(A/N: Ahhhhhh, I'm so happy to see the positive reception I've received regarding Miho in the "Did not see that coming, but well played" variety. Welp, that's enough of that. Time to see what Byakuya has been up to. But first, a little more of the good stuff…)

For the better portion of an hour, Nagito and Chiaki had been walking down a dark corridor, whose barriers could only be defined by the thick white lines framing the walls, floor, and ceiling.

As they were now nearing the end of their trek, thanks to Yukizome's directions and comforting encouragement, Chiaki decided to say, "Tell me more about the Kamukura Project and how it relates to Hajime."

"According to my research," Yukizome explained. "Hajime was approached about the project when he started attending classes at Hope's Peak. Supposedly he'd already agreed to become part of the project and the school promised to pay for his tuition. Sounds good on paper, right?"

Nagito agreed. "They offered him talent and he took it. It makes sense. What rubs me the wrong way is erasing his sense of self to do it. What good is hope and talent if you don't have the means to enjoy being you?"

Chiaki looked at Nagito, surprised by the wisdom of that answer. "That's remarkably profound for you."

"Nagito's warped ideals aside," Yukizome continued, "As I was saying, when the Steering Committee found out Hajime was going to join this tournament, they collaborated with the Big 5 and gave Hajime the most powerful card in the known database."

"Five-Headed Dragon," Chiaki answered.

"Mmmhmm," Yukizome confirmed. "Of course, the Committee didn't actually expect Hajime to make it as far as he did. They're worried that if he does too well, he'll back out of the project, since he hasn't actually reached the point of no return yet."

"What's the point of no return?" Nagito wanted to know.

"Handing the signed contract to them, of course. Without his and his parents' signatures in writing in their files, even if the signatures are already on the paper, he still can say no. Of course, if he does, then he won't be able to stay at Hope's Peak and his mother would have to take a second mortgage on their house to pay the tuition."

Chiaki looked distraught. Hajime...why did you never mention any of this to me?

"Could it be…?" Nagito wondered aloud, hatching onto something.

"What is it?" Chiaki asked him.

Nagito sighed, glancing at his open palm. Was that…pity in his eyes? "Poor, Hajime. He's trying so hard to be someone worthy of you." He spoke condescendingly, picking his head up. "I'll give him A for effort, but he's just a nobody, your stepping stone."

Chiaki glared at Nagito and snapped, "Call Hajime a stepping stone one more time and you'll be my second classmate to taste my Rising Dragon Fist!"

"Ah, my bad," Nagito apologized. "Trash like me talked out of line."

Hajime… Chiaki thought, tears forming in her eyes as she continued to walk. You never had to do any of this for me. I like you...because you're you.

She and Nagito eventually entered through a literal light at the end of a tunnel, emerging to a stormy sky with lightning crackling above. A tall, black, hi-tech tower stood in front of them. It had Hope's Peak's logo on it.

Chiaki, doing her best to dry her eyes, said, "Yup. That looks like a final boss tower all right."

"If I had to guess, I'd say Hajime is being held captive at the top of that tower," Nagito said with a slick smile, arms folded. "That's usually how things like this go, right?"

"Yup, sounds accurate to me. Just tell us what to do Miss Yukizome."

"Sorry, but this is as far as I can take you guys," she said. "Hajime is inside, but the area is heavily fortified. I can't get in remotely. Plus, the person whose office I'm borrowing will be back soon. I know I can leave the rest to the two of you. Good luck."

"Before we go in, I have a question, Miss Yukizome. Why is rescuing Hajime important to you? I know why it's important to Chiaki, but you don't have to care also."

"The Kamukura Project is wrong. Kyosuke and I promised we would expose the dark underbelly of Hope's Peak Academy. If we can shut down the Kamukura Project and expose it through Hajime, we can change Hope's Peak Academy by destroying it's corruption."

"Oh, I see, so Hajime's just a…"

Chiaki growled when she thought Nagito was going to say stepping stone.

"Hajime is an important witness for your hope. All right, now it's even more important that I help save him."

"Speaking of which. How…do we save him?" Chiaki thought.

"Wait, you came this far and didn't even think of a plan?" Nagito asked. Even he thought Chiaki had some idea.

"I mean…The Steering Committee isn't just going to give Hajime back to us. We need to force them to give him back to us. But…" she pulled her hoodie up over her head. "I'm just a gamer. I know I want to give everything I can for Hajime, but…I have no idea how."

Fortunately, Yukizome had the answer. "As long as you're in the virtual world, Hajime's mind can't fully merge with Izuru's. He would have to awaken after being fully put into Hajime, under the Steering Committee's direction before he can become Izuru and that'll take hours. If you can interrupt the overwrite of Hajime's mind, he'll be fine once you make it back out. There...might be some side effects, but Hajime should still be Hajime."

"Interrupt him? How?"

Chiaki. "I guess we'll figure that part out when we come to it, even if I have to duel Hajime to get him to remember who he is."

"That's the spirit!" Yukizome exclaimed.

"Are you ready, Nagito?"

"Yup. I'm right behind you." With that, Chiaki and Nagito stepped into the automatic door at the base of the tower and began to make their way to rescue Hajime.

For Byakuya Togami, wandering around the virtual world in search of something to happen was too much work. If the Big Five wanted to come at him, he was going to make them come to him. He didn't care about any of the other participants in this game of Noah's either. To that end, he found a mount in a random Silver Fang. With only his wits and his skill, he had tamed the beast and now it was carrying him across the land.

Yugi or Kaiba will beat Noah eventually, even if I don't. There's no point in searching for them myself when I have no clue how to look and I just had this suit dry cleaned. Besides, the game can't end unless all the opposition has been defeated and wiping out all of it myself would be boring. I'm on the same team as all of the other captives. As long as the 99%, and Kaiba, participate and win, so do I. I just—

Byakuya was cut off by his mount suddenly stopping and growling loudly. "What are you doing? Move!" Byakuya commanded. However, the wolf bucked him off and ran for the hills. Byakuya did a backflip before he landed on his backside and landed perfectly on his feet.

As he pushed his glasses up by the nose, he saw what had made Silver Fang so spooked. It was the monster known as The Witty Phantom in his dapper purplish suit, red skin and blond hair.

"Finally, some notoriety," Byakuya said, tilting his head back to gaze condescendingly at The Witty Phantom.

"Byakuya Togami. I've finally found you," he said, taking off his hat briefly to bow, but so shallow it may as well have been an insult.

"I wasn't exactly hiding," Byakuya said, arms folded, irritated.

"But of course," The Witty Phantom chuckled. "Now then, young master Togami, I've come to you with a proposition."

"If you're asking me to join you, get lost," Byakuya said, pointing his index finger at the monster. "I've said it before and I'll say it again: if I'm taking the Kaiba Corporation down, it'll be on my terms."

"Ahhhh, that young noble bearing, your straight, rigid posture," The Witty Phantom smiled. "It's exactly the sort of complete package an ugly old man could ask for to start over."

"And? You are...?"

"Hobson's the name. I used to be the butler to Gozaboro Kaiba. And then Seto threw me out on the streets."

"Ask me if I care," Byakuya said sarcastically.

Hobson realized he probably shouldn't ask. "Enjoy your life of luxury while you can, Togami. You won't have it for much longer, not when I claim your body."

Byakuya only rolled his eyes. "Teenage girls, middle aged women, girls younger than me, and my own male peers, sure, let's add creepy old men to the list of people lusting after my body. Why not? He then gave an irritated, red-faced glare at Hobson. "I'll stomp you down like the ant that you are. A mere butler is nothing compared to a true Togami. Even my butler knows where he stands."

"That's what I was hoping you'd say," Hobson chuckled. "Shall we duel? Those are the rules after all."

"Very well, I suppose you'll save me from my boredom if nothing else."

Byakuya, more than familiar with a pick up game on virtual hardware, spent no time picking out his deck. Hobson was ready just as soon.

"I suppose Witty Phantom shall be your deck master," Byakuya said.

"That's correct, Togami."

"Then this will be my deck master," Byakuya said. "I choose Cosmo Queen." The regal, large crowned spellcaster with 2900 attack points appeared at Byakuya's side. "You may go first," Byakuya said. He chuckled. "You'll need the extra turn."

"Very well. But you'll come to regret that."

"No. I won't. Now—"

"Let's Duel!" They both declared together.

"At the start of my turn, I activate my deck master special ability. You show me your hand and I can make you discard any card from it and I can take any card from it as well. Still thinking it was a good idea to let me go first."

Byakuya merely revealed his hand to his opponent. "Ah, I see. Very nice. I'll take your Insect Knight and you can discard Mirror Force."

Insect Knight vanished from Byakuya's hand and appeared in front of Hobson. He grabbed it out of the air and played it as his selected monster for the turn. It was an Earth based Insect monster with 1900 attack points and 1500 defense points.

"Next, I activate Delinquent Duo. At the cost of 1000 of my life points. You must discard two random cards from your hand." Two goblins appeared and took two of Byakuya's cards in his hand, sending them to the graveyard instantly. Byakuya hadn't even had his turn yet and he was only holding 1 card.

"And next, I play the spell card, Megamorph. Since my life points became lower than yours through the use of Delinquent Duo, it doubles Insect Knight's attack points."

Insect Knight looked battle frenzied and its attack power surged to 3800.

"It's your turn, Togami. Make it count," Hobson said, chuckling.

"Gladly," Byakuya said and looked at the two cards in his hand. He knew which one to play since they were both monsters. "I sent a monster face-down and end my turn."

Hobson laughed. "The great Byakuya Togami cowering before the might of a monster so strong he couldn't possibly destroy it."

Byakuya only glared, his fierce determination unwavering. "Are you through talking? I will age faster than you will win."

Hobson frowned and then drew the top card of his deck. "I activate my deck master special ability, Sleight of Hand. Please show me the card in your hand."

Byakuya showed off Giant Soldier of Stone.

Hobson dismissed it with a hand wave. "Yes, please send it to your graveyard."

Byakuya sneered as he did so.

"And now, I shall summon to the field, Baron of the Fiend Sword!" A sharply dressed, overweight ogre with piercing red eyes, carrying a demonic red sword and having fangs coming up above its lower mouth appeared. It had 1550 attack points and 800 defense points. "Baron of the Fiend Sword, attack!" Hobson declared, fanning out his gloved hand. He succeeded in uncovering Byakuya's Cyber Jar.

"Predictable," Byakuya said, unamused, watching as his monster destroyed everything on the field. Byakuya picked up his 5 cards, summoning Megalosmasher X, a giant swimming dinosaur with lots of sharp teeth. It had 2000 attack points. and an old favorite of his: Chainsaw Insect. It had 2400 attack points. He also now had 3 cards in his hand, which he knew he'd lose at least a few of them soon. But for now, he waited to see what Hobson pulled.

"I summon to the field Kryuel, Slate Warrior, and Diskblade Rider." Out came the red demon, the strange looking blue fiend, and a green monster riding a motorcycle that had sawblades for tires. Kryuel had 1000 attack points, Slate Warrior 1900 and Diskblade Rider 1700.

"Why are your monsters in attack position?" Byakuya asked. "Suddenly realizing how superior I am so you're throwing the duel?"

"Hardly," Hobson said. "Kryuel! Attack Megalosmasher X!"

Kryuel was utterly annihilated by Byakuya's monster, bringing Hobson's life points down to 2000.

"And the point of that was?" Byakuya asked, only to see Kryuel's vengeful spirit appear behind Hobson, shadow laser blade ready to strike. "Wait, what the hell?"

Kryuel darted forward and struck Chainsaw Insect through the throat, destroying it. And then its spirit vanished.

"Next, Slate Warrior will attack your Megalosmasher X."

Although Slate warrior was destroyed by punching Byakuya's monster, reducing Hobson's life points to 1900, its special effect activated. It reduced Byakuya's monster's attack points to 1500, more than enough for Diskblade Rider to run straight over it. Byakuya lost his only other monster on the field and fell to 3800 life points.

"How is that?" Hobson asked. "And now, for next turn, I'll play."

"Stop right there," Byakuya said. "You've activated my deck master's special ability."

Cosmo Queen's eyes flashed and suddenly Diskblade Rider was magically transported into a guillotine set up that had shown up out of nowhere.

"What?" Witty Phantom gasped.

"What's the matter? Have you never seen a public execution before?" Byakuya asked, chuckling. "This is my Deckmaster's special ability: Enemy of the Crown. Whenever I take battle damage, I can discard two cards from my hand and execute your monster on the spot!" Byakuya declared, pointing to Diskblade Rider.

"Okay, so I lose a monster. You're still discarding two cards to activate this ability and—"

"You also lose life points equal to that monster's original attack points."

Hobson just stared. "That's…that's not fair."

"Life is only fair to those who aim to achieve success, which is something someone like you could never understand, since your only success can be achieved by riding Noah's coattails. Now then, Cosmo Queen, execute your enemy."

Cosmo Queen drew her hand across her neck an the guillotine fell, decapitating Diskblade Rider and reducing Hobson down to a mere 200 life points.

With no monsters on the field and since he already played a monster this turn, all Hobson could do was set a card face-down. "I end my turn," Hobson said.

"Of course you do," Byakuya said with a self-satisfied smirk. "However, he was disappointed with his hand of two cards.

"I'll set this card face-down," he said. "And end my turn." He could not play a monster.

"Very well, let's see what you have there," Hobson said and looked at the card in Byakuya's hand: Raiza the Storm Monarch. "I'll be taking that, thank you," Hobson said, snatching it with a snap of his fingers and emptying Byakuya's hand. "My turn is over."

Does he not have a monster of his own to summon? Byakuya wondered. Good.

He drew the top card of his deck. He nodded as he looked at it. "I set one monster face-down on the field and end my turn."

"Oh? Not going to attack? I'm wide open you know."

Byakuya looked at Hobson with an "I am so much better than you, you can't even comprehend it" type of look. "I'm not an idiot," he said. "If I attack now I leave myself wide open if your face-down blows up in my face. Besides, like this, you can't readily attack me either with your life points at practically nothing. Giant Soldier of Stone was not my only bulky defender after all."

Hobson hated to admit it. Byakuya had a point.

"It's your move," Byakuya said.

Hobson drew the top card of his deck, only to smile. "Sorry, but I'm afraid your luck has run out. This duel is now mine. I summon to the field Theban Nightmare!" A light-attribute fiend monster made up of nothing except for blue fire hit the table. It had 1500 attack points and 500 defense points. "And I equip it…" Hobson chuckled, "With another Megamorph."

Byakuya's eyes shrunk in. Like this, Hobson had the power to simply overrun him. His face-down was not prepared for this.

With 3000 attack points, Theban Nightmare had more than enough power to overrun Byakuya's face-down Aqua Madoor, which it did quite handedly with its slashing claws.

Hobson chuckled. "How does it feel to lose, Togami?" Hobson taunted. "You worked so hard to get where you are, but it will now come crashing down because of your own arrogance. Face it, you have nothing left. If your face-down couldn't protect you just now, nothing will. It's over!"

However, instead of cower before his foe, Byakuya just dug his very expensive shoe in the dirt. For some reason, he did not feel as if he could lose. And, he had a sudden epiphany as his eyes closed naturally. There was some…power welling up inside him, focusing his mind. This is it. This is the feeling Yugi and Joey must feel all of the time when they are pushed into a corner, when you have no way to win a duel other than to draw a winning move. This, Byakuya thought as his glasses flashed and his eyes shot open, is the heart of the cards.

Byakuya drew the top card off his deck with a quick, swift motion. He looked at the card he drew. Yes. This would do nicely. "I activate Mystic Space Typhoon!" Byakuya exclaimed. "With it, I destroy your face-down card."

Hobson's face-down Mirror Force was completely obliterated.

"And? What exactly did that gain you?" Hobson asked, chuckling. "You're still facing down a 3000-attack point monster with no monsters of your own."

"On the contrary, I do have a monster," Byakuya stated, raising his eyebrows. Without even having to say it, Cosmo Queen waltzed onto the battlefield.

"What are you doing?" Hobson exclaimed.

"It is a Queen's duty to oversee her people, but so is it also that she should defend her Emperor and the one who rules above all. I picked Cosmo Queen not just because of her deck master ability, but also because of just how powerful she is."

"I think you need a new prescription for your glasses, four-eyes," Hobson chuckled. "My monster has 3000 attack points. You should've destroyed Megamoroph instead."

"Don't make me spell it out for you," Byakuya said. "I destroyed your face-down because it was in the way. Now, I know everything that's on the field, including," he pointed down, "My face-down card. And with it, I shall end this duel."

"You're bluffing!" Hobson cried out, clenching a fist.

"Don't make me repeat myself," Byakuya said, never happier to be in his strong, upstanding position as his heir to the Togami fortune, looking down on others all the while. "This duel is over. It's time to give my queen her battle armor so that she can claim victory for her people and her master. I activate my face-down card, Metalmorph!"

Hobson, upon seeing this, could only slowly lower his jaw and just shout, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Cosmo Queen's attack power increased to 3200 as her robe became adorned with metal plated armor and even one of her eyes was covered up by the trap card's power.

"Not that it matters, but Cosmo Queen will gain an extra 1500 points when attacking. You are finished. Cosmo Queen," Byakuya said and pointed at Theban Nightmare. "Shadow Master Blast!"

Cosmo Queen raised her arms to the sky and created a fuck off giant, orange ball of magical energy. It was as big as a mobile home.

Cosmo Queen then threw the giant death ball at Theban Nightmare, destroying it and wiping out Hobson's life points as he too was blown up by the residual energy of Cosmo Queen's attack. He screamed and held up his arms as his hat blew off and then, he was no more.

"And that," Byakuya said, pointing at the open air and the smoke where Hobson had once stood, "Is why there is and shall only ever be one Byakuya Togami." He folded his arms. "Accept no substitutes."

And for whatever reason, somewhere, out there, on Hope's Peak Academy's grounds, an overweight teenage boy sneezed.

(A/N: Damn. So yeah, short chapter. And while I would love to write out next chapter, it is late and I'm tired. But chapter 47 will be quite a bit longer with some more Kaiba and Makoto bonding along with Chiaki and Nagito heading to rescue Hajime. This is also the point where I need to go back and watch the source material so I can figure out what Marik, Gundham and the blimp crew are up to. So, there might not be an update tomorrow, but expect one before July 4th. Additionally, that is the last we're going to see of the Big Five duels and their associates. I mean, sure, I'm at least going to show Leichter since Makoto is along for the ride. And I still have something special planned for Noah instead of Yugi's insane plan to come at Noah with 400 life points. But aside from that and the final duel of this arc—as well as resolving the Miho subplot—we are practically done with this arc. And while it may not feel like much happened, sometimes small things have big impacts later on. So, until next time, as always, from all of me, to all of you, let your hearts stay human and your wrath draconic. Ja ne!)