SailorStar9: With Chapter 42 uploaded, I present Chapter 43 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.

Disclaimer: I own nothing expect the Safiastra and Ami's dueling deck.

Chapter 43: The Shattered Millennium Puzzle

"That Ultra Rare card..." Yuugi gaped. "I can't win. A Monster in Defense Position." he drew 'Koumori Dragon' and Set it in Defense Mode.

Elsewhere...

I'll torture you with my Rare Cards and traps and back you into a corner. Keith's controller chuckled. If I do that, that man will surely appear from within the Millennium Puzzle.

Back in the duel...

"'Seiyaryu'." Keith Summoned his Monster. "Followed by another..." he swapped out a card from his wristband and placed 'Magic Jammer' Trap Card on face-down position. "And then, the Magic Card 'Stop Defense'." he forced 'Koumori Dragon' out. "Now your 'Koumori Dragon' has been forced into Attack Mode. 'Zera', Devil's Claw." he sent 'Zera' to take out 'Koumori Dragon'.

"'Stop Defense' ends now, since it's my turn." Yuugi took his turn. "My turn. A Monster in Defense Position."

"'Seiyaryu' Attacks your Defense Monster." Keith ordered. "Sacred Fire. I'll place two cards face-down on the board." he took out 'Mystical Elf'. "And switching 'Zera' into Defense Position, I'll end my turn. You don't even have any Monsters on the field. What will you do now?"

"One face-down on the board." Yuugi Set one card face-down. "And I'll Summon 'Dark Magician'. And use the Magic card, 'Magical Hats'.

"So you're trying to hide him?" Keith mocked. "Then, a Magic card, 'Magic Jammer', activate. 'Magic Jammer' is a rare card that lets me discard a card from my hands and then negates the activation of a Magic Card, followed by its destruction." he removed 'Magical Hats' and forced 'Black Magician' into the open. "And by the Magic Card 'Curse of Fiend', the positions of all Monsters on the field are switched. And in that turn, all Monsters on the field cannot change their battle positions. This card can only be used in your Standby Phase. And now, 'Zera' will battle your 'Dark Magician'."

"'Mirror Force'!" Yuugi activated his Trap card, sending the attack back.

"I activate a Trap Card known as 'Solemn Judgment'." Keith countered, redirecting the attack towards 'Dark Magician'. "This card cuts my Life Points in half, and in exchange, it negates the activation of a Magic, Trap, or Summoned Monster and destroys it. It's true my Life Points are halved to 250, but you only have 100, and you're barely standing." he mocked, after taking out 'Dark Magician'.

Outside the warehouse...

Yami Bakura used the Millennium Ring to clear the swirling darkness around the warehouse and led Ami into the building.

On the second floor of the warehouse...

"I can't be the only one wondering how in the world is there a Dueling Ring in this place, right?" Ami deathpanned, the pair looking down at the Duel taking place.

Back in the duel...

"I'll put a card on the field." Yuugi took his turn. "Then a Monster in Defense Mode."

Elsewhere...

"Is he still planning to fight me?" Keith's controller sneered. "Come on out, the other man hiding in the Millennium Puzzle. I'll force you out using this card."

Back in the duel...

"'Tribute to the Doomed'." Keith played his swapped in Spell card. "A Magic card above all Magic cards. 'Tribute of the Doomed' allows me to discard a card from my hand and destroy a Monster on the field. This will undoubtedly be the blow that finishes you off."

"Is that so?" Yuugi countered. "'Living Arrow'." he played his face-down Spell card. "It allows me to use any Magic Card with the opponent's Monster. The target is 'Zera'." he redirected 'Tribute of Doomed' on 'Zera', destroying it.

With Yami Bakura and Ami...

The Millennium Ring still shining, Yami Bakura focused on Keith. "Bandit Keith..." he dug into the ex-Duelist's mind. "He's being controlled by someone. I'll break that control with the power of the Millennium Ring." he blasted Keith with an invisible wave.

Elsewhere...

What was that shock just now? Keith's controller nearly dropped the Millennium Rod. The Power of Darkness. Is there someone else here besides Yuugi?

Back in the duel...

"What am I doing here?" Keith muttered, his brainwash now freed.

"You didn't believe in your own deck and relied way too much on Ultra Rare Cards." Yuugi declared. "Your conceitedness was your biggest mistake. You can't stop my attacks anymore."

"You're Yuugi." Keith recognized his opponent. "Why are you here?"

"Keith, what's wrong with you?" Yuugi asked, when the wielder of the Millennium Rod regained control of his puppet.

Elsewhere...

"Keith, return to me." the holder of the Millennium Rod reasserted his control. "You must continue to fight until the other Yuugi within the Millennium Puzzle is forced out."

Back in the duel...

"Who's there?" Keith demanded. "Who's trying to order me around? Get out of my head!"

"Is someone controlling Keith?" Yuugi realized.

Elsewhere...

Bandit Keith, you are my servant. Keith's controller reinforced his mind control. I have complete control over you. I have to know the identity of the one hiding in the Millennium Puzzle. You have to continue until I see this person's identity.

Back in the duel...

As if possessed, Keith jumped down from his side of the Dueling ring and rushed towards the Millennium Puzzle hanging by Yuugi's platform. Holding the inverted pyramid in his hand, he smashed it onto the platform, shattering it.

"Yuugi!" Bakura swung in from a chain hook, pushing the hyperventilating Keith to the ground.

"Inemuri!" Ami rushed down the staircase towards the fallen Keith and activated a forced sleep spell on the former Duelist.

"Bakura, Ami." Yuugi jumped down from his side of the Dueling Ring.

"Anzu told us what happened." Bakura explained. "It's your responsibility to put this back together again." he picked up the shattered puzzle pieces, but not before inserting a portion of Yami Bakura's soul into a piece.

"But I don't know how long it will take to put together the Millennium Puzzle again." Yuugi admitted, reclaiming the pieces. "It took me eight years to put it together in the first time."

This very moment, I have already fulfilled my true purpose of being here. Yami Bakura smirked, as Yuugi set to work putting the Millennium Puzzle back. Yuugi, you don't know the true power hidden in the Millennium Puzzle; no, not even the other Yuugi knows. Hidden in the Millennium Puzzle are the memories of a King from 3000 years ago. When the six remaining items are brought together, the seal will be broken and that memory will be returned. And of course,one of those keys is this Millennium Ring. On the tablet in the shrine at Kul Elna, there is a warning that reads 'The young Pharaoh and the six High Priests gave their lives to seal the evil power inside the Holy Door. I pray that the evil power is not resurrected along with the Pharaoh's memories. If I can find the young King's memories that dwell within the Millennium Puzzle, I can make that evil power mine.

"We're gonna be late if we don't get to school." Bakura exclaimed. "I'm going ahead." he bade the cousins good bye.

"Who are you?" Keith demanded, awakening. "Who the hell are you? Don't you dare order me around!" he picked up a metal pole near him and started swinging it wildly. He sliced a dangling wire into half, the still active electricity coursing through the wire setting the surrounding machinery on fire. Keith was then knocked to the ground, rendering him unconscious.

"This is just great." Ami muttered, seeing the warehouse was set ablaze. "Mercury Eternal, Make Up!" she wasted no time in calling forth her transformation. "Yuugi, focus on putting the Puzzle back." the Eternal Senshi instructed. "Driving Rain!" she conjured a bundle of storm clouds in the air and had the collected raindrops fall onto the fire.

"I did it." Yuugi heaved in relief, sliding in the final piece. "But how do I get the Puzzle out?" he wondered.

"Freezing Touch." Eternal Mercury sent her freezing air towards the metal ring that held the Millennium Puzzle in place and allowing the ring to freeze over. "Yuugi!"

"Right." Yuugi nodded and gave the frozen over ring a harsh tug, freezing the Puzzle. He then grabbed his deck and the two cousins hurried off to school.

SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.