I'm really sorry it's taken so long. between school and knitting my cosplay for the anime convention I've had no time. Trust me, it bugs me to not write.

Oh, speaking of cosplay, Holly i put some description in this chapter and my profile picture is the inspiration for the diadem, also look at chapter 18 for the original description. I hope it helps. I'm honored you're using my character for a cosplay idea :) can you please send me pictures? Please :)

House keeping. Don't own anything but Airi. Some of the plot has been modified to fit better, but i tried to stay close the original. Thank you battousaisgirl16 for editing, and thank all of you for still reading my story. You're AWESOME

Chapter 43

The group managed to find seats together on the train. Airi took the seat next to Joey, while Tristan found a seat behind them, and Yami and Tea took the two seats across the aisle. The other passengers ignored the group, which Airi was fine with. Not having anyone notice the King of Games was on the train was a relief. Airi had even put her duel-disk in her shoulder bag so she didn't have to worry about it drawing too much attention. She glanced at the others.

The Pharaoh had the window seat and was staring out the window. Probably enjoying the view, she though bitterly. She's been blocking his emotion since he got back, afraid of feeling the darkness again. He might be the one to save her brother from Dartz, but she wasn't sure about his power. His head started to turn towards her and she hurriedly stared straight forward. She had the safety and No Smoking signs memorized by the time the train pulled out, and after a several minutes was completely bored. The signs did little to take her mind off the grief waiting at the back of her mind to engulf her again. Maybe she should have taken the window seat, but she didn't feel like trading with Joey. He made the decision for her when he and Tristan disappeared to find the dining car.

She slid into the window seat. The desert flew pasted in a sun bleached red blur, punctuated by faded green and black of random buildings. This wasn't helping any better than the signs. She was too disturbed. She wanted to know, needed to know, what the enemy was up to. She half way wished this whole thing was a tournament. At least in a duel you could prepare. She wasn't even sure where this Dartz and his minions were. California was huge, and the whole US took up most of the continent. How were they supposed to find Yugi in a place this big?

She ran a hand through her hair and her fingers hit her diadem. It made her start, a crazy idea coming to the surface. She'd forgotten about her hairband. It could find her brother. Then again it might only work on finding the Pharaoh and she was painfully aware where he was. Her fingers traced the uneven inlay surface, feeling the different shapes of the stones which made up the pattern. Each edge poked gently against her skin. They seemed to be prodding her mind just as much as the idea of finding Yugi. It was worth a try.

She slumped down in the seat, not wanting the others to see her. She put her fingers on her temples. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes.

"Where is Yugi?" she whispered.

Through the darkness came something. It was cloudy, as if the image didn't want to come. Encouraged, she focused harder. She had to know. It came through. She was staring at a stone wall covered with rectangles, resembling dueling cards, in row after row into the distance. Each held the image of a person, looking too life like for their stone existence. Each of the stone figures was frozen in action of resistance and fear. Directly in front of her, hand out stretched towards, was the chiseled image of Yugi.

Airi gasped, and jerked away so violently that she hit her head against the back of the seat. Her eyes snapped open as she fought to breath around her pounding heart. She looked around to remind herself of her surroundings. Across the aisle Yami had sat up in his seat, watching her carefully. She wanted to tell him, to confide what she'd seen. However, all she saw when she looked at him was the image of Yugi's frozen features behind him, and knowing he was the one to put her brother there.

She had to get away. She ran up the aisle, almost running over Joey and Tristan as they returned. She didn't stop until she reached a door which wouldn't let her pass. She was in the very back of the train, in the bare room-like space between cars. The loud sound from the tracks did little to drown out the pounding in her ears. She leaned against the wall, sliding down it until she sat on the floor. The horror of what she'd seen stood stark and clear against her mind's eye, making her temples pound as she thought of it. She took the diadem off, and that seemed to help. She leaned back against her wall.

What had Yugi gotten himself into? This enemy was experienced in collecting souls, judging by their collection. That little idiot. How were they going to get him out of a stone? This was impossible. Her fingers traced the stones on the diadem, deftly tracing the lotus flower pattern over and over. Of course all this impossibility was possible. They'd put her brother in that thing, they could get him out of it. Her family being in this mess was one big piece of impossibility. She shouldn't be friends with a dead pharaoh if it were impossible.

Friend. It was the first time in days she'd used that word to describe him. After what he did she should be hating the very idea of him. He'd let his anger and ambition get the best of him and had made her brother pay for his mistake. Her finger paused on the purple of the lotus petal. This description sounded familiar. Slowly her hand went to her jade pendent, fingers closing around small flower. It sounded familiar because she had done the same thing. She'd wanted something bad enough to put everything on the line, including her brother. She let out a frustrated noise. But she hadn't done anything as bad as the pharaoh. What he'd done was unforgivable. Then again, she though what she did was unexcusable. This was getting confusing. How could she forgive someone who didn't even show any remorse for his actions?

She took a deep breath. Getting more worked up wouldn't help anything. She made herself relax. Maybe she should head back. The others would start wondering where she went. She stood, and then realized she still held the diadem. She wasn't looking forward to the increased feelings which came with it. She'd have to put up her wall again to keep the Pharaoh's darkness at bay. She took a deep breath, and slipped her hair band back in place. At the exact moment, an emotional jolt hit her and she was too slow to block the wave. She stiffened, hoping to lessen the impact. She felt . . . grief, guilt, and self-loathing. She was so shocked she had to lean against the wall. This was dark, but different. It wasn't the power of the Orichalcos but something just as destructive. She swallowed as the emotions intensified.

With emotions this intense he'd barely be able to function, let alone duel to win her brother back. She practically ran down the hallway, not caring if the passengers stared. She reached their car and stopped. He wasn't in his seat. She turned to the others. They leaned away, alarmed by her sudden reappearance and hurried entrance. They didn't need to speak. Airi felt the darkness coming from the other end of the car. Tea said something about not disturbing him, but Airi ignored her as she hurried to the door.

She almost fell over him. He's been sitting next to the doorway and didn't flinch as Airi's leg connected with his shoulder. Steadying herself she turned to face him. His bangs hid his face and he was hunched like he's just be punched in the gut. The emotions were coming full force now, pounding into Airi so hard she could barely breathe. She stood there uncertain what to do. Slowly he looked up and their eyes met. There was no fire in those eyes. The red irises were cloudy like pools of blood. She knew that look. She's seen something like that in her reflection in the bus window on her way to the hospital after she left her old life.

They stared at each other. A small spark of recognition surfaced in the red, and with it his dark emotions lessened slightly. Then he suddenly looked back down, the darkness returning to its former intensity and then some.

Airi felt sick, but not from him. All this time she thought he was being distant when in reality he was tearing himself apart. She was making it worse. Seeing her was making him even more upset. Maybe she should leave, but she couldn't just abandon him. He was her friend. She knelt down, still uncertain what to do. She gently took his hands in hers. He didn't react. He was too far down in his thoughts even she couldn't hear them. She had to break through.

"Pharaoh?"

Still nothing. She desperately tried to think of something else. Once he'd told her he didn't like the title pharaoh because it felt like it belonged to someone else. She wasn't here to help a pharaoh. She was here to help . . .

"Yami?" she said, the words familiar and comporting to her as she said them. "Yami. Yami!" with each one she felt the darkness lesson, but he refused to look at her. Now that she'd broken through she switched to vocal "Yami, look at me." She paused. "Please?"

Slowly he looked up. His eyes were now only less dim then before.

"Airi?" he looked uncomfortable, and she realized she'd leaning in close in an attempt to make the connection stronger. She edge back slightly, but didn't let go of his hands.

"Don't scare me like that." She tried to joke, but it sounded fake to both of them.

"Airi." He swallowed, then again let his eyes meet hers. "I'm so, so sorry."

"Its alr-"

"No, it's not alright." He interrupted, the self-loathing returning. "It's was my fault and mine alone. Yugi's gone. I should have stopped him. It should have been me." His eyes closed against the pain of the statement. "And I betrayed your trust. You're hurting because of it." He tried to pull his hands away from hers but she gripped tighter.

She paused trying to think of something to say. He was right, but she had to say something.

"I can't say I forgive you, or I understand, because I'd be lying." She paused, blinking rapidly before continuing. "You are going to get Yugi back, and you're going to defeat Dartz. But you can't do it when you're like this. You're destroying yourself, and I can't lose you too." She paused again, surprised of what she admitted and more that it was true. She quickly coughed. "I need you to finish your mission. You can't let this defeat you."

They sat in silence. Yami slowly moved his hands so he was the one holding her hand. "Is that all you need me to do?" he said.

Airi felt a twinge of guilt, but it didn't last long. "That's what I expect of you."

He nodded. "I will get Yugi back. I swear, Airi."

She nodded. His word still meant something, even if she couldn't believe him.

He let go of her hands and pushed himself up.

Once up, he offered her his hand. She shook her hand, standing on her own. They stood awkwardly, both trying to think of what to say or do.

A shout from inside the train car made them jump. It sounded like Tea. Yami lead the way, but stopped when he entered, causing Airi to crash into him. She regained her balance and stared. The car was completely empty except for Tea, Tristan, and Joey. No one had passed them in the hall and Airi was certain there was nothing cool enough at the back of the train to interested an entire car. The train was still moving at a fast rate of speed with not stops.

"What the heck is going on?" Joey was demanding as they approached.

"Like I would know." Tea snapped. She caught sight of the other two "Oh, Pharaoh, do you know what's happened?"

Yami shook his head.

"Well, I think we need to talk to someone in charge." Tristan said. "If an entire train disappears is got to be bad for their business."

"Let's at least look to see if anyone else is missing." Airi said. "It might just be our car."

Tristan disappeared down to check on the back of the train. Yami tensed and Airi felt it too. There was something off about the train. It might have been their earlier, and she inwardly cursed herself for not paying closer attention to what was around her. She was beginning to worry about Tristan being off by himself when he returned.

"Not a soul around."

"You had to say soul." Joey said. Everyone glanced at Yami and Airi.

"No time for that." Airi quickly said. "We need to inform the front of the train."

"I'm sure Dartz is behind this." Yami said, tone sure.

"Then let's go find them." Joey said.

Yami was already heading back up the aisle. Airi lead the others as they hurried to catch up. They caught up just as he finished crossing to the next car. Airi started or follow, but the car suddenly shook and she stopped to grip the side of the car. She looked down and found the gap between the two cars growing wider and wider. Someone must have unlocked the connector between the two cars. She looked up to see Yami standing wide eyed on the other side. He wasn't going to face those men alone and she wasn't letting him out of her sight again. She took a few steps back, got up some speed, and jumped. The other's shouted at her, but she couldn't understand them. What if she . . .

Yami's hand seized her out stretched one, and jerked her safely across. Next moment she was being pressed against him in a bone crushing hold. It threatened to suffocate her, but she was too surprised that she made it struggle.

"Hey!" she looked back and saw the gap was too wide for the others to jump.

"Don't worry about us!" Joey shouted. "We'll catch up!"

There was nothing left to do but watch the end of the train slow down while their part raced along the track. Finally the others were gone. Airi and Yami separated, staring at each other.

"What were you thinking?" Yami's growl caught her off guard. "You could have fallen."

"Someone had to come with you." She felt the red rise in her cheeks and quickly added. "You know, to make sure you make it to Dartz." She avoided his stare. "Come on, let's get this this runaway train turned off."

They walked in silence, more focused on finding help. The front of train was also completely deserted. They reached the front which was labeled 'engine room'. Yami tried the door but it was locked. Airi looked around for a key, and the next thing she knew Yami was outside the engine climbing the ladder.

She followed him out. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to see if there is a way inside through the roof."

"He's just asking to fall and die." She muttered, following close behind. She refused to look down, or side, or anywhere other than the heel of his shoe until they reached the top. He held out a hand and this time she was happy to hold on. She managed to get a hold onto her sense of balance, and then realized he was staring at something. She turned as saw a small teen in shorts, blue hair and ugly yellow glasses with a bug between the lenses. Weevil Underwood.

"I want a rematch, King of Games." Weevil hadn't changed a bit since she'd squished him during that tournament. If anything, he sounded even more obnoxious than she remembered.

"Are you responsible for this?" Yami demanded.

"What if I am?" Weevil said.

"All this for a duel?" Airi said. "That's pathetic."

Weevil's lip curled up in a sneer. "Nice to see you again, washout. Miss your brother?"

The other two were caught off guard. How did he know?

"Of course I'd stop a train for a duel, I wanted to try my new weapon." Weevil reached into his pocket and held up a card. Airi felt Yami tense and her heart froze at the sight of the Seal of Oricalchos. "Once I defeat you." Weevil continued. "Then I'll have all the power and will finally have the respect I deserve."

"Don't you know what will happen if you play that card?" Airi knew Weevil wasn't bright, but this proved him to just be plane stupid.

"Of course." Weevil's grin widened. "How else would I know where little Yugi is?"

"Where is he?" Yami shouted. "Tell me where he is now!"

"Duel me and I'll tell you where he is?" Weevil said.

"Don't do it." Airi said. "If you lose-"

"I accept." Yami said. "On the condition that you let Airi leave this train safely."

"Don't bargain for me." Airi snapped, but could tell her arguments were futile.

"Agreed." Weevil said. Airi glared at him. She was sure he wouldn't keep his word. Her hand felt her own duel-disk in her satchel. She might have to duel her own way out of this.

The two faced each other. Weevil still had the Orichalcos card in his hand, and proceeded to wave it in Yami's direction. "You're very anxious to throw yourself back at the card you used. Miss the power."

"Shut it Weevil." Yami drew his cards. "Let's duel."

Weevil laughed. "Whatever you say. I start by playing the Seal or Orichalchos!" the green light began at his feet and shot across the top of the train. Airi was thrown backwards across the top of the train, barley able to hang on to some of the rivets in the top of the train. Luckily the Seal hadn't needed to go far or she would have been forced off the moving train. She didn't want to think about that.

"Airi!" Yami was faced her expression panicked. She opened her mouth, and then realized something was wrong. She could only feel her own fear. There wasn't anything coming from Yami. The seal must be cutting off the connection.

"Worried about this Muto?" Weevil sounded bored, the seal on his head clashing with his hair. "Why? You weren't about the rest of the family?"

"Airi are you alright?" Yami repeated.

Airi pushed herself up. "Just don't lose."

Yami's face slid into a mostly composed expression. He nodded a turned back to Weevil.

Weevil continued the his turn by playing Pheromone Wasp, points busted from 800 to 1300, then placing two face downs before ending his turn. Yami played Celtic Guardian, and ordered an attack. Airi was shocked. With two face downs he should know better. Sure enough one of the face downs turned out to be Mimsus, allowing Weevil to swop his monster for parasite Caterpillar, which had the ability to infect Yami's monsters. Monsters now infected, Yami's life points went down from 4000 to 2700. Yami flinched at the direct attack, but didn't cry out.

"Not much of duelist now are you." Weevil crowed. "What happened? Did you need your other half?"

Yami didn't respond. Weevil continued by playing insect barrier. "It keeps me from being attacked by any insect monsters."

"Yugi's deck doesn't have any insects in them." Airi said.

"Once my monster infects them, they're all insects."

Still Yami said nothing. He glanced back at Airi as if to make sure she was still alright before facing forward again.

Again, Airi remember why she hated bug monster cards. Every monster Yami put on the field was turned into a bug by DNA Surgery, the other trap card. Seeing monsters being turned into gunky looking mutants made her already churning stomach feel sick. On top of that with the insect barrier all the attacks were for nothing. More bugs appeared on the field and continued to stomp all over Yami. Airi was going crazy. She couldn't feel anything, and she couldn't talk to Yami without Weevil over hearing.

The bug cards had put Celtic Guardian in a cocoon and the Insect Queen was ruling the field.

"How does it feel to be on the bottom, Pharaoh?" Weevil said. "You gambled away your best resource in Yugi an now you're paying the price."

"Eat slug, Weevil." Airi shouted.

"Why thank you?"

"Yami, please, get this over with."

"I summon Kuriboh in defense mode." Yami said. The little fur ball appeared, sprouting antennae when it appeared. "And I play a face down."

Airi, couldn't help smiling at the fur ball. It was something Yugi would have played.

"That's you're last choice?" Weevil laughed. "you are useless without your other half. I play-"

"I activate the trap card Natural Selection."

A duplicated of the Insect queen appeared on Yami's side and destroyed the original.

"Nice trick pharaoh, but not so great." Weevil summoned Armored Centipede, which destroyed Kuriboh. The only thing left on Yami's side of the field was the cocoon that used to be Celtic Guardian, and it was moving. It cracked open to reveal an ugly looking butterfly.

"It's a gift for you, Pharaoh." Weevil was laughing like a mad man. "You have a powerful monster in Poison Butterfly, but it will cost you 500 life points for every turn it's on the field."

"Then I'll just have to return the favor." Yami drew. "I summon the eye of Temaeus!"

The large dragon appeared on the field, and Airi got a glimpse of the grandeur or it. Suddenly it disappeared, leasing only Poison Butterfly.

"What did you do?" Yami shouted at Weevil.

"Not me, you." Weevil giggled. "Your dragon doesn't seem to want to be with you on the same field."

Airi was truly worried. If Temeaus refused to be played, then what would this mean for when they faced Dartz? She shook herself. One duel at a time. Yami would get through this one, and all of them. She hoped.

Yami's life points were now at 700, after taking a hit from Poison Butterfly. It was now Yami's turn.

"You can't win now." Weevil said. "Since I'm feeling generous, I'll let you in on where Yugi is."

Airi sat up. Could this be a trick? "Where is he?"

"He's in a cavern in Dartz's layer." Weevil reached into his pocket. "I have the card you'll need to get him back."

"Give it to me." Yami took a step forward, but Weevil shook his head.

"Such bad manners. I'll have to teach you a lesson."

The sound of ripping paper tore Airi's very soul. All the feeling went out of her. Their key to get her brother back was gone.


Yami stared at the fragments. Then the shock gave way to anger.

"You SNAKE" he roared.

Weevil had the nerve to laugh. "Can't you take a joke? That was a worthless bug card." He showed the pieces of an insignificant bug. He pocketed it, still laughing. "your face was worth it. You should tell your friend it was a joke. She didn't get it."

Yami looked back at Airi. She was still kneeling on the train, staring down at the mettle roof. Her entire body shook, and he could see the shine of tears on her cheeks.

Pure hatred coursed through him, burning through every fiber of his mind. How dare Weevil play with Airi's emotions. He deserved the scorn. He had been the one to mess up. but he would not allow anyone to hurt Airi.

"You'll pay for that, Weevil." he growled.

"It's you who'll pay." Weevil said. "this next turn all your life points will fall.

Not if Yami had anything to say about it. The monster he had on the field was Breaker the Magical Warrior and the Butterfly Weevil had turned his Celtic Guardian into, but that was enough for his purposes. Through the burning haze in his mind become to think of a strategy. He was going to make this maggot pay for crossing him. He sent his Poisoned Butterfly after the Armored Centipede, which was ripped apart with satisfying ferocity. Then followed Breaker attacking Weevil directly, causing a scream from Weevil.

Weevil didn't look worried. "You think that will help you, as soon as your turn ends you'll lose the rest of your life points."

Yami's lips curled up in an evil smile. "I'm not done yet. I play Berserker Soul, by sacrificing my hand I can keep drawing and attacking until I draw a trap card or spell card."

Weevil's eyes widened. "You were planning this all the time!"

Yami drew. The card was a monster; attack. Another monster; Attack. There was a light around Weevil, but Yami didn't stop. Monster; attack. Someone was yelling at him, but he didn't listen. Monster; Attack. Monster.

"Yami!"

Someone was holding onto his arm. He looked down to find Airi hanging onto his arm.

"Let go, Airi." he tried to shake her off. She clutched him tighter.

"Stop please." she was near hysterical. "You've won. This isn't you. Please stop. Please stop. "

Suddenly he could hear Yugi's voice in his mind "please stop." he froze, hand still gripping a monster card. It was Dark Magician girl. His hand shook. He'd done it again.

He saw Weevil's crumpled body. Breaking away from Airi he staggered towards Weevil. The teen was limb, but Yami shook him, desperate to get him to wake up.

"Tell me where Yugi is!" he shouted. "Where is Dartz? How do I find him?"

"It's not use." Airi again took his arm, fighting to keep hold of her emotions. "The Seal has him now. He's with Yugi now."

Yami let the limp body fall to the top of the train. He sank to his knees, staring down at his hands. He's failed. He's lost his link to find Dartz. He was no closer getting Yugi back.

The train jerked violently. Airi and Yami looked to the edge and found the train was rounding the side of a cliff. With no engineer to control the speed the train to speed around the hill. Realization flashed across Yami's mind. They were going to derail. Airi was in danger. The train lurched and Airi screamed. Without thinking Yami grabbed her wrist, holding on to her as they were thrown from the cliff. Somehow he managed to turn in mid air. He hoped it was enough.

He slammed into the branches with a crack. His bones or the branches he couldn't tell through the pain. He tried to contact Airi through the link, but she didn't respond. The pain pushed him down, urging him to sleep. Airi. He had to make sure she was alright. The last thing he was aware of an old man with a beard standing over them. Then everything went black.


A/N: Well there it is. I really hope I can find time to do the next chapter soon. I really miss writing. Please review. it really makes my day :) take care