Yugi stepped up onto the Podium-like arena and turned to face his opponent. Yami was cracking his knuckles looking hungrily at the arena. He held a Deck of cards in his hands and shuffled it thoroughly and placed it in front of him. The deck vanished at his side of the field and reappeared at Yugi's. He pulled out another Deck and slapped it in front of him. Yugi looked into Yami's eyes trying not to cringe under the evil showing in his old friend's eyes.

"Losing the old dueling arenas?"

"I thought that a simple 10 slab game would leave me bored. I hope to prolong your defeat."

"And I hope you didn't stack your deck."

"Oh no little Yugi. Our decks are identical. We shall have this test be in skills alone not in power of the decks."

Yugi looked behind him reflexively at Kaiba. He had always stacked his deck against Yugi. Yami must be very confident to have the same deck go up against him. But Yami still had the advantage. He knew all the cards in Yugi's deck. Yugi turned back to face Yami.

"I'm ready."

"Then lets begin our duel!"

Yugi: 4000 Yami: 4000

Yugi grabbed 5 cards and placed them in his hand. He recognized a few of them. Swords of Revealing Light. Gemini Elf. Harpie's Feather Duster. But the other two he never heard of. An effect card named Guano's Servant and a trap card called Fate of the Hands. He could alone hope that the cards would work with him.

"You cannot win Yugi."

Yugi looked back at Marik who had spoken.

"I shall defeat my foe and release your hold on Marik."

"I am Marik. My weaker half will be banished forever after this Dark One destroys you in battle. I regret I can't do it myself."

"Letting other people fight your battles?"

Marik growled taking a step towards Yugi. Shadi (Shoogan in disguise) threw his arm to block Marik.

"He is leading you into a fight. He wishes to catch you in a bad position. Stay back and just try to enjoy the show."

Marik kept his snarl on his face but he did move back as Shadi ordered. Kaiba smiled and spoke to Yugi.

"Don't think you can trick us Yugi. With you out of the way our worse halves will never gain control of their bodies."

"I agree."

Yugi turned back to face Yami who now had a triumphant smile on his face.

"The stakes will pile up. Observe."

Yami pointed to the ceiling of the domed chamber. At he top, shackled by some dark energy, were Kaiba, Shadi, and Marik in their normal selves. They appeared unconscious and Yugi was still taken aback by their presence.

"This is between you and me Yami! Leave my friends out of this!"

"No Yugi. This just makes the game more interesting. Se the wager as the lives of your friends if you lose."

"And if I win?"

"You won't win Yugi. But to entertain you lets say your friends will be released and I'll return these."

He threw his cloak to the side of his body to show the Millennium items being held there.

"You can go first Yugi. We have a duel to start."

"I'll play one card face down."

Yugi set Fate of the Hands down.

"And I'll set this card in defense position.

Yugi placed Guano's Servant (750/500) in defense position.

"Your move."

"I'll summon Black Warrior of the Night in attack position (1800/1400). Attack my beast!"

Yugi didn't activate the trap as Guano's Servant appeared. Yami jumped back in surprise at the sight of the monster and cursed under his breath. Guano was destroyed, but it turned into a ball of light that attached itself to the warrior.

"I trust, Yugi, that you don't know what this card did? If it is destroyed in battle it can lower any monster on the fields attack by 500."

Yugi smiled. A good move and it was still his turn. He drew another unfamiliar card. A magic card called Pharaoh's Retribution.

'What the hell, I guess I should just play it.'

"I summon Gemini elf! (1900/900) Then I'll play Pharaoh's Retribution!"

"Damn. That raises any monsters attack by 500 and gives the user 500 life points every time it destroys a card. A rare card."

'Awesome. The Heart of the Cards is still with me'

"Right and with that I'll attack! Go, Gemini Elf. Attack now!"

Yami shielded himself as his life point counter clicked down and his warrior was destroyed.

Yugi: 4500 Yami: 2900

'This isn't over Yugi. You think our Deck's are the same? We will see when I show you the instrument of your defeat! Nothing can stop me! Nothing!'

"HA! The duel is just warming up Yugi. And you might yet present me with a challenge."