Orange: Hello readers, sorry for the long wait so here is an extra long chapter. Please enjoy _

DISCLAIMER- I don't own Yugioh

Chapter 12

Martha summoned her scimitar and stood defensively in front of Adrianne and Yugi. Maisie and Rose pulled out shimmering staffs, Harry brought out a broadsword while Vicky summoned a scythe. Maisie's staff was made out of gold and covered with emeralds. The staff rounded off into the shape of two horns at the end where s glowing green orb pulsed. Rose had a staff made out of silver that was covered in markings of roses. The end of the staff was melded into a silver rose shape with a light pink gem embedded in the middle.

Harry's broadsword was made out of an ebony metal and was midnight black. A swirling grey smoke orb was placed in the hilt. Vicky's scythe was about her height and made with an ebony handle and silver blade. The blade was curved and glistened in the candle light. Amethysts and diamonds were studded into the handle just below the blade.

"My my that is interesting. Tell me how is Seimei these days?" Kuro chuckled. "How do you know Master Seimei?" Martha growled as she crouched into an attack position. "Well I ran into him when I was collecting a light from another world, let's just say we didn't get along" Kuro said in a taunting way.

While everyone else was preoccupied with Kuro, Vicky sneaked over to Yugi and examined the pendent. 'That looks like the sort of thing crafted in a guild, maybe it's one of the ones banned by the king' Vicky thought. She snuck up behind Yugi silently. She took a deep breath and pounced making Yugi cry out in surprise.

"What are you doing" Adrianne screeched furiously. She tried to pry Vicky off of Yugi but was pushed away by Maisie who glared at her. Yugi struggled but Vicky had him pinned to the floor in an iron grip. "What are you doing?" he snarled up at her. Vicky locked eyes with Yugi. "I'm getting rid of the problem" she declared as she ripped the pendent from his neck. Yugi's eyes widened and he instantly stopped struggling.

Vicky slowly released Yugi and leant on her knees beside him. "Yugi are you ok?" Vicky asked concerned as she saw tears appear in his amethyst eyes. Yugi shook as tears ran rivers down his cheeks. "I-I'm so sorry for everything I did. You were my friends and I treated you terribly. I'm really sorry" he sniffed. Vicky smiled and pulled the crying boy into a hug. She patted him on the back and ran a hand through his hair, stroking it comfortingly. "It's okay Yugi, I forgive you and I'm sure the others will too. You were under an enchantment so it wasn't your fault, your actions were not your own". Yugi clutched to Vicky's chest and continued to cry.

Maisie glared at Adrianne. "Can you see what you have done? Your actions have deeply upset Yugi. He was already unstable due to the betrayal of his old friends and now you've made him think that he has lost our friendship. You've hurt him for what- so that you could force him to be with you when he obviously doesn't like you like that. You're meant to become a ruler soon yet you act like a spoilt little girl, grow up Adrianne" she shouted.

Adrianne gaped at Maisie, lost for words. "I…I" she started before she shut her mouth again. She looked over to where Yugi was sobbing uncontrollably into Vicky's chest. "I'm sorry" Adrianne apologised. Adrianne took a step towards Yugi8 before she was suddenly grabbed from behind. Adrianne screamed as she was pulled against Kuro and he held a dagger up to her neck.

"As much as I enjoy hearing you sorting out your problems I'm afraid we are on a tight schedule" he hissed. Martha narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean by we". Suddenly there was a large explosion. Martha, Harry, Rose, Kimimaru, Pelagius and the guards were knocked back a few feet. Smoke flew in the air like a mist.

Maisie coughed and rubbed the dust from her eyes. She heard Vicky cry out in pain from her left. "Vicky" Maisie shouted as she stumbled forwards. She found her friend lying on the ground with a head injury. Her head had started to bruise on the side and a trail of blood was trickling down her neck. "Vicky are you ok?" Maisie asked as she pulled her friend up and examined the injury.

"I'm fine but someone's taken Yugi" Vicky said, brushing Maisie's hands off. She picked up her scythe and stared as the smoke and dust cleared. Another five people all in plain black masks that only covered their eyes had appeared. They were dressed in black cloaks and were holding different weapons. Kuro was still holding Adrianne captive and the person to his left had Yugi slung over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes.

Yugi struggled against his captor but the arms around him were too strong, it was like they were made out of steel. "Let me go" Yugi snarled and he outstretched his hand. He was shocked when his weapon didn't appear. "That won't work" Kuro stated as he looked around at Yugi. Yugi glared daggers at him making him chuckle. "Well it seems like you've forgotten already. That pendent also contained a draining spell meaning you can't use any of your powers" Kuro explained. Yugi gasped. "Why you son of a-" he started before Kuro cut him off. "Now that's not very nice, you really have changed Yugi. Before you would never even consider saying something like that".

Yugi narrowed his eyes at Kuro. "How do you know what I was like before?" Kuro stiffened at the question. He didn't answer Yugi, instead he turned to the two girls who were glaring at him.

"OI YOU, YEAH YOU WITH THE WEIRD MASK" Maisie shouted. Kuro looked over at her. "What do you want?" he asked bored. "Let them go" Maisie demanded.

By now all of the smoke had cleared and Martha and the others could see what was going on. Martha glanced between her six enemies, taking note of the one holding Yugi. She looked at Harry and Rose. Their eyes locked in understanding before Martha nodded her head.

While Maisie continued to shout insults, demands and many rude comments at Kuro and his allies, Martha, Rose and Harry began to sneak silently along the wall. Vicky saw what they were doing and instantly understood the plan. She also started to shout comments but she held on tighter to her scythe.

Kuro growled as Vicky said a very offensive comment. He took a step towards her. He pushed Adrianne to one of the others before he pulled out an ebony black sword. It seemed to flicker slightly and Vicky swore she saw it move. Then it clicked in her mind. "I-It can't be" she whispered quietly. A look of disbelief spread over her face. "Is that the legendary sword of shadows, the one that went missing three thousand years ago during the battle against the sword of light?" she asked.

Kuro gazed up at her. "That is quite the eye you have, very perceptive. Yes this is the sword of shadows". He stopped for a moment to look at Vicky. "It's such a shame we're not on the same team. I really like girls like you. Talented, strong, brave, let alone beautiful at the same time". Vicky gaped at Kuro as he complimented her.

"W-W-What!" Vicky exclaimed at a loss for words. Kuro chuckled. "You heard me". Vicky looked at Kuro before she narrowed her eyes at him. "If you think a couple of nice words are going to make me let my guard down then you are sadly mistaken" she said while glaring at him. Kuro sighed sadly. "Of course you wouldn't believe me" he mumbled to himself.

Vicky raised her scythe and pointed it at Kuro. "Now come and fight me like a man" she said before charging. At the same time Martha, Rose and Harry attacked the other five.

Vicky swung at Kuro quickly; her scythe making a whoosh sound as it passed millimetres away from Kuro's chest. Kuro jumped and landed behind Vicky before swiping with his sword. A metallic clink could be heard as Vicky crossed her scythe over her back blocking the attack. She leant forwards slightly before she swung up and kicked Kuro in the stomach sending him skidding a couple of metres away. Vicky turned and stalked towards him. She attacked his feet but was blocked and pushed backwards. As she stumbled Kuro shot forwards and slashed through the top of her arm.

Vicky winced as she jumped back. She studied the wound momentarily before returning her attention to her opponent. It wasn't a deep cut but it still hurt like #!*% . "You are good with a scythe, however as it is such a big weapon it puts you at a disadvantage when duelling with an opponent who deals with swords and is quick such as myself" Kuro drawled.

Vicky growled at him frustrated. "Oh yeah, I'll show you". Kuro chuckled. "You know I'm really starting to like you so don't force me to kill you". Vicky glared at Kuro. "SHUT UP" she shouted.

Meanwhile metres away Martha had her scimitar pressed against the throat of one of the masks, the one who held Yugi. "Let him go now" she demanded as she added a little force onto her weapon. The man released Yugi who fell to the floor. "Yugi get out of here, you're in danger because you can't use your powers" Martha commanded. Yugi nodded and scampered off towards the King and his guards.

Maisie, Rose and Harry had engaged three of the four other masked people left. The last one holding Adrianne started to edge towards the gaping hole in the wall taking the sobbing princess with him. He was about a meter away from escape when someone sped past him and stood between him and freedom. "Move out of the way boy" the masked man spat venomously but the boy refused to move. Instead he raised a dagger and pointed it at the man. "Let princess Adrianne go" he stated. Adrianne looked up at her saviour. "Kimimaru" she gasped. Kimimaru smiled at her. "It'll be okay princess.

The masked man reached into his belt and brought out a dagger. He kicked Adrianne to the side before he charged at Kimimaru. Kimimaru froze as he felt the dagger pierce his side. Crimson spurted out of his wound and slowly spread its stain across his shirt like a disease. Kimimaru gasped for air before he slowly crumpled to the ground in a heap.

"KIMIMARU" Adrianne wailed in distress. She tried to crawl over to him but was grabbed by the man. Tears poured from her eyes as she tried to get out of his grasp. "No Kimimaru" she sobbed. She had almost given up hope when the man holding her was suddenly impaled on a sword.

Kanji stood behind the two of them. He withdrew his sword that was dripping with blood. The man fell to the floor. Dead. "Are you ok princess?" he asked concerned. "I'm fine but Kimimaru's been stabbed. He was so brave. He had no idea how to handle a weapon but he still tried to save me. It's my fault that he's-" Adrianne rambled. "It's okay, my friend Sakura is healing him". Adrianne looked over where she saw Sakura trying to stop the blood from flowing out of his wound. Kimimaru had gone deathly pale but Adrianne could see his chest rising and falling slightly.

Adrianne sighed in relief. "Thank God" she murmured as she shuffled over. She knelt down next to the servant and guard. "Is he going to be okay?" Adrianne asked as she held onto one of Kimimaru's hands. "I don't know, he's unconscious at the moment. I think he may be bleeding internally, only time will tell. Hey Kanji help me get him to the medical bay" Sakura replied. Kanji ran over and picked up Kimimaru's legs. Sakura hoisted Kimimaru up, holding him under his armpits, before the two guards slowly made their way out.

Adrianne looked around and saw that the other masked men had been defeated. They were now huddled in a group back to back, surrounded by guards. Martha, Rose, Maisie and Harry were slowly approaching the group. Looking to her left Adrianne saw Yugi, her father and a couple of guards standing near the throne. Yugi was frowning and looking down at the ground. Adrianne felt a wave of guilt wash through her at the sight. 'I'm so sorry Yugi; I let my desires get the better of me and my judgement. Never again will I ever hurt anyone ever again' she thought before she turned away.

Vicky and Kuro were still fighting. Kuro kicked Vicky in the chest sending her crashing into the pillar where she gasped out in pain. Kuro ran forwards and pinned her to the pillar, holding his sword against her neck. A small trail of blood trickled from Vicky's head and down her cheek. Kuro raised his other hand and wiped away the blood. Vicky shuddered as his hand came in contact with her cheek.

"Goodbye Vicky" Kuro whispered before he disappeared in a puff of black smoke. Vicky coughed and covered her eyes. Taking this as a cue the other four people disappeared in puffs of black smoke.

Martha ran over to where Vicky was. "Are you all right?" she asked worriedly. Vicky winced slightly as she touched her head before she flashed Martha a small smile. "I'll live, how's Yugi?" she replied. Martha sighed and looked over at Yugi. "He seems devastated, I mean look at him. He hasn't spoken to anyone and is just staring at the ground" Martha explained sadly.

Yugi stared silently at the ground. 'I can't believe all of this really happened. How could I do that to my friends! I'm just as bad as Yami and the others were, no I was worse than them. They'll never forgive me; I mean Maisie only gives people one chance. I'm sure she hates me. What am I going to do? I thought I finally found friends who make me happy but now I've gone and messed everything up'.

Yugi jumped slightly when he felt a hand place itself on his shoulder. Yugi reluctantly looked up and his amethyst eyes locked with concerned onyx eyes. Pelagius looked down at Yugi sadly. "Are you alright Yugi?"

Vicky: What the hell! Why was Kuro flirting with me

Orange:That is for me to know and you to find out ^_^

Vicky: Tell Me!

Orange: No

Vicky: *pout* please review