Chapter Twenty Eight

A/N: This chapter is a bit short, but it's pretty much a filler in the anime, the duel between Kaiba and Jonouchi. The only events played are Marik and Yami's prequel encounter before the Final Duel. And of course, some bit of screen time for the wizards. That is all...


The day wore on after the duel. The finals were to be held tomorrow. Of course, after the duel had ended, Yami was certainly surprised to see not only his friends there waiting for him but he was surprised to see Jonouchi wide awake.

"You think Kaiba will be alright? He looked pretty pissed..."

Harry shrugged. "He'll be fine. A bit of angst won't kill him... hopefully."

"Mokuba wanted to be with Kaiba for the meantime... that just leaves us together..." Cassie giggled and began tracing circles into Harry's chest with a finger. He raises his right brow, an amused smirk crossing his lips.

He wraps his arms around her, lifts her into his arms. She squealed and giggled as he carried her off. He passed the Weasley siblings and his own sibling, opening the door to her room, and carried her right in, shutting the door with the lock button on the other side.

=0=0=

In another field opening surrounded by the ruins of the island, a duel was occurring. A Battle for the Bronze, so to say: Katsuya Jonouchi vs. Seto Kaiba. Of course, on top Duel Tower there was one person who remained behind long after it vacated. Marik, the darkness that thrived within Malik and now occupied soul of the hikari's body.

"I must figure out what had happened..."

Marik was pacing around the top of the tower, arms crossed, and a scowl on his face.

"That duel sparked a power between the two god cards when they clashed..."

//FLASHBACK//

The two gods' power colliding in the center caused a build up of magical energy. Soon, it exploded outward, and a radiating sphere of light grew larger until it had completely engulfed all.

"The power the two behemoths created caused the Sennen Rod to activate of its own accord. According to the Pharaoh, that power had shown him, Kaiba, Harry, and Cassandra a vision of the ancient past... But what did they see?"

The Sennen Rod glowed brightly, as Mark was completely stupefied over the events occurring all around him, the magic of the gods, and the magic radiating off the Sennen Rod.

//END FLASHBACK//

Getting frustrated over those events, in a rage he threw the Rod. The golden item clattered along the ground before it rested at Anzu's feet. She bends down, and delicately picks the mystical item up. Marik glares at her, as she holds the item across her chest.

"Hand over the item," he hissed, "you are messing with things that are beyond your control!"

As he storms over to retrieve his item, the Rod activates, and a wave of magical energy washes outward, forcing Marik of his feet and sailing away from her. Landing in a heap, he snarls and gets back up.

"What the hell is going on? No one should be able to use the powers of the item..."

He glares at the teenager, who still grips the item in her hand. Down below, someone was racing toward the tower when the Puzzle reacted to the energy, and being nosy, the British adults who have been walking around the ruins of the island, gave chase, but keeping their distance.

Anzu then proceeded towards Marik, pointing the item at him with a threatening form, forcing a blast of energy to once again strike Marik, forcing him back more. He got back up again, and growled being forced to back away as she proceeded to draw him closer to the edge.

"You thought you got rid of me Marik... not quite..."

Marik recognized the voice, and snarled. "So, it's my weaker half, taking refuge within the mind of the Pharaoh's female friend... with what portion you had left..."

"I had to... to insure that I can remain long enough to finally reclaim my body back from you, you parasite," was his reply, through Anzu's lips.

"How sad," he deadpanned, though a crooked grin was etched on his own lips, "don't you realize it Malik? I now occupy your body, and you no longer exist!"

"I am here, to take back control of my body, Marik! And I will do it with force if needed!"

"Ha! You are nothing! You are but a weak fragile memory desperately leeching onto someone else just to remain here in the world of the living! I am the real you now, and you are but a pest! A cockroach that refuses to die... however, thanks to Rashid, it is the reason I now exist!"

The shadow of Malik widens his eyes.

"Oh yes, you remember, right? That duel between him and Jonouchi, on your command to duel under your name? When Ra casted his rage upon the both of you, I began to emerge. Once the coma had claimed his mind, the final lock shattered thus allowing me freedom."

In a split second, Marik had snatched Anzu's wrist, forcing the rod out of her grasp, forcing her forward while snatching it out of the air, and positioning the item at her. The roles had reversed. Now Marik had Anzu, and Malik, at his mercy.

"I believe there is no way to go now," Marik chuckled, "and once I am through with you, the last ties of my former self will forever vanish."

"You won't get away with this..."

Marik just snickered away, forcing the sharp sides directly under Anzu's throat. "I believe you are in no position to make any threats."

He brought it back, and swung. However, Malik took control of the girl's movements, using her agility to grasp the railing, handstand, and push back into a somersault and land. "Now you're just stalling death," he grunted, turning around, thrusting the Rod before him, and blasting Anzu off her feet with the quick burst of magic.

He walks over with an air of superiority, grasping the item and lifting it up, as the Wdjat Eye began to shine golden and magic slowly began to crush her. "Without Rashid around you are helpless and unprotected... hee, goodbye Malik, you shall never again interfere with my affairs..."

"Stop."

Marik looked up, and saw Isis walking towards him. "Stay out of this Isis, unless you too wish to die."

"Begone! You are not my brother..."

"Isis..." Isis turned around, as Anzu's eyes began to waver a bit, "I have grown far too weak... please... save yourself..." His voice faded, and Anzu collapsed in a dead faint.

"Hmhmhmhm... Hahahahahahaha! And now Isis, you shall learn that certain affairs should never be messed with. I believe it's time to rejoin your father, your soul destroyed and lost in the realms of unforgiving darkness!"

The Sennen Rod began to glow bright once again, as Isis backed away, the mad glint shining in the eyes of Marik.

"Say goodbye..."

"Hold it right there!" A commanding voice echoed. Marik narrowed his eyes at the interruption, as walking out into the open, was Yami.

"Wow, it appears that I am very popular today."

As Yami walked toward the center, facing off Marik, Isis had pulled Anzu to the side.

"That's quite enough, Marik."

"Heh, it appears that we'll have our duel sooner than expected..."

Near the stairs, the witches and wizards had reached the top, only to feel a cold dread filling the air. The Eye of Wdjat glowed upon both foreheads of the item users, as Shadow Magic was pooling around, thickening into the dark fog that existed during most Shadow Duels they had witnessed from the sidelines.

And then just as the Shadow Realm formed, it disappeared quickly, as Marik snickered, his eyes closed.

"Then again, I rather not end this game just yet..."

Yami stared at the dark entity, as he walked past him.

"After all, it would be too easy. On the other hand you have something that belongs to me, and I intend to take it. Not yet however... but soon... until we meet again... I'll drain your power! Ahahahahahahahaha!"

He disappeared down the staircase, the adults having quickly moved out of the way in fear of getting struck by the dark magical energies that surrounded Marik.

Yami ran towards Isis, who was holding the unconscious Anzu.

"What is going on...? And why is Anzu up here in the first place?"

"Pharaoh... my brother's light... he still exists... within Anzu's mind."

Now that stunned Yami and Yugi.

=0=0=

"Harry?"

"Yeah, Cassie?"

The couple was snug in the bed, blankets covering them up just to just the neck. Cassie rested her head against her boyfriend's chest, while Harry's hands rested against the small of her back.

"Do you think Yugi and Yami can win their duel against Marik?"

"I am sure. Before he starts his duel tomorrow, you give him the card, okay?"

She nodded, remembering the card Harry was talking about.

In the end, Harry got up to use the restroom the room provides, and looked out the window. The duel has finished apparently because Jonouchi was walking off with Honda and Otogi, but Anzu and Yugi were missing. As he left the window and enters the restroom, he failed to see Isis step up to confront Kaiba.

=0=0=

Marik sat cross legged on top of the airship. How he got there, thankfully the Stratos-Dueling Arena remained intact. After the various encounters on top Duel Tower, he was now grasping the Sennen Rod tightly.

"Hm... he will not live much longer... Malik is nothing. And soon, the rest of the world shall see the power that I control. Ra shall arise, and flood the world with its destructive flames... the Pharaoh's power shall soon belong to me..."

A soft smile curled up, and the Eye of Wdjat shined brightly.

=0=0=

"Do we even have to watch this duel thing occur?"

"Yes we do... and you and the Weasleys are to stay here tomorrow, got it?" James questioned.

"But why?" Chase complained.

"That magic the muggle wields is powerful against our wizard magic. I don't want to lose you Chase like I did Lily.... and Dumbledore would not allow more harm befall others. If something happens, and if that Yugi child is able to beat Marik in the finals tomorrow, we're all hoping it can reverse all the damage that has been inflicted on everybody."

"Oh, and what about those other muggles? They know about magic now!"

James sighed. "I know, but if we do something, Harry may take it the wrong way, and he'll hate us again... he's forgiven us just now, but I don't want to lose that trust again..."

"Then why doesn't he want to come back, dad? Why?"

James just sighed. "I don't know..."

//FLASHBACK – the morning of the day of Cyber World's introduction//

"I am not returning home you know... once I manage to save Lily... that's it... I have a family here. I have friends who care for me... and I'm also one of the talked about hotshot duelists of Domino. Sure I may have lost in the first rounds, but I came along way. This experience will just keep me going..."

His back was now turned towards James. "Sorry, but I just cannot go back home... not when I already have one I can call in Japan... and besides, I promised Kaiba I would help Mokuba whenever possible... I can't betray his trust in me."

//END FLASBACK//

"I can't betray his trust in me..."

James looked up at his son. "Son, you also have You-Know-Who to worry about. Because of that prophecy... you are the only one who can defeat him..."

"But that Isis woman talked about some hidden power that Harry and Cassandra hold within them!"

James shook his head. "Son... whatever she spoke of, can't possibly mean his their wizarding magic... Harry no longer has magic in him... he and Cassandra lost it to that Marik person."

Chase just frowned, and closed his eyes. "But..."

"It's for the best anyway... Harry's moved on... he doesn't need us anymore..." Especially since he's an adult in the eyes of the law...