Disclaimer: (sigh…) How many times do I have to say that I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh? I have been over this for how many times? Nine times already! This is the tenth time!!! (sigh… and shake head…) There will be many more times that I have to say this, I know, I know…

I haven't been writing the story for a couple of days. I'm terribly obsessed with this new anime I bought: S-Cry-ed!!! It's really really good! I think that if you like Seto Kaiba and Sesshoumaru, then you'll probably like Ryuho too.

To Yamiko Yakou: Lolz, thanks for the comment.

To Coffee-Time: Lolz, um... I'm not planning to let Kaiba kiss Serenity for her to wake up, sorry...

To RiterAnonymous: Lolz, I know I updated really fast recently, it is because of the Christmas vacation. But once school starts again, I don't know how slow I will be at updating the story. Thanks for supporting my story!!!

Okay, continue with the story. I hope you guys will enjoy the story…

The Spirit of the Sword

Chapter 10

The Bad News

It had been two weeks since the wedding. Serenity was still unconscious. Seto had been in her room everyday, just sitting there watching her. She had grown paler and paler as the days passed by. She didn't mumble anything since the first day of her coma.

A timid old doctor walked slowly into the room. He was shaking because of fear. His king was in the worst mood he had ever seen since the queen was hurt and fall into a coma. Cold sweats began to drip down his wrinkled forehead. Behind him were three other doctors, all dressed in white.

"My lord… we have to check on the queen's condition…" the old doctor said timidly.

Seto was standing at the window, his back facing the doctors. His eyes were closed. It seems hopeless. Is she going to wake up? I need… need her to save Mokuba… Damn! He suddenly turned around, and then opened his cold cobalt eyes.

"Why isn't she waking up?" his voice was indifferent, but his eyes showed a sign of anger. The anger was directed toward the doctors.

"She… her will to survive is currently very weak… Maybe… maybe if her bro-brother and… and fri-friends could come…" the doctor suggested, stuttering because of fear.

"What did you say?" Seto's voice soft, yet dangerous. He didn't want to see the mutt and his rival Yami.

"Um… if her family and friends could… could talk to her… even your majesty… if you talk to her… perhaps it would help her… at least a little…" the old doctor was shaking again.

"I don't need…" Seto was cut off by Serenity's sudden scream and cry.

"Ah! Help… Someone… it's hot! It hurts. Please stop burning… I'm scared… Joey? Joey! I'm afraid of the fire, the burning…" Serenity shrieked, then she broke into crying and sobbing. However, she was still unconscious. She seemed to be in some kind of nightmare or scary memories.

Seto was frozen. He didn't know what to do. Then, he finally regained consciousness and rushed to Serenity. He tried to shake up so that she would wake up from the scary memories or nightmare.

"Wake up! Serenity, wake up!" Seto was shaking her by the shoulder. The doctors were all scared by what they saw. They quickly rushed to Seto and pulled him away.

"Stop, my lord! You must not shake her like that!" the old doctor let Serenity lied down, with a worried face. "She is still unconscious. That may be a scary memory, or just a mere nightmare. I think it would be best to inform her brother. He might know something about this"

"… Fine. Sent a messenger and inform the mutt, ahem, Serenity's brother Joey, about this. Tell him to get his ass here immediately." Seto ordered. Serenity seemed to calm down a bit. He turned around and went back to stand in front of the window.

I want to know what the hell is happening! The mutt better know something about this!

Serenity finally reached the bottom of the abyss. She was still surrounding by darkness. She sat on the ground, with her head resting on her knees. She was scared and lonely. Her eyes began to fill up with tears. Her eyes shut tightly.

Where am I? Is this hell? Had I fallen into hell? But why? Think Serenity! What happened?!?

She began to search in her mind about what happened the last time she remembered. She remembered that Joey found her and brought her to Yami Kingdom. Her friends: Tea, Mai, Yami, Yugi, Tristan, Duke… Her brother Joey. They had all treated her kindly. Then, she remembered there was this person who saved her from falling off the swing in the garden. She was running away, she was caught. Then, she was in the church, it was a wedding, her wedding! Then what happened? I can't remember…

"Joey… where are you? Please help me… I'm scared. I'm all alone…" Serenity mumbled. Tears began to drip down her cheeks. She sobbed.

Suddenly, her right arm began to hurt. She opened her eyes. She saw a small Serenity in a dark room. Her father was drunk. He had a match in his hand, and the match was lit. Her father was getting closer and closer to the small Serenity.

"Joey! Help me! Mom! Help!" small Serenity was yelling and crying. She was backing up from her drunken father.

"Stop yelling! You useless girl!" Her father screamed at her. He was drunk and he never love his daughter. To him, what is a daughter good for? Nothing!

Then, his father stumbled toward small Serenity. Then, the match fall onto the ground. A flame burst up and the surrounding began to burn. The father got up and was a little more awake after he saw the flame. He jumped and rushed out the door; he disappeared into the darkness. The small Serenity began to cry. She tried to run out, but the flame burst up in front of her. She was trapped!

"Ah! Help… Someone… it's hot! Please stop burning… I'm scared… Joey? Joey! I'm afraid of the fire, the burning…" the little Serenity began to scream and cry as loud as she could.

"No! I've got to save her!" Serenity said. She tried to rush into the flame to save the little girl. But the little girl disappeared just when she almost touched her. She saw that the little Serenity was outside of the flame now, holding hands with Joey.

"That's right… Joey saved me that time." Serenity mumbled to herself. What she just saw was her past. She had almost forgotten about that incident. Her father was always drunk. He would beat her mother and her, sometimes Joey, especially when he came home drunk. That's why her mother decided to take her away from her father. She tried to take Joey too, but her father locked Joey up when they tried to escape. But her mother stopped caring and loving her after they moved away. She became more obsess with trying to get a rich guy to marry her. Serenity's childhood was so unhappy that she almost forgotten about it. However, the one thing that she was afraid of the most was fire.

"Oh no! Now I'm trapped in the fire!" Serenity realized. Her eyes widened and fear seized her thought. This time, it was her turn to try to escape the flame. The fire burned her right arm a bit.

"Ah… Ah! Help… Someone… it's hot! Please stop burning… I'm scared… Joey? Joey! I'm afraid of the fire, the burning…" She cried out. The words were exactly the same as the little Serenity had cried out before.

Joey was no where to be found. No one was at the bottom of the abyss. All she saw was darkness and the flame around her. The temperature was terribly high.

I can't escape… it's hopeless… I guess I have to stay here and burn to ashes… Joey is nowhere to be found… I'm all alone… all alone… all alone…

Serenity gave up. She sat down and put her head on her knees again. She closed her eyes. One drop of tears fall out of her eye.

"Seto…" she mumbled, but didn't realize that she mumble anything.

"Seto… Seto, help me! Seto!" Serenity was unconsciously yelling Seto's name. Her face was white as a paper. She was shaking her head lightly. Her auburn hair spread out on the white pillow.

Seto opened his eyes suddenly. His eyes grew wider when he heard her call of help. His cerulean eyes narrowed and he turned his head to face the bed.

"My lord… the queen is having a high fever…" the doctors reported.

"Imbeciles! Do something!" Seto yelled. He rushed to the bed and put his hand on her forehead. "It's burning!" Seto said fearfully. No, you can't… you have to wake up… there is still a task you need to do!

"Did the mutt get the message yet?!? Tell him to come here right now!!!" Seto ordered his follower.

"Y-yes… a message was sent to Joey Wheeler. He should be arriving soon…" the follower replied.

"He better get here fast!" Seto said, coldly.

The blonde hair man was walking around his room. He was extremely worried and frustrated. Joey walked back and forth in his own room. Mai was sitting on the bed, her violet eyes following Joey, her boy friend.

"Damn! Did Serenity wake up yet? That jerk, Kaiba, only sent us a message two weeks ago saying that Serenity was stabilized. Can't I at least go and see her?" Joey was talking to himself.

"Joey…" Mai said. She seemed more worried, because Joey was acting like this for two weeks. "I think Serenity is fine… there's no bad news sent to us, right?"

Mai stood up and walked up to Joey. Joey was now facing the window, his back toward Mai. His head lowered and seemed lost in thought. Mai walked up to Joey and hugged him from the back, trying to give him some comfort and support. She rested her head on his back.

"We are all worried about Serenity, Joey." Mai told him. "How about this? Let's go find the others and pay Serenity a surprise visit?" Mai suggested with a cheerful voice. She didn't want Joey to feel upset any longer.

Joey finally raised his head. He liked Mai's idea very much! He turned around and looked at Mai. "Why didn't I think of this earlier?" Joey asked. "Thanks Mai. I'm so glad ya are here with me." He lowered his head and kissed Mai on her lips gently…

When they both needed to grasp some fresh air, Joey finally lifted his head. Mai was blushing. "Let's go talk to the others. Shall we?" Joey asked and put his right hand out, waiting for Mai to put her hand in his.

"Sure, Joey. Let's go." Mai put her left hand into Joey's big hand. They walked out of Joey's room together.

Yami was sitting in the king's golden seat. He was lost in thought. His eyes lowered, so no one could read his emotion.

I should have pulled Joey back. If he didn't try to hit Kaiba with his sword… Then Serenity wouldn't get hurt. Obviously, Yami had been blaming himself again. If I win the duel, then Kaiba wouldn't get to Serenity in the first place. I am to be blame for all of this. I could have stop Kaiba, then Joey… but I failed to do even the simplest thing. How's Serenity doing right now? Why isn't there any news of her?

Yami had been like this for the past two weeks. He didn't say much to anyone. He didn't have good appetite. He wanted to be alone so that he could blame himself more, for there's nothing he can do at this moment.

Tea was standing beside Yami. Her blue eyes looked at Yami worriedly. She knew that he was blaming himself again. She had been trying to comfort him for the past two weeks, but it didn't work. Joey was really upset too. But Mai was with him. No one could help Yami, except Tea.

Tea's eyes became teary as she thought of poor Serenity. She was also lost, not knowing what they could do to help. Suddenly, she slammed the table in front of Yami, but he didn't even hear her.

"Yami! Snap out of it!" Tea shook Yami's right arm. Tears began to fall out of her eyes. "Everyone was acting so sad lately. I'm worried about Serenity too! I also have to worry about you, and Joey, and everyone else… Do… d-do you k-know how many pre-pressure I had?" Tea broke into a sob. Then, she continues, after wiping her tears. "I'm worry about you, Yami! Stop blaming yourself! It's not your fault… please, do you know how painful it is for me to see you acting like this?" Tears continued to fall down her cheeks.

Yami finally raised his eyes and looked at Tea. He saw that she was really worried. He stared at Tea blankly for a while. Just when Tea was about to run off, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. Yami held Tea tightly. He wiped out her tears with his fingers.

"Don't cry, Tea. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you…" Yami said softly. "Thank you for being here for me. It meant a lot to me…"

Tea was sobbing right now. She was surprised that Yami hugged her tightly. "Re-really?" She hugged him back.

Yami put his head on her shoulder. He liked the sweet fragrance from Tea. "Yes…" he answered.

Just when Yami was about to say something else, someone knocked on the door. Before they had the time to part, the door was pushed open. Joey and Mai walked in together. When they saw Yami and Tea hugging each other, their mouth dropped open. They didn't expect to see this.

"I'm sorry… did we interrupted something? Um… we'll be back then." Joey said, then turned around with Mai and they were about to walk back into the hallway.

Tea stood back behind Yami. Yami cleared his throat and called out to Joey. "No, it's fine. Did you have something to discuss with me?"

Joey and Mai turned around. Mai had a smirk on her face when she looked at Tea. Her violet eyes were sending a message to Tea. 'So, why didn't you tell me about you and Yami?' Tea then blushed, her face was as red as a cherry. She lowered her blue eyes.

"Yes. Don't ya think it's time we go visit Serenity?" Joey asked. "I think we are all worried 'bout her. There's no news of her for two weeks!" Joey whined.

"Did you say we should go visit Serenity?" Tristan jumped out of nowhere. His eyes shone when he heard about visiting Serenity. He had a dreamy look on his face.

"Yes! I've been thinking about this for a long time!" Duke jumped in too. There were stars in his eyes.

"Tristan! Duke! Don't even think 'bout getting your hands on Serenity. I'm warning ya!" Joey threatened Tristan and Duke with his fist in front of them.

"Huh huh…" Tristan and Duke smiled nervously. "Don't worry Joey, we won't. Besides… Kaiba probably won't let us near her…" Tristan analyzed the situation and sighed.

"Tristan is right…" Duke sighed too. They both looked disappointed.

"Well, let's go then. What about Yugi? Is he going?" Yami asked. He didn't see Yugi around.

"I'll go find him then…" Just when Tea was about to go, a servant rushed in really fast. He seemed terrified by something.

"Report, my king! Kaiba sent a message to Joey. He said that um… he said Joey should go to Domino castle right away. Serenity was screaming and crying something about fire. Um… she was still unconscious…" The servant said.

"WHAT?!? Seren is still unconscious? It's been two weeks!!! Why did that jerk tell us?" Joey totally lost control when he heard about the bad news. "Oh no… fire… she must be remembering the fire in our childhood… Her biggest fear is fire and hot…" Joey began pacing in the room.

Everyone in the room was also shocked. They never expected a wound would cause Serenity to fall into a coma. They also had no idea what Joey was mumbling about.

Yami was the first to regained consciousness. "All right. What are we waiting for? We have to go see Serenity!" Yami said out loudly. He grabbed Tea's hand and pulled her forward so she would snap out of it.

"Yami's right! Joey, we have to hurry. It sounds like Serenity needed you!" Mai pulled Joey's hand and dragged him forward.

"Right, right…" Joey was still shocked at the news they received. He followed Mai and Yami. Tristan and Duke were also worried. They rushed out after Joey.

Serenity, hang in there. I'll be there soon. I'm not leaving ya again until ya wake up. I'll protect ya…

Back at Domino Castle, Serenity was still constantly mumbling something. She was sweating profusely. She was frowning, as if it was extremely uncomfortable. The maid was trying to change the wet towel on her forehead to keep her temperature down. The doctors had already given her medicine to lower her fever. She seemed to feel a little better now, because she's no longer crying and yelling.

Seto was still in front of the window. His eyes still shut tightly. He tried to shut off all of his emotions. He was so worried lately. But he shouldn't be feeling anything, because Serenity was only a tool for him to save Mokuba. He shouldn't care for her, especially she's the mutt's little sister. But then again, it was he who stabbed her back with his sword. He was the one who hurt her. It's normal to feel guilty, since he didn't stab her on purpose. Therefore, it's only normal to worry a little bit about her. Just a little bit. Also, she can help me. This was Seto Kaiba's conclusion.

Suddenly, foot steps were heard. A lot of people seemed to be rushing in. Seto opened his icy blue eyes. He knew who was coming. It was Joey, Yami, and the pathetic gang. Seto snorted.

The mutt is here. I hope he can pull Serenity out of wherever her mind wonders to…

I'm gonna stop here. I wonder does it take a long time for other people to write one chapter too? It takes me more than three hours most of the time. I had mapped out the whole story already, that's good.

Oh no! The vacation is over!!! School on Monday!!! Terrible!!! (pound on the table and starts crying…) Lolz…

Okay, I hope people review my story :)