Disclaimer: It isn't mine. It never is. Cause that would actually be cool. I would make all the animes yaoi based and corrupt the youth of the world with incessant fluff and yummy scenes of hot guys in showers!!!!! Mwa Ha Ha Ha!!!!!!!!!!!

…………………………………….um, yeah.

Rising Heat By Dai-onna

Yugi stood facing the morning sun, quietly reflecting on what was to come. First he would face Mai, then Joey would face Keith. The winners of those two matches would meet to decide who would face Pegasus. Odds were, he would be facing Joey in the finals. Normally he would feel reluctant to duel his best friend but right now he had no room for hesitation, his only goal was to defeat Pegasus and he would do so using whatever means necessary.

'Are you ready, aibou' His Yami's voice filled his head and he felt even more confidant.

'Yes… Yami, I don't want you to duel for me today.'

'What? Are you sure?'

'I have to do this myself. I can't let anyone do it for me.'

'You know Pegasus will cheat and use his Sennen eye.' He warned him.

'I know. But even if he knows what I'm going to do, it won't matter. I won't let him stop me from saving the people I love!' Yugi vowed fiercely.

'I'm proud of you Yugi. You've become so strong that I sometimes think you don't need me anymore.'

Yugi shook his head, a small smile tingeing his lips.

'Iie, I will always need you Yami. If I am stronger it is because I know that You and Seto love me and have faith in me. That gives me all the strength that I could ever need. You two are the best parts of me and without you I am nothing.'

'Oh Yugi, … You will never have to be without either of us again. I promise you that.'

'I know.'

With a determined breath Yugi grabbed his jacket off the chair and spread it over his shoulders, letting it fall like a cape. He smiled secretly to himself for a moment, knowing that the gesture was something that his Yami would have done. He wound his way through the halls to the room where they were supposed to meet before the matches began. He was the first to arrive but was soon joined by Jowy, then Anzu, Honda and Bakura. Mai then followed then lastly, Keith.

Yugi said nothing to anybody, standing off in a corner by himself until Pegasus' steward came in and announced that they were about to begin. He only half listened as the man explained the rules, his mind focused on his upcoming duels. He had spent the better part of the morning making some last minute additions to his deck. He was willing to do whatever it took to win even if he had to use the lowest, cheapest methods he could think of to do so.

Finally the first match was declared and he and Mai headed towards the arena while the others headed for the balcony to watch.

Yugi went to stand in front of his console before turning his thoughts inward.

'Yami, get out.'

'What?'

'Get out. I don't want you helping me, even by just offering me advice in my mind. This is my battle and I have to see it through alone.'

There was a long silence before his Yami finally replied.

'I understand.'

There was a bright glow from the millennium puzzle that startled everyone. More startling to them was the fact that the light took the shape of a boy that looked remarkably like Yugi only he was more than a full head taller and had more spikes of golden hair. He was easily recognized as the one who appeared during Yugi's duels.

Yami gave Yugi a meaningful look.

"Ganbatte, Yugi."

Yugi nodded and Yami headed for the balcony. Across the dueling field, Mai stood staring, slack-jawed at the retreating form before settling her startled gaze on Yugi. His stare hardened and he had to keep his determination from wavering. The older girl in front of him gasped when he gave her an icy glare.

"It was no lie when I said I wanted to be your friend, Mai. But now I don't have time to worry about friendship. You are an obstacle and, if need be, I will crush you to accomplish my goals." His voice had a violent edge to it that none of them had heard before and there were several gasps in the now quiet room. Mai's eyes grew slightly watery and for a moment remorse lapped at him but he quickly pushed it aside and gave her a grim smile.

"Maybe you were right about that after all."

There was a long moment of tenuous silence before finally Mai nodded her understanding and gave him a confident grin.

"Come one then, boy. Show me if you have what it takes to make it through this tournament."

Yugi returned her grin with every bit of confidence.

"Yes, Let's duel!"

Yami sighed to himself as he climbed the stairs to the balcony, his worry for Yugi overwhelming him. He was afraid for his Aibou. Not that he would lose. At this point he didn't think anyone could defeat the smaller boy. He was worried that the anger that his light half was dealing with would continue to build until it consumed him and the sweet, loving Yugi that he knew would be gone.

He knew everyone was watching him as he stepped onto the balcony but he didn't really care. Nothing mattered to him at the moment except Yugi. Joey surprised him though by coming to stand next to him, his expression neutral.

The blonde turned to him, giving him an even look.

"Is this wise?" He asked, his concern for Yugi as evident as Yami's.

Yami met his gaze for a moment before looking back on the beginning duel.

"Maybe. Maybe not. But Yugi has to do this. If I do it for him he will never forgive me. Or himself. This has become more than just a tournament to him. He has something that he needs to protect."

Joey was silent for a moment and Yami thought that he'd dropped the conversation when he startled the pharaoh by whispering under his breath.

"It's Kaiba, isn't it?"

Yami momentarily glanced up at the taller boy.

"Aa."

Joey nodded and they both turned their attention to the duel below.

Yugi drew his cards, adrenaline seeping through his veins as he looked them over and he smiled a little to himself. Holy Elf, Harpy's Feather Sweep, Curse Of Dragon, Ankou Kishi Gaia, and Ookazi .

He placed the Elf facedown in defense mode and Ookazi on the field as a decoy to distract the older girl.

"Omae no turn." He said ending his turn.

Mai studied his cards warily then set out her Harpy Lady, equipping her with Cyber Bondage and having her attack the facedown card.

Even with her attack increased, the Harpy Lady wasn't strong enough to breach the elf's defenses and Mai's life points took the damage.

With a curse Mai ended her turn.

Yugi drew his card.

Hikari no gofuken—Swords Of Sealing Light

He kept his expression blank as he placed Curse of Dragon and destroyed Mai's 'Harpy-chan'.

He ended his turn and Mai drew another card. He grew wary when a small quirk formed at the corner of her lips. Even more so when she set a magic card on the field. She then gave him a dark look before setting out her next monster.

"Harpy's Pet Dragon!" With its attack equal to Curse Of Dragon she let it sit for the turn.

With an uneasy feeling he drew his next card.

Ritual of Chaos.

A plan already forming in mind, Yugi set Gaia onto the field and played a magic card from his hand.

Harpy's Feather Sweep.

Mai yelped in protest when her card was destroyed.

Yugi frowned when he saw what it was.

Mirror Wall.

With a sharp curse, Yugi had Gaia attack the dragon. Mai whimpered when it was gone and at the three hundred point decrease in her life points.

Yugi ended his turn and waited pensively for Mai's next move. Despite the older girl's lack of direction, Yugi knew that she was a serious duelist and definitely someone to contend with.

He was unprepared for the assault.

"I play spell-binding circle!"

Yugi cringed a bit when a thousand attack points were taken from Gaia and Curse Of Dragon as well as the defending elf.

She followed up her attack by playing the Harpy Lady with Ten Thousand Reflections, splitting it into the Harpy Lady Triplets and considerably increasing their attack. When she equipped them with the Malevolent Nuzzler Yugi knew he was in trouble. He had nothing in his hand that could beat them and few things in his deck.

He looked down at the field and remembered the magic card he'd placed before. It wouldn't solve his current problem but it would take about half of her remaining life points. He decided to hold off on using it.

Mai's harpy Ladies attacked and destroyed Curse Of dragon taking a chunk of his life points with it. She ended her turn and Yugi placed his hand on top of his deck, ready to draw his next card. He prayed to anyone, anywhere that was listening that his next card was the one he's been waiting for.

He drew.

A smirk formed on his lips and he stared Mai down with and intimidating glare.

"This duel is over." He set his card on the field and everyone held their breath as they waited to see what he played. The monster appeared and the tension increased tenfold before Mai slammed her hands down on her console, outraged.

"What do mean the duel is over?! How dare you insult my by implying that that can beat my Harpy-chan!" She screamed, pointing at Kuriboh, wide-eyed.

Yugi gave her a Yami-like smirk and pulled another card from his hand.

"I'm not finished yet. Prepare yourself Mai, for the warrior of legend."
Yugi played the Ritual of Chaos on the field, sacrificing Kuriboh and Gaia into a huge beam of light.      

When the light dissipated a single soldier stood in its place. Clad in resplendent black armor that shone brightly and wielding an arced sword, the Chaos Soldier was truly a sight to behold. He effortlessly destroyed the harpies and Mai knew that she'd been beat.

She removed her cards from the field and stepped down.

Yugi was declared the winner and he looked up at Pegasus who was watching with an amused grin from his own private balcony.

Yugi thoughts shone clearly in his mind.

One more duel, Pegasus, and then its your turn. I swear you will pay.

~~Owari~~

Okay, I know it's kinda short but there's only one more chapter left and it will be longer.

As always, please review