Finding Family

Chapter 25 - The Tree

The day had been rough and no one person had come out the way they had come in. Kaiba held his sister in his arms. Her eyes were open but she wasn't ,awake. Her eyes two hollow shells of what they were. Each person in the limo had injuries of some sort. Mokuba tried to stop his cheek from bleeding. He crawled over to Kaiba and poked him on his good arm.

"Seto...what do we do?" Mokuba leaned against Kaiba in some hopes of getting comfort. With his good arm, Kaiba wrapped it around Mokuba into a hug.

"Whatever it is we better think of something fast." Kaiba grunted tiredly, "I sense many more battles to come. And not all of them are going to be this gentle."

"This was GENTLE!" Joey was in pure shock. "You gotta be kidding me!" He accently thrust his shoulder out casuing him to moan in pain and blood to run through his red fingers.

"Hey Amber...wake up...please," Yugi pleaded to a sleeping Amber.

"Uh...ugh..." Sakura opened her eyes. "Where are we?" She sat up and looked around, "Kaiba's limo. Ouch...note to self, moving head increases headach." She ran her fingers through her hair and looked around. "Everyone semi-okay?" Amber was the only one who didn't nod.

Sakura crawled over to Yugi and pushed open Amber's eyelids. There was nothing but hollow orbs.

"Is she..." Yugi chocked out, afraid to say the word.

"Is she...dead?" Mokuba chocked clinging to his brother.

"I'm not sure." Sakura picked up her hand and felt for a pulse. "There's still a pulse, so thank Ra there is. Next thing we have to worry about, is getting her back from where ever her mind had gone. It's somewhere safe."

"How do you know?" Kaiba asked glaring at her.

"I remember during the fight her spirit Amara mentioned her soul was badly damaged. When the soul is damaged the mind goes into hiding until the soul can be fully restored and when it does come back, it's stronger then before."

"Meaning?" Yugi asked.

"Meaning, that when she wakes up, she's going to be a lot more powerful and there is going to be a lot more damage delt, and this time...it will be our side who deals it." Sakura bent her head back, "But we have to keep her safe until her soul can repair itself. Only one person can help and that seems to be Harmony, only problem is there is only so much she can do." She massaged her arm, "And until then...we wait."

"That's all we can do?"

"I guess."

"One question," Kaiba pulled his arm off Mokuba, "How did you know that?"

"Let's just say I've been through the same process, and I came out of it worse for ware but I made it through and I'm more powerful in that way."

"How did your soul get damaged?" Joey asked curiously.

"I was in a fight with someone from Aroga. He had been trained well in assanation and it threw the soul dagger into my chest. I was out for a month before I woke up in Subaru's home. She took care of me for a month. Once I got home I got news of my fathers will and came here where I will be making permanent residence. Put it this way, Amber is going to be put through the ringer. She has to fight her own fears, doubts and sorrows. That's not easy."

"I see, and how long is this process going to take?"

"It can take from a day to a month to a year. We all better pray that Ra smiles upon us and Amber wakes up soon." Yami took over for Yugi, "And don't ask me how I know."

"We better get everyone into the mansion." Joey, with a lot of difficulty managed to get Amber on his back. The limo broke down just as they reached the middle of the driveway.

"We'll have to get out and walk." Kaiba opened the door and let everyone out.

"Great." Joey carried Amber on his back feeling the flow of blood run down his arm.

"At least it's not raining," Mokuba replied. Suddenly thunder clouds rolled in and the rain fell.

"At least its not raining!" Joey mocked angrily.

"I know you're angry but were almost there." Kaiba sighed as they continued the path toward the mansion. The reciever in the coat had sorted out in the limo as well as Mokuba's and Amber's. So they were stuck walking.

The rain had died down to spitting and the thunder had stopped by the time they reached the mansion doors. Kaiba pushed them open and let the water drip off them. Maids rushed over to them and ushered them inside. One noticed the gash on Joey's shoulder and pulled him to the first aid room after he handed Amber over to Kaiba, a second maid noticing Mokuba's own cut, pulled him with Joey. Kaiba and Yugi headed up the stairs, Yugi's arm bugging him to no ends.

Sakura managed to take a seat on the couch. She asked the maid for an asprin which the maid brought happily. She handed Sakura the asprin bottle. Sakura insisted on heading home, not wanting to bother the others.

"Please stay ma'am, Mr. Kaiba would be most un-happy if you left."

"I have to go, have a company to run." Sakura exited the building.

A maid walked up to Amber's room where Kaiba and Yugi currently were. She opened the door and noticed Amber in bed asleeep, Yugi and Kaiba were talking between themselves. Joey walked in next and looked at Yugi and Kaiba.

"Yug, the doctor wants to see you now. I told him about your shoulder." Yugi nodded and left the room.

"Mr. Kaiba, will you allow me to get her ready for bed?" Kaiba sighed but nodded and followed Joey out of the room, "Oh and Miss Kodasawa left for her home. She mentioned having something to run, a company." Kaiba nodded again and led Joey to his room.

"Hey, let me see your arm."

"I'm fine Joey."

"I insist Seto," Joey pulled Kaiba's sleave up, "You're arm, it's burnt."

"I know that. I can handle it," Kaiba pulled his arm away and cringed.

"Let's go to your room and make sure you take care of it." Joey pulled Kaiba into his room and made him sit down. "I told the doctor I need a burn kit. He gave it to me. I'll be taking care of that arm." Joey bent down on one knee while he used his other one to balance the kit. He took some ointment out and carefully spread it across the burn. Kaiba winced and pulled away.

"That hurt."

"I know," Joey pulled his arm back and took out some gauze and wrapped it around his burn. He pulled some bandages out of the kit and wrapped the guaze up. "Change it everyday and I mean everyday." Kaiba nodded and pulled his arm back. Joey cleaned up the kit and sat beside Kaiba. "I think they would be done with Amber by now. Wanna go see her?" Kaiba shook his head no and put his face in his hands trying to clear his headache away. "You sure?"

"I'm sure. Besides she needs her rest, that and I think Motou needs some time with her."

"Yugs not with her. He's getting his arm fixed." A faint scream was heard down the hall. "He's done." Joey smiled, "Listen Seto, I know something is bugging you."

"Well, it may seem out of character, but I'm getting this feeling that Amber may never wake up. After all she's been through...she may not be able to escape." Kaiba looked down at his hands, "I can't seem to fight this feeling either. The odds have been staked against for a little too long."

"Hope that she comes out of her coma. She'll be okay. She's strong, she's proven that on many occasions. Get some sleep, I'm going to borrow a room." Joey stood up and was about to leave when he felt Kaiba grip his shirt. Guess I'm staying with Seto tonight. Joey sat back down beside Kaiba.

"You think she'll be okay?" Kaiba looked into Joey's eyes as the blonde nodded his head yes. "Let's see that shoulder."

"No. I'm fine, really..." Kaiba pushed him on the bed, and with some difficulty removed the t-shirt that had blood all over the sleave. Joey sighed as he gave up in risisting.

"They've taken care of it." Kaiba got off Joey but refused to give the blonde back his top. "Stay here tonight. I'm not asking much, I just want some company."

"What about Mokuba."

"I love my brother but all he does is talk at night." Kaiba stood and entered the bathroom. He came out in his pj's. He threw Joey a pair. "Bathroom is free." Joey took the clothes and changed into them. He crawled under the covers with Kaiba as the two teens fell asleep in the large bed.

Yugi paced around in the room he was borrowing. Yami what if she never wakes up?

She will aibou. Now get some sleep. You need it for tomorrow. Now that the school is shut down for repairs on the gym your grandfather is going to want you to help out.

I'm sure grandpa will understand. I want to be here when Amber wakes up.

Aibou, you do not know when that is and it's about time you spent time in your own bed. Yami stopped Yugi from pacing, Things will be okay. You just have to be paient. Yugi sighed and sat down on the bed.

Yami...I just need to...Yami glared at him, Get some sleep. Yugi crawled under the covers and let his mind drift into sleep mode.

Mist gathered around Yugi's feet. He looked around but no one was there. Not even Yami. He walked for about three hours when he spotted a tree. A large black tree. It's leaves had died and fallen off and a black liquid oozed down it's bark. He walked over to the tree and called for Yami. No answer came for a long while but suddenly he heard Yami.

"Yes aibou?" Yami was in solid form next to Yugi.

"What is this?" Yugi was about to touch when Yami pulled his hand away quickly.

"NO!" Yugi stumbled back from the anger in Yami's voice but it softened. "Aibou, do not touch that." Yugi looked at him confused giving him a 'why?' look. "You and I have no idea what that thing is or what it could to you so it's not to be touched." Yami kneeled down and helped Yugi up, "I am sorry at my outburst but you can be too curious at times."

"That's okay, now lets figure out how to get out of here."

"Why would you want to do that?" a female voice asked. Yugi and Yami turned around, Yami in front of his light. "Now Yami, why should you fear me?"

"Who are you?"

"I'm just a darker side of Amber."

"She already has one," Yugi snapped.

"True, but everyone has a darker side little Yugi. Even you." A young girl appeared beside Yugi. Her hair was long and black, she wore a long black dress with a hood, "And I want to meet him." She ran a finger against Yugi's chest until Yami pulled his light back behind him.

"Yes, but he also has a light side." Another female voice spoke. The girl came out dressed in a long golden dress with a hood. "Leave him alone. He's an inocent and he will stay that way. There is no way you are taking Amber or little Yugi." The girl dressed in gold smiled and helped Yugi out of the girl cloaked in blacks grasp.

"Very well. You asked earlier what this tree was."

"Yes," Yami replied hiding Yugi behind him. "What is it?"

"This is all the darkness expelling from Amber. I wish we could contact her but she's parted from even us. Not even Amara can contact her. Amber's light is growing. Her beautiful darkness leaving her." The raven hair girl sighed.

"Yes but as she lets the light in she becomes stronger." The girl dressed in gold removed her hood as did the girl with raven hair. They looked like Amber only they acted differently.

"Is that all her hated, anger, sadness?" Yugi kneeled down on the ground reaching out to touch the liquid.

"NO! Don't touch it." A golden light pulled him back, "I can't let you interfer with the process." Yugi nodded and pulled his hand back. "I beg of you, protect her. I am in agreement with her," she pointed to the raven haired girl, "If she dies, she fades from time. Never to be in the memory of anyone."

"Fades from time?" Yami looked at the two girls oddly.

"Yes, if she dies, she doesn't, never has, and never will exist ever again. She will be nothing but empty space."

"If she died by regular means though..."

"She would be remembered. But if Aroga and Erik managed to kill her she will be nothing more, not even a memory."

"No..." Yugi had a far away look in his eye, "No...she can't."

"Now leave, if you stay here any longer time will eat away at you."

"No...I need to know more!" Yugi and Yami were thrust from that world and landed in his own dream. "I need to know more..."

"Yug?" Joey shook Yugi awake, "Hey man, come on. Wake up." Yugi opened his eyes half way and looked at Joey angrily.

"Ugh...why did you wake me up?" Yugi groaned and sat up.

"Breakfast. I saved you some. I tired to wake you up earlier but you just wouldn't wake up so I figured I wake you up a twelve noon. I woke up at eleven and Kaiba 10:30 am. Mokuba is still snoozing though." Joey pulled Yugi out of bed, "Oh, I wouldn't bother getting dressed, no one else is. Oh and Sakura left you a message. It's downstairs." Yugi groaned again and slipped on his slippers.

Do you think we should tell Kaiba about Amber?

Not yet aibou...lets just wait.

Yugi nodded his reply and they walked into the kitchen absent of Kaiba.

He must be with Amber. Yami commented.

Kaiba watched Amber sleep. Her skin was pale but she was fine except for the journy she was going through.

What should I do? I need her around just like Mokuba. Kaiba pulled out his staff, What should I do?