Yami sat up straight in his cot. He looked around and remembered where he was. He had just been having a dream. He was dueling in Ancient Egypt. And he had lost. He couldn't really make out who it was on the other side of the field . . .

At the same moment, Kaiba shot up in bed. He had also just had a dream. He was back in Ancient Egypt. His priest form was facing an obscure figure. All he could make out was the Millennium Rod, directed towards him. He stood and faced his imminent death. Then Kaiba awoke.

*The Next Day at the Kaiba Mansion*

"As I have told you many times, this belongs to you . . ." Isis said as she set the Millennium Rod on the table between herself and Seto Kaiba.

"Yes, you have annoyed me about this artifact for quite some time," Kaiba agreed.

"Well, it is now under your possession. Use it wisely."

"I never do anything foolishly. I believe you can find your own way out," Kaiba said coldly.

"Very well," was Isis's curt reply. With that, she got up and left.

Kaiba eyed the dagger-sharp end of the Rod.

"I could come to like this . . ."

He continued to run his index finger along the eye engraved into the top of the Rod.

Suddenly, a transparent, slender form appeared before him. He saw the brown flowing hair that was a longer version of his own. His eyes met an identical pair that were returning his trademark glare. Then his eyes continued on downward. He found this spirit to be . . . a woman. She was wearing the same type of robes as his past priest form had worn.

"What the hell are you?" Kaiba asked, somewhat alarmed, but trying not to show it.

"I'm the Spirit of the Rod, genius," the Spirit quipped.

"And what might your name be?" Kaiba queried.

"Amaunet, High Priestess," the Spirit replied.

"Amaunet . . . isn't that the Egyptian Goddess of Heaven?" Kaiba asked.

"Fruity parents. Anyway, looks like I'm stuck with you," Amaunet said, eyeing him.

"Apparently. But I have a thought . . ."

"Mind sharing?"

"In all of my visions of the past, I was a High Priest, not a High Priestess," Kaiba said.

"Well that is because the priest Seth was the original owner of this Rod. But simple dueling skill took care of that."

"Ah . . . I see. So, you won the Rod?" Kaiba asked.

"Perhaps. I could tell you, but where is the fun in that?"

Seto made a mental note that this Spirit was a smart ass. Then he decided on a change of subject. "Can you . . .?"

"Read your mind? Haven't you learned anything from seeing Yugi and that Pharaoh working together?"

"Ah, the mind link." Kaiba mused.

"Perceptive aren't you?"

"Whatever. So, we can read one another's minds?"

"How did you get this far in business while being that stupid?" Amaunet retorted.

Kaiba wasn't exactly amused to be being insulted by his other half.

"Ah, did I hurt your feelings?" Amaunet sneered.

"Back in the Rod with you."

Kaiba then held the Rod out (in a surprisingly familiar move) and watched the slender, female version of him disappear.

Well, at least now she can't read my thoughts . . . Kaiba thought to himself.

*The Next Day at Domino High*

Kaiba was walking to Math (with the Rod in his suitcase) when he tripped over Yugi. Kaiba was about to just brush past and continue on to class, not wanting to waste time on him. But then Amaunet stepped in.

'Challenge him to a duel,' Amaunet hissed to Kaiba through their faded mind link.

Kaiba obeyed. "Yugi, I challenge you to duel!"

"Um . . . why?" Yugi asked.

'It's obvious, Yugi, he is looking for a challenge!' Yami said through the mind link.

"Does it matter? Accept the challenge Yugi, unless you are afraid that you would lose your title of King of Games."

"I accept, Kaiba!" Yugi said confidently.

*Later that Day, at Kaiba Corp*

"So, Yugi, are you ready?" Kaiba asked with a smirk.

"I'm always ready!" Yugi replied with all the confidence he could muster.

Kaiba's grin grew as he drew his cards. "I will take the first turn honors."

"First, I play the Vorse Raider in attack mode!" Kaiba exclaimed as he threw down the card.

'That's a powerful card, I hope I can beat it!' Yugi thought.

"Then I think I'll end my turn," Kaiba said coolly.

Yugi's puzzle glowed and then Yami took over. drew his card and looked at them thoughtfully. "I play the Mystical Elf in Defense Mode and equip her with the Book of Secret Arts, raising her Attack and Defense by 300 points!"

"Very well," was Kaiba's emotionless reply.

"And then I will end my turn. Your move, Kaiba!"

Kaiba then drew his card. "Ah yes. I set one Magic or Trap Card and end my turn."

Yami drew. "I sacrifice my Mystical Elf for the Summoned Skull! Summoned Skull, Lightning Strike Attack!"

"Not so fast, Yugi! I activate Ring of Destruction on your Summoned Skull!"

Kaiba: 1500
Yami: 1500

"Very well, I set one Magic or Trap Card and end my turn."

Kaiba drew and smirked at Yami. "Vorse Raider, attack his Life Points directly!"

"Hah, Kaiba you've activated my trap card! Waboku! I take no Life Point damage from your attack!"

"Okay then, Yugi. I play Pale Beast in Attack Mode and end my turn."

Yami then drew his card. 'Ah, perfect, this card will put me ahead in Life Points!' "I play Ookazi, causing you to lose 800 Life Points!"

Kaiba: 700 LP

Yami: 1500 LP

'Now he has me on the run! I can't lose to this fool!' Kaiba thought.

"Then I set one Magic or Trap Card and end my turn," Yami declared.

Kaiba once again drew his card. 'Hmmmm . . . this should do,' he thought. "I set three Magic or Trap Cards. Vorse Raider, finish him, attack!"

"Not so fast, Kaiba! I activate Mirror Force!" Yami exclaimed.

"My Vorse Raider!" Kaiba watched in horror as his powerful monster (and Pale Beast) was sent to the grave.

"My turn, I suppose," Yami said as he drew. 'This will do . . .' he thought. "I set these two Magic or Trap Card and end my turn!"

Kaiba smirked and drew a card. 'No playable monsters in my hand . . . yet. At least I have my facedown cards!' "I activate Statue of the Blessed Ones (A/N: yeah, yeah, I'm using full artistic license, lol) which summons a 1500 Attack Point Monster! Go, Statue, Attack!"

"I activate my trap card, Curse of Aging! I discard the Dark Magician from my hand to the graveyard, so your monster has 500 less Attack Points!"

"Nonetheless, Yugi, I still do 1000 Life Point Damage to you! After that, I activate another Statue of the Blessed Ones! Go, attack my Statue!"

Kaiba: 700 LP

Yami: 500 LP

"I activate Negate Attack! Your attack and battle phase stop now!"

"Ah, good traps indeed, Yugi. But none of your monsters can stand up to my rarest card! Go my Blue Eyes White Dragon!"


Yami watched in fear as the amazing beast took form. "Still, it cannot attack this turn, so I suppose you are done."

Yami looked at the field before him. It appeared hopeless. Kaiba had managed to summon the Blue Eyes White Dragon.

'Ra guide me,' Yami prayed silently as he drew his card.

"You might as well give up, Yugi, you cannot win!" Kaiba said, looking slightly crazed.

"I can win any contest, Kaiba!" the Pharaoh returned. 'Yes, this is perfect!' "I now play Monster Reborn on Dark Magician and then activate the Axe of Despair on my Dark Magician!" (A/N: Yeah, yeah, I don't think he has it. Deal with it people!) "Go, Dark Magician! Dark Magic Attack!"

Kaiba looked on horrified as his Blue Eyes disintegrated under the might of Yami's Dark Magician.

Kaiba: 200 LP
Yami: 500 LP

'I grow sick of your pitiful strategies, Seto. Allow me to take over,' came Amaunet's thought-voice.

'No, I will win this myself!' Kaiba replied.

'You have no choice!' Amaunet said as she began to take over.