"It's Kaiba," Téa said. Captain obvious strikes again.

"What's he doing here?" Joey asked the group in general.

"I dunno, but it looks like he means business." Tristan said.

Yugi ran towards him, it was obvious he was here for Mokuba.

"I haven't seen you since our duel Yugi," he said.

"Uh huh," Yugi replied then his eyes widened in recollection, reaching into his pocket he said. "Oh your deck, I've been keeping it for you." he said holding it out. "Just think of it as a thank you for that duel you helped me win." He said smiling up at him. Kaiba took it.

"Thanks,' he said his tone monotone, but still Seto Kaiba saying thank you.

"You'll be compensated for your trouble." He said in an emotionless business tone.

"Actually Kaiba, I was thinking that since were all headed for Pegasus's castle you could stick with us." Yugi said. "Course you'll need some star chips," he said offering half of his glove.

"Don't be so naïve," Kaiba said harshly. "This isn't a game for me Yugi, I'm going after Pegasus to save my brother not so I can win some silly prize. Have fun with your tournament." There was the Kaiba we knew and despised.

"But Kaiba," Yugi said as he walked away.

"That snobby little…" Joey trailed off not knowing what Kaiba was, he ran after him. "Hey," he said grabbing a hold of his collar. "Listen touch guy, I can understand you wanting to get your little brother back an all, but don't go around here thinking that you're the only one round here with a noble cause kapeash? We've all got something were fighting for so if you want to get to Pegasus. Get in line or deal with me. That's right hot shot I ain't scared of you."

"Nice grip," Kaiba said. "Let me show you mine." Suddenly Joey was air borne flying towards us landing on his back.

"That was uncalled for," Bakura yelled as Yugi ran forward.

"Joey!" he cried, kneeling beside him. "Joey can you hear me? Are you alright?"

"Check his pulse," Bakura said.

"It was just a shove," I said rolling my eyes.

"Relax I'm fine," Joey said getting up.

"Do you really think I'm going to let you and this little tournament you're in delay me from finding Pegasus." He looked like he was resisting saying something painful.

"Forget Pegasus," Joey yelled. "You got me to deal with so bust out your cards and lets get it on."

"I can't tell if Joey is being really brave or nuts," Téa said.

"Forget it, why don't you go look for an opponent you can actually beat. Like an infant or a duelling monkey."

"What'd you say!" Joey bellowed, I groaned this was going to end badly.

"That monkey thing gets him every time," Tristan said.

"I don't have time for your nonsense." Kaiba said starting to walk away again. "Loser," he muttered just loud enough for us to hear.

"Go ahead and run, everyone knows your nothing but a washed up has been." Joey called.

"Joey be careful what you say," Yugi said. "Kaiba may be a creep, but he's still considered a top duellist in all the world."

"Not anymore," Joey taunted, Kaiba turned his head, oh dear. "That's right tough guy I bet ever since Yugi moped the floor with yah you can't even lay a trap card without flinching."

"Ok Joey let it go," Tristan said as he, Téa and Bakura all moved closer, I put a hand on his shoulder in warning.

"This is really the wrong guy to pick a fight with." Téa said.

"What d'yah say money bags," Joey still taunted. "care to prove me wrong."

"On one condition," he said. "we play using my new invention in holographic technologies."

"What do you mean by that?" Yugi asked.

"He means," I said, "he has an upgrade in the duelling holograms. I'm guessing there in your case." I said to Kaiba directly. He sneered at me but open the case and threw the technology at Joey like a Frisbee, Joey caught it and looked at it curiously.

"Looks like a flying saucer." Joey said making me laugh.

"Don't be an idiot," Kaiba said. "This is the most state of the art –"

"Ok Kaiba, only I understand what you're talking about so let's just skip it." I said, though it was amusing seeing everyone's confused faces. Joey put the saucer on his wrist.

"'Kay now what?" Joey said.

"Well it looks like your deck goes in here," I said pointing at the card sized area next to what I guessed was the life point count.

"I'll explain wannabe," he sneered at me.

"Will you stop calling me that!" I hissed.

"Struck a nerve have I, you know it's true."

"That's enough," Yugi said angrily.

Now you can see the life –"

"Yeah, I got it," Joey snapped at him.

"All set, now lets duel." Kaiba said.

"You got it!"

"Now brace yourself," Kaiba said throwing the disc between them. "For my Battle Ox."

"Wow look at the glitter." Tristan said.

"Yeah, looks like something from an enchanting dream." Téa said, I shook my head fondly at her, she was such a girly girl.

"Ew, more like a nightmare." She said as Battle Ox appeared.

"No way that's a hologram," Yugi gasped. To be fair to them, it did look pretty real, I had to hand it to Kaiba he really did a good job.

The duel continued like I knew it would, Kaiba won. Thought he didn't need to call Joey a dog, his victory with blue eyes was short it was over in less than ten turns.

"That's right Joey stay down. Stay down like the snivelling defeated dog I've turned you into."

"Are you alright Joey?" Yugi called, but I was too infuriated to comfort though I did run ahead with the rest of them.

"Hey it's ok Joey," Téa said softly hugging him.

"I'd say my duel disc system has proven quite effective not only did its stunning realism jar Joey into complete and utter submission, but just look at him, he's moping like a frightened dog with his tail between his legs – "

I walked up to Kaiba and slapped him hard across the face. Everyone gasped.

"THAT IS ENOUGH KAIBA! You won, well done, with someone with years of experience and training over Joey you can't brag. He's only been playing for a little over a month. How far he has come is crazy! If you duelled him when you had only been playing for a month, I am willing to bet everything that I own the outcome would have been very different."

"Yeah, you jerk did you have to take his confidence away with his dragon, Joey was just starting to believe in himself as a duellist." Téa said.

"I've just taught him what Pegasus would be like. Look do you really think Pegasus would be more merciful with you? And you!" he said whipping his head around to me. "Butt out of things that are none of your business you mooching little wannabe, your loyalty to the Muto's is just as pathetic as him. You are not a part of that family. You are a little pet they found on the streets, bleeding them of money and time."

I'd rather he'd punched me, I felt my eyes burn, I turned away, Kaiba would not see his words affect me.

"Joey in the month you have been duelling you have sniffed out a frauds trick, beaten a runner up in the last big tournament and took 400 life points from Seto Kaiba do you know how incredible that is?" then I began to walk towards the tent, but before I entered I thought of something to say.

"Go to hell Seto Kaiba, rescue your sweet, kind unyouish little brother then go straight to hell."

"What are you talking about," he demanded, I felt rough hands turn me, Kaiba's hateful eyes burning into mine menacingly.

"Let her go rich boy!" Joey yelled getting up. "I'll tell yah what she means. He escaped, we found him and Mana got herself kidnapped trying to protect him. She told him to run while she fought the suits trying to grab him. They tied her up gaged and blindfolded her, she treat him like her own flesh and blood." I felt Kaiba's arms tighten. "Even after the way you insult her she still risked her life for that little brother of yours, so will yah try and be grateful to her, yah jerk!"

I felt hands pull me towards their owner and Kaiba's tight grip release me.

"Pegasus is ruthless, I've seen him in action he has every card and knows every strategy Yugi."

Without another word he walked away leaving all of us behind on his way to the castle.

"You alright Mana?" Joey asked me. I looked up at them all.

"Fine," I said glancing back at the tent. "I think we should move, we're too close to the cliff, the place we had last time is probably better,"

"Good call," Tristan said, it didn't take us long to bring down the tent and pack up our stuff, we began walking to the centre of the island, as we made it back to the clearing. There was a familiar blonde haired woman preparing her sleeping bag.

"Mai," Yugi gasped, she looked up and saw us all there.

"You guys look like your night hasn't got much better," she commented.

"We ran into Kaiba," I said, noticing everyone's faces darkening again.

"What's with the looks," she said her eyes narrowing.

"Kaiba doesn't like me," I said looking down. "I think we should all go to sleep Mai you take the tent with Téa, I'll sleep outside."

Tristan went to protest but I glared at him. Quietly we all set up camp again and began to one by one drift off to sleep…

I could feel the warm glowing sun above me, the sand between my toes as I ran as fast as my legs wound carry me; laughing as I went.

"You can't catch me!" I yelled behind me turning to see my chaser it was the spirit. Well a younger version he only looked about nine. He was catching up grinning at me; he knew that we would win this game. He jumped his arms locking around my waist as he sent us both to the floor laughing.

"Got you Mana!" he cried, his spiky hair blocking my face from the sun.

"My prince! Mana! Where are you?" I heard a familiar voice.

"Hide," I whispered, grabbing his hand as we crouched behind a large tree.

I jumped up gasping.

I was in a forest?

That's right I was in a forest at Duellist Kingdom with Yugi and my friends. I looked around everyone was asleep Joey's loud snoring filling the space; I groaned how was I going to get back to sleep now?

"Mana?"

I jumped a foot in the air before I saw Yugi.

"Yug, you nearly give me heart failure," I gasped, clutching my chest.

"Sorry, are you alright? You looked anxious before," he said concerned.

"I'm fine don't worry," I said smiling at him.

"You sure? It looked like you were having a bad dream." He said looking into my eyes.

"Just…" Wait! What was I doing! I couldn't tell Yugi that I was dreaming about the Spirit in his puzzle that would just be freaky. "Try and go back to sleep I'm fine." I said lying back down and turning away from him. I saw the expression on his face he must be thinking it was to do with what Kaiba said.

Was it really a dream? It seemed so real…

Yugi POV

I pretended to go back to sleep, and when I heard Mana's breathing slow down to a calm rate I opened my eyes again, watching her. She had looked confused when she had woken up, I couldn't help but think about what the Spirit of the ring had said. Could it be true? Could she the ancient best friend of the spirit living in the puzzle?

/I wish I could tell you/

I jumped a foot in the air, I knew that voice from the duel with the Spirt of the ring.

\Whoa, you can talk to me?\

/You willed it Yugi, to speak about your sister is strengthening our bond./

\Well what do you think about Mana?\

/I know what you know, nothing more… but it seems like it is true about her past with the information she gave, about me and her and this Mahad. The soul stealer. It all seemed very real./

\Yeah I agree, so you don't remember anything?\

/I remember that I was Pharaoh and that is all./

\Well hopefully Mana will remember more and tell us.\

/Let us hope./

Feeling strange that I had made such contact with the Spirit living inside my puzzle, I closed my eyes. If Mana had been his best friend then he must be alright. And he had saved them from the Shadow Realm. As I drifted off to sleep I wondered what the next day would bring.

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