Me: Well, since the few people who reviewed want me to continue, I guess I will.
Yami: Once again, I can't believe people actually like this piece of s-
Me: YAMI! Please! I would like to keep the rating at a T, if you don't mind.
Yami: What are you going to do about it?
Me: Don't make me turn this into a death fic!
Yami:.......Can it be Ryou who dies? (Little Kuriboh joke!)
Me: (slaps forehead with hand)

Yami's POV

We stepped through the door, only to see an empty table. We walked over to it, and Kuriboh hopped off my shoulder and landed on the table, scratching at it curiously. I looked around.
"Hello?" I called out. "Is anyone here?" Suddenly, a mist appeared on the opposite end of the table. As it cleared, I saw a tall, black creature with long, skeleton like hands and beaming red eyes. It was Joey's card. The Red Eyes Black Dragon.
"Glad to see you made, my Pharaoh." The creature said. It's voice was deep and harsh. And it's eyes beamed a different shade of red. Not at all the light, sweet red I was used too. This was blood red.
I could only nod as Kuriboh began to shudder in fear. Then, several items appeared out of nowhere, scaring Kuriboh enough to make it jump off the table. The items were a paper cup, a scale, a nail, some pieces of paper, a quart of water, rocks, some scraps of rotten food, and a pencil. I was confused. I hadn't an idea of what this challenge was suppose to be. When the Black Dragon saw my confusion, he quickly explained.
"Weigh the cup." He said sternly. Nervously, I took the cup and placed it on the scale. Numbers appeared on the small digital screen, fluctuating between high numbers and low numbers. Eventually it stopped and beeped, while the small, black numbers flashed slightly. 0.5oz.
I still didn't see the point of it, when Black Dragon began to explain more.
"See those other items on the table?" I nodded. "What can you put in the cup to make it weigh less? You have three tries. If you fail, you will not be allowed access to the next challenge."
He vanished into smoke, leaving me in a daze.
"Make the cup weigh less? How is that possible?" I said aloud, looking down at Kuriboh. He stared at me with his sad, brown eyes and shrugged. Sighing, I looked back onto the table. I had a nail, paper, water, rocks, food, a pencil, all of which had weight. So they would all only add weight to the cup, not reduce it. I was in a daze, but since I had three tries, I decided to wing it. Which in retrospect, is probably never a good thing to do. I put the pieces of paper in the cup, since out of my options they weighed less. I promptly put the cup back on the scale, waiting anxiously for the new number to arrive.
0.6
"Damn it!" I yelled throwing my hands in the air. I don't know why, it's not like I'd excepted something different. I angrily emptied the cup, throwing the pieces of paper in all directions. Kuriboh jumped back onto the table, toying with the different objects. He picked up the rocks and, mirroring my moves, threw them away as well. It made sense, the rocks would be the heaviest items so we may as well narrow down our options. Maybe filling it with water. Who am I kidding? That won't make it lighter. But, I don't have a clue as to what else it could be. Besides, maybe it'll help give me ideas. I took the quart of water and untwisted the cap. Then, I poured a small amount into the cup and weighed it again.
0.9
Great. I only had one try left, and I'm fresh out of ideas! And even if I did have any, would they be good enough to risk my last turn? I'd once again be gambling Yugi's and the others safety. I took the cup and emptied the water back into the plastic jug. I looked over at Kuriboh sadly. He helped me figure out the last challenge, what about this one?
"Got any ideas?" The monster tapped his chin with his claws, looking stumped, then they lite up. He went over to the jug and slashed it with his long, sharp claws around the middle. Water slowly poured out the hole, like a leaky faucet. The hole.....It was worth a shot. I took the cup and then the nail, and poked a large hole into the bottom of the cup. Placing it back onto the scale, I crossed my fingers.
0.4oz.
"Yes!" I shouted. "Thank you, Kuriboh." He smiled at me proudly with his eyes closed. Smoke appeared and the Red Eyes Black Dragon came forth. He looked angry, as though he hadn't wanted me to win. But, he was a shadow creature, so maybe he didn't.
"Congratulations, you have passed the second challenge."
"Now, I will also administer the third, are you ready?"
I was stunned. He would give me the third challenge? Sure, I'd get it done faster....hopefully, but it didn't make sense. Still, I nodded, answering the monster's question.
"It will also be a riddle. You have one try to solve it, but this time no time limit." I sighed in relief. No time limit meant I didn't need to feel rushed to answer it.
"A boy wants to go to Truthsville, where everyone tells only the truth. But right next to Truthsville, is Liarsville, where everyone tells only lies. The boy doesn't know which way to go, but a man lies in the middle of both paths. He says the boy can ask him one question. What does the boy ask to get him to Truthsville?"

I couldn't believe it. I had heard that riddle before! Yes, Joey had told Yugi that riddle before. Luckily, I was paying attention. That riddle had been clever and deceitful. Perhaps that is why I never forgot it or the answer. This time, I wouldn't need Kuriboh's help. "He asks the man to take him to the town he's from. Because if he's from Truthsville, he'll the truth and take him to Truthsville, and if he'd from Liarsville, he'll lie and take him to Truthsville!"
I, for one, was proud of myself. I had completed three of the seven challenges successfully. I only had four more to go. I looked down at Kuriboh, who was trying to give me a thumbs-up. He was finding it difficult, however, since he had no thumbs. I quietly laughed and gestured for him to hop onto my shoulder which he did without hesitation. I looked over at the Black Dragon and he nodded in approval.
"That is correct. You may proceed." He slowly dissolved into the shadows and in his place was another rusted, brown door. I walked up to it and placed my hand on the handle. Taking in a deep breath, I turned the knob, and pushed it open as I stepped in.

Yugi's POV

I was only half-conscious. I was still aware of what was going on, but the creature inside me was still in control. Although it didn't hurt Bakura, Ryou, or Mai, it still continued to talk to me and me alone. It's voice was deep. A lot like Yami's. But his voice wasn't comforting like Yami's. In fact, it was the exact opposite. His voice made me feel scared and alone. It made me feel small and weak. Which had to be his plans because I could feel his comfort in my pain.
"He'll get rid of you." I said shakily.
"I have no doubt about that. But will you be alive by the time he gets here?"
"Wha-what do you mean?" The creature wanted to be destroyed? And he was going to kill me in the process?
The creature chuckled. "Without the Pharaoh to shield you, you're easy prey to the shadows. With each passing second, you're life force diminishes. At the rate your going, I'd say you only have a few hours left."
My heart twinged. He was right. I could feel the energy slowing leaving me. I was tired and fatigued and I was trembling cold. But, I couldn't let the creature know it. Bakura said the shadows feed of the negative energy. That means, rage, sadness, jealously, envy, I think I can do it. If I just imagine happy thoughts, positive thoughts, the shadows won't be able to feed as quickly or get as fuel. Eventually, they'll be the weak ones. And if I get them weak enough, maybe I can gain control of my body again. It would be risky and impulsive. Just like the time with Peagues. Yami warned me I wasn't strong enough to continue the duel. I took it as an insult when he meant to protect me. I told him I could make it and he reluctantly let me do as I wished. Was it do with the promise he made to me during I duel with Mai? He said he would never go against my wishes again. And I almost died. I was forever in his debt when he ended up saving me and Grandpa. But, I was going to die anyways. I just need to weaken the shadows so that I'm stronger than them. As far as I could tell, it was the best I had. If I didn't do it, I would for sure die, if I did do it, they was a chance I won't die. Now, I just have to play the waiting game.