Small Note

Sakura: The holidays are coming up fast and work has been killer, but I was still able to get this chapter updated. Now about updates with the way they are going the next one won't be until the first of the new year. The reason is I checked and the next chapter for this story would be updated on Christmas Day but I won't be able to update on that day. So due to the holidays it will be three weeks instead of two for the next chapter. Don't worry this won't be permanent just until after the new year and things calm back down. Other than that please enjoy this new chapter!

Chapter 17

The Fight of the Millennium

As the tournament progressed on, the top team of technicians watched from the safety of Kaiba Corp. Once the tournament had begun data from all over Domino came flooding in as duel upon duel took place around the city. Every card played was recorded to watch out for illegal playing cards but also the team looking over all the data were on another mission given to them by their boss.

"Domino City, west block D, two duelists detected…" One of the techs mentioned as he bought up the image on his computer. "Checking duel disk registration number… searching decks…." He sighed and turned to the leader of their team. "No luck, the god card isn't in their decks either…"

"Scan for another duel disk frequency, figure out the next coordinates!" Finding another god card in this tournament should have been easy but so far they were failing their CEO. Either the person was not playing in a duel yet or for some reason the other god card was not in this tournament. Everyone in the room hoped it was the first reason rather than the second.

Before any farther instructions could be given out, the leader of the team took a step back when he looked up and found his boss's faces staring at him from one of the many monitors in the room. The one that had normally been black was now on as Kaiba called to get an update.

"Haven't you found it yet?" Kaiba barked at them, "One of the rare hunters must have the god cards. Where is he?"

"I'm sorry sir…" He quickly apologized, "The duelists have spread all over town. The search will take some time…"

"The ghouls are hiding somewhere in Domino city! They'll eventually sniff out my God of the Obelisk and attack me but I won't let them make the first move." Seto said interrupting his employee before he could finish his excuse. "I'm coming for them first. Contact me as soon as you find them. Got that!"

They never even had a chance to reply as Seto hung up on them. While his team was hard at work at Kaiba Corp, Seto and Mokuba had stopped briefly so the younger could get a drink. While Mokuba was taking a break, Seto figured he would get an update from his team since he had not heard from them yet.

"Still haven't caught the rats huh, big brother?" Mokuba questioned hearing the end of the conversation as he returned. Another drink in hand for his big brother if he wanted it.

Seto wasn't worried as he took the offered drink, "With Kaiba Corp technology it's only a matter of time before we find them. Our game network telecommunications satellite is equipped with the same ground surveillance system as the U.S. Military." He closed his metal briefcase where a built in laptop had been stashed away. One of the many reasons he carried around his briefcase no matter where he was going.

Mokuba was enjoying this all too much as he remembered his big brother telling him about the god cards, "Hehe they'll never guess we have a net spread across the whole sky." Those rare hunters were no match for his brother. And he couldn't wait to see Seto win one off of those losers.

Fifty miles east of Domino City was Port Othello. It was on the border of a smaller city near Domino and served as the port for all major ships for the areas nearby. Inside one of the holding bays was a lone yacht which belonged to non-other than Marik himself. Both he and his partner exited the ship to find two of his lackeys ready and waiting on them.

Both bowed to their masters as one said, "Lord Marik, we have been waiting." While they were still in their robes showing them as rare hunters, both Marik and his boyfriend had changed on the ship to blend in. Now both clearly in the light it was amazing to see how similar the two looked with the same hair, eye and skin color. About the only difference was the the almost pupil less eyes of Marik and the way his hair spiked up on top his head. Marik was dressed down in tan pants and a black sleeve less top while the other wore tan pants and a purple vest that came to just below his navel showing off his stomach partly as he wore no shirt underneath.

"Is everything ready?" Marik asked of his lackey to which he got quick nods. The other who had been silent hurried to Marik with a duel disk in hand and handed it to his master. "I thought it'd weigh more…" he mumbled as he checked its weight before he handed it to his partner to hold for now. He could see the slightly excited look in his eyes at getting to hold it. If only things were different he would have allowed his partner to be the one to duel, but this was something he had to do.

Walking with one of his rare hunters toward the front of the building he found a lone motorcycle that had been prepared just for them. The large garage like door opening toward the outside world for them.

"I'm surprised that you felt the need to come here personally. Your most skilled rare hunters are already in town awaiting your orders." The rare hunter spoke to his master.

"You don't have to tell me that." Marik barked at his lackey who felt the need to speak out of his place. Not that he had to explain himself to them but he did anyway, "I'm been sitting on the sidelines so long I'm beginning to forget I'm a duelist myself." Taking a seat upon the magnificent bike he turned to his partner being a gentleman and offering his hand to help him on the bike.

"Domino City is about an hour away from here…" The ghoul spoke trying to redeem himself.

Marik scoffed at that, "Then I'll get there in forty minutes. What's Yugi's current location?"

"He's going west along 'e' block…" The other silent ghoul spoke after checking his reports to try and stay on his master's good side.

Marik smiled evilly at that, "I don't want to bore him any longer… I'll fight him before I even get to the city."

"You're going to use the doll?" Exclaimed the more outspoken ghoul.

Marik shrugged like it was nothing, "Yes that's why I've had it waiting in the middle of town for the past two days. Now I'll inhabit it and fight Yugi." He started up the bike just as he felt his boyfriend's arms wrap around his waist. "Let's get this show on the road Malik…"

Without saying a word Malik silently agreed with him and let the other do what he felt was right. He just sat back and enjoyed the ride as they took off for Domino City.

Just as the ghoul had mentioned Yugi and Yami ended up in 'e' block of Domino. They had traveled off the main roads and walked down into one of the many small embankments that had a small creek running through it. It took them off of the major roads and away from people, cars, and hidden from other duelist for the time being. Honestly it was a welcomed break to Yami after what had happened back with Pandora.

"I just don't understand…." Yugi spoke up where he kneeled down near the water, "What did he mean by 'doll'?" It had been bugging him since he left the card shop and he had yet to figure it out.

"If our enemies are still in hiding we'll just have to wait for them to come out." Yami mentioned although he secretly hoped they stay hidden.

"I can't just wait!" Yugi shouted as he stood up and faced Yami, "The ghouls want to kill us. They could be plotting something horrible as we speak! The pharaoh is trying to get something important back and I can't let them stop him!"

Yami remained silent as he watched his lover speak so passionately about this. Just as he would do anything for Yugi, Yugi in turn would do anything for him or the pharaoh. It was something that would get him in trouble and Yami didn't want to lose Yugi during this tournament.

Yugi looked right in Yami's eyes as he continued. "I never entered this tournament just to win rare cards. The pharaoh is after something really important and he can only do that through us. We have to fight together." Picking up the millennium puzzle and looking down at it, Yugi smiled, "I feel like it's my job to get his memories back no matter what. I honestly don't know what will happen if we success or if he will get to remain with us but I just know that this is the right thing to do."

It took a second for those words to really sink in before Yami was pulling Yugi close to him and burying his face in his little's one hair. The emotions he was feeling were not only his own but the pharaoh's as well as he could feel the gratitude the spirit was feeling for all Yugi was doing for him. His partner was just too much sometimes but his big heart was one of the many things Yami loved.

"Thank you…" Yami said to Yugi what the pharaoh was thinking. There was nothing making Yugi do any of this but he wanted to do it anyway. And no matter what Yami thought of it Yugi was stubborn when he was faced with a challenge.

Yugi smiled too snuggling closer to the man he loved. He wished they could stay like this for just a little bit longer. However there moment was cut short when Yami tensed up out of the blue. Before Yugi could react Yami had turned around keeping Yugi behind him as a figure jumped from the sidewalk above to land but a few feet away from them.

Looking like a stung out teen on drugs, the mime from the park landed in front of Yugi and Yami almost as lifeless as it had been in the park.

"Who are you?" Yami growled out even as he noticed the duel disk on the other's arm.

"So we meet again…" came the familiar voice they had heard through many others but never met the real person behind the voice. The third eye appeared on the mime's head immediately to let the two know who they were now coming face to face with again.

"It's you!" Yugi quickly realized as he once again heard Marik's voice. This had to have been the one he had been talking about before.

"That's right Yugi, this is my doll, the doll that will fight you in my stead. A doll with Slifer the sky dragon…" The mime looked toward Yami, "This is the final round of a battle which has lasted one thousand years. Will the vessel please stay out of it…?"

Yami raised an eyebrow as if silently asking if Marik was talking about him, must have been as Yugi placed a hand on Yami's arm to get his attention. "This is fate. I can't avoid it…"

"Just be careful…" Yami warned him knowing he was going to have to let Yugi fight once again. He gave the hand on his arm a gently squeeze before moving back out of the way.

Despite the slightly scary look of the weird doll in front of him, Yugi was going to give it his all. He prepared his duel disk, "Your doll's seen better days, Marik. Not the most dignified bearer for a god card."

"This mime went mad years ago when he killed his parents. Out of guilt he locked his consciousness away… He doesn't have a shred of emotions left, an empty vessel so to speak!" Marik informed them, "But for me, there is no better weapon."

Not the information Yugi wanted to hear but of course Marik appeared just as sick and twisted, "You use your millennium item to brain wash people. I won't let you get away with it."

Marik just laughed at that, "The human mind is even more fragile than the body. People are influenced by what they see and read, out of that, people can create an entire split personality. Others even think they hear god…" He explained while also adding "When my overwhelming charisma and dominance combines with a person's internal image of 'god' it's easy to control anyone. That's the power of the millennium rod. My mind utterly dominates them… their thoughts, their senses, their memoires." The mime was looking straight at Yugi as Marik's next words were said, "If I win this duel, this doll will kill you. That's just its program. No matter where you hide, this doll will pursue you until you die. It won't stop until it catches you."

"You can catch me…" Yugi said with a smirk of his own as he then added, "But can you beat me?"

That question went left unanswered as the mime drew its first card. "Let this duel begin little Yugi. Are you ready?" Of course Marik wasn't expecting an answer as his doll played one card face down and then summoned Humanoid slime in attack mode.

'Only eight hundred points, but he's playing it in attack mode. He's obviously trying to lure me to attack to make me fall for some kind of trap,' Were Yugi's thoughts as he tried to plan out his strategy. It was his turn now and he had to be careful in order to win and hopefully avoid the doll summoning his god card. Deciding to play it safe for now, Yugi played one card face down and then summoned Gazelle in attack mode.

As Yugi ended his turn the doll's turn began, "No attack? You're being awfully cautious or should I say cowardly? You won't be able to beat me like that…" Marik taunted but it did not seem to faze Yugi, "At least don't die until you see Slifer the Sky Dragon with your own eyes." The doll then began its turn by drawing a card.

First up the doll summoned Worm Drake in attack mode and then played a spell card that Yugi knew well. "Polymerization to fuse my monsters together and then summon the combine form Humanoid Drake!"

It was a pretty hideous creature but that wasn't what worried Yugi the most. 'Twenty two attack points… He polymerized two monsters into a stronger monster and it's only his second turn.' The good thing was the new monster couldn't attack in the same turn so Yugi was safe for now.

"Oh can't it?" Marik stated as if reading Yugi's mind. He was pleased with Yugi's shocked look as he revealed his plan to the other duelist. "Do you see my face-down card? The card you thought was a trap? Well it wasn't…" He active the spell card quick attack.

'His monster's speed is increased… it'll be able to attack on this turn!'

"I don't fear my opponent's cards. I'm not the type of duelist who plays it safe and never attacks unless he's sure he has the upper hand. I'm not a coward like you who's afraid of one face-down card!" Marik laughed as he sent his monster on the attack.

However now it was Yugi's turn to chuckle stopping Marik in his tracks. "Marik... I knew from the moment you played Humanoid slime that you were going to use it as a fusion monster. After all unlike sacrifice summon with polymerization summon you can play a monster with high attack points without wasting a turn." Yugi then revealed his own card to show Marik the spell card de-fusion.

Right before their eyes the two creatures that were once one, then turned into two. Which left them both open for an attack and that is just what Yugi did as he sent his Gazelle on a counter strike to kill Humanoid slime. Marik's life points dropped to thirty three hundred from that one move.

"Well Marik? I'm sure you've already planned your next move but I've planned for the move after that." Yugi said showing Marik he wasn't the least bit afraid of him.

At first it appeared the doll was speechless until Marik's chuckle came through along with, "So you predicted I'd use polymerization. You're making this quite enjoyable Yugi."

"Your moves are too weak to touch my life points. Sorry Marik…" Yugi normally wouldn't try to taunt or trash talk his opponents but this guy just got on his nerves.

"I was just testing the waters on that turn. I cast a pebble to see how big a ripple it would make and to measure your skill as a duelist."

"That won't even make a ripple."

Marik chuckled again, "If a duelist is a vessel, a strategy is like water poured into that vessel. The water takes the shape of the vessel and if the vessel is shallow you can see the bottom. But the rumors don't lie. You have quite a talent Yugi. You are a duelist with depth." He had to admit but Yugi would not stand a chance against the all mighty Slifer the Sky Dragon. "Let's continue the duel Yugi."

"It's my turn," Yugi stated as he drew his next card. He already had a plan in motion once he saw the card in his hand and prepared to summon another monster. Once two were in play on the next turn he could sacrifice and bring an even stronger creature to the field. For now he would have to settle for summoning Beta the Magnet Warrior on that turn. "Gazelle destroy Worm Drake…."

Gazelle did as told and destroyed Marik's only defense bringing his life points down another hundred points. Then Yugi ended his turn waiting to see what Marik would pull next.

'You're the one who's being cornered…' Marik thought not in the least bit worried about having a low level monster be destroyed. He forced his doll to start his turn by drawing a card. 'Yugi… I likened strategy to water earlier didn't I…? I'll show you that strategy right now. At times water can become a shapeless shield to protect against anything and at other times it can become a sword to pierce an opponent's heart.' Forcing his pawn to play his next card, Marik had him summon a creature known as Revival Jam in defense mode.

It was easy to see the gears turning in Yugi's head trying to figure out why Marik would summon a creature like that, but Marik wasn't going to leave him in the dark for long. "And now it's time to turn on my Jam Breeding Machine!" He announced having his doll play the card he spoke of. A giant metal machine appeared on the field behind revival jam. "This device produces one slime on every turn. But as long as this device is on the field, I can't summon any other monsters…."

Sure it seemed like a dumb move to pull since now Marik couldn't summon any other monsters, but Yugi knew better than that. 'So that's his plan. He's going to keep summoning slimes until he has enough to sacrifice them for a max-level monster. He's going to summon Slifer!' It was a card Yugi had only heard about and had no clue what it could do. There was no telling if he had a card to counter it. 'I'll just have to kill him before he can play it….'

'It's no use… now that my combo has begun, the advent of Slifer cannot be stopped and all it takes is three more turns.' Within the hand of the doll was the one card Yugi feared at the moment just waiting to be played.

Knowing he had to end this and fast, Yugi began his turn. First he sacrificed both his current monsters to summon a new stronger player to the field. "Behold the Dragon Slayer… Buster Blader!" Of course that didn't end his turn as he sent his warrior on the attack to take out Revival Jam.

At first it had appeared to have worked, but Marik was not worried one bit as his creature right before Yugi's eyes started to pick itself back up after the attack. Watching Yugi's stunned face as Revival Jam returned to its original shape, Marik decided to explain a few things, "This is the regenerative power of revival jam. No matter what you do, it will not die. You might as well attack a pool of water."

'It can regenerate!' Not only was Yugi shocked by this but Yami as well. He had been silently watching the duel hoping that Yugi would win the duel quickly. However it seemed now it would not be so easy.

"Didn't I tell you? It is a shapeless invincible shield. As long as the Jam remains, your monsters can't touch me…" Marik ordered his minion to take its turn and as soon as he did the machine produced its first slime with five hundred attack points. "The slimes created by the breeding machine are weak. Only five hundred attack points. If you were to attack them, you could do me a lot of damage, so in order to prevent that…" The doll played a new card on the field. "Nightmare Steel Cage!"

Yugi and Yami watched in more surprise as a large dome steel cage covered both Yugi and his monster leaving them locked away. Marik was just grinning behind his doll enjoying every minute of this. "The cage is strong. Now we can't fight each other for three turns."

'No! He's going to use those turns to generate more slimes!' Now Yugi knew he was in trouble as he couldn't do anything to stop Marik from gaining the creatures he needed for Slifer.

"That's right even though I can't attack you, I can still build up my forces." Marik stated knowing just what Yugi was thinking by the look on his face. As the new turn started another slime was born bringing him even closer to summoning Slifer. "By next turn I'll have all the monsters I need..."

At this point there was no preventing it and Yugi knew that. The doll had to have had Slifer in his hand if he had gone to all this to protect those slimes. Yugi could only draw and end his turn.

"Well, Yugi? What do you feel now that you're locked up imprisoned in that steel cage? Humiliation? Despair? Sorrow?" Marik sneered he watched the ones before him wanting all to feel the same pain he had been going through, "That's how I've felt my whole life! That is the fate of the Tomb Guardians." Now it was time for his revenge and to finally be free.

'There's got to be something he can do! It can't end like this!' Yami stressed and he could feel the pharaoh agreeing with him, but they couldn't interfere with the duel until it was over. They could only watch and pray Yugi would make it out of the duel alive.

Another slime was bought forth finally giving Marik his three slimes that he needed. Thus the machine was useless as Marik got rid of it. The doll then sacrificed all three of the slimes… "Don't turn away Yugi, this is Slifer!" He announced as the doll played the card down on the disk.

Lightening appeared to have come out of nowhere as the sky darkened around them. As the lightening flashed again something else came down with it. A giant red snake like dragon with two mouths appeared around the doll with his one of his mouths opened toward Yugi as if to attack. Yugi could only stare at the large beast as something else flashed before his eyes.

Sakura: Well that's it for that chapter, next time there will be something very interest at the beginning before I continue on with this duel. I always have a strategy for leaving these chapters at weird places, but there is always a point behind it.

Yumi: As mentioned at the start of this chapter the next chapter won't come out until Jan. 1 of the new year. Please review and Happy Holidays!