"What you have seen…every duel monster, every attack…is merely a shadow of it's true power."

Geno Roads

Inner Strength

"Hope you like it." Owen said as Kelli entered the dining room, smiling as her jaw dropped at the mountain of food he had piled up before her. He stood up and held out her chair. "Did you have any problems? Shower hot enough? Towels fresh?"

Kelli smiled. "It was very good…until yoru butler scared me."

"I thought I heard a scream. Tell me…did he give you any of that dry british humor?"

Kelli shrugged. "Ya, alittle, but I let it roll right off my…"

" Walter, your fired."

"Back."

The butler nodded. "Goodbye sir, I won't let the door hit me on the way out."

Kelli looked at Owen, shocked. "It's fine, really!"
"Walter, you're rehired. How does a raise sound?"

"Very good sir, glad to be back." Walter the butler made a bow and walked away. Kelli glanced at Owen, who had already begun to eat.

"No saying grace?" She asked. Owen paused, a piece of pancake still speared on the fork that dnagledjust out of reach of his tongue. He watched Kelli for a moment, and then with a sigh, put his utensil down and said the blessing, then went back to eating.

"Wait.." Kelli said, Owen giving her a look. "…you're catholic, and you didn't do the grace?" Owen frowned, confused. "I mean, I was slightly surprised, considering the rumors…"

"..aboutmy famiy. They aren't."

'I know they're strong, but…"

Owen looks at her and allowed his true eyes to show, causing Kelli to let out a squeak. "Trsut me on this Kelli…everything you heard aobut the Roads family…believe it.' He looks down, the red glow fading. "But I assume you believe that a) I would do the blessing in my grandfather's name, not God, and b) that if I were truly catholic, I would do the grace every meal."

Kelli nodded.

"First off, I don't say it to my grandfather for two reasons. One, because he isn't the one any of us pray to,counting himself. And two, my mother, despite marrying into this, is a devout catholic. She raised us as this, and as such, I do the tradtions as such."

"But not doing…"

"That's simple." Owen replied. "The first part answers it. While my mother is catholic…my father is a god." He paused, letting it sink in. While the Roads family ahd never really hid the fact, his grandfather even going out in his 7 foot form more often then his human form (which had nearly become a disguise for getting away from prying eyes), mst believed it was a silly rumor. Sure, Geno was powerful, but a god? Let alone his children? Please.

"As such, don't believe in saying grace for a meal. I have learned that the gods would rather you help someone out in need or just enjoy the meal you are about to eat then sit there all day brown nosing them."

Kelli nodded softly. The way Owen spoke…

Owen turned and looked out the window. His eyes went wide. "Holy shit."

"First, I summon Red-Eyes B. Chick to the field." On the field, the small red egg appeared, cracking to cause the baby Red Eyes to appear. It let out a whine and began to glow. "And now, I will sacrifice this monster from the field in order to summon Red-Eyes Black Dragon to the field!"

The sky grew dark as the baby faded, and the Red Eyes' roar sounded across the enter field. Above him, the great black dragon flew down, lanidn gint front of Kenji, eyes glowing brightly.

"Now…it's time to finish this. First, I will activate this spell: Inferno Fire Blast!" The dragon roared, the blast powering up, before he let it go, the dark energy blast fly past curt's monsters and slamming into him, sending him to the ground.

"Is…that…all?" Curt asked, standing up, a bit shaken. (Curt-2000)

Kenji shook his head. "Not at all…for it is time to reveal my mosnter's true form."

"It's…true form?" Curt asked.

Kenji nodded. "Yes…I hope you enjoy this Curt. You are going to give these people a show…by witnessing the true power of the Red Eyes, as I evolve him into his ultimate form!"

The Red Eyes flew into the sky, and in the dark clouds, lightning began to crackle. The storm grew wilder, the winds picking up…and then they heard the terrible roar.

Owen and kelli watched in awe as the clouds above the arena glowed, flashing rapidly. Kelli had never seen anything like this…from their place, theywere nearly eye level with the hologram…

"How can they…"

Owen whispered softly. "Your father talks about the heart of the cards? My team actually taps into it."

'That's…..that was a real red eyes?"

"No…but it's spirit. Kenji isn't that strong." Kelli looked at Owen. "I don't summon rela monsters. If I ever did, it would only be in a fight with someone I wanted to kill…"

Kelli had heard stories about the shadow realm from her father. If Owen's family was truly…connected as they were, that would mean they would have full reign to tap into that darkness…

And there was Yami. Her father's other half…Owen's uncle by marriage. While she had never truly believed the stories about Owen. And there were a lot. Duelists told of how he could talk to cards, how he had once made a Flam Swordsman tap dance by merely waving his hand…those she didn't believe.

But she knew Lysandra.

Owen's cousin…was magical. Kelli had felt it first hand. One day, while running to school, when Kelli was only about 5, maybe six, she had tripped and scrapped up her face really bad. Kelli remembed the blood on the sidewalk…her face ahd felt like it was on fire.

Then Lys had walked up and placed her hands on her face. Kelli had tried to stop her, but Lysandra was too strong…and then it got cool. Lysandra gave her a weak smile, and fainted. Kelli remembered looking in a window…and seeing her face healed. Lysandra had to spend a day in bed, and dealt with her mom and dad scolding her. Of course, that's when Kelli had first seen Lys' grandfather.

"I'm sowwy." Kelli had said quietly as he walked out of the room. Kelli had been waiting for her mom to pick her up and take her home.

Kaos had given her a strange look and smiled. "You don't recognize me, do you?" Kelli then shook her head. "I am…friends…with your father."

Kelli had paused, looking up at the giant of a man. Kaos scared her for some reason, yet also made her feel better. He ahd a aura of strength…and she, beign a child and easily pulled by such forces, knew he could be deadly or a savior if needed to be.

She had scrunched up her nose. "Bakuwa?"

Kaos had paused, trying to keep his jaw from dropping. "Bakura….Kelli! I'm Lysandra's grandfather, Geno!"

Kelli had frowned. "Your not Geno! Geno is smaller, your too big! And your hair is wite, and his is bwonde."

Kaos smiled and knelt down. "I had a growth sprut. You have too, right? I mena,I remember coming nin the card shop and seeing you in diapers." He had flashed a smile. "Wasn't that a few days ago."
"NO!" Kelli shouted. "I'm not a baby! I'm a big girl! I don't wear diapers!"

Kaos laughed at this, and then he had sat next to her. "I guess you're right. Now…why are you sorry?"

"Because I huwt Wys."

Kaos gently took her hand. "You didn't hurt Lysandra. Lys…just wasn't strong enough to help you."

"Her mommy and daddy seemed mad."

"They usually are. But they are more mad at me then her."

"How come?"

Kaos had leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling. "Well…they didn't want Lysandra healing yoru face like she did. They felt she should have gotten a grown up and taken you to the hospital. I, on the other hand, think that is silly. You would have been scarred, and would have missed a lot of school. Lys will recover by tomorrow and be ok, and you are all better too." He sighed, as if the topic itself drained him. "That's the problem…some feel we with the power shouldn't interfere, whiles others ask why not."Kaos then had looked up. "Well, looks like yoru mom is here."

Kelli's mom had walked up to them, given her daughter a hug, then glanced at Lys' grandfather. The two had moved to the side, saying a few words, and then Rebecca had taken Kelli for ice cream.

Kelli and Lysandra never talked about that day. It was accepted what had happened, and there was no need to discuss it. But since that day, Kelli ahd always sensed power in Lysandra. Didn't it make sense that…

"Kelli! LOOK!" Owen shouted, pointing to the clouds.

From the cloud it emerged. A giant dragon, with massve wings causing the winds to rise against everyone. It's long tail whipped around as it landed, the spikes that ran over its back just missing people. Along it's body were orange dimonds, shining brightly despite the ragin storm. The head lowered, and its red eyes pierced the darkness that was the monster's scally skin.

"May I present the Red Eyes Darkness Dragon!"

"My…god." Curt whispered, looking upon the face of the dragon. He had heard legends…but….

"This dragon has a powerful effect. For every dragon in my graveyard, this monster gains 300 atk points. Now, I have 6 dragons, which means my darkness dragon has an attack of 4200."

Curt tok a step back as the dragon let out another roar, causing everyone to cover their ears…except Kenji.

Yami looked at Seto and frowned, wathcign his rival as he took in th beast his son had just summoned, watching as Seto's eyes filled with awe…something Yami had never seen in Seto before.

"I knew he had discovered something…" Tea said. "But nothing like that."

Everyone in the box watched the dragon carefully, taking in the monster's entire form. There was a mixture of awe, shcok, fear, jealousy (maily from joey, who wished that had been around when he had dueled.) and other emotions. Not even Guy could be fully calm and collected at the sight of the beast.

Mokuba looked at his brother. "Still believe Kenji made a weak choice?"

Seto shook his head.

"And now, I will end this duel. Darkness Dragon, show Curt's Mad Dog what it truly means to be a monster of darkness, with Darkness Inferno Blast!"

The stadium grew quiet as all around…it grew bright. The dragon let out a roar as the clouds disappeared and the sun began to shone. But people were only watching the diamonds on the monster's back. They were absorbing the shadows, the darkness, till there was none left. Even Kenji and Curt's shadows faded, till the only black object left was the dragon. The monster opened it's jaws, and energy cracked, till a black ball of fire appeared, growing deep in its throat, the dragon letting out it's terrible cry…

BOOM

Curt never stood a chance. The blast shattered his Mad Dog and struck him, slamming him into the wall. The crowd watched as the dragon let out a final roar and ascended back into the darkened clouds that had reformed. Kenji smiled.

"abidiabidiabidiabadi…..That's all folks!"