Yoshida stared down the hallway. There was a noise, something. "All I wanted was to watch Yubel's duel, now this?" Yoshida walked down the hall, listening for any signs of danger, his cellphone in hand.

"Kaiba Yoshida, is it? I'm eager to find out more about my next target."

"Who are you? Where are you?" Yoshida looked above him, to each side, before spotting a walkie-talkie in the vent. Ok, whoever's speaking can't be far. At the very least on the bottom floor.

"I'm your worst nightmare, coming to destroy your company. After all," A black goop started to drip from the ceiling, a single drop landing in front of Yoshida. "I am your nightmare." A giant blob of black goop fell through the roof. Yoshida moved back, away from the beast.

"Who are you?" Yoshida tried to pass himself off as calm, but his face was sweating, his palms clenched, and his legs shivering. The black goop started to move, and convulse. As it quickly took the form of Matsuda, it moved towards Yoshida.

"You don't recognize me? After all these years, I would've expected you to remember the monster under your bed." Matsuda lost his form, quickly becoming a demon. Red wings attached to a slim torso, a forked spear in his hand. His legs were small, floating just inches off the ground.

"You're nothing-"

"But I am everything. Your worst fears," The demon switched its form into that of a little girl. "I am even those you care for."

"Mary?"

"Yoshida?" The little girl in front of Yoshida lost its form, and returned to it's black goop. Yoshida leaned to see around the monster. A little girl poked her head out, Mary stood there in terror, looking at the beast. The blob started to melt, and convulse again, quickly making it's form that of a tall woman. The small amount of remaining goo changed into a gun, jumping into the woman's hand.

"You don't care if mommy dies, do you:?" The beast put the gun in it's mouth, the finger on the trigger, before Yoshida tackled the mockery down. The gun flew to the floor, turning back into a pile of black goo. "You don't care, do you? You Facetiou-"

"AHHHH!" Yoshida's head flew off the pillow, hair matted to his forehead, and sweat covering his face. "No, what's going on?" Yoshida looked around, with no one in sight. He jumped out of the bed, still in his undershirt and jeans. He ran out of the building, and down the street. People watched as he passed by, confused. Why wouldn't Kaiba Yoshida have transportation? Especially at this time at night. Some people tried to stop him, to which he would dodge around them, or tell them to buzz off. Yoshida ran as fast as he could, reaching his destination quickly. As he stepped up to the door, he started to hesitate, knocking slowly.

"I'll get it!" A voice came from the house. A woman opened up the door, a tall woman with blonde hair, green eyes peircing Yoshida's. "Yoshida, why are you here?"

"Jessy, Is Mary safe?"

"What? Of course she's safe. She's in bed right now."

"I need to see."

"W-Why?" Jessy looked at Yoshida, his clothes were barely on, his body slumping. "Come in." Yoshida walked in as Jessy closed the door. As the two walked up the stairs, Yoshida explained everything to Jessy.

"It was so surreal, I was sure it was happening."

"Don't worry about it. Look, she's laying in bed right now, snoring away." Yoshida stared through the crack, seeing the little Mary in bed.

"Dammit, I was just dreaming." Yoshida started to head down the stairs, and started out the door.

"Yoshida, stay the night here. It's late, and I know Mary will be sad if she finds out you got hurt checking on her." Jessy stood beside Yoshida. "Besides, Hikaru is almost home. And he'll have some food, I suspect." Yoshida sighed, and turned around.

"Fine, get me out a pad and I'll sleep in here."

"That duel wasn't much, Yuei."

Well, he wasn't a strong opponent. Thinking he could win with Exodia.

"Might as well have given up from the beginning." Yubel slipped out of her clothes, sliding into the tub. "Our next duel is Matsuda, are you almost ready to get back into your body?"

Was a short ride, but definitely worth it.

"Getting to experience the human body again wasn't that great."

And neither was being a spirit.

"You get used to it."

As do you. The two talked back and forth about their next duel, excited to finally get Jack and Ayumi awake. It was the best time to start planning out a new strategy.

"Are you sure you're up for this, Yuei?"

I-I'm sure Yubel. I need to defeat Matsuda, it's my only chance of waking Jack and Ayumi.

"And what about Yoshida?"

What about him?

"What-" Yubel paused, unable to put into words her thoughts. "What do you think about him?"

He's a person, someone I can rely on. I don't want to rely on him though, because I need to be strong myself. Yuei went off on his own tangent, while Yubel listened. The boy she promised to protect, talking about his own strength.

"At this rate you won't need protection." Yubel's face started to curl up, quickly changing into a laugh.

What do you mean? Yuei stared at the demon in his tub, cracking herself up.

"It's been my duty for thousands of years to protect you and your ancestors."

So, I am-

"The supreme king. That, and above all else, you are Mitsui Yuei."

But, how do yo-

"I'd recognize my best friend without hesitation, Yuei." Yubel stood up, raising out of the tub, and staring at Yuei. "Turn around."

But you're in my b-

"TURN AROUND!"

"A knock on the door, a simple action, yet one that's hard to describe." Yoshida stared at the front door, whispering the same phrase to himself. I'm not gonna get anywhere by standing here, now am I? He thought to himself, hoping that maybe his body would do it for him. His mind rushed, panicking. As he went to put his fist to the door, it opened.

"I'll see you after school mo-" Yuei ran into Yoshida, both of them falling backwards.

"Glad to see you too, Yuei."

"Y-Yoshida?" Yuei's face began to redden, as he jumped up, and grabbed his things, throwing them hastily into his bag. "S-Sorry. I was in a rush to get to class."

"Don't worry." Yoshida reached out his hand, gesturing for Yuei to take it. "I have everything prepared. For I am in need of your assistance today." As Yoshida extended out his hand, Yuei stared upwards.

"I-I'm sorry. But I have a test today, a-and-"

"You can take it at the facility. We have the finest accommodations for testing."

"But I promised my teacher a duel."

"We can invite him over after school is out, or whenever his schedule can fit in. Yoshida chided everything Yuei threw at him. There was no avoiding it, he really was a part of the Kaiba family.

"F-Fine. What are we doing?"

"I will inform you once we make it there. For now, let's chatter in the backseat." Yoshida waved his hand to the car behind him, a black car, average in about everything. Yet, it was cleaner than a mint condition misprint card.

"I-I guess." Yuei took a step towards the car, and a man stepped out of the passenger's side, and opened the door for him. "Thank you." Yuei stepped in, sliding to the side. Yoshida took a step in, and slid next to Yuei.

"To the DDF."

"On it, sir." The driver up front took note of their destination, then started off.

"DDF?"

"Yes, Yub-"

"No, not Yubel. I asked for my body back last night."

"Oh, of course, Yuei. The DDF is the Duel Disk Factory."

"Why are we going there?"

"The only facility that has a built in Solid Vision System."

"Are we going to be due-"

"No." Yoshida reached forward, and grabbed a can. It was red, and had a bubble pattern on it. "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing!" Yuei shot back. "J-Just, aren't these fancy cars supposed to have wine and stuff in it?"

"I'm not old enough to drink, Yuei. I'm only 19." Yoshida opened the can, and handed it to Yuei. "Here."

Yuei took the can out of Yoshida's hand, and took a drink. It was "Cherry, and fizzy."

"Have you never had a soda before, Yuei?"

"Never. Mom says they're bad for my health." Yoshida stared at Yuei, their eyes piercing each other.

"I," Yoshida couldn't bear the thought. "Sorry, I get emotional a bit too quickly." Yoshida said, as he wiped his face with his sleeve.

"It's fine. I understand, after all. I only knew my father for about a year before he left."

"I never knew my mother, my father was the only one there for me. He taught me how to run the business, and how to be a gentleman. The last I remember him was-" Yoshida cut himself off, his eyes red, tears starting to stream down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Yoshida. But there was nothing you could've done."

"I-" Yoshida stared at the ground, a single tear flowing out of his eye. "I watched my father die."

"Wh-what?"

"I sat there, unable to move, and watched as my father was murdered." Yoshida pulled the cooler forward, and grabbed a bottle of wine from behind it.

"I thought you sa-"

"It doesn't matter." Yoshida popped the bottle open, grabbing a plastic cup from behind the cooler. Pouring it in, he turned to Yuei. "Want a drink?"

"N-no. Sorry."

"It's fine. More for me."

As the two arrived at the building, Yuei started to stare in awe.

Yuei, are you going to as-

"NO!" Yuei pushed away from Yoshida, scaring him and the driver. "S-Sorry. Yubel, you know."

Aww, I can't tease now? Yubel pulled her eye down, and stuck her tongue out.

"Someone's playful today."

"I'd imagine." Yoshida moved closer to Yuei, leaning into his ear. "The driver doesn't know, so try to keep it down."

Yuei stared as Yoshida pushed himself back.

"Ya' know Boss, you could at least keep ya' voice down."

"Oh, I didn't? Sorry, uhhhhh-"

"Tado. Ikeda Tado."

"Yeah, you." Yoshida leaned over to Yuei. "I don't know this person."

The gates of the building opened up, as the car drove closer, eventually closing behind them. The two in the back opened up the doors, and walked into the building. "Is this-"

"The DDF. Now come on." Yoshida pulled Yuei by the arm, running into the factory.

"What are we doing here Yoshida?"

"Dueling, of course. I just need to pull some statistics from your deck."

"Why?"

"So you can defeat Matsuda." Yoshida started to laugh.

"What do you mean?" Yuei clenched his fists.

"He said it himself. He could be me easily. I just imagine how badly he'll bury you." Yoshida stopped running, and fell to his knees laughing. Everyone in the building stared at him. Yuei clenched his fists harder.

"I need to beat him, and I will."

"Yeah, ametur. You're only here because I let you be. Anyone in here could crush you just as bad as Matsuda. Yoshida stood up, and stared at Yuei, his face turning red as he stared into Yuei's eyes. He quickly turned his head away, "After all, their deck's are balanced." Yoshida started to laugh, and Yuei slapped Yoshida.

As Yoshida fell to the floor, Yuei started to shout. "Matsuda is holding my friends hostage. I have to defeat him and win their souls back. Even if I have to kill him with my cold dead hands, I will get them back." Yoshida started to stand up, his face sinking.

"Sorry, I forgot." The drunkard smile plastered on his face, his cheeks becoming redder as he got lost in his thoughts, his walk up the stairs, Yuei hadn't thought about it, but one glass was more than enough to make Yoshida shit-faced. Once the walk up was completed, Yoshida introduced the Stadium to him.

"A flat space?"

"Not even a Solid Vision system."

"What's the point?"

"To use your own strength, and not build off your monster's. Here." Yoshida poked Yuei with a deck, as Yuei grabbed it.

"What is this?"

"A deck with no monsters. I'll be using one as well." Yoshida's face started to lose it's red tint, as he started to get serious.

"Why would we do this?"

"You want to get stronger, no?" Yuei shrugged at Yoshida's question. "We're going to spend five hours here, and we're going to be helping the workers."

"WHAT?"

"I used to do it as a moral booster, get them to work harder. You know, seeing their boss work with them. But I became stronger as time went on. It's a commonplace thing here now." Yoshida slid his duel disk on, and slid the deck into it. "And after all, we have someone new with us. COME ON!"

Yoshida hopped around the building, going from machine to machine. At some he would crank a lever, others he would press a combination of buttons. Everytime, he would be launching himself as fast as he could around the building. "I can't do this Yoshida-Ku-" The men next to him dropped a Duel Disk into his hands. "No, I'm not doing thi-"

"YUEI! Come on. I know you want to." Yoshida mocked as he went around. Yuei took the deck he was given, and slid it into the Duel Disk. He balanced his way to the center platform, and stood on top. Yoshida landed in front of him, putting his clenched fist on his flat hand. "Who's going first, folks? let's find out."

Yuei mimicked Yoshida's posture, and started to shake his hand. "Rock Paper Scissors, Shoot! NO!"

DUEL START

Kaiba Yoshida: 4000

Mitsui Yuei: 4000

"I get to go first." Yoshida chuckled, as he launched himself around the building. "I set two cards face down, and set one monster face down. Your turn." Yoshida went to working on the machines, as Yuei drew his hand of six.

"Mage Power? Giant Soldier of Stone? Yoshida, is this-"

"A deck based of the King Of Game's."

"Why not just give me his? Or a copy of it?"

"Where's the fun in that?" Yoshida jumped from his machine to the other side of the building, pumping the lever as fast as he could.

"Fine. I set one monster face down, along with two other cards." Yuei jumped to the first machine he set his eyes on. "You're turn."

"I DRAW!" Yoshida took a look at his hand. "I flip my monster face up. RISE, MYSTICAL ELF!" Yoshida thrusted his arm forward, pushing himself off the machine below him. "I activate the spell card Graceful Charity!" Yoshida landed on the middle platform. "I draw two cards, then discard two."

Yuei looked around, and ran to a machine. If Yoshida can do it, so can I. His thoughts ran through his head, as Yubel stood to the side and watched. The duel went on for quite some time, Yoshida pushing, and Yuei fighting back. Yet, there was a big difference this time. Yuei was having fun. He never had to jump around this much, he never had to think this much. And without any Extra Deck, he didn't need to worry about summoning those monsters.

Kaiba Yoshida: 200

Yuei Mitsui: 100

"You're good Yuei." Yoshida's field was empty, not a single card played.

"I should say the same for you, Mr. Kaiba." Yuei's field was barren, not a card in his hand. "Managing to hold out with some life after Summon Skull's attack."

"If it hadn't been for my Ring of Destruction, I would've certainly lost."

"Well, it's your turn Yoshida." Yuei held out his hand, and pointed it at Yoshida. "Show me your moves bigshot."

"Fine. I draw!" Yoshida took the one card in his hand and stared. "I play the spell card, Hinotama!"

"And deal 500 damage to me? I didn't think you'd pull through Yoshida."

"You've got something up your sleeves, I see it in your smirk."

"I'm like a poem, you read me too well. I activate the effect of my Divine Destructor. By banishing him from the graveyard, I can negate any effect damage this turn!"

"But when-"

"Your second trap made us discard our hands, Yoshida. That's why she's in there."

"Damn. It's your turn Yuei. Finish this." Following Yoshida's wishes, Yuei drew a card. Without looking, he slapped the card onto the duel disk.

"Here goes nothing. I ACTIVATE THIS CARD!" The card raised up and revealed itself as Spellbook of Life. "Great! I banish my Spellbook of Eternity, and special summon my Regretful Magician!"

Regretful Magician

DARK / Level 7 / Spellcaster-Type Effect Monster / ATK: 1500 DEF: 500

"During each of your standby phases, increase this monster's ATK by 500"

"NOW! REGRETFUL MAGICIAN!" The monster came out of the graveyard, appearing in a flash of light. It's garbs were blue, with long brown hair flowing out from under it's hood. The cloak covered its eyes, but opened up near the bottom to show a small book tied to his leg.

The monster leapt forward, grabbing it's book and throwing it out in front of him. It stopped in front of Yoshida, and opened up the book. As it started to chat, a giant ball of fire started to collect atop the book. "What is this?" Yoshida clamored backwards, ready to burn.

"FLAMING REGRET!" Yuei shouted as Regretful Magician launched the fireball at Yoshida.

Kaiba Yoshida: 200 0

Duel End

Winner: Mitsui Yuei

Yoshida pulled himself off the ground, the blast having knocked him over. "Damn. Despite not having Solid Vision on, that still packed a punch."

"Yeah, that was a great one, Yoshida. Thanks a lot."

"Heh. It was the least I could do. After all, there's no better sparring partner than me." Yoshida started to blush, Yuei following behind.

"Wait. Why is your face re-"

"Why is yours?" The both pushed each other away, and stared awkwardly to either side of them.

"Well, Yoshida, I'd better be getting home now." Yuei jumped down, Yoshida yelled to get transport for Yuei.

"Yuei, are you sure you want to leave now?"

"And do what, Yubel? Spend the night with him?"

"I mean, why not? You know I can read your min-"

"NO!" Yuei yelled at Yubel, and everyone turned their attention to Yuei. "Sorry," Yuei started walking again. "I know you can Yubel, and I know that I don't think about him."

"You have be-"

"No I haven't."

"What's one night going to hurt, Yuei?"

Yuei paused, stopping his forward motion. "If mom says yes, then I will. Is that better Yubel? IS THAT BETTER?" Yuei raised his voice once more, everyone ignoring him, and staring away. "Dammit Yubel. Fine, I'll ask. Yoshida!"