Subnote from the Author: Because people wanted more, I decided to do so. This story has been renamed "The Shadow Game" for the new plot. Katsu will still be here. Consider the duel in the first chapter as a prologue. Also, I heard that later Joey will be sent to the Shadow Realm. If this is wrong, then I do not know what to say. I am also assuming that Yugi finds out that Yami Bakura is in his Puzzle.
After the finals, Yugi acquired the Millennium Rod from Marik. The evil spirit within Marik hid himself within the Rod, but everyone else in Kaiba's blimp thought that he had disappeared for good. Yugi wandered through the hallways of Kaiba's blimp. He thought about what had happened recently. He almost lost two of his friends, experienced three powers that he will never forget, got mixed up in a battle between step brothers, defeated all of the Rare Hunters, received two Millennium items, and saved the world. Was this really his destiny? He looked down at his Puzzle, and wondered. Somehow he eventually ended up next to the Hospital Wing. As he walked up to a door and he heard a sound from inside so he decided to see who was making it.
When he opened the door, Yugi found Serenity in front of Joey's bed. She had stumbled off her chair and looked up at him a bit embarrassed.
"You ok Serenity?" Yugi asked.
"Ya, I'm ok. Just nodded off," she replied as she picked herself up off the ground and sat back in her chair.
Yugi glanced at the two figures lying on the beds in front of him. He bit his lip as he slowly walked up to Joey and Mai, with the intentions of releasing their minds from the Shadow Realm using the Millennium Rod. First, he put the Rod above Joey's body waving it from one side to the other as the rod began to glow brightly. Serenity stood up and smiled as the Rod's power began to work.
"It's working," she said with glee.
Joey groaned slightly and his eyes opened. He looked up at Yugi and grinned, "What took ya so long?"
Yugi chuckled slightly then turned to Mai putting the millennium rod over her body and waving it from one side to the other as he'd done with Joey.
Mai stirred then blinked slightly and sat up just as Joey did. The two turned to look at each other and smiled.
"Mai…" Joey whispered with relief.
"J… Joey…" Mai whispered back as tears began to fill her eyes.
"Mai… you… you were in my dream… the one that I didn't tell you about… I'm sorry I lied."
Mai smiled at him, "It's ok…"
They stretched out their hands but right before they touched, Mokuba walked into the room. He looked around the room, then at Mai and Joey. He snickered slightly then announced, "We have landed everyone. Seto wants all non-personnel out of the blimp in 5 minutes," he grinned at them as he said this.
There was laughter all around the room. "Leave it to Kaiba to say something like that," Joey said shaking his head slightly.
"He was serious," Mokuba quickly said.
The laughter slowed down. Joey and Mai stood up with sighs. As everyone was about to leave the room, Marik and Bakura arrived & stood just outside of the door.
"In case you were wondering, Yugi, I released his mind personally. He attempted to help me get out earlier," Marik said before Yugi had a chance to ask.
Bakura then said to Yugi, "But my dark side was still resting inside of your Puzzle, Yugi…"
Yugi nodded. He knew that already. As they walked out of the blimp, Yugi stopped dead in his tracks & started to twitch. The Millennium Rod started to glow, but only Joey saw this.
"Yug… there's something wrong with that Ro-" he began.
Before Joey could finish, Yugi dropped to the ground, panting. The Millennium Rod dimmed. Yugi stood up quickly and continued to walk, as though nothing happened. "Well, what are you guys waiting for? Let's go," Yugi said to his friends.
Duke, Tea and Tristan all gave each other quizzical looks as they walked down the hall towards the others, and, with shrugs, followed behind Yugi.
As soon as they exited the blimp Mai turned to the others.
"Well, I better be going home now. I'll see you guys around ok?" Mai smiled glancing at Joey before turning and walking off towards home.
"Don't be a stranger Mai," Joey said as she walked off.
"Never," Mai called back.
After spending an hour on the bus, with everyone watching Yugi as he was looking at his deck, they stepped off the bus and began walking towards the turtle Game Shop.
"Yug…" Joey said to his friend in a worried tone.
"Yeah, Joey?" Yugi answered.
"A bit earlier… you know… when your Millennium Rod began glowing. What was up with that?"
"Maybe it was adjusting to its new master?" Yugi suggested with a shrug not seeming fazed at all at what had happened just earlier.
As Yugi said this, a thought went across Tea's mind, 'New master… or new host?' However, she didn't say anything about it and wiped it from her thoughts.
When they got to Grandpa's turtle game shop, there was Yugi's grandpa sweeping the sidewalk. After he finished, he turned to the side and, to his delight, saw Yugi and his friends walk down the street. After all of their greetings, Duke had to leave, to return to his own game shop. They bade farewell, and waved to Duke as he walked away.
"Yugi!" Grandpa said as the group walked up. "How'd the tournament go?"
Yugi smiled. "I won, Grandpa!"
Grandpa smiled back. "Well now, that's my grandson." Chuckles could be heard among Yugi's friends, "Come on in, everyone."
As everyone walked into the Game Shop, Joey pulled Grandpa to the side and whispered to him. "Listen, Gramps, something's up with Yug; he went kind of crazy for a moment after the tournament. He didn't do anything, but his body began twitchin' and stuff. Just watch out, will ya?"
Grandpa looked at him quizzically. "I don't quite understand, Joseph, but if you say so…" The two then proceeded into the Game Shop where the others were waiting.
Grandpa sat down at his desk while everyone looked around. "So, did you meet anyone interesting at the tournament?"
Tea responded, "Yeah, we met Katsu the Dragon Master, or so he claims."
Tristan continued, "And we also met Marik and the Rare Hunters. Those guys aren't to be trusted. They steal cards from duelists by beating them brutally. Joey here was beaten once.
"And some other interesting people," Tea added.
Joey gave Tristan a dirty look. Tristan looked in the other direction and started whistling.
"And Marik was their leader", Tea finished.
Suddenly Yugi began sweating. His body began twitching again. The Rod glowed once more, and the Millennium Puzzle suddenly broke into pieces. Yugi screamed, as his voice started to change to that of the dark spirit's that lived within Marik for so long. Everyone looked at him in terror.