Ranko: Oh my, goodness…where am I?

Yami: You should know.

Ranko: …How long have you known me, Yami?

Yami: Good point.

Yuugi: Ranko, don't you remember? This is the introduction to the first chapter of the last installment of the Shadow Game series: Checkmate!

Ranko: No, it can't be. This can't be the last story. This can't be the last first introduction! Wait…did I say that right? Who cares!

Yuugi: It is Ranko, the ride is almost over.

Yami: But this story is going to be like the final look of a roller coaster before the ride ends!

Ranko: Yeah! We're going to go out with a bang! No time for melancholy and goodbyes now, people! We have an awesome story to write, so hang on to your seats! Okay, for anyone who is reading this now and just grabbed their seat, I applaud you!

Yuugi: This time we will not be replying to reviews from the last chapter of the previous story, because that will just take up more time and we have a feeling you want us to stop ranting and get on with the story!

Ranko: You're right, so do the disclaimer, Yami!

Yami: You know what I'm going to say, Ranko twin owns nothing related to Yu-Gi-Oh or the Forbidden Games!

Ranko: Enjoy!

-/-

Bakura didn't know where he was. He was standing in the middle of endless white. He didn't think that calling it a room would explain what it was. There was no floor, no ceiling, and there were no walls. It was just infinite white in every direction. For the first time, in a long time, Bakura was scared.

Then he heard the sweet bell tone of laughter. It was so familiar to Bakura yet at the same time, he couldn't place where he had heard it before. The sound surrounded him from all around, just like the white. It sounded so near but so distant. And then the beautiful laughter turned to crying and terrified screams that made Bakura's heart rip in two.

"Bakura! Bakura, where are you? Help me, I'm scared!"

Bakura jumped in surprise when he heard that voice call for him. He twisted around in every direction, searching for the source of the noise. He wanted to soothe that person's fears, to let them know that he was there and would always protect that person.

"Can you, Bakura?"

A voice echoed in his head; he grasped the sides of his head in pain as if he had a headache. "Wh-what…is going o-on?"

"Can you really protect him, Bakura?"

"Who are you talking about?" Bakura screamed as a thick fog rolled in from no where; he didn't even notice. "Show yourself and face me like a man, damn it!"

"You've failed him once before, Bakura, you let him die. Do you really think that you can protect him?"

Suddenly the image of an angelic boy with soft white hair and beautiful brown eyes flashed in his mind, making him grip his head in pain again. He saw the boy smiling at him, laughing, and then crying. His gorgeous eyes were filled with fear and desperation.

Bakura collapsed to his knees against the un-existing floor. "Ryou…Ryou! No, he's still alive, I know he is!"

"You let him die, you failed him Bakura. Do you really think that he still loves you after what you've done to him? After cheating on him with that little friend of yours?"

Bakura shook his head desperately. "No, no, no! You don't understand!" Bakura rose to his feet and ran into the fog blindly. "Show yourself to me, you coward!"

"Bakura!"

Bakura stopped and turned, seeing the outline of a slim figure in the fog behind him. He would recognize that shape anywhere. "Ryou!" he cried happily, running towards the boy, but the closer he got to him, the farther Ryou seemed to fade away.

"No, Bakura! Don't come near me! I don't want you anymore! Just leave me alone!"

That did it, Bakura's heart shattered like glass at hearing those words. The outline in the fog slowly started to disappear and Bakura ran desperately towards it, refusing to let the boy go. "No, Ryou! Ryou!" he cried, still not able to see where he was going.

Then his there was nothing beneath his feet to run against, and he was falling…

"Ryou!" he cried as Bakura awoke from his dream…or nightmare was more like it.

"Bakura?" a soft voice spoke from beside him. The voice was so similar to Ryou's that it made Bakura's heart leap but then he realized that this voice was more childish that Ryou's. He turned his head and saw Yuugi sitting next to him.

Wait, Yuugi? What was Yuugi doing here? And why was his bed rocking? He turned his head in the other direction, finally realizing the crick in his neck, and saw a beautiful green landscape rush past him.

Where was he? He turned back to look at Yuugi who was staring at him with concerned eyes. "Bakura, are you okay?" Bakura looked past Yuugi and saw Mai and Seto sitting in the two seats across the aisle; he heard Honda snoring behind him accompanied by the low drone of music coming from Anzu's iPod.

Now he remembered, he and all of his friends were on a train to Hokkaido. That explained the rocking and the painful crick in his neck from resting against a train seat. They were going to Hokkaido so they could go to Yuugi's old house so maybe they could get some information on the Shadow Realm and they could transport themselves there.

Why did they have to transport themselves to the Shadow Realm willingly? Because that is where their friends were; Yami was holding them captive, using them as bait for the next sick Game he wanted to play with them.

They thought that the door that Yuugi's parents had opened to the Shadow Realm still worked if not they were out of options and out of luck because apparently, Domino high school doesn't require students to take a How to Open a Portal to the Shadow Realm class. They didn't know any other way of getting there so they just hoped…and prayed.

Bakura then looked over to Yuugi; the boy was nervous but also excited. His leg wouldn't stop shaking as he looked up and down the aisles, as if checking if anyone was following them; highly unlikely. The kid had grown up these last few weeks; dear God, has it only been a few weeks since the first Game started?

But imagining Yuugi back then, weak and incapable of taking care of himself, made Bakura's chest hurt. The boy was so different now. He was more independent, he wasn't as afraid as Yami, he took care of his friends, and there was now wisdom behind those beautiful big eyes of his.

Bakura smiled fondly at the boy and resumed staring out the window. He couldn't believe how much their lives had changed. The image of Ryou from his dream flashed in his mind again, the voice mocking him. Yes, he couldn't believe how much had changed…

What was that dream he had about?

"It's do or die now," Yuugi suddenly said; it was quiet enough so only Bakura could hear him. Bakura was probably the only one that Yuugi could still connect with. They both shared a common goal and determination. They both loved Ryou and would do anything to get him back.

"Huh?" Bakura asked, confused.

Yuugi shook his head. "Nothing, just thinking out loud." It was do or die, there was no safe zone any more. Yuugi could tell that this new Game was going to be a free for all and that made adrenaline rush through his veins with excitement. It was no longer fear that drove him on but determination.

Determination to take down Yami. They were going to a place where nightmares came true…and then killed you. Yuugi thought of Ryou; yes, he was definitely ready to take down Yami and go to the actually Shadow Realm. Yuugi would never forget that last pleading look Ryou gave him as he reached out a desperate hand…only to sink in the garbage.

Then he remembered Yami's crimson eyes twinkle with satisfaction right after Ryou's nightmare, a way of saying, "I told you so."

Yuugi shook his head and decided to count the number of dots on the cabin's ceiling. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5…no, wait, he counted the same dot twice, now he had to start all over. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5…

Anything to keep his mind off of Yami. A little voice in the back of his head told him that it was alright to think about Yami. He didn't affect Yuugi anymore, he had lost his power over the boy. At least, that is what Yuugi wanted to believe; he looked down to stare at the simple gold band around his finger. It glinted in the light and Yuugi could feel the inscription inside burn his finger.

All I refuse & Thee I chuse

Yuugi shook his head again and started to recount the dots on the ceiling. This time, Yuugi would not let his feelings, whatever they were, for Yami take him over. This time he would beat Yami.

Yuugi let images of Yami flash through his mind as he closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. Yami's beautiful face and his glowing, crimson eyes, those eyes that held so many expressions. Yami genuinely laughing at him, or with him, Yami smiling at him. The look Yami gave him after they had just kissed. Yami's face as he realized Yuugi had betrayed him.

The images overwhelmed Yuugi and he felt dizzy. But he couldn't stop thinking of Yami. His tall, lean body that Yuugi could easily fit into and find comfort in. His steady heartbeat under his toned chest. His strong, warm hands that would hold Yuugi so lovingly. His kisses…Yuugi shuddered.

Yami may look the same age as Yuugi, he may be the youngest of his kind, but Yami was much older than Yuugi imagined when it came to experience. He was expert in…many things that Yuugi had never even dared to imagine. Often Yuugi wondered why Yami had chosen Yuugi love; even Yuugi had to admit that he was awkward and a klutz. So why him?

Yuugi could imagine that Yami had been with multiple men and women through the centuries, he could have anyone he wanted. Yuugi couldn't help but feel a surge of jealously at this thought though he didn't understand why. This must be how Alexander Lightwood feels from the Mortal Instrument series.

Yuugi could imagine that all of those people Yami had used and toyed with had fallen prey to Yami's charm just as much as Yuugi had.

Maybe thinking about Yami wasn't the best idea right now. 26, 27, 28, 29…

He thought of his friends. He had let too many people down throughout these hellish games. His friends had suffered a fate that was meant for him. He thought of Jou, Malik, and Ryou. He had to save them; he couldn't let them down a second time.

He would not betray their trust; he would return them back to their families, back to the world where they belonged. He was going to find them, no matter what.

59, 60, 61…

Thinking of his friends calmed Yuugi's nerves; he had a feeling that everything was going to be alright in the end. Yuugi closed his eyes and drifted off into a dream…

He was in an elevator. A little man wore a silver mask that covered his entire face. He was small, smaller than Yuugi, like dwarf small.

"Will you go with us? Can we carry you?" Yuugi realized that this man had been asking him the same question for a while now. "We can carry you," the dwarf like man said, taking a step towards Yuugi; Yuugi took a step back in fear.

"No, you can't. Who are you?" Yuugi asked.

The little man acted as if he didn't hear Yuugi. "Can we take you?" On one of the elevator's walls there was a promotional poster for Wonderland Park, a theme park that Yuugi always went to as a kid. "Can we take you?" the man asked again.

Yuugi finally looked the little man straight in the eye. He had dealed with people like this before, namely Yami. It was time to put those negation skills he had developed to the test. "Yes…" Yuugi answered.

The man's eyes lit up from behind his mask. "We can?" he asked eagerly, reaching his arms up towards Yuugi, like a child would reach for his mother.

Yuugi nodded. "Yes…if you tell me who you really are." There was the trump card.

The man's arms dropped in disappointment and he took one step away from Yuugi.

Now Yuugi was the one who took a confident step forward. "Tell me who you really are," Yuugi said in a slight commanding tone. A bottle materialized in his hand; he raised it over his head, reading to knock the dwarf out.

Somewhere in his brain, he knew that the little man wasn't actually there; it was only an image. Yami had played this trick on him countless times before. He would just show up in his dreams but he wasn't physically there; he was always hiding behind his shadow magic.

Yuugi swung the bottle down and hit the man on the head; it passed right through him. He thought that the man might materialize briefly to show him what he really was. So Yuugi kept hitting him but the bottle kept passing through the phantom image.

Then the image disappeared.

Yuugi was pleased with himself. He turned to walk through the open doors of the elevator only to walk into another. The little man was waiting there for Yuugi, laughing him.

"Can we take you? We can carry you."

Yuugi sat up in his train seat with a start, feeling as if he had just dropped off a really tall building. Where was he again? The train. What was he doing? Going to Hokkaido, to his parents' old house. What was he going to do there? Find a way to go to the Shadow Realm to rescues his friends.

Yuugi breathed a sigh of relief. He felt eyes on him; he turned and saw Bakura staring at him. "Weird dream?" the older boy asked.

Yuugi felt out of breath so he just nodded. Bakura hummed in understanding and went back to staring out the window, but that didn't last long because Honda suddenly kicked the back of Bakura's chair, making Bakura lurch forward.

Yuugi blinked and turned around in his seat. "What the hell?"

Honda was sitting up in his seat, breathing heavily. His eyes were wide and unbelieving as he stared forward blankly. Anzu was sitting next to him with a comforting hand on his shoulder, asking him what was wrong.

Now all of their friends were staring at Honda in concern as he shook off the reminisces of his dream. Other people in the train car gave Honda strange looks but didn't pay attention to him too long, quickly going back to what they were doing.

"Yo, Honda, you alright?" Bakura asked, trying to sound like he didn't care. "Can you breath?"

Honda breathed in deeply and sighed it out; his eyes focused and regained their usual light. He leaned back in his chair tiredly and ran a hand through his spiked hair.

"I had a dream," he said simply.

Yuugi's eyes widened but he remained calm; he exchanged a quick glance with Bakura. "You too?" Honda nodded without a word. "What about?" Yuugi asked gently. "It wasn't about an elevator, was it?" Because that would just be strange…as if everything else that has happened to them wasn't strange enough.

Honda gave Yuugi a look as if the boy had just lost his mind. "What? No, it was about Jounouchi."

Seto leaned across the aisle as much as his seat would allow to listen to what Honda was talking about. "What about Jounouchi?"

Honda acted as if he hadn't heard Seto. He continued to stare at Yuugi as he talked. "But it wasn't all of Jounouchi. It was his head…" Honda gulped," and it was talking to me."

There was a deafening silence as the horrified friends registered what Honda had just said. Seto looked as if he were about to say something but then the train turned a corner too fast. The car they were in tipped to the left, balanced on only one of its sides.

Anything Seto was going to say was forgotten as everyone in their car screamed.

-/-

Ranko: Yeah, that's how we do what we do! Just the record, trains do not actually tip over when they turn. I have been on a train countless times and that has never happened. I just hope I didn't traumatize anyone.

Yuugi: Oh my, Ra! I love it!

Yami: When am I going to show up?

Ranko: It's the first chapter and you're asking me this now?

Yami: Yeah, I want to know when I can be with Yuugi! Also, when I show up the new Game starts. What is the new Game, Ranko? Huh? Huh? Huh?

Ranko: I'm not answering your questions, you'll just have to wait like the rest of the readers and find out when it happens!

Yuugi: …You don't know anyone of the answers, do you?

Ranko: (sweat drop) Please review!