Okay, I probably should have taken care of this right up front, but I've about had it. For starters, when I say "Thank you for your helpful and insightful review…" I'm being sarcastic! That's meant as an insult. I don't want to hear "good chapter, update soon." That's useless to me; as in, I'd rather you not review than get one of those messages! I don't mean to sound ungrateful, there are those of out there who do prove you've actually read the material, and 80+ reviews (including the nonsense) is a compliment beyond what I disserve, but please, give me something. Tell me what you liked, and preferably what you didn't like so I know what I have to improve on. Do you like where the story is headed? Am I being too subtle? What do you think of the state of mind of the characters? Did you feel like you lost someone you were attached to when Peter died? Do you think my characters are too stock? And don't just agree with me or repeat what I said, because I can spot when people are trying to jerk me around. And I'm not asking everyone who reads my story to give me a review. If you just want to read it and not chime in, that's fine. But if you say something, make sure you have something to say! And I'm sure by now I've insulted someone, and I'm sure I'm going to get at least one "now I'm not going to read your story so there" comment, but frankly, I don't care. I'm writing this story because I think it's interesting, not because I want compliments. To tell the truth, I don't think it's even worthy of praise. That anyone reads it let alone comments on it shocks me, (Fel-light 93 doesn't count because I hurt him if he doesn't review (Which reminds me, I have to hurt Fel-light 93. There's a pick me up!)) but I just get so angry when people waste my time on a review of between one and four words. Sorry to waste more than 360 words on this tirade, but I had to say something.

As for the chapter, I think those of you still reading will like it. The Finals start now!


The last of the sixteen finalists stepped beyond the threshold, and the doors shut. Each of the finalists were in separate rooms, waiting for the last finalist to arrive. And now, it was finally show time!

The doors opened on the grand stage. The enormous room was slate grey. All around the room were railed walkways eight feet off the ground for the finalists not fighting in the duels. On the ground floor were white lines to draw out the battlefield. While most of the stage was well lit, the north end was blocked by a shroud. Behind it, a tall staircase leading to the villain Kane, seated on his opulent front row seat.

The final sixteen looked about to see who made it. It took a while for people to find each other because of the room's vast size. Yugi, Atem, Dan, Runo, Shun, Alice, and Marucho congregated near the staircase in the southeast corner. Kaiba tried to keep his distance, but Atem and Yugi beckoned him over (much to the distress of Dan and Runo).

"Don't ask him to come over here!" Runo protested.

"Relax," Yugi assured, "Kaiba's on our side."

"I am on no one's side but my own," Kaiba said as he begrudgingly strode over.

"You really need to lighten up, Kaiba," Atem grinned.

Dan looked around for more of their friends. "This can't be everyone…"

"You didn't expect everyone to make it, did you Dan?" Shun asked.

"Well, I'm glad so many of us made it," Marucho said.

"Me too," Alice agreed.

"There ya are!" a friendly voice said form behind the circle of friends (and Kaiba). Everyone turned to see a kid about Kaiba's age and height. He had blond hair and a blue school uniform like Yugi and Atem. "I've been lookin' for you guys."

"Jonouchi!" Yugi exclaimed gleefully.

"Good to see you too," Jonouchi said to Atem, "It's been too long."

They shook. "How've you been?"

"As for you…" Jonouchi said turning to Kaiba.

"Don't get me involved in your little reunion."

"I wasn't plannin' on it, dirt bag!"

"Looks like this guy hate's Kaiba even more than we do," Dan whispered to Runo.

"The rest of you I don't know," Jonouchi said to the rest of the group, "For those of ya who haven't had the pleasure of meeting me, I'm Katsuya Jonouchi (Joey Wheeler)."

"I'm Dan Kuso."

"Runo."

"Shun…"

"Marucho, pleased to meet you."

"…And I'm Alice…"

"This display is nauseating," Kaiba groaned.

"Nobody asked you!"

"You know," Atem sighed, "I never thought I'd miss them arguing…"

"Yup," Yugi smiled, "It's a little bit of home. But Jonouchi, how'd Kaiba convince you to come here? Don't you just assume anything Kaiba does is some kind of deathtrap or something?"

"Yeah, usually you'd be right," Jonouchi affirmed, "I wasn't going to come at first. But then I noticed the hand written note at the bottom of my invitation."

"What did it say?" Marucho asked.

Jonouchi handed his invitation to Atem, who read it out loud. "Jonouchi, by now you are assuming this is some kind of trap. You are right. Yugi is here."

Everyone looked at Kaiba. He raised his eyebrow, "What?"

The mood became more serious. "I gotta bad feeling," Jonouchi started, "that Marik might be behind all o' this."

Atem went to speak, but was unexpectedly cut off by the voice of none other than Marik himself! "I can assure you," he said seriously, "that I am not responsible for this debacle. But I can't blame you for the accusation."

"Another friend of yours," Shun asked disdainfully.

"Actually," Atem said, "I know who's responsible." Everyone turned their attention to the elder Mutou. "Kane Chambers." The name sunk in. Everyone looked up at the silhouette behind the veil. He was the enemy. He was Duel Master K.

After that, they collectively scanned the crowd. Clouse had made it to the finals, but his was the only other familiar face. A boy and a girl were chatting in one corner of the room. The boy had short brown hair and wore a t-shirt and leather pants. He seemed rather laid back, especially compared to his friend. The girl had long blond hair in a pony-tail and bright green eyes. She wore a tank top and jeans. She didn't seem angry or nervous, but she just seemed to exude a forceful and authoritative personality.

That remained the last three, silent and off as far from anyone else as they could manage. It was the three top ranked Bakugan players. Hector was, of course, among the three. He wore what he had when he fought Runo. Another was the thin kid with reddish-brown hair. He had a fire engine red t-shirt and baggy pants. The final looked even more beautiful in person. She had a tall slender frame and a perfect tan. Her long, brown hair reached her waist. She wore a yellow v-neck dress with kitten heeled shoes. She had a face a model would envy and moved with a regal grace.

Yugi noticed the girl immediately. "Those curves! That face! I think I'm in love!"

"You've got to be kidding," Atem scoffed.

"What?" Yugi asked, stunned, "Are we looking at the same girl?"

"I've seen her type before," Atem assured, "Girls like her usually have the personality of a mud fence. (And an ego almost as big as Kaiba's.)"

"Watch it."

"You haven't even met her," Marucho protested.

Kaiba didn't seem to care. He just scoffed and said, "What does she think this is, a school dance?"

The girl seemed to hear the comment, or at least noticed the attention she was getting. She looked over and, with no discernible expression said, "I'll crush you." After that declaration, she turned away again.

That didn't sit well with Atem or Kaiba, but before anybody could say anything else, a jumbo screen was lowered from the rafters. The voice of the man who had explained the rest of the rules after Kaiba had left boomed in the echo chamber of the finals stage. "The match ups for the finals has been predetermined by random selection and the first battle will commence in three hundred seconds. The first match is Seto Kaiba vs. Atem Mutou!" Atem and Kaiba's images appeared on the screen.

Atem vs. Kaiba in the first match? Everyone whispered amongst themselves. What had become the most anticipated match in the tournament was up first!

"You didn't rig this, did you Kaiba?"

"Meh-heh. I wouldn't have had to."
"The second match will be Yugi Mutou vs. Alice Gehabich!"

"I'll do my best to give you a good match," Alice said humbly.

"Don't worry about it, Alice…"

"The third match will be Shun Kazama vs. Katsuya Jonouchi!"

"Hay, good luck in our match," Jonouchi said, hand extended to Shun. He ignored it and kept his eyes fixed on the monitor, which earned an irritated look form Jonouchi.

"The fourth match will be Runo Misaki vs. Hector Bask!"

Runo wasn't as happy about this turn of events as she thought she'd be. Sure, she had her chance at payback, but what if she lost? Hector seemed completely oblivious of the calling of the match ups.

"The fifth match will be Yuki Oh vs. Marucho Marukura!"

"Wow," the boy who had been talking with his friend off in the corner spoke up, "I get to battle someone famous."

"Good luck Mr. Oh," Marucho called over to him.

"You too. And just call me Yuki!"

"How can you be so relaxed?" the blond girl asked. Yuki just shrugged.

"The sixth match will be Clouse Von Herzon vs. Elizabeth Harrett!"

Clouse and the girl in the yellow dress eyed each other from across the long room in silence.

"The seventh match will be Marik Ishtar vs. Edward Spade!"

"Be careful with that one," Jonouchi warned Marik, "There's something about him I don't like."

"He has Slifer the Sky Dragon," Marik said plainly, "And the other two have Obelisk and Ra…"

"You sensed it too?" Yugi asked.

"What are those?" Dan asked.

"I'll tell you later," Yugi assured.

"And for the eighth and final match of the first round; Katelyn Fitz vs. Daniel Kuso!"

"Aw man!" Dan whined, "I'm in the last match."

"Hay, you" the blond girl called, "You're supposed to be the best of the best, so give me a good match!"

"You bet," Dan called back.

"Duelists, you have five minutes to prepare. And may the strongest brawler win!"

There's no turning back now, the Finals have begun!


That was a long one too. Though I expected that. I like how this chapter turned out. I expect the rest of I am Darkness will be pretty solid. I mean, this is the super ultra mega climax we're talking about here! And just so those of you know, there will be two stories that will be written as direct sequels to this titled I am Evil and I am Light. Just want to make that clear as possible; the end of I am Darkness is not the end of the series. I hope to see you again.