Amon watched from his chair as his plan unfolded. "Ha ha ha…poor Kyo doesn't even know that I was the one who told her the truth. She is slowly showing her true colors." Eric sat next to Amon, fidgeting as he could feel those crimson eyes burn into him. "Why are you so quite Mr. Roderick? Isn't this was you wanted?"

Eric gave a smirk. "Oh…off course it is was I want…all I want was to be in charge of this city, You helped my father set up the council and the new rules. It's all really great." Eric wanted to cringe at his foul lies. He wanted to trash this system altogether, start something better, less corrupted by the current members.

"You don't seem convinced of your words Roderick. Are you hiding something?"

"No! Why would you say such things, I am forever loyal to you." Amon didn't seem convinced.

"I sense a traitor." Eric got up and gasped. His eyes grew large in fear. "I'm not a traitor."

Amon stood up and gave a dark growl. "You are. You told Atem where Mai is didn't you?" Eric was backed up against the wall as Amon face twisted into an ugly angry form. "Traitor…you did tell Atem, you told him everything. Now I have to fix that. I'll have to use you sooner than I plan to." Amon walked over to the bookshelves and took out the second Spellbook. "I wanted to try this spell for a long while but I didn't have a corpse to try it on. Until now." Amon took out his knife and gave a sick twisted smirk. "So thank you, traitor…thank you for volunteering yourself to become my puppet."

Kyo growled as Loran summoned out a monster. "I summon Princess Wolfbane of the mountains. She attacks your Aztec goddess!" With a quick motion, Oxomoco was cut down.

"Ah…How did you?"

"Wolfbane can destroy any monster with double her attack points. Since your filthy Goddess was two thousand attack points and my princess was one thousand attacks, I was able to get rid of that nasty card. The downside is that I will have to wait for my next turn to finish you off. So go ahead psychic whore, let see if you're smart enough to get out of this."

Kyo frowned and her hands shook. "I…why am I even fighting? Mai is missing and Atem was shot…both my teammates were unluckily matched up with cheaters and taken out…what is the point?" She sighed and fought back her tears. "I'm not good enough. I never was good enough…this girl has me in her hand every move I made has helped her out. Was I in over my head?" Kyo shook her head and slumped down to her knees. "I'm sorry Atem…I can't keep fighting, I'm angry and frustrated and I can't get in it. She is too strong."

Suddenly a familiar voice called out. "KYO ANAKI GET OFF YOUR KNEES AND FOCUS!" Kyo glanced up and spotted her crimsoned eyed teacher and his face said it all. " I KNOW YOU ARE NOT ONE TO QUIT SO DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!"

"I…" Kyo tilted her head. "You don't understand…"

Atem shook his head in exasperation and hurried off. Where was he going? The answer became clear as his voice came over the intercoms. "Hello? Is this thing on?" Atem cleared his throat and spoke. "This is a short announcement from Atem Caito. I know a lot of you probably think I'm crazy for what I am going to say but for anyone who wishes to be an amazing duelist or is already a duelist should listen to this." The stadium fell silent and all eyes were on Atem. "From where I came from, we have a special saying, belief in the heart of the cards. You see when a duelist duels, it's not about the most powerful cards or winning. It's about having fun and remembering what you are dueling for, whether that would be for friends, family, or even for something more. There is something I have noticed while watching these duels and that is that there is no fun in them. The only one so far that I have seen that was truly for fun was that of Mr. Liddel and Ms. Anaki, that is was a duel should be, where there is good sportsmanship and comradery and I have seen too many duels where it's is no fun or there was some sort of cheating involved. Now I don't know maybe that is just how things are done here which is really sad if that is the view of dueling. but I don't think that is the case. So I wish to say good luck to the duelist still in the tournament and to remind them of what they are dueling for. Thank you."

Atem handed the mic over to the announcer and smiled. Kyo nodded knowing what Atem was trying to tell her. "I got it Atem...thanks for reminding me."

"Well, that was a worthless speech. Then again he's a foreigner. He doesn't know our ways." Loran smirked as she flipped her pale hair. "What do you think whore? Do you have something to fight for? Probably not with the way you've been dueling."

"Yea…I have something to duel for, something more important than fame or glory." Kyo got up and dusted herself off.

"Oh, what would that be?"

"I have a sister who I am trying to save…I have friends who are the closest thing I have to a family…now that I think about it, They are my family. But the most important thing is that I am fighting for an idea."

"An Idea? And was lame idea would that be?"

Kyo gave a bright smile. "I am dueling for a world where everyone is happy…a world where we are all free to be what we want to be." Kyo drew a card and smirked. "And that world will start with me! I set the scale with Lolita Rose witch and Amaterasu. This allows me to summon monsters between the levels of four to ten. So I summon Dark flare Dragon, Oracle of the sun, and Juniper tuner angel."

Loran narrowed her eyes. "Where are you going with this?"

"You'll see, Now I Syncro summon by tuning Juniper tuner angel to Dark flare Dragon and oracle of the sun to summon Nickida the Dragon of Light!"

Nickida appeared and gave a gentle smirk to Kyo. "I'm glad you are back to your old self. Your pharaoh seems to have an interesting way with words."

"Thanks, we won't be able to attack this turn but if we can survive the next turn then you should be able to attack." Nickida nodded in agreement. "I end my turn with two cards face down. Your move."

Loran snarled as she looked up at Nickida. "So this is your ace card Nickida. She seems rare, too bad I'll have to take her from you with Change of heart!" Nickida struggled as she was forced onto the other side of the field.

Kyo bit down on her lower lip. "Hope this works."

Loran laughed as Nickida struggled to stay away from Loran. "How odd, why do you try to stay away from me? You're just a mindless hologram." Nickida snarled as Loran ordered the attack. Nickida was forced into attacking Kyo.

The flaming attack came closer and closer to Kyo. "I activate my face down card, Mirror force, this bounces the attack back at Nickida and destroys her." Nickida was destroyed.

Loran growled. "Ugh…then I summon Neko warrior in defense mode and end my turn."

Kyo smirked. "I activate my card Monster reborn to summon back Nickida. Next, I move Amaterasu out into the playing field. I will attack Neko warrior with Nickida. Then attack you directly with Amaterasu!"

Kyo Anaki: 2300

Loran Carmichael: 2400

"Don't you see it Loran…I can't let you win not because of the past, but because I need to carve a brighter future for everyone." Kyo tighten her grip over her chest. "I don't want vengeance anymore…I don't want to be afraid to fight for a bright future. So please…drop your vengeance against me and my family, because I don't want to have a grudge against you."

Loran snapped. "Uhg…you little cunt! I will make you pay for that! Just like how my father offed that whore of what you call a mother!" Kyo sighed as Loran got up. "MY MOVE…" She drew her card and frowned. Shaking, she looked up and snarled. "Just finish me off… I lose." Kyo frowned as she drew her final card and attacked with Nickida.

Kyo Anaki: 2300

Loran Carmichael: 0

"I win…" Kyo said with an empty voice. She didn't feel happy with this victory. Was it even called a victory? It was so angry and hateful, Kyo felt so sick to the stomach. "Loran…I am truly sorry."

"Uhg…don't give me that bullshit. You wished for vengeance just as much as I did."

Kyo looked away in shame and walked off the field. Atem, Set, and Yorimasa hurried over to Kyo. "Good job Kyo you made it to the finals."

Kyo shook her head. A look of despair washed over her face. Atem tilted his head. "Kyo…whats wrong?"

"I'm no duelist Atem…I just…I let my anger get the best of me and because of that I lost sight of what was important."

Atem placed a hand on her shoulder. "You are a duelist Kyo, a true duelist would have recognized when they are mistaken…" Kyo frowned. "And they have the heart and courage to admit it."

Kyo looked back up at Atem, her eyes watered. "I…" she pulled Atem into a tight hug and buried her face in the curve of Atem's neck. "I'm sorry….I fucked up with that duel…that wasn't a victory…it's far from a victory."

Atem hugged Kyo back with his available arm. "It's okay Kyo…nobody got hurt and that is the good thing…that is all that matters." Kyo squeezed Atem harder and Atem winced. "Okay…Kyo…shoulder…Ow."

"Oh…sorry." Kyo let Atem go and he rubbed his shoulder.

"Anyway, we have an idea of how to get your sister back. It'll have to be after I heal completely but we know where Mai is at. She's in an asylum."

Kyo turned red from the news. "What!?"

Atem nodded. "You probably didn't want to hear that but Set and I promise you that we will get your sister…you just focus on your next duel." Atem smiled as he pulled Kyo back into a side hug.

Kyo broke down and cried. "I'm horrible Atem…I'm too horrible." Atem shook his head.

"What did I tell you already you stubborn fool? You are a good person and nobody, not even you, is allowed to say otherwise."

With that, Atem pressed his lips against Kyo's forehead. Kyo turned red from Atem's blunt displace of affection. "Hey wait! You can't do that! We are just fr…friends! Not a couple!"

Atem shook his head. "Friends can kiss each other on the forehead and the cheeks. It's a kiss on the lips that means we're a couple." Kyo gave a pout at Atem's nonchalant answer. "Let's go, I need to stop by your recommended therapist so I'll meet up with everyone afterward."

Kyo nodded. "Right…you know you don't have to go until after Father Gabriel's sermon."

"It's fine…If I don't go now I won't go at all." Kyo nodded. "I understand."

They headed over to the church. A sermon was starting and Atem took a deep breath as he opened the doors. "Atem wait!" Set grabbed Atem by the wrist and gave a distressed look.

"What is it Set?"

Set frowned as he looked up at the gothic architecture. "I don't think you should go in since you're a…well a…"

Atem narrowed his eyes. "A bisexually pagan?"

Set nodded. "These guys don't take too kindly to people like us Atem. You could get burned or drowned or tortured for being a pagan and for being bi…also for being worshiped as a god when you were pharaoh. These guys are crazy."

Atem shook his head. "Uhg…Set chill out. I'll be fine. I'm not going to get hurt. I'm just going to take to this guy Kyo said was going to help me. It that such a bad thing?"

"If it is from these guys then yes it's really a bad thing. They will try to shove their belief down your throat."

Atem rolled his eyes at Set's panic. He knew it wasn't going to be that bad, however, Atem needed to keep in mind that he didn't know any of their customs or rituals so staying near the back of the church was his plan. He walked in and took a seat in the last pew away from the rest of the congregation. A few people gave him an odd look and whispered to the people next to them. Atem couldn't help but feel a bit underdressed and out of place. The Sermon wasn't too long but Atem was confused about the whole thing with the bread and wine and the idea of having to sing all the prayers. However, Atem just stayed quiet and watched, not wanting to be seen or heard as the sermon came to an end. The church goers started to leave and Atem looked around for this man Kyo was telling him about.

"Mr. Caito isn't it?" Atem jumped and turned to see a tall muscular, blue haired priest with a bible in one hand and glasses in the other.

"Uh…Oh yes uh, I'm sorry I'm not too sure what to call you." The man gave a bright smile.

"Oh don't worry about formalities, I'm Gabriel, or father Gabriel if you want to be proper. Anyway, Kyo told me that you would be coming by to talk Pharaoh Atem."

Atem turned red as this priest referred to him by his title. "So she told you about who I really am."

"Yes…I got to say I am honored to meet royalty here in my humble little church."

Atem looked up at the high ceilings and stain glass. "I'd hardly call this humble." Gabriel gave a deep throaty laugh. "Wow…he actually has a sexy laugh, for a priest." Atem thought to himself.

"Well pharaoh, compared to the temples from your time this church is humble."

"I guess…"

Gabriel frowned and tilted his head. "So, you've been having some bad nightmares lately?"

Atem just nodded. "Yea… I don't understand them but I would wake up in a panic."

Gabriel nodded. "Let's go up to the altar, there are some seats that are comfortable." Atem and Gabriel walked down the aisle and Gabriel looked over at Atem. "So tell me about your nightmares…what happens in them?"

Atem looked up at the stained glass. "It's always dark, I'm inside either a hospital or an abandoned building and I'm always tied down. I can never move. Then this man, with gray skin and black eyes, he appears with the dead and…"

Atem turned red remembering the gray skinned man and the actions he was pulling with him. Gabriel caught on to his hesitation. "What does this gray man do?"

"He whispers thing like he lusts after me. It makes me feel uncomfortable and gross. Like I've been violated."

Gabriel nodded as they reached the altar. "So this guy in your dreams how often does he appear?"

"Not often. Other nightmares would be more like flashbacks." Gabriel sat down and offered a seat to Atem, which he took.

"Flashbacks of what?"

"It always involves my mom's death and then my time in the puzzle before it was solved." Atem shivered at the memories that were flooding in. "It's always gory and painful to even remember at times."

Gabriel nodded. "Was that what happened at the hospital? You had a flashback."

"I was back in the puzzle again…when it was unfinished." Atem turned pale as he fell quiet. Gabriel took notice of Atem's silence and his uneasiness. He placed a hand on his good shoulder and gave a sad smile.

"Atem you've been through a lot for your age. Its sounds like you are still haunted by the past. You blame yourself for things you cannot fix. Like your mother's death or what tormented you while you were sealed away."

Atem nodded as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess…but why?"

"Atem our life is like a forest and dark times are like fire. Sometimes a fire can wipe out an entire forest. Things can seem like it will never heal, however, with time any wound can heal. Some just take more time than others."

Atem sighed. "Some wounds I don't think can be healed."

Gabriel shook his head. "You've seen things that would make grown men squirm in fear. That isn't something you can get over so easily. But even those wounds will heal. Just give it time."

"Ha…Yea time…cause three thousand years wasn't enough time."

Gabriel shook his head. "That was three thousand years of suffering not healing. Anyway, I need to close up so just think about that while your shoulder is healing, how is your shoulder doing anyway?"

"Well since Set has been healing my shoulder with his powers I should be out of this fucking sling."

Gabriel gave a smack on the back of Atem's head. "OW!"

"Watch your language Atem you are still in my church."

Atem frowned. "Sorry."

"Oh, also Akihiro wishes you good health."

Atem gasped at Gabriel. "Wait you mean Captain Akihiro?"

Gabriel smiled. "Yep…not all of us monotheistic worshippers are fanatically crazy with sticks up our butts. I promise you I won't force any of my beliefs onto you…just be respectful in our church which includes not swearing."

Atem smirked. "Okay, thanks, Ga…Father Gabriel. I really needed this talk."

"No problems Atem."