Seeing the past, living the future

by Yuna Yami Mouto

It all started when the Mouto twins moved in with their grandpa in Domino City. Seto was living in hell until the "Demon child" came into his life and changed it for the better. They did not know one another, but a girl who was brave enough to stand up to him and his stepfather was enough to catch his interest. But there's something wrong with the girl, but what? Female Yami

30. Chapter 30 Battle City,Fiend Sanctuary

Seto's POV

The blind trust Yuna had in me made my heart beat faster, and now as I watched this duel, I couldn't be happier that I had decided to help her and come.

Although Yuna has two God cards, Ra has too much power to make Yuna at an advantage. My card should help her. The Fiend Sanctuary is the only card that will give her a fair chance to fight against Marik and his Winged Dragon of Ra. That's what I had told Ishizu as well, but her statement from the first time we met has been running through my mind ever since I found the right card to use against the third God.

Ishizu had told me that only one person had ever held all three Monsters under their control, and that only their reincarnation will be able to repeat that. She said that it was the Pharaoh on the stone tablet, the one that looked like a male version of Yuna. And ever since all of the Ishtars were together, and even Bakura, had been calling her Pharaoh. Then that strange hallucination or vision or waking dream or whatever the hell it was clearly showed the Priest in blue robes that looked exactly like me and the short Pharaoh with the crimson eyes like Yuna's, something that is impossible everywhere in our world! Only Yuna had eyes of a true blood-red color. And, from the moment the cards were played, the God monsters always reacted to Yuna first! I'm not saying that it is possible for a hologram to react to a real human, but Yuna could be a reincarnation. Things like that were possible, but all the other things Ishizu had said were just a fairytale!

Marik seems to think that whatever card I gave Yuna is useless against Ra and keeps taunting us both for it. I could just barely contain my rage before I went up there to kill the fuckweed, but I don't want to disrespect Yuna by killing her opponent. That's the only thing that stopped me, especially since I'm in a very foul mood seeing as Wheeler seems to think that yelling at me could somehow make Yuna return my card. What's that fucking Mutt's problem!?

Ishizu keeps thanking me, but I just ignore her. I only came here to support Yuna, not listen to her or anyone else for that matter. Yugi and Mokuba seem to get that and tell the others to quiet down because the duel is about to begin.

Even though they said that, they were both curious of what the card I gave my rival would do, and despite their best efforts, Ishizu got a few words in.

''The soul and spirit last forever.'' She said when I told her that the tone tablet is only a meaningless relic to me. A three-thousand-year-old corpse has nothing to do with me. She really is a smart ass. She gets on my nerves, and not the same way Yuna used to. I just wanted to hit her to shut her up.

After Marik and Yuna give each other back their decks and slot them into their Duel Disks, they go back to their places.

Ishizu silently tells Yugi that the fate of mankind rests on his sister's shoulders. I wanted to hit her for saying something so stupid that could freak little Yugi out. Surprisingly enough, all he did was nod and say ''I know, and so does she.'' I'll never understand the Moutos.

She turns to Yuna and looks at her with all her newfound hope that came from all the way back from our duel on the blimp and pleads with Yuna to defeat her brother's dark heart, and save her little brother. She also mumbled something about finding a key to her memory or something? I don't know. I just know that she is a crazy woman and nothing else.

Marik laughing like a deranged maniac brought my attention back to the duel platform. ''Let the fun begin!'' He licks the Millennium Rod and both Yuna and I bristle at the treatment of the Item like a sex toy. I don't know why I felt rage surging through my veins, but I now really really wanted to kill Marik! As Yuna looks at him with disgust and disapproval, he boldly yells at her. ''This is what you'll soon be doing to my rod!'' Ishizu shouts out in reprimand as Mokuba and Yugi run to hold me back from going up there and murdering the guy who I now hated as much as I hated Gozaboro. Yuna scowls at him and Roland tells him to stop talking like that because we're going live all across the world.

He's fucking dead!

In Greece ...

A table was flipped over with the power and speed of one Alexander Nikolaevich Herr's quick standing up as her heard what Marik said to his 'onee-sama'.

''I'll KILL him!'' Sasha yelled at the top of his lungs and went for his enormous black scythe that he made by the design his onee-sama drew for him. He was barely stopped by father Yuri and the seven Qwasers that had enough guts to get in the little Russian's way.

All knew that no one is to disrespect the girl he called older sister.

''Sasha, the trip to Japan is very long. Why don't you give Seto-san a call and ask him to take care of it?'' Teresa suggested.

The silver-haired boy stopped and Teresa passed him a phone.

In Egypt ...

''Mahad! MAHAD! You can't just go- Mahad! You have to stop and calm down! Mahad!'' It was useless, Mana knew, but if she didn't try, her older brother would really go over there and kill Ishizu's younger brother. Mahad's rage rarely came to the surface, but when it did, and usually it had to do with their friend the reincarnated Pharaoh, it was not a smart idea to step in front of him.

''I'll KILL him!'' Mahad yelled as he struggled in the hold of his sister and some of the priests that were around when he went into rage. Not even his master's command to stop and calm down didn't register, much less matter, at the moment. He just wanted to be by his friend and charge and kill the boy who insulted her.

And the poor priests didn't know how long they'd be able to stop him from running of to Japan and do just that.

Then something occurred to Mana. ''Mahad! It'll take you hours to get to Japan! Why not call Seto and tell him to get in a few punches for you too? He already seems ready to skin the guy alive!''

Mahad stopped and the priests sighed in releife as the boy went for the phone.

In California ...

''I'll KILL, MURDER that boy!''

''Wait! You must calm down!''

''You're right! Let's go and show him what it means to disrespect Yuna-sama!''

''Let's go!''

''Yeah!''

Croquet, despite his own rage, was the only one with enough sense to point out that it's better to just call Seto Kaiba and let him do the beating since he was the only one there and it would take them hours to get to Japan. He was quite shocked that even Mrs. Cecillia and Ms. Mia acted that way, but he understood all too well.

He too wished to shot the boy by the name of Marik.

Somewhere in America ...

Both Kuu and his beloved Juliena were in the middle of packing up to go to Japan to just go and kill the boy who insulted one of the girls they loved like their own daughter when Kuu realized that it'd be hours before they'd make it to his homeland. When he told this to his wife, she started sulking.

''But, we could always call Seto-kun! I'm sure he'll be more than happy to do it instead of us until we can get back to Japan!'' Kuu suggested, and Julie was instantly on a phone, calling the young CEO, like many others who knew his number.

Tokyo, in a pink cafe ...

''All right! Everyone ready?'' Zoey asked her fellow Mew Mews.

''Yes!'' they said in one voice.

''Then let's go!'' And with that, the girls went towards the doors. Only to stop as Elliott pointed a very obvious thing out.

''They're not only in Domino, which is a two hour ride from here, but they are on Seto Kaiba's private remote island. How do you plan to get there?''

Silence. Then Kiki was heard yelling out ''Nooooooot faiiir!'', followed by many groans.

Wesley smiled at the girls that were ready to declare war to the boy that just said such a crude thing to Yuna, who they all considered a sister of sorts, and he knew that Elliott wanted to kill the guy as much as the girls did. He wanted to, too, but knew that it wouldn't be that easy.

So he advised. ''Why don't we call Yuna's friend, Seto Kaiba himself, and ask him if he could kick him at least once for each of us?'' Although they were surprised that the usually gentle man wanted such a thing to happen to someone else, they understood, and just nodded as Elliott took the phone and dialed the number.

Tokyo, in LEM ...

Lory was more than surprised how his employees had been able to stop him, even with Sho, Kyoko, Kanae, Maria, Chiori AND KUON already struggling to go for his private jet. He had never felt this level of rage, and he wanted to express it on the idiotic boy who talked like that to Yuna Yami Mouto of all people! The girl was a heartthrob, everyone loved her, so it was pretty stupid to say something like that and hope to get out of it alive. It was practically suicide!

Although he really wanted to go over there with his talents, and he had no doubt that Kuu wanted the same, he was aware that Seto Kaiba owned the island they were on and would most likely not even allow them to land. He was also aware that he had the boy's number and that the young CEO was probably even more pissed than all of them together and was present! there.

An idea came to mind and he called his angry talents over as he took out his cell phone.

Somewhere in India ...

Sara and Seira were trying to convince their father to let them and their fellow Princess Mermaids singers to go to Japan to kill Marik, and although the man himself wanted to do the same since he really liked Yuna, he declined.

Taro, only being half calm himself, suggested that they call Seto, who he knew would be killing the boy anyway so why not ask that he delivers a kick or two for them as well. They agreed and jumped for the phone, calling his once student.

Domino, Kame Game Shop ...

Solomon Mouto was desperately trying not to break his own TV while calling the young man he was sure had a crush on his granddaughter and that she returned it.

Seto's POV

I finally calmed down a little, even though Marik was now shaking with fear, like the rest of the geeks, since I have been snarling and growling at him, my hackles raised, rage at it's maximum and I was very happy with the results. It took him five minutes to get back to normal, and the morons that Yugi befriended were finally completely quiet. Ishizu was staring at me with a very strange expression.

''Now where were we? Ah yes! Let the fun begin!'' Marik yelled.

Darkness engulfs the Duel Tower, the Shadows swirling around as they blocked out the sun almost fully. The idiots started panicking, while Ishizu and Yugi looked worried. Yuna didn't even flinch.

It was a Shadow Game, but she didn't appear to care.

I heard Ishizu gasp and look over to her with a question in my eyes. She understood and explained.''She seems to know that this place isn't a foreign territory, meaning that she has finally accepted who she really is!She's accepting her destiny!''

''Or, she saw through his trick, which is a lot more likely than what you are saying.''

She scowls at me, and I glare at her. In my heart, I felt a fear rip through me as I wondered if she could end up like all the others who participated in these Shadow Games.

''This Shadow Game will be different—I've thrown in a few twists especially for you and Yugi.'' But before anyone could ask, Marik says that it's the time for the first surprise. A hourglass imprisoning Mai floats overhead. She's nearly buried in sand! ''This represents how long you have before she never again wakes up as the Shadows feed on her soul! Hahahahah!'' He laughs and shivers run down almost everyones' spine at how dark it sounded. ''Once this duel is over, she'll be gone.''

''This madness has to stop!'' Yugi complains. Marik turns to him, saying ''I have special plans for you, little Yugi, so don't worry.'' and suddenly another Yugi appears up on the platform, right beside Yuna. Gasps could be heard, and Yugi stares dumbfounded at his floating double. Marik suddenly moves a little, ant there lying was Malik, half conscious, looking in Yuna's direction with half-opened empty eyes. Another Malik appears floating beside the older twin. Both younger twins' wrists and ankles were bound by rings of darkness.

''What's the meaning of this!?'' Yuna yelled in a regal voice, the darkness around us seeming to vibrate from it, as if welcoming her rage.

''If you lose the duel, Yugi will go to the Shadow Realm! Simple as that.''

''Leave Yugi out of it!'' Yuna yells, and the Shadows shimmer in her anger, now seeming to fear it. I'm not sure where I'm getting these ideas about the shadows, but I don't feel like I'm wrong.

''My weaker half is involved, too. If I lose, the Shadows will take him.'' Marik points to both the real Malik and the one that's floating beside him.

Now, the Shadows appear like they wish to be as far away from Yuna as possible and I could have swore that her Puzzle glimmered.''They're not our weaker halves! They are their own people and they have their own lives! How can you so easily discard your own brother?!'' For a second, the gold eye I've seen on her forehead in that strange vision seemed to appear, but it was gone just as quickly.

I agreed with Yuna on that one.

''Because I only wish to see you suffer, Pharaoh!'' Marik's voice sounds mental.

''The darkness in your heart has eaten away at your reason and has been feeding on your soul too long. I'll have to remove it the hard way then! Alright, Let's Duel! Your move.'' Yuna said and Marik draws, summons Vampiric Leech (500 ATK), and orders it to direct attack. Yuna is hit for 500 life points, as Marik says that this monster can attack instantly, even on the first turn!

Both Yugis screams in pain, and part of the floating one's body dissolves away. The real Yugi's right knee buckles and he almost falls over, but Joey caught him.

''Yugi!'' Yuna turns around and Yugi assures that he is fine.

Marik explains that when Yuna loses life points, Yugi will lose a piece of himself to the darkness. When Yuna's life points reach zero, Yugi will be gone forever! ''And the same rule applies to my own weaker half.''

''I won't duel.'' Yuna states.

''Hnnn!?'' Marik exclaimed in confusion and we all stare at the girl who was willing to go as far as help me look like I'm jumping to my doom from atop a tower!

''I said that I won't duel. Not with Yugi getting hurt. This is between you and me, and as long as Yugi is involved, I won't duel.''

''You have to!'' Yugi yells, and Marik agrees.

''We're playing by my rules now, and I can banish Yugi to the Shadow Realm at any time!''

''I dare you to try.'' Marik looks startled, not believing what Yuna just said. I was as well, since only a moment ago, she refused to play since it hurt Yugi, and now she was telling the guy to hurt her brother! What the fuck!?

''You don't mean that, Pharaoh. You're soul is said to be too gentle for such a thing!'' Marik says, as if convincing himself.

''True, but your soul is too weak to do something like that. At least you can't do it until you weaken your opponent. And we both know that the Millennium Rod has a true wielder amongst the ones watching, so it will most definitely not listen to you now that it came in contact with it's true owner. We both know that you wished to make worse Shadow Games happen, but the Rod no longer gives you enough power to do so.'' Yuna said and Marik flinched with every new sentence. ''Face it, Marik. In comparison to the real wielder, you are not good enough!'' Yuna finished, sounding quite merciless, and for some strange reason I felt my pride swell at everything she said. Marik on the other hand, was not very happy.

''Then, let's find out! This means that you agree to the circumstances of the duel, so are you ready to continue? Are you, little Pharaoh?!''

Yuna turns to Yugi, a worried look on her face.

Yugi's POV

I know that without me saying it, she won't continue with the duel. This was Yuna, my sister, not the part of her that we both call by her middle name, Yami. But she needs to be ruthless with this guy, or else we could both end up hurt, as well as Malik and Mai! I still don't know how Bakura, Ryou and Odion will fare with this, but Mai and Malik are in immediate danger!

We may call that little unforgivable, ruthless part of Yuna ''Yami'', but it's still her. She actually calls it her merciless part because she used the name as a gamer that never gave anyone a chance to defeat her. It just stuck with the name, that reputation. But seeing as this duel will affect me and Malik, there's no place for ''Yami'' here, and it's already too dark as it is.

What really surprised me was how this Shadow Realm seems to react to my sister. It's like this place can somehow detect her mood and responds to that. I don't understand, but I can always ask Yuna later. Now, I need to get her to focus on nothing else but the duel.

''It's okay, Yuna! You must fight! Ever since we were little, I could only stand on the sidelines and cheer for you, but now I'm sorta part of this and thus your partner! Even if I wasn't a part of all those games before, you always said that we were in it together, that we are a team! And, so, we'll defeat Marik together!''

''Yugi ... Aibou...'' Yuna chuckles a little, and I see an ironic smile spread across her lips. ''I have been away so long, that I nearly forgot that I have you there for me always, aibou.'' I smile so broadly that I believe a billboard could have been put into my mouth as I hear my old nickname come from my sister's lips. She hasn't used it since our parent's funeral. ''Alright, if you are sure that that is what you wish, I will fight and trust you to support me when I lean onto you!''

''You betcha! Don't worry, it didn't hurt that much.'' I laugh awkwardly, lying to her. It actually hurt like a bitch! But I won't admit that out loud because Yuna would stop the duel immediately.

Yuna turns back to her opponent and nods, indicating that the duel can commence. Marik looked gleeful, and Malik behind him looked like he wanted nothing but to kick his brother in the balls for what he was doing. Ishizu looked annoyed and seemed to be resisting the urge to take Marik by the ear and drag him off back to Egypt.

Mokuba looked worried just a moment ago, but now he was snickering as he looked on to his brother, who looked very stunned and annoyed. Suddenly everyone was looking to our young CEO friend as strange noises started screeching from his collar communicator, even louder than before. He kept yelling at whoever dared call him, but the person, or was it people!?, on the other side only got louder.

What the heck?

Seto's POV

Before I knew it, Yuna and Yugi were discussing what they'll do when I got a call from the HQ back in Domino.

''What!?'' I irritatedly hissed into my collar communicator.

''I'm very sorry to disturb you sir, but you have ... a call ... They say it's very important and that it can't wait, sir.'' The woman on the other end sounded unsure. Well, that was interesting. They usually don't hesitate to tell me who it is and why they're calling.

''Who is it?'' I decided that asking was the best option here.

''That's the thing sir ... You see it's not just one call ... It's 8, or at least it was the last time I checked ... They all wish to speak to you immediately ... Should I put them through, sir?''

Eight calls!? No wonder they were hesitant! But who could it be?

''Yes, fine. Put them through.''

''Right away, sir.'' There was a click and not a second later, I was fearing that I'd go deaf! What ...?

''Listen to me, rich boy! You are to kill that fucking bastard right now!'' Was that Mahad swearing!?

''If you don't skin that motherfucker son of a bitch right where he's standing I'm going to come over there and do it to the both of you, you hear me CEO!'' Is that Sasha!?

''Kaiba-boy, if you don't smack that boy, I'll make a million copies of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon! You hear me, Kaiba-boy!? A million copies!'' Pegasus!? Why is he threatening me!?

''Seto-kun! You better kick him once where the sun doesn't shine for me! IS THAT CLEAR!?'' What the?

''That's right Seto-kun! And a nice punch for me, too!'' Were those Kuu and Julie!?

''Kaiba-kuuun! Kick his ass for us!'' Was that Lory and are those Kuon, Kyoko, Sho and Maria in the background!? Kanae and Chiori are there too!?

How did all these people get my number!? I understand Solomon, who was asking the same as the rest, but how did Sara, Elliott, Samantha and John, and even Stan get it!? Did someone post it on the Internet or something!?

They were all talking in the same voice and giving me a headache in the process! Only Sasha was slightly louder than the rest, and I have to hand it to him. But I guess that I understand. To Sasha, Yuna is pretty much everything that he has, so if he heard what Marik said it was really no wonder that he was reacting that way.

He was talking something about castration and an enormous black scythe and Marik, but he sounded hysteric. Most of these guys did, and so I finally got fed up and shouted an echoing ''QUIET!'' Nothing was heard for miles. I took a deep breath and mumbled a 'thank you' before turning to Yuna.

''How do you calm Sasha down?'' I ask the only person who probably could do that.

''Sasha!? He called you?'' Yuna looked surprised, while the geeks started gossiping about the boy they didn't even know.

''Yes, he did and he's not the only one. In fact, I think that the whole world is waiting in lines for their turn to yell down my ear! All those idiots that you know are on line at the same time, demanding the same thing! Ordering me to do it! Me! No one orders Seto Kaiba around! Not that I wouldn't have done all the things that they asked me to even without them asking, but tell them that my number is OFF LIMITS! Got that!?''

Yuna chuckled and nodded, ''Got it, Seto. And as for Sasha ... Tell him he can have the pleasure of doing what he suggested you to do himself the next time he is in Japan and say 'Hi' for me. Tell him not to worry and that I'll send him borscht soon.''

''You're still sending him food?'' I whimper, very jealous of the little Russian!

After a few minutes I got everyone calm enough to end the call. I missed a couple moves of the duel, but at least there wasn't an army coming to my private island that I plan to detonate after this duel ends.

Marik had thrown Ra to the graveyard and was awaiting his Monster Reborn.

Yuna draws, but Marik activates a trap card, Left Arm Offering, which allows him to add a magic card from his deck to his hand, at the cost of discarding all his other cards. And the card he selects is Monster Reborn. But Yuna activates Exchange, allowing each of them to take one card from the other's hand. Yuna, of course, chooses Marik's Monster Reborn, while Marik takes De-Fusion from Yuna's hand.

''Too bad—now Marik can't bring back his God card. But he's still calm. That's not good for Yuna.'' I mumble to myself, but Mokuba heard and looked worriedly at my rival.

Yuna plays Monster Reborn, bringing back Queen's Knight, then she summons King's Knight. ''With both of them on the field, I can special summon Jack's Knight.'' Now Yuna has three monsters on the field. We all know that she plans to summon Slifer the Sky Dragon, but will Marik allow it?

Tristan and the others cheer for Yuna, and urge her to attack. But Téa points out that Marik still has those two face-down cards on the field. Well, at least someone in that group has a little brain.

Marik laughs and sticks out his tongue some more, and asks Yuna what she's waiting for! ''Come and attack me!''

But Yuna's no fool. She knows that the card he has on the field devastate her if it destroyed all three of her monsters, and the ones best for summoning a God card.

Yuna ends her turn without attacking.

''What's wrong—why didn't Yuna attack?'' Tristan wonders.

''Yuna did the right thing. She's got great instincts, and knew the time wasn't right.'' Joey says.

''For once, we agree, Wheeler.'' I glance at him, and he growls like the dog he is. But I ignore him and turn my attention back to the duel.

Marik draws and sets one more card. ''I could end this duel shortly, but it would be more amusing to extend the game and prolong your suffering, Pharaoh. Since you're going to lose when I play my God card, I decided to give you some assistance so you can play yours. I'll give you a present.''He plays the magic card, Card of Sanctity. Both players draw until they have six cards in their hands. Then Marik switches Juragedo to defense and ends his turn.

'Although Battle City rules allow only one Monster Reborn per deck, there are cards that can allow a player to reuse it many times. Marik must have many of them, seeing as his Rare Hunters had probably stole more of them than he needs. I hope Yuna realizes this and is ready.'

Yuna's POV

I put my fingers on my top card and a jolt runs through me, making my heart vibrate. I also noticed how the Shadows vibrated at my contact to the God Monster. I close my eyes briefly, realizing that it was Slifer once I saw a flash of red in my mind. I really ought to figure out how I'm so connected to these cards, but not now. I draw.

''I sacrifice my three Knights as offerings to Slifer the Sky Dragon! Come forth, my beast!'' I yell as I raise my card high in the sky and then slam it on my Duel Disk. Lightning cracked and thunder danced across the sky as the red snake-like dragon descended from the stormy heavens. Slifer coiled around the tower and his giant two-mothed head came to rest above me, a little behind my form. Slifer roared and the skies thundered. I felt safe, knowing that this creature will protect me.

''I currently have 6 cards, so Slifer has 6000 ATK! Now! Slifer attack!'' Without hesitation, the red dragon came forward a little, preparing it's attack.

Marik laughs. ''Your monster is nothing!'' He activates his set magic card, Dark Spell Regeneration.

I hear Seto telling Mokuba that this card allows Marik to move any magic card from the graveyard back to the field. Fuck!

Marik plays Monster Reborn from the graveyard, using it to revive Ra in its God Phoenix form. Slifer's attack, a giant ball of crackling lightning, is deflected harmlessly, disappearing in the Shadows.

''In this mode Ra is immune to all attacks for one turn.'' Marik says and everyone gasps, then groans. They seem not to realize that that means that Ra won't be there on Marik's turn. It'll go back to the graveyard the second I end my turn.

''Thanks to the fiery wrath of Ra little Yugi will be consumed by Darkness and absolute power will be mine! The God Phoenix Ra will burn Yugi and Slifer into ashes! That'll be two things you love and care for, Pharaoh!'' Marik laughs, thinking that his insanity will scare me like it's scaring Joey and his friends.

''The Winged Dragon of Ra is not a monster to be messing with—especially in its Phoenix mode.'' Joey says from the sidelines. I must agree with that one.

''Yuna's got a God monster on the field, too—doesn't that mean that Yuna and Marik are even?'' Tristan asks.

''They're not even close! Ra is in a class by itself, and I ought to know. When Marik attacked me with that monster, I was knocked out cold. By paying 1000 life points, Marik can invoke Ra's God Phoenix form and burn up all of Yuna's monsters—even Slifer.'' Great, they're talking about all the ways I could lose! Of all the things!

''Wait, no matter how powerful the monster?'' Tristan exclaims. Yep, no matter how powerful. I know Ra and the other two by heart, so I know that I could be in deep shit right now. The worst thing is that Yugi will suffer, too!

''I don't know. But what I'm worried about is the God's attack burning out the strength of players. Yuna could really get hurt if Marik pulls the same shit he did with me.'' He can bet that he will! Or at least he will try. After my Duel with Seto, the Millennium Rod has officially affected it's true wielder and their powers are now connected. The Rod won't give Marik enough strength to do such a thing, especially with Seth's reincarnation right there. I can only hope that his presence here will somehow lower the negative effects the Item has had on both of the Ishtar twins.

''Slifer's special ability will destroy Ra.'' I know that it won't, but I need to keep the pretense that I don't know anything about the God Monsters. I order Slifer to attack Ra with it's second mouth, and without a second of hesitation, he does. But Slifer's attack is repelled, exploding harmlessly away from Ra. Just as I knew it would.

I actually have a different plan. If Slifer's attack filters the Darkness here a little, maybe it could effect Marik and Malik's hearts. The Shadows of the Shadow Games are as thick as the summoners own darkness in their heart. Malik has already seen the errors of his ways, and had tried to make up for it, but Marik's heart had grew that much darker. If I I don't defeat him soon, the Rod will completely destroy him, and The Winged Dragon of Ra being in his possession isn't helping matters! Maybe when I destroy Ra for good, he'll come back to his old self, if only slightly. After that, it's up to Malik and their family.

Seto's POV

Slifer's attack turned out useless and now it was Marik's turn. ''Ra is invincible!''

Marik laughs. ''How my divine creature will unleash its fiery wrath!'' Marik begins the chant to invoke Ra's third ability. I'm the first to notice, at least amongst the watching party, since Yuna tensed at the very first word.

''Marik is about to invoke Ra's Phoenix ability to destroy all of Yuna's monsters. But Yuna has Slifer on the field. Will her God monster be incinerated by Marik's?'' I mumble to myself, but both Ishizu and Mokuba turn to me. Yugi seems to have heard me as well, because he tensed pretty much like his sister did a moment ago, and clenched his jaw and fists. Joey looked worriedly between the twins, seeming the only one to notice the difference in their aura.

Marik pays the 1000 life points to activate the Phoenix—but it's Malik who suffers the cost, as part of his arm dissolves away. Malik screams out in pain and it echoes in the darkness. Ishizu puts her hands over her ears and starts to shake. I notice that even Marik flinched slightly, or that is his eyebrow twitched. Malik was desperately rubbing his arm on the floor as much as he could, but it seems that it wasn't enough. After some half a minute, he finally stopped and went limp, panting like he just ran a marathon. Marik turns back to Yuna, and it seems that once again only Yuna and I have even noticed that he had been looking at his little brother.

''Now,'' Marik says,''Behold the rage of Ra as it rids the field of Slifer!''

Ra attacks, and the field is engulfed in flames. Yuna and the floating Yugi double are no longer insight, the flames embracing them. My heart stops. ''Yuna ...'' I barely say the name while Marik laughs. It's the only sound that was heard beside the sound of the fire burning. Then ...

Yuna, up on the platform, and Yugi, still held by Joey, both cry out in pain from the fire. Yuna's was slightly louder, and Yugi stopped screaming to look at where he was supposed to see his sister, but the flames were still enveloping her.

''That's what happened to me ...'' Joey said to himself, and Yugi instantly yelled out his sister's name, and Mokuba joins him in calling her name.

''Stay strong, Yuna!'' Tea yells to the fire.

Slifer is consumed by Ra's Phoenix attack. The God screeches in pain but lowers itself slightly, but we can't see what he's doing. Yuna was still screaming in pain.

''This is just the beginning—I plans to prolong the Pharaoh's anguish as long as I can!'' Slifer screeches at his words, and I could still hear my rival's anguished scream. The red God releases another roar, this one of protectiveness, and coils its body in a circle,and with another cry disappears.

Then suddenly ... Silence. A heavy, deafening silence.

There was nothing, just the crackling of the burning fire, and soon even that disappeared as smoke rose from the ground.

My heart clenched even more when there was no sound of my rival. Nothing.

The smoke was too thick for us to see what was going on. Even Marik and Roland, who were up on the platform, couldn't see what happened to Yuna.

Yugi broke the silence with a whispered whimper of his sister's name.

Everyone was quiet in order to hear the answer, but there was none.

My heart fell to my feet. maybe lower, as the smoke still didn't dissolve.

Everyone was staring at the place where the Queen of Games once stood.

Then, just as suddenly as the noise died, a low light appeared in the middle of the smoke. It was small and weak, but ti was there. It gave hope. A moment later, the smoke cleared up and there standing proudly was my panting rival with a new fire in her eyes. It was like nothing I have ever seen. I can't believe that a fire like that could truly be present in one's eyes, but it was like that attack had somehow lit it. She glared at Marik with those flaming eyes, and he took a step back. She turned her gaze to the imposing figure of Ra and even the most powerful of the God cards backed away. It actually looked ashamed at itself, if that is even possible, as she looked at it with those flaming eyes. A moment later, she turned to Yugi, asking him if he was alright. Yugi gasped at the sight of her eyes, the fire burning in front of dancing shadows in those crimson depths, and barely managed to answer.

Yuna nodded and turned back to Marik, who looked no more comfortable after seeing her eyes the first time.

At the end of the turn, Ra goes back to the graveyard, since it was summoned using Monster Reborn. ''The worst is yet to come! I'll destroy your life points one by one, as the darkness consumes your brother's and then your body!'' Even though he was the one throwing the threat at Yuna, his voice was wavering.

Then Marik activates another trap card, Zombie's Jewel, which allows him to take an opponent's magic card from the graveyard. Laughing evilly, he taunts Yuna, asking if she knows which card he'll take. Naturally, he takes Yuna's Monster Reborn again, stroking it lovingly, telling her it will allow the Winged Dragon of Ra to continue its onslaught. ''Zombie's Jewel also allows you to draw another card.'' He adds and Yuna moves to do so.

I hope she draws something good.

Marik's POV

The fact that she survived Ra's attack shouldn't have surprised me, seeing as Ra somehow refused to go all out on her. It didn't go on her as easy as it did on that Mutt I dueled last, but it still didn't go as far as it could have. It must have something to do with her carrying it's original master's soul within her own, or is it truly her own? It must be that way. because she has the same personality as what we read about the Nameless Pharaoh.

What worries me the most is that the Shadows react to her, as well as how she knows so much about the thing even my family knows only a half of. And that's not mentioning how the God cards always lean towards her and protect her. That's what Slifer just did, protect her, taking her flames onto himself.

But at this moment, I need to just worry what card she will draw, and nothing else.

Perhaps she'll draw the card Kaiba gave her.

Of course, nothing will truly save her in the end.

Yuna's POV

'My fate is sleeping in these cards.' I think as I gaze down at my deck.

I hear Mokuba say hopefully, although a little fearfully, that maybe I can win, if I draw the card Seto gave me. That's what I was thinking, but I don't even know what card it is, other than that it's a spell card.

''I doubt it, but it should be interesting to see. For that card to work, she needs to know how and when to use it, and she didn't even look at the card. I just hope that if she does use it, that she'll know what to do. I shouldn't worry, though. It's Yuna we're talking about.'' I smile a little to myself as I hear Mokuba agreeing.

What really surprises me is that Tea's worrying about me not having monsters to defend me. The rest of that group just continued it's earlier discussion on Ra.

I turned my attention back to my Deck. Seto's watching me intently, obviously knowing as well as I do that I need to draw the card he gave me. Marik is taunting me about what happens to those who lose Shadow Games, but I'm not really listening. I'll have to ask Yugi what he said after the duel. However, I gave him my full atention when he pulled out the Millennium Ring!

''The Millennium Ring is my trophy, and when I win this game, I'll add the Pharaoh's Millennium Puzzle to his collection. Yuna! You will face the same downfall as Bakura!'' Marik exclaims, and I grind my teeth in order to stop whatever was about to come out. I have a feeling that whatever it was it could end up being quite ugly for us all. ''You will enter the Shadows screaming, just as Bakura did, and join the ranks of my other victims, Pharaoh. Next turn, I'll kill you and Yugi the same way I killed Bakura and his dear little brother Ryou.''

'This madness has to stop!How dare Marik hurt my friends like this! But I mustn't think of revenge! He's right about one thing, and that is that the God Monsters won't recognize me if I am enraged. I need to calm down and focus on drawing the right card.'

My hand hovers over my Deck. 'I can do this, I just need to draw the Card Set gave me. Seto put his faith in me, and now I have to put my faith in him.'

Normal POV

As Yuna's hand touches her deck, her eyes close, and light flashes across the sky. A jolt runs through everyone present as a power they never felt before descends to the beautiful Duelist. Ishizu thinks that the Pharaoh's faith in Kaiba has invoked the energies of ancient Egypt. 'There is no doubt she has drawn the card she needs.'

Kaiba, himself, was surprised how strong that jolt was. He doesn't avert his eyes from his rival/crush as she draws the card out of the Duel Disk.

Yuna draws and, without opening her eyes, slots the card into her Duel Disk. ''I will set this card and end my turn.''

Marik stares in astonishment. Tristan and Duke wonder what's going on—Yuna didn't even look at that card! Joey's never seen Yuna do that before—Yuna has no idea what she just played! Téa wonders what she's thinking.

Yugi was stunned speechless. He never saw his sister act so recklessly before!

Mokuba asks Kaiba what card he thinks Yugi drew.

''This is ridiculous! There's no way Yuna can know what card she put on the field!'' Seto exclaims out loud, but his words were nothing more than a whisper. He looks over to the side and sees Ishizu staring at him, silently urging him not to deny his destiny.

''It's Fiend Sanctuary. Fate has allowed the Pharaoh to draw the card you gave to her, Seto!''

Kaiba wonders 'How can Yuna know what she drew without looking at it?'

Seto stares at his rival, never looking away as if she could disappear at any moment, trying his best not to show his worry to the geeks. 'Are you summoning the Miracle, Yuna?'

''Yuna Mouto, it's against the rules to set a card without knowing what it is—if it's a monster card, it's in the wrong slot.'' Roland said, doing his job.

'Interesting!' Kaiba thinks to himself, telling Roland to let them duel. Without questioning it, Roland steps down and allows the duel to continue.

Marik laughs, telling Yuna that the impending threat of the Shadow Realm has clouded his thought processes. '' Why else would he play a card without looking at it? It's the last draw of his life, you should take a good look at your card as a souvenir.''

''You wouldn't understand. It's your turn.'' Yuna states calmly, confidently, and all watching couldn't help but admire her. All around the world, people started believing that she can make a miracle from that unseen card.

Marik draws, thinking that it's time for his Egyptian God card to return to the field in all its glory, and wipe Yuna out forever.'I'll send him to hell with ultimate pain!'

He plays Monster Reborn, bringing Ra from the graveyard once more. ''I'll activate Ra's most devastating ability, making it completely indestructible and sealing your fate!''

Marik begins to chant, activating Ra's special ability. "Open your eyes and let this scene be sealed in your mind," he tells Yuna as the floating Malik's body begins to dissolve and the shadows cling to Marik, hiding him from sight. Yuna looks on in angered astonishment as Malik screams in pain before losing consciousness all together, thinking it's best that way as he wont feel any pain or see the monster his twin is becoming because of the darkness. ''I'm transforming my life points into Ra's attack points!''

A single eye of Marik's and floating Malik's remain on the field, while the rest of him has fused together with Ra, appearing within the huge jewel on the Winged Dragon's forehead. ''This is the same tactic I used to attack Bakura!'' Marik says, by giving up all but one of his life points to increase Ra's attack. Ra's attack rises to 2999, while Marik's life points go down to one. Then Marik sacrifices his other monster, Juragedo, to absorb its attack points into Ra as well. Now Ra has an attack of 4699, more than enough to finish Yugi off. Just one attack, and this duel is over. ''This is the One Turn Kill!You're finished.''

''That monster is way too powerful! If he attacks Yugi directly, Marik will win!'' Joey said.

''Seto ... if this goes on, Yuna will...'' Mokuba turns to his brother but doesn't say anything else when he sees the intens stare he had leveled at his rival.

'If you drew that card ... If you van really summon a Miracle, let me see!' Seto thinks. Ishizu looks on intently.

Ra attacks.

Yuna activates her set card, and it slowly lifts as the attack comes closer. Just as the attack was about to hit her, the card activated.

Fiend Sanctuary.

Kaiba is astonished. ''That is the card I gave Yuna! But Yuna placed it on the field without even looking at it. How could she have known she'd played the right card? It doesn't make sense! It must be some sort of a trick! I can't believe she drew that card. Is this a miracle?'' But then he remembers the jolt he felt when she drew the card, as well as her declaration that she trusts him ... How it felt right, intimate even. Like a connection only the two of them had. ''So, you drew it, ha Yuna?Now let's see if it works. If anyone can defeat that thing, it's you.''

'The moment I touched that card, I felt Seto's soul.' Yuna thinks as she looks at the astonished and confused face of Marik. She watches as the card takes effect.

A magical symbol appears on the field and from it rises a shiny monster made of reflective beads. ''It's a Metal Fiend Token!'' Yuna exclaims across the field but it doesn't make any sense to anyone.

''Thanks to my magic card,'' Kaiba says, ''Marik's Winged Dragon of Ra will attack the metal token instead of Yuna's life points.'' It was only half, he knew, but let Marik learn the rest the hard way. Marik stares at it—and sees his own eye reflected in it.

''I'm no longer the target of Ra's attack—now it will attack you, through your reflection in the metal token. And you only has one life point, Marik. You'll be destroyed by your own monster.''

The gang cheer and Yugi sighs in relief, while Marik thinks he must stop the Winged Dragon of Ra's attack, or he'll lose the duel.

Ra attacks the Metal Fiend Token, ''I win!'' Yuna says in a rare overconfident Kaiba as the smoke clears, Yuna sees that the Metal Fiend is still on the field. Marik laughs, telling Yuna he was a fool to think he could win that easily. Marik stands unharmed before his God monster, his life points at 4700. Joey doesn't understand it! Marik should have lost the duel.

Yuna asks Marik how he escaped. Marik explains that he activated the magic card, De-Fusion—the card he took from her hand when she played Exchange. De-Fusion released the fusion between himself and Ra, ending the attack and transferring all of Ra's attack points back to his life points. Yuna's strategy failed, and Marik is stronger than ever.

Kaiba chuckles to himself, thinking that just as he suspected. 'Yuna wasn't able to use the card I gave her to defeat Marik. But there is one more thing Yuna can gain from the card. I'll see if Yuna can figure it out. The Fiend Sanctuary isn't just for stopping Ra's attack. Will Yuna know what to do with it?'

Marik points out that now that he's regained his life points, his weaker half(Malik, his younger twin) has regained his body from the Shadow Realm—for now. Indeed, the floating Malik was whole and the real one finally looked calm and even close to consciousness.

Hanging in his bonds, Malik calls to Odion for help and Yuna's heart goes to the boy. She had often called for Mahad when she got hurt when her parents weren't around.

Ra returns to the graveyard once more, along with Monster Reborn. Marik plays one card face down and ends his turn. Joey knows that Marik plans to bring back Monster Reborn to summon Ra again.

''In order to maintain the Metal Fiend Token on the field, you hava to pay 1000 life points each turn.'' Marik points out to his opponent.

Yuna turns to Yugi to ask him, but before she could say anything, her little brother was already urging her to do it. She node, draws, and, apologizing to Yugi, pays 1000 life points to keep the Metal Fiend Token on the field. The floating Yugi's body is eaten away by the loss of life points and the real one lets out a whimper of pain in his friends arms. Marik laughs, saying it's Yugi who suffers, just so Yuna can maintain a useless creature on the field.

But Kaiba smiles, thinking 'Perhaps Yuna does know the second function of Fiend Sanctuary after all. Smart girl.'

Yuna silently thanks Set, thinking that she knew Seto's card would save her the moment he gave it to her. 'Our spirits are connected. When I drew Devil's Sanctuary, the meeting of our souls passed the knowledge to me. Truly, thank you Seto!'

She activates her covered card, Multiply, which allows her to increase the number of Metal Fiends on the field from one to three.

Marik is horrified, knowing Yuna's going to sacrifice them!

''It looks like Yuna did it—she figured out how to make the most of my magic card.'' Seto thinks with a small half smile, half smirk.

Ishizu realizes that Yugi is going to summon his second God card.

Which she does. Yuna sacrifices the three Metal Fiend Tokens to summon Obelisk the Tormentor. The huge God monster appears on the field behind Yuna, as she thinks it was summoned with the help of her friend and brother—Seto Kaiba and Yugi Mouto. The giant blue God hovers protectively over it's master, looking even more fearsome than when played by Kaiba.

Exclaiming that this is awesome, Tristan grabs Duke around the neck to celebrate. Tea cheers and tells Yugi that everything will be alright. Yugi cheers for his sister, although it seems that no one of the gang had figured it out yet.

''Get a look at Marik! He's so scared his hair is standing up. Oh, wait, he always looks like that.'' Joey jokes around in his celebration.

Yami, Yuna's only ruthless part, orders Obelisk to attack without remorse or hesitation, and Marik is hit by the God's giant fist.

Marik is thrown to the ground by Obelisk's direct attack. He loses 4000 life points, bringing him down to 700. As Marik's eye twitches, Yuna tells him he's only one attack away from defeat.

On the sidelines, the gang cheers. Joey says Marik didn't even know what hit him! He's in a complete daze. Duke agrees—kind of like Joey is every day.

Mokuba exclaims that that was so awesome! ''Yuna's great!''

But Kaiba thinks something's not right. ''Why would Marik allow Obelisk to attack him so easily?''

Ishizu also thinks it seems as though Marik wanted this to happen. ''He must be planning to use his face-down card to counterattack.''She urges Yuna to be careful. ''Marik's darkness prefers to prolong his opponent's suffering for his own amusement.''

Marik struggles to his feet, a grotesque look on his face, sticking his tongue out. ''Impressive! But it will take more than that to keep me down. It's my brother who really suffers when I lose life points.'' And, much to Yuna's dismay, the floating Malik's body has faded away. Though she was secretly happy for the small accomplishment.

'He has addressed his brother like a brother should, and soon I might be able to save the both of them! It seems that Obelisk has knocked some sense back into him. Hmm ... Interesting. One God Monster can dispel the damage made by the other. Or is it just because I'm using it and Slifer had already chased some of the shadows away with his lightning?'

Marik taunts Yuna, telling her she's supposed to save mankind, not destroy it. ''To think Malik and I were once the Pharaoh's loyal servant—it's nice to see my younger twin being repaid by his exalted king! The irony is very amusing. The Pharaoh's hateful spice can roast a delicious sacrificial offering. And here I thought that you were gracious.'' Marik snickers cruelly and crudely.

''Be careful, Yuna!'' Yugi warns his sister.

Marik tells Yami he should feel honored. ''Of all the lives I've destroyed, your's has been the most amusing. And the worst is ahead.''

Ishizu thinks it's just as she suspected. 'Marik's planning to use his face-down card to devastate the Pharaoh.'

Behind his older twin, Malik slowly opens his eyes and says the password for his microphone on his shirt to activate. He only says one word before it calls the corresponding device.

On the ship, Odion lies in a coma. Suddenly, the ear piece no one bothered to remove activated, but there was no recording of the Millennium Rod's secret frequency, no were there any commands. Instead, Malik speaks to him, telling him that his brother's darkness grows stronger as he slips into the Shadows.

''Before I'm gone forever, I want to say that he's sorry, both of us are, even if Marik isn't himself due to the darkness killing him from the inside out. You have done nothing but protect us since the day we was born, and Marik and I have repaid you with anger and disrespect. I'd like to take it all back, but it's too late. The evil within Marik and me is about to prevail—the evil that we created out of our own hatred now threatens to destroy me and ruin his life. You was there the day Marik's darkness was born—the day we received the Tombkeepers' initiation. Marik recalls receiving the initiation, and Odion scarring his own face in order to prove his loyalty, but that day is a bit hazy to me. I do remember you always protecting us, though. You were always loyal to us, even when Marik and I betrayed the Tombkeepers and used the ancient scriptures for our own selfish purposes. Now I understand why you stood by him, even when you knew what Marik was doing was wrong. It was the same reason as me, wasn't it. Because he was family. You were always a part of our family, Odion. No matter what father said .Now Marik is drifting away in his own darkened heart, and only the Pharaoh's pure soul can save him, while I die in the same darkness that I once embraced. Goodbye, and I apologize again as my spirit fades away into the Shadows.'' The ear piece goes quiet and a few minutes later, Odion's eyes open.

''Master Malik and Masre Marik ...''

Atop the Duel Tower, the Shadow Game continues. Marik tells Yami that his his trap card, which Yami activated with his last attack, is powerful enough to stop an Egyptian God card. Yami says that's impossible, and Joey exclaims that there's no way Marik has a trap card powerful enough to stop Obelisk! Marik says it's time for him to reveal his secret weapon, which he was able to activate it when he lost more than half his life points. The trap, Metal Reflect Slime, creates a plasma creature which takes on the shape of the attacking monster. The creature becomes a shiny reflection of Obelisk, a God Slime.

Everyone stares in horror as the two Obelisks face off.

Duke says Marik made an exact copy of Yuna's Egyptian God monster! Tristan asks if they're equal in strength, but Joey says no. Marik's is just a cheap copy of the original, with a defense of 3000 points. The real Obelisk can destroy it with one blow. Mokuba says Yugi will destroy that thing with his next attack, right? But Kaiba says no. He's sure there's more to Marik's monster than meets the eye. ''Just keep watching.''

''Your carbon copy pales in comparison to the original.'' Yuna says confidently, but Marik says his God Slime is more powerful than Yuna thinks. Yuna frowns, sets a card face down and she ends her turn.

Marik draws. He's drawn the exact card he needs to make his God Slime unstoppable. He tells Yuna that soon his Winged Dragon of Ra will return to the field and wipe her out. In the meantime, his Egyptian God Slime will serve as a wall to protect his life points.

He summons Revival Jam, reminding Yuna of his last encounter with it, when he dueled Malik's mind slave, Strings. Yuna flinched at the reminder where Slifer's anguished cries as he attacked her rang in her head. Now, Marik activates Polymerization, and fuses Revival Jam and the God Slime. The God Slime appears unchanged, but Marik assures Yuna that it has transformed into a new, more powerful beast.

Marik ends his turn, daring Yuna to attack. Yuna draws, and plays Big Shield Gardna in defense, then attacks the God Slime with Obelisk. The blue God attacks its offending duplicate with it's rage, destroying it. The duel arena is splattered with slime, and Yuna thinks she's beaten it.

But Marik laughs, saying he told Yuna that the God Slime was indestructible. ''It regenerates itself—the fusion has given it Revival Jam's ability. Now,'' Marik says,''My plan is complete. Thanks to my invincible defense monster, my life points can't be damaged. It's impossible to defeat me, and this was my plan from the start.''

Kaiba realizes that Marik allowed Obelisk to attack him in order to create the God Slime. ''Now Obelisk's attacks will be useless.''

00000

Seto's POV

After the little freak show where Malik used Tea to beg Yuna to defeat his brother no matter what, and Marik's declaration that he will be summoning Ra again on his next turn, everything was enveloped in a tense silence.

Yuna's insisting that she'll break through Marik's defense, but not even I can see how she plans to do that.

Marik had set one card face down, and summoned Swallowtail Spike Lizard in defense (700 DEF). As long as it remains in defense, Marik's life points increase by 1000 each turn. He'll most likelyuse the extra life points to strengthen Ra and destroy Obelisk the Tormentor. Once Yuna's Egyptian God card is gone, Marik will use his to finish her off.

Yuna's POV

I just got an idea. It's risky, but I have no choice. Marik fused himself with the Winged Dragon of Ra before, and I'm sure Marik's planning to do that again. But when he does, Marik will become a monster himself, with all the weaknesses of a monster.

I draw and set two cards, then summon Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts in defense mode (1200 DEF), and end my turn.

Marik reminds me that Boganian will now take 300 life points from me, and the monster shoots at me with its missile. I'm down to 700 life points, and the duplicate Yugi's body has mostly disappeared while Yugi writhes in pain behind me.

''I promise I won't let you slip away, Yugi! Hang in there just a bit longer!'' I tell him over my shoulder. Yugi nods his head, but Marik says he has no choice—in a few more moments, Yugi will be gone. I hate that he is right. If I don't do something soon, the Shadows may overwhelm Yugi before the duel ends!

Seto was watching intently, probably thinking like me that now Marik will use Monster Reborn to revive Ra. I thought that I heard him mummer something like ''I wonder if Yuna has a way to seal the God?'' but I'm not sure.

Marik draws, and laughs at the sight of the card in his hand. ''First I have other things to take care of, then I'll send whatever's left of Yugi to the Shadow Realm with this.'' I bristle at how he's treating me like nothing more but a mediocrity he can find on the street and beat in a few moves. Seto seems to have also been insulted by his words, seeing as Mokuba had to hold him back from strangling the guy who keeps insulting his rival.

Marik gains 1000 life points by Spike Lizard's effect. Then he activates Monster Reborn to call the God Phoenix. He recites the chant, like every time. I know that I won't have to do that every time I play Ra, when I win it, because of who my original incarnate was. But he has to, and it must be getting tiresome to chant the same thing every time. He pays 1000 life points to activate Ra's special effect to destroy Obelisk. The Phoenix form of the God Monster attacks the one I won from Kaiba and I smirk.

I activate my set card, but he seems to not have noticed it. He's just saying that my LP are wide open for an attack now that Obelisk's destroyed. Only to be shell-shocked when he looks behind me. It should have been empty, but Obelisk is still standing after the attack, with Slifer standing before him as a shield. Both Gods growl at Marik and Ra, and the third God bows his head slightly as the two glare at him. I can feel Slifer's and Obelisk's anger, as well as Ra's shame, obviously waning rather to be on the same side as the other two were. With their master, even though he has a new form. This gave me reassurance that all three will accept me, no matter what form my soul took. It was a pleasant feeling.

''I have activate my own Monster Reborn, and brought Slifer back from the graveyard!'' I exclaim, explaining the red dragons sudden appearance. Yugi's new friends cheer and Marik was seething in his anger.

''Impressive! You're using Obelisk as the sword and Slifer as the shield to fight the third God. Never thought you'd think up something like that, Yuna! Just continue and beat him! Take the new title while protecting the old one!'' Seto yelled to me, and I nod in his direction. My heart swells in pride.

My heart clenches as Slifer's great head crashes to the ground, and Obelisk roars, he's anger obvious at the offender of his fellow God Monster. Obelisk's red eyes lock on Marik, and he actually moves forward as Slifer's form dissolves into nothing, as if trying to protect me while intimidating Marik. It actually worked, since I was safely in between his fists and Marik looked like he wanted to take a step back.

I smirk at him, showing him just how much power I had over the God Monsters and he looked both annoyed and worried.

''Slifer was hit by Ra, and Obelisk escaped without a scratch.'' Mokuba comments to his older brother as they watch my duel. ''I wonder what Yuna will do now?''

''If she's smart, she'll tap into the true power of Obelisk.'' Seto says.

''Look! Obelisk is angry now!'' Mokuba point out, and I could see why everyone could see it. The Shadows were vibrating from the blue God's anger as he hovers over me. I'm surprised that he wasn't emitting some kind of aura of power and rage aruond him, but that probably had to do with me being down here.

''I wonder if Yuna knows the real power of Obelisk's anger?'' Seto seems to have said that to himself, but I heard him. And, boy, do I know.

Ra goes back to the graveyard, but Marik says he'll be back. He plays the magic card, Surprise Attack from Beyond, which allows him to replay his attack. Joey says it's a cheap move, and Kaiba thinks that now Marik will have another chance to wipe out Yugi's defense with the Winged Dragon of Ra.

00000

Normal POV

Meanwhile, Odion has gotten up, and is weakly making his way down the steps of the ship. He looks up at the Duel Tower, thinking that he must save Marik and Malik before it's too late.

00000

Ra revives yet again. This time, it floats above the Duel Tower as a huge sphere. The light chases away some of the darkness, and Yuna hopes that by the last move, the Shadows will be thin enough for them not to take a victim.

Marik begins to chant his spell, and Ra transforms into its dragon beast form. Then Marik merges with Ra, transferring his life points to Ra's attack points. Once again seeing Ra that way made Yuna's stomach churn, and Kaiba's did as well, but for a completely different reason. With every move he was more and more worried for his secret crush as she faces her maniac opponent.

Another Marik appears in Ra's forehead. His life points go down to one, while Ra's attack increases to 699. The duplicate of Malik was almost completely gone, and the real one was too weak to let out anything more than a pained whimper.

''Yuna ...'' Yugi whispers.

Marik says that now he'll sacrifice his monsters on the field to increase Ra's attack to 6899. Obelisk's attack is only 4000. Marik and Ra will have enough power to destroy Obelisk and win the duel. ''No one can escape the fury of the Winged Dragon of Ra!''

''We'll see about that! I was waiting for the moment when you became a monster!'' Yuna suddenly shouted, startling everyone.

She activates her set magic card, Soul Taker. Kaiba explains to Mokuba that Soul Taker will grant Marik 1000 life points, while allowing Yuna to take one of Marik's monsters as a sacrifice. ''But which one will she choose?''

Suddenly, Marik realizes—Yuna means to take Ra as a sacrifice.

Kaiba points out that since Marik is fused with his monster, when it goes, so does he.

But Ishizu was saying that since Marik still has one life point, he and Malik will be spared. ''Will the destruction of Ra be enough, my Pharaoh? Will it be enough to free my brothers from the Shadows' grip on them? Marik had already disturbed one other chosen one and took his Item ... Will he be forgiven?!''

But Yuna isn't using Ra as the sacrifice. Shee takes the God Slime instead, making everyone wonder if she had gone nuts.

Everyone but Kaiba, that is. He was figuring it out in stride with his rival's every move.

'' Since it's made up of two monsters, it serves as a double sacrifice to power up Obelisk to infinite power!'' Seto and Yuna say at the same time, exchanging a quick look before Yuna turned back to the field.

Kaiba thinks that now Yuna can destroy all of Marik's monsters. ''This is a miracle of the God's anger—his attack power rises to infinity!''

''You will never take down my Winged Dragon of Ra!'' Marik yells.

Yuna replies with ''It's too late.'' and attacks with Obelisk.

Marik sacrifices his other two monsters, Boganian and Spike Lizard, to increase Ra's attack. Adding the 1000 life points he received from Soul Taker's effect raises Ra's attack to 4899.

''Why would Marik bother powering up Ra? Obelisk's attack is infinite!'' Kaiba wonders.

Joey agrees that the glowing eyeball in Marik's forehead must be frying his brain. Kaiba only then notices the same symbol he saw on Yuna's forehead and felt on his own in that vision.'How!? It just appeared when he merged with Ra.'

The two Gods clash with terrible power. But when the smoke clears, Ra still stands. Marik has activated a magic card, Class System. Now Ra can only be destroyed by a monster with more stars than it.

Obelisk's attack returns to 4000 points. Kaiba says that Yuna has missed her chance, worry finally evident in his voice but not on his face. Marik prepares to attack.

00000

Odion reaches the base of the Duel Tower, thinking that he must save Marik from the wrath of his darkness, and help Malik fight of the Shadows that are haunting him.

''Malik, Marik ... They cannot make this mistake ... I must stop them ...'' Even though barely walking, he enters the Duel Tower with as fast steps as he could.

00000

Marik and Ra attack. But Yuna activates another set magic card, Magical Dimension.

''I need a Spellcaster to activate it, and I'll use Dark Magician Girl. It allows me to sacrifice two of my monsters in order to escape Ra's attack.'' She uses Obelisk and Gazelle, leaving Dark Magician Girl her only monster on the field. The blond magician was glaring daggers at Marik, a hostile look on her pretty face as her light emerald slightly blue eyes promised pain to the man standing across her and her master.

''You're a fool to sacrifice Obelisk! Without your God, Yuna, you have nothing left!'' Marik taunts the still undefeated Queen of Games, thinking that he'll soon have both her title and her herself!

''I have plenty left. I have my friends here, supporting me, I have my family all across the world, even though those by blood are just my grandpa and younger brother, I have who I am, and the heart of the cards to give me strength!'' Yuna exclaims as a golden cask rises from the field, and she explains that Magical Dimension also allows her to summon a Spellcaster from her hand.

Dark Magician emerges from the cask. The master mage comes to float in front of his master, beside his apprentice, a cold glare directed at his master's offender and opponent. His purple rodes swish around him as he promises pain and death to all those who wish to try and hurt the girl he is protecting. The younger, blond mage looked up adoringly at her teacher and he nodded to her. She nods back with a determined look. Both of them turn slightly to look at their respected master, than put their wond and scepter up, a protective stance in front of Yuna, as if defending her from Marik.

Kaiba smiles, thinking that it looks like Yuna's most trusted monster is smarter than he thought. The two looked a bit too much like Yuna's friends from Egypt and made him wonder if Pegasus had met the two before Yuna introduced him to them, or if it had to do with that stone tablet Ishizu showed him. 'Maybe both.'

Yuna's POV

This is it! This one card can end this duel! But how much more will take to destroy Marik's darkness? I have already seen signs that the darkness is losing, but there's still a long way to go. If only Malik was in the condition to talk to his brother, and Odion would have been of great help as well if what Ishizu said was true.

I must go as far as I dare without their help and hope for the best!

''Now! I activate the magic card, Ragnarok, which can only be used when there are two magicians on the field! This card will destroy all the monsters on your side of the field, including the Winged Dragon of Ra. And since you are fused with Ra, you will also be destroyed.''

''But if you destroys me and Ra, my younger twin brother Malik won't be able to survive with only one life point. Will you take the chances, Pharaoh?'' Marik may be taunting me, but he has just said his little brother's name and what he is to him and a jolt had obviously ran through him. The thickness of the Shadow Realm dissolved a little more, and I finally saw that little thread of faith that I'd been looking for. Marik's connection to his family. It was right there, in the shadows, between all his doubts. And just beside it was Malik's own thread, almost swallowed whole by the Shadows. Marik's worry made the little thread glow slightly, chasing the darkness away as best as it could, as if trying to enlighten Malik's own thread.

I hesitate, knowing that they just need a little more time, a small push in that right direction by their older siblings ...

Odion climbs the steps to the dueling platform, barely climbing. I can feel him, somehow. As he reaches the top, he calls out Marik's name. Marik sees his faithful companion standing at the top of the steps. Surprise and delight alight his eyes and Odion calls out to him and the younger twin once again. Malik stirs and looks up to see their adoptive older brother.

''You must not to give up! Both of you! There's still time to fight off the Shadows and the darkness that has attacked you! Please! Malik. Marik.''

''Odion ...'' Malik says. He seems dazed, but still very happy that Odion was okay. Although he was obviously too hurt and tired to move, he started wiggling in his binds, and I saw the determination in his eyes as he looked at his older twin. I knew what he was planing, but my attention was drawn to my opponent as he exclaimed in a horrified voice.

''There's no turning back now!'' Ishizu and Odion looked heartbroken at his words, but Odion wasn't giving up on one of his younger brothers.

Odion talks to him, reminding him of all the fun times they had when they were little, and saying that although he would never give those time up, he was still happy when he followed Marik and Malik. He said that he did miss the two sweet brothers he looked after, but that he never regretted anything he did for the two when the betrayed their heritage and went after me. He even told Marik the truth of what happened on the night their father died and how I had nothing to do with it, how the Millennium Rod called to his darkness because he once played with the sacred Item, even though he wasn't allowed to. He explained that it was because of his father that he actually ended up with an awakened darkness that should have slept until his last day.

Yugi's new friends and the Kaiba brothers were confused at half the things he was saying, and when Ishizu joined in Seto snarled. But they were doing a wonderful job at both distracting him from his younger twin and dissolving even more of the darkness. With each new word, that little thread grew in both length and brigthness and slowly started reconnecting with the rest of the Ishtar family. Except for Malik's. Their threads have yet to reconnect.

So, he still needs a little push.

''No! There's nothing but darkness for us after this duel if I don't defeat the Pharaoh! I won't give up!'' Marik yells and clutches his head in pain. ''I won't even have my own twin brother who I loved more than my own life, and it was all due to my weakness that I have lost him ...'' He whimpers and crutches down, still holding his head.

Suddenly, a pair of tanned arms encircle him from his right and he immediately looks up at the person who was cradling him like one would a scared child. Marik eyes widen and he stares in shock as Malik leans their forehead together, tightening his hug. One of his hands moves up to stroke his older twin's hair as he starts whispering to him. It wasn't too low so I could hear him.

''It's alright. I'm still here. You didn't hurt me, big bro. I'm fine. Odion's fine and so is Ishizu. Look, they're here for us. Like they always are, Marik. They're here for us, for you. I'm here for you, and we both know that the Pharaoh is here for us as well. We both know what kind of soul she has, right?'' A small nod of the spiky, light blond head was his answer and Malik smiled. ''Then we both always knew that she was't the one responsible for what happened to father, and neither were you. The Millennium Items don't like it when they are handled by others other than their rightful wielder, and we both alway knew that that wasn't us when the Millennium Rod was in question, right?'' Another nod. Malik nodded back, even though his brother's head was now buried in his chest, looking like a lost kid. Because that was what he really is.

Ishizu and Odion looked hopeful as Malik slowly stood them both up, still lowly talking with his brother. ''Then you must accept the fact that it was not you who harmed father, but the darkness the Rod awakened. Father hadn't even died from the wounds being lethal, but because they got infected. Odion and Ishizu told me everything. You're not the one at fault. You had protected us all that day, Marik. Father wasn't all that of a great man as we thought him to be, but that doesn't change that he brought us to this world. Although he seems to have thought that it was perfectly fine that he removes us from it as well. Marik, I want you to promise me something, okay?''

Marik bobbed his head. ''Anything, little brother!'' Malik smiled, and I saw tears in Odion and Ishizu's eyes.

''I want you to promise me that you will accept my apology, move on from those thoughts that you are evil and responsible for our father's death, let go of the darkness and forfeit this duel. When that is done, we will beg the Pharaoh for forgiveness and get all those stuck in the shadows back. Do you agree with that?'' Marik looks over to me, then back to Malik, truly whispering into his ear. I couldn't hear what he said, but Malik smiled and the two nodded before turning back to me.

''Attack, Pharaoh! Defeat our shadows and the darkness that haunts us! Please, Pharaoh!'' Both the blond Egyptians yell, and I hear Ishizu sob. I look over to the other two Isthatrs, only to see them standing together by the Kaiba brothers, tears running down both their faces. They nod with new hope in their eyes, and I return the nod. Before I return my attention to the twins now standing on the platform with me, I saw Ishizu and Odion give me a deep bow of thanks.

A small smile makes it's way to my lips.

I look back at the two standing beyond my Dark Magician duo and the third God above them. Marik and he were still fused, but one eye was obviously Malik's, representing the 1 LP they will have after I destroy Ra. I nod at them.

''I activate my magic card, Ragnarok, with Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl. By removing all the monsters in my hand, Deck, and graveyard from play, I can destroy all of my enemy's monsters!''

The spirits of all of my monsters rise onto the field. There's Slifer and Obelisk, Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl, King's Knight and Queen's Knight, and the Magnet Warriors. ALL of my monsters on parade of sorts. They float over and around me, each and every one bowing to me. The spectators all watch, stunned, as my monsters all circle the field, and little Kuriboh sails past them, waving its little arms. He then comes to me and nuzzles my face. I fell nothing but a gush of air created by the hologram 'pressing' to my cheek. But as I close my eyes, it's like I can feel a real harry thing touching me and I give a small giggle. My God Monsters stand on each side of me, although a few steps behind, my Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl doing the same, only in front of me. The rest of my monsters are floating between the two enormous creatures. Above the smaller creatures was the proud Blue-Eyes Whit Dragon, roaring at the only other monster who dared to shine as bright as he does.

''I've never seen anything like this!'' Mokuba tells a stone-faced Seto Kaiba, although I can see just how impressed he actually is right in his eyes.

Slifer wraps its coils around Ra, and Obelisk's huge hand grabs Ra around the neck. Marik and Malik look on, and Marik grunts as the mighty Ra is trapped and Kuriboh peeps at him. The monsters lift Ra off the field. Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl cross their staffs, and a magic circle appears in the sky. A giant ball of dark magic appears between their scepters, and they await the command only their master can now deliver. Only I can deliver. All the other monsters attach themselves to the God Monster and it roars, both in protest and relief at ending this insanity and maybe joining the other two in my Deck.

Marik and Malik nod to me, and I return it.

''Dark Magician! Dark Magician Girl! Go! Finish this!''

The Black Magic Attack hits Ra and he lets out one more mighty roar, but shuts up as my Blue-Eyes comes in front of him, a threatening growl of his own leaving it jaw. I saw Seto smirk off to the side, probably thinking that even a God fears his dragons. Ra, still in the grasp of the other two Gods, is taken into the sky where it disappears into the circle with a great explosion of light. Marik and Malik are no longer visible due to the affects of my card and the attack.

Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl return to my field, dutifully standing in front of me.

The gang cheer, Yugi and Mokuba that I got rid of Ra! Roland looked close to joining them, but seems to be restraining himself.

''Does that mean Yuna won?'' Téa asks and Joey answers. ''Not yet.''

''Marik still has one life point, so the duel's not over.'' Seto informs them.

Yugi, however, seemed relieved, if just a little. I smile at him and he returns it, the pain seeming to fade by the minute.

The smoke clears up and I smile as both Marik and Malik came into my view, supporting each other. Ishizu and Odion let out cheers of pure happiness and delight as the two brothers stand together. Ra was nowhere in sight, the Millennium Rod was on the ground, the Millennium Ring next to it. Both were smiling and for the first time since I met them, ... They looked calm, content with just existing. As they look up at me, tears make their way down their cheeks, but they don't make a single move to wipe them away. They just silently cry together as the darkness of the summoned Shadow Realm slowly dissolves. It won't disappear completely until the duel is over, but it no longer haunts them.

They were going to be just fine. I sigh in relief, knowing that I had made it.

'Now, just to finish this duel!'

''Pharaoh ...'' Malik called me. ''It was only thanks to you that we are fine now, so I thank you.'' I was about to say something, but Marik interjected.

''Pharaoh, I have done many things to you and those friends of your's that I know I will never be able to make up for, but ... It's time I face what is in store for me as a traitor and I shall accept anything you see fit for all of my crimes. But there is still one thing I, ... no, we must do before that. I still have one more life point so the duel is still ongoing.'' There were gasps heard as the audience that has been watching us comment how it can't be that he's thinking about continuing the duel.

However, Marik and Malik's next sentence shut them all up. ''that's why we quit.'' Together, they place a hand over Marik's Deck in his Duel Disk, an official surrender for a duelist. Roland asks them if they are sure, and they nod with determination. The shadows completely disappear along with the duplicates, the bright sunlight shinning on all of us.

''Then, it's official! The last duel of the finals of Battle City has ended! The winer is none other than Yuna Yami Mouto, the Queen of Games and now Duel Queen! She still stands undefeated as the raging Duel Monsters world champion for three years now!'' Roland yells with flare as he points at me. Yugi and Mokub are the first to brust into cheers, quickly followed by all the Ishtars and then Yugi's new friends. Even Seto was clapping with a wide smirk on his face.

I finally relax.

Normal POV

All around the world, gamers, duelists, fans and ordinary people alike cheer as the Queen of Games stays undefeated.

In California, Pegasus' mansion was in danger of falling from all the cheering and celebratory dancing and jumping.

Greece was met with Sasha's and Teresa's hugging the life out of the poor father Yuri Noda as the kids expressed their happiness.

The secret temples in Egypt almost crumble and joined many of their relatives as young Mahad and his little sister Mana celebrated for the victory of their friend.

LME was almost turned into a party house as all the people inside made a giant celebratory party and the talents all played around and danced, sang and played instruments.

The caffe Mew Mew was loud enough to attract anyones attention in at least a 100 miles radios.

India was going deaf at the screams of the excited Mermaid Princesses.

Solomon was happily dancing with his broom around the Kame Game Shop as he laughed.

Julie and Kuu were dancing in circles as they laughed and cheered.

All those who knew her or heard of her were celebrating her victory as if it were their own.

Yuna's POV

I smile at my brother and Mokuba, who had both attached themselves to me the second I stepped off of the dueling platform. Everyone, except the Ishtars and Seto and Roland, was around me, congratulating me.

After a few minutes, Yugi and Mokuba made them to leave me be, and I walked over to Seto. Roland instalntly removed himself from us and went over to Mokuba's side. I chuckle as he and Yugi engage him in a discussion about the duel, completely ignoring the stunned looks the others were giving them

I turn to Seto and smile brightly for him and him alone. I know full well that it was thanks to the card he gave me that I even had a chance to win against Ra and Marik, thus saving him and his twin. If it weren't for Fiend Sanctuary I would have lost the duel a good few turns before I got the chance to play my magic card.

"Seto ... I don't think you even know how much it means to me that you even came to watch my duel, let alone when you helped me with giving me your card. I am quite aware of how rare this card is and I'm sure that you have wished to be the one to use it against Marik. That's why you even had the card with you, isn't it? You have figured out how best to fight against Ra even after Marik's duel with Mai! I must congratulate you on that, my friend."

I take out my deck and go through it as Seto watches me curiously. I stop when I finally found the card I was looking for and take it out, putting the rest of my deck into the holder on my belt.

I extend the card to Seto. "Today's victory wasn't just mine, you know? It was as much yours as it is mine. Without your card, I wouldn't have been able to last long enough to do what I did in the end. The card is yours and so is the victory, Seto. You thought it up before anyone else. You won Seto!"

I was about to say something else while handing over the card, but Seto shook his head and drew me into a tight hug.

Seto's POV

My heart was hammering against my ribcage at every single word Yuna said made me want to wrap her up in my arms and never let go. And so I gave in to the desire. I encircles my arms around her slim form, drawing her to my chest and held her tight. I slowly bury my face in her soft, spiky hair and inhale her scent. When she returned the hug and nozzle my neck, I couldn't stop myself from whispering her name in a shaky voice. The duel has had me on the edge of my nerves the whole thing, seeing as Marik always found new ways to torture his opponents. So to finally see the duel end with her as the victor ... Finally got my nerves to calm down.

But Yuna was wrong with thinking that she wouldn't have won without my help.

''Yuna ... sigh ... You might think that, but I never told you what the card did or how to use it. I may have been the first to think of it, but it's you who is truly amazing, Yuna. You not only trusted me with a card you never even looked at, but you played it without looking. That takes guts, not to mention instincts. It could have been any other card, but you could tell. And then you figured out how to use it to it's fullest in a second. That's to be admire, you know. And I'm the one who should be thanking you.'' I move a bit back to look at her and cup her cheek in my hand. As I lose myself in her eyes, I tell her what I'm truly thankful for. ''You never gave up on me even as I made a bigger ass of myself with every word in our Duel and before that. You stuck up for me and helped me defeat the darkness Gozaboro created in me. All that is left is for me to let go of my hatred for my adoptive father and leave it all behind me. He's gone, KC is mine, Mokuba is safe and I still have you as my friend. It was you who helped me defeat that darkness, Yuna, and for that I will forever be thankful to you. I'm well aware that you'll be leaving after this.''

She looked shocked and tried to explain, but for once I finally understood everything.

''It's okay, I know. And I hope you realize that I'll be waiting for you to come back. Right here in Domino, so please come back one day. One day, when you are ready to share all your secrets and adventures with me. I don't know from where so many of your passions come from, and I would like to everything about you one day. And for you to know everything about me as well. One day, in our future. Don'think even for a moment that I'll allow you to escape my life or for you to forget me. I'll make Kaiba Corp. even better, so that one day I can show you everything that I can do. Deal? One day.''

She looked sad as she averted her eyes to out boots. ''I'm sorry, Seto. But I really wish to fulfill my parents wish, but I will come back one day! And, if I'm ready on that day ... I'll tell you everything. Even my biggest secret. But you must promise to keep it, even if you decide to no longer even talk to me.''

I was startled by her thinking that I would ever want to stop being her friend, I even wanted to more than just friends! But, what could this secret be if she thought that I'd be angry or upset enough to no longer even talk to her? Now I was curious. But the look on her face, even if it wasn't facing me fully at the moment, made me promise her in a joking tone. ''So, that means you'll come back? Then you have my word to keep whatever secrets you tell me a secret, but you have to promise the same, right?''

I lift her face up by hooking my fingers under her chin, and when she looked at me my heart melted at the happy, yet still sad look in her majestic rubies. I draw her into me chest again and rest my chin on the top of her head. I place a small kiss there as I tell her the words that are the closest I dare to say to my true feelings. ''Yuna, I will always be there, beside you whenever you need me. And even when you don't! You will always be my friend, just as I will always be yours, even if you sometime in the future decide that you no longer want to be that. I would always cling to our memories and that would and will be the only past I will always remember. There's nothing in this world that could make want to stop being your friend, Yuna. Even you.''

I felt a single tear wet my shirt and I tightened my grip on her. She fisted my coat in her hands and nuzzled my neck, and I heard a muffled ''Thank you'' that made me smile. After she calmed down, she stepped out of my arms, but didn't move far. It's only then that I noticed that Mokuba, Yugi and Roland had moved everyone to the other side of the platform so we don't have an audience.

I look down and see the card that once used to be mine. I place my hand over it as Yuna once again tries to offer it back.

''Seto?'' Yuna titled her head in confusion, and I had to resist to kiss those soft lips. I've come to realize just how deep my feelings are for my rival when I though Ra had seriously hurt her during the duel. And the second I realized the depth, I could name the emotion. It was still not that mature, but it was there. And I knew what it was.

I was in love with my rival.

I'm not still ready to say it out loud, let alone to her, but I have hope that I will get a chance to tell her one day.

''This card is now yours, Yuna. I gave the Fiend Sanctuary because I wanted you to have it, even after the duel. A thank you gift for helping me. Also, if you keep it, I'll take it as you promising officially that you'll come back to Domino!'' I tell her with a wide smile, and I'm sure my eyes were twinkling.

Yuna laughs, and I enjoy the beautiful sound. ''Then, I believe I'll take this Fiend Sanctuary, my Card Prince. Now, lets go wrap this up, right?''

I nod and the two of us slowly make our way to the Ishtars for Yuna to take her card. Malik, Marik and Odion all apologized to both Yuna and me, then to the geeks. Marik handed the Winged Dragon of Ra over to Yuna, and then Malik did the same with the Millennium Rod and Ring. ''All your fiends should be awake by now. The effects of the Millennium Rod have been removed, and you now have four Items, my Pharaoh. The time has come for us to revel to you your destiny!'' Malik said and both he and Marik took of their shirts. On their backs were twin tattoos of the Millennium Puzzle and the God cards around it. Hieroglyphics were written in columns around the main picture and Ishizu was about to start explaining, but Yuna stopped her by telling Marik and Malik to put their shirts back on.

''I'm sorry to inform you of this, but I already know very well about what I must do one day. And even if I didn't, I wouldn't go to fulfill it right now. I still wish to live my life, form my own dreams and have my own family, you know? But I'll make you a deal. You guys will take these,'' she said and handed them the Rod and Necklace as they stared at her in stunned confusion,and a little fear.''And you shall guard them for a few more years. But, I will have Pegasus and Seto build you a normal house right above the entrance of the tomb you are guarding. You can live a normal life, you can do whatever you want as long as no one knows where that tomb is. You can even live outside of Egypt but you must visit the tomb once in six months. That's all I'm asking.''

There was stunned, hopeful, happy silence between them as Yugi, Mokuba and I stood a little behind Yuna.

''My Pharaoh ... That's really too much, especially with how we treated you with such disrespect! It is really fine, I'll just stay underground for all of us-'' Marik started protesting but Yuna cut him off.

''You have all suffered enough. 5000 years of darkness is quite enough. If I have to, I will make it an order that you live your lives to their fullest under those conditions, and only for yourselves, but for every Ishtar! Is that clear?'' The four siblings looked ready to cry, but they nodded anyway and bowed in gratitude.

I look to the geeks and tell them to go down and check on their friends, then move to the helicopter that had came and go home in that. ''You have 15 minutes till detonation. Yuna, Mokuba, lets go. See later, losers and Yugi.''

15 min. later ...

As my island explodes behind us, Mokuba cheers and waves to the group oh the helicopter as we pass them from my new Blue-Eyes jet. Yuna had joined him when she saw Mai, Ryou and Bakura finally awake, although Ryou was eating a banana while Bakura had obviously snatched some of the leftover meat from the banquet at choosing the opponents during the semifinals. Yugi was beside waving excitedly.

''You ready?''

''Yeah!'' Mokuba yelled and Yuna just nodded.

''Then hold on tight! Yuna has a plane to catch!'' I hit the gas and we speed of in the direction of Domino City airport, the little helicopter soon lost out of sight behind us.