Chapter 10- The Finals

They finally were on their way to the stadium. Clare wasn't too thrilled to see Kaiba willingly, but hey, it's not like she could help it. They entered the stadium, and received their id cards. Fabian was already there, and staying far away from Kaiba. 0Than Marrick came in.

"Oh, it's you." Miercoln said taking over.

"Drop dead." Sam said under her breath.

"It's not my fault that you already know who I am." Marrick said annoyed.

"Yea, it's not my fault you're an idiot." Sam remarked.

They finally got on the blimp, and Kaiba made his annoying remarks.

"You stupid grump! That's why you will NEVER get a girlfriend!" Clare yelled at him, but as he walked away, he stopped, looked at her, and than left stomping out.

"Jerk." Clare said. But than Miercoln took over and she said she had to go to the restroom. Miercoln went to find Ishizu. She found her door, and knocked.

"Ishizu, I need to speak in private with you." She said.

"Come in Miercoln, I have been waiting for you." Miercoln opened the door, came in, and than took off her arm band.

That night, they all ate dinner. Clare was back, and Bakura was sitting with her. She did not wear her arm band, because she wanted to be alone whenever she was with Bakura, to at least feel like she was with him. They finally picked the numbers, and they all remembered their numbers with this difference... Fabian is 9, Sam is 10, Raen is 11, and Clare is 12.

The first two to duel were still Bakura and Yugi. Before Bakura left, he spoke to Clare.

"I'll be alright love, I promise." He said to her.

"Yes, but..." Clare said, but he kissed her before she could say anything. Oh god, Yami Bakura just kissed me... what do I do... than she looked back and saw Kaiba with a jealous face, and she smiled, but than shrugged that off, and pushed away. "I know you're not the real Bakura, so stop trying to get me to think so you thief." She said under her breath as she walked away briskly. Sam looked at her strangely. "What?" Clare said to her. "I'm upset it's not Ryu Bakura."

"Ok than..." Sam said not exactly wanting to get into it at the moment.

The duel went on as usual, and when Ryu Bakura came back, Clare got all upset.
"Idiot! Marrick, we all know you're working with Yami Bakura! So just let my boyfriend go! He has nothing to do with this! Yami Bakura should go to the shadow realm!" She said, but than caught herself. "Oh my god, I can't believe I just said that." Than turning back to the weakened Bakura she loves, she said, "I love you Bakura!"

"C...Clare?" he said weakly staring into the audience.

"Hang on! I love you Bakura!" Clare said with tears in her eyes. "Yami Bakura!" she yelled into the air. "Get you're ass back into him NOW! I can't loose him, and if you're the only way, than so be it. Think, if you don't get back in, than you might loose your host forever! Think about it!" Clare said crying even more.

Yami Bakura reentered his body almost immediately. He than lost just like as in the show. Ryu Bakura was back, and Clare ran faster than anyone else, even Yugi who was right there. She held him in her arms, and hugged him gently. She didn't want to go see Kaiba, but something told her she should go, so after about ten minutes, she went to his room, because she knew that for some bizarre reason, he would probably listen to her. However, after much arguing, Kaiba wouldn't budge.

"She does have a good point." Clare said suddenly coming in after Serenity said this was just a silly game. "It is a silly game, but you do have a medical staff, so send them idiot."

"Clare? What... uh... I mean..." Kaiba actually blushed. Everyone looked at him weird, but Mokuba snickered. However, Kaiba gave him a stern look, and he stopped. "Of course I will." Kaiba said finally giving the order to the medical staff. After that, Clare left without a word.

"What was that all about?" Sam asked aloud.

"It's none of you're business, now all of you OUT!" Kaiba said even angrier.

"When are you going to tell her Seto?" Mokuba said.

"When I feel like it, now please let me be so I can prepare." Kaiba said to his brother. What could Mokuba mean by that...?

Tea did not take the ring, because Sam and Clare stopped her, and Miercoln secretly did a spell to relieve her of Marrick's hold on her. Unfortunately, Clare had to leave Bakura so that she could see who duels next. Joey and Odeon still were chosen to duel. The duel went on the same way, and Joey still won.

Afterward, they visited Odeon in the hospital. Than Mai said this...

"It's when you're down when you need you're friends the most."

Sam and Clare looked at each other. Clare had tears in her eyes. When Mai asked Joey if she was in it, Sam nudged him, and Joey actually said that he did have her in her dream. Sam than grinned, and high-fives Clare.

Than came the duel with Mai and Marrick... Clare was devastated to find that they still had to duel. Clare even cried.

"Don't worry hun, I'll be alright." She said.

"I...I know Mai, I wanted to duel Marrick, that's all."

"It's alright sis, I'll beat him for you." She said smiling with a content face going into the elevator with Marrick.

"You want to duel him? You know what happens to her..." Sam whispered to her. "I know, but I'd do anything to take her place. She's my sister." Clare answered her. Sam had an astonished look on her face.

"Come on, we better go up and cheer her on, maybe it won't end up like it does." Sam said.

The duel began, and Mai was in higher spirits since Joey said he did see her in the dream. However, it still began to be like it was in the show. Yugi tried to tell her to forfeit, but Fabian pushed through and silenced him. Clare tried to kick him out, and they were yelling and screaming, while the duel went on, and Marrick than took the first dose of Mai's life points.

"You see what you did asshole!" Clare said.

Only this time, the first memory that was taken away was her own sister, Clare.

"Mai! Hang in there!" Clare yelled.

"Who's... who's that talking to me...?" Mai said.

"Oh no..." Clare said with tears in her eyes. "I was the first memory."

Sam hugged her. "It's alright Clare; she'll be OK in the end."

"Ok? She ends up in the Shadow Realm, and doesn't wake up until the final duel is over! You call that Ok? And she'll be there without the memory of me! I'm her sister!" Clare said falling to her knees crying.

From above, Kaiba looked at this display, and actually felt bad for her.

"Do something Seto!" Mokuba said seeing him look at her.

"No Mokuba." He said after staring at her for about five minutes. "Especially if those Wheelers are down there." He scoffed, but he did do something about Fabian. "Fabian, will you stop your pathetic flirting, and go somewhere else? I can't stand it!" and than returned his eyes to the duel, waiting for Ra.

"Uh... I guess I should say thank you..." Clare said. She thought about it, but decided not to.

Mai continued to lose the memories of her friends.

Sam hugged him, and the next memory erased was of Sam and Raen too. Than when she was about to take the Egyptian God Card, but Raen, Sam and Clare tried to reach out to her, but since she didn't remember them, it was no help. When she attempted to summon The Winged Dragon of Ra, Kaiba did not get all excited. Instead, he looked at Clare with concern. He did not dare let the others see him, but he actually cared for her. When Marrick explained about the ancient text, he didn't mention just Kaiba, but also Clare, which made everyone stare at her.

Anyway, when Mai was about to be beaten by the Winged Dragon of Ra, Joey still went up and tried to get her out. Only this time, she knew who he was. Yugi did the same thing he did as well. But after the duel, Clare ran up.

"Don't make her go!" Clare said to him.

"And why not? I'm keeping my end of the bargain." Marrick said.

"Take me instead." Clare said, but than Sam interfered.

"Clare, are you crazy! You don't want to go to the shadow realm!"

"Clare, don't do this!" Mai pleaded.

During all this, Kaiba stood in amazement. He wanted to help so badly, but he knew he couldn't. If he did, they would all think of him as a softie for sure.

"No, I like her better." Marrick said finally, he froze Clare and Sam, and sent Mai to the Shadow Realm. After they were unfrozen, Clare cried once again.

"It's alright Clare." Sam said. "She'll be back alright."

"I know, but I just can't help thinking I could have prevented this."

"There was nothing you could do." Sam said as she hugged her friend.

Finally, Yugi woke up, and they all headed to Mai's room. Then the lottery was being picked, so they went to see. It turned out to be Kaiba and Ishizu. Clare was too upset to watch him duel.

"I'm not going to watch, I'm just gonna stay with my sister." Clare said walking away as the rest left, but as they left, Kaiba grabbed Clare by the arm while the others were far ahead.

"What now?" she said coldly. "You didn't help my sister, so why should I even SPEAK to you?"

"Are you alright?" Kaiba asked.

"Alright? ALRIGHT? I just lost my SISTER to the SHADOW REALM! And you have the nerve to ask me if I was alright. You are a complete idiot." She said walking away, but than she stopped in the corner, and started to cry. Kaiba sighed, if he was going to do anything, he might as well do it now before he had to go up and duel. He went over to comfort her.

"Get off me." She said crying but not shoving him off. Kaiba did not let go, but instead bent down to kiss her. She gave in.

"Aw, isn't this sweet." Fabian's voice came from behind.

"Go away Fabian." Kaiba said.

"Why? I mean my ex is gonna go out with my twin brother, I think I should stay and maybe get in on the action..." however, Kaiba than punched him. "You're an idiot." He said simply. They both looked at Clare, but she just went up to them both and slapped them.

"I don't need a rich boy like you defending me, I can take care of him myself. And you..." She said turning to Fabian. "If you tell one word of what Kaiba and I just did to anyone, you will never have children for the rest of your natural life... better yet, you'll never have sex ever again, because everything will be GONE!" she said storming away.

"Whatever." Kaiba said now going up to the roof. He had his duel with Ishizu, and obviously won.

The next lottery had Sam and Raen going against each other. It was the only friendly match so far, and Raen won. Than last were Fabian and Clare. Clare was very excited to be dueling him after seeing him catch her and Kaiba kissing. It was a long, grueling duel, and Kaiba watched every second of it. Kaiba did not show any emotion as usual, especially with Clare's last words to him.

Toward the end, Miercoln had a very big trick up her sleeve. She had Skull Red Bird on the field, and Harpies Lady 1. She than used elegant egotist to make harpies lady sisters, and than summoned Harpies pet dragon, and used Gift of the Mystical Elf to get 4500 life points.

"But that's not all, I play one cards face down. Your turn idiot." She said grinning.

"Fine," he said grinning as he drew his card. "I use three scape goats to sacrifice so I can summon my own version of Slypher the sky dragon, and I attack all you're monsters..."

"Not so fast idiot," Miercoln said. "I use scapegoat, and you know what it means, so I don't have to explain it to you."

"Fine, it helps you, but you have only four now," He said annoyed. "I use Dark Hole to take all of these monsters away since it's no use to destroy them, because I want to attack you directly."

"Great, now it's my turn...perfect." she said drawing the one card that will help everything. "Now I can do what I was meaning to do. So thank you for using Dark Hole. I play pyramid of light, and than I pay 1000 of my life points to summon Sphinx Teleia, and Andro Sphinx in defense mode. And now my turn's done." She said.

"Aw, are you scared now? Well I draw another card, and my boy here is now 10,000 attack points. I will attack you're sphinxes." He said attacking. "Make you're turn so you can lose already."

"Well, that won't be so simple, since I will win this match in this round. You see, you did me a favor in destroying both my sphinxes, because I can now pay 500 more life points to summon Theinen the Great Sphinx. Now I only have 3000 life points, so I pay 2500 life points to boost up my Sphinx. Now, you know what that means right? My Sphinx has exactly 15000 life points now, and your Slypher as you said, only has 10,000. So I attack your sorry escuse for a god card with my Sphinx, and end this duel." Miercoln said as her great Sphinx won against his Slypher.

Everyone was amazed, especially Kaiba, because he thought that no one could beat those cards. She took from Fabian the card of Ra, which as she found out was just like the original god card.

They than visited Mai after Clare took over again. Clare was very quiet, and did not say anything. During the whole story, all Clare could do was staring at Mai. She knew what was going happen, so what was the point of listening. She than decided to face Marrick on the roof without letting anyone know. She and Bakura met there as well.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Valentine..." Bakura said.

"Save it Thief. I'm here to duel Marrick." She said angrily,

"But Bakura wanted to duel me." Marrick said appearing in front of them. "I don't care. I want to duel you, and if I win, you will let my sister free from the Shadow Realm."

"Fine, but if I win, you and your witch must go to the Shadow Realm as well." Marrick said.

"Why the both of us?" Clare asked.

"Well if you didn't know, Miercoln is here to help things through more than you and little Samantha, she is going to get Kaiba to tap into his past, and I can't let that happen."

"Fine, I agree." Clare said. She looked into her compact mirror.

"What are you doing Clare?" Miercoln said to her.

"I'm doing what I should have done before... Save Mai." She said.

"Fine, I'll duel him, but you must never do something like this again." Miercoln said as she switched bodies with Clare.

Marrick and Miercoln's duel was vicious, and he bad-mouthed she and Seth very much before he took them to the Shadow Realm. There, he revealed that their duel was going to be just like Yugi and Marrick's in the end, only since the arm band makes them completely separate, he would have to send her to the Shadow Realm after Clare goes. During the end half of the duel, Kaiba and Yugi showed up, and were very surprised to see Clare chained up along with good Marrick, while bad Marrick and Miercoln dueled. Clare was weak, but she saw them and gasped. Miercoln than looked behind her to see them. She sighed, but quickly went back to the duel. She attempted to raise her own Ra from Fabian that she won, but it seemed that Marrick's was much stronger, and sent Clare to the Shadow Realm, while Miercoln fell to the ground crying. Kaiba was the first to run to her.

"Seto..." Miercoln said. "Yugi, you were not supposed to find out about us... you must keep it a secret, or my job will be forfeit."

"Don't worry we will." Yugi said still in amazement.

Miercoln than turned to Kaiba.

"Seto, I know you do not believe in these things, but wear this..." she said giving him the blue necklace she once put around his neck when his soul was taken by Pegasus.

"What... I don't get it..."

"You don't have to, just wear it, and it'll answer your own answers." She said.

As he put it on, Kaiba turned into a completely different person; Seth.

"My love, what's wrong, who is he?" Seth asked her.

"You will find out soon enough darling, but I must go now." She said looking at Marrick.

"NO! I just got you back, I am not going to let you go!" he protested.

"Yugi, help Seth understand what is going on, and help him make Seto believe." She said.

"Well I hate to let this reunion end, but she has promised me something Seth, High Priest of the Pharaoh." Marrick said. "And I plan to send her to the Shadow Realm now." He said as he lifted up the Millennium item that once belonged to Seth, and sent his love to the Shadow Realm.

"Now if you don't mind, I'm dueling young Bakura here." He said as he walked off.

"Um... Seth?" Yugi asked him.

"Yes... are you the boy who is meant to help the Pharaoh restore peace?" Seth responded as he saw the puzzle.

"Yes, I guess you can say I am."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, but I fear I must let this Seto take over from here. Please do make sure he keep's Miercoln a secret." Seth told Yugi.

"Of Course." Yugi smiled.

"What the... did I just black out? Was I dreaming? What... Clare, I wasn't dreaming?" Kaiba was suddenly back.

"No Kaiba and you must promise not to tell anyone about Clare's Yami... or yours."

"Yami? What the hell is a Yami?"

"A spirit who lives inside an item..."

"Right, I don't believe that...Clare is unconscious as well, just like Mai right?"

"Yes,"

"Than I'm bringing her to the hospital quarters." He said getting up and carrying Clare. Yugi stayed to carry Bakura back to his room, and Kaiba put down the news that there were only five finalists, now that Clare was injured. Sam couldn't believe it when she was told, and she couldn't believe that Miercoln didn't stop her at all. The Virtual Reality was going to be a LONG ride...