Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh.

My notes: This is me stalling. This is me deliberately trying to slow this down, because really I have no idea what Joey could possibly do to save himself. And I was going to post this before I got to class, but it wasn't ready. Anyways, I'm wondering if you, my wonderful readers, could you know, summarize the entire story's events? I mean, I know what's going on, but I don't know if you guys really know what's happening. I don't know if I've been as straight-forward as I could be. And a lot of stuff has happened. Maybe I should add a 'what happened in the last chapter' summary at the start of each new chapter like they do in the show? Just a thought. And apparently doesn't like us pasting websites or email addresses in reviews. So I guess we're going to have be a bit more subtle, spelling things out. Anyways enjoy this stalling filler. I'll try to aim for a suitable conclusion for the next chapter, just so I can end my agony over this unfair duel.

Eye of the Storm

Listen and obey. The voice echoed within Serenity's mind over and over, modulating in pitch and sound. It was if the voice was stretching the young girl's sense of hearing.

Who…? was Serenity's only coherent thought. But this was drowned out by the reverberating voice. The wildly cascading colors of her vision seemed to sharpen to a point in the middle of the night sky. At first, Serenity couldn't see anything. But then she saw it: a black helicopter, the kind a news station would own, was fast approaching. There was nothing else she could tell other than that.

Convince those on board to take you here. Just as unexpectedly that vision came, another appeared showing a house in the middle of the suburban sprawl. It was a green house, matching trees surrounding it as if it were a barricade. A house number was seen on the mailbox, along with a corresponding street name.

But…! Serenity tried to voice before the vision in her mind changed again. This time a golden antique scale was seen. Each of the saucer-like containers was level with the parallel supporting balance beam. This was intersected by a support shaft onto which the entire scales would be stood upright upon. An all-too familiar eye symbol was emblazoned on the top of the support beam. Retrieve! the commanding voice uttered before telescoping out to a view of a bed, which then telescoped to a room, which showed which room it was located in the house seen before.

Hurry…!

Joey stood there with his mouth open knowing that within seconds he was going to be severely maimed by the massive creature standing before him. He knew that nothing in his hand or on the field was going to help him at that very moment, but he needed a way to buy some time. And not knowing what to do, he did what he always knew always worked. He began to improvise and shoot his mouth off. "Ahh! That's just like you Bakura! Always hiding in the shadows, never letting anyone know what's going on, keeping to yourself! That's not normal, that's downright freaky!"

"Who are you to dictate social norms to me?" Yami Bakura asked, obviously amused by this last ditch effort.

"I'm the one who's actually in society!" Joey pronounced. "Sure it ain't perfect, and I ain't either, but that doesn't mean I go running away from it!" He racked his brain, thinking of somewhere he could go with this, without angering Bakura. "I mean, look at us. Here we are, out in the middle of the street, at an indecent hour, playing a card game. This is not what normal people do!"

"Yeah!" Tristan shouted. "I'm supposed to be getting my beauty sleep soon." He was oblivious to the fact that both women had grown awfully silent.

Yami Bakura smiled. "Then let me attack so we can end this forever."

Joey jumped back, exclaiming, "That's not what I meant!"

"Then quit your stalling," Bakura growled.

"I'm not stalling," Joey protested, though in his mind he thought differently. "I'm just saying. Look, the way I see it, there's something very wrong with ya. I mean, who in their right mind would want to shove a piece of metal into their own eye-socket?"

"Those who covet power," Yami Bakura said as he licked his some of his own dried blood off his face. Everyone momentarily gagged, wondering at the length of his tongue.

"Yeah but…," Joey had to pause. Man that was sick. Recovering from the gross display, he continued. "But where did it get Pegasus? Or Marik? They had a whole bunch of power, but in the end they were defeated by it."

"Nonsense," Yami Bakura said, shaking his head. "Don't prattle on how Yugi the pharaoh was destined to defeat all these evils. He is no better than you or me."

Joey violently shook his head. "That's where you're wrong. Yugi's the greatest guy I know. He's got a heart of gold. He could never hurt anyone."

"Sounds like a different Yugi to me. To me, he's nothing more than a common thug. He duels like a man possessed." Yami Bakura smirked at the irony. "Because he is."

"Look I'm not saying he doesn't get a bit carried away at times…," Joey started.

"Then what are you saying because I am growing very tired of all this," Yami Bakura interrupted. "Yugi has a monster as strong as this, three even. And he too carries a 'piece of metal' that grants him incredible powers. Yet you defend him as if he was some kind of saint." The white-haired one pointed at Joey. "I tell you again, there is no difference between him and me. I am at least more open about my intentions. I mean to reclaim a piece of stolen property. Is that so wrong?"

Joey knew he had to give in to that kind of reasoning. "So is it true then Nadia? Did you take a something of his?" He went over to the girl in question.

Nadia was quiet, but only because she was in trance and using the Millennium Ring and not attempting to hide her guilt. Not to mention still paralyzed by the Millennium Eye.

"If you check her purse, you will find the item in question," Yami Bakura informed.

"Dude, what are you doing? You're not actually listening to him, are you?" Tristan asked, as Joey opened Nadia's purse.

"I don't have much of a choice," he said as he rummaged through her things. His hands touched a gold object, slowly revealing the Millennium Ring.

"Don't you remember, that thing is evil," Tristan reminded.

"I know," the blonde duelist said. "But there's got to be a way to stop Bakura and not let him get his hands on it again." Come on Joey, think! What would Yugi do at a time like this? Inspiration struck him.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Yami Bakura shouted as he watched Joey Wheeler put the ancient item around his own neck. The Ring lay innocently against the blue-white background of Joey's T-shirt.

"Look. I'm not saying this doesn't belong to you," Joey began, "but I was called upon to defend a friend who needed my help. And since we're in the middle of a duel, I can't just hand this thing to you without you winning the duel first. It just wouldn't be far, you know?"

Yami Bakura smiled. "Then I shall stop prolonging my victory now."

"Not so fast!" Joey interrupted. "A true duelist is prepared for all kinds of situations. All I ask is for one turn to draw the card I know is in my deck that can at least defend myself against your monster."

"And why should I give you that kind of mercy?"

"Because what are the odds that I'll actually draw something worthwhile? Just one turn."

"Then instead of slaughtering you outright," Yami Bakura said, irritated, "I shall activate one of Sekhmet's numerous special abilities. By paying five hundred life-points, I shall allow her to throw one of her daggers at you." The lion-headed combatant raised one of her twin daggers, her arm pulled back poised, and pointed its tip directly at Joey.

"Aw crap," the blonde duelist said aloud. He shut his eyes, instinctively putting his arms up, waiting for the blow. This is going to hurt, this is going to hurt, this is going to hurt...Joey's mind kept repeating. Tristan, likewise, shut his eyes, not wanting to see what was going to happen.

An audible thud was heard. Only Yami Bakura's laughter echoed in the silence. But even that would be drowned out by a portentous whirling sound that was fast approaching.

"Take us down," Seto Kaiba ordered his helicopter pilot.

"Beginning our descent," the pilot acknowledged.

This wasn't how I was expecting this evening to go, Ishizu thought as the craft lurched itself forward. She and Seto were seated directly behind the cockpit, allowing them full access to the scene ahead. Though she couldn't see who the duelists were, the monster that Seto called Sekhmet appeared. The only Sekhmet she knew of was that of a goddess. She was a daughter of Ra who slaughtered mankind for their wickedness. The monster down below looks very similar to the carved statues uncovered in numerous tombs and temples, Ishizu noted. Only by tricking Sekhmet with vast amounts of blood-colored beer did she stopped her carnage, a feat that the priests would perform yearly to pacify her rage. Ishizu shot a knowing glance at Kaiba. If he really is the High Priest Sethos, then it would make sense to create a monster that inspired an untold amount of fear.

He noticed her stare. "What is it?" Kaiba asked.

"It's just…," Ishizu bit her lip. He motioned for her to continue. "I just don't know if I should trust you." She watched the buildings blurring.

"You shouldn't," Seto said bluntly, though it was muffled by the overhead rotating blades.

"What was that?"

He looked over at her. "You have no right to trust me. All I could have told you could have been lies. You have no way of knowing." He smirked. "But I did host a Duel Monsters tournament based on some crazy advice. And look how well that turned out."

The Egyptian nodded. "All because I influenced you."

"Who says I'm not doing the same thing for my own goals?" The helicopter touched down upon the street pavement. The CEO slid open the copter's door and ducked as he exited. Ishizu did the same. "Wheeler! What do you think you're doing?"

The blonde duelist was still in a self-protective position. "Kaiba?" he whispered. Joey cracked one eye open. "Kaiba!" he shouted as he patted himself all over his body. "I'm still alright!" he exclaimed, laughing.

Tristan opened his eyes as well. "You may want to reconsider that opinion," he yelled over the roar of the helicopter and pointed back in Bakura's direction.

The first thing Joey saw when he turned was the massive blade right in front of him, only inches away. He cried out in surprise seeing how close it was. Then he realized what was wrong. "What's going on Bakura?" he asked as he leaned to one side to see his formidable adversary.

Yami Bakura's wore a mask of hostility. He had watched the helicopter's descent to this makeshift arena, and his eyes were screaming fury when Seto Kaiba stepped out of it. The High Priest himself comes to watch this duel. Perhaps I have played this card too soon. No matter. "Sekhmet's special ability allows her to place a physical blocker on my opponent's field." He pointed down and watched as Joey's eyes following. His two face down cards were now on either sides of the massive dagger, whereas before they were displayed together. "Her dagger blocks up to three slots on either the monster zone, or the magic/trap zone." He gave the same grin he had before. "Since you already have two cards face down, I decided that you didn't need to play any more face-down magic or trap cards. And I doubt you have any kind of monster that might stand up to the strength of Sekhmet. Let's see what one pathetic turn can do."

"Wheeler! What have you gotten yourself into?" Kaiba growled. "And what are you wearing?" Then without warning, his private helicopter took off again. "What is going on here?

"Serenity just jumped into that helicopter and the guy just took off!" Tristan shouted.

"What?" the CEO yelled. He was pulling out his cell-phone until a hand, Ishizu's, stopped him.

"Don't Kaiba! She's not acting of her own free will," Ishizu stated. "At least that's as far as I could tell."

Seto checked his Millennium Rod. It lay dormant, and he growled at having no explanation. "Let her enjoy her joyride then. The copter will come back." He turned his eyes back towards the duel, especially trying to figure out who had possession of Sekhmet. "Bakura," he whispered. The young CEO crossed his arms, resigned to watching this duel play itself out. "Well Wheeler, let's see if you're ready to tackle one of the greatest challenges of your dueling career. What pathetic move can you make to save your own hide?"

The Millennium Ring chimed against Joey's chest. "Kaiba! I'm in the middle of something here," Joey shouted as he prepared to make his draw. And it's got to be good. Real good. Come on deck, don't fail me now.

Joey Wheeler: 2900

Yami Bakura: 3000