I'm back! Sorry 'bout the late update... but at least I did update. Hopefully the next chapter will be up soon.

---Plan---

I hadn't slept at all last night; I was too afraid he would come out and haunt my dreams. I had even wondered if I should go watch Yugi's match or not, because Bakura seemed to like being in contact with Yugi. I shuddered at the thought of what Bakura would do to my friend, if he had ever gotten his hands on him. And although this seemed like the greatest reason not to go to Yugi's match, something just as powerful countered it.

Téa.

I never really did like her. I think it was because we had both liked Yugi; we thought of each other as rivals, constantly fighting over Yugi's attention. Poor, naïve little Yugi didn't have a clue about our hidden feelings, and always had this confused look on his face when he saw us glaring at each other. I laughed softly, as if not to disturb my sleeping counterpart. I was beginning to think that I didn't even have a chance with Yugi, since Téa had known him longer than I did.

But I also had things that Téa didn't know how to do.

'Like dueling...' I thought as I took out a comb from my backpack, giving my hair a few good licks with it. I stared into the mirror, wondering who Yugi would prefer; a quiet, shy girl like me, or a loud, optimistic and outgoing girl, like Téa.

"Amane, are you ready?" A voice called out from the door, making me jump a little.

"Almost!" I replied, grabbing my jacket and slipping it on, the blue tint of it matching the color on my skirt. I took a look at the mirror, making sure I looked presentable before opening the door, giving a small smile at the other three. We headed to Yugi's room and throw the door open, just in time to see Yugi's Millennium Puzzle glow as he changed to his counterpart.

We all beamed at him, who grinned back and together, we headed out to the arena. I couldn't help but notice how close Téa was to Yugi and inside, I seethed with anger. But that feeling disappeared in an instant, for we reached the arena and I grinned when Yugi and Joey departed from us as we walked to the balcony.

We waited and soon the arena doors opened, spitting out the four finalists. Pegasus started saying his speech, but I didn't catch a word he said because I was tuned out of it. When the first duel was announced – Yugi verses Mai – my mind was back in reality. The other two duelists stepped back through the doors and awaited their turn.

As Yugi and Mai stepped up to duel, I called out to them, waving to catch the multi-colored hair teen's attention. He looked up at me, giving me a small smile, and I managed to catch a glimpse of his pained eyes before looking back at Mai. I narrowed my eyes at Yugi's current emotion, ignoring the heated glare I got from Téa.

Joey suddenly came up, shocking the rest of us. He grinned sheepishly, stating that he wanted a bird's eye view of the duel. We all smiled back, and then turned to watch the duel unfold.

The duel started and we all cheered Yugi on. But it was obvious that Yugi's mind or heart wasn't completely there, and that worried me. His moves were not thought through enough, and they kept getting destroyed by Mai's combo; Mirror Wall to lower Yugi's monster's attack points, and using her Harpy Lady to attack the weakened monster. It looked like Yugi was going to lose without a fight. I looked away, not wanting to watch the end of the duel. I also tried to shut out the noise that was currently streaming through my ears.

It didn't work though. The sound went through my mental barriers, and I heard bits and pieces of conversation. When it processed through my brain, I realized that it was a female voice – Mai's voice – talking to Yugi. I turned around, just in time to see Yugi's Dark Magician being destroyed by Harpy Lady, bringing his lifepoints down to 300.

I heard Joey muse out loud, wondering if he had beaten Mai out of luck. But she replied to the blonde's question, saying that he knew something she didn't and then explains what she meant. She turns to Yugi, asking if he had faced his fears. I glanced at him, watching as his face went deep into thought. He closed his eyes, ignoring the stares from everybody in the room.

When he opened them, his eyes shined with determination and confidence. His Millennium Puzzle glowed a little, enough for me to see it, and he started making his comeback.

He played Brain Control, taking over Mai's Pet Dragon. Her face contorted to an expression of light confusion, and she commented on how her monster wouldn't attack her Harpies. Yugi grinned, replying that he wasn't intending to attack her. Mai's confusion grew bigger and Yugi's grin wider as he placed Catapult Turtle on the field. He launched Mai's Dragon toward her Mirror Wall, destroying both things and lowering Mai's lifepoints.

The blond looked a little shocked as our group on the balcony cheered, ecstatic that Yugi would make such a great comeback. Mai narrowed her eyes as she thought about her next move, probably about whether she should attack or not. If she did, she would win the duel. But Yugi's face down card could be a trap, most likely depriving Mai of the rest of her lifepoints.

In the end, she decided to not attack, inspired by Yugi's urging and her judgment. But she played Elegant Egotist to multiply her one harpy to three, letting Yugi take his turn after. He grinned, revealing his face down card; Monster Recovery. Mai is shocked as he took his hand and re-shuffled it into his deck, drawing a new hand. He looked at it, and his eyes narrow, sending needles of worry towards me.

He played Mystical Elf in defense mode, Mai's Shadow of Eyes card not being able to lure the elf into attack mode, and waited as Mai drew a card. She played Monster Reborn, bringing her Dragon back to life, which was powered up to 2900 attack points. She attacked Yugi's elf, shattering it into pieces before his eyes.

A look of worry crossed Yugi's face, knowing that the next card insured whether he would win or lose this duel. I felt the occupants of the room hold their breaths as Yugi drew his next – and perhaps last – card. When he glanced at it, he smiled and announced that he would now play the 'Swords of Revealing Light' Magic Card. We all cheered as light trapped Mai's monsters within its cage, making the owner of them annoyed.

"You're just delaying the inevitable, Yugi." Mai stated. But he replied that he would win as he played 'Kuriboh', receiving a laugh from the blonde and ignoring the evil glares she got from the fur ball. She drew a card and let Yugi take his turn, unable to do anything because of the magic card.

The second turn passed by, Yugi playing Monster Reborn to bring 'Gaia the Fierce Knight' back onto the field. And just as quickly, the third passed by. It was Yugi's turn now; his last chance to win the duel before Mai does so. His hand hovered above his deck, hesitating to draw the card. A small, simple calmness seemed to wash over him, and he drew the card, taking a long look at it.

No emotion played in Yugi's eyes as he placed down the card he just drew – Black Luster Ritual. He sacrificed his two monsters and summoned Black Luster Soldier, a monster who had 3000 attack points. He attacked Mai's Dragon, bringing her lifepoints down to 750 and leaving her disheartened. She surrendered, walking out of the arena. We all cheered when Yugi won his duel, and even more so when they announced that it was time for Joey to duel. He looked more than a little freaked at the thought of having to duel so soon, and voiced it aloud.

"Don't worry Joey! You'll be fine." Téa and I chanted in unison, glaring at each other afterward and then turning out faces so we wouldn't look at the other. Sweat drops appeared on the boy's faces, and Tristan reminded Joey that he was going up against the Intercontinental Champion, which left Joey in a more freaked-out mode.

He walked away from the balcony and headed to the arena just as Yugi began to walk out of his dueling platform. We all waited, excitement building up. But still, no one came out. It seemed like forever before Joey came out to his respective place, even though it was only five minutes. Bandit Keith, on the other hand, was sitting on the couch, lounging around lazily when he was asked to show his entry card, which he did.

But Joey was having difficulty finding his. He dug around in his pockets, panic rising with failed attempt to locate the card. Luckily, the tournament manager informed Joey that he would have five minutes to get his card and come back here or else he'll be disqualified. Distraught, Joey rushed off, and we all gave a sad sigh, hoping that the blonde would be able to find the card that Yugi had just given him last night.

A minute passed... then another. Soon, the clock was ticking closer and closer to five minutes. Hope dissolved slowly, leaving only a little to hold on to. But as the clock ticked to five, Joey came in, holding up his entry card with a great sense of pride.

And so, the duel began. It was kind of uninteresting. They played tug of war with who had the upper hand, slowly chipping away at each other's lifepoints. But in the end, even though it seemed like Joey was going to lose with Bandit Keith's combo of Slot Machine and Seven Completed, he pulled through, grabbing victory with his Graverobber Card.

But it seemed like Bandit Keith wasn't amused at his loss, for he claimed that the duel didn't count because Joey's card wasn't his own. The blonde admitted that it was Mai's, but asked how he knew. Keith quieted, not able to answer as something clicked in my mind. Pegasus confirmed my suspicions, saying that it was quite clear that Keith had stole Joey's card. And he also said that he was cheating during the match, for he had Seven Completed cards up his sleeve.

Bandit Keith denied it, protesting that it was all a lie, and he would need proof. But Pegasus ignored him, ordering that his bodyguards take the enraged man away, and they grab a hold of him. He was even angrier now, shaking them off and jumping up into the balcony where Pegasus sat calmly in his seat. I didn't know how anyone could be so calm when Bandit Keith took out a gun, pointing it at Pegasus' head, and demanding that he hand over the prize money. But that was answered, because Pegasus pushed a hidden switch, the floor underneath Keith collapsing and making him fall inside.

We all looked in shock, just pointlessly staring at where Keith had been. We just caught the tournament manager's words; to take a ten minute break before the finals would begin.

-o-

Yugi and Joey left to talk to their own, leaving me, Téa, and Tristan at the balcony. Currently, Téa and I were having glaring contest, poor Tristan being stuck in the middle of it, a clueless look plastered on his face. He made a comment about how tough it will be to watch Yugi and Joey duel each other, adding that it must be hard on them to duel each other. We both glanced up from our little contest, nodding in agreement.

"It's easier just for them to flip a coin or something like that. I don't want to see them battle..." Téa said, shaking her head with a look of sadness in her eyes.

"At least one of them will be able to face Pegasus." Tristan added, trying to brighten up the situation. It didn't work though, so we just stood there in silence, waiting for another to say something; anything.

But no one did, and so we just had to watch as Yugi and Joey stepped out to the dueling arena, confident smiles shining upon their faces. Pegasus came out, giving both finalists a hearty congratulations, finishing with a 'I look forward to watching you at your best' before he sat back down.

Joey started first, thanking Yugi for helping him through out the tournament and telling him they'll always be friends no matter what. Yugi replied that he deserved being here, and then they both vow to do there best. After that, the duel started.

We had a hushed conversation while we watch Yugi summon Celtic Guardian in attack mode.

"There's so much at stake..." Téa said sadly, "It's so unlike the duels we had back in Domino."

"I hope they can both win somehow..." Tristan wished and I agreed, hoping that they would both get what they came here to get. Joey summoned Giltia the Dark Knight, destroying Yugi's monster and bringing his lifepoints to 1550.

They matched each other move for move, trying to push the other to do their best. Téa made a comment about it, and I had to admit that I agreed with her. It seemed like Joey had stole the duel from Yugi when he summoned the Black Skull Dragon, a powerful beast with enough attack points to take on Kaiba's prized dragon. But Yugi countered it with his Dark Magician and Magical Hats combo.

Yugi won the duel in the end, the Time Wizard's magic changing his powered up Dark Magician to the Dark Sage. He had used Monster Reborn to bring Dark Skull Dragon, who had been destroyed earlier, and wiped out the rest of Joey's lifepoints.

We all headed down to the dueling arena, congratulating Yugi on his victory, and confused as to why Joey was crying tears of joy. Later, we left Yugi and headed back to the balcony. But as I walked, something pounded in my head, and I grasped it tightly. The others looked at me, asking if I was ok. I replied I was, and told them to go ahead and I would catch up with them soon. Unconvinced, they did, not before giving me a last glance as they walked up the stairs.

I rubbed my temples hard in an attempt to stop the pounding within my head. But it wouldn't go away, and I kneeled against the floor, trying to stop myself from screaming out loud; trying to stop myself from disappearing into the darkness.

But it was too late.

-o-

I snickered, picking myself up from the floor, taking my time as I did so. Taking over the girl's body was easy. I walked up the stairs and onto the balcony, giving a fake smile and a little wave when I saw the Pharaoh's friends. I strolled over to them, noticing that the girl in the group kept glaring at me for reasons unknown.

Apparently, the other two in the group noticed too, and striked up a conversation about the duel between the Pharaoh and Pegasus.

"Pegasus stacked the deck in his favor, so I think the Pha- I mean Yugi will have a hard time beating him." I said, trying to make sure my voice sounded as close to the girl's as possible. Damn that girl and her quietness. Listening wasn't a big virtue for me, so I tuned out of the conversation and began going over my plan.

"Amane!" I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to look at the brown haired boy, mustering the will not to death glare him to the next century.

"Yes?" I asked as sweetly as I could. It sickened me.

He motioned for me to come with him, and so we slowly walked back down into the stairs and into another room.

"Listen Amane," He started, "I'm going to look for Mokuba and Kaiba. Don't tell Tea or Joey, okay?"

I had the urge to just brush him off. But the idea to capture theempty bodies intrigued me. If I had a body all to myself, I wouldn't have to worry about some dumb hikari to go against me. I hid an evil grin.

"Sure, Tristan."

-o-

"Where'd Tristan go?" Was the question I received when I was back onto the balcony, where the other two were watching Yugi's duel start. Annoying brats. I replied that he wandered off somewhere, earning the comment that he probably went to the washroom from Joey.

I decided to watch the Pharaoh's duel, lacking anything to do at the moment. But as it began and went on, I found my attention towards the duel getting thinner and thinner, until I stopped paying attention altogether. I stifled back a yawn, trying to make sure Téa nor Joey suspected anything suspicious as I mindlessly watched Pegasus stomp the Pharaoh to the ground multiple times.

"If Mokuba gets away, what will we tell Pegasus?"

My Millennium Ring glowed dully and I looked up, gaze caught upon one of Pegasus' goons, who was talking on the phone. It seemed like spiked-head boy done his job, rescuing Mokuba. Now it was my turn to do my job.

I turned, hearing the blonde ask where I was going. I looked at him, giving a small smile and replying that I was going to look for Tristan because he had been gone for a long time. Wheeler mused, wondering what could be more important than this match. I told him that I would ask him when I find him and then I turned back and ran into the dungeon.

I willed the Millennium Ring to guide me through; to lead me to the two. When I arrived, it was just in time, because they were currently surrounded by a bunch of guards. They pointed their guns at me, threatening to shoot if I didn't leave. I just smirked, taking out my deck and drawing the top card; Chained Energy. Shadows grew around me as I activated it, rings of energy appearing and pinning the guards against the walls.

I glanced at the brown-haired boy, who seemed to be more than a little confused. Ignorant mortal. But at least he ran away, so I followed him. As we ran, he turned to me, asking where the magic card had come from. I snapped at him to keep running, patience wearing thin as my fingers itch to just remove the smaller boy's body from him.

We ran up a flight of stairs, opening the door and nearly plummeting to our deaths as we gazed down at the tops of trees, barely able to see the dirt or grass through the leafy branches. My 'partner' gave a small sigh of relief, having been just saved from certain death, and turned back to go back down the stairs. Silhouettes of different people made their way, and spiky head made a noise of disproval, stating that we have no way of getting out. I snorted.

"No worries. I'll just get some help from the Shadow Realm." I calmly said, pulling out my deck and flipping through the cards, grabbing the ones I'd be needing. One of the guards called out to us, saying to give up the unconscious boy. I smirked, telling them that they were foolish mortals and that it was far from over. I summoned Man-Eater Bug, who materialized right in front of us and headed for the guards. I heard bullets being shot, making marks at the wall behind my monster, who jumped at them and pinned them down.

"Present-day humans are so much fun to terrorize." I said, turning around to grin at the brown-haired boy, who disagreed with me. He replied that he was one of those present-day humans and he asked who I was.

"I'm someone with great power..."

Morphing Jar came out of his card, swallowing up the guards and sending them to the card graveyard, where they would get a nice visit from the Reaper himself. I turned to the shocked boy, saying that I had no patience for fools to get in the way.

"Who are you, really? And what do you want? I know you're the one Yugi sent to the Shadow Realm." He managed to say.

"That wouldn't have happened if that girl didn't betray me," I snapped at him, "So now, I want a new body. An empty body... the body you're carrying right now. So hand him over, or suffer the same fate as the others did."

The boy thought about the situation and what to do. Stupid boy. What was there to think of? All he had to do was hand over the body. But then, I heard his agreement, throwing the smaller boy's body towards me. I went to catch it, but something hit me in the stomach, sending me crumpling onto the ground. I looked up, just in time to see a shoe flying to the side of my head, making me see black.

---ooo---

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