Adelianna: Leaning against The Annoying One's door Hmm, I wonder how the Evil One is doing? She opened the door a crack and peered inside Hello? Evil One, are you in there? She frowns Perhaps I shouldn't have left him in there, after all, anything can happen in my dreaded brother's room. She runs down to her room This calls for some reinforcements. She grabs The Evil One's laser gun and the millennium rod. She looks down at her items. I don't think this is enough, wish I had all seven millennium items and perhaps an army at my back. Almost nothing can match the evil of younger siblings. Shrugs Oh well, this will have to do. Runs to her brothers room Okay, here goes nothing. She opens the door and steps inside Now all I have to do is find The Evil One and—

A strange spooky voice says: Who are you talking too?

Adelianna: Hiyah! Adelianna screamed as she whipped the millennium rod around to hit whoever was behind her

Creepy Person who talked: Owwwwwww!!!!! The creepy person had long blond hair and bangs, and wore lots of jewelry. In other words: Marik

Marik: What did you do that for? Holds his head

Adelianna: You shouldn't sneak up on people like that! Glares at him What are you doing here?

Marik: Eyes glazed over when he spotted his rod. My millennium rod! Grabs it

Adelianna: Hey Pulls out laser gun Hah! You have a 5 millennia old rod, I have a futuristic laser that nothing can stand against!

Marik: Grabs laser out of Adelianna hand

Adelianna: Shocked Except for that!

Marik: Glares at Adelianna What are you doing with my rod?

Adelianna: Shrugs I um, well, I found it in my brother's room.

Marik: He wouldn't be known as the Evil One, would he?

Adelianna: Yes. looks puzzled How do you know?

Marik: Sighs When I was forming the Rare Hunters I was looking for anyone evil. Your brother was at the top of the list. He was the most evil Rare Hunter of them all. Unfortunately he betrayed me at took my rod.

Adelianna: Nods Slowly Yes, I can picture that. He is very evil.

Marik: Where is he?

Adelianna: The Evil One? He's in the room. Points inside The Annoying One's room

Marik: A labyrinth. How was it created?

Adelianna: With a millennium item

Marik: Smile crosses his face, eyes glaze over and he looks like he was about to jump for joy. You mean that there is still a millennium item in there?

Adelianna: Groans Please don't tell me you're going to start jumping up and down shouting millennium item, millennium item, like The Evil One did with candy?

Marik: Shocked I only do that with pizza! Anyway, I will accompany you on your search and then take what is rightfully mine when I spot the millennium item.

Adelianna: Shrugs whatever.

Marik: But I must warn you that I sense a great evil in there.

Adelianna: Shudders Yeah, my brothers.

They wandered cautiously inside. But nothing could have prepared them for the horror that soon presented itself

Marik: Oh my eyes! My eyes! covers eyes

Adelianna: Screams and holds ears Someone help!!!!

Hopping towards them was a purple dinosaur

Barney: I love you, you love me, we're a happy family.....

Adelianna and Marik: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!




Disclaimer: Sung with the Barney tune I love Yu, I love Gi, but I don't own him, his friends, and family. That really sucks, but I know that it is true. So I'll keep singing this annoying tune.



Chapter Seven




Kaiba began to chuckle, which then progressed into a resounding laugh that echoed through the room causing Jessica's grin to be wiped from her face. Her brow furrowed as Jessica's eyes narrowed, revealing the turmoil within her.

"Do you mind telling me what you find so funny?" Jessica asked, annoyed. She hadn't expected this reaction.

Kaiba stopped his laughing, his mouth reducing to a smirk. "You shouldn't threaten people. It just makes you look vulnerable."

"You don't think I'll contact the press?" If Kaiba really thought that, then he had another thing coming.

Kaiba still stood in the center of her room, arms crossed in front of his chest, staring down at Jessica as if daring her to do something about the situation. "I'm pretty confident that you will. But do you actually believe that your story will go through? You're not the first person to threaten me with the press, so I thought it prudent to have a few well paid contacts placed inside the media." Kaiba began to chuckle again. "They'll make sure that your so called story will never be put into print. And besides, it would be a really foolish move on your part. I assure you that you won't gain any leverage by threatening me. You'll only be doing yourself harm."

Jessica's aqua eyes were now slits, her mouth turned down in a grimace. "And why is that?" she asked in a deadly whisper. Jessica took a shaky breath, blinking back tears. Her throat constricted and burned, as she tried to keep her emotions inside. Jessica had been in a dreary mood before Kaiba had come, and his insults and threats hadn't helped the matter. She focused on her anger, trying to block the despairing feeling that rose within her.

The sunlight slowly slanted away from Jessica's open window, causing shadows to gloomily stretch across her room. The sudden reduction in light effectively darkened her bedroom, giving it a dismal appearance.

Kaiba made his way to Jessica's brown computer desk and sat in the cushioned chair in front of it, facing her. Jessica watched him with narrow eyes, still sitting up in her soft bed with her flowery bed sheets covering every inch of her body except for her face and the pale hand holding the sheets up.

"And here I assumed that you had at least some intelligence," Kaiba taunted.

Jessica's eyes widened in shock and anger. How dare he insult her intelligence! "Really? Well at least I'm not some cold-hearted jerk!"

Kaiba's smirk grew. "I'm not so sure about the cold-hearted part, but the jerk portion of that sentence...."

Jessica clenched the hand holding her crumpled sheets up above her body into a fist, as she pressed the towel harder to her neck wound, hidden by the bed sheets, with her other hand. The lack of blood circulation caused her fingers to go white and numb, resulting in a familiar tingle to spread its way slowly across her hand. Jessica felt ready to go and smack Kaiba's arrogant grin from his face, her sadness momentarily forgotten at this new taunt.

Kaiba watched the girl in front of him seethe with fury. He enjoyed angering her, or anyone for that matter. It gave him a sense of superiority, plus it also caused others to make irrational decisions. People let their guard down when they're angry, revealing their true intentions. The emotion clouds up their better judgment, and causes them to make foolish mistakes. As a wise saying goes: Whoever angers you, controls you. Kaiba has used that to his advantage numerous times before, manipulating his adversaries into doing whatever he wants. It was no different with this girl.

Kaiba observed Jessica now, her eyes gleamed with anger, frustration, and perhaps sadness. She held her bed sheets up in front of her, as some sort of shield. They were white and splashed with flowers of numerous shapes and sizes, myriads of colors marking their impression upon the petals. The ruffled curtains on Jessica's window matched the sheet's design, as did her soft, fluffy carpet.

Kaiba leaned forward slightly, the grey chair creaked softly as his weight shifted. He folded his hands lightly on his knees that were hidden by his grey trousers, Kaiba's sapphire colored overcoat surrounded him like a cloak.

"Now," Kaiba said evenly, deciding to be frank. "The reason I came here was because of the information that mutt Joey Wheeler supplied."

Jessica knew this already, but decided to let him continue.

"He told me something that interested me extremely. It has something to do with a certain force-field module–"

"And you think I stole it, or something?" Jessica had decided to deny everything.

"I think you stole information." At Jessica's confused expression, he continued. "You hacked into my computer database and downloaded information concerning my new invention: The force-field module."

Jessica gave a short chuckle of amusement, trying to deceive Kaiba into believing that she was unaffected by his manner. In reality, Jessica was teetering on the edge of the a cliff of her distress, about to fall into her sorrow. All she need was one little push. "Me. Hack? That's absurd. I don't know how to hack."

Kaiba's eyes narrowed. He expected as much. "Then tell me why Wheeler would say such a thing."

Jessica lowered her eyes slightly. She replied softly, "I don't know, maybe he–"

"Stop lying." Kaiba snapped. "It won't help you at this point. It would be more beneficial to all concerned for you to tell the truth."

Jessica looked up at him then. Tears clouded her eyes, pain and confusion shone clearly through the watery haze. The days events rushed across her mind, threatening to overwhelm her. Jessica had tried to keep her emotions submerged since Kaiba had come by putting a wall of anger and sarcasm around her, but his harsh words and threats broke through her barrier, causing all the welled up hurt and pain to course their way through her heart and mind. "I don't know." Her voice was breaking as she held back tears. "It's all so confusing." Jessica then lowered her face, tears streaming silently down her cheeks.

Kaiba's eyes softened slightly. This was what he had wanted to happen from the beginning, to break through her barriers so Jessica would tell Kaiba what he wanted to know. But, as Kaiba looked at the distressed figure sitting pitifully on her bed, he felt ashamed somewhat. Kaiba now saw a scared, little girl that was hiding behind a false facade of mockery, and disdain that needed help.

Kaiba stood slowly up from the grey chair, and made his way over to Jessica's flowery bed. He sat down quietly by her side, staring at her. Jessica looked up at him, and Kaiba was struck by the beauty of her eyes. They were a mix of light and dark blue, wisps of green highlighted the irises, mixing the colors of her eyes into a interwoven tapestry .

Jessica looked down again, ashamed. She never wanted to break down in front of Kaiba, to make herself look like a frightened child. Jessica hugged her bed sheets closer around her, still concealing the mark that blemished her otherwise clear, pale neck.

"Now," Kaiba said gently. "Tell me what happened."

Jessica took a deep, shaky breath. The worst he could do was think of her as crazy, and then perhaps he would leave her alone.

Jessica raised her eyes to Kaiba's own sapphire ones, which now held concern in its depths. Ignoring the lies that made themselves known in her mind, she started to then tell him the truth.




***



"Come on, sweetie, you can do it!"

Alex groaned inwardly as his opponent chuckled. Alex was currently dueling some hotshot who thought that Alex would be easy prey. His parents were standing at the sidelines, cheering him on and giving Alex advice, much to his annoyance.

"Its okay if you lose, sweetheart, it's only a game," Alex's mother, Angela, shouted at him, her accent hinting at her Eastern heritage. Her curly, medium length brown hair had streaks of red highlights illuminating the otherwise dull color. Angela's attire was made up from a white blouse with immense, gaudy black buttons, matching her jet-black pants. Her white sandals contrasted her deeply tanned skin, which brought out her startling blue eyes.

Little Timothy stood in front of his parents, an evil grin lighting his features at his brothers obvious embarrassment. His father, Dwayne, stood behind him, tall and straight. He wore a checkered red and white shirt, and a blue jean pants that covered his pale, white skin. His wavy black hair wafted gently in the cool breeze, his green eyes sparkling.

The day was hot and warm, the sun beaming down on the citizens of Domino City. A few fleecing clouds danced hypnotically in the magnificent sapphire sky, their frolic occasionally being interrupted by the soft hum of an intruding plane. A breeze blew softly and gently towards the group of people that encircled Alex and his opponent, the bystanders whispering quietly amongst themselves of who they thought would win.

Alex's opponent, a curly redheaded teen with almond colored eyes, currently had only one card on the field, and it was Hyozanryu in attack mode. It was a dragon type monster with an attack of 2100 points and a defense of 2800. Its white, holographic scales shimmered, its three yellow horns protruding from its face shone wickedly.

"Now," shouted Alex's opponent, "I play Black Pendant and it raises my Hyozanryu's attack point to 2600, and I attack your Aqua Madoor.

Alex had 1700 life points left, and his opponent had 2100, placing him in a slight lead. Alex had Aqua Madoor in defense position, which was 2000, with an attack of 1200. He currently had one face down trap card on the field.

"Not so fast," yelled Alex quickly. "I activate Waboku and it reduces your attack to zero." A trio of chanting girls in blue robes appeared before Alex's Aqua Madoor, deflecting the attack that would have disintegrated his monster.

"Man," moaned the teen, disappointed. "Oh well, you're only delaying the inevitable. I play one card face down on the field and end my turn."

Alex drew one card and glanced at it. He had a perfect strategy and it didn't matter what card he drew. The card was revealed to be Shield & Sword, which fit into his plan beautifully.

"Okay," Alex said. "Time for you to hand me your locator card. I play one trap or magic card face down on the field and play Change Of Heart."

"What!" Alex's opponent glared at him.

"Way to go sweetie!" Angela yelled at her son, beaming proudly at him. She failed to notice the blush and grimace that crept its way onto Alex's face.

"What does that card do," Dwayne bent down and asked Timothy.

Timothy looked up at his father, a grin on his face since the outcome of the duel was pretty obvious. "It lets you control one of your opponent's monsters."

Meanwhile, on the dueling field, the unsymmetrical girl that was know to be Change Of Heart glided over to Hyozanryu, half side of her features smiling happily as her blond hair covered her shoulders and wings, while the other side of her face grimaced, darkness gloomily etched upon her body. The two monsters combined into one with a glaring, bright light, and then Hyozanryu flew over to Alex's side of the field.

"And that's not all," Alex continued to yell. "I switch my Aqua Madoor into attack mode and play Shield and Sword, which reverses the attack and defense points of all monsters on the field."

Aqua Madoor stood up taller, its blue hair covered its pale white face that magnified it striking, red eyes.

"Now, attack!" Alex shouted in all his glory. A smile crept its way onto his face.

Alex's opponent clucked his tongue and shook his head. "Don't count on your victory just yet!" A sinking feeling made its way into Alex's heart when the redheaded boy soon made it known why he wasn't worried. The whole match counted on one thing. Alex closed his eyes and prepared for the worst.




***




"So," said Joey slowly, summing up what Yami, Yugi, and Téa had just told him. "Ya don't know how ya separated. It jus' happened?"

"Right." Yugi nodded his head. His sunglasses and baseball cap were on, earning amused glances from Tristan.

"It happened perhaps a week ago, while we were in our room," Yami continued the story.

They were standing in a group on one of the streets in Battle City, the tournament momentarily forgotten. The sun blasted unmercifully at them, baking the friends in heat as it shone in the bright, blue sky. Cars passed by them slowly, sweet, cool wind chasing the moving vehicle. It drifted towards the group of teens, blowing hair and earning sweet sighs at the cold relief from the heat. Lush, green bushes and trees that were planted between the sidewalk and street clawed the sky with their leaves in hopes of absorbing the shining rays from the blazing sun.

"Huh." Tristan scratched his chin. "That's weird. Did you guys do anything that you think might have caused this to happen?"

Yugi shook his head. "No. Yami and I were just discussing dueling strategies for Battle City when it felt like something was ripping me in two. Turns out that literally happened."

"Well, lets look on da bright side." Joey grinned mischievously. "Now people won't think yer talkin' t' yourself anymore."

Téa slapped Joey lightly upside his head. "Joey! That's not helping."

Joey rubbed his dirty blond hair. "Geez Téa. Whoever thought dat you'd be da violent type? If you want somethin' t' help, den how 'bout dis. Da Rare Hunters are here, and if da Rare Hunters are here, den so is creepy Marik. He probably did it somehow."

"But for what reason Joey? He doesn't even have his Millennium Rod anymore since Yugi and Yami won it from him, so how could he?"

"I dunno. Marik is weird and in my book, dat makes 'im a suspect."

Yami nodded his head thoughtfully. "It's true that we shouldn't rule Marik out, but we should also look for some other likely scenarios."

"That's right." Téa raked a hand through her chestnut colored hair.

"Well, were should we start?" Tristan asked.

"Um, does anyone have any ideas?" Yugi peered out at his friends through his tinted sunglasses.

"I propose that we win the remaining locator cards and compete in the finals," Yami suggested. "Perhaps whoever did this to Yugi and me is expecting us to participate."

"Sounds like a plan." Tristan held up his arm, attached to it was a duel disk. "I forgot to tell you guys. I joined in the tournament also. I thought that if someone like Joey could make it to the finals last tournament, then so could I this time around."

"Hey, watch it Tristan." Joey glared at his friend.

"How did you get registered for the tournament?" Téa asked as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

Tristan pointed at himself. "I called Mokuba and he got me set up. He's really a nice little kid."

Joey reached into his pocket and yanked out his three locator cards. "How many locator cards do ya have then, Tristan?"

Tristan proudly pulled out two locator cards from inside his jacket. Joey laughed as he pounded Tristan gently on his back. "Two? Two? That's pathetic, man."

They started to bicker as they stretched each others faces, no doubt trying to disfigure each other.

Yami, Yugi, and Téa learned a while ago that they should just leave the two alone when they were like this. Yugi looked around and noticed that Téa appeared deep in thought. "What's wrong Téa?"

Téa glanced down at her childhood friend and smiled. "Oh, nothing. It's just that, well, is it such a bad thing that you and Yami have separated?"

"Perhaps not, Téa," Yami replied for Yugi. "But I am curious to know how this event occurred." Téa nodded absentmindedly, still in deep thought.

Joey and Tristan stopped fighting after a few minutes. "I guess we should be going and get more locator cards."

Joey nodded, but looked thoughtful for a moment. "If dis happened a week ago, den why are me and Tristan findin' out 'bout it now?" Joey asked finally.

"Uh, well." Yugi stared at the ground, grinding the toe of his boot in a circular motion on the sidewalk, creating scuff marks. He remembered when Bakura sealed Yugi and his friend's souls in their favorite cards, and Yami was battling for their freedom. Joey had laughed at Yugi and called him a wimp or something. He didn't want to go through that humiliation again. Yugi sighed. Without Yami he was just an ordinary, short boy who had some talent at duel monsters, nothing more.

Yugi was saved from answering, though, when Téa suddenly gasped. She pointed to something down the street. "Look! It's Bakura!"




The Evil One and The Annoying One both looked at a computer terminal that currently showed Adelianna and Marik screaming in fear of Barney

The Annoying One: That was a good idea that you had, Evil One.

The Evil One: Of course it was. If we join forces than nothing can stop us from winning the war of sibling rivalry.

The Annoying One: That was a good idea that you had, Evil One.

The Evil One: Frowns You just said that.

The Annoying One: Smiles That was a good idea that you had, Evil One.

The Evil One: Stop it!

The Annoying One: That was a good idea that you had, Evil One.

The Evil One: Slaps Annoying One upside the head. Stop it!

The Annoying One:Looks ashamed Sorry, sometimes I just can't help being annoying.

The Evil One: Nods in understanding Just like I can't help being evil.

The Annoying One:Brightens Anyway, I'm gonna go drink some soda now and enjoy the entertainment.

The Evil One: Smiles evilly To late, I drank it all.

The Annoying One: Shocked You drank my beloved soda. Falls to his knees on ground in pain so excruciating that I don't even want to describe it. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

The Evil One: See, I can't help being evil.

The Annoying One: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Evil One: Stop it!

The Annoying One: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Evil One: Looks furious STOP BEING ANNOYING!

The Annoying One:NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Note: Narrator is busy hiding from Barney, so for this chapter you are saved from his annoying comments. Of course, you now have someone more annoying to deal with. Shudders as the note person thinks of The Annoying One