The Kaiba Dome was the biggest duelling arena in all of Domino City, perhaps even the world. So naturally it was the perfect location for the tournament to decide the next King of Games. Paparazzi and news reporters stood outside the gates like seagulls over a beached whale with their squawking intensifying as the unique limo of Seto Kaiba pulled up beside them. The flashing of cameras went wild as the genius billionaire strolled determinedly down the blue-eyes blue carpet. A few noticed and waved over Marik, who was more than happy to oblige with poses garish enough to draw the eyes of many men and women in the crowd.
Then out stepped Bakura and the flashes stopped. The crowd stopped crying for attention. A metaphorical tumbleweed drifted along.
Then, as if the conducted had raised both his arms, everything erupted. Some people were screaming in terror. Some in anger. Many just burst into tears. Bakura stood and watched as half the city suffered a mental breakdown. Then he laughed. It might have been laughing it might have been just a cough, but it cam straight up from his throat like molten fire. That was until a drink, hurled by some raging civilian, splashed its petulant self all over Bakura's new suit. That soured the spirit's mood substantially. Marik, a little confused as to why no one was taking his picture as well as the number of people dialling 911, shuffled over to Bakura and grabbed him by the sleeve. "Uh, maybe we should go." Marik muttered. Bakura ignored him and scoured the crowd for the perpetrator of his ruined blazer and shirt. "Are you dweebs coming or not?" Kaiba called, only raising his bored tone slightly so he could be heard over the yelling mob. Kaiba's own bodyguards were like floodgates holding them back, unflinching. Clearly they were used to this. Marik tugged on Bakura's blazer a little harder, like a child trying to get the attention of his mother. Finally, Bakura grunted and stalked down the carpet and trying in vain to exterminate the soaking stain.
"What was that all about then?" Marik asked when the three were safely inside.
"Jee, I don't know." Kaiba snarked "Maybe because your buddy over here killed thousands of people across the globe when he tried to resurrect Satan. That might've done it."
Bakura's scowl deepened into a crevice of bitterness. "Zorc. Not Satan, Zorc" Bakura corrected.
"Oh like it matters." Kaiba dismissed. "Now lets go, I have a tournament to win." The trio trundled off, Kaiba striding ahead with a steely gaze. Marik and Bakura drifted behind, Bakura with his fists shoved into his pockets and a pout like a rebellious teen. "Hey Bakura, that was kinda crazy right?" Marik said, trying to lighten the mood a little. "Bah" Bakura responded. "That was nothing. I remember this one time in Romania where I was holed up in some abandoned castle. Pitchforks, torches, sliver swords. Now emthat/em was a real mob. Not like the stupid mortals out there."
"Woah. That sounds awesome!" Bakura smiled a little at that, as quick as the spark of a lighter.
"Yes well, I suppose it was."
"Whats it like to have lived for so long? Did you meet anyone famous?" Marik's eyes widened at the intrepid adventures of Bakura through time.
"I've met a few I suppose. No one that interesting really, although that Lovecraft fellow..." Bakura smiled properly this time. Despite his annoyance, Marik had the tendency to calm him down. Sometimes.
"Hey, Bakura." Kaiba called, his back still turned to them. "Look at that." Both Bakura and Marik looked at the giant marble column the billionaire was pointing at. It was half as tall as the dome and thicker than several bank vaults. Scrawled in gold all around it were names and ages. "And what Seto?" Bakura said, unimpressed while Marik stared up with obvious awe. "Those are all the people who died" Kaiba said eventually. Silence fell on Marik and Bakura's shoulders like lead. "All the natural disasters that happened when you tried to bring Satan back killed a lot of people, Bakura." Kaiba was very still. Bakura said nothing.
"Very well. We'll carry on." Kaiba declared as he began to continue walking as if nothing had happened. Bakura shoved his hands back into his pockets and carried on, his expression fixated to the bare concrete floor. Marik stayed a moment and stared up at the alabaster white memorial a while longer before jogging after his partner.
After a few moments of awkward silent walking, they arrived at the duelling pitch. A vast stretch of playing field crisscrossed with the white lining of individual duelling arenas with custom astroturf and side wing. In the centre of the massive complex was the masterpiece. An elevated pitch supported by an iron Exodia with three steel Blue-Eyes White Dragons entwining around the behemoth like frozen flames. The pitch was the custom setting except with metal rather than earth. The only other extravagant addition was the throne. A giant seat carved from the purest gold like a gift from the heavens. At the top of the kingly chair were carved three terrifying monsters: The Egyptian God Cards. Draped over the King's left shoulder would be the great Sky Dragon Slifer, a great ball of thunder building up in its first mouth. Clutching the the King's right soldier would be the mighty fist of Obelisk the Tormentor, its own teeth bared in a devilish grin. Above them all and sweeping over the King's head would be the Winged Dragon of Ra, bursting into golden flames with omnipotent power.

This was the the throne for the King of Games. And sitting on it was Yugi Moto.

Around them duels continued without hesitation. The unmistakable sound of Curse of Dragon blasting through a Oni Tank sounded out to their right, whereas on the left another players cries of anguish could be distinct as his opponent activated a nauseating Nightmare Wheel.
Above them all Yugi sat and observed, exhausting the entertainment of fiddling around with his duel disk.
As soon as the King of Games came into sight, Bakura's hands crumpled into white fists. A smouldering black satanic smoke evaporated off his form like a geyser from hell. Similarly, Kaiba growled like a hungry dragon, his eyes narrowing as he observed his prey.
Marik, meanwhile, shoved the two antagonists aside. "Hey!" Marik called out, waving both arms in the air the a flight signaller. "Yugi! Over here! Yoo Hoo!" The King of Games heard and inclined his head for a better view. At the sight of Marik and Kaiba the warm smile of friendship creased his face like the rising sun. Then he spotted Bakura, still steaming. "Here we go again" Kaiba muttered as he stalked away. "I'll come and collect you both at the end of the day."
"Yes father" Marik almost instantaneously replied, his gaze still fixed on Yugi. Kaiba tutted again and disappeared out the door.
Yugi meanwhile had gotten up from his gargantuan golden throne and was making the long decent down to see the two antagonists. He had grown, becoming nearly as tall as Bakura was but clearly had the more athletic build. Bakura took a deep breath, now was't the time to fight Yugi. If the King of Games knew Bakura's intentions of violence, he would cancel the tournament or worse have him arrested.
"Yugi my friend, it has been far too long" Marik greeted warmly. Yugi gave a friendly nod and a smile.
"Marik, where did you go to? I haven't heard from you in, well over two years. Aishizu and Odion have been worried sick!" Marik looked a bit bashful at that. "Yes well I've been…busy. Y'know how it is, being a great duelist and all that people just need their break periods. Ah he. Oh yeah and that's Bakura." Yugi turned to face the Spirit, his friendly face turning deadly serious. "That isn't you is it Ryou?"
"No, its me Pharaoh" Bakura replied stern faced.
"How can you still be here? The Millennium Necklace was destroyed years ago." Bakura smirked a little at that.
"Ah, about that" Marik replied awkwardly "the Millennium Items…they aren't actually destroyed. Pretty crazy right?" Yugi raised a curious eyebrow at that. He was used to surprises by now. "Oh, really? Is there any chance that…?"
Marik shook his head. "The Door is closed for the next three-thousand years and won't open again until then. Its just silly really. Also the items are now sealed away at the centre of the earth so as much as I would love for another ancient artefact battle to the death that won't be happening anytime soon."
"Isn't that a relief" Bakura muttered, his eyes still locked onto Yugi's.
"Are you planning on entering the tournament Marik?" Yugi asked never breaking eye contact from Bakura.
"Oh yeah" Marik replied "I am! Kaiba was real nice to give us that plane ride over. And guess what? Bakura's duelling too! Woo friends!"
Deadly silence as Bakura and Yugi continued to stare each other down.
"Thats nice" Yugi replied calmly. Bakura grunted in a vague appreciation of Marik's existence. More silence. "You know" Yugi said after a while "I helped build the memorial of the dead out the front."
"I saw" Bakura growled.
"I'm also the reason you've not been arrested. As far as anyone knows, you're still Ryou."
"Why would you?" Bakura's face twisted a little at that.
"I had hopes that Ryou would come back."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you Pharaoh, but I am undying."
"Yes… I had figured that out by now." Eventually Yugi turned to walk away. Marik tried to give Bakura a hug but the albino brushed him off, nonplussed.
"The tournament starts tomorrow" Yugi said as he made his way back up the stairs. "I will be doing the paring. So enjoy today and I'm sure we'll see each other later."
"Yeah, sounds fun Yugi!" Marik responded enthusiastically.
"I will duel you again Pharaoh" Bakura said, his voice as cold as frostbite.
Yugi smiled a sad little smile at that. "I'm sure you will, Thief King" he replied before returning to his massive golden throne. Marik looked at Bakura and hugged him again. This time Bakura let him and held the Egyptian tight. "This will be fun, won't it?" Marik said, his voice cracking a little. Bakura smiled comfortingly. "Yes" he replied tenderly "yes it will. I'll make sure of it."

Hey guys, me again. So I'm sorry upload time has been bad but I've had a lot on my plate. I might start a habit of just leaving little letters at the bottom of every chapter. Again, any reviews would really be appreciated! Also post in the review box who you would like to see duel in chapter 7! Okay thank you!