A few days ago I realized I may have confused myself in the years of this story (again) Which in turn means that I have started to reread the story and found how terrible spelling I have, and I often use the wrong words. I'm working on it now and the rewritten chapters should replace the old ones as soon as I'm done with them.

While I'm at it I can confess that this story will probably (if i keep up the monthly updating) last for about another year. plus minus a few months.

Enough of that. From here on you can read what you're here for. Enjoy yourselves.

Another loss

Lisa finished her boring lesson about how to behave around the princess and the king. Lisa was growing very old and her memory was failing her. Often she repeated what her two students had already learnt.

"From your faces I can tell Lisa do not succeed in amusing you," a familiar, bell-like voice said from the shadows, startling the two sisters slightly.

"I wish you could announce your presence like they do when you come into the throne room or to meetings, your majesty," Kyoko said.

The princess smiled kindly and a sound like bells in the wind left her throat as she giggled. "I have told you before to call me by my name," the princess said. She wad dressed in a warm, formfitting, red dress with short sleeves and wide skirt. Her hair was tightly tied in a pigtail wreath around her head. She was up to something again.

"We know, Milady," Ryouko said and curtsied. Her still clumsy movements said she was still in training. "But… still your majesty's name refuses to leave my throat."

"I see," the princess said and her eyes became a little saddened. "I am on my way to the soldiers' training halls. Do you wish to accompany me?"

Kyoko gazed at the princess's kind face shyly. Malin was behind her as always and she nodded encouraging at the two.

"We would love to," Kyoko said and curtsied, she too with a little clumsy movements.

"Then come. Joey has promised me a fight today," Yuniko said and took graceful, dancing steps in the direction of the soldiers' halls.

Kyoko and Ryouko never grew tired of watching the princess move. Every step she took seemed to be a part of an eternal dance with the air and light around her, never missing a single step. The clear light of the early Mars sun shone through the high windows and seemed to be reflected on the princess's being. Ryouko used to take in all the princess's movements every time she saw her, and repeat the images in her head when she went to bed at night, silently hoping her own body could repeat the graceful moves in the morning. Everything new the pale haired girl found in the princess made her admire her even more.

Kyoko was slightly confused still. The memory of when the princess had confessed to her they shared the same mother was carved into her very heart. She could still feel the comforting warmth of the princess's body and hear the calm beating of her heart. When she had awakened the princess had still been there. Malin too. The princess had never let her go during the night. It made Kyoko blush slightly every time she thought of it. The princess though never seemed embarrassed about the fact she had shared the night with a dirty whore.

"I have realized you often go to the soldiers' training halls," Ryouko dared to say after fighting with herself for a long moment. "May I ask why?"

"Of cause," Yuniko said, smiling over her shoulder. "I can not let myself be unable to protect myself if it ever would be needed. So I train with the soldiers every day."

The half sisters' eyes grew wide as plates.

"B-but," Ryouko started, but was unable to formulate all the questions and thoughts that ran through her head.

"But you are the princess," Kyoko said, putting every single one of her sister's thoughts into words. "Are you really allowed to… fight?"

The princess just smiled at them. It wasn't the first time her friends had reacted this way. "Being a princess does not mean I am unable to defend myself. I have realized recently I am supposed to be able to fight. The evil of the north have tested my strength, and they call me Battle Princess."

Malin saw the two girls were still in chock. The image of Scotland's princess with a sword in her hands had probably never crossed any Scottish local's mind. She still clearly remembered Joey's face when he was to fight the princess for the first time. He had deeply underestimated her and had ended up laughed at by everyone who saw him try to fight the much more flexible princess. Their blond friend had been furious at the end of that day.

"My brother was the one who started to teach me how to battle," Yuniko explained as she gestured for her sisters to come along. "I was about eleven years old when I started."

Malin giggled at the memory. "And because Yuni started to battle I felt I could not just stand by and witness when the one I had promised myself to protect was taught how to use weapons. I more or less demanded the prince to teach me too. Now no one can defeat me when it comes to knives."

"No one?" Yuniko asked with a friendly, correcting glance at her nurse.

"No one except her majesty herself," Malin ended her sentence.

Kyoko had gladly asked more questions, but Joey came running through the corridor with eyes sparkling of life and excitement.

"Your majesty!" he greeted as he stopped in front of her, bowing almost as an afterthought. "Can we take the fight outside? I wish to see how long I will be able to keep the chill away from my mind."

Yuniko nodded with her eyes hungry for excitement and challenge. Joey easily adjusted to his surroundings, better than her, which meant he had advantage in the still deep snow outside.

"As you wish, Joey. You know I always look for a challenge."

Joey led the way out of the castle and into the area where the snow had been stomped into slippery ice. The ground didn't concern the princess. Her shoes had a special layer that didn't slip on ice. It was mostly because ice easily appeared in the corridors in the winter season and the king was always worried his daughter would fall and hurt herself like he had done so many times in his youth.

Malin, Ryouko and Kyoko stood at the edge of the icy area where they could watch the friendly battle and at the same time hug each other in order to keep the warmth in. Ryouko wondered how the princess could look so unfazed by the chill.

Joey drew his sword with trained ease and elegance. He stood in position as the princess carefully watched, looking for mistakes.

Yuniko drew her own sword; a 4 feet double edged blade. It was the same she had used when she fought the undead a few years ago. The old sword had transformed into this blade made of white, nameless metal. She never used any other sword.

She posited herself with the sword raised in front of her and one arm at her back.

For a few minutes nothing happened. Ryouko and Kyoko, inexperienced with battles, looked from one to another in confusion, wondering when they would start.

"They are reading each others minds," Malin suddenly whispered, so low it wouldn't disturb the fight. "It is the first battle, fought with senses and mind."

Malin hardly had finished the sentence when Joey lunched forward so suddenly Ryouko yelped in surprise.

Yuniko moved swiftly. Metal met metal in a firework of sparks as the swords sang their songs, and then they were suddenly back where they had started, as if nothing had happened.

This time Yuniko moved first and used her sword's weight to make herself move faster. Joey dodged the hard attack, but it left him stagger backwards from the force. Yuniko was already over him again. She moved too fast. Joey's sword was hit right out of his hands and the princess's white blade's edge rested lightly against his throat.

"You win, my princess," Joey confessed his defeat.

Yuniko let her blade slide back into its red sheath, hidden in the folds of her dress.

"Y-your majesty," Kyoko gasped.

"That was amazing," Ryoko said with eyes wide with slight fear of what she had just learnt and aw of what she had seen.

"Are you scared of me now?" the princess asked. Her voice was calm, but her eyes begged them to say no.

Ryouko and Kyoko shook their heads wildly, never noticing the princess's expression.

"Milady will never use her ability to harm us," Kyoko said and her eyes sought in Yuniko's for assurance.

"Of cause not," Yuniko smiled somewhat relived. "If anything, I will use my ability to protect you. Or learn you if you ever wish to."

Ryouko's eyes grew even wider. "You can teach us?" she near whispered?

Malin couldn't stop herself from laughing anymore. "Milady has trained Joey, I am positive she will be able to teach you two as well."

Kyoko looked scared at the thought of fighting. But Ryouko seemed to be eager.

"Milady, could you teach me… to use a bow?"

"Why a bow?" Joey asked curious.

"I…" Ryouko cast her eyes down and blushed deeply. "There was this man we met on the way here. I watched him hunt and saw how he used his bow. It looked so easy when he did it… and so elegant."

Yuniko just nodded, careful to not show how amused she was by her half sister's flushed face. "Of cause. But if you wish to learn from the best you might as well ask Kay."

"Who is Kay?" Ryouko asked, somewhat worried. For her inner sight she saw a muscled man with mean eyes.

"Kay is more or less living in the stable with the horses," Malin explained. "He loves his horses more than anything. There is nothing about horses he does not know."

"Come and let me present you to my friend," Yuniko said and lead the way over to the stables where she knew her friend was at. She could feel it.

"Is this Kay scary?" Ryouko asked Joey carefully.

Joey grinned broadly. "Not at all. He is kind of shy if you know what I mean."

"A perfect husband for Ryouko," Kyoko mumbled under her breath. Her sister glared draggers at her.

"Kay? Are you here?" Yuniko called carefully into the stable.

"Princess? What honours me your visit?"

Ryouko blinked as she laid her eyes on a slim, silver blond male with blue eyes. His face had a nice form and his body was used to work.

"I am here to introduce you to my little friends," the princess said and stepped aside so Kay could see the two strangers properly.

"My name is Kyoko. A pleasure to meet you, Kay," Kyoko greeted and curtsied.

Kay gave a lopsided smile before he bowed. "The pleasure is mine, young lady."

"I am Ryouko, Kyoko's older sister," Ryouko said and curtsied.

"You have a beautiful hair," Kay said as he bowed.

"Thank you… um…"

Ryouko glanced at the princess for support. Malin and Joey nodded encouraging at her. The princess just winked, her eyes saying there was nothing to be afraid of.

"Did you wish for something?" Kay asked with raised eyebrows. He looked at the princess who had her eyes locked at Ryouko, much to his disappointment.

"I wondered… is it possible that…"

Kyoko pocked her sister in the side impatiently.

"Could you teach me how to use a bow?"

Kay blinked. "Eh? Of… of cause, why not? But… could her majesty not do that?"

"You are better than me with using a bow," Yuniko smiled. "You are the best archer in Scotland after all. I simply wished my friend to learn from the best."

Kay blushed deeply, but he tried to hide it. "Of… of cause. I would be honoured to teach you, Ms Ryouko."

Snow fell thick as a cloud this evening. It was Mars 14 and Ryouko still hadn't returned from her training with Kay. Yuniko was restless and worried for them.

"Snow should not fall so heavily now," the princess stated, worry shining in her eyes. "Storms are rare in this pass of time. Something is not right."

"Shall we go looking for them?" Kyoko asked. She was so worried for her sister she clung onto the princess's arm.

"It might be dangerous," Malin said. "But both of them have a crucifix and a pearl. It should be enough to protect them."

"Not many of them should be able to come anywhere close to this castle," Yuniko said slowly. "Then the two of them really may be in serious danger."

"Milady?"

Yuniko suddenly flinched visibly and her eyes opened wide. "They are here," she whispered. Ignoring her friends' surprised calls Yuniko started to run towards the entrance. She felt how the evil came closer, and they were hungry. If they laid a finger on her friends she would ride off to their whereabouts and banish every one of them back to the dark world where they belonged.

"Daughter? What are you…?"

"They are coming," Yuniko called over her shoulder to her father. "Ryouko and Kay are still outside."

"What? Yuniko, wait!"

But Yuniko couldn't wait. She was scared. She knew the knot of fear lying heavy in her chest never meant good things. She didn't even care to put a coat on. She just ordered the gate open and rushed out into the dark. In her heart she searched for the pearls she had given her friends. She found they were not too far away from the head gate. And rushed there.

"Milady? Why are you here? You should not walk around outside in this weather. Especially not dressed like that."

"Ryouko and Kay are not back yet, Joey," the princess said and gave her friend a begging look. "Will you help me find them? They are not too far away. Just help me escort them back."

Joey looked at the other guards for a second, before he gave his warm cloak to the princess and asked her to lead the way. The princess smiled thankfully and took him by the hand and ran. She found Joey's hand warm. And his company calmed her somewhat.

"There they are!" Joey suddenly said, pointing at the two shadows fighting the wind.

The princess didn't waste any time and rushed right to them, not caring it could as well be her enemies. But she knew she would have felt that.

"Ryouko! Kay! Why are you so late? You made me worried."

Ryouko's flushed face met the princess's worried one. Yuniko could tell she was freezing. "W-we lost track of time a-and were surprised by the s-storm," she explained.

The princess embraced her half sister in Joey's warm cloak, shortly sharing some warmth. "We have to move quickly. The vampires are here already. And they are hungry."

Joey placed an arm around Ryouko's waist and the princess took Kay's hand. Her friend's face was red from the cold and he had ice in his hair. "Come. You will sleep in the castle tonight. It is warmer than in the stable."

Kay, without thinking, pulled the princess close to him, seeking her warmth. He heard how the princess gasped sharply when he placed his ice cold face on her warm collar.

"Kay, stop. We have to hurry or the vampires will find us first."

Yuniko had to force Kay off of her and then roughly pull him with her. The stableman was so cold he could not think properly.

"Princess, hurry!" Joey called from ahead.

"Come on, Kay. The faster you walk, the sooner you will be able to warm yourself at a fireplace," Yuniko tempted and pulled Kay with her. She tried to smile at him, but failed. Her fear was shining in her eyes, and she knew it.

More guards approached and one of them lifted Kay into his arms. Ryouko was already halfway over the courtyard towards the castle.

"Take him inside the castle and see to he get some dry cloths on," the princess ordered as she easily ran over the thick layer of snow towards the gate and into the courtyard. But as she got there she felt their eyes on her. She was too late. "They are here! Everyone get into the castle! No exceptions! Run!"

Malin came running towards her friend, fear evident in her eyes. "Princess!"

"Go back inside!" Yuniko yelled frustrated.

A guard suddenly screamed as he was lifted into the air by strong claws. The princess jumped high and managed to grab the guard's leg. The vampire, surprised by the extra weight, dropped its prey.

"You have to hurry!" the princess yelled at everyone. She was the last in line and of cause everyone turned to see she was following. "I am coming. Now MOVE!"

"Move."

Everyone stared at Yugi instead of the seemingly crazy doc. They saw how he shivered as if he was cold. Bakura saw it was the same with Ryou and walked up to him. Ryou's face was flushed and his hands were cold.

Yami was instantly at Yugi's side when the younger one gasped. He noticed the unusually obvious scared expression on Yugi's face and hushed at him like he always did when Yugi had bad dreams.

Another guard was caught. But he was smart enough to glide out of his shirt and keep on running. Yuniko saw how a vampire aimed for Joey and was about to fire a blast of energy towards it. But she never got the chance. Partly because she was surprised by the flash of light coming from Joey, and partly because she suddenly was lifted into the air as well.

"No," Seto suddenly called, grabbing the sheets of his bed tightly. His face was angry and scared altogether.

"Princess!" Malik called from his bed, also he with a scared expression. All four of them were scared.

Yugi jolted and it looked like his skin just broke on his arms and chest, blood colouring the white sheets in crimson.

"Yugi! Come on, wake up!" Yami called, scared out if his mind. He couldn't take it to see his brother hurt. He wished he could invade Yugi's dream and chase away whatever hurt him.

Yuniko heard despaired cries from beneath. But she paid them no heed. She was busy trying to free herself from the sharp claws.

"I will not let you go, precious," the vampire said smoothly. The princess froze at the voice. It was the one-eyed one; Crow. "I will take you to a place where I can have you. And this time Aku will not be able to…"

Something small with brown feathers and sharp beak flew into Crow's back and stopped him in the middle of his sentence. Out of surprise Crow dropped the princess, who just realized how high above the ground she actually was. She couldn't stop herself from screaming. Another vampire tried to catch her, but its claws only managed to cut through the princess's cloths and skin, drawing out her pure blood, something that was as torturous to evil as salt to a snail. The vampire screamed before it fell to the ground, twisting in pain.

Yuniko landed heavily in the snow and the air was knocked out of her. She lay there gasping for a while, not noticing her surroundings.

"Princess! Are you all right?"

Joey's anxious and scared voice cut through the blur in the princess's mind and she allowed him to try and help. But she felt how another vampire dived at them. On instinct she threw herself over Joey in attempt to protect him, but something else came between them and the vampire.

"Your majesty!"

Yuniko looked up to see her father try and fight the vampire in the sky. But it bit his neck and his body fell limp.

"Father…" Yuniko couldn't say anymore. Her father was gone.

Jono felt how his heart suddenly leapt up in his throat when he saw the blood that spilled from Yugi's frail body. He felt like running up and stab something, anything that would possibly hurt the little one, but he had no idea of why this sudden desire to protect Yami's brother rushed through him. Out of ideas he turned to the doctor for answers.

"What's wrong?" Jono asked Lou. "Why is he hurting?"

"He is so deep into his dream that what happens to him in it happens to his body as well," Lou explained slowly, his eyes staring into nothing. "If he dies in his dream… he will die in reality too."

"What?" Yami started to shake Yugi harder. His heart beat so hard he was sure it would break through his ribs. Bakura went over to him in order to stop Yami from shaking Yugi too hard.

Yugi's eyes suddenly opened wide. At first Yami was relived and was about to embrace his little brother tightly, but then he noticed his brother's eyes couldn't see. He had opened his eyes in his sleep. Fright was clear in them, before it died out in nothing. "Father…"

The snow didn't fall as heavily anymore and the moon peered down through an opening in the clouds at the silent scene in front of the white castle. Two little humans sat not too far from the castle entrance. In the gate stood a group of people staring at the sky where the king had just disappeared to. A vampire lay there in the snow, almost dead. An eagle also lay there, bleeding from the chest, but alive none the less. Nothing but the falling snowflakes moved, until the princess slowly rose from her kneeling position.

Joey stood as well, prepared to support his friend if necessary. The princess walked slowly towards the castle, head hanging and her usual proud posture lost. No one tried to stop her as she walked inside. No one daring to say a single word. Joey silently gestured everyone to not follow, but Malin and Mokuba did anyway. Kyoko stayed with her fainted sister. Nothing but the echoing sound of steps was heard in the corridor. The princess never noticed how Joey's cloak fell off her thin shoulders. Nor did it matter. She was cold even with it.

Once they reached the princess's chamber everyone but the princess stopped. Yuniko walked inside, never lifting her head and looking at her friends. They all heard how she blocked the door. The princess would not see anyone tonight.

"Miss Malin," Mokuba whispered, tears burning behind his eyes, though he tried his best to hold them back. "You can sleep in my room tonight."

Malin didn't try to stop her tears. She smiled gratefully at the errand boy and took his hand, accepting his offer.

"I will stay guard here until she comes out," Joey decided. "You can go to sleep."

Malin sniffed and nodded. There was nothing they could do now.

Yuniko just stood in her room, eyes unseeing. She slowly turned her head towards the small painting on the table beside her bed. Her father had given it to her soon two years ago. It was a small painting of the small, royal family; the king, the prince and the princess. But the painting was not true anymore.

Yuniko reached out to touch the smiling persons in the picture, but her fingers met only the painted surface. She gently placed the painting face down. She was alone now.

"Do not be so hard on yourself," a familiar voice said.

Yuniko said nothing. Aku moved up to her and took her hand, careful to not touch her blood. "You know why, my princess."

"…I suppose I do. And I want you to leave."

Aku knew how it felt to lose the last shard of family. He had been alone as well once. And he also knew what the princess needed right now. "I will not leave, my princess. I will not leave you to mourn alone."

"I will not give you any more tears," the princess whispered.

"I have no desire to take your tears. I know Atemu was the only one you entrusted with your tears. With him gone you can not cry anymore."

Yuniko turned around slowly. She felt how her wounds healed thanks to something she had realized was mixed with her blood. She looked deeply into Aku's compassionate blue wells.

"I love you, my princess," Aku confessed as he kissed her fingers.

In a flash Yuniko realized that was what she needed right now; someone who loved her. Of cause she had Malin and Mokuba and Joey and everyone else. But Aku was different. He was the one who caused her pain, and the one who eased it. For the first time she was the one who pulled the other into a deep kiss. She didn't answer his confession. Just allowed him to be there now.

"I will stay with you tonight," Aki whispered into her ear. "I will be here until you fall asleep. But before the sun rises I have to return."

"I understand," Yuniko breathed. "I only desire answers. But I am certain you do not have all of them. But I will let it be tonight. Just stay with me for now."