Damn it, and I don't dare use my magic with the state my seals are in. Melhana thought. But since there's no other choice... She tapped into ther power, igniting her crimson aura and filling the room with the scent of dragon's blood incense.

***

Yugi stood staring at the spot Marcia and Yusei had dissapeared to for a moment longer, but was jerked out of his thoughts by the corpse puppet.

"As you wish," It said, drawing its card. Once again, a bright green needle pinned another one of its cards to the ground. Scowling, it took a look at its card, the puppet's face broke into a grin. "I play the Spell card, 7 Completed!" It said. "Now I can increase either the attack or defense of my Slot Machine by 700 points, and I think I'll choose attack."

It laughed evilly. "Now, I'll destroy your Silent Swordsman! Say goodbye!"

"Wrong!" Yugi replied. "Activate Spell: Time Warp!" Right before the attack hit, an aura eveloped the Silent Swordsman, the dissipated with the monster. "It transports one of my monsters into the future; three turns to be exact. And when he comes back, my Silent Swordsman's going to be level 3. Too bad for you."

"That doesn't mean I can't attack that last one." The puppet replied. "Piston, attack his face-down monster!"

The attack went through, but Yugi was grinning. "What's so funny?" The puppet demanded.

"You activated that monster's effect." Yugi replied. "It was a creature called Ghost. You see, when Ghost is attacked, it doesn't go to the graveyard. It stays on the field and grants me control of whatever monster that attacked it. Meaning your Piston is now under my control."

The pupped scowled. "I'll play a face-down and end my turn."

"Wait Melhana, it's not worth it. I know what happened and if I'm correct, to get your friend Atem back, you have to defeat the one who done the deed" Madam Butterfly aid and stood in front of her.
"You ready to duel Thief Bakura?" she asked, getting her duel disk ready.
"It said that Madam Butterfly frees anyone who is in trouble and when worth it, she will risk her life to bring them back" Marcia explained.
"Fine" snarled the theif.

---

Master, please put me on the feild Mahad pleaded, hoping Yugi can hear him.
((I rather not do the duel since there is one going on in the moment...and don't worry. I'm not spoiling your plans))

((That's okay. I'm starting up a quest/chat thread on Gaia.))

Yugi drew. He looked down at his hand, noticing that one of his cards was glowing slightly; the Dark Magician. It was trying to tell him something, that much he knew.

I don't know what you're trying to tell me, but I guess we'll find out. Yugi thought. "I sacrifice my Ghost and Piston to summon the Dark Magician in attack mode!" Yugi announced.

'Figured you'd summon that!' Selena linked. Yugi grinned.

"I activate my trap," the puppet said, it's own body dissapating. "Duality. Now that you've summoned a monster ofyour own, I can chose a monster from my deck with the same number of level stars or less and special summon it to the field. And I chose Machine King! And since I already have one machine-type monster on the field, he gets a 100-point power boost."

So that leaves him with a 2300 attack monster and a 2700 attack monster. Yugi thought. He scanned his hand, looking for somthing to bost Dark Magician's attack power. He spotted it.

"I'll equip Dark Magician with the Book of Secret Arts." Yugi said, sliding another card into the slot. "It brings his attack power up to 2800. And I'll go ahead and attack your Slot Machine!"

Mahad lunged for an attack.
"BLACK MAGIC!" he cried and successfully destroied Slot Machine. He knew that the puppet was planning this and he wanted to take a risk.

---

"And I win. Now, give Atem back now" Madam Butterfly demanded.
"I have no idea who you are but I'll be back" and with that Theif Bakura turned and left but....
"You're not going anywhere." Akatenchi gripped his arm, "You're my prisoner untill we get some answers out of you."
I Just hope it's not another..... Madam Butterfly started to think but....
"I'm not a wondering spirit. I'm part of Ashleigh. I'm one of those create from the heart kind" Aka said.

((Want to know what I'm planning for Atem or suprise you?))

The attack went through successfully, but something struck Yugi as odd. The puppet wasn't retaliating. "I play two cards face-down and end my turn." He said.

***

Melhana stepped up to face Theif Bakura. She was nearly two inches taller than him. "Now, what did you do with my ancestor?" She asked. She let her aura stain her irises crimson. The stance she was in had her arms crossed in front of her chest, quite reminiscent of Atem. Even more so with the black hair cascading down her back and gold fringe in her eyes.

((Mind you, Melhana's about 6 feet tall.))

((surprise me))
"Why should I tell you? You don't haev the rights to be Atemu's decendant....ow!" Akatenchi twisted Theif Bakura's arm hard.
"Take that back now" she said.

---

"Master, why didn't he respond? Mahad asked Yugi. He was as confused as his master.

Melhana got in the theif's face. "Say that again and I'll burn you to a crisp, starting with your balls." She said quietly, summoning an orb of crimson fire in her hand. "Now answer the question nicely this time; What did you do with Atem?"

***

At first, Yugi was shocked by hearing a man's voice. 'You must be Mahado.' He replied. 'As for why he--I think it's still a he--isn't reacting, I've got no idea and it's creeping me out.'

The puppet drew, and grinned. "Hehehe! Say goodbye! You may get your Silent Swordsman back this turn, but I'll still defeat you!" It cackled. "I play the spell Bypass and I'll equip my Machine King with another 7 Completed, raising his attack to 2900! And, thanks to the spell Bypass, I can attack you directly! Machine King, annihilate him!"

Yugi had moments to retaliate. "I activate the trap card, Nutrient Z!" He said, flipping the trap face-up. His arm was in agony as his shoulder was devoured by the shadows. His life points went up by 4000, only to be cut back down by the oncoming attack.

'YUGI!' Selena shouted as the attack hit. It barely registered. Apart from feeling more of his body--and life--taken by the shadows, a searing pain lanced through his chest and torso. He fell back as bright red blood spewed from the wound rent by the corpse puppet's attack.

"MASTER!!!!!" Mahad cried. He couldn't believe what is happening to his master.

---

"You were there when he was sacrificed? Well, once sacrificed, you can't get that person back" and with that, the prince of darkness laughed, followed with a painful groan as Aka twisted his arm even more.

Silently, Melhana lowered the small ball of crimson mage's fire to Theif Bakura's crotch. She just barely let the flame touch, but that was enough to make it feel like his balls were on fire. "Now are you going to stop fucking with us?" She asked coldly.

***

'Yugi! YUGI! Wake up!' Selena screamed. Even as she watched, blood poured from the wound onto the ground. 'Damn it, Yugi! Wake the fuck up!'

Silence, and then, 'Qu-quit shouting, I'm concious. I don't need you knocking me out.' Yugi replied weakly. 'Damn it, it feels like he cut me in two.'

'He nearly did,' Selena replied. She watched as Yugi slowly picked himself off the ground, still bleeding. 'You okay?'

'Hell no.' Yugi replied. 'If I was okay I wouldn't be feeling like my torso was falling off.'

The puppet smiled. "Good to see you're still standing, though not by much." it said, clearly noticing how much Yugi was swaying. "Well, I can fix that easy enough; I activate the spell card Rewind. Now I get to do my battle phase over again! Machine King, direct attack!"

Yugi couldn't do anything; his field was empty, save for a two face-downs, and he didn't activate either one. Selena could only watch in horror as Machine King shot by Yugi's Dark Magician and Silent Swordsman to deliver another wound to Yugi. Another wound like that one and he won't survive! Selena thought.

Apparently, Yugi was thinking the same thing. Selena saw him mutter a spell, hardening his emerald aura into a sheild. While it blocked physical harm, there was nothing he could do about the damage to his life points. The only thing left was to watch as the shadows took more of his body as a consequence. Even after the sheild dissapated, the soft scent of pine lingered on the air.

"I end my turn." The puppet replied.

Thank goodness but I don't know how Master Yugi will keep at it. It was like before. Loose lp, a peice of your body will be sent to the shadows Mahad thought.

---

"I'm not messing around with you. I'm telling to the truth" The theif replied.
"He is. There is no way you can bring back a sacfriced body. But what I want to know is how the old enemies you have faced has returned here" Madam Butterfly said.

Melhana released the flame. "Akatenchi, let go of him." She said darkly.

***

It was all Yugi could do to keep from falling over. His Silent Swordsman went up another level, and gained another 500 attack points. It still wasn't enough to take out Machine King. I...I need some kind of spell to beat him. Yugi thought, ignoring the agony in his chest and torso as he drew his card. He smiled. Just what I needed.

"I equip the Spell card Mage Power to my Dark Magician," Yugi said, sliding the card into another slot. "It's effect raises his attack and defense power by 500 points for every spell and trap on my side of the field. Since there's four, that's a 2000-point boost. More than enough to take out your Machine King.

"Dark Magician, take out his Machine King! Silent Swordsman, attack him directly!" Yugi announced. It was a one-turn-kill; and it seemed that all he had left in him was one turn--his sight was starting to blur and he felt dizzy. There was no doubt he was about to pass out. He forced himself to stay on his feet.

Aka let the theif go.
"You're lucky I didn't use my Lighting Strike Blast on you. You let off control of the girl and you better vamouse or else!" she growled.
"You can have the girl for now but mark my words, she's one of my prawns now" he laughed and disappeared.
"Not really you Baka! When I'm around, what spell you cast on her is broken" Aka yelled just before he disappeared.
************
Mahad and Silent Swordsman successfully attacked the puppet. And by the looks of things, things were in their favor....for now. He was certain that this is what the puppet needed to succeed but not by his wat....I mean staff.

Yugi watched as the corps puppet's life points hit zero. He'd won. The puppet had lost. The shadows were taking its body, but not before it got one last word out.

"You've won this time, but don't let that fool you!" it cackled as its body disintigrated. "The fun's just beginning! Just wait: the rest of us will watch as you lose your sanity, then your life!" The puppet's body finally dissapeared, but the cackling laugh lingered.

"What do you mean, 'the fun's just beginning'? Answer me!" Yugi shouted as the shadows dissapated, he made to take a step, but he froze, his head spinning. The only thing keeping his ka in corporeal form was his life force, and he was getting weaker by the second. Now that the shadows had returned the rest of his body to him, the pain and fatigue were hitting him full on. The Silent Swordsman dissapated in emerald smoke as Yugi started to topple.

***

Yugi was falling. His front was soaked in blood, and his eyes were vacant. He'd finally passed out.

'Yugi!' Selena shouted with her mind, dashing forward. Simultaneously, she reached out to Mahado's conciousness.

'You know Atem, right?' She linked. With Yugi unconcious, she didn't know whether or not the older mage would return to his human form or if he'd dissapate as well. She had to try and contact him while they still had the chance.

***

"Damn!" Melhana burst out. "And right when I was gonna blast him into orbit, too."

Mahad retuned to his normal form.
"I don't know much healing spells but there is one I reserved" she said and kneeled beside Yugi, hoping that the spell will work.
"In this final hour, please restore my Master's power" he chanted a few times. He sighed with relief when Yugi gasped for air.
I hope it worked he thought.

---

"Same here but I think Ashleigh needs some rest. Get ready to catch." Ashleigh took over and begun to sway side to side. Following from that, she began to fall.

Melhana caught her. I hope we can find out a way to get Atem back. She thought, then it hit her;

If Yugi and Atem were partners before, then wouldn't it make sense for them to be partners again? Melhana turned to Ashleigh. The girl was out. I'll need to ask her when she wakes up.

***

Selena reached Yugi and Mahado as Yugi gasped for breath, then coughed a bood. A lot of it. Damn it, he needs a hospital. Selena thought, then regretted it. No, not a hospital. They'd ask too many questions and the police would get involved for sure. But, I'm not sure if I should call... I don't have a choice though. She took out her phone and brought up the text screen. She typed in a numberfor the "To" box, then proceeded to the message. After a few seconds of typing, she hit send.

'How good are you with a motorcycle?' She mindlinked to the mage.

Let me put it this way. Do you have a horse I can ride? Mahad replied.

---

After a while, Ashleigh woke up back in bed. She couldn't remember what happened or what she said.
Where am I? she thought. She turned to Melhana who was looking out the window.
I better not say anything she thought.

Melhana looked to Ashleigh. "Welcome back to the world of the living." She said. "And before you ask, you're in the medical division of the Omega Federation."

***

If Selena could speak, she would've groaned. As it was, she ran her hands through her long, bleached-white hair. 'You really are ancient.' She linked.

Damn it! I don't have the room on my bike to get them both to Omega, nor do I have the time to give Mahado a crash course in motorcycle riding. She thought to herself. Turning her attention back to Mahado she asked, 'And I presume you don't know how to drive a car either?'

"Exactly. I don't know how to drive. You go to Omega. I meet you there. I can teleport you know" Mahad said then teleported to Ashleigh's room, just when Melhana said Federation.
"Say what?" Ashliegh replied.
"It's hard to explain" Mahad said and turned to Melhana.
"Can I ask you a favor?" he asked.

Selena blinked as Mahado left. How'd he know I was heading to Omega? She thought, then heard Yugi cough again. Once again, blood came out. Damn, can't worry about that now. I gotta get him to the med division ASAP. Selena pulled her jacket off and wrapped it around Yugi's wound. It wasn't perfect, but it was all she could do at the moment to stop the bleeding.

Pulling Yugi up by the arm, she got him over to her motorcycle and on the seat. Swinging her leg over to the other side, she made sure he was secure before she fired up the engine again. I'll have to make sure someone comes to get their duel runnners, Selena thought. It's times like this I'm grateful I've got clothes in my room at the Omega Federation. And that my face can't b seen through this helmet.

***

Melhana looked to Mahado. "What's the favor?"

(Hehe, Selena's gonna give Mahado driving lessons. Her poor Porsche!)

((Darn it!!! I wanted Melhana to teach Mahad!!!))
"I need to be upto date with the moden world. Can you please teach me how to drive?" Mahad asked.
"I don't think she wants to" Ashleigh said, her words cold as ice.
It MUST be the curse! Mahad thought.
"Mel, the curse that was put on you. A bit of it is now in Ashleigh" Mahad exclamed.

Melhana rumpled her bangs. "Well, isn't that nice." Then she perked up at his request. "You want to learn how to drive? Well, the only vehicles I've got here in Japan are my motorcycles. I could teach you how to ride one of them." She gave him a quizzical look. "What's prompted this sudden interest in driving?"

I really hope this doesn't turn into another fiasco like teaching Atem the basiscs of using a computer, She thought, remembering the three-ring-circus that ensured when he crashed Anzu's laptop.

"Uh oh. Are you sure you want to do that? Remember what happened when you tried to teach Atem to use a proper Laptop? He crashed it 10 times!!! More than enough for Yugi not letting Atem use his Laptop" said a voice so familiar. Ashleigh turned around. The woman in the doorway Wore earings and American Style clothing....starting with a boobtube top, and a skirt. She also wore a pink armband. On her right leg was a strap Deck Cover. She wore purple ankle boots. The rebersemblance of teenage years was similar but she has straighened and grew out her hair to just below her back.
"Anzu...." Ashleigh said silently.

"Anzu! Where's you come from?" Melhana asked happily. "Done with dance training in New York I see? How'd it go?" Melhana smiled as she remembered the cursed day. "As if anyone could forget your rage at him."

"Yes I have finished my dance training" she replied, entering the room and stood next to Melhana.
"Hey! The chocker. Is that similar to Madam Butterfly?" Ashleigh asked.
"Oh yeah," Anzu put her hand over her chocker. "Madam Butterfly gave this to me" she replied. Then they heard voices. A spatter of blood entered the room and landed on the floor.
"How long has he been like this?"
"Not after the duel ended."
"First Ashleigh, then Yusei and now this?"
"Third person this week" Mahad sighed.

Melhana froze. Her eyes widened when she saw who was being rushed past on the gurney.

"Y-Yugi?" She whispered.

***

Selena was in her quarters at Omega. She made sure the windows were tinted down. Once she was sure anyone outside would only see black, she opened her closet and peered in. I don't like having to use my "speaking" ability twice in one day, but this is the only way I can think of to keep people from being suspicious. She closed her eyes as she pulled off her turtleneck top. I'm sorry, guys, but I'll tell you one day. One day, you'll know that Selena Kuro and Kamikaze Sakura are the same person. She opened her eyes, returning to the closet to pick out her outfit.

She pulled out a crimson top, black trousers that were laced up the sides, heavy gothic boots, and pair of sleek black sunglasses. As she alwasy loved, she was playing the part of vampiric duelist. She let her hair down, the platinum sheet falling down past her hips. Once she was changed, Selena headed out to track down the others.

As she walked down the hallway, she was passed by a pair of orderlies. They were wheeling a gurney down the hall at top speed, prompting her to get out of the way. A pang wen through her; it was Yugi. Hearing voices coming from a room, she proceeded to it, finding Melhana, Mahado, Ashleigh, and Anzu there. "Long time no see, Anzu Mazaki-chan." She 'said'.

((here's what Selena's wardrobe is: http://fanchaos.com/fanplusfriend/c1...TP00078_01.jpg (top)
http://plussizegothic.net/wp-content...tsplussize.jpg (trousers)
http://images.bizrate.com/resize?sq=500&uid=894265514 (boots)
Needless to say, she wears some badass clothes as Kamikaze Sakura.))