I'm so sorry it took me this long and thats it's short but the last part of the chapter I had trouble with and I still don't think it turned out all that well. Also it was brought to my attenion that reading the same sqript from the show with minor changes is boring so I am trying to change the words up a bit...hope I sucseeded.

Don't own Yu-gi-oh but I do own Anu.

Oh, and if you like Final fantasy VII under my shared account [link in profile]go read my ff7 story called Seeing is Beliveing

Chapter twenty three: Grappling with a Guardian Part one

YAMIS POV…

I stood staring at the soulless body of one of my best friends. Joey had lost to someone, I turned to look at the one Joey had sworn to defeat. He too was soulless, so that meant someone else had come along.

Anu pawed at the ground beside me, her fur bristling with magic as she walked up to Joey, licking his cheek.

Tea, not willing to face that Joey had no soul, pleaded with the boy to wake up. I didn't blame her; Joey had pulled himself out of the shadow realm before, with no help.

"I don't think he can" I said

I closed my eyes in pain, another one of my friends lost to the madness Darts had spread.

"When I get my hands on the person who did this they are going to wish they were never born" Tristan said and I agreed, but I had a feeling I know who had done this.

Anu had sat down in front of Joey, just staring at him, I looked at her, the display of anger she had shown at seeing Joey was an instant reminder how she was not a normal dog. There was so much power, magic hidden in her and I had a feeling we had just barely scratched the surface.

ANU'S POV…

The humans discussed who had done this, the angry blonde woman, Mai Valentine who as my name for her implied was angry, angry at the world, at the master and his friends, angry at Joey.

The food boy was now angry, angry that their 'friend' had done this. I frowned at their accusations, did they not realize the Orichalcos had manipulated her; turned her anger to one person.

I growled to myself, I could smell her one Joey, but something else. While the humans talked I wandered away. I could feel my master's eyes on me as I walked. Something on the ground caught my eye. Broken green crystals lay on the ground, I nudged them with my nose and my magic sparked.

A broken stone of the Orichalcos, that meant one of them was free, I sniffed it again. It smelt of Joey and Mail. I knew Joey did not have this stone, so it was Mai's. I barked the angry blonde was free; she was out seeking revenge for Joey.

I looked up and over that the other master and his friends but they hadn't noticed my discovery. I looked at my other master and noticed his magic was gathering. The other humans did not notice it, but I did, his aura was flickering with his dark but comforting shadow magic. He was angry.

"He hides in his fortress while others do his dirty work" I caught him saying and instantly knew he was talking about Darts. "Well not anymore" he said and took off.

I cursed to myself and ran after him. Angry powerful pharaoh on a rampage without his light to sooth his soul was not good. The nice smelling girl called out to him as we ran by, they were picking up Joey.

I barked back at her, letting her know I was going to go with him. Too bad I couldn't talk, to tell them to go back to the others. I caught up with the other master quite easily. He spared me a glance but did not stop running.

YAMI'S POV…

This all ends now, I though as I ran; Anu had caught up with me and I knew she was going to help me take down her former master. I was glad to have her by my side.

We were closer to Darts building than I thought; I could see it just a few blocks over.

I reached the building rather quickly, but I supposed because I was angry it didn't seem like that long of a run. As I approached Darts voice gave a laugh as he said

"We've been expecting you Pharaoh" his voice echoed around me

I looked around for him before I noticed the elevator light was moving down to my level. Was Darts in there no that would be too easy? So one of his minions was in it, or maybe it was to take me somewhere. I ran up to the door just as the light stopped on the ground floor and the doors opened.

The door opened and the light blinded me for a moment before I realized who was standing before me.

"Mai?" I said as my eyes adjusted to the sudden light.

She gave a shallow breath and fell forward. I caught her has she fell. Strange smoke or fog poured from the elevator. Mai was soulless. Anu nudged the girls arm as I looked around. She suddenly growled and I looked at the elevator as I noticed a singling white feather float down. I knew that symbol, I knew who she fought.

"It appears my rematch is close" I said to myself and Anu.

Anu snorted at me, and I shook my head, I had more important things to worry about than a rematch. I placed Mail on the wall next to the elevator so when the others caught up they could see her. Anu was already in the elevator when I stepped in.

I glanced at the elevators doors and they closed as my shadow magic brushed them. As the lift began to move I reached into my pocket and pulled out my deck.

Anu glanced at me and I nodded to her

"We might be able to talk Raphael out of this madness." She snorted "I know, but Yugi showed me that something's are worth trying."

Anu nodded at my reasoning and turned her attention back to the door. The lift beeped and the doors opened, I noticed we were on the roof.

"It's about time you showed up here" a deep voice I recognized said

"This does not concern you Raphael" I said walking out to the roof "I am here to see Darts."

I noticed that some four shadows stood behind him, two on each side. All had glowing eyes and walked on all fours. They walked forward and I heard Anu snarl.

The shadows were dogs; they looked very similar to Anu's old form. The black and green furl; an Orichalcos stone was in beaded in their forehead, their eyes all white.

"What…" I said as Anu bumped my leg as she growled at them, her fur bristled as she turned all white.

Raphael looked slightly surprised by Anu's transformation before saying

"We captured a bunch of partners of Magic seekers; this is what happens to them when an Orichalcos stone is implanted in them.

I stared in horror, but in noticed the confusion on Raphael's face as he glanced over Anu's form; the white fur and clear eyes.

"And this is what happens when they are freed from it, a pure form Raphael, look at them" I pointed to the magic hunters who were growling. "Do they look good to you, because they look controlled to me?"

"Some people need help in seeing the truth of others" he said

"So you choose enslavement over free will. Tell me Raphael is this how Darts plans to save the world" I clenched my fists as I yelled "by enslaving and stealing the souls of those who do not agree with him, and striking Fear into those too afraid to stand up for themselves. That doesn't sound like the utopia he promised you, that sounds like global take over by a mad man"

He just crossed his arms and stared at me

"Look at them Raphael, look at them" I pointed at the magic seekers "tell me what you see compared to how they were"

"That doesn't matter at the moment," pulled out a card and threw it at me, I caught it easily "why don't you tell me what you see when you see this."

I glanced at it and gasped

"The claw of Hermos" I said Anu looked up at me. "Joey's card" how did he get it?

"Mai took that card, she defeated Joey then I defeated her" he said

"But why?" I asked "wasn't Mai on your side"

"I never trusted her and it turns out was right all along. After she took Joeys Soul she turned on us"

Part of me felt relieved that Mai was no longer under their control; that Joey had gotten to her. Now all I had to do was get both of their souls back.

"Biggest mistake she ever made" he said

"This madness has to stop" I said, looking at my hands, noticing they were shaking. "Just think of how many innocent lives have been destroyed, you may be next" I said looking at him.

"Do you think I really care" he said and I was surprised "I made a commitment to help Master Darts save the planet crumbling at the hands of people like you. And if keeping my promise means I have to give up my soul then so be it"

I shook my head at him, glancing at Anu who hadn't relaxed the moments her fellow magic seekers were revealed.

"Wake up" I shouted "can't you see your so called 'master' Darts is just using you to satisfy his own selfish needs, your just a means to an end. Join our side, and save the world by stopping this soul stealing enslavement madness."

"Once the great leviathan arrives, I am afraid your side won't exist" he looked up and Anu snarled even louder so I looked up as well. The shadow of great beast was swimming across the sky. "All it needs is one more strong soul"

I cursed under my breath; our window of opportunity to defeat darts was closing.

"As we speak the great leviathan lurks in the shadows all over the earth, your soul will be the one that will bring him to this world fully."

Anu stepped in front of me, trying to shield me from the man, her tail brushed my foot; bring me a sort of comfort that only she could bring.

"Your little dog is going to be dealing with her own problems while we duel Pharaoh. Darts wishes for his magic hunter to return to him, the one you stole. So while we duel she is going to be reacquainted with some old friends."

One of the magic seekers by his side howled and suddenly I could feel the pressure drop around us. I looked up and stared in horror.

ANU'S POV…

I looked up and around, and I could feel my other master share my horror. We were surrounded by the possessed magic seekers. Their white eyes glowing, fur bristling as the Orichalcos glowed, spreading like webs across their heads and into their skin.

"Help us, save us, free us, help us save us, free us, help us, save/help/free"

I could hear their cries for help in my mind, and tears fell from my eyes, they were trapped, oh so trapped. I howled letting out my agony into the air. The other master looked at me, placing a hand on my head. My fur bristled as the others came closer.

The Orichalcos magic was suppressing, I could feel its energy pressing down on them, and trying to pressure me.

"Don't even think about trying to pull a stunt like that again Pharaoh" I turned back to the man as he addressed my master "I don't appreciate being lied to besides theirs no one for you to hide behind this, because now it's just you and me."

I snarled but he didn't even look at me

"The winner leaves a free man and the loser becomes prisoner to the beast."

The other master glared, I could feel his anger building. Finally he shouted

"You're on; if that's what it takes to set my friends free then let's duel. Once you're out of my way I can go straight for Darts" I growled in agreement. "It's just a shame that a duelist with your skill has to throw it all away by following a mad man"

Raphael shook his head at the pharaoh and argued

"Mast Darts opened my eyes to the truth, he made me who I am today" he smirked and held up the Orichalcos card "your just jealous you don't have one of these right?" Half quoting the master when they last dueled.

My teeth pulled back in a snarl, how dare he, how dare he bring the others master pain into this. He walked forward, his deck in his hand while the Pharaoh said

"I won't be tempted by that again…"

"I know, your little magic seeker plays a big part in this" and the other master looked at me confused "but you can have one last look while you shuffle my deck" he smiled "for old time sake"

They shuffled and Raphael walked back to his side.

Their duel disks activated and both screamed

"Time to duel"

YAMI'S POV…

Lightning flashed as the collected energy of three magic's piled on top of one another. I turned to the duel to see Raphael had played a magic card

"I play guardian treasure; this magic card lets me draw two new cards as soon as I get rid of the five I'm holding. Plus I can draw two cards every turn from now on as long as guardian treasure is on the field." He ended his turn by playing a monster and a card face down.

I narrowed my eyes, not a good way to start a duel. I played queen's knight, my eyes shifting to the possessed magic seekers. They just sat there waiting, did they have a purpose or were they just here for show. I waited for his move.

I wasn't sure how much time had passed into this duel but it wasn't looking good for me, I had 2500 life points, my plan with my knights had be ruined and Raphael had yet to play the seal of Orichalcos or do anything with the magic seekers. Anu had yet to relax sense she saw them and I didn't blame her.

"What now Pharaoh" he said drawing my mind back to the duel "one knight stands between me and your life points."

I drew a breath and continued the duel, drawing a card I played magic star twilight. Its effect was activated instantly. The five kuribo appeared before me. I activated their special ability, sending them to attack one of his guardians.

Raphael looked shocked

"What did you just do to my guardian?"

"He was weakened" I explained "Thanks to them your guardian is only half the monster it once was. So it's time for me to finish him off." I rose my hand "now Kuribo brothers, combine yourselves" I knew that the monster and mine had the same attack points as Raphael so kindly pointed out to me.

I smirked and said

"True but I'm not finished, I activate mystical space typhoon" the guardians' gravity axe shattered, my monster moved in shortly after.

Suddenly his other guardian blocked the attack and I blinked surprised. Her shield shattered and I stared. My opponent's life points went down as he explained what happened. I nodded still shocked; most duelists didn't protect their monsters like he did; only a few I knew did. I smiled to myself; Raphael was a true duelist, if only I could get him from Darts.

"Raphael" I called out in one last attempt "don't you understand that as long as you stay with Darts, you'll never stay true to yourself. You've got to much respect for your cards to use them for such an evil purpose.

He shook his head at my words

"This world is an evil place, master Darts showed me that, and your part of the problem. And I'm going to fix that." He looked at his cards "and thanks to my master, I've got just the tool to do it"

I shook my head as he raised the one card I hated with a passion. Its green glow flashed

"Now I play the seal of Orichalcos"

"No Raphael" I shouted as growling caught my attention. The glow on the magic seekers was brighter now. "Raphael" I called again trying to get him to stop as lightning flashed again "please don't, you're making a terrible mistake"

"Your fate is seal" he said as he slid the card into its slot. Lightning flashed and the wolves howled around us. The sound sent shivers down to my core. Anu whined next to me; her ears flat on her head.

The glow of the seal surrounded Raphael, and its seal appeared on his forehead, a purple aura surrounding him. There was a gasp behind me and I turned to see Kaiba and the others step out of the elevator. Tea had most likely gasped at the possessed magic seekers.

"Pharaoh" she said "look out"

I looked up just in time to see one of the possessed wolves jumped me; teeth wide open fangs sharp. My eyes widened when white fur pasted me and knocked it away

Keep fighting master Anu said the link back with the seal

Anu ran from the seal, chasing the others away from me. I stared at them then turned to the chuckling Raphael.

"Anu is going to have her own set of problems; we wouldn't want her interfering with our duel." He chuckled again. His eyes now mixed with green and red.

ANUS POV…

The Orichalcos had been some sort of cue because one jumped my master. I knocked it away and chased the rest from my master. By the time I was out of the seal did I realize who their true target was; me. They all stopped going at the seal, and started circling me.

"Anu" the other master cried and I looked up just as one of my kin bit into my shoulder. I cried out. The cold one and the master's friends called my name to. I barked at them to stay back.

"Raphael" the other master screamed

"If your doggie hopes to win, she better fight back" was all he said, smirking

He was right and I knew it. It seemed the others knew it to as they all came down from the landings and surrounded me. I snarled at them, trying to keep them all in my sights. They would come at me one at a time. I dodged most of them, but when they came to me in groups. I got hurt a lot.

I couldn't bring myself to fight them, they were my people and they were attacking me. One jumped at me, biting me but I shook them off. Another charged at me, slamming its head into my side. I rolled across the floor, my already bite wounds smearing red in my path. I climbed to my feet shaking only for two to clamp onto my back dragging me to the ground as the others walked around me in a circle. I whined and looked up to see one break from the circle and walk to me.

YAMIS POV…

I couldn't concentrate on the duel, not with Anu being attack. Her fur had gotten covered in dirt in a matter of seconds, it stood out greatly on her white fur. But the blood, the red that mixed with the dirt…it was all I could focus on.

"Anu!" I shouted as she went down, skidding on the ground, she got back up but two dragged her down…one was walking towards her as the others circled, a pack stalking their prey.

"Anu" the others behind me cried, panics in my friends voices.

The main one put a paw on her throat.

"You should pay attention to your own problems Pharaoh" but I couldn't take my eyes off Anu. In my mind I kept thinking

"FIGHT BACK Anu, fight back, please fight back"

The one with its paw on her throat lowered its head, fangs gleaming heading right for her throat.

"ANU" I screamed and red splashed across the ground.

To be continued

please reivew,and I will try and update faster.