"Ashleigh's not eating. She hasen't eaten since breakfast yesterday" Aka said.

---

"You think?" Atem asked, setting up a sheild.

"That's not good," Selena said. "Let me have a look at her."

---

Kaiba only smirked. He closed his eyes and centered himself, knowing exactly which memory to use to get himnself riled up. He relived when Kaimiri killed Mokuba in his mind, which made his aura flare with anger.

"Sure, go ahead" Aka replied.

---

"That's good, now channel that into magic" Atem yelled, making the shield around him stronger.

Selena nodded and headed for the mess hall. "I take it she's in the mess?" She asked as she did so.

---

And how do I do that? Kaiba thought. Easier said than done....

Aka walked beside her.
"Yes, she is there. And no, there wasn't another argument" she said.

---

"It's like before with normal magic" Atem said as if Kaiba as spoken his thoughts, "if you been practicing like I asked, it would be easier for you to do."

"That's good, at least." Selena said as they reached the lift. She punched the up button.

---

Kaiba gave a small nod and called on his power, and let his anger guide him. His aura brightened and crackled with the surge of power. Without even looking at the targets, he threw his arm out to the side. Almost instantly, the targets that had been on that side of the room shattered. The only things left where the targets had been was a fine gold mist.

"Perfect! You are a fast learner! I think you deserve this" Atem said, letting the shield go down and walking toward the man. He handed over a staff. It was carved out of Sandwood with orange jewels placed in the wood. An orange gem was on top, enbrodered with gold around the bottom of the gem.

---

"Yeah, but I haven't seen Yugi this morning either" Aka replied.

Kaiba took the staff. "What's that supposed to mean?" He asked.

---

"Neither have I." Selena said. The two stepped into the elevator when it arrived, and Selena keyed in the floor for the mess hall. "It isn't sitting well with me."

"I mean you earnt it fair and square. You suppose not to have it untill your training is complete. And it comes with your next and final part your training" Atem said.

---

"Something's up with those two" Aka said as the door opened.

Kaiba's brow furrowed. "What does that mean?" He asked.

---

Selena nodded in agreement as they stepped out on the floor. "In fact, I haven't even seen Yugi since last night." She said. She reached around to the back of her neck and touched the little pad at the back to turn off her implant. Something's off. She thought. Ashleigh's not eating, and Yugi's been hiding from the entire gang. It's enough to make my eye tingle.

---

Sora looked up as the door opened behind her and Aoi. "Kenzan!" She said. "You got the map?"

Kenzan nodded. "Right here." He said. "Geez...does Max ever leave her office."

"I doubt it." Aoi said. "Come on, we're behind schedule. Who knows what they've done to Judai since last night."

Just them Marcia burst through the door.
"Guys, bad news" she said.

---

Atem clicked his fingers as his mage staff appeared, then automaticly, blasted Kaiba to the back wall for the unteenth time.
"If you were smart enough, you would've keeps your shield up" he said.

---

"So,you going to talk to her?" Aka asked.

"What is it?" Sora asked.

---

Kaiba groaned as he got up from the ground. Again. "Ow....do you enjoy blasting me into the wall or something?"

---

Selena released the button to turn her implant back on. "Yeah," she replied. It felt weird to speak without moving her mouth. "If I can't talk any sense into her, maybe I can at least get her to stop pushing everyone away."

"Yugi's missing" Marcia said.

---

"No, but it's important to defend off attacks when they come out of nowhere" Atem replied, "which you are failing."

---

"Well, good luck with that" Aka replied.

"What?!" All three asked in unison.

"That's it, we've got to get going. Now." Aoi said. She gripped her sword. "Marcia, can you get us to Kaimiri's stronghold?"

---

"Can it." Kaiba growled. He raised a shield and sent an attack of his own at Atem.

---

"I'm going to need it," Selena replied.

"Hang on! We don't know if Kaimiri has Yugi so stop jumping into conclusions! You were just like my friend Raynia at Duel Academy" Marcia exclamed.

---

Atem stopped the attack and threw it to the side.
"And be able to do that" he said.

---

"You think?" Aka asked.

"All the same, we still need to get Judai back." Aoi said. "My Tauk has been trying to tell me something. It has to do with Judai....." She trailed off.

"And?" Sora asked in concern.

Aoi took a deep breath. "I'm not sure, but late last night it gave me a vision. Whatever they're doing to Judai....." She shook her head to gather her thoughts. "I saw him with a sword through his heart in that vision. That's why I say we've got to go now."

---

"You've made your point already." Kaiba grouched.

---

Selena nodded. She didn't respond, because she'd done something somewhat similar before.

It had been the day she attempted suicide.

---

Judai bit his lower lip as the kife in his shoulder twisted painfully. Warm blood was running down from the wound and staining the shoulder of his jacket.

"I thought you'd have cracked by now." Kaimiri said as he watched.

"Kaimiri, if you were smart enough, we would've had Yugi earlier" Dark Ashleigh said, dragging Yugi by the cuff, "It was simple to check the underground HQ first before asking questions."

---

"That's not good. Meet me in my quarters asap" Marica said.

---

"If I made my point, why aren't you putting it into practice?" Atem asked.

---

"And on top of that, she wants to go there tomorrow! I tried talking her out of it" Aka said, "and that's total suicide!"

Judai's eyes widened. "...Yugi...?" He whispered.

"Yes, we finally have Yugi." Kaimiri said. "This would have been much easier if you'd have cooperated you know."

Judai shook his head in disbelief. "No...." he whispered hoarsly. The pain in his shoulder was bordering on blinding. "Are you going to kill me now?"

Kaimiri chuckled and shook his head. "No, I'm not." He said. "I know how little you value your life by now. After all, you are the reason your friends are dead." he pulled a deadly-looking curved knife out of his belt and stepped up to Judai. "That is why I won't kill you." He dragged the blade gently accross Judai's chest, but it felt like white-hot fire being applied to his skin.

Through the tears of pain, he could see Kaimiri smiling at his screams.

---

"Right," Sora and Aoi said. Suddenly, Sora's hand flew to her chest.

"Sora, what's happened?" Aoi asked. Concern was in her eyes. "Is it your heart?"

Sora shook her head. "No. Whatever's being done to Judai....it's painful." She replied quietly. "It's not meant to kill him, but the pain its causing......"

---

"Hmph." Kaiba looked away and didn't bother answering.

---

"What?!" Selena asked. "You're right; she's gone completely crazy."

"So, what do you want me to with him?" Dark Ashleigh asked.

---

"Screw this, lets go" Marcia said.

---

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way" Atem growled.

---

"And we haven't gone over what to do yet" Aka exclamed, "I'm really worried."

Kaimiri let the dagger hang at his side. The cut accross Judai's chest was shallow, but it was bleeding and looked much deeper from the redness at either side. "I have a few things I want to ask him." He replied. He motioned with his chin to one wall. "Chain him up there by the wrists. And use the anti-mage shackles."

"You," he said, motioning to one of the guards. He pointed to the semi-concious Judai. "Take this one to his cell." The guards nodded curtly and did as obeyed.

---

"Right." Aoi said. "Get ready you guys."

---

"What's the difference?" Kaiba asked. "Either way I've got a feeling that I'll wind up with more than one broken bone."

---

"Calm down, Aka." Selena said as they reached the mess. "I'll talk some sense into her. Even though I can't talk her out of it, I can get her to wait for a bit."

"Ok. This is going to be fun" Dark Ashleigh said, dragging Yugi away to the cells.

---

Marica opened a portal, then scanned the map.
"Don't bother bringing the map" she said.

---

"Hey, look at the ring" Aka pointed out, showing the main reason why Ashleigh wanted to go early. The ring was glowing red like fire.

"No, leave Yugi here." Kaimiri said. "Use those mancles on the wall there. I have some questions I want to ask him."

---

The guards threw Judai in the cell, and one followed to chain the young man's wrists to the wall with the manacles. As usual, he didn't give up a fight.

"I don't see why he has to be guarded." The burlier of the two asked as he locked the cell behind him. He looked to Judai, his head hanging and his eyes vacant.

---

Sora nodded. "All right," she said. Kuriboh 'kuri'ed nex to her. "We'll get Judai back, little guy." She said softly to the ball of fluff.

---

"I know." Selena replied. "My dogtags have been hot since early."

Dark Ashleigh did was was asked.
"There. He looks like a trophy on the wall here" she said, the senced something.
"Looks like there's a search party coming."

---

"Well, come on then!" Marcia said, "It's not opened for long."

---

"That's because of Judai, not Yugi" Aka said and headed over to Ashleigh.
"Go away" the girl said.

((No probs.))

"Right," Sora said. She, Aoi, and Kenzan all stepped through the portal, with Marcia following.

"Right," Aoi said to the laberynth of tunnels they had come into. "Where do we go now?"

---

"I noticed that as well," Kaimiri said. "They won't get far. I guarentee you that."

---

"Not happening." Selena replied. "I know I can't talk you out of going in there on your own, but I don't want you to go right now. Not today at least."