Senshi, Cecilia, and Rin were still in a frantic state. Their friends are in danger and there's no way they can get in contact with them. For whatever reason, they're not answering their phones or they might be too late. Meldrick is after them and they might not even know it.

"Cecilia, anything?" Rin asked.

"No. I keep trying the phones, but nothing. I'm worried we might be too late." Cecilia said.

"We have to keep searching. If they managed to escape, they have to be somewhere." Senshi said.

"You're wasting your time. Do you not see that this is like trying to find a needle in a haystack?" All of them looked and saw Conner and Mila followed after them. "There's just no way you'll be able to find your little friends like this."

"Why are you following us?" Rin said.

"I do believe I issued a challenge with Ichika for Izanagi." Conner said.

"Are you serious?! Now?!" Cecilia said as she couldn't believe Conner had the nerve to say such a thing.

"I can't duel you now, Conner. I need to ensure that my friends are safe first." Senshi said.

"Guys, listen. We can help." Mila said. "We already contacted our people for some help. They have a lock on Houki's duel disk and already found her. She's near the aquarium."

"She is?! That's a relief to hear." Rin said.

"Yes, but we still must warn her. Not to mention that Charlotte and Laura could be in danger themselves." Senshi said.

"Hurry up, then. The sooner you see your friends are safe, the sooner we can duel." Conner said. "Honestly, I don't see why you're so worried. Your friends can handle themselves, assuming they can handle things without you to hold their hand."

"Do you always have to sound so rude?" Cecilia said as they were all getting annoyed with his attitude.

"We'll deal with this another time, Conner. Let's go." Senshi said with them hurrying to the aquarium with Conner and Mila following. They just hope they aren't too late.

...

The Aquarium

"I did it! I did it! I really did it! All the points for me to advance in Conner's tournament!" Houki cheered. "I'm now in the top eight!"

"Congratulations, Houki, but shouldn't we get going." Charlotte said. "If Ichika hasn't gotten all the points yet, I would like to see him in action."

"As would I." Laura said.

"That's actually a good idea. I would love to see how he's doing." Houki said. "Charlotte, Cecilia and Rin are with him. Why don't you give them a call to see where they are?"

"Good idea." Charlotte said as she dug around for her phone. When she pulled it out, she was surprised by all the messages she had. "Oh! It looks like they've been trying to call me. I was so caught up in all the excitement that I did not even hear my phone. I wonder what is so important." She was about to get to answer back to all those calls, but she didn't get the chance.

"Wait! Look!" Laura said as she pointed to something. They all looked and saw Ryu, but he looked hurt with someone helping him. What they didn't know was that he was being helped by Meldrick.

"It's Ryu!" Houki said as they were all shocked at seeing him like that. Seeing that he was hurt, they rushed to him. "Hey! what happened to Ryu!"

"I don't know. I found him like this." Meldrick said as he placed him gently on the ground. They took a look and saw his arm was treated with first aid, but it looked like he was hurt badly.

"Charlotte, you better call for an ambulance." Houki said.

"No time to wait for one. He needs help at once." Laura said as she did something crazy. She took Ryu and hoisted him over her shoulders. She was a lot stronger than she looks. "I'll take him there myself.

"Uh... Wouldn't it be better for him to wait for an ambulance?" Houki said as they weren't sure this was a good idea.

"I have some military training. I can take him there myself." Laura said. "This will be a lot faster and more productive than just waiting for one. Trust me that I can make it." She claimed and just took off. Houki and Laura weren't so sure about this, but they can't blame Laura for wanting to help a friend.

"Should we just let her go like that?" Houki questioned.

"Well, it is Laura we're talking about. Maybe she'll make it." Charlotte said as they weren't really sure what to do, but they did trust Laura.

"Hey, thank you for helping out our friend." Houki said.

"Of course. I couldn't just leave him there." Meldrick claimed as he was acting like a normal and decent person. "My name is Michael by the way."

"I'm Houki, and this is Charlotte." Houki introduced.

"Bonjour." Charlotte greeted.

"I see you're also wearing a duel disk, Michael. Are you competing in the tournament?" Houki questioned.

"Yeah, and I think I'm doing okay." Meldrick acted.

"As am I. In fact, I already have all the points needed to advance to the finals." Houki said.

"Wow. You must be really strong, Houki." Meldrick said for that was just what he needed. "Maybe we could... Hey, who are they?" That was right when Meldrick's servants came. Just as Houki and Charlotte turned to them, they grabbed a hold of both of the girls and weren't letting go. To add to the charade, they even grabbed Meldrick and made it look like they were taking him prisoner as well.

"Hey! Get your hands off us!" Houki demanded.

"What is this? Who are you?" Charlotte questioned.

"Looks like we finally got you, and before Ichika did. Good." They all looked and spotted Valatin. As he lowered his hood, he finally showed his face with him having messy brown hair. "With you, we can begin the fun."

"That voice... I know you!" Houki said. "You were that guy from the other day."

"My name is Valatin, and you all are coming with us. Take them away, but send our men to grab the other one." Valatin ordered. They carried all three of them away and everything was going according to plan. "Meanwhile, I think it's time you two earned your work. Let's see if you two are really as great as you say." He said as he was speaking with two others. "I'm interested in what you two can really do, Ying and Yang."

"Of course. We are grateful for the chance." Ying claimed.

"We'll be glad to have some payback." Yang claimed. Ying and Yang, tag partners that worked for Peggrin before, but now it looks like they're working for Meldrick. "Although, why so interested in Conner Knight?"

"Conner wants Izanagi and Izanami for himself. If he wants those cards, he's got to learn what he's getting himself into." Valatin said. "Go and begin the next part of our plan." Ying and Yang followed through with their orders and went on ahead.

...

Senshi

Senshi and the others hurried as fast as they could to the aquarium, but they aren't aware that they are already too late. Mila did her best to monitor Houki's signal. However, she lost sight of it.

"Uh oh! That's not good!" Mila said.

"What is it?" Conner said as they all stopped running.

"I lost Houki's signal." Mila said.

"Lost it?!" Senshi said as he didn't like the sound of that.

"Oh no. Do you think that means we're too late? Do you think Meldrick and his goons got a hold of them?" Cecilia said as she was rather scared.

"Calm down. I'm sure it's nothing that can't be fixed." Conner said. "Mila, go back to HQ and try to pick up the signal again. Call me when you have the location. In the meantime, let's keep heading to the last location and just see if anyone knows where they are." They all liked the sound of that.

"Good luck out there." Mila said as the rest of them went on ahead. That left Mila alone, but that wasn't a good thing. Just as she turned around, she bumped into someone. "Sorry, but I'm in a hurry here."

"Oh, I think you'll make time for us." The person she ran into was actually Yang. Mila had a bad feeling about this, but there was no time for her to do anything as Yang grabbed a hold of her. Meanwhile, Senshi and the others hurried as fast as they could to Houki and the others, but there was no time.

"Hello, Ichika Orimura. We meet again." All of them looked ahead and were surprised to see Ying standing in their way.

"Ying?!" Senshi said as he couldn't believe it was him.

"No way! I can't believe it's him!" Rin said.

"You know this clown?" Conner questioned.

"Ichika and Houki dueled him in a tag match before. He and another guy named Yang were working for Peggrin the last time we saw him." Rin said. "Listen, we don't have time for you. Get out of our way!" She demanded.

"I'm afraid you'll have to make time. You're too late for Master Meldrick has already gotten ahold of your friends." Ying said. That was the one thing they didn't want to hear, but they were surprised to hear that Ying was actually working for Meldrick.

"Did you say "Master Meldrick?!" Senshi said. "You're working for him now?!"

"Yes. Yang and I are dueling mercenaries." Ying claimed. "After our defeat, and you defeated Peggrin, we sent out services elsewhere. Master Meldrick found us and hired us for our services. This works out well because we get to have our revenge on you for before."

"What have you done with our friends?!" Senshi said as he didn't like this at all.

"If you wish to see your friends, you will meet Yang and myself at the top of that skyscraper in ten minutes, and make sure you bring Izanagi with you." Ying said as he pointed to the building for this challenge. "Conner, I suggest you come as well."

"Why me?" Conner said.

"Master Meldrick is aware that you desire Izanagi and Izanami like he does, and he can't have that." Ying claimed. "We already made sure you can't say no." None of them liked the sound of that. That was when they heard a helicopter coming from around the corner and Mila was dangling from it.

"Conner! Help me!" Mila called.

"Mila!" Conner called as they couldn't believe they caught her to. As the helicopter flew further away with Mila on it, Conner really can't say no.

"Leave Conner and Mila out of this! They have nothing to do with this!" Senshi demanded.

"It's not our choice. We are simply following orders." Ying claimed. "If anything, you should be flattered that Master Meldrick thinks you are a challenge, Conner. We'll see you two up there." He said before he retreated towards the building.

"What must we do now?" Cecilia questioned.

"That's easy. I'll beat whoever to get Mila back." Conner said as he wasn't backing down from this challenge.

"You mean we. They want to face both of us." Senshi pointed out. "Conner, we'll have to work together."

"You think I'm a team player, when I'm not." Conner said as he already went on ahead to the building. If Conner and Senshi have to work together, this is not going to go well.

...

The Building

Senshi and the others made the way to the top of the building. When they got there, Ying and Yang were waiting for them and they were set for a duel. Ying and Yang stood on top of a skylight and waited for Senshi and Conner to step forward.

"It's so nice of you both to come." Ying said.

"And you brought a small audience to watch your demise." Yang claimed.

"Isn't it a little early for you clowns to think you've already won?" Conner said.

"Where are my friends and Mila? What have you done with them?" Senshi questioned as he wanted to know.

"They are safe...for the moment." Ying claimed.

"More than we can say for you. Now step forward towards your demise, Ichika and Conner." Yang said. The two of them didn't really have a choice as they both stepped forward and got ready for a duel.

"I don't like this." Cecilia said.

"Me either, but there isn't much choice." Rin claimed.

"So why are we up here?" Senshi questioned.

"To duel!" Ying and Yang claimed.

"Did you have to ask, and did they have to answer in unison?" Conner said as he was already getting annoyed.

"This will be a tag duel, us against you." Ying claimed.

"And it's not up for debate. You two will duel together whether you like it or not." Yang claimed.

"Only by defeating us will you see your loved ones again." Ying claimed.

"But I'm sure you remember how strong we are, Orimura. This won't be easy for either of you." Yang claimed. Not being easy is right. It seems like they're trapped like their friends, and there is no way out of this. It's a tag duel, but Senshi and Conner are bitter rivals. Conner doesn't even like the idea of working with anyone. How is this going to turn out?