Joy: Okay, peoples! Chapter 6 is gonna be sad, happy, and suspenseful all in one shot. It is also going to contain every OC so far. Cool, huh? I thought so. Review responses! Not many this time… (looks at the reviews sadly…)

Midnights: (evil laughter) YES! Cliffhangers are cool and needed to keep my reviewers. But I LOVE them no matter what! (rubs hands evilly while grinning)

Sakura: Heh. Here comes the next chapter. = )

Now, on to the good stuff! Read on!

Sticking Together

I don't know why you are so damned worried, hikari. The girl has two darks for Ra's sake!

Bakura, Vargon is strong and deadly. Yami and Katilli have trouble keeping him at bay together. I mean, the guy came back from the Shadow Realm twice as strong as before!

Joy frowned as she ran next to Ryou toward the hotel. I should never have let Sakura go off alone like that. I should have done something. I should have explained Vargon's powers better. Anything is better than putting her in danger like she is now. I just hope nothing has happened to her, but with Vargon, anything could have happened.

Yami, do you think we'll make it? Yugi asked his dark.

We must at least try, Yugi. Sakura is depending on us. Even with Cala and Caru, Vargon is a formidable foe, and he now has his sights set on the Millennium Crossbow.

It is dangerous, isn't it Yami?

Indeed. It has the ability to drain energy from the holder, as it does at times with Sakura if she uses it too long.

But…Vargon doesn't know that does he?

No, but I doubt that will stop his lust for the Item. We must get to the hotel and help in any way we can.

The group made it to the hotel where Sakura was staying, the Cramdon. Ryou was the first to reach the door, but just as he was about to open the door, a girl burst through it, colliding with him and bringing them both to the ground, with her on top. Ryou blinked up at the girl, then smiles embarrassedly. "Hello, Sakura. Glad to see you okay."

"Hey, Ryou! How ya doing!"

Joy held back a laugh. "Caru, how long have you been in control?" she said with a smile.

"Since Vargon attacked us." Everyone took a big intake of air. "Don't worry, Cala provided the perfect distraction. I don't think he was counting on there being two of us looking after Sakura."

"Is she all right?" Yugi asked as he helped Sakura stand up. Joy helped Ryou to his feet.

"Oh, she is just fine. Complaining about leaving Cala behind, but I'm sure my twin sis has everything under control. She is also upset Vargon came after the Crossbow." Caru smiled. "No big deal, though. Everything is just dandy, dandy, dandy."

"Is Cala back yet? We need to get the hell out of here," Joy asked.

Caru closed her eyes briefly, then opened them, tilting her head slightly. "She…does not answer me when I call out to her. That has…never happened before." Her face looked just a bit worried.

Moon Shadow, I am going up after her. I sense danger.

Luna, wait a moment… "Caru, can you sense your sister in this Realm?"

"Why do you ask, um…what is your name?"

"Moon Shadow…now, do you? Because I have a feeling. He may have taken her to the Shadow Realm, and if he has…" She let her voice trail off as she left the thought unvoiced.

Caru paled a bit. Then she closed her eyes as tightly as she could, seeking out her sister's presence. After several moments she found that she could not feel Cala at all. She opened her eyes, quiet for a moment. "She is…not here… But…I know she just has to be okay! I mean…she has never gotten into a situation she can't handle before. She wouldn't have told me to take Sakura and leave her if she didn't think she could handle it." Caru tried to show her usual optimism, but all she managed was a weak smile.

Then Moon Shadow tensed. "Hurry…we have to get out of here."

"Huh?" Caru blinked.

"He's coming. I can feel his presence. Quick! Get out of here. Go back to the old mansion and I'll create an illusion to distract him long enough for you to make a clean escape."

Just then the front doors to the hotel burst open and Vargon appeared, an evilly triumphant look on his face.

"Go on! Get out of here! I'll catch up!"

"But -!" Yugi tried to protest.

"GO!" Moon Shadow snapped back at him, not taking her eyes off the wicked mage.

Ryou grabbed Caru's arm (AN: It's Caru's cuz she's in control at the moment.) and dragged her off. Seto did the same with Joy. Merina turned to run as well, but she noticed Yugi had not moved. "Come on, Yugi. We gotta trust her judgment. She'll be right behind us, I'm sure. Saa. Saa, Yugi!" She tugged on his arm a little.

Yugi, follow Merina or I will take over.

But, Yami. We can't just leave her…not after what happened to Katilli and Cala. She…she might get hurt, and I can't stand a friend getting hurt.

Yami didn't answer. He didn't want to leave the young spirit, but he must get Yugi to safety first. The Puzzle glowed as Yami forced Yugi into his soul room. "Come along, Merina." Merina nodded and the two rushed off toward the hotel.

Vargon looked at the woman with a sneer on his face. "You think you can save them with a sacrifice, but you are most mistaken. I will get what I want in the end, and I want those Items. I already took care of those two spirits, and now it is your turn, girl. You do not know of whom you are up against."

"Oh, but I do. And I am not worried." Moon Shadow said, making her voice sound as confident as she could. Inside she was praying she could keep him at bay long enough to buy the others a head start at least. She knew her previous plan to create an illusion may not be enough. I am going to have to use something else. She looked up at the telephone lines nearby. I have it!

She concentrated on the cables, causing one of them to snap off the pole, then she looked at Vargon, who was oblivious to what she was doing and was coming toward her with an energy ball in his hand. Suddenly he fell to the ground as the cables wrapped themselves around the mage's legs, effectively tripping him and pinning his legs.

Good. That should hold him for a short while.

Very nice. NOW GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE! Luna yelled at her.

Fine, fine. I am going! With that the girl vanished, teleporting directly into the mansion's lounge, where Yugi and the others were already waiting.

"Moon Shadow! You're here!" Everyone leaped up from their seats.

"Relax. I am fine," she said. "Vargon isn't going to be happy when he gets out of his bind, but I think he will back off for a moment. Is everyone safe and sound?"

"No," came a quiet reply from the back of the room. It was Sakura, who had regained control of her body when they had gotten to the mansion. "Cala is a prisoner…just like Katilli. Or maybe worse…"

They could see how this was affecting Sakura. Normally the girl was happy and looked ready to face the world with a smile, but right now the smile was replaced with a look of complete worry.

Joy went over to her. "Oh, Sakura. I'm sure she is just fine. Cala is a spirit, and if she is with Katilli, I'm sure those two can get out of wherever he has them. I can feel that they are still all right." She turned to Moon Shadow. "They are still all right, aren't they?"

"Yes. They are, for now. If we are to rescue them, we will need a plan."

"The tournament starts tomorrow. Should we still participate?" Yugi asked.

"Yes. I foresee no problem with that as long as we are extra careful," Moon Shadow responded, her eyes lighting up slightly when Yugi smiled and nodded. "In the meantime, we need to rescue a few darks."

"Absolutely! And to do that, we need a plan! And I don't know about you, but I can't think on an empty stomach," Merina chipped in, a big encouraging smile on her face. "Any food around, Ryou?"

"Um…well, I'm not sure, really. I always had food delivered. There may be some leftovers, though."

"Don't worry, guys. I'll order some pizza," Joy offered, awarded with yes's and smiles from her friends.

Seto rolled his eyes and shook his head.

They certainly are easy to please, Sorcerer Seto said from within his soul room.

You're telling me, Seto replied with a smirk.

Joy: Okay, everyone! Listen up cuz it's announcement time!

The first announcement pertains to the your characters. I have enjoyed writing them so much that I have decided to ask your permission to continue to include them in more than just duels all the way up until the end of the story. The only time I may leave some out is when they split up to duel or something.

The second announcement is that I will also be doing some OCs of my own, kind of rivals for some of your own. Some of them will last a few chapters while others may get a bigger bit. For example, Merina vs. an OC of my creation, and Sakura vs. another OC of my creation. Kind of liven the duels up a bit before the finals. Let me know if you like that.

Another announcement is that the tournament will start after a few more chapters. Remember, this is gonna be a long story, and I don't want to rush anything. The more, the better in my opinion. That is why the tournament hasn't started yet.

The reasons for keeping the characters around is that they will all have bigger parts in the story now that I have it planned out really good. Plus, they are all so interesting that it is hard not to put them in more often. Plus with their potential, it's a given!

Whew! Long list of announcement, yes? Anyway, better close this out. Now, the next chapter will be titled…'Splitting up'. Ironic, ne? Okay, till then, review! See ya soon!