Author's Note: GOMEN! Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry! I know I'm seriously late with this chapter and I can't appologise enough for that but unfortunately my computer has been a little under the weather recently so I wasn't able to upload the chapter...I beg forgiveness /puppy-dog eyes/ Anywho, to say sorry I'm going to set the review rate really low. Lets call it 82 reviews hai? Sorry again! Now onto the chapter!

Chapter 10

-:Curse of Anubis:-

All face-up Effect Monsters on the field are changed to Defense Position and battle positions can not be changed.

Yami drummed his fingers on the bench. It felt like years had passed since he had woken up that morning. Every minute seemed to take an hour to pass by and the hours dragged on like a season each. Once again the Pharaoh raised his eyes to scan the park for any sign of his light. But once again his search came up empty. There was no sign of Yugi anywhere. Changing his gaze to the watch on his wrist Yami watched the minute hand sluggishly work its way up toward being vertical. Twelve O'clock, noon. Muscles tense and his heart hammering feverishly in his chest Yami stood and began the walk toward the edge of the woods that surrounded Domino Park on three sides. He could only pray that his plan would work. He had thought about all of the possible outcomes and it seemed the best option, though it was dangerous it was the best he had.

Yami sighed to himself as he came to the edge of the wood on one side of the park. Quickly he checked the park again. Since Ieb had failed to specify what edge of the woods he had meant Yami would have to wait until Yugi showed up. Slowly a sigh slipped between the Pharaoh's lips. It was going to be the most difficult thing he had ever done to put his plan into action. "I just hope you'll be able to forgive me Yugi." Yami said to no one in particular. "And I hope I'll be able to forgive myself."

---

Ieb smiled to himself as he strolled into Yugi's soul room. Sorting out Kazuomi's gang had been a nice distraction for him that morning and had, for a while, taken his mind off Yami and instead placed it on mindless violence. But the fun wasn't over. Pushing open the door to Yugi's room Ieb only began to feel better as he saw the state of his host. Yugi was sat on the floor, his arms wrapped about his knees as he slowly rocked back and forth.

"Well hello Yugi." Ieb smiled, though his eyes stayed emotionally dead. "How are you today?" Slowly the spirit walked forward and moved behind Yugi, crouching so that his lips were almost brushing Yugi's ear. Yugi's shudder only widened the smirk on his face. "Actually, let me tell you how you are today…" Ieb stood and kicked one of the toys aside lazily with his foot. There were toys everywhere in Yugi's soul room, but Ieb didn't have time to hazard guesses about what that said about Yugi. "Today Yugi, you beat up three thugs about twice your size, one may never walk again, one may never breathe again and one probably won't talk again." Yugi's eyes widened in horror and his rocking increased slightly in speed.

"It isn't true." Yugi muttered, "I didn't do that."

"Oh but you did!" Ieb laughed, "But that isn't all! You also took out their ringleader, I think his name was Kazuomi, but he could have been screaming anything really…" Ieb spared a glance to Yugi and was happy with his results. This was ripping Yugi apart. "In the case that you're interested, you kicked in that guy's ribs and punctured his lung. If he doesn't die of embarrassment from getting beaten up by a shrimp like you he'll probably choke on his own blood." Ieb smiled pleasantly at the thought and at the results his vivid descriptions were having on the small boy at his feet. Yugi's soul was flickering, like a light bulb about to go out. Yugi's soul was dying. "Don't believe me? Look at your hands?" Slowly Yugi lowered his gaze to his hands. They were stained red with the blood of four men. Yugi couldn't take it anymore. Suddenly he threw back his head and screamed, tears streaming down his face. He was broken.

Ieb left the soul room with a genuine grin on his face. Tears always meant a good day was ahead for him. Innocent tears were especially good and crying children boded as a good omen for him too. Locking the door behind him, shutting out the noise of Yugi's sobbing and animalistic screams, Ieb rose once again into his host's body. "Good thing I hit the jackpot," He laughed looking down the alley at where he had left Kazuomi's mangled body, then turning an eye to Yugi's watch he noted the time. Eleven forty five, time to start heading for the park. "A little luck could be everything I need today." Pulling the trench coat that he had taken from his last victim closer around his shoulders Ieb grinned. "Watch out Pharaoh, it's time to loose your greatest treasure. Or have you suffered that fate already…?"

---

Yami lace his hands together and then pulled them apart again. Was this part of Ieb plan? To make him nervous before starting whatever trial he had in mind? It could work too, making the Pharaoh nervous meant he was more open to mistakes and would think with less clarity. Shaking himself Yami took in a deep breath, bracing himself for Ieb's arrival. Slowly Yami looked to his watch, it read three minutes past twelve. Just then, out of the corner of his eye Yami could have sworn he saw a glint of gold from within the trees. Standing up to reach his full height Yami looked into the trees again. A moment later there he was, Ieb, standing about three inches in front of Yami. The closeness was unnerving, but Yami shoved that emotion aside, instead letting another rule over him. The Pharaoh felt anger rise inside of him at the sight of Yugi. Bruises patterned his face and his knuckles seemed red raw from some kind of fight. Obviously Ieb had a high pain threshold and didn't really care for the welfare of his host, but the sight of Yugi like that made Yami shudder and clench his fists until he drew blood. The gold puzzle glinted around Yugi's neck, having been reclaimed from Kazuomi, and a tatty black trench coat fluttered about his legs, his prize for the morning's effort with the gang.

"Good afternoon Pharaoh." Ieb purred, the tone sending shivers down Yami's spine. "Are you ready to pay up?" Yami smiled slightly at this, his eyes flaring like a stoked fireplace.

"I've been ready for almost five minutes Ieb. I almost thought you wouldn't show." Ieb smiled back and for a second caught the Pharaoh off guard.

"I wouldn't trust that watch." He laughed coldly, "It's a fake. Like you." The spirit took the watch off his own wrist and threw it to the Pharaoh. "Here, have the original." Ieb flashed some teeth in a snarl, "You always were one for pretending to be something you're not." The spirit in Yugi spat, "You used to pretend you were a just and kind ruler." Ieb laughed and Yami's fingernails dug a little deeper into his palms. Suddenly Ieb's laughter was cut off and his eyes blazed with a lust for revenge. "But we'll see about that one now won't we." Ieb levelled a gaze at the ex-Pharaoh that contained both a challenge and a promise of murder, but Yami was unperturbed. Not waiting for his challenger, Ieb turned and began his way into the forest. Yami didn't follow for a moment, instead looking at the watch that had been thrown to him. He took the watch tenderly from his hand and put it on next to his own. Just holding the timepiece told him that something of Yugi was still alive. He even allowed a small smile to slip onto his lips. The watch was purple, a dark magician design on the face. Yugi couldn't be gone. Yami wouldn't allow that.

"Its time for this trial to begin." Yami said to himself as he started into the woods. "And now Ieb you will truly discover the meaning of justice."

He had been to the clearing before. As Ieb led his way through the trees of Domino woods Yami began to recognise where he was going. This was where he had fought with Bakura all that time ago. Sadly Yami remembered Yugi's soul being separated from his own and put into the dark magician card. That had been the first time he had ever met Yugi face to face. The Pharaoh almost laughed at the irony of that. That had been the first time and now this might be the last. Apparently this irony was not lost on the spirit inhabiting Yugi's body.

"Ah, here we are then." Ieb smiled as they reached the clearing. "No doubt you remember this? I chose it specially. After your effective interrogation in that alley way I decided to do a quick sweep of Yugi's memories and this seemed to be a fitting place." Ieb cracked his knuckles and then stretched a little. "Now then, here I am, here you are, shall we crack on with the game? You and I both know what we have to do." Ieb pulled a deck of cards from the stolen coat's pocket and shuffled then. Yami nodded firmly and reached for his own deck. "I took the liberty of supplying a duel disk for you." He gestured a hand to a bag on the floor that he had brought with him. "I hope it is all to your liking your highness. It should be…I 'borrowed' it from your very own shop." Yami forced himself not to rise to Ieb's bait and took the disk from the bag, kicking it back over to the other spirit when he had finished so that his opponent could equip himself with the other. Once they were both ready, Yami spoke again, his voice filled with Pharonic strength.

"Now it's my turn to dictate the rules." Yami closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them the clearing was nowhere to be seen, instead replaced by endless darkness all around them. "I declare this to be a shadow game." Ieb smiled at this and laughed for a moment.

"Oh my, Pharaoh I am impressed!" Again Yami decided that keeping calm was the best policy and ignored the spirit's mocking comment. He was about to kick into the game when Ieb continued. "But seriously, I am actually impressed. A duel in the shadow realm with our very beings on the line." A horrible smirk curved Yugi's lips. "I would have thought it was a little too macabre for you, but it would seem I underestimated you." The smirk turned to a look of complete and utter hatred so rapidly that it was almost as if one had simply been hidden behind the other. Yami shuddered. He never wanted to see that look on Yugi's face ever again, especially aimed at him. "I won't be doing it a second time." Ieb threatened, his emerald eyes burning with the power to fulfil his threat. Yami inserted his deck into the disk and drew his five cards, Ieb following suit. Watching Ieb closely Yami felt anger bubble up inside him again. No one had the right to use Yugi this way, and especially when in reality he had nothing to do with what was going on. The ex-Pharaoh narrowed his eyes at his opponent, mentally swearing to punish Ieb for his treatment of his hikari. It was time to end this.

"Lets duel!" Yami yelled to his opponent, adrenaline kicking in and his heart pounding against his ribs. Ieb smiled coldly, he was in luck, for a moment he had thought his plan was ruined. But luckily it was still rectifiable. Slowly Ieb nodded his host's head.

"Let the games begin."

Reviwers Section:

Masami Mistress of Fire: Oops...kinda let the side down didn't I lol...oh well, hope you liked this chapter and can forgive me for my old and dying computer! I can't wait for the next chapter of yours by the way...do i have you on alert? I forget... /Sweatdrop/

Psycho Kage Suma: I should think that it probably would hurt! I actually kinda feel sorry for Kazuomi lol, originally he was going to play a bigger part, but then I cut him out quite heavily. Maybe I'll bring him back in a later fic! I get attached to my characters lol /Hugs Ieb/

frogger666: Lol, well if you like fight scenes you'll like the one coming up that Yami's in...oops...I didn't just actually type that did I?

Yami Yuugi: Lol! Another YYxY fan with Yami doing the saving.../sighs/ well if you are a fan of that I suggest you hang around for my plot bunny (see profile) that is very likely to take a turn in that sort of direction! As regards to the episodes what file share do you want to use? Veoh is one that I am currently registered on...I also have a youtube account but I'm willing to sign up to something else if that isn't convienent. Thanks for doing this by the way /glomps Yami Yuugi/

Yimi Makuya: I love that! "Yugi's turned awesome" lol! Well, there will be more of 'awesome Yugi' a little later on (read frogger666's comment for a tip off!) but perhaps I'm giving too much away...

cheeky-eyes: I felt that your comment about Yugi's body and the way Ieb was using it was very insightful...and perhaps even a little prophetic /wink/ I'm glad your sticking with me on this though! And if you liked this story I should have another coming along soon (see the plot bunny on my profile!) so worry not! There's plenty more where this is coming from!

Coco Gash Niccals: /Hugs Yugi/ Awww...he's so cute when he's mad and swearing /glomp/ lol! Anyways...I'm actually kind of getting attatched to Ieb and when you read about his past you may feel that way too... /reads ahead about what Ieb does to Yugi...cringes/ Then again...maybe not...

gowb: Lol/Huggles the 'super mega massive cliffie'/ Cliffies are love and it's a killer lol! Don't worry about reviewing late...I was worse.../cringes/ Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Only about 6 or so more to go!