Chapter 5 part 1:

*No One's POV*

Both Yugi and Emiko transform into Yami Yugi and Yami Emiko.

"But Yugi, Emiko-"

"Now, let's see you try your intimation against us, Panik," Yami Yugi says, referring to him and Yami Emiko.

"I don't scare easy, especially when I'm standing up for who are just like me," Yami Emiko joins in.

"So let's duel!" they both said to him.

"You little twerps, I'll eliminate you from the tournament just like I did her! Tell them how I trounced you!"

"Please Yugi and Emiko," Mai begs.

"Let her go Panik!" Yami Emiko says firmly.

"If you're looking to bully some victims, try bullying us," Yami Yugi challenges. "And now with my new friend Emiko Heiwa on my side…."

"We will destroy you!" she finishes the sentence.

"Playtime is now over, Panik," Yami Yugi adds in.

"It's time to duel!" Yami Emiko joins in as well.

Both Yamis got onto the blue part of the arena together, which they couldn't help but wonder why this is so familiar to them. Violet eyes meets blue eyes as they tell each other their shared thought. In fact, a faint blush appears on their faces when he and her stare for a few moments before turning to Panik with Yami Yugi stepping forward. They couldn't hear what the blond haired boy was saying since they are focus on each other.

"Yugi, huh?" Panik asked, getting up on the red side. "Must be my lucky day. Pegasus has promised a generous bounty to the eliminator who defeats you. I wonder, think he'd throw in some extra cash for inflicting bodily harm? Especially with your pretty little friend with you. Now that I wouldn't do it for free."

"Ha! You better start thinking of other ways to make money, Panik," Yami Yugi has his eyes closed and his arms crossed his chest, "because after we get done with you…."

"No only will you be out some star chips," Yami Emiko says placing her hand on his shoulder as he opens his eyes, "but you'll be out of the job."

"Whoever said I was an eliminator just for the money, Yugi and Emiko?" Panik asked the two. "I've made enough cash to have retired long ago, but I won't quit because there's no better thrill than breaking weak duelists, like you both. So get ready Yugi and Emiko." Then he points to his latest victims. "I'm about to take you into a world of hurt! Both of you!"

"Yugi and I won't be bullied by the likes of you, Panik," Yami Emiko says firmly to him.

"I play with my heart," Yami Yugi says, making her to nod her head. "That's why I'll always win against your type. With Emiko's help and support with me along with my friends, we will have the right amount of strength to end you."

"You've never faced my type before," he noted. "When I'm in a match with someone, there's a lot more to it than sheer dueling strategy."

Eyebrows raised from the Yamis' faces. "Meaning?" they both asked.

"Panik's ruthless Yugi, Emiko," Mai calls for them from below, making them look at her. "He had me totally terrified!"

"That's right," Panik chuckles, "and she's the first, either. We eliminators have built our career on stalking weak players like her and strong-arming them into dueling us! You see, when you're as good as I am, you learn to appreciate the hunt as much as the duel itself. And now I'm gonna take you both down just like I did Mai!" he laughs.

"Are you done yet?" Yami Emiko says, getting annoyed with him.

"Huh?" Panik asked, surprised.

"Emiko and I see how you work Panik," Yami Yugi smirked, "sneaking up on unsuspecting duelists because you haven't the courage to challenge them face to face."

"Watch your mouth, you insolent cur!"

"True duelists fight with honor and respect," Yami Emiko narrows her eyes to him a little, "not the underhanded tactics of a poacher."

Panik growls at her.

"And to prove it," Yami Yugi shows his glove to him as Yami Emiko places her hand down, "I wager all the star chips I have to win back Mai's."

"It's a deal," Panik shows one of his gloves, "if you win, I'll give you all eight of her star chips. The bet makes no difference to me."

"What do you mean?" Yami Emiko asked.

"What I mean, Little Emiko, is that when you duel against Panik," he presses a button, "you're putting much more than just your measly star chips on the line."

Yami Emiko gasps a little seeing that her new partner has been trapped to the arena by the ankles.

"Much more!" Panik laughs.

All of a sudden, fire blasts through towards Yami Yugi and Yami Emiko! They move out of the away from the fire while he holds her close to him.

"Yugi! Emiko!"

"What's the matter Yugi and Emiko, hmmm?" Panik laughs, pointing to them. "Can't take the heat? Well, get used to it, because you're strapped in for the long haul."

"Turn it off, Panik!" Joey screams at the eliminator.

"Panik used those on me, too," Mai explains to them.

"Stay strong Yugi and Emiko," Ryou Bakura whispers softly to them.

Yami Emiko has her hands on his chest, pressing herself against him. One of Yami Yugi's arms is wrapped around her petite yet curvy body. Between them is a warmth, they both can feel it, but they don't know it was from the fire or something else.

"I can see the fear growing in your eyes, Yugi, Emiko," Paink smiles darkly. "I can hear you quaking in your boots! You're beginning to realize the nightmare you stepped into! I do believe you are beginning to panic!"

"Get a life, you psycho!" Tea screams at him.

"Forget this guy, Yuge," Joey says to his friend. "This wasn't part of the job description. Just let Emiko take of this for you!"

"Yea, no joke," Tristan adds in. "Come on. Let's get you down Yugi, what do you say?"

"Are you finished blowing smoke, Panik?" Yami Yugi simply smirks towards him with Yami Emiko smirking as well.

His group gasp at the response.

"What's he think he's doing?" Joey asked.

"It will take much more than cheap pyrotechnics to make me lose my cool," Yami Yugi says. "Don't get me wrong it almost did to put Emiko is harm's' way, but I am here to protect her."

Yami Emiko blushes at that.

Panik simply laughs. "The last time someone had the nerve to talk to me like that, I broke them in half," he says the last part seriously. "Now let's duel!"

Both teams have 2000 life points.

'Yugi's good but he's never faced an eliminator before,' Mai thought to herself. 'Also I have no idea how Emiko duels. Once Panik gets inside their heads, it's all over!"

"Seeing how the blaze of my fire didn't phase you, let's turn down the lights," Panik says, taking a card from his hand. "My Castle of Dark Illusions," (Attk: 920 Def: 1930) "will turn this duel into your darkest hour Yugi and Emiko. It's magic shrouds the field with a veil of shadows and the castle itself is extra fortified thanks to the field power bonus I get for playing it at night!" (Attk: 1196 Def: 2509)

'How flattering,' Hikari Emiko says through Yami Emiko's mind. 'Dark creatures with the darkness. This is going to be one interesting match.'

"I'm not afraid of the dark, Panik," Yami Yugi says.

"You would be if you only knew the fearsome nightmares within its shade! The blanket of shadows cast over my entire side of the field make it impossible for you to see the creatures I summon but leaves your entire side exposed and vulnerable to my attacks. Unnerving, isn't it, Yugi, Emiko, how the darkness preys on your fears, on your mind, until you're too scared to think, too terrified to fight!" he let's out a sinister laugh.

"Don't listen, Yugi, Emiko!" Mai screams out to them. "This is exactly how her threw me off my game!"

"Now you tell us?" Joey asked her.

"And if you think you can storm my castle with a help of a field power bonus of your own, think again, because just as my shadows block the light from above they've blocked the field power from the ground below. Only the night grants bonuses here."

'Without any idea what's waiting for me in those shadows,' Hikari Yugi's voice speaks through Yami Yugi's mind, 'I can't risk an attack. I'll just have play it safe for now.' Yami Yugi places a monster in defense mode.

"Celtic Guardian, defense mode!" (Attk: 1400/Def: 1200)

"Not a very bright idea," Panik smiles darkly through the darkness, picking up a card from his hand and placing it on the field.

'I can't see what monster he played,' Hikari Emiko's voice speaks.

"Attack! Dark grasp of fury!"

A pair of glowing eyes appear as a monster aims for the Celtic Guardian and attacking as if it's eating it! Yami Yugi and Yami Emiko watches in horror.

"Our first victim of the night," Panik is happy.

"That's cheating," Joey says, "how do you defend against what you can't see?"

"Yea," Ryou agrees, "or defeat a monster you can't find?"

"Even your friends have lost hope for you!"

'Yugi,' Hikari Emiko speaks through Yami Emiko's mind as she looks at him by the corner of her eye. 'Can you hear me through our mind?'

'Huh?' Hikari Yugi asks confused, but Yami Yugi looks back to her. 'Wait, I can hear you Emiko?'

'Good. Listen we need to figure out a way to get through the darkness to his monsters.'

'Yes I know. The only way to get through it is the Castle of Dark Illusions and with its defensive point set at 2500, no card in my deck was an attack power high enough to scratch it, let alone destroy it. Boy, I'm beginning to understand why they call him Panik. The game just started and I'm already flustered.'

'There's a way.'

Yami Yugi's eyes widen in shock as he looks back at Yami Emiko. She simply gets back behind him to wrap her arms around him. Blue eyes closes and the Millennium eye symbol appears on her forehead. A similar symbol appears on his forehead as visions appear in his mind.

A turtle monster with a strong monster on it and pointing to the castle.

'Of course!' Hikari Yugi's voice goes through as Yami Yugi smiles, knowing what to do.

"Play any monster card you like," Panik says, noticing that they might be panicking a little. "The creatures within my veil of shadows will consume them all!"

"Winged Dragon and Guardian of the Fortress in Defense Mode." (Attk: 1400/Def: 1200)

Panik laughs again. "This defensive maneuvering may keep your life points safe from one monster, Yugi….but not two!"

Growling sounds appear in the darkness again as another set of eyes follow.

'I have to admit it, but he's right,' Hikari Yugi is doubting himself. 'Defending alone won't win this duel for me.'

"You're terrified, aren't you, Yugi?" Panik asked. "Admit it! All your courage has been devoured by my shadow fog! Yes, all that's left are trembling little duelists, powerless to defend themselves."

'Don't be afraid Yugi,' Hikari Emiko speaks as Yami Emiko turns to Yami Yugi. 'Listen you have what you need to know how to defend him, now you need to pick up the right cards.'

'I hope you are right Emiko,' Hikari Yugi says as Yami Yugi stares back to her. 'In the meantime, what if I attack the darkness itself?'

'How are you going to do that?' Hikari Emiko asked. 'You have no idea what lies within the darkness just much as I do.'

'Yes I know.' "Guardian of the Fortress, take flight!" Yami Yugi switches his dragon to attack mode. It roars and flights up. "Fireball attack!" The fireball takes the ground, making light bouncing off of the monsters.

"His monsters!" Yami Emiko smirks.

"So you saw my creatures," Panik laughs. "But I doubt it gives you the foresight to see what's coming next. Dark grasp of fury!"

Yami Yugi's dragon let's out a roar as the darkness swallows it.

"Lights out for your Guardian of the Fortress."

Yami Yugi's life points went down to 1606.

"My creatures hungrily eye your remaining life points, Yugi and Emiko. And I'll see to it that they feed again quite soon. Has it sunk it yet, wimps? Standing up to a bully leaves you nowhere to go but down!"

'Down is right,' Hikaru Yugi says, "my life points are way down while Panik's haven't ever been touched. His shadows have destroyed two of my best monsters while I can't see what I'm against.'

'Panik has gotten Yugi outmaneuvered and overpowered,' Hikaru Emiko speaks. 'I just hope he finds the right cards to do so.'

"The night has eyes, Yugi, Emiko," Panik says, pulling them out of their thoughts. He laughs, "and all of them are on you both!"

'As long as Panik's Castle of Dark Illusions shrouds his side of the field with that shadow,' Hikaru Emiko speaks, thinking, 'it's impossible for us to see any of his monsters. But panicking about it will only make things worse.' Yami Emiko narrows her eyes a little. 'So Yugi,' she turns to him which he turns back to her, 'you need to do your best not let him see you sweat.'

He nods his head with a smirk which she returns a blushing smile.

"Keep struggling Yugi!" Panik speaks up, turning their attention towards him. "Bullying's so much more fun when you resist!"

"Tough talk, Panik," Yami Yugi says as the two glares at him, "coming from someone who makes all their attacks while hiding in the safety of the shadows!"

Panik simply laughs and push the button again. This time the fire became deadly close of hitting Yami Emiko! She grunts, leaning against Yami Yugi shielding herself away. Unknowing to her, a faint shade of red dust on his cheeks at the closeness.

"You uppity little cretins!" Panik makes names now. "Perhaps you should think twice before you insult someone who can scorch you with the touch of a button, huh?! Or better yet having your little girlfriend in danger! You're afraid Yugi! You're lost and alone in the dark and I'm the big bad bogeyman, about to leap out and give you the scare of your life!"

"Wow Panik," Yami Emiko chuckles with her eyes closed and arms crossed, "you claimed yourself as the bogeyman which I know you aren't."

"Huh?!"

"I've seen him before and he's not you," she smirks.

He seems stunned for a second before speaking again, "if you could see what I have in store for you, you wouldn't be laughing."

Yami Yugi laughs a little as well. "But that's why we're laughing….because I can see….right through you."

"What? What are you talking about? You little runt."

"Emiko did say she has seen the Bogeyman, Panik. A symbol of scaring children into being afraid of the dark…."

"Until they realize the dark is nothing to be afraid of," Yami Emiko smirks.

"Like you," they both said.

"Once a person conjures up the confidence not to be fearful of the unknown…" Yami Yugi says.

"...they've disarmed the only weapon the dark has," Yami Emiko adds in.

"You wish it was that simple, you-"

"But it is that simple!" both Yamis said.

"Yugi has the card to prove it," Yami Emiko smirks more when she sees the card.

"What card?"

"A card that'll expose you and lift up the veil of shadows you cower behind," Yami Yugi explains, holding up the card.

"What's that?" Panik's freaking out.

"It's just a little something that'll teach you a tough lesson in broad daylight."

"Hey Mai, why would Yugi and this Emiko girl tell Panik their strategy?" Tea asked Mai from below.

"It's panic," she simples answers. "Same thing happened to me. You start making amateur mistakes."

"I don't know Mai," Ryou says. "They both don't look like they're panicking."

Panik laughs again, "you almost had me there. But we three know that card's nothing but a big, fat fluff! Prove me wrong Yugi and Emiko. Go ahead. Let's see you give me my tough lesson!"

"Why should we show you my card after you've gone to such lengths to keep yours in the dark?" Yami Yugi asked still smirking.

"I think you're stalling," Panik replies.

"You don't trust us Panik?" Yami Emiko asked, smirking as well. "Believe it or not, not all duelists are lying dogs like you."

Panik growls.

"And to prove it, I'll have Emiko show you." Yami Yugi hands the card to Yami Emiko. "After all, I wouldn't want you thinking we were some kinds of liars."

She simply smirked, revealing the card within her fingers. "The Swords of Revealing Light!"

"Huh? Revealing light?" Panik asked.

"The blinding magic of the Swords of Revealing Lights not only stops all enemy monsters from attacking for three full turns, but it bathes the entire field with a light so luminous that even your lurking shadow creatures will be exposed!" Yami Emiko explains.

"Soon Panik," Yami Yugi joins in, "the monsters in your dark empire will have nowhere to hide. But rather than play it now, I'll take a page from your book and let you worry when and how I'll use it just like you do with the monsters you hide in the dark."

"You're going down in five turns," Yami Emiko smirks to him.

"Five turns Panik!" her partner agrees. "Then my monsters will finish you off! Curse of Dragon! Defensive mode!" (Attk: 2000/Def: 1600)

His dragon appears as Yami Emiko couldn't help but secretly wonder why Yami Yugi has similar cards as she and why being this close to him in a duel or anything is familiar to her. Little did she know, Yami Yugi was feeling the same way.

"And of course," he says, letting Yami Emiko pick a card, "the card that will make you see the light." She places the card on the field face down.

"Your five turns start now, Panik," she says to him. "It's your move."

Panik growls a little. 'They're taunting me! That must be the Swords of Revealing Light!'

"What's the matter Panik?" Yami Yugi asked still smirking. "Has bullying lost it's thrill?"

"I'll teach you both about loss - just you wait!"

"Hey Mai, why is Yugi and Emiko keeping that card out if they're not going to play it yet?" Tea asked Mai.

Mai pauses for a moment. "Uhh...I hate to say it, guys, but it's not a good sign."

"Huh?"

"I was able to keep it together for about this long, too, but after a while Panik has a way of getting to you and making you slip up."

"Not my pal," Joey says, "he knows what he's doing."

"I sure hope so," Ryou says.

"He does," Tristan tells him.

"Listen," Mai speaks up, "I know Yugi's good and we still don't know how Emiko duels on her own, but fighting Panic isn't about being good. It's about keeping a level head while you're lost in the dark or being attacked by fire. Yugi's gonna need more than Emiko to win this duel, not skill."

"Well, he's got heart," Tea smiles to her.

"You got that right," Tristan smiles as well.

Ryou looks ahead mainly asking himself why Yami Yugi and Yami Emiko looks familiar to him. "Yes, but she did just leave his best card out, fully vulnerable. You don't make those kinds of mistakes unless you're nervous. And Panik's not one to let a mistake like that go unpunished."

Panik draws a card when Yami Yugi says, "Make your move Panik."

"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, I must say….it was quite a daring move to illuminate me with the presence of that card, Little Yugi. But it was a critical mistake to leave it on the field completely exposed!" The two Yamis simply smiles to their opponent. "If you thought idle cards were safe from attacks, you are dead wrong!" Panik places a monster on the field. "Reaper of the Cards!" (Attk:1380/Def:1930)

"The Reaper?" both Yamis said at the same time.

"When the Reaper is summoned, all magic cards hear the ghostly toll of doom!" Panik has a large grin on his face. "He'll be sending your revealing light card to the discard graveyard leaving you both defenseless! Reaper, attack!"

The Reaper strikes an attack the face down card with it's scepter.

"Yugi!" his friends gasped.

"But that card was their only chance!" Mai adds in.

The monster has a blue glow around itself as it draws closer to the face down card. Everyone from below watches in horror as Panik watches with glee.

"Your fates belongs to me now Yugi and Emiko!" Panik grins darkly. "Call of the graveyard!"

Where was everyone thought it was the Swords of Revealing Light was actually something completely different. The Reaper stops dead in it's tracks!

"What's going on?" Panik asked the one question of everyone's mind.

WARNING spreads across Panik's opponent screen.

"It can't finish its attack."

Both Yami Yugi and Yami Emiko laugh.

"It should have destroyed your card," Paink says to them, "the Swords of Revealing Light!"

"We said my Swords of Revealing Light is the card that would illuminate your monsters," Yami Yugi begins to explains.

"But that doesn't mean that was the one that I placed on the field," Yami Emiko joins in.

"You just assume that," both Yamis said at the same time.

"But if that's not-"

"The card I let Emiko placed on the field was a different card."

"The Spellbinding Circle, a trap card," Yami Emiko reveals it.

"A trap….card!" Panik freaks out.

"Yes, a trap card that snares your reaper," Yami Yugi says smirking, "stopping him dead in tracks."

"Encircling him in a magical prison," Yami Emiko smirks as well when the Spellbinding circle reveals itself from under the Reaper and trapping him.

"In Duel Monster, one must be wary of the Reaper of the Cards," both Yamis explained together, "and its ability to send magic cards to the discard pile."

"I figured that you probably had one," Yami Yugi says, looking at the Reaper, "stalking in your deck somewhere."

"But now that he's frozen, unable to damage Yugi's deck," Yami Emiko says, looking at it as well, "he's free to lay whatever magic cards I want on the field."

His group below are excited that the duel is turning around.

"What is it with these kids?" Mai asked in disbelief. "I can't even keep up with them here on the sidelines."

"They're doing good, but it's not over yet," Ryou speaks up.

"How dare you!" Panik screams at his opponents. "You fooled me!"

Yami Yugi chuckles, "you fooled yourself, Panik, and wasted a powerful card, too."

Yami Emiko chuckles as well. "But now that the coast is clear….."

"I'll really lay my Swords of Revealing Light!" he places it down on the field face down with another. "And the second magic card both facedown."

"Facedown? Why?"

"Now what's up?" Joey asked.

"I don't know," Ryou replies. "We're about to find out soon enough."

"So what," Panik sounds like he's not going to have the keepers of the Millennium Items to win. "You captured my Reaper, but he's only one of my powerful monsters. The ones that remain will destroy you!"