Here we are, once again.  I'm going to keep putting up new chapters so long as I have ideas, despite you peoples rather *cough* dislike for this thing since you people decide not to review.   So, without further ado, here is the new chapter. 

Duke shuffled uncomfortably in the dark, bored out of his mind. 

"I'm beginning to think they really did get lost," he mumbled. 

"They have been gone awhile.  Maybe you were right.  After all, this is a rather large house.  I wonder what's keeping them?  I can understand Yugi and the other two getting lost, they don't even know this place.  But Kaiba?  Hmm…I think I'll go and see if they need any help." Ryou got up from the chair.  Duke stood up too, a hand snaking around Ryou's wrist. 

"I'll go too.  I don't think it would be a good idea for you to go alone."  Malik's eye twitched and he too stood up, joining the other two at the door. 

"So will I.  I'd…er…rather not be by myself in here."  Yeah, right.  I don't trust that bastard with my Ryou. 

(A.N- Hee hee.  Bit of a love triangle, eh?) 

He caught the faint gleam of annoyance in Duke's green eyes, and flashed him a smirk. 

The hallways were even darker than the living room.  Ryou shivered. 

"Creepy.  I hope we can help Kaiba fix the lights quickly."

Duke took the opportunity to throw his arm "comfortingly" around Ryou's waist, pulling him into a tight hug. 

"Don't worry, I'll protect you."  Malik's eye twitched again.  He had half the mind to use the Rod on the flirtatious asshole, but reminded himself of what happened the last time Ryou had witnessed him use it on someone.  He hadn't talked to him for a week afterwards. 

(A.N.- Hee…poor Malik.  ^.~ Go Dukie.)  

*~* 

"Hmph…I think we're lost," Ryou said as the three slowly walked down a dark hallway.  Duke was still holding him tightly, to which he privately took comfort in. 

"What makes you say that?" 

"I don't think it takes this long to find the basement.  Perhaps if we find a flashlight, we'll have an easier time." 

Damn, no excuse once we find one, Duke thought dully. 

"Hmm…maybe there'll be something in here," Malik said, guiding Ryou towards the door.  He wanted to find one as quickly as possible so Duke would let go of Ryou.  He turned the knob and swung the door open, the mass of wood creaking on its un-oiled hinges.  There was a large window that stood from ceiling to floor on the other side of the rather huge room.  It was open, a steady rain pouring inside, wind blowing the thin silk curtains straight out.  There was a flash of lightning, then the boom of thunder.  

Ryou shivered again, but from the cold wind that brushed past the three as they entered the empty room. 

"Oh, he's practically begging for someone to rob him," Malik muttered as he began to cross the room to close it.  But he never made it to the other side as the entire tiled floor swung open on the unsuspecting teenagers, sending them tumbling into a deep, dark abyss.   

*~* 

A wave of pain shot up Malik's back as he landed.  Hard.  On cold, stone ground.  

"Ow," was all he could manage to get out before he felt the heavy weight of Duke landing on his stomach. Air was forced out of his lungs in a whoosh.  It felt like he had just received a rather hard punch straight in the gut. 

Duke got up quickly and smirked as he extended a hand to Malik. 

"Thanks for breaking my fall."

"Anytime," Malik snapped sarcastically.  Fuchsia and green orbs scanned the area.  

"Where's Ryou?"  Duke's question was answered as a strong gust of wind blew down on them from above.  Malik held out his arms just in time to stop Ryou from crashing into the stone ground.  The owner of the Rod shot Duke a superior smirk as he held the white-haired teen in his arms. 

"Are you okay?" 

"Y-yes.  A bit surprised, but I'm okay."   He looked up into concerned fuchsia eyes, his cheeks becoming tinged with pink as he realized that Malik was still holding him.  He was eased back onto the ground.  Duke was looking a bit pissed as he asked,

"Where are we?"  The three looked around to find themselves in what appeared to be a tunnel.  A very dark tunnel. 

"Oh, wonderful.  Doesn't this scenario seem familiar?" Ryou muttered.  The other two looked at him strangely. 

"What?" 

Ryou shook his head. 

"Just remembering something that happened during Duelist Kingdom."

"Uh huh.  We should try to find some light so we can see where the hell we're going." 

The three set off down the tunnel, hoping to find something to help light the way. 

Duke shook his head as he glanced up at the ceiling. 

"If this is part of Kaiba's mansion, he needs to see a psychiatrist.  Badly."

"I think he does already," Malik muttered. 

"Look whose talking.  At least he didn't try to take over the world!" 

Malik growled and was about to do something drastic, which Ryou must have sensed because he wiggled in between the feuding duo and tried to change the subject before a fight broke out by saying,

"Well, how about that.  There are two tunnels.  We're going to have to choose." 

The other two thought for a moment, and then spoke at the exact same time,

"Right."

"Left." 

"I say we should go right." 

"I say we should go left!" 

"Right!" 

"Left!" 

"Right!" 

"Left!" 

Ryou massaged his temples.  He was beginning to lose patience with these two and their bickering.

"SHUT UP!" 

Duke and Malik blinked and stared at Ryou's sudden outburst. 

"We'll go left because I said so.  And if I hear so much as another word between you two, I'm going to kick your asses.  Both of you." 

And with that, the very annoyed teen stalked off down the left tunnel, leaving little clouds of dust in his wake.  Malik glared at his green-eyed opponent.

"Great, now you just went and pissed him off." 

"Me?!  What about you?"   

(A.N.- Yeah, I know.  They fight a lot, don't they?) 

"I didn't do a Ra damned thing." 

Before Duke could do so much as utter a reply Malik took off after his white-haired friend, hoping to do some damage control.

*~* 

An hour later, Duke, who was walking a little ahead of Ryou, pointed ahead.

"Hey, I think I see a door at the end." 

Sure enough, a large mahogany door stood at the end of the tunnel, in which light was weakly shining through the crack at the bottom.  Duke grasped the knob and jerked it open, either not caring, or not noticing, as he almost knock Malik in the face.

The three blinked at the sudden light.  After their eyes had adjusted after a long period in darkness, the three teenagers eyes widened slightly. 

All that was in here was a small room with three doors.  All identical.  Except for the strange symbol carved into all three, each different.   

Ryou looked at the other two.  Then he eyed the three doors uneasily. 

"Well?  Should we split up?" Duke asked after a few moments of silence.  Malik shook his head. 

"I don't think that would be the brightest thing to do.  Something doesn't feel right."

"Oh please," Duke replied cockily, "They're not monsters. 

"I agree with Malik.  You haven't seen some of the things we have." 

"You know I don't believe in that 'Shadow Realm' bullshit.  They're just doors.  What's the worst that can happen?"

Ryou glanced at Malik uneasily. 

"He could be right.  We may just be worrying about nothing."  Malik groaned. 

"Oh, fine.  But only five minutes.  Then get your asses back here.  I still don't entirely trust those doors."   

"Five minutes it is." 

And with that, the group split up, each taking one door.  Duke entered the first, Ryou the second, and Malik the third, each completely unaware of the things that were waiting inside. 

This is sort of a makeup for making you wait for two days instead of one.  The updates should e longer now, because I've worked out more of the kinks for later on.  I know, this one isn't all that scary, but I promise, it'll get better.  Just stick with me here!  Oh yeah and, REVIEW PLEASE!