The main story is going to be getting pretty dark (like it isn't already), so if you don't want to ruin the mood, you may want to read the side-story completely before or after you read the main one instead of separating them. Or maybe not read it at all…

And yeah, the main story chapters have been shorter, but that was for a reason. I've been trying to stop at convenient places, before major events start and such. I didn't want to stop in the middle of the action. These next ones should be longer, because we are getting into some major action. I've been making the goofy side story longer as sort of compensation, though it's not much of one. This story shouldn't have more than about three good-length chapters left. Also, after this chapter, I'm stopping the gift thing. It was fun, but it's just taking up to much time and space. And, yes. In this fic, the eye did have something to do with preventing Ryou from becoming too sick with his injury. I guess I didn't make that clear enough in the early chapters, so sorry! In the show, when Pegasus gets the eye, he doesn't get that hurt. Yet when it gets taken, he dies or almost dies. Both procedures were done to Pegasus unwillingly. So that's where I get this from.

………………………………………………………………………………..

*At the badminton game*

White Angel: COME ON!!! Somebody has to have some idea to get rid of that block.

Seto: Sorry…tried.

Yami Malik: Yeah. Face it, that block isn't going anywhere.

White Angel: NOOOOO! Well maybe watching ya'll will help me think of a way.

*A rather interesting three on three game was in progress. Everyone, save White Angel, was in tennis-type outfits, complete with sweatbands. ^_^ It was Malik, Ryou (White Angel made Malik be nice to Ryou with a choice of that or being duct-taped to his Yami. At least it was a choice.), and Seto vs. Yami Yugi, Yami Malik, and Yami Bakura. Jounouchi was keeping score. The Yamis were losing horribly.*

Yami Malik: It's not fair! *points to the other team* They actually know what they are doing!

Yami Bakura: Yeah! They didn't have this in Egypt.

Malik: It's ya'll own fault. Remember, Mr. No Yami Can Lose At Any Game Against A Mortal?

Yami Bakura: Yeah, well…

Yami Yugi: Come on! Quit making excuses and let's get our dignity back!

*Ryou serves and Yami Yugi spikes it so hard, it goes a foot into the ground*

Yamis: All right! *slaps high five*

Jounouchi: Point for Team Sanity.

Yamis: WHAT!

Ryou: You hit it on the wrong sit of the net. A very nice hit, but I'm afraid you need to make it over the net and onto this side.

Yami Bakura: Way to get our dignity back Yami…

Yami Yugi: Shut up.

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

Yami Bakura

Ryou was hiding something from me. Too much time had gone by without a single thought. I didn't know how he was doing it, but he was. He had to be.

When I tried to assume control and Ryou fought back, I knew he was hiding something big. He knew he couldn't stop me, but he fought anyway. He never fought like this for himself. Someone else had to be involved. Someone he felt I would find reason to harm. This could only mean one thing. Ryou had let someone see the eye.

I managed to force Ryou into his soul room. His body relaxed as the soul transition was made. I looked up to see not one, but two someones. And both Yugis at that. No wonder Ryou had fought. I would have to hurt him bad for this. My first thoughts were that of anger. Then I realize something. There were two Yugis. This meant that one was the dark Yugi in a false form. A vulnerable state. Away from his power. This was a perfect opportunity. If I could kill him now, there would be nothing to stop me from taking the puzzle. I couldn't waste time. I stood. Yami Yugi was already looking at me suspiciously. The smaller one didn't seem to notice the switch at all and still spoke to me as if I were Ryou.

"Bakura, are you OK?" he asked.

"Never better," I said, laughing slightly and looking straight at the small one. A flash of understanding, followed by horror passed over his face. He knew. "Never better," I repeated and lunged for Yami Yugi.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

Yugi

Bakura pointed a shaking finger to my yami and stammered, "Get b-back to Yugi…Now!"

What was he talking about? Something upset him greatly. Then he relaxed once more. I thought he had blacked out again. His arms fell limp at his sides and his head bowed. I had no clue what was going on. He looked up again, but he seemed…different. He then stood. He looked at Yami and seemed to be contemplating. Yami returned the look with one of his own. Something was not right. "Bakura, are you OK?" I asked.

"Never better," he answered with a laugh. He turned to face me. That look on his face… Then I understood. Bakura's warning, his suddenly relaxing, this strange attitude he had now. This wasn't Bakura. "Never better," he repeated as he dove for my dark side.

At the same second I yelled, "Yami, look out!" Yami's eyes widened and he quickly jumped out of the way. Yami Bakura missed and skidded on the ground and into the locked door. He cursed, but was uninjured. It was strange to hear such words come out of Bakura's mouth. Yami realized the danger he was in while separate from me, and returned. Yugi! he said. I need to take control. This is very serious! I complied and retreated to my soul room, leaving Yami to face Yami Bakura. I could not help but worry about the outcome.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Yami Bakura

Stupid! I had been too rash and now I had lost my opportunity. I had carelessly been over-confident and caught up in the moment. I let the small one know what was going on in time to warn his other. If I could have just gotten close enough, I could have stolen Yami Yugi's soul. Away from the power of the puzzle, he could have done nothing to stop me. But I had missed my chance. Yami Yugi was already returning to his host. It would be foolish to approach him now.

Yugi's form underwent the slight changes that showed that his dark side was taking control. I stood and positioned myself at a safe distance, but also one that showed that I was not backing down. Millennium eye or no millennium eye, the showdown between Yami Yugi and myself was going to happen now. I was not going to stall anymore.

Soul transition complete, Yami Yugi glared at me. "We meet again, soul stealer."

"Always a pleasure," I returned with obvious false sincerity.

"Even with two millennium items, you feel that you need use sneak attacks. I guess I should be flattered."

"Don't waste your emotions. Like yourself, I am not one to pass up an opportunity. But then, you have more than enough emotions to afford wasting them. Emotions are what make you weak."

"Only you would see emotions as a weakness. You would be surprised what an asset they can be."

"Do not waste my time with your speeches on the usefulness of friends and feelings. Power is all that matters," I said, growing tired of his preaching.

"Yes, I see you have made a new addition to your 'power'," he said. "Tell me, how much did you enjoy torturing your other? Permanently mutilating him? Making him suffer?"

"I enjoyed it immensely," I said intentionally to anger him, my evilest smirk plastered to my face. "Heartlessness can be an asset, too. It is easy to do just about anything when you feel no remorse. Nothing gets in your way." I could see his anger and disgust building, so I decided to push it further. "It can be quite satisfying too… even 'fun'…"

"Monster," replied Yami Yugi, dripping with hatred.

"You say that like it's a bad thing. Now how long are we going to stand here talking? We have a shadow game to play."

………………………………………………………………………………………..

Yami Yugi

"…We have a shadow game to play," the evil Bakura said.

"Fine with me," I returned. The shadow realm materialized around us, leaving the school behind. Now was the time to enforce my plan. I only prayed that it would work.

"Now, how do we settle the little matter of rules and consequences?" Yami Bakura said. He seemed confident. Too confident.

"I ask that we both separate from our hosts," I said. If I could get him to agree to this, Yugi and Bakura would be out of harm's way. The problem was getting him to agree.

"Now why would I do that? Why would I cut myself off from the power of both my millennium items when you would only cut yourself off from one?" he replied with an attitude that seemed to hint that I was being ridiculous.

"You and I both know that you don't know how to use that eye. You would only be cutting yourself off from one as well." He was very angry at this. Apparently, he hadn't known how much Bakura had told me.

"Well, I also know that you don't want to hurt my host, whereas I could care less about hurting yours."

"I will not hesitate to do anything to protect Yugi," I said, truthfully. "I am simply trying to avoid unnecessary suffering."

"And what is in it for me to agree to your terms? What are the rewards?" He knew I would have to offer him something big for him to agree. He was savoring the moment.

"If I win, you remain in the shadow realm, never to bother anyone again," I said.

"And if I win…?" he said, speaking as a serpent would.

"If you win…you get my puzzle." He scoffed at this.

"Your puzzle is already on the line. That is what this is all about. I'm afraid you will have to sweeten the deal if you want me to agree to your terms." I had expected this.

"I am not finished," I said. "As for the game…the rules…the consequences…are all entirely up to you…"

………………………………………………………………………………………

*At the badminton game, the yamis are having a difficult time accepting defeat*

Yami Yugi: WE CAN'T LOSE!!!

Jounouchi: Yami, man, the score is 34 to 2. We can't keep going forever. I think we were supposed to stop at 21. Or is that ping-pong?

Yami Bakura: AAAAAAURRRRRRRRRGGGGGGG!!!!

Yami Malik: One last serve?

Jounouchi: Oh, all right… Not like it matters.

*Ryou, out of pity, tries to serve them an easy one, but the wind takes it and blows it a bit too far. Yami Bakura runs backward, trying to reach it.*

Yami Bakura: I got it!!! I got it!!!

*he trips and lands on his butt. The birdie lands just behind him.*

Jounouchi: GAME OVER!

Yami Malik: But it was out of bounds.

Jounouchi: He tried for it.

Yami Yugi: But he MISSED!

*Yami Bakura screams. Everyone turns from the argument to look at him. Turns out, he had just discovered that he had landed in a fire ant nest. He was desperately trying to brush them off. Everyone laughs at him*

Yami Yugi: AHAHAHAHAHA! THAT WAS WORTH LOSING FOR!

White Angel: That's what you get for playing in my backyard.

*Postman arrives with a couple packages for White Angel. He gives a strange look to the spectacle, but goes back to work*

White Angel: Ah! Gifts!

*Everyone, including Yami Bakura who is still trying to brush the ants off of him, crowds around*

Yami Bakura: I'm not sure that I want one… The last one wasn't very pleasant.

White Angel: You're the bad guy. What do you expect?

*White Angel opens the first one from Kitsune of Insanity*

White Angel: INDUSTRIAL SIZE PIXI STIXS!!! THANK YOU!!! ^_^

Seto: Oh, great…

Yami Yugi: Can I have some?

Seto: NO!

*White Angel opens the next box from Kobura Doragon. Inside are presents for most. White Angel gets a book called "Writer's Block: The Dos and Don'ts of Getting Rid of the Nasty Buggers." Ryou gets a membership card to Abused by Yamis Anonymous. Malik gets a book called "My Sexy Hair and How to Keep it That Way." All the Yamis get a lifetime supply of millennium item polish*

White Angel: YEA! ^_^ *begins thumbing through her book*

Malik: *looks at his book* Uh…White Angel…?

White Angel: Don't look at me. I just hand 'em out.

Malik: *shrugs and starts looking through his book*

Ryou: Malik, you a member of this? *hold up card*

Malik: My dear Ryou, I'm not just a member. I'm also the president! ^_^

Yami Malik: *gives Malik a dirty look*

Seto: I didn't get anything… *pouts*

White Angel: Awww…poor Seto. *gives him a little hug*

Seto: *blushes and pretends not to care*

Ryou: Hey! I thought I was your favorite… *pouts*

White Angel: You are my favorite Ryou! *gives him a hug, but a bigger one than Seto got*

Ryou: ^_^

Yami Bakura: What about me…? *pouts*

White Angel: YOU can finish brushing the ants off your butt.

Yami Bakura: . *goes to join the other yamis polishing away at their millennium items*

Yami Malik: So shiny! ^__^

White Angel: *Goes back to her book* AH-HA! Rule number one: Never underestimate the cute ones. Time to find Yugi and Mokuba!

R&R please!