Wolfie: I don't own anything related to Yu-Gi-Oh, all I own is my oc Yuki and all alterations I make to the canon plot to add her in. Now please read, review, and I hope you like this book so far.

Chapter 24: The Scars of Defeat

Up at Pegasus's castle he was having a meeting with the Big Five whom wanted him to take control now that Seto is dead. He however was telling them to be patient as he needs to defeat Yuki first, even though he has other plans for said female. The Big Five of course weren't going to wait any longer as they wanted to finish where Pegasus had started. Said male didn't take too lightly to that as Seto Kaiba was his and his alone to deal with. No one was going to take that satisfaction away from him, especially not five business men that didn't have the balls to do things themselves the first time. The Big Five did have some concerns about Seto coming to save his little brother but Pegasus quickly quelled those fears. Meanwhile off in the distance a helicopter was fastly approaching the island, and its soul passenger was one Seto Kaiba. After barely managing to get away from the hidden room in his mansion he stole a helicopter and started the long flight.

'I can't believe all my business associates would turn on me after a single defeat.' Seto thought with a frown as he focused on flying for now, he'd worry about the how's and why's later. 'Then again, losing to Yuki has shaken my self-confidence, too.' He thought as he remembered that loss all too well...

Flash back beginning

"My Grandpa's deck has no pathetic cards Kaiba. But it does contain... The unstoppable Exodia." Yami Yuki said with a smirk as she held up the head of Exodia, the last piece that she needed to complete Exodia as she did just that. "Exodia, obliterate!" She ordered as Exodia heeded her command and attacked, destroying all three of Seto's Blue Eyes White Dragons.

"Aah!" Seto yelled as he was blinded by the golden light that was destroying his dragons and depleting his remaining life points.

"You play only for power Kaiba, and that is why you lost, but if you actually put your heart into the game and realized that it's not just about winning then there is nothing you can't do." Yami Yuki said as she had decided to be a good sport by giving Seto some friendly advice.

Flash back ending

'Maybe Yuki was right. But I can't start second-guessing myself now. Not when Pegasus has kidnapped my little brother Mokuba. No. If I'm going to face off against Pegasus, I have to rely on my old dueling instincts. That's the only chance i'll have of freeing Mokuba.' Seto thought as he could just see his little brother, scared and alone as plain as day, it made him wish the helicopter could fly faster. 'And once Mokuba is out of harm's way, I'll unleash my wrath on the vultures who conspired to take over my company. If Pegasus thought I would just sit idly by as they dismantled my life's work, he was wrong. I'll see to it that they all regret ever crossing Seto Kaiba.' He thought as he could see the dark outline of the island that was getting larger the closer he got.

Meanwhile in a clearing on the island Joey and Tristan were asleep outside next to a decently sized tent, snoring loudly. The people sleeping inside of then tent were Tea and Yugi because he was still a kid. So the brunette wouldn't have to worry about him getting handsy in the middle of the night. The only two people who were still awake were Bakura and Yuki as they sat a few feet away from everybody else. For the most part they had just been talking about anything and everything that they could think of. That is until Yuki pointed out that Bakura's Millennium Ring was glowing as he lifted it up. Now noticing that one of the hanging spikes was glowing and standing at attention and pointing towards Pegasus's castle. Yuki thought it was kind of spooky how it was pointing towards the castle all on its own. Bakura even mentioned that his ring seemed drawn to her as well when they had first met one another. Which made Yuki deduce that the spikes hanging down from Bakura's ring seems to hone in on other Millennium items. In this case the Millennium item in question was Pegasus's Millennium Eye.

After a bit more of talking Bakura decided it was high time that he had gotten some sleep. Leaving Yuki alone with her own thoughts as she sat leaning against a tree near the sleeping albino. Just simply watching the stars with her hands lightly cradling her Millennium Puzzle in her hands. It lightly glowing in the moonlight but the heterochromic eyed girl didn't really notice it as she's too deep in thought about what has happened. It became quite obvious to her that the deeper she got into this situation with Pegasus the more connected to the Millennium items. Besides her own Millennium item she's encountered the Millennium Eye and now the Millennium Ring. And then ever since she completed her puzzle dueling certainly has never been the same to say the least. Ever since she put that last piece in place she has felt a strong, courageous presence within her body. Just thinking about it made her remember the other her that had been in control when she was stuck as High Priestess of Prophecy. She remembered how guiding and understanding they had been with her and her friends. She especially remembered how protective they had been with her when Yami Bakura had tried to target her with the Change of Heart card.

'Whoever they are, I hope they will help me save my Grandpa. I honestly really miss him...' Yuki thought with a small frown as she looked at the moon.

'Of course I will help you young one.' A deep male voice suddenly said inside of Yuki's mind causing her to flinch and look around in shock.

'Who said that?Fuck, I'm hearing voices. Does that mean I'm going insane?' Yuki wondered as she looked around in confusion since there was no one else with her.

"I can assure you, you have not gone insane." The male voice said as clear as day as a see through male version of Yuki appeared sitting across from her.

Having that happen nearly scared Yuki out of her skin and she would've backed up if it weren't for the tree behind her. Her heterochromic eyes staring at what was basically her male doppelganger, except he's more mature looking than her. Though her shock turned to skepticism as she looked at him more closely, basically giving him the once over. He had the hair she remembered herself having when they were dueling Yami Bakura and he was wearing a male version of what she is currently wearing. The Millennium Puzzle around his neck was identical to her own, the only thing different from her own was his eyes. His are both a deep crimson color, whilst her's are heterochromic with one being crimson and the other being an amber color. The similarity in appearances was honestly scary to say the least, if she had the extra blonde in the black of her hair and he was a girl they could be twins. Slowly inching her way closer Yuki hesitantly reached out to touch the see through male, but her fingers simply passed right through him. At first she thought he was a figment of her imagination, but her fingers were strangely warm afterwards. That doesn't usually happen when someone touches nothing but thin air, so he was clearly real. Because she certainly doesn't feel any less sane than she was a day ago.

"So, your real?" Yuki asked softly, not wanting to wake anyone since they were still sleeping.

"Yes, I am real... to an extent." The male, Yami, said and that was honestly a very vague answer to give someone.

"To an extent?" Yuki asked curiously, still speaking softly because if anyone woke up and saw her talking to herself they'd think the stress is getting to her.

"I am not alive in the same extent as you are. I am bound to the Millennium Puzzle, as I have no corporeal form." Yami explained as Yuki slowly realized what he was talking about.

"Y-Your, dead?" Yuki questioned in shock as she gulped slightly, she was talking to a ghost!

"I suppose you could call it that. Though I mean you no harm if that is a concern of yours." Yami reassured with a small smile as Yuki relaxed slightly at that information.

"Ok... um, you were the one dueling when my soul got stuck in my card High Priestess of Prophecy. Right?" Yuki asked because she needed to know if that had been him or not.

"Yes, that was me." Yami said in confirmation as Yuki nodded before blushing darkly.

'Fuck, I've been sharing my body with a ghost. A male ghost!' Yuki thought in shock as she glanced at him, hoping to any higher power that was listening that he hadn't seen anything he shouldn't have. "So um, are you, you know, with me all the time or do you only come out when I'm dueling?" She asked because that was the only question she could think of that didn't seem mean or insensitive.

"I am with you only when you wear the puzzle, but our minds and souls have become connected. Due to how often i have recently been showing up when you duel." Yami explained as that caused Yuki to relax more as she let out a sigh of relief.

'Ok, so at least he's not seeing anything he shouldn't if he's only with me when I wear the puzzle...' Yuki thought as she looked at Yami who was waiting patiently for any other questions that she may have. "If that's true, then why were you a female when you were in control?" She asked curiously, causing Yami to blink slightly as he hummed in thought.

"Well, since I have no corporeal form I must borrow yours. Seeing as you are female I cannot change that while in control, I only cause slight changes to your appearance." Yami explained as Yuki nodded in understanding a few times during his explanation as the sound of a helicopter in the distance gets closer and louder. "I must go, you'll be getting company soon." He said, starting to disappear as the helicopter sounds gets louder the closer the source of the sound gets.

"Wait! What can I call you?" Yuki asked a bit louder as the sounds of the helicopter started to drown out her voice.

"You can call me Yami." Yami said as he fully disappeared, leaving Yuki alone again.

However she wasn't alone for long as Bakura woke up just in time to see a helicopter come up over the cliff into their line of sight. Shining a spotlight on all of them which woke up Joey and Tristan, the blonde of the pair yelling and complaining about it. Tea also opening the front of the tent, her and a tired Yugi poking their heads out in order to see what was going on. The helicopter soon landing in an open spot of the clearing, the engine being shut off as the propellor begins to slow down. Yuki, Bakura, and the other's standing clear of the slowing down propellor as they waited to see who came out. All of them gasping as one Seto Kaiba steps out of the helicopter, briefcase in hand. His chocolate brown hair and navy blue trench coat getting tousled by the breeze caused by the desellerating propellor. The brunette staring at them with a look on his face that means he has a bone to pick with someone. Yuki decided she might as well be the first person to approached the surly looking brunette. Giving him a small smile as Seto's eyes seemed to soften slightly for a moment, though the heterochromic eyed girl thought she was seeing things with that.

"I haven't seen you since our duel, Yuki." Seto said whilst looking at Yuki with his free hand in the right front pocket of his pants.

"Same here. Oh yeah, here." Yuki said whilst pulling out Seto's deck from her bag, holding it out to him. "Your deck, I've been keeping it safe for you. Consider it my thanks for the help you gave me during that duel. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't still be on this island." She said, still smiling whilst holding out the deck towards the tall brunette.

"Thanks." Seto said as he took the deck from her and held it up to his face, looking at it for a moment. "You'll be compensated for all of your trouble." He said as he turned and started to walk away from a now confused Yuki as he puts his deck away.

"Say what? Compensated? As in... money?" Yuki asked as she blinked, watching in confusion with a frown as Seto walked away from her. "Wait, Seto. I was actually thinking that since you're here and you obviously have a bone to pick with Pegasus that we could all go to his castle together. Though, you'll probably need some star chips and a dueling glove..." She said since she doubted that he'd be able to duel without either one of those things.

"Don't be so naive. This isn't just a game for me, Yuki." Seto said as he stopped walking away, his back facing Yuki as said girl crossed her arms slightly. "I'm going after Pegasus to save my brother, not so I can win some silly prize. Have fun with your tournament." He said as he turned back around in order to look at the short girl with the tri colored star shaped hair.

"I know that, but Seto..." Yuki trailed off as Seto started to walk away from her once again.

"That snobby little..." Joey said, trailing off before growling and rushing after the walking away Seto Kaiba. "Hey, listen, tough guy!" He exclaimed whilst getting in the way and grabbing the tall brunette by the collar of his shirt, stopping him in his tracks. "I can understand you wantin' to get your little brother back and all, but don't go thinkin' that you're the only one here with a noble cause, capiche?" Joey asked whilst giving Seto a fiercely annoyed look.

"Joey!" Yuki hissed out in warning as her friend was on his way to getting himself beat up by Seto, who was looking at him with a cold stare.

"We all got somethin' worth fighting for, so if you want a piece of Pegasus, get in line or deal with me. That's right, hot shot. I ain't scared of you." Joey stated whilst ignoring Yuki, having had it up to here with how Seto acts towards people.

"Nice grip." Seto commented as he suddenly took hold of one of the hands gripping at his shirt collar. "Let me show you mine." He said as he tightened his grip, wrenching his shirt free from Joey's hold and pushed said male aside as the blonde yelped and fell face first into the dirt.

"Oh!" Tea groaned in sympathy for her friend as Joey stayed face down in the dirt out of shock.

"That was uncalled for." Bakura lectured with a frown but he was smart enough not to pick a fight with Seto.

"Joey! What's gotten into you man?" Yuki asked as she rushed to Joey's side in order to check and see if he's ok as said male let's out disoriented groans. "Yo, Joey. Hey, can you hear me?" She asked since he was still technically conscious despite having the wind knocked out of him.

"Check his pulse, Yuki." Bakura advised since someone's pulse usually reveals the kind of condition their in.

"If he can't hear you then dunk him in the ocean big sis! That'll jumpstart him for ya." Yugi suggested with a yawn, he was losing out on sleep for this?

"Relax. I'm fine." Joey reassured as he slowly pushed himself up onto his hands and knees as he spoke.

"Do you really think I'm gonna let you and this little tournament you're in delay me from finding Pegasus?" Seto asked as his tone of voice sounded alot harsher than the one he used with Yuki.

"Forget Pegasus!" Joey snapped as he turned in order to look at Seto, soon pointing at himself with his thumb. "Now you got me to deal with, so bust out your cards and let's get it on!" He exclaimed as he wanted a chance to put the other male in his place and knock him down a few more pegs.

"I can't tell if Joey's being really brave or nuts." Tea said a bit worried that once again Joey was trying to bite off more than he can chew.

"Who cares, lets just go back to bed and just let the duke it out alone." Yugi suggested with a yawn since the younger Muto sibling was too tired to care about what was happening.

"Forget it. Why don't you go look for an opponent you can actually beat, like an infant or a monkey." Seto advised as that comment about a monkey really didn't go over well with Joey.

"Huh? What did you say?" Joey asked as he stood up fully and looked ready to try and punch Seto.

"That monkey thing gets him every time." Tristan said as that comment honestly wasn't helping with the situation.

"Hmph. I don't have time for your nonsense... Loser." Seto stated harshly as he turned and started to walk away again.

"Go ahead and run. Everyone know you're nothin' but a washed-up has-been!" Joey called out trying to get a rise out of Seto, wanting the stoic male to get mad and make a mistake.

"Joey, antagonizing him might not be a good idea. Seto may kinda be a creep, but people pretty much still see him as the best duelist in all the world." Yuki explained since even though she beat Seto he was still an amazing duelist.

"Not anymore." Joey said as that made Seto stop and turn half way to look at Joey again. "That's right, tough guy. I bet ever since Yuki mopped the floor with you, you can't even lay a trap card without flinchin'!" He exclaimed not even taking a moment to consider that what he was doing was a really stupid idea.

"Ok, Joey. Let it go." Tristan said as him, Tea, and Bakura walk up to Joey to try and stop him before things get worse.

"This is really the wrong guy to pick a fight with." Tea added since Seto doesn't exactly have the best track record of being merciful when upset.

"What do you say, money bags? Care to prove me wrong?" Joey asked curiously, wondering if Seto has the guts to accept his challenge.

"On one condition..." Seto suddenly said causing Joey and Tea to hum in confusion as to what he means. "We play using my newest innovation in holographic duel technologies." He said as he hadn't been able to test said innovation before, so now would be a good chance to do so.

"What do you mean by new innovation?" Yuki asked curiously whilst also not really liking the sound of that.

"It means that if Joey's really that eager to duel me, he's going to have to do it using my latest holographic system." Seto explained as he then held up the briefcase he was holding for all of them to see. "It's a new hi-tech dueling device that allows players the realness of arena matches in any setting." He said but has yet to show them the actual device much to Joey's confusion cause he thought the brunette was talking about the briefcase.

"Looks like just a regular old briefcase to me." Joey said, feeling like Seto's got a few screws loose if he's talking about a briefcase and not an actual device.

"It's in the briefcase, you moron." Seto said as he kneeled down and set the briefcase down before open it.

Inside of the briefcase was the same rare and powerful cards that he had tried to use to bribe Solomon into giving him the last Blue Eyes card. However the only difference was above it there was a newly added red velvet protective cushion. Fitted snugly in the protective cushion was two red, white, blue, and grey frisby-looking objects. The objects had five spaces for cards on top and a wrist gauntlet that holds the deck and is connected to the frisby object by a black cord. Taking on in his hand Seto suddenly threw it at Joey who easily caught it with one hand. The blonde male only letting out a hum whilst Yuki and the others looked at the object in awe before looking back towards the brunette CEO. Well except for Yugi, the younger Muto was too tired to care or even be in awe at the device that was in Joey's hand. And since Yuki decided that he had missed out on enough sleep she sent him back to the ten to sleep, which he was thankful for. Leaving the teenagers alone to deal with whatever may happen as a result of Joey and Seto dueling one another.

"Its technology is unprecedented." Seto stated simply causing Joey to look down at the object in his hand.

"Looks like a flyin' saucer." Joey said since that's honestly what it looked like upon further inspection.

"Don't be an idiot. This is the most state-of-the-art display modulator ever built. So, if you think you have what it takes to handle it, just strap it on." Seto said as Joey secures the wrist deck holster around his wrist whilst Bakura holds the disk part for him.

"Ok. Now what happens?" Joey asked whilst looking down at the object that's now around his left wrist.

"First, insert your dueling deck into the display drive recognizer. A life point count will light up and keep score for you the entire match." Seto explained as he demonstrated on the one he was wearing, the display drive glowing rainbow before 2,000 life points appeared on the little screen. "Then choose a card to play and set it on the digital card reader. I think the rest will explain itself." He said as he took a card from his deck, placing it face up in attack mode on the middle card space on the disk as it gave off a quick rainbow glow as it recognized the card.

"Heh, cool." Joey commented as he did the same as Seto had done before looking at the brunette male again as he was now ready.

"All set? Then let's duel." Seto declared as he wanted to get this test done as soon as possible so he could save Mokuba.

"You got it." Joey affirmed as he was ready to kick Seto's ass in this duel and bruise his ego.

Seto: 2,000 Joey: 2,000

"Now, brace yourself... unh! For my Battle Ox!" Seto exclaimed as he threw the disk causing it to spin and levitate off the ground.

"Whoa! Check out all those lights! It's like raining glitter." Tristan commented as there was a tornado of dancing white streaks of sparkling white light coming up from the object.

"Yeah, it's like something coming from an enchanted dream." Tea added only to have that beautiful imagery be ruined by the appearance of Seto's Battle Ox. "Ew! Or a nightmare!" She exclaimed as the Battle Ox let out a roar whilst holding its ax with two hands.

"Whoa!" Joey breathed out as he looked at the massive being that was supposed to be a hologram of a duel monster.

"Damn! And that's supposed to be a hologram?" Yuki asked whilst looking at the Battle Ox hologram in both shock and aw.

"A hologram of unprecedented realism. It breathes, it snarls. My new dueling disk technology even simulates its odor." Seto explained feeling extra proud of himself for the fact that his dueling disk could simulate all that.

"The odor part seems a little overkill." Yuki commented with her arms crossed as the smell of a monster didn't seem important to a duel.

"You're tellin' me! That thing really stinks. Good thing he won't be around for much longer." Joey said as he drew a card and placed it on the disk's middle card space, it immediately recognizing the card. "Alrighty... Here goes nothin'! Go Armored Lizard!" He exclaimed as he threw the disk, it spinning as his monster appeared the same way Seto's had with a roar.

"Go, Battle Ox! Axe Slam attack!" Seto ordered as his monster growled and sliced at Joey's lizard with its ax as it charged, the ax blade pressing down on the lizards armor covered neck as nothing seems to happen.

"Yes! He withstood your attack!" Joey exclaimed with his fists held in the air, celebrating prematurely.

"Oh, did he? Look again!" Seto advised just as his Battle Ox's ax broke through Joey's lizards armor and sliced into its neck, destroying it.

"Ok..." Joey trailed off as the still spinning disk expelled his defeated card by sending it flying off to the side. "That's real enough for me." He stated as he lost 200 life points now that his monster has been destroyed.

Seto: 2,000 Joey: 1,800

"I can't believe it! That ugly overgrown ox! He cut my lizard in half!" Joey exclaimed, honestly outraged at the fact that his monster had been destroyed so easily.

"This new technology isn't for the faint of heart, Joey. It's intended to force the duelist to think on their feet. If it's too much for you, maybe you should give up now." Seto advised as it wasn't too late for Joey to give up and admit that he is in over his head.

"Fat chance!" Joey exclaimed as the cord attached to the display cuff called back the disk as the blonde male caught it. "Don't you worry, Kaiba. I'm a quick learner. Watch. Set the card, spin the disk, and... bingo! The Flame Swordsman!" He exclaimed as he put a new card on the disk, threw it, it spinning as his trusty swordsman appeared from the disk. "Ready to slaughter that sirloin of yours. Attack! Flaming Sword of Battle!" Joey ordered, not even taking a moment to wonder if his monster can actually win or not.

"Joey, wait! Battle Ox is resistant to fire-type monsters." Yuki said but it was too late as Joey's Flame Swordsman already tried carry out his ordered attack.

"Now she tells me." Joey said in a deadpan tone as The Flame Swordsman's attack backfired as his sword was broken and he was destroyed by the Battle Ox.

"Why am I not surprised that you'd make such an amateur mistake? Maybe from now on, you ought to let Yuki pick all of your moves for you." Seto suggested as to him it seemed like Joey wasn't a good duelist, at least not compared to Yuki as he had lost another 200 life points.

Seto: 2,000 Joey: 1,600

"Or, better yet, why don't I teach you some of the advanced moves of the game the hard way?" Seto asked whilst holding up two cards, pulling back his disk, catching it, and putting the cards on two open spaces. "Mystic Horseman and Battle Ox... merge into Rabid Horseman!" He exclaimed as he threw the disk again, his Battle Ox now reappearing with his legs being replaced by a lighter brown horse body.

"You think I'm afraid of that deformed pony? I'll show you something that you should be afraid of. Swamp Battleguard, attack!" Joey shouted as his Battle Guard appeared and tried to attack Rabid Horseman, only to be destroyed as Joey lost 200 more life points.

Seto: 2,000 Joey: 1,400

"Ax Raider, avenge my Battleguard!" Joey ordered as he played yet another monster, only to lose 300 life points as this monster was destroyed too.

Seto: 2,000 Joey: 1,100

"Go, Battle Steer!" Joey shouted as once again another monster was played and then destroyed in a matter of seconds, depleting another 200 of his life points.

Seto: 2,000 Joey: 900

"Uh, Garoozis?" Joey asked with uncertainty as once again his monster was defeated and he lost yet another 200 life points.

Seto: 2,000 Joey: 700

'Did he seriously forget everything my grandpa taught him?' Yuki thought with a slight deadpan look as she watched Joey continue to lose life points.

"Ok. Uh, lets see here, uh, Smashing Rock... Aw!" Joey groaned as the stone monster he played was also defeated by Seto's Rabid Horseman. "Uh... Rude Kaiser!" He declared, not wanting to give up as he played that monster as it was destroyed too causing him to lose another 200 life points.

Seto: 2,000 Joey: 500

"Ha ha ha!" Seto laughed as he watched Joey pant and fall to his knees with an exhausted exhale of his breath. "That's right, Joey, fall to the dirt like a whimpering dog." He taunted as he stared down at the hunched over blonde male who seemed to be sulking in defeat.

'Man, it took Exodia for even Yuki to beat this guy. I need to come up with a kick-ass card or-.' Joey started to think as he gritted his teeth, trying to wrack his brain for answers.

"Come on, Joey!" Tea encouraged, interrupting Joey's train of thought as he hummed in confusion. "You're the best at finding ways to come back from behind!" She said as it was true, the blonde male was quite good at making a comeback from things.

"She's right, Joey." Bakura stated in agreement about what Tea was currently saying.

"Now, get up. No way Kaiba gets away with calling you a canine!" Tristan said, there was no way he was going to let Joey take this sitting down.

"You're right, Tristan." Joey said as he stood up again, feeling his determination being rekindled by his friends words. "No one calls me a whimperin' dog. And once he sees what I got in store for him, he's gonna be the one in the dirt. Check this out! Red Eyes Black Dragon!" He exclaimed as he summoned his newly won dragon, it appearing with a roar, causing Seto's eyes to widen for a moment.

'How did an amature like Joey get a Red Eyes Black Dragon?' Seto thought curiously as he composed himself after his momentary bout of shock at seeing Joey having such a rare card.

"Joey's best card!" Tea said with a smile upon seeing the dragon that would hopefully help Joey make a come back from this.

"Kaiba's in big trouble now!" Tristan exclaimed with a grin as there was no way Rabid Horseman stood a chance against Joey's dragon.

"Inferno Fire Blast!" Joey shouted as his dragon let out a blast of red fire that crackled with white electricity, destroying Rabid Horseman. "Take that!" He exclaimed happily as Seto lost 400 of his life points.

Seto: 1,600 Joey: 500

"It's just like a novice to rejoice when there's no reason to celebrate." Seto stated, nowhere near phased at the fact that he lost some life points. "True, the round may be yours, but the duel is about to become mine." He said which greatly confused Joey since there was no way the brunette could draw a monster stronger than Red Eyes Black Dragon for his next turn.

"Say what?" Joey asked in confusion, part of him not wanting to believe that Seto was telling the truth.

"Your Red Eyes is a powerful dragon, but his ferocity pales in comparison to my beast..." Seto said as he held up a new card causing Yuki's eyes to widen slightly as she gasped in realization about what the card is.

'Shit, is that really the card that I think it is?' Yuki thought as she watched Seto put the new card on the disk that had been called back now that his other monster was defeated.

"The legendary Blue Eyes White Dragon!" Seto exclaimed as he threw the disk and his dragon appeared with a roar of its own as Joey gasped. "Blue Eyes White Dragon, White Lightning attack, now!" He ordered as his dragon roared and attacked as the blonde yelled and shielded his eyes from the bright light as his dragon is destroyed, depleting the last of Joey's life points.

Seto: 1,600 Joey: 0

"No! I lost!" Joey exclaimed in anguish as he caught the disk, falling down to one knee with his head hung low.

"That's right, Joey. Stay down. Stay down like the sniveling, defeated dog I've turned you into." Seto said as he was still watching Joey kneel on the ground in defeat with his Blue Eyes still by his side.

"Joey, are you ok?" Yuki asked as her and the other's rush over to see if Joey is ok.

"It's ok, kiddo." Tea reassured as if that would help ease the sting of defeat that Joey was most definitely feeling right now.

With his Duel Disk successfully tested Seto collected the other Duel Disk from Joey, putting them back in his briefcase. The case shutting with a click as he picked it and turned in the direction of Pegasus's castle, beginning the long walk that he had ahead of him. Leaving behind a pissed off Joey who grumbled to himself as he collected the cards that had been booted off the Duel Disk when they were defeated. Yuki glanced at her blonde friend for a moment as she frowned, mumbling about how she'll be back as she jogged in order to catch up with Seto. Said brunetted had already walked deep into the forest, taking long, quick strides in order to hopefully reach his destination as fast as possible. Which caused Yuki to scramble to catch up with him, practically running in order to keep up with his large steps. Which is sadly one of the downsides of being short, it makes it very hard to keep up with taller people. With a small huff Yuki just barely managed to catch up with Seto, who only paid her a passing glance out of the corner of his eye. Then he just kept walking without saying a word, assuming she'll just give up following him and go back to her friends.

Quickly getting frustrated with the fact that Seto was ignoring her Yuki quickly got infront of the tall brunette. Causing him to halt mid step, blinking slightly in shock as he watched her hunch over with her hands rested on her knees. The short female lightly gasping as she started to catch her breath after jogging after the taller male. Seto of course didn't like to be stopped, not when his little brother was in danger, but he assumed she had something she needed to say something to him. And normally he'd be quick to give anyone else in this situation the cold shoulder, but he has respect for Yuki as a rival. So he would show her a little common courtesy and at least hear what she has to say to him, for now at least... With one final huff Yuki had officially caught her breath, straightening up as she looked at Seto. Who was looking at her with a cold, slightly impatient gaze as he had put his briefcase down in order to cross his arms. Obviously waiting for Yuki to start talking as said girl sighed slightly at Seto's slight lack of patients.

"Seto, look I..." Yuki trailed off for a moment as she sighed slightly at what she was about to say. "I didn't follow after you to scold you about what happened, but I'm also not going to justify what you did either." She said causing Seto to raise an eyebrow as to why she stopped him if she wasn't going to get mad at him for humiliating her friend.

"Then why are you stopping me when I should be on my way to beating Pegasus and saving my little brother?" Seto asked curiously, wanting Yuki to stop beating around the bush and to get to the point already.

"Because your brother was already free before!" Yuki snapped without meaning to as she gave Seto an apologetic look, who simply raised an eyebrow in question at what she meant by that. "Your brother escaped, stole a kids deck and star chips, and then tried to defeat me in order to keep Pegasus from dueling me. Then everything just went down hill from there... Seto, that duel you helped me win was to win Mokuba's freedom." She explained with a small sigh as the brunette males eyes widened for a millisecond before they narrowed again.

"Then why isn't my little brother with you?" Seto asked as his tone sounded more, concerned than mad as he watched Yuki hang her head slightly in shame.

"Because the goon keeping him from running off during the duel snatched Mokuba up when I wasn't looking. We tried looking for him afterwards but by then it was too late." Yuki said as Seto stiffened slightly now that he knows that his brother was free only to be captured again.

"I see..." Seto trailed off as he picked up his briefcase and tried to walk past Yuki, only to suddenly stop him by grabbing his hand.

"Seto I'm telling you this because I want you to be careful. Pegasus... there's something about him that just gives me the creeps!" Yuki exclaimed as she kept holding onto his hand as she was certain that Seto would just keep walking if she let go. "I know it may be hard to believe, but I got to duel him when I got sent my dueling glove and star chips. It, it was like he knew every move I was going to make even before I did." She said causing the brunette to raise an eyebrow as that sounded similar to something he witnessed a while back.

"Your saying it seemed like he knew the moves you'd make before did?" Seto asked as he suddenly turned back towards Yuki, causing her to let go of his hand out of shock.

"Yeah. Or at least it seemed like he could see the cards in my hand..." Yuki stated as she put her hands in her pockets.

"Hmm, I once encountered a similar situation." Seto said causing Yuki to raise an eyebrow out of curiosity as to what he was talking about.

"Really? Where?" Yuki asked because maybe what Seto had to say could help her figure out the situation they're in.

"It was at the Intercontinental Tournament in New York City." Seto started as he could remember the experience like it was yesterday. "I had been invited as Pegasus's guest of honor. A skilled hot shot duelist called Bandit Keith had made it to the final match." He explained, remembering how he sat on the sidelines in his school uniform watching Pegasus and Bandit Keith duel. "He was playing well, but I could see that Pegasus was still just toying with him. Of course, Keith had no idea." Seto added, remembering that annoying smug laugh that the so called bandit had let out as he thought he was winning.

"Really? Well that's certainly a testimony to how observant he is." Yuki said sarcastically with a chuckle, nearly falling over in shock when her comment gained a small amused smirk from Seto. "Anyways, what happened next?" She asked, allowing the brunette to continue with his story.

"Pegasus just stared straight into Keith's eyes with unnerving confidence. Then he scribbled something on a piece of paper and called over some kid from the crowd." Seto said, remembering how Pegasus had called over a little blonde kid that was no older than 10 who had pointed to himself to clarify that it was him that was called over.

Flash back beginning

"Hey, what are you doin'? Askin' for help's illegal." Keith said in outrage as the kid came over and took Pegasus's place at the table.

"I don't need help. A child could defeat you, Bandit Keith, and I'm going to prove it." Pegasus explained as he stood next to the chair as the boy sitting in it silently looked at Keith while blinking.

"But I just started to learn how to play last week!" The boy admitted as he looked at Pegasus with a smile, showing off his missing front tooth as the silver haired male bent down so they were eye to eye.

"Just follow these instructions and you'll win." Pegasus explained as he handed over the now folded up piece of paper that he had been scribbling on moments ago.

"Uh..." The boy mumbled as he was now reading over what was on the paper that he had accepted from Pegasus.

'What's he up to?' Keith thought in question with a scowl as he was practically shaking with unbridled rage.

"Hello, Kaiba." Pegasus greeted as he came over and sat down in the empty chair next to Seto, whom only paid him a passing glance and a "hmm" as his greeting. "Ah, I do hope you're enjoying the tournament so far. Oh, I know it must seem so crude to you. Not like the holographic dueling stations your company is developing, eh, Kaiba?" He asked as he glanced at the brunette to his left for a moment before focusing on the duel.

'If Pegasus thinks he's gonna throw off my game with his lame theatrics, he's dead wrong.' Keith thought, still scowling as he held up a card and glanced at Pegasus out of the corner of his eyes. 'Ha. I've got this match in the bag.' He thought as he smirked and looked back at the kid that was basically now his opponent. "Garnecia Elefantis!" Keith called out as he placed that card on the feild face up in attack mode.

"Good card, but the note says when you play that, I should play this one in attack mode" The boy said as he placed a monster on the field that was nowhere near strong enough to beat Keith's monster at first glance.

"No way!" Keith exclaimed since despite the monster's attack being lower than his monster's it was a monster that Garnecia Elefantis was weak against.

"Uh, I think I just took all your life points." The boy said, feeling uncertain about that as he was once again reading from the paper.

"What?! You little snot-nosed brat! There is no way you could have known I was gonna play that card! Give me that!" Keith snapped as he stood up and snatched the paper away from the boy, his eyes widening in horror as he read the paper. "Huh?! It's all here! The card I played, how to beat it, everything!" He exclaimed in shock as an amused Pegasus stood up and approached the panicked duelist and confused boy as Seto hummed in confusion.

"Sam is the winner." Pegasus declared as he raised Sam's hand in the air, completely ignoring Keith who was on his hands and knees behind them amongst his scattered cards on the floor.

"Oh!" Seto uttered in awe as he watched, trying to wrap his mind around what exactly had happened.

Flash back ending

"I still don't know how he did it. I only hope my new Duel Disk system will give me the edge I need to beat him once and for all." Seto said as Yuki realized that he thought that using his Duel Disk system would protect him against Pegasus's ability to see his opponents cards.

"I see, but what if it doesn't give you the edge that you're looking for. Pegasus is dangerous Seto, that much is obvious if he's willing to kidnap children and try to pass people off as dead. But was using Joey as a test subject for your duel disk really necessary?" Yuki asked with a frown since the whole situation had been extremely harsh and unnecessary in her opinion.

"Perhaps not, but I couldn't take any chances of it malfunctioning. Joey just happened to say the wrong thing at the wrong time." Seto said since Joey really had just said the wrong thing at the wrong time.

"I know, you were being civil and he ended up speaking before thinking. He does that a lot... Seto I'm serious though, what if this crazy plan of yours doesn't work?" Yuki asked, curious as to if Seto has a back up plan incase this current one fails.

"I'm not sure I will get a chance for a plan B if I lose to Pegasus..." Seto admitted with a frown, knowing Pegasus will not show him mercy, especially since he wants control of Kaiba Corp.

"And that's why you need to be careful!" Yuki insisted whilst looking at Seto, and she couldn't stress this enough. "He already has your brother, and his goon trying to pass you off as dead means they tried to kill you. Who knows what Pegasus'll do if he gets his hands on you." She said as she honestly didn't even want to consider thinking about what may happen in that kind of situation.

"I'll be fine, you just focus on staying in the tournament. I'll handle Pegasus, because this is war for me Yuki." Seto said as he turned away with the intent of starting to walk away again.

"That's not exactly a reassuring statement Seto and we may not agree with each other's methods, but we both understand that Pegasus needs to be stopped. And I wish you luck in saving your brother." Yuki said causing Seto to look at her over his shoulder again in response to her wishing him luck.

"Same to you, but lets hope our paths don't cross again before this is all over." Seto said and with that he continued walking towards Pegasus's castle as Yuki headed back to her brother and friends.

When she returned Joey and the other's questioned Yuki as to what she had been doing, but she just brushed off their questions. Suggesting that they all follow Yugi's lead and get some more sleep before the sun rises in a few hours. Meanwhile up in Pegasus's castle said male was standing on his balcony, wine glass in hand as he looked out at his island. The landscape blackened by the darkness of night and there appeared to be no current dueling activity. But Pegasus knew that Seto had arrived on his island, as he had sense his arrival from the very beginning. He knew that the younger CEO would be coming after him in order to save Mokuba and keep him from taking Kaiba Corp. It was honestly like a game of cat and mouse, one that raised the question of who is really hunting who here. And the whole situation was very amusing to Pegasus as he looked down at the forest below, his Millennium Eye shining in the moonlight as he smirks. Things were just getting more and more interesting the longer this tournament goes on.