Chapter 16: Yami Comes to Town

Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

A/N: Good lord it's been awhile since I pulled a stint like this. It's almost 5 in the morning and I can't sleep. May as well get something productive done while I'm at it. Due to me being tired, I think that some of this chapter might be a bit jumbled in some places. I plan to go back and edit later. For now, I'm just trying to meet a deadline and keep my promise. No blood and gore this chapter, but I've got big plans in mind for the coming chapters. The comments left for previous chapters have gotten me to chance some of the plot and add some new elements into it that I hadn't considered before. Enjoy the chapter.

The place where they finally landed was still connected to the Shadows, but extended out into a long corridor beyond where they were. Solitaire immediately recognized that this was an extension of the Shadow Realm that had projected itself partly into the human realm. An artificial construct was made from this, creating a solid ground for the inhabitants to remain in without actually coming into contact with the other realm. It was the one way that realm boundaries could be crossed without actually doing any damage. So it made the transports quicker and easier on the realm boundaries.

That's not to say that the trip had been an easy one for everyone. Transporting them nearer to where Yami awaited wasn't a pleasant ride for the humans. It left each of them feeling dizzy and sick, with Jou and Mokuba both losing their lunch along with Honda. Kaiba and Anzu managed to keep their composure, but just barely. They both still looked a bit gray from the trip as they desperately tried to keep their churning stomachs under control. Several moments passed before any of them were able to either stand straight or look around them without feeling dizzy.

It was a delay that the Dark Magician did not like. This was why he hadn't wanted to bring the humans. They were causing a delay that they couldn't afford right now. He knew that it would have been better to leave them behind, regardless of their connection to the missing Hikari. Anything that he might have said never reached his lips thanks to Solitaire. A shake of the dragon's head kept the spellcaster's temper in check for the moment.

Why Solitaire would put such effort into dealing with the humans when her master was missing was beyond him. They were not creatures of consequence to a Shadow Realm inhabitant. Still, the way that she rubbed the youngest one's back as he continued to heave a few more times was significant in its own right he supposed. It was obvious that she had bonded with these beings in ways that she had never done with anyone but Yugi. That itself was saying something.

He truly hoped that bond was strong enough to withstand what was about to come. Though he could understand the logic that the female human, Anzu, had used in Solitaire's defense, there was no guarantee that Yami-sama would see things that way. More than likely, the dark spirit would have a similar reaction to his own. It would just be much worse in degree. Given the state that he was currently in, Dark Magician felt that his master might lost his temper enough that he would actually Mind Crush Solitaire. If that happened, then the dragon would surely be lost.

Let's hope that odd luck you always seem to have holds out for a bit longer, pest. Something tells me you're going to need it, Dark Magician thought.

Using his magic, he levitated Gil alongside him. The pathetic creature was still hovering on consciousness. It actually surprised Dark Magician that Gil had managed to hang onto that much. The toad-like brute had already been slashed, bitten, electrocuted, and very nearly fried from the inside out by two Monsters in a very short period. For most, that would have already sent them into unconscious bliss or death. It was a testament to how resilient creatures from the Abyss truly were when their physical bodies were put to the test.

Not that Dark Magician would ever admit to respecting such creatures or what they were capable of. From what he had seen, there was no honor among such brutes. Gil alone had proven that. Though he was stopped in time, he had attempted to kill a helpless opponent. Any creature that was capable of actions like that was not worth anyone's time. To think otherwise would just be pure folly and reason for other's to question one's sanity.

Of course he was already questioning his own when it came to the humans. He truly hoped that Solitaire knew what she was doing by insisting them come along. Her future was already uncertain with Yugi's capture. She had been the last one with Yugi before his capture and though she had tried to prevent it, she had still failed. If Yami truly did place full blame upon the dragon for that, he would not be in any way lenient towards her. Just what he would do was still uncertain as his promise to Yugi never to harm the little hikari's servant kept him from harming the dragon as he might others. Then again, given his present state of mind, Yami could well forgo that and rend Solitaire's soul on the spot as punishment. Only time would tell what would happen and that was something that they didn't have much of.

"Come. Yami-sama awaits us with the others. It is not wise to dawdle here for long," Dark Magician ordered.

"Who's dawdling? I just want the place to stop spinning," Honda groaned.

"That is your own fault. You insisted that you wished to come and this is a consequence of your rashness. Now either come or remain for the Shadows to take you when this passageway closes behind us," Dark Magician snapped.

"Switch to decaf, wand boy. We're coming," Solitaire snapped," Come on, guys, I know it's tough but just focus on the ground or on one of us. The less you pay attention to this stuff for awhile, the more it'll let you get used to it."

The only answers she received were a few nods and groans. For the time being, it was all anyone was up for. Even Honda, who had managed to find his voice for a moment, was silent again as his stomach churned anew from aggravation. So the group did as they were told. Keeping close to one another, they followed after the two Monsters that now led the way. Dark Magician took the lead with Solitaire falling in slightly behind him to keep close to the humans.

Their journey was not a long one. Something which all the humans were silently grateful for. Just walking now was almost trying for their dizzy heads and churning stomachs. Heeding Solitaire's advice had helped them some but not much. Though they kept their gazes either on the ground or one of the two Monsters, it was hard to ignore the swirling black and purple masses around them. It was even more so as wisps of the material seemed to float out at times as if to cross their path. When that happened, either Solitaire or Dark Magician would mutter something that would cause the wisps to vanish.

When they finally reached the end of the corridor, what greeted them was enough to make any of the humans look on with awe. Their final exit was a large chamber that was impossibly large, created from Shadows and barrier matter to form a large dome. Lined along the walls were various Monsters that the humans easily recognized from their Duel Monster cards. Some were quite impression to see, such as the Celtic Guardian and Panther Warrior. Others were almost comical, such as the group of Kuribohs that cooed and chirped nearby. Yet all of them compared to what sat in the middle of the chamber upon a throne made entirely out of Shadows.

Placed on a dais-like structure, upon the throne sat what could have passed for Yugi at a great distance. There was the same multicolored hair and blond lightning bolts that seemed to stick out everywhere. Elaborate robes of purple and crimson clothed the stranger while a crown sat upon his forehead. Upon closer inspection however, that was where the similarities ended. The closer they got, the humans could see that there was a vast difference between their friend and this stranger.

While Yugi was pale, this being had a deep tan. In place of gentle amethyst, there was danger crimson which regarded them with the same disgust reserved for insects. Power rolled off this individual in ways that Yugi never could have accomplished. He had an air about him that practically screamed danger and death while the hikari always had a gentle aura about him. From all that, there was no doubt in the humans' minds that this was Yugi's darkness, Yami.

"Damn. Little guy wasn't kidding when he said this guy made Kaiba look like a pansy," Honda breathed.

"Shut it," Kaiba ordered.

"Shh!" Solitaire hissed as they approached the throne.

The gathered Monsters regarded the humans with a variety of expressions. A few were curious while many clearly showed their disgust. More than one had a hungry gleam in their eye. When the group came close to such Monsters, either a snarl from Solitaire or a glare from Dark Magician warned them away. From that it was made clear that these humans were under their protection and an attack would be met with force. Why their fellows would protect such lowly creatures was beyond those present but that was their choice. If they had staked a claim on these mortals, then none would challenge it unless their Master bade so.

Kneeling before the throne and motioning for the others to do the same, Dark Magician said," I have successfully retrieved Yugi-sama's servant as you ordered, Yami-sama."

"I see, but it also appears that you have brought back more than I desired, Dark Magician. What are those doing here?" Yami demanded slowly.

His eyes darted over the humans in quick examination. Falling under that gaze, Anzu and the boys each felt like insects under a microscope. Just from his attitude they could grasp the vast differences between their friend and this being. Yugi would never speak about others like that because he would care too much. Yami on the other hand, didn't seem to give a flip one way or the other.

"They wish to help us in our quest to retrieve Yugi-sama," Dark Magician answered.

"What possible reason could lowly creatures like this have to do with my hikari?" Yami growled.

Looking upwards, Anzu quickly replied," We wanna help because Yugi's our friend. He's been staying with us since he and Solitaire got here."

Yami's gaze changed slightly as he took in this new bit of information. Knowing this, that gave these humans a new distinction in his eyes. Before, they had merely been lower creatures that his servant had brought back for some reason. Really nothing of consequence in his current mission. Now though, having heard this claim, it actually gave the humans some importance for the time being. If they had been taking care of his little one, that meant they had been keeping him safe while he was on this backwards world. For that alone Yami was willing to allow them to live.

Something was a bit off though. If these humans had been caring for his hikari, then he should have been with them. Yet there was no sign of Yugi. All that Yami could pick up was the faint traces of his little one's gentle aura as it lingered on these people. It was fresh and potent, telling him that they had been together only a short time before. Something drastic had happened in that short time that had separated the hikari from these humans.

That frightened Yami almost more than his frayed mind could take. Ever since they had arrived on this world, he had been trying to break through the mental barriers that Yugi had erected. So far those efforts had proved to be in vain. Though he might not often show it, Yugi could be just as stubborn as Yami when he wanted to be. If he didn't want the other in his mind, he would keep him out for as long as his strength held out. Only Yami forcibly breaking the mental barriers, Yugi relenting, or the hikari falling unconscious would make it otherwise.

Deep inside, Yami knew that it had to be the last possibility. The barriers he had been fighting against were no longer there. All that he felt when reaching out to Yugi was a void similar to when the hikari was asleep. The difference was that there were not even the typical mental responses and whimpers that Yugi would give when he was asleep. There was just total nothingness meeting Yami's efforts now whenever he tried to reach Yugi through their link.

"If Yugi has been in your care as you claim, then where is he? All I sensed upon entering your realm was his servant and a void where my hikari's mind should be," Yami demanded.

Solitaire gulped once while Dark Magician looked solemn. This was something that they had both been dreading from the beginning. One of them was going to have to tell Yami the truth about what had happened to Yugi. Though it was necessary to tell his master such, Dark Magician truly feared that this information would send Yami over the final edge. He knew that his master was only hanging onto his sanity right now through sheer willpower and the desire to find his lover. Otherwise, the dark spirit would have descended into madness long before.

Steeling himself for whatever was to come, Dark Magician stated, "I regret to inform you that Yugi-sama was captured shortly before I found his servant, Yami-sama. He was taken by a witch of the Abyss and her minions. Where he is now is unknown."

A deadly silence filled the chamber after he spoke. Neither Monster nor human dared to make a sound as the information was processed. Yami only sat upon his throne, crimson eyes glazed over for the briefest of seconds before rage filled them anew. Shadow magic crackled around the dark spirit, his anger fueling the power that was now building about him.

"You worthless idiot!" he snarled," Are you telling me that my hikari was taken when you were so close to him?!"

"Yes Yami-sama," Dark Magician nodded.

He kept his head bowed as he spoke. Dark Magician knew that whatever his master might say, that was not his true self. Yami was a rational creature who used his keen mind to outmaneuver and trick his opponents. Though his anger could be great, he was not a being who lost his temper easily. The only reason he acted as he did now was because of the mental and physical strain he felt from being separated from Yugi. He was beginning to react on instinct rather than rational thought. For that, though it might sound strange to some, Dark Magician did not blame his master.

"I should kill you now for that incompetence. I do not require servants who can't act when needed," Yami snarled.

For Solitaire, that was enough. Whatever his reason for saying this, she knew that Dark Magician didn't deserve this sort of treatment. They may not have liked one another, but she still respected the spellcaster. There was no one more loyal to Yami than Dark Magician was. He was the one Monster who would throw mind and soul away if it meant the survival of his master regardless of the odds. That was something which he had proven time and time in the many battles that they had fought together over the eons. From that, a strong bond of trust had developed to an unbreakable point or so it had seemed until this moment.

"Don't!" Solitaire said as she leapt to her feet.

She scrambled forward, planting herself between Dark Magician and Yami. More than one set of eyes widened at her actions. No one was quite sure what she was trying to attempt, but she certainly had everyone's attention at this point. Especially Yami, who didn't look pleased in the least to see Solitaire. Her outburst had only stunned him for a second before the outrage he had been unleashing on Dark Magician turned on the dragon instead.

"You dare speak out of turn to me, dragon?" Yami demanded.

"I will if it keeps you from doing something I know you'll regret later, Yami-sama," Solitaire challenged.

Behind her, Dark Magician remained in utter silence. He couldn't believe the risk that Solitaire was taking right now. She may not have known the full extent, but she had to know that Yami was unstable at this point. Having been around Yugi had surely given her signs that the two were falling under great stress by this point. So she was a fool to challenge Yami like this, even if it were not a direct one.

"Tread carefully, dragon, and remember to whom you speak. I gave you to Yugi as a servant, but that does not put you above anyone else who serves me," Yami warned, shadow magic radiating off him in even more dangerous amounts.

"I-I know that, but someone's gotta keep you from acting stupid since Yugi-sama isn't here to do it. He'd never forgive either of us if I let you go through with hurting Dark Magician," Solitaire said.

Yami's eyes flared dangerously at the mention of Yugi. Even now he had still been trying to reach his little one. There was still no answer, only a dark void that he couldn't cross. It was steadily agitating the yami even more than he had been before, with each attempt only making it worse. Not that Solitaire was helping either, regardless of her intentions.

"Speak of my Hikari in that way again and you may both share the same fate," Yami warned.

"Go ahead then, Yami-sama. I'm ready for whatever you throw at me because if you want to blame this on someone, then blame me. Dark Magician has nothing to do with this mess. He's only following your orders. I'm the reason Yugi-sama left the palace and came to this world. I brought him here," Solitaire insisted.

Yami regarded Solitaire for a brief moment before letting out a sharp, harsh laugh of disbelief. It was a sound that echoed through the chamber, soon to be followed by many of the other Monsters here. That was as sure a sign as any that no one believed her. Everyone still assumed that Yugi had taken himself away and only brought Solitaire with him for protection, even Dark Magician. There was no way that Solitaire's claim could possibly be true.

"How could a weakling dragon like you possibly take my little one from my own palace, let alone the Shadow Realm? You have no true power. Your electric attacks can barely take down a Beaver Warrior," Yami scoffed.

"Easy. Just like you, I can travel between worlds whenever I want," she said simply.

Silence fell over those that had gathered and with good reason. To make such a claim was surely to invite disaster upon one's self. The power to travel between realms was a rare and potent ability. It was not something to be taken lightly. For those that wielded it, extreme caution and discipline had to be enforced to ensure that the power wasn't abused. Of course, even if one did use their power carefully, the Shadow Realm law still bound anyone with the ability to the service of any yami who encountered them.

That bondage was not always pleasant. As Solitaire had once told Yugi, she had no desire to be sealed away as many with the same power had been. Few were allowed to continue functioning under their own power and usually only if they had professed total devotion to their masters. Even then they could still have their power restricted by use of an inhibiting collar, which would only allow the power to be used at the yami's discretion.

It was a fate that Solitaire had avoided for eons. She had kept that secret even after being made into Yugi's eternal servant. With a roof over her head, a steady supply of food, and at least one amiable companion, she saw no reason to worry about her power anyway. She had no desire to move about and had only admitted to the fact of having such an ability because her friend needed help. Now she was doing the same thing, even if Dark Magician wasn't exactly her friend. Still, she wasn't going to let him take the heat for something that she helped to cause.

"You're lying," Yami hissed.

"I'm not lying," Solitaire retorted," I can teleport between realms. I've always been able to do that. It's part of why I managed to evade capture for so long back when I was a thief. I teleported to somewhere else if there was no other chance of escape."

A crack was heard as the armrest of Yami's throne broke away under his tightened grip. Bits of debris fell from the spot as the dark one dug deeper into the broken area as a thick tension slowly filled the air. If he was bothered by any sort of pain, Yami gave no sign of it. Only his taunt body and darkening expression gave any indication to the storm that was about to break loose from the dragon's admission.

"Despite the Shadow Realm laws, you purposely kept this a secret from me in my own palace?" Yami demanded.

"The laws only apply if the one who possesses the ability is using them to cause harm to the Shadow Realm and the worlds surrounding it by constant teleporting. I never use my powers to hurt anyone and only teleport if I have no other chance of escape. The times I use my powers all occurred long before I came into your service and since I haven't done so in all that time, I saw no reason to reveal myself," Solitaire explained.

Her words were bold and foolish all at once, despite the ring of truth that they held. It was true that the Shadow Realm was normally applied to those that abused their power. These were ones who needed to be controlled lest they break the realm boundaries and cause realities to merge together. Such an event would be disastrous should it be allowed to come to pass. So measures had to be taken to ensure that it did not occur.

Solitaire was right in her admission that she had never used her power to hurt anyone and that she rarely if ever used said ability. So that got her off the hook to an extent but not entirely. Even if she had never used her abilities to harm anyone, the fact that Solitaire served in the palace of a yami was reason enough that she should have revealed herself. At least that was the standpoint that the majority of the other Monsters could see things from. Keeping such vital information from the dark spirits was not a wise move. They were made the keepers of the Shadow Realm for a reason.

"And what reason did you dare to use your powers for this time?" Yami demanded.

"The only reason I used it was because that was what Yugi-sama wanted and you said so yourself that I'm not allowed to disobey his orders," Solitaire replied.

"Do not toy with me, dragon. You know who holds the power here," Yami warned dangerously.

"You might have all the power, but I'm the one with the answers. Kill me and you'll never know the truth you're too blinded to see," Solitaire challenged.

This was a dangerous game that she continued to play. Solitaire knew that Yami could destroy her with a thought and that he wouldn't hesitate to do so in his present mood. He was pushed to the very ends of his sanity at this point, as she could instinctually sense now. It was almost impossible for him to recognize anything beyond the impulse to reunite with his hikari. Only sheer willpower was allowing Yami any sense of sanity. But if she was ever going to get through his thick head, that was just something that Solitaire knew that she would have to chance. So she steadied herself and prepared to tell him just what had caused Yugi to run away in the first place.

"I did what I had to do to help my friend. I'll never forgive myself for letting him get captured and if there was choice, I'd gladly give my life for his. He means too much to me for me to think otherwise," Solitaire said," But I don't regret helping him come here. If I hadn't, I know he would have lost himself for sure. It was just a matter of time."

"What are you babbling about now? There is no way that my hikari was losing himself," Yami snarled indignantly.

"Wanna bet on that one, Yami-sama? You might be Yugi-sama's soulmate, but there are things even you don't know about him," Solitaire challenged.

"And what could I possibly not know of my own hikari?" Yami snarled.

"How about the fact that he's been bleeding from the inside for a long time, probably from even before I knew him. Sometimes it's happened quickly, sometimes slowly. All that matters is that it would eventually harm him beyond repair. As his friend, I couldn't let that happen," she said.

"And the cause of this so-called bleeding?" the yami ordered.

A new uneasiness was starting to spread over Yami the more Solitaire spoke. It was not the information that she gave him, but rather the air with which she spoke. There was a confidence about Solitaire that only those with true sincerity spoke with. Such a thing was not comforting to Yami, who was still in denial about what was being said to him. As a yami, mate and protector of the hikari, he just couldn't bring himself to accept such things as truth.

"How about the fact that you and everyone else thinks that just because he's a hikari that he's not aware of what goes on around him. Being innocent doesn't make him stupid," Solitaire growled out, spinal crest rising in agitation.

A battle of wills was starting to play out now. One really seemed to have no clear winner at the moment. While Yami was powerful and nearing the point where he would do anything to get what he wanted, Solitaire was collected and argued with what she knew to be truth. Each side had their own justification for standing up to the other, even if no one else understood that right now. Still that challenge helped Yami to focus at the moment, as his gradually straining mind sought some kind of foothold without Yugi there.

"Impossible," Yami protested angrily," There is no way that Yugi would hide something like from me. We are soulmates, bound heart and soul. There is nothing that I don't know about him."

"If you knew everything about him, then why were these humans able to reach him in a way even you couldn't?" Solitaire demanded.

"Rubbish and lies. What could these humans do for my hikari that I possibly can't?" Yami demanded.

"They listened to what Yugi-sama had to say instead of just telling him to be a good boy and do as he was told. That's what you did when you told Yugi that he couldn't come with you jerks back in the Meeting Hall. I don't know exactly what you said, but it was clear that you just brushed him. Even if you cared about him, that sort of behavior is inexcusable," Solitaire growled.

She started pacing, her agitation steadily growing as surely as Yami's had. This was something that she had been stewing on for awhile, just as Yugi had. She never told her master as much, but it was true. Solitaire hated that Yami just didn't get the problem right in front of him. Could someone really be so blind to the truth that he couldn't see the damage that was being done right before his very eyes? Why couldn't Yami see that he was causing more harm to his light than any other possible could, simply for not understanding what the hikari needed most?

"That day in the Meeting Hall, whatever you said really hurt him. He felt like you would never see him as anything more than a helpless lover that you had to protect," Solitaire snarled as she turned her gaze back at Yami," I knew that would just keep eating at him until it either tainted him or caused you both to go insane, so I talked him into leaving the palace. That way, if he was away from what was holding him back, then he might actually have a chance of getting it through your thick head that he is more than just your lover. He's your equal. After so long, you should know that but you don't. You're just too wrapped up in protecting him that you never let him become anything more than a sheltered child."

There was a firmness in Solitaire's voice that brooked no argument even from Yami. She was serious about this, perhaps more so than anything else than she had ever been in her life. This was something that she knew that Yami had to understand for both his own sake and Yugi's. If she wasn't able to make the problem clear to him, then everything from leaving the palace to Yugi's capture would have been for nothing. Yamis lack of understanding would only continue the downward spiral that they were all already on until there was nothing left and he finally descended into madness. When that happened, he would end up taking everyone down with him.

As she spoke, Solitaire's words began to sink for the other Monsters. Like her, they had been around Yugi for countless millennia. They served and protected him not only because of the fealty that they had sworn to his lover, but also to ensure that no harm befell the Hikari. For any Monster that dwelt within the Shadow Realm, those born of the light were most precious. From them, there was a warmth and compassion that would otherwise not be found in their world.

That was a warmth that Yugi had readily shared with anyone who came into contact with him. He had never been cruel to anyone of them. When someone in the palace was hurt, if Yugi were nearby, he would help to heal them with his magic. If some of the younglings were playing or got lost, Yugi would be their playmate and guide. He always had a ready smile for any of them. For that gentle spirit, any of the Monsters present would have gladly given their lives just as they would for their master, Yami.

Now though, as the conviction of Solitaire's words began to affect them in full force, they were beginning to understand that there was more to Yugi than they had known. It was true that he was gentle and kind, but that was not all there was to him. There was more beneath the surface that none of them had seen. So intent had they been on keeping Yugi safe both on Yami's orders and of their own free wills, that they had not seen what was going on before them. They had ignored the signs just as surely as the dark spirit had.

Though it was in no way intentional, harm had been done. Now, they were dealing with the consequences of those actions. The question that remained now would be if there was still time to correct what had been done. Where Yugi had been taken was still a mystery that they hadn't solved yet. Without that information, they only had Yami's senses to lead them and that wasn't able to give them an exact location.

Yami himself had actually been stunned into silence by Solitaire's accusations. Her words, no matter how much he might try to deny them, had a truth to them that he could no longer ignore. Yugi was the most precious thing in his life and not simply because they were bonded. No, Yami loved Yugi more than anything else. He would have gladly given up his own territory, his powers, anything, if it meant that he would be able to stay by the other's side. So, like any yami, he did what he thought was best to protect his little one from harm.

He had done that by keeping Yugi under strict guard in the palace. Everything ro anything that Yugi might ever need was provided for him. Never once had he lacked for anything should he desire it from Yami. Powerful spells and traps had bee placed around their personal chambers to prevent any intruders who actually made it into the palace from reaching the hikari. If that failed, then as a last resort, Yami was capable of doing what Bakura had done and pulled Yugi into the confines of the Millennium Puzzle that he possessed for safety.

These things Yami had done to ensure that Yugi remained safe and happy at all times. He never wanted Yugi to worry about the affairs of the Shadow Realm. That was Yami's problem. Yugi's time was better spent playing games, sitting in the garden with his flowers, or solving puzzles. That had been the mindset that Yami existed with for so long and one he had felt Yugi felt content with. Now with all that had happened, he was beginning to question what he had thought was true all this time and what he had taken for granted.

"I never desired to harm Yugi," Yami said slowly," He is my light. Without him, I have nothing. I only what was best for him so that he never felt fear or pain. A Hikari is not meant to experience such things."

Solitaire stopped in her pacing as Yami spoke. Now it was her turn to be surprised by him. For a time, she had been lost in her words. She had not yet noticed the effect of what she had said. It appeared though, that just maybe she was getting through to Yami after all.

"You're full of it, you know that?" Kaiba snorted.

"What?" Yami demanded.

By now, Kaiba was on his feet. He had never been one to kneel before anyone. His pride was just too much for that. This time he had only followed the others' example simply because he had been in a state of shock at seeing all the Monsters. Otherwise, he never would have kneeled before some arrogant twit like Yami.

"No matter how much you love someone, you can't stop life from happening. They have to be out there taking their lumps or else it makes them weak. Why do you think I let this mutt handle his own fights most of the time?" Kaiba snapped, jerking a thumb at Jou.

"Watch it, moneybags," Jou warned.

"We're not hikari and yami like you and the twerp, but Jou and I are lovers. I could try keeping him hidden away from everything like you did with Yugi. It would certainly make life a whole lot easier if I could keep him on a leash. I wouldn't have to worry about him wandering off so much. At the same time though, I know it wouldn't work. The more you try to hold someone back, the more it's gonna make them fight the bonds holding them," Kaiba continued.

"Did that just come out of Kaiba's mouth?" Honda gasped.

"I think it did," Anzu nodded.

"So do what the dragon says and get off your ass. Fix this mess while you still have a chance instead of just ranting on like the idiot that you are," Kaiba smirked.

Yami regarded Kaiba for a moment in a way that he hadn't done with any of the others. There was a gleam in his eyes that was normally reserved for other yamis. Whether that was a good sign or not was uncertain by that point. Whenever Yami had that look in his eye, it could either mean he was ready to battle the other dark spirit or have a debate. Given that Kaiba was human and verbally sparring with an almost deranged yami, there was no telling how this might go.

"It's unfortunate that you were born human. You would have made an excellent yami with that attitude. Of course, if you were, I would battle you for speaking to me in that way," Yami said.

For the moment, thankfully, the verbal battles were helping Yami to some degree. It gave his mind something more to focus on besides seeking out his other half. Though it was important that they find Yugi, keeping Yami stable was crucial as well. The longer they kept that up, the more time they would be able to buy for everyone until the Hikari was found.

"Now that you've made your point, where has Yugi been taken, dragon?" Yami said as he cast his gaze back upon Solitaire.

An almost devious smirk on her muzzle, Solitaire said," I don't know where that witch took Yugi-sama, but Gil there does. That thing Dark Magician brought with us works for Miaka, the witch who took Yugi. He's her right hand toad."

Deadly crimson locked onto the semi-conscious Gil the moment Solitaire spoke. A rage filled them that compared with nothing that any present had ever known. It promised a fate worse than death and an enduring pain that would last even beyond that point. Not the most pleasant of fates one could be promised and one that Yami would readily dole out should he see fit to. The Shadows and those that wielded them were not something to be toyed with lightly. Especially when something that they considered precious and dear was harmed in some way.

"He knows where my aibou can be found?" Yami asked slowly.

"Yes Yami-sama. I tried to get the information from him, but he refused. That is why we brought him to you to extract what we need to find Yugi-sama," Dark Magician said.

The Eye of Horus, symbol of Yami's mental powers, began to form on the dark spirit's forehead as he rose to his feet. He slowly descended from his throne, the glow steadily growing brighter. Within seconds, it was an almost blinding light that the humans all shied away from. The intense power that now radiated from Yami was unlike anything that they had ever felt before. By mere instinct, they knew that this was a power neither of their world nor to be trifled with.

Knowing what was to come, Dark Magician cast a barrier spell around the humans. It would block out all sight and sound until this was over with. His actions were partly out of concern for the humans but also to keep them from interfering. Yami had started a Shadow Game, his mind already linking with Gil's to set things in motion. The outcome was already assured but that make it any less unpleasant. For the humans, the sight was sure to drive them insane should they witness it.

In both mind and body, Gil soon felt the full extent of the rage that was boiling inside of Yami. Within seconds of the game's finish, the dark one forcefully ripped into his mind to find the information that he wanted. He screamed in agony, unable to withstand the power that was now flowing through him. It was an insane keening that caused all the humans present to cover their ears in a vain attempt to block out the sound.

The Monsters were a different story. They merely watched the scene as impassively as a summer's day. For them, this was natural to see. It was one of the base powers of the dark spirits that they served and something that happened on occasion in their world. Neither felt remorse over the matter either nor did they spare Gil a passing moment of sympathy. This was a fate that they knew he had brought upon himself for daring to help bring harm to a hikari, the very epitome of light and goodness.

Yami continued long after he had pulled what he needed from Gil. He toyed with the witch's minion for a bit, totally shredding his mind and soul beyond recognition. There was no doubt that the dark spirit would send this one down to the darkest depths of the Shadow Realm. It was only fitting for him and once he was satisfied with what he had learned, Yami flicked his wrist once. The now empty shell that had once been Gil, loyal servant of Miaka, was totally obliterated by the Shadows which had already consumed his soul.

A/N: And here we get to see a slightly psycho Yami. I probably should've let him go a bit more berserk, but I do need the other characters alive for the time being. It wouldn't look very nice if I let them get this far only to be taken out just before the big fight happens. That will be happening in the next two chapters, which will be posted shortly after the New Year. I hate to keep everyone in further suspense, but I want to make this worth the read. It's also why I made this an extra long chapter to make up for the wait that will come. Hope this holds everyone over until late January.