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

37. Chapter 37 What family problems cause

The Big 5 laugh, telling the gang that their chances of survival are zero! It's only a matter of time before the Big 5 are freed from their virtual prison. Kaiba and Joey both make some threats, telling the Big 5 they're going down, when a hole opens up in the floor under Joey, and he falls! Serenity calls after her brother, but before anyone can help, the floor seals back up and Joey's gone. The Big 5 say that before the dueling begins, they plan to separate the gang, and another hole opens up beneath Téa's feet. Next goes Serenity, and when Duke and Tristan run to her aid, the hole opens wider and they fall, too. Mokuba runs to Kaiba, and the two of them fall together, then finally Yugi.

Everyone falls through a vortex of colored light. Mokuba clings to his brother, and Kaiba says to not worry, they'll pay for this. "Big 5, how dare you do this to me!"

The five geezers laugh as the Duel Queen was left all alone in front of them, but shut up when she starts clapping. Noah, who was also very smug with his little victory, only then realized that the reincarnated Pharaoh was still there and not in the virtual pods that were in the room underneath.

''Bravo! You almost got me! But need I remind you that I am the Queen of Games? This is a game of sorts, and believe me when I say that there is no game that can stop me. I am quite sure that I understand a part of the situation, but not the whole thing. However, let me warn you. I will find out what is going on here. And should any of my friends be hurt ... You'll wish you just stayed dead!''

The Big 5 had never known how to deal with this girl, since she was both similar and oh so different from Seto, so they were lost as to how to reply. Noah, however, was insulted that the girl thought that she could outwit him and tried to get her to fall through the hole in the floor and land into a virtual pod. But Yuna just stepped aside like it was just a dance move, graceful with every dodge.

''ARGH! Just stay still!'' Noah finally yelled, and surprisingly enough, Yuna stopped. The boy wasn't ready for the intensity in the eyes that had a fire of their own burning in their endless depths as Shadows danced there. She knew that only Seto, and very rarely not even him, could stand the ferocity of her eyes when she was extremely angry. Like now. The Big 5 took a step back from the girl that had always been able to pull out a miracle, no matter what she did, since they had never seen this before. The girl was a real enigma, all the more so after she returned to Domino after being away for four years. She had changed a lot from the little girl that had took their old boss down, and became a lot more ... what? A lot more what?

They really didn't know, but this was not good for them. That's for sure!

The defiant stare she leveled at them all made them want to sink to their knees in front of this leather-clad goddess. She looked like royalty to the point they truly thought kingly blood ran through her veins.

Oh, if only they knew!

''How about this? I will play along with this little virtual reality game of yours, but you must promise to let us leave if we beat you. I am well aware that there is more of us, but dueling us all will also be unfair. If you agree that you are not to duel Mokuba and the others who are not duelists, I will willingly participate in this 'game' of yours."

Noah was still not convinced about what the girl was saying. "And why do you think you participating is so important?" He already suspected the answer, but wanted to confirm it.

Yuna raised an eyebrow. "I am Seto Kaiba's only rival. If you want him to take you and your game seriously, you will need me to do the same first."

The Big 5 and Noah were annoyed that it was true and they couldn't change that fact. Noah grunted and mumbled "Fine!" And with that, Yuna gracefully slipped out of the room and into the tunel like her friends have done before.

Noah was now really interested in the girl who is called the world's heartthrob. She really is different from anyone else, and he couldn't stop himself from wanting to test all of her abilities.

00000

Joey is the first to come to, lying on the ground outside a huge mansion. Téa finds herself in a rugged canyon, and Serenity's on the shore of a quiet lake. Duke and Tristan wake in a long, wood-paneled hallway, wondering where Serenity is.

Kaiba and Mokuba are lying on a pathway in the middle of a forest, Kaiba's arm across his little brother's back. Mokuba comes to first, asking his brother if he's all right.

Watching them on one of many digitally projected screens surrounding him, Noah sits in a high-tech-looking chair, reflecting that he has them right where he wants them—each one isolated in his virtual world. He wonders who should be the first to suffer, then decides who better than the infamous Yuna Yami and her brother Yugi Mutou!

On a separate screen he watched as the Duel Queen slowly comes to her senses. It was incredible to him how someone could be graceful even when just waking up. He didn't care about little Yugi's duel with Gansley, former Vice President of Business Strategy at Kaiba Corp, who's now taken the form of the Deep Sea Warrior. Nor did he care about the others roaming around his virtual world. This girl was just something different. For some unexplainable reason, he was drawn to her. And one thing he was sure of was that Seto was, too.

Noah grinned cruelly. ''What better way to break you Seto, other than taking away from you all that you treasure! I think I'll start with your bright Yuna[Light of Hope] and break her!''

00000

Yuna didn't know where she was, but she didn't really care. All she knew was that she had to find her friends and brother, especially Seto. This Noah was somehow connected to Seto's days from before she met him, and that was no fun time for the Kaiba brothers. She didn't know how, but she was determinated to find out.

She was confused as to why she was in the middle of what could only be Vienna from Mozart's or Beethoven's time. For a second, Yuna wondered if she was in one of her visions, but dismissed it when she saw that she had a violin in her hands. She was quite a sight, a girl with three-colored, spiked hair, angled crimson eyes and wearing all leather with a Duel Disk on her arm, with a violin in her hands. And on the other end of the street was none other than Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart himself in a red traditional outfit for that time. His white, curled wig was swaying in the wind as the passerby all moved out of the way as music started playing.

It was one of his classics, and too bad for Noah that she knew the original as well as Mozart himself had known it! She put the bow over the strings and started playing rapidly, the copy of Mozart barely keeping up. She knew the song by heart, so she could easily speed up to the point her fingers were a blur, and that had Noah gawking in shock through one of his screens.

He had wanted to test her every skill, and the Big 5 had told him that she was a musical protégé. And, wow, they weren't kidding! Yuna was easily outdoing a recording of one of the best musicians in the history of music, defeating the computers perfect memory as the copy went into overdrive and literally broke down. Noah was very good at the violin himself, but this girl was quite something! He grit his teeth, finally understanding why Seto worked so hard to defeat her, and realized that he will have to up his game quite a bit in order to best her.

00000

Although he had somehow defeated Gansley, it had still been quite hard. He had done his best to copy his sister's deck, with small adjustments here and there, but he couldn't pull off all the same strategies Yuna could.

He had had problems when he had accidentally chose Kuriboh for his Deck Master, but let it stay since it helped Yuna so many times.

The duel had been though, but he had manged.

00000

Meanwhile, Serenity's standing on a dock, watching swans swim around on the lake, saying this place might not be so bad after all. The breeze blows in her hair, and when one of the swans takes flight, it splashes cold water on her. Kneeling down to put her hand in the water, she wonders how she can feel anything, since everything here is a virtual illusion. It feels so real! Then dark clouds begin to move in, and she doesn't want to be alone any more. She has to find Joey!

00000

Joey is walking down a broad stairway inside the mansion, wondering how he got there. The last thing he remembers is "scaring" the Big 5. In frustration, he shouts challenges to the Big 5 to come out and face him! He whirls, thinking someone's behind him, but it's only a suit of armor. Embarrassed, he threatens the armor.

He was just glad that Mai, Yuna and Serenity weren't there to see him embarrasse himself. Oh, and Kaiba, too! He was sure that the jerk would have had fieldtrip from mocking him.

00000

Duke and Tristan are running down the hallway, calling for Serenity. Duke thinks all this running is getting them nowhere, but Tristan says he's not stopping until he finds her, and runs on, Duke following after.

00000

Kaiba and Mokuba walk down a path through the woods. Mokuba says he knows the Big 5 want to use them to escape the virtual world, but what about Noah? Who is he, and what does he want? Kaiba doesn't know, but he guesses that Noah wants what's his, just like everybody else!

''What's bothering me is how Noah built this virtual universe—there's no way he could have done it on his own. This virtual world has all the same coding like the one I created years ago!''

Mokuba suggests that the Big 5 helped him, but Kaiba says they couldn't pull this off. ''Someone else is involved, and I'll find them!''

Mokuba nods, running off to help. He stops and looks at his brother. Seto comes to stand next to him, thinking about how they were actually quite vulnerable, separated like this. He was really worried about Yuna, and Mokuba could see it as clear as day. He wanted to avert Seto's attention from depressing and worrisome thoughts. Mokuba starts out saying that this virtual world is pretty real, and Kaiba says it's just a copy of his Solid Vision. Mokuba asks who Noah is, and Kaiba says the mobile fortress and the virtual world aren't things a kid can make by himself, or the Big 5, either. He supposes there must be some other source backing them, in an attempt to take over Kaiba Corporation. Mokuba asks if they can escape, and Kaiba tells him not to worry, he knows the essentials of the system. There has to be an emergency exit somewhere. It might look like a door or a window.

Mokuba just nods and runs ahead, knowing that his brother will continue being distant until they find the Game Queen.

Seto felt bad about worrying his little brother like that, but he was right next to him, unlike Yuna who was who knows where! Seto just hopped that his brother will understand.

00000

Duke and Tristan finally stop running, gasping for breath. Tristan says they need a new plan, but Duke protests that the hallway was obviously built to go on forever. They won't find a way out, because the virtual hallway doesn't have one. Tristan says if there's no exit, they'll make one. He takes an axe from a suit of armor in the hallway, and gives the wall a good whack.

00000

Wandering through the canyon, Téa calls out, but no one answers.

Then she hears a noise, and sees a monster on the hillside. Suddenly, the hills are crawling with monsters. She tries to back away, but steps on a loose rock, alerting the monsters to her presence. They attack, and one of them throws a weapon which lands near her, kicking up rocks, one of which hits her in the face. The rock leaves a small cut on her face, making her wince.

Téa runs, but suddenly a Cyclops looms before her!

00000

Kaiba and Mokuba are still walking along the path. Mokuba sees a door ahead of them, and runs towards it, saying it's probably an emergency exit back to the real world. Kaiba runs after him, warning him to stop. He opens the door, but all they can see is a bright light. Then they see a large building, surrounded by an iron gate. Mokuba recognizes it—it's the orphanage where they grew up. He didn't know it was still around. But Kaiba says it's a trick.

''A cheap virtual illusion, like everything else. But how did Noah find out they once lived there?'' Kaiba curses Noah for designing the orphanage into his virtual world, saying the kid has nasty hobbies.

00000

Noah looks on from his command station, saying he's glad he hired Gansley to do his dirty work. Then he checks on the others. Serenity and Joey are still wandering alone in their parts of the virtual world, while Téa's being carried off by the Hitotsume Giants. Duke and Tristan are both trying to break through the wall of the endless hallway with axes.

''And the Kaiba brothers have had a little run-in with their past.'' He said with sick amusement.

It was then that he returned his attention to the Duel Queen, who was currently competing with a clone Einstein in physics and mathematics. She was beating the damn computer once again and he let out a low wistle.

''If she continues like this, I'll end up destroying all my programs ... Hm ...'' He mumbled to himself as he watched the copy of the scientist crumble to the virtual ground in the virtual lab. '' ... Maybe a painter would do better?'' He wondered and quickly chose a famous Spanish painter, Salvador Dali.

''He should do ... for now.''

00000

Mokuba stares at the orphanage, saying he'd hoped he'd never have to see this place again. Kaiba repeats that it's just a virtual illusion. But for Mokuba, it still brings back bad memories.

Seto frowns, but couldn't say anything. This was a really touchy subject and the had never discussed it without Yuna there. For some reaso, his rival's presence made it more bearable for the both of the brothers.

Mokuba was too lost in thought as memories rush to the front of his mind. He thinks of the two of them as small children, clinging to each other in a spotlight, surrounded by shadowy adult figures, then sees himself and his brother standing at the entrance to the orphanage, and he asks why they got sent there in the first place.

Kaiba explains that after their parents disappeared, there was no one left to take care of them. Mokuba says he'll never forget the day they arrived there—it was the worst day of his life. Mokuba recalls that his mother was already dead, and then his father died in an accident, too. Their relatives came just for the bequest from his father, and sent the brothers to the orphanage.

They hear a voice saying "Welcome, boys," and turn around to see themselves, as children, at the gate, with two of the orphanage officials.

''Somehow, Noah was able to tap into their memories and replay images from their past.'' Seto thought out loud.

''Very perceptive.'' they hear Noah's voice say. He tells them to enjoy the trip down memory lane.

Next, they see young Mokuba sitting on a swing, in a playground all alone. Other happy children in the playground were with their parents, playing and laughing. Just looking at it broke Mokuba's heart, but he was comforted by Seto's hand ruffling his hair.

Mokuba remembers that on their first day at the orphanage, he sat in the swing all day long. But how could Noah have known that? Mokuba was alone. The only one who knew—the only one who cared—was Seto. Mokuba remembers that he had been thinking of the happy times they'd spent with their mother and father. The young boy's heart twisted in his small chest.

The scene changes to sunset, and young Mokuba is still in the swing.

Young Seto goes up to him, calling him "Mokie," asking how he is. Young Seto tells his brother to cheer up—they have to make the most of this place. Seto says to Mokuba, "Let's go back."The two brothers go for a walk, and young Mokuba says he misses their mom and dad. It's not fair that they left them there all alone! Young Seto tells his brother not to cry.

''There's only one way we're going to get through this. We have to get tough. Emotions will only get in the way of our survival. We can't expect anyone to help them ever again. We're on our own now.''

Young Mokuba says, "I'm sorry, Nii-sama. I thought I could turn back time to when Dad was alive if I went to the park where we used to play."

Young Seto only says, "Mokuba, don't cry any more. I know how you feel. We're not stray dogs or rubbish. Don't worry about those people who made us like this. I'll make sure you can live happily. From now on, I'll be your father. I'll protect you no matter what. So stop crying." Then he adds, "Listen—always be on your guard. You'll be finished if you show any weakness."

Present-day Mokuba says he guesses that was Kaiba's idea of a pep talk—thanks a lot! He looked at his brother from the corner of his eye, so much changed by the adults and most of all by Gozaboro that the only traces of his old Nii-sama are usually seen only when they are alone or in Yuna's presence. Mokuba sadly says, "That's brother's cliché."

Present-day Kaiba just stares grimly ahead.

00000

Noah smiles, thinking that this is just the beginning of his torture!

But the smile disappeared as the clone Dali starts getting glitches from his competition with the dueling champion.

''What will it take to defeat this she devil!?'' He exclaims as the copy explodes.

He was getting sick of this! So he sent her to the hippodrome for a horse race. From what he was told, he thought, was sure of it even, that Yuna didn't know how to ride a horse.

Well, he sure as hell hoped so!

00000

Next, the brothers see themselves in a classroom playing chess. Young Seto says checkmate, and young Mokuba exclaims that his brother won again! And in just five moves this time. Young Seto crosses his arms, looking terribly pleased with himself. Young Mokuba says Seto's the best chess player in the world! Young Seto says Mokuba would be the best, if he'd just concentrate.

00000

They start another game, while Noah watches, saying to himself that these visions must be painful to watch. It's just what he needs to destroy Seto Kaiba once and for all. Kaiba's empire will be his!

"Seto, the borderline between reality and dreams is imprecise. Even so, people still struggle to use their memories as a springboard to raise themselves higher. At best, it depends on the signals of blurry memories. You, who are moved by such emotions, are not qualified to be the successor of Kaiba Corporation. It should be me, who is more outstanding than you. I'll make you understand this."

Yet, as he watched Yuna ridding that white mere, he was plugged with his own memories of long forgotten times.

This girl will be the death of him, yet he couldn't help but wish that he could ride beside the leather-clad girl.

00000

Young Seto and Mokuba are distracted from their game by a news item on the classroom's television.

'My brother often used to play with me. But since that day, the smile on his face was gone. Since that man came...' Mokuba sadly thought.

he TV announcer says that once again Gozaburo Kaiba has retained his title as the world's greatest chess champion. But the business tycoon has a heart of gold—he's shown donating a portion of his winnings to a local orphanage. Kaiba looks on, frowning, thinking that that was the day that changed his life forever—the day he met his stepfather for the first time.

'From that moment, I've kept proceeding according to plan, and have never stopped.'

Now, the brothers see a limousine pull up in front of the orphanage, and Gozaburo Kaiba gets out, greeted by a row of obsequious orphanage officials. Mokuba exclaims that it's him! And Kaiba reminds him that it's just a cheap virtual projection—because he's long gone.

Yet Seto still said "Kaiba... Gozaburo" in a very chilling voice. Seto hated his last name, yet he didn't allow people to call him by his first name, only a selected few got that privilege. It was supposed to be just Mokuba and Hobson, but before he knew it, a girl with so much light came into his dark life and brought hope. Yuna. He had never hoped for anything after the death of his parents, only focusing on taking care of Mokuba and making sure that they always stay together, yet the day came and everything changed. That day when he saw Yuna's red eyes for the first time, he had felt an instant connection to the fiery girl. Her courage, skill, intellect and personality always made him question things he thought that he was right about, and she slowly (very slowly) changed his view of the world and of life. Gozaboro had been doing his damn best to destroy all that makes one human, a child that he was, in Seto, and he had been very close to succeeding, too. But Yuna Yami Mouto came unexpectedly, an unstoppable force met an unmovable object ...

And the force won.

The icy walls around Seto's slowly freezing heart and hurting soul started melting, and before he knew it he started caring for someone other than his little brother. Yuna slowly worked her way deep into his heart, slowly melting it and warming him from the inside, and once she settled in the deepest part of his heart where only Mokuba resided ... She stayed there and never left. He kept clinging to her without even knowing it or why he did so. He only knew that he didn't want her to leave. And from the day he accepted that they are tied together by something he couldn't understand, he allowed her to change him almost completely.

To everyone else, Yuna was a celebrity, an unreachable person well beyond the clouds ... Reaching for the stars ... But, to Seto Yuna was so much more. The Queen of Games had always reached out to him, inviting him to touch the stars with her. The could only reach and touch them together ... Just like Hobson had said all those years ago.

Now, Seto relayed on Yuna to keep the darkness away, to stay his friend. And Yuna trusted Seto with her most trusted secret and weakness, expecting him to guard it.

When they first started trusting each other, they hadn't even known each other. To him, she was an enigma that dared to stand up to anyone, even him and his stepfather, for what she believed in and her family. However, back then there were so many secrets that he hadn't known about. Yet he trusted her and promised himself that he would learn what that secret and mystery that surrounded here were. And now he knew what secret she had been hiding. And for her, he was her first friend that stayed by her without knowing that secret, yet she trusted him.

They had built a great friendship on that trust, not even stopped by their fierce rivalry. In fact, it only got stronger from it!

And Seto didn't want to lose it because some green-haired brat thinks that he is responsible for who knows what!

Mokuba saw that his brother was thinking about his rival, and knew that he should hope that Yuna was alright. Now he could hope. Yuna had given his brother and him that ability back after so much time of not having it at all. Now they can hope, knowing that a Light of Hope exists.

They watch Gozaburo and one of the officials walk by, Gozaburo saying that he doesn't want any of these brats touching him! The door to the classroom opens, and young Seto and Mokuba come out. Young Seto tells his brother that that guy is their ticket out of there.

"Today is the day I'll keep my promise." Little Seto says. "That guy is the president of Kaiba Corporation. We should become his adopted children. He'll adopt us for sure. I'll make him."

As Gozaburo returns from handing out presents to some of the children, young Seto steps out and greets him, challenging Gozaburo to a game of chess. If he wins, Gozaburo must adopt Seto and Mokuba. Gozaburo laughs—no one beats him at chess! What makes Seto think he can win? Young Seto says he never loses, either. Gozaburo says Seto's got confidence, but he's a busy man. Then Seto threatens to tell the newspapers that Gozaburo's scared of a kid, and Gozaburo gives in.

''One match, one chance only.''

Seto begins by saying, "Please adopt my little brother and me," repeating it when Gozaburo asks "What?"

"Of course, there should be conditions," young Seto says. First, he'll beat Gozaburo at chess. Gozaburo laughs, saying Seto's an interesting child, but it would be too difficult for him to be adopted that way—Gozaburo's a six-time world champion, and it's impossible to beat him. Seto says there's no such thing as impossible. Gozaburo says you can't win chess by luck, and Seto says it doesn't matter. Will he take the challenge? Gozaburo says Seto looks brave, and accepts the challenge. But he warns Seto he won't go easy on him.

"That's my wish," says Seto.

Present-day Kaiba says it was pretty impressive for a six-year-old.

Mokuba asks what made him so sure he could beat Gozaburo, and Kaiba says it's simple. ''My desire to win was far greater than Gozaburo's. I had nothing to lose, and everything to gain, while it was just a game to Gozaburo.''

''On that day, you had already decided what you were going to do.'' Mokuba realizes.

''Of course. I'd studied all of the books about Gozaburo, including what would be in his mind as he took the challenge. It was under my control. And ever since that day, it has always been under my control. Gozaboro was living in an illusion that he was controlling me, but he had managed to start changing me ...'' Seto grimly trailed off, but Mokuba knew what was the ending of that statement.

''Until Yuna came and showed me how to enjoy life again.''

Young Seto begins the game with pawn to E3—Gozaburo's usual opening move. Seto explains that he's studied all of Gozaburo's games, thinking that he used the same game as Gozaburo, but of course he set traps at the same time. The two play intently, young Mokuba looking on worriedly, until Seto says "Checkmate." Gozaburo is stunned that Seto could have beaten him. Seto tells Gozaburo he must keep his promise to adopt them.

Present-day Kaiba says that was the day he took control of his future. Mokuba says it was also the day Kaiba stopped calling him "Mokie." Mokuba glares through the window at the scene in the classroom, as Kaiba says if it wasn't for him, they never would have escaped that rathole. He turned their lives around that day!

'That moment... if Brother hadn't beaten Gozaburo... the smile on Brother's face wouldn't have disappeared for so long.' Mokuba loved his brother, and it had been heartbreaking that his Nii-sama no longer saw the beauty in life. He could only thank the stars that Yuna had arrived when she did. He feared that if Yuna had arrived just a few days late, Seto would have been irreversibly permanently damaged. She had became his rival, then friend and ... Light of Hope.

He feared what would happen to Seto should something severe the connection the two had formed, destroying their relationship, whatever it was.

But even with Yuna there, and extinguishing most of the darkness, Seto was still too much changed by Gozaboro to once again be that boy he was before it all happened.

Mokuba runs for the door of the classroom. Kaiba orders him to come back, but Mokuba says he liked the way it was before. At least back then, Kaiba actually smiled once in a while!

''Wait ... '' Seto reaches out with his hand to his otouto (little brother).

"If the past can still be changed, I want Brother to be the one who always wore a smile." Mokuba says with determination.

Kaiba urges Mokuba to get a grip—Noah's using these illusions to turn them against each other. ''Calm down! We're not in the past. It's an illusion made by Noah!''

But Mokuba wasn't listening, actually forgetting where they were. Mokuba opens the door and steps in—and falls. Beyond the door, there's nothing but a huge chasm. Kaiba catches his brother's arm just in time to keep him from plunging into the chasm. The little boy was now clinging to his older brother, wondering how he could have been so stupid to worry Seto like that.

00000

Yuna was beyond annoyed now!

In the past who-knows-how-much time, Noah had been sending her clones of historical celebrities to challenge in everything and anything he could think of! And it was getting really annoying!

It was only getting worse when he turned from skill competitions to physical ones. She had had to race on a horse, motorcycle, bicycle, camel, a boat, a plane, run a marathon, sword-fight in every category, fight martial artists in every martial art, then in a combined arts competition. Then she had to throw the spear, compete in archery and wrestling, finishing it all off with chess against a super computer. Really anything Noah could think of!

Now, she was stuck in a game show, playing against the greatest minds and even computers for the top prise. She was in the lead, since she could easily answer any question, no matter what it is about. Her dreams are a really handy thing concerning game shows, since they show her everything about something, so she knows even the smallest details about it.

''Stefan Nemanja #Стефан Немања#(1113 – 13 February 1199), the Grand Prince (Veliki Župan) of the Serbian Grand Principality (also known as Rascia) from 1166 to 1196. had three sons. What are their names?'' The question was on the board, and it was the Duel Queen's turn.

Yuna sighed. ''Vukan Nemanjić - Prince of Doclea and briefly Grand Prince of Rascia. Stefan Nemanjić - Nemanja's successor, first King of All Serbian lands, 1196–1228. Rastko Nemanjić (Saint Sava) (1171–1236) - The first archbishop and saint of the Serbian Orthodox Church.''

''Correct!'' Came the robotic reply.

Yuna was bored out of her mind as points were added to her point counter. As the other ''contestants'' answered their questions, Yuna let her mind wonder. She knew that she was purposely separated from the others, but that didn't explain why she had to do these silly things. At least she got time to think about the situation.

Noah knew an awful lot about some of her skills, but not all. He knew mostly about things from before Duelist Kingdom, while she still went to school with Seto and Yugi. Sure, he had a lot of information about her of the time ever since then, but it was just that. Information, not knowledge. Information can easily be found on the Internet or in all those magazines, but he knew details of the time she was still in primary school, so how was it that he relayed on the Internet for the rest of the information? It couldn't be that the Big 5 had told him about her, since they had saw her four-five times, the most. No, knowing her skills could only come from someone telling him personally, someone that had witnessed her reverting a hopeless situation to her victory.

There's only so much people who had seen her do something that is thought impossible from a closer distance than in the Dueling arena. And she knew that there's no way that any of her old friends would talk about it without her permission. So, it could be some of her old enemies.

'It could have been one of those guys that had kidnapped me when I was little?' Yuna thought, leaning on her fist as she supported her weight on the table in front of her. 'After all, they saw quite a few times the extent to what I can do before kidnapping me. Although, I doubt it, since my personal life is too much interesting to the press and if those two, my kidnappers, escaped from prison, it would've been all over the news, so no. Maybe that kid that had challenged me to a violin playing contest the week before I left for medical school? Nah! He doesn't know enough about me for this. And it can't be anyone from school or any of my colleges. Hm ... Maybe that guy that had challenged me with his fake Excalibur because Gozaboro was pissed at me for humiliating him on the street? No, he's in prison as well since he had tried to kill not only me, but also Gozaboro's adopted sons ... Wait!' Realization dawned on her. ''No, it couldn't be!''

Yuna knew that she had to hurry and reach Seto as soon as possible.

Noah was not just who he appeared to be!

00000

Meanwhile, Duke and Tristan are still chopping away at the wall of the hallway, when they finally break through onto a high deck outside the castle walls. Duke says they're still trapped, a hundred feet in the air outside some virtual castle in the middle of nowhere. Tristan says at least they're outside. ''So quit complaining and let's go find—''

They hear a scream. Serenity is running from a dinosaur on the grounds below. Tristan leaps from the parapet and lands on the dinosaur's back, covering its eyes. As Duke comes to lead Serenity to safety, the dinosaur runs wild, charging into a lake with Tristan still on its back. Tristan emerges to find Serenity thanking Duke for being so brave, much to his frustration.

00000

Téa's cyclops captors drop her on the ground in a cave, their single red eyes glowing.

She wakes with drops of water falling on her face, and finds herself on a rock shelf at the bottom of a huge pit, with her cyclops captors below. She remembers the flower she tried to touch, only to have her hand pass right through it, and wonders why her face hurts. This world is supposed to be all an illusion, but now it feels a little too real.

Téa forces herself to her hands and knees, urging her friends to hang on, wherever they are.

The cyclops are boiling a big cauldron of water. Téa thinks she'd better get out of there, before she becomes Téa soup! But how can she get out of the pit? Just then, someone throws a thick vine down to her. A shadow looms at the top of the pit, then she sees a penguin waving down at her.

00000

Joey is still wandering around the castle, shouting at the Big 5 to come out and show their faces.

00000

Kaiba, meanwhile, is still holding up a dangling Mokuba by one arm. The door Mokuba stepped through leads to a sharp cliff face, with crashing waters far below. Kaiba pulls him up, and they find themselves perched on top of a cliff above the sea. Kaiba says this place is more dangerous than he thought. ''Somehow, Noah's accessed virtual software that can replicate the sensation of touch.''

He shouts out to Noah that he won't get away with this! But Noah, watching from his control center, says Seto has a lot to learn. Mokuba says he thought they had the latest virtual software, but this place feels way more real—if his brother hadn't caught him, he doesn't know what would have happened! Tearfully, he thanks his brother.

''This place is really shitty, Nii-sama! At least your virtual reality system had safeguards that prevented harm to people. But this place doesn't seem to have any safeguards. I just hope the others are alright!''

Kaiba says Noah doesn't know who he's up against, and calls out another challenge. ''There's a dangerous atmosphere about this place.'' He wonders what Noah wants, and shouts out that if Noah wants to tell him something, he should come out and say it.

Noah just smiles.

Then Kaiba tells Mokuba that no matter what they see, Mokuba must realize that the past is over. Kaiba says he may not br proud of every decision he's made, but everything he did, he did for Mokuba and himself, so they'd have a better life. Now, they must move forward and not look back.

''We must continue on our road and not look back. Even in this kind of reality, the most important things don't change.'' Seto told his little brother with a small smile and Mokuba returned it with a nod. He knew that everything will be alright, now.

Yuna had been more successful than he thought all those years ago.

A much bigger part of his brother had recovered that day, and Gozaboro's influence was like a mosquito bite in comparison!

The two brothers walk off and away from the cliff.

00000

Téa climbs up the vine, wondering who it is that's saving her. Then the cyclops see her, and begin shaking their clubs at her. She climbs faster.

Téa manages to climb out of the pit. But the cyclops are climbing after her. She runs, but soon comes to a cliff, with only a rickety-looking rope and log bridge spanning the chasm below. She doesn't like the looks of it, but there's no other way to escape. She sure could use her friends right about now! Then she remembers the Happy Face o' Friendship she drew on their hands, and realizes that her friends are with her. They formed a bond of friendship that can never be broken, and she can feel them cheering her on.

She steps onto the bridge. But she's only half way across when the cyclops reach the bridge, and when they step onto it, their heavy weight begins to tear the ropes. She goes on as quickly as she can, but soon the bridge gives under their weight. Fortunately, she's able to cling to one end as the cyclops plunge into the chasm below. Then she starts to climb what's left of the bridge to the other side of the chasm.

00000

Yuna was really getting frustrated!

A game show was one thing, but the Spelling bee was a whole another!

She had a feeling that she's gonna slap Noah if she sees him right after she finishes this.

00000

Noah sits in his control center, saying that Yugi is stronger than he thought as he watches the little kid run off to find his friends. Or perhaps the Big 5 don't have the dueling skills they claimed to have. He'll just have to see how the others fare in the coming duels.

He turns to the other screen only to see the boy's older sister destroy a few more copies and sighs, annoyed.

He really couldn't believe that the girl is so skilled, but he had been warned.

He decides that a different game was to be next.

"Yuna... the one who defeated Kaiba and Pegasus. It will be troublesome if you exhaust yourself. Let me prepare a maze for you." He cackled madly as the Game Queen walks into a giant maze that he was sure she couldn't solve.

00000

After escaping from the cyclops, Téa climbs the broken suspension bridge to the top of the chasm.

00000

Noah was not really interested to watch the friendship girl duel so he focused his attention on the Kaiba brothers, Yugi and ,the most interesting, Yuna. The girl was now in a language competition with different countrymen that oh just happened to be politicians, writers and two popes. He didn't know what to think about how the girl continuously won every challenge and didn't make any mistakes while doing so. It was like she was the very embodiment of perfection, and that was the thing.

Nothing was perfect.

Yet, here's this girl that's trying to prove that belief, that FACT, wrong.

It was actually quite funny to see all those 'famous and powerful' men be defeated by a little girl. But if she escaped, he'd have a lot more problems! He was glad that the maze was finally finished and that Yuna was going to be transported to it in seconds.

''It'll take more than that to stop that girl.'' A voice from somewhere behind the young boy made him jump. ''She's far too unpredictable even for the most predictable things. And that's why Seto truly respects her! But if you want her respect, you will have to defeat her. I don't know how that boy got it, but Seto did and now, he has an unstoppable force on his side. But she is still only human. She will make a mistake, and you will be there to use the opportunity!''

Noah lowered his head. ''If only you had told me to what extent her skills were, I would have beaten her right from the start.''

''INSOLENT FOOL!'' The voice roared and Noah flinched, instantly regretting saying that. ''Both Seto and I, not to mention countless others, had tried, and here you are, thinking that you could outdo all of us so easily! How dare you disrespect me like this!?''

''I didn't mean it like that! I just-'' Noah tried to explain, but there was no fixing this without him succeeding in his task.

''Listen to me, you little brat. That girl has been called not only 'Light of Hope' but also a miracle from the moment she was born! And she has proven many times why while I was still around! There's no telling what she can do! For fucks sake, she learned to speak seventeen more languages in six years and got a doctor's certificate in a year! How is that even possible!?'' The voice fumed. ''Listen closely, Noah. If you can somehow severe the relationship between that mouse{Mokuba, yes Gozaboro did call him a mouse in the manga, I think.} and Seto, that boy will be too hurt and distracted, vulnerable even! But if you destroy his friendship with that bitch, he will fall within seconds! You know what you must do, don't you?''

Noah nodded grimly.

''Good. Then I'll leave it to you. Don't disappoint me!'' The voice disappeared, leaving the child alone.

Suddenly, Noah gripped his hair and let out a blood-curling scream.

''Why!? WHY CAN'T THIS BE EASY!? I DON'T WANT TO DO IT!'' But he knew it was useless. No mater how loud he yelled, no one would come to his aid, because no one could see or hear his pain. He was alone. Like he had been ever since he was a little boy.

No one would ever know, even less care, for his painful, lonely suffering.

And no one would help him.

Or so he thought.

00000

Yuna stopped in the maze she had been running through when she heard that awful scream. She recognized it as Noah, and her suspicions were starting to suffocate her. She was bloody sure of who was behind it all, and to hear Noah, who presented himself like the ''boss'', scream like that means that he's stressed about something. Stress comes from when you are trying to impress someone, especially someone with a lot of authority or importance, even more if it's importance to one's self.

Yuna knew one man that was able to put so much pressure on a person, that stress would come even to a robot! But it didn't make sense how that bastard could possibly be here and more importantly now! But if he was here, Seto and Mokuba could be in grave danger. Especially Seto.

The older Kaiba brother liked to piss people off to the point they hate him, but no one would have this much guts. They usually go straight for him, and more often than Seto liked, after Mokuba. The first time someone has involved innocent bystanders to this level was during Battle City with the Ishtar twins and the Rare Hunters. Before, Pegasus had involved her own family but because of her. Now, all of Yugi's and her (new) friends were involved all because of her rival, but if her suspicions were correct, it still had a little bit to do with herself.

Yuna wasn't oblivious to the fact that there was as much people who wanted to take her down as those who liked her. She was aware that she has enemies, and she was used to deal with that. But after Malik, Marik and Anubis, she thought things couldn't get worse.

Leave it to that bastard from hell to prove her wrong!

She knew that she had to get to Seto as soon as possible, since that bastard could possibly reawaken the damn darkness he had implanted in Seto's heart. Yuna was no fool, and was sure that he would try to get back his best ''creation'' at his strongest and scariest. He had always found sick amusement in it, and the Duel Queen wasn't going to allow him to amuse himself with the boy she was in love with! She may have somehow succeeded in banishing his darkness but seeing him could be too much, especially after everything he went through, before and after he met Yuna.

But Yuna couldn't ignore the scream she had just heard. It was filled with pain, sorrow ... Loneliness ... Desperation. Seto was strong, so he had survived under the always increasing pressure forced on him, even when he was younger than Noah who looked about Mokuba's age, maybe a year older. But Seto had Mokuba, his precious little brother to look after.

Who did Noah have?

Yuna knew what it felt like to be all alone, even though she wasn't sure that that's the situation for the boy. She had almost always been alone. Her parents on a dig with her grandfather while they were still alive, Yugi often left with Arthur while she chose to lock herself in libraries, tomb chambers, her own room and anyplace she could be alone. No one understood her. The visions weren't something she liked talking about, since it made her different. Kids her age weren't interested in things a gifted child like her found interesting. The adults rarely played games with her, and kids hated her since she always won so they never played with or against her after she had once defeated 12 of them when they played together against her when she was 4. Yugi and the archaeologists looked up to her. Those who see her for the first time, no matter what she is doing, looked down on her.

Her first friends were those of her parents and grandpa.

Then she met Mahad and Mana and a few other people close to Mahad's age, but not her own. And Mahad and Mana were more family than friends.

No, her very first real friend her age was Seto Kaiba, the man she now loves.

After meeting him, she slowly started having more luck in her life and met a few other people her age who would accept her as a friend. She wasn't alone anymore.

But Noah's scream was of pure, endless loneliness. A kid his age shouldn't feel that lonely.

She suddenly stopped in a small room with with four doors. Yuna heads toward one of them, but suddenly instincts kick in and she takes out a coin, throwing it through the doorway. A a monster forms in the doorway, bouncing the coin back at her. It almost hit her in her left eye, but her reflexes were quick enough to allow her to dodge it in time.

''Testing the doors is definitely smart.'' Yuna mumbles to herself when she noticed something over each of the doors. ''Interesting ... ''

00000

Yugi was frustrated.

Noah had sent him in some sort of maze, and despite being quite good at games and puzzles, he couldn't find his way out of it.

And that's not all!

He has to DUEL fucking doors to get into the next hallway! One had even attacked him when he had first tried to walk through without dueling it!

Yugi dearly wished his sister was around, since he didn't doubt that she would have found a way out in minutes!

But nooooo! Noah just had to separate him from his older twin!

That kid was really starting to get on Yugi's nerves, but he was more worried about his sister and friends. He wondered if she was with Seto, doubting that the CEO couldn't find her. Or she, him. But the only thing he was sure of was that Yuna had stayed behind, and he had been the last to fall through the floor. So, who knows where his sister was!

'I sure would appreciate Bakura right now! At least we would be getting somewhere! Here I fell like I am running in circles!'

Yugi sighed and chose the next door he was going to duel so he could continue his search.

But he stopped when he heard Tea's voice.

That's when he notices the coin on the floor, the same one he had thrown to see if all doors were guarded.

''Shit! I have been running in circles!''

00000

Kaiba and Mokuba are walking along a woodland path, Mokuba saying that he wonders if these virtual berries have any taste. ''It feels like I haven't eaten in months!''

They see a log shack ahead. Mokuba wonders if anyone's serving food in there, but Kaiba doubts it. ''This seems a little too convenient.''

Mokuba asks if they can take a rest, and Kaiba says it's a good idea. As they approach the shack, he wonders if it's another boring trap. He opens the door, telling Mokuba to stay right next to dark interior suddenly lights up, revealing a huge entrance hall, with grand staircases and chandeliers. Kaiba says it's their stepfather's old house. They see their past selves walking past, frightened little Mokuba clinging to his brother's shirt, being led by a small, toad-like man.

''It's a virtual projection of our first day in this house.'' Mokuba says.

''The day we were adopted by Gozaburo.'' Seto confirms.

A pendulum clock reads 3:30. They see young Seto sitting at a desk, barely able to keep his eyes open, while a schoolmaster drills him on the composition of the atom. As Seto nods off, the toad-like butler orders him to wake up.

The present day Seto frowns as he remembers how Hobson used to wake him up so the tutor wouldn't notice. He had always feared that Gozaboro would punish the blue eyed boy he had adopted, so Hobson used to do all that he could just to keep Seto awake during the lessons.

Seto jumps up, startled, while the butler apologizes to the professor for interrupting the lesson. The butler says he has strict orders—his boss has no patience for slackers. Young Seto protests that he's not a slacker.

''Until he catches up with Gozaburo, there will be no time for him to sleep—unless he wants to leave this house with Mokuba.'' The tutor says.

Seto says he understands. Hobson spares him a sympathetic look and passes him a chocolate bar to keep him awake.

Mokuba smiles as he remembers the old butler, always fussing over his big brother. He really was fond of his Nii-sama.

The scene changes to mealtime, young Seto and Mokuba sitting quietly across from each other.

Gozaburo Kaiba sits at the head of the table. He says he hears that Seto is falling behind in his studies, so he'll no longer have the weekends off. Seto insists that he's been working hard, but Gozaburo says not hard enough. ''Discipline is the only way to crush your enemies.''

Seto stands up, protesting that he doesn't have enemies, but Gozaburo says of course you do! Seto has to learn that he can't trust anyone, including Gozaburo.

He orders Hobson, to confiscate Seto's toys immediately, saying that now maybe Seto will concentrate on his studies, instead of wasting his brain away.

Mokuba frowns, remembering that this happened just three of four months before they met Yuna. Trying to break Seto's spirit was a hobby to their stepfather that he really enjoyed and didn't want to give up. It had to stop when, after meeting Yuna, it didn't get weaker, but stronger, eventually bringing Gozaboro to Seto's school that fateful day when Yuna for the first time put Gozaboro Kaiba in his place, on a public street no less! After that, he fell out of rhythm to the point that he never even noticed when Seto would take Mokuba out during the week.

Mokuba could only be thankful to Yuna for all that she did, because she was partly responsible for Seto's success in defeating Gozaboro. He looked to his brother, and guessed that he was thinking the same thing.

Gozaboro started up a new conversation, begins by asking Seto what his vision for Kaiba Corporation is. How will he manage the corporation when he inherits Gozaburo's position? Seto says that he wants to build Kaiba Land, and Mokuba explains that his brother wants to build a kind of Disneyland of games for underprivileged children like themselves. Gozaburo says that's boring. Seto stands up to protest that games aren't boring.

''Games purify the soul!''

''So what? Can games make the world turn?'' He stands up, telling Seto that he wants him to take over the company so he can be a ruler. Then he confirms his earlier order to the butler to confiscate all the boys' toys, telling Seto he won't let him touch toys until he learns how to rule.

Kaiba felt disgust as he watched that scene. He was just happy that Yuna had arrived a few months later to save him from that madman.

Hobson takes away a box of Seto's toys, a bit reluctantly. There's a chessboard, backgammon board, and a go set. Young Seto stands by with his fists clenched as Hobson tells him it's for his own good.

''Class will start soon, Seto-sama. Please be ready.'' With that, the butler leaves.

From his room in another wing of the house, Mokuba looks out the window at the lights in his brother's room, thinking that the way they treat Seto stinks. But he knows how to make his brother smile.

As the butler is walking down the hall, Mokuba steps out to give him a textbook he claims Seto forgot. Hobson smiled, suspecting what the boy was trying to do and played along as he returns to the boy's older brother's room with the book.

Meanwhile, young Seto collapses on the couch, thinking that if he sees one more textbook, he'll barf!

Kaiba and Mokuba chuckle at the exclaimation, since this all was in the past and now they were living a better life. Although they could do without this shit.

But then Hobson tosses the book in front of him, telling him that he has one more lesson tonight before he can sleep. After Hobson leaves, Seto angrily tosses the book aside, but as it falls open, he sees it's been hollowed out, and a message placed inside. As Mokuba sleeps peacefully in his room, Seto reads the note from his brother:

"Dear Seto, I guess you found my hiding place. Remember, Big Bro, they can't take away everything from us. So enjoy my gift, but don't let them find it. Please don't let them steal the most important treasure. Use these and relax. Love, Mokie."

Inside the book, Seto finds his Duel Monsters cards. He goes through them, thinking that they're not the greatest cards in the world, but they're his. Then he finds an extra card—a Blue-Eyes White Dragon Mokuba has drawn for him.

Kaiba smiles at his little brother who blushes, knowing that that drawing was framed and stood proudly on Seto's desk, beside his and Yuna's pictures with him.

Seto steps out onto the balcony, holding the card, vowing to have a real Blue-Eyes White Dragon some day, as present-day Kaiba and Mokuba watch from inside the room. Then the room dissolves, leaving them in darkness, standing in a spotlight.

Another spotlight appears, with Noah standing in it, applauding the show of their past, saying it really pulls on the heartstrings. Kaiba says they've had enough of Noah's games, but Noah says the games have just begun.

''You'll relive every painful moment of your entire lives.''

Kaiba asks what Noah expects to gain by this, and Noah says everything that should have been his from the beginning.

''You've had a hard time in half of your life.'' Noah says.

''What do you want, to make us watch this stuff?'' Seto asks the runt.

''I just want to refresh your memory of how you forced Gozaburo to a dead end. One day, you will be punished, Seto. And that time is coming real near!''

''Who the fuck are you!?'' Kaiba yells.

''Wait for your punishment with an easy heart.'' He replies and disappears.

Kaiba swears in every language he knows, which is also quite an impressive number but smaller than Yuna's, not knowing that someone was finding amusement in his anger.

00000

Yuna finally defeated the four star monster defending the last door and stepped into what could have been a horror flick version of the Kaiba mansion. The hallways were messy, so unlike the clean ones Akiko made sure sparkle, some windows broken, doors on the floor, dirt and dust everywhere.

Only one pair of doors were still where they should be and so she walked towards them. They were locked, but Yuna had spent too much time around Seto and Bakura to not learn how to pick a lock. A few seconds later she entered what looked to be a study.

The bookshelves were empty since almost all the books had fallen on the floor. The carpet was too dirty to tell the exact color it used to be, but it could have been a dull red. The curtains were a dark military green in contrast, and thankfully the floor-to-ceiling windows were still in one piece. There was a big mahogany desk in the middle of the room and a small stand with a lamp next to an open door.

The door lead to another room with a closed door, and Yuna went there, only to stop when she saw a picture on the small lamp table. She didn't need to pick it up to see who was on it and her eyes widened as the final pieces fell into place.

She brushed of the dust so that should anyone else enter, the colors of the photo would be the first thing to draw attention. After that she went into the adjoined room and opened the other door, stepping through it and out in the middle of a desert.

Yuna snorted. ''Don't they know that I practically grew up in Egypt's desert?''

'And that's not including my previous incarnate's life or the aftereffects of my dreams that would supply me with everything I would need to know. Besides, this is not real.'

Yuna sighs as she starts making her way through the sand covered land.

00000

Yugi sighed in relief as Tea woke up, only to blush when she hugged him. It had took him quite some time to get out of that maze, and just in time to catch Tea when she fainted.

She greets him joyfully, throwing her arms around his waist, to his surprise.

"Yugi! You came to save me! I knew you would!" and Yugi says it's all right now.

00000

Noah watches, thinking that he's just getting warmed up.

''They'll never escape my virtual universe!''

But as he think about it, not one of the geeks had protested that they are not duelists. Odd.

''This is unexpected, but it's another kind of pleasure.''

He was a bit startled to see that Yuna had somehow made it to the main part of his virtual world where her friends were. ''That girl really is something. I wish I had a nee-chii like her ... No! What are you saying, Noah! Get a grip!''

He was confused. Is this why he was annoyed by Yugi so much? Because he had always wished to have an older sister to look after him, and Yuna seemed to fit the image he has had of a perfect nee-chii and she was Yugi's sister?

It could half explain it, but why was it Yuna?

There was that friendship girl there, but he already didn't like her, or that timid other one, but she was too timid and scared.

Yuna was brave, strong and smart ... Skilled, wise and daring ... And apparently so much more.

Noah shakes his head, not wanting to linger on such thoughts. He had a job to do.

Besides, Yuna would never accept to be his Nee-chii, so why think about it and just torture himself?

Noah watches Yugi and Téa on one of his viewscreens, thinking that he never should have hired the Big 5. How could they be outdueled in a virtual world where he makes all the rules? It's time for him to step in.

He was angry now, but just the sight of that stupid Queen of Games was calming him down!

'Is this how Seto always feels around her?' He couldn't help but wonder.

Johnson, one of the Big 5 appears on the screen, apologizing for the Big 5's failures. Noah tells Johnson they're all fired. ''Gansley and Crump have both suffered embarrassing defeats, and I have no reason to believe the rest of you won't fail. I'm not even angry, just shocked. I thought I could use you as chess pieces that you are in my game, but it seems I was wrong. You can forget about getting bodies! That girl wasn't even a duelist!''

He's about to push the button to erase them, when Johnson says that they've analyzed their attacks and come up with a solid dueling strategy that's guaranteed to succeed.

''The other two were worthless. But I'm different from them. I'll never let you down, Noah.''

Noah agrees to give them another chance. He says to himself that they're only responsible for getting rid of the small fry anyway. As the screen focuses in on Kaiba, Noah says that this is the man he wants.

00000

Meanwhile, Kaiba and Mokuba are back in the woods. Kaiba attempts to reach Kaiba Craft 3 on the radio transmitter in his coat lapel, but there's no answer.

''Noah must be trying to isolate us from outside contact. But that won't stop me.''

Mokuba just nods.

00000

Back in the mansion, Joey is still wandering around alone, calling out challenges. In frustration, he kicks a wall, and it cracks open, revealing a double door behind it. Maybe he should knock... Nah. He kicks it in, and finds that it leads to the hangar where the airship is waiting. Thinking he's found his way back to the real world, he runs into it, but he can't find anyone inside.

00000

Yuna finally finds what seemed to be an entrance into the woods and walks under a tree for a little rest in the shade. She was tired and shadows were creeping up on her. She could see them from the corner of her eyes, but she was too exhausted to fight the vision as it claimed her.

The Duel Queen slumped against the tree, deeply sleeping.

Yuna opens her eyes only to see that she was standing in the middle Thermopylae gorge just as the sky darkens by the Persian arrows sent on the Spartans. The born soldiers had covered themselves, protecting one another, with their shields from every side. There was no opening for the arrows so they got stuck on the shields or in the ground around the formation.

After a few minutes, Leonidas and his warriors straighten after the arrows stop and prepare for the upcoming charge of the big Persian army. They allow them to enter the gorge, where the numbers don't matter, and slowly kill thousands of Persians.

Yuna winces and closes her eyes as an Egyptian was killed, her blood not allowing her to watch her kinsmen die like that. She knew that Egypt was under Persia at the time and so Egyptian soldiers would be in the army in the battle at the "Hot gates"["the place of hot springs and cavernous entrances to Hades"]. Yet she wasn't ready to see just how right she was.

The fighting continued for hours, but just as night fell ...

Yuna jerked awake, only to find herself still under the tree. Only it was night and there was a door in front of her.

And although she didn't know where it would take her, she couldn't stay there anymore. So she got up and the door opened on it's own as she walked through.

00000

Yugi and Téa are walking across the ice, wishing they had some hot chocolate. Yugi gives Téa his coat, and she tells him he's a lifesaver. But he's worried about the others—especially Tristan and Serenity. They're not duelists, and if they lose a duel to the Big 5, they'll be trapped there. As Yugi wraps his arms around himself and hops from foot to foot to keep warm, Téa says that if she can beat those creeps in a duel, so can they!

''Although Tristan has no talent for dueling.''

Yugi huffs, not wanting to tell his once crush that she had only been lucky when she won, and that she had no skill what so ever. He was sure that Seto would have been ruthlessly, mercilessly blunt about that fact, and he was certain that Bakura and Marik would help him in humiliating Tea.

So, he decided to be politely quiet and let her think she's not that bad for a beginner.

Instead, all Yugi says is :''Let's just hope they found each other and are pulling together to get out of this place! Serenity doesn't even know the rules!''

Yugi's sure they're going to be just fine. ''But if we don't find them soon, Tristan and Serenity will be in danger!''

''Well, let's hurry then!''

00000

Tristan, Duke, and Serenity are walking in the woods. Tristan sneezes, and Duke tells him that's what he gets for swimming in the lake!

Then Serenity sneezes, and Duke tells Tristan way to go, Germ Boy—now he's got Serenity sick. Tristan makes threatening noises at Duke, telling him he'd better stay away or he might catch Tristan's evil germs, too!

00000

''After today, I never want to see a virtual tree ever again.'' Mokuba tells his older brother. Kaiba says that punk Noah is keeping them trapped because he's too afraid to confront him face to face.

''I'll find a way out of this stupid virtual world, and then kill that brat.''

00000

Noah, watching them on the viewscreen, says it's an interesting theory, but Seto's wrong again. He smirks.

''Well, if you want to leave the forest so much Seto, I'll let you have your wish.''

He glanced at the screen that was watching Yuna, wondering what the fuck was going through the girls head to first sleep and then aimlessly run through the same forest Seto and Mokuba are, only in a different part.

'It couldn't be that she somehow knows that they are nearby, right? The Big 5 said that there was definitely some connection between them, but it can't really be that deep! I just hope they don't run into each other, because that would ruin all of my plans!'

Noah was thinking of sending her somewhere else since she was getting rather close to the brothers, but that was when the Kaibas took the bait and once again put more distance between themselves and the Duel Queen. Said girl stopped, looking around, and cursed. A second later, she ran in a different direction, soon exiting the forest.

''Hmm. Interesting.''

00000

A door appears on the path ahead of them. Kaiba opens it, wanting to see where Noah is leading them now. Kaiba exclaims that this is his office—but then Gozaburo turns around in the chair, saying this is his office, and no one disturbs him there!

"How can I help you?"

Kaiba and Mokuba see young Seto telling Gozaburo that he has something important to say. Kaiba says it's the day he finally worked up the courage to confront their stepfather.

''I remember this day. It happened a few days before he kidnapped Yuna's grandpa and forced us to Duel.''

Gozaburo says he knows that Seto is there to talk about his invention, but it's no good. Young Seto says he worked a long time on that virtual video game software, and Gozaburo just can't admit that Seto invented something that he never could.

''I invented my virtual software for playing games, but you want to use it for war. I invented it to use in my future Kaiba Land!''

Gozaburo throws the paperwork down, telling young Seto that's enough! The papers hit Seto in the face, and when he lowered his arm that was defending it, Gozaboro saw for the first time just how angry Seto was, and how terrifying his adopted son had became because of him. The boy's eyes were stormy, pride shining in them like it never did before, and the Kaiba elder wondered if this reaction came from Seto finally having someone that stood up for him. He grit his teeth as he remembers his humiliation at the hands of that girl.

''Kaiba Corp doesn't make children's toys, they make vehicles for combat! If you'r going to take over the company some day, you'll have to forget about games. I adopted you to teach you the family business—the business of beating your enemies and rising to ultimate power!''

''You're insane!'' Young Seto yells at the man he had been calling father up to that day. Gozaburo orders his guards to take Seto away. Two big goons, one of them Kemo, drag the protesting boy away.

Seto calls out "Tou-san!"("Father!") as he's dragged away.

Kaiba says he'll never forget that day. ''Not only did our stepfather shoot down my virtual gaming program, but he stole my invention and passed it off as his own.'' Seto looks down, still wondering why all of this was getting to him. ''That was the last time I ever called that man 'Father'.''

Seto really didn't understand it. The man was a bastard and he had been treating him like shit since the day the man had adopted him. Yet it had hurt to stop calling him ''Father'' more than it should have. Seto's real father had became an alcoholic after his mother's death at Mokuba's birth and had always cursed his little brother. Mokuba was thankfully too young to remember it, but because of that Seto had never again respected that man. Unlike Gozaboro, his father didn't have any pride. Seto, whose pride was as much a part of him as his very eyes were, couldn't believe that he was the son of such a shameless man.

Gozaboro had never cursed Mokuba, he had just ignored him. He let the boy do what he wanted as long as he didn't interfere with Seto's studies. Gozaboro even pampered Mokuba and himself with things they need, and himself with his (not so good) attention, unlike their real father who had just drank, ate, cursed them and then ignored them like they don't even exist. To Gozaboro, Mokuba was a part of the package that was the genius Seto, and so he didn't really care for the boy. He only paid him mind when he needed to threaten Seto or get him to work harder.

In a nutshell, Mokuba had technically been safer with that demon than with their own birth father.

The scene dissolves, and Kaiba and Mokuba are back in what Mokuba calls Noah's virtual forest. Kaiba says he wouldn't call it Noah's forest. ''Whoever's helping Noah is using the same virtual technology Gozaburo stole from me. Even though it's been enhanced, the basic program is still mine. I have a feeling it's no coincidence. I just have to remember that everything they see there is an illusion, because all these memories are messing with my head.'' He tells Mokuba sourly. That last one had really been to much!

He says to Noah that he doesn't know who he is, but he'll find out. He challenges Noah to come and face him.

Kaiba thinks that Gozaburo wanted to use his virtual system to let countless people die in wars and make a fortune for himself.

'I couldn't hand my system over to that evil man. On that day, I totally lost my expectations of that man, and made up my mind that I would have Kaiba Corporation. Anyway, it's unforgiveable for someone to go into my memories to watch my reaction and make fun of me. This is to personal!'

He calls out to Noah that if he's planning to steal Kaiba Corporation, he won't succeed.

Seto had decided that he will never allow anyone to take his life's work and destroy it! Especially since it is a part of why he and Yuna are so close now.

At the thought of his rival, he started walking briskly in order to find his love, Mokuba quick to follow him.

00000

Noah, in his control center, says, all in good time, and laughs. But he laughs even harder when he hears the second exclamation.

"Steal Kaiba Corporation?" He says and laughs.

However, he sobers up when he turns his attention to Joey's duel and sees Judge Man's cheating. He was furious and was telephoning there immediately, so he never saw Yuna making it to the virtual pier.

00000

Kaiba and Mokuba come across a television set half-buried in the sand. On it, they see Noah in the courtroom.

00000

Noah stops the duel. Judge Man protests that he's only a few moves away from taking this fool's body. But Noah says Johnson doesn't deserve that prize—he's been cheating, using Noah's virtual technology to tamper with Joey's dice rolls. Johnson says he couldn't risk losing—he can't stand living in this virtual reality a minute longer.

''Besides, this isn't the Olympics. Why shouldn't I cheat?''

But Noah's bored with Johnson's excuses. He brought the Big 5 into his virtual world to help him defeat Seto Kaiba and his friends, but if they cheat, Noah can't prove he's more deserving than Seto.

''I can't surpass Seto by cheating.'' Besides, he wanted Yuna's respect. He knew from the stories that she hated cheating and he didn't want her to think lowly of him like she does of the Big 5. Just the thought that he would be shunned on the same level as those five men upset him greatly.

No, he wouldn't allow that to happen!

That's why he was stopping this.

00000

Watching Noah on the television in the sand, Kaiba wonders what Noah thinks he's more deserving of. He was also very suspicious of the reason Noah was stopping the cheating. Didn't he want them all to lose?

He and Mokuba continue to watch as Noah says that for years, he's lived in Seto's shadow, always trying to prove that he's the better one. He should be the president of Kaiba Corporation, not Seto, and it's time he proved to Gozaburo that he should have left the company to him.

Kaiba is shocked—Gozaburo has been missing without a trace for more than five years! There had been a report that his body had been dug up the day after his funeral, probably an hour or so after he was buried, and there was no proof indicating where he could be or who had done it! Why would Noah want to prove something to him, anyway? Who is this Noah?

And why Noah should be so intent on confronting him, and comparing himself to Kaiba. He wonders if someone else has instigated Noah to do so, and then he thinks that if anyone did, it must be Gozaburo. But that's impossible—Gozaburo is dead.

'No, it must be someone else!' Seto thought, desperately. He wasn't sure how he would react if Gozaboro was truly alive somewhere, even in this replica of the real world. But if he was, a lot of things would make a lot more sense, like how Noah or even the Big 5 got one of his oldest works.

00000

Noah's ready to pull the plug on Johnson, but Joey interrupts, saying he wants to continue the duel. Everybody thinks Joey's nuts, but Noah agrees, and disappears in another sparkle of light.

When he was safely in his control center, he realized all the things he had said and cursed his big mouth. He had relieved too much! He had forgotten that it wasn't a private conversation and almost revealed his identity! He just hoped that neither Seto nor the CEO's rival had seen that! Seeing how smart they are, they would understand almost instantly what's going on, and That's not something he needs now!

Noah quickly looked over to the Kaiba brothers, seeing the older's thinking expression and he almost panics, but he calms down. Seto looked like he was still trying to figure it out, but he didn't seem to be close to the answer.

He then turns to the place he had last seen the Queen of Games only to see her nowhere on the screens.

Okay, now he could panic!

He searched for Yuna for a good while and he completely missed the start of Duke's, Tristan's and Serenity's duel against Nesbitt, former Vice President of New Technology at Kaiba Corporation, in the form of a robot.

00000

Tristan tries to insist that only he and Duke will duel, but Serenity says they're all in it together, and she'll duel, too. She'll just follow Tristan's lead! Duel Disks appear on their arms, while Tristan continues to try to talk Serenity out of dueling, telling her it's been a while since he dueled. But she's determined, and so is the Robotic Knight.

00000

In the caverns, Joey, Yugi, and Téa are still running when they hear a scream. Joey says he just knows it was Serenity!

They run on.

00000

Serenity struggles to her feet, saying she's okay.

The Robotic Knight activates his Deck Master ability, Final Artillery, discarding three machine monsters to inflict 500 points of direct damage to each of the kids. Serenity's down again. As she gets to her feet, insisting that she's okay, Robotic Knight plays one card face down and ends his turn.

Serenity draws, then plays Forgiving Maiden.

00000

Kaiba and Mokuba are walking through a sandy desert, when they see ruins in the distance. Kaiba recognizes it as Nesbitt's old research lab, the Kaiba Corp Military Factory. He always hated that place. Kaiba remembers meeting Nesbitt in his office to tell him that now that he's running the company, he's shutting down the lab. Nesbitt protested, but Kaiba thinks he had no choice but to tear it down.

''Your battle machines were useless in the new Kaiba Corp. So this is what you'll do. Show me your loyalty by destroying the military factory on Alcatraz.''

Once again, Kaiba looks at the sky and addresses Noah, telling him he can't lead him around like a puppet forever!

00000

In his control center, Noah says he can do whatever he wants! And he's having too much fun to stop now.

Except for the search for the Queen of Games!

He couldn't find the girl anywhere!

He knew that if he didn't find her, she would eventually find her way to Seto, and he still didn't know if she had figured things out! He had seen how clever Yuna was, so he suspected that she already knew everything.

He had to find her and stop her before she reveals who he is!

00000

Tristan's freaking out, but Duke tells him to chill—as long as their monsters are in defense, it doesn't matter how powerful Machine King gets, it can't hurt them.

''Wrong again, Duke.'' Robotic Knight then plays the magic card, Short Circuit, taking control of all of the kid's monsters and forcing them into attack position. Once again, he attacks Serenity's Forgiving Maiden. Determined to save her, Tristan sends his Deck Master, Roboyarou, to intercept the attack, using its Deck Master ability to place one card face down on the field, raising its attack points to 2200. But it's not enough. Machine King destroys it, and Tristan loses.

Tristan confesses to Serenity that he lied about teaching Joey how to duel—he barely knows how to play himself. Then he tells Duke he'd better take care of her. The floor opens up beneath him and Tristan falls into the fire. Serenity falls to her knees beside the opening in the floor, calling to Tristan to come back, telling Robotic Knight he said they'd only fall if they broke the rules. Robotic Knight tells her not to worry, Tristan's mind has been digitized, while his body has been placed in a holding area—where hers and Duke's will soon join it!

Serenity was crying, wishing her brother was there and that Tristan, who she had a big crush on, would come back and be safe.

00000

Yugi, Téa, and Joey hear Serenity call out in anguish. Yugi reassures Joey that they'll make sure she's okay, and Joey runs toward the voice.

00000

The floor closes up over fires where Tristan has fallen. Serenity cries, saying that it's all her fault. Duke tries to encourage her, telling her to stay strong, but she says Tristan lost trying to protect her. When Duke starts to go to her, Robotic Knight tells him to stop—the duel isn't over, and it's Serenity's turn.

00000

As Noah watches on the screen, Perfect Machine King says he knew that mere mortals couldn't stand up to a high-tech machine like him! Noah says Nesbitt is a fool—he knows he's not really a robot. ''Deep down inside he's just a scared little man.''

He then goes back to searching for the ever elusive ''Light of Hope''.

Just then he sees a blue-clad figure at the virtual Domino City pier.

00000

Meanwhile, Kaiba and Mokuba are still looking at the ruins of Nesbitt's research lab. Kaiba thinks that destroying Nesbitt's research labotory was the smartest decision he ever made.

Flashback

In flashback, Nesbitt tells Kaiba that destroying the lab was a big mistake, but Kaiba doesn't think so. Kaiba says that Kaiba Corp makes games now, not vehicles for battle, and unless Nesbitt can tell him what he can do for the new Kaiba Corp, he'll be out of a job.

It was just after Alcatraz was destroyed, and that day Seto was shutting down the Military Department of Kaiba Corporation, and will proceed with the plans for the Duel Tower.

End of Flashback

00000

Nesbitt says he spent months designing gaming software for Seto Kaiba, and he hated every second of it. He joined Kaiba Corp to build tanks, submarines, and missiles.

''I'll never forget the humiliation Kaiba put me through.''

00000

Serenity attacks Perfect Machine King with St. Joan. Since their attacks are equal, both monsters are destroyed, and since Perfect Machine King is Nesbitt's Deck Master, he loses the duel. As he disappears, Nesbitt says he's still going to keep Tristan's body.

Duke and Serenity fall to their knees. They've won, but Tristan is still gone. Joey runs down to Serenity to hold her, while Yugi and Téa support Duke. They're all back together, but now they need Tristan.

00000

A robot monkey's face lights up as he comes online, and Tristan says, "Where am I?"

The Robot Monkey climbs up through a trap door into a storeroom filled with boxes and metal capsules and electronic equipment. The robot is Honda, wondering where he is, and why everything looks so huge. He passes a mirror, and thinks he's seeing a cute little robot monkey, then realizes he's seeing himself! He freaks out.

00000

Outside a warehouse, Serenity worries about Tristan, but Yugi reassures her that they just have to find him before one of the Big 5 can take over his body. Joey agrees that they have to get him back now.

Yugi thought he saw a flash of blue, but he wasn't sure if that was a good thing until he felt that special feeling he only used to get when he was little and Yuna would sing him a lullaby after he woke up from a nightmare.

00000

Kaiba and Mokuba are also walking among the warehouses. Someone runs along a rooftop, following them. He stops, calling out to them. It looks like Tristan, and Mokuba greets him, asking where Yugi and the others are. But he jumps down, swinging a wooden sword at Mokuba, who barely escapes in time. He's not Tristan, he says, and he's looking for revenge.

Seto immediately tenses, ready for battle, and he wasn't disappointed. He attacks Kaiba, who leaps out of the way and fights back by zinging a Blue-Eyes White Dragon card towards his attacker. Not-Tristan blocks it with the wooden sword.

The gang run up, exclaiming that it's Tristan! They ask Not-Tristan if he's all right, but he tells the kids to be on their way. Duke realizes that this is one of the Big 5 in Tristan's body, and Not-Tristan says that's right, and once again attacks Kaiba.

Kaiba grabs a pipe to defend himself, but Not-Tristan knocks it out of Kaiba's hands, saying Kaiba has to pay for what he did to him.

''That won't be enough, Mr. Kaiba! I'm a Grade 5 Kendo master.''

He raises his wooden sword for another attack, when suddenly the Robot Monkey leaps onto his head, grabbing at his face. He manages to fling the Robot Monkey off, when , out of nowhere, Yuna punches him, sending him crashing through a warehouse door. He quickly stands up, but Yuna was faster and just did a roundhouse kick to his side, once again causing him to fall to the ground.

''Yuna!'' Yugi, Seto and Mokuba exclaim.

Yuna turns to them, looking directly at Seto. ''You ought to come to the dojo with me. You're getting slow.'' She scolded him, obvious worry in her voice. It caused a small smile to appear on the CEO's face and he nodded, both his acceptance of the invitation and his thanks.

Moments later, Not-Tristan comes flying out of the warehouse on a motorcycle. He goes straight for Yuna, as Noah had told him to do, but the Duel Queen was to fast for him when she dodged out of the way, so snatches up Mokuba, knocks him out and rides away.

The gang run after him, but he disappears down a tunnel.

Kaiba appears on another motorcycle and zooms off down the tunnel after his brother, Yuna hot on his heels.

Joey says that Kaiba's after the fake Tristan, so they have to look for the real Tristan. Then they see the Robot Monkey chittering away behind them, trying to tell them who he is. Joey says he doesn't trust the robot runt, but Serenity leans down to pet him, asking how dangerous can he be? Duke warns her not to touch him, saying it could be a trap, and Joey agrees that they should take him apart. Serenity warns them not to touch him, pointing out that he saved Kaiba, and besides, he's adorable! The grateful Robot Monkey leaps into her arms.

Yugi says Tristan's mind has to be around here somewhere, and Robot Monkey Tristan points to himself, chittering away, but Joey tells him to shut up.

00000

Meanwhile, Kaiba is still chasing Mokuba on the motorcycle. He emerges from the tunnel to find himself on a bridge, with a section missing in front of him. He grits his teeth and speeds up to jump the gap. He lands on the other side, but yells at someone to get out of his way. The motorcycle goes out of control, crashes and burns.

Yuna appeared just moments after, but Seto insisted that she continues ahead and find his little brother. Yuna was reluctant to do just that, but she knew that Seto can take care of himself, so she nodded and sped off after the guy who had Tristan's body and her rivals baby brother.

Kaiba is confronted by a man in a trench coat, hat, and metal mask, wearing a Duel Disk. The man tells Kaiba if he ever wants to see his brother again, he'll have to make it past him.

00000

Not-Tristan is stopped farther down the bridge by Noah, who demands to know why he took Seto's brother. Not-Tristan explains that Seto took everything from him, so this is payback, but Noah says this wasn't part of the deal.

Just seconds later, they hear tires screeching and turn to look.

Yuna was just getting off of the bike, eyes blazing, rage clear. They took a step back from the leather-clad goddess as she approached and Noah swore that he saw shadows dancing, not just in the depths of the blood-red pools that were this girl's eyes but around the girl as well! He dismissed it as the virtual world reacting to an intelligent mind, and ordered Nesbitt to fight against her.

''Make sure that she doesn't make it further than this, no matter what!'' Noah said as he took Mokuba and disappeared.

Not-Tristan(Nesbitt) cracked his fingers with a wicked smirk. ''With pleasure!''

He charged at the Duel Queen, but she easily sidestepped him and delivered a karate chop to the man's back. Nesbitt hissed in pain, but quickly swung his fist at the girl's stomach, almost hitting her, but Yuna had caught his fist by crossing her arms and hands in a small X and then tossed him over her shoulder. He landed on the ground, the virtual air knocked out of his virtual lungs, and saw the Queen of Games rolling her neck and shoulders, then cracking her fingers.

He glopped as she came to stand right over him, the only thought in his mind ''SHIT!''

00000

The masked man says he's been waiting to take Kaiba down for a long time now, but all Seto says is :''Bring it on!''

00000

Mokuba wakes up on a couch in cozy living room with a fire burning in the fireplace. Noah greets him. Mokuba warns him to stay away, and just wait till his brother finds out! Noah says Seto won't be rescuing him any time soon, and Mokuba says his brother would never let anything happen to him. Noah says Seto has his hands tied, and shows Mokuba a viewscreen on which the duel on the bridge can be seen.

Mokuba immediately started worrying about his brother, but he saw that he was in no danger. He was startled when Noah suddenly let out a growl of irritation and he looked over to see why. He burst out laughing when he saw Yuna beating the shit out of the guy who took over Tristan's body and had attacked him and his brother.

Noah, very annoyed now, looked over to the snickering, slightly younger boy beside him.

''And what, pray tell, is so funny?''

Mokuba barely stopped long enough to answer. ''He said that he was a Grade 5 Kendo master, but Yuna has trashed his butt twice in a row by now! That must be embarrassing! Well, it would have been if it were someone other than Yuna.''

Noah was confused by this. ''What do you mean?'' Sure, he had seen just how skilled the girl was, but that didn't mean she was unbeatable.

Mokuba sobered up completely. ''Yuna is different from other people in many ways. One of the most obvious one is because of how she lives her life. Yuna doesn't get depressed, always works hard, loves to learn although she often knows more than one thinks, is loyal to her friends and family, doesn't take people's shit and is willing to stand up for her loved ones. She's proud, smart, wise, skilled, caring, nice and so much more. Her name suits her more than most people think or know. You may not believe it, but Yuna has a special gift, and a special bond with my Nii-sama. They'll do anything for each other."

Mokuba wasn't aware of the wistful look Noah was giving the screen showing the girl they were talking about. Noah was too confused to even wonder if he should stop trying to deny that he wished for a Nee-chii like Yuna ... For Yuna to be his Nee-chii!

00000

The masked man asks Kaiba if he knows who he's dealing with, and Kaiba says he recognizes the voice—it's Lector! The masked man says if Kaiba wants his brother back, he'll have to defeat him first. Kaiba says it's ridiculous—a man like that could never beat him.

He activates his Duel Disk, saying let's get this duel over with. They choose their decks, and Kaiba selects Lord of Dragons as his Deck Master. He didn't want to be predictable with his Blue-eyes.

''I don't know which monster you have chosen as a Deck Master, nor do I care, Lector! I'll crush you either way!''

''I'd like to tell you who is my Deck Master is, but you wouldn't be able to take it.'' Lector said mockingly.

"If you're not afraid of the blue flame burning inside my body, just try me." Seto said confidently. This man had always rubbed him the wrong way, since he used to be Gozaboro's right hand man and so easily betrayed him. He had always been really careful around this snake, more so than the rest of the Big 5, seeing as the man had had to help him with several tasks his stepfather had given him. Lector knows him better than the rest of the Big 5, and the idiotic man had often argued with Hobson while he was still alive. He had thought that he knew Seto better than even the old butler, who was always around the future CEO and helping him to not get in trouble with the master of the house, and therefore often tried to get Seto to believe that Hobson was going to betray him. Set knew better, and so he trusted Hobson instead.

He never regretted that choice.

The duel begins. Lector opens by playing a monster face down in defense, and setting two cards face down. Kaiba summons Spear Dragon and attacks. Lector isn't worried, since his monster is in defense.

The monster is Hiro's Shadow Scout, which causes Kaiba to draw three cards and discard the two magic cards he's drawn, but Kaiba says it doesn't matter—Lector still loses life points. Spear Dragon inflicts battle damage even when the monster it destroys is in defense. Then Kaiba plays one card face down, thinking that soon he'll activate his Crush Card, and the duel will be over.

Lector activates his trap card, Solemn Wishes, then draws. Solemn Wishes increases his life points by 500 each time he draws a card. Kaiba thinks he'd better enjoy it while he can, because his next turn will be his last! Lector plays another monster in defense, and sets another card face down, ending his turn.

Kaiba thinks it's strange. Spear Dragon goes into defense after it attacks, and has zero defense points. Why didn't he attack it? Kaiba summons Giant Germ, then switches Spear Dragon into attack mode, and orders it to attack Lector's face-down monster. But Lector activates his trap card, Mask of Perplexity, which covers Kaiba's face so that he can't see which monster he's attacking.

Seto instinctively reached up to the mask, as if to take it off, but he stopped. Kaiba orders Spear Dragon to attack a card, then the mask disappears so he can see that he's attacking his own monster, Giant Germ. But Kaiba says that's what he was aiming for.

''I had to destroy Giant Germ so I could activate my Crush Card trap!''

Lector laughs, lifting his goggles to beam a destructive blast at the Crush Card. Now Kaiba realizes what monster Lector is, and Lector pulls off his disguise to reveal himself as Jinzo!

Lector tells Kaiba he's been waiting for this moment for a long time! ''As Gozaburo's right-hand man, I not only helped run Kaiba Corp, I helped raise you, Seto. But you took away everything I worked so hard to gain. I was next in line to run the company, until you forced you way to the top, Seto! I sold many Kaiba Corp weapons to other countries. But the most popular weapon was your Virtual System, Seto, just like the rest of your inventions. All your invention, especially that one, are still in use around the world as a tool of war. That's why you forced Gozaburo to his death. All these mistakes began from the moment Gozaburo gave you a birthday gift...''

Flashback

Gozaburo sits at one end of the long dining room table, while young Seto and Mokuba sit together at the other end. Lector stands at Gozaburo's side. Gozaburo tells Seto that his formal education is over. ''It's time to start learning lessons in the real world.''

He has Hobson bring in a cart laden with a gift for Seto—ten million dollars!

''Your real gift is two percent shares in Kaiba Corporation for both you and Mokuba. But this is your assignment. Nothing comes without a price—I'm lending the money to you as a test, Seto. You have one year to repay the money, but you must repay ten times the amount. You can use the shares if you wish. Just get the money.''

He presents Seto with a contract, saying that if he passes the test, he earns the last name Kaiba. ''But if you fails, you and Mokuba will go back to the orphanage.''

Lector knew that it was empty threats. His boss was absolutely obsessed with the blue eyed child genius. Gozaboro no longer had a heir, so there was a good chance that Lector would get the empire after the man dies. But ever since the kid arrived, Gozaboro focused almost all of his attention into training him. And now he was giving him thousands of dollars and 2% of the company shares!

No, Gozaboro was never going to get rid of the boy.

Seto was now what Gozaboro had hoped to make him, despite the boy's obvious growing friendship with that exotic, rebellious girl that had humiliated the CEO of Kaiba Corp.

Seto accepts the test, and signs the contract. Gozaburo tells Seto something neither the right hand man, nor the future CEO had expected.

''Lector is the only one allowed to help you.''

Seto just nods with a smirk, and Lector knew that Seto was going to use this opportunity to it's fullest. The boy was no fool, and they all knew that.

He was up to something, and for the first time, Lector wondered if the company would be better in the hands of this eight year old genius.

00000

In his room, Seto has laid out one hundred Duel Monsters cards, half face up and half face down. Mokuba asks Seto what he is going to do.

''Turning ten million dollars into a hundred million in only one year seems impossible!''

Seto looks to his brother, but he didn't smile. If Lector saw that, Gozaboro would know, too. It was too risky at this point, for them to know just how much Yuna changed him for the better. That she had returned the old Seto, even if only a little.

''Don't worry, Mokuba. Business is just another game. Suppose that each of these ...'' He pointed at the DM cards on the floor. '' ... one hundred cards represents a piece of a company. The trick is to own more cards than anyone else.'' He turns over one card, saying that no one can ever own more than you if you own fifty-one out of a hundred.

Seto stands up and tells Lector to spend all ten million dollars to buy fifty-one percent of a company—any kind of company, as long as they value their workers. ''it must be a rated and traditional company.''

Lector does so, and Seto explains to Mokuba that the company doesn't make very much money, but it might give him all the money he needs.

''I'll force the president to run it my way.'' The young blue eyed child smirked in such a way, Lector felt goosebumps all over his body.

Yes, this boy was going to be a real business tycoon.

He actually feared for all those unsuspecting businessmen all around the world. Lector decided to support the boy as much as he could.(Because he saw that he was far more capable than he and the others in the Big 5 had suspected, and for his own gain)

00000

Seto, Mokuba and Lector were facing the president of the company in his office. Seto has offered to sell the company back to him at ten times the price he paid for it, threatening to close the company and put all the employees out of work if he doesn't.

In order to save his employees, the outraged president agrees, and Seto has made his ten million dollars.

Lector had never saw such a cruel and satisfied smirk like the one on the boy's face. Not even on the boy's adopted father! He knew something was coming, and Seto was going to use his new experience to help him do whatever will cause the disturbance in the everyday life of KC and the city of Domino.

End of Flashback

''You got all the credit for earning the money-'' Lector said but was interrupted.

''Of course he did—it was my idea, all you did, Lector, was follow orders. You could never run Kaiba Corp!'' Seto said furiously, not believing that someone who had seen his intellect would say he doesn't deserve what he now has!

''I will run Kaiba Corp, when he has your body. Your money-earning abilities were beyond Gozaburo's imagination-'' He was again stopped by the angry teen across him.

''Gozaburo used my Virtual System for military weapons, trampling my dream. And that was unacceptable! I'd decided to use whatever I had to surpass that man.''

Lector laughed cruelly. ''And I'm sure that your new growing friendship with that girl had nothing to do with it, either!'' He mocked him as Seto grit his teeth. ''But that doesn't matter now. It's over now—Seto Kaiba's life will end here.''

Because of Giant Germ's special effect, Kaiba is able to summon another Giant Germ. Lector says he's just delaying the inevitable. With Jinzo's special ability, all of Kaiba's trap cards are useless, and no one wins a duel with monsters alone. Kaiba says he'll never lose.

''Because of the time I spent with you, Seto, I knows you very well. Without your traps, you can only use the strength of your monsters to fight.''

Set says something that truly surprises Lector, and that Seto knew Hobson would never have found it surprising.

''I believe in my Deck!''

Seto knew that Yuna believed in her Deck as well, and that's where he had learned to do the , he and Yuna will never have the same belief in their Decks, but after his dragon answered his call in Duelist Kingdom, he knew that he should trust his cards. And he did, ever since.

Lector draws, gaining 500 life points due to Solemn Wishes' effect, then plays two cards face down. Kaiba attacks Lector's face-down monster with Spear Dragon, but it turns out to be Cyber Jar, which destroys all monsters on the field. Spear Dragon, Giant Germ, and Cyber Jar are all destroyed. Lector loses 900 life points due to Spear Dragon's effect, and now both players must pick up five cards and summon any level 4 or lower monsters they draw to the field.

Kaiba summons Vorse Raider and Twin-Headed Behemoth, while Lector summons Injection Fairy Lily.

00000

Watching the duel from Noah's retreat, Mokuba cheers his brother on.

Noah, on the other hand, was too busy sealing all the entrances to his little control center. He didn't know when the Queen of Games was going to drop in.

00000

Lector attacks Vorse Raider with Lily, destroying it and taking 1900 life points from Kaiba.

"Time to check the disease that is Kaiba Seto."

Then Lector activates his face-down magic card, Sebek's Blessing, which increases his life points by the amount that Kaiba just lost. He plays a monster in defense and ends his turn.

Kaiba draws, thinking that he's conquered every challenge life has given him, and this duel will be no different.

'Lily's back to 400 attack points. My Worm Beast has an attack of 1400, and can destroy Lily. But if Daimon uses Lily's effect to boost her attack, I will lose. I'll have to wait for a better opportunity. I'm a person who's overcome all the difficulties in my life. This will end the same as all the other difficulties!'

He plays a monster in defense. Lector activates Life Absorbing Machine, a trap card that increases his life points by half the amount he paid in his last turn. Then he sacrifices his face-down monster to summon his ultimate weapon!

''This is the most powerful weapon that Gozaburo had you create!''

Seto couldn't believe it, since the schematics were destroyed in a fire that happened in Kaiba Corp before they could even make a copy!

''It couldn't be that Gozaboro had made a digital copy! No way!''

Lector laughed. ''No, but we got it from your mind the second you stepped into this virtual world! The other one that is still in orbit can still be programed to do all the things your would have been able to do, only with a little less precision and power, but your program is all that we rally need!''

00000

Meanwhile, the gang is speeding down the bridge in a virtual three-wheeled pickup truck they found. Yugi is just saying what a lucky thing that was, when the truck screeches to a halt, tossing Téa onto Yugi and Serenity into Duke. Robot Monkey Tristan leaps at Duke, jealous of Duke touching Serenity. Yugi asks Joey why he stopped, and Joey points out a rocket speeding into the sky from the bridge.

The rocket goes into orbit, its targeting mechanism locking onto Kaiba.

The gang is stopped on the bridge in their pickup truck, wondering what that thing was they just saw. They agree it must have been some kind of satellite, launched by the Big 5.

Robot Monkey Tristan is scratching the back of his head, thinking that one good thing about being a robot monkey is being able to hang out in Serenity's arms all day. Serenity reminds them that they're supposed to be looking for Tristan, and he thinks she's cute when she acts tough, especially when all she can think about is trying to find him!

'Hm~. Serenity's breasts are as soft as candy floss.'

Tristan unintentionally flips a switch on the back of his head, and suddenly everyone can hear his thoughts—just as he thinks how much better he is than that Romeo wannabe, Duke Devlin. Everyone wonders what's going on as he flips the switch off, then on again. Then they hear him say that if he's stuck in this robot monkey body long enough, he might start eating bananas.

Yugi and Téa stare at him, saying, "Tristan?"

Joey jumps out of the truck cab and grabs the robot monkey away from Serenity, asking who he is and saying he doesn't trust him one bit. Tristan says it's him, but Joey thinks he's a robot spy sent by Noah.

As the truck drives on, the robot monkey is tied up in a corner of the truck bed. Tristan continues to protest that it's him, but Duke says they're not taking any chances.

00000

Back at the duel, Lector points out that he has three times as many life points as Kaiba—3600 to Kaiba's 1200—and he's about to finish Kaiba off. He activates Lily's special effect, giving up 2000 life points to boost her attack by 3000. Then he attacks Kaiba's Twin-Headed Behemoth. It's destroyed, but its speciall effect allows it to come back to the field with an attack and defense of 1000.

Lector plays one card face down, then activates the magic card, Emergency Provisions, which allows him to tribute the face-down card he just played to increase his life points by 1000.

Now Lector reminds Kaiba of the rocket he launched earlier, telling Kaiba to keep an eye on its energy guage.

The gang arrives on the other side of the gap in the bridge, and jump out of the truck, calling out to Kaiba.

''Where's Yuna, rich boy!?'' Joey asked.

Kaiba's eyebrow twitched. ''I don't know. I've been stuck here with this idiot, but she went on ahead to look for Mokuba.''

He was really worried about his rival.

00000

Watching on his viewscreen, Noah says the gang's all here. Now Kaiba will have an audience to witness his destruction. Mokuba insists that his brother will stop that creep, and then come and rescue him. Noah says Mokuba seems quite confident that his brother cares about him—but he's wrong.

Mokuba looked to Noah like he was crazy. ''Heh. You obviously don't know my bro, nor the affect Yuna has had on him for years now. Nii-sama may be a jerk, but he still cares for me and he'll do anything to save me!''

00000

Joey and Yugi recognize the Big 5's Deck Master as Jinzo, and they realize that means Kaiba can't use any of his trap cards. Téa says it's like dueling with half a deck. But Kaiba thinks Lector's in for quite a surprise.

Tea exclaims that the duel is super unfair, and Kaiba thinks that yes, this duel is obviously unfair, but he'll open a way with his own power.

He has to! For Mokuba!

He draws, and plays Heavy Storm, a magic card that destroys all magic and trap cards on the field. But Lector activates Imperial Order, a trap card that negates all of Kaiba's magic cards, and as long as he pays 700 points per turn, it will stay on the field. Now Kaiba can't use any magic or trap cards.

0000

Mokuba watches and worries from Noah's sanctuary.

Noah smirks, thinking that that was the end of Seto Kaiba.

How wrong is he!

00000

Yuna finally lets Nesbitt in Tristan's virtual body fall to the ground, out like a light. She had spent the past who-knows-how-long beating the shit out of him, because he didn't want to tell her how to get to Noah or if her suspicions were correct, but that was more than enough.

So, she kept beating him until he finally said that she has to go into the tunnel, take the left line and enter a small extension that was on the left sidewalk, in the wall of the tunnel. She knew that the idiot was speaking the truth, since she was a good judge when it came to those things.

And now that she knew where to go, she walked cautiously into the tunnel. Yuna was aware that both that bastard and Noah could be watching and try to stop her, or even send her to a different part of the virtual world and she was really tired of all these games.

It was time to end this!

00000

Kaiba wonders how he can stop a weapon that's up in the sky. Lector says he can't—his Satellite Cannon is so far up, it's shielded from the attack of almost every monster.

And each turn, the Satellite Cannon gains 1000 attack points. Kaiba is about to lose everything he has, Lector says, and it serves him right, for destroying his own stepfather and betraying the Big 5. Now Kaiba will pay the price for using others to get what he wants—even his own brother!

Yugi and the others wonder what Lector's talking about, and Mokuba protests in the control room that it's a lie. Noah says it's about time Mokuba learned the harsh truth about his brother, and tells Mokuba to listen to what Lector has to say.

Lector says that Kaiba's treachery began when Gozaburo gave him ten million dollars to test his business skills. When Seto increased the money by threatening a smaller company, Gozaburo was impressed by Seto's abilities, and his cruelty. But that wasn't good enough for Seto.

Flashback

Young Seto called together the Big 5, telling them that if they helped him take over Kaiba Corporation, they'd rule together as a team. They all began to buy up stock in Kaiba Corp, but they began to have difficulties. They realized that someone was leaking their plans to Gozaburo, and Seto told them it was Mokuba.

Accusing Mokuba of betraying him, Seto threw his brother out.

00000

Present-day Mokuba's fists clench on his knees as he remembers that day—the most horrible day of his life. Noah watches Mokuba, smiling.

00000

Lector goes on to say that after his rejection, "sad, homeless" Mokuba was forced to turn to Gozaburo.

Seto flinches when Noah put an image of it in his head.

''Mokuba was forced to go to Gozaburo, who only wanted Mokuba's shares in the company. With Mokuba's two percent, he believed he held fifty-one, so he stopped buying stocks. Gozaburo assumed that Mokuba, who owned two percent of Kaiba Corp shares, would be on his side, and he would be safe as long as he owned forty-nine percent of the company. When Seto made his takeover attempt with his own forty-nine percent, Gozaburo thought Seto's plan had failed. He intended to fire us and completely destroy who Seto was! Isn't that right, boy?'' He asked, using the term Gozaboro loved to use with Seto, to remind him how powerless he was in comparison.

"You will mortgage your life to me." The words echoed in Seo's head when he remembered that day, six years ago.

''But then Mokuba threw in with his brother, using his two percent to back Seto. No matter what, Mokuba insisted that he and Seto were a team, and he'd never turn his back on his brother.'' Lector continued. ''On that day, Gozaburo was broken. He committed suicide, and it was your fault, Seto!'' He said, pointing a finger to Seto.

''Excuse me!? How is it my fault that the bastard was too weak to fight back?!'' Kaiba was enraged. ''You were there when it happened! You heard him say it! My 'last lesson'! Win or die! And you're saying that it's my fault that he jumped out of a 50 story window!? You must be delusional.''

Lector accuses Kaiba of playing them all like fools—it was really Seto who leaked their plans to Gozaburo.

Mokuba protests that he doesn't believe it, but Lector goes on to explain that Seto deliberately leaked the information, making Gozaburo think it was Mokuba, so that Gozaburo would let Seto buy up forty-nine percent of the company, confident that he would have Mokuba's two percent on his side. But Seto knew that his brother would remain loyal to him, no matter how badly he treated him.

To say that Seto was furious was an understatement of the century!

''Mokuba was the only one I trusted—I knew that together, we could take our stepfather down!''

''Then what about the pretty girl you always tried protecting from both us and your self? Did you not trust her?'' Lector tried to make the CEO say something he didn't mean, just to destroy the relationship between him and the most dangerous person in that virtual dungeon.

But Seto was too smart for that old trick.

''Quite the opposite. I trusted Yuna more than I trusted anyone else, beside MOkuba, since I left her out of all that crap so she could look after him should I fail. I knew that Gozaboro would have separated me from my brother if I fail, so Mokuba needed to have a safe place to turn to if it should happen. If I had decided to do it before I met Yuna, Mokuba could have easily ended up on the streets. But a Light of Hope shone on us, and I had someone to entrust the safety of my only family member that I rally cared for.'' Seto smirked. ''You don't even know how many times Yuna screwed you guys over!''

Lector was getting angry, and almost forgot what was the point of the whole duel. So he returned to the first plan, saying that Seto used Mokuba, and took advantage of his trust.

00000

''I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!'' Mokuba yelled in the control room, covering his ears.

00000

Lector also accuses Kaiba of using him and the Big 5, but Kaiba's had enough.

''If you can't win, don't play the game! Life is a game, and I won't let anyone trample my dream! This is for Mokuba and our dream!''

00000

Yuna sneers at the ''guards'' that were sent to stop her.

They were disguised as her friends and family, but that didn't fool her. She knew where they were.

''So ... '' She cracked her fingers, then took one of her favorite fighting stances, the spartan one. She smirked. ''Who's first?''

As expected, the first copy to take her challenge was Seto's, quickly followed by Joey's and Tristan's.

'This is going to be easy'

At least there wasn't a clone of Sasha, since his ''Reaper's Bloody Dance'' would be harder to defeat.

00000

The gang wonders why Kaiba let Lector destroy his dragon, but Yugi says Kaiba knows what he's doing. Lector's down to 1400 life points after boosting Lily's attack to destroy Spirit Ryu, and he doesn't have enough life points left to boost her again. Kaiba now attacks Injection Fairy Lily with Twin-Headed Behemoth, and she's destroyed. Lector's down to 800 life points, too.

It's Lector's turn. He gains 500 life points from Solemn Wishes, and 350 from Life-Absorbing Machine. But he doesn't want to pay the 700 life points to keep Imperial Order on the field, and it's destroyed. Joey cheers that now Kaiba can use his magic cards again. Yugi thinks that Kaiba might win this duel after all!

Kaiba taunts Lector, but Lector's not through yet. He plays a monster face-down, then uses Satellite Cannon to destroy Kaiba's Twin-Headed Behemoth. Once again with the flashy moves, Kaiba draws a monster, then plays Pot of Greed so he can draw two more cards. Then he summons Possessed Dark Soul, and uses it to attack Lector's face-down monster. It's Dream Sprite, whose effect can redirect Dark Soul's attack to any of Lector's other monsters, and he transfers its attack to Satellite Cannon, where it dissipates harmlessly in the sky.

00000

'It all comes down to this draw.'

Seto Kaiba closes his eyes, while Mokuba urges him on, and draws, you guessed it, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

Seto smiles briefly at his most trusted monster, thanking it with all his heart, and begging it's spirit to protect the ones he loves but isn't beside at the moment.

00000

Yuna suddenly stops in her fight, and smiles. She knew what has happened, and so she continued to trash the Kaiba copy's butt.

00000

First, Seto plays a monster face-down, then he activates his Deck Master's special ability. For a cost of 500 life points, Lord of Dragons allows him to summon any dragon from his hand. Kaiba sacrifices his two monsters on the field to summon the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. He sends the Blue-Eyes into the sky to attack Lector's Satellite Cannon.

The Satellite Cannon only has attack points when its attacking—otherwise, its attack is zero, so the Blue-Eyes White Dragon's attack does a full 3000 points of damage.

As he attacks, Kaiba says his dream won't be lost to a weapon of death, and shouts for the ghost of Gozaburo to disappear.

Lector loses, and the gang cheer for him.

''Where's Mokuba!?'' That was the only thing on Seto's mind. To find his little brother. He knew that Yuna went after him, but she couldn't fight Noah on her own. He wouldn't let her. Something was going on around here, and he didn't like it.

''You'll never see Mokuba again!''

00000

Mokuba cheers his brother's win.

Noah, shocked beyond belief, asks how Mokuba can still be on his brother's side, after Kaiba betrayed him to gain control of Kaiba Corp. Mokuba says he'll stand by his brother no matter what.

''We're family, and nothing will separate us!''

Grimly, Noah thinks he'll show him familly.

It doesn't help his case to see Kaiba on the bridge, calling out "I'm coming, Mokuba!", or the Queen of Games slowly defeating his clones.

Noah is astonished that even after everything he's shown Mokuba, Mokuba remains loyal to his brother. He's sick of Seto getting everything and leaving him with nothing! He wants what Seto has—and he'll start with Mokuba. He thinks he'll crush Seto by taking the one thing he thought he'd never lose—Mokuba's trust.

Noah asks Mokuba what he thinks his brother is thinking right now. Does Mokuba honestly believe Seto is coming to rescue him? Mokuba insists that he is. Noah tells him to ask Seto for himself.

Mokuba turns around and sees Seto standing there. Joyfully, Mokuba jumps over the back of the couch and runs to him. But Seto raises his arm, slaps the boy, and tells Mokuba to stay away. Seto tells Mokuba he's sick of Mokuba holding him back, and blames Mokuba for them being stuck there. Then he walks away, disappearing into the darkness.

Mokuba calls out to him to come back, but the vision of Seto ignores him. Noah tells Mokuba that his brother doesn't care where he ends up, but he (Noah) would like to help him. He kneels beside Mokuba, telling him that he'll save him. Noah's eyes begin to glow red, reflecting in Mokuba's eyes. Noah puts his arms around a hypnotized Mokuba, telling him that he's the only one Mokuba can trust.

Noah says "I'll be your brother now."

"Noah... big brother."

00000

Yunaq was panting hard when she finished the resistant copies off. She looked up and wanted to curse herself when she saw robots.

She was sick of this!

''I'VE HAD ENOUGH!'' The yell echoed, and she finally let it all lose.

The skies in the virtual world darkened, a virtual storm seeming to come as the Shadows danced around the enraged reincarnated Pharaoh. (A/N: Since it's the virtual world, things are controlled by the mind, and Yuna's {Yami's} is filled with secrets of the legendary Shadow Games, so she can have real Shadow powers there) The eye in the center of the Millennium Puzzle glowed with a matching intensity of the third eye on the Game Queen's forehead. Rising her hand, she pointed a finger at the attacking robots, and the Shadows sprang in attack. They enveloped the robots, squeezed, and the prisoners exploded.

After the first row was destroyed, the Shadows attacked the second then third and fourth and so on until they reached the 15th and last row.

Yuna collapsed against the wall, exhausted, but her strength soon came back to her and she continued to search through the tunnel for the right place.

00000

On the bridge, the gang watches from across the gap as Kaiba stands alone, having defeated the last member of the Big 5. Kaiba hears Noah's voice telling him that he might have won the duel, but he's lost something more important—his brother. Kaiba demands to know where Mokuba is, and Noah tells him to just look down. The missing section of the bridge reappears, and a tunnel forms across from Kaiba.

Kaiba runs for the tunnel, calling out to Mokuba. Yugi warns him that it might be a trap, but Kaiba tells Yugi to stay out of it.

"Wait, we'll go with you." Yugi yells again as they hear Mokuba saying, "Noah... big brother"

Joey asks Kaiba who he thinks he is, and Kaiba tells him it doesn't concern him—it's family business. Then he runs off. Frustrated, Joey says who needs him, and Duke agrees, but Yugi thinks they should help Kaiba save Mokuba. Tristan thinks finding Noah might help him find his body, and Serenity agrees. Grateful for her support, Tristan, the Robot Monkey, buries his face in Serenity's chest, until Duke grabs him by the tail, telling him that for all they know, the Robot Monkey is Noah's pet.

Yugi insists that they can't let Kaiba go alone, and runs off after him. Téa joins him, leaving Joey, Duke, and Serenity arguing about whether to follow. Joey says he's sick of helping Kaiba and never getting any thanks for it, and Duke agrees that if they were in trouble, Kaiba wouldn't help them.

Serenity won't listen, and takes off for the tunnel, and Joey and Duke reluctantly follow.

But before they can enter the tunnel, it disappears. Joey calls out to Yugi to hang on!

00000

Meanwhile, Kaiba has reached a fork in the tunnel. Grumbling about Noah's tricks, he takes off down the right-hand side. He hears Mokuba calling out to him for help, and then sees a side tunnel. Someone's standing in the darkness. It looks like Mokuba—but it's Noah, dressed in Mokuba's clothes. Noah floats up into the air, then a bright light engulfs both him and Kaiba.

00000

Yugi and Téa reach the same fork in the tunnel. Téa takes off down the left-hand side, saying Kaiba went this way. But when Yugi asks if she's sure, she says she has no idea! Yugi runs after her, telling her to slow down—her legs are longer than his!

Soon, they see a light at the end of the tunnel and emerge into a wooded area in front of an old mansion. The gate is locked, but they hear a baby crying somewhere inside, and decide they have to get inside to find it.

00000

Meanwhile, back at the airship, Roland decides that Seto and the others won't come anytime soon and asks Fugata to still wait at the entrance of the aircraft while he takes a piss.

But when he entered the bathroom, he called out to Fugata in a panicked voice.

When Fugata got there, he wasn't sure if he should panic, stare or laugh his ass of when he saw the graceful Queen of Games' grandfather stuck in the toilet.

00000

Back on the bridge, Joey and Duke notice that it's getting foggy. What disturbs them was that there were slight purple whisps here and there for a few seconds as the word ''Enough'' echoed, but after that it was just a normal fog.

00000

Kaiba comes crashing down to the ground in Noah's virtual living room, with Noah standing before him. Kaiba demands that Noah bring his brother, then sees Mokuba peering around Noah.

''Mokuba is safe and sound, thanks to me.'' Noah says.

ut Kaiba says that Noah's the one who took Mokuba from him, and he'd better hand him over. Noah reminds him that it was Kaiba's ex-employee who grabbed Mokuba. Maybe Kaiba should have been a better boss! Noah says he was the one who rescued Mokuba.

Kaiba grabs Mokuba by the arm and tries to take him away, but Mokuba pulls away from him and runs back to Noah,accusing his brother of standing aside and watching while they took him away.

''I'm staying with Noah!''

''What did you do to my little brother!?'' The enraged older brother demanded. Kaiba never believed for an instant that Mokuba's really turned against him, but this was not normal. Mokuba's eyes didn't have their glint of life and happiness like usual. They almost resembled Yuna's eyes whenever she had one of those freaky visions, and Yuna's eyes looked soulless!

This could only be Noah's doing, trying to get him and his little brother in a fight!

Seto, who was ready to die for Mokuba, was enraged, angry, filled with hatred that was only topped by the one he has for Gozaboro.

Noah claims he's done nothing. Kaiba tells Mokuba to snap out of it, but Noah taunts him, telling him that it will take more than shouting to erase all of Mokuba's painful memories of the times Seto abandoned him for his own selfish goals. Kaiba says it's a lie—he's never treated Mokuba like that, and begs Mokuba not to listen to Noah's lies.

Noah takes Mokuba back to the couch, telling Kaiba he's all alone now. Mokuba would rather be his brother. And that's not all—Kaiba doesn't deserve anything he has, and Noah plans to take it all away from him.

00000

Yugi and Téa have found their way into the mansion and are searching for the baby they still hear crying, but it's nowhere to be found. The whole mansion seems to be deserted. Yugi finds a rattle in an empty bedroom, and thinks there's not really a baby there at all.

They find a dusty photograph.

"This is weird," Yugi says. He had a feeling that this photo wasn't this ''clean'' a long time ago. ''Someone was hear.''

''But who? Do you think Kaiba saw it?'' Tea asked, perplexed, still staring at the photo.

''No, but I have a fair idea of who did. Come on!''

00000

Back on the bridge, Robot Monkey Tristan is looking down at the water, when he suddenly sees eyes peering up at him out of the sea. He tries to warn the others, but they just think he's being annoying.

Then a waterspout shoots up, revealing the four remaining Big 5, who've come to steal their bodies. Joey quickly throws a bunch of monsters on his Duel Disk to defend the gang, while they jump in the truck to try to get away. But the truck won't start. The Big 5 are quickly making short work of Joey's monsters. Just in time, the truck finally starts, and they speed away, the Big 5 in pursuit.

00000

Noah tells Kaiba it's time he learned the truth, and shows him a projection of himself with Kaiba's adopted father. Yugi and Téa arrive, and Yugi gives Kaiba the photograph they found. He says it's a trick.

''It's a picture of Gozaburo and Noah!''

Noah tells them all to watch the projection. They see Gozaburo take a photograph of young Seto from his desk and show it to Noah, telling him that this is his latest acquisition.

''His name is Seto, and he's extremely intelligent. He'll be coming here to challenge you since you have been slacking off! You will have to prove that you have the intellect to run Kaiba Corp some day. If not, this boy shows quite the potential.''

Noah agrees, telling Gozaburo he won't be disappointed, and calling him "Father."

Everyone is shocked, Kaiba most of all. Noah says it's true—he is Gozaburo's one true son, and Seto was just one of his servants. Kaiba says it's not true, but Noah says that now it's time for him to reclaim his rightful position as the head of his father's empire.

''And you are out of the job''

Noah seemed surprised when the vision continued, as if it had a mind of its own.

Gozaboro glared at his son. ''Don't be overconfident. He is not just cute. That boy has defeated me in chess-''

''What!?'' A surprised Noah exclaimed.

''How dare you interrupt me, boy!?'' Gozaboro stood up.

''I am sorry, but that is just not possible! You are champion for years now!''

The old CEO slumped into his big chair with a huff. ''He is just special.'' A sick grin made it to his face. ''I will enjoy toying with him.''

All watching shivered, but Seto just glared at the image of the man he hated so much. The darkness that has been slumbering for four years started to surface-

''And since Gozaboro was so interested in Seto, you tried to get his attention.'' They all jumped when they saw Yuna appear through a door that had materialized behind the group. ''You studied, you worked hard, you trained, but Seto was just too good. He was to fast. He was too skilled. Too intelligent. A real born genius.'' The Duel Queen came to stand between the group and Noah, who was now standing in front of the couch. ''You finish a book, but Seto finished three or more by the time you were done. You learn a new martial arts move, but Seto has already graduated the black belt in the same art. You do perfectly on an assignment that bastard gave you, but Seto had finished before you and had earned more than you. You were just never good enough.''

''Shut up.'' Noah said through grit teeth.

Yuna raised an eyebrow. ''So you tried to get his attention in more than academics, since no one can compete with a genius ...'' She continued mercilessly, stunning everyone watching. ''You were doing great, but ...''

''I'm warning you!'' Noah growled out, glaring at the girl.

Yuna just chocked out a strangled laugh like she was close to tears. ''You have made me relive more than you know with just those stupid challenges. You have tortured my heart enough. You have nothing to grab onto now.'' She went over to him and leaned into his face. ''You don't even know what I go through every single day. Your empty treats do not scare me. Not in the slightest bit.''

Noah didn't know what to say as he the Shadows that were dancing in the suddenly ancient looking eyes.

The eyes that showed a wisdom beyond this girl's age.

''But an accident happened, and things went downwards. He could save you, but he decided that it was just a waste of time. He didn't see you as a worthy son, because Seto was there ...'' She leaned to whisper into his ears, so no one heard her. ''He abandoned you, and now you wish for the same to happen to the one who you think is responsible.''

She moved back, watching as Noah stumbled over his feet and mind. ''How ...? How d-do yo-you know t-th-that?''

Yuna doesn't answer, but the look in her eyes says ''Another time.'' as she turns to one of the screens.

Kaiba says if Noah's really Gozaburo's son, why hasn't he ever met him before? Noah's about to explain, when the system alerts him to Joey and the others' pursuit by the Big 5.

Noah tells them to wait there while he takes care of this, and disappears, Kaiba shouting after him.

Seto growls when he saw that Mokuba was gone, too, but he had expected that. He turns to his rival and goes over to her when he notices she seems motionless.

''Yuna?'' He asks as he sets his large hand on her small shoulder. In fact, she looked so small and fragile to him in that moment that he didn't even think twice as he took her into his arms and hugged her close to his chest. They immediately clicked like puzzle pieces and she nuzzled his neck, wrapping her own arms around his neck as she started to sob even thought no tears had escaped yet.

''Yuna?'' Yugi asked as he was about to come closer, but instead just told Tea to go. They waited just beyond the door through which Yuna had came from, which was now glowing, indicating that it was a portal.

Seto brought one of his hands to the three-colored hair as the girl in his arms quietly cried. He rested his chin atop her head, Yuna slowly starting to calm down as he petted her hair. They stayed like that for a couple of seconds, and Yuna calmed down enough that she was no longer shaking. A few tears would slide down every now and then, but Yuna was fine.

''Yuna? What was that? And were you the one behind the rest of that scene? How did you know that?'' Seto knew that he probably shouldn't be asking so much questions, but he wanted to at least help the girl he had came to love.

Yuna took a step out of Seto's embrace, but didn't move any further. ''Vision. When I found the photo, I had a small vision.''

''What? But how? I thought those things were about the past!'' Seto was really beyond confused with this girl and all of this happening. It was really too much. First Yuna comes back unexpectedly, they spend an entire day together like on a date, then those Dome bikers crash the welcoming party and try to take Yuna's soul, after which the Big 5 die, Pegasus and Mai disappear and Duke leaves the country, only for them to see him again right before they went for America in one of his gifts to Pegasus after Yuna had told them her biggest secret that was more than enough to deal with. Now, they are stuck in a virtual world created by a boy that claims that his stepfather had been his(Noah's) birth father and all of the sudden Yuna knows what happened to the boy they had all just met.

Talk about messed up!

Yuna chuckled. ''Seto, what I'm telling you about happened a few weeks after you should have been adopted. I didn't know you at the time, and since you couldn't tell me yourself, my 'gift' informed me if you want to call it that. It doesn't matter if something happened two hours ago or two millenniums ago, Seto.'' She said. ''As long as it is in the past, I will eventually see it, be it today or tomorrow or 20 years from now. I will see it one day. It's just a matter of time.''

Seto Kaiba couldn't believe that his rival that his rival truly carried such a burden every day of her short life.

And here he thought he had it tough!

00000

Fortunately, no one is harmed, but the Big 5 are still determined to steal their bodies. Jinzo and the Penguin start to argue about who gets to pick first, while Joey and Serenity huddle on top of the truck. The Deep Sea Warrior walks up with Duke and tosses him to the ground, telling them to stop bickering and choose.

But then Noah appears, and sucks the Big 5 up in a twister, disappearing along with them. Yugi, Téa, Yuna and Kaiba come running up to the truck from the woods, and the gang all greet each other happily, Yugi flinging himself onto Joey, who gives him a good squeeze.

Kaiba is still looking at the photograph Yugi found. Yugi asks him if Noah's story could be true, but Kaiba says it has to be a trick—the supposed conversation between Noah and Gozaburo would have happened over six years ago, which is when the photo was taken, according to the date written on it. But Noah looks exactly the same in the picture as he does now. He hasn't aged in six years.

''But, Yuna knows something about this. You should be asking her.''

They all turn to the Archaeological Wonder, but she just glares at Seto. ''I already told you that it is better for you to find out on your own!''

00000

Noah is chastizing the Big 5 for attempting to take the kids' bodies by force. Since they're working for him, they make him look bad by losing and then trying to cheat. They protest, trying to make excuses for their behavior, but Noah won't hear it. Nesbitt shows up in Tristan's body to tell everyone he's about to escape to the real world. But the others point out that he actually lost the duel, so Tristan's body doesn't belong to him.

Noah tells them that they all must share Tristan's body and defeat Yuna in a duel. Defeating Seto's strongest rival will prove once and for all that Noah deserves to have Seto's empire. If they win, he'll let them each have bodies.

He couldn't tell them that he wanted the Game Queen shut up because she knows more than he can handle at the moment. All Noah feels in his heart is that he is somehow happy that someone else knows and somewhat understands through what he went through.

00000

Meanwhile, the gang is walking down an empty highway through the desert, asking Kaiba if Noah's really his stepbrother. Kaiba insists it's none of their business, but they go on talking about it, saying that it explains why Noah brought them there. By teaming up with the Big 5, Noah plans to prove that he's the better son. And, Yugi says, he's holding Mokuba captive to weaken Kaiba.

Yuna was quiet, understanding that Seto didn't want to talk about it.

Kaiba's heard enough. He turns and starts to walk away from the gang, but Téa runs in front of him to stop him. She tells him they want to help him, but he insists it's family business and tries to push past her. She stops him again, saying that his family business got them all trapped there, and they can help him find Mokuba. Kaiba turns his head away, refusing to even look at her, while she tells him that Mokuba is their friend, and they want to help him.

Tea was about to add something else, but Yuna grabbed her shoulder and turned her to look Yuna in the eyes. The hight difference was unnoticeable with how Yuna's dominant presence filled up for it.

''Do not butt in when you only know such a small part of the whole story.''

Tea wanted to protest, but she couldn't match YUna's authoritative aura and so she backed down.

''Instead of worrying about my family business, why don't they worry about him instead?'' Seto says, nodding in the direction of a familiar figure.

They all turn to see Tristan standing on a nearby hilltop. With the gang's attention elsewhere, Kaiba slips away, but not without Yuna catching his arm first.

''Listen, Seto. Noah isn't lying about who he is, but he is hiding a few other things. Just please ... Be careful. I won't stop you from going, just don't do anything rash.''

Seto cracked a small smile and pulled his long time rival, friend and secret love in a quick, one armed hug. He pecked her forehead as he promised to get back safe with Mokuba in tow and he leaves.

The Duel Queen watches him leave, before she turned to the bastards who had caused them so much trouble.

00000

Yugi yells at them to give Tristan's body back, and they (all five members of the Big 5) say there's only one way they'll do that—if Yuna beats them in a duel.

Nesbitt complains that he never agreed to give the body back! The others say it's their body now, too, and Johnson points out that they're not going to keep their word, anyway.

A Duel Disk appears on Big 5 Tristan's arm, and Yuna accepts the challenge, turning to Joey and Yugi, asking them to be her partners.

''I could do it myself, but I am exhausted and this way will be faster.''

The two boys nod eagerly, getting ready for a duel.

00000

Kaiba, meanwhile, is walking up a hill on a long stone stairway, thinking that Yugi and his friends can deal with the Big 5, since Yuna is there to babysit them, but he has bigger problems. He thinks that Noah's story has to be a lie. Noah can't be Gozaburo's son—that would make him the same age as Kaiba, and he's clearly just a snot-nosed kid! He wonders if the Big 5 put Noah up to all this in their attempt to take over Kaiba Corp. But they're not smart enough to have thought of it themselves. There's a piece of the puzzle missing, and he'll find it. But first, he has to find Mokuba. Then he'll show Noah that no one disrespects his family and gets away with it!

'There are two possibilities. One is that Noah is lying, and the other is that Noah is dead and this is his ghost.' Then he laughs at himself, thinking he must be brainwashed by Ishizu's recent supernatural talk. Even thought he had accepted that Yuna and he may have ancient souls, he didn't believe in ghosts any more tha he believed in Santa Clause!

Kaiba is still climbing the steps. When he nears the top of the hill, he turns and calls out to his brother.

00000

Noah watches from his sanctuary, and asks Mokuba if he wants to answer. Mokuba, his eyes glowing red from whatever mental hijinks Noah did to him, says no. Noah is his only brother.

Noah laughs, but it stops as he watches Yuna chose the Dark Magician as her Deck Master, alongside Joey's Flame Swordsman and Yugi's Silent Magician Level 1. He wonders what kind of trick the undefeated champion would pull now.

00000

Kaiba has reached a ruin at the top of the hill, thinking that whatever grudge Noah has against him, he should take it up with him face-to-face.

'Capturing my defenseless brother only shows what a coward Noah really is.'

The haze clears, and Kaiba is shocked to see a building of his own design. But he's never shown those blueprints to anyone! How could Noah have recreated it? Who is this kid?

Kaiba Land might have been almost built, but no one had ever seen it beside Mokuba!

'Could this be like how the Big 5 finally got the design for the damn satellite? Through memory?'

00000

Johnson draws, while Robot Monkey Tristan complains that those business geeks are sharing his body like a corporate condo!

Johnson uses his Deck Master ability, paying 1000 life points to destroy all of his opponents' monsters on the field, and inflicting 500 points of direct damage to Yugi and Joey for each of their monsters destroyed. They're down to 3000 life points each while Yuna still stands with her full 4000.

00000

Meanwhile, Kaiba's arrived at Noah's virtual Kaiba Land, astonished that Noah could have created it. The blueprints are secret, he thinks, and construction isn't due to be finished for another four weeks!

''No one should know of this. And Mokuba doesn't have a perfect memory? Could it be from my own imagination?''

But they've included every detail, including his back-door security system—a chess board, which opens the door when the proper move is played. Kaiba enters, thinking that maybe he'll get some answers inside.

Kaiba is walking through an empty building. He sees a virtual doorway and enters, thinking it probably leads to more images from his past. But instead, he finds an old movie projector and screen. He switches the projector on.

He sees home movies of a young Noah with Gozaburo: playing games, celebrating a birthday, on a fishing trip. Noah's still trying to convince him he's Gozaburo's son, Kaiba thinks. But it will take more than a few fake home movies to do that.

Then the scene changes, and the movie shows a woman walking down the steps of a church, holding a portrait of Noah in her hands.

'This is a Japanese funeral.' Kaiba thinks, astonished.

"Noah is dead?"

Gozaburo tells the grieving woman that Noah can still be saved. Kaiba wonders what it means. Was Noah in some sort of accident? He remembers that Noah was about to tell him "the truth" when he was distracted by the Big 5's attempt to steal the kids' bodies. Kaiba says that If these images are real, something devastating must have happened to Noah right before he and Mokuba were adopted or a short time after that.

Kaiba walks away, wondering why Noah would want him to know all this information about his past.

'Unless someone else is behind all this...'

00000

Yuna summons Dark Magician Girl, sacrificing Big Shield Gardna to summon her, and she attacks Lector directly for 2000 points.

But Lector rises from the attack, smiling. It's been three turns since he played Altar of Mists, so now he can use its effect. He draws, and laughs triumphantly. In his hand, he holds the Big 5's most powerful creature!

Yugi still has 2000 life points, but Joey's down to 300, and Lector-in-Tristan's-Body has 1200.

Yuna hadn't received any damage, which really pissed off the Big 5.

Just what the fuck did it take to bring this girl down!?

00000

Yuna orders Dark Flare Knight to attack. It's destroyed, but Yuna and Joey are unharmed, because of the Knight's effect, which prevents Yuna from receiving battle damage when it's destroyed. In addition, Mirage Knight (2800 ATK) is summoned in its place. Now Mirage Knight attacks the Five-Headed Dragon. Its effect allows it to absorb the attack points of the monster it's attacking, so its attack rises to 7800. Not only that, it's a Light monster—the one kind that can destroy the Five-Headed Dragon.

Yugi and Joey were ready to cheer for the ingenious Duel Queen, but she was still staring ahead with a serious expression.

They look over to their opponent and gasp.

The Five-Headed Dragon is destroyed—but Lector's still standing! His life points drop, but only to 600. He activated his trap card, A Deal With Dark Ruler, which prevented him from receiving any damage when the Five-Headed Dragon was destroyed, at a cost of half his life points. Then, A Deal With Dark Ruler allows him to summon Berserk Dragon (3500 ATK) to the field as his Deck Master. And Mirage Knight only stays in play for one attack, then returns to the original monsters it was fused from.

Duke says now there's no way they can stop the Big 5's dragon! It's way stronger than either of their Deck Masters. Serenity calls out to the boys not to let their Deck Masters be destroyed! Joey tells her not to worry, Yuna's turn isn't over yet.

Yuna plays Magical Hats to hide his Dark Magician, then pays 1000 life points to activate Dark Magician's Deck Master ability to duplicate the effect of any magic card on the field, and plays another Magical Hats to hide Joey's Flame Swordsman and Yugi's Silent Magician Level 6. Then she ends her turn, saying now it's up to fate. Joey says he's not worried—the Big 5 only has a one in eight chance of destroying their Deck Masters.

Lector disagrees. He draws, then points out that his Berserk Dragon can attack four monsters at once. Yugi thinks it's all over for one of them, but Joey says he doesn't think so.

Lector orders Berserk Dragon to destroy Yuna's four hats. Yugi waits for the end of his sister, since he can't do anything, but Joey says it's his turn to protect Yugi, and sends Flame Swordsman to intercept the attack.

''NO!''

The gang watches in horror as the attack strikes.

But when the smoke clears, Joey is still standing with 300 life points. Dark Magician survived, and so did the Flame Swordsman. Joey used his trap card, Silver Dollar, to save his Flame Swordsman from the attack. The trap can only be used on weak monsters, but Flame Swordsman's attack is only 800, after Joey used its Deck Master ability earlier to power up Rocket Warrior. Yugi tells him it was a good move, and Joey says Yugi'd have done the same thing if he had the cards.

He blushed cherry red when Una thanked him with a genuine smile.

Lector says he's not through with them yet. But his Berserk Dragon loses 500 attack points at the end of each of his turns, so it's now down to 3000, and it's Joey's turn.

Joey activates another of his face-down cards, Knight's Title, which he uses to turn Yuna's Dark Magician into Dark Magician Knight (2500 ATK).

''That is one pretty Duel Monster.'' Tea comments and Serenity nods.

Duke and Tristan wonder how it is possible that Serenity finds a goddamn card hooter than them.

Then he uses his Deck Master ability to transfer 700 attack points from Flame Swordsman to Dark Magician Knight, explaining that since the Deck Master ability only works on Warriors, he had to transform Dark Magician into a Warrior first. Now Dark Magician Knight has 3200 attack points—more than Berserk Dragon. Joey ends his turn, telling Yugi that Yuna deserves do the honors. Yugi says they make a great team and strengthens their Knight as he agrees to the suggestion.

He ends his turn and passes it to Yuna again.

As the Big 5 argue among themselves, Yuna orders Dark Magician Knight to attack the Berserk Dragon. After some very sexy moves that had the watching girls wishing the Monster was a real guy, Dark Magician Knight destroys the Big 5's Deck Master, winning the duel.

Yuna demands that they return Tristan's body, and the gang cheer.

But the Big 5 have no intention of playing fair.

They start to attack the gang, intending once again to steal their bodies, but Noah shows up to snatch them away, taking Tristan's body with them.

Poor Robot Monkey Tristan says he's going to be stuck as a monkey for the rest of his life! Serenity picks him up to comfort him, and, snuggled in her arms, he thinks maybe he can learn to live with it.

00000

Meanwhile, while blank-eyed Mokuba looks on, Noah tells the Big 5 they're pathetic.

Big 5 wonder where Honda's body went, and Noah asks them if they really thought he could give them bodies—there's nothing real in the virtual world.

They plead for yet another chance, but he tells them it's time for them to leave for good, and laughs as they disappear, to be imprisoned in his virtual world forever.

''Now, it's time I challenged Seto personally. I'll prove once and for all that I'm the true heir to the Kaiba Empire!''

Now, if only he could think up a way to convince Yuna that he was also more deserving to be her rival.

00000

Joey has Robot Monkey Tristan upside-down by his feet, shaking him, explaining that this could be the only way to save them. Duke goes on to say that since Tristan's robot body was designed by Noah, it might hold some clues about how to get out of there. While Tristan protests, Duke runs his hands along the robot body, and a panel in the back opens up, revealing a keypad. Joey presses a key, which makes the robot switch into wheeled mode, and it races around them in circles. Then Duke tries pushing a key, and the robot sprouts a whirling set of rotor blades and flies around before crashing into the ground.

Finally, Yugi decides to try pushing the red button. The robot monkey sits up and initiates the escape sequence. A virtual door appears, leading to Kaiba Land.

00000

Inside the virtual Kaiba Land, Kaiba stands on a subway platform, thinking that this is just a rip-off of his Duel Monsters theme park. The Blue-Eyes White Train enters the station, and Kaiba thinks at least Noah got this right!

"Have you come to welcome me?"

Kaiba boards the train, thinking that it had better lead him to Mokuba. As he sits down in the empty train car, he hears an announcement in Noah's voice say that all passengers who have stolen family empires from their rightful owners should prepare to exit at the next stop.

"And ... Welcome to my world."

In another car, Noah sits cuddling with Mokuba, watching Kaiba on a viewscreen, telling Mokuba not to believe a word Kaiba says. Glowy-eyed Mokuba agrees, saying Noah is his only brother.

Mokuba asks Noah who Seto is, and says, "He looks like you."

Noah was stroking Mokuba's hair. Noah tells Mokuba that their guest is about to arrive, and he has to prepare to entertain him.

"You stay here and be a good boy."

00000

Outside the virtual Kaiba Land, Yugi, Yuna and the gang gather, saying it looks like some sort of Kaiba Corp amusement park.

They begin to follow Tristan into the park, but the robot monkey turns on them, warning them not to come any further. Guns emerge from his robot arms, but Yugi and Joey run right past him, knocking him to the side. Now he's just Tristan again, and Serenity stops to ask if he's all right.

00000

The Blue-Eyes White Train emerges from the virtual Kaiba Land onto an elevated track traveling over a stark landsacape of volcanoes and molten lava. Noah stands on a small shelf of rock jutting out of the lava sea, and the train stops, letting Kaiba out onto another rock island. As the train and tracks disappear, Kaiba faces Noah, demanding his brother back. But Noah says Mokuba is his brother, and he'll be much better off when Kaiba's mind is scattered throughout cyberspace.

Then he tells Kaiba to forget about that and look around—isn't it beautiful here? This is the original earth, about to be born.

When Seto laughs and says that he has seen a better and more correct version, Yuna's works, Noan gets mad and growls at the smug CEO.

Noah says it's time for him to prove to himself and to his father that he is superior to Seto in every way.

''If you're so superior,'' Kaiba says, ''Why am I president of Kaiba Corp?''

''It was an unfortunate twist of fate, and one I intend to correct.'' Noah says.

Noah says that with Kaiba Corp technology you can create any world you want. But Seto only uses this excellent technology for games. He says they can come to an understanding of who should run Kaiba Corp.

Kaiba asks Noah who he really is. ''I saw the home movies, and you owe me some answers. And, quite frankly, you're dead. It's it's meaningless to want to run a company as a ghost.''

00000

Now the gang have found the home movies, and are watching Noah's mother emerge from the church carrying Noah's portrait. They hear Gozaburo saying that if he's going to save Noah, he has to act fast, and Téa thinks Noah must have been in some sort of accident.

Tea says it's Noah's funeral, and the gang realize that Noah must be dead.

Yugi looked at his sister.

Yuna hadn't even stopped and just went straight on, wanting to find Seto.

Yugi and the others had no choice but to follow her.

00000

Noah says that he might as well tell Seto the truth, since he won't be there for long.

''It's true, that I haven't aged in years. This isn't really my body.''

A metal sphere appears in the sky, and Noah says his living brain is up there.

00000

The gang find the subway station. Robot Monkey Tristan is eager to follow the tracks so that they can find Kaiba and Mokuba, get his body back, and get out of there! Téa thinks maybe they ought to wait for a train, but Tristan's already jumped down and found a handcar. Joey tells Tristan nice score, and soon they're speeding along the tracks, Joey and Duke pumping the levers while Téa and Serenity, Yugi, and Tristan hang on for dear life. Téa asks Joey if he knows where the brakes are, and Joey sheepishly holds up a rod, saying this looks like it. The handcar speeds out of control.

Yuna suddenly jumps to the levers, pushing it to the very end on one side, the other high in the air. The handcar sped up, but only for a moment. Slowly, very,very slowly, the car started to slow down, even if just a little.

00000

Noah continues to explain. His brain is hardwired to a computer that projects a virtual image of him. But things weren't always that way. He used to be a normal kid—a normal kid who had everything!

Flashback

Young Noah plays on the grounds of the Kaiba mansion, and stands in his luxurious bedroom, attended by swarms of devoted servants. Mathematicians and scientists from around the globe lined up for the chance to teach him, along with musicians and athletes. He was groomed to be the educated and well-rounded successor to Kaiba Corp, until a freak accident rendered his body useless.

Screeching car tires and screams are heard as they see Noah's body spin through the air.

A sequence showing the injured Noah being rushed to an operating room on a gurney, then lying in a hospital bed with an oxygen mask over his scratched face.

Gozaburo orders the doctors at Kaiba Hospital to heal his son, but the doctors say he must rely on medical science now. Gozaburo pushes the doctors away, telling them they're quacks, and pounds in helpless frustration on the glass window to his son's room.

End Flashback

Seto couldn't believe that this kid went through something like that. No wonders he seems to be crazy now!

''So my father connected my mind to a computer and downloaded my every thought and memory, turning me into a virtual being whose power is limitless! My very consciousness was downloaded into the Kaiba Corp Battle Computer!''

The only thing Seto could think of was that that was sick!

'Does your cruelty have no boundaries, Gozaboro? Why didn't you just leave him in peace!'

''And then, you came along, Seto. Originally, Gozaburo adopted you to motivate and challenge me, to help train me to take over Kaiba Corp. But after the accident, that was no longer possible—without a body of my own, I couldn't run Kaiba Corp. Until now. I am no longer human. I exist only as a digital file in my father's computer. But as soon as I defeat you in a duel, proving myself to be superior, I'll upload my mind into your body and return to the real world to take over Kaiba Corp!''

That did it! Seto had actually pitied this kid, but that really got him mad all over again!

Kaiba laughs.

''The only thing more ridiculous than that story is you out-dueling me! The only person who has done so every time, and fairly no less, is Yuna herself. And you're not her, now are you?'' He mosked the green-haired brat. ''I re-built Kaiba Corp from the ground up on my own terms, with no help at all. No one else could run it, especially not some kid.''

He accepts Noah's challenge and activates his Duel Disk, choosing his Deck Master, Kaiser Seahorse.

The duel begins with Kaiba, who summons Giant Germ (1000 ATK) and plays one card face down.

'Noah's first mistake was taking Mokuba, and his second was challenging me to a duel.' The overprotective older brother thinks.

He's set his Crush card, which will be activated as soon as Noah attacks his Giant Germ, destroying every monster in Noah's deck with an attack over 1500 points.

Noah draws and summons Chiron the Mage (1800 ATK).

00000

Meanwhile, the gang is still speeding along on the handcar, which suddenly bursts through into the lava landscape, crashing onto another of the rock islands emerging from the lava. The whole gang, Yuna excluded, had landed in mess of limbs on the floor.

The Queen of Games had safely landed a little in front of the handcar, having jumped off of it before the crash.

Joey spots Kaiba dueling Noah, and Yugi calls out for Kaiba to be careful.

''It seems like your fan club has arrived, Seto.'' Noah says, pointedly looking at the group. ''And just in time, too! Just in time to see Kaiba's last duel!''

Seto looks over to the others, Yuna the first to catch his attention. Noah saw this, so he continued to taunt the already angry CEO. ''And if it isn't the Duel Queen! Don't you worry, Seto. I'll make sure she is well entertained after I take control of your body!''

Kaiba doesn't look too happy to see them, but he was ready to kill the brat in front of him. How dare him treat him this way in front of Yuna?! And een to say that he was going to become Yuna's rival!?

The kid was so dead.

Yugi says Kaiba can't let Noah win!

''Don't let him distract you, Seto! Focus and show him what a real Duelist can do!'' Yuna yelled at her rival.

''Of course.'' Was all the genius said as he gave her a nod.

00000

Noah says it's time for Seto to meet his Deck Master

''Shinato's Ark!'' Noah yells as a huge ark rises from the waters and hovers in the air beside Noah. Noah says this ark will allow him to sail away with everything Kaiba has—his company, and his brother!

Noah stands by as his Deck Master, Shinato's Ark, descends to the ocean. The gang watch in surprise as the Ark opens up, and all the monsters in both players' graveyards and in their hands are taken into it. Noah explains that from now on, every time a monster is sent to the graveyard, it will be re-routed into Shinato's Ark.

''This is the beginning of the Seven Turns of Creation.'' Noah says as he smirks at Seto.

''What does he mean?'' Duke asks, turning to Yuna. He had been filled in on everything while he was away, and although he didn't quite understand it all, he understood that this girl knows answers to more questions than most people would even believe.

''He means that we will see how the world has evolved.'' Yuna answered as she never took her eyes off of the duel, absolutely dismissing Duke.

Kaiba laughs. It's his turn, and, because of Shinato's Ark, Noah has no monsters on the field or in his hand. If Kaiba draws a monster now, Noah will have no way to protect himself from attack. Noah says Kaiba is mistaken. Kaiba draws, and summons Spear Dragon (1900 ATK), ordering it to attack Noah directly.

But Noah has the ability to use the monsters aboard Shinato's Ark to protect himself. He calls Vampire Lord (1500 DEF) to the field in defense mode, and lets it absorb Spear Dragon's attack. He still loses 400 life points due to Spear Dragon's effect—it does battle damage even when the opponent's monster is in defense. But he's saved from most of Spear Dragon's attack. Vampire Lord is destroyed and returns to Shinato's Ark.

Noah tells Kaiba that they're dueling in his world, and he controls everything that goes on.

''It's the Second Turn of Creation.''

The ocean dries up, and they're now surrounded by lush jungle.

Noah welcomes them to the dinosaur age, and summons Giant Rex (2000 ATK) to destroy Spear Dragon. While Giant Rex biting Spear Dragon and shaking it by its neck, the others ask Yuna why this version of the dinosaur age is so poor in comparison to the one she painted. Well, except Yugi.

''Just because I know every detail doesn't mean that others do too, you know.'' The response had the Yugi-tachi blushing at how rediculous it sounded when they thought about it a bit more.

Spear Dragon switches into defense mode after it attacks, so Kaiba's life points aren't affected. But he now has no monsters on the field.

Noah asks Kaiba if he's feeling frustrated to learn that Noah is more intelligent than he is.

''Not really, since it's not true.''

Noah growls and points up at the metal sphere which holds his brain, saying that with each passing second it grows.

Noah says that when his mind was digitized into the computer, something unexpected happened to him. His brain waves became more powerful, and he was able to absorb vast amounts of knowledge through his father's computer network. Soon, he became a superhuman, with more knowledge than anyone on Earth!

Yugi and Seto raised an eyebrow. ''You sure?'' The younger Mouto asked.

''What do you mean?'' The child asks.

''I am willing to bet on my body that Yuna knows more than you ever could, even with the help of the Internet!''

''Yugi!'' Joey and the others screamed.

''What do ya think yer doin', pal?! Ya want her stuck 'ere for da rest of 'er life?!''

''Joey, are you forgetting what you found out about my sister just yesterday? Believe me, she could easily defeat him in any competition, especially ones where knowledge is involved.'' Yugi replied confidently.

''Oh really? Then does Noah's Ark really exist?'' The born Kaiba asked.

''Yes, actually. It is believed to be buried in the mountain it had came to rest on the Mountains of Ararat. There were found pieces of wood in the rocks, but scientists can't seem to find the exact place the Ark is now. Many believe that the Ark either doesn't exist or that it was taken apart after the flood, since they don't think that there were any trees left for them to use to make houses. However, there were found measurements on a stone tablet that has been hidden in Egypt, and a similar, if a little smaller Ark was made, once they figured out how the ark was supposed to look like and how they are to build it.''

Noah blinked. ''O-kay~...'' He returned to the duel as soon as they all stopped staring at the girl that had just confirmed something many think is just made up.

''But it wasn't enough. I still lacked one thing—my father's trust. But once I destroy you, Seto, I'll prove to my father that Kaiba Corp should be , mine!''

Noah calls Kaiba a lowly human, but Kaiba laughs, telling Noah that behind his so-called superhuman intellect, he's just a spoiled brat.

''All your life, you had everything handed to you. I had to work for everything he have now. Kaiba Corp is mine because I earned it.''

Kaiba tells Noah that all this just proves that Noah's mad to trap them in a virtual world and force him to duel. He's a better man than Noah will ever be, and deep down his father always knew it.

''If Gozaburo really wanted you to have Kaiba Corp, why didn't he just give it to you? He could have let you compete with me openly. Why didn't he choose open and above-board ways? It was because Gozaburo didn't trust you after you became a computer. You probably became a real slacker, and one thing that was positive about that man was that he hated slackers. But I always had a reason to work harder, and he mostly didn't even have to make me. I spent many sleepless nights, studying, working, practicing. I trained until i bled almost every day and most of the nights. I still can't go to sleep before 3 am earliest, or wake up later than 5 am latest. And what ws your life like in comparison? Even with all that happening to you, Gozaboro never allowed you to get dirty and actually do something with your own strength!''

Noah remembers waking in his bed after the accident.

Thinking that it was all just a dream, he jumped out of bed, calling for his father. But he found the door to his room locked. In the wall of his bedroom, a window appeared, with his father standing on the other side. Noah ran to him, saying that he had the wierdest dream, but his father shook his head, and told him that the accident was no dream. Noah's bedroom was virtual, existing within the computers Gozaburo had used to download Noah's mind. Noah asked Gozaburo to let him out of there, then Gozaburo explained that Noah had died, and must remain in his virtual world.

As Noah sunk to the floor in despair, a little virtual puppy came up to him, and Noah clung to him.

Noah explored the virtual world Gozaburo had created for him. It was full of friendly people, but their programming was limited. The woman at the ice cream stand could only repeat the same line over and over. Disappointed and frustrated, Noah threw a rock at his dog, but it continued to bark cheerfully at him. He knew some improvements needed to be made.

For his birthday, Gozaburo gave Noah a virtual trip to Mars. In his space suit, Noah said it was the best present ever! How many kids could say they'd been to Mars? Of course, it was only a virtual experience. Then his virtual dog ran up to him, and Gozaburo was shocked to see it wearing a metal mask with spikes around its muzzle.

Noah exlained that he had experimented with it, turning it into a robot dog. Then he told his father that he'd been working on another project, figuring out how to improve the virtual world his father had created for him. All they had to do was connect his computer network to other systems all around the world.

Noah said he'd calculated that if they used the entire financial resources and weaponry of Kaiba Corporation, they could destroy the entire world in thirty days. Gozaburo asked how many people would survive, and Noah replied about three percent. Gozaburo said that wasn't very many, but Noah he didn't care about that, because it had nothing to do with him. He'd already surpassed human beings, and had begun to see Kaiba Corp's position from a new perspective.

Gozaburo said he was impressed, but walked away when Noah asked if this didn't prove he was the perfect candidate to take over Kaiba Corp.

End Flashback

''Then,'' Noah says, ''Gozaburo began to really focus all his attention on his new family—Seto and Mokuba. Soon he stopped visiting me altogether. Gozaburo didn't believe that Kaiba Corp could be run properly by a virtual president.''

Kaiba says that Gozaburo didn't give up on Noah because of his virtual state.

''He knew that no matter how much knowledge you gained, Noah, you'd always stay a spoiled brat. Despicable as he was, Gozaburo knew the value of hard work, and he knew that I was the better man for the job, and you were better off in your, actually my, virtual world, out of the way. It proves that as strong as Gozaburo was, he still couldn't control the human mind. Noah, you can only see the virtual world. The real world is chaos. The frustration and strength to live can only be learned by people who live in it. Gozaburo must have thought that he might be able to accept you, if you could win in competition with a flesh-and-blood human.''

Kaiba tells Noah that he's lost everything important to a human being, living in his cold world.

Noah says that's ridiculous, and that of the three Kaiba brothers, Seto is low man on the totem pole.

''I haven't lost human feelings. I surpassed human boundaries to become the Creator. Oh, and isn't it hypocritical that you of all people are calling me cold?''

''You can call yourself "Creator" of this virtual world?''

''Yes. Let's see how well both you and I understands human feelings. As Creator, I predict that in the Third Turn of Creation, something will happen that will shock your existence.''

Brainwashed Mokuba, watching from Noah's sanctuary, gets up and goes to the door, saying he must help Noah, his one true brother.

Kaiba says let's finish this, and draws. He plays Pot of Greed and draws two more cards. Then he activates Kaiser Seahorse's Deck Master ability, which allows him to summon a higher level monster without sacrificing another monster, and summons Different Dimension Dragon (1500 DEF). Then he sets three cards face down and ends his turn.

Joey wonders what Kaiba's doing. Noah's Giant Rex can destroy Kaiba's dragon. Noah could win on his next turn! But Yugi knows Kaiba's no fool. He must have some plan in mind.

Yuna watches as the stepbrothers fight, knowing, feeling, that someone else was watching this and enjoying both boys' sufffering in the memory line.

00000

It's Kaiba's turn, and he draws, and switches the Different Dimension Dragon to attack mode. Then he discards Thunder Dragon, letting it be absorbed by Shinato's Ark, but allowing him to draw two more Thunder Dragons from his deck, and plays Polymerization to form Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon (2800 ATK). He plays Quick Attack to allow his fusion monster to attack in the same turn it's summoned.

Noah says Kaiba seems to have forgotten—he can call upon any of the monsters from Shinato's Ark to protect him. He brings Giant Rex and Giant Soldier of Stone to the field. But Kaiba laughs. Noah fell right into his trap! He plays his trap card, Dragon's Rage, which allows his monsters to inflict battle damage to Noah's life points, as long as their attack is higher than Noah's defense monsters' defense.

Spear Dragon takes out Giant Rex, and Noah's down to 400 life points. The gang cheers, and Joey grabs Yugi around the neck and squeezes him until his little eyes bug out.

''All Kaiba has to do is attack Giant Soldier with Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon, and it's over.'' He cheers.

''Hold on the party. Something is not right here.'' He turns to Yuna.

''What do you mean? Noah's defenseless! Rich boy is going to win when he attacks!''

The Duel Queen turns to her little brother's best friend.

''Duel wise, Noah is defenseless, but in this virtual world, we are all his puppets and he has two of our dear friends.''

Realization dawns on them all in a short time after those words leave the girl's mouth.

Kaiba prepares to order the attack.

But suddenly Mokuba appears on the field, standing in front of Noah to protect him.

Kaiba stops in shock, unable to attack his brother.

Noah laughs, telling Kaiba that Mokuba has chosen sides based on his own free will. ''Mokuba is my brother now.'' Noah says while stroking Mokuba's face.

''Now you must decide, Seto Kaiba. Forfeit the duel and step down as president of Kaiba Corp, or attack your brother and risk losing him forever. What will Seto Kaiba do?''

Kaiba demands that Noah release Mokuba at once.

''This is our fight, so don't bring Mokuba into this!'' he says.

But Noah accuses Kaiba of disrespecting Mokuba by acting like Mokuba's opinion means nothing, and brainwashed Mokuba tells Seto to give Kaiba Corp to Noah.

The gang can't believe it.

Noah taunts Seto to attack.

But Kaiba can't bring himself to attack while Mokuba is standing against him.

He ends his turn.

Noah laughs at Seto, and congratulates Mokuba for helping him against this "stranger." Then he activates another special ability of his Ark, destroying the monsters in the Ark to increase his life points by 500 for each one. Since there are twelve monsters in the Ark, Noah's life points increase by 6000, to 6400, while Kaiba still has only 700.

Joey says one more attack and Kaiba's a goner, and Yugi agrees—and if Noah wins, he'll take Kaiba's body and escape to the real world, leaving the rest of them trapped there.

Noah then plays the magic card, Dark Hole, to destroy all monsters on the field. All the destroyed monsters go into Shinato's Ark. Noah ends his turn.

Kaiba wonders how Mokuba could have been forced to turn against him. Maybe he has been too hard on Mokuba. He remembers accusing Mokuba of betraying him to Gozaburo and kicking him out. He urges Mokuba to remember that they're a team, reminding Mokuba that he was always there for him. They defeated their stepfather together. Kaiba says he couldn't have done it without Mokuba.

''I promised to be a father to you, Mokuba, and protect you. I didn't treat you well when I threw you out, but I did it so that no matter what happened to me, you would still have a family. I didn't use Mokuba.'' He looks at Noah, before returning his eyes to his only little brother. ''The bond between us was what enabled us to defeat Gozaburo and take over Kaiba Corp.!''

'There must be some way to save him.'

Noah says it's very touching, but Mokuba's on his team now.

Yugi tells Kaiba he can help him, because he's been through the same thing, and reminds Kaiba of when Joey was brainwashed by Marik to duel his sister. Kaiba should be able to get through to Mokuba the same way he got through to Joey.

''The answer might be in your deck. Seto, don't give up now!'' Yugi was more than shocked when his polite sister cut him off, but he knew that if one person can help the Kaiba brothers, it would be Yuna.

''You must keep fighting to awaken the bond between you and Mokuba.''

Kaiba turns to Noah, telling him that not only will he win the duel, he'll win back his brother. He knew that Yuna and Yugi were rightm now he only needed to work hard, like he always did.

He draws, but it's not the card he wants. He still has Different Dimension Dragon, though, which returns to the field due to its effect. He puts it in defense mode and ends his turn.

00000

Kaiba draws. Still not the card he wants. He leaves his Different Dimension Dragon in defense and ends his turn. He and Noah taunt each other for a while, then Noah takes his turn (the Sixth Turn of Creation), playing Gradius's Option, which turns into a second Gradius with the same attack as the original. He attacks Kaiba's Different Dimension Dragon, and Kaiba's life points go down to 500. Kaiba thinks he can't keep this up much longer, and Noah asks Mokuba if he's enjoying the show.

Kaiba calls out to his brother, and Noah laughs, asking him how it feels to lose his only friend. Then he attacks the Different Dimesion Dragon with the second Gradius.

An unexpected whisper was barely heard. ''I'm ... not ... Nii-sama's ... Nii-sama's only friend... Yuna ...'' They all turned to the boy in surprise as Mokuba said this and continued to mumble the same thing over and over again.

Kaiba's knocked off his feet by the attack. He struggles to rise to his elbows, calling out to Mokuba to snap out of it, telling him he needs him. He manages to get to his hands and knees, while Noah taunts him, telling him he's one attack away from annihilation.

Joey yells encouragement, and Kaiba gets to his feet, saying it will take more than a few attacks to keep him down, and it's his turn now.

"Stand up! Don't give up!" and Kaiba struggles to his feet, responding, "Shut up, Stupid! You can't tell me what to do!"

''Kaiba, you bastard!'' The blond yells, even thought he wasn't all that angry. It was for show, and that's what they did. Joey felt proud when he saw that Yuna appreciated what he did for her childhood friend.

Noah says that the sooner Kaiba gives in, the less he'll have to suffer, and Mokuba has already realized this.

''Oh, and, is there a dispute between the friends? It's a symptom of the weakness of human beings when they're about to lose.''

Yugi tries to break through to Mokuba, telling him that Noah has brainwashed him, and Seto is his brother.

It seems Mokuba is beginning to listen to him. Noah tells Mokuba that the others are just trying to break them apart.

Kaiba tells Mokuba not to let Noah poison his mind. He reminds Mokuba that they've always been there for each other.

"Mokuba, this is going to be my last turn. I can't fight you. As long as you're beside me, I can fight. Now or in the future, this won't change."

He tells Mokuba that there's something he's never told him—Mokuba once saved him when they were kids.

''When Gozaburo adopted us, he was merciless, forcing me to work without rest. I was ready to give up, until you inspired me, sneaking my cards to me through Hobson, and drawing the Blue-Eyes White Dragon for me. That card inspired me and gave me something to strive for. I swore that day to become a person worthy of possessing a real Blue-Eyes.''

Mokuba remembers making the card, lying on the floor of his room, drawing the card with crayons. A tear drips down Mokuba's cheek, and he says that he remembers.

Kaiba calls out to him that he knows Mokuba is strong and can break through Noah's mind games. "Without that card, I would have been finished. Do I deserve that card, and to be your brother?" As he continues his turn, Kaiba says, "My deck connects me and Mokuba." He looks at his brother. ''But I need you now, Mokuba. Fight him! Never give up!''

Kaiba draws, and holds the card up with his eyes closed, begging it to be the card he needs. With one eye, he peers at it, and yes! This is it. Kaiba sets one card face down, then activates the special ability of his Deck Master, allowing him to tribute just one monster to summon the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

The magnificent beast rises to the field, roaring for all it's worth. Behind it, two more ghostly Blue-Eyes appear, echoing their brother's cry, and were joined by the final and forth Blue-Eyes White Dragon as it flies from Yuna's Deck. Seto turns to his rival, only to see her proud expression, and then he knew.

Everything would be alright.

The ghostly forms disappeared, leaving only one dragon to guard the Ryūjin [竜神] (dragon king)

Mokuba stares at the Blue-Eyes and recognizes it as the card he drew for his brother. He blinks, opening his eyes, and Noah's control is broken. Mokuba calls out to his brother. Noah tries to tell Mokuba that Seto is their enemy. Joey calls out to Noah that it's too late (Japanese Jounouchi tells Mokuba to leave that guy). Mokuba calls Noah a phony and runs away from him.

Kaiba attacks Gradius with the Blue-Eyes, destroying it and reducing Noah's life points to 4900. Destroying one of Noah's jets causes the other one to be destroyed also, and Noah's out of monsters.

''I love that you can do this to me. But I'm not finished yet.''

Noah uses the five monsters in Shinato's Ark to increase his life points by 2500, bringing him back up to 7400—even higher than before.

Noah begins to take his turn, but Kaiba stops him, telling him it's time to find out which one of them is superior. He activates his trap card, Last Turn (Last Battle), which requires them each to choose one monster to engage in a final battle to determine the outcome of the duel.

''Are you nuts, Kaiba!? That's too big of a gamble!'' Joey yells, but is utterly ignored.

''Funny you should say that Joey, oh beloved of the Goddess of Luck!'' Duke screams at his friend.

''It's not like you're not a gambler yourself, Duke! In fact, you might be the worst one of them!'' Robot-monkey Tristan yells as he jumps at Duke to try and shut him up.

While the little commotion is going on on the sidelines, Kaiba chooses his Blue Eyes White Dragon, and Noah chooses his Deck Master, Shinato's Ark. The Blue-Eyes attacks, white lightning flying towards the ancient ship, and the Ark seems to be destroyed—but it's not the real Deck Master. Now the true form of Noah's Deck Master is revealed—it's Shinato, King of a Higher Plane, with 3300 ATK.

It destroys the Blue-Eyes, and Kaiba loses.

Mokuba calls out to his brother, while Noah gloats, telling his father that he's won, and he can now take over Kaiba Corp.

He looks to Seto. ''Did you forget? This is the fateful Seventh Turn—the round of my ultimate ability!''

Noah rises and merges with his Deck Master, saying that he has one final task. He's decided not to escape to the real world in Seto's body. There are plenty of others to choose from, and he wants to turn Seto into a permanent fixture in this world.

Kaiba struggles to sit up, having been knocked down by the force of the Blue-Eyes's destruction. Mokuba runs to him and Kaiba smiles, reaching out a hand to his brother. But just as they're about to come together, Noah turns them to stone—two statues with hands outstretched toward each other, inches apart.

''I think I'll name the statue 'Wonderful Brotherhood'.'' Noah says with sick glee seeping into his voice.

The gang run to them and stand by the statues.

Tears fall from stone Mokuba's eyes.

Yugi gets mad and turns to Yuna, only to take a step back. The gang were about to ask what's up, but they too move away from the girl, petrified.

Yuna was beyond anything that resembled human rage. Her eyes were flashing, even thought the Shadows were battling with lighting in her blood ed eyes. Her eyebrows were so frowned that they wondered how they didn't just detach themselves from her face. Her three colored hair was dancing on the energy waves that were rolling off of the slight, leather clad form. The goldenrod bangs swayed in front of the boiling rubies, and the all swore that they saw a third, gold eye in the middle of her forehead. The Millennium Puzzle glowed with its own light as it too danced on Yuna's chest. Her fists were clenched, her jaw set and her whole body was vibrating from all the power that raced through her.

The ancient soul has awoken, and there was nothing they could do to stop it from unleashing its true power.

The sky grew darker with every millisecond, a slight cold breeze picking up speed. The temperature had drooped quite a few degrees. The Shadows were dancing all across the virtual world, bending, swiveling, creeping, slithering and down right dancing. They were the thickest around the reincarnation of the Pharaoh who had sealed them away, seemingly begging to be set free and cause chaos.

But the Pharaoh's reincarnation knew that they must stay sealed, and finally she calms down enough for the Shadows to be drawn back into the Millennium Puzzle. The Item stopped moving and the Eye of Ra, on both the Puzzle and on the Duel Queen's forehead, slowly surcease its light.

Even thought the image of the Kaiba brothers reaching out to each other but never touching struck a nerve that comes from the symbolics of Seth's carving reaching for the Pharaoh's. So similar...

So close, but never close enough ...

Always just out of reach ...

She wasn't going to allow that to happen to her friends!

Yuna looks to Noah, knowing what it was all about to the very last detail, but she wasn't about to let this continue.

It's time someone gave this brat a good beating, and she was just the Pharaoh for the job.

''This doesn't prove that you are the best—it shows your father that you're a coward. Just like him.''

Noah bristled. ''I won fair a and square!''

''Kidnapping Mokuba and using him as a shield wasn't fair. You're guilty of the same foul play as the Big 5, Noah. Seto could have easily won, but he chose the safety of his little brother over his victory. You didn't really win, anyway. If Seto had kept the Twilight Zone Dragon, it would have survived the Last Turn and the game would have been a draw, but instead he abandoned the chance to survive in order to summon the Blue Eyes and win Mokuba back. And knowing him, he would have found a way to beat you, if given a chance to try. No, Noah. You just proved just how better a man Seto Kaiba really is, and just how superior he is to you.''

Yuna picks up Seto Kaiba's deck as if it were the most valouble thing in the world, caressing it for a second and asking for the cards' assistance, and challenges Noah to continue the duel.

The score is 7400 to 400, and Kaiba's side has no monsters on the field. Noah accepts the challenge. If he wins, he'll turn them all into stone but one, whose body he'll use to escape.

''And you, of course. You will come with me and work for me for the rest of your life!'' A pathetic way to make her stay beside him, but Noah just wanted the girl there. He was sure that she would eventually forgive him, and maybe even become his Nee-chii.

He can hope, can't he?

But if Yuna wins, Noah must set them all free.

Noah causes circles of stone to rise out of the ground beneath himself and Yuna so that their duel will take place in the sky.

The duel begins.

00000

Now it's Yuna's turn, and she sacrifices Sangan and Gamma the Magnet Warrior, activating Sangan's special effect, allowing her to add a monster with an attack of 1500 or less to her hand, so she chooses Big Shield Gardna.

Then she summons Dark Magician (2500 ATK) by the sacrifices and attacks Noah directly, for 2500 life points damage, reducing Noah's life points to 5600.

The fateful servant returns to his Pharaoh's side, ready to protect her from anything that may come their way.

Noah's angry, saying how dare Yuna humiliate him like that! Yuna says it was Noah who humiliated Kaiba and Mokuba, just so he could prove his superiority to his father. Noah insists he is superior, and deserves to be rewarded for his unsurpassable power. Yuna says he has to earn respect, not demand it. She agrees that Noah may have been treated badly by his father, but that's no excuse for the way he's treating them.

''I have known Gozaboro personally, and believe me when I tell you that he is not a person you should strive to impress or be like.'' The glare in her eyes substrates. ''Every soul has a home, and your soul, Noah, shouldn't have gone to that steel sun. I'll release your soul with this duel.''

Noah plays the Next World magic card. A carpet appears on the field, with Dark Magician trapped in it. Next World chooses one of Yugi's monsters and allows Noah to summon one with the same number of stars. Noah summons Yamata Dragon (2600 ATK), and uses it to destroy Yugi's Dark Magician. Yugi loses 100 life points, and Noah gains them. Then Yamata Dragon returns to Noah's hand, activating Spring of Rebirth, to add another 500 life points to Noah's score.

He's back up to 6200, and Yuna's down to 100.

''How can you win, when my life points just keep going up?''

00000

Noah turns Duke to stone. Distraught, Robot Monkey Tristan leaps onto Duke. Noah says he'll turn them all into stone one by one, each turn. Yugi will be left alone in a circle of motionless statues who were once his friends.

But Yuna smiles. Angrily, Noah asks what's so funny, and she says Noah is just a child who hasn't matured at all in six years. Yuna's friends are still with her, cheering her on and telling her she can win.

Noah can't believe they still have faith in Yuna.

Yugi says Noah wouldn't find it so hard to believe if he actually had any friends, which pisses the boy off.

00000

Joey exclaims that Noah's got 11,000 life points! Robot Monkey Tristan wonders how Yuna will get him down to zero. Yuna looks back at her friends, and the statues of Kaiba, Mokuba, and Duke. She has to win soon and set them all free! Yuna summons Alpha the Magnet Warrior (1400 ATK) and attacks Noah directly, but Noah says he barely felt a thing, as his life points go down to 9600.

Yuna ends her turn, and Noah turns Robot Monkey Tristan to stone, while a horrified Téa and Joey and Serenity watch.

The Duel Queen grits her teeth.

00000

Yuna plays a card face down, then sacrifices Alpha the Magnet Warrior to summon Dark Magician Girl (2000 ATK). Since there's a Dark Magician in Yuna's graveyard, her attack is increased by 300 to 2300. She attacks Noah with Dark Magician Girl, reducing Noah's life points to 8500, but Noah says if she wants to save Joey's sister, she'll have to do better than that.

Yuna can't, and ends her turn.

Noah laughs, and points his finger at Serenity, who pushes Joey out of the way so that the bolt of magic hits her alone, turning her to stone.

Joey falls to his knees in front of her, and Yugi apologizes along with a remorseful Yuna, while Noah continues to laugh.

''If Yuna really cared, she wouldn't have let that happen.''

Then Noah summons Inaba White Rabbit, but before he can attack, Yuna activates his trap card, Dark Renewal.

''This trap card allows me to sacrifice Noah's Inaba White Rabbit, along with my own Big Shield Gardna, to bring back Dark Magician from the graveyard.''

The purple magician comes back, staff at the ready. Dark Magican Girl's attack goes back to 2000, with Dark Magician back on the field. Both master and apprentice stare their foe down, ready for battle.

Frustrated, Noah plays a card face down and ends his turn.

It's Yuna's turn. She draws, then plays the magic card, Dark Magic Ritual. Se sacrifices Valkyrion the Magnet Warrior from her hand. And summons the Magician of Black Chaos. Dark Magician Girl now stood between the two male mages, and she waved to the leather-clad, buckled up magician. The blac-haired spellcaster glared at Noah, soon joined by the other two.

Now Yuna has all three of her most powerful spellcasters on the field, and they attack Noah together, with a combined attack strength of 7300!

Noah activates his trap card, Chaos Barrier Field, which stops the attack, then forces Yuna's strongest monster to attack his weakest. Dark Magician Girl is destroyed by Magician of Black Chaos, and Yuna loses 800 life points, bringing her down to 300, while Noah's life points increase to 9300.

Noah applauds Yuna, telling him he's put on a great show, and offering to transform Yuna's friends back to normal—if Yuna will forfeit the duel.

''We don't have to be hostile towards each other. If you will join with me, I'll free all of your andYugi's friends. But Seto and Mokuba will remain stone statues. Seto is your enemy anyway, and you shouldn't care what happens to him.''

''How dare you!? Seto is my closest friend! I promised to always be there for him, even if he doesn't need it or want it! But I'll be right there when he needs me! I take my vows very seriously.''

Joey calls Noah a slimeball, and Yugi warns him to watch what he says. But Joey won't shut up, telling Yuna to go on with the duel and defeat Noah. Yuna asks, what if she's defeated? But Joey says she won't lose.

Yuna turns to Noah, just as he is to turn Joey to stone. But Yugi got caught in the fire when he tried to push his friend out of the way. They were both turned to stone.

''YUGI!'' The Duel Queen yelled out as she saw the statue of her brother.

She almost fell to the ground, on the verge of crying and braking down like that.

Téa turns on Noah, telling him he's a spoiled brat, who changes the rules whenever things aren't going his way. But Noah just laughs, saying he's already proved he's the best, and is only waiting for Yuna to admit it.

But Yuna says she still plans to win.

''Even though you've gained knowledge, you're still just a pitiful little boy who denies what he can't have!'' Tea yells at him.

Noah says normal people can't understand his greatness, and he'll ask someone chosen by victory—Yuna. He urges Yuna to help him.

Yuna clenches her fist. "Use power to force people—who will accept you? Stupid."

Noah's pretty steamed at that.

Noah plays a monster in defense, and plays a card face down. Then he tells Yuna he's going to lose anyway, so there's no harm in showing him the card he's going to play. It's the trap card, Groundbreaking. He intends to use it as soon as Yuna's turn starts to bring back one of his spirit monsters, Inaba White Rabbit, whose attack is enough to wipe out the rest of Yuna's life points. Noah sets the trap card, then ends his turn.

Yuna draws, and Noah activates Groundbreaking, bringing his Inaba White Rabbit back to his hand. But Yugi plays Card Destruction, which forces Noah to discard his entire hand, sending Inaba White Rabbit back to the graveyard, and draw a new hand. Then Yugi attacks Noah's face-down monster with Magician of Black Chaos. It's Otohime (100 DEF), which is destroyed, but her flip effect allows Noah to change the battle position of one of Yuna's monsters. He forces Dark Magician into defense mode, so it can't attack him. Then, Otohime's destruction allows him to activate his other trap card, Vessel of Illusion, which allows him to summon another monster, so he brings Otohime back to the field in defense mode.

Noah reminds Yuna that she only has one friend left, and Téa gasps, realizing she's next to be turned to stone.

00000

Yuna struggles up onto her elbows, but Noah tells Yuna she might as well stay down—it's all over. Téa calls out to Yuna to get up, but Noah turns her to stone.

Yuna collapses, as Noah taunts her: she has no monsters on the fields, no cards in her hand, and no friends to cheer her on. Yuma is surrounded by darkness.

Then, out of the darkness, two hands reach for hers and pull her between warm chests.

She looks up, only to see two faces she knew all to well ... Her parents smiling faces looked down at her, but they were not the ones holding her.

No, High Priest Seth and his Pharaoh were on each side of her, holding her up. Aknamkanon reached out and caressed his daughter's hair out of her eyes as her mother, Alexia, cupped her cheek as tears spilled out of her eyes.

Suddenly, they disappear with only a whisper of her name, and she is left alone with the two Egyptian men. And before she even realized it, the Pharaoh stepped in front of her with a gentle, genuine smile as he bowed his head slightly, in greeting, gratefulness and respect. She was about to return it, but he started to glow gently and stepped forward, slowly merging with her, making her once again fell whole. She only then knew that she had been empty.

Once the light faded, Seth gently pulled the girl towards him as a new light appeared, showing a group of people to the Game Queen.

''What is this? How are they here? How are you here?!'' Yuna asked the ancient man.

Joey appears in spirit form, then Téa and Tristan also appear, along with Duke and Serenity. Ynaa says she thinks he understands, and Yugi agrees from beside Tea. As long as their friends are in their thoughts, they won't be far away.

Yami says that's true, but he no longer has anything to fight with.

Now Kaiba appears in the room, looking slightly pissed at what she had just said, with Mokuba at his side. Kaiba tells Yuna she can't let this punk Noah win, and reminds Yuna that she's got his cards too.

Yuna noticed that no one commented on Seth and decided that they probably couldn't see him, since she was sure Seto would have said something.

"Yuna—my lifelong rival—are you being weak here? The cards of our souls... the time to give up hasn't come. Our possibility is sleeping in the cards."

Yuna was surprised that most of the words were echoed my Seth, but she only had eyes for her Seto, her Card Prince.

Then he tells Yuna, "Fight, Yuna. Believe in our deck." He reaches out to Yuna with his hand and she moves to him without any doubt, Seth slowly releases her, whispering a prayer in her ear before he turned into a blue light, going straight into Seto's heart. Yuna feels tears at the edges of her eyes as she is drawn to a similar chest to the Priest's, only now belonging to her rival and she nuzzles him.

Yuna gets up, telling Noah she won't give up.

She draws, and plays Card of Sanctity, a magic card that allows both players to draw until they hold six cards.

Yuna's friends appear to him, and their hands cover his deck. Seto, Joey, Téa, Tristan, Serenity, and Duke each hold out a card to her, Yugi and Mokuba sharing the one with Seto.

''With the support of my friends, I'm about to defeat you, Noah.''

Yuna plays Monster Reborn, using it to bring back Seto Kaiba's Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

'Seto, you didn't waste time fighting!'

Then Yuna plays Polymerization to fuse the Blue-Eyes with two more Blue-Eyes White Dragons from her hand, to form the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon (4500 ATK). The great monster roars with its three heads, promising death to their opponent and to protect their master's most precious treasure.

Yuna plays Quick Attack so the fusion monster can attack immediately. The Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon attacks and destroys Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi, reducing Noah's life points to 8300. Noah says it's not over yet, but Yuna says he's wrong, playing De-Fusion to turn the Blue-Eyes back into three separate dragons, each with an attack of 3000.

The Dragons each glare at the kid, protectively hovering in front of Yuna.

Noah desperately looks at his hand, saying there must be something he can do, but there's nothing. For Seto, Mokuba, and her other friends as well, Yuna orders the three Blue-Eyes White Dragons to attack.

The three Blue-Eyes White Dragons wipe out the rest of Noah's life points, and he loses. The stone statues break apart, and everyone returns to normal—except poor Tristan's still a monkey. Joey and Serenity rush together; Mokuba at last flings himself into Kaiba's arms.

Duke says it looks like everything's back to normal—that means Yuna must have won the duel.

Kaiba wants to know what duel, and Téa explains that Yuna took over Kaiba's duel after Kaiba and Mokuba were turned to stone, combining his and Kaiba's decks.

Kaiba looks at his empty Duel Disk, more concerned about Yuna using his cards than who won the duel! But Mokuba teases him that he doesn't really mind and that Yuna already knows all his cards, anyway.

''Besides, they're virtual!'' Yugi pipes in.

As the stone dueling platforms return to their holes in the ground, Noah falls to his knees, saying this wasn't how it was supposed to happen.

Yuna walks over to him, telling him that he's been alone in this virtual world for six years, and it's distorted his mind.

Noah thinks Yuna's right—he remembers being trapped in the sphere, and thinks of Yuna's and the others' friendships.

"Did I beat Seto?" He realizes he didn't—Seto deliberately lost in order to save his brother. And he lost to Yugi, who inherited Seto's will.

He thinks maybe the reason he despises Yugi and his friends so much is that they share a bond he's never experienced. He tried to eliminate their friendship, but they'll never understand what it's like to be him. His father promised him everything, but left him with nothing. Noah wonders if he lost because he had no friends. He was always alone.

Noah sits back on his knees, he says he doesn't admit that he lost because he's alone. He and Yuna stare at each other without speaking, then Noah says, "Don't look at me that way!"

Noah attacks Yuna, intending to escape to the real world in Yuna's body. Seto jumped to help Yuna, sprinting like bats of hell were behind him, but it wasn't needed.

The Millennium Items and the ancient Pharaoh appear in Noah's mind. Noah demands to know who she and that man are.

''You're not like the others!''

Yuna can see images in Noah's mind as well. She sees all of their bodies in VR pods. With the power of the Millennium Puzzle, she forces Noah back.

The gang run up to Noah and Yuna. Joey's about to kick Noah's butt, but Serenity tells him violence won't get them out of there. Yugi hugs his sister, and Seto comes to stand just a bit in front of her, but not hiding her from Noah's sight.

''It's time to set us free.'' Yuna says in a commanding voice when after she returned Yugi's hug and ruffled Mokuba's hair.

But Noah laughs, saying their real bodies are where they've been ever since they arrived. Everything here is virtual, and their real bodies are in cyberpods. Téa realizes that this is why they've been able to feel things in the virtual world, and Kaiba says that when the floor opened up, they didn't fall into a virtual vortex, they were knocked unconscious and locked in the VR pods.

The sky darkens suddenly, and a voice from the sky tells Noah he's failed him for the last time! Seto was petrified to hear that voice ''It can't be!''

Noah says, "Father, no!"

A face appears in the clouds. It's Gozaburo Kaiba. Mokuba exclaims, "Gozaburo!" and Noah begs for more time.

"Why are you here, anyway? You're dead!" Gozaburo agrees that his body is dead, but his spirit is still very much alive.

Gozaburo explains that he had his own mind digitized when Seto disgraced him by taking over his company. He wanted revenge.

"He's really persistent." Seto grumbles, a hint of his dark growl in his voice and both Mokuba and Yuna move closer to him.

Noah says he's happy to see his father. He's been so alone. But Gozaburo says Noah is useless to him now.

Noah could only utter a measly, stunned ''W-what?''

''Okay, the joke is over now! All right, Gozaburo. Tell me your stupid intention." The present CEO of KC growled at the previous one, making Gozaboro chuckle in a very deranged way that rang with sick satisfaction.

"You haven't changed at all. Still so proud, Seto.''

''You had your chance, too, and failed, and lost Kaiba Corp to someone more fit for the job. So, what could you possibly want now?''

''I thought you everything you know!''

''Yet I was better than you ever could be!''

Gozaboro growled. ''You only started really getting into your studies when that bitch came around!'' He pointedly looked at the Duel Queen. The eldest Kaiba smirked down at her. ''Why, hello, little pest! My, how beautiful you have become! I'm sure that you get a lot of business in cheap brothels with those looks-''

''ENOUGH!'' All were surprised to hear all three Kaiba brothers yell at the man they had each once called father. Gozaboro, on his part, couldn't believe that Noah had defied him, but what really surprised him was just how successful he would have been with Seto if it weren't for that girl. He could still see that darkness that had been sleeping in the boy ever since he had really started paying him attention.

''This is between you and me, pops, so keep her out of it!'' The eldest Kaiba boy screamed at the face of his stepfather. He wasn't about to let him belittle Yuna like that and it was clearly seen in his stormy eyes of ice. ''Just stop fooling around like a monkey-''

''Hey!'' Came Tristan's voice from his Robot-monkey body.

''And tell me what the fuck do you want, you sick bastard!''

Gozaboro growled. ''All right, I'll tell you everything."

When Seto beat him at chess, Gozaburo explains, he decided to adopt him to motivate his real son, Noah. But then Noah had his accident, and his body was rendered useless.

''To the rest of the world, Noah was dead, but I found a way to both save his body from completely dying and his mind from rotting.''

Gozaburo tried to preserve his son's mind in cyberspace, but soon realized Noah would always be the same spoiled brat, unworthy of inheriting Kaiba Corp. So he turned his attention to Seto, thinking Seto could be the heir to his fortune, and pushed him to his limits.

''You never failed to deliver, and you were so fun! Your boundaries were limitless, and you took everything like a man! I have never hear you complain in all those months I trained your mind and body, which is saying much with all the things I put you through. But I only saw your true potential after that Mouto girl came. You thought of her as your rival, and so you wanted to impress her, starting to really take your lessons seriously and showing us all just how smart you are. I started giving you harder tasks, but you still passed with flying colors! I-''

''You gave up on you own son, and trapped me all alone in cyberspace! I don't care if it was for your company, I was your son!'' Noah interrupted him and Mokuba starts feeling sorry for Noah.

''Shut up, you little brat! You were always just that, Noah - a useless brat!''

Noah stepped back from where he had been looking up to his father's face. He jumped in surprise when a feminine, but strong, had griped his shoulder in support. He looked up into crimson understanding orbs and almost cried in the spot. He buried his face in the girl's chest and wrapped his arms around her as he sobbed, the Queen of Games wrapping a single arm around him in comfort. He shook silently as the tears he had been holding back for years slowly made their way down his face and he whimpered slightly when he felt two different hands on each of his shoulders and one on his head, ruffling his hair.

The ones on his shoulders were smaller than the one ruffling his aquamarine bangs and he looked over his shoulders, only to see gentle amethyst on his right side, and comfortingly-understanding gray on his left. He looked up, but he was surprised to see that the hand had a Duel Disk over metal palm-to-elbow cuffs over a long sleeved black turtleneck. The owner of the hand wasn't looking at him, but he looked down when he felt Noah's head moving.

Angry blues flashed before a gentler ocean met his own blue orbs. Noah stared at the kind eyes with his mouth agape, not believing that such a good soul rested under the mask of icy cruelty. Seto ruffled his hair once more, before looking into Yuna's eyes and he saw the protective gleam in them that was usually only there for Yugi, Seira, Sasha and now Gakuto and Kaito. He knew that his rival is now dead set to save Noah, and since Goazaboro had said that Noah's body had been preserved, he was ready to bet that Yuna could save it with a quick and easy surgery.

Noah was going to be just fine if she ever find his real body.

Seto went back to listening to what his bastard of a stepfather had to say.

Gozaburo says that at first, he thought he could still use Seto. Kaiba's not happy to hear that, and wants to know what Gozaburo planned to do with him. Gozaburo says that even if Noah could learn to run a major corporation, he still lacked one thing—a body. That's where Seto came in.

The gang is pretty horrified, and Kaiba is shocked, to realize that Gozaburo had planned to transfer Noah's mind to Kaiba's body.

''That's not something a normal person would think of!'' Tea protests and Yugi thinks no wonder Kaiba hates Gozaburo. Yugi hadn't really known the man as well as his sister and their two friends, except from the few times he had seen him, but even he, the ever enthusiastic optimist, realized pretty quickly that the man was sick in the head beyond even therapy!

Gozaburo says that plan only lasted a short time. ''Why should I give Seto Noah's mind, when your mind was perfectly fine? I concentrated on training you, Seto, to inherit my empire, but then you stole it from me! Ironically, he was the one who was hurt, when you stole Kaiba Corporation from me, Seto. So I used the same technology-your technology!- I used to download Noah's mind, and digitized my own mind, retreating to cyberspace to plot my revenge. Then I built this place for my final plan—to take over your body myself! Since then, Seto was no longer to be Noah's container. I planned to take Seto's body for myself. And what a fine body it turned out to be!''

Seto felt those Shadows that he thought were gone for good after his Duel with Yuna on top of Alcatraz Duel Tower start swirling, but Yuna placed one of her hands into his and he squeezed it tightly. Mokuba took the other hand and he did the same thing. Both his ''treasures'' 'squeezed back and the shadows substantiated.

Noah realizes that Gozaburo only used him to trap Kaiba and the others there. Gozaburo says it's the only thing Noah did right! Kaiba calls him a snake, which makes Gozaburo angry. He was the most powerful human being in the world, until Seto came along and stole everything from him! He treated Seto better than he treated his own son! Kaiba says, thanks for nothing. He'll make sure Gozaburo never regains his power.

Noah says his father used him. Gozaburo tells Noah the situation has changed, and Seto is to blame. Hate him if you have to. Kaiba curses, and Gozaburo tells him his body isn't necessary now. Even without a body, he can hack into the Internet and control the world from the Kaiba Corp computer network. Kaiba thinks it's stupid. Gozaburo doesn't have a body.

What can he do?

A viewscreen opens up in the sky, showing a satellite, and Gozaburo explains that this is one of the original Kaiba Corporation satellites, and part of his newest plan. ''These satellites can beam signals to every computer system on earth and connect them back to the underwater base that holds my supercomputer. No one on earth will escape me! I'll have access to every home on the planet! And you know this very well, Seto, since you were the mastermind behind this whole underwater base!'' The others stare in shock at the genius as he growls in his shame. ''The undersea fortress was originally built as a base for launching missiles. It holds weapons aimed at all the major cities of the world. It only takes the entering password and boom goes the cities!''

Noah says that's the most ridiculous idea he's ever heard. But Gozaburo says the idea came from Noah. Doesn't he remember? He reminds Noah that he'd figured out that they could connect their virtual reality system to other systems around the world. ''And why not make them realize that I can do so much more! And it's all thanks to you, Seto.''

Gozaburo's no longer interested in taking over Seto's body to regain control of Kaiba Corp. Once his new plan works, he'll be the most powerful being on the planet. When he's finished, everyone on earth will become virtual. He'll digitize the entire earth, and he'll reign as the cyber-ruler!

''I have deleted all the exits from the virtual world. Noah, Seto, you two just live with the flowers in this virtual garden. You'll be immortal, not feeling pain or hunger, and live in paradise. Kaiba Corporation belongs to me, and I won't give it to anyone!''

With that, Gozaburo disappears.

00000

Noah leads the gang through tunnels in the hills, telling them that they have to escape quickly, and he knows the way out. Joey doesn't know why they should believe Noah, but Duke says they have no choice.

They find a control panel in a cavern, which Noah says is an exit. But it seems that Gozaburo has closed off the exits to prevent them from escaping. Noah says that when his father showed up after three, almost four years, Gozaburo promised to help him. But he was lying. His father was using him.

'I could get a body and go back to the real world to help Seto run Kaiba Corporation. Heh.' He shakes his head. 'If only it were that easy!'

Mokuba again feels sorry for Noah, thinking that Gozaburo treated Noah just as he did Seto—with no respect. He asks Noah if he's okay.

Joey asks if Noah's sure there are no other exits, and poor Tristan wants to wake up in his own body! Joey says they have to stop Gozaburo from taking over the world, and Téa adds that they can't do that from in there. Noah is silent, head bowed over the control panel. Then he laughs. Kaiba says that every virtual reality program has more than one emergency exit, so Noah should think harder.

''You can cheat that idiot Joey, but you can't cheat me. The program was originally mine, after all, even with the modifications.''

Mokuba runs up to the laughing Noah and begins to shake him by the shoulders, telling him to snap out of it. Noah's in danger too, and they all have to work together.

"How can you talk like that? Gozaburo has abandoned you."

Noah looks at Mokuba, suddenly looking like young Seto. Mokuba jumps back, shaking his head and wondering if he's going nuts. Back to himself, Noah tells Mokuba to calm down. Mokuba walks away, thinking that Noah's an evil jerk, but it's not his fault. They can help him.

'When I look at his face, he reminds me of Seto just before Yuna - lost and confused. Can she help him as she helped Nii-sama?' He looked from the two rivals to Noah. 'I sure hope so.'

Noah suddenly remembers another exit he created himself that leads directly to the real world. The others can escape and warn the world of Gozaburo's plan. He starts to lead them to it, thinking that he'll steal one of their bodies and escape alone.

00000

The gang follow Noah, who leads them through the tunnels. Yugi tells Kaiba that something's not right—Noah's not to be trusted. Kaiba says tell him something he doesn't already know. Yugi asks why Kaiba's following Noah, and Kaiba says he was always taught to keep his enemies close by.

''You both know that there's more to him than that.'' They both look in Yuna's direction. ''He is confused, and he will do despicable things in just moments from now. But he will feel bad and guilty and so he will try to make up for it. Even at the cost of his own life.''

''How can you be so sure? You don't even really know him.'' Seto protests.

She looked him dead in the eyes. ''But I know you, and he lived through a slightly lighter version of your own hell. If you could pull through, then so can he.''

Seto, despite himself, blushed in shame as he remembered how little he respected Yuna in many situations due to the darkness Gozaboro created in him, and windered if that was happening to Noah now. He looked at the green haired boy and decided that yes, it was.

Noah has led them to a wide door between the walls of a canyon. He tells the gang that on the other side of the door is the virtual Domino city.

And the other exit.

They step through it ...

Mokuba finds himself alone in a plaza. He calls out for his brother, hoping Seto didn't leave without him.

Mokuba calls "Yuna!," and then "Big Brother!".

00000

Noah has brought Mokuba to the game arcade, saying that the exit is inside one of the games. Mokuba runs to sit at one of the games, eager to find the exit and go home. But Noah thinks Mokuba won't be going home.

00000

Suddenly, the memories end, and the gang all find themselves in the plaza. Yugi says Noah must have tricked them. They'd better find him.

Then they realize Kaiba's not with them, and neither is Mokuba.

When Serenity called out ''Yuna!'' there was no answer.

The Queen of Games wasn't among them, causing Yugi to panic. He knew that Gozaboro hated her, and he thought that Noah wouldn't be all that fond of her either.

00000

Mokuba is still sitting at the game in the arcade, searching for the exit.

Noah tells him he's close, and begins to reach for him. But Mokuba says he's just realized—Noah can't escape with them to the real world without a body. But he bets Seto can make Noah a body. After all, Noah's their family. He's sure the techonology experts at Kaiba Corp can make Noah a robot body. Maybe they can be twins! After all, they are brothers.

Noah's stunned that Mokuba still likes him after all he's done. He almost feels bad for him.

'I mean, I've messed with him and his friends so much, to the point that I tried to break him and his brother apart! Yet, he still thinks of me as his brother.'

Then he shows Mokuba where the real exit is—on the stage of a dance game. Mokuba runs up onto it, and Noah comes after him, running right into him and taking over his body.

He awakes and emerges from his pod—it's Mokuba's body, but Noah's inside, exulting that after all these years, he finally has a body of his own!

He danced around the room for a second, and that's when he noticed that one of the pods was open. It was the one that was on the other side of Seto's, whose was next to his (Mokuba's). He frowned, trying to remember who should be there and realization dawned on him as he turned around the room. His eyes fell on the Duel Queen as she stood by the doorway, arms crossed, head held high, eyes flashing in amusement, disapproval and understanding.

Noah only then realized that her virtual form gave this girl's beauty no justice! Finally seeing her with real human eyes, he was stunned with her appearance and presence. He acted without thinking and fling himself into her arms, once again quietly crying as he cling to her.

Yuna just sighed and patted him on the back, thinking that she had to find his real body and fast.

00000

Kaiba is walking alone through the streets of the virtual city. He thinks any fool could see that Noah never intended to set them free. Noah'd told them that the fortress door would take them back to the real world, but it was just another trap.

'I almost lost myself in the sea of memory.' he thinks. 'Wicked Noah.'

Now it's time to take down the man behind all this madness, his stepfather, Gozaburo. He stops in front of the Kaiba Corp building and looks up, saying he's sure that old fool is sitting in his office right now! He's taken him down once before, and he's planning to do it again.

"Wait for me, Gozaburo. I'll make you open the exit for us." Then he shouts up at Gozaburo, "Our battle road ends here."

00000

Meanwhile, Noah in Mokuba's body is walking through the undersea fortress, thinking it's good to be back in the real world, and this body is a perfect fit. Now he can move ahead with his plan.

He had successfully locked Yuna up in the pod room, or so he thinks, and now he was going to destroy the virtual world and the underwater base.

Using a keypad, he enters a code to give him access to the base's Central Command, where he intends to destroy the central computer that allows the virtual world to exist, thus destroying every mind that's trapped there—his father's, Seto's, as well as that of Yugi and all his friends. Using the computer's main keyboard, he prepares the satellite to attack.

"I'll blow up this mobile fortress and send you to heaven. Yugi... Father... Seto, at last I'll be the one who wins. And don't worry, Seto-nii. I'll look after your beloved Light of Hope!"

00000

Back at the virtual Kaiba Corp, Kaiba takes the elevator to the top floor to the President's office.

''Ah, Seto!'' Gozaburo tells him to have a seat. ''It's time for a father-son chat.''

But Kaiba's not having any of it. Gozaburo tells him to give in and make it easy on himself, while moving the chess pieces on the board, which cause a screen to lower behind Kaiba, showing images of the battle in the square between Gozaburo's monsters and Yugi and his friends. Yugi's Curse of Dragon has just been destroyed, and Yugi suffers from the blow.

But Kaiba's not scared. He tells Gozaburo to let them go before he really gets angry!

Gozaburo laughs, and reminds Seto of their chess match on the day they met. He proposes a rematch, but Kaiba isn't interested. Why would he want to play chess with someone who couldn't beat him when he was just a kid? But Gozaburo says he didn't mean another chess game. He suggests Duel Monsters instead.

Kaiba tells Gozaburo he can't play with his life like it's a game, but Gozaburo says that's exactly what Seto did to him, on the day Seto stole Kaiba Corp from him. Kaiba wonders why Gozaburo has to beat him in a duel in order to get rid of him.

Gozaburo says he wants to humiliate Seto as Seto humiliated him. Then he'll erase Seto's mind and reprogram him as his servant. Finally, Kaiba says he's never served anyone but himself, and he's never backed down from a challenge.

"I hate you so much. I hate the one who stole Kaiba Corporation and my life."

Kaiba responds, "You killed yourself. How can you blame me?"

''It's all because of that bitch and you that I died!''

''That's fucking enough!'' Seto yells. ''I'll make sure you never insult either of us, ever again!'' He tells Gozaburo, "Let's duel."

00000

In Central Command, Noah is about to finish reprogramming the satellite to destroy the central computer.

00000

Yuna finally stumbled across a locked door after quite a few minutes of searching.

Sure, almost all doors were locked, but it only took a kick at the panel to open them.

But this one had greater security than some bank safes did!

''Luckily, I'm friends with a Tomb Robber that's called King of Thieves...'' She mumbled to herself as she took off her collar and used the pin to unlock the doors. It took longer due to her bad equipment, but she managed to open the heavy doors.

Yuna entered the laboratory like room and saw what she was looking for.

In the middle of the room was the capsule that held a young boy with green hair in a living liquid. He had a mask over his mouth and there were wires connected to his heart, wrists and head.

She walked closer to the capsule, checking th pulse and the work of the other organs, positively surprised to see that only one of the kidneys was sick and that the only reason the other doctors couldn't save Noah was because the wound was a large cut.

''He must've lost a lot of blood, so any heavy surgery was impossible and so the kidney sickness got to him. All that water must have reached his heart and lungs, causing a malfunction there ...'' While she mumbled to herself, she circled around the pod and found notepad with the doctors' research on it and read through, finding that she was right. ''Hm ... Blood poison from not getting the kidney out ... This will be easy with all of this technology lying around!''

Yuna walked over to the row of computers, relying on her dreams to hack into the system and restart the life support machines and make them do what she wanted them to. It was harder since she mostly dreams about events and not something specific like this, and finishing medicine was actually easier for her, also due to the visions. But she had seen Seto do all sorts of things on his computers and she knew a few things. She was just lucky that the systems were simple due to the computers having to be fast and easy to operate.

After just five minutes, the machines hummed to life and the bubbles in the capsule started moving as the liquid dried out.

Yuna put on one of the pairs of synthetic gloves and prepared all the things she would need.

00000

Meanwhile, Kaiba and Gozaburo have gone to Kaiba Corp's dueling arena to begin their duel. Gozaburo says he'll go first, and plays Painful Choice. Gozaburo says that the manager of a business must make decisions, and sometimes they're hard to make. Kaiba says if it's hard to decide, it may not be any good.

He starts to explain to Kaiba what it does, but Kaiba says he knows how the card works. Gozaburo will show Kaiba five cards from his deck. Kaiba will choose one card to be put in Gozaburo's hand, and the other five will go to the graveyard.

Gozaburo shows him his five cards—the five pieces of Exodia the Forbidden One!

Kaiba reels back in shock.

"Do you think I didn't do my research? I've made in-depth study of your deck, and I know how to defeat you."

Kaiba remembers facing Exodia in this very arena, the first time he dueled Yuna. Exodia destroyed his three Blue-Eyes White Dragons and defeated him. But that's history, Kaiba says. Anyway, he's about to send four pieces of Exodia to the graveyard. Any player who holds all five pieces of Exodia in his hand will automatically win, so why would Gozaburo send four of them to the graveyard? He must be up to something...

Kaiba chooses the Right Arm of the Forbidden One, which goes to Gozaburo's hand, while the rest of the Exodia pieces go the graveyard. Gozaburo plays a monster in defense and ends his turn, telling Seto it won't be long before he hears Gozaburo say "Checkmate!"

00000

Back in Central Command, backup systems have come online and the power has been restored. Noah in Mokuba's body goes back to work, saying that once the satellite attacks, the entire virtual world will shut down, along with every mind inside. On one of the monitors, he sees some random doors wide open, but Noah says it doesn't matter. He presses the key to initiate the destruct sequence, saying this place is history.

"Everyone, Game Over."

The computer begins a thirty-minute countdown to attack.

00000

In virtual Domino, Joey says the coast is clear and urges everyone to into an alley. They gather inside, saying it looks like they're safe for now—just as a reptile monster appears behind them. The others run down the alley while Yugi and Joey prepare to hold off the monsters with their cards.

00000

The countdown has reached twenty-five minutes, and the computer warns that the virtual simulators should be evacuated.

Grim-faced Noah rises in the elevator, remembering greeting his father happily, only to be told that he'd had his chance, and Gozaburo was abandoning him. The undersea fortress surfaces and a helicopter rises onto the deck, as the elevator door opens and Noah comes out onto the deck. It's time he left those fools behind, he thinks.

He thinks about Mokuba, trying to encourage him when they discovered that they were trapped in the virtual world. He thinks Mokuba's a fool. Then Noah recalls Mokuba telling him that he thought Seto could make a body for him—Noah is their family!

As he gets into the helicopter waiting on the deck, he wonders why he can't stop thinking about this. He remembers Mokuba laughing, saying, "After all, we are brothers." Noah starts up the helicopter, still trying to convince himself that brotherhood and family mean nothing to him.

"Brothers... companions... friends... I'll blow them all up with bombs."

He remembers Seto, how he always growled at him and called him a brat, but it all faded in the face of his most radiant memory of him: Seto ruffling is hair in comfort while giving him a gentle look an older brother would give his younger sibling ...

And finally, he then thinks about Yuna, the girl that somehow brought peace to him and how she accepted him when he broke down crying, TWICE! He remebers how she knew all that about him and how she wanted to help him ... How he wanted her to be his Nee-chii ...

The computer announces that there are twenty-one minutes until the satellite attack, and Noah suddenly breaks down, wondering what he has done! "I..."

00000

Back at the duel, Kaiba sets a card face down and summons Vorse Raider (1900 ATK). He attacks Gozaburo's face-down monster with Vorse Raider and destroys it—and it's the Right Leg of the Forbidden One. Kaiba doesn't understand why Gozaburo would put his last piece of Exodia on the field, but Gozaburo says he's about to find out.

Gozaburo draws, then plays the magic card, Contract with Exodia. Now that all five pieces of Exodia are in his graveyard, he can pay 2000 life points to activate Contract with Exodia and summon Exodia Necross! A huge black version of Exodia rises over the field, as Gozaburo exults, saying, "Checkmate, Seto!''

But Exodia Necross only has 1800 attack points. Kaiba says his monster is stronger. Gozaburo attacks anyway—losing another 100 life points, bringing him down to 1900—but Exodia Necross isn't destroyed. It can't be destroyed by any monster, Gozaburo explains, and it gains 1000 attack points whenever it engages in battle. Exodia Necross's attack rises to 2800 points.

Kaiba thinks Gozaburo may think Exodia Necross can't be destroyed, but he's mistaken! Yuna proved over and over again that nothing is impossible, so the destruction of that monster should be no different! He summons Spirit Ryu (1000 ATK), then plays his trap card, Burst Breath, which allows him to sacrifice Spirit Ryu to destroy every monster on the field with fewer than 1000 defense points. Since Exodia Necross's DEF is 0, it should be destroyed.

But once again, Exodia Necross remains on the field. Gozaburo explains that each of the five Exodia pieces in the graveyard grants Exodia Necross special abilities.

''The Left Leg saves Exodia Necross from being destroyed by magic cards; the Right Leg from trap cards. The Left Arm protects Exodia Necross from the effects of monster cards, and the Right Arm gives Exodia Necross 1000 additional attack points with every battle. Finally, the head of Exodia the Forbidden One keeps Exodia Necross from being destroyed by monsters in battle.''

Kaiba can't believe it! The five pieces of Exodia are powerful even in the graveyard! He can't destroy Exodia Necross with magic, trap, or monster cards—it's invincible!

Gozaburo laughs, telling Kaiba he might as well give up, but Kaiba says he refuses to be beaten by Gozaburo. He sets a card face down and switches Vorse Raider to defense.

00000

Ten minutes to satellite attack. Noah is in the VR room with the gang's bodies in their pods, working feverishly from a computer station there.

00000

Yuna wipes away her sweat after finally finishing her task, rather proud of her work. She throws away the dirty sponge and gloves, as well as the lab coat she had found lying around and looked at the monitor that now showed a healthy heart beat and that there was no more organs sick. The blood poison was reducing by the minute and the body was actually breathing on it's own.

She looked at the now dressed boy and smiled tenderly. ''All the subconscious activities functioning perfectly. Now, only to get you your consciousness back and you can walk among the living once again, young Noah.''

00000

Yugi and Joey are still battling monsters in virtual Domino. Yugi summons Dark Magician, while Joey summons Rocket Warrior, and they attack. Red smoke rises over the city as the monsters clash.

Suddenly, they hear Noah's voice, warning them that the virtual world is about to be destroyed. In the Kaiba Corp arena, Kaiba and Gozaburo also hear the warning. Joey tells Noah to get down there, saying he'll give Noah the virtual butt-kicking of a lifetime, and Téa says he'd better let them out of there!

Noah tells them he's borrowed Mokuba's body and is now in the real world.

Noah apologizes for the way he treated them all, and explains that a satellite is set to destroy the main computer. He warns them all to escape or their minds will be lost forever!

''There's no time now to explain, but I'll put everything right. There will soon be a missile coming to the fortress, and they must escape before the whole fortress—including the virtual world—is destroyed.''

00000

Yuna frowns and quickly starts looking for the control room.

00000

The satellite prepares to attack. The countdown reaches eight minutes.

00000

Meanwhile, Kaiba and Gozaburo are still in the Kaiba Corp building dueling, when they also hear Noah's announcement. Noah tells Gozaburo that his plan to digitize the entire planet has been squashed.

Seto asks if Mokuba's all right, and Noah says ''Yes, don't worry.''

Gozaburo is shocked, asking Noah how he could do this after all he's done for him! Noah says it's payback. Gozaburo asks Noah to reconsider, saying he'll make sure he and Noah rule the universe together, once the world has been digitized. Noah sadly says it's too late.

Gozaburo asks if Noah is betraying him, too. ''Will you destroy your own father?''

Noah says, "I'm sorry, Father."

Kaiba tells Gozaburo it looks like he's failed again. There's only one thing left to do.

Kaiba tells Noah he's made a smart choice. ''We're not so different now.''

Noah tells Kaiba to hurry and escape.

Gozaburo agrees—it's time to escape from this place. And since he doesn't have a body of his own, he'll take Seto's. He transforms into a huge beast of flame and starts to attack Kaiba. But Kaiba stops him, telling him he's nothing but a corrupt computer file infecting the system. If he wants to prove his power, get back in his corner and duel! The winner will escape in Kaiba's body.

''As a Duelist, I can't quit in the middle of a duel!''

Kaiba confirms with Noah that there are still a few minutes left. Noah says there are eight minutes and forty seconds.

Kaiba says that's enough, and tells Gozaburo to keep fighting. If Gozaburo wins, Kaiba will give him his body.

Gozaburo accepts his challenge, and they return to the duel.

00000

The gang are only two blocks away from the Domino Arcade, when Gozaburo's monsters appear again, chasing them. Yugi and Joey stop to fight them off, telling the others to go on ahead. Serenity doesn't want to go without Joey, but Téa urges her to come along. Joey reassures her that this won't take long, telling her not to worry.

"I'll be back!" He says in his best Arnold Schwartzenegger voice.

Robot Monkey Tristan says they'll smash them, but Serenity picks him up, while Téa says he'd better come with them.

00000

Kaiba attacks Exodia Necross with Luster Dragon, giving Gozaburo's life points a big hit, taking him down to 900 life points. Kaiba says he's discovered Exodia Necross's weakness—it can't be destroyed, but it can still suffer battle damage. Exodia Necross may be invincible, but Gozaburo isn't! But Exodia Necross powers right back up, gaining another thousand attack points, bringing it up to 3800. Gozaburo uses it to destroy Kaiba's Luster Dragon, reducing Kaiba's life points to 2600. Now Exodia Necross's attack rises to 4800!

00000

Téa and Serenity, with Robot Monkey Tristan, reach the arcade.

Noah directs them to the stage at the back of the arcade (it's the dance battle game where Téa competed with Johnny Steps), where they're transported back to their bodies inside VR pods. Téa says it looks like they have been here all along (Japanese Anzu says they're back inside the undersea fortress), and Serenity says they all made it back without any problems. But Tristan's still making monkey noises. Serenity points out that he's not a Robot Monkey any more, but Téa says he doesn't look all that different.

Noah, in Mokuba's body, sits at the controls in the VR room, saying that the others are ready.

''It looks like everyone's made it to the arcade.''

Right outside the arcade, Yugi's just summoned Dark Magician to destroy another of Gozaburo's monsters. Joey's standing by with Flame Swordsman, saying now let's get out of this place! Noah tells them to proceed to the stage immediately. Duke and Joey head for the exit, while Yugi stays behind to attack one more monster. Joey yells at Yugi to hurry up.

They return to themselves and go to Noah only to be surprised to find him yelling at the computer.

''Hey, what's up?'' Joey asks and Noah slams his hands on the controls.

''Yuna just entered the virtual world in order to save Seto and they don't have much time!''

All present gasp and Yugi almost bursts into tears.

00000

"Let's go, Dark Magician!" Yuna yells as the mage picks her up and they fly off in the direction of the KC building.

''Yuna!'' Noah yells. ''Don't worry! You just get Seto and leave everything else to me! I'll open up a shortcut for you guys and take care of my old man myself!''

''Oh, no you're not, Noah. Not if I can help it!'' She mumbled to herself as she reached her destination.

00000

Téa asks Noah why he wants to save Kaiba so badly, when he hates him. Noah says he was wrong, and apologizes for treating them the way that he did. Joey says he's sorry, too, for everything he said about Noah.

The computer announces four minutes to the satellite attack. Noah tells them all to hurry back to the blimp, and they start to run off.

Joey stops to tell Noah he's the only one who can get those three out of there now. ''It's all up to you.''

Noah says he knows.

And he's ready to deal with it.

00000

There's a reason he hasn't been able to destroy Exodia Necross, Kaiba says. He's been attacking its body, when he should have been attacking its soul.

Then Kaiba activates his trap card, Soul Demolition (Soul Crush), which allows him to destroy all the monsters in his opponent's graveyard at a cost of 500 life points each. Kaiba has only three monsters in his graveyard, but Gozaburo has five. First, Kaiba destroys the left leg of Exodia, which protects Exodia Necross from magic cards, then the right leg, followed by Exodia's left arm and right arm. Exodia Necross loses its ability to increase its attack. Finally, Kaiba destroys the head of Exodia the Forbidden One, and Exodia Necross is no longer protected from Kaiba's monsters. Kaiba's life points are down to 100, but Exodia Necross's attack goes back to 1800. Then Kaiba sacrifices La Jinn and Ancient Lamp to summon the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

"Checkmate."

The Blue-Eyes attacks and destroys the weakened Exodia Necross, and Gozaburo loses.

One minute remains before the satellite attack. Yuna and Kaiba are still unconscious in their VR pods, and Noah thinks they'd better escape soon.

Gozaburo's stunned—how could he lose? Kaiba says that's what happens when you challenge someone who's superior in every way.

''It should have been a perfect strategy, planned from all that data.''

''My strength can't be measured with data." Seto proudly says.

But Gozaburo's not ready to give up. He transforms again into the red flame beast and attacks, just as Yuna arrives in the elevator, calling out to Kaiba to jump. Kaiba leaps down from the duel platform and into the elevator. With the Gozaburo monster in hot pursuit, Kaiba and Yuna flee the arena onto the rooftop of the Kaiba Corp tower.

The countdown reaches zero, and the satellite begins its launch sequence.

Noah tells Kaiba and Yuna to head to the Domino Arcade immediately.

Kaiba and Yuna reach the edge of the roof, high above the street. Gozaburo thinks he's got them trapped, but Noah tells them to jump. With no other option, they do. Just as they're about to reach the ground, an exit opens up, and they return to the real world.

Noah lies down in Mokuba's pod, thanking him.

Kaiba and Yuna wake up, but Kaiba sees Mokuba in his pod, still unconscious.

After a few seconds he wakes up, teary eyed, but he shakes it off and the three start running.

Seto was too focused on getting them out and keeping Mokuba safe that he never noticed when Yuna took a turn and never returned from it.

00000

As the missile speeds towards the undersea fortress, Gozaburo says he'll escape without a body, by uploading his mind to another network. Noah joins his father on the roof of the Kaiba Corp building, telling him there's not a chance—he's sealed off all the exits so there's no way he'll escape.

00000

Seto and Mokuba make their way all the way out on to the surface of the fortress, only to see that Yuna was nowhere in sight. Seto felt his eyes prick with tears, but he wouldn't allow his brother to die, as hard as it was to let the girl he loved end that way.

00000

Gozaburo picks up Noah in his hand, like a big flame King Kong, asking Noah what makes him think he can stop him! But Noah dissolves and reappears behind Gozaburo, saying he can control this place as well. Gazaburo asks if Noah would choose the others over him, and Noah says at least they believed in him. He apologizes, saying he can't let Gozaburo hurt them, and that's why he's keeping him trapped in there. Gozaburo's bound by yellow digital bands. He demands that Noah release him, but Noah appears on his father's neck, saying he'll make sure Gozaburo never hurts anyone again.

''I understand now. Seto has Mokuba; Yugi has many friends. I thought I was alone, but I was wrong.''

Gozaburo angrily says he didn't ask Noah this!

But Noah continues—he has his father. Let it be at an end, he says, and lies upon his father's monstrous shoulder. "We are already dead, Father," he says, while Gozaburo continues to demand to be let go.

Just then, a bright light appears and the two original Kaibas gasp at the figure standing atop a giant monster.

00000

Seto fisted Mokuba's shirt and flung him at Duke, who was standing on the stairs of the airship just as Yugi yelled.

''Where's Yuna!?''

00000

Yuna was standing on top of her loyal Blue-Eyes White Dragon, the all-seeing Eye of Ra glowing on both her forehead and her Millennium Puzzle. On either side of her were Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl, the Magician of Black Chaos just behind and above her. Behind the mighty dragon was none other than Exodia, and they all glowered at the big red monster.

The virtual world begins to flicker out.

Yuna extended her hand as Noah yelled at her for being there.

''Come, Noah. We're leaving.''

''But all the exits are sealed off! You'll be stuck here and die! Please leave! I already decided to die holding him here!'' The boy yelled in panic, not wishing for this girl to be submitted to the same fate as him and his treacherous father.

''All but one, and that's our ticket out of here. Now!'' Yuna yelled as she pointed at Gozaboro. ''My monsters! Hold him back! Dark Magician, bring me Noah, quickly!''

The purple magician did as asked without hesitation and quickly detached Noah from the red monstrosity, who was grabbed by Exodia and held in a Spellbinding Circle controlled by the other two magicians. Noah stared in disbelief as he was placed on the dragon's head, beside Yuna, who quickly grabbed his hand and jumped onto the Blue-Eyes' back and then jumped into a portal he hadn't noticed due to the dragon's sheer size.

A strange sensation ran through Noah as they entered the portal and soon all he saw was black.

00000

''Come on, Noah. We're getting out of here!'' Noah heard as he felt himself being lifted and placed on someone's back in a piggy back ride. He knew that his arms were dangling over small shoulders and that his legs were around a slim waist. He buried his face into black hair, wondering what the fuck was going on, but he didn't care. He was barely aware of the rocking motion as he was carried out of the underwater fortress in a sprint.

The first thing that got his attention was someone bowling out a name he came to love and respect.

''YUNA! HURRY!''

It was actually multiple voices, but all he cared about was the name. Why did he hear the Duel Queen's name when he should be trapped with his father in his virtual reality? He remembered dreaming of her coming to get him, but he was sure that it was only a dream, so what was this all about?

''Yuna, please hurry up! I can see the damn missile!'' He heard once again.

''Yuna, if you don't hurry the fucking damn up I'm going to come there and make! You hear me!? Hurry up!'' A different voice yelled, just as panicked, but stronger than the other ones.

'I know that voice! But why would I dream of Seto?'

''Please, Yuna!''

'And is that Mokuba?'

Noah blinked open his eyes just as he felt whoever was carrying him jump and be pulled up. He blinked a few times to clear up the haze that fell over his eyes and saw the two people he had just heard and blinked again as the world shook. He felt himself once again being carried somewhere, only to see a control room of sorts.

Just what was going on?

The explosion rattles the airship, and the gang is tossed about.

Only Seto Kaiba and his rival remain standing.

Kaiba runs onto the bridge and takes over control of the ship, blasting clear just in time. But then Gozaburo's beast form rises from the flames, saying Seto will never escape him. His flame jaws close over the airship, but Kaiba says there's no way he'll let the old man win!

"Gozaburo! I won't be swallowed by you!"

He smashes an emergency control that makes the body of the blimp fall away, transforming it into a jet plane. The afterburners kick in, and the jet flies free. He starts losing control over the aircraft, even with Fugata and Roland's help, but he then sees Yuna lowering something on the floor and jump to the copilot seat and wink at him. He grins back at her smirk, and together they pull, making the ship finally rise to normal altitude.

The ship flies on once it was safe and the rivals relinquish control to the pilots.

As the gang looks out of the ship, Joey says Noah might have been a spoiled brat when they met him, but he turned out all right. Téa wonders if Noah's mind was destroyed when the computer was destroyed, but Yugi says that knowing Noah, he saved his mind on a backup file.

Mokuba agrees that Noah will be back, and calls out, "See you around, Noah."

''What are you guys talking about? And what's going on here?'' A voice from behind them makes them all jump as they turn around to look. They gape like fish out of water when they see the aquamarine haired boy with deep blue eyes as he stretches and yawns. Both actions caused him to flinch slightly but when he started getting up to his feet, he almost fell over. After a few more time of trying, he was standing on his own, looking strangely at the group.

Tristan's and Joey's jaws were detached on the floor.

Duke's eyes threatened to pop out of his skull.

Serenity had raised a hand to cover her mouth, but had froze in the level with her chin, not able to move any further.

Tea looked about ready to faint.

Mokuba had his mouth wide open, as far as it could go, but not like Tristan and Joey.

Yugi's eyes were even larger than normal, if it was possible, but his pupils were deleted.

Even Seto was staring with wide eyes and slightly agape mouth(which was reaction enough, for him)!

Blue eyes settled on the crimson eyed Duelist as she smiled at him and things started coming back to him. The BEWD, Dark Magician duo and that third spellcaster and Exodia ... The portal he hadn't noticed at first ... The voices ...

''H-how ... ?'' Was all that he could utter and the others could have asked the very same question.

Suddenly, something dawned on the genius teen CEO and Seto burst out laughing. The others stared at him in amazement, even Mokuba, as he laughed an incredulous laugh when suddenly Yugi's eyes widened even more and Mokuba gasped, both looking over to the Duel Queen. Grandpa Mouto, who had been saved from the evil porcelain god, was confused as to what was so shocking or funny, and the two KC suits were wondering why the boy was there when he had troubled them so. All three suspected it had something to do with the leather-clad girl, but they decided to wait for the whole story.

''What's so funny, Kaiba?'' Joey growled out.

''Seriously dude! What gives?'' Tristan chimed in.

Finally, Seto calmed down enough to speak. ''You really are something, huh. You just can't stop preforming miracles. You started with all that shit back in primary school, and now you brought back a dead boy to life. Is there no limits to what you can do, Yuna?'' He asked seriously, yet jokingly.

The gang and Noah gaped at her and she just snorted.

''I didn't bring him back to life. He wasn't dead in the first place.'' She went on to explain everything, and she had to repeat many things since, aside from Seto, partly Mokuba and Noah, and very slightly Yugi and Tea, the others didn't understand any of it. After ten minutes of explaining, everyone finally got it and they once again gaped at her. Yuna growled, glaring at them and Seto chuckled, remembering how she mostly got these kind of reactions when they were kids.

''But why did you bring me back? Why did you risk your own life just to save me? I was so bad towards you all ... '' Noah looked down to the floor, ashamed of his actions and everyone could see it as clear as day. He almost jumped when a gentle had ruffled his hair a little. ''Huh?''

''What? Did you really think I would leave my otouto-kun to die there, when I could do something to help him? You wound me, little one.'' Yuna plced her hand across her heart, like she was hit there and playfully pouted, not knowing how the guys were reacting to the cute expression.

Let's just say that if Seto didn't restrain himself, he might scare the girl for life while he gave them all one hell of a show, and would then have to leave the country for a very long time because of murder ...

Noah's eyes widened. ''Huh?''

Yuna smiled tenderly at the boy. ''Don't tell me that you no longer wish me to be your Nee-chii?''

Said boy got teary eyed as he asked in a hushed voice. ''Do you really mean it?'' And he threw himself at Yuna as soon as she nodded her head, that tender smile still on her lips as she hugged him. Noah once again started crying, this time in relief and it only got worse when the other two Kaiba brothers came and welcomed him to the family. Yugi was fast to join them, welcoming Noah back to the real world and to the ever growing family. Solomon followed suit, introducing himself to the new Kaiba.

After that, the others came and welcomed the boy to the world, and all the while staying near his new Nee-chii, otouto and Nii-sama. Mokuba was quick to drag him off to show him to a room since Yuna insisted that he should rest. Besides, his Nii-sama had almost lost his beloved rival, so they needed a moment.

And, indeed, Seto drew Yuna into his arms the second the others turned their attention to Solomon and his story about his adventure with the porcelain god.

''Don't ever scare me like that, ever again! You hear me!? Never!'' He said as he rested his chin on Yuna's head. She chuckled when he tightened his grip and patted him on the back.

''I'm sorry. I'll try.''

Seto snorted. ''You better.'' They stayed like that for a while before Joey ruined the moment by demanding that he be fed. Seto rolled his eyes. ''Down, Mutt. Heel!''

''Kaiba!'' Joey practically barked out as Tristan and Duke held him back from attacking Kaiba and ending up beaten to a plop.

''And he wonders why he calls him that.'' Duke drawled sarcastically.

Seto snorted once again and turned to his employees. ''Alringht, now that that little detour is over and done with, it's time we get back on course!'' He trust his left pointing finger ahead of them. ''Full speed ahead!''

''Yes sir!'' They replied and did as they were told.

The young executive ran his finger through his brown hair. ''At least those family problems are finished and settled. Shit, I have a killer headache. I need aspirin.'' He muttered to himself as he and Yuna passed Duke, Joey and Tristan.

''Those were just family problems? Seriously?!'' Joey exclaimed.

''Wow. I can't believe what family problems can cause!'' Tristan comments.

''No shit, Sherlock!''

A/N: Wow! That's one giant chapter! Took me forever to get it done! A whole ARC is in there! Thank God it's over!

I would like to thank all those who read, review and follow this story for all your support! you guys rock!

please R&R