A/N: I'm not up to speed on the current list of rules/banned cards in the real TCG, so I use the duel rules from the Battle City arc of the manga. I'll also add the attack and defense of each monster card played in brackets after it's summoned, like this: [att/def].

Chapter 25

"A Promise—A Duel"

Aieko

I picked up my deck and brushed off a thin layer of dust.

'Are you sure you want to go through with this?' Atena asked.

'Not really,' I replied, sitting down at my desk and pulling out a small shoebox full of cards. 'But I promised. And he did keep his word, so I should keep mine.'

'I don't trust him,' she said flatly.

'I don't trust him either,' I said, spreading my deck out and frowning, 'but I did promise.'

Atena shook her head but didn't say anything. I dug though my box, still frowning. 'Bakura mentioned that he uses an occult-themed deck, so…' I traded cards from my deck with those in my box, muttering to myself.

After almost an hour, I sat back in my chair. 'I think that's the best it's going to get with what I have.'

Atena leaned over the desk, looking at all the cards I had spread out. She laid two fingers on my 'Wingweaver' card, a slight smile on her face.

I glanced up and met her gaze. 'Well, you did see me use it in that vision you had,' I said.

'Yes, I did,' she whispered.

We stared at the cards a while longer, then I gathered them together. "Here goes nothing…"

-0-

The next day, we met everyone outside the game shop. Yugi lent me his Duel Disk; Bakura arrived as I put it on.

"Glad to see you haven't backed out," the ancient thief said, stopping at the other side of the street.

"Why would I?" I asked, hefting the Disk.

"Because of what we are going to duel for," he replied, his grin widening.

I lifted an eyebrow. "What's at stake?"

"Items," he said, and pulled a small gold object out of his pocket. "I'll ante up the Millennium Eye against your Tauk."

There was a gasp from behind me and another one in my mind, and I heard Jonouchi snarl something.

I hesitated, brushing my fingertips against the Tauk.

"But really," Bakura continued casually, "it doesn't matter who wins, because Yugi will get all of the Items in the end. As I said, this is just a friendly duel, with the winner getting the honor to give two Items to the Pharaoh."

I glanced back at Yugi and saw the Pharaoh standing behind him, arms crossed, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Fine," I said, raising my arm and activating the Disk. "I agree."

Bakura grinned like a jackal and activated his own Disk. "Excellent."

We drew our cards and the Life Point counters ticked up to 4000.

"Let's Duel!"

"I'll go first," Bakura said, drawing a card. "I'll place two cards face down, and The Portrait's Secret [1200/1500] in defense mode."

"My turn," I said, drawing.

'Be careful,' Atena whispered in my mind.

'Don't worry,' I replied, grinning, 'I've got this.' I slid a card into a spell slot. "I'll activate a spell card, Giant Trunade! All your magic and traps cards are returned to your hand."

Bakura frowned, taking the cards back.

"Now I'll summon Maha Vailo [1550/1400] in attack mode," I said, pulling the monster from my hand. The spellcaster appeared on the field, and I pointed. "Attack his facedown monster!"

Maha Vailo stretched out his hands, and Bakura's monster disappeared in a bolt of lightning. Bakura's frown deepened.

"I'll set one card face down and end my turn."

"My turn," Bakura said, drawing. "I'll summon Man-Eating Treasure Chest [1600/1000] in attack mode and destroy your Maha Vailo."

"No you won't," I grinned. "I'll activate my trap card: Reinforcements! Maha Vailo gains 500 extra attack points this turn. And, due to his special effect, he gains an extra 500 attack points for every card equipped to him. His 2550 attack points are more than enough to fry your zombie to dust!"

Bakura grimaced, and watched his Life Points tick down to 3050. "A good combo," he growled, setting two cards facedown. "But now that my turn's up, your trap card effect ends."

I nodded, and drew. "I'll set one card facedown and summon Witch of the Black Forest in attack mode. You've got no monsters Bakura: take two direct attacks!"

"No!" Yugi yelled. "One of his cards has got to be a trap card!"

"Too late!" Bakura said, one of his facedown cards flipping up. "Mirror Force! All your monsters are destroyed!"

I gasped as my monsters were ripped apart by their own attacks. "Rrgh…" I growled. "At least I can add another monster to my hand, courtesy of Witch of the Black Forest's special ability." I pulled my other Maha Vailo out of my deck, shuffled it, and put it back into the Disk.

"My turn!" Bakura said, drawing again. "I'll summon Headless Knight [1450/1700]." He paused, glanced at my facedown card, then back up at me. I swallowed. "I'll call your bluff," he said, grinning. "Direct attack on the player!"

"Guh!" I grunted, taking the attack. My Life Points ticked down to 2550.

"Hang in there Aieko!" Anzu said.

"You've got this!" Jonouchi said, pumping his fist.

I shook my head to clear it, then drew. "I'll summon the monster I took from my deck last turn: Maha Vailo, attack his Headless Knight!"

Bakura smiled, the breeze from his destroyed monster ruffling his hair, his Life Points decreasing to 2950. "It's my turn." He drew, and his smile widened. "I'll activate this: Ultimate Offering!" He spread his arms, his smile sending a shiver down my spine. "This allows the players an extra summoning for a mere five hundred Life Points. So," he pulled two cards from his hand. "I'll summon Dragon Zombie [1600/0], and pay the Life Points to also summon Opticlops [1800/1700]. [Life Points: 2450] Destroy her monster and attack her directly!"

I threw my arms up, wincing as I took direct damage again. My Life Points dropped to 700; I frowned at the counter.

'How am I going to make it through this?'

'You will; there's a monster that does your bidding, remember?' Atena said, smiling tightly, her fingers on the Tauk.

That's right… I remembered. Her vision…

I looked down at my deck and swallowed again. I have no monsters on the field, the monsters in my hand aren't strong enough to defeat his, and my facedown card can't protect me from another attack. I could summon the two monsters I have in my hand, I thought, glancing down at the cards, but that would leave me with only two hundred Life Points, and that's not a situation I want to be in. I need to draw something good or I'm toast.

"Aieko!" Yugi called. I looked back at him. "As long as you have Life Points, you've got to keep fighting on!" Behind him, the Pharaoh gave me a thumbs up.

I smiled. "Thanks," I said, and drew. "I play the Swords of Revealing Light!"

Bakura threw his arm up against the blinding light. "So you too have the same luck…" he said, glancing over at Yugi. "I'll switch my monsters to defense mode and end my turn."

I drew again, and sighed with relief. "I'll play a magic card: Dark Hole! All the monster cards on the field are destroyed!"

"All right! That's the way to do it Aieko!" Jonouchi yelled. I couldn't help but smile.

Bakura scowled, and drew. "I can do nothing. I'll end my turn."

I drew, and smiled. "I'll play Mystical Elf [800/2000] in attack mode. Direct attack!"

The spell hit Bakura, taking his Life Points down to 1650, but he didn't even flinch.

"I draw," he said. He pulled his card; the smile that spread across his face sent a shiver down my back. "And now I'll summon my occult deck's ultimate monster!" He said, holding the card between two fingers. "By sacrificing three spirits of the dead in my Graveyard, I can summon this: Dark Necrofear! [2200/2800]"

The monster crept out of the card from behind a curtain of fog, and I took several steps backwards. That's so… freaky…

"With the Swords of Revealing Light still in play, I can't do anything yet," Bakura said, folding his arms. "Your turn."

I drew. "I'll summon Soul Tiger [0/2100] in defense mode, then switch Mystical Elf to defense mode as well."

Bakura drew, not bothering to look at the card, keeping his frightening gaze on me. "And with that I'll end my turn," he said, and the Swords faded. "Draw your final card."

I took a deep breath; put my fingers on my deck, and Atena twitched. Without looking, I sacrificed my two monsters and put the card I just drew on the Disk. "I summon Wingweaver! [2750/2400]"

Bakura's mouth gaped open in a silent gasp.

"Attack!"

The fairy flapped her six wings, and a powerful bolt of blue struck through Bakura's monster, destroying it, and connected with Bakura's chest. He slid back several feet.

"How very like you," he wheezed, "to summon her in your greatest need." He drew, and his grimace of pain became a smirk of glee. "But that ends here. I play a magic card: Change of Heart!"

"No!" Yugi's yell was echoed by the Pharaoh.

"But yes!" Bakura countered. A spirit floated out of the card towards my monster. Wingweaver shuddered as it possessed her, and she floated numbly over to Bakura's side of the field.

"Wingweaver!" I shouted, feeling the color drain out of my skin. "What did you do to her?"

Bakura grinned. "There's a reason it's my host's favorite card; Change of Heart allows me to take control of one enemy monster for one turn. Long enough to defeat you with your own servant!" He spread his arms again and laughed. "Attack your former master!"

Wingweaver shuddered again, and flapped her six wings. I had enough time to gasp and hear Atena's gasp in my mind before the blue bolt struck me in the chest, sending me flying backwards. I landed hard on my back, knocking the wind out of me.

I laid there for a minute, then rolled over to my side and groaned.

"You okay Aieko?" I looked up; Yugi was kneeling next to me, one hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah," I coughed. "Just peachy. Except I lost."

"And you know what that means," Bakura's voice said from above me. He was standing on my other side, one hand held out. "Your Item."

"Bakura, no, it wasn't fair!" Yugi said, standing up and facing the thief.

Bakura turned to him, eyes narrowing. "It wasn't fair?" He whispered, his voice deadly quiet. "It was plenty fair. She agreed to the terms of the duel and she lost, so therefore she must give her Item to me." He turned back to me. "Say your good-byes to the princess."

"But—"

"No Yugi, he's right," I said, sitting up. I took my deck out of the Duel Disk and handed it back to him. "Thanks for letting me borrow this." He took it back, looking depressed. I reached up undid the clasp to the Tauk, and held it for a moment.

'I guess this is good-bye…'

I sighed and squeezed the Tauk. 'I suppose so.'

Atena knelt next to me and put a hand on my shoulder. 'Thank you for everything Aieko,' she said. 'No matter what happens when we go to Egypt, I'll always have these memories of my time with you.'

I smiled. 'I won't ever forget you.'

'Nor I you. Good-bye Aieko.'

'Good-bye… Queen Atena.'

She smiled, and her shadow form faded as I gave Bakura the Tauk. "There," I said, standing up and brushing off the bottom of my pants. I turned and looked the thief in the eye. "Thanks for the duel." Turning back to the direction of the bus stop, I shoved my hands in my pocket and walked away.

"Aieko!"

I looked over my shoulder; everybody was running after me. "Yeah?"

"Where are you going?" Anzu asked.

"Home," I said. "I still have a bit more packing to do."

She smiled. "Why don't we all go out one last time together?"

I smiled back. "I'd like that a lot."

Yugi

Yugi took a step towards the group, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

"Yugi. I need to speak with you."

He looked up with surprise at the Spirit of the Ring. "O…okay?"

"Yugi, Bakura, you comin'?" Jonouchi called.

"I'll catch up with you guys in a bit," Yugi called back. He turned to the Spirit. "What?"

Bakura smiled. "I know that sooner or later, you're going to need all seven Millennium Items. But," he grabbed the Ring, "the Ring belongs to me. I'll hand it over to you only when you need it, and no sooner. But here," he held out his other hand, which had the Tauk and Eye, "in return for making you wait, I'll give you these."

Yugi took half a step back, a frown on his face.

"Once you've gathered the other six Items, then I'll give the Ring to you," Bakura smiled. "Take these as my way of swearing loyalty."

Yugi's frown and misgivings deepened.

Nobody knows what happened to Pegasus after Duelist Kingdom… so how did Bakura get the Millennium Eye?

"Yugi… when you solved the Millennium Puzzle, you released the Pharaoh's soul into this world. In that moment, you became the chosen one to restore his lost memories." Bakura held his hand out again, and the Eye clinked gently against the Tauk. "To do that, you need all seven of the Millennium Items. I'm giving you the Eye and the Tauk so you can use them for their destined purpose. Once you have six, I'll give you the seventh—the Ring. You have my word!"

Yugi hesitated, but he took the Eye and Tauk from Bakura. Why is he being so friendly and helpful? He used to be after the Millennium Items… he even tried to kill me… I can't trust him so easily!

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "What? You look suspicious."

"Tell me why you want to help me," Yugi said, slipping the Eye and Tauk into his pocket.

Bakura looked down and touched the Ring. "I, too, am a soul trapped within a Millennium Item. I was sealed in the Ring three thousand years ago. I can't do anything without a host body… so Yugi, I want to go to the afterlife too! When the Pharaoh gets his memories back and goes there, so will I!"

Yugi's hand tightened around the Eye and the Tauk. I don't know what Bakura's up to, but he's right: it's my duty to collect all of the Items. I have four now… all that's left are Bakura's Ring, and Shadi's Items—the Key and the Scales. We're getting close!

"Yugi, you're traveling to Egypt with your friends tomorrow, right?"

"Yes."

"My host is looking forward to it," Bakura smirked and turned away. "I'll be watching you from the shadows… we'll meet again."

There was a brief flash of light, and Bakura stumbled. He turned around, looking slightly confused.

"Yugi…? What…?"

Yugi smiled. "Hey Ryou. We were all just going to get a burger. Want to come?"

Ryou looked at him, then looked down the street where the rest of their friends were gathered. "Yeah… sure." He paused, then fell into step beside Yugi. "Hey, did, ah, the Spirit of the Ring just…?"

Yugi sighed. "I don't know if you were watching, but he beat Aieko in a duel."

Ryou froze.

"Don't worry," Yugi assured him, "she's fine." He pulled the Tauk out of the pocket. "They dueled over the Items instead of their souls."

"Oh. That's good then." He paused. "But, then she and Atena aren't in contact anymore, are they?"

Yugi shook his head. "I don't think so… but I'm going to give it back to her so they have time for a real good-bye before we leave tomorrow."

Ryou nodded. "That's nice of you."

"Thanks. I'm sure they'll both be happy."

They caught up with their friends and walked inside the restaurant with smiles on their faces.

Argh, duels are harder than fight scenes… D: I tried to get the spirit of the manga in that scene, so I hope it played out well for you all… hnrgh… I completely rewrote it too, and I even used my own deck to play out Aieko's side of the duel (mostly. There were some cards I needed/wanted to use that aren't in there, but everything else happened as I drew it)

Also, the conversation between Yugi and the Spirit of the Ring at the end there was basically verbatim from the manga (Millennium World, vol. 1), though shortened a bit. So I can't claim any of that, except the fact that I added the Tauk in there—in the manga, Bakura just gives the Eye to Yugi, since Yugi already has the Tauk.

We are almost done! Just one chapter to go… then the fic that took FOREVER to write will finally be done!

Remember when I said I wanted to finish this by June?

PFT

Next time: farewells all around

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