A/n Okay, sorry about that. Holiday's, who need them. And I didn't get Kaiba for my Christmas present either, though he was on my list.

Flashback

Kiri touched Kaiba's neck to gain his attention. "Was that just Yugi's grandfather?" she asked. Kaiba just humphed at her and sat back on his haunches, refusing to acknowledge that the old man had turned into such a powerful card. Refusing to even consider the possibility that in a battle, the old man could have a chance at winning against him. Kiri cocked her head at him and hid her smile, she had heard how Yugi had defeated Kaiba using those same cards and knew that Kaiba was less than amused to find the old man who was indirectly responsible for that first defeat to have changed into the very cards responsible for that defeat. She wisely dropped the subject and contented herself with stroking the scales she had been touching.

"Well you two seem to be getting along better" the Pharaoh smirked.

End Flashback

(on with the story)

Kiri's hand stilled on Kaiba's shoulder as she froze, knowing that one statement, that one voice guaranteed to set him off on an explosion and game of epic proportions just to soothe his wounded pride. The low rumbling growl began so deep that she felt it in her fingers before it actually erupted from his throat.

Slowly everyone began to back away from the two gamers, as if afraid that sudden movement would gain their attention, turn the focus to them, and no one was willing to be the center of those terrifying gazes.

Only Kiri remained, frozen in place by the low rumbling growl that echoed through her fingers and her entire body. She couldn't have moved if she wanted to, had she been able to convince her feet to move. The two stared at each other; the contest beginning with a battle of wills alone, the very weapons being the forceful personalities at play.

Minutes seemed to pass, as neither combatant would give. Kiri tensed and waited, knowing that at any moment the battle would begin in earnest and desperately trying to find a way to stop it. Anything would work. That ear shattering scream would work…she turned and looked at Anzu, the source of the scream. Wait, why was Anzu screaming. The others stared at her as if she had lost her mind, which might not be far from the truth but that was neither here nor there.

Then she saw them, monsters born of shadows and grinning like mad men in a circle surrounding the little group. Everyone had been so focused on the Pharaoh and Kaiba that they hadn't seen the danger until it was too late. But from the lack of reaction in both Kaiba and the Pharaoh, Kiri wondered if they hadn't sensed the danger coming, and just held their position until the moment arrived.

'Typical male thinking' Kiri grumbled in her head 'just like them to stand their looking big, bad, and male without bothering to let the rest of the world know that something is going wrong.' Kiri's thoughts were cut off when she felt clawed hands grab her wrist and came face to face with the nightmarish shadows. She screamed as it laughed and pulled her away from Kaiba…or tried to. It screamed as Kaiba's claws sank into its shoulders and ripped its arm off, forcing it to let go of Kiri. She backed up as Kaiba threw it back into the circle of shadows. Kiri looked around to check on the others and realized that she was the only one without a weapon prepared to defend themselves.

In one of those brief flashes of insights that only happen at the wrong moments, she realized that in all the 6 months she had known him, she had never stood up to defend herself, to fight for herself, unless of course you count frying the bugs and Yugi, but that was more fear than actual planning. She had always stood behind Kaiba, he had always done the battling, always done the fighting, and she had always stood as the helpless maiden in the background, offering support and doing nothing more than screaming. In one instant, she felt totally and completely stupid. No wonder Kaiba never took her seriously, she had a hard time taking herself seriously. It was one of those epiphanies that came with a hallelujah chorus and the need to crawl under a rock.

She was a strong, intelligent, capable female who didn't need to hide behind any man, and what the hell had she been thinking. Her epiphany was cut off abruptly as angels dove screaming to the side attempting to avoid the swiping claws of a shadow reaching for her again. Kaiba's claws were there to block the shadow before Kiri even had time to think of how to defend herself. She stood up straight and tall, searching for a weapon of some kind, because she was going to defend herself in this fray if it killed her.

'And it just might' she thought as she avoided another shadow's grab. The others were fighting but not as hard pressed as Kaiba was by the shadows. It was as if the shadows were sent after him alone. Well for once, she was going to defend him. She picked up the broom Yugi's grandfather had set down and swung at the nearest shadow, connecting with a satisfying thunk to its head. Unfortunately it wasn't even dazed as it grinned at her and grabbed the broom dragging her toward it.

Another clawed hand wrapped around her waist, startling her into letting go of the broom. Kaiba tucked her under his chest as he smashed the shadow, broom and all.

"Stay put, you idiot." He hissed, as his tail sent two more shadows flying into a nearby wall. The Pharaoh skewered another shadow as he made his way to Kaiba's side.

"What did you do to tick them off, Kiri." He asked rhetorically as he swung his sword at another shadow, slicing it in half.

"Me" Kiri yelped and grabbed for the broom again, only to have Kaiba snag her back and hold her under him.

"Stay put." He growled and swung his free claw at another shadow, ripping it to shreds. The shadows seemed never-ending, as Kiri was helpless to do anything but hide against Kaiba's chest while he and the others defended her from the onslaught. She wanted to scream in frustration, hating the feeling of being weak, while other's fought her battle.

In the darkness watching the battle was a set of eyes, gleaming possessively as they watched her there, struggling with her emotions. Its spell weaved a little more, causing her to fall deeper into despair. Alone the shadows could not defeat the Pharaoh or Yami Kaiba, their only hope was to draw her out into something foolish. A chance that would be slim and only once, but one he was prepared to wait for.

She struggled against Kaiba's hold, wanting to join the fray. She beat her fists against his chest attempting to break his iron grip. It didn't even faze Kaiba as he held her there, not tight enough to harm, but tight enough to keep her from harming herself in her struggles. She didn't understand why she was behaving this way. She only knew that she had to be free, she had to fight.

For one moment, time paused as the two halves of Yugi came together and formed one person, one powerful card that stood out from the others. It was only a brief flash that came and went so quickly, as for that one moment, the two were one again. The shadow in the forest froze, knowing that if they held it, all would be lost. But as quickly as the moment came, it went again, with the two unsure of what had happened. But unfortunately for the shadows that one brief moment was enough, the Pharaoh's eyes suddenly glowed as he turned the power of the ancients upon the forest, breaking the spell that held Kiri in its grasp. She slumped exhausted in Kaiba's arm, worn out from her struggles to be free. The shadows retreated before the blazing power, returning to their master who cursed the Pharaoh's sharp eyes and sharper wits. But he knew that it wasn't only the Pharaoh's power that had released her. It was a combination of the Pharaoh's knowledge and Kaiba's strength that had one this round. Next time, next time he would be better prepared. Next time he would seek her when she was alone.

The shadows vanished as swiftly as they had come, retreating through the darkness that had spawned them. Unwittingly leading another to their lair, one who slithered in the darkness as if he too was born to it.

Voices spoke over her head some calling her name, but she was too tired to listen. Sleep beckoned to her, that soothing darkness that would ease her confusion if only for a little while. She felt the warm comfort of being held and the growl as a familiar voice talked reverberating through his chest. She surrendered to the lure of dreams.

"She's only sleeping." The Pharaoh replied as he removed his hand from her forehead.

"Why did they want her?" Mokuba demanded from his perch on Anzu's shoulder. He was too distracted to notice the perfect view of Anzu's cleavage, a testament to his distress over the situation. Kaiba held the sleeping girl in his front claws and glared at the Pharaoh as if he could somehow supply the answers.

"Somehow, she is the key to this situation." The Pharaoh murmered and stared hard at the sleeping girl. "Or she is the planned bait for some type of trap."

"But why her?" Jounouchi wondered.

"Simple," the Pharaoh replied, "other than Mokuba, she is the only one that Kaiba would go after, the only one liable to draw us all to the same place at the same time."

"Humph" Kaiba glared, "they assume to much."

The Pharaoh pointedly looked at the clawed hands that held her so tight without a word.

"We shouldn't separate for a while. They will be back, the moment one of us is alone." Yugi pointed out with his usual optimism.

Kaiba glared and tightened his claws. Mokuba piped up and invited everyone to their place since it was bigger and had better security measures. Not to mention the games that were already there for the entertainment of all. Kaiba turned and launched himself into the air, returning to the mansion. Tonight would be a long night as he and the Pharaoh analyzed and planned their next move.

Somewhere in the darkness, eyes alight with malicious glee, Bakura watched the shadows to where they retreated and planned his next move.