There's more to life than Duel Monsters Chapter 4: The Tournament, a yu-gi-oh fanfic

There's more to life than Duel Monsters.

Ch4: The Tournament.

Thanks to UnknownDarkMystery for constant encouraging reviews.

The Dream of Malik Ishtar

It was the initiation to be tomb keeper again. Malik watched his younger self crying on the bed afterwards. He was used to this dream by now, and he knew he could not come over and help.

So he just waited patiently, a sad smile of acceptence of fate on his face, as his older foster brother and sworn protector Rashid walked over to comfort his younger self.

It was then he felt a familiar presence walk up beside him...

..."Bakura." Marik said without turning, "How is it you are here?"

"You are not the only posessor of a Senn Item, besides, I attached my spirit to a piece of the Senn Rod back in the Renaissance. I can visit your soul room, and from there it's only a short walk to your dreams."

Marik smiled, annoyed as Bakura could have watched any of his dreams since the Renaissance. And several of those he could rememeber had been reasonably personal.

"Have you never heard of privacy, Bakura?"

"I have, but I do not believe in the concept. What I want and what I need in order to achive it, is what I believe in. Morals, trust, honour, safety, privacy, justice, concience, truth are illusions."

"I see you did not mention law." Marik said, somewhat placated by the honesty and depth of Bakura's anwsers.

"Ah, but the law is very real. Take it from one who has been on the recieving end many times."

They were now watching as Ishizu came in to offer her support.

"You know, that is the only good thing about being a tomb keeper - free tattoos."

Marik smiled as he considered the initiation in a new light. "I suppose. But the secret of the pharaoh, I mean really. I think I would've preffered The Winged Dragon Of Ra and maybe Obelisk the Tormentor."

"What I want to know is, how in the world is the pharaoh going to learn of this secret. In the past five thousand years the tomb keepers have been waiting and waiting. I mean he must have been reincarnated at lest forty times, and he still hasn't got a tomb keeper's shirt off."

"Well, it's not like he'd have much of a chance, considering how they've removed themselves from society." Marik said venomously, as he still resented Malik's unhappy childhood that he had had to share.

"Yeah, but you can't just build a sign saying 'Tomb Keepers here, Reincarnated Souls Welcome, BYO Senn Item.'"

Marik was sick of this trend to the conversation, so he just shrugged.

Suddenly, Bakura's rational tone became venomous. "I hope he paid for this." He was referring to Malik's father who the dream visions were now discussing.

Marik was warmed by the words and nodded, smiling sweetly. "I'm surprised you haven't met him. He's in the shadow realm."

He could feel Bakura's warm breath on his shoulder as the other leaned foreward to whisper, "Is he now? You must excuse me."

With that, the presence was gone. Marik smiled...

...Malik found himself smiling despite the sad scene in front of him. He had taken a while to calm down after the initiation. Ishizu had gone, and Rashid took off his hood, undoing the bandages.

The Dream of Malik Ishtar

Yugi Moto opened his eyes. He immediately closed them again, however as a wave of nervous nausea washed over him.

This is it. He thought. This is the day that will decide my official ranking. This is the day I have to prove I am a real duellist.

Yugi sat up, determined and ready, only to fall back down as an unbidden thought assailed him. This is the day I have to duel Seto Kaiba.

"Yugi!" his grandfather called from downstairs.

Yugi shakily got up and started getting dressed. As he walked out of the room, he looked through the deck he had assembled and reassembled the night before.

"Heart of the cards, right." He muttered to himself. However, it did nothing for his nervousness.

Yugi found his grandfather in the shop - he didn't feel like eating breakfast.

"Good morning, Yugi." Said his grandfather cheerfully. "I have something for you."

Yugi managed a weak smile.

With that, the old man with spiky grey hair took five cards from his pocket and laid them face up on the counter.

At the sight of the cards, Yugi was stunned sppechless.

"Do you know what monster is, Yugi?"

Yugi managed a small nod.

"Use it well."

With that, his grandfather put the cards into Yugi's hands and pushed him out of the shop towards the group of friends waiting outside. "Go on now, you don't want to be late."

The stunned Yugi mechanically greeted his friends and started off towards the park, still staring at the monster in his hands.

"Good luck Yugi! Remember the heart of the cards!" Called his grandfather from the doorway of the store before going back inside.

The group walked and chatted but it wasn't long before they noticed Yugi's state.

"What's that you have there, Yugi?" Asked Jounochi. Yugi replied by showing the cards.

"Wow!" Said Honda, who had been looking over Jounochi's shoulder. Jounochi was stunned. "You'd better put those in your deck Yugi."

Yugi nodded and added the cards to his deck. His nervousness had slightly abated mainly due to the cards, but he still did not trust the nervousness not to show in his voice when he spoke. So he remained quiet.

It was Jounochi coming out of his stupor who broke the ensuing silence. "You nervous, Yugi?"

Yugi nodded.

Honda smirked wryly. "We're all nervous. First official tournament, remember? And Seto Kaiba's being there doesn't exactly help."

"And his presence means all the top duellists who can, will be there. It's not only a small tournament anymore." Yugi added looking at his feet. "Where is Anzu?" He asked, suddenly aware of the absence of cheerful encouragement.

"She said she had to go shopping with Mai." Jounochi said.

"Don't they want to get in some practice before the tournament?" Honda asked, surprised. "Mai may be used to all this but it is Anzu's first."

Jounochi shrugged. "Mai said 'it's much better to relax just before a tournament'. She said that 'we did all we could last night and it's too late to change our decks or think up new strategies now.'"

"Maybe she's right. We did prepare a lot." Honda agreed. "Guys, I don't know about you but I haven't had breakfast yet. Let's go grab a bite."

Jounochi grinned. "Sure, I'm starving."

"What about practice?" Asked Yugi, wide eyed.

Jounochi smirked. "Come on, Yugi, with your deck you'll win for sure."

Yugi nodded but he was far from reassured. To summon Exodia the Forbidden One I have to draw all five cards, and the chances of that are pretty slim.

His thoughts were filled with visions of white dragons. Well, let's hope the Kareebo defence holds. The rest is up to the heart of the cards.

Seto Kaiba awoke with a start. He quickly and efficiently dressed.

Then he made his way to the dining room. The mansion was quiet.

It was barely dawning outside, bathing the dining room in a dark blue light.

On his way, he picked up the chess set and with quick movements, set up the problem that had haunted his dream. He did not remeber who had set it, nor did he care.

He had the sickening suspicion it was his foster father Gozaburo Kaiba who though dead, was still able to reach Seto in his dreams.

Seto was more concerned however, with how he would check mate in one move.

He sat behind the black pieces and looked at the board. While the sun came up outside, the lighting changed from blue to pink to the white of day, and servants moved silently about him setting up the buffet breakfast, he sat.

Mokuba came down for breakfast, but seeing his brother's preoccupation, quietly took his food and left. Outside the dining room, Seto could hear him talking to Otogi.

"Morning Mokuba!"

"Shh. Otogi, Seto is cocentrating on a chess problem."

"Is he now?"

That's when Otogi appeared in the doorway. Yawning, dressed in a baggy t-shirt and shorts he had presumably slept in, Otogi shuffled past Seto in bedroom slippers, rubbing his eyes.

He glanced at the board as he passed, then shuffled past, attacking the food with vigor once he reached the buffet.

On his way out, with a cup of coffee, he stopped by the board. Gently, Otogi moved Seto's bishop to d6. Then, satisfied, he nodded and left the room, yawning.

Seto didn't move. He stared at the board for a while.

It was so obvious! Why did I not see it?

The alarm on his watch went off and he stood up slowly, still looking at the board.

It's just not my day. Seto smirked. But then, it's not supposed to be.

Without a second thought, Seto left for the helicopter that waited to take him to the tournament, sweeping the pieces onto the floor as he turned.

Ryou Bakura lazily opened his eyes. It was Sunday.

He did not remember what had happened to yesterday, but he awoke happily as rays of light fell onto his bed.

Ryou stretched. He noticed he was sligtly sore in strange places, but that was nothing new.

A short time after he had recieved the Senn Ring from his father, he had woken up sore every day for a week. Since then he had occasionally woken up with bruises and cuts. He had by now learned to easily distinguish the pain of sore muscles from the pain of cuts and bruises. This was the sore muscle kind.

Ryou sat up and noticed that he wasn't wearing anything. He shrugged - he was at home.

The room felt warm, so Ryou concluded that the central heating had been turned on. He stood from his crumpled bed and gathered up the sheets. Sunday was laundry day. Collecting the clothes from the dirty laundry basket, Ryou made his way to the living room and from there, the laundry.

He loaded and turned on the machine, then leaving for his bedroom where he laid out clean sheets. He had found his pyjamas on top of the pile of his clothes and now folded them neatly on the bed.

It was then that Ryou noticed that ever since he had awoken, he had been hearing the running shower.

Curious, he wandered over to the bathroom door. It was unlocked. He pushed the door, and was greeted by a cloud of steam.

Ryou stepped inside, to be greeted with the sight of Malik Ishtar in the shower.

Malik turned around and smiled at the blushing Ryou. Ryou's feet were rooted to the spot and his head was spinning. He ran on autopilot.

"Good moning, Malik." said Ryou politely. What did I do on Saturday?

"Morning." Said Malik, his smile beaming. "I'll be out in a minute."

Ryou nodded and closed the door. Looking for guidance, he wandered over to the fridge. Sure enough, there was a note. It said that the clothes in the shopping bags were for Malik. It also told him to wash the sheets. Ryou's blush deepened.

He did not know if this was bad or good, but he was sure that this was weird and insane, and a hundred other things.

Remembering that Malik had said he would be out in a minute, Ryou quickly put on the top most outfit in the pile - loose jeans, and the usual green shirt and white jumper.

Malik Ishtar stepped out of the bathroom in a towel and deep in thought. Earlier, he had laughed at this new madness, when he awoke naked and sore next to Ryou. He had time in the shower to consider this new development though.

He wasn't sure how he felt about this, but he was sure that how he felt really didn't make any difference to the situation. He had to find out if Ryou was the same as he was - clueless as to the particulars or whether he knew what happened. Somehow, he doubted the latter.

The last time I had seen Ryou, he was very eager to have nothing to do with me. He and I then, might have the same problem.

Malik could be wrong, but he didn't think so, further reassured when he found a blushing Ryou making hot chocolate in the kitchen. Ryou did not look like his clothes didn't fit him this time, but he was dressed in a completely different style. Curiosity burned in Malik, curiosity about this polite ghost who's duplicity might hold the key to his own madness.

Ryou turned around when he heard Malik approach. "Do you want a hot chocolate?" He asked politely smiling, his blush was slowly abating. "Or I have coffee if you want."

Malik shrugged. "Chocolate is fine. Listen Ryou, don't take this the wrong way, but I don't remember what happened last night."

His eyes were met by Ryou's emerald searching gaze. Satisfied, he sighed, handing over a cup of steaming chocolate. "I don't remember either Malik."

Encouraged, Malik leaned on the fridge, sipping his chocolate and continued. "I have blank holes in my memory. Times where I don't know what happened. This was only the second time I woke up in the wrong house though."

Ryou smiled. "You're pretty lucky then. I get black holes, but I also appear in places and don't know how I got there quite a bit. Not to mention someone keeps moving my things, leaves me notes on the fridge and spends money that mysteriously appears in my bank account."

Malik laughed. "Whoa. That's quite a lot. I get the moving stuff thing and somebody keeps spending my money. But nobody leaves me notes."

Ryou shrugged, still smiling and drinking hot chocolate. "It can be pretty useful. Like for instance, the clothes in the shopping bags in the living room are for you."

Malik's eyes widened in surprise. He finished off the rest of his drink, put the cup in the sink and went to investigate. His eyes glowed in appreciation as he sorted through the clothes in the bags, which had been placed neatly by the front door. "Thanks, you shouldn't have."

"I didn't." Ryou smiled politely. He then frowned as he looked at some clothes lying by the base of the couch. "Yours?" He asked.

Malik walked over and examined the clothes. He nodded. Ryou went back in the kitchen as Malik quickly put them on. When he returned, Malik was picking up the bags, getting ready to leave.

"Malik," Ryou asked frowning, "When you woke up, you were..."

"In your bed." Malik finished, smiling wryly. In the corridoor, he turned to the politely smiling Ryou. "Bye Ryou, don't forget abou the tournament at the park tonight." As an afterthought he added. "Thanks for the chocolate, I had a really nice time."

Ryou bowed politely. "Goodbye Malik, it has been nice to see you. If I can, I will come to the tournament." Malik closed the door.

As he left the apartment building, he was relieved to see his motorcycle. Only once he had loaded his bags, he realised he did not know how to get to his house from here. He lauged at this. I suppose it's a nice day for a drive.

He picked out a warm jacket from among his new clothes and put it on before he left, smiling.

Yugi walked up to the partitioned off area of the park with his friends. Autumn was in the cool air and the golden, orange and red leaves that covered the trees, in places falling to the ground.

This area of the park - including the bridge over the river and several small tiled areas - had been partitioned off for the tournament with a small white iron fence. A guard stood at the gate, checking all who entered were duellists. It was still early, but the reporters were already standing around, catching a few top duellists before they entered.

They were admitted by showing their decks and being searched for recording equipment. Only one camera crew had been allowed in, with one reporter, who were managed by suits from Kaiba Corp. to make sure they did not interfere with the duels.

The tournament was going to be played by points, but because so many people were coming, the first round was an elimination. Whoever made it through that, would play to the end, winner playing winner and loser playing loser. The final pair would be those two who had the most points after the tenth round.

Yugi spotted Mai and Anzu, sitting under a tree, chatting with Malik. As they approached, they heard scraps of the conversation.

Malik was speaking "...Ra knows why he's acting this way. I was the one invite him."

Mai nodded. "He certainly doesn't act like he appreciates the favor."

"He isn't himself." Anzu replied. "He's probably just really nervous."

Mai smiled at Anzu. "I suppose he could be, Anzu."

Just then, they noticed Yugi, Jounochi and Honda.

Anzu smiled. "Hi guys!"

"You sit here, I'll go ask who we're duelling in the first round." Honda said, walking off.

Jounochi and Yugi sat.

Mai turned to Malik. "But he doesn't seem nervous."

"No he doesn't." Malik agreed.

"Who?" Asked Jounochi.

"Ryou Bakura." Clarified Anzu, nodding her head to where Bakura was standing, smirking to himself as he watched the duellists come in.

"It could be just an act." Said Mai. "If you watch closely, he shifts uncomfortably from time to time."

Malik shook his head. "I don't think so. His hands are calm, as are his eyes. If you look at the way he stands, you'll see it is his clothes that are uncomfortable."

"What about him?" Asked Jounochi.

"Malik invited him to duel here and he's acting like he's a complete stranger." Anzu said.

Mai smiled. "I'd be uncomfortable too if I wore that in public."

Malik lauged. "So would I."

"So?" Jounochi was still confused. Yugi smiled as Anzu rolled her eyes.

"It is rude." Yugi pointed out kindly. "Ryou Bakura is never rude."

Bakura, who was close enough to hear the conversation, looked over to the laughing Malik and glared, before walking off.

Malik and Mai sobered up as they watched him leave. "He is definitely not the Ryou Bakura Anzu described." Said Mai.

"Oh." Said Jounochi.

Yugi smiled and they turned to the approaching Honda.

Malik was frowning at his hands. "Did you see what colour his eyes were, Mai?"

"No, why..." But Mai was interrupted by Anzu's cry.

"What's wrong Honda!"

Honda's pale face turned to Yugi. "Anzu, Malik and I are duelling some kids from school. Jounochi, you're up against Rex Raptor. Mai, you are facing Maco Tsunami." Honda's brown eyes fixed on Yugi's violet ones worriedly. "Yugi, you're duelling Seto Kaiba."

There was a pause. Yugi wasn't sure he heard correctly. Honda repeated himself. Yugi swallowed, his friends all had their eyes on him. He suddenly didn't want to duel. It was then, he felt his Senn Puzzle heat up...

Instantly, Yugi zoomed out of himself. He felt like a wiser and stronger Yugi sat talking to his friends, while he looked on. The other Yugi spoke.

...Yami no Yugi smiled at his friends. "We'd better go, they'll be starting soon. Jounochi, good luck with Rex Raptor, don't get too overconfident. Mai, good luck against Maco Tsunami."

Mai shrugged, the least affected out of all of them, at the proclamation of the duelling opposition. "I'll beat him Yugi, you just worry about Seto Kaiba.

Yami nodded seriously. "If there is a way to beat him I will find it."

Everybody stood, wishing each other good luck, everyone with worry in their eyes about their matches, everyone sounding confident and joking.

Honda gave out directions and the group split up to go to the various duelling points. They promised to meet up at the bridge before the final round.

Yugi watched himself walk off to the area where he would duel his first official duel against the number one duellist in the world, Seto Kaiba.

Seto looked on and his disappointment in the ease of the game changed to disbelieving horror as Yugi laid out the five pieces of Exodia. The monster appeared on the Kareebo littered field and in one fell blow destoryed Seto's three Blue Eyes, bringing his lifepoints to zero.

A hush fell over the watching crowd. Seto's face was as always impassive, and the satisfaction of a plan accomplished was not as sweet as he had expected.

"The winner is, Yugi Moto." Said the referee. All eyes were on Seto as he stood, picking up his deck.

"That was a great duel, Kaiba." Said the beaming but tired looking Yugi, offering his hand.

"You won't be so lucky next time." Seto replied, as he turned to leave, watching Yugi out of the corner of his eye.

With that, Seto walked out of the partitioned off area of the park, a suit clearing his path through the mob of reporters waiting outside. He got into the waiting limo.

A tear-stained Mokuba faced him from the opposite couch. "Seto." There was worry in his voice.

Seto noticed the built in TV was on, muted, showing a replay of his loss. He turned it off, his brother making no protest.

Seto stared out of the window as the scenery started to move.

"Where to sir?" Asked the driver, opening the partition.

"Drop me off at the office." Said Seto, his voice betraying nothing of the turmoil withtin.

This is what I wanted. Now I can once again start building up my deck and my rating.

Then why do I have to repeat it to myself?

Seto steadied himself.

Let's do this logically. I lost. He had The Unbeatable Exodia, there was no way I could win, since I didn't know he had it. I was unprepared, but there was no way I could prepare, this was his first official duel.

Seto smirked at his reflection.

Beginner's luck. He concluded.

Bakura had been going very well in the duels. In fact, he was winning every single one. Perhaps it was the use of the Senn Ring, or the his vicious smile as he pulled off a plan that had not even once left his face, but he was undefeated after the eighth round.

It was then that he noticed that he was being watched. Well, that was no surprise, the speed and viciousness of his duels had managed to attract a crowd of observers. But something here wasn't right.

Bakura then realized he was too open, there was a golden Senn Item flashing around his neck, and he was wasting his time playing in a stupid tournament only because Ryou had promised to come and there was nothing better to do.

He cursed in french. Cursing sounded so much better in french.

He had let Ryou watch the duels, so the boy could learn something of the game, so Bakura did not have to watch him as closely as he did now.

Bakura trusted his instincts, they had saved his skin more times than he could count. I'll let Ryou play the last round himself...

...The zoomed out sensation wore off, as Ryou sat to face his last opponent for the day - Malik Ishtar.

Ryou smiled politely. "Hello Malik. How are you going?"

Malik glanced into his eyes and smiled. "Hi Ryou, well I've only lost once but with the way that Yugi is going, I won't make it to the finals."

Ryou was surprised. "You lost? To who?" Then realising how complementary and familiar the comment was, he blushed.

Malik laughed. "Thanks. I lost to Yugi if you can believe it."

Ryou noticed the hidden disappointment in his voice. Then a thought hit him, putting everything else out of his head. "Yugi Moto? But he duelled Seto Kaiba in the first round!"

Malik nodded, smiling. "He beat Seto Kaiba and everybody else he has come up against as it happens." Ryou frowned, and Malik clarified. "He must have Ra watching over him. Yugi keeps playing Exodia."

They took each other's decks, shuffled and returned them without thinking.

Ryou raised his eyebrows in surprise, but was recalled to the present by the Referee's "Ready? Let the official duel between Malik Ishtar and Ryou Bakura begin!"

"After you, Malik," Said Ryou politely.

The duel was long but Malik was clearly the better and more experienced player. Several times, he had to explain the properties of his cards, and once he kindly pointed out that Ryou forgot to put his monster in defence mode, before it became a problem.

But Ryou played extremely well, and Malik won by a slim margin of 200 life points.

They stood, and shook hands, pocketing their decks. The last rays of the sun played on the horizon.

"You going home now, Ryou?" Asked Malik as they walked away from the playing tables in the intermission before the finals.

"Yes, there is no reason for me to stay." Said Ryou, for some reason, his heart beating faster. "What about you?"

"I have to meet up with Yugi and the gang. Hopefully some of them made it to the finals. At worst, we'll just be cheering for Yugi." Malik smiled, as they had reached the gate of the partition. "Allright, well, I'll see you at school then."

"Good bye Malik," Ryou said politely.

Ryou made his way out of the park, smiling sadly at his feeling of rejection as Malik walked off to the bridge.

Of course, he has been here a week and already has many friends. Why should he want to bother about me? He thought bitterly.

Ryou walked through the darkening empty streets on his way home. He took the shortest route possible through the eerie streets, a feeling growing on him of being watched.

Sure enough, he turned a corner, to come face to face with some men in dark robes. "Ryou Bakura." The tallest one said. "I am a Rare Hunter, and I want your Black Hole card."

Ryou looked at the men, frozen to the spot in fear, as several more approached from behind, cutting off his only exit. The familiar cold shiver ran down his spine, making him able to move again.

"Excuse me, but I am afraid I am not willing to trade it away." He said politely, his hand holding on to his deck tightly as it lay in his pocket.

"Not as afraid as you are going to be." The Rare Hunter said, as the cloaked men closed in on him...

... Bakura smirked at his opposition, pulling out the Balck Hole card. "If you want it so much, here it is."

With that, the Senn Ring around his neck sparkled, the card glowed and a gale started in the small alley. "Black Hole clears all monsters from a field and sends them to the graveyard." He said smiling. "That is where you are going."

A gaping black hole materialised and sucked the Rare Hunters in, the wind sending Bakura flying into the wall...

... The alley was quiet, and Ryou sat up from where he was lying by the wall. He felt a strong hand steady him.

"Are you allright?" Asked a concerned voice.

Ryou looked up into the blue eyes of Bandit Keith. He blushed and nodded. "Thankyou. I owe you my life. If you had not chased away those thugs..." He left the alternative hanging.

Bandit Keith smiled. "No problem. I was watching you duel by the way, you were brilliant. I saw those thugs following you out, so I followed them, and the rest as they say is history." He helped Ryou stand up.

"What about the tournament?" Asked Ryou, his heart quickening.

"Forget the tournament kid." Said Keith, waving it away. "There's more to life than Duel Monsters."

The reply warmed Ryou and he smiled. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, I am Ryou Bakura, call me Ryou."

Keith smiled back. "The name's Bandit Keith. Well, it's not but that's what everybody calls me. I'd like you to call me Keith, Ryou. Do you mind if I walk you home? It's not safe out here this late."

Ryou shook his head, and started walking. "So where abouts are you staying?" Asked Ryou, surprised when Bandit Keith blushed. "I did not mean to pry." He said quickly.

"It's fine," Keith put one hand behind his head. "Actually I haven't got anywhere to stay. I figured I'd come for the tournament, and planned to stay a week, but the hotel's lost my reservation."

"You can stay with me." Offered Ryou, waving away the protests Keith was trying to make. "It is no trouble, really. I have a two bedroom apartment - my father is out on a dig in Egypt. And besides, I am in your debt."

Bandit Keith nodded. "Thanks."

Malik arrived on the bridge to see Yugi was already there, talking to Weevil Underwood. He felt bad about not going with Ryou or asking him to come, but he was still slightly embarassed about this morning.

Who are you trying to fool? He asked himself. You are just angry at his behaviour before.

Malik shivered, but all his thoughts of red eyes vanished as Weevil threw the cards he had been holding, over the bridge. He ran off as Yugi watched the rushing river, surprise and sorrow clearly painted on his face.

"You should really take better care of your monsters, Yugi!" Were Weevil's parting words.

Malik instantly knew what happened...

... Marik chuckled to himself.

This is perfect.

He turned on his heel and walked behind a big tree. Here he could stand in the shadows, unobserved.

He smiled. The Senn Rod appeared in his hand.

"Get that Exodia for me, all of it." He ordered the nearest Rare Hunter. He paused. Then turning his mind to the others, added, "While you're at it, ambush some players on their way home."

The Senn Rod disappeared and the mind link was broken as the staple reply of 'Yes master Marik.' Echoed through his mind.

Marik stepped back around the tree and went to join Yugi just as the others were walking up...

... "You should have seen me Yugi!" Jounochi was saying, a big grin playing on his face. "That dinosaur kid didn't know what hit 'im when I took his Red Eyes Black Dragon. That'll teach him to laugh at master duellists like myself."

"Don't brag, Jounochi." Said Mai, pouting.

Anzu patted Mai's arm. "There's always next time, Mai."

Yugi looked up from the river, concerned. "Did you lose a duel, Mai?"

Jounochi shook his head. "Nah, I just beat Rex Raptor first."

Yugi sweat dropped. Jounochi hid behind Honda as Mai turned on him.

Honda intervened. "It was just pure dumb luck. If Yugi hadn't given you the Time Wizard this morning, you'd have lost for sure. And you'll need more than luck to win the final round."

Malik smiled. "Especially if you're playing Yugi."

Yugi smiled at Malik sadly. "Without Exodia I know I would not be as far as I am now. You have a very strong deck."

Malik laughed madly as Yugi's statement struck a painful chord. His thoughts leapt to the constant additions of powerful cards to his deck that he didn't make. From there his mind leapt to the gaps in his memeory and from there to red eyes.

The others looked at him stangely, but Jounochi was struck by Yugi's words.

"What do you mean, Yugi? You still have Exodia, so why worry, right? Yugi?"

Yugi shook his head and quietly told what happened.

His friends were outraged. Honda had to hold Jounochi to keep him from jumping in after the cards. Anzu was just shoked.

Mai smiled at her. "That's Weevil allright."