Chapter 9:

Let the Games Begin!

"Yugi!"

The young man stirred, mumbling something incoherent in his sleep. A hand reached over and shook his arm gently.

"Yugi, wake up!"

Yugi opened his eyes and sat up quickly, knocking the pillows off of the bed.

"Wha?"

His eyes focused on a young auburn haired girl with bright sapphire eyes. "What's up, Téa?"

Téa sighed and shook her head. "It's noon, that's what's up!"

She reached for the fallen pillow and whacked him playfully in the head with it.

"Hey! Ok, ok I'm up!" He laughed, shielding himself from the blows.

Téa giggled.

"So, are you coming with us?"

Téa looked to the side and she put her head down. "I would like too…but…I think it's better if I stay here."

Yugi felt his heart drop in disappointment. "Oh…"

Téa sat down on the bed next to him and put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry Yugi, but…I'd feel better if I stayed here…"

Yugi nodded. "Alright, Téa. Maybe we'll see you later?" He stood up grabbing his backpack.

"Maybe…" She said quietly. "Good luck Yugi and be careful…"

Yugi winked and gave her a thumbs-up. "Later, Téa!"

The millennium puzzle began to glow and soon Yami stood in front of Téa. She sighed and reached into her bag. She pulled out a book and curled up on Yugi's' bed. Yami walked over to her.

"If you are sure then I won't force you to come. I would rather you were close by after what happened, but it's not my place to make you do that or anything else you don't want too."

Téa looked up from her book. "I know but I feel safer away from a crowd with this thing near by…" She held up her ring.

"Understood."

He walked over to the door and slowly pushed it open. He stopped and turned to face her.

"…Téa…?"

She looked up once again with questioning eyes. "Hmm?"

"I wanted to…I…never mind. Just take care…" He walked out the doors, leaving behind a puzzled Téa.

"What was that about…?"

Téa glanced down at the ring. She gasped when the eye began to glow. A wind blew around the room with lights flashing in ever direction. She screamed as the eye on the ring sent a beam of light directly into her forehead.

"Yugi!" She cried before collapsing on the bed, the book falling to the floor with a thud.

"Téana!"

A voice called out to the young woman. She sat up, brushing the dust off of her silky purple robes.

"I'm over here!" She cried happily. I wonder what he called me out here for…? She thought curiously.

A young man approached the blushing beauty. He wore Egyptian robes the colour of scarlet. His tri-colour hair accented his deep violet eyes. He wore a headdress with the eye of Horus set on it.

"Téana… I was worried you wouldn't come…" He said shyly.

Téana blushed deeper. "Why wouldn't I?"

She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. The young pharaoh smiled and leaned down to brush his lips gently against hers. After a few minutes, they broke apart and sat down by a fountain. It was a starlit night.

"Bel um Fal…did you…tell them about us?"

He looked up at her. "Only a few know…Jono… Tetien…even Maya, but Seto doesn't…"

Téana sighed. "It's best Seto doesn't know…you know the way he is." She laughed.

Bel um Fal smirked. "Even now he still thinks he can beat me in a duel."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small gold box with Egyptian hieroglyphics engraved on it.

Téana gasped. "Bel um Fal…you don't…"

He smiled and nodded. Yes, I do."

Téana blushed. "Oh, my love…I never…"

He covered her mouth with his finger. "Shhh. Téana, I love you and have always loved you since I knew you when we were children. You've always been there for me, cheering me on when things looked at their worst. Accepted me for me and not my status. Loved me and never betrayed me all these years, even when better suitors came along." He smirked slyly. "Tolerated me."

She giggled.

"And now, I want to experience this with you for the rest of our lives. I give you this ring…" He opened the box and handed her a golden ring. "As a token of my love and a hope that you will take me as a husband one day. When courts do not decided who marries, when people are accepted for more then their status. When that day comes, I want you to stand by my side as my wife. I hope you'll wait for me…"

Téana felt tears of joy flow down her cheeks. Oh, Bel um Fal…of course I'll wait for you! I love you so much!" She hugged him tightly.

He kissed her forehead gently. Pushing her back, he placed the ring on her finger. "This is a promise that will last forever…"

The young lovers embraced and a sudden wall of fire surrounded them. A quick flash occurred and Jono and Honda were fighting off a beast of sorts.

"We can't hold it off, get the pharaoh out of there now!"

Maya nodded and ran back into the palace. She ran to the throne room but found it empty. Another flash occurred and suddenly Seto was standing in front of Bel um Fal and Téana.

"She betrayed us! She told the enemy our plans!" Bel um Fal starred in disbelief.

"Guard, arrest her!" Seto demanded.

Téana screamed as the guards pinned her arms behind her back and dragged her away.

Bel um Fal called out. "Wait! Where is this proof?"

Seto held up the ring of Horus. "This was found near the enemy camp."

Téana gasped and looked down at her finger. She was speechless.

Bel um Fal turned around, cold eyes looking directly into hers. "H…How could you?" He pulled out a long sword.

Jono and Honda were tossed aside by the monsters. Maya helped Jono up.

"We have to find the pharaoh!"

They rushed back inside the palace. Bel um Fal approached the shaking Téana.

"It is the end for you betrayer!"

He ran his sword through her chest. She cried out and fell limply into the guards' arms. The pharaoh tossed the sword onto the floor.

"There is only one thing left to do…"

He looked down at the puzzle hanging around his neck.

"Let's go…"

***

A large ceremony had now begun. People from all over the world were gathered around a large table. Velvet red curtains hung on the sides. A balcony was above, that extended all around the hall. It had three gold chairs in the middle. Ishizu was on the far right one and Shadi was on the far left. Yami looked around, searching for Amons. Instead, he found Bakura and Joey in the corner chatting and holding their duelling decks.

"What's up guys?"

Bakura turned to face him and held out a card. "Here, this is for you. I don't think I'll need it."

Yami took the card and looked at it. "But, Bakura…this is your favourite card. I can't accept that." He tried to hand it back.

Bakura smiled and shook his head. "Please Yugi, I insist you take it." Yami eyed him and then the card. He smiled.  "Alright…" He took the card back and placed it in his deck.

A man with grey hair approached the group. "I see three of you are here, but where are the other three?"

Everyone glanced at each other and shrugged.

"Not here yet I guess…why?" Joey asked. 

The man held up a piece of paper. "Because the rules state that the person who is invited must invite five other people and they all must duel. You have one hour before the duelling begins, to recruit your team-mates."

Yami nodded. "We'd better find Tristan and Mai."

"What about Téa?" Asked Joey.

"Hmm, she seemed afraid to come, but I think we had better go get her anyways."

Joey nodded. "Right! I'm on it, Yugi!" He ran off down the hall and out the doors.

Yami looked up at Bakura. "Well let's go find the others!"

Bakura nodded, and they took off in search of their friends.

***

Amons sat in his chambers, awaiting the duels to begin.

"Soon…soon it will begin." He looked down at a picture in his hands. "Soon all that was wrong will be made right!" A knock on the door jarred his thoughts. "Yes, come in!"

"Sir, it's almost time for your speech."

"Oh, right. Thank you. Just a minute." He absentmindedly placed the picture on the edge of his dresser.

He swung his long robes on and accidentally knocked the picture off. It was caught in a wind and blown out the door and into the hallway. No one spotted this. Amons and the guard headed towards the hall, oblivious to the missing picture.

***

Joey ran down the hall breathing heavily. He glanced at his watch. "Oh man, only thirty five minutes left!" He looked at the doors on each side. "This could take forever…wait! I remember now! Her room is next to Yugi's' on the 2nd floor!" He headed off towards the stairwell. On his way, his foot slipped on something and went crashing to the ground. "Ow! What was that?" He asked, rubbing his head. He looked down and saw a crumbled picture on the ground. "Hmm?" He picked it up and flipped it over. His eyes grew wide in shock. "WHAT THE…" He stood up and started to head back to the hall. "Oh man! I have to tell Yugi about this quickly!" He skidded to a halt and checked his watch again. "What am I thinking? I need to find Téa first!" He ran back down the hall and up the stairs. He finally reached Yugi's' and Téa's rooms. He knocked on the door but there was no answer. "Hmm, maybe she's asleep." He knocked again. "Hey, Téa? Are you ok?" He opened the door and was greeted with a lifeless Téa leaning off the bed. Her hand was dangling at her side. She had a small eye imprint on her forehead. It was glowing a faint gold. "Téa!" He rushed over and lifted her up. He patted her cheek gently.

Téa's eyes fluttered open. The eye faded away. "Hmm? Joey?" She sat up. "What happened?"

Joey sighed. I don't know, I just saw you lying there and wondered what happened myself."

"Oh…" She suddenly turned and glared at him. "YOU JUST WALKED INTO MY ROOM WITHOUT CONSENT?"

Joey laughed nervously and backed away. "Hey! This is Yugi's' room! I should ask you why you're here!"

"Because I came to wake him earlier and then this thing knocked me out…! She waved the ring around in her hands by its chain. "Besides, how did you know I was here if you know this is Yugi's' room?"

Joey laughed again. "I uh…thought this was your room…"

Téa fell down. "You are a complete idiot Joey!" She waved her hands dramatically in the air. "What are you here for anyways?"

Joey took out his duel cards and tossed them to Téa. "Pick a card, any card!" He winked.

Téa rolled her eyes. "Oh, that's original!" She looked through his deck. "What's this about anyways?"

"You have to duel too. If you don't you'll disqualify Yugi.

"Oh…" She pulled out a card and started at it for a second. She smiled slyly. "Hmm, I think I'll take…this one!" She turned it around and the 'Flaming Swordsman' was imprinted on the card.

"No! That's mine!" She jumped on the bed. "You said any card Joey!" She teased.

He jumped on the bed reaching for it. "No! Anything but that one!"

"Ok, how about this one?" She held up the 'Red Eyes Black Dragon'. "NOOO!!!" He tried to tackle her. "Yugi lent me that card for this duel!" 

She moved out of the way and he went crashing into the wall. "Sorry Joey. I was just teasing you." She laughed and handed him back his cards. "Honestly you should lighten up more often." She winked.

Joey smirked and grabbed her legs. He knocked her down and they both went crashing to the ground.

"Ouch! Ok, you win!" She laughed.

Joey had landed on top of her and pinned her down.

She smiled cutely at him. "Can I still have one card, Joseph?"

Joey blushed. "Anything for you, Téa." He joked, laughing.

A deep voice interrupted their little fun. "*Ahem*…I hope I am not disturbing you two."

Joey and Téa both looked in the direction of the door.

"Kaiba?" They said at the same time.

***

Yami and Bakura had run through almost the entire castle. Still there was no sign of Tristan or Mai.

"They have to be here somewhere…"

A large commotion caused them to glance down the hallway.

"You are trespassing!"

"Let me go creep!"

A slapping sound was heard and the guy hollered in pain.

"Ouch! Get back here!"

Mai came running down the hall and bumped right into Yami and Bakura. "Whoops! Hi guys!"

"Mai…what did you do?" Yami asked.

"Eh…just a little sightseeing. No time to talk though! Let's get out of here!" She shot off down another corridor.

The others followed her and soon they were back in the main hall of the palace.

"There are too many halls!" Mai cried out, frustrated.

"Do you know where Tristan is?" Bakura asked quietly.

"Hmm? He's in his room."

Yami and Bakura exchanged glances and shook their heads.

"We already checked there."

"Hmm…I don't know then. Well, let's go find him!"

The trio ended up back at the ceremony and spotted Tristan sitting at a table, surrounded by girls.

"That's right ladies, I know the famous Yugi Muto and Seto Kaiba. We're like this!" He crossed his fingers.

The girls cheered and awed at his story.

"Fool, if we were like that I think I would throw up!"

Yami and Bakura turned around to face Kaiba, Mokuba, Serenity, Joey and Téa.

"Guys! You made it!"

Mai smiled at Joey. "Glad to see your sister joined us after all."

Serenity smiled. "Hey, Mai."

Téa walked toward Yami. "Here, I think you'll need this."

She handed him the 'Dark Magician Girl' card.

"Naw, you keep it. "Yugi gave it to you for a reason." He smiled.

Téa blushed. "Alright…hey wait a minute…" She hovered over him and narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You aren't doing this because you think my deck is weak are you?"

Yami sweat-dropped. "Not at all…"

Téa backed up and crossed her arms. "Good!" She took out her deck and shuffled it. "Well, I may not be a champion or even a top duellists, but I think I can handle this!"

She walked off and took a seat at the table. Serenity, Mai and Joey followed closely behind her. Yami turned to face Kaiba and Mokuba.

 "So, it looks like you'll get your rematch, Kaiba…"

Kaiba smirked. "Looking forward to it Yugi…"

He headed of towards the others. Yami felt a tugging at his sleeve. He looked down to see Mokuba.

"My brother is going to win! But just so you know, I'm duelling too! So you better hope we don't meet in the finals!"

Yami chuckled. "I'm looking forward to it." He patted Mokuba on head and then walked off towards the gang, taking a seat next to Téa and Joey.

"I'm not a little kid Yugi…and just to prove it…" He held up a small gold puzzle piece. "We'll see how you do without your powers for once!" He flipped the piece in the air and tucked it deep inside his pocket.

Everyone sat at the table, discussing duelling strategies, trading cards and preparing their decks.

"Are you sure you'll be ok, Téa?"

Joey asked pointing at the ring strung on her necklace.

Téa lifted the chain up and nodded. "Yes, I'll be fine. As long as I don't wear it nothing bad will happen. That is, if no one tries to steal it either." She glared at Bakura.

Bakura shrunk in his seat. "Hey, don't blame me, blame it…" He pointed to his ring.

Tristan laughed. "As long as he doesn't show, I'm not worried. I've dealt with him enough to know he scares the heck out of me!"

Yami laughed and leaned over towards Mai. "You mentioned about a sacrifice earlier…what was it about?"

Mai leaned her head on her hands and began to think. "Hmm, before he passed out…the guard said something about…

A loud applause roared through the hall. Amons walked up to the edge of the balcony.

"Welcome everyone, to the first ever shadow games, brought back to our time after 5000 years of hibernation. Before we start, I would like to show you a demonstration of what you are in for." He snapped his fingers and a guard walked up to him. "Now, let's have a quick duel. It's simply a game of higher card wins." He snapped his fingers again and a duelling table appeared out of the ground, rising up towards him and the guard. The guard flipped a card over and it was 'Celtic Guardian'. Amons laughed evilly. He pulled out a card next and it was the 'Dark Magician.' Yami narrowed his eyes.

"You lose…"

A light began to fill around the guard as he screamed in pain. Soon when the light cleared, he was gone. Everyone gasped. Some people tried to leave the room while others eyed their rivals with bloodlust.

"A bit more modernized then the one the Egyptians played, but never the less…the fate is still the same! Oh and don't think about running away, the gates are sealed. The only way out is to duel…and win!"

Mai blinked. "So that's it…"

Yami looked back at her. "What?"

"The guard said that the key was to the soul room…I think it's a room that keeps all of the souls that are lost in this game. The sacrifice must be after the games are over. Those who lost...are sacrificed to lord knows what…"

Téa suddenly remembered something and spoke up. "You know…now that I think about it, Bakura and I ended up in Amons chamber area and in one of the rooms was a real live 'Summon Skull'! This man is powerful…almost sorcerer powerful…Yugi, you better be careful! "

Yami nodded. "I will…and you should too…all of you! We came here together and we will leave together. That goes for you as well Kaiba and your brother too!"

Kaiba smirked. "Oh don't worry about me Yugi, I don't plan on losing any time soon. And you better not either. We have a re-match remember!"

Serenity looked at Joey. "Big brother…Joey…are you ok with me duelling?"

Joey hit the table hard. "No! But…I don't have a choice…just…damn, nothing had better happen to you or I swear Amons will pay!"

Mai patted Joey on the back. "Hey, have a little faith in your sister, huh?"

Joey sighed. "You're right…sorry sis…"

Serenity smiled brightly. "It's ok, Joey. I'm not the best duellist out there; even Téa is better then me…uh…no offence Téa." She blushed embarrassed.

"None taken. I know I kind of suck…I've played cheerleader longer then I have ever duelled. But this time I am going to win!"

Everyone nodded.

"We're all here for you Téa!" Joey said, smiling.

Kaiba rolled his eyes. "Please, she'll be finished off by the first round."

Téa glared and kicked his shin under the table. "OW!" he cried.

Everyone burst out laughing.

"Your attention please! The first two duellists have been selected. And we must thank Kaiba corp. for their technology.

Kaiba growled.

"The first two duellists are…"

To be continued…