(A/N: Okay I need to make an addendum to what I said about subtlety and tone a few chapters back. I think that should be amended to (starts dancing and singing) You never saw it comiiiiiiin~! Right, sorry, bad joke given the timing.

Welcome one and all to the Orichalcos arc. This is still my favorite arc in the original Yu-gi-oh. I know it's got its fair share of stupidity, but I guess I'm a bit biased. (Author coughs as he points out his username and profile picture). I know in canon this arc was called Waking the Dragons, but not here. It's just called The Orichalcos arc, mostly due to the fact that I'm putting more emphasis on the seal and its importance—as well as the Atlanteans in general—than the anime bothered to.

We're opening this can of madness with snakes jumping out of it and it's only going to get more fucked up from there. Try your best to enjoy and NOT let the despair take hold).

It had been more than two months since the start of the school year at Hope's Peak Academy. And in those two months, two significant changes had struck the school.

The first was relatively minor: Chisa Yukizome had become the first teacher in Hope's Peak's history to have all of her students attending class and becoming one unit. Still impressive, but not nearly as ground shaking as what came after her. Among the reserve course students, there was a rumor floating around. The rumor was that talent recognized in the reserve course, would allow a student to join the main course. When Hajime Hinata turned out to prove these rumors true, it spurred almost the entire course to work harder. If he could get in, the guy that had to put his mortgage out on his house just to pay tuition, anyone could.

Granted, Hajime had seized an opportunity to have his talent recognized in front of so many people. He went toe to toe with the world recognized King of Games and almost won. He beat an Egyptian God Card despite not having one and conquered nationally renown psychic duelist Espa Roba and Hope's Peak's own Ultimate Lucky Student, Nagito Komaeda. He even placed better than the Ultimate Gamer, Chiaki Nanami, but of course pretty much everyone knew that that was likely because Chiaki had her first finals round against Seto Kaiba.

Of course, not every student was jumping for joy and hitting the books. If anything, Hajime's success only drove Natsumi Kuzuryu into more of a frenzied desperation. If he could get in for his talent, why couldn't she get in for hers? A whole week had gone by since Hajime had transferred out of the reserve course. And yet…like Mahiru he made visits to it as well. And all of them were for her. It was, to Natsumi, the most random thing to do. He had a girlfriend, everyone knew that. So what the hell was he doing constantly checking up on her? It was just dumb, casual conversation too, like they would do before Battle City.

After a few of these, Natsumi couldn't take it anymore. "Would you just shut up?" she shouted at Hajime. "Why? Why do you keep talking to me? You have a girlfriend and you're an Ultimate? I should be nothing compared to you."

"That's not true," Hajime said. "You…I wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for you!"

"What the hell does that mean?" Natsumi snapped.

"You really don't remember?" Hajime asked.

"Remember what?" Natsumi snapped.

Hajime took a deep breath. "When the tournament was first announced…"

Hajime and Natsumi met up in their usual spot during lunch, leaned against the wall, eating rice balls out of napkins. Natsumi constantly made them for Fuyuhiko out of habit, but he had a nice Ultimate Chef to make him any food he wanted. And, well, waste not, want not.

"Did you hear about the Battle City tournament?" Natsumi asked.

"Yeah, sounds exciting. I hope Chiaki does well," Hajime said.

"You're not gonna participate?"

"I mean, I'm not very good. I probably wouldn't get very far. I'd probably only get in Chiaki's way anyway."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Natsumi snapped.

Hajime rubbed the back of his head, smiling nervously. "Chiaki asked if I'd be in the tournament with her, walk through the streets of Domino City, hang out with her."

"Are you for real? That sounds like a date! Take her up on her offer! You like her, don't you? You hardly shut up about her!"

"Yeah, but…"

Natsumi put her back flat against the wall of the outdoor hallway of the school and looked out over the campus. "Do it. Compete. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain."

"Everything…to gain?"

Natsumi stretched, interlocking her fingers above her head. "Think about it," she said, cracking her knuckles out in front of her. "If you place well, maybe this school will think you have some kind of talent. I know I'm just competing out of spite, but I want to prove that reserve course students matter, you know?" She dropped her arms at her side. "It's a shot in the dark, but you lose all of the chances you don't take. Don't be a pussy. Man up and give it your best shot. Worst comes to worst you get a day with our girlfriend," Natsumi said, folding her arms, pouting.

"She's not my girlfriend."

"Yeah, sure she isn't," Natsumi said sarcastically.

"You encouraged me to try. If I hadn't listened to you…I never would've…"

Natsumi stared at the floor, fists clenched. "It's not fair. You get to soar…and I get left behind." She choked up. "It's not fair."

"Natsumi, come on, why do you think I keep coming to check up on you. I don't want you to feel left behind. I—"

Hajime went to put a hand on Natsumi's shoulder, but she immediately slapped it away. "Just stop it already. I know what you're trying to do, but we're not friends. I never asked to be your friend. Misery loves company so I just…I was just trying to indulge in a pity party and now you're leaps and bounds ahead of me. It's not fair!" Natsumi turned around and ran away in tears. "It's not fair!"

Hajime stood there silently, unsure what to do. With nothing else left to do, he returned to his side of campus and met up with Chiaki to play videogames.

"What's the matter? You seem upset about something." Chiaki could see it in Hajime's eyes.

"It's Natsumi," Hajime said. "I'm trying to do for her what you did for me, but…it's not working."

Chiaki smiled. "Give it time. I'm sure she'll come around. There's no one in the world that doesn't appreciate genuine human kindness every now and again."

Hajime smiled. Chiaki always knew just what to say.

Unfortunately, tomorrow would not allow him to have the chance to try again. During that same day, Natsumi continued her torment of Mahiru. And Sato had had just about enough. Natusmi wasn't going to bother her friend Mahiru anymore.

Taking her swimsuit from her gym locker, Sato pushed over the fish tank in an empty classroom on the fourth floor. She then picked up all of the gravel and made a mace with it and her now knotted swimsuit.

If there was one thing Sato knew about Natsumi, the girl liked to play piano after , she performed for the guests of her family during dinners. It was one of the ways the Kuzuryus showed they were cultured.

Breathing heavy, Sato stood outside the music room, weapon clenched in hand. Inside, she could hear Natsumi playing and singing. Though Sato hated her guts, she had to admit, Natsumi was not terrible at either.

"When I can't even read my own feelings? What good are words when a smile says it all? And if this world won't write me an ending. What will it take just for me to have it all?"

Sato threw the door open only ten more seconds into Natsumi's piano playing, catching the girl's attention. "Oh, look, it's the resident gorilla. Did the zoo forget to put you back in your cage?"

Sato slung her weapon down by her skirt and then slammed the wall behind her, cracking the sheet rock. Natsumi sweated. Oh, this was bad. Fourth floor, one exit, no where to hide.

Heart jackhammering, Natsumi thought maybe should could out speed Sato by running all the way to one side of the room and then feinting back the other way for the door. It was a good plan…until it involved outrunning Sato. Not only was she captain of the archery club in middle school, but she was an exceptionally good track and fielder as well.

Before Natsumi could make her feint, she was pinned to the wall by Sato and kneed in the gut.

I was…careless, Natsumi thought as she spewed saliva all over the ground.

BAM!

The gravel filled swimsuit came crashing down on the top of Natsumi's head, mortally wounding her. Dizzy and losing consciousness fast, Natsumi slumped against the wall. Sato stood over her as Natsumi lost her sense of sight, the last thing she saw was Sato dropping the weapon.

So this is how it ends…beaten senseless and left behind…in the dust…

Natsumi tried to lift her arm, but she hadn't the strength. Her head had been hit too hard and she wasn't sending signals to her nervous system the right way.

Onii-chan…help, Natsumi thought as her head slumped to one side.

As the light died in Natsumi's eyes, her body shutting down, she suddenly heard a voice in her head.

"Are you just going to give up, Natsumi Kuzuryu?"

The voice was male and discerningly foreign. It was deep, but also with a hint of suaveness to it.

"What choice do I have?" Natsumi asked the voice. "I'm dead."

"Not quite, Miss Kuzuryu. You could die, but I think I can offer you one last second chance at life."

"…I'm listening."

"You want power, the power to become a talented person. I can give that to you with the power of the Orichalcos."

"Who…are you?"

"My name is Dartz, my child. And you may refer to me as your Lord, Master, and Boss…if you want what I had to offer."

"Well then, Mr. Dartz," Natsumi thought as her arms twitched, strength returning to them. "Glad to be in business with you."

Suddenly a bright flash of green light gave off from Natsumi's forehead and a strange duel disk appeared on her arm. The green light was not restricted to just her forehead either. The entire reserve course building flashed green from its windows.

Mahiru, who had been waiting for Sato at the gate to walk home with her, couldn't help, but investigate. Running into the building, she began opening every door to find the source.

Up on the fourth floor however, Natsumi's eyes now glowed red with the power of the Orichalcos, an intricate seal stamped upon her forehead. New blood ceased running down her face as her head wound fixed itself and became like it never happened.

"Wh-what the hell?" Sato stammered, stepping back. Natsumi was growing gray and clammy one second and now she was back on her feet.

"Today you graduate from your false self, Miss Kuzuryu. You have become what you've always wanted: Powerful. Feared. Limitless Potential. Now, show this non-worshipper of the Orichalcos your strength."

"Yes, Master Dartz," Natsumi said as she held up the only duel monster card currently in her possession. "I activate the seal of Orichalcos!"

Still running through the halls of the school, it took Mahiru a while before she made it to the music room on the fourth floor. When she threw the door open, she saw a small pool of blood and Sato crumped on the ground. There was no sign of Natsumi, not that Mahiru knew that Natsumi was ever there in the first place.

"Sato? Sato!" Mahiru ran over to her friend and turned her over. Sato's eyes were dead and cold. Fearing the worst, Mahiru checked her friend's pulse. Alive and, strangely contradictory to the blood puddle, unwounded. Flashbacks of Sonia and Gundham riddled Mahiru's head. No. It couldn't be. That nightmare was over. Marik was gone.

Panicking in a cold sweat, Mahiru could only think to do one thing: Get Sato help. Without hesitating, Mahiru scooped her friend onto her back and ran down four flights of stairs. Once she got to the courtyard, she began shouting. "MIKAN! MIKAN, HELP!" Tears were streaming down Mahiru's face.

She made her way to the main course building, meeting the Ultimate Nurse halfway, running towards Mahiru full sprint, nurse mode active.

"Mahiru, what's the matter? Where are you hurt?"

"It's not me," Mahiru cried. "It's Sato. Please. Please help Sato."

Mikan looked at the drool trailing out of Sato's mouth and the limpness of her strong body. "C-come on. If we carry her together. It'll be easier. Let's get her inside."

Working together, Mikan and Mahiru carried Sato into the nurse's office, laying her down on one of the beds. Mahiru sobbed the whole way through as Mikan shined light in Sato's eyes, checked her pulsed and poked several joints and reflex points on Sato's body.

"Well, the good news is, she's alive," Mikan said. "But…the bad news is…I can't help her."

"Wh-what do you mean you can't help her?" Mahiru asked.

Mikan looked on the verge of tears. "I'm so sorry. I recognize the symptoms. This is just like with Sonia and Gundham. Someone…someone took her soul."

"That's impossible! Marik's gone!" Mahiru exclaimed shaking Mikan's shoulders. "Sato…Sato couldn't possibly have lost her soul."

"I'm sorry," Mikan exclaimed, tears jumping out of her eyes, "but the symptoms match those cases! It's a diagnosing in progress, but I really don't think there's anything else it could be. Her condition matches Gundham and Sonia's perfectly."

"Sato…no…" Mahiru collapsed over her friend's abdomen and just started crying.

Mikan cursed her own powerlessness. No. There had to be something she could do. She wracked her brain. Eventually, she landed upon a solution. During Battle City, Yugi and Hajime had made it clear that defeating the source of the soul stealing in a duel would undo everything. Between the two, Yugi seemed like the safer bet, likely knowing where it came from. Mikan then quickly realized she didn't have a way to contact Yugi and she also didn't know the location of his grandpa's game shop.

Oh, but she did know someone who could contact Yugi. Swallowing, Mikan braced herself to go speak with one Seto Kaiba.

Despite not having to be anywhere near the school if he didn't want to, Kaiba came by every so often just to study the game in peace. On the third floor, in the game room, he had a myriad of cards laid out. The intent was to restructure his deck in a manner that, this time for sure, Yugi wouldn't be able to beat him. New cards were being released soon and Kaiba already knew which of those cards had caught his eye. To that end, he had blank proxy cards with pieces of paper taped to them with the card's name.

In the middle of his deck building, he heard footsteps approach. Jarred from his deep thinking, he looked to see Mikan Tsumiki standing in the doorway. "Tsumiki…"

"S-sorry to bother you," Mikan said. "But…it's…really important." She was giving him pleading puppy dog eyes, hands clenched together.

Ordinarily, Kaiba would dismiss Mikan and tell her to get lost. But, he was making no progress simply staring at the cards in front of him. He could at least hear her out. It would make with a nice distraction. "What's the trouble? And why should I care?" Kaiba asked.

"N-no. It's just…you know how to contact Yugi, right? I-I know you don't believe in the supernatural, but he does so I—"

"Oh, so I'm just a middleman for Yugi, is that it?" Kaiba snapped. Oh that was the last thing he needed today.

"N-no! Th-that's not what I—"

"Forget it. I've lost any interest in this. Leave me alone. I'm busy."

"Please! Someone lost their soul again! I need help! I'm useless with things like this!"

Kaiba grumbled. "Soul stealing isn't real. That's just a horrifying trick Marik did to—"

"I know you don't care, but my classmate is in tears and I'm trying my best! Please, help!" Mikan screamed in desperation, tears running down her face.

Kaiba looked at Mikan with his usual stern scowl. At the very least, she had his attention again.

"Please," Mikan sniffed, pleading. "My talent is my everything. I can't cure lost souls…so getting Yugi to defeat the person who did this in a duel is the next best thing I have." She started to cry. "I know I could just ask you to do it, but I didn't think you'd listen to something so farfetched. So I just wanted you to call Yugi." Mikan started to howl. "Please don't hate meeeeeee!" She then started sobbing uncontrollably.

"Fine. I'll do it. Just…stop crying. You're giving me a headache."

Mikan didn't stop crying though. Once the water works went off, there was very little that could stop them. Groaning with a sigh. Kaiba got up and walked over to her. To sedate her, he attempted the most basic of calming gestures: patting her on the head.

Mikan squeaked and immediately stopped wailing. Kaiba's heavy, strong hand on her head was a strange, yet far from unwanted feeling. She sniffed, looking up at him. "K-Kaiba?"

But he didn't say anything to her. Instead, he took his hand away and started cleaning up his cards. Only then did he say, "I don't have Yugi's number memorized and he doesn't have a cell phone. I'll have to go back to the office and call the Muto Game Shop. However," Kaiba now stood tall and gave Mikan that cold, icy stare of his. "When you find out who needs to be dueled, I want you to tell me. Because if it's just a duel that needs to be won, you hardly need Yugi." Kaiba then walked past Mikan with his packed suitcase, bumping his arm into hers as he pushed past her.

And yet, as he headed for the staircase, he could not help, but shake the feeling that Mikan was staring holes at his back. Actually, he couldn't help, but feel as though her eyes were burning into him until he left the campus. But, he figured, it was probably just his imagination. Of course, if the tree near the front of campus could speak, it would be able to tell Kaiba that he was far from imagining things.

Humming to herself, Junko Enoshima sat in a chair with an old looking book in her hand. The front cover had the Millennium Eye symbol on it and the back had intricate markings that were decisively not Egyptian. It in the early morning when she saw news coverage of monster sightings around the world and continued to hum as she read the book, despite all of the characters being hieroglyphs. Her eyes were moving about like they had been inherited from a fish with lazy eye as she read character to character, cover to cover without a care in the world to the world's suffering. After all, the contents of the book seemed to only validate her suspicions of what was going on right now anyway.

It was when the afternoon rolled around that Junko had finished reading the book for the umpteenth time, making a tick mark on a post-it note on the desk she was sitting in front of.

"We now take you live to a Kaiba Corp press conference where gaming company president Seto Kaiba will make a statement."

Junko already knew before Kaiba said it flat out that Kaiba Corp wasn't to blame. Grinning to herself, she shut off the TV, grabbed a pre-packed suitcase and headed for the exit of the lair. "Ishizu! Melvin!" she exclaimed. "Take care of the place while I'm gone."

"And where are you going exactly?" Melvin wanted to know.

Junko grinned as she and Mukuro reached the foot of the staircase that led outside. "To greet destiny with a hug and despair," she replied. Then, having Mukuro carry her suitcase, Junko stepped out of the musty crypt with a stretch and a pair of sunglasses adorned to her face. "It's showtime!" She exclaimed only to grin and proclaim. "No. Wait. It's Junko time!"

Yugi Muto did not sleep well the night before. Not only was the world under attack, but now a new evil threatened to consume the world. Kaiba held no responsibility and he had no leads as to who to target. To that end, he'd gone back to the museum where the Ancient Egyptian exhibit was held, at Yami's behest. Perhaps there they would find some clues.

There they were reunited with a couple of old friends: Professor Hawkins and his granddaughter Rebecca. There, Yugi's understanding of Duel Monsters was turned on its head. Ancient Egypt was not the origin of Duel Monsters, rather, it was the city of Atlantis. More to the point, Professor Hawkins firmly believed that it was possible a parallel world existed to this one, one in which Duel Monsters truly existed.

"Gimme a break, you nutty professor!" Tristan exclaimed, only to get kicked in the shin by Rebecca for calling her grandfather names.

As the conversation continued, Yugi's cell phone rang.

"Who's calling you?" Joey asked, leaning over his buddy's shoulder. "We're all here."

"Don't know," Yugi said, but answered anyway. "Hello?"

"Yugi, so this is your cell phone."

"Kaiba?! How did you get this number?" Yugi gasped.

"What's that egotistical jerk want?" Joey snapped.

"I didn't get to call you yesterday so I'm making every effort to contact you today. I need you to meet me at Hope's Peak in an hour. Just you and none of your lame friends, got it?"

"Y-yeah, but what's the mat—"

Click!

Toooooooooone.

Yugi sighed. "Sorry guys, but it seems like Kaiba wants to talk to me alone."

"To hell with that. He probably wants to mug ya after Battle City," Joey said.

Yugi shook his head. "No. I don't think Kaiba's that petty. Sorry, but I need to get going. I've only got an hour." Yugi then took off running.

"Ah! Yugi!" Téa exclaimed.

"Let him go. Whatever's going on, Yugi's gotta tell us later," Tristan said.

"Tristan's right," Miho said. "Miho's only known Yugi a short time, but Miho thinks we should trust him."

Kaiba was unnecessarily early arriving at Hope's Peak, arms folded, standing near Sakakura, head of Security, just outside the main course entry gate.

"If you needed to get the kid, why didn't you just ask the school to get him for you and save time?" Sakakura asked.

"I've stepped on plenty of Hope's Peak's toes for now," Kaiba said. "I don't like making any more demands than I should. Besides, Yugi wouldn't dare refuse an invitation from me if he knows what's good from him."

"You could seriously slice a man in half with the edge of that bruised ego of yours," Sakakura responded.

Kaiba only growled.

Yugi arrived not long after, surprised to see Kaiba there already. "Sorry, Kaiba, am I late?"

"No. You're early, but the faster we get this over with, the better. Sakakura, let him through."

Sakakura nodded and pulled out a guest badge to hang around Yugi's neck so that he could be escorted by Kaiba through Hope's Peak. This gave Yugi the chance to take a look and see how green the grass was and how painstakingly taken care of the architecture was from the statues to the concrete pathways.

"So, what exactly is this about, Kaiba?"

"You're smart. You figure it out," Kaiba said, walking in front of his rival towards the building entrance.

"Wait, do you mean to say you have some idea about what's causing the monster attacks?" Yugi gasped.

"Not exactly, but I think this is definitely related. I know Kaiba Corp technology isn't responsible and while I certainly don't believe your ancient fairy tales, they can at least point me in the logical direction."

"It sounds like Kaiba's trusting us to find whoever's out there. But…I don't know how much help we'll be," Yami said to Yugi solemnly.

"We can at least try," Yugi said.

Kaiba and Yugi walked into Hope's Peak and down the hall to the left, arriving at the nurse's office where Mikan was beside herself with worry. "Mikan?" Yugi gasped.

"Oh. H-Hello…Yu…" Mikan trailed off and yawned.

"Tsumiki, you look terrible. Get some rest," Kaiba said, glaring.

"I can't! I can't without knowing what's wrong with Sato! Mahiru will hate me!" Mikan wailed.

"And I'm saying to get rest for the betterment of your health!" Kaiba snapped.

Yugi pushed around Kaiba to look at the bed Mikan was tending. It turned out to be a tall girl with messy green hair. She appeared unconscious. No, unconscious wasn't the right word for it.

Mikan, noticing this, walked up next to Yugi. "Um, I think her soul has been removed. Since you have experience with this sort of thing. I thought you might be able to fix it since I can't," Mikan said, looking at Yugi with pleading eyes.

Nodding, Yugi caused the Millennium Puzzle to flash. "YUGIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!"

Yami, now having control, looked over Sato's comatose body, strapping on a pair of rubber gloves. "May I?" He asked Mikan. She nodded. He pulled off Sato's blanket. He checked her pulse and then opened her eyes. They were deadened to their core, but Sato's heart was still beating. Yami could hear it as he tipped his ear to it.

"Well? Any ideas?" Kaiba snapped, taking the words out of Mikan's mouth.

"These are definitely telltale signs of someone having lost their soul, but it's…different somehow from being sent to the shadow realm."

"Oh so now there's a new fairy tale. Goody," Kaiba said sarcastically. "I don't care about the ancient mumbo jumbo. Who do I have to defeat in a duel to get my company's reputation back on track. I'm losing investors as we speak, Yugi!"

"I'm sorry, but I have no idea the root cause, but…I think I might know where we can begin looking?" Yami replied.

"Oh, and where's that?"

"Today I was visiting an ancient exhibit on the city of Atlantis. Professor Hawkins believes Duel Monsters may have existed prior to Ancient Egypt and instead originated from Atlantis, possibly even further back than that."

"So we've gone from Ancient Egyptian fairy tales to Ancient Atlantean fairy tales. Fantastic," Kaiba replied dryly. He turned to leave. "Call me when you've had a reality check. You can look up the office number in any phone book. Drop your name. I'll pick up. Let me know when you have a name and location." Kaiba then turned down the corner of the doorway and out of sight.

"Yugi," Mikan said, looking straight at him. "I know Kaiba doesn't believe in your ancient tales, but I believe them. Please, if you have any idea, please tell me. I want to be useful, more than anything," Mikan sniffed, trying her best not to cry.

Yami smiled and pat Mikan on the head. "The best thing you can do right now is take a little nap." His smiled faded, but his hand remained. "If Sato's already lost her soul, her condition isn't going to get worse. You should rest like Kaiba said. If anyone else gets hurt, you should be in tip top shape to look after them as well. I don't know how dangerous this journey is going to get and we may have need of you yet again, Mikan."

Mikan sniffed. "Really?"

Yami smiled again as he took his hand away. "Really. Now, get some rest. You look like you've been up all night."

That's because I have, Mikan thought.

Yami then reached into his coat pocket and put a duel monsters card in Mikan's hand, closing her hand around it. "I don't need it back. Hang onto it, for good luck, and safety," Yami said.

"Th-thank you," Mikan stuttered, flustered and unable to properly express her joy. "N-no one has ever given me a gift like this before. I-I'll cherish it!"

Yami smiled. "You do that." He then walked away, leaving Mikan to look at the card he had given her: Petit Angel.

Mikan clutched it to her bosom. Yugi's so nice. I wonder if…he and I…could be friends. She whined. Oh, why didn't I ask him before he left? But… she looked at an empty bed in the nurse's office. I should take a little nap first. Get my strength…

Whump!

Mikan was sound asleep and snoring, card in her hand, hand stuffed under the pillow before she'd even finished that sentence.

Meanwhile, Mahiru was trying to cope with the loss of Sato in her own way. She was sitting on a bench looking at the photographs on her camera and in a photobook that she had with her best friend. Right now, these memories were the only things keeping her strong and they also—

"Mahiru!" Hiyoko exclaimed, jumping out from behind the bench and surprising Mahiru enough to jar her from her thoughts.

"H-Hiyoko?" Mahiru gasped as the ponytailed blonde skipped around the bench and sat down next to her best friend.

"Hey, come on, are you still looking at photos of that friend of yours?" Hiyoko asked, looking a bit perplexed. She tugged on Mahiru's arm. "Come on, let's go get something to eat. There's this new place I saw that sells fresh onigiri. It's probably way better than any skanky food that perv Teruteru can cook up."

Mahiru looked at her photobook solemnly. "I'm not hungry, Hiyoko."

"Oh. Well then, how about we go to the gymnasium. I can dance and you can take pictures," Hiyoko suggested with a smile.

"No thanks," Mahiru politely rejected, still sounding sad.

Hiyoko made a childishly angry face only to reign it in. She had one last idea. "We could play duel monsters. You said your dad gave you his deck, didn't you? Plus, Chiaki bought everyone duel disks when they went on mass market."

"I thought you hated duel monsters. You said you were going to throw your duel disk in the trash," Mahiru said, surprised.

"It's a dumb game, yeah! But…but you like it. S-so…so I thought…" Hiyoko turned her head, blushing, "Maybe we could play it once or twice…if you wanted."

Mahiru smiled a little. She could see it. Hiyoko actually did like the game. She just didn't want to admit it for whatever reason. However, her smile faded just as quickly as it appeared. "Hiyoko, I appreciate the gesture, but I really don't feel like playing a card game right now."

"Well then what do you want to do? Mope over some old photos? How is that helpful? You said it yourself, didn't you? This is a job for Yugi and Kaiba, so let's leave it to them and stop worrying so much!"

"Of course I have to worry!" Mahiru shouted, surprising Hiyoko.

Mahiru shivered, turning blue. "You don't know what it's like being trapped in that horrible place. It was like every worst nightmare I ever experienced jumbled together and spawned something so horrific I can't even properly describe it. It was like living a nightmare I couldn't wake up from or control to make it a better dream. All my worst fears repeated over and over again to the point of slowly chipping away at my sanity. And that was only a few minutes at worst! Sonia and Gundham were under the influence of the Shadow Realm for almost a full day and even they admit it was a horrendous experience! Sato's been out for more than a day and judging from how things are going she won't get well tomorrow either! Even if I get my friend back will she ever really be the same anymore?!"

"But there's nothing you can do about it, so why worry yourself sick over it? Come on, spend time with me and forget about Sato," Hiyoko said with a smile. "I'm worried about you Mahiru," Hiyoko said, trying to pet Mahiru, only for Mahiru to squeeze her wrist. "Ow. M-Mahiru…you're hurting me."

"This isn't about you, Hiyoko," Mahiru said, gritting her teeth. "Not everything is. I know you mean well, but maybe don't just list off things you want to do. Maybe ask "Gee, Mahiru, I see that you're in emotional pain and suffering is there anything I can do to make you feel better" instead of making everything about your needs!"

"I…" Hiyoko started to say, tears starting to form. She needed time and a chance to explain herself.

"Friendship is about give and take and all you do is take sometimes! My time! My patience, hell, even a little bit of my sanity! Sometimes I need a break from you okay!"

"But…but you said you would always be on my side," Hiyoko whined.

"And I am, but that doesn't mean I can spend every waking minute of my day with you. And right now…right now I just need to be left alone."

"Oh. I see," Hiyoko said solemnly.

Mahiru sighed with relief. Finally, she'd gotten through to Hiyoko.

Unfortunately, this was not the case. "This all has to do with barfy the hog, doesn't it? You and Mikan got soooooo cuddly during Battle City and now you've decided I'm just dust in the wind, isn't that it?"

"What? No! Hiyoko. Mikan and I are friends, just like you and I are friends."

"Friends don't let friends miss blimp rides!" Hiyoko shouted.

"H-hey, I said I was sorry, didn't I?" Mahiru asked, blushing a little.

"You didn't even bring me back a souvenir!" Hiyoko snapped.

"Again, I'm the one suffering right now, why are you making this about you? The world doesn't revolve around you, Hiyoko! Grow up!"

Mahiru thought Hiyoko was going to throttle her when she saw the tears. Hiyoko looked like she was going to pounce and throw the mother of all temper tantrums. Except, that didn't happen. Instead, Hiyoko turned around and ran full speed in the other direction, crying at the top of her lungs, sleeves rubbing her eyes.

"Ah, Hiyoko!" Mahiru exclaimed, but she was unable to get to her feet fast enough before Hiyoko was out of sight. Oh no. Did I go too far?

Hiyoko kept running straight towards the edge of school. Unbeknownst to her, she ran right by Yukizome who thought to reach out and calm Hiyoko down, but decided against it.

No, Chisa, let her go. You know you can't talk down Hiyoko when she's hysterical. She'll come back. Just kill her with kindness. Oh! I know, Yukizome thought, her face elating as she snapped her fingers. I'll clean her room for her and leave a nice Kobacha Squash Pie for her with extra whipped cream. That'll cheer her up. Nothing says Welcome Back like a clean room, freshly pressed bedsheets and warm pie.

Yukizome then skipped off to go prepare for Hiyoko's inevitable return. As she wrapped up the cleaning and started cooking, she realized something was wrong. Oh shoot, don't have enough squash for my recipe. That's fine. Hiyoko doesn't seem to be back yet. I'll get up extra early tomorrow and make it fresh for her. Yukizome pat herself on the back, beaming with pride. Because I am Chisa Yukizome, the Ultimate Housekeeper Teacher!

It was almost sunset when Hiyoko made it all the way back to the Saionji estate. The flat was built around a beautiful garden of trees and flowers, complete with sand you'd normally only see in a Bonsai garden. Hiyoko hated it here. She absolutely despised it, but it was better than being around people that didn't appreciate her.

Loneliness is better than pain, Hiyoko told herself, looking miserable.

"Well, well, well, looks like the shrimp came crying home to granny," an annoying voice said. Hiyoko looked to see one of her platinum blonde cousins standing nearby with her equally bitchy, darker haired younger sister. They were wearing blue kimonos. Kagome and Haruhi Saionji, Hiyoko's childhood nemeses. Hiyoko's feet still hurt from the last time she found a pin in her sandal.

This was just one of those days where Hiyoko had no time for their bullshit. Rearing back her leg, she raised it back and kicked the blonde, Haruhi, right in the shin.

"Ow!" she exclaimed, hobbling on one foot. "You get back here and apologize, brat!"

Hiyoko spat in her general direction, pulling down her eye. She was all out of fucks to give today.

"I'm telling Auntie Kana on you!" Kagome shouted.

"Go ahead!" Hiyoko shouted back in the distance. She knew they didn't have the metaphorical balls to call her out for her behavior directly.

Hiyoko made it to her room with no trouble, finding it exactly as she left it. Plain, boring and with everything except her futon and a few changes of clothes in her dorm at Hope's Peak. Hiyoko pounced onto the futon, face-down, planted her face into her pillow and just screamed and wailed into it until she was hoarse in the throat. Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.

The next day, Hiyoko brushed her hair and washed her face before getting ready to go back to school. As she opened the front door to the estate, she found Mahiru and Mikan standing at the bottom of the 4-step staircase. "Mahiru?" Hiyoko was perplexed only to smile. "You came back to apologize." She went to give Mahiru a big hug. "I knew you couldn't stay mad at me forever."

However, when she tried to run towards Mahiru, all she got was a palm in her forehead and was pushed onto her butt. "H-Huh?"

"No, Hiyoko. I came here to tell you that I don't want to be your friend anymore," Mahiru said, sporting an unusually cruel smile. She and Mikan were now holding hands. "Mikan's my best friend now. And we're going to go be best friends forever and ever and leave you all alone because…well I don't really need to give you a reason. I just don't like you anymore."

"No…" Hiyoko hiccupped. This was not happening.

"Come on, Mikan," Mahiru said, turning around. "Let's go play duel monsters and go see a movie."

"No! Don't! I want to go too!" Hiyoko exclaimed, but her legs felt like lead. "Don't leave me here! No! NO!"

"NOOO!" Hiyoko shouted, waking up in a cold sweat, head ripping itself off her pillow. She was on her stomach as she had been when she'd fallen asleep. And now she was panting like she'd just run a mile. The lights in her room were off and the sun had pretty much gone in at this point.

Hiyoko curled into a ball upright, clutching her pillow. "No…" she sniffed. "Don't leave me all alone." She started to cry brokenheartedly. In the dark, this was the true Hiyoko. A sad, lonely girl that just wanted friends. Powerless to the world around her, the four walls between her and the world further away from her than she could reach. She liked it that way. That way she couldn't get hurt. The only thing missing from the image of Hiyoko sitting in her room, crying into her pillow, to match her heart, would be the barbed wire and bear traps lining the walls and floors. She sobbed. "I just…I just…"

"There. There. There is no need to cry, child. I hear your plea and I show you compassion."

"Wha…?" Hiyoko picked her head up and there was a bright flash of green light from outside her room in the koi pond. Hiyoko slid open the door to her bedroom and looked at the stone laden pond in her personal courtyard. A green light was glowing from it like a portal. Curious, Hiyoko slipped on her sandals and stepped out to take a look. Reflected in the water was a man with two different colored eyes and long, turquoise hair. His voice seemed to reverberate in her head.

"You needn't worry yourself about the ants in your path any longer, Hiyoko Saionji. Join me and I will give you what you have always wanted. The power to conquer your enemies, the power to take what belongs to you."

Hiyoko tugged at the hair on her temples. Her head hurt. "Nnnnn. Nnnnnnnnngh!"

"Don't struggle, my child. The Orichalcos is your friend. Or perhaps you want to stay a powerless, child forever."

Hiyoko's eyes shot open. Powerless? No. Never! Like a dart, her hand shot into the lake, pulling out a shiny green stone. Hiyoko then began to scream. "AAAAAAAAAAH!" A strange green emblem appeared on her forehead as the undersides of her irises glowed red.

"Do you feel the power, child?"

"Yes, I do, Father Dartz. I feel all of the power," Hiyoko said.

Kagome and Haruhi stormed into the courtyard. "Quit screaming you little brat. It's past your bedtime."

"Past my bedtime? I can do whatever I want," Hiyoko said with her usual smarmy attitude. "But you two can go to sleep," she said as strange, green duel disk appeared on her arm. "Forever."

"Are you sure you don't need more help with that pie?" Mahiru asked Yukizome. It was 8:30am and Yukizome had just returned from some early morning grocery shopping to get the right squashes.

"Nope. Got it all under control," Yukizome said. "You just help me get Hiyoko to her room and pie will take care of the rest."

Mahiru smiled. "Thank you, Miss Yukizome. I hope Hiyoko understands. I didn't mean to snap at her. I was just upset and…I didn't mean to take it out on her."

Yukizome pat Mahiru's head. "I know how thoughtful you are, Mahiru. Well, go on. Too many cooks spoil the broth."

Mahiru smiled and then left the cafeteria to Yukizome's capable hands.

As she waltzed out into the courtyard, she eventually came face to face with Hiyoko, but she didn't seem quite herself. For starters, she was wearing a forest green kimono with pink hibiscus flowers on it. And the bow in her hair was black.

Still, Mahiru put on her best smile first. "Hiyoko, there you are. I have a surprise for you. Come on, let's go to your room."

"Mahiru," Hiyoko smiled. "I'm so happy to see you too. Because finally I can call you out for the lying whore you are."

"…what?" Mahiru sounded mightily confused.

"You never really cared about me. You just took pity on me, just like everyone else. Well I'm here to put you in your place."

"You know, I was going to apologize to you," Mahiru said, looking nervous. "But if you're going to be like that…"

"I don't want your empty apologies! Mahiru, I challenge you to a duel! And when I win, you're never going to hurt anyone with your deceitful lies ever again! Father Dartz has opened my eyes to the truth. To get anything in this world, I just need to be powerful enough to take it, starting with you."

"Hiyoko, I don't know what sort of weird cult you joined last night, but…you're scaring me."

"There's no need to be scared," Hiyoko said in an overly cheerful tone. Her eyes became hypnotic swirls. "Because once I've dueled you, I'll eventually become part of the Great Leviathan myself and then we'll all be disembodied souls together forever on the other side. You, me, even that barf hog Mikan. We'll all be friends forever." Tears started to drip out of Hiyoko's eyes.

"Hiyoko, you're really scaring me! C-come on. Let's talk this out!"

"No. No more talking. The time for words is over!" Hiyoko said, raising a Duel Monster's card to the sky. "Now is the time for souls to be stolen! I activate the Seal of Orichalcos!" She placed it inside the field spell zone of her new duel disk.

Suddenly a large, green seal appeared around Mahiru and Hiyoko as the same emblem appeared on Hiyoko's forehead. Mahiru instantly tried to turn around and run to get Yukizome. However, she smacked her head against an invisible wall.

"There's no need to run, Mahiru," Hiyoko said as Mahiru's duel disk appeared on her wrist. "It's just a little duel." She cooed. "And it'll be your last."

Mahiru gave Hiyoko her toughest look to hide the fact that this situation was completely freaking her out. "Maybe Mikan's right." Mahiru said as she activated her duel disk. "What you need right now is some tough love. Let's Duel, Hiyoko!"

Hiyoko giggled with delight, but there was something sinister about it. "I thought you'd never ask! And I think I'll go first!" Hiyoko drew the top card of her deck. "And I'll start by playing White Magician Pikeru in attack mode!" A small white magic girl appeared on Hiyoko's side of the field with 1200 attack points and 0 defense points. "And thanks to the power of the Seal of Orichalcos, Pikeru gets an additional 500 attack points."

The Orichalcos emblem appeared on Pikeru's forehead and raised its attack power to 1700.

"Next, I'll place one card face-down," Hiyoko said, as the face-down hologram appeared. "Your turn, my beloved Mahiru."

Beloved? Mahiru shook it off and drew the top card of her deck. Dad. I've never seen eye to eye with you, but I'm really hoping your deck helps me out here. Mahiru looked at the cards in her hand. I just have to remember everything I learned from Chiaki and Hajime, and from watching Battle City. She noticed a polymerization in her hand and scanned her hand. Excellent! "I start by activating Polymerization! This lets me fuse together the Roboyaru and the Robolady in my hand to summon Super Robolady!" Mahiru summoned a monster with 1200 attack points and 900 defense points. It was a woman clad in pink armor carrying a javelin.

"Pfft, that monster is so pathetic, it makes me want to cry," Hiyoko snorted.

"Not when I combine it with this magic card it won't be. Go! Fusion Weapon!" Mahiru exclaimed as a bunch of black armor parts fused themselves to Super Robolady and her hands started to glow. "This special magic card raises the attack and defense power of any fusion monster that's level 6 or less by 1500 points."

"What?" Hiyoko gasped as Super Robolady's attack power climbed to 2700, more than enough to destroy Pikeru.

"Super Robolady!" Mahiru shouted as she extended her arm. "Attack!"

"But you can't! It's a fusion monster! You just summoned it!"

"New rules patch! I found that out from Chiaki yesterday. You're out of luck, Hiyoko!"

Super Robolady darted towards Hiyoko's Pikeru with great speed and ferocity, ready to cut it down.

"Well then, good thing I planned ahead for your lying cheating whore face! I activate Dust Tornado!" Hiyoko exclaimed. "I can use this to destroy your monster's magic card, bringing its attack power down to its original 1200."

"N-no!" Mahiru exclaimed.

"Bye bye, Robolady! Time to die!" Hiyoko shouted. "Go, Pikeru! Attack!"

As Super Robolady's fusion weapon was blasted apart, the Orichalcos enhanced Pikeru blasted her with an attack from her wand that obliterated the cyber warrior, bringing Mahiru's life points down to 3500.

"I guess I'll place one monster face-down on the field," Mahiru said, leaving 1 card in her hand. "Go, Hiyoko."

"Don't mind if I do," Hiyoko said, drawing up to 5 cards. "And since it's my turn now, Pikeru's special ability activates. I gain 400 life points for each monster I control. And since I have Pikeru, I gain 400." Hiyoko's life points ascended to 4400. "Next, I summon Ebon Magician Curran to the field!" A black magical girl with a whip appeared. It also had 1200 attack points and 0 defense points. Then, thanks to the power of the Orichalcos, its attack power jumped up to 1700. "And now, I activate this magic card, Trial of the Princesses. It can be equipped to either Pikeru or Curran and I choose Ebon Princess Curran. This raises her attack power by 800 more points for a total of 2500." Hiyoko pointed at Mahiru's face-down monster. "And now, Curran, attack!"

Curran unfurled her whip and struck Mahiru's face-down monster, the 2000 defense point wall G.B. Hunter. It was instantly destroyed.

"And now, White Magician Pikeru, attack Mahiru directly!"

"Pi-pi-PIKERU!" Pikeru exclaimed and blasted Mahiru in the chest with her attack, dropping Mahiru's life points down to 1800.

"Neehahahaha!" Hiyoko laughed. "One more attack like that and it's over."

Mahiru clutched her chest. What…was that? Is this…like a shadow game? "Hiyoko, stop this! That attack actually hurt! You don't know what kind of power your dealing with. Please! Please, stop!"

"I won't stop! I know who and what I am now!" Hiyoko exclaimed. "I'm a tyrant! I take what I want. And I want you, Mahiru, body and soul. And once you lose this duel," Hiyoko had the most disturbing look on her face, "I'll have everything of yours I could ever want."

Mahiru grit her teeth and pushed away the pain with sheer force of will. Dad, please. I need your deck to come through for me. Mahiru drew the top card of her deck. That might work. "I summon to the field Flash Assailant!" Mahiru played a monster with 2000 attack and 2000 defense points.

"Pfft, doesn't that monster card lose attack points for every card in your hand?" Hiyoko asked.

"It does, but that's why I'm activating this, Mystic Space Typhoon!" Mahiru exclaimed. "To blow away your Trial of the Princesses!"

"No!" Hiyoko exclaimed as her magic card was destroyed. "My combo!"

"And now, Flash Assailant is the strongest monster on the field!" Mahiru exclaimed. "Go!" she exclaimed. "Destroy Ebon Princess Curran!"

Flash Assailant struck forward and obliterated the little chibi, dropping Hiyoko's life points to 4100.

"Curran!" Hiyoko exclaimed. She puffed out her cheeks. "I'm going to get you for that!" She exclaimed. She drew the top card of her deck. Yes. This would do nicely. "First, since it's my turn, I gain another 400 life points thanks to Pikeru's effect. Next, I tribute my Pikeru to summon a new monster. Go, Agent of Judgment – Saturn!" A purple skinned and purple winged angel appeared on the field with 2400 attack points and 0 defense points. Its attack points jumped to 2900 because of Hiyoko's Seal of Orichalcos.

"Saturn! Attack! Rings of Destruction!"

Hiyoko's fairy blasted Flash Assailant to smithereens, dealing 900 points of damage to Mahiru and bringing her life points down to 900, essentially cutting them in half. Mahiru was thrown back against the wall of the battlefield from the attack. She hunched over, holding her shoulder.

Hiyoko laughed. "I've done it. I've almost won. Just give up, Mahiru," she said with an ecstatic smile. "It'll be less painful if you do."

"Mahiru!" Mikan suddenly appeared on the scene, running towards the commotion.

"This is all your fault, barfy!" Hiyoko shouted. "You're going to watch as I take Mahiru's soul and offer it to the Great Leviathan!"

What? Mikan's eyes went wide with terror.

"It's okay, Mikan," Mahiru said, smiling at her. "Whatever happens. This isn't your fault. None of it is." She smiled. "It's mine." She drew the top card of her deck and looked back at Hiyoko. "I set a card face-down and end my turn."

Hiyoko drew the top card of her deck and began sniffling. "I've won."

"Huh?" Mahiru was surprised by that. Her face-down card was Mirror Force. How could Hiyoko be so certain.

"I activate Bait Doll!" Hiyoko exclaimed, activating a magic card with a bamboo doll and a crafting hammer on it. "This allows me to force the activation of one of your face-down cards and if it's a trap card and the activation is incorrect, it's instantly destroyed. So, let's see what your lying whore face is hiding!"

And thus, Mahiru's Mirror Force was revealed.

"Mirror Force, because of course it was. Bye-bye!" Hiyoko exclaimed.

"MAHIRU!" Mikan shouted as the redhead's trap card was obliterated.

"And now, Saturn, attack! Rings of Destruction!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" Mikan wailed.

Mahiru's life points hit zero.

The Seal of Orichalcos zeroed in on Mahiru as she slumped to her knees. "Hi..yo…ko…"

"Hmm?"

Mahiru didn't have the strength to speak the words, but Hiyoko saw her lips move plain as day, she just didn't care.

"It's too late for apologies. Besides," Hiyoko smiled, crying. "I'll see you soon, Mahiru."

And that was the last thing Mahiru saw before her soul was forcibly robbed from her body. Mikan caught it before it hit the ground. Mahiru's eyes stared out into nothingness. They were…blank.

"And you're next, barfy," Hiyoko said.

"How could you?" Mikan sniffed. "Mahiru was your best friend." In tears, Mikan looked up at Hiyoko and shouted, "How could you treat her like this?"

"I don't have any friends," Hiyoko said, her eyes as cold as death. "There is only me…and Father Dartz." Hiyoko then began to fade into a green light.

"Hiyoko! Stop! I know you hate me, but you're my friend!" Mikan shouted.

"Shut up. Stupid…nurse…" Hiyoko then faded from sight.

Mikan howled over Mahiru like a wounded deer.

Yukizome had only just arrived on the scene, fresh pie in her hands. She saw Mikan crying over Mahiru and the dead look in Mahiru's eyes and her heart dropped.

"What…happened?"

"It was Hiyoko," Mikan sobbed. "How could she do something like this? The Hiyoko I know could be mean, but she would never hurt Mahiru. Never never ever ever!" Mikan exclaimed, shaking her head violently back and forth.

Yukizome looked down at the pie she was holding. It started to get salty with the tears that dripped out of her face.

Mikan continued to kneel on the ground, holding Mahiru's soulless body until she felt a strong, firm hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry." It was Yukizome speaking. "I'll save Hiyoko. I don't know what's going on, but it's hurt my students and I'm not just going to stand by and watch it happen." From out of nowhere, Yukizome produced her own duel disk, the lights lighting up.

In the fight against evil, Chisa Yukizome had stepped up to the plate!

(A/N: Oof! Chills, folks! Chills and tears! Enjoy your forever altered continuity for Danganronpa everybody. I mean, yeah, when the arc's over everyone gets their souls back, but that scene for the Twilight Syndrome Murder Case is only going to happen one time. Junko's on the move, Yukizome's taking action and real monsters are attacking the globe. Sounds like one hell of an adventure on the horizon.

And no, Gurimo hasn't dueled Yugi yet. I am completely altering the continuity of the Orichalcos arc to suit my whims because it'll be more fun this way. I don't know when the next chapter is coming out—quite frankly at this rate I think you should dread new chapters in some aspects—but I know that when it does, it'll be full of more spine-tingling adventures like this one.

Please let me know if I overdid things with Mahiru's argument with Hiyoko. I wanted it to look like Mahiru was just having a bad day and not me taking the piss out of Hiyoko. Because, quite honestly, fuck Hiyoko. But, hey, she makes a great villain :D.

Anyway, as always, from all of me, to all of you, let your hearts stay human and your wrath draconic! Ja ne!)