Guardians

Note: Thank you very much for the reviews! This is likely going to be another short chapter… I'm having trouble sending this one into the action… Here we go, anyway. Review, please.

Things could get a little messy with the text, due to an interesting new development in the story. Here's a guide:

Story text

Karmina's Thoughts

"Wingweaver/Voice in Kaiba's head (introduced later)"

Kaiba's Thoughts

"Speech"

Chapter Twelve: Into Another World

Karmina felt as if something was pulling her to the place where she had first met Wingweaver.

"If you w-want to help… then follow me."

He followed her as she ran through alleyways, through parks, and across the street as if in a trance. She finally stopped on a bridge in the middle of the park where the contest had been.

"This is… where it all began. On t-that day. And this… this is where I think… something new is about to be-"

The lake had turned an evil shade of purple and was spiraling very quickly. In the center, where it was still, they could see a world in ruin, and many monsters at battle with some unseen evil force.

"What is that?" Kaiba asked, astonishment almost showing in his voice.

"I have… no idea."

At least she wasn't stuttering so much. As she looked into the pool, and somehow knew what she had to do, that was the only thing to console her.

She jumped into the pool, followed by Kaiba, who looked, for a single second before regaining his composure, astonished at his own action.

They fell and fell, seemingly without end. Karmina felt exhilarated, alive, like she never had before. But she felt something else, too. Something scary. It was as if the very flesh on her body was being torn off… and as if someone was listening to the words of her soul.

Why do we keep falling? We've gone so far…

"Maybe it's because you jumped off a bridge, Sherlock," Kaiba commented harshly.

"I didn't… say that out loud."

His blue eyes widened. "Neither did I."

She stared at him for a minute, unsure of how to react. But… I don't want him to hear my thoughts!

"I heard that," Kaiba snapped, clearly not happy with the latest development in the strange events that were going on in his life lately.

"Right… sorry."

"Karmina! What are you doing here?"

"Wingweaver!" I thought she'd abandoned me… everyone else does.

And so it was that Seto Kaiba first laid eyes upon Wingweaver, shining, bright, and angelic, hovering in the sea of darkness that once had been her world. Her eyes were bright, though with tears or some other force he did not know. She was beautiful, even he had to admit that.

And I thought Karmina was insane.

So that's what people think about me. "Seto… this is Wingweaver… my guardian." Who also happened to be prettier and more noticed than me… and she's invisible most of the time!

Not knowing what to say in response to her distressed thoughts, Kaiba kept his mouth shut.

"You shouldn't be here, Karmina. And you certainly shouldn't have brought him."

I didn't bring him… he followed me here. "What's going on here, Wingweaver. And he has a name… it's Seto Kaiba."

"Interesting… But regardless, you shouldn't be here. I'm your guardian… I'm supposed to keep you safe, not drag you into trouble."

"Then why did you leave without an explanation?" It's because you wanted to get away from me, isn't it? I understand… everyone wants to get away eventually.

"I didn't leave… the planer barrier shattered and I was pulled here. My energy wanted to go home, and when the barrier broke, it did. I couldn't sustain a form for you, so I had to revert to my real body here."

"This just keeps getting better," Kaiba remarked with a scowl.

What's his problem all of the sudden? He was starting to act like a human being. "So… this planer barrier thingy just… broke?" she asked Wingweaver, ignoring Kaiba's reaction to her thoughts, which reminded her of a fresh caught fish.

"Oh, I wish it was that simple, Karmina."

"It's not?"

Of course it isn't… nothing ever is with you people.

"You people? W-what on earth is that supposed to m-mean?"

"It means that this is just like all those times that Yugi drags me into some saving the world crap, and I'm sick of it."

In case you haven't noticed, I'm not Yugi, and the whole world doesn't belong to you. Get a life and grow a backbone. "I'm sorry… I had no idea this w-would happen."

"Stop arguing, you two. If you're here, then you'll have to come to the last safe place in the entire Realm of Monsters. Follow me."

Last safe place?

The last safe place? You've gotta be joking.

Regardless of their thoughts, they both followed the fairy as she led them down, through the darkness and into a wide cavern. Inside the cavern was a wide assortment of duel monsters, but these were no cards. They were very much the real deal.

End note: Well, there it is, chapter 12. Now, I could use a little help on the next one. Which monster do you think would be a good guardian for Kaiba? Please tell me in the reviews, and the next chapter will come sooner, since I have to decide.