Everyone, please note. This fic uses rules and tactics that only work in the show. Don't complain to me about how something works, unless you have good grounds to do it on. I'll also be alter the card text for certain cards, such as Mirror Force and Dark Elf, as well as change the activation speed of cards, such as playing trap cards straight from the hand, or using magic cards like traps.

Also, an idea I've been meaning to publish. I once got this idea from the first fic I every read (About five years ago), and it's really cool. Play your favorite music, or if you've got it, the Anime's soundtrack as you read the story. This gives it that emotion that you get when you watch it. Check it out.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, or anything related to it. I do, however, own Kai, Takaru, Shiro, Seya, Allentha and Saet. If you want to use any of them in your own story, it's ok, as long as you ask me first. And if you find anyone using one of them, please let me know. And take note, I did give Yugi Muto permission to use Kai, so don't give her (yes, it's a she) a hard time. And don't e-mail me saying that she stole him, because she didn't.

Chapter Seven: Battle for a Mans Soul



I turned the key and entered the inner chamber's of Shiro Metsuki's soul. It was a stone corridor that was black and held a mysterious air about it. I tried to focus my sight ahead of me, but it was to dark.

'Why can't I get some more light?' I asked myself. As if on cue, my Millennium Key began to emit a bright white light that illuminated the corridor to me.

I could hear a sound that was unmistakably the sound of ones body being struck. I ran down the hall as swiftly as I could. What awaited me at the end of the hall were two personages. The first looked like two personages. The first looked like Shiro, who was suspended from two chains that hung from the wall behind him. He was weak, having been beaten severely. His soul itself was fading.

'So that is what happened.' I marveled. 'The shadow has been beating Shiro's own soul to weaken him. No wonder he started to loose control of himself in our Duel.'

The other figure was tall and muscular. He had a square face that was hard and cruel. He was bare chested, but had loose pants draped over his legs. The top of his head from his eyes up was covered in a bandana with wholes for his eyes, which were cold and empty. Whatever it was, it was a source of pure evil.

"Who, or should I say what, are you?" I demanded of the man.

"You don't remember me?" he said, faking a pained tone in his voice, which was deep and cold. "Well, I'm that dark shade you saw looming over Takaru. You seemed to have unwillingly or unknowingly sent me to the Shadow Realm yesterday morning. However, your lack of experience shows, as I was barely pushed within the dark gates when I managed to forge a rip within the vapor. I escaped, and soughed out a host. I must, however, meet with certain requirements in my targets. Such requirements as greed, anger, envy, and more. I was trying to find someone on this island whom I could possess so as to seek out my revenge." He smiled cruelly as he continued. "And who should I come across, other than the one who shared such similar feelings as I do towards you, that I was nearly pulled into them. I am speaking of Shiro, of course. He was so overcome by his anger and hate for you, that it was easy to infest him and take control. Of course, I had to slowly manipulate the boy. If I had attempted to take ful control immediately, then all would have been lost."

"I searched the boys memory and thoughts as I worked about his mind and soul. I found that he wanted to destroy you before you ever reached the castle, but couldn't find a way to ensure that you'd agree. That was were I had the chance to compete my control. In that one moment of despair, I forced his soul conference with. As you may have figured out, the soul is never attentive to this sort of situation, and can never meet with another unless forced to by some means. For you, it is that Key that you wear."

"So I pulled his soul here and overpowered it." he closed his eyes and looked down as he continued further. "It was easy to do so. Then I went in search of you. However, I first found Saet. I had managed to see the end of your Duel with him when I was still just a spirit. I recalled how you two seemed to have started some sort of friendship. Challenged him to a Duel to earn the Star Chips I wold need to ensure you would be interested. Then, I began to realize the power of the Duel Disks and their direct attacks. I realized that I could actually force you into a Duel. I could trash Saet. I played off of your emotions perfectly. I was planning to annihilate you and then rip your soul apart, but you surprised me." He opened his eyes and looked directly at me. "You used you used the very same emotions I had played off of to get you to play, to overpower and defeat me. Very amusing." He smiled wickedly as he extended his arm out to the side. "But now, I've had enough." Black lightning crackled from his palm, forming a long broad sword. "I'll slay your soul now!"

He charged in with his sword raised over his head. I pushed off my right foot, lunging me to the side. I tilted my head to watch as he pivoted and advanced on me again. I ducked out of the way and twisted on my left foot, delivering a round kick to his stomach. He reeled back and hung his head, chuckling. I stepped back and took a deep breath.

"What's so funny?" I demanded. He looked up and grinned.

"You." he explained. "While your attack was well executed, you still believe you can outmatch a spirit that has been fighting for nearly two hundred years."

"I've been working hard and studying myself for about five years. I can still defeat you."

"That's barely a fraction of my training. Now prepare to fall!"

He charged in again and swung fiercely several times. I moved and ducted, but it was hard. I hadn't realized when this fight had started that I couldn't use my hands to block. The spirit swung again at my chest, forcing me jump back. However, I heard the tearing of fabric, as well as the clink of metal on metal. I landed on my back, rolling my head forward to keep it from hitting the ground. My eyes landed on my shirt, which had a six inch rip across the chest. In the middle was a small sliver of gold.

'The Millennium Key!'

The ancient artifact had managed to stop the sword from hitting me! I pulled it out to check for damage. 'Not a scratch!' I marveled.

"I understand that you may be overwhelmed by the fact that you were just saved from injury by a piece of metal, but please, can we continue." the spirit mocked. He charged again, swinging the sword down, planning to connect with my skull and split it. However, the blade was met by a golden cross that I held tightly in my hand. "You're using your magical item as a weapon!" the shadow shrieked.

"That's right!" I shouted back, pushing hard on the key, forcing the creature to back off and our weapons to disconnect. I stepped back as well, holding the Key up by my cheek, positioned far any kind of attack the either of us could launch.

He made the first move, charging in again. He was this time attempting to do a forward thrust to my abdomen, but I managed to misdirect the sword away from me, but barely. He turned back towards me, swinging the sword as he went, using his momentum to increase the speed. I held the Key out to block, but miscalculated, and missed. The steel blade cut through my left shirt sleeve and flesh, allowing a crimson line to appear. I only took minor notice of it, as any distraction would destroy me.

I locked my legs into place as I held the Key up to my chest level, pointed towards the advancing demon, keeping a laser focus. He charged in, attempting another trust with his large blade, I was prepared however, and spun clockwise inward, avoiding the attack. I then used the power from my spin to smash the head of the Key into his stomach.

He reeled back in pain as we both gasped for breath. "Impressive." he smirked. He straightened up and held his sword down. "I've never faught anyone who used such techniques, or such a weapon."

"I'm planning to switch weapons if Shiro will give me some support." I called to him. Shiro stirred at the sound of his name, and lifted his head to stare at me.

I was taken aback in shock. His eyes were empty and soulless, yet I could sense fear and an agony that I had felt before.

"Shiro, I need your help!" I shouted. "I'm not going to ask you to believe in me, but just trust me. They're two very different things. To Believe in someone is to put all feelings and emotions into their care. Trusting someone is just to have faith that they can complete a task. So Shiro, trust me that I'll get you out of this, and I will. This is your soul room after all. It's made of your strength. You can therefore direct that power to wherever you wish."

He continued to stare at me, as if confused. He then rehung his head, his entire body sagging.

"Beautiful speech," the creature laughed. "But to no avail. Shiro is still to weak, and far to bitter towards you to help."

"Shut up." I seethed, running towards him with the Key in an attack position. I struck downwards, he blocked. I adjusted and went for his chest. He twisted his blade down to block. He then pushed me back, scraping my chest as he did so. I looked down, blood beginning to seep into my shirt. It was only a small wound, but it was still painful, and caused agony whenever I moved my upper body. "Shiro, I need you to wake up! Please! Just this once, then it will all be over!" He lifted himself up, and though his eyes were beginning to show some emotion, he was still lost. "Shiro, if you don't help now, more people will end up like you. This is the guy that destroyed Takaru! If we don't end it now, he'll destroy us, along with many others. We have to do something!"

Shiro was starting to grow coherent, but I still couldn't rely on him. I turned back to the spirit, who was looking more and more panic struck as I spoke to Shiro. He charged in again. I simply dodged to the left, not having enough strength to keep fighting. He snapped around, sword in hand, trying to disembowel my legs. I flipped over the attack, but my injuries caused my to wince in pain, and I couldn't adjust properly to land right. My legs buckled as I hit the ground, causing me to crash onto my back.

The demon walked over towards me, standing over his fallen prey. I couldn't stand up, and therefore couldn't attack, as he was down by my legs, just out of reach.

'So this is how it ends.' I remarked to myself. 'Sorry Seya, Allentha. I just couldn't help everybody like how I wanted to.'

"Kai!" a voice rang out. However, it was not the voice of my brother or sister, which I had come to almost expect at these sorts of times, but it was another one. "Take him! Do it!"

It was Shiro! I nodded, tightening my grip on the Millennium Key. I felt a new rush of energy rush through me.

"Well now," the shade remarked, standing over me, his sword held upside down so that he could spear me through with it. "You obviously need to be better at picking your battles. But you'll never get to put that advice to any kind of use, as I'll now destroy your soul, and erase you from existence." I stared right into his eyes as he held his sword up over my chest. "Now die!"

I moved quickly. I my right arm up in front of me, a glowing white katana cutting through him. He gasped in pain and surprise as he dropped he sword, which I rolled away from before it fell into me. I stood up, the Japanese sword tight in my hands. I walked over to the shades twisted body that lay on the ground. A few seconds later, he turned into vapor and was gone.

I collapsed onto one knee as the katana I held returned to it's true form, the Millennium Key. I had transformed it using the power that Shiro had given me. However, I would only be able to do it in that sort of setting, that I was sure of.

I finally managed to pull myself over to Shiro, who had somehow broken free from the shackles that had held him tight. He looked strong and well.

'So this is the real Shiro Metsuki.' I abserved. He stared into my eyes with a look of respect. He did not exactly like me overall, but I could tell that he would leave me alone for the most part, and only face me with honor.

We shook hands, and then a bright light overcame my sight. When I opened my eyes, I was back in the fields next to the castle. I pulled the Key away from Shiro's forehead, allowing him to collapse on the ground. I smiled and gathered his ten Star Chips into my hands.

'It was a deal, and I will not forsake my honor.' I told myself. I looked at the ten silver stars in my hand when a voice behind me spoke up.

"Hey Kai." I turned to be greeted by Yugi and Joey, along with the rest of their crew. "What's up?"

"Just finished with my duels, and I'm headed for the castle." I told them. I noticed ten stars in both of their wrist bands. "And it looks like you two have the same story." They nodded. "Then let's go."

"What about the unconscious kid?" Joey asked.

"Don't worry." I replied. "The people from the castle will take care of him. Let's move."

To Be Continued...

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What did you all think? To much Rurouni Kenshin on my part? Please excuse spelling errors. I'm not that good. Just review please. And if you have any questions, send them to my e-mail. I'll answer them as best as I can. If you all want, I'll even post a 'Chapter' with all the rules I've cut across. Anyway people, please review. I'm finally getting them, but I need more. So please, review. AND READ MY OTHER STORY, Duels of the Chosen! See ya.