Well I'm back with more interesting stuff for this story. Thanks to all the reviewers, I trust you got your responses, if not, let me know and I'll amend that. Sorry if this is a little short, but it adds to drama and climax…I hope at least.

As you may notice, I was sorting through my other fics, so that is why I took so long….again. Sorry! Busy as well, school is over for me! University starting in September, am so proud of myself! But now I have a part time job and such, so time is taken up somewhat. I was also away on holiday, then it was my birthday, and my brothers later on…ah, I'll shut up, excuses aren't what you want to hear, am I right?

Things are going to get a lot more dramatic and some may hate me for this, but just the way the plot goes. It's also a lot of action, which I'm not great at, so might take me a bit longer to write. This also shows there aren't too much left in this story to go. Sad to see it end, but it must. But it seems I'll end with over 200 reviews and am already over 3000 hits! Thanks to everyone who contributed!

If anyone wants to, please read my one shot As Long as You're Mine, which is Yugi and Kitty's wedding years later, sequel to Cherished, which is when Yugi proposes. Comments are appreciated.

Chapter 18: Loving Sacrifice

"You say you found her? You're certain this time?" a cold sneering voice questioned.

"Um, yeah boss, I think so…" the lackey murmured, hoping he wouldn't be heard. The next thing he knew, he was slammed against the wall, unable to breathe.

"I don't want your uncertainty! You better be right this time! Otherwise you'll find yourself with a decorative slit that reaches from ear to ear." he hissed venomously, cold eyes narrowed to threatening slits.

Once he had dropped him, he watched the fearful and pathetic creature dash away in case his boss changed his mind about sparing him for the moment. No one could gain such a reputation as he had by showing mercy.

Growling to himself, the man turned and strutted over to a far off corner in the deep dark room, where a large chest sat on the floor. He bent over, and using the small key he kept on a chain around his neck, unlocked and opened it.

With a feral and wicked grin he rifled through his treasures. That is what he thought of them. Precious memories, souvenirs from each and every foul deed he had done to remember them by. It was a twisted collection of the many lives that had been shattered through his acts and those in his little gang. With a sick sense of pride that he traced his fingers over each and every object, claiming responsibility for the misery that befell those whom were unfortunate enough to cross his path.

However, all of them combined could add up to the value of one special item.

Rising slowly, he carried his prize over the slanted broken window, as he looked down on the havoc below with glee. They were doing a good job; everything was in ruins, all valuable items waiting to be claimed. Not just material possessions, but the lives, spirits and bodies of innocent people. Just knowing that he could control their fates made him smirk.

"Now is the time…"

With those sinister words still echoing off the walls, he walked out of the room to but the final plan into action, while something crashed to the floor with a clatter. A broken picture lay upon the rotting floorboards, the worn image of a young womans memory fading away, about to be destroyed forever.

--

Despite the sun shinning brightly above and the calm in the air, there were two individuals who were unable to settle as they walked along the pavement towards the police station. It was the morning that they both were anxious for and dreading at the same time. It would be their salvation, but it would be frightening final task to accomplish. However, in conquering the final fear, it would all be worthwhile…

Even though her face was one of calm and normality, Kitty was holding her boyfriends' arm in a vice-tight grip, almost afraid he would disappear if she let go. If she didn't have the comforting thought that Yugi would be right beside her when she told her story to the police, the young woman knew she would never have had the courage to go through with this. You would think that a little thing like an interview would mean nothing to someone who had faced years watching gang warfare and deadly brawls, but that wasn't the case here.

The whole ordeal, every detail, had been replaying in the writer's head that morning. From her first meeting with the man-no, he was no man, demon was a more appropriate description-that had made her life a living nightmare, to the moments when her life had been salvaged by the earthbound angel she fell in love with, she recalled it all. It had kept her in a daze the entire time Yugi had told Kaiba not to bother with a car, that walking to the station to meet DJ would do Kitty good as they left the house early, everyone else wishing them luck as they did. All through that she had been silent, and the young man didn't bother to question it. He understood she must have had so much on her mind, and thought best to let her sort it out. The Game King knew no matter how much he wanted to assist his Kitten in every way possible, there were certain things he had to allow her to accomplish on her own, which he respected.

As they came closer and closer, Kitty became more and more weary. It was hard to explain, but something inside her kept flaring up, as if it was warning her of impending danger. Finally feeling more alert, she tensed visibly, gaining her boyfriend's attention.

"Kitty, you all right? he asked in concern. Letting go of her for a second he took the chance to use both arms to hold her in a soft embrace, pulling her into his chest, allowing the girl to cling to him as much as she pleased.

"I….I don't like this…" she muttered, her voice muffled in forcing back sobs.

"I know you don't, but I'll be right there with you. DJ will let you take as much time as you like. We go in, say what we need, and then go out. We don't have to do anything else, just stay at Kaiba's manor and wait for word of Drake being caught. Then we can get on with our lives. Our life, the happy one we're going to have together." he whispered softly, nuzzling her cheek and kissing her soft skin.

Whimpering as she moved away from the warmth, Kitty nodded and gave a watery smile. "I know, I'll always trust you." she spoke with warmth and love in her voice. With that she leaned forward and pressed their lips together, the force showing the girls' need for reassurance and security. Yugi was more than happy to comply, deepening the kiss with everything he had, letting the pleasurable shivers and sensations was over both of them.

In the midst of the expressive display, a low rumbling could be heard coming from a distance. The sky was clear and blue, so it couldn't be thunder. The whole street seemed calm enough…

In one swift movement Kitty's eyes had snapped open as she quickly pulled away from the enjoyable kiss. Yugi stood in confusion for a minute before realising there was something wrong with the young woman and he too became tense at the noises. As the couple turned their heads, they looked to see large clouds of dust and fumes rising in the air and getting closer, while the low rumbling noises increased in volume.

"In the building…NOW!"

"Kitten? What is…"

"Now, we don't have time!"

There was a high note of fear and panic in his girlfriends' voice, making him move faster as he ran behind, gripping her hand for all her was worth. The loud ruckus could now be identified. There was no denying what that noise was. They couldn't look back to check though, not if they wanted to get out of the way fast enough. They had to keep running.

Down the empty street they went, fast as possible, the station nearing, but so was the their pursuers. As the closed the distance and reached the foot of the steps of their destination…

SMASH

"Yugi!"

Glass shattered as it hit the ground, some pieces now stained with small drops of red. Time almost skidded to a halt as Kitty watched her lover and saviour crash to the ground, writhing in pain at the bottle fragments embedded in his skin, blood flowing down the steps. Quickly she bent down beside him, trying desperately to make him stand up, all the while her hands and clothes were stained with crimson.

"Come on Yugi! Please get up!" she cried helplessly. "You have to get up! We have to get inside where it's safe!"

"Then…go, get out…of here Kitten. It's…you they want, quick…" Yugi rasped out, still struggling with the agony of trying to move his legs, glass cutting deep into his veins and muscles. "Please…"

"No! I won't do that Yugi! I can't do that!"

"But…"

"I did that the first time, with my family. I ran, and then they all ended up dead! I won't do it again! I can't lose you too! I can't lose someone else I love!" she sobbed, trying to hold the young man tenderly whilst pulling him up the steps, clapping hands ringing in the air…

Clapping?

"Aww, Kitty-Kat, you are going to make me cry if you keep this up. Since when did our tough little feline turn into a sentimental sap?"

There in front of the police station, the couple realised they were now surround by twenty fierce looking bikers, all sitting on top of their gleaming motorcycles, sneering down at them. Each one was more disgusting than before. But still, nothing could compare to the one standing closest to them. There was no denying who he was.

"Well," the man sighed, almost innocently, if not for the malicious smirk crossing his face. "I guess it's about time we had ourselves a proper introduction. You must be something special…Yugi isn't it?" he asked, making the Game King exhale in a raspy breath.

"Who are you?" he wheezed, trying to control the pain he was suffering, all the while burning inwardly. He knew well enough who this guy was. The look the lackeys gave him, the fear in his Kitten's eyes, it said it all.

He was tall, slim but yet under the tight dark shirt there was a strong upper body. His entire being screamed power, merciless power. Even from the way his long coat caught the wind and flicked up was intimidating, as if the elements were under his command. But that face…it was something no one could forget.

From the top of his forehead, to the corner of his mouth, a rough white scar crossed over his skin. It trailed past the dark emerald eyes that glinted in hate, tore through the complexion of his cheek where dark black hair caressed in the breeze, until it rested on his lips, those lips that twisted in the most evil smile that annoyance could imagine.

Blinking absentmindedly, the male seemed to stifle a cute giggle, before looking back with a sinister grin. "My, you're right to the point aren't you? That's so amusing. Very well," he shrugged, reaching inside his leather jacket, and suddenly glancing up with a sick and happy look in green orbs.

"I am Drake, here to collect what is mine!" he shouted, and with a flick of his wrist, a curved blade spun fast in the couples direction. Time almost stopped, as everyone was paralysed of what fate would arise in that instant…

"Come back to me little Kitten!"

"No!"

"Then pay the price…"

A scream, a thud, blood running down the steps in a crimson tide…

"No…" a voice echoed as two forms fell, on top of the other, in protection…in love…