Kat rolled her head around her shoulders, popping the joints. Kat and Shardai had actually been surprised. Bakura had completely lied when he had pulled that cruel prank on Kassie. The tent that had been set up hastily for sure, but the Crusaders hadn't had a shortage on the beds. Now all that was left was for the demon to apologize to the sun cat.

"Hey, Kat?" Shardai asked.

"Yeah?"

"Why do you think that--well, I guess Bakura--did that to Kassie?"

"Cause she slapped him...and because she seemed like an easy target."

"Wasn't Kassie taking medicine for her depression?"

"Yeah, I think so." Kat looked over to where Shardai had plopped down on her claimed bed. "And no, there will be no suicide on my watch!"

"Who's committing suicide?" Kat and Shardai turned to the sound of the voice, where a head of long white locks framed the face of the inquisitive rabbit demon so cutely.

"What do you care and what are you doing eavesdropping onto other peoples discussions?" Kat ask angrily.

Kassie popped some of the food in her mouth, knowing that she shouldn't eat any of it due to the hygiene of the era, but seeing no other choice.

Bakura had walked off, to her relief, but also to her great dissatisfaction. She wanted company, even his, but she was afraid of him. She didn't fear for her life, she was just afraid, like usual.

Damn it, what's wrong with me? she thought, then sighed. The answer was simple really. Her childhood was spent mostly indoors, hiding from the richer, meaner kids of her school, kids whose parents were doctors and lawyers and dentists. And what did she ever have? A gambling, cheapskate father, a mentally disturbed mother, and a loser bum brother who owed more money than Bill Gates could ever dream of owning. "Sniffsniff And on top of that," she began to sob, minding to sit the plate aside, "I'm a coward! I'm so scared of everything!"

Kassie curled up into the same position that Bakura had found her in only hours ago, trying to keep quiet, but sobbing even louder that before. My God, someone please just shoot me now!

Thunk!

Kassie snapped towards the sound, her body reacting defensively as she stood. "Who, who's there?"

She took a step forward, then stopped. No you idiot! This is what gets people killed in horror movies. Dumb asses with blond hair and over sized chests go running around topless and get gutted and their heads chopped off! Kassie evaluated the thought; she may be an idiot, but she wasn't a blond, and she had boobs but they sure as hell didn't count for an extravagant, bouncy bosom.

"Who...hello?"

"My Lady Duelist, what seems to trouble you?" asked a cool, gentle, and old sounding voice.

"S, Simon?"

The Druid slowly stepped into the light, his eyes searching for any Crusader guards. His cream robes were a bit disheveled, but he other wise appeared safe, sound, and intact. "I was leaving, Lady Kassie, when I heard such a sorrowful sound. Going against my better judgment, I fallowed the sound till I found...you."

Kassie looked away, mindlessly letting her right hand hold onto the bend to her left arm. "I'm fine, don't worry," she lied.

"Lady, you don't seem fine at--"

"I said I'm fine, OK?"

Simon jerked back, not expecting to have his head bitten off. "My Lady..."

"I thought Seto's guards took you away."

The little man blinked his eyes very quickly, trying to piece something together but failing, finally dismissing how the young woman in front of him could be so quiet, then angry, then peaceful again so quickly. "A little Druid magic; it fooled his men just long enough for me to get away."

"Oh."

Not much more was said and Simon stepped closer to Kassie, reaching into his robes. "My lady, would it trouble you if I ask something of great importance?"

She looked at him, "Like what?"

Simon produced a small, rolled up piece of paper from the inside of his robe, a elegant seal in the center of it tied with red ribbon and red wax, a rose stamped into the wax. "I still want to enlist the services of the Rose Duelist."

"But we, we're not with you now!"

The Druid held out his hand and motioned for her to sit. After he kneeled down beside her, he explained. "It is my duty to give this regardless to the Rose Duelist. This letter is written, signed, and stamped by Prince Yugi himself."

Kassie hesitated, thinking of all the trouble she would get into if the York's found out what she was doing now.

"There's no reason to be scared, the York's need the Duelist just as much as the Lancaster's do."

"I, I, I just don't know if it's," she looked down at the ground, ashamed, "the right thing to do."

"For the Duelist, there is know right or wrong choice. There is just the choice. Go with what you really feel. You said Lancaster's when posed with the choice of the roses; do you change so swiftly now?"

"But my friends..." Kassie stopped, ready to cry.

"If you ever want to go home, then you must start thinking for yourself!" He held out the letter to her, "You are under no obligation to be with the Lancaster if you wish not, but please, consider our situation!"

Kassie moved her eyes to look at the letter in Simon's hand, and finally took it with shaky hands. She broke open the seal and read:

Duelist, I am Henry "Yugi" Tudor, but I find it tiresome, so you may call me 'Yugi'.

I'm sure Simon explained our situation, but it is only right that I request your services myself. I need you to go all throughout England and put an end to the threat of the Rose Crusaders. Their White Rose Cards form a barrier that prevents my armies from setting foot on British soil. Although we Celts have the Red Rose Cards, we are but inheritors who are unable to wield their full power. In the hopes of reversing our fortunes, we gambled on a Druid legend that spoke of a Rose Duelist.

I would like you to note that our resources have been pressed to the limit, requiring us to invade England by August! My troops will land in Milford Haven and march on to face the enemy at Bosworth Field. Having all of the Rose Crusaders out of commission by that time would be ideal, but as that might prove difficult, any reduction of their force would be appreciated.

Now, let us unite in August in Bosworth. Simon will provide you with the details as to where and who the known holders of the White Rose Cards.

Prince Yugi of Lancaster

Kassie read the letter again to make sure she got the details of it. "So, he wants us to defeat all the Crusaders?"

"Not all of them, only the main ones, like Rosenkreuz."

"I don't know if I can do that for you."

Simon placed both hands on her shoulders, "Please, just try!"

"What if I fail? What if I get caught? What if--"

"What if God was to come back this second? We don't know, we will never know, so we must simply do."

Kassie bit her bottom lip, thinking deeply. What should I do, I don't know what I should do! She bowed her head in contemplation closing her eyes tightly. If I don't help, I could screw up history or not get home or bloody both!

Kassie looked up at the star filled sky, the twinkling lights so much brighter than the stars of the future. They were so pretty, and she found that the only subject she could think of was nothing; she could only feel how the night sky took her breath away with all its beauty.

A shame really, that the world would become so filthy that you would have to go up into the mountains in the dead of winter on the coldest night to witness such purity.

That's what the answer is. She looked back at Simon, a smile on her lips. "I'll work for Lancaster," so that maybe I'll make someone's life better in the future, then they can see the stars with me, just like this, she finished in her head.