Everything

By: ChocolateEclar

Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or anything that has to do with the anime/manga.

Claimer: I fully own Ichidou Yachitose and her family, Mrs. Suteki Iyashii, Suteki's deceased father and mother, Ryougi, Karei, Sumizome, Komayaka Mada-Tafunesu, Ke-ki and her gang, Miss Jishi, Nenriki "Riki," Tomobito, Kurisutaru "Kuri" Susume, Nekura Kyouran, Neferetiabet, Miw-sher, Hasha, and Great Wife Netikerty. Please don't use any of them in any form without my permission.

To Blank: I wasn't always so strict on reviews. (I mean, atleast I don't require more than one like some people.) It's just, well, I got tired of everything when I just knew people were reading this and not reviewing. So that's why I changed my rules. ^_^

Anyway, I agree about Joey's hair. Even I have a hard time picturing him with gray hair and wrinkles. *laughs*

Thanks for the tips. You're right. A writer's job is never done. We all have room to improve. I'll try doing what you said about the adverbs, gerunds, and preposition phrases.

Thank you again!

To littlewolfsyaoran: You're questions about Yami Malik should be answered in this chapter. ^__- Sorry about the cliffhanger. It did do its job though, no? Thanks for reviewing.

To Artemis*Obscure: *twiddling her thumbs* Err…I didn't forget Honda…

Iyami: If she could whistle, she'd be whistling. -_-

Choccy: Alright. All right. So I kind of did. Maybe he was there, but Ichidou just didn't talk to him or notice him! ^_^;;

Iyami: You're grasping for straws.

Choccy: =P

To Artemis*Obscure again: As I was going to say, *laughs* I'm glad you liked the bits with Yami Malik and Seto. I sorta like Yami Malik too – though what's with the way his face goes all distorted every once and awhile? *laughs* Anyway, thanks again for reviewing.

A/N: Another duel scene in this chapter. I hope I got all the facts straight.

Duel Fifteen: Duel or Die

Dark.

It was so dark and cold.

"Argh…Yami?"

Blinking, Ichidou peered around at the infinite shadows. 'It feels like I'm falling through water… minus the not being able to breathe part.'

She had her arms wrapped around her legs and was falling through something that looked like water, but there wasn't a bottom of it in sight.

The only light was coming from herself. Ichidou held out a hand to eye the golden glow of her skin more closely. "Freaky," she whispered, bringing her arms back around her knees to stay warm.

'So… where am I?' she wondered.

"You're deep within Yami's mind," answered a male voice. Startled, Ichidou muttered an expletive. All at once, she wasn't falling anymore. Instead she was laying on her back in a thinner darkness. She could make out a shimmering figure coming towards her.

"Dochirasama?" she called out, sitting up.

"I am what remains of Yugi Mutou on this plane of existence," replied the figure, coming towards her.

"Nani?"

The figure laughed and said, "Gomen. I was just teasing. What I mean is a little part of me, even though I've died, has remained with my Hitori No Boku. Or should I say your other half?"

Now that he was closer, Ichidou could see the man's resemblance to Yami. He had the same spiky mixture of colors for hair – minus a few blonde strikes – and his violet eyes. "But if you're an undead Yugi Mutou then you should be old," she pointed out.

"A spirit can be whatever he or she wishes," Yugi countered.

"Good point. Can you tell me how to get outta here?" Ichidou asked.

"'Afraid you'll have to wait 'til Yami deals with the intruders, Ichidou," replied Yugi.

"Oh. Well, how do you know my name?"

"I watch Yami from time to time," Yugi stated. "He doesn't know I'm here. It has to do with our old bond as hikari and yami. As you and he grow closer it's been fading though. Soon I'll cease to exist. Only when he's finally found his happy ending will I rest. It's kinda what aibou do for each other, you know?"

"Hai," Ichidou muttered. She felt drained in this place of infinite shadows. 'Hurry, Yami…'

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"Where is she?!" snarled Yami.

Yami Malik and his young aibou smirked. "Miss your little hikari, Pharaoh?" queried the former in his deep voice.

"Worry about yourself," added Hasha, his amber eyes flashing.

Yami's frown deepened. All around them purple and black shadows flitted about. "You wish a duel with me?" he questioned.

"Indeed, Pharaoh," Yami Malik mocked.

"And the stakes?"

"We win, and the girl and you go free. You lose and," Hasha paused, grinning maliciously, "and we get the Millennium Puzzle and you rot in the Shadow Realm. As for Ichidou, you can't rescue her from the little prison cell of your mind then."

"Any rule changes?" Yami inquired.

"You start with two thousand life points, and we split the same amount between us," Hasha answered. "By the way, you have to defeat both of us to win."

Yami nodded as Ichidou's deck appeared both him. Smiling, he gripped the cards. So, his aibou was out there waiting for him then?

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"Something's happening," muttered Ichidou.

"You're right," Yugi mumbled.

"Can you see Yami?"

"H-Hai," replied Yugi. "It's hard though. They're dueling in the Shadow Realm."

"Whose with him? The two who jumped me?"

"Hai. Yami Malik and… Hmmm… He must have a new aibou."

Nodding, Ichidou peered out at the shadows. 'Come on, Yami…'

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A duel deck appeared in each of Yami's opponents' hands. "Tell me, how did you get a hold of the Millennium Rod, boy?" asked Yami as a Duel Monsters field appeared before him and a duel disk materialized around their arms. They all slid their decks into the slot allotted for the cards on the device.

Laughing, Hasha replied, "I pinched it from this Egyptian girl waving it around. I was almost caught by this old guy with a turban. He was mighty ticked at me and the girl."

"You know him, Pharaoh. He had the Millennium Ankh around his wrinkled old neck," said Yami Malik.

"Shadi," muttered Yami.

Yami Malik narrowed his eyes, nodding. "Ready, Pharaoh?"

"I am, but don't you think it would be better if Ichidou were here as well?"

"Nice try, but no," said Hasha. "I'll go first." They all drew their first hands and he placed one monster on the field facedown.

"Your turn, Pharaoh," Yami Malik growled.

"All right," said Yami. "I'll place Patrician of Darkness in attack mode and one card facedown – ending my turn." The Patrician appeared with a backing of two thousand attack strength.

Yami Malik slapped a card down, and, with a shimmer, a reptilian creature appeared. "Attack the Patrician, Luster Dragon!" he shouted.

"Apparently you don't know what the Patrician's special ability is," said Yami, smirking, as the attack aimed at it ricocheted to Hasha's facedown card. The card displayed a Raigeki Break – one capable of allowing its wielder to discard one card from their hand to the Graveyard to destroy one card on the field – before being destroyed.

Frowning, Hasha stated, "Patrician of Darkness lets a duelist select the targets of their opponent's attacks as long as the monster is face-up."

"I know all the ancient cards," said Yami Malik. "This must be a card Pegasus J. Crawford created."

"It is. You should study modern dueling," remarked Yami, whose grin was widening.

Yami's opponents grunted, and Hasha drew a card. "I'll place two cards facedown and Worm Drake in defense mode."

'It's a trap,' Yami thought. He peered at his hand thoughtfully. 'One Ouija card. Dancing Faeries. The Black Magician…'

"I play the Black Magician in attack mode and one card facedown!" he announced. "And that ends my turn."

"One card facedown," said Yami Malik simply during his turn.

"My turn," said Hasha, drawing a card. "I'll place Newdoria in defense mode."

Yami frowned and realized, 'Ichidou has the same card. When it's destroyed it can destroy any monster on the field… That could work to my advantage…'

"I'll place one card facedown and have Black Magician attack Newdoria!" said Yami.

Newdoria vanished, but Hasha exclaimed, "With its special ability I'll now destroy the Black Magician!"

The Black Magician vanished but was replaced with a new card. "Go Black Magician Girl! She gets an attack strength bonus of three hundred for the Black Magician in my Graveyard." He placed a card on the field beside his two facedown cards and declared, "Now I'll use Mask of Weakness to lower Luster Dragon's attack strength by seven hundred for one turn. Attack, Black Magician Girl!"

The blonde female magician aimed her wand at Luster Dragon, whose attack strength had gone from two thousand four hundred down to seventeen hundred. The dragon vanished with a roar and Yami Malik's Life Points went to four hundred.

Yami Malik frowned and drew a card. "Monster Reborn," he said, throwing the card onto the field, "bring back Luster Dragon." The winged reptile returned with its original attack power of two thousand four hundred. "Luster Dragon, attack Black Magician Girl!"

"You seem to have forgotten my Patrician of Darkness," noted Yami as the attack was redirected towards Worm Drake!"

Hasha smirked and shouted, "'Forgetting my facedown cards? I activate Holy Barrier to send your attack right back!" The attack hit Patrician this time, without being reflected, causing four hundred Life Points to be deducted from Yami.

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Wincing, Ichidou asked, "Ouch! What was that?"

"Yami just lost four hundred Life Points, and, since, your life is in his hands and he's your aibou, you feel each other's pain," replied Yugi.

"Oh no!"

"It's alright. He's got a plan and a good hand."

"'You sure?"

Yugi smirked mischievously. "Positive."

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'I simply need three more…' Yami thought, shaking his head to clear the peculiar feeling that his monster dying had brought on him. 'I just have to keep them from being destroyed…'

Drawing a card, Hasha smirked. "I'll place another card facedown. Your turn, Pharaoh."

Yami drew a card and hid a smirk. 'Two more…'

"I'll put down this facedown card and attack the card you just put down on the field with Black Magician Girl!" he yelled.

Kabazauls, a watery dinosaur, appeared and vanished with a shimmer as he was vanquished. Hasha shrugged and turned towards his yami expectantly.

Yami Malik pulled out a card and eyed it. "Holy Elf's Blessing!" he shouted, placing down the card. "I gain three hundred Life Points for every monster on the field, which brings my Life Points to thirteen hundred. Now I'll destroy your Black Magician Girl with Luster Dragon! No Patrician to hide behind now, Pharaoh!"

The Black Magician Girl held out her staff to little avail as she was defeated. Yami grimaced as one hundred Life Points were deducted from him. Hasha and Yami Malik chuckled as Hasha drew a card.

"I'll attack your Life Points directly with Shapesnatch!" he said.

Yami grunted as the creature came right at him…

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"Ah!" Ichidou cried out, collapsing to her knees. She held her head down, hiding her eyes under her bangs as she panted.

"Ichidou?! Daijoubu? He just lost twelve hundred Life Points," Yugi said.

"I'm-I'm alright. Is he…?" Ichidou gasped, meeting Yugi's gaze imploringly.

"He'll be okay," Yugi answered. "He has three hundred Life Points remaining."

"Nani?! Three hundred! Oh, Kami-sama," groaned Ichidou, staggering to her feet.

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Simultaneously, the King of Games was clutching his knees to keep from keeling over. He finally managed to stand straight again and drew another card. 'This should buy me some time,' he realized. "Sealing Swords of Light! Now you both can't attack for three turns!"

"'Running scared, Pharaoh?" sneered Yami Malik as he pulled out another card from atop his deck. "You know what we're going to do after this? We're going to steal the God Cards back from my previous host's old sister."

"That just means I have even more reason to defeat you," the Pharaoh countered.

Yami Malik shrugged and The Earl of Demise onto the field in attack mode. "Too bad I can't attack. Just wait though, Pharaoh."

Hasha agreed and drew a card. "I'll play Emergency Provisions. It allows me to send all my magic or trap cards to the Graveyard. I get one thousand Life Points per card. That means, since both my facedown cards are magic cards, I get two thousand more Life Points. Both were useless anyway. Their only purpose was to get you not to attack in fear they were trap cards."

Yami ignored him and drew a card. 'One more…' he thought as he placed the card facedown on the field beside his other three facedown cards.

As it was his turn again, Yami Malik placed The Gross Ghost of Fled Dreams onto the field in defense mode. So it was back to Hasha who Empress Mantis in attack mode.

'They're preparing to wipe me out,' Yami thought. He held his hand over Ichidou's deck for a moment. 'I only have two more chances to draw the card I need. This is it…'

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"This is it," Yugi muttered.

"Nani?" Ichidou blinked.

"He has to draw the final card in the next turn before the Sealing Swords of Light wear out or directly afterwards otherwise he loses," Yugi explained.

"What card does he need?"

"The fifth Ouija card."

Nodding, Ichidou bit her lip. She shut her eyes tightly. 'Come on, Yami… Heart of the Cards and all that crap you keep telling me… I believe in you!'

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A/N: Jeez, it takes far too much work to remember what card each duelist has played, especially when they're using so many facedown cards. *laughs* I don't think I've made any errors, but if I have then let me know.

A/N 2: Sorry about the cliffhanger, minasan. The next chapter should be out ASAP though. Here's the preview for it:

Yami and Ichidou's only hope is for the former to draw the final Ouija card. What exactly are the Ouija cards? Well, when they're together on the field they spell DEATH and…

Stay tuned for "Duel Sixteen!" ^_^

A/N 3: Remember, "No review. No chapter." (I might make an exception though because of the cliffhanger, but don't count on it.) Sayonara!