I don't own Yugioh.

-o0o-

After Abasi had told the others what had happened they still tried to look for Kimo and Mokuba but after searching for hours they regrouped. By that point Abasi's eye had swollen shut. "You doing alright Abasi?" Joey asked.

"Ya. Believe it or not this isn't the worst thing I've been through." she said.

"If you say so. I guess those thugs have taken Mokuba back to the castle." Tristan said.

"So now they have your grandpa and Mokuba too?" Tea asked Yugi.

"Looks that way." Joey said as they all turned and looked up at the castle as the sun was setting behind it.

"It's just another reason for us to win those 10 star chips and get in there." Yugi said as he held up his dueling glove. Joey did the same. He then looked down and saw some cards laying on ground.

"Hey it's my lucky day." He said going to pick them up.

"Hands off, those are mine." Tristan said as he picked them up with Joey's help.

"Cool Tristan I didn't know that you were training to be a Duelist?" Yugi said happily.

"Ya well I figured if a duffs like Joey can hold his own in this game then, hey I'll probably be an expert on it." Tristan said as he snatched a card from Joey.

"Don't think it's that easy Tristan. I've been called a protégée of the game and I still can learn a thing or two about it." Abasi said well Yugi nodded in agreement.

"Hey I recognize that monster." Jory said as he picked up one of Tristan's cards and stood up.

"Haven't I seen that monster in your deck Joey? Yugi asked.

"Not this one but I think I got something just like it." Joey explained as he searched his deck till he found the monster he was looking for. "Bingo, Swamp Battle Guard. Well would you take a look at this, these two look like their long lost brothers. Of course doesn't mean that you boy packs the same king of wallop mine does."

"His wallop is just fine." Tristan snapped. "My Lava Battle Guard has never let me down. Try him out you'll see."

"Thanks. It does say that they work best together."

"You know what? I think I kind of see a resemblance between you two and those muscle heads." Tea joked. Abasi and Yugi laughed well Tristan and Joey scowled at them.

"Laugh it up. I take that as a compliment." Joey said proudly.

"I don't know if you should." Abasi asked making Yugi and Tea laugh harder. Both boys would have grabbed her for that but seeing as she was hurt and looking a bit tired they decided to let it slide.

After that they walked around a bit till they found an area filled with normal kids who were having normal duels. "Wow after all the crazy duelist we've been running into it nice to see some normal kids for a change." Tea commented.

"Ya how about it tough guy? Any of these tikes puny enough for ya to take on or do you want to go looking for some three year olds?" Tristan asked Joey in fun.

"Come on be nice. You know Joeys bidding his time till he finds a dueling monkey to challenge." Tea joked too making the rest of them laugh.

"Dueling monkey, nice one." Tristan said as he laughed.

Joey wasn't finding their joking all that good as he growled before he turned to them and snapped. "Who wants some? Just one more word about Dueling monkeys and I'm gona-" he was suddenly cut off by a failure female laugh that was coming from behind him. "Pleases tell me that's not who I think it is?"

"How are you Joseph, glade to see me?" Mai asked when he turned around and they saw her standing there.

"Ecstatic." Joey commented blandly.

"So Joey is Yugi still fighting all your battles for you? Everyone knows that if Yugi wasn't there to hold your hand you wouldn't have beet me. Isn't that right Yugi?" Mai asked.

"That's not true." Yugi said.

"Really? Then I purposes that he steps out of your shadow here and now. If Joey thinks he's so tuff let's see him play for himself." Mai said.

Abasi looked at Mai in surprise. "Are you challenging Joey again? He already knows your flawed strategy."

"You just stay out of this- Whoa what happened to you?" Mai asked in shock. It was only when she had turned to give Abasi a piece of her mind that see saw what her current predicament was.

"Like you care Mai." Abasi snapped well glaring at her with her good eye. "Just hurry up with your challenge then buzz of."

"Well with what ever happened to you it sure has left you cranky." Mai then turned her attention back to Joey. "I'm waiting for your answer Joey. Think you got the guts to face the duelist I've arranged for you?"

"It's not you?" Joey asked surprised.

Mai smirked as Rex Raptor stepped out from behind a tree. "I'm dueling on Mai's behalf. Recognize me?" he asked them.

"That's Rex Raptor." Yugi said.

"This twerps support to scare me or something?" Joey asked. "I bet he ant so tuff."

"Ya he was just the runner up in the Regional Championship." Abasi pointed out.

"Well Joey you going to ask mommy for permission or what?" Mai asked as she continued to smirk.

"No way. This is my fight." Joey snapped.

Yugi and the others weren't happy about this and tried to not only change his mind but they also tried to speak for him. Abasi didn't respond, she just glared at Mai and Rex well she tried to figure out what Rex got out of this arrangement. What none of them were aware of was that they were being closely watched by a group of 4 kids who were nearby.

"I'm telling you it's her. It has to be." One boy said. He had shoulder length brown hair, and a ball cap.

"Na it can't be, look at her one of her eyes is black. Nowhere does it say that she picks fights." Said another boy who looked up from a magazine he had open in his hands. He was looking intently at a picture on the open page.

"Hey you never know she could have had a branch from one of the trees hit her hard enough or its make up to cover her true identity. You know to make her opponents think she'd be easy to duel." One of the girls with red hair suggested.

"I'm going over and finding out." The other girl in the group said before she ran over to the old kids group. Her friends tried to stop her but she then shouted as she approached "Hey you with the blonde hair, we want to ask you something."

Hearing this all of them turned and looked at the 4 kids who ran over. "What do you want? Can't you see were having a heated discussion here kids?" Mai snapped at them.

"Sorry we really don't want to intrude but we saw you guys from over there and we thought we recognized one of the world's top ranked duelist. She's even figured in this magazine." The one boy said as he held up said magazine. "I thought maybe I could get her autograph it."

Hearing this Mai's attitude changed. "Well I didn't know that there was an article of me out there."

All four of the kids frowned at her. "Not you lady, her." The other boy said as he pointed at Abasi. "Are you Abasi Klashi, the Duelist known as the Egyptian Magician?"

"Who?!" the others asked as they turned to the now blushing Abasi. "Yes I am." She said nervously.

Everyone had to suddenly cover their ears as the two girl's squealed in delight well the boys ran up to her with the magazine and a pen, bagging her for her autograph. Abasi's blush deepened as she signed the magazine next to her photo.

"Let me see that!" Mai snapped, snatching the magazine and looking at the article. Everyone else looked over her shoulder to see it for them self's, but needn't have bothered as Mai read out load. "In an interview with Abasi Klashi, the two time winner of Egypt's championship, she said that she was a simple girl with a good séance for strategy. She earned her title the Egyptian Magician for the magic trick she performs before a duel. She says that it's to get the crowds exhilarated and pumped up for the duel. In any tournament for the semi finales and the finales she does more elaborate and mind boggling tricks that would make any career magician proud."

They all turned and stared at her in shock. "In my defense that's a bit of an excretion of my magic tricks. One time a magician in the crowed approached me after a duel and said that I had exsiccated the trick poorly. He was then kind enough to help me fix it then show me a few new tricks." Abasi said with a small smile and a shrug.

"Now that I think about it they televised the Egyptian finales a few months ago. Why didn't I recognize you?" Rex asked her.

"Um maybe it's my black eye?" Abasi suggested.

"Or it could have to do with the fact that you're just a nobody." A sudden voice snapped. They all turned and spotted a young man. He was as tall as Tristan with short black hair, green eyes and with sharp features that could steal any girls' heart by just looking at him. Too bad he seemed to be a jerk as he walked over to them, glaring daggers at Abasi.

"Marcus Finch. Long time no see." Abasi said blandly.

He simply humped at her as he took in her face. "What happen, you have a run in with a tree branch or something?"

"Or something. What do you want Marcus? My friends and I are a little busy right now." Abasi snapped. She was almost at the end of her patients after everything that had happened that day,

"Not busy enough to finally let me have my rematch I think. Abasi I challenge you to a duel and not only for are your star chips on the line but you title as Egyptian champion as well. I want back everything that you took from all those year ago." Marcus demanded as he pointed at her. There was silence for a moment after his demanded as everyone waited for Abasi to answer.

"No."

Marcus blinked in surprise. "What did you just say?"

"I said no. I won't duel you." Abasi said as she crossed her arms well giving him a hard look.

"And why not?"

"The simplest answer is that I'm not even in this tournament. I don't have a single star chip to wager, so tuff luck. Now take off and find someone else to duel." Abasi said.

Marcus glared at her in anger for a few moments but that changed to a smile. "So the rumors are true then. You've lost your nerve."

"No I haven't." Abasi snapped. "I just- decided that I didn't want to compete in tournaments anymore."

"All because your parents died. I heard that they were in a hurry to see you duel in the finales. That they were in such a hurry they didn't see that the tomb was going to collapse on top of them until it was too late. You blame yourself, that's why you're not dueling." Marcus said with a smirk. "Boo-who for you."

Abasi was shacking in anger as tears welled up in her eyes. "That's not true, that's not what happened."

"Then duel me and prove me wrong." Marcus said well holding up his deck. "If you win then I'll give you an apology for what I've said but if I win I get my title back. Sound far?"

Yami could see from inside the Millennium puzzle that she needed a little guidance and a push in the right direction. So he switched places with Yugi and walked over to her. "You don't have to do this, but if you do, know that we're all right behind you."

"Ya-" she nearly said his name instead of Yugi's but he stopped her as he placed one of his/Yugi's star chips in her hand. She looked at it in surprise before looking back at him.

"He's right Abasi. No matter what we're your friends, we'll always back you up." Joey then gave her one of his star chips as well.

"It would seem that you have gained some friends that are worst at inspiration speeches then Isis. Where did you meet these clowns?" Marcus asked with a laugh but he suddenly found her slapping him across the face.

"That was for not only insulting my parents but my friends too. I accept your terms." She said before heading to the nearest valuable dueling arena. Marcus rubbed his check as he and the others all fallowed her. It would seem that the possibility of Rex Duel against Joey was now on hold.

"Hey guys how did we go from arguing about Joey not dueling Rex to watching Abasi duel some guy name Marcus Finch. Who is this guy?" Tristan asked.

"He the former Egyptian champ. A few years ago Abasi beat him in a land slid duel and took his title. Since then he's career as a duelist has gone downhill." The kid with the magazine explained.

"I'll be a gentleman and say lady's first." Marcus said as their duel started.

"Fine, then I summon Gravekeeper's Watcher in defense mode." Abasi said. A man dressed in a black and white robes, a turban on his head and holding a stone tablet appeared on the field. This monster had 1000 ATK and 1000 DEF points.

"Alright, my turn and I'm summon Maha Vailo in attack mode." A strange looking monster appeared on the files. It was a woman dressed in a black cloak, with wings on her back, a head piece that looked like a scorpion with two red balls and crystal that hung on either side of her head. It had 1550 Atk and 1400 Def points. "I place one card face down and I'll attack your Gravekeeper."

Abasi didn't show any kind of expression as her monster was destroyed and her life points dropped to 1450. Then it was her turn and she summoned Gravekeeper's Curse, a man in another black rob with dreadlocks and a metal headband appeared on the field. "Whenever Graverkeeper's Curse is summed to the field it immediately inflicts 500 points of damage to opponent. I place one card face down and end my turn."

"Um Yugi is it just me or did Abasi forget to put that low level monster in defense mode?" Joey asked Yami quietly as he didn't want to alert Marcus, Mai or Rex to overhear him.

Yami had been wondering the same thing as he watched Abasi closely but he see the hint of a smile as could feel her confidence which made him think that she had laid a trap. And he was proven right as Marcus took his turn.

Marcus laughed. "I have to say Abasi you seem to have slipped in your dueling skills if you do something foolish as leaving a week monster like that in attack mode. Go Maha Vailo."

His monster sent what looked like an energy beam attack went after her monster and as it came closer Abasi grinned. "It seems you took the bait and now I activate my Mirror Force trap card. Sending your own attack right back at you."

Some jaws dropped as the attack bounced off the shield and obliterated Marcus's monster and the rest of his life points. They were all speechless as Abasi got down and walked over to Marcus. Yami half expected him to be angry but he was surprised that he was in fact smiling. "What are you smiling about Marcus, you lost?" she asked him

"Oh trust me I know but I had to see if you had lost your edge with what happened to your parents. I wasn't disappointed but I can see that your heart not in it right now." Marcus said as he put two star chips in her hand. "Also I'm sorry about what I said about your parents, I didn't mean a word of it. I just said it to get angry enough to duel me."

"Oh is that all." Abasi muttered in distain. She then looked down at the star chips in her hand, a sad look came across her face.

Marcus clasped her on the shoulder. "I know it takes time to morn but keep in mind that they would want you to live your life and that means you have to keep dueling. I remember from our duel in the finals two years ago how proud they were of you."

That made her look at him as a smile crossed her face well unshed tears filled her eyes. "Thank you Marcus. I guess I needed this."

"And we loved watching it!" all four of the kids shouted excitedly as they ran over to them and started chattering away at full speed. Mai got irritated by it and stepped in.

"Ok that's enough from the small fry and the boo-who moment. Your duel is done which means the field is clear for Joey and Rex to duel. That is if he has the guts to take up the challenge or what?"

"I see your back to being a jerk Mai. Oh wait you never stopped in the first place." Abasi snapped as she turned to look at her.

"Keep talking and I'll blacken your other eye." Mai snapped as she raised her fist but Joey stepped between them.

"Leave her alone Mai, she's done enough today." He said.

"So you're going to duel then. Oh and by the way if little Yugi does any of his back seat dueling, then Joey is disqualified and the match automatically goes to Rex." Mai said.

"Joey doesn't stand a chance." Tea muttered.

"No, that's just the way I want it just me and him." Joey said. "It may cost me all my star chips but I don't deserve to keep them if the only reason I'm winnen is because of Yugi's smarts. All my life people are trying to help me because they think I can't help myself. Well I don't need to be babied this time.

"You've lost it Joey, you can believe whatever you want but I won't just stand here and watch you throw your chips away." Tristen snapped at his best friend before he turned to Mai and Rex. "I hope you guys don't mind but little Joey won't be coming out to duel today. Maybe once he grows up we can arrange a play date"

Abasi, Yugi (who had switched with Yami again) and Tea could see that Tristan just pissed joey off. Um Tristan I think you may have-" Abasi didn't get a chance to finish as Joey punch Tristan in the face. "Gone too far. Never mind"

"Hey what you punch me for?!" Tristan demanded.

"Didn't you hear what I just said wise guy? I'm tired that everyone's got to think that they've got to come to my rescue." Joey snapped.

"That's not how it is. Friends look out for each other." Yugi said.

"Keep out of this Yug." Joey said and they n=knew that had double meaning. He wanted Yugi to stay out of the fight and the duel. "Just let me do what I got to do."

"Great idea do what you got to do even if it mean losing the chance to help your sister." Tristan snapped as he got to his feet and glared at Joey.

Mentioning Serenity did cause Joey to stop and think for a moment and for Tea to be a voice of reasoning. "Listen, let's cool off for a sec.

"Forget it. If mister macho want to lose he can do it by himself." Tristan said before he turned and walk away.

"But Tristan-"

"Let him go." Joey said.

"Ah some trouble in paradise?" Rex asked.

"Stay out of this." Tea sapped but Joey stopped her before she could say anything else.

"So what's it going to be? You gona run off with your friend or start acting like a real duelist?" Mai asked.

Abasi was about to make a snarky remark but Marcus stopped her as Joey agreed to Mai's terms. "You best keep back. If's he's good he'll come out on top. Just believe in him." Marcus whispered in her ear.

She realized that he was right and nodded. Joey then asked Yugi to keep quiet during the duel and even told Abasi to keep her mouth shut as he started to walk over to the terminal. She then remembered something. "Um Joey you may what this back."

Joey turned to look at her in confusion but ended up catching the star chip he had lent her. "Oh ya, thanks Abasi."

"Alright then it's dyno feeding time." Rex said in excitement.

A/N: I know that it was a short duel for Abasi but do you know how hard it can be to write up a duel from scratch, especially when you suck at making any kind of deck? I have tried with Yugioh cards and magic and I suck at it but I'm hoping to have the hang of it when I actually have Abasi dueling for real. Until then you'll have to live with Yami and the others for now.