And we're back to short chapters . . . Kage Onna: Where's my sugar?!  Me like sugar!!!  Bribes work very well with me, especially when they're food-related ^_^ .

Chapter 31: A New Crisis?

            Everyone ran over to Serenity.  She was kneeling next to Seto, who was on the ground.  A shudder ran through him as violent coughs racked his body.

            "Seto!" cried Mokuba.

"I don't know what's wrong with him!" said a panicked Serenity.  Nephilia made her way over to Serenity and put a hand on her shoulder.

            "He's very ill," said Nephilia, "due to the freezing temperatures of the underground passage."

            "But how could he have gotten sick?" asked Tristan.  "After all, Kaiba's the one with the long coat."

            "Yeah," said Joey.  "And I was down there too!  How come I'm not sick?"

            "You're Joey, right?" asked Nephilia.  Joey nodded.  "You wouldn't be sick, you'd be dead."

            "Huh?" asked Joey.

            "I was watching all of you in this pool of water," explained Nephilia.  "And Joey passed out from the cold.  If he had been alone, he would have frozen to death.  But he," she said, gesturing towards Seto, "took off his coat and put it on Joey instead."

            "Wow," said Joey.  "I'll never understand this guy."

            "He needs to see a doctor right away," said Nephilia.  "This is very serious.  And he's been keeping it hidden from you ever since the passageway.  If he isn't treated soon, it will be too late."

            "What can we do?" asked Yugi.

            "I'll use my watching pool to find a ship," said Nephilia.  "Now that the spell is broken, I can use it to look outside the citadel as well.  Then my doves can guide you to the ship."

            "Thanks, Nephilia," said Yugi.

            "Come back and visit me sometime," said Nephilia.  "But right now you must hurry."

            "Ok, we're going," replied Yugi.  Joey and Tristan each took one of Seto's arms and lifted him up from the floor.  Then they all started down the stairs as fast as possible.  When they got in the boat, Yugi cast it off while Joey and Tristan laid Seto on the deck.  Nephilia looked into her pool, and saw a ship located close to the citadel.  She handed a message to one of her doves and sent it to find the ship.  Then Nephilia sent the other dove to guide Yugi's boat to the ship.

            "Now I shall wait," said Nephilia.  "Until the old man on the ship receives my message."

            Thanks for all the reviews so far!  Next chapter will be up tomorrow!