Welcome!

This actually began as a YGO prideshipping fic but I needed an enemy, and my really smart muse [/sarcasm] -

Turtule: That's me.

- said for me to use the HP cast. So I did. But a good crossover combines equal elements of each so I stuck as much HP as I could...and because my general rule is no pairings in crossovers, I got sad (ist a prideshipper! Needs more prideshippy--XD).

Oh, and I need to say that a character will get a something about them, revealed in the middle of the story that has no relation to YGO canon or the HP world. And they won't be attending Hogwarts. And it's based on the dub because I got the idea when I was watching the dub, but being the smart idiot that I am they live in Japan, and it's based on the dub...because the concept of the Shadow Realm originated from the dub.

Wonderful.

Timeline: HP5 is currently underway, mentioned escape of Death Eaters OOTP ch. 25; After Battle City. YGO: Events by manga, DEATH-T replaces EP 1 and Monster World the duel/sealing during Duellist Kingdom. From EP 1, EP 2 replaces what happens after Monster World and it onwards is the dub version. After Battle City, Yuugi doesn't just leave school and instead attends school until the holidays(more realistic in Japan).

That's settled, so I'll get started.


The Power of the Puzzle
(shiai ni yabueru)

- Chapter One -

--

It is the afternoon and Yugi is worried, because since leaving the house Yami has been completely silent, except for the occasional mumbling of words he hears through his soul room.

They had received a letter to them in neat, compressed kanji five hours ago. Since then, Yugi has had no idea who it could have been from, as Téa would much rather prefer visiting and Joey's handwriting is hastily scrawled and borderline illegible. Ryou didn't contact him much since Battle City and Tristan...well, Yugi admits he was a mystery, as originally being Joey's friend and feeling as a tag-along he doesn't really know him very well.

The contents of the letter were quite interesting;

Yugi, it began.

I need to meet you as soon as possible.

It is about some important news that I cannot place in this letter in fear of it being read by someone else.

Today at 4:30PM, go to Domino Square and follow the instructions in the other paper provided.

Malik Ishtar.

Yugi attempts to ask Yami whether it was wise to even begin following the odd instructions, which are clearly meant to prevent people from finding the location even with a map, but the spirit doesn't seem to notice. No matter the response, he is still looking for the second part of the sentence saying 'Enter the alley between the tattoo parlour and the Scorpion', and it is currently a futile effort. The tattoo parlour is easy enough to find though, him having been here in the shadier streets once already with Joey when the latter was looking for this cool new pair of shoes...

The Scorpion. A reference understood mainly by the ones who had been conned by that shop owner, Joey one of them.

Now the shop is simply empty, the year or two that passed since the event causing the owner's temporal insanity landing him in an asylum and the shop automatically closing down. Thugs have clearly stolen from the closed shop that could obviously not sell, as the sign containing the scorpion is missing and there is hardly a window that is not busted in. All in all, it looks as if it's in ruins, and if Joey were indeed here he may have commented that the man deserved it.

Yugi sighs before beginning to walk once more, glancing at the sheet of instructions as he did.

Climb the emergency stairs of the red building to the second floor and look for the closest intersection to the 'Burger World', go there.

--

The last instruction he is given leads him to a deserted alleyway between some buildings, just far enough from Domino Square that no curious wanderers may enter but irritatingly close to the Kame Game Shop which he left almost an hour ago.

The alleyway itself isn't very impressive, as the best and probably most effective way to describe it would be by using the words dark and dusty. Sound does not echo but rather is absorbed by the concrete or stone walls surrounding three of the sides, and whatever other ears lay hidden behind the veils of black shadow. Golden light from the setting sun comes into it, however due to the sharp 'L' turn entry it only casts its bright gleam to the wall on the side, the rest being blocked and stolen away by a nearby building.

Perhaps the reason why Malik had asked them to be there was so no one could overhear or interrupt their conversation, but the surroundings hint towards a trap. It would be easy to hide in one of the corners as the air seems slightly thick and wait for some poor, unfortunate prey to come wondering aimlessly across. Whatever the reason, they find their guards rising without prior thought, and stay alert without much movement.

The crunching of gravel from outside the entrance calls their attention immediately, and his head automatically snaps around. Yami had seemed to come to his senses at that moment and took over his body so quickly and with such force he clutched his side as he entered his soul room, knowing that his other was merely concerned for his safety but the thought that he has changed passes unwillingly.

Now the figure emerges into their sight, their features only given away as a silhouette of the person due to the light and the angle in which they are standing in. Every part of them was unrecognisable yet familiar to them in a strange way, and he finds himself temporarily blinded their golden armbands shine with a bright, reflective glare.

The other tilts his head so his face was visible to the duo, and Malik Ishtar whispers one word;

"Attack."

--

Master Voldemort is pleased.

His mood does not waver as Lucius Malfoy apparates to the entrance of his manor and the Dark Lord can see him present the Mark and his wand for inspection to the guards. He is immediately admitted in, his robes swishing and flicking behind him in a way that nearly defies gravity.

Respectfully he kneels before his Lord and touches his head to the floor submissively, and with an almost lazy upward flick of his hand the Malfoy rises up again. Contentedly, Nagini rises up and entwines herself around his throne and her head around his arm. She hisses in a purr-like way as he distractedly pets her head.

"Tell me, Malfoy," he begins in a questioning tone. "Why are you here?"

His voice is smooth and silky, promising those who gave him news he did not want an instant Crucio, or if they were lucky, a quick and painless Avada. However today it also seems to have a slightly cheerful lilt at the ends of some words, as he is pleased his loyal Death Eaters have finally been 'released' from Azkaban and the dementors were now on his side.

"My Lord, there is further news from the Ministry."

Malfoy speaks without fear, but even without activating the more skilled functions of his Legilimency he is able to tell it is merely a slight façade. Even so, the Dark Lord leans forward expectantly and raises a slim, almost nonexistent brow at the other as if curiously interested.

"Apparently there was this great blast of what they say is raw, undiluted magical power which seems to have overrun all their unauthorized magical energy detection systems a little over three months ago. For some reason I had not heard of this now, but I used a little spell of my own and have gathered that the people who have been exposed to it are now all residing in the same country. Their magical auras are laced with traces of whatever was cast and I am definitely sure that they are either the ones who preformed it or exposed to it and could give us potential new, powerful followers."

Voldemort frowns slightly in disapproval due to the delay...but to have overrun the Ministry's specially made and layered spells would certainly require all, or even more energy than he had at the moment, as those charms are centuries old and he still requires crucial time for his own power to rightfully return to him after a little 'experiment' of his had failed. However...pure power would be easier to both tear apart the complex weave and to track...

"Go, then. See if you can find me those who had cast that power, but keep your distance." He hisses threateningly, and Malfoy stands up and bows, not meeting his eyes. "Come to me at once when you have new information. If you wish you may take others with you, but I expect results from you, as you have failed me too many times already in the past, and for you to find this out so late has disappointed me, Lucius."

"Yes, my Lord."

And respectfully he strides out the door before disapparating with a loud crack, wondering of the implications that will befall him due to his first name being used would cause.

--

The Shadows towards the edges seem to clump and merge together, producing a new form.

It is painstakingly slow, the speed in which Malik is summoning, but he sees and notes that his right hand is holding a Duel Monsters card, the back facing towards them and his left is touching the Millennium Rod hooked in his belt. The tight black sleeveless top and beige cargo pants he wears and his stance almost exactly copies his yami, if not for the fact his hair does not stand on end anymore.

Yami is somehow stunned, but he knows it is not by the way of the Shadows but merely a shocked surprise. A slightly humanoid feature is seen now in summoning, and more of them begin massing around the head, lower body and hands. Giant claw-like attachments form around the lower arm, intricate armour around the form itself and a helmet which stands up with the blade of an axe. Twin thoughts are heard at the same time.

///Makyura the Destructor!///

They had seen that card for themselves recently at Battle City, but are quickly interrupted out of their musings as the monster leaps forwards with skill, precision and grace through the air ten metres to where they were without taking a single step and slices its left claw from one of his ears to the other. He still has his reflexes, retrained from years past and swiftly steps back.

Quickly, he reaches into his customary second belt and touches the first card of his duelling deck in a move to pull it out. Both his light and himself pray and keep their trust in the Heart of the Cards that that card is indeed what they are looking for.

Sidestepping a second blow, he places one hand on his Millennium Puzzle to draw upon its power and imagines the Shadows near him solidifying the way Makyura was created. He glances swiftly at the card he holds and silently cheers.

"I summon the Dark Magician!"

He found himself immersed in a well of never-ending darkness.


I hate typing 'Tea'. Anzu is a far far prettier name. The secondary title is shiai ni yabueru, a Japanese expression meaning 'to lose a game'. Keep that in mind.

Please review!

~Nikki :D

P.S. Forgot to mention this earlier - would like to thank Darkie (Yami-no-Tamashii) for reading over this to make sure it makes sense!