spiritfire: I'm back!!! Sorry about that I was supposed to update after I'm done with my practicum but the site won't let me log in so I have to wait at least three frickin' days and also, my left knee got a nasty bump like the size of a flat small ball so I can exactly kneel for a while but it really hurts and also because of that, the duel between my assistants will be on hold. One more thing, I dedicated this chapter for this year's graduating students because I myself will be graduated and a birthday chapter too...

Yuen: What!!!

Yaru: Just calm down, her sister is already recommending her putting ice pressure on that knee

Yuen: Figures

spiritfire: And on with the chapter......

LXVIII. Training 101

"No, not like that!!!" Yugi frowned as the prince tries summoning his weapon but the only thing came was a speck of smoke. Yami groaned because it was the third time in a row that he screwed. Sora and Riku were grinning idiotically.

"Would you mind doing it again?" Yami asked while Yugi sighed.

"Fine, but this is the last time," Yugi replied. "I won't repeat it again."

Yugi opened his right hand then particles of white energy began to gather. Light struck from the palm of his hand and then the light took shape in the form of a long staff. The 'wings' appeared and finally, the light disappeared.

"Do you get it now?" Yugi asked and Yami nodded in reply.

"Why am I doing this again?" Yugi asked himself.

"Just be patient. His highness is not exactly a fast learner. It took him a week to learn his Light elemental spell when I was teaching him." Mahaado said which did not help much.

While Yugi was pondering to his thoughts, the prince finally summoned the dark staffblade. Sora and Riku were amazed seeing the weapon. The three of them were staring at Yugi who was out of place.

"Yugi, hello!!!" Sora said which made the teen snapped out of his own thoughts.

"Sorry," Yugi said then saw the dark staffblade. "About time you summoned it."

- - -

"Next, I'm going to show you two techniques from Destiny Dawn but as for the rest of them, you have to find it on your own." Yugi said.

"One question, how are you going to show it to me?" Yami asked in a skeptical tone.

Yugi did not answer. Instead he raised his right hand and muttered some kind of spell. Dark shadows began to gather around his hands. Tendrils of darkness swirled around his his fingers until some kind of symbol appeared. Riku raised his eyebrow but did not say a word. Finally, the dark energy began to fade.

"Riku, would you mind if you be my assistant?" Yugi asked.

"Okay," Riku replied. "What do you want me to do?"

"Just stand still and use your weapon in a defensive stance or you can cast a protective shield around you." the violet-eyed teen said. Riku question himself why. He got his answer when Yugi quickly dashed forward. Riku cast Dark Shield and at the same time, one 'blade' of Destiny Dawn grew longer. red and black energy began to surround the weapon then swung. Riku blinked for a moment.

"Hey, I didn't feel---" Riku was about to say something when all of a sudden, red and black energy began to hit and slice him all over. Sora and Yami gasped in shock. They knew Riku defended the attack but what they're seeing right now said it otherwise.

"What? Did you think you would escape unscratched?" Yugi grinned. "Guess again."

"What was that?" Sora asked.

"The first one is Reaperscythe," Yugi explained. "A magical attack that penetrates absolute defense."

"You're kidding!!!" Riku said in surprise.

"Do I look like I kid?" Yugi questioned at him. Everyone fell silent

"Anyway, shouldn't we start learning this?" Yami said.

"Fine." Yugi sighed as the dark staffblade disappered and let the prince practice.

While he was practicing, Yugi decided to sit down for a moment. Looking at the ceiling, many thoughts began to run through his mind. Not that it matters but it helps when someone is bored. A lot of things have happened ever since he came to the other side of the continent that was supposed to be separated. Found out that his favorite book is actually a part of its story with him included. Never would he thought of encountering such people. Then again, he would never be. Looking at the prince now, he know that he's a capable ruler. But little to everyone's knowledge that time is running out. How did he know this was beyond him. He was staring on the ceiling minding his own business until someone decided to interrupt him.

"Hey, Yugi can I ask one question?" Sora asked.

Yugi looked at him with a questionalble look on his face. "What is it?"

"It's about the Keyblade. You know those weapons have a mind on their own and they don't just let you 'use' them. Even with Fate Guidance's ability, you can't even use them. So my question is, how did you use the keyblade back then before you got that weapon?" Sora said.

Yugi closed his eyes for a moment trying to say the appropriate answer then he looked at Sora with a half cruel smile. "Only destiny is the one I can tell my secrets to."

Leaving the Keyblade Master behind, Yugi told the prince to keep practicing and he'll be back at the same time. Sighing, he used a teleportation spell to leave the castle and led him to the ruined continent. Walking forward, he passed through several ruined buildings until he came through a secret passage in an almost ruined palace. Pressing his hand on the stone column, the passage opened and Yugi went inside. The passage in question was just a simple room except that there were two white columns standing. In the middle was some kind of unknown energy. From the looks of it, it's already weakening.

"Sin the Incarnate....looks like the time for the final act is about to begin. With the last blood of the divine, destiny will rule over the crown." Yugi said as Fate Guidance appeared on his side.

- - -

"Hey, I think I'm getting a hang of it." Yami grinned as he use Reaperscythe for the fifth time.

"Uh-huh," Yugi nodded. "If that's the case, I guess I should teach you the other one but a word of warning: this might be a little too much in your tastes."

"Uh, what are you talking about?" Yami asked.

"Just watch." Yugi replied and he cast the same spell again. Destiny Dawn appeared again on his right hand then with his left hand, he simply waved and a dummy appeared.

He raised the dark staffblade upward and red energy began to seep through. Quickly, he jumped upward and did a full circle. A red no bloody red moon appeared and then one of the blades suddenly became long and stabbed the dummy. After that, an explosion followed. As for the dummy,it reduced to nothing but blackened cotton.

"I'm going to a little hay wall and assume that if I did that to a human...that would be bloody." Yami said. "Then again, I've seen much blood for the past 3000 years but this one is bit sick."

"It's up to you whether you want to practice it or not because this is all I can teach you. The rest, you have to find it on your own." Yugi sighed.

Yami looked at Yugi for a long moment. "I don't mind practicing it but I'll use it if I wanted to."

"Eh, so his royal highness is getting teached by a young mage who almost beat the crap at." said a boasting voice.

"Kaiba, what are you doing here?" Yugi asked, sighing.

" I heard from Sora and Riku that you were training." Kaiba replied.

"So?" Yami questioned but Yugi knows where this is going.

"Are you going to challenge him?" Yugi asked, staring at Kaiba.

"Hmph," Kaiba replied and Yugi sighed.

"I'm warning you now, Seto," Yugi said as his eyes turned silver. "That will be your death wish."

- - -

Kaiba and Yami were staring at each other as they took their respective positions. The air looks heavy as Yugi was keeping an eye on them and then both men dashed forward. The clashing of weapons began to sound the entire room. Yugi knows when two men meet face to face in the heat of the battle, all emotions are placed on what the fighters feel. The weapons of Kaiba and Yami were clashing now and what they felt during that battle depends on the two of them.

"Why the sudden challenge?" Yami asked as he shielded himself from one of his opponent's attacks.

"Hmph," Kaiba said in reply as he did a semi-circle dodge and tried attacking him on the back but the prince dodged it and let out a blast of Fire magic at him. The blue-eyed teen quickly used the blade of his weapon to intercept the attack.

"I know that there are some things in life that cannot be changed but ever since I joined those people who I call them 'allies', things have gone to the better." Kaiba said as he slash twice.

Yami dashed backward then dashed forward charging through his opponent. Red energy began to build up on Destiny Dawn and at the same time, Kaiba quickly ran away but Yami sidestepped a bit and used Reaperscythe. The attack send Kaiba flying.

"Heh, now this is what I'm waiting for!" Kaiba said which surprise Yugi.

"I see so that's why." Yami said. "Let's finish this!"

While the two of them were still fighting, Yugi couldn't help himself but looking at them. It's been a very long time that he socialized with people other than his guardian. Looking at the past and the present, he thinks that everything he sees and fain is a lesson. A lesson he would never forget for the rest of his life.

"That's the way how life goes." Yugi shrugged.

As Yami and Kaiba continued their fight, everything they felt from their first meeting up to the day of their fight were placed inside. Then with one final attack, an explosion boomed out from the room. Yugi had to cover his eyes as the massive eruption has spread all over the place. When the smoke finally settled down, Kaiba was lying on the floor while Yami was struggling to stand up.

"I expected this from you." Kaiba said as he sat up. "I concede but this will not be the last of me. I will defeat you."

"If you want to challenge me, com by anytime." Yami said.

"And rivalry has been forged for the two of them." Yugi said as he went to the prince to heal his wounds. "But I don't think I have much time left. I guess I have to make it worthwhile."

spiritfire: Sorry for the short, chappie....I running out of ideas...anyway, from my calculations only hmmm.....5 or less chapters left before I wrapped this story......

Yuen: Don't worry, guys, she'll finish it although it'll be a bit slow because she'll be taking her license exam for teachers.....

Yaru: And she also apologze for this delay hopefully you guys will stick to the end

spiritfire: Oh yeah, next chapter will be titled "The Beginning Pt 1" see ya