Joy: Next chapter ready for you! Chapter Nine! When I last left ya, everyone was reunited after a fight scene, and they all teleported to the Castle of Rebirth. Hey, I just broke my record for reviews! This story now has more reviews than Wings of the Phoenix! (jumps up and down happily) Thanks to all my reviewers!

Yugi-angel: Yeah! Glad for your review, YA! (smiles)

kurama'sdarkangel1: (grins) Glad you liked it. I thought it was funny that they were thinking the same thing about each other. You got me my tie-breaking review! (gives Dark Angel a trophy of her favorite character) For you! I believe Kurama is your favorite, right? (huggles Yami plushie) :oD

Now on to the chapter! Ready, set, go!

The Golden Door

They reappeared in another spacious castle, but it was a LOT more inviting and brightly lit. The foursome was immediately by the Dark Magician Girl. "Oh, Mistress Katilli! What happened to Mistress Joy?"

"It's a long story, Dark Magician Girl. For now, we must take her to a room to rest." Katilli turned to the others. "We can relax for a moment. Mortals are protected from the effects of the Shadow Realm while inside these castles. Seto, if you will follow me." Seto nodded, and followed the sorceress with Joy still unconscious in his arms.

Do you want to come out for a bit, Yugi?

Sure do!

Yami chuckled at his the eagerness of his light, and closed his eyes. An instant later, Yugi appeared beside him, wearing a big smile. "I'm gonna go explore the castle. Tell me when Joy wakes up!" He called as he ran off.

"Be careful, Yugi," Yami warned, watching him leave through a door.

Seto walked over to him. "I put Joy in a bed and Katilli is taking care of her injury. Where's Yugi going?"

"He is going to explore the castle… I just wish he wasn't so eager. Even here in this castle, we must be on our guard."

"You go help Katilli. I'll go with Yugi. If anyone evil shows up, my Blue Eyes will tear them apart." He walked after the teenager. Yami sighed, but went to see if he could help his sister.

Yugi went deeper into the castle, occasionally stopping to speak to familiar Duel Monsters, like the one of Joy's Dark Magicians. Then he came upon a large golden door. He stopped in front of it, staring up at the elaborate design.

I wonder where this door leads to…

"Yugi." Yugi turned to see Seto coming up to him. Seto looked down to see the Millennium Puzzle. It was glowing slightly. "Why is your Puzzle glowing?"

"Hey, Kaiba. I don't know. It must have just started doing that." He didn't sense anything, good or bad. He shrugged. "It must be Yami making the Puzzle glow. He sometimes does that when he's in a good mood. I was just about to find out where this door leads. Are you coming in here with me?"

"Yeah. I told Yami I would come with you."

Yugi rolled his eyes. "He worries too much." Seto smirked and agreed. "Well, let's go." He and Seto pushed open the door. The room was pitch black, except for a light in the center. The light was caused by a clear glass crystal that hovered just above a white pedestal. "Wow!" Yugi exclaimed, going up to the crystal. "It's magnificent, isn't it?"

"Indeed, but it's also foreboding," Seto added, glaring at the stone.

"What do you mean, Kaiba?"

Seto continued to glare at the crystal. "I can't put my finger on it. I just feel that this is not something to be messed with." He put a hand on Yugi's shoulder. "Let's go, Yugi." Yugi nodded and they started to walk out of the room.

Just before he reached the door, Yugi thought he heard something. Like a voice calling out his name. "Did you hear that?" he asked Kaiba, pausing just inside the door.

"No, but then again, you could be hearing Yami through that link of yours."

Yugi nodded, and then concentrated. Yami? Did you say something?

No, I said nothing, aibou. Why?

I heard a voice, or at least I thought I did. Maybe I was just hearing things.

Where are you? Is Kaiba there?

He's here, don't worry. We just found the most interesting crystal. But Kaiba didn't like it, so we're leaving it. We'll be there in a few minutes, Yami.

All right, aibou. See you soon.

"I must have been hearing things. It wasn't Yami. Oh well. Let's go see if Joy is feeling better." Kaiba nodded.

…Meanwhile…

"Everything okay, brother?" Katilli asked. Joy had been healed, but she would need to rest at the castle for the night before they returned to their own world.

"Yes. Kaiba and Yugi will be here shortly. They were investigating what Yugi described as a peculiar crystal." Katilli's eyes immediately doubled in size, but Yami didn't notice right away. "I did not know you had such a thing in –"

"Did he touch it?!" Katilli cried, breaking Yami off suddenly.

Yami blinked. "I do not know. Why do you ask?"

"Yami, this is VERY important. Please ask Yugi if he touched the stone."

"All right." Yami closed his eyes. Yugi.

Yes? Yami is that you?

Yes. Yugi, Katilli wants to know something. Did you touch the crystal you found?

No. We just looked at it, then left. Why do you ask? Is something wrong?

I do not think so. Hold on a moment. Yami opened his eyes. "He did not touch it." Katilli sighed in relief. "What is so important about it, sister?"

"That stone is under my care for one more month, and NO ONE must be allowed to touch it. I do not even know how Yugi was able to enter that room. It is supposed to be under a magical spell, a lock preventing anyone, mortal or not, from going inside."

"Perhaps the spell has diminished over time, Katilli."

"That is not possible." Then her eyes widened again as she realized what must have happened. "The Millennium Puzzle! The Puzzle must have reacted to the spell somehow and negated it!"

Just then, Seto and Yugi entered the room. "Hey, guys! How's Joy!"

"She is sleeping now. We will have to stay the night, aibou. Then we can return home," Yami explained. Yugi nodded, not really minding staying at a castle full of friendly Duel Monsters.

"Yugi, I must ask you and Yami for a favor. Kaiba, you can take the guest room across the hall." Seto nodded, then left, giving Joy one more look to confirm she was all right. He closed the door behind him. "Yugi, that golden door was not supposed to be entered. It was locked. How did you break the spell on the door?"

Yugi blinked. "I didn't know it was locked. I was just curious. I promise not to go back in. I really didn't touch anything." Katilli gave him a stern look. Yami raised an eyebrow.

"Sister, I am sure he meant no harm. He did not know the room was off limits."

"Yami, the Puzzle reacted with that spell when Yugi was near the door. That stone is not just any old stone. It houses a dangerous sorcerer…an evil being bent on taking control of the world. If he were to be freed, it could be disastrous." She turned back to Yugi. "Yugi, I know you didn't mean anything by it, but I must ask you to let Yami take over and for you to stay in your soul room until we return to our world."

"But, I promise not to go back to the room. I don't want to stay in my soul room all night."

"Yugi, the stone is very powerful, and you may not be safe from anything that happens. It's really for your sake that I ask this of you. Yami can fight off any spell or enchantment; you, however, may not be able to do the same." She put a hand on his shoulder. "Please understand." Yugi sighed. Katilli addressed Yami. "And to make sure that the evil thing doesn't try anything, I must also ask that you two cut off the link – temporarily of course – until we are return. That way nothing will happen. The sorcerer seems to be able to manipulate the Items and is able to talk to Yugi mentally. We can't let that monster get loose. It's only for the night. Is it a deal?" She looked at Yugi with pleading eyes.

Yugi looked down at the ground. He really didn't like missing out on sleeping at the castle, and he didn't like having the link between himself and Yami blocked out for an entire night. But he didn't see that there was much of a choice.

Yami could feel his light's disappointment and worry, and he himself felt a little wary of cutting off the link in such a way for that length of time. But, like Yugi, he didn't see any other option. If that evil sorcerer was somehow able to manipulate Yugi or the Puzzle, or use the link negatively, it could be disastrous.

They both nodded slowly. Katilli took a deep breath, relieved.

The Puzzle glowed and the two became one, with Yami in control. "I hope you realize that this is not something either of us is used to, sister."

"I know Yami. And I thank you both for your patience. Please tell Yugi that I am sorry, and I am grateful for his cooperation." Yami nodded, and then went to his own room to settle in for the night.

Yugi, Katilli thanks you for agreeing to this, and she is sorry for having to ask this of you. Of us."

I understand…I think. I mean, that stone is dangerous and all, but I promised not to touch it, and…she doesn't believe me.

She does, aibou. She just wants to make sure that nothing bad happens to any of us.

I guess so. I guess this is goodbye until tomorrow.

It's temporary. I promise. I will make sure that first thing in the morning, you get control. And you can have it for as long as you like. Yami vowed with a smile, trying to send reassuring thoughts through the link while sensing sadness and disappointment from Yugi.

Okay. Good night, Yami.

Good night, Yugi.

With that, the link was cut.

Joy: Whew, a longer chapter than before. (smiles) Well, I wonder if any of you readers can guess who is trapped in the crystal. Send in your guesses when you review, which I hope you do.

BTW: I had planned this chapter a lot differently, and then when I sat down to actually type it, it turned out totally different. For example, I had Yugi going into the room alone and falling into some sort of trance in my originally chapter. But I changed in unexpectedly. I suddenly wanted Seto to see the stone at the same time as Yugi. Let me know if this chapter sounded dumb or confusing, and I may go back and change it…

Anyway, I am gonna look over what I have down for the next chapter and tweak it a bit before posting it. But I may not post it until I get a review or two, so REVIEW. The next chapter is called "Solitude", and it revolves mostly around Yugi being stuck in his soul room with only his thoughts as company. Poor Yugi. T-T Well, see ya next time!