Hi everyone! This is my first story. I am writing this to avenge what I saw as a major injustice in Yu-gi-oh. At the end of the series Yugi duels Atem to send him to the afterlife. I understand that it was a way of showing that Yugi was ready to be his own man and that is fine. However, I think that after being embarrassed by the Atem/Yugi team so many times, Kaiba should have gotten his shot to put them down for once. So this will be my attempt to write out how the show should have ended. The story will go AU right after the memory world and start already on the ship on the way to the tomb were the duel takes place. I'll be using mostly the dubbed anime but I might take some things from the magna. Reviews are appreciated and flames hurt my feelings (what feelings?).

Big thanks to Crystal Rose of Pollux for the help posting this and proofreading this chapter.

I DO NOT OWN YU-GI-OH or any of the characters.

Enjoy!

Rite of Succession

In a cabin, on a ship, on the Nile river in Egypt, ten people (and one spirit) stand. They are discussing the destiny of someone close to them all (even if some won't admit it). They are learning what awaits them upon their arrival at the tomb of the Pharaoh. Known by other names, Yugi, Yami, the King of Games, Great Pharaoh, and simply Pharaoh, his name has been revealed to be Atem and with this revelation his destiny has been completed. He now makes what could be his final journey, to a long and well deserved rest. However, despite this he is still just a spirit within the Millennium Puzzle, incapable of moving without his host. Now he listens intently to the other occupants of the room. Included in the room are his partner, Yugi, his friends, Tea, Joey, and Tristan, the tomb keepers Ishizu, Marik, and Odion, the former host of Zorc, Ryo Bakura, and the Kaiba Brothers, Seto and Mokuba. They have gathered to hear what Ishizu knows of the challenges ahead.

"The Pharaoh has completed his destiny" Ishizu said. "Now It is time For him to find rest."

"But how will he find rest?" asked Yugi. "I mean he's already dead so it's not like he can die again."

"Yeah and he doesn't exactly have a body to bury either," Joey said "unless we're gonna bury Yugi."

The smirk could almost be heard in his voice as Kaiba taunted Joey "What's the point of burying him Mutt, you'd only dig him up again.

"Kaiba" Ishizu cautioned, of course the warning was ignored.

"After all," Kaiba continued, "you need him to win your duels for you."

"WHAT!" Joey exclaimed "Come over here and say that rich boy!"

"Joey' please don't start fighting" Tea begged.

"Yeah man," Tristan chimed in, "He's not worth it"

"You know, Taylor," Kaiba said "you always say that. But what you really mean is that a dog should not talk back to his master."

"You..." Tea started but Kaiba cut her off.

"Save it Gardner, I don't have the time to listen to a eight hour friendship rant from the Cheerleader."

"Seto, be nice" Mokuba begged.

"KAIBA! That is it! You can insult me but no insults my friends!" Joey yelled.

"ENOUGH!" Ishizu cut in. "We are not hear to listen to you argue, we are hear to help the Pharaoh."

"I don't even know why he's here!" Joey fumed. "It's not like he even cares about Yugi or Atem."

"He is here because I asked him." Ishizu revealed. "The reason will be clear to you soon enough."

"Ishizu is right Joey" Yugi agreed "you fighting with Kaiba isn't going to help the Pharaoh."

"So what exactly is going to happen when we get to the Pharaoh's tomb?" Tea asked.

"I'll let Marik explain as he knows more about the ancient writings". Ishizu then stepped back to give Marik the floor.

"Well," he began, "when we get to the tomb the Pharoah must undergo a final challenge to determine if he is truly ready to leave this world."

"What kind of challenge?" Yugi asked.

"A duel, what else?" Marik said with a smile. "If he loses then he knows there is someone else who can take over the job of protecting the world and he can rest. If he wins then it is not yet time for him to leave this plane and he must remain as its protector until someone else capable of the job comes along."

"Marik," Atem, now speaking through Yugi, began, "who is this challenger?"

"It is someone in this room," he replied. "Ishizu knows."

"It's me isn't it?" asked Joey. " I mean only a duelist of my obvious skill could beat Yugi...I mean Atem."

A snort from Kaiba and blank looks from the rest of the assembly was all the response he got.

"No," said Ishizu, "this is not a matter of friendship or personal preference. It is a matter of destiny."

Kaiba groaned in the corner "Not this again! I can't believe that you still subscribe to that destiny nonsense!"

"It is not nonsense Kaiba! I can't believe that after all you have seen you continue to deny its existence!". Ishizu shot back.

"Then tell me oh great all-knowing one," Kaiba said with a smirk and more sarcasm then was necessary, "if it isn't Wheeler who is it? Marik? Maybe Gardner?" he started to laugh at the thought.

"Hey Kaiba, shut up!" Joey shouted. "No one asked your opinion!"

"Yeah let the woman talk!" Tristan chimed in.

Still chuckling Kaiba took his seat earning a reproachful glare from Mokuba.

"As I was saying," Ishizu said, "this duel is not a matter of friendship or personal preference. And to answer your question Kaiba it isn't Marik or Tea."

"Then who is it?" Tea asked

Ishizu sighed, the sigh of a person tired of being interrupted, earning another chuckle from Kaiba.

"It is the same person who succeeded him before, five thousand years ago." She said

"Wait," said Atem, "the person who took over in the past was Priest Seth. Does that mean..."

"Yes," Ishizu confirmed, "the Pharaoh's final challenger will be...Seto Kaiba!" she said turning to the CEO who looked almost as stunned as everyone else.

"Me... why me?" Kaiba asked clearly not able to grasp what Ishizu had said. He had only been half listening anyway and the revelation that he would be the one to face Atem was the only thing that had registered.

"Because Seto Kaiba," she replied, "destiny cannot be denied. As it was your duty to rule Egypt in his place so it now falls to you to succeed him in the present. By defeating the Pharaoh in this final duel you prove your worth as his successor and open the door for him to move on to the afterlife."

"Exactly" said a voice.

"Shadi!" exclaimed Atem.

"It is good to see you my Pharaoh." Shadi said. He then turned to Ishizu. "Have you finished telling them everything?" he asked.

"Everything that needs to be said at the moment." Ishizu replied. "The rest can wait for the morning."

"She's right guys," Tea said checking her watch. It's getting late we should get some sleep."

The others nodded and began to head for their rooms. Within minutes only three people still remained in the cabin.

"I need to talk to you, both of you" Kaiba said addressing the other occupants.

"We expected as much." replied Shadi, as he gestured toward some chairs.

Soon Kaiba, Ishizu, and Shadi were sitting in a circle. The silence was awkward and uncomfortable and finally with a sigh Kaiba started the conversation.

"What exactly am I supposed to do tomorrow?" asked the CEO.

"Simple," Shadi replied, "defeat the Pharaoh, if you can."

"What is that supposed to mean?" asked Kaiba narrowing his cold blue eyes at the Egyptian. "Do you think he's better than me?" he asked in a dangerous voice.

"Yes" Shadi replied simply, "he always was."

"Well then," Kaiba said, "why should I even bother with this idiocy? You think he's better than me? Based on what? A few lucky victories!" To say the CEO was irate would have been an understatement. He was tired of people comparing him to Yugi or Yami or Atem or whatever the hell he was calling himself this week. "If you doubt my ability so much I'll just call for a helicopter to pick my brother and I up. You can let Wheeler try to beat your precious Pharaoh." He said.

"No Kaiba," Ishizu spoke up, "it must be you it's..

"If you say my destiny I'll throw you overboard." He said without any humor in his voice.

"Despite what you may think of Ishizu's opinion she is correct." Shadi said. "It must be you."

"Joy." Seto said sarcastically.

"Kaiba," Ishizu said, "you mustn't let what Shadi says affect you so much. Just because your past self could not defeat the Pharaoh does not mean that you can not. After all you are two different people."

"It was not your destiny to defeat him, or even to face him in Battle City." Shadi said.

"However," Ishizu cut in, "you defied your destiny. You did face the Pharaoh and you lost. You may well be destined to lose again, but if anyone can change their fate, it is you. You are the only one to prevent the destiny predicted for them by my Millennium Necklace. Perhaps you can defy fate again."

"But we have talked long enough." Shadi said. "You must have time to rest and prepare your deck."

"Hmph" was all Kaiba said. He turned and left the room.

"What do you think?" Ishizu asked turning to her companion.

"I think that tomorrow will be very interesting." Shadi replied.

Well that's the first Chapter tell me what you think. I'm still working on the duel and will accept ideas you may have just send them in a review. I'm about half done with it although it probably won't make it till chapter 3.

If anyone wants to post this story elsewhere I have no problems with that as long as you tell me first and give me the credit for it.