R Amythest: okay, I have no idea how to play DDM, so bear with me. . .

Yami Amythest: *sighs* Yuh huh. . .

R Amythest: *sighs* well. . . I have a few muses to introduce. . .

Harp: ^_^ HI!

Leafe: -_-;; yup. What do you need me to do NOW?!

Shimmer: Leafe! That's not nice!

Chance: Well, you have to live with it. Not everyone's, ahem, nice.

Recarn: like you?

Reggie: *hmph*

R Amythest: Those are my muses from my other story, 'The Heart With the Cards!' Go read it! Here are my other muses!

Ryou: *blushes*

Change of Heart Ryou: *blushes and shuffles away from the crowd*

Yami Bakura: *scowls* for the last time, I'm NOT staying for bashing purposes! You $%#(%&@#*$(@^$*$(#%# baka!

Chibi Yami Bakura: *big puppy eyes* Bwig Bwodder, whad do all dhose bwig words mean?

Malik: *snickers* They mean-

Yami Yugi: *muffles Malik's reply* Not in front of the little kids, okay? I see you're falling under your Yami's influence pretty quickly. . . Good thing R Amythest didn't let him come.

Yugi: *sighs* I'm here, that's all I have to say.

R Amythest: Yup! Mai was kicked out because she bashed Ryou in the head with her high-heels. *glomps Ryou* Okay, so there are a lot of scene changes. The scene with Ryou and Malik (not fluffy, not now at least!) is DURING Yugi and Ryouji's duel! Meaning, around the time that Ryouji summons the first warp.

Italics show read print, emphasis, flashback, voice in phone, voice in head, or dream Emphasis during dream, flashback, phone calls, voice in head, or read print

'thoughts'

*~*~* = lapse of time and/or change of scene

[Ryou to Bakura over soul link]

]Bakura to Ryou over soul link[

{Malik to Ishtar over soul link}

}Ishtar to Malik over soul link{

*~*~*

5th period. One minute until lunch. . . 30 seconds. . . 10 seconds. . . The bell rung.

Ryouji jolted out of his seat and sprinted out of the classroom, ignoring his teacher's shouts of 'No running in the halls!' This was his day. . . the day he would win Tea back. The day that he would finally be back with his true destined partner.

"So, you have the duel system?" Ryouji asked coolly. Seto dug into his locker and pulled out two large box-shaped objects. They looked like the direct damage systems that he invented for Duel Monsters, only there was a small box underneath, as well as a large panel with small squares on it. A large semi-shield covered one edge. Sticking out of one edge was another box, and the bar that held it had three hearts on it.

"Catch," Seto commanded, tossing one to Ryouji. He caught it and examined the gadget. "The bottom compartment is for holding all the dice. The panel on top is the control panel- the dungeon. The compartment here is for putting in your dueling deck. The beam that leads out of it has the three heart-shaped lights for heart points."

Ryouji raised an eyebrow. "Dueling deck?"

"Yeah, I heard your plans about customized decks, and I thought it might be a bonus if you pulverize Yugi's Dark Magician," Seto smirked. "But if you don't have one, I'd be more than glad to loan you mine."

"No, you have too many level 4's. . ." Ryouji considered. "Is there any way I can simply use the ones I usually use?"

"Yes, catch," he replied. He tossed Ryouji another box. "This contains every Duel Monster in existence, with labels, too."

"Perfect," Ryouji smirked.

"All for Yugi's defeat," Seto responded icily. "It's free, as long as you win. If you don't, then you have to pay me 1.5 million."

"Deal."

*~*~*

"I use a magic crest in order to use the Dark Magician's special ability, Magic Boxes!" Yugi shouted over the field. The spellcaster switched places with Ryouji's Ryu-kushin, on Ryouji's dungeon, and Ryu-kushin was sliced by countless swords. But Ryouji had conquered the field, and he knew it. And there was no way Yugi (with one heart point left) could beat Ryouji (with three heart points) now. Ryu-kushin was shattered, and the Dark Magician appeared out of the box unharmed.

"Ha, ha, Yugi. I'm rolling next, don't forget, and you only have one movement crest in your pool," Ryouji said sarcastically. It was true. Yugi had only a small dungeon and two monsters- Dark Magician and Winged Dragon of the Fortress. What's more, Yugi was in pain. The two heart points that were demolished had left him both physically and spiritually weakened. The blows had thrown him to the floor and left him gasping for air, while seriously doubting the heart of the cards. It was all in this not-so-simple duel that would decide Yugi's fate.

"I'm using this attack crest to boost Dark Magician's attack, and using one movement crest to advance him in the field- and attacking Ryu-Ran!" Yugi commanded. Dark magician took a step and blasted the dragon, lowering its health to 10.

"My turn. First I roll. . ." Ryouji droned, taking the three dice that popped up. There was a white level 4 die, a red level 3 die, and a rare black die, level 3. The white die turned to a movement crest, and both the red and black dice turned to the creature summoning side. "Perfect!" he exclaimed. "Warp hole!" He pressed the black die into the panel. It unfolded into a blue path, and the middle block revealed a dark hole. He looked up at his fidgeting opponent. "You know what that means. . ."

Yugi took a deep breath. "A warp hole. . ."

"That's right, and I use five attack crests from my pool to power up Ryu-Ran, and three defense as well! Attack!" Ryouji commanded. Ryu-Ran reared up and shot two fireballs at Yugi's Dark Magician. It blew into dust. Yugi shielded himself from the blow. Kaiba's effects were so realistic. . .

Yugi weakly threw the three dice into the duel panel. They landed on two attack crests, and one defense. "I store my attack crests and my defense crest into my pool," he called.

Ryouji smirked. "I guess the heart of the cards didn't help you much, huh?" he taunted, picking up his dice, "and soon I will claim victory! Dice roll!" The red die rolled to a creature summoning, level three. . . the blue one rolled to a trap crest. . . and the black die kept on rolling. . . to a creature summoning! "Warp!" he shouted, pressing the cube into the panel. It opened up, revealing the other end of the vortex. "I use three movement crests to move Strike Ninja into the warp vortex and onto your side!" The Strike Ninja dashed into the opening, and straight onto Yugi's side. It was right in position; six more steps and it could attack his heart points!

'Don't have much of a choice now,' Yugi thought sadly. 'Now there's almost no way I can keep my title, my cards, my pride, my Tea. . . my Yami. . .' Yugi rolled his dice, and they ended up as two trap crests and one defense. "Storing my crests into my pool," he said in a monotone.

At the other end of the room, Ryouji stood, proud, with a smirk. "Good." He rolled the two white dice and the blue die. The first white dice turned up as a magic crest, the second was a movement, and the third was a trap. "Strike Ninja, advance three spaces!" he commanded. The monster was just three steps away from Yugi's last heart point!

'They really are heart points,' Yugi thought, depressed. 'If I lose this, I'll lose everything. . .' Squeezing his eyes, keeping tears in, he rolled the dice. One creature summoning, level 2, a trap crest, and a movement crest was shown. "I'll move the Winged Guardian of the Fortress one step to the right, and power it up with three defense crests!" he called, determined not to show his fear. The dragon moved itself right in front of Yugi's last heart point, protecting it.

Ryouji sneered. "Ah, going into defense, eh? Good! My turn!" He spun the dice and smiled at the outcome. "I'll use my five attack crests to power up my strike ninja, two from the dice roll and three from my pool, and use the movement crest I rolled to get my Strike Ninja over to your Guardian! Attack!" In a shattering blow, the strike ninja blasted the Winged Dragon, and it disintegrated.

Yugi shielded himself from the blow, nearly falling over. It was just too much for him. . . He fell to his knees, taking deep gulps of breath.

Tea watched all this from the sidelines. "Yugi," she whispered, but she knew she shouldn't interrupt the decision of destiny- the one that would decide his and her fate. . .

Yugi reached for the dice. 'I don't think I should do this. . . If it doesn't. . .' He heard his Yami's voice in his head. Believe in the Heart of the Cards. . . keep on fighting. . . "Fighting a losing battle," he murmured, but nevertheless, he reached the three dice, and gave them a carefree toss. They landed on. . .

Yugi's eyes dulled. "I. . ." he hesitated.

"Resign?" Ryouji said smugly.

Don't, Yugi! If he were a true man, he wouldn't attack, or you might die. . . Yugi paused for a moment at the voice in his head. "I store the defense crests into my pool!"

Ryouji arched an eyebrow. 'What is he doing?' "I use one movement crest to move my strike ninja in front of your heart points! Or rather, heart point!" Yugi gulped.

'Oh no. . .'

"ATTACK!"

*~*~*

Malik sipped his soda as he watched the main event- the duel between Ryouji and Yugi. "Hey, Malik?" he heard a quiet voice say. He jerked around in surprise. Ryou took a small step back. "Um. . . I'm sorry, but I was just wondering if your Yami happened to sense anything about the shadow realm. . ."

*~*~*

Yugi was thrown to the floor as the last heart point dimmed. His breath came out in a large gasp, and he lay on the floor, dizzy. "Yugi? Yugi!" he heard a soft voice call. His eyes slowly opened and he saw an angel in front of him. 'Is this an out-of-body experience?' At least. . . she looked like an angel. Her brown hair reflected off the bright light from the cafeteria roof. Her lovely silk blouse billowed, giving an angelic effect.

"Yugi? Are you okay?" Tea asked, shaking Yugi slightly.

"Yeah, okay. . ." he groaned, propping himself up on an elbow.

*~*~*

Ishtar took control of Malik. "Yeah of course I noticed it! I've been trying to close it, since all the monsters were put in, but I just can't."

Ryou stared. "My Yami has something to tell you. . .

*~*~*

Ryouji watched as the Tea helped Yugi stand. Yugi was shaky and he fell, but laughing, they tried again. 'I wish I could love her like that. . .' Silently, he left the cafeteria.

*~*~*

Seto, feeling perky, strode up to Yugi and Tea. "So, now the great Yugi Mutou has been defeated?" he sneered. Tea gave him a sharp glare.

"Yeah, so what?" she snapped. Yugi stayed silent, upon recognition of the word. He. . . lost! That would pull Yami even further from him! Every duel or game he lost would make him magically weaker. . . and then again. . . how much strength did he have left?

"Well, good-bye to the title, the pride. . . all of it!" Seto smirked. 'I really should congratulate Otogi. . . heh, Dicey.' He turned around. "Hey, Otogi, go- Otogi? Dicey? Hey!" But Ryouji was gone.

*~*~*

"Now!" Bakura roared, increasing the amount of power in the millennium ring. Ishtar followed suit, and the Shadow Realm started to wiggle around the edges. It started to close, when a blast came out of it. Bakura quickly stepped out of the way, and Ishtar ducked. A Red Eyes Black Dragon flew out and headed towards the boys.

"Dragon Ra!" Ishtar summoned. The large dragon flew out of the realm, flapping its wings. It dived for its black foe. The Red Eyes retaliated with a blast, but it had a small effect. With a final blow, the Dragon Ra destroyed the Red Eyes.

Bakura and Ishtar continued panting. "Have enough energy to go on tonight?" Ishtar asked.

Bakura shook his head. "Exhausted, though I don't like admitting it."

"You go home. I'll just stand guard," Ishtar replied. Bakura gave a final gasp, and then his features lightened. Ryou turned around, the moon slightly illumining his silvery hair.

"Hey, Ryou, Malik has something to say to you," Ishtar said smugly.

Ryou turned around. "Yes, what?"

Malik was slightly surprised when his Yami gave him control. "Um. . ." he blushed, and at that moment was very grateful for his dark skin. "Go ace that geography test?"

"Thanks," Ryou said briskly, leaving Malik to blush. He turned around and left.

Ishtar separated from his hikari. "Why do you keep BUGGING me about it?!" Malik whined.

Ishtar smirked. "Aww, 'cmon, you like him and you know it. And who knows, maybe he's waiting for it."

Malik gave his Yami a final glare before he was possessed again, and stood staring at the endless realm.

*~*~*

R Amythest: WHEW! That was a lot longer than the other chapters.

Malik: *still blushing* I had to do that, right?

R Amythest: yup. Oh, and if you like long bios, check out mine! 21 pages on word, 89.5 kb!

Yami Amythest: *groans* and you had to kick out Yami Malik.

R Amythest: why do you care?

Yami Amythest: *looks dreamy* ooooooh Mariku. . .

Malik: O.O!

R Amythest: ah, don't worry Malik, whenever she does that, it's always a Yami. Meanwhile, you'll be moving up on my list, currently 21st! *glomps Malik* REVIEW!!!

Additional Notes: 21st is actually pretty high up. Ryou's 1st, of course! *glomps Ryou* and Yugi's somewhere around 23rd. Chibi Mokuba's 5th, and Yami Bakura might be making his way around the 30s, and Noah's catching up at 11th. Did you need to know that? *sees Zutsokaki laughing his gut out* Okaaaaaay, maybe not.