Good Day Readers. Obviously I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh only Kylie and Katherine Hope along with the unique cards within their decks and whatever other OCs decide to crop up. Also italics symbolise a mind conversation or a flashback, or something in another language.

I would appreciate any responses that you have, please enjoy

Chapter 19: - Heartless Duel

I rubbed my eyes which were growing weary from staring at a computer screen for so long but I kept tapping the keyboard trying to find a way into the harbour cameras and see if I could get any information of Jounouchi and the others or Marik and the Rare Hunters since we were getting closer to whatever trap Marik had laid for us.

"The man aiming for the God Cards, the one who stole Kylie's Guardians and the leader of the Ghouls… he was called Marik, right?" Seto asked. I raised my head to look at the brunette with Katherine, Yami and Mokuba doing the same thing. "What do you know about the man who owns the Winged Divine Dragon of Ra?" Seto added on. I wasn't surprised to know that he was curious but there wasn't much we could tell him about this psychopath except his motivations.

"I've never seen him face to face, all I know is that, like me, he owns a Millennium Item," Yami admitted. However Seto was quick to dismiss this information, even referring to it as occult nonsense, even though he had direct experience with the power of one of the very items that he was dismissing and not even that along ago to boot.

"Says the guy who had his soul ripped out and stuff into a card a month ago by the power of a Millennium Item," I retorted. Seto shot me a glare with Yami agreeing with me as he reminded Seto about experiencing Pegasus' Millennium Item, this caused Seto's expression to sour making it known that the brunette did indeed remember what had happened at Duelist Kingdom as did Mokuba's fearful face, Seto insisted it was some kind of trick.

"To believe or not to believe is your freedom, but… my true identity is a soul trapped within the Millennium Puzzle," Yami admitted. Both Seto and Mokuba started in shock but then Seto's eyes darted to the two of us as he realised neither me or Katherine were surprised by this sudden revelation. "Right, the me right now is Yugi but also not Yugi at the same time. Muto Yugi awakened me when he completed the Millennium Puzzle. I'm his other personality, it is why Kylie gave me the name Yami," Yami continued on. Seto was having a hard time understanding this whole situation, not that I blamed him.

"Impossible, if you're not Yugi, what the hell are you?" Seto asked. In response I handed Katherine my laptop and then reached over to flick the CEO in the centre of the forehead causing him to flinch backwards in response to my actions as I gave him a heavy glare for the words that he had just used, I then sat back into my chair.

"He isn't a what Kaiba Seto. Yami is a human being so you should have said who!" I insisted. Yami smiled in response and then explained that he was a Pharaoh from Ancient Egypt but had lost his memories which further added to Seto and Mokuba's shock; surprising Seto revealed he'd encountered Ishizu at the museum and had been shown the tablet that we'd seen yet he still dismissed what he'd seen with his own eyes and claimed we were shown images by her as well.

Yami dismissed this preconception and explained what we'd been warned about instead and went on to explain that Marik's objective was to obtain the three God Cards along with killing Yami as he was the Pharaoh's soul; Mokuba was slightly overwhelmed by the amount of information that was being throw about in this discussion.

"Don't go buying it Mokuba," Seto insisted. I restrained an eyeroll at the stubbornness with which he refused to believe all the evidence he'd been presented. "Yugi, do you really believe in such baseless stories?" Seto asked. Yami insisted that Seto had seen the evidence with his own eyes due to the God cards that Seto and Yami had summoned and Marik subsequent possession of the duelists that have been opposing them at the times of those summons.

"It's stated in psychology that it's possible to control human beings through brainwashing," Seto stated. However that caused an outburst and it surprisingly didn't come from me, a loud banging sound came making us all jump as we looked over to see that Katherine had her right hand planted against the metal hull thus displaying the Millennium Gauntlet as she raised her dark eyes to glare at the brunette CEO.

"We're serious Seto! A psychopath is hunting Yugi and Yami down to kill them! And he's also after you because of Obelisk! He's already kidnapped our friends and has arranged several death matches to try and kill Yami! We aren't screwing around by telling you lies!" Katherine ranted. Me and Yami reached over to settle a hand on her in order to calm her down, which worked, and then Yami stated that Jounouchi and the others being kidnapped because of him was a fact.

We were in visual range of Domino Harbour by this time so our conversation was stalled as the helicopter began to reach our destination; however the silence was broken by Seto warning us that Jounouchi had probably been turned into a puppet so that the blonde could be used against Yami and even admitted that he would do such a thing.

"Kaiba! I don't know what he's up to, but if it means saving Jounouchi-kun, I'll gladly put my life on the line!" Yami responded. Seto shot back that Yami was making a serious self-contradiction which confused the ancient spirit so Seto went on to state he had learn of the power of cooperation from his duel with Yugi against the Rare Hunters but then ask that if Yami and Jounouchi were to fight then where would that power lie in such a situation.

"In Jounouchi's heart," Katherine stated. At those words we turned to look at my sister who was looking at her lap as she played with the hem of her skirt. "Marik only has control over his mind but not his heart. If we can break through to Jounouchi's heart then we might be able to break Marik's control," Katherine explained. It was at that moment that Mokuba spotted someone on the harbour so I looked out as my eyes widened at the person I saw down there.

"That's Jounouchi!" I exclaimed. Yami stated Katherine's theory would soon be proven and Seto claimed it was interesting as the helicopter descended to the harbour and landed so we promptly got out and moved in front of the vehicle to stand across from the blonde who was staring at us but his gaze was different; Seto was right, Jounouchi was under Marik's control but the lack of a glowing eye made it clear that Marik was using a different kind of manipulation this time around.

"I've been waiting for you to show up Yugi," Jounouchi spoke. Mokuba was quick to catch on that our friend was acting different to his usual personality, Yami call out our friend and tried to rouse his true personality. "Wake up? I'm wide awake! I'm more than awake enough to beat you to a pulp! Yugi, you can't run away from me or this duel! A duel with our very lives on the line fighting until our last breaths!" Jounouchi declared. It felt like a lead weight settled in my stomach at those words and my mouth ran dry as well.

"Big brother, just what…?" Mokuba asked. However Seto didn't really answer the question as he instead stated a duelist needed to crush all challengers before them even if they were friends and it was the way of a duelists. "The way… of a duelist?" Mokuba asked. I didn't like this scenario but there wasn't anything we could do given the situation, unless we finally got a hold of Marik and took the Millennium Rod from him; Katherine had already tried cutting the bond but the thread was stronger than before making it harder to sever so she had to take to carefully clipping it apart otherwise Jounouchi's mind could be destroyed.

"Jounouchi-kun, listen to me. I want to duel you in Battle City from the bottom of my heart! But as True Duelists! With our pride on the line!" Yami called. However Jounouchi gave no response when Yami brought up the promise that they'd made on the first day. "Those words touched me. I think the reason we've got this far… was so I could keep that promise with you, I truly believe that. But this battle is a trap set by Marik! This isn't the true duel we promised each other!" Yami pleaded. Sadly all Jounouchi did was to turn around an encourage Yami to follow him to where they'd engage in a duel of death, Yami desperately called out to his friend.

"It's no use Yugi. No matter what you say, you can't escape this duel with Jounouchi," Marik's voice came. We turned around to look at the ship that was beside the helicopter's landing place and coming down the steps was Anzu of all people causing my eyes to narrow as Yami called out to her. "Jounouchi has become my puppet and his emotions and memory are being controlled by my anger!" Marik admitted. However his voice had come out of Anzu when she moved her mouth, that meant two of them were being held prisoner by the madman.

Anzu walked right passed us so Yami chased after her making the rest of us run after him until we came upon a part of the harbour that jutted out into the sea with a wooden square platform with a hole in the middle exposing the sea and scaffolding at the sides which held an anchor than hung above the hole, I did not like the look of this set up at all; Yami stepped onto the wooden platform whilst the rest of us hung back and the ancient spirit asked about this place being their duel stage.

"Before the duel begins, you will each attach these handcuffs to your ankles," Anzu/Marik insisted. The handcuffs were clamped on and I noticed the chains connected each male to the anchor hovering above the sea which Yami also noticed and this caused Jounouchi to reveal that the weight of the anchor was three hundred kilograms and when either of the player's Life Points dropped to zero, the bomb would explode within thirty seconds and it would fall, Yami was then told take a look at his feet so we did as instructed and my eyes widened at what I found.

At each duelists feet sat a box identical to the ones Pandora had used in his duel against Yami and they served the same purpose, each had the Life Points of the opponent on them and once that number hit zero it would open with a key being inside that would unlock the cuff of the person who stood over the box, that meant that one of them was going to be dragged to the bottom of the ocean and drown; I felt Katherine begin to tremble when she realised the same thing.

"You can't! There's no way I can have such a dangerous duel with Jounouchi-kun!" Yami protested. However Marik wouldn't let the ancient spirit escape from this scenario as Anzu sat in a chair that proceeded to extend locks that secured both her wrists to the arms of the chair and then her legs to the body of the chair since there weren't any legs and the timer on the bomb started with it being revealed that there was forty minutes until the bomb went off anyway and both duelists were dragged in.

"We have to stop them, big brother! Kylie! Katherine! We can't accept this duel" Mokuba exclaimed. The boy was right but what the hell could we possibly do, I didn't doubt that Marik could remotely detonate the bomb and the moment we tried to save them the anchor would be dropped before we could do anything, our only option was to find some way to jam the Solid Vision system long enough for me and Katherine to find Marik and stop him.

"I can't accept this! I will not let Marik do what he wants in this Battle City!" Seto declared. As the organiser he did technically have the authority to overturn any duel, however a rumbling sound came from our right making us all look in that direction and my blood drained away as we spotted a crane carrying a large container roll along another pier until it stopped so that the container hung above Anzu, Yami turned around to see the scenario as well.

"Oh no!" Katherine exclaimed. Marik revealed that there was a bomb on the hook holding up the container and if we attempted anything, even Katherine cutting the hold as Marik revealed, then one of his goons would press the switch thus dropping the container onto Anzu; I don't like the girl but I didn't want to see her die. Seto was shocked that Marik had sunk this low.

"You clearly forgot me mentioning the Buzzsaws one of his minions used before," I commented. However my tone was shaky and it was getting difficult for me to remain calm given what was going on, especially when Marik released control of Anzu so that she could watch the duel as well; naturally she was confused but we couldn't explain the situation to her given that Marik used Jounouchi to demand that Yami not use Osiris so that it wouldn't fall into the sea with the ancient spirit.

In response Yami unclipped one of his belts as that was where the God Card was kept, he opened the pouch and removed a card from it which he then put into his deck and shuffled it; something told me that card was Red-Eyes and it was probably the key to bringing back Jounouchi, after putting Red-Eyes it Yami tossed the belt and pouch onto the floor as Marik demanded… if he thought he'd get the God card then he had another thing coming.

With all the preparations out of the way, including ensuring that me, Katherine, Seto and Mokuba were caught between a rock and a hard place and that Yami was suffering knowing his actions endangered at least one of Yugi's and his friends, the duel got underway; suddenly my mobile began to vibrate so I pulled it out and looked at the caller I. D. and found it was Honda… did that mean he was safe?

"Answer it Kylie Hope!" Jounouchi ordered. I glared at him but proceeded to hold the phone to my ear closely and answered it, letting Honda speak after greeting him, apparently he was looking for Jounouchi because Shizuka was hoping to take off her bandages and see Jounouchi dueling as her first sight; given the situation I couldn't let that happen but then Jououchi smiled cruelly. "So, my little sister is in town along with another friend. Maybe I'll invite them here was well," Marik threatened through Jounouchi. I gritted my teeth in response and decided to risk warning the brunette.

"Honda run! And don't you fucking stop no matter what! Guys in purple robes are after you two in order get to Yugi! They've already got Anzu and Jounouchi! Don't tell Shizuka! Just! Run!" I commanded. Honda shakily complied and hung up the phone, however Jounouchi's face never lost its' cruel smile as he commanded Yami to take the first turn. "Let's hope Honda can last long enough for us to do something. Brainstorming guys," I insisted. Seto nodded as we kept our eyes locked on the deadly duel about to take place.

Jounouchi – LP: 4000

Yugi – LP: 4000

Yami hesitated for a few moments as Jounouchi goaded the ancient spirit into making a move so the ancient spirit complied by summoning out Gazelle in defence mode and ended his turn; I knew Yami didn't want to hurt his dearest friend but he had to realise that in order to rescue his friends, then Yami would have to take far more aggressive actions in this duel.

Phantom Beast King Gazelle – Attribute: Earth, Type: Beast, Level: 4, ATK/1500, DEF/1200

"My turn," Jounouchi stated. He then drew a card from his deck, with all the illegal activities that the Ghouls got up to I wouldn't be surprised if there were now Rare, Counterfeit or Illegal cards in the blonde's deck especially since that would give Marik and unfair advantage as Yami would now be blindsided by those unexpected cards. "Here goes, my card is… Thunder Bolt!" Jounouchi announced. Lightning struck Gazelle destroying it as per Thunder Bolt's effect leaving Yami wide open for an attack. "Then I summon Wyvern Warrior to the field," Jounouchi continued.

Wyvern Warrior – Attribute: Earth, Type: Beast, Level: 4, ATK/1500, DEF/1200

With a monster on the field and Yami completely defenceless it was clear to a blind man what was going to happen next, Wyvern Warrior attacked the ancient spirit directly thus dealing a heavy amount of damage to him with one attack, I bit down onto my lip as I forced myself to stay still despite a deep urge to intervene and stop this monstrosity of a duel from occurring.

Yugi – LP: 4000 – LP: 2500

"What's wrong Yugi? You're not so tough after all. But it's way too early to start fearing me! Now bring it Yugi!" Jounouchi goaded. Yami complied and drew a card from his deck which he proceeded to play revealing it was Big Shield Gardna and he summoned that in defence mode but once more that was the only move he made, causing my teeth to bite slightly harder on my bottom lip, any more pressure and the skin would break.

Big Shield Gardna – Attribute: Earth, Type: Warrior, Level: 4, ATK/100, DEF/2600

"It's no use pulling out a defence monster… my turn. I'm going to use this against you!" Jounouchi declared. He held a card and proceeded to turn it around to reveal that the card he was holding was actually Fire Ball which caused my throat to tightened as that Magic card would deal five hundred points of damage to the opponent.

Jounouchi activated the card causing fire to stream towards Yami which engulfed his body in flames and my heart twisted painfully when I heard him screaming from within that blazing wreath, Seto was angry about this since Magics like Fire Ball that dealt direct damage to the player had been banned in this tournament unless they had a cost attached to their activation like my Ara.

"You really think these monsters play by the rules!" Katherine cried. I glanced at my sister to find her tightly clinging to my pants as tears misted her eyes and soaked her cheeks, I knelt down and looped an arm around her shoulders in an attempt to comfort her as her arms wrapped around me ensuring that I was properly grounded as this duel was liable to get worse before it got any better and it also gave me some slight comfort.

Yugi – LP: 2500 – LP: 2000

The flames eventually died down leaving only smoke rising from Yami's body as Marik used Jounouchi to mock Yami getting hit by the Magic card, after that things fell silent around the two as Yami recovered from the assault; Marik then insisted that Yami continue the duel so he drew a card; at that moment Anzu started to protest to the duel not believing that Jounouchi had joined up with the Ghouls.

"Jounouchi… seems to be under the control of this Marik guy in charge of the Ghouls," Mokuba spoke up. Anzu repeated the 'under control' part with a confused expression on her face as she turned to look at the ongoing duel. "He said he's avenging his clan for three thousand years of suffering… I… I don't get any of it at all!" Mokuba exclaimed. Anzu once more repeated some of what Mokuba said which only confused her even more and I was getting rather annoyed with her.

However at that moment the minion in the crane called out to Anzu and told her to keep quiet or else he was going to drop the container on her causing the brunette to finally realise her precarious situation but instead of being scared, Anzu went ahead and dared the Ghoul to actually carry through with his threat but she then turned back to the four of us.

"Katherine-san, Kylie-san, Kaiba-kun, Mokuba-kun! Forget about me! Stop Jounouchi and Yugi!" Anzu pleaded. Seto looked deeply conflicted about what to do whilst Mokuba looked at the container threatening Anzu's life and protested taking such an action, I looked at the brunette as I tightly gripped my little sister who had only started to cry harder upon hearing Anzu's plea.

"We can't! Yugi, Yami and Jounouchi would never forgive us! Not if we let you… if we let…," I argued. However I couldn't say the dread word as my throat choked up with tears burning the edges of my eyes but I didn't dare let them fall. "Shit! Seto we've got to do something! Sitting here doing nothing is damn near killing me!" I snapped in English. Seto nodded his head in understanding as we looked back at the duel as Marik egged Yami to make his move, Yami did by setting a face down and playing Kuriboh in attack mode.

Kuriboh – Attribute: Dark, Type: Fiend, Level: 1, ATK/300, DEF/200

The move was clearly a baited trap… or at least that'd be what I'd think if this was a normal duel however given the current situation when Jounouchi assumed that Yami was going to sacrifice himself so that Jounouchi could survive, I was begrudgingly inclined to agree with the psychopath… at least up until Yami declared he wasn't going to die and refused to let Jounouchi die either.

Jounouchi dismissed such a notion and commanded Wyvern Warrior to attack Kuriboh, at that moment Yami activated his face down which turned out to be the Curse of Hexagram – well what do you know?! My first guess was right after all – Jounouchi was shocked by the occurrence especially since the trap not only reduced Wyvern Warrior's attack but also prevented its' attack from going through.

Wyvern Warrior – ATK/1500 – ATK/800

"That's no use Yugi! That won't work against his Banned deck!" Seto argued. He was right about that fact since there would be plenty of cards that would deal damage to Yami without attacking the ancient spirit; Anzu thought begging them to stop would work but it didn't as Jounouchi admitted all he needed to do was deplete Yami's Life Points and proceeded to activate another Fire Ball

Once more flames engulfed Yami, this time sending his jacket flying away, and screams rose from within the flames causing me to flinch back as Katherine rose her hands cover her ears in a desperate attempt to drown out the agonised screams that came from our friend whilst Jounouchi began to laugh at the sight.

Yugi – LP: 2000 – LP: 1500

"YAMI!" I screamed. The fire faded and the ancient spirit was left smoking once more and he ended up stumbling from the force and pain he was enduring; That. Was. It. There had to be something that we could do to stop this disgusting duel and rescue all of those whose lives were being threatened by this damned monster.