YAY finished this chapter just in time for school to start.

OK, this is the second half of the previous chapter. If you're confused, please look over 44.

Don't own anything but Airi and Cerys.

Chapter 45

In his room far away, Dartz was watching his stone image collection. He frowned at the image of the Muto boy. The slab had temporarily become blank. There was only one way that could happen. Dartz ran his hand over the edge of the stone slab. The link between the soul and the Seal was still there. He used his power to summon the stray soul. After a few moments the image of his prize appeared, looking just as securely trapped as before.

Dartz's face twisted up into a triumphant grin. Now he knew where the Pharaoh was. This would be over faster than he'd first supposed. He turned to his alter.


The valley floor trembled. Yami looked around for a source. And earthquake? With his luck probably not. The far side of the circle opened up, the crack widening for something larger than a man to crawl out of it. And something was. Yami watched as black vapors of smoke crept across the packed dirt, proceeded a hulking armored figure. The solder was in black armor similar to stone. It towered over Yami. The soldiers forehead glowed with a familiar green circle.

The soldier roared, a blood curdling, wordless war cry. A duel-disk, like the other orichalcos wielders, appeared on it's arm. Yami's own hand went to his deck. There was no mistaking that for a challenge.

"Master!" a voice came from Yami's deck.

Yami looked down at his cards in surprise. He recognized the voice as Dark Magician Girl.

"This is one of the fallen soldiers of the past battles 10,000 years ago." she continued. "Remember when you and my Master Yugi were summoned to our world, and I told you of this war between the forces of pure heart and darkness. This was where we had our last stand."

"So history is repeating?" Yami said. "I'm used to that." he activated his duel-disk again. "Dark Magician Girl, I'm going to need help to face this. Will you stand with me?"

"Of course we will." she sounded indignant at his doubt. This deck started to glow, and he could feel the spirits readying themselves for the fight.

The orichalcos soldier was also ready. A flash of light came from above them. Yami looked up in time a Seal of Orichalcos form and fall into place around him and the stone soldier.

"If that's how you want it." Yami drew. He could feel the different between this Seal and Yugi's. This one was real.


"What is going on?" Airi demanded. "First my brother pretends to be evil, then a real threat shows up. Is this national play orichalcos day?"

Chris shrugged. Sky whined, tail wagging.

Ironheart was watching the happenings in the middle of the circle. "It is happening again."

"What is?" Airi said. "Sorry, but I'm new to all of this."

"The war for Atlantis was fought 10,000 years ago, between Dartz's army and one of my own. Here was our final stand. The spirit monsters joined us and fought gallantly, but still is was almost disastrous for our side. If it weren't for the Legendary Knights we wouldn't have survived."

Airi looked back down at the field where the duel was already underway. She could tell this Seal was the real thing. The emotions from Yami were blurred, hardly coherent. But still a slight signal coming through. Maybe it the location interfering with the Orichalcos' power. Yami's confidence seamed to have returned, but still this threat was nothing like the ones from his own past.

Yami's attack's were strong and she could tell he was delivering damage. Being in a spirit valley seemed to be helping his monsters. However, despite the attacks the orichalcos soldier was coming back stronger than ever. Now Yami only had Celtic Guardian standing between them. From this distance she could tell the duel was not going in Yami's favor.

"If he doesn't play Temeaus he will surly fail." Ironheart said.

"One problem." Airi pulled out the card. "he doesn't have it."

Ironheart's eyes widened. "How?"

"He didn't feel worthy to have it so he made me take it." Airi's hand shook as she looked down at the dragon. "That Jerk, going in without a full deck."

Ironheart held out a hand. "Quick, give it to me. I'll take it too him."

Airi handed him the card.

"But Grandpa." Chris said. "It's to dangerous to go into the spirit valley for us. You said so."

"There is too much at stake for that now." he tucked the card into his robe. "Chris, you and Sky stay here." Ironheart turned and started running down the valley. Almost at once, black silhouettes of spirits started appearing all around him.

"Grandpa!" Chris shouted.

Ironheart jumped and hit the valley in a run. He pulled two cards from his rob and threw them towards the dark apparition. They turned into duel monsters which started taking down the dark spirits, but they were soon over powered.

"I have to help." Chris jumped on Sky's back and the two of them started down the ledge.

"Chris!" Airi called, but they didn't respond. Frustrated, Airi kicked a rock. She wanted to help but she didn't know how. Her bag smacked her in the thy. She suddenly remember her duel-disk. She didn't know why she'd brought it, it had been a pain on the hike up here with it weighing her down. She pulled it out. Maybe she could do something after all. Strapping it on, she pulled out her deck and shuffled until she had a supply of monster cards on top. Loading the duel-disk, she too entered the valley.


Yami could hear laud sounds coming from the valley behind him. He looked back and his eyes widened. Through the Seal he could see Ironheart, Chris and Sky and Airi, and all were in the valley. Ironheart was running towards him, blasting attacking spirits as he went. Sky had evolved into a more terrifying version of a wolf and was running through spirits, causing them to dissolve. Finally Airi was standing with her back to the slope of the valley, sending her monsters out to defend their comrades.

Lightning started flashing from the sky, striking the ground near Ironheart with the force of a cannon blast. The old man was quick and dodge between several spirits as he continued to run towards Yami. The next blast engulfed the man completely. Yami called out to him and tried to run forward, but hit the Seal. He watched in horror as the man fell to the ground in a crumpled heap. Chris and Sky reached him and the girl jumped off to kneel at his side. Airi was momentarily frozen in shock.

Ironheart handed something to Chris before he dissolved into small balls of light, like Yugi had a few moments ago. Chris stood, getting back on Sky. Airi was back to encouraging her monsters into fighting off the dark spirits around them.

Yami was snapped back to his duel by a roar from his opponent. Frustrated, he looked down at his cards. He was as useful as a caged lion. He couldn't leave until he finished this duel. But his attacks weren't getting through. The monster didn't seem affected, and instead seemed to be absorbing the energy or something from the attacks. He shifted his cards again. Still nothing seemed powerful enough, and drawing a card didn't promise anything better. The explosions coming from behind him didn't help his concentration.

Airi's scream made him turn. She was still standing at the base of the rise. She hadn't screamed for her; it was for Chris. She and Sky had been struck a few feet away from the seal. Chris was running towards him, the small balls of light which were the remnants of Sky floating away behind her. Tears were sliding Chris's face, but she kept going. Airi's monster Athena flew close by, fighting off the dark spirits following the girl.

"Yami!" Chris waved a card in her hand. "Hold on! I have your card."

The ground outside the Seal was illuminated by a blinding light. Yami couldn't look away as the lighting struck the girl. He ran forward, but again hit the Seal. He heard Airi scream Chris's name. The light faded, but the girl still stood alone. The monster had been blasted away. Chris staggered the remaining few steps towards Yami, card still gripped in her hand.

"Chris!" Yami franticly looked around for something he could do, but he was nothing

The girl reached the Seal. She too couldn't pass though. But still she held out her hand. The card slid through the seal, the edge emerging on Yami's side.

"Here." Chris said. "This is the only card to stop him."

Yami slide the card through the rest of the way. "I'm sorry."

Chris tried to smile. "Just win, OK." she dissolved, like Sky, Ironheart, and Yugi had before her.

Yami stared at the place where she stood. The hand holding the card was trembling. He'd had enough with watching his friends dissolving because of Dartz. He could still see Airi, dark spirits fighting against her own monster. He wanted to tell her to leave, but knew it would be a waste. Muto's didn't leave until the fight was over. He had to end the duel, but could he.

He looked down at Timaeus. The dragon seemed to be watching him. Even in card form the dragon was intimidating. Yami glanced up at his opponent. Facing the stone soldier seemed more appealing than apologizing to a giant powerful lizard he's disappointed. Now that the spirits could come alive in this valley Timaeus might prefer biting Yami's head off. But there wasn't any other solution. Yami gripped the card tighter and took a deep breath.

"Dragon Timaeus, I ask your forgiveness. I was foolish before and betrayed your trust. I have hurt many with my actions. Please help me now to end this threat and fix the wrongs I have done. Please find me worthy now. Our two worlds are at stake."

He wasn't expecting a response, but he could swear he heard a voice say. "What are you waiting for? Let's end this." the voice was too close to his own voice he figured he'd just thought them.

"I sacrifice Celtic Guardian to summon Dark Magician Girl." he pause. "Now I summon the Eye of Timaeus!"

The turquoise dragon appeared with a defiant roar. Yami took a step back in shock. The dragon turn, giving him a look with his left eye. He didn't hear a voice this time, but Yami guessed what the dragon was thinking. He nodded, in understanding and gratitude. Timaeus' gaze turned back to the field, glaring this time at the orichalcos soldier and his monsters.

"I fuse Dark Magician Girl and Timaeus to create Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight!" Dark Magician Girl appeared on the dragon's back in armor similar to the dragon's scales. "I play the magic card Excalibur, raising my monster's attack points to 5200. Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight, ATTACK!"

Timaeus lunged for the opponent, teeth flashing, while his rider raised her sword. The blast of power took out the Gigas monster before the Orichalcos soldier exploded. The Seal faded, sending the debris from the attack out over the entire valley. Yami covered his face waiting for the blast to strike him.

The wind swept past, rock and sand pelleting him, but not at strong as he thought they would. He chanced a glance upward and saw that his combined monster was crouched around him, Timaeus taking the full force of the blast. Yami met the dragon's eye for a brief second before he had to hide his face again. He let out the breath he'd been holding. They'd won the duel.


Airi saw the wave of the blast coming right at her, and knew she couldn't climb the slope of the valley fast enough to get out of the way. She put her arms in front of her face as a defense, knowing it wasn't much. She just hoped some of the power would be lessened by the time it reached her. She heard the wind rush around her and a felt the prick of rock and sand.

Then everything was still again. She looked up, and saw a figure in a green dress standing directly in front of her, shielding her from the direct force of the attack. The figure turned, blue face smiling.

"Mystical Elf?" Airi said. "But . . . How?" Airi glanced around. she hadn't summoned her Elf, and non of her other monster were still out, but non of the dark spirits were coming towards her either. She glanced down and noticed the ground underneath her was a different color than the brown, a blue green circle stretching out for several feet around her. She looked around again and saw whatever this circle was it was doing a good job keeping the other dark souls away. Her other monsters must have given their energy to make the shield stronger.

"Thank you." Airi said. The Elf inclined her head.

"Airi!" Yami was running towards her. He looked a little worse for wear, but he was alright. Airi ran for him too, the protective circle following her. She crashed into him, nearly knocking him over with her hug.

"Jerk." she said into his jacket. "Stop scaring me like that. We have enough heroes in this family without you being stupid."

"Airi?" Gently Yami pulled her away, holding her up to look her in the face. He looked shocked, either from his resent ordeal or the fact she was yelling at him like she used to.

She managed a smile through the tears making tracks down her dirty face. "I thought I was going to lose you, too."

She expected him to reprimand her for not following her own advice or acting stupid. Instead he pulled her into a hug. It said more than any words. Airi hugged back. She still was upset for losing Yugi, but she knew what she said was true. She couldn't lose Yami either. He held a piece of her heart as well.


Dartz turned angrily away from his alter. Curse that Timaeus. He'd thought the knight would still be to angry at his master to allow himself to be summoned. The Timaeus he remembered had been a fearsome loyal fighter, not a softy. Now the Pharaoh had once again cheated him of his soul.

He turned away from alter and saw Rafael standing in the room. His disciple stood silent with his head down, waiting to be recognized. Rafael had been avoiding Dartz since his master had given him orders not to leave headquarters after his failed mission to retrieve the Pharaoh.

"What do you want?" Dartz snapped.

Rafael's face remained expressionless as he sank to one knee. "Master, I again ask your forgiveness and permission to leave and complete my mission to retrieve the Pharaoh's soul for you."

Dartz carefully considered his follower. "You are fogiven Rafael, but I still do not wish you to leave."

Rafael looked up surprised. Dartz continued.

"You will bring me the Pharaoh's soul, but there is no reason for you to travel out to the middle of the desert when the Pharaoh is already on his way here." they both glanced at Yugi's stone image. "we have what he wants, and when he reaches the city you can finish your task."

"Thank you, Master." Rafael rose, but didn't leave. "If I may, master, why did you send Cerys after the Host's Sister if you knew the Pharaoh was coming here?"

Dartz kept looking at his collection of souls. "She needed the experience, and I need proof of her loyalty."

"She's always been loyal to our cause." Rafael said.

"So you've claimed since you brought her here. But she's more loyal to you Rafael than to me. I need more than a character witness for my followers."

"And if she fails?"

Dartz gave his follower a smile. "We'll wait and see."


It took a while, but they went back up to Ironheart's camp. It was the easiest place to find, being at the end of the path they had taken to get to the valley in the first place. It felt as ghostly as the valley. Airi found some provision in Ironheart's and Chris's tent. It felt wrong going through their things, but Airi rationalized the food provision would do neither spirit very much good. Come to think of it she didn't remember either one of the hosts eating much the night before. She still felt like an idiot for not realizing they had been in the company of spirits.

There was a stream close by and Airi insisted they clean up a little. Yami went first while she tried to figure out what she could make out of the few supplies they had. She had a makeshift stew on the fire by the time he got back. They didn't have changes of clothes, but at least his face was clear of dirt. Airi gave him some instructions on watching the food before she made her way down to the stream. She wished the dirt off her face and arms, and let her feet soak in the water. It was relaxing, and also gave her time to think.

She kept looking back over the events of the day, trying not to let them bog down her mind. Watching her brother play the villain was not fun and she was going to give him a piece of her mind if she saw him again. Her fingers gripped a weed on the side of the bank. When she saw him, not if. She was going to see Yugi again, and they were going to get him back. Doubt pushed at the back of her mind. How exactly were they going to do that? It had to be through dueling, like everything else. But what if Yami lost? She stood up, kicking the drops of water off her feet before sliding her sock back on. She wasn't going to lose Yami. But what if that was the price? Yami was the one Dartz wanted. No, it wouldn't come to that. There would be another way. There had to be.


Yami was relieved when she came back. "I was worried."

"I'm sure you couldn't burn the food that fast." she joked, taking the ladle from him and checking the contents.

He felt his face heat up. "I'm a duelist, not a cook."

She raised an eyebrow. "You sure? First qualification is not burning the food and you mastered that."

He shook his head. "I'll leave it to the true masters."

They had their food in silence. Yami ate slowly, mind on other matters. He was thankful the duel was over, both of them. Yugi was alright, for now. They'd have to leave first thing in the morning to catch up for the time they'd lost. He still didn't know what how to get Yugi back. There was always exchange, but he couldn't count on Dartz giving up his prize without a fight. There was also finding the others and joining up when they got to the city. Most of all, there was also keeping everyone safe.

"Hey, you in there?" Airi's voice snapped him back to the present. "You'll look like an old man if you keep wrinkling your brow like that."

Yami managed a small smile. "Just thinking."

"I guessed that." Her expression became serious. "Do you have any ideas for when we find Dartz?"

Yami shook his head. "For once I miss helpful hints ancient texts and tomb keepers appearing at random moments to remind you of them."

"I think that is what Chris and Ironheart were supposed to be." Airi said. "I hope their alright, where ever they are."

"If they lasted that long, I'm sure they're ok." Yami said, not fully believing the statement.

"Too bad your past only goes back 5,000 years and not 10,000." Airi pushed around a stray carrot around her plate. "There might have been something written the tomb keepers could have told us about. Dartz seems to know more about you than you do."

Yami didn't answer. He wondered if he should tell Airi about the part about himself he did know, the part about his saving the world taking out his family and destroying Egypt. Then again, she might become hostile to him again, accusing him of repeating history with Yugi. He didn't want to risk it.

The sun set and they retired to their tent. Yami suggested his taking the other tent,but Airi didn't like the idea. Personally he didn't either. He didn't want Airi to be out of his sight.

The ground was still hard. Even with his previous questions answered new worried kept his mind busy. He sighed and rolled over to face Airi's bed role. She was curled up with the blanket almost pulled up over her head, her back facing him. He thought she was asleep, until he heard a sniff.

"Airi?"

No answer.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes." the lie and tears were clear despite the darkness.

Without thinking, Yami scooted his bedroll closer to her. He felt her stiffen as he put his hand on her blanketed shoulder. He didn't expect her to roll over so her tear streaked face was pressed into his blanket.

"I miss him." her voice muffled under the blankets. "I didn't realize how much until your duel."

Yami carefully put his arm around her shaking shoulders. "I miss him too."

She let the tears flow, body shaking under his arm. He tried to think of something to say.

"He asked how you were." he felt the shaking stop. "First thing he asked was how's Airi? The circle prevented him from see you. He kept looking where I pointed, like he could force his eyes to see you through the barrier. Even after the duel he was thinking of you. He wanted me to tell you he's sorry."

"Little idiot." she mutter, but he could hear her smile as she said it.

He chuckled. "Yeah, little idiot. One brave idiot."

"Is that all he said?" Airi said.

"The last thing he said was 'I'll see you both soon.'"

Airi let out a big sniff, but the tears seemed to have stopped. "I'm sorry Yami."

"For what?"

"Getting you wet."

He laughed. "I'm always up for new experiences."

She poked him in the chest. "Jerk." she rolled back over. Yami's hand was still on her shoulder, and he wondered if he should move away. Her fingers suddenly intertwined with his.

"Thank you, Yami."

"Thank you."

She shifted to face him in the dark. "For what?"

"Everything."

"Well that's what friends are for."

"Oh." He tried to hide the disappointment in his voice.

She yawned. "Night Yami."

"Night." He waited for her to fall asleep before repositioning himself on the hard ground again.


The next morning was bright. Yami found a map of the area in one of the bags in Ironheart's tent. Airi was better trained at this so he let her look at it while he did his best not to let the breakfast burn.

"OK, I think I've got it." Airi pointed. "there's the spirit valley up there, and the pathway to our camp site here. With no recognizable landmarks I think our best bet is to follow the train tracks." she pointed to a line running along the map surface.

"The others are probably using those as well." Yami said. "Maybe we'll catch up."

"Maybe." she folded the map and put it in her bag with her duel-disk. "We need to leave after breakfast. We've lost enough time already.

Yami nodded, handing her plate to her. They eat in silence, both in their own thoughts. That seemed to be happening a lot lately Airi noticed. Had she said something wrong last night? Yami didn't seem upset, and she really hadn't said anything bad. She had said 'friend' but they were friends, best friends. She felt her face heat up and took another bite of hot egg to cover it up. Doing something stupid would only distract from the mission. And she didn't have any proof Yami liked her in that way. He was only protective like a sibling, right? She pushed it away. After they got Yugi back, then she would think about it.

The walk down the side of the mountain was also quiet. Airi kept checking the map to make sure they didn't miss the train track. Yami said he was sure something like that would be hard to miss, then went back to his walking in silence. After a while she looked up to see a long brown ribbon in the dirt in front of them. Relieved she slid the map inside her bag.

Yami stopped suddenly, eyes narrowed towards a certain direction. Airi stopped, and then she heard the sound of an engine coming towards them. It didn't make sense; they weren't near a road, and a train didn't sound like that. Over a dip in the sand came a black motorcycle. Airi froze as she recognized it as the one which had dropped off Pro. Hawkins the day they lost Yugi. Yami stepped in front of her, as if expecting the rider to run over them.

The rider pulled the vehicle sharply, shooting sand towards the duo. The rider was completely in black leather which was only less glossy than the black hair flowing from under the black helmet. The helmet was removed to reveal a girl about their age. Her face was set in determined scowl. She put the helmet aside before activating her duel-disk. The site of the Orichalcos duel-disk made both Yami and Airi tense up.

The rider dismounted, looking them bother over with cool emerald green eyes.

"What do you want?" Yami demanded.

"Don't you have eyes?" the girl lifted her duel-disk. "I though this would make it obvious."

"Introductions before challenges." Airi said.

"Fine. I'm Cerys Maddox" she pointed at them. "and I challenge Airi Muto to a duel."

"No." Yami said. "you can't. I'm the one your master wants."

Both girls seemed a taken aback by his statement. Airi had only seen Yami this upset when they were in Battle City in the final rounds. The emotions coming from him were jumbling around from fear to hatred.

Cerys' face returned to haughty superiority. "I know who I want to duel, and it's her."

Airi stepped from behind Yami. "If I win, will you tell us how to get to find Dartz?"

"Airi!" Yami hissed at her, but she didn't look away from Cerys.

The other girl considered, glancing at her duel-disk as she did so. "If that is your only condition, then yes."

"I accept."

"No, I won't have it." Yami stepped in front of Airi. "you can't do this. You've never faced a Orichalcos card before. It's evil and-"

"And you're too worked up to face it." Airi interrupted. "OK, that's a bad example because I'm not exactly calm either. But you're a emotional mess. You might have escaped the Seal yesterday, but you need to save your strength for when you have to face Dartz."

"Airi you can't do this."

"She challenged me, Yami. You can't duel for me."

"I can't lose you either."

She stared at him. The emotions suddenly made sense, and her own emotions started to act up. She glanced over her challenger. The motives for the challenge also suddenly made sense.

She took his hands. "Yami, you're not going to lose me." she squeezed them firmly. "Never will I let that happen. I need you now more than ever." she switched to the mind link. "Dartz wants me because it will hurt you. We're not going to let that happen."

"She's going to play the Seal. I don't want you gambling your soul."

"I'm the sister of the King of Games and you are his dueling partner. We can do this, but I need you to be a duelist."

Yami closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Alright. Take care."

She swallowed, finally realizing what that meant. "I will."

She pulled her duel-disk out of her bag and strapped it on. Now it was her time to duel.


A/N: YAY Airi finally figure out Yami is in love with her. Now if i can only get them to actually say it :/ oh well, all in good time. for the Airi/Kaiba fans, don't give up yet. there is still lots more of the story to go.

Now, as you can see you have just read, i have a duel to write, and those of you who have been following this closely know i hate writing duels (ok, extreamly dislike writing duels) So please review with suggestions for what should happen, or just good old praise.

Thank you for reading. You're all AWESOME!