"Hey isn't that –"

"Banded Keith," Joey flinched for Yugi. "I can't stand this guy,"

The sunglass wearing moron, stopped leaning against the balcony and looked at us.

"Well what do you know, if it isn't big Joey and his crew of duelling dummies."

"You slime bucket, I've been waiting to find you ever since you left us trapped in that cave!"

Joey ran forward trying to punch him.

"Missed me," he said, dodging him. "Whoops, too slow," he said holding Joey's fist in his own. "Can't you little grudge wait, cause the real action is about to start," he said nodding over the balcony.

"The real action," Joey said as we all looked, we saw Kaiba on the grey bridge.

"Yeah, the world champ versus Pegasus." Keith said. "I'd hope to get a crack at the old man myself but they save the best match till last."

"Are you saying those two are going to duel." Yugi asked.

"That's correct," said a new suit. "I'm Crocket chief tournament leason, congratulations on making it this far. Pegasus is so impressed he wanted to reward you with some entertainment. A special, exhibition match, I think you'll be quite in awe with what you're about to see. This match should give you an idea of what's in store for you all."

"So basically it's meant to intimidate us," Mai said. Go Mai! And here I used to dislike this woman.

"Why would Pegasus want to do that?" Crocket asked her.

"Cause he's a grade A nutcase," Joey said.

"Joey!" I scolded. "You think it you don't say it and then Pegasus will still here you with his soul snatching eyes, opps sorry," I said sarcastically. "It's not the eyes fault that it's owners crazy."

"Enjoy the match," Crocket said stiffly, walking away.

Kaiba took a hold of his duelling card necklace as the other doors opened, and Pegasus in all his camp glory came into view.

"Where's my brother," Kaiba snarled.

"What? No hello?" Pegasus said his hands help up as though he was about to shrug as he walked towards Kaiba. "No, how are you? I thought we were friends Kaiba boy. Don't tell me that my kidnapping Mokuba and ceasing control of your company has but a rift between us. It was nothing personal." He said putting his hands on his hips, his goons coming to a halt behind him, as Pegasus himself stopped walking a few feet from Kaiba. "Besides its not like I hurt your kid brother, he's perfectly safe. In fact you can have him back if you like, just beat me in a duel like we agreed and I'll hand him over. I mean one little victory shouldn't be a problem for the duel monsters champ."

"I can't believe I'm saying this but, I'm not hoping Kaiba loses this duel." Joey said. "I still say he's a first class jerk for everything he's put us through. But I can't help feel for him trying to get his brother back."

As far as I'm concerned anyone who stands up to Pegasus can't be all bad," Tristan said, we all nodded and hummed in agreement.

"Come now Kaiba, it's so gauche to keep us in suspense especially with an audience waiting in the wings." He said sending Kaiba's attention to us, his eyes widened as he saw our little group.

"Hey there, Kaiba," Yugi said.

"Yugi, how could you be here after I defeated you? I should have known you'd find a way."

"I hope your ready Kaiba I've been looking forward to this for quite some time," Pegasus said, turning all of our attention back on to him in all his red suited weirdness.

"Good," Kaiba said as he threw his new duel disc at Pegasus.

"Then you'll have no problem duelling with this," he said. Pegasus being the dramatic git that he is, lifted it looking at it as though it was the most confusing thing in the world.

"Well," Kaiba said.

"You want to duel me with your newest contraption, but I don't know how the silly devise even works do I spin it like a top or roll it like a ball." He said demonstrating the later, his goons chased after it.

"Cut the theatrics," Kaiba snapped.

"Oooh, Kaiba means business," Pegasus mocked. "Ok then how about we settle this like businessmen would. I'll agree to use your system if you agree to a request I have."

"What?" Kaiba said rightly suspicious.

"Nothing that would change the game of course, I just want someone to operate your little devise for me."

"I smell a rat." Kaiba yelled.

"I assure you I'll still make all the strategic decisions the game play won't change at all."

"So why the request? Why not fight your own battles for once in your life," Kaiba said. Pegasus clapped.

"Show Kaiba the lad who'll play as my pawn and he'll understand my request." He said making me apprehensive what was the bastard playing at, I had a horrible feeling in my stomach. The doors opened confirming my disgusting suspicion there were two goons and chained up was...

"Mokuba!" Kaiba yelled in relief. "It's me." he said but Mokuba's blank expression didn't alter.

"Somethings not right," Yugi said looking at Mokuba anxiously.

"It's like he's hypnotised," Téa said, my brain clicked. No… Surely not… It couldn't be…

"I apologise if he doesn't seem quite like himself. But I find my captives are far easier to manage after I make an extraction of sorts."

"You monster!" Kaiba bellowed, Pegasus chuckled.

"Now Kaiba boy, petty insults aren't the way to get your brothers soul back." he said showing him a card with Mokuba on it. He laughed making my blood boil.

"What does Pegasus mean?" Mai said in confusion, but I was too angry to explain.

"You bastard!" I screamed over the side. "First Grandpa, now Mokuba! What sick twisted game are you playing!"

"Ah it seems young Mana has a soft touch for your brother, Kaiba boy. Despite the way you treat her like the largest vermin to walk the earth," everyone who didn't know about Pegasus power gasped about how he knew that. "But of course it is ironic, that she of all people would feel an attachment to him, risk her life for him."

Kaiba snarled at him, I had never seen him so angry in my entire life. Pegasus chuckled again. "Beat me in a duel and I'll release him as promised. But fail, and not only his soul remain in bondage but yours will join it."

"Defeat you, I'll crush you!" he snarled, his fists clenched.

"So it's settled then we'll use your new invention, but your brother will operate it for me."

"Wait Pegasus," Kaiba said.

"What's the matter Kaiba boy, this was your idea. Using your own system is sure to give you the advantage, what's the problem?"

"He's been through enough already. Ok then Pegasus you win, we won't use it."

"But that's his edge," Yugi said.

"We'll duel on your terms just keep my brother out of this," Pegasus muttered something in Mokuba's ear then the goon took him away.

"You creep," Kaiba said.

"Watch yourself Kaiba, you're in my world now," he said his amused happy tone gone. He clicked his fingers then the entire bridge shifted, a duelling arena appeared from the ceiling.

"Wow, check out the automatic bridge," Joey said.

"Forget the bridge an entire arena's coming down," Téa said.

"That or the biggest elevator ever," Tristan said, making me roll my eyes.

"This should be good," Mai said as the arena set. "The two biggest legends in duel monsters going at it; this is what it's all about." Mai said. The arena connected to the bridge and they both walked into the little duelling booth.

"Ready Kaiba, your brother's fate hangs in the balance."

"Kaiba, you got to believe in the heart of the cards." Yugi said. "It's the only way to rescue, Mokuba."

"Keep out of this, I'm fighting this duel my way!" Kaiba yelled.

"Just don't forget it takes more than strong duel monsters and clever strategies to win this, that millennium eye Pegasus has changes everything you have to –"

"Yug, don't forget Kaiba's the guy that took five of your starchips." Joey said.

"So Mokuba should have to pay!" I demanded turning to Joey who recoiled back.

"Yugi, you're a good duellist, but I don't need your help it's my battle to fight and I will win." He said.

Pegasus toyed with him throughout the duel, then played that bloody toonworld card, by the time Kaiba clicked about Pegasus it was too late. Pegasus one the game and captured Kaiba too!

"Ah the brothers Kaiba," he said holding up both cards. "One in each hand, but even though their cards are so very close your souls have never been further apart. At least when I had Mokuba locked up you were in the same dimension. But now your worlds apart." He said before laughing. "Take away that empty shell," he ordered putting the cards away. "Teach it to wash dishes or something."

Two goons dragged Kaiba away.

"Ok, tell me I didn't just see what I think I saw." Joey said.

"Kaiba," Téa said sadly.

"He's gone too, just because he was trying to help his little brother out." Yugi said with tears in his eyes, Yugi held his face in his arms grunting in frustration.

"Yugi." Téa said.

"He was like us just wanting to save someone he cares for. Why Pegasus! Who are you to toy with our friends out families! I won't let you get away with it!"

Pegasus just looked amused. The slimy bastard. The Spirit returned.

"Pegasus It won't be long now till I put an end to your games."

"Yugi boy, don't forget you still have to make it through the remainder of this tournament to even win the privilege of challenging me."

"Rest assured I'll be at the finals but the true privilege will be defeating you and undoing all the evil acts you've committed against my friends."

"I look forward to your finest efforts Yugi boy, and wonderful performances from all finalist. You truly are the vest of the best the crème de la crème." He chuckled again before leaving us alone in the big room…

"Give me some of that cheese," Joey said.

"Yeah and some of that ham," Tristan assed as the both attempted to eat enough to make them combust.

"And that weird jelly looking thing," Joey said.

"If this was a duel munches competition. You two would win."

Crocket entered the room.

"On behalf of Mr Pegasus, I would like to congratulate the four finalists and welcome them to this final phrase of the Duellist Kingdom Tournament. I trust you have your play of entry cards." He said a unanimous 'huh' filled the room. "In your invitation to the Duellist Kingdom you received these two cards Glory of the Kings hand and the Glory of the Kings opposite hand." he said showing two of the five cards from the invitations that felt like 20 years ago. The blank and treasure one, I suddenly understood the blank card and felt sick. "You must have one of these to participate in the final tournament, those without them will be disqualified."

"So that's what there for," I heard Yugi say.

"So each card reminds you of each prize. Glory of the Kings hand is needed to claim the three million dollar cash prize, the opposed hand card allows the winner to challenge Pegasus for the Championship.

"And will become your souls house if you lose," I muttered looking at Yugi anxiously. Crocket heard and cleared this throat. "What am I wrong?" I said challenging his glare with my own.

"To make tomorrows tournament interesting your host has added a special ingredient to your soup."

I saw the millennium eye floating in Yugi's soup.

"Ew! I knew he was sick and twisted but –"

"Mana, you're going to get yourself thrown out," Téa hissed.

"Mines eyeball free," Tristan said feeling around his soup with his spoon.

"Cause we're not competing," I told him.

"Open the eye and look inside of it if you will. Each of you has been randomly assigned a letter," they all unfolded the paper inside I could see Mai's B and Keith's C. "Now the islands computers will assign from the letter the duel match ups." The screen came down behind him.

"Gee I wonder who's going to have to face who." Téa said.

"And tomorrows duel are as follows A vs B, C vs D."

"Who has C," Joey yelled standing up.

"Me runt," Keith said.

"Alright it's payback for trapping us in that cave."

"Once I crush you, you'll wish you were still there,"

I tuned out of the conversation not paying attention to anything else I began to eat the soup again.

As we all left the room to go to our rooms I grabbed Joey.

"Here, I don't need it," I said handing him the card.

"Really,"

"Yeah, but I want whatever's left from the surgery," I said winking at him.

"That's enough of the lovely dovey stuff. Now can someone tell me what was going on with Kaiba and his little brother?"

The group all looked at me, I sighed.

"Ok you know that thing with Panic where it got all weird with the fire then I fainted?"

"Yeah,"

"It's to do with that," I laughed nervously. "Sit down Mai." It look a little under an hour, but I explained everything to her, her denial and realisation.

"I still can't – I mean I do. I've seen it first hand, but…"

"It's hard to wrap your head around," Yugi said understandingly.

"Poor Mokuba," she said sadly.

"Yeah," Yugi sighed.

"We should head to the rooms, you three have a big day tomorrow." Téa said. The group nodded, we started walking. Just one more day, tomorrow will change everything. Whether it was good or bad, I dreaded the answer.