"In this life, everything is a game. From your drive to work, to your hobbies, the way you deal with an enemy or make love to a woman. All of this is a game, one merely has to know how to play."

-Geno Roads

A different Type of Game

"AAAAAA!"

Guy turned his head to look up at Tressa's room as he heard a long string of curses leave his youngest's mouth after something slammed to the ground. He sighed and went back to polishing his guns, inspecting the metal to make sure it was at it's gilded best.

"What is all that racket?" Raia asked, looking up from her computer. Guy shrugged and arched his eyesbrows towards Tressa's room and Raia sighed. "She had to wake up, huh?"

Guy shrugged and put down the guns. "Tell me, if Seto told you not to go somewhere and to rest, would you?"

"Of course I would!" Raia said angrily. Guy raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth to speak. "…and if you mention Battle City, that was different!"

Guy's eyes went wide. "You were stabbed in the gut!"

Raia shook her head. "it wasn't that bad!" She sighed as Guy glanced at her again, and she sighed softly. "Fine, I would be throwing a fit if I were her too. But there is a difference."

"And that is?"

"She's my daughter!"

Guy nodded, and held out his hand as Tressa ran out of her room, struggling to pull her shoes on. She reached the steps, and began to hop down them. Guy wasn't watching, but still held out his hand, it glowing as Tressa tumbled.

"WHOOOOOAAAA!" Tressa shouted as she tripped and fell…and stopped in the middle of the air, hovering as Guy brought her to his chair, setting her down with ease and smiling softly. "Thanks daddy, I have to go!"

"Where are you going?" Guy asked, trapping her in one of his invisible boxes, forcing her to stay put.

"I am gong to a club! Owen and Lilka left already, and I don't want to be late!" She looked at his father. "Please daddy…"

Raia frowned. "You're rushing and are going to kill yourself."

Tressa frowned. "I could have caught myself! Come on, I don't want them leaving the club without me and going somewhere cooler!" She pounded her fists on the wall.

Guy closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, looking at Raia. "Ground rules: You will not drink. You will not smoke. You will not rush to get there. And you will not stay out past midnight." His eyes flashed. "And don't you dare think you can do any of that behind my back. I have eyes all over this place."

"Yes daddy." Tressa said sweetly, thanking him as the walls faded and she took off to the elevator.

"She's running right now." Raia said calmly, turning back to the computer. Guy merely smiled. "You are delaying the elevator, aren't you?"

"For every second she ran." He said calmly.

Seto watched as the computer began to work, the system analyzing his cards carefully. "Deck scan complete. Please select VR Opponent."

Seto reached into his briefcase and pulled out a single key card, slipping it into the slot. He always kept this opponent's digital form close at hand, as he never risked one of those foolish weak duelist hacking into the program and dueling this particular opponent. It also insured Kenji and Tea didn't get ideas.

"Opponent Selected. Please head to the dueling arena."

Seto picked up his deck and headed downstairs, thinking about what he had to do. He couldn't do a lot of fancy moves and combos. He couldn't even risk focusing on one if it was more then 3 turns long. He needed to get this done fast and quick, before the computer opponent could begin to work.

He stepped into position and smiled, looking around his private dueling arena. The solid matter projectors began to churn, and the image of his opponent appeared.

"Opponent Ready. Seto Kaiba vs Geno Roads. Each starts with 4000 lifepoints. There is no time limit."

Seto smiled as the simulation of his old teacher drew his cards and motioned for Seto to start first. "Very well Geno, I will begin this match. Fist, I will play Graceful Charity, drawing 3 cards and discarding two." Seto smiled as he drew the cards, glancing at his hand. "And now, I will discard Luster Dragon and Soul Exchange." He licked his lips. "Now, I will set this card and summon La Jin!"

The green genie appeared on the field, cracking its knuckles and watching Geno carefully. The computer simulation didn't even blink.

"No matter how much you try Seto, you will never beat me." Geno said calmly. "First, I play The A. Force, and then combined it by summoning Command Knight. Now, I will end my turn, but not before I set this card." The card flashed and Geno smirked. "Your move."

Seto looked over at the regal Knight, his hand on his sword, ready to strike out at La Jin. Seto drew and laughed. "Geno, it is time for me to surpass you! I summon The Lamp of La Jin. This card allows my La Jin to be unable to be destroyed until the lamp leaves the field." La Jin nodded and swirled into his lamp, the golden vessel shivering. "next, I active Call of the Haunted, to bring the Luster Dragon I sent to the graveyard to my field!"

The blue skinned dragon roared as it burst out of the graveyard, and flew right at the command Knight, shattering it. "and now, La Jin, attack!"

The computer version of Geno flew back as the magic hit him, and Seto looked up at the big board. Geno was down to 2100. My plan is working. By taking out his monsters, I am killing his chances to get out his locks. With that Command Knight gone, the only lock he has left is the Marauder Lock, and I can take care of that with some of my monster killing viruses.

Geno drew and nodded at Seto. "I would think you wouldn't be getting so cocky so soon Seto…you know as well as I that until they are at 0, lifepoints don't mean a thing." He held out a card. "Now I play Getsu Fuhma, in attack mode!"

Seto watched as Geno's side of the field exploded in lotus blossoms, the red haired Samurai appearing. Getsu spun its sword and aimed it at Seto's throat.

"IS that all? A flower seller?" Seto asked. Maybe the computer program was making this too easy.

"There is a reason I summoned Getsu. You see, with A Force, my monster is equal to your Luster. Which means I have a choice when I activate Hammer Shot!" Seto's eyes went wide as the mallet spun over Geno's head and collided with his dragon, killing it instantly. "And I chose your Dragon. Next, I will take out La Jin!"

"Have you forgotten my Lamp, Geno? You have to take care of it first." Seto asked calmly.

"Which is why I play Change of Heart, taking control of the lamp. Which means your Genie is without a home!"

Seto's eyes went wide. "no! That means my Genie is defenseless!"

"That's right. Getsu Fuhma, attack La Jin!"

Seto covered his face as the genie shattered under the attack, his lamp returning as his LP dropped by 100 points, leaving him to deal with a 1900atk samurai. Or maybe I cracked this baby up to high.

"About time you got here!" Lilka said, giving Tressa a hug. "What took you so…dad?"

Tressa nodded softly and sat down at the bar next to her sister. "Coke, please." As the bar tender got her drink, she ran her fingers through her blood locks. "Ya…his little punishment for running, you can say.

"I hate it when he does that!" Lilka said, sipping her drink. "Well, you didn't miss much. The music has been ok, and I have seen a few duelists." Lilka gripped the cup a little bit harder. "And she is here."

"Who, Heather?"

Lilka shook her head, and nodded to a table where Owen sat, chatting with Kelli Moto, and popping pretzels in his mouth. Tressa grinned. "Owen's got a girl friend!"

"He does not." Lilka said quietly, stirring her drink with her straw, watching her twin brother out of the corner of her eye. Tressa gave her a sad look, and Lilka sighed. "Alright, alright…forget him. Let's go mingle."

Tressa and Lilka stood up, fading into the crowd to talk to a few of the cuter guys in the room, much to Tressa's delight. Meanwhile, Owen stretched his legs out, looking over at Kelli and smiling.

"Enjoying yourself?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Kelli smiled and nodded. "It's nice to get out of the house sometimes. I mean, you would think being in a card shop would get boring…and you would be correct, plain and simple."

Owen laughed and flipped a pretzel into his mouth. "I don't know…you get to work, don't ya?"

Kelli frowned. "When I'm not dueling, ya."

"Sounds like that would be fun."

"Your welcome to take my spot whenever you want Owen." She paused, and bit her lip. "I have to ask, what's it like…"

"…to be a Roads?"

Kelli paused. "How did you know I was going to ask that?" She sat up a bit. "You didn't read my mind, did you?"

"No." Owen said with a laugh. "not at all. That's just the question I always get. To answer your question….it's interesting. I mean, what's I like to live with the king of games and have your uncle be a pharaoh?"

Kelli smiled softly. "Interesting. I mean, it's just weird to think that the man that once won championships with ease changed your diapers…it really makes you wonder how the other half lives." She paused. "Do you know what I mean? Do you ever wonder what it would be like?"

"My diapers were changed by gods and mages Kelli….so yes, every damn day I wonder what it's like to be on the other side." He licked his lips. "Do you ever wonder about your talent…"

"And if it's true skill or something you inherited?" Owen nodded softly. "Everyday."

Owen sighed quietly. "Sometimes I fear what I could become, what lurks beneath this skin."

"What do you mean Owen?" Kelli asked, placing her hand over his as he closed his eyes.

"My father is a god. My mother is nearly one. My grandparents are king and queen of all this world. My aunts, uncles…all are powerful in some form…." He paused and leaned in. "Can I tell you a secret?"

Kelli nodded. "Of course you can."

Owen looked around quickly. "Sometimes I can feel it….the power. Sometimes it feels like it's pushing against my skin…wanting me to become something other then human…and it scares me…what I could become."

Kelli stroked his fingers. "Owen…we al feel that. I feel that too. I feel like my body is too small and my soul is going to shatter it into a million pieces, flying off to another realm."

Owen smiled and leaned in, their faces inches apart. "What do you do when that happens?"

She smiled softly and whispered. "I duel."

Seto smiled as he drew, glancing up at the scoreboard. Both of them were down to 1000 LP, and their decks had been thinned quite a bit. On Geno's side of the field, he had his two Marauders in their lock, guarding him and themselves from anything Seto tried.

On Seto's side of the field, he had his Crush Card, only entering its second turn, and getting rid of a lot of Geno's high-powered monsters. Seto also has his Kaiser Seahorse in attack mode, waiting for an opening.

Perfect. Seto thought as he drew. Stalemate Virus! If an opponent doesn't attack with a monster during their battle phase, that monster is destroyed. That means Geno will have to attack my monster in order to avoid the virus. But his Marauders are only at 1200, and don't have the strength to defeat my Kaiser. And he can't summon anything that will match it's power…but it's time to seal the deal.

Seto smiled as he held out his card. "First, I will set this card. Next, I will sacrifice my Kaiser Seahorse to summon my Blue Eyes White Dragon!"

The arena shook at the grand dragon appeared, letting out a roar at the computer opponent. VR Geno merely nodded, use to the beast.

"And it gets worse. I activate the magic card Polymerization, allowing me to fuse my 3 three blue eyes together, forming the Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon! " The three dragons let out a roar as their turned into pure light, fusing together into the three headed beast. To hovered above Geno, it's jaw working. "Make your final move Geno." And prepare yourself. After this, I am going to take on the real man.

Geno smirked. "Seto, time and again I have told you that this game is in my very blood, and that only one who has felt it's true power can match me. You come close, but not close enough."

"Make your move."

"Gladly! First, I summon Exiled Forces!"

Seto's eyes grew wide as the army of rag tag warriors appeared. NO! With that, he can destroy my dragon with ease!

"but I am not going to simply destroy your dragon Seto….I am going to destroy you! For, I activate the final card in my hand!"

"NO, it can't be!"

"It is! I activate Fusion Dagger, combining my Exiled Forces and Marauding Captain to summon my grandest warrior, and the slayer of your dragon, the BLITZKRIEG COMMANDER!"

VR Geno's Duel Disk shook as energy poured out of it, slamming into the glowing portal above them that had taken his tow monsters. The Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon roared in defiance, but grew quiet as the arena filled with lightning….and the war horn sounded. Seto then heard it, the sound of footsteps, the only sound left that gave him chills.

And so emerged the Blitzkrieg commander, the upgraded Marauder. It swung its grand sword, raising its long shield up and then letting out a war cry, screaming as he fully formed.

Seto dropped to his knees. "No….not this time…not this time…."

"Blitzkrieg, I sacrifice my second Marauder to perform your final effect: Lightning War!"

The warrior grinned as the Marauder left the field, his gauntlet glowing white as energy crackled, the storm above them raging, electricity raining down all around the field. The computer began to falter, unable to handle the surge.

Neither could the Ultimate Dragon, which shattered under the strikes. Blitzkrieg released its fist, and the storm calmed. Geno smiled softly. "And now, Blitzkrieg Commander, attack with Thunder Strike!"

The warrior leapt, and his sword glowed as he feel right at Kaiba. He braced himself, only for the computer's VR system to explode, ending the duel.

Seto looked at his duel disk as it smoked, and frowned at the number: 0000. He had lost to Geno…again.

I must find a way to neutralize that Commander. I must speak with Pegasus. If he had a dragon that could kill the god cards, surely he has a dragon designed to kill Geno's Blitzkrieg Commander. And then, only then, will I have the power to face my teacher.

Owen smiled as he breathed in the fresh air, admiring the stars. For some reason, no matter who you were, if you had a connection to the Roads…you loved the stars. It wasn't a romanticized view of them, not at all.

No, every member of the House of Roads, and all those that were allies of it…they all had a connection to the stars, to the heavenly bodies. Heck, Gala had been named after a heavenly body. Galanodel was the elven name for 'Worshiper of the Moon.'

He looked over at Kelli as she pulled his coat tighter around her body. She had muttered something about the wind cutting into like an icy knife, and he had thrown his coat over her. She had looked at him strange for a moment, and then wrapped the large coat around her, thankful for it's warmth. While it only came to his calves, on Kelli, the jacket scuffed the ground, but fit her ok for such a large item.

"thanks…for everything." Kelli said as they made it to the door of the card shop. She moved to take off the coat, but Owen shook his head.

"Keep it. I got plenty, and it looks a million times better on you" He said with a slight smile.

Kelli gasped and poked him in the side. "Owen!" He grinned and poked her back, and the two began to poke each other, trying to make the other burst into laughter. Kelli darted around him, poking him until Owen grabbed her and lifted her up, causing her to kick his calves, laughing.

"Let me down!" Kelli shouted.

"Make me!" Owen said back playfully. Kelli tried to squirm out of his grasp, but he held her closer, bringing her closer to his face. They both sighed, trying to catch their breath, panting hard, their eyes focused only on the others.

Owen licked his lips softly, and looked at her. "want me to let you down?"

Kelli opened her mouth to say yes…and just shut it. She wiggled her hands out of his grip, and looked back at him. "no."

Owen gulped, startled by her answer. "what do you want to do then?" he asked, his voice quiet.

Kelli looked at him, a thousand answers appearing in her brain, but her mouth didn't work at all. She only could stare into those deep blue eyes, watching them sparkle, twinkle with an innocent light…

She grabbed his face and kissed him, startling him, where he nearly dropped her. He held on though, and returned the kiss as she stroked his face, caressing his cheek and neck softly with her delicate fingers.

Finally, after a minute, she broke it off, and Owen set her down. She looked up at him and wrapped the coat around her again. He smiled softly and stroked her shoulder. "Goodnight Kelli."

She nodded, and turned for the door, only to turn back and gave him another kiss.

"Goodnight Owen." She said, closing the door.