Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, and I never will.

Author's note: Yay, finally got some time and energy to sit down and type. School is just so annoying. May is getting closer, and AP exams are closer too faints This means it's time to study really hard, no more tv, no more computer, no more free time (T.T) … … Okay, now here's the new chapter, enjoy!

The Spirit of the Sword

Chapter 16

Troubles in Domino Castle

Joey Wheeler was sitting on the black sofa in Mai's guest room with his head lowered. The doctors were still surrounding Mai. Yami and Tea were standing together, both had worried faces. The room was horribly silent. The only sounds that could be heard were the doctors' heavy sighs, and their footsteps walking back and forth, very busy trying to determine the poison Mai ate.

Tea seemed a bit uncomfortable with the tense atmosphere in the room. She pulled Yami towards the door, farther away from Joey. "Yami, should we say something to Joey? He seemed really depressed… Maybe we could cheer him up somehow?" Tea whispered in a really low voice to Yami's ears, so Joey wouldn't hear her. Her blue eyes were staring into Yami's violet eyes worriedly.

Yami turned his head towards Joey, observing Joey. After a few seconds of silence, he finally answered Tea. "I think he needs some time to be alone. It would be hard to cheer him up right now after what Mai's going through. I would want to be left alone if I were in Joey's place." He also whispered with a low voice, to avoid upsetting Joey even more.

"… But we are his friends… I… he…" After looking back and forth between Joey and Mai, Tea sighed heavily. "Maybe you're right. He needs some time to think alone…" Tea whispered. Yami gave her an approving smile, and they walked back next to Joey. Yami put his hand on Joey's shoulder, giving him support.

Joey finally raised his head to look at Yami. His brown eyes were hollow and dull, his blonde hair messy. Joey seemed to be looking at Yami's eyes, but also seemed to be looking past Yami, as if he wasn't focusing on an object. Joey seemed to be lost in his own fear, the fear of losing Mai. Tea and Yami both gasped at Joey's dull eyes. What's happening to Joey? Why are his eyes so hollow? He must hang in there for Mai's sake! Tea thought worriedly, with her mouth wide opened. Yami quickly grabbed Joey's shoulder and shook his body. "Joey! Snap out of it! Don't look at me with your hollow eyes! Mai needs you! You can't collapse just yet!" Yami yelled loudly.

Thud. Loud noises of people kneeling interrupted Yami's shouts. "Your Majesty!" All of the doctors exclaimed loudly at the same time as Seto and Serenity entered the room. Yami and Tea turned their head and focused their attention on the two people who just entered.

"Oh my God! What happened to Mai?" Serenity exclaimed after seeing the pale Mai lying lifelessly on the bed. She broke off Seto's grip on her hand and rushed toward the bed. Serenity kneeled down on the floor, observing Mai with worried face. Tears began swelling into her eyes after seeing Mai's pale lips and pale face. "She looks so peaceful, as if she's just sleeping… Why is Mai unconscious?" Serenity whispered, tears started rolling down her cheeks. "I should have come earlier… Joey!" She snapped her head back up and looked around the room to find Joey. After Joey was spotted on the sofa with his dull eyes staring at the floor, Serenity felt excruciating pain jabbing her heart. She quickly stood up and rushed towards Joey. "Joey!" She sobbed and hugged Joey tightly.

Joey didn't move, he didn't even hug his sister back. Serenity's hazel eyes became wider after realizing that Joey didn't react to her. She raised her head and looked into Joey's deep, dull, hollow brown eyes. Serenity couldn't even see her own reflection in Joey's eyes! She gasped and started crying more. "Joey! Joey! I'm Serenity! I'm your sister! Can you hear me? Joey?" After attempting to make Joey say something to her, but to no avail, she collapsed on the floor, blaming herself. "It's all my fault… If I were here this afternoon, I could have been there for Joey… He was always there for me when I needed him… Oh poor Joey…"

"That's enough Serenity!" Seto's cold voice echoed in the quiet room. He pulled Serenity up ruthlessly by her arms, annoyed at her constant crying. He was even angrier that she shook off his grip on her hand to rush towards Mai and Joey. He would have none of it. Serenity belonged to him, and she shouldn't rush off to see someone without his permission. He then turned his eyes towards the doctors, who were still kneeling on the floor, trembling in fear.

"Why are you still kneeling? Is there no duty for you to fulfill?" Seto said with icy tone. His cerulean eyes could freeze all the doctors in front of them. The doctors trembled even fiercer. They feared their king, and feared that their inability to cure Miss Valentine would either result in their deaths or their punishments. The doctors stood up and faltered towards the bed, starting to do some test on Mai again to determine the poison consumed by Mai.

Satisfied that the doctors had resumed their tasks, Seto grabbed Serenity by her wrist and walked towards the other side of the room, staying away from Yami, Joey, and Tea. The disgusted look on Seto's face was clearly visible, but Serenity didn't see his face. Her eyes were still fixed on Joey, worried about her older brother.

Tea frowned when she saw Kaiba's disgusted face, as if they were some kinds of infection that Kaiba wouldn't want to go near. That arrogant jerk! Tea scolded Seto in her heart. She never liked Seto's arrogant attitude, let alone he kidnapped Serenity, forced her to marry him, despised Joey, and injured Serenity. "Hmph." Tea snorted, while rolling her blue eyes.

"Hmph. Is there something you don't like about me? Is so, you are very welcome to leave the castle, Miss Gardner." Seto said sarcastically. He stared at Tea coldly. He heard Tea's unsatisfied snort, and he definitely saw Tea rolled her eyes. Seto smirked when Tea gasped at his comments. Tea grabbed onto Yami's hand for support, and Yami could tell even though Tea disliked Kaiba, she was still afraid of him.

"Kaiba! Don't push Tea!" Yami interrupted. He would never allow anyone to intimidate Tea. Yami's violet eyes glared at Seto's cold blue eyes fearlessly. He also held onto Tea's hands tightly, promising that he would protect her no matter what happens. Seto didn't say anything, he just smirked and turned away, not even bother to talk to Yami. The room returned to silence again, and the mood turned tense once again.

Serenity stood in the corner with Seto, but she really wanted to go over and talk to Joey. She tried to shake off Seto's grip like the time she did when they entered the room. But this time, Seto grabbed onto her hand firmly. Seto applied more force on her wrist, as a warning that she should stay with him. Anger and worry spinning in Serenity's mind, pushing her to the verge of crying again. I want to go talk to Joey… Joey needs me… Joey… Serenity yelled in her heart.

"King Kaiba… we finally found out what poisoned Miss Valentine…" One of the doctors reported with a trembling voice. All the other doctors also stopped examining Mai. They all bowed to Seto in trepidation, for they know they might get in trouble after telling their king the type of poison that made Mai suffered.

"Well? I'm listening." Seto answered with impatience. He also wanted to find out what had poisoned his guest in his castle. Who would be so stupid to poison my guest in my castle? That idiot will pay with his life once I find him! Seto thought furiously. His reputation might be harmed because of this incident. Other people might think that the King of Domino, Seto Kaiba, poisoned a weak girl from Yami Kingdom. He would never allow others to think of him that way!

"Y-yes… my l-lord…" The doctor started stuttering. "The poison is a mixture of two poisons… One poison was extracted from... from a type of mutated poisonous anacondas found only in the… the…" The doctor paused, unable to continue because of fear. He looked at his king through the corner of his eyes, fearing that he might loose his life by merely saying the origins of the poisons.

"Is it that hard to explain to me?" Seto's face darkened because of rage. Why is that old man stuttering and not tell me where is the stupid anaconda from? Seto glared at the doctor with his icy blue eyes. "Speak the truth and I shall spare your life." Seto said with a soft voice, but his voice sent shivers down the spine of everyone in the room.

The doctor's face turned colorless, and his eyes widened in fear. "Yes… the… the poison was extracted from a type of mutated poisonous anacondas found only in the Domino Kingdom in the East. The… um… and… a-and the other poison was extracted from… um… a type of rare, but deadly and equally poisonous tarantula, also… also found only in t-the Domino Kingdom…" The poor old doctor finally finished his report. Sweats had soaked his clothes already.

Seto didn't say a word. He frowned after hearing the old doctor's report, and veins started popping on his forehead. Suddenly, Seto's eyes widened. The poison sounds familiar… I've read about it before… It's… in one of the textbooks Gozaburo forced me to read… It can't be… It can't be the same poison… Only a few people knew about it… Seto was unable to say anything, shocked by what he realized. He froze at the

Yami and Tea gasped, and they looked at Seto with suspicious eyes. "Wait… but doctors, I thought that tarantulas aren't poisonous to humans… why… how would the tarantula found in Domino Kingdom poisonous and deadly to human?" Yami questioned the doctor.

"Yes, King Yami, tarantulas aren't really poisonous to humans, but the special tarantulas found in Domino Kingdom were mutated thousands of years ago, and they are poisonous." The old doctor explained. He looked at Seto, afraid that the king might kill them. "I believe… that the mixture of both poisons was created by King Gozaburo Kaiba… and… other kingdoms shouldn't know about it… for the old king had kept different types of special poisons he created a secret…" The old doctor added timidly.

"Mutated poisonous anacondas found only in the Domino Kingdom in the East… … Rare, but deadly and equally poisonous tarantula, also found only in the Domino Kingdom… … Created by King Gozaburo Kaiba… … Other kingdoms don't know about the poison… …" Joey repeated what the old doctor had found out. His brown eyes turned gradually from dull and hollow to sharp and suspicious. He slowly raised his head and glared at Seto.

Serenity's mouth was wide opened. She couldn't digest all that information the old doctor had just reported. Poisonous tarantulas and poisonous anacondas found ONLY in the Domino Kingdom? What's going on? Seto's father created this type of poison? No other kingdom knew about it? Then that means… Seto… no! It can't be Seto! Seto wouldn't do that… right? She looked at Seto confusedly, didn't know what to believe. After all, she didn't know him that well. She couldn't be sure that Seto would not poison Mai… Serenity heard Joey's voice, and saw that Joey was looking at Seto with a pair of hatred-filled eyes.

Joey walked slowly toward the old doctor, even though he really, really wanted to punch Kaiba in the face. However, finding out how to cure the poison in Mai's body was much more important. "Doctor, please tell me ya know how ta cure tha poison." Joey pleaded, his voice filled with worry for Mai. Please, there must be a cure… I can't loose Mai! Joey thought anxiously.

"There is a cure." Seto's cold voice answered before the old doctor had a chance to answer. "Gozaburo would never keep something that might threaten himself. I know how paranoid he was. If there is no cure, he would destroy that poison, so that his enemies couldn't use the incurable poison he created to kill him." Seto returned to his calm and emotionless state. "Gozaburo kept all the poisons in a special room in the castle, and different cures for different types of poisons are stored in the same room. Doctor, you know about the room and the poisons, don't you? So why did it take you this long to figure out what had caused Valentine's illness?" Seto glared at the old doctor.

"My lord… I never thought that the poison could be one of the poisons that so few people knew about… so… I didn't suspect it…" The old doctor said with a trembled voice. He didn't even dare look at what chilling expression might be on Seto's face.

"I'll deal with your fault later. Go get the cure for the poison now." Seto ordered the old doctor. He turned to the rest of the doctors. "Go assist the old doctor." Then, Seto pulled Serenity with him towards the sofa and sat down. He ignored all the suspicious eyes staring at him. Hmph. They all thought that I poisoned Mai? Hmph. I have no reason to do that, which will only harm my reputation and my image in the kingdom. Seto thought angrily.

After the doctors left hurriedly to fetch the cure, the room became extremely quiet. Everyone had an uneasy expression, except Seto, who had an apathetic expression on his face. The atmosphere in the room became very tense again. Almost everyone was staring at the door, waiting for the old doctor to return.

The waiting seemed like eternity. Time seemed to be passing very slowly. Just when Joey was about to explode, the old doctor hurried back. He rushed back into the room with a pale face. Cold sweats were all over his forehead. The old doctor knelt on the floor once he got into the room. "My lord… Please forgive me… I can't… I can't find the cure… The cure wasn't in the room… perhaps someone took it… all the other medicines and cure were there… but the particular cure for Miss Valentine's poison wasn't there…" The old doctor said with a trembled voice.

"What did you just said?" Seto whispered lightly, but chillingly. His eyes darkened. "You are the one responsible for the room with all the rare poisons and cures. Am I wrong? Care to explain why the cure is missing? Hm?" If glares could kill, then the old doctor would have been executed right in the guest room. The old doctor could only tremor in trepidation, thinking that he would probably loose his life.

"Enough! Kaiba! It's all your doing isn't it?" Joey yelled out, accusing Seto of the crime. "The old doctor is responsible for the room, but who else has the key into that room? Huh? Only you, am I right, Kaiba?" Joey glared at Seto with hatred.

"Mutt, do not ever accuse me of something I did not do." Rage also began amassing in Seto's heart. However, it was true that the room was locked. The only other person who had the key besides the old doctor was Seto Kaiba himself.

Serenity stood up from the sofa. She looked at Seto with quizzical eyes. Seto glared at Serenity, angry that she dared not to believe him. "Sit down, Serenity. I did not poison Mai." Seto ordered with his cold voice. Serenity didn't sit down. "I said sit down! You dare defy my order?" Seto shouted angrily. He looked slowly at everyone in the room. Everyone, including Yami, Tea, Joey, and Serenity, all looked at him suspiciously.

"Leave ma sista alone, Kaiba!" Joey yelled. He pulled Serenity behind him to protect her from Kaiba. Joey and Seto glared at each other furiously. Yami and Tea worried that those two might start fighting with real swords again, like they did on the wedding.

"Joey, you should calm down. We need to find out what the cure is so we can save Mai." Yami analyzed the situation calmly. "Even though the cure in Domino castle was gone, but we can go find the cure, right Joey?" Yami persuaded Joey.

Joey rushed toward the old doctor again. He picked the doctor up from his collar. "Tell me! What material is needed for the cure? Where can I find the material? Tell me now!" Joey yelled, eager to find the cure to save Mai.

The old doctor looked at Joey with sorry eyes. "The cure for this poison is extracted from a type of rare plant found only in the North. The plant grew in the tall and cold mountain. On the plant, there will be a pure white flower. The white flower had the ability to cure almost every types of poison in the world, including this poison King Gozaburo Kaiba invented. But the plant only grows in the North, not in Domino Kingdom. The plant is also very rare, very hard to find. Not to mention the Northern land is under King Pegasus's rule. Only people with permission would be allowed to enter Duelist Kingdom… I'm afraid we couldn't help Miss Valentine…"

"Is that true, Seto?" Serenity asked, afraid that there was nothing they can do to help Mai.

"Yes. That's true. Gozaburo himself got the cure when he went to Duelist Kingdom to visit Pegasus. He even recorded in the book he forced me to read that he stole the rare flower because he knew it could cure lots of poisons. It was after he created the type of poison consumed by Mai that he realized the white flower powder could also cure this poison." Seto confirmed what the old doctor had said.

"That's terrible… Oh, Mai… What can we do?" Tea started crying. Mai was her best friend, she didn't want Mai to die… Tea buried her head in Yami's chest, mourning about the tragic fact that Mai might die because of the poison.

Joey tightened his hands. He turned and walked towards the bed. He scooped Mai up into his arms and started walking towards the door. Joey looked down at Mai's pale face. His heart was throbbing profusely. He wished the person being poisoned and the person going through the pain caused by the poison would be him, not Mai. But there was nothing he could do, except try his best to find the cure to save Mai. Hang in there Mai, I would neva let anything happen to you. I'll save ya. I'll protect ya. Joey stopped beside Serenity. "I'm bringing Mai with me. I will find tha rare flower!" Joey announced.

"We'll go with you!" Yami and Tea both exclaimed. They would always be there for their friends. Of course they wanted to go with Joey and support him. Yami held onto Tea's hand and walked towards the door, ready to leave Domino Castle and go to the North and find that rare flower.

"Let's go sis. Let's go together." Joey said to Serenity. He looked at Serenity with soft brown eyes, transmitting his message that he needed her support in order to endure the pain and suffer he was going through. Serenity stood there, hesitating about whether she should or shouldn't go.

Joey needed my support. I also wanted to help Mai. She has been like a big sister to me ever since I got back to Yami Kingdom… But will Seto allow me to go? He… did he really poisoned Mai? If he did, I will never forgive him… Serenity tried to decide what to do.

"Come with me sis. What are ya hesitating about?" Joey asked softly. He didn't know that Serenity started to have feelings for Seto Kaiba. He would never suspect that his little sister would like his biggest enemy, the most arrogant man in the world—Seto Kaiba.

"Sorry to disappoint you, mutt. Serenity isn't going anywhere." Seto said icily. He suddenly grabbed onto Serenity's wrist and pulled her towards him. "She belongs here. She belongs with me." Seto declared. He then turned to Serenity, and said with a voice that could intimidate everyone in the world. "Don't you dare leave with your mutt brother. Do you understand?"

"Stop it, Seto! Let me go! You can't tell me what to do!" Serenity started struggling to get away from Seto. "I want to help Mai! I want to support my brother! And don't call him a mutt! Let me go!" However, her struggling was futile. Seto only grabbed onto her wrist with more force.

"Wrong answer, my dear Serenity!" Seto said furiously. "The mutt can do whatever he wants, but you must listen to me!" With that, Seto started dragging Serenity out of the guest room. Veins were popping on his forehead, and his blue eyes turned fiery because of the rage.

Joey put Mai down on the sofa and rushed toward Seto and Serenity. "Oh no you don't! Let ma sista go, you jerk!" Joey jumped onto Seto's back and started attacking him. Seto was surprised that Joey would attack him. He pushed Serenity away as a reflex, so that the fighting wouldn't hurt her. Serenity didn't know Seto would push her away; she faltered and fell on the floor. Seto and Joey were now hitting and punching each other on the floor.

"Mutt!" Seto yelled angrily. He punched Joey on his right cheek.

"Arrogant jerk!" Joey exclaimed angrily, giving Seto a punch in the stomach.

"Good-for-nothing dog!" Seto yelled again. A punch sent Joey flying a few feet away from him.

Yami and Tea watched with terror. They couldn't believe those two were punching and hitting each other right in the castle! Not to mention insulting each other in front of the doctor and them. "Do something, Yami! Stop them! Joey is going to get hurt!" Tea yelled with horror. She didn't know what to do.

"Stop it!" Serenity yelled. She stood up and ran toward Joey. Tears started dripping off of her beautiful eyes. She helped Joey get back on his feet. She stared at Seto with angry eyes. "Stop hitting my brother!" She was angry that Seto always tried to control her, but at the same time, she also didn't want Seto and Joey to fight. She didn't want any of them to get hurt.

Joey wiped the blood on his lips off. He grabbed Serenity's hand tightly. Then, he turned towards Yami. "Yami, help me carry Mai for now." With that, Joey turned around and pulled Serenity with him towards the exit of the castle. "I'm leaving with Mai and ma sista. No one is gonna stop me!" Joey announced loudly.

"Serenity stays here. No one is going to take her away!" Seto said furiously. With a swift move, he rushed toward Joey and grabbed onto Serenity's other wrist. "You are staying here with me, Serenity." Seto ordered coldly. He glared at Joey and Serenity with a death glare.

"I… I'm…" Serenity bit her lower lips. The situation was getting more and more chaotic in the castle. "I'm going with my brother!" She finally announced. She tried to shake off Seto's grip on her wrist, but he wouldn't let go.

"You heard Serenity! Now let her go!" Joey exclaimed. He also started pulling Serenity towards the door. Seto pulled Serenity towards him. Neither of them realized Serenity's lips started turning paler and paler. All they could see was the hatred for one another at that moment. Serenity's face turned almost colorless, and cold sweat soaked her dress.

"Stop it, you two!" Tea exclaimed. "Stop pulling Serenity! She just woke up yesterday from the coma! Her wound did not heal completely yet!" Tea joined Seto and Joey, trying to break off both of their grips on Serenity, but a woman's strength was no match for two men's strength. "Oh no! You guys pulled the muscle around her wound! Let her go now!" Tea shrieked after she saw the blood on Serenity's dress.

Seto and Joey finally snapped out of their minds. Both of them let go of Serenity at once, and she fell onto the floor. Serenity was frowning because of the pain caused by the wound. Joey and Seto were both too shocked to move. They didn't even notice Serenity was in pain!

Seto became calmer first. He quickly held Serenity into his arms, observing her expressions on the face. Her eyes were shut tightly, and her face was close to colorless. He glared at Joey, and then he scooped Serenity into his arms. Seto stood up, carried Serenity, and rushed back to their room. "Guards! I don't want to see the mutt and his pathetic friends in my castle starting from now!" Seto's voice ordered his guards, and then he disappeared in the long hallway.

"Serenity… I'm so sorry…" Joey mumbled with regret. He was too careless. How could he forget that Serenity's wound wasn't completely healed yet? He sat on the floor with his head lowered, unable to move.

Yami walked up to him and put his hand on Joey's shoulder. "Joey, I'm sure Serenity would be all right. I'm sure Kaiba would take care of her. We need to get going. We are the only people who can save Mai right now. We have to find that rare flower as soon as possible!" Yami explained. He knew how Joey must been feeling right now, but saving Mai was more important at the moment.

"You're right. Let's get going." Joey went and picked Mai up. He started walking towards the exit of the castle with his head lowered. Yami and Tea followed right behind Joey. Everything seemed out of control…

In one of the room, Bakura was observing the event with a large smirk on his face. Everything is going according to plan. Serenity and Kaiba almost break up, hahahaha. Joey's reaction was just as I've planned. Now Kaiba would hate Joey and Yami even more for trying to take Serenity away, and for accusing him of poisoning Mai. Hahaha… No one would suspect I'm the one who stole the poison and the cure. Serenity will be mine soon! Bakura's smirk grew more wicked. He opened the door, and walked slowly down the hallway. No one noticed him…

Author's note: Okay, I'm done with this chapter. I hope you enjoyed reading it. Please review :)

Just a note about the poison I wrote about: I made it up, lol. But I did check in the dictionary and found that tarantula is usually not poisonous to human, so I made the tarantula in this story to be mutated species.