Chao- Ha! What is going within this new story?

YChao- Something dumb, most likely.

Chao- Yeah, probably!

"Talking."

"Thinking."

/Yami and Yugi's mind link./

Chapter 3: The Next Victim

Kaiba was once again sitting alone in a giant room. His hands were laced together in front of his face as he was lost in thought. He could not believe what was happening to him.

First, his brother was not responding or showing any signs of waking up soon.

Second, his rival and group of annoying friends were helping out.

Thirdly, the lights seemed to be flickering on and off.

Luckily, as someone who has a lot of money, Kaiba was able to afford computers that automatically saved his work after an accident. He stared blankly at the same screen attempting to find any new information he hasn't already found. To his dismay, he was able to find nothing.

In his mind, it was as though his younger brother and only family member was slipping away.

If he does, then what would Kaiba do next?

How could he move on?

He nearly threw away his life not too long ago when Mokuba was under the caption of Pegasus.

"Mokuba," the teen whispered.

xxx

/What should we do next?/ Yugi asked his darker half.

/It's hard to say,/ Yami replied, /A soul could be locked up anywhere in the world./

Yugi sighed with annoyance. He wrapped his arms around his shoulder. Not only was he frustrated, he also seemed to be sadden by something else. Yami walked over to his partner and comforted, /Everything will be alright. As long as we keep our minds calmed and our spirits up, we can do this./

Yugi closed his eyes and nodded his head. The spirit glanced at his lighter half. He observed how Yugi was acting differently ever since this morning. He seemed to be a bit more… distant… from everyone. He had asked him several times if anything was wrong but the teen denied anything. Yami was unsure of what else he could do to assist his friend.

/Yugi, are you sure you don't want me to take over?/ Yami offered once more, but his tone sounded more sincerer this time, /You've had a long day already./

Yugi opened his eyes. He clearly saw his attitude was effecting everyone around him. That was something he did not want to do. No one was forcing Tea, Tristan, Joey, or even Yami to be here. That was a good characteristic the young teen loved about his friends. They were always by his side even through his darkest hours. Yugi smiled with gratitude that no one had left.

/No, I'm fine,/ he replied calmly. Yami was relieved when he was able to see his friend smile once more. That was sign Yugi was still himself despite all the stress.

/Alright then,/ Yami responded. Even though Yugi was acting a little out of character, Yami decided to seize this opportunity to allow Yugi to take leadership and grow.

/By the way,/ Yugi began, /You said you felt something strange about this house, didn't you?/

Yami nodded his head.

/Maybe we can begin our search here./ Yugi suggested.

/That's an idea./ Yami concurred.

/I don't want to accuse any workers here, but there could be a slight possibility one of them could be behind this all./ Yugi explained, feeling a little guilty.

/No need to feel worry./ Yami replied, /If one of them is behind this then we need to stop them./

Yugi proceeded to tell the plan to everyone. They all nodded their heads and understood their mission. Joey and Tristan were to check the lower levels and the basement of the house for anything out of the ordinary while Yugi and Yami were to searched the second floor and attic. Tea was to stay by Mokuba's side, a job she did not mind to do.

They all agreed to be very quiet in order to not disturb Seto Kaiba or be found out by any of the employees. If this mission was to be successful, they will need to draw little attention to them as possible. If they do become noticed then it all could be over. Mokuba may be forever trapped and Kaiba could be doomed. Yugi did not want that fate to happen to either of the Kaiba brothers.

The two taller teens peeked from the door and to the hallway to make sure no one was around. When they were free, the two stepped out and walked down one end of the hallway to begin the investigation. After two minutes, Yugi repeated the same steps. He figured it was best to not grab attention and have the parties be separate.

"Good luck," Tea cheered softly to her friends. Yugi turned around and smiled. The girl smiled back as she, too, was happy to see her friend appearing to be his usual self.

Yugi quietly stepped out of the room then closed the door. He and Yami went the opposite direction as the other two teens had taken previously. Surprisingly, there was no one around. The two of them checked several rooms that were all similar.

Every place had large windows with curtains that complimented the carpet. The rooms would either have a bed with sheets, pillows, and a chair, or a desk with book shelves. Some of them even had a combination of different furnishings. So far, there were no clues. The only space that needed investigation was the attic.

"I wonder where Kaiba is…" Yugi thought as he finally found the steps to the attic. After walking in silence, Yugi decided to ask, /Do you sense anything out of the ordinary?/

/I think I do./ Yami answered.

"Really?" Yugi asked a little too loud.

/I'm beginning to sense something strange upon those steps within the room upstairs./ Yami informed.

/What else?/ Yugi asked. Just then, the two of them heard someone behind them. Yugi turned and saw Kaiba standing behind him.

"K-Kaiba?" Yugi asked nervously.

"It's rude to be playing hide and seek in someone else's house." Kaiba informed in a serious tone without the intent of making a joke.

xxx

Two teens managed their way to the mansion's basement. There was nothing found in the other rooms they were assigned. Down in the lowest level, there were many boxes packed away and piled on with dust. There were also many old statues, books, papers, envelopes, and file cabinets.

"Geez, look at all this junk." Joey remarked in an unpleasant way, "Who'd want this garbage anyway?"

He then unintentionally bumped into a small pile of boxes and tripped over them.

"I think that's why it's called a basement." Tristan replied uninterested. He turned his back into another direction and began his search on the opposite side. After bumping into another pile of boxes, Joey announced, "I don't think there's anything in here, Tristan."

When the slow witted blonde did not get a respond from his friend, he turned around and did not see anyone within the room.

"T-Tristan," he mumbled as he walked carefully around. He was left all alone in a basemen within a big house that might hold someone responsible for making a child fall into a coma and have his soul stolen. Scenes from intense movies involving such similar plots and mass murderers entered Joey's mind. He shivered in the idea of suddenly coming face to face with a deadly maniac.

He shook his head furiously and reminded himself, "I ain't scared of nothing! I survived the Shadows and then some!"

The adolescent came upon a small door surrounded by boxes. On the floor were areas of dust free zones that appeared fresh. Joey did not notice the door before and was prepared to take on whatever was behind it. As he reached for the handle, his entire form started to shake once more.

He swallowed hard then slid the door opened and shouted, "Bring it on!"

Suddenly, something white appeared out of no where.

"AAAHHH!" the blonde screamed in fear then fell to the floor, "A ghost!"

The ghost then began to laugh.

"You're WAY too easy," it snickered.

"Wha?" Joey mumbled confused. The sheets were lifted and Tristan reveled himself to be the spirit. Joey was not amused.

"Whatever! I was not scared!" he grunted.

"Suuurrre!" Tristan agreed sarcastically. The blonde stood up in anger and walked up the stairs. The other teen continued to laugh as he followed his friend.

xxx

Yugi was not enjoying the usual cold stare he was receiving from the CEO. The small teen looked directly into the icy eyes that belonged to his rival but Yugi could not help but also see sadness and anxiety within them. Yugi took a big breath. There was something he had wanted to say to the other teen, "Kaiba I know right now this is not easy for you."

Kaiba sneered. He did not want to be lectured within his own house. Everything was already hard enough without having to receive another speech from someone he did not fully trust.

"I know it's not easy to keep your spirits up when someone you care about is in a coma." Yugi continued.

"And you think playing this game is any fun?" Kaiba asked with anger rising. Yugi shook his head honestly, "I know what it's like having someone you care for to be in a coma."

"Oh, really?" The taller teen asked sarcastically. Yugi nodded his head, "Just before Duelist Kingdom with Pegasus, my grandpa… fell into one…"

Yami quickly glanced over at his partner in shock.

"Is that what was bothering him?" the dark spirit noted, "Is that why he's so determine to help Kaiba out?"

For a moment, the tall teen was speechless. He did not understand how or why his toughest opponent went along to play a game while his own family was suffering.

"And I know you don't want to hear something you might not believed," Yugi guessed, "But I think the best thing you can do right now is to be by his side… I know he will come back."

Kaiba turned his around. He did not want to hear anymore. But deep down, he wanted to see his sibling. The one person who was always by his side despite always being in danger whether it was from an enemy who desired power or someone who wanted money.

Although he did not turn around, Kaiba asked, "Why are you telling me this?"

"To let you know you're not alone in this." Yugi replied truthfully.

The answer the taller teen received perplexed him. Almost mindlessly, Kaiba walked away from his rival, down the hall, and towards his brother's room. He opened the door and found his sibling left along with the female of the group.

Tea looked up towards the CEO but she did not say anything. Kaiba did not return the eye gaze he received. He just looked down at his brother. No words were exchanged between the two who were conscious.

Tea was unsure if anything could be said at all. She easily gave him speeches whenever he was acting like a jerk in the past. But, this time, things were different. Kaiba was not being rude to anyone other than just pushing people away. However, no one left and everyone was still some where within the building. To her, that was surprising.

Just then, the door opened once more. Tea looked up to see her two taller friends made it back. Tristan quietly beckon for the girl to come. Tea slowly made her way to the other side of the room. Still, the CEO did not removed his eyes from the only person he cared about. Once Tea left the room, the door was closed once more.

Kaiba felt powerless to do anything. He tried over and over to find any answers for questions that bombarded his mind. The doctors had informed him it will take time for the boy to come out, and that's only if he was lucky. Kaiba disliked any feedback he received. Everything just seemed to lead to a dead end.

"Mokuba…" he whispered once more.

xxx

Outside the hallway, the three teens waited patiently for their other friend to come back to the meeting point.

"Did either of you two find anything?" Tea asked.

"Just that Joey is still afraid of ghosts." Tristan commented with a small grin.

"Was not." Joey mumbled as he looked away angrily with his arms crossed. Tea sighed and corrected herself, "Did you find anything actually USEFUL?"

"Naw," Joey answered, "Nothing but dusts and empty boxes. You'd think this place would be a lot more cleaner."

"Now's not the time to be making remarks." Tea scolded.

"But we did not see anybody to hide from." Tristan stated.

"Guess everyone is done with their shift," Joey shrugged.

Tea heard what her friends were saying but soon she was lost in thought. She knew her pal was safe with the spirit but she couldn't help but worry about her small friend. She saw him smiling but was that an act or the real thing?

"Yugi…"

xxx

The small adolescent closed his eyes and sighed after Kaiba had left.

Yami looked over at his friend. He thought back to the time where he and Yugi barely knew each other. The spirit of the Puzzle had promised to help his partner get back his grandfather soul. He did not know, however, the pain the young teen went through.

He was unaware of the sorrow written on the boy's heart and the hearts of his friends and family. Yami smiled though because he was proud of Yugi for helping someone out. The boy was being a good friend to someone who kept denying the offer.

Yami placed his hand on his light's shoulder for comfort. Yugi opened his eyes and they, too, looked a little sad. The former pharaoh smiled down and encouraged, /Let's keep looking./

Yugi smiled a tiny smile and agreed. The small boy began to climb he stairs. With each step, his heat began to hurt. Although he felt no physical pain, his mind was swirling around with memories that took place right before Duelist Kingdom.

He was scared some mad man took his grandpa's soul.

He was confused the reason was because of the necklace he wore.

He felt alone for almost losing someone who took care of him.

Yugi was not watching where he was walking and tripped over the top of one of the steps and fell.

/Are you alright?/ Yami asked. Yugi nodded. He shot his head up when he thought he heard something coming from behind the attic door. Yugi rose to his feet as he continued moving forward. Suddenly, his entire mind was aching in pain. The teen fell to his knees as he clutched his head.

"Yugi!" Yami bellowed as he grabbed hold of his light, "What's wrong?"

The teen could barely hear his friend. His entire attention was dragged into his memories flying by. To him, it was as though someone was trying to break into his mind.

Yami tried to call out once more but he sensed a powerful force entering the Puzzle. It felt as though this mysterious power was trying to get within his lighter half.

"Forgive me, Yugi!" Yami stated as he took over. A light flashed and suddenly, the young teen was replaced by someone who was slightly taller, had narrow eyes, and more streaks in his hair.

"Who's there?" Yami called out demanding to know who was causing Yugi pain. There was silence.

/Yugi, are you alright?/ Yami asked. For a moment, the dark spirit did not receive a reply. He became worried as he tried once more, /Yugi?/

/…Yeah… I'm fine…/ the other end whispered. Yami was relieved to hear his friend. He then said, /I apologize for the sudden take over./

/No… it's ok…/ Yugi answered. Just then, the two of them heard someone giggle.

"Who's there?" Yami asked as he looked around quickly.

/Wait… you heard it too?/ Yugi asked as he appeared next to his friend. Yami nodded his head.

/So… it wasn't just… me?/ Yugi mumbled, feeling exhausted.

Yami became aware how tired his friend was. He stayed his ground and was ready for any attack that came about.

xxx

"Did you both feel that?" Tea asked as she looked down the hallway her friend went not too long ago. The two boys nodded their head.

"Let's go find him," Joey instructed as he took on a serious tone.

"Yeah, Kaiba is with his brother so they'll be safe." Tristan noted.

Tea nodded her head and the three of them ran down the hall to find their friend.

"Yugi," Tea thought as she ran passed what felt like hundreds of doors and rooms.

xxx

Although Yami was the one out in the open, Yugi suddenly felt a strong tug in his mind. He clutched his head once more in agony.

"Yugi!" Yami called out.

The teen couldn't focus. He couldn't hear anything else. He could only feel his body becoming cold as memories of times before he was friends with anyone melted into a giant headache. He tired over and over to push those unwanted memories out. He tried to remember the fun times he was experiencing now with his friends he made and the adventures they went through.

However, it all seemed to be wasted. Soon, he was too tried to fight against the force that was breaking through. Just then, there was a bright light. Yami shield it off with his hands as he shut his eyes tightly. He then sensed something strange trying to pry its way into the Puzzle.

"No!" Yami called out. He tried to put a stop to it. He gathered his energy to block off the supernatural presence.

"Yami!" a voice cried out in agony.

The light vanished.

Yami fell to the floor.

His eyes were shut and his form was weak. He tried to see if his partner was ok.

/Y-Yugi?/ Yami whispered. He was not receiving an answer. He started to become even more worried. How could he defend his partner if he himself had no strength? He gathered more of his energy and asked once more, /Yugi? Are you there?/

Still, there was nothing. Yami searched around desperately to try and find his friend. Soon, he did not feel the presence of his light.

"Yugi!" Yami cried out.

"What's going on?" Joey called out. Yami felt himself being pulled up by a familiar tight grip.

"Yami, what's wrong?" Tea asked. Yami opened his eyes and could see his friends surrounding him.

"I… They… got… him." Yami whispered as he tried to think clearly.

"Who's got who?" Tristan asked.

"I… I don't know who… but they… have Yugi…"

Everyone gasped. They could not believe what just happened. One moment their friend was only trying to help someone in need, and now he was gone.

Whatever had Mokuba now had Yugi.

To be continued….

Chao- Dun dun dun!

Yugi- Why do you do this to me?

YChao- Because it's fun!

Chao- Please review!