Wow, last chapter got quite the number of review. Kaiba/Airi fans, thank you for your praise. Yami/Airi, now is your chance to show your stuff. If I don't get a lot of reviews from both side for this chapter, Airi might think you didn't care she was zapped.

OK the legal stuff. I don't own Yugioh or Charlotte, But Airi is mine.

Special thanks goes to battousaisgirl16 for proof reading and Noel for all the help in getting this out. Most importantly, THANK YOU READERS! without you, this wouldn't have gotten pasted chapter 12

It's time to read. Enjoy.


Chapter 31

The door closed behind Kaiba with a snap, followed by the sounds of voices from Yugi's friends who were waiting outside for news. His report must not have been a satisfying report for Yami could hear the angry voices following the CEO down the hall way.

If he could, Yami would have gone after him and show Kaiba a thing or two. Of all the attacks on his ship, Airi should have affected that pompous CEO. Sure he had carried Airi on the ship to safely, but now he didn't even seem to care if she was alright or not. If Kaiba had ever cared about her, then he should be doing more than worrying about tournaments.

Yami didn't understand him. Airi kept saying her ex wasn't evil, and Yugi counted him as a friend, but Yami's opinion of Kaiba was starting to lesson from it's already low point. From what he had seen Kaiba of a man who only wanted to cover the past by dominating the future. He shook his head. Perhaps he could understand the other teen's motives at a later date, but right now he didn't even know how to pick up the shattered pieces of his grief-stricken heart.

"It may not count for much, but I am sorry." Ishizu said, reminding him of her presence. The pain in her voice made him ashamed for shouting at her.

"It's is I who should be apologizing." Yami met her even stare. "My accusations were uncalled for, and I am sorry for what I said."

She smiled sadly. "You do not need to apologize. You and your host are in great pain. I'm sure she would have said the same things if it had been you."

From his position on the bed Yugi stood. The emptiness in his eyes was replaced with a strange determination. He gave Yami a glance, and the other teen needed understood without words.

The two of them switched control and Yami took his place beside her bed. Still ridged Airi seemed to be carved from marble and just as lifeless. The diadem still glowed with a haunting light, seeming to deepen the unnatural lines on her face. Her jade pendent had twisted on its chain and hung awkwardly off to the side of her neck. With it twisted so tight it probably uncomfortable for her, the thought. Gently he slipped his two transparent fingers under the chain, untangling it with a soft pull and causing the pendent to fall naturally against her skin.

Realizing what he was doing he glanced at Yugi. His action was innocent, but it might reveal too much of his hidden feelings. To show how he felt about her now, right after she had been hurt, was inappropriate. If only he had never been let out of his puzzle. He was the reason the Muto's had been targeted in the first place. Yet he had promised her to keep going and end the conflict. That had been much easier to promise when events like this only seemed like speculations. He turned, unable to look at Airi's pain etched face any longer.

His host wasn't paying attention to him, or much else. Standing perfectly still, Yugi stared forward as he listened to Ishizu relate what her necklace had shown her about the duel on the island. His knuckles were white with his attempt to keep his hands from trembling.

Yami mentally smacked himself. If he felt like his insides were in shred, then how much worse was his friend was feeling? Walking over he placed his hands on Yugi's shoulders, doing his best to give comfort, even if he didn't have much to give. His host stance didn't change, but the trembling did lessen.

"You should be proud." Ishizu was saying. "Your sister's skill was enough to tie the match and spare all of you from whatever that monster might had done."

Yugi's head jerked up slightly in a half hearted nod.

"I will leave you." Ishizu inclined her head. "I will inform your friends you wish some time alone."

"Thank you." Yugi muttered.

Neither of them moved until they heard the door close. From the other side they heard the mutter of voices and a few angry exclamations, which Yami guessed came from Joey.

Taking a few steps away Yugi sank into a nearby chair and stared at the floor. "And she calls me an idiot."

His host action renewed Yami's desire to go out and tear Marik apart, but he knew the only way he could truly channel his powers was through his item, and that power was his strongest through dueling. However, if he didn't try to help his host then he would be in no condition to duel, or do anything.

"Why did she do it?" Yugi addressed the floor.

"To keep us safe." Yami said.

"Why does everyone get hurt because of me?" Yugi's disgust for himself evident. "There had to be something I could have done to protect her. I'm her brother."

"This wasn't your fault."

"What do you know?" Yugi glared up at him. "You have no idea how this feels. You're just a spirit in a puzzle. How can you possibly know what it's like to lose someone you love!?"

They stared at each other. Both pairs of eyes seemed to spark with resentment and pain.

Yami was the first to look away. Yugi was right; he shouldn't be hurting. Afraid their link would reveal too much, he pushed his heart ache deeper inside. Noa was right; he didn't have a body, so he didn't belong. He didn't have the right to feel the way he did. It was his fault the Muto's were involved in the first place.

"Yami, I'm so sorry." Yugi rested his face in his hands. "You're her best friend; of course you're hurting too. I don't even know what I'm saying. I shouldn't blame you for what happened."

"If anyone should be blamed, it's me." Yami said quietly. "I told her to stay behind."

Yugi looked up and eyes changed from self loathing to concern. "You didn't know this would happen."

"If she had come with us-"

"If she had come we would have had to watch Noa her turn to stone like the others." Yugi's voice caught, but still he didn't break down like Yami expected.

"No matter what you say Yugi, I'm the reason she came in contact with that monster."

"This wasn't your fault."

"And neither was it yours." Yami knelt in front of him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Airi did what she did because she wanted us to finish our mission." his heart ache fueled his the conviction in his words. "We have to honor her by making sure Marik is stopped."

"She knew this would happen?" Yugi's voice was soft and doubtful, but still no tears. He seemed too much in pain to manage them.

Yami paused trying to think of the best way to put this. "She suspecting something like this would happen, and she was confident you would be able to go on when it did."

"How do you know?"

"She made me promise her we would finish the mission."

Yugi swallowed. "She said I could do this?"

"She believes in you, Yugi. We can't let her down." Yami's grip tightened. "And I personally promise you, Marik will be defeated, even if it the last thing I do."

Yugi's eyes became hard, like the amethyst they resembled. "Last thing we do, you mean."

Grinning like demon, Yami nodded. "We." he corrected himself.

Yugi's expression turned depressed again. He rose from his chair and walked over to the bed. Tentatively he reached out and touched her face with his finger tips. "Yami, what's wrong with me?"

Taken off guard Yami came to stand next to him. "Nothing is wrong with you."

"I should be doing something more. I should be smashing things, yelling, or something. But I can't even cry." he look up at Yami, eyes shining, but no still no liquid streamed from them. "Why can't I cry? I cried for my parents, I cried when grandpa was taken, I even managed to cry when I thought I was going to kill Kaiba during Duelist Kingdom. Why can't I do it now?"

"I don't have an answer." Yami said. "Spirits can't cry."

"Must be nice. Not having your face all blotchy I mean." Yugi knelt down beside the bed, resting his head on the mattress a few inches from Airi's clenched fist. His hand covered it, his thumb stroking the back of her hand.

"She was like this when I came to after my operation." he said to no one in particular. "The doctors told her I would be alright, but she still managed to practically soak the sheets. Why can't I manage a few tears for her?"

Yami turned away, feeling even more like an intruder. He wanted to leave the siblings alone, but he wasn't sure how far he could get with his limited space. There was his puzzle, but the idea of leaving them alone also seemed wrong. He walked over to the window and stared unseeingly over the ocean. Kaiba's destination would be coming up soon, and he would be expected to complete the tournament and save the world from a mad man.

It was past noon, but it only seemed like a few hours since the last evening, when she was still with them. He put his hand against the glass; feeling reassured by the firmness of it even if he couldn't feel the texture. Last night had been a nightmare, but now the danger seemed more vividly real. When Airi was here the threat had still seemed manageable. Now with the sun bright and her gone, it was darker than ever.

He rested his forehead against his hand, closing his eyes. In his mind's eye he could see her. She had come up to him last night when he had been brooding, just like he was now. The pressure of her hand in his and her simple smile to tell him everything was going to be alright had done more to ease his troubled mind then the others cheers. She was always behind him supporting this mission despite the danger. His fingers balled into a fist. He was going to make Marik suffer for taking her away.

Ishizu's description of the duel between their families echoed in his mind like an unwanted recording. "You should be proud. She tied the match, saving you." what was going about saving him when he was the one who had promised to keep her safe?

"We will be landing in thirty minutes time." Roland's voice came from above. "All remaining duelists will please prepare you decks."

It was almost like nothing had happened. Gritting his teeth, Yami again fought the urge to go find Kaiba and… he wasn't sure what, but something. If Airi had been hurt after a victory he probably would have taken more notice. Of course if she had won then she would still be here. Instead it had been a tie.

A tie? His eyes snapped open. If it had been a victory for Marik then she would have been fed to the shadows. He looked back at the bed. With her soul gone she would be limp, not ridged. If she had lost she would have been open to whatever the shadows had in store for her, Diadem or not. But if it was a tie . . .

"She's not gone."

Yugi looked up sharply, indicating he had spoke aloud. "What did you say?"

"She didn't lose." Yami again approached the bed. "Ishizu said it was a tie. According to shadow realm rules only a shadow game or a millennium item can banish or trap people in the shadow realm. She's immune to millennium item attacks, and the duel didn't have a loser."

"But then why is she like this?" Yugi stood, his expression skeptical.

"I suspect she has shadows inside, tormenting her until she gives herself to them willingly." Yami lip curled in a snarl at the thought.

"You mean she's still in there?" Some of Yugi's old light came back to his face. "She's still here?"

"There's only one way to find out." Yami sat down on the bed and placed his hand on her forehead. He concentrated, trying to see past the overwhelming influence of the darkness and find her light. There was so much it would be a miracle if she managed to hold on this long. If there was any chance he could help he had to make sure she was still inside her mind. If he tried to banish the shadows without her presence inside, then it would be a complete waste and might cause more damage than help.

The darkness became too much and withdrew his influence. Glancing to his side he found Yugi watching him, still holding Airi's hand. His stare was so intent he wasn't blinking. Yami's determination increased at the hope in his host's eyes. If Airi was in there he was going to find her.

He closed his eyes, concentrating all of his efforts on penetrating the darkness. Still there was nothing, but just as he was about to give up there was a slight movement in a corner of her mind. He concentrated more on this spot and found more light, but his presence wasn't enough.

"Yugi I need your help." he said, eyes still closed. "I need you to talk to her through the mind link. If she is there she might respond to your voice.

His host's voice began to flow through the link and Yami joined him, reaching towards the small indication of life inside her mind.

"Airi are you there. Please answer us."


Everything about her felt like lead.

As she started to become aware of her surroundings all Airi could sense was how heavy she felt. Her temples throbbed and she could sense around her was a suffocating darkness pressing closer. It felt like she was wrapped in a casing of cooling tar. Even the idea of lifting her eye lids seemed an impossible feat. Every inch of her seemed to be slipping away, wanting to go back into the nothingness of sleep and never return. Even with this there was something preventing her from surrendering, and she was sure this was the reason she was hurting so much. She should find that source so she could go back to sleep.

She made herself look around. It looked like she was inside some kind of room, but that wasn't a good enough description. Box was more like it; a box made of gold light woven around her, keeper her away from the suffocating darkness she saw beyond. Even with the protection it seemed to be affecting the very air around her, making it hard for her to think of breath.

What was going on? This wasn't anyplace she had seen before. Her last duel with Evil Marik came back, slowly like it was seeping back into her. She had won by playing a tie, which kept her from going to the shadows. The others had come back from whatever that Noa person had made them go through and then . . . panic flooded inside her as she remembered, causing the golden cage to flicker. She wanted to take a deep breath but that seemed to take too much strength. She had to stay calm. She didn't want that darkness to get any closer to her.

It took nearly all her strength to stay conscious. It seemed so easy to just let the darkness pushing against what she assumed was her diadem doing its best to hold onto her spirit. That was the only explanation she could give for the tightening around her temples before she passed out. She closed her eyes. Maybe it would be easier to just give into the despair pulling at her. Staying awake was too much work.

"Airi"

That voice, she knew it, but her tired mind wanted it to go away. Last thing she needed was to have noise making her head hurt. Couldn't she get any peace?

"Airi, are you there?"

Yami? Her heart lightened in recognition. Was that really him or just her clouded mind? The fog must be getting to her.

"Airi, please."

Yugi? That had to be her imagination. Of course she would be hearing her brother's voice in her head. But his voice sounded so pleading and scared, that wasn't like him at all. If the shadows wanted to fool her they would do something normal and enticing, right?

"Airi, you promised."

That had to be Yugi, no one else would say something like that. She knew that promise. During this whole fight against Marik she had been thinking of nothing else. It had been when they were kids, a week after mom's funeral.

Airi turned in her bed. If only the wind would stop sounding like the howling of a wolf she could get some sleep. Moving in with grandpa was hard enough without having her sleep interrupted. She would need her strength to get through the rest of the school year, what with everyone pretending to care that she and Yugi were orphans. She knew it was all a show. If any of them really cared they would actually try to be friends instead of watch them with concerned eyes and talk about what a shame it was.

She clutched her stuffed bear, only to find it wasn't there. She must have dropped it again. Sighing, she rolled over felt around on the floor next to the bed. She located a plush leg and pulled up the warn bear up, pushing herself up to change her position. It was then she noticed her bedroom door slowly swing open.

Chills ran up and down her spine as she watch a figure enter the room. She tried to think of what she was supposed to do when in case of intruders. If she screamed she might get shot. She might try attacking, he seemed short enough. Short?

"Yugi?" she whispered into the dark. "Is that you?"

The porcupine hair, messed with sleep, flopped as he nodded.

"You scared me."

"Sorry." he mumbled, arms wrapped tightly around his own stuffed animal.

"What are you doing up?"

He didn't say anything just stood there, shuffling his feet and looked like a guilty puppy.

"You can't sleep?" she guessed.

He nodded, his eyes reflected in the glow from the street light outside.

"Go sleep with grandpa then." Airi yawned.

He shook his head. "There's a tiger in his room."

"What?" she stared at him, telling from his voice he wasn't kidding.

"I heard it growling when I went in there."

She started to giggle.

"It's not funny."

"Yugi, that's grandpa snoring."

"He doesn't sound like that."

"Dad said he does."

Howling wind interrupted the painful silence between them.

"There's a tiger." Yugi's tone was adamant. It would be impossible to convince him at this time of night without showing him, and she wasn't about to get out of her warm bed. Besides, the wind was scary, even for her.

Scooting over she patted the mattress next to her. In a flash he was under the covers and pulled them over his head. Putting her arms around him she could feel him trembling.

"It's just the wind." she told him. "It will be gone in the morning."

The wind seemed to get louder as the minuets crawled by. She tried humming like mom used to when she had a hard time sleeping, but it only made her eyes brim with tears to again realize she would never hear her again.

After what seemed like ages the wind had blow its self horse and silence finally descended over them. Wiping her eyes Airi was sure Yugi was asleep, until he rolled over to face her.

"Mom's really gone isn't she?" he said. No one had tried to talk to him about Mom's death, thinking he was too little to truly understand. He had acted cheerful and no one had the heart to tell him mom wasn't coming back. Now it seems he had known the whole time.

"Yes she is." Airi's voice was nothing more than a whisper.

"She's with dad now?"

Airi nodded.

"Why did they leave?"

"I don't know." she held him closer, trying to make herself feel better as much as him.

"Are you going to leave too, Airi?"

"No I'm not."

He pushed himself up to face her, the tears in his eyes caught the dim light from the street lamp. "Promise?"

"Promise."

He paused, then held out his smallest finger. "Pinky Promise?"

She hesitated. She knew all too well this was something she might not be able to keep. But she was going to try. She locked pinkies with him.

"I promise."

"Airi, please, are you there?" Yugi's voice came again, more urgent.

She had promised him she wasn't going to leave him and she wasn't going to start now. She tried to get up, but she was still too weak. Now even holding her eye lids open was an effort.

"Airi answer me." Yami's commanding voice was laced with panic. "Please, if you can hear me, make some noise. Anything, just please let me know your safe."

She did her best to calm herself. She couldn't hold on much longer. She had to tell them she was still alive, even if she couldn't come back they had to know she tried. Summoning up all her strength, she concentrated hard on what she had to do. This was going to take a lot out of her, but at least they would know she had held on as long as she could.

She screamed.


Yami and Yugi looked at each other, both knowing what the other had heard. Yugi's eyes were a mix of horror and relief. "She's alive."

"And hurt." Yami growled. He placed his hands on either side of her temples, close to the tips of the diadem.

"What are you doing?" Yugi said.

"I have to get the darkness out of her." Yami avoided his gaze. He was sure his host knew what he had to do.

Yugi's eyes widened. "You're going to mind crush her?"

"The darkness has too great a hold." Yami said. "It is the only chance I have to save her mind before she loses all her strength."

Yugi gripped his arm. "But what if it doesn't work and you banish her?"

"I can't promise that. She might let go during the process, or something else might go wrong. But it's the only way I know." Yami looked his friend in the eye. "Can you trust me?"

Yugi swallowed, thinking for a moment. Slowly he nodded. "I trust you." he whispered.

Again Yami turned his attention back to the task before him. "Airi, I need you to hold on. You are going to be alright."

He couldn't be sure of it, but he might have felt a feeble acknowledgment. Praying silently to any of the gods who might still be listening, he tightened his grip.

"Mind Crush!"

Airi's scream echoed through the mind link. The room seemed engulfed in darkness as the last of the shadows left her. It seemed to hang over them like a condensed ghost, determined to stay. Inside Yami could sense the heaviness of despair in the suffocating mass. The thought of this inside of her was too much for him. He shot one last attack at it, shattering it with a sound like lightening. The pieces evaporated into nothingness.

The room became still again. Too still. The diadem's light glow faded into lifeless gold. Fear froze all of Yami's soul. Had he messed up some how?

A sigh interrupted the silence around them. It sounded like someone exhaling after holding their breath for hours. Making himself look at her he saw Airi's tightened muscles had finally relaxed. Her face no longer was etch in pain, but now seemed to be resting peacefully. Slowly Yami moved his hand from her head to her shoulder. He wanted to speak, but he was too afraid of hearing only silence.

Glancing at him, Yugi again took her hand.

"Airi?" he said.

"Yugi?" her voice was weak, but it was her voice.

Yami closed his eye, and if he could have he would have sighed in relief. She was alright.

"Right here. You're alright now." Yugi switched to normal voice, looking up at Yami for conformation.

"The shadows are gone." Yami said. "I don't know how much of the effects remain, but they shouldn't be permanent."

"The others?"

"They are alright." Yugi said. He managed a shaky laugh. "You've been quite an idiot."

"My turn." her an attempt for humor was followed by a grown.

"Don't strain yourself." Yugi's expression hardened in concern. "Everything's fine out here. We are going to finish this mess and get us home in no time."

"I know you will." her voice was feeble, but there was no disguising the pride in the words.

Yugi's grip tightened in a gentle squeeze. "Rest now."

A pounding at the door reminded them Yugi's friends were still outside the door.

Yami stood. "Maybe you should go outside and tell them everything is alright."

Before Yami could braise for impact, his host had tackled him in a tight hug.

"You saved her. Thank you."

Yami didn't trust himself to answer.

Yugi pulled back, wiping now freely falling tears away with the back of his jacket sleeve. "Now they come." he smiled "Horrible timing I say."

"Yuge, everything ok in there?" Joey poked his head around the door, the other crowded around behind him.

Giving his sister and friend a smile, Yugi hurried to the door, closing it softly behind him. Through the panel he could be heard trying to explain to the others what was going on above the clambering of questions.

Yami turned back to Airi. It was quite a transformation. She still looked far from well, but her peaceful expression was enough to ease his mind for a while. At least the majority of her pain was over. Now she could begin to heal.

"All competitors will report to the bridge to prepare for landing." Roland's voice announced above him. Yami noticed the sea level outside seemed to come closer as the air ship started to lower. He better join Yugi to make sure Marik or anyone else didn't try something.

"Yami?" She hadn't moved, but he couldn't mistake her voice. She sounded weak as if fighting to stay conscious.

"I'm right here." he took her hand, pained by how limp it felt. "Is there something you need?"

"Thank you." it was soft, barely a wispier.

He smiled, gently stroking the back of her hand with her finger tips. "Rest now. Everything is alright."

She didn't answer, and in a moment her breathing became regular in sleep.

Out side the room the group was interrogating Yugi about the strange sounds they had heard and Airi's condition. Indignation and relief were rampant by the time Yami faded to join them.

"So that creep did that because of a tie?" Duke said. "Jeez, what a sour loser."

"Good thing for him this isn't a boxing match." Tristan pounded his fist in his hand for emphasis "I would show that monster a thing or two."

Serenity smiled at him, while Duke glared.

"And the pharaoh was able to help her, with his powers?" Tea sounded impressed.

"We are going to show that creep what happened when he hurts our friends, right Yugi?" Joey said.

"We better to the bridge." Charlotte said. "Who knows what Kaiba will do if we are late."

The others started down the hall way, still making comments about the resent events.

Falling to the back Yugi turned to Yami. "This is the end isn't it?"

"No, it is the beginning, of the end of Marik." Yami's voice sounded like an angry tiger.

Yugi violet eyes hardened as he glanced towards his room. "We are going to finish your mission and make him sorry he attacked Airi and the others."

Yami nodded. The puzzle flashed, and Yami opened his eyes, now in control. In their shared mind he could feel Yugi's determination, fortifying his own. It was time to duel.


A/N So how was it? I really hope you like this, and you will show it in reviews. Busy times are coming up so if you want me to work on this between the stress, i'll need to know there are people doing more then just scaning this.

Thank you again for following this story's progress. Have a great day and God bless.