Love to you all, I am so thrilled about the responses. Nice to know people are enjoying this. Now that I'm on holiday for a while expect more updates, though I still have some stupid homework to do. Anyway, thanks to you all and hope you like the fact I can update quicker. Now for the wonderful replies!

the1koolkitty: No worries, I'm sure Yugi will always be there for you, he would never break a promise. Glad I haven't made you a mess, I can relax now! Anyway to answer Yugi there will be more on Kitty's secrets this chapter, though still hiding things, this plot has barely begun! Glad Lina liked the chat, and you'll have to read to find out about the girl (good intuition though!)

Dark mage of sea 13: Yes I do believe Yugi would be a good kisser, and I can't help it, I love romance. He will indeed always protect her, though it won't be easy.

michelaski: More on her problems this chapter, though more to come, things are never easy. Glad you liked it though, thanks!

samuraiduck27: Thanks for the compliment I appreciate it, hope you continue to enjoy it!

DJ Rodriguez: First of all, thanks a lot, I appreciate how you reviewed each chapter, I'm so astounded by your support! True, Yugi was sad when alone, but now things have changed for him. Glad you like the development of Yugi and Kitty being around each other, though as you could see Yami is a good person, though not always in control. Yugi does take care of her well, being such a sweetheart. Seto has developed, but his mood with Joey will never change (who is supportive of his friend relationship, though a goof about it!). Also glad you like the intimacy and the challenges they face will be tough, they need all the luck they can get. Pleased you liked the couples, and more on them and Kaiba's love life soon (I can confirm it's not Tea though!) as you can see things have changed for him. Anyway, I appreciate everything you said and hope you continue to enjoy this!

The Six of Hearts: Good, I was concerned I would be in trouble for that, though I doubt your brain cell count is low, I've read some of your stuff, and it's good! A lot of questions, but there will be more answers in the chapter. Though I may have to explain things later on, cause there is confusion here.

Una1: Yes, I love the sweet stuff too, I had to put it in, and glad Yugi is in character. More on Kitty's matters in the chapter, and I think Joey is a big softie at heart, though he tries to kid about it.

Curtis Zidane Ziraa: Thanks a lot, as for Rebecca, we'll see. Not sure where it will go, but thanks!

Tayla: I'm pleased you like it, thanks for all the enthusiasm. Hope you keep enjoying it!

Also, a note to kidishcareish who reviewed my older story Magic of the Heart. Thanks a lot, nice to see people still like my first ever story! Hope you take interest in my other work too!

Now on with the chapter, R and R please! Love SGCred xxx

Chapter 10: Nightmare in Reality

Footsteps echoed on the hard floor, as the figure ran and ran. Escaping was the only thing on her mind, chanting in the back of her brain. There was no option, fleeing was the only way. It was all for nothing, the pain, bloodshed and tears. No one thought on the truth. No one cared who was effected. It was surrounded in anguish and hate. Selfish wishes were fulfilled always, driven in the corruption of greed and power. It was a never-ending horror. No compassion existed in all the grief; it was spiral of hate and hurt. Nothing could be done; it couldn't cease.

Running far away, she was still followed but the pain and terror, the harsh reality. He was there to spiteful and hurting, clawing away all her dignity and hope. It was so desperate to rob all sanity and happiness from the wandering soul. How anyone could live with it was beyond comprehension of anything, the agony of merely existing, always fearing and running away. Still it pursued, never giving in, the need for suffering on others.

Running into a dead end, she needed to be saved. The wall towering above her head, there was no way out. The lonely path had condemned her for an eternity. Backing away as far as possible from the piercing monster, jealous eyes boring her spirit with envious green light, she felt something stick to her back. Something crimson, viscous, revolting...blood! The lives lost; ones now gone in vengeance. It reeked, clinging to her in hope of rebirth. Disgusting and mangled limbs seemed to reach for her, as the pursuer looked on in delight.

It was suffocating, consuming, and killing her slowly. The complete destruction taking over, bending her to the will. That's why she ran from all of them; it made her sick to associate with them. It had been necessary once, but not now. She had to be free, to find peace, joy and love. All had been neglected and lacked for a lifetime, and it was no longer acceptable!

Fleeing in the night she never looked back. She had taken out a mark before leaving, though they had as well. It was a trademark, a never ending cycle of control. They needed to show superiority, to weaken others below them, weak enough to submit, and be trampled under the massacre. She no longer cared for going over the tangled corpses. It had to be saved, her sanity and humanity, she needed to escape!

After all, it was only a matter of time before the darkness took over. If not, they would force her to perish at the hands of wickedness and truth...

Bolting up in bed, Kitty wiped the sweat off her forehead drastically. Despite the perspiration that dripped onto the sheets as she swam in the damp, she was shivering terribly. It was a curse, that dream never failed to traumatise her no matter what she did or attempted to stop it. It had been effecting her more so now ever since the gang intrusion the week before. The past had finally decided to catch up with her, now in the process of tracking her down. Her roots would be unearthed, and what would her friends think? What would Yugi think?

Panting, she got up and went for a glass of water. She needed to cool down after the night terror that had almost completely eaten away at her soul. It gnawed at her fibre as she walked down the steps quietly, hoping not to disturb the two boys in the rooms down the hall. It was a horrid feeling; something she hoped would have gone by now. For the first time in years she had been happy, had friends and a beautiful relationship. She didn't want to loose that now.

Sipping the water out of the glass, while dabbing a few drops on her face to cool herself, Kitty contemplated what to do. By now she would have to tell them sooner or later. But how, what if they didn't understand? It had happened, being foolish enough to talk about it to others, and it landed her no where, except that one time it had resulted her in a fine at the police station.

'No one really believes me, and when I go to the cops, it only causes more problems. If they find my files I'm doomed, and no one would be willing to protect me. I mean who would want to look after someone who has numerous charges against them? But it was all set-ups! I took all the falls, and I'm doing it now as well! Damn it, maybe it would be best if I just went. Even if I ended up arrested it would be worth it to see them gone too. Finally, Drake couldn't hurt me anymore or anyone else like he did when I was a kid...'

"Kitty? What are you doing up?"

The girl nearly toppled out of the chair with fright. Steadying herself, she looked up towards the kitchen door, to see a figure looking at her, amethyst eyes burning with questions. She smiled lightly, trying to appear a little more awake.

"Sorry Yugi, did I wake you up?"

"Not really, I was getting up for a drink when I saw the light of the fridge." he explained as he took a seat beside her, looking somewhat worried. She nodded politely in return.

"I didn't wake anyone else did I?"

"No, Yami's in the puzzle in meditation so he would too focused to hear anything till he came out of it. And it would take a herd of elephants, or a large pizza with everything on it to wake Joey up, so it's just us...Maybe we can get the chance to talk about what's been going on. You are going to tell me what's been happening, right?" he asked, slipping his hand over her to reassure her.

"Yes, I promised I would, I'm just up...I mean.... I had nightmare that's all, no big deal." she muttered, looking down at the hand on hers. She squeezed in return, though her boyfriend still didn't seem convinced it was just a silly dream.

"You want to talk about it?" he questioned, looking very tense. Kitty just hadn't been herself since the whole incident with the gang raid and the bullet. He had calmed her, knowing they could face it together, but he still got the feeling she wasn't comfortable. It was the subtle things that he noticed, the weakness in smiles, hazel eyes losing their glitter, she played with her meals rather than eat them. Overall, she seemed to simply lose her shine, which he loved. This just wasn't like her, and he hated to see her in such a state, despite the fact she was trying not to show there was anything wrong.

"Really Yugi, I'm fine. Nothing to worry over..."

"Kitten, I know you too well by now. Talk to me please." he hushed, bring the hand up and caressing her face. No way could she lie to him really. The compassionate link they had wouldn't allow it. He was simply too caring, so much so she couldn't betray that trust.

"Well...It's about...the stuff I have to tell you about...the dream I mean. I've had it for as far back as I can remember. It's just the constant feeling I had of guilt and hurt. Things I felt ashamed of, things I shouldn't have done...but had no choice."

"Like what? I know would never really hurt anyone Kitty. Not on purpose..."

"But I did!" she cried out, all feelings bubbling over her. Tears were beginning to form, and the girl's breath was gasping in hate of what had effected her for so long. "They were people...just regular people! They never did anything and I had to...then there was the set ups, it was clearly robbery! I'm sorry...I don't want to go back to that!" she sobbed.

Tipping her head to stare at the table, Yugi could see tiny drips hitting the wood. Her fists were clenched, and it all seemed unclear as to what she meant. Gently, he reached over, wrapping his arms around her, so she moved up and was now leaning into him. Rocking her back and forth, the boy tried to pick out details of what she had been saying. It was very much like when he solved the Millennium Puzzle, trying to fit everything together, though in this case some of the vital pieces were missing, so it couldn't be solved till they were found.

A while later, the young man realised the girl's breath had evened out and was no longer crying. Tilting her head up, he looked to see she had fell asleep in his arms sobbing. Carefully, he pulled her close, and picked her up off her feet. Yugi carried her up to her room quietly. He crept over the creaking floorboards so not to stir Joey. Lightly, he put Kitty back on her bed, making sure the pillow cushioned her head as he pulled the blankets over her body. He planned to slip out then, but the girl was still clinging to him slightly, not willing to let the warmth leave. Yugi managed to hear her mutter something, half asleep that she was.

"Stay...don't go..."

Sighing at his sleeping angel, the boy couldn't leave her like that. He managed to slip in next to her on the bed, getting under the covers quietly, making sure not to stir her. His arms coiled around her frame, as Kitty snuggled closer into his shirt, mumbling softly, making the boy smile down at her.

Slowly but surely they drifted off to sleep, very close together, enjoying the embrace. It didn't appear that the girl was having anymore nightmares. Stroking her face before he slipped away into slumber, Yugi managed to whisper in her ear.

"Sweet dreams my beautiful Kitten."

Somehow, that soothed her, as the girl began to smile in her sleep. Though as the final thoughts reached his mind, the young man couldn't help but think; how deep were his feelings really for her?

All was hushed around the house now, not a thing stirred...Well, except for the content manner of Joey snoring in the room next door, chewing on the pillow as her dreamt of an all you could eat buffet.

On the other side of town, things were beginning to become just as disgruntled. Not even the staff made any noise at this late hour. The only one usually awake was a very grouchy CEO if he had extra work to catch up on before he decided to turn in to sleep for the night. No one would disturb him, as most of them had families to feed and couldn't afford to lose their jobs. It certainly was a pain in the ass to work for the gruff businessman at times and a lot of them detested him for the lack of appreciation he showed. Still, there were those who did know the truth, what lay underneath the ice of the young man, both of which were in the mansion right now.

A small amount of croaking erupted in a large bedroom suite in a towering house. The drapes over the open balcony window billowed in the night air, drifting a sweet fragrance into the vast room. The slight chill fluttered over the dainty furniture and quality treasures, to stir something in the big canopy bed. Mumbling and grunting with recent pain, it tossed slightly, unsure of where it was and what to do. Trapping itself in the silk sheets, it soon kicked out, bolting up straight, fully awake, though slightly sore.

Twisting around as it freed itself, it blinked, now beginning to take it what was around it, to be precise very unfamiliar settings. Struggling out of the duvet's grasp, it shuffled to the edge of the bed, standing rather shakily. Obviously the form had not given enough time to recover the use of its legs, still it managed to stagger over to the open window area leading outside.

It was now revealed as a girl, bathed in the new light of the moon coming out from behind the clouds. She blinked at the newly clear sky, starting to process what was around her, before recalling the stabbing sensation of before. Her skin was still the porcelain colour, but slightly red and swollen around her side. Her long dark hair rippled down her back, as she lent forward to feel the source of her agony. The wound had been bandaged where she had been struck. It would have been worse if she hadn't fled into the growth in the park, but it still stung from when those hooligans had rampaged through the park, her large crystalline eyes pricking slightly with tears.

But there was another matter on her mind. The reason she had been there in the first place, waiting patiently knowing he would be there on time...only those bastards had got there first. Had he cared? She was hoping so, after all, they had been through a lot together already, all sorts of dangers, ones that made her shudder at the memory. Thinking back to the previous incident, she could have sworn it was him. Leaning over her, taking her carefully into a care, silencing her so as not to waste her energy in speaking. She had to find him, surely he was here, and close by. The feeling was too strong to deny; it had to be true.

Limping over to the door with all the strength she could muster, her sore hands clutched the heavy door handle, pulling swiftly as the huge doors creaked open. The lavish halls were well decorated, warm colours filling her mind, so she warmed up a little. Looking in each direction so no one was there, she crept out of the bedroom, making sure the door shut behind her, though didn't slam. No sight of any guards, maids or any other individuals, so she wandered out, hoping not to cause any attraction to herself.

Exploring down identical corridors, she stumbled carefully over the long Persian carpets and watching out for the fine mahogany furniture. It was a never-ending maze, one of which it didn't seem to have an end whatsoever. Still, she kept up the pace for another hour before collapsing on the floor. She was exhausted still from the wounds endured, and because not fully healed, was unsteady. She had used up all energy in wandering through the aimless place. Sighing, she slumped to the ground, hissing a little as the stitches from the new injury burned her skin. She had enough scars to know it would endear for a while.

The noise however caught attention. She tried her best to ease out her unsteady breath but her body was too tried to function to her thought. The firm footsteps of someone echoed in the room beside her, heading for the door. The handle jolted open, to reveal an annoyed man, obviously worn out from lack of sleep. Not to mention his fears were piled as high as the stock exchange of his company.

"What the Hell is going on out here? Which one of you hired idiots is making a racket by strutting around in the middle of the night, because I promise you I'll..." Kaiba snarled, but halted on seeing the limp form crouched down near the door. His blue eyes once bitter with anger and weariness surprisingly softened; beyond slight worry trembled through him. Bending down beside her, he shook her considerably, only for her to slowly lift her head so their eyes locked. Attempting a small smile, she relaxed. Her search was over.