Hey guys! Happy December and Happy Holidays! We're now getting farther into Battle City and I'm starting to shake with excitement!

Bakura: Mostly because she just realized that, because she's the author, she can cut duels she doesn't want to write.

Shut up! Anyway! I hope you all enjoy!

*I don't own Yugioh! I only own Christine, my OC. If you recognize anything, I don't own it!*

When Yami and I entered the main console, I noticed that Mai looked extra mad. I blinked at her angry expression. It then dawned on me.

"Jounouchi said something mean to Mai." I sighed.

"What gave it away?" Yami deadpanned back. "Her angry expression? Or the fact that Jounouchi has a red mark where Anzu probably pinched him?"

"Can I say both?"

"I would have to agree with that answer."

We both sighed at the supposed rudeness of our friend before fully entering the room. Jounouchi glanced over to me, he was checking to see if I was ok. I nodded my head, a soft smile on my face. The bingo machine was already going and I realized that this one pull would determine this round and the final one.

"For the third duel: The first Duelist is No. 6: Mai Valentine!" Roland cried.

"Good luck, Mai!" Jounouchi cried to her.

Mai didn't turn back to smile at us. I gave a quick glance at Yami seeing him stare at Mai's back. Yep, she was mad. The woman turned towards the stairs up to the platform before her opponent was even called. "Wait, Mai! Your opponent's not decided yet!"

"No matter who they are, I'll win!" Mai simply replied with. "Yugi! Jounouchi! I'll see you in the semi-finals!"

"We'll cheer for you…-!"

"Don't come!"

Mai snapped her head back towards Jounouchi and I saw the anger in her eyes. "I fight alone! I don't need anybody cheering for me!"

"Mai…" I heard Anzu breathe and the woman gave short laugh.

"Don't make me laugh. Always the same strategy: friendship, friendship, friendship, whatever. Jounouchi, I'm not a soft duelist like you!"

That made Jounouchi really mad. He tried to storm at her but Anzu grabbed his jacket to stop him. Mai stormed out of the room, her boots clicking on the ground.

"The next duelist is Marik Ishtar!" Roland called.

Oh no…

We all glanced around at each other before we bolted towards the elevator that would take us up to the platform. Marik was already there by the time we got there, smiling evilly at Mai across the way. She looked utterly frightened already.

"Mai!" Jounouchi called up to her, seeing that she turned her head towards us. "You can do it, Mai! Beat Marik!"

Mai looked conflicted for a moment. She was probably still mad but was touched that we came up anyway. Her annoyed expression came back when she narrowed her eyes.

"I thought I told you not to interfere, Yugi!" Mai snapped. "I fight alone!"

"Sheesh! Stop acting tough for once! We know you're a real duelist but more than that you're our friend!"

Mai's expression faltered for a second before snapping her head towards Marik. My eyes followed to see that looked more than thrilled to have us here. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"This black fog…" Honda breathed, his voice sounding constricted. "It's getting hard to breathe! At first, I thought the air was thin because we're so high up. It's like there's a fog cork down our throats…"

"If it gets any thicker, we won't even be able to see them!"

I had to force myself to breathe. This fog was like a weight on my chest. The touch of it reminded me of Yami's early shadow games. But this was a far darker incarnation of those. Yami must have recognized the similarities as well, snapping his head up at Marik.

"Marik!" Yami shouted. "Don't do this!"

Marik only continued to smile over at Mai. Yami gave a ragged breath before turning to Mai. "Mai! This duel is dangerous! If you lose, you'll die! Just walk away, now!"

"Do you think I'm an amateur, Yugi?!" Mai snapped back. "Once a duelist accepts a duel, if they give it up and turn their back to their enemy, a part of their heart will die forever! You should know that better than anybody else!"

Yami flinched at the words. "Listen, Yugi! You too, Jounouchi! I'll win this duel no matter what happens! So that I can fight you guys next!" Yami was silent still, his eyes narrowed. I surreptitiously took his hand and felt the constricting grip begin to squeeze my own.

"We can't stop her from doing this, can we?" Jounouchi breathed to Yami.

There wasn't anything we could do… I clutched onto Yami even tighter.

Mai started the duel with Amazoness Swordswoman in attack mode and a face down card. Obviously a trap but I knew Marik wasn't to be fooled. I did notice that Mai was looking at her monster a fair bit more than she should have been. Her gaze flickered between something on her chest and her monster. What? Marik took his turn to play Makyura the Destructor, a monster with 100 attack points more than Mai's monster.

When he called for an attack, Mai's trap card flipped. Amazoness Archers was a cool card, helping to stop the attack and lowering Makyura's attack power by 500 points. It was more than enough to be defeated easily.

But when the monster was gone, Mai started to scream.

I flicked my attention between Mai and Marik. Marik looked so calm as he looked through his hand because of Makyura's effect. What on earth?!

"Mai!" Honda shouted. "Pull yourself together!"

"I'll activate this trap card, Rope of Life." Marik said oh so calmly, like he didn't care that Mai was utterly terrified across the way. "This card takes effect on a monster who just died. It revives it with 800 extra attack points and allows it to attack again, though I have to lose all the cards in my hand…"

The monster returned to the field and with a quick cry, it destroyed Mai's Swordswoman. Eyes wide in panic, Mai collapsed to her knees. She was clutching her chest like she was in pain. She had only dropped to 3600 life points…

"Mai!" Jounouchi shouted up at her. "Pull yourself together! You didn't lose that much life!"

Marik still looked so calm and composed, a bright smirk on his face. It made we want to go over there and smack it right off but I bet he would get a kick out of it.

"Mai!" Yami called, shaking me out of my anger. "Don't be confused! It's just an illusion!"

Mai turned her head to look over at him. An illusion? "In a shadow game, willpower is the key to success! Don't let him break you! Those illusions are created by the fear and terror in your heart!"

It took a moment but Mai managed to catch her breath, looked down at her hand again, then stood up. Her strength had come back.

Mai used her turn to play Amazoness Chain Master, with me noticing that it only had 1300 attack points, then played a face down card. She was banking on something, either a special ability or her face down card. I hoped her plan worked. Marik used his turn to play Viser Des and my blood went cold. I hated this card! It may only have 500 attack points but the effect it had wasn't good. It attached itself to Mai's Chain Master but wasn't destroyed on impact.

A squeaking sound faintly hit my ears and Mai began to scream again.

"What's going on?!" Anzu whimpered. "Is she experiencing the same pain as her monster?"

"Mai!" Jounouchi barked. "Get a hold of yourself!"

Yami's constrictive grip turned even more snake like. It was beginning to hurt… The more Mai screamed the tighter his grip was. His anger rolled off in waves and before I could tell him to calm down, he snapped.

"Marik!" Yami snapped. "Stop hurting her!"

"Now now…" Marik was all smiles. "No one can stop a shadow game, Yugi. This woman will die the moment I win…"

"You…"

"That's right, Yugi! Hate me! I've been waiting for 1,000 years. Let your anger reach out and touch my own!"

I finally had to let go of Yami's hand. The grip was too tight and I was scared he might accidentally break my fingers. Yami flinched slightly, turning to me. The eye of Wadjet was burning on his forehead but when he saw me, it faded slightly. I was clutching my fingers, using the slightest bit of my powers to create an ice pack. He looked like he wanted to say something but stopped himself. He turned back to the duel, hands now clenched into fists.

Mai suddenly collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath. She must have broken free from the illusion. We all turned to look at her when she began to speak.

"This is… my fight…" She was gasping. "Stay out of it…"

"Mai…" Yami breathed.

"I'm a duelist… I'll fight him till the end!"

No one said anything against her determination. When Mai was sure of something, there was no turning back. I used the moment to return my hand to Yami's; it was sufficiently iced and could last another constrictive grip. Yami flinched again, probably from the cold, but allowed me to return my hand to his. He was still angry but fought not to grip my hand too tightly.

Mai quickly lifted herself up to press a button on her duel disk. "I flip my facedown card! Spell card: Grave Arm!"

That card allowed her to immediately send one card to the graveyard. It didn't work on Viser Des but it would work on her own monster. I was confused at first but when Mai gave a soft smile, I knew this was her plan. "I give up 1000 life points to take a monster from your deck! Your God Card!" We all watched as Mai's Chain Master threw her chain just as she was being pulled into the Graveyard. It hit Marik's deck, pulling out a card and hurling it towards Mai. She flipped it to reveal the image of The Winged Dragon of Ra, the third God Card.

"Yes!"

"You rule, Mai!" Jounouchi cried.

I didn't know whether or not to be elated or worried. I was excited that Mai had taken the God Card but… Would Ra even allow Mai to summon him? I was worried that Mai was going to end up just like Jounouchi and Marik's shadow. Please be careful, Mai…

Mai took her turn, playing two cards face down then summoning Amazoness Fighter. It only had 1500 attack points so Mai was hoping he would attack.

Marik drew for his turn and I'm sure Yami and I both noticed that he only had one card in his hand. He had to discard them to use Rope of Life so it seemed strange. Marik played his only card face down then attacked Mai.

Mai activated Amazoness Spellcaster, switching the two monster's attack points. With her fighter now having 1900 attack points, it was easily able to beat Makyura. His life points dropped to 3600, not much for all of her effort. Marik's head was snapped slightly but he looked back to Mai with a bright smile.

"It feels good when your enemy fall sin to your trap!" Marik cheered. "Card of Last Will!"

Marik was able to draw five cards, replenishing his hand. The movement made me remember that Makyura had a special ability and with Marik's replenished hand… Crap! "Nightmare Wheel!"

Mai's Fighter was pulled towards a hellish wheel, strapped into shackles that stopped it from moving. "The wheel will strip away 500 life points every turn along with intense pain!"

Mai wasn't scared, she actually had a smile on her face. She flipped up Dramatic Rescue. It allowed Mai to return one monster to her hand and play another one in its place. "Are you going to play Ra?" Marik sounded awfully curious.

"No!" Mai huffed back. "I found out during Jounouchi's duel that Ra's attack points are based on the total attack points of the monsters sacrificed to summon it. If I summoned it like that, Ra's attack would be zero!"

"You're quite clever…"

"But… there is a way! A way for me to summon Ra on my next turn!"

Mai recalled Amazoness Fighter to her hand and played Harpy Lady to replace it. I immediately knew how she was gonna get three monsters on the field. By playing Elegant Egotist, one harpy is able to become three! "Sacrificing my three harpies, I summon The Winged Dragon of Ra!"

The sky opened up with a bright light. It was almost like the sun was coming out in the middle of the night. I recoiled, averting my eyes and covering them with my free hand. I only looked back up when the light faded slightly. Instead of a large dragon floating above Mai's head, a large golden sphere hovered there. Marik burst into laughter.

"Relax, Mai Valentine… What you summoned is the real thing, the true Ra! But… Alas, it's impossible for a duelist of your caliber to control a god. Only Duelists chosen by God can control it…"

"What do you mean I can't use a god card?! Don't be a fool! When a card's in your hand, you control it! All its powers belong to the duelist who possesses it! As of now, the God Card is mine!"

"In that case, take a look at the God Card in your duel disk…"

Mai looked down to the card and her eyes widened. What had changed? "Well? Can you decipher the script? It contains the key to awakening the true powers of Ra…" With Mai's increasing panic, Marik gave another chuckle. "It's impossible. You can't command God unless you can read that text… Ra's special powers are forbidden to you as well but I'll tell you one thing: those letters are Hieratic text!"

"What the heck's that?!" Jounouchi grouched quickly.

"It's pretty much cursive hieroglyphics." I explained to him. "One of the oldest writing forms the ancient Egyptians had! Used all the way to when Alexander the Great came on the scene in 332 BCE, then Demotic was used a bit more."

"Correct…" Marik chortled down at me, he apparently heard me.

I gave him dirty look but he only kept speaking. "It was the language used for law, literature and religion in Ancient Egypt. Unlike the common Demotic text, only those of special status were taught it. Of course… the chosen ones can read the text with their hearts. And we tomb guardians know it as well."

"Give me a break…" Mai groaned. "This is a card game! A card that only special people can use?!"

"Even Maximillian Pegasus, the creator of Duel Monsters, couldn't decode the hidden powers of Ra… He was forced to literally transcribe the text written on the stones. But his card has a special feature! Like disappearing ink, the letters only become visible in the light emitted by Ra!"

Marik let Mai summon Ra! I clenched my free hand in anger. He just wanted to play with Mai a bit more. "Now – Ra is in Sphere mode! Solve the mystery and change it into Battle Mode!"

Marik playfully let Mai have her turn, mentioning ominously that on his next turn he would attack and Ra wouldn't defend her in Sphere mode. Eyes narrowed, Mai put a card face down and ended her turn. It was all she could do…

Marik pulled a new card for his turn then summoned Viser Shock. The second metal torture device blasted Mai's trap back into her hand. She was defenseless! Marik's two monsters were sent to attack Mai and I nearly screamed when the two torture devices trapped Mai in place. Her screams echoed in my ears. Marik, on the other hand, was laughing like this was the best show in the world. "Quite a show, isn't it, Yugi? Walking on the edge of death… For this woman, pain is her only proof that she still lives! And now! I will begin the preparations for the Shadow Sacrifice." Oh no… Mai! "Yugi… did you know that Ra has three special powers? I'll reveal just one of them…"

Marik began to chant under his breath. I didn't understand the words as he said them but a part of my brain was actively translating them. Something about Ra deciding fate for a player or something, I couldn't make it all out. It was all gibberish. As he chanted though, the large orb began to open. More light spewed from inside, reflecting off of the golden material that was appearing from within. "This is one of Ra's special powers… God himself will serve the player who utters the sacred text!" Ra was now on Marik's side even though Mai summoned it.

It was bullshit… That shouldn't be allowed to happen! Mai summoned it! This was only one of the reasons why Ra was my least favorite God Card.

"Mai!" I shouted up at her.

She didn't even look down at me, her head trapped in the grip of Viser Des. Not even when Jounouchi called her name did she look.

"You're a perfect sacrifice, Mai Valentine… tied to the torture wheel, unable to move your arms and legs, you can't even play your hand on your deck to surrender. I'll make it quick. Just one shot from Ra."

"Stop it, Marik!" Yami barked at the mad man. "The duel is over! You win! There's no need to keep going!"

Marik gave a chortle down at Yami.

"Keep your eyes open, Yugi. I will sacrifice the woman to the shadows and draw our all of your hatred."

He was probably so angry, he forgot to keep his grip on my hand in check. I didn't say anything but I tried to coax his hand into relaxing. Marik explained that he had a large carven scar on his back called the Seal of Memories that, when the time came, the tomb guardian that had it would show it to a reborn King. The price with keeping the secrets in that seal were that they were confined to the darkness and it paid a heavy price on Marik's sanity. This Marik… Yami Marik… was born the day Marik received his scar in an attempt to protect his young mind from the pain and trauma of the experience of the initiation ritual of the tomb guardians. I couldn't help but feel bad for Marik then. All of that trauma on a 10 year old…. Yami Marik gave another laugh. "But now that Odion is gone, I am finally the ruler of this body!" Odion?

"What do you want?! Do you want the God cards?! Or…"

"What do I want…? I have no needs… But if you really want an answer…"

A bright smile took over Yami Marik's face. "I want to destroy all light… all order… and all life besides my own! I want to destroy everything! Destruction is my only pleasure! Destruction gives birth to my world! The Dark World!" Yami gave another growl up at him. "And now… I will sacrifice this miserable woman… Ra! Burn that woman!"

I heard it before I saw it, the gears of the platform when it lifted and fell. The platform began to lower itself! After it reached its lowest level, Jounouchi jumped to be right in front of Mai!

"Jounouchi!" I shouted at him. "What are you doing?!"

"Mai!" Jounouchi barked at Mai, ignoring me. "Get outta here!"

"Move!" Mai shouted back. "You'll get hit!"

"Shut up! I can't just watch my friend get killed!"

"I still have life points left… I can't turn my back on my opponent…"

"Are you crazy?! Hurry up and get out of here!"

"It's no use… I can't move…"

Jounouchi tried to pull Mai's body out of the torture wheel but even I could see that Mai wasn't moving a muscle. She was utterly trapped.

Things only got worse when Ra's attack started building steam. "You need to get out of here, Jounouchi! You still have a duel to fight!"

"I don't care!"

"Don't throw your life away! Run!"

Jounouchi still didn't move. The attack was leaving Ra's mouth and hurtling towards them now. In a last-ditch effort, I set a shield charm on Jounouchi's back, hoping that would be enough to at least lighten the blast. I noticed something else was wrong when I noticed the hand I had used to cast it. It was the one I was holding onto Yami's with…

No!

I looked up just in time to see Ra's attack hit Yami square in the back.

"Yami!" I screamed, hardly caring for the people who still called him Yugi.

The spirit didn't move. He kept stock still while Ra's attack pushed at his back while his gasps of pain were just barely hitting my ears.

"Marik…" I heard him grunt. "Your hatred and anger… I'll take it all on my back! But I swear, I'll send you back to the darkness!"

Yami Marik simply burst into laughter at the words. When Ra's attack faded, Yami fell to the ground, collapsing on his knees first then onto his face. I immediately dashed onto the platform while Yami Marik was declared the winner, hardly caring that he was still standing there. Anzu quickly caught up with me and crouched with me at Yami's side. He was out cold. He wasn't visibly wounded but that didn't mean anything. I quickly settled him onto his back, lifting him slightly so that I could elevate his head and neck. I could hear him breathing and it sent tears streaming down my cheeks. There were footsteps approaching us and I looked up to see Yami Marik, the blade inside the Millennium Rod revealed.

"Shall I tear him apart right here and now…?" Yami Marik asked playfully.

A bout of my powers rose up to freeze the crazed man to the platform. A small part of my mind wanted to give in again but I held it back. I wasn't going to fall to his level.

"Don't even think about it, you nekhet iadhet." I hissed back, my mouth releasing the curse on its own.

"Well well! The language that escapes the great wife's mouth! It's almost entertaining!"

I gave a growl, clutching onto Yami's head even tighter now.

"Why you rotten-!" Jounouchi growled, climbing to his feet.

"Don't worry. I'll kill him in a duel; in the ultimate shadow game befitting the ones chosen by the Millennium Items!"

Jounouchi was frozen in place by something but I didn't look to see; I didn't have to based on the shiver that raced down my spine. My attention was still caught on the soft breaths Yami let out. Why…? Why did he do that? More tears streamed down my cheeks. Why…?

I only faintly heard Yami Marik walk away, cackling madly as he left. If I were still stuck in that frozen contentment from this afternoon, I would have had no objection in freezing him solid.

Yami lifting his head made my thoughts stop.

"Yugi!" Anzu cried when she noticed him lift his head.

"Are you ok?" Jounouchi cried as well.

"I'm all right…" Yami's voice was slightly hoarse.

I didn't say anything as I helped adjust him to sitting fully up. He was a bit wobbly but he managed to settle and sit up by himself. I kept an hand on his back for my own sake.

"Thank goodness!" Anzu huffed at him. "I know you wanted to save Jounouchi and Mai but you almost killed yourself! Don't ever do that again!"

Anzu then flipped her head towards me and Yami turned his head. I was still crying, the arm not helping him sit up was wiping away tears. His hand crept towards his pocket and the flinch he made told me everything I needed to know. His crystal had shattered. It protected Yami as much as it could before falling apart. Now there was nothing I could do to protect him…

I barely noticed Yami adjust himself but did accept the slight embrace when he wrapped an arm around my waist. My arms went around his neck and continued to sob. I faintly heard Yami asking about Mai and his answer didn't help calm me down at all. Yami didn't try to make me release him nor did he apologize for what he did. I figured he wouldn't. We were only forced to move when Roland called that the next match would start soon. Honda and Ryuji had taken Mai down to the medical unit while Anzu and Shizuka remained up on the platform with us.

"Anzu…" I heard Shizuka whisper. "What did that guy mean by 'Great Wife'?"

"I… I don't know…"

I had forgotten that they were there and heard everything. I was about to turn around and explain everything but Yami took my hand and turned me back towards him.

"I'll explain." Yami said gently. "Why don't you go down to Yugi's room to rest?"

"But…" I went to argue.

"No. You've been through enough tonight. Get some rest."

There would be no arguing with him. I eventually gave up and snuck my hand into his pocket to take Yugi's key card. With barely a word in farewell, I turned towards the exit of the platform.

I called the elevator to take me back to the main console and my thoughts overwhelmed me as soon as the quiet hit. Today has been so taxing. Even just standing here, I could feel my legs beginning to wobble. Yami was right, I really did need to rest. The elevator dinged open and I looked up into familiar eyes.

"Lady Isis?"

I hope you all enjoyed it!

Marik peeks into the room: Can I be the precious bean?

Robyn points at the chapter above.

Marik: But that wasn't me!

Silence at that. Bakura then jumps in with a black cloak covering his face.

Bakura as Evil Kermit: Don't believe him! He messed up one of your favorite ships!

Robyn thinks about it...

Robyn: He's got a point. Fine, you're the precious bean again.

Marik: Yeah!

Bakura: No!