Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or its characters. I do own my OC, Akunriou / Tory and Kishtoh / Lucca, plus the storyline.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING NOTICES!

MidnightBallad: Read previous notes. Now for the duel...

Important: If you see 'present' at the start of the chapter, then that means the story is set in 'the now'. If it says 'past', then it is set 3, 000 years ago, back in Egypt.

Present: A Challenge

The sensation of being brought back to the present was a surprising one: one minute, Yami was looking at his 3,000 year-past self, and then he was back in the shininess of Seto Kaiba's office. Yami shook his head like a wet dog as he pulled himself from the floor. Seto and Tory had fallen too, and Mokuba seemed to be hiding behind his brother's desk.

'Wh-what just happened?' Mokuba asked in a shaky voice. Stumbling as he stood up, Seto said, 'It was...a memory.'

Mokuba edged out from behind the desk. He gazed at the Millennium Puzzle around Yami's neck, and then to the Egyptian stone around Tory's. What connection did the two objects have with each other? Mokuba wanted to know – he wanted to see the memory, but for some reason, only his big brother and Yami could. Then he looked at Tory; she was very still, as if another move would damage her in some way. 'What was it about, Tory?'

Tory looked at the little boy. She could see a brotherly resemblance between him and Seto Kaiba – Tory wondered if Mokuba was, perhaps, in Egypt three thousand years ago. 'I lived in Egypt three thousand years ago. Akunriou was my name...and the memory was about me.'

'Is this the only reason you wanted to talk to us?' Seto demanded rudely. 'To show us these useless memories?'

'They are not useless!' Tory retorted. 'The Pharaoh said something about dark forces...there has to be more clues in the other memories.'

Yami caught everyone's attention. 'Do you think that the same forces have come back, Tory?'

Suddenly, the phone on Seto's desk wrung. Everyone jumped, whirled to face the source of the noise. Sighing, Seto pressed a prey button on the phone. 'Yes?'

'Mister Kaiba,' came another man's voice. 'There's a young man in the foyer who wants to talk to you...he says he knows one of your guests.'

Seto pressed the button again as he spoke. 'Did he say what his name was?'

There was a brief pause. 'He didn't give us his last name, but he says his name is Lucca.' (A/N: Pronounced Loo-kah)

Seto turned to Yami and Tory. 'Do any of you two know a guy named Lucca?'

Yami and Tory shook their heads. Sighing yet again, Seto answered into the phone, 'Tell him I'll be right down.'

- -

Seto, Yami and Tory all went downstairs to see this 'Lucca' boy. Yami and Tory were very curious to see who it was – Seto, on the other hand, was coming down to kick him out of the building so that he could go get some dinner. Preferably something that didn't remind him of Egypt.

When the three arrived in the foyer, they found a very tall young man waiting for them. His brown hair was tied back in a short ponytail, and stray bits of hair were held back with a black and red sweatband. His eyes were very dark, and one had a very long vertical scar running down it, like a tear. And his skin was very tanned, as if he lived in the sun. The back pocket of his jeans bulged with a Duel Monsters deck – this had to be Lucca.

'You're Lucca? What do you want?' Seto asked informally. He watched as Lucca took his Duel Monsters deck from his back pocket. Seto mechanically rolled his eyes.

'A duel –' Lucca answered, when he was cut off by Seto.

'Not now, kid. I don't know you, so I'd just be wasting my time.'

Lucca was still smiling. 'Not with you, sir,' he pointed at Yami and Tory with his index and middle fingers. 'With Yugi and Tory.'

Seto raised his eyebrows. 'Two on one? You must think you're good, kid.'

Lucca lowered his fingers. 'We'll see, won't we? Now, will you duel me, Yugi?' Lucca grinned. 'It would be an honour.'

Yami looked at Tory – it was her decision too. Tory smiled and nodded enthusiastically. Yami said to Lucca, 'Does the winner have a reward?'

Lucca folded his arms. 'As a matter of fact: yes. If I win, I get your Millennium Puzzle and Tory's Egyptian necklace. If you win, I'll tell you everything I know.'

Tory stepped forward. 'What?! That's a bit of a sad offer. You could be bluffing!'

Lucca smiled at Tory in an almost teasing manner. 'Believe me, I am not. I have things that you need to know, Tory.'

Tory and Yami exchanged looks. They doubted that Lucca could beat them both. Maybe they could pretend to be stunned for a few seconds, and then beat the crap out of him.

Yami turned back to Lucca. 'We'll do it.'

'Excellent,' Lucca said. 'At the park, seven o'clock tonight. Is that alright with you two?'

'Sure.' Yami accepted.

'Good for me.' Tory said, also accepting. Then, Lucca bowed and left the building. 'I'll see you later, Pharaoh.'

Yami gritted his teeth. How did Lucca know about his past? Maybe he wasn't bluffing after all...

- -

Back in his younger form, Yugi hurried to the park at seven o'clock to meet Tory and Lucca. With him, he carried three Duel Disks that Seto had allowed him to borrow.

The park was very dim, lit by only a few lamps. It was also deserted, and only a dog barked in the distance. No one appeared to be here yet.

Okay, Yami, Yugi said, speaking to the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle. Will you duel, or will I?

There is something about Tory, Yugi. She knew me back in Egypt, so perhaps we shall battle together. Yami answered. They did not speak as Tory came from the darkness, dressed in jeans and a very floppy lavender jacket. Surprisingly, she had removed her sunglasses.

'I can't see with them on.' Tory laughed as Yugi looked at her eyes. They were both brown at the moment, yet one held a hint of green. 'Is Lucca here, yet?' She asked conversationally.

'Nope...' Yugi said, gazing around the park. 'Tory?'

'Hmm?' Tory said, snapping to look at Yugi.

'If you – Akunriou – knew Yami back in Egypt three thousand years ago, why doesn't he remember you?' Yugi asked, head turned to one side much like a confused dog. Tory gazed up at the night sky. 'I don't know. I think it's the same reason why I don't remember him. But if we delve into these memories, then that answer will appear: as well as the one about those dark forces.'

Something snapped in the darkness. Lucca appeared like some sort of spirit, shuffling his Duel Monsters deck. His eyes seemed to glow in an evil manner. 'Evening, Atemu...Akunriou.'

'What do you know about us?' Yugi snapped at Lucca. 'Who are you?'

Lucca smiled, the night sky reflected in his dark eyes. 'You shall know in time. Now, Atemu and Akunriou – it's time to duel.'

- -

MidnightBallad: Enjoying the story? I'm really sorry if you're confused about the Egyptian part of the story – I promise to summarise it next time Yami, Seto and Tory are warped into a memory. As for the duel, that'll begin next chapter. Don't forget to review, thanks!