Aurasoul: Hello ladies and gentlemen! Today I shall bring up chapter 4 for Yugioh! And once again I hope all of you can bare with me on these skips of the chapter.

Fire: Its for getting the real show started so no worries.

Karen: Indeed.

Aurasoul: Thank you both girls. I dont own Yugioh both the show and the card game only my OCs and OC cards so I hope you all enjoy enjoy the first chapter of the story!

Chapter 4

"Eh? A new game shop? The bell rang for school as the 5 sat in their classroom Yugi and Anzu telling them of the new game shop that opened across from Kame Game, Karen looking over papers yet still listening to the conversation.

"Grandpa is depressed." Yugi frowned.

"His store now has strong competition." Anzu added. "They're gonna sell a new game called DDM."

"Dungeon Dice Monsters?" Karen guessed, looking up.

"How did you know?" Honda asked, surprised.

"Mokuba had told me at work plus I saw it in the newspaper this morning." Karen explained.

"Oh yeah I saw that advertisement too." Jonouchi nodded.

"Eh? You read the newspaper Jonouchi?" Anzu asked, surprised. Jonouchi nearly fell with a scowl.

I saw it while I was delivering newspapers!" He explained.

"Having a job is against the rules." Anzu frowned.

"I received special permission so I could pay my school expenses!" Jonouchi defended. "I'm saving the prize money Yugi gave me for Shizuka's operation."

"Shizuka?" Karen asked curiously.

"My younger sister." Jonouchi told her. "She has a problem with her eyes that if worst could make her go blind but thanks to Yugi, Shizuka is able to have an operation that will restore her eyesight."

"Wow that's great news Jonouchi!" Karen smiled.

"Thanks." Jonouchi grinned, before blinking curiously. "Hey Karen, I'm curious. Did you ask the teachers for permission to let you keep working in Kaibaland?" Karen yelped before sweatdropping as she shuffled her papers.

"Not exactly…" She admitted.

"What do you mean?" Anzu asked curiously.

"Let's just say my boss talked to them." Karen sweatdropped.

Was that before or after Seto bribed them? Fire asked sarcastically.

"Let me guess, your boss is rich boy?" Jonouchi raised an eyebrow.

"Yes." Karen admitted in defeat. "Mokuba had scouted me but it was Seto who hired me-"

"Seto?!" They looked at her surprised. Karen blinked confused as she slowly nodded. "Yeah as in Seto Kaiba." She spoke.

"You… Use his first name?" Honda blinked.

"Yeah? He let me call him by his name a few months ago." Karen nodded, still confused. "Is that weird?"

"No." Yugi spoke. "If he prefers you call him by his first name, then that's between you 2." He paused, then added. "We just don't call him by his first name because...well…"

"Your rivalry with him?" Karen guessed with a knowing strained smile.

"Eh? No!" Yugi began.

"Because he doesn't give us respect!" Jonouchi retorted hotly. "That's why! The respect is one-sided!" Jonouchi then crossed his arms. "Personally, I think he's still mad at his loss to Yugi before the Duelist Kingdom Tournament was even announced."

"Oh I remember Mokuba telling me about that." Karen spoke thoughtfully.

"Kaiba isn't mean to you is he?" Anzu asked worriedly.

"Oh no not at all." Karen smiled, shaking her head. "Despite the fact that he can be a little intimidating-"

"A little?" Jonouchi questioned, crossing his arms again.

"He's really a fair boss. I mean the only time we ever have disagreements is about my costumes or insisting on dueling me." Karen chuckled.

"You duel Kaiba too?" Honda gaped.

"Oh yeah all the time." Karen nodded. "He and Fire always get so competitive every time they duel."

"I can totally see that." Jonouchi sweatdropped.

"You should see them once they get Blue Eyes and Phoenix out. That's when it gets out of hand." Karen sweatdropped with a sigh.

Hey he starts it and you know it! Fire defended herself. Before Karen could retort they all heard squealing to their surprise they went to see the commotion coming from the next classroom they looked to see many girls fawning over a male student they had never seen before.

"Is he new?" Anzu wondered.

"Yeah he is." One of the students of the classroom confirmed. "His name is Ryuji Otogi. He just transferred here yesterday."

"Man I can't stand guys who show off to attract girls." Jonouchi scoffed.

"You don't like any guy who's popular with girls." Anzu smirked.

"I'm the type of guy who sheathes his sharpened sword!" Jonouchi scoffed. "I don't brag about my talents!"

"You have talents?" Honda asked, making Jonouchi fall over. Karen sweatdropped watching as Jonouchi snapped at Honda when she noticed Otogi watching them to her confusion before standing and walking to them.

"So you're talented at Duel Monsters?" Otogi questioned Jonouchi.

"I bet you heard of Keith Howard the former American Champion. He played well but he was no match for me." Jonouchi smirked.

"Now who's showing off?" Anzu muttered, as the rest sweatdropped.

"Aren't you Duelist Kingdom champion Yugi Mutou?" Otogi spoke, looking at Yugi.

"Y-Yeah." Yugi admitted sheepishly.

"I've heard stories about your accomplishments." Otogi smiled, looking at Karen. "And you're the rumored Duelist Queen herself Karen Yamamoto."

"Oh y-yes." Karen nodded shyly.

"And any stories about second place Katsuya Jonouchi?" Jonouchi asked.

"Sorry." Otogi chuckled. "Let's play a game and you can show me how talented you are."

"Game?" Jonouchi questioned.

Why do I have a bad feeling about this? Fire asked Karen.

I was right! Fire yelled. Karen frowned upon the situation they were in. After losing not only a game and a game of Duel Monsters to Otogi, Jonouchi lost his bet with Otogi losing his freedom resulting to wearing a dog suit resulting in Yugi/Yami challenging him with Otogi challenging him to a game of Dungeon Dice Monsters with the ante of Yugi relinquishing his title as Duelist King and never playing Duel Monsters again. And during the game Otogi revealed his true intentions.

"Yugi Mutou you destroyed my dream to spread DDM throughout the world! Since I've now battled you, I know for sure!" Otogi accused. "There's no way a perfect champion like Pegasus would lose against you! You cheated to defeat Pegasus!"

"You're wrong Otogi!" Yami defended.

So all this is because he believes Yugi crushed his dreams. But to accuse him of cheating. Fire frowned.

"You're wrong Otogi there's no way Yugi cheated!" Karen yelled in Yami's defense.

"How can you defend him Yamamoto-san?!" Otogi demanded.

"What?" Karen questioned.

"I know your history as well, how even Pegasus respected your skills as a Duelist and even created your current Deck the Fire Lotus in your honor and gave it to you." Otogi frowned. "So how can you of all people defend Yugi?!"

"Because I know him and I dueled him myself and I know for a fact he would never cheat in a duel much less against Pegasus." Karen frowned.

"Karen." Yami spoke speechless.

"Tch so he's even fooled you as well." Otogi frowned, before looking at Yami. "Do not forget the condition that you can never play Duel Monsters again! I'm getting revenge for Pegasus!"

He's really stubborn. I'll give him that. Fire frowned.

The only way for Otogi to believe Yugi is for him and Yami to win this very game that Otogi created. Karen thought with a frown.

Yet you're worried. Fire stated.

Of course I am. Karen thought, clutching on the rail. But I have faith in them both and I know they can win.

Well that I can agree. Fire nodded, as they watched the match.

"It's all over. My dreams are all gone." Everyone sat with Otogi in his back room as he frowned. Yami managed to win the game and successfully helped Jonouchi and clear his name yet. "I developed the game myself so that I could achieve my Dungeon Dice Monsters dream but now that my dream is gone I have nothing left." Otogi frowned.

"Now I wouldn't say that." Karen smiled gently.

"Karen's right after all, Dungeon Dice Monster is a wonderful game." Yugi smiled.

"Indeed it is and it was a wonderful match." Sugoroku agreed with a nod. "I was so excited that I didn't act my age."

"That's right." Anzu smiled. "Just like Duel Monsters, everyone in the world will enjoy Dungeon Dice Monsters."

"Do you really think so?" Otogi asked, surprised.

"Yeah even I like this game." Jonouchi admitted with a smile, holding up a die.

"Yeah! Teach me how to play." Honda grinned.

"Me too!" Karen smiled.

"S-Sure." Otogi smiled.

"As promised you have to free Jonouchi and I'll keep playing Duel Monsters." Yugi spoke.

"Of course Yugi and I'm sorry for being cruel to Jonouchi." Otogi apologized.

"Otogi, I don't believe games are for taking something from your opponent or creating hate. When 2 people have a great game they can become friends." Yugi smiled.

"Yugi, can I really become your friend?" Otogi asked, speechless.

"Of course!" Yugi smiled. The 2 happily shook hands as Karen smiled before hearing her phone rang much to her surprise.

"Sorry let me take this quick." She said, picking up. "Hello?"

"I hope you are doing well Karen-girl." A familiar voice spoke through the phone.

"Pegasus!?" Karen gaped, standing shocking the rest. "Are you alright?! When I had heard what had happened!"

"I am fine Karen-girl." Pegasus remarked. "I'm sorry to have made you worried."

Karen sighed, shaking her head.

"So long as you're alright." She said, before hearing a ping to her confusion. "What was that?"

"Ah just sent a very overdue email." Pegasus told her. At the same time he said this Otogi's laptop beeped.

"You got mail?" Yugi asked curiously.

"Yeah." Otogi said, checking the email before gasping happily. "Industrial Illusions wants to sign an official contract for Dungeon Dice Monsters!" Everyone cheered happily by this, Karen smiling as she remembered her call.

"So you sent the contract for Otogi and Dungeon Dice Monsters." She smiled.

"That's correct Karen-girl." Pegasus told her.

"Then how about a proper congratulations." Karen smiled.

"You read my mind." Pegasus chuckled. Karen grinned going to Otogi and handed her phone to Otogi who took it confused before his face brightened as he talked with Pegasus as the others looked to Karen.

"So you keep in contact with Pegasus?" Jonouchi asked curiously.

"It was his idea in case he brought out more cards for the Fire Lotus Deck." Karen explained.

"So he really made that Deck just for you." Anzu smiled, before looking curious herself. "But what did Otogi mean in your honor?" Karen flushed slightly.

"It's because of my name." She admitted.

"Your name?" Honda questioned.

"The kanji of my name Karen means legitly 'Fire Lotus'." Karen blushed.

"Seriously?!" Jonouchi and Honda gaped. Karen rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly as Yugi walked up to Karen.

"Karen I want to thank you." He said.

"Eh? Thank me?" She said surprised.

"You believed in me and Yami when Otogi had accused us of cheating despite not knowing yourself what had happened in the Duelist Kingdom. I want to thank you for that." Yugi smiled. Karen looked surprised before flushing with a smile of her own.

"Well of course we're friends after all and I know you guys wouldn't dare cheat." She stated with a smile. "So of course I would defend you both."

"Well, thank you Karen." Yugi smiled. "I appreciate it."

"Of course I have your back." She smiled back.

"Karen you have to get out of here!"

"I'm not going anywhere!" Yugi and Karen stood in the burning warehouse after Yugi's duel with the controlled Bandit Keith who set the abandoned warehouse ablaze before his controller smashed the Millennium Puzzle.

"You have to hurry out of here." Yugi began.

"Not without you." Karen coughed from the smoke, holding up the pieces of the Millennium Puzzle. "I'll hold the pieces; you focus on putting it back together."

"If you're sure." Yugi murmured.

"I'll be fine. You just focus." Karen insisted, holding them out to him. Yugi nodded as he began taking pieces, putting it together Karen tried to ignore the heat as she carefully held the pieces. Karen. Fire began in her mind.

I'm not leaving them here. I said to him I would have his back and I will and do. Karen thought back fiercely. Fire looked surprised, never seeing this side of her partner as she watched Karen stand while Yugi continued putting the Millennium Puzzle together.

Those 2… Fire thought.

"Yugi, Karen!" Karen gasped looking up to see Jonouchi and Honda rushing in the warehouse.

"Jonouchi, Honda!" She called.

"What are you 2 doing?!" Honda yelled.

"We gotta get out of here now!" Jonouchi yelled.

"I can't. I have to complete the puzzle!" Yugi countered.

"The Puzzle was shattered. Yugi is trying to get it back together." Karen spoke quickly, as the 2 rushed to them.

Finally Yugi placed the last piece, completing the puzzle as he panted yet relieved.

"I did it..." He panted, before passing out.

"Yugi!" Karen gasped.

"Come on. Let's carry him out." Jonouchi said to Honda. Honda nodded the 2 pulling Yugi but had a tight grip onto the puzzle. "He's not letting go." Honda frowned.

"The puzzle is stuck onto the machine." Karen coughed, pointing to the spike. Jonouchi pulled on the chain of the puzzle with a grunt.

"It isn't coming off." He grunted.

"Karen you get out of here. Honda and I will get Yugi out." Jonouchi began, while Honda went to grab Yugi's Deck.

"I'm not leaving either!" Karen snapped.

"He wouldn't want you getting hurt!" Jonouchi countered.

"Guys not now!" Honda yelled, coming down. "I got his Deck." Jonouchi quickly went to pry Yugi's hands off the Puzzle to no avail.

"No use he won't let go of the Puzzle." Jonouchi frowned, looking around. "And we're running out of time." Karen coughed looking around before seeing steel pipes she quickly grabbed them.

"Jonouchi, Honda!" She called, tossing them the pipes.

"Thanks Karen!" Jonouchi grinned. "Now we can get Yugi's Puzzle free!"

"I'll help too." She coughed, grabbing another pipe.

"If you're sure." Jonouchi shrugged. "Anyway! On the count of 3, we all pull!" Karen and Honda nodded the 3 taking hold before they began pulling using the pipes as levers loosening the spike before finally pulling it off releasing the Puzzle, Karen quickly caught Yugi before Jonouchi grabbed him and the 3 ran out seeing Anzu and firefighters putting out the fire.

"Yugi, Karen!" Anzu gasped, as they ran to her.

"He's fine." Karen assured with a cough.

"And look he managed to rebuild the Puzzle in the fire." Jonouchi smiled. "He grabbed and wouldn't let go of his bond."

"When I first completed the Millennium Puzzle, it took me 8 years but this time I completed in a short amount of time. In a way I felt like Mou Hitori No Boku was helping me." The gang were in the hospital Yugi on the bed holding the Puzzle while Karen sat next to him an oxygen mask on by order of the doctors to clear the smoke of her lungs. "No doubt that might've been it." Karen smiled, removing her mask for a moment.

"Don't think about it Karen and keep the mask on." Anzu scowled, gently pressing the mask on Karen. "The doctor said you have to leave it on until all the smoke is gone from your body."

"I'm fine really." Karen tried to assure.

"Uh-huh." Anzu rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry Karen." Yugi apologized with a frown. "I shouldn't have gotten you involved." Karen looked to Yugi before giving his shoulder a nudge.

"I chose to stay, Yugi." She assured him through her mask. "I wanted to stay to help you and to help Yami. I couldn't leave you guys alone in that fire."

"True." Yugi laughed lightly.

"So don't blame yourself for anything. OK?" She said, patting his hand.

"I'll try not to." Yugi replied sheepishly.

"I know." Karen smiled. "Now-"

"Karen!" They all looked up surprised to see Mokuba rushing in the room and to Karen's side. "Are you ok?! You're not hurt?!" He quickly asked.

"Mokuba? What are you doing here?" Karen asked, surprised, removing her mask.

"Anzu called me and told us what happened." Mokuba frowned.

"Us? You mean?" Karen began.

"Put the mask back on Karen." Kaiba walked into the room to their shock as he stood in front of Karen.

"Seto? You showed up-!" Kaiba pushed the mask back on Karen before she continued.

"Don't remove it, keep it on until the doctors tell you otherwise." He frowned.

"Yes boss." Karen sighed, breathing in the oxygen.

"Oh, well look who it is." Jonouchi scowled. "It's rich boy."

"And I see a dog." Kaiba retorted coolly.

"Not again." Anzu muttered, she and Honda sweatdropped.

"Seto, don't." Karen sighed.

"He started it!" Both Kaiba and Jonouchi shot back. Karen sweatdropped while Mokuba looked at Karen.

"If you want to take some time off, Nii-sama and I don't mind." He began.

"No Mokuba I'm fine. It's just the smoke. I'll be working in no time." Karen assured.

"Well unfortunately, I already gave you the next few days off." Kaiba told her.

"Of course you did." Karen sweatdropped. "You worry too much Seto."

"Someone has to." Kaiba remarked. "Since you won't worry about yourself."

"Then people will think you're going soft." Karen giggled, Mokuba snickering. Kaiba closed his eyes and laughed.

"Only between us 3." Kaiba told her.

"Hey! We're right here!" Jonouchi snapped.

"I'm sorry. Who gave the dog permission to speak?" Kaiba frowned deeply.

"Seto please." Karen sighed.

"Humph." Kaiba grunted. "Well I better be going. Come on Mokuba."

"Coming Nii-sama." Mokuba nodded, patting Karen's shoulder. "You can come back in 3 days promise."

"Thanks Mokuba." Karen nodded. Soon after that, Mokuba then left the room; following Seto out.

"Wow I never actually saw Kaiba be nice to anyone besides Mokuba." Honda remarked, looking at Karen. "How did you?"

"Like I said he's really not that bad." Karen shrugged.

"I dunno. He's still a jerk." Jonouchi frowned deeply.

"How long have you been working for Kaiba?" Yugi asked curiously.

"Hmm. It's been almost a year now." Karen hummed, thinking back. "I became friends with Mokuba first and later on me and Seto. We got along as well."

"I mean hey, if you get along with rich boy, I won't judge." Jonouchi shrugged. "Just don't expect us to get along with him."

"Noted." Karen smiled, taking a breath.

Fire took a step down a hall looking around.

"Now this should be the place." She muttered, looking around. "So where are the-"

"Fire?" Fire turned and smiled to see Yami standing at a doorway looking at her shocked.

"Good almost thought I made a wrong move." She smiled, looking behind her to another opened door. "And that must be Yugi's Soul Room. Man he's truly a pure and innocent kid."

"How are you here?" Yami questioned. Fire smiled tapping her Millennium Bracelet.

"I told you my Millennium Item allows me to heal one's mind. Most cases it allows me to enter one's Soul Room in order to heal." She explained. "And I figured I'd come over to check up on you to see how you were doing."

"You didn't have to." He said with a light smile.

"Wanted to. May I come in?" She asked, smiling.

"Sure." Yami remarked. He allowed her entry as she walked in before whistling upon seeing the midway maze.

"Wow and I thought my Soul Room was confusing." She remarked, looking at him. "Most of these rooms are empty, right? Representing the missing memories?"

"Correct." Yami nodded.

"Thought so. My room is similar." She hummed. "So how are you feeling? After what happened with the Puzzle. You ok?"

"I'm fine."

"That's good." She hummed, before frowning. "You're just as suspicious of the one who was controlling Keith as I am, aren't you?"

"Yes." Yami confirmed solemnly.

"This is the work of someone with a Millennium Item. No ordinary human can control a person's mind like that." She frowned.

"That was my thought too." Yami added. "The question is, who?"

"Ok I have the bracelet and you have a puzzle. Your friends mentioned a kid named Bakura who has the Millennium Ring, and Pegasus had the Millennium Eye." She listed. "Do you know anyone else with Millennium Items?" Yami paused for a moment before shaking his head.

"No I don't."Yami spoke, then snapped his fingers. "Wait! Shadi holds the Millennium Key and Scale. Aside from him and the ones you listed, I don't know anyone else."

"Shadi?" She questioned, confused.

"He was someone Aibou and I met at Duelist Kingdom. Though it might be possible he's a spirit." Yami explained.

"A Spirit with 2 Millennium Items?" Fire blinked. "That must be a story… Do you guys know what his items do?"

"His Key allows him to enter one's Soul Room similar to your Bracelet. But he can also go in them and even alter them." Yami explained. "As for his Scale, it weighs a person's sins. In other words, it's used to judge others."

"Justice is represented by scales. Hence it weighs the sins." She muttered. "So we can rule out this Shadi person if that's what his Items can do. That means this is a Millennium Item we have no knowledge on besides mind control. Which also means a total new wielder in general, but an enemy after you."

"Yes." Yami nodded.

"This could be dangerous… Especially for our other halves." She frowned, worried. "We have to be careful Yami."

"I know." Yami spoke. Fire faced Yami holding out her hand to him.

"Looks like we got our work cut out for us. Let's make sure to watch each others' back." She said.

"I agree." Yami smiled, shaking her hand.

Aurasoul: And that is it for this chapter! Sorry again by the skips and I hope you all still enjoy it so until then everyone please read and review!