A/N: It's fun to see Word try to tell me that I spell names wrong.


Chapter 8: Sacrifice

"Jounouchi, I have a plan."

"Oh?

"But I need you to leave. I think.. I can beat him. But you need to go find the Pharaoh."

"I can't just run away from a duel! A true duelist nev-"

"Jounouchi, SHUT UP." The young CEO took his gaze off the three monsters remaining – two of them were Marik's recently summoned. "The Pharaoh needs to know that I won this duel."

A scoff. "Keh, you think you'll win Seto Kaiba? My two monsters against your one dragon? Well then, here! Let me level the playing field! Drillago, slaughter your comrade, Lord Poison!"

A shrilling cry came from the lesser monster as the drills pierced it's flesh. The hologram splattered at first, then vanished into the void. Kaiba and Jounouchi screamed at the direct agony forced upon them in unison. "Keh heh heh, now we're even."

"Jounouchi – go!"

The blonde nodded, clutching his chest as his very heart felt as if it were on fire. His looked at Kaiba one last time, admiring his persistence amongst this chaos. Perhaps.. if they both lived after this, he'd buy him a drink.

He fled, not even daring to look back at dark shrouds behind him.

"So, it's just you and me, Marik."

"Heh, so you think."

He sighed, looking at his Blue Eyes card and running a finger along the image of the mighty dragon. No, there'd be no second guessing himself. This was it. It was time to end Marik's chain of torture. It was time to take that pleasure away from him.

"Blue Eyes, ATTACK."

=== *** === *** ===

First, there was darkness. He opened his eyes, seeing nothing in the portal but swirls of shadows. How low he must have fallen to have lost. Wait.

That's impossible.

How could I have lost?

"You didn't lose, Kaiba." A faint chuckle echoed in the still air. Suddenly, the rightful prince stepped forth into his domain. Bakura, weary though just as confident, kneeled in front of Kaiba. He was laying down on his belly – "Such a coward. Do you even know what you have done?"

"I.. beat Marik, didn't I?"

"Hmph." Bakura stood up and faded away.

"Wait – Bakura! Come back!"

But it was too late.

He was beginning to wake up…

"So, Seto Kaiba, you've finally won your last duel." He ran a hand through his rival's hair as Kaiba lay still on the warm concrete. "Wait 'til the Pharaoh sees this. Your pride wouldn't let you lose, huh?"

Kaiba smiled, beaten. He knew his victory, now, was in vain. He understood it was pointless to have stood up against this guy. Still, he chuckled to himself.

"What's so funny?"

"Ha, now I know.. know that you can be beaten."

"Pheh. The taste of your sweat is alluring, Seto Kaiba. It's been a while since you've been afraid, hasn't it?" A wet tongue slid up against the CEO's cheek, making him wince at the sudden contact.

"Well… you should be."