Hi guys! Here's a quick little update. I know its short and I'm sorry if it seems rushed. There's only one more chapter in this story than its done! Anyways, I hope you enjoy nonetheless.

Chapter 8: Save Me

Yugi watched with horror through the water fountain—which apparently also worked like a crystal ball, allowing him and the other citizens of Halloween Town to see Yami travel to every house and deliver gifts. He also saw how each present retaliated and attacked the first person—adult or child—who went near it.

Now that it seemed like Yami was almost done, Yugi had to watch as his sled was shot out of the sky by what looked like military tanks. Were things going so bad that all of this was necessary? Yugi thought about that for a second. A Santa imposter breaking in to every house and delivering toys that tried to kill people.

Okay, so maybe it was necessary but that certainly didn't mean that Yugi was happy with the result. The moment that Yami disappeared from view, Yugi, along with some of the other anxious citizens, completely lost it, tears running down his face as he thought about the possibility if Yami survived or not.

Well, technically, Yami was already dead, right? So, he couldn't die…right?

Deciding not to leave Yami's life, and the future of Christmas, up to fate, Yugi turned and stalked over to Jou, who was in the middle of an existential crisis, with determination lighting up the violet-colored orbs.

"Where'd they take Santa Claus?" Yugi asked him, the blond raising a confused eyebrow as a reply.

"Uh, don't you know?"

Yugi looked bemused. "Why would I know?"

"Well, the last time I talked to my sister, she said that she would take him to Yami's house…" Jou trailed off, the amber eyes turning into flames. "Damn it! That girl is always getting herself involved with the wrong crowd!"

"Jou!" Yugi shouted, startling the ghoul. "Where is he?!"

The blond released a slow, drawn-out sigh. "Serenity probably took him to Oogie's house." His eyes widened. "Wait, you're not thinking about going there yourself, are you Yug'?"

"I have to—"

"Are you nuts?!" Jou exclaimed. "That dude's crazy! If he catches you, there's no telling what he'll do."

"Jou, he's the only one that can fix this!" Yugi said, his tone low. "And I need my Yami back!"

Jou looked shocked than smug. "Your Yami?"

"Yes," Yugi huffed. "My Yami. I love him and I need him back here with me!"

"Alright!" Jou said, putting his hands up in defense. "Okay, I get it. You love him and I would be some lousy friend if I didn't help you find Sandy Claws. So, are we going?"

Yugi's face lit up like the sun. "Oh, thank you, Jou! Thank you!" He smiled once more before his face molded back into a mask of seriousness. "So, which way?"

Yami trudged through the forest that he had landed in after he had been shot down, Zero at his side and presents strewn across the snowy ground. He red outfit, the one that Yugi had worked so hard on, was now in shreds and Yami had no choice but to strip the clothes off, revealing his usual black suit underneath.

He thought that everything was going great. So, what happened? Why did everything go so wrong?

"Oh, what have I done, Zero?" he murmured, his eyes at a downcast. "How could I be so blind? Yugi was right. He was right all along and I…just didn't listen to him." Yami groaned, finding a random rock next to a tree and instantly plopping down on it.

"I never intended all this madness," Yami sighed. "And nobody really understood…how could they? That all I ever wanted was to bring them something great." He sighed again, propping his elbows on his knees so that he could rest his face in his outstretched palms. "Why does nothing turn out as it should?"

Zero barked, causing Yami to glance up at the floating dog and scan once more the broken toys that lay about. "Well, what the heck!" he muttered. "I went and did my best and, by god, I really tasted something swell and for a moment, why, I even touched the sky and at least I left some stories they can tell—"

Yami paused. It was in the moment that he realized just how…good he really felt. He might not have done everything he had wanted to—hell, he might have been shot down—but that didn't cover up just how much he had accomplished. He had gotten the chance to experience something new, something beyond his wildest dreams. And it was amazing.

All his self-pity melted into the snow, his chest filling up with a warm sensation that made him feel alive again. He looked at Zero, a wicked smile pulling at his lips. "For the first time since I don't remember when, I feel just like my old self again," he proclaimed. "And I, Yami, the Pumpkin King…that's right! I am the Pumpkin King." Yami laughed, jumping up from his sitting position and landing feet first in the snow.

"And I just can't wait until next Halloween 'cause I've got some new ideas that will really make them scream and I'm really going to give it all my might. And, as soon as we get back home, I'm finally going to tell Yugi I love him with all my heart and soul…" Yami stopped when he glanced back at Zero and noticed the red hat that was hanging from the dog's mouth.

"Sandy Claws," Yami gasped, turning his gaze to the opening among the trees ahead of him, the tree with a pumpkin door carved into it visible from where he stood. "Hmm, I hope there's still time to set things right," he mumbled to himself before sprinting to the door, Zero hot on his trail.

Yugi shot Jou an appreciative look as he snuck past Marik and Bakura, who were, at the moment, too infuriated by Jou and the blond's definition of a good 'distraction' that they didn't even notice when he had disappeared into the room that he concluded must be the place where they were holding Santa Claus.

Putting Ryou's demonstration into good use, Yugi pulled at the thread connecting his wrist to his hand until they were completely separated. He quickly reassured himself that he was fine and that there was no reason to faint by chancing a glance at his arm and spotting the crisp leaves that stuck out of his wrist. He didn't feel anything at all. It actually felt kind of…cool.

Deciding to dwell on the coolness of his one-handedness later, Yugi looked at the detached hand on the ground and followed Ryou's instructions, mentally directing the hand to sneak under the crack under the door and unlock it. He almost squeaked in excitement—or horror—when his hand did exactly that. Hearing the click of the door from the other side, Yugi quickly snuck into the dimly-lit room, finding his hand and quickly taking out the thread and needle behind his ear and sewing it back on.

With that feat accomplished, Yugi cautiously scanned the room, remembering Jou's warning about the monster that dwelled in this house. His eyes soon landed on Santa's familiar round form before he scurried over to the unconscious man, shaking him by the shoulder lightly.

"Santa," Yugi whispered. "Santa, you need to wake up."

"Huh?" the elder stirred. He cracked one tired eye open. "Who are—?!"

"Shh!" Yugi murmured, clamping a hand over Santa's mouth. "I'm here to save you but you must be quiet."

He waited until Santa nodded his head in an agreement to remain silent before removing his hand from his mouth and placing it on the ropes tied at the man's wrists. It took him a good ten minutes but he had eventually loosened the impossibly-tight knot. With success on the horizon, Yugi began to grow anxious. He soon realized that he had good reason to when he heard an amused voice from behind him.

"Well, what do we have here?"

Yugi turned so fast, he almost tripped. Part of him wished he did. That way he wouldn't have to see the hideous monster that stood there before him.

"Oogie," Yugi whispered.

"The one and only," the creature grinned. He surveyed Yugi with interested eyes…well, he would have if he had eyes. "My, aren't you a beauty. This is certainly a pleasure to have you in my humble home."

Yugi gasped when the creature made a move to grab him, the doll instinctively jumping back and landing on the floor with a loud thud. "Don't touch me!" Yugi yelled, trying to hide up the fear that was currently surging through him like a storm. "Yami will—!"

"Yami?" Oogie repeated, a devious grin appearing on his face. "Wait! Don't tell me! You're Yami's little doll, aren't you? The one that everyone's talking about? The one that has Yami all wrapped up in a knot?"

Yugi looked confused, though still cautious. "W-what do y-you mean?"

"You mean he hasn't told you yet?" Oogie laughed, the sound poisonous to Yugi's ears. "I should have known, the coward!" the creature paused, a sly smirk tainting its face. "No matter. For now…" he said, reaching out and grabbing Yugi by his leg, pulling the other to him despite Yugi's struggles. "You're mine."

Only one word passed through Yugi's thoughts before he was knocked unconscious.

Yami…

To Be Continued...

Reviews/comments appreciated as always.