Hello, my dear faithful readers so here is where I am going to stop describing the duels turn by turn. From now on only really important duels like the one with Odion, Malik, Rare Hunters, (but only if they are different from what originally happened in the Manga or Anime) will be explained. The rest such as duels that happen exactly as how they do in the Anime or Manga will be summarized. I actually believe that it was because of writing the Duels that I got bore with this fic in the first place… so for that no to happen again, please accept these changes in the narration.

*Battle City*

Domino City Park; 12:33 PM

Tea, Solomon and Ryou ran towards the center of the park where Joey was dueling. Tea was surprised to see he was dueling against Weevil Underwood the slimmest and most annoying duelist that they had ever encountered.

"The game's over… you bug freak." They heard him say with a smirk on his face.

Tea had only ever seen that smirk on Atem and it made her smile to see Joey with such confidence in himself.

"Now it's my turn! Gearfried get him!"

The iron knight shot forward towards the beetle looking kid slash at him in half. Weevil screamed dropping his cards around him.

"He did it!" She cried out from the sidelines. Tea could only guessed on hoe the rest of the duel had gone.

"Joey, won!" Ryou exclaimed in surprise.

Solomon could only stay quiet and look at his young former student with pride. 'Hmm… Joey has developed into a fine duelist. The boys and Mana… better watch out.' He chuckled.

Weevil looked up at Joey with disbelief.

"H-How can this be? Y-You're supposed to be an amateur duelist…!"

Joey didn't look at him.

"Let me tell you something. It's not that I'm strong," he lifted her head and pointed at the miniature duelist. "You're just too weak! You Wimp!"

Weevil looked like Joey had physically hit him and didn't protest when Joey took his locator cards and the Insect Queen.

He turned and smiled at his friends.

"Did you guys see that?!" He yelled jumping up and holding up the cards.

"Yes, Joey that was amazing." A voice said from the opposite direction.

The gang turned, glad that their friend was able to join them.

"Yugi!" Tea called as Yugi caught up with them. "Where have you been?"

He shrugged.

"Here and there, but Joey that was an awesome duel as well as the Esper Roba one."

"Thanks Yugs, but how…?" Joey tilted his head in confusion. He was sure that he hadn't seen Yugi during his duel.

"I was watching from the roof, you did great."

"Huh?"

"My brother called me and told me about your goal in this tournament."

Joey looked at Yugi, he wasn't sure what else Atem had told his younger brother. Knowing him, he probably didn't tell Yugi about the Ghouls.

"Thanks Yug, I made a promise and I intend to keep it."

Ryou nodded. "Joey already has 4 locator cards. I think he's in it for the win."

Yugi smiled.

"Congrats Joey, though you have to promise me that you and I will duel before all this ends."

"Hell yeah, buddy, for me to be a True Duelist I have to face both of you."

The pair shook hands.

"Yugi tell us how many locator cards you've got." Tea asked.

Yugi reached into his pocket and took out the cards.

"Four, I just finished up my duel with Rebecca before heading back here."

Solomon smiled at his grandson. The two boys were tied, yet for some reason he was worried for Atem. Trouble always had a way of finding him.

"Do you know where your brother is?"

The youngest of the Mutous sighed.

"No I haven't seen them. I'm worry though when I left them at the plaza Mana seemed about ready to strangle someone. Atem wasn't in any better of a mode either."

Joey snickered.

"Mahad really out did himself this time. Remind me never to pull another prank on him."

Everybody laughed.

"So where should we go to. Both of you have to get two more cards."

"I heard that Mako was doing a show of some type. Perhaps I'll meet you guys there. I still have to find my brother and make sure that he's alive."

"I also have to go and look for Bakura, he left when I was in the middle of something and I haven't seen him since."

Tea wanted to protest, but she knew that they wouldn't agree.

"Alright, Yugi, Ryou take care. Will see you at the aquarium than."

The others nodded, knowing that there was no way to convince him of this otherwise.

Yugi and Ryou smiled and with a quick wave they ran off to find their brothers.

-o-o-o-

"Atem, who do you think this doll, is?" Mana asked as they walked down the flood canal.

The boy with the tri-color hair shook his head.

"No clue, but Mana you shouldn't be near me. This isn't your fight, plus your brother will kill me if something happens to you."

She grabbed his shoulder and yanked him to a stop.

"Atem stop it right now. You have to get it into your head that I am not going to let you do this alone and since when have I or you ever cared about getting killed by Mahad."

He sighed. 'She isn't going to give up, but I could never forgive myself if something happens to her. Mahad wouldn't even need to kill me, I would do it myself.'

"Mana, why are you doing this?"

She looked down at the floor.

"Atem, I-"

He held up his hand to shut her up.

"Mana, someone is coming," he interrupted her.

She glared up at him, but she heard the incoming footsteps drawing nearer.

The two of them turned around and a boy with long mess white hair appear from over them.

Atem and Mana recognized him immediately.

"Hey Ryou what are you doing around this parts of town?" Mana asked innocently.

Ryou Bakura smiled down at her and skidded down to where the pair stood.

He panted and nodded at Atem, "I'm looking for my brother… have either of you two seen him?" he asked hopefully.

The pair shared a look and shook their heads, however before Ryou could say anything else the brunette noticed what he had on his arm.

"I didn't know you were participating!" she said a little incredulously.

Ryou looked down at his arm and shrugged, "not really… I only joined so I could keep an eye on Bakura." He smiled sheepishly, "though I kind of failed at that. I was dueling and he took that as a sign to leave."

Mana face brightened, "really? How many locator cards have you gotten?"

The white head boy looked at her wearily. Atem sighed, he already knew where this was going… however at least this time her opponent wasn't going to try and kill her if she lost.

"Three actually," he said a little embarrassed.

Mana beamed, "that's great so do I!"

Ryou sweat dropped as he looked at her face he could practically guess what she was thinking. "So Mana what do you say? All or nothing… winner is guarantied a spot in the finals."

Mana's grin was so big that it looked as though it would have split her face in half.

"Yeah, that sounds fair…" she turned to Atem with questioning eyes. He may be out on the hunt for Rare Hunters, but Mana still had a right to fight in order to join the Finals and because of Mahad's stupid punishment he would have to wait for her duel to finish.

"I'm stuck here with you… just don't take too long," he said calmly.

Ryou chuckled as he activated his duel disk. "I heard about your punishment from my brother, Atem. Myself and the others are surprise you two haven't killed each other yet."

Atem scowled… 'Was that really how they saw them?' and before he could stop it a thought popped into his head. 'Yeah no matter how unlikely that scenario is their reactions would be priceless.'

Mana scoffed and activated her disk… she had decided since the duel with Pandora that before this tournament was finish she would try and make thing clear between Atem and herself.

"Whatever Ryou, though if he even dares to comment during this duel" her eyes narrowed and stared daggers at Atem's head. "He is dead!"

Ryou laughed and before Atem could retort their duel began.

Atem watched the duel with interest; Ryou's deck really didn't go with his sweet innocent personally. It focused on the occult and after the destruction of his Dark Necrofear things really didn't look good for Mana. It was when she used Allure Queen LV3 that she started to be able to do some damage to his life points. She finally trapped the Dark Spirit of the Silent within her Apprentice Magician long enough to sacrifice it and summon her Dark Red Enchantar forcing Ryou to discard one of his Spirit Message cards and attacking him directly.

The duel ended with Mana barely having 50 life points and if she were honest with also a little luck. If she hadn't drawn Dark Red Enchanter when she had, then the duel would have gone to Ryou. No matter, now she had six locator cards and was ready to head to the Finals.

'Ha, I'm sure not even Yugi or Joey have gotten them all… however now I have to keep a close eye on Atem and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid.' She thought that last part grimly.

"Well here you go Mana… and I wish you luck in the Finals." Ryou said not really bothered with giving her his cards.

"Thanks Ryou and that was one hell of a duel." She replied smiling sweetly. Atem shook his head inwardly that smile of hers could fool just about anybody.

"I agree... between you and me, now that you were able to beat me… if you are force to face my brother in the Finals it should be a piece of cake. He and I have nearly the same deck." He added cheekily.

Atem eyebrows rouse; he hadn't thought that Ryou would give them information such as that. Must be some sort of revenge for making Ryou search the city for him.

Mana tilted her head and looked at him confusedly, but took the advice nonetheless. "I'll take that to heart and good luck finding Bakura... before he does anything stupid, of course."

Atem scoffed, "he most likely already has."

Ryou sighed and couldn't help but agree with his brother's old friend.

"Well, I have to go," he said as he started to run off… looking over his shoulder he waved back. "Good luck with the tournament and don't kill one another… the others are worry that they will have to peel one of you off a sidewalk before the end of Battle City."

Atem and Mana sweat dropped, before their gazes meet and they shrugged. They haven't been arguing that much… at least compare to how they normally would.

"Are we really that bad?" Mana asked softly.

Atem sighed and look at her steadily, not sure what she wanted him to say.

"From the way they are acting… I would guess we are."

She snorted, "I can't really believe that none of them ever notice."

"Not exactly…."

She turned to him and titled her head, "huh?"

"I have a feeling your brother knows," he stated matter-of-factly.

Mana reluctantly nodded and they started to walk down the canal, but before they could get any further they heard a malicious laugher making them turn to the source. A slime, boney, pale man with piercings stood in front of them.