough to follow.

"I see what you mean." Ishizu said. "Since most of the duel monsters are in the lower areas, there will be none on the roof!"

Yami nodded. "Right! And with a little help from this card…" He held up the 'Curse of Dragon' card. We can 'drop' in on Maxellus…LITERALLY!

To be continued…