"After you send in dragon-boy, Yami will cover his back. Then Anzu, Mahado and Mako, you distract Marik for long enough so dragon-boy can get behind and kill him. Then our Hosts can transform..." Ryou tuned our the rest of genius-girl's strategizing. Seriously. Rebecca was only, what, eight, and she had already graduated from college. And what did she do with her life? She joined a gang. What was she thinking?"

"Hey dragon-boy!" A voice snapped over the slim headpiece. "What?" Ryou snapped to attention. A sigh. "Are you all ready?" She asked. Ryou glanced at Yami a few feet above him. Yami breathed in a whiff of cherry blossoms and nodded, adjusting his own headpiece. "Let's do it." He rasped.

Suddenly, the gravity of it all fell in, just like the final brick being placed in the Cask of Amontillado. They were going to war over a bunch of magic jewelry.

Ryou took a deep breath, lungs filling with the cherry blossoms' heavy, flowery scent. Why was he fighting? Sure, he had come to like the little halfling boy, and Malik was definitely amusing, what with his wholehearted attempts at magic that was beyond him and his uncanny ability to stay alive through it all. But he didn't know anyone on the other side. Except that mage guy. He was hardly a fair comparison, if Seto was any indication.

"Okay. Sensors indicate a giant circle of people, headed by a giant surge of power, which would be Marik." Rebecca whispered. They're a few blocks away. Anzu, Mahado, Mako, prepare for Formation D with Mahado at head." Ryou strained his eyes, tapping into his dragonesque abilities to see further. "Wait!" He whispered harshly into the headset's mouthpiece. No one moved.

"Marik isn't heading this. Some other man. He's really pale, wearing a black trench coat, and some sort of...pendant around his neck." Ryou explained the man's appearance. "An inscribed triangle with five tassels?" Rebecca asked. Ryou nodded. "I take it that's the Millennium Ring? So who's the man wearing it?" He asked.

By this time, the Kaibatachi army had stopped a block away, blocked from view by a large church shooting onto the air, as well as a myriad of other buildings in the way. "His name is Koe. He's a Host. A phoenix, if reports are right, Very powerful, but very elusive. We need to make a new plan." Rebecca hissed.

But Rou didn't hear. The Ring, it... called to him. It begged him to save it. "I do have a plan." Ryou said softly. He only had time to hear Rebecca's indignant, "What plan?" before he tore off his headset carefully (Rebecca would kill him for destroying her "precious creation") and transformed into his dragon self.

"What are you doing?" Yami hissed as Ryou completed his transformation. Leaping into the air, Yami left behind the angry rebel. Sorry, Yami. Ryou thought. But if I get this pendant, the war will be over, and no one will have to be hurt. Except maybe this Koe man.

Ryou landed stealthily behind the church's steeple, peering cautiously over the edge. The phoenix, Koe, was standing a ways ahead of the army, eyes closed in contemplation. No doubt planning the best way to crush his opponents. Yeah, right.

Ryou detached himself from the church and threw himself at Koe, spewing fire. Within seconds, the man was burnt to a crisp. There were gasps and screams of horror as Ryou landed beside the pile of ashes that used to be a man. Where was the Ring? Where?

"And I liked that coat." A slick handsome voice said in impeccable English. Ryou whirled. Koe was standing to the side, his hands shoved in his dark jean pockets. Jeans and a singed business shirt. A strange combination, but it somehow looked good.

"Blasted dragons." He hissed, only now realizing that a strand of his nearly-platinum hair was on fire. He licked his fingers and snuffed the flame out. "They always manage to ruin the best-laid plans: becoming unbound from Marik's spell, interrupting my preemptive attack, even destroying my favorite jacket!" Smoke started to seep off Koe's shoulders and hair. Suddenly, he was engulfed in flames, his body shifting into a swan-like bird. The Millennium Ring hanging around his elegant neck matched the golden feathers flecked among reds and oranges.

There was a yell, and a line of Yuugitachi's front line started charging, evidently keeping with the old battle plan. Which means I fight this guy. Ryou wrapped his tail around Koe's neck and heaved him into the air. Ryou vaguely wondered if Koe could even fly. Those wings looked pretty weak.

Apparently he could, since when Ryou let go, Koe remained aloft, ethereal wings beating easily. Ryou attacked. Winged Hosts created quite a scene; furious, desperate escapes caused sudden downdrafts which shoved many people off balance. The bestial screams that echoed from their lungs caused the weaker-willed fighters to pause and shiver in fear.

Ryou didn't know how long he had been fighting, but it felt like forever. Not only was the Yuugitachi army pushed far past Joshinko block, but every time Ryou would attack, Koe would escape injury without fail. How he did it, Ryou didn't know. Multiple times he felt Koe's flesh and feathers under his claws, but there was no injury to be found. Meanwhile, Ryou was dealing with an injured leg, and very possibly a broken rib or two.

Ryou was ready to attack when a heavy, limp weight fell from the sky and crashed right between his wings. He fell to the ground, scattering hare-brained (and even brave) soldiers who would rather not be squashed by a giant dragon. Ryou's ribs twinged painfully, and he saw starts for a second. "Oop! My hand must have slipped!" A frighteningly familiar voice called happily. Marik. Then who just fell on him? Ryou didn't have a good feeling. When he turned his head, he stared into the broken and bloody face of Yuugi.

Well, crap.

A/N: NOOOOOOOOO! YUUGI!

And in case you couldn't tell, Koe = Bakura.

Please read and review!