Reworking note:  11/14/04.  This is the only chapter that all I did was run it through spell checker.    It's also short compared the the last few, mainly because the last few I tried to make all about the same length, while I didn't want to change the last chapter as much either.  Second to the last chapter.  It was originally number 18, as you can see at the bottom.

Riter: Heyz ppl! First of all, thank you for all the reviews. I'd list all of the reviewers, but I'm, uh, a little lazy.

Seto: Lazy ass.

Riter: Bobby?

Bobby: Rawr.

Rai: He says he's tired of chasing that dude around. Wait, why am I here interpreting dragon-lish to you again?

Riter: Cuz Rednal29 sed so.

Rai: Stop spelling "said" wrong.

Riter: I have to spell it that way! It's like, my siggy! Besides, of course, my creepy smile, annoying habit of using "yeah" as a period.

Bobby: Rawr, grr, psh.

Rai: He said, Since my human is busy, I shall say the disclaimer.

Bobby: Rawry grawr, pthow!

Rai: Lil-Riter does not own YuGiOh, or the dolt.... What?!! Did you just call me a DOLT!?

Bobby: (happily) RAWR!

Rai: Why you little... (chases the dragon)

Seto: Since the dragon, translator, and Author.

Riter: My habit of getting hyper and spazzing out, creeping out everyone around me.

Seto: ...Are busy, I'll have to say this (however much I LOATHE saying it...) on with the fic. (gags and runs to find the soap.)

Takara

"Chaud," I greeted without looking up at the rare hunter. ((A/N: Okay, so I'm making up random names. Who cares?)) It was amazing how Marik, a puny sixteen-year-old, could command a grown man. I mentally slapped my own forehead. "I mean, I don't know who you're talking about."

Chaud was a pretty slow one. "You're not Takara? Wait a minute. . . look at me." He forced my chin up, and I ended up looking at his face. The punk was bald, just like I'd last seen him. His face twisted into a snarl. It was a disgusting thing to see, and my stomach was getting a little bit queasy again. The next time Chaud opened his mouth though, it wasn't him talking.

"Hello Takara. It's been a while." A robotic voice came from his mouth. "I've been looking for you, you know." Chaud's body stepped forward, making me back up towards the wall.

"Why the hell do you care so much about me Marik?" I spat, taking another step back. "You do realize I still hate your guts, right?"

"You sent letters. Lots of letters. I think your point was made." He stepped forward. I stepped back.

"One letter," I corrected.

"With lots of harsh words," Marik added.

"Oh, I get what you're after. This, huh," I said, fumbling for my pocket and pulling out the perfume bottle he'd given me so long ago. He made an unreadable face.

"You never opened it, did you?" Marik asked softly. He took another step. At this point I had stopped seeing Chaud's face and robotic voice. Now I imagined Marik, his voice, his face.

"No, I didn't," I informed him, "and I don't really care what's in it, so take it." I tossed it to him, but took another step back and hit the wall. Marik/Chaud pocketed it.

"You don't really get it, do you?" With that he lifted me by the collar and pinned me to the wall with his hands, so I was face to face with "Chaud." My legs dangled helplessly, and my stomach lurched again. My arms were suddenly incapable. I was really scared about what he was going to do. "You're really beautiful, you know. A very big distraction in my quest for the god cards." With that, he kissed me. I was pinned to the wall three inches from the ground, a guy I hated with all my might forcing his minion's tongue down my throat. I didn't know what to do. My stomach lurched again. And then his hands slid up my shirt...

And I threw up.

Normal POV


"Dammit!" Marik shouted, banging his fist on the table. He wiped his mouth again. The taste of Takara's bile hadn't reached him, but the thought of it still grossed him out.

"Master Marik sir?" Odion asked consciously.

"WHAT?!" the teen snapped.

"Never mind," Odion said, not wanting to ask about what was bothering his young master in fear he'd get more angry.

"Waste of my time," Marik muttered, stomping off to the deck of the boat. He leaned against the railing, looking at the city lights in the distance and feeling the sea breeze ruffle his hair. He closed his eyes and cleared his mind, wanting to calm down. He couldn't though. Takara's appearance was stuck in his head. Her clothes had fit snugly along her every curve, her hair had been longer than he'd last seen it, and a different color too, although he hadn't been able to make it out in the dim light. He remembered what it had felt like to slide his hands up her shirt. . .

Marik's eyes snapped open. Stop thinking, he thought. "Ra," he muttered, "help me keep my focus." The Egyptian God Cards, he thought. Obilisk. Kaiba. Takara.

Angrily, he spat into the ocean and returned to his room.

"Dammit!" Marik shouted, banging his fist on the table. He wiped his mouth again. The taste of Takara's bile hadn't reached him, but the thought of it still grossed him out."Master Marik sir?" Odion asked consciously."WHAT?!" the teen snapped."Never mind," Odion said, not wanting to ask about what was bothering his young master in fear he'd get more angry."Waste of my time," Marik muttered, stomping off to the deck of the boat. He leaned against the railing, looking at the city lights in the distance and feeling the sea breeze ruffle his hair. He closed his eyes and cleared his mind, wanting to calm down. He couldn't though. Takara's appearance was stuck in his head. Her clothes had fit snugly along her every curve, her hair had been longer than he'd last seen it, and a different color too, although he hadn't been able to make it out in the dim light. He remembered what it had felt like to slide his hands up her shirt. . .Marik's eyes snapped open. Stop thinking, he thought. "Ra," he muttered, "help me keep my focus." The Egyptian God Cards, he thought. Obilisk. Kaiba. Takara.Angrily, he spat into the ocean and returned to his room.

Takara

Run. The thought pounded through my head. Run. I jumped into the Nissan and started the engine. Chaud and I had nearly choked on my puke, but Marik had let go of his control on the poor man, who'd fallen unconsious. Now, I commanded myself. Think of now. I pulled out of the alley and drove on straight. Stupid me, I thought, looking at the gas meter. It was blinking. Wait a minute. . . hadn't it just been almost full? Dammit! I slammed my fist against the dashboard. Some one had stolen my gas while I was in Claire's!

I pulled over, grabbed the leather trenchcoat Tikany had bought for me (so my style would resemble my brother's), and hopped out, looking around. I could see them, the rare hunters, in the shadows. I ran up to the closest, biggest, brightest building. Domino Museum.

When I got into the second set of doors, I collapsed on the ground and scooted as far as I could along the wall away from the door. When I hit a bench I stopped, hugging my knees and tilting my head forward so my blue hair fell as a curtain around my face. I kept on shivering, dispite the warmth inside the building. "Are you alright?" A semi-familiar voice asked. It sounded vaguely like Yugi, but not much.

"Yea," I lied. I didn't have to disguise my voice. It was already harsh and raspy.

"Are you sure?" I almost jumped again at Tea's voice.
"Yeah," I said again. "I'm sure." I made the mistake of looking up and making eye contact with Yugi. My eyes widened a little in shock of what I was seeing. This guy wasn't Yugi. He couldn't possibly be.

I mean, yeah sure, he had the same unique hair and the same amethyst eyes, but they weren't really the same eyes. This boy's eyes were sterner, commanding more respect. Yugi's eyes were large and round and full of smiles and meekness. These eyes were... Plus they didn't recognize me. The eyes smiled, and I realized his mouth was smiling too. I grinned weakly. I glanced at Tea and stood up. Another thing different. He was taller. By about five inches. I still looked down at him slightly, though. He must be related, I told myself. "Thanks for your concern." I blinked, surprised that my voice sounded like Seto, but maybe that was just me.

Sure enough, he didn't recognize me. He smiled. "I'm Yugi," he said, sticking his hand out. I was... confused at this point. He was the same person, but not the same person.

"Diana," I replied, grasping it firmly. I nodded at Tea, and walked towards the back of the Egypt exhibit. Maybe there was a payphone or something.

"Come on, Yugi," I heard Tea say.

"I don't know why, but she seems so familiar..."

I was so busy listening that I didn't notice a white clad figure in front of me. "Takara," she greeted.

I stopped in my tracks. "You must be Ishizu Ishtar."

She nodded her head slightly. "You have been through much already, I can tell." I could tell I was turning green. What's up with me? Why am I so sick? "I know you're in some trouble with my brother, but it'll end up all right, I assure you." I smiled tentatively, and threw up in my mouth. Swallowing the disgusting bile, I asked her something.

"Me and my brother... do you think things are alright there?" Ishizu thought for a moment.

"He doesn't accept you now, and he will eventually destroy the cards he gave you. But in the end, things will be all right between you and him." I nodded, feeling my stomach lurch again. "The restroom is over there," she said pointing. "And when you're done, here's a quarter to call your brother." I nodded my thanks, gripping the quarter tightly as I ran to the restrooms.

Riter: Yea! the end of Chapter 18! Not my best chapter ever, but.... I've almost hit the twenty mark, but I'm still no where near the end of the fic.

Rai: Wait, you mean you're not even half way done here?!

Riter: Nope. The story's sposed to overlap battle city, remember? Kaiba hasn't even anounced it in the plaza. Now shut up. I have to tell people to review.

Rai: Why should I?

Riter: ((Smiles evilly))

Rai: ((Shudders)) alright. I'll shut up.

Riter: Good! Plz review! If you didn't like the chapter, plz tell me! and read the story first!