DISCLAIMER: If you recognise it from somewhere else, it isn't mine.

The Mysterious Duellist Part I

Téa ran towards the Kami Game Shop. She could see Mr. Moto out the front, sweeping but there was no sign of Yugi. Dang, they were going to be late! She slowed to a stop as she got to the man who had, at some point, become like a grandfather to all of them, not just Yugi.

'Good morning, Mr. Moto.'

Mr. Moto turned to her and smiled. 'Ah, Téa. Good morning. Yugi's upstairs, getting ready. I'll call him for you. Would you like something to drink?'

Tempting but… 'Uh, no thanks. We're already late.'

Mr. Moto nodded and called out. 'Yugi, Tea's here!'

They heard him call back, but only just. 'I'll be right there, grandpa!'

YGO

Yugi settled the Millennium Puzzle, on its new holder around his neck. This new chain ought to keep my Millennium Puzzle safe. Seems like everyone wants their hands on it lately. Pegasus, the Evil Spirit of the Millennium Ring…speaking of which, now that he knew that was back, he wouldn't feel comfortable only having the Puzzle on a rope.

And we're going to need it now more than ever. Yami appeared behind him. His reflection in the mirror was plain for Yugi to see and he half wondered if anyone else would be able to. He doubted it. When Sharee seemed to be talking to Shamee, none of the others saw her. Still, Yami's comment had Yugi's interest.

'We are? What do you mean by that?' Yugi made a mental note that, in public, this may look like he was talking to himself. He'd have to learn to talk to Yami mentally, the way Sharee did with Shamee.

Yami switched which side of him he was on. The Millennium Puzzle connects us, Yugi. Yugi looked at him. And I sense fate has more in store for us.

That worried Yugi more than a bit. 'Well, we're in this together no matter what.'

Good, Yami said as Yugi picked up his schoolbag and headed for the door. I wish I knew more but our future is still unclear to me. Yugi stopped but not due to the words. It was the emotions he could feel churning in Yami. Even though he spoke of the future, there was a longing inside him…and Yugi had a feeling that it came from the other direction: the past.

'Well, I'll help you figure it out.' Yugi hurried downstairs and out the front door.

'About time, Yugi,' Téa said when she saw him.

'Sorry, Téa.' Yugi remembered there was a school soccer game going on today.

'We're gonna be late for the big game. What took you so long?'

'Uh…' Yugi's hands went to his Puzzle. It was still kind of awkward talking about this to someone who wasn't Sharee. Not that he trusted her more than his other friends, it was just that she'd been in the same situation as him for two years longer. She had more of an understanding of the concept, rather than just the words. 'I was talking to the Spirit of the Millennium Puzzle. He seems kind of worried.'

'About what?' Téa asked.

'About the future, I think. He said something about our destiny being…unclear.'

Téa's eyes widened in concern.

'Ever since we defeated Pegasus together, Yami's been talking about…fate, like there's something more he has to do. When you think about it, he doesn't really know that much about himself – and Shamee doesn't know very much more either, like where they came from…why they're here. But I'm babbling and we're late.'

'Huh?' Téa, evidentially, had nearly forgotten all about it.

'We should go.'

Téa smiled. 'Oh, right. The soccer game. We definitely don't wanna miss it. See you, Mr. Moto.' They both headed off.

'Bye, grandpa. We'll see you later.'

Yugi's grandpa called after them. 'Enjoy yourselves, you two. If the game ends early, feel free to come back and help me sweep!'

Yugi smiled at that thought.

YGO

You're not going to this sport event?

'Nope.' Sharee grinned at her ancient counterpart. 'I've never really gone for everyday fitness. Too boring, too easy.' The reason she was speaking aloud was because no one would hear her. She was still in her bedroom.

Shamee chuckled. True. You dodge our old traps like no one I've ever seen before.

'Then my dad must've been the first one of our family to come through the valley. Either that, or having you in my head has given me a pre-awareness of every booby trap in Egypt.'

Probably that. Shamee looked at the Bandanna as Sharee flicked through a comic book. The younger of the two looked up and studied the spirit for a moment.

'Let me guess, the reason you and Yami need to be here?'

Shamee glanced back at her. Do you blame me?

'No.' Sharee turned back to her comic. 'If I had to live in someone else's body, thousands of years out of my own time and I didn't know why, I'd be pretty disturbed too.'

Like trying to find a snake in a sandstorm. Shamee came over and leaned against the bedroom desk. Have your father and Professor Hawkins found anything more?

'Just your old Shadow Games. Mind you, dad says we're expecting someone in a couple of days that I think you'll like to meet. Well…' Sharee grinned. '"See again" might be the appropriate term.' The cell phone on the desk rang. She picked it up, glanced at the caller ID and then answered. 'Hi, Téa.'

'Sharee, you've gotta come quick! Some creepy cloaked guy snatched the Millennium Puzzle and Yugi went chasing after him!'

As Shamee's mind picked up everything Sharee knew, the ancient quickly disappeared back into the Bandanna. Sharee was on her feet and already running downstairs. 'Of course he did! Okay, go get Joey and Tristan. I'll find Yugi and Yami.' She hung up and grabbed the keys to her father's motorbike. He was at work and Sharee knew he'd forgive her, given the circumstances.

YGO

Téa ran through the streets, heading for the school as Sharee had told her. She was terribly worried about both Yugi and Yami. But the American exchange student did have an edge over them. On the way back from Duellist Kingdom, she'd explained that her spirit guest was a heart-reader.

Shamee could locate people from their heart-signature alone.

'Hey, Téa, what's the rush?'

Téa stopped and turned around. She was surprised to see Bakura there, but she quickly told him what'd happened anyway. He frowned when she was done.

'Where is Yugi?'

'In the alley!' Téa pointed. 'I already called Sharee. She's coming and she told me to go find the others.'

'You do that,' Bakura told her. 'Don't let me detain you. I'll see if I can find Yugi. You know Sharee. She probably hadn't even left home when you called. No classes today.'

Téa nodded. 'Thanks, Bakura!'

YGO

No one shall have the Millennium Puzzle but me. 'I want its power.' The Evil Spirit of the Ring lifted his head and looked back the way Yugi's little girlfriend had come. He dropped Bakura's book bag and pulled his item from around his neck. 'And I'll track it down with my Millennium Ring!'

The Ring chinged and pointed.

'Show me the way. Trace the Item's mystical energy and lead me to the Millennium Puzzle. Hurry, before Sharee arrives!'

The Ring tugged him towards it.

'If I can control all of the Millennium Items, I control power unimaginable. And I will make certain that nobody stands in my way.' He smirked. Especially not Sharee Pertinicle and her passenger.

YGO

Yugi guessed that it should've been painfully obvious. There were a lot of arrows pointing him towards an old and abandoned wooden warehouse. 'Whoever that guy was, he's leading me like a rat through a maze!' He looked around. 'But why would a thief want his victim to follow him? What's he really after?' Well, there was only one way to find out. 'The last arrow.'

Yugi walked over and pushed against the door. It didn't want to give but he got it open, listening to it creak. This was obviously a place where no one had been or worked in a good many years. He stepped inside.

'My Millennium Puzzle is here. Even though we're apart, I can sense it.' Wandering forward, he looked around. 'But I don't see it.' He raised his voice. 'I know you're in here!'

A laugh sounded out of the darkness. Now that he was paying attention, it was like there were two voices speaking. 'Congratulations, little Yugi, you found me. Or should I say I found you? And the Millennium Puzzle!'

A light flashed on. Then Yugi saw it, because the spotlight went right onto it. The Puzzle was hanging on a hook that was deeply imbedded into something. It looked like part of a duelling platform.

'Give it back to me,' Yugi said.

'It's not going to be that easy for you. If you want your Puzzle back, you'll have to fight me for it. That's right, Yugi. You and I are going to duel!'

A bright spotlight went on him and then the whole warehouse lit up. It forced him to flinch. Yugi opened his eyes and saw that there was an entire duelling arena there. All this just for one single duel? Didn't this guy have better things to do with his time?

'And the winner gets to keep your Millennium Item. Are you up to the challenge, Yugi? I've been waiting for you a long time.' He chuckled darkly.

Yugi almost couldn't believe this. 'Who are you?' Yugi demanded. 'And what do you want with my Millennium Puzzle?'

'I desire the power your item contains within. But, according to the rules of its ancient magic, I have to win it from you in a duel. As for who I am, let's just say I am the one who shall control your destiny as I have controlled others and that I am not unfamiliar with the power of a Millennium Item. Indeed, I understand more about their hidden mysteries than you will ever know.' He paused. 'Take your Millennium Puzzle. There are ancient secrets buried within it of which you, and even the spirit that inhabits it, are unaware. That's why I will add it to my collection.'

'I won't duel you for my Millennium Puzzle!' Yugi snapped. 'It already belongs to me.'

'It's in my possession now, little Yugi,' the guy said.

Yugi clenched his fist. 'All right. Then I accept your challenge.'

'Of course you do.' The guy turned away.

Yugi looked up at his Item. If I have to duel, I'll need Yami to help me. Maybe I can still connect with him. He reached out with his mind.

Yugi felt a familiar, but faint, brush against his mind. I can…barely hear you, Yugi. Our bond is weak. It's hard to maintain contact. I'm afraid I won't be able to help you win this duel. You'll have to fight him, alone.

That wasn't good. Alone? But I've never fought a duel without you. And if I'm defeated I'll lose you forever.

You can defeat him. Just trust yourself and your deck and you'll find the way.

'You're right. I've got to believe in the Heart of the Cards.'

Be very careful, Yugi. I sense a great evil… His voice echoed off.

YGO

Left!

Sharee swung a left around the corner. Her long brown hair flicked back. She was aware that what she was wearing was neither suitable, nor safe, for motorbike riding. Thing was she'd left in such a hurry it was a miracle she'd remembered to stop and grab the helmet, never mind the rest of the gear.

Another left, then turn into the alleyway ahead. You see the knocked over table and chair?

Sharee followed her friend's focus and saw it. Not a moment to soon either, because with a sharp turn she was shooting into the alley, ignoring the blaring horns. She didn't care about them when Yugi and Yami needed help. Because they were just a few…

Six billion people would die if this guy wasn't stopped.

Nobody had better ask how Shamee she knew that. Sharee, though, was another matter. It was in everything she'd seen since she'd gotten the Millennium Bandanna. The Sacred Guardians she'd spoken to talked in that way. What had Shadi said when he realised Yugi was the Chosen One?

'…only he who solved the Millennium Puzzle can save it…'

On top of that, all of hers and her father's research pointed in that direction. The Shadow Games had to be sealed away because they nearly destroyed the world. And that woman and boy in the Shadow Realm…Pegasus had thought that kid to be the "straw that broke the camel's back". So…yeah, she could be sure.

Sharee was not being melodramatic.

YGO

'Come on, guys, hurry!' Téa insisted. 'Yugi maybe in trouble!'

Joey hopped about on one foot, trying to get his shoe back on. 'Just point the way, Téa.' He wasn't too happy about this either. Yugi running off after some crackpot that took off with the Puzzle. If he'd been wearing it and Yami had been the one doing the fighting, there wouldn't be anything to worry about. That guy was as "man up" as you could get. At least Sharee was rushing in. Knowing her, she'd get there fast. Joey grunted with effort and hopped a bit before he got his shoe on. 'We're right behind you.'

'Yeah,' Tristan said as they started heading out. 'Any creep who picks on our buddy has to deal with us all.'

'You said it!'

Just as they stepped out of the change rooms, though, one of their gym teachers appeared, hands on hips. 'All right, people. Just where do you think you're going? You volunteered to help at the soccer game.'

Joey was sure he wasn't the only one who wished for Sharee at that moment. She'd come out with something either so smart the coach would be dumbstruck into letting them go or so urgent, blurred and panicked he'd have no idea what she'd just said but assume it was an emergency and let them go. Of course, thinking of that gave Joey an idea.

'I know, coach, but we got an emergency.'

Tristan caught on really fast. 'Téa's cat has gotten sick. We need to take it to the vet.'

Téa played along, stepping over to him with her hands clasped. 'Please, we need to help Fluffy!' She dropped her head into her hands. 'Poor Fluffy!' She started crying.

And then the coach melted. 'I didn't realise your little kitty was sick.' He laid his hands on her shoulders. 'Of course you can go.'

Joey and Tristan grinned at each other while he wasn't looking. 'Yes, sir. Thank you, coach!'

As the three of them ran, the coach called after them. 'Save that little kitty!'

'He's really a softie at heart,' Joey remarked as they ran.

'It wasn't cool to mislead Coach Morty,' Téa told them.

'It's an emergency,' Tristan said. 'We had to, Téa.'

'Yeah.' Joey was in full agreement. 'Yugi needs us!'

Téa immediately seemed to focus on that. 'I hope we can find him.'

'If we can't,' Tristan chuckled, 'Sharee will.'

YGO

'Quit stalling, Yugi, unless you wanna admit defeat.'

'I'll never give up!'

Yugi had three issues to point at here. One: Bandit Keith turned out to be the one who was under that cowl. The thing was Keith knew nothing about the Millennium Items so there was no way he had any real interest in them. That brought him to two: someone else was controlling Keith. This was a person who wasn't showing their face for some reason or another. And that brought up three. How was he supposed to fight an enemy he didn't know without Yami's help?

Yugi wasn't sure but he'd do it. He wasn't going to lose his friend.

YGO

The three of them came to the alleyway where the Puzzle had been stolen. The table had been smashed as if something ploughed through it. Téa flinched back from the broken bit of furniture when she saw it.

'That wasn't like that before!'

'Don't worry about it.' Joey stepped into the alleyway. 'That looks like Sharee in a hurry. That'll be all it is. Come on.' The others followed him and they soon came to a problem.

Someone had flipped all the arrows one way or another.

YGO

Sharee slammed the breaks on her father's bike. Yugi was in that warehouse. It was old and run-down so it probably hadn't been used in years. She felt Shamee lean forward and scrutinise the building. What's the matter?

Bandit Keith's in there…but something feels a bit off.

YGO

'Now you're the one who's stalling!' Yugi called across. 'Are you gonna draw or what?'

Keith – or whoever was controlling him – drew. He looked and then held it up. 'I picked the Graceful Charity card. By placing this card on the table, I'm able to draw three new cards from my deck.' He did just as he said he would. 'And I'm confident that they'll be exactly the cards I need to end this duel once and for all!' He laughed.

Yugi didn't doubt they were up his sleeve, just like when he duelled Joey. Okay, maybe he was mind-controlled but what would stop this guy from using the same tricks that Keith did? Nothing.

'You're finished, little Yugi. I play the ultra-rare Zera Ritual Card.' The monster representing the ritual appeared on the field, enthroned. 'It's used to summon one of the most powerful monsters in the game!'

Yugi looked at it. 'Whoa. I've never even heard of the Zera Ritual Card before but I've got a sneaking suspicion that I'm about to learn more about it than I really want to know.'

'How perceptive. For once I put Zera Ritual into play the duel is over.'

'Maybe,' Yugi said. 'But activating a ritual card takes more than just talk. You also need to have the right monster card in your hand and what are the odds of that?' Yugi inwardly winced as he realised he was tempting fate.

This was Bandit Keith being used. And what did Sharee always say when they asked questions like that? 'Don't jinx us!' Asking questions like that almost always resulted in an answer the person asking wouldn't like.

Sure enough, Keith held up a particular monster card.

'No way!'

'Maybe you finally understand the power you are up against, Yugi.' He laid the card on the field. 'Now, Zera Ritual sacrifices my two remaining monsters in order to bring forth the greatest of my creatures.' The two monsters were shrouded in smoke and came together. When the smoke cleared, the monster was standing there. 'Behold the instrument of your destruction: one of the strongest beasts in Duel Monsters. Behold, Zera the Met!'

The beast roared.

'Our battle ends here. Say goodbye to your Millennium Puzzle. Zera, attack now!'

Zera lurched forward and destroyed the Summoned Skull. Yugi stared for a moment, trying to think. 'Zera obliterated my Summoned Skull! But…I can't give up.' He leaned on the duelling platform. 'You'll never get my Millennium Puzzle!'

A familiar voice came from behind. 'No, he won't.'

Yugi twisted his head. He'd never been more relieved to see anyone leaning casually against a doorframe than he was at that moment. She looked like she'd had no intention of going anywhere today too. She was dressed head to toe in sweats. The only thing normal about the way she was dressed was the Millennium Bandanna wrapped around her head.

Sharee Pertinicle.

Took me longer than I expected to get it up, but here it is: Part II!