Yu-Gi-Oh! Kaimon! (Season 1)

by CosmoK13

After a devastating fight between darkness and light, six souls were sealed away in mythical items. A prophecy foretold that these six spirits will come together to defeat the darkness. Join Yugi Mutou, as he and his friends, along with the other five chosen hosts, set out on a bunch of adventures to uncover the past, battle against all odds, and use the Power of Spirit Monsters!

18. Chapter 17

Episode 17: The Match from the Model Master

Lightning and rain came crashing down in the middle of the night. Domino was being hit by a thunderstorm, during the late hours of the evening. Even with such severe weather, that did not stop a private plane from making a landing on the runway of the airport. It was not the transportation descending that caused many people from the window to press their faces against the glass. It was the single passenger that was being held within the compartment that they were waiting for. The doors to the lobby opened, revealing the person that was aboard the machine. A female in a trenchcoat wearing glasses and a hat to keep herself from being publicly shown. The only noticeable details were her caramel colored skin and her black hair that was put up in multiple dreadlocks. Even though she had on a disguise, it was not enough for the people to cease flashing their cameras and taking pictures while she walked past them carrying her silver suitcase.

A reporter held up a microphone close to the suited woman. "Miss Aileen Rao, welcome to Japan!"

"Miss Aileen Rao, why are you visiting our country?" A female journalist questioned as she held a pen and paper to write any statement the taller woman would say.

Another reporter asked some follow up questions. "Are you here for some sort of promotion? Or is this a private matter?"

"Aileen Rao, please tell us your reasoning for coming to Japan right after your work in Paris." The journalists begged for even a single answer from the famous woman, just so they could have a news article to write about.

The woman that was being questioned answered to none of them. Despite the microphones, cameras and people, she outmaneuvered them all. She swiftly made her way to the doors, only smiling at everyone for a reply. The moment she walked through the gate, a large limo was waiting for her just outside the entrance. It honked, indicating that it was for her. The woman headed to the driver seat, as the window rolled down to reveal a man wearing a suit and sunglasses. "Aileen Rao, please hop in." He ordered her. The woman didn't protest, anything to get away from the buzzing of the crowd. She opened the back door, sliding into the seat with her luggage. Once she was all settled, the limo drove away from the airport, much to the dismay of the reporters and fans. Alieen looked out the window to see the rain coming down, removing her sunglasses so she could see better. The chauffeur was steering the car down the highway to the destination this woman needed to be.

The woman sighed, taking a long cigarette from her bag and lighting it in her mouth. She rolled her window down a bit to blow the smoke outside, so as to not inconvenience the driver. "Such a shame I couldn't be with my fans for much longer. I wanted my first time in Japan to have been more spectacular." She noted, thinking back to her fans who supported her.

"Our company appreciates you coming to Japan right after your show in Paris, Miss Aileen." The driver told her, looking at her through the dashboard mirror. "It may not be under the best circumstances, but we are grateful for your time."

Aileen looked over to her driver, listening to him. Sure, she may not have had much of a choice, since she knew who her boss was. However, she had her own personal reasons to agree to this proposition. "Well, I had to come see the boss after I heard what happened to Ryuichi. It's only fair that I try and win the bet the two of us made together."

"I didn't take you for a gambler, Miss Aileen Rao." The driver noted.

"Don't all gamers take some sort of chance for their advancements? That's usually how I operate after all. But I must admit, hearing what this boy has done made me curious." She giggled, taking a drag of her smoke before puffing out the haze through the crack in the window. "Perhaps he will be an actual challenge compared to my previous boys I've broken. Speaking of, I assume he wants to meet with me tonight?"

The chauffeur nodded. "He is waiting for you in his office. I know it's late but he wishes to speak to you before you retire to your chambers for the night."

Aileen rolled her eyes and went back to staring out in the streets. "Figures… can't even give me a moment's rest. I only got here and all he wants is to talk about business the second I land. I should remind him that I am putting my Italian and Romanian fashion line on hold because of this game he wants me to play."

"Please forgive Master Kaiba, he is aware of your upcoming fashion projects." The driver told her. "But he assures me that this challenge he is giving you should be worth your time."

Aileen raised a brow, finishing her smoke before speaking. "For his sake, I hope it is."

---

The lightning and thunder were letting up outside, though it was still raining as droplets fell against the window. It was a quarter to one in the morning, yet few people were still awake despite the late hours. One said person, was a man with brown hair and blue eyes, who was sitting at his desk in his office. His fingers typed away on the keyboard in front of him, while he scanned the screen of the monitor to look over his schedule of a project he had. All the while, he was using his ear and mouth to listen and talk on the phone with someone. The machine was having the person be on speaker, but Seto Kaiba needed to be present during this conversation. "So, what else is there left to do?"

"The only areas left are the escape room, the laser maze and the holographic stages." A man on the other end told him on the phone. "We also need to finish up some of the confessional stands, but those will only take less than two days. We just need to fill them with snacks and merchandise."

Seto checked the PDF that was sent to him, in regards to the recent progress of his project. So far, everything was going smoothly. "What is the progress on the three areas?" Seto questioned.

"We need to finish setting up the props in the escape room, get the guns and armor for the laser maze and finish the mechanical and wiring on the stages." The guy explained.

The CEO of the company hummed as he listened to the list that needed to be done. Most of which could be handled within the next week. "Will you be able to finish by the end of the month?"

"You want it all done by the end of May?" The guy asked, a bit baffled. "I thought you said you wanted it to open up in July, You want us to push so we can be two months early?"

"This Kaiba Land is only a Beta version of what we have planned." Seto explained. "While I am aware that rushing is not a good idea, we have the money and the people to get it done. Besides, I am mostly looking at feedback for how the kids will react to the games there, specifically Duel Monsters, which we plan to really sell to the public. After all, half of this money is thanks to Industrial Illusions, who agreed to sponsor this park. Rest assured, you will have all the supplies you need for this. And there will be a fifteen percent increase in the paychecks you are getting." He promised.

"So, you want us to finish up the rest of Kaiba Land Beta that was supposed to open up to the public in July, in less than two weeks?" There was clear sarcasm in the guy's voice, but Seto brushed it off.

"I will round up to a twenty precent increase in your pay if that will be more persuasive."

There was silence on the line for a few seconds, as the man thought it over. "We'll have to be working overtime and need more workers if we are going to finish within that time frame."

"I'll handle that, as for the hours and rotation of workers, I'll leave that up to you." Seto stated, as he typed away while looking at the files presented to him. He didn't care about losing money, not when he had high hopes that they would make three times their budget once this project was completed.

The CEO heard a knock from the door, looking up as a voice spoke on the other side. "Master Kaiba, Aileen Rao is here to see you." The servant called out.

Perfect, that meant his other plan was in motion. "I'll let you get back to work. Call me by the end of the week for an update." He instructed the one on the phone.

"Pleasure doing business with you, Kaiba." The worker stated before he hung up the phone. With one conversation ended, he could get started on the other.

"Send her in." Seto ordered the servant, after he hung up the phone and closed his laptop. The doors opened, revealing the one that he had been waiting for. The woman walked in, tall like an Amazon warrior. She still had her coat on, but ditched the sunglasses as she went towards the desk where her boss was stationed. "Welcome, Aileen. I trust you had no trouble getting here." Seto greeted her like an old friend.
"Aside from the jet leg, and this early morning meeting I could be worse." She remarked, heading to the couch and sat on the seat, legs crossed over one another while staring at him.

Seto knew she wanted him to get to the point, since she was probably exhausted from the flight, not that he blamed her. "In that case, I'll get right to the chase. I need you to take on a certain person of interest."

"You mean the one that beat Sheldan and Ryuichi?" Aileen questioned while raising a brow. "He must be a big deal if this guy was able to take them both down with ease."

"I've called on you, the third of my four Game Masters, to test his abilities. He passed the first two challenges with no problem, but you are the second strongest of the four, so perhaps you will be a tougher opponent for him."

"Oh?" Aileen became intrigued by this statement. "Well, I did tell Fuwa that I would beat this guy if he ended up losing to him. Now I want to dig that knife deeper into his wounded pride." A grin spread on her face as she was enjoying the thought more and more. "So, who is my opponent?"

The CEO of Kaiba Corp grabbed a remote that was on his desk. After clicking a button while pointing at the TV dangling from the ceiling, he answered her question. "Let me show you who you are up against." The screen started to play a video, showcasing the duel of Baron Sheldan in his Doll Room, where he was playing Duel Monsters against a young boy with strange hair. The younger one in question seemed nervous as he looked at the cards in his hand, shaking while trying to play a move.

Aileen glared at the screen, baffled by the video and even more so at the person one of her fellow Game Master's was playing against. "That's him?" She pointed up to the screen while turning to look at Seto.

"His name is Yugi Mutou, a high schooler at Domino High who is an expert gamer." Seto explained in a serious tone.

Aileen turned her body to face him, while she crossed her arms over her chest. "You can't be serious. I'm battling a boy? He's as scrawny as a newborn fawn." She mocked, losing interest in this job. "You hired me as your Game Master so I could crush smart and famous men as my game opponents. It was the deal we made in exchange for the fame I got now. And here you are telling me that my next opponent is a child? Surely this must be some sort of joke."

Aileen was doubtful about Yugi, though Seto couldn't blame her. He wouldn't have believed it himself had he not witnessed his abilities first hand. He kept his eyes on the screen, seeing the part where Yugi had fallen out of his chair from an attack Sheldan did to him in the game. "Do not underestimate his skills. He may appear ordinary at first, but take a closer look." Aileen humored her boss, looking back at the television when Yugi was getting up back to his seat. The moment his face turned to the camera, they both saw his expression change to confidence. His posture straigneed and to Aileen, she believed his violet eyes turned to a shade of crimson, but perhaps that was just the camera?

"What the…" Aileen was stunned, widening her eyes at his sudden change in attitude. "He looks totally different now from the beginning of the video…"

"That is the 'Yugi' that comes out when he is pushed to his limit. He becomes stronger, and manages to take on any opponent whoever is in his way." Seto explained.

Hearing this explanation made the woman smile while she kept her gaze upon this 'Yugi'. "Well now, this does seem like a promising match. So, he's the one that beat the other two Game Master's huh?" Aileen turned over to Seto as another question rose in her mind. "Have you tried taking him on?"

"I did once." Seto admitted. "In Duel Monsters, we both ended in a draw."

Aileen jumped in surprise, hearing that the Japanese champion of Duel Monsters tied with some nobody in a single game. "My, he is the real deal."

"That is why I have been summoning the Game Masters. I want to test his skills by testing him. So far, he was able to use strategies with the first Game Master. Then, he showed off his luck against my second warrior. Now, you Aileen Rao, is his next challenger. The Game Master that is known for her manipulative and tricky tactics. Psyching your opponents to give you the advantage. Only if he is able to defeat you, will he be one step closer to proving he is the rival I have been looking for." Seto explained in detail.

Aileen found all of this amusing, between this boy and her boss's obsession with him. "So, you don't care if I win or lose, you just want me to test him and see how he will react."

Seto nodded. "All that matters is you play a game with him. One of your choosing, though I already have a feeling of what you will play him against."

He knew her all too well, Aileen thought. And of course she already had that idea of a game in mind, her signature one. Even if Seto would not be affected if she lost, that didn't mean she was going to let this boy walk away with a win so easily. She didn't become a Game Master for Seto Kaiba just because she went easy on people. And if this boy was half as good as the others say he is, then it would give her just as much fun. "In that case I'll take on the opponent. And crush him myself." She stared at the image of Yugi on the screen, her eyes glimmered with delight at the thought of beating him.

Seto nodded, knowing that she would not disappoint him. "We will tell you his location tomorrow, and you can challenge him then yourself. For now, you will be escorted back to your room and rest there."

Aileen smiled over at him, before walking over to the door. "Consider this boy already beaten." She promised him, as she exited the office. Seto watched her go, and once she left, he went back to work. Even though she was cocky now, the woman should have no reason to be overly confident already. After all, 'Yugi' was someone not to be messed with.

---

It was Sunday morning for everyone in Domino Japan. Yugi was currently helping his grandfather out with stocking up the games for the store while he cleaned the floors and shelves. It was pretty slow at the Kame Game Shop today, but Yugi took this opportunity to get his chores done while his grandfather was behind the counter, wiping down the surface of the table. "Looks like that's everything." Yugi stated, wiping his forehead of the sweat after placing the final box of a board game on the lower shelf.

"You did very well, Yugi." Sugaroku commented. "The shop looks as spiffy as a ship."

Yugi smiled, enjoying the praise of his grandfather. "It was no problem. I'm just glad to be done with my chores."

The old man hummed at that statement, looking over at his grandson. "Are you going to be heading out with your friends? It is Sunday." Which was usually the day where Yugi and his friends would be spending time together.

The younger of the pair shook his head. "Nah, Jounouchi is taking care of Shizuka. He's helping her move to the hospital his mom got transferred to a few cities over. There's still some paperwork to fill out, but they plan to move her in the next three weeks, before the end of the month." Yugi explained. "Honda, Miho and Cosmo are working today, and as for-" before Yugi could finish his sentence, the doors to the shop opened with the jingle of the bell. Both Mutou's turned to see a familiar brunette coming in with her casual clothes, consisting of a long-sleeved red shirt being held up by suspenders for her denim shorts. "Anzu!" Yugi gasped, seeing his friend busting through the door with a gleeful expression while panting.

"It's here! It's here! It's finally here!" Anzu exclaimed, running over to Yugi and Sugaroku as they watched her bounce towards them. She was holding something up and shaking it in front of the pair. Neither could see what it was because it kept moving back and forth. The only image they could depict was a woman on the cover, but they didn't know who it was. "I finally got it!" Anzu cheered in glee. "Aileen Rao's Super Exercise DVD's!"

The two men were a bit confused, as they didn't understand what Anzu was fussing over. Yugi was the one to ask the question. "Uh… that's great Anzu but… who's Aileen Rao?"

Anzu glared at Yugi, as if he had something upon his face. "Are you serious, Yugi?! I've been telling you all week since I ordered this package! She's a twenty-year-old exotic supermodel and dancer!" The brunette waved her arms around frantically, trying to explain her point, yet it only made the two stay silent as a result. Anzu became annoyed while looking at her shortest friend. "I've told you I was ordering this last week for my workout and dance practice!" Yugi flinched a bit because of her tone, but he couldn't quite recall her mentioning it. Then again, maybe he did but he had forgotten it? A lot had happened over that one week.

"Aileen Rao…" Sugaroku repeated, humming after hearing that name. His eyes lit up as he clapped his hands together. "Oh yes! I remember seeing an interview about her when she appeared on the cover of that famous magazine called 'Eighteen Again'. Apparently, she has come to Japan as well for some business, but no one knows why." This woman seemed to be a big deal according to Anzu and Yugi's grandfather.

"You see?!" Anzu grabbed Yugi's shoulders while looking into his eyes. "Even your grandpa knows who she is! So how could you not!? Are you even watching the news?!"

The short student pulled away from her, trying to defend himself. "Grandpa has too much free time, so he tends to watch variety shows when I'm not home and he's not working."

"What do you mean, free time?" Sugaroku questioned as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I happen to see the news in between work." He explained.

Now Yugi felt like a bigger idiot about the matter. He didn't really care when it came to news and popular models unless they were game related. "She's really that famous for just being a model?" Yugi asked.

Anzu's eyes sparkled like stars as she held the box close to her body. "Aileen was originally a dancer who studied different forms of genres. She was able to appear in many Broadway musicals, and still does!" She began to spin around in circles as she explained more. "She then went on to modeling, and is said to have created her own fashion line! Rumor has it she's even going to play big parts in some up-coming movies! She's been my idol ever since I saw her on the screen!" Finally, the brunette stopped twirling around on her feet. She held up the case proudly while looking at Yugi. "I heard she made some videos about her dancing when she started out, and tips to improve. So I ordered it and I will be watching it to follow in her footsteps. Metaphorically and literally." Anzu giggled at the last statement.

"Sounds like a lot of work." Yugi noted. "But if it's to help your dance career, it seems like the perfect fit." Even though he didn't understand much about this woman, Yugi still wanted to support Anzu and her dreams. And seeing her holding that video case like a prize proved how much effort she was willing to put in.

The door to the shop swung open again, revealing someone that was coming into the store. Everyone turned to the entrance, while Sugaroku greeted them. "Welcome to the Kame Game Shop." The three stared, seeing a tall, lengthy woman with a bronze complexion standing in the doorframe. She had her black hair in dreadlocks that reached past her shoulders while a yellow bandana covered her head. She wore open toe heel sandals, showing off blue nail polish that matched her finger tips. A lavender color was her denim jeans with a scarlet crop top that showed her midriff and shoulders, as the sleeves went down to her elbows. Her glossy lips were pink and the sunglasses hid her eyes.

Yugi knew right away this woman was not local, and it made him and his grandfather a bit nervous. "Grandpa look, I think she's a foreigner." Yugi whispered quietly, trying not to sound rude.

"I hope she can speak Japanese…" Sugaroku whispered back. Though he was fluent in many languages, it would have been easier if this woman could speak in one he was born with.

Anzu kept staring at the woman, amazed by her beauty while getting a sense of deja vu. "Strange, she looks so familiar…" Anzu noted, not sure where she saw her from but knew it was somewhere. The tall woman walked over to the group casually, not bothered by their eyes on her. She was used to it, after all. She did notice the box in Anzu's grasp, recognizing it as a smile spread on her face. The stranger pulled out a sharpie from her pocket while she held out her other hand towards Anzu.

"May I take a look?" She asked the brunette. Though Anzu didn't get the chance to answer as the box was taken from her while the tall woman started to write on it.

"H-Hey! What are you doing?!" Anzu tried to reach for her box, but due to the height difference it was impossible. The box was returned to her, which now had the signature of Aileen Rao's name on the cover.

"A signed version would make it even more special." The woman pointed out as she raised a finger. Anzu looked down at the box, confused, then looked back up at the woman. She repeatedly went from staring at the DVD to the foreigner as she wasn't able to put the pieces together. It was only when the customer took off her sunglasses, did she reveal her grin and cocoa-brown eyes. Anzu's mouth fell open, gasping as her pupils wavered while pointing at the woman. She nearly fell onto the floor, only for Yugi to lean against her to try and hold her up.

"What's wrong, Anzu?" Yugi asked, not sure why the teenage girl kept stuttering.

The woman walked over to the counter, greeting Sugaroku as she spoke in Japanese. "I wanted to ask if you have some rare games. I'm interested in checking out what you have here."

"What kind of games are you looking for?" The owner asked.

The lady tapped her chin as she gave her answer. "I'm not really a fan of games where you rely on luck or chance. I want something where you have to read and trick your opponent. Those are the types I like."

Hearing such a request made the old man cross his arms over his chest, humming as he had to think of some games they had which fit that description. "This sounds like a difficult order." He admitted.

The forigen woman turned as her eyes caught Yugi. "What kind of games are you good at?" She asked the high schooler.

"You mean me?" Yugi pointed to himself, making sure that she was talking to him. After she nodded to confirm his question, did he answer honestly with a smile. "Well, I love to play all kinds of games. I'm not picky." The woman was surprised by that answer, yet she didn't dislike it as she gave a grin of her own.

The calm moment was interrupted as Anzu raised her voice, shouting while pointing to the lady as she finally realized who she was. "Aileen Rao!" She couldn't contain her excitement, as she was meeting her idol face to face. She took a step towards the model with an excited expression. "What are you doing in a place like this?!"

Hearing that question made Sugaroku feel insulted. "What is that supposed to mean? I know she's a hot and famous chick from television and magazines, but this place is open for everyone!"

Aileen blinked a few times between Anzu's ecstasy and the statement of the store owner. Anzu beamed up at the woman, her eyes shone like stars as she stuttered a bit. She wasn't sure what to say to the one she fantasized over, but she wanted to make a good impression as this was an opportunity of a lifetime. In the end, she let her emotions overwhelm her and embraced the model in a half hug. "I'm such a huge fan of yours, Aileen Rao!" Anzu squealed while her heart fluttered a mile a minute.

To her surprise and enjoyment, the model didn't push her back. Instead, she welcomed the hug while holding her shoulder since she was twice as tall as the student. "Really? It's nice to see I have fans over here as well. Thank you for your support."

"Of course! I especially love your dances. I'm aspiring to become a dancer myself." Anzu admitted.

Aileen giggled at the enthusiasm of this young girl. "Oh my! Such a bold choice. But you do have a great figure. How much knowledge and practice have you done?"

Hearing that made Anzu rub the back of her head while blushing as she had to be honest. "Well, I guess I'm still considered an amature. But I know what types of dances there are and have researched their origins and the cultures they came from. As for practicing… I haven't had much time."

The supermodel patted Anzu's head, keeping that positive expression on her face as she encouraged her. "Well, we all have to start somewhere. As long as you do some practice every day, you will be able to apply yourself in no time."

Anzu did feel better after hearing that, bowing to her idol as she praised her. "Thank you, Miss Aileen Rao."

The woman smiled, pleased by her fan's devotion. "She sure is a cute girl," Aileen noted, then turned towards Yugi. "By any chance, are you two dating?"

That question caught Yugi off guard. He ended up looking at the ground, while a blush crossed his cheeks though he was desperately trying to hide it. "Ah… n-no, we-we're just friends." He was bashful in his answer, which Aileen noticed as she smirked a bit. That was when an idea popped into her head. The model reached into her jean pocket to take out a small card which she handed to Anzu.

"This is where I'm currently staying during my trip in this country. I would be honored if you and your friend could come over. I'll give him some time to look for the games I requested and I can give you a few tips on my dancing skills."

Anzu held the card while looking up at her. "I'll definitely be there!" She promised.

Aileen nodded towards the girl, then paid her attention to Yugi. "In that case, how does three o'clock at that place sound? Bring the games I've requested and I'll see which ones peak my interest."

"Oh, of course!" Yugi agreed.

"I'm counting on you, okay?" Aileen told them, waving at the teens as she headed to the door then went out to prepare for their arrival.

Anzu was so excited, she kept waving even after Aileen had left. Her heart was fluttering like a butterfly's wing, as she had been invited to her idol's house right after meeting them. Such an opportunity is something many fans would die for, and she would not be turning down such a chance.

"Say, that model should be rich, right?" Sugaroku asked his grandson. "I wonder if she'd be willing to buy an overpriced game that I can't usually sell."

Anzu heard that, and immediately turned around to scold the old man for what he was planning. "Why you!"

---

After a few hours of digging around the shop, Sugaroku managed to find some games that hopefully fit the supermodel's estetic. He placed them all in a bunch of bags for Yugi to carry. He would be going with only Anzu since his grandfather still needed to mend the shop. The young boy waited for his friend to come back, as they agreed to meet back at the shop then head to where the supermodel was staying. By the time Anzu had gotten to the Game Shop again, she was a few minutes late from the agreed time they planned to leave. Anzu had gone home so she could change her outfit since she wanted to look more professional for her idol, which Yugi wasn't against as he knew how much she loved Aileen Rao. The brunette came back wearing a pink knee-length dress with puffy short sleeves to cover her shoulders. She had a black-furry vest over it along with white long socks and pink ballet shoes. She wanted to be dancer material since she was going to be practicing with Aileen. She also had a bundle of red roses, which came from the flower shop Cosmo attended. She wanted to give Aileen something as a token of appreciation for her inviting them to her house.

Once the duo were reunited, they began to make their way to the location that Aileen was staying while in Japan. Surprisingly, she was staying in Domino, which made the trip shorter. Of course, she was being stationed in the upper parts of Domino, where the more wealthy residents resided. The high schoolers managed to reach the large apartment complex that held seven stories with large window panes and a cream color for the walls. The trip took about an hour, as they had to catch the bus. Even so, to Anzu she gasped in amazement while her head tilted up to see the whole building. "Woah… This definitely looks like a place a supermodel would stay at." She noted to herself.

"Hey, Anzu!" Yugi called out as he was struggling to hold the eight bags which contained the games for Aileen to test out. He was exhausted, as he was the one who had to carry the weight of these boards all on his own. "Can you please carry at least one of these bags?" He begged, as his arms felt they were going to fall off.

The brunette did look over to Yugi, seeing how tired he was. Instead of being a good friend and helping him, she gave him the cold shoulder by turning her back on him. "No way! The flowers would end up getting crushed!" She protested, making her way to the building. The small boy sighed, defeated in the idea he would get any help. Anzu and him took the elevator, since it would be faster and he could let his arms rest for a few minutes. Anzu was still ecstatic to be meeting her idol in her home, while Yugi was interested in getting to play some of the games to see which one the model would take.

They landed on the seventh floor and had to find the seventh apartment which was where the paper told them to go. Once there, Anzu rang the doorbell and within a minute, the model opened the frame and greeted them in a change of clothes that suited her origins. She had on a red heart-cut dress which was covered by a teal sari, wrapped around her body. Beaded bracelets and necklaces made out of jade decorated her arms and neck, as she greeted the two with a warm smile.

"Welcome," Aileen gestured for them to come in, having them go through the small hallway of the apartment. "Follow me, I'll show you to the common room." Once they reached the other side, she opened a door for the trio to be taken into a room with golden walls and green carpet. Pedestals of statues with Indian aesthetics scattered around the room and walls. "Here we are."

Anzu awed at the space, mostly at the pieces of work that were displayed. "Woah, this room is beautiful!"

Aileen giggled at the comment. "It's only temporary while I do business in Japan, but I wanted this place to feel like home. I managed to ask an acquaintance of mine to set these up for me. Most of my taste of decor comes from my father, if you couldn't tell already."

"Oh yeah, aren't you half-Indian?" Anzu asked.

"Yep, my father is from India, but my mother is actually Canadian. Though my taste of decor isn't the only thing I inherited from my father." Aileen mused at her own comment.

"Umm, Miss Aileen?" Yugi called out to her, while holding up his bags. "Where do you want me to set up these games?" He asked.

The supermodel looked over at him as he asked, noticing how many he brought over. "Ah, there's a table over there. You can set them up on that." She gestured to the living room. He then hurried over to the stand, mostly so he could finally put the bags down.

While he went over there, Anzu approached her idol. "Ummm… Miss Aileen, please accept these flowers. They aren't much but I wanted to give you something as a thanks for inviting us." Anzu handed her bouquet of roses over.

Aileen accepted them, giving them a graceful sniff and had a smile spread on her face. "Oh my, these are very lovely. Roses are one of my favorite flowers."

"R-really?" Anzu was surprised, she just picked them out since they were the most common flower of appreciation.

"Why don't you go to your friend while I put these in a vase? Best not to keep a boy waiting." She smirked, heading into another room while Anzu went over to help Yugi with the games. Taking out the boxes from the bags and setting them either on the table, the sectional or the floor.

"You sure brought a bunch of games with you." The brunette noted. "You aren't thinking of overpricing her, are you?" She raised a brow towards him with an untrustworthy expression. She still didn't forget what Sugaroku told her back in the Game Shop.

Yugi knew what she was getting at, and explained. "Grandpa didn't have too many games for what Miss Aileen requested. So, he picked the ones he thought would be the best fit. And I'll only take the money from the ones she does buy. But I want her to test them out so she can see how they work, and determine if they are what she is looking for."

"Oh, that's why you're setting them up." Anzu realized.

"Sorry for the wait," Aileen called out, interrupting the two. She made her way to the living room as she set the roses down on an end table, in a large vase full of water. She sat on the couch, watching Yugi checking over the boxes he brought over. "Are these all of the games?"

"Yeah, we tried getting the ones we thought would suit you." Yugi explained. "If there are any you like, let me know and I can set it up so we can have a test."

Aileen hummed, checking the games over with amusement. There were a lot of them, but she figured to pick the one that would take the most time. "How about… this one?" She asked, holding up a large case.

Yugi saw which one she picked out and smiled. "Oh! Grandpa said that you might like this one the best, since it is the closest one we have that matches your description. Though it will take a while to get the board put together." He admitted.

"That's alright, if it is as good as he says it is, I want to give it a try." Aileen told him.

Yugi was pleased, and didn't mind putting it together. He set the box down and opened the lid. "I'll get it set up. Shouldn't take me more than ten minutes." He estimated, taking out the pieces.

That would be more than enough time for what Aileen had planned. "Well, since this will take a bit, how about we head into the next room while we wait?" Aileen suggested to Anzu as she stood up.

"The next room?" Anzu questioned.

"It's a studio I had set up to practice my dances. You said you wanted to get some tips and tricks for your own performances, right?"

"Of course!" Anzu was giddy, ready to see what this studio was like. She followed the older woman into the other room, while Yugi started to set up the board. One wall had a large mirror with a railing, another had a shutter door and the rest were golden colored. A looking glass was installed within the wall opposite of where the mirror was, but Anzu could not see what was on the other side, meaning it had to be a one-way type of glass. "It's so big." Anzu gasped, taking in the size of the room.

"It should be more than enough space for our session. Now, what kind of dances haven't you tried or struggled with the most?" Aileen asked.

Anzu thought about that question before answering honestly. "I haven't really done much dancing, but if I had to choose one I want to focus on… I would say ballet since a lot of Broadway performances use that style. At least from the ones I've seen."

"Well, that is a good one to start with." Aileen commented. "The key to ballet is balance. You need to be able to steady your body under any pressure. It's not easy for first timer's though, but this is where practicing helps to make your body as light as a feather." Anzu nodded, taking in her advice. "Let's start with a basic ballet position. Hold onto the handrail with your non-dominant hand." Aileen gestured to the mirror wall. Anzu followed the instructions, gripping onto the rail with her left hand. "Good, now I want you to raise up the leg on your non-dominant side and point it outwards. Make sure you straighten out your toes so they are at a point. While you are doing that, balance yourself on your standing foot from your toes and hold out your arms as far as you can." Anzu followed the directions, wobbling a bit at first but the railing did help her keep balance.

"Like this?" Anzu asked, looking over at Aileen for approval.

"Excellent posture." She applauded. "Now, we're going to time how long you can stay that way. This way we can test the limit your body has on itself to help motivate you to push forward. Are you ready?" Anzu nodded, ready for this test. Aileen leaned closer to Anzu and whispered right into her ear. "Now then, hold that pose like that." She ordered. As if hearing the sound of a whistle, the high schooler stared straight ahead as her body followed the command given to her. When Anzu wasn't responding to anything else, the supermodel knew she had her in her grasp.

Yugi had finished setting up the game, having the board be littered with large castles made of blocks and figurines to act as pieces. After setting up the final touches, Aileen stepped out of the dance room, as he turned to see her. "Oh, Miss Aileen! The board is all set up." Yugi told her. Instead of responding, the supermodel closed the door to the dance studio. Then she took a key from her pocket which she inserted into the knob to lock the door. This confused Yugi, as he wondered why she was doing this when Anzu was still inside. "Uh… Miss Aileen?"

"I must admit, she is more of an honest and good kid than I first pictured her as." Aileen stated, her tone of voice had changed from kind and nurturing to slightly malicious. Her eyes went to the glass window, looking inside the room where Anzu was. "She's so determined, she took my instructions to heart immediately." Yugi was slightly nervous, so he went over to the window and looked inside. Anzu was in that position Aileen put her in. She wasn't moving, blinking or responding in any way. She looked more like a mannequin. If it wasn't for the fact she was breathing, Yugi would have thought of her as such. "Her body can no longer move, even if she ends up getting tired. All she can do now is hold that pose."

Yugi wasn't liking this situation, becoming worried for Anzu's well-being. He pressed his hands and face up to the glass, calling out to her. "Anzu?! Anzu?!" But he got no response.

"That's no use. The wall is soundproof and the window is only a one way see through." Aileen explained. "She can not hear our voices nor can she see anything outside of the room."

Yugi looked over at the woman, fear rising in him at the rate this situation was escalating. "But why are you doing this?"

Aileen looked down at Yugi, her face suddenly had a terrifying yet beautiful appearance. She was more menacing now, and it only added to his anxiety. "If you want to snap her out of that state, you have to beat me in a game."

"A-A game?" Yugi stuttered.

"I, Aileen Rao, master of mind and manipulation games, challenge you, Yugi Mutou, to a game of my choosing. A game from my home country, Raijinhai!"

"Raijinhai…" Yugi repeated in a lower tone of voice. He heard that game name before, as it was something his grandfather once played on his travels. However, he was unfamiliar with the mechanics as he never played that game himself. Aileen gestured to a table next to the dance studio, where an orange and green colored box laid in the center.

"This game has been passed down in the Rao family for generations. It's similar to the game Shogi, but there are a few twists." Aileen explained, looking over at the high schooler with her arms crossed. "I'm certain you do not know how to play, but the rules are simple so I am sure you will learn them quickly." Her eyes narrowed as she still had more to say. "However, in this game the one that loses will have something they cherish the most be taken from them. In your case, it would be that girl." She pointed to the hypnotized Anzu in the other room. Yugi still tried to get her attention, pounding on the glass and calling her name, but this showed no results. "If you are desperate to save her, you will have to defeat me in the game."

Yugi knew he wasn't being given much of a choice. With Anzu in such an unresponsive state, it seemed he was powerless to help her snap out of the trance. But, if he somehow lost this game, what would become of Anzu? It was a huge risk, but one he was forced to take. "Now… let us begin." Aileen ordered. She was ready, but Yugi still had his doubts. Even so, he swallowed them down as he had to take this challenge. His hands held the Millenium Puzzle which began to glow, encasing his body in a familiar aura that was both warm yet cold. He needed all the help he could get if he was going to save his friend.

'Yugi' turned around, his face now one of confidence and harshness as he glared over at the supermodel. "You want to play a game with me so badly that you resorted to taking Anzu as a hostage? If that is so, then you will face the consequences when I win."

Aileen noticed the change in expression and attitude, just as her boss explained. But she wasn't scared, she was ecstatic to see this side as it meant that she was finally being given a worthy opponent. "So, you finally show your true colors that I was told about." She noted.

'Yugi' took the seat across from her, keeping his eye on his enemy. "What is it you will lose if I defeat you in this game?"

Aileen mused at his question. "Well, I've never lost this game before, so I don't know what I will lose. But, if you want to choose what you will get if you win, that's fine by me."

"All I request is that you set Anzu free from that prison and your control over her." 'Yugi' stated.

Aileen kept her smile, taking her seat as it was time to begin this show. Both players had their arms crossed as they looked at each other, trying not to show any sign of weakness. "Very well then. Now, let us begin by explaining the rules." She placed down wooden figures that represented the forms they took, each one with different features to help separate them. "There are ten pieces in total that we each get." She held up two standing men first. "These are the soldiers, we each get two." She then gestured to tiny people holding a spear while riding a horse. "These pieces are called cavalry, we each get two." Next up were two elephants. "These are the elephants," the next piece was a single one, showing a man holding a sword. "Now we get to the pieces we only get one each. This one is called the shogun." Aileen continued, gesturing to a man holding a golden scepter. "Next, we have the king." The piece next to him was a woman figure holding up green leaves. "Then we have the queen." The last piece was of a monkey-like figure balancing on one foot. "And finally, Rajin Indra, the Thunder God.

"The soldier is the weakest piece, and the king is the strongest. For a better demonstration, choose one piece and place it on the board." She instructed. 'Yugi' looked at his pieces, they each had the same number of characters so it was a fair assortment. He decided to pick up the Elephant and set it on his side of the green and orange spiral board. "Now then, we each pick a piece and place them on our side to have them duel. In this instance, you chose the elephant and I would pick a piece of my own." Aileen decided to go for her shogun figure, placing it on her side just behind the small seam of the board where there was a divider. "Since the shogun is stronger than the elephant, your piece loses and can no longer battle, meaning it is disposed of." Her hand took the elephant piece to set it at the side of the board, indicating that was how they knew what pieces had been defeated. "Since the shogun won, he is allowed to return to his camp." Aileen pulled her piece back to where her remaining figures stood. "You can send out the same piece as often as you want so long as it keeps winning."

"What happens in an event where there is a draw?" 'Yugi' questioned.

"Both pieces will die in battle. However, there are two exceptions." Aileen added as she reached for the queen piece as well as Indra, placing them on her side to further elaborate. "The queen can only defeat the king. As for Indra, he can beat anything. However, he can only be used once during the whole game. Which means once you use him, he's out of your camp."

"How is the match decided?" 'Yugi' questioned.

"There are several variations for outcomes, but since you are a beginner, we will go with the easiest one: The first one to have their king defeated will be the loser."

Hearing this made 'Yugi' hold up the figure that represented the king. "So in other words, you lose this piece, you lose the game."

Aileen nodded, glad that he was catching on. It wouldn't be any fun if he was still struggling with the rules. "One more thing. This board has a special device. There is a gate that separates our halves. It is to set your figure without your opponent seeing." To show what she meant, Aileen pressed a button on the side of her board. A wall came up from the slots to meet in the center. After placing one of her pieces down in front of the gate, she hit the switch again and the divider went down. "Once you have your piece down, press the button and it will reveal our pieces we have set out. This game is about setting up a plan and trying to figure out your opponent's strategy. It's a good way to psych the other out in an attempt to gain an advantage. Since you are a beginner, I'll let you draw up a plan so you can keep up."

So that was the purpose of this game. That meant neither of them could break, they had to keep a calm and collected poker face, while also trying to get into their head to determine what kind of piece they would put down. This should be an easy premise for 'Yugi', as he was used to messing with the minds of his opponents from previous games. However, he had much more on the line where losing would result in severe consequences for himself. Looking back at the dance studio, he could see Anzu still in that hypnotic state of hers. With her life on the line, he couldn't take any risks. After all, this wasn't his game, it was Aileen Rao's.

"Let us begin." 'Yugi' declared, not wanting to waste anymore time. "It's game time!"

The supermodel pressed her button, making the gate divide the board. "Well then, pick your piece and put it in front of the gate." Aileen instructed.

"Very well." 'Yugi' looked over at his army, seeing the ten pieces he could choose from. He had to think carefully, one wrong move and it would cost him the game. He needed to find a strategy to use against his opponent to finish this match.
Aileen watched her opponent, making sure not to let her guard down but would give him a fair chance at first. After all, it wouldn't be fun if she just crushed him right away, she wanted this game to take its time. She stared at him, noticing how focused he was as the high schooler checked the pieces. 'He's showing no weakness on his face. It's impressive how serious he's taking this challenge. However, there's a reason this type of game is my domain as a Game Master." The supermodel reached into her arsonal of figures, taking out an elephant to place on her side of the field. She would showcase her skills by speaking to 'Yugi' as he just placed his figure down. "I'm going to make a guess before we open the gate." This caused the high schooler to look up at her, wondering what she meant. A smirk played on her lips. "Your piece is a calvary." 'Yugi' blinked, gasping slightly at her guess. When she pressed the button on the side, the gate lowered to see that Aileen was indeed correct. It was one of 'Yugi's' cavalry against her elephant. "Elephants are stronger than cavalry, so it loses." She declared in a victorious tone. 'Yugi' was shaken. Not only did she guess correctly, but she rubbed it into his face. But how? How could she have known what he would put down? He made sure his face was expressionless so there were no features to indicate his thinking.

Regardless, he lost one of his pawns as it laid on the side of the table, while Aileen pulled her piece back to her pile. "Now, my elephant will return to camp." After the figure was pulled back, the gates closed up. 'Yugi' was still bitter over the loss, as he looked at Aileen. "Shall I guess what you're thinking about now?" She asked while keeping a straight and focused face. "You're probably wondering if I'm cheating somehow."

She was correct again, 'Yugi' did wonder if she was cheating with how quickly and easily she could guess his moves and thoughts. Then again, that last observation Aileen stated wasn't much of a surprise as even he would admit that. Still, she was just playing him and 'Yugi' couldn't afford to let her continue with her mind games. "Let us move to the next match!" He declared, wanting to try again as he would not be easily beaten twice. Aileen smiled in amusement, knowing she was getting to him already. Once they placed their pieces down, the gate opened a second time to reveal what they had. This time, 'Yugi' decided to up his arsonal by playing the shogun. While Aileen had her king figurine on her side of the board. Seeing it made the high schooler gasp in disbelief. "You used the king?" It was especially surprising that she would use the piece that would cost her the game should it have been defeated. Either she was that confident in her choice for her piece or…

"You're thinking the same thing again." Aileen noted smugly while pulling her king back to base camp and seeing 'Yugi's' glare while he tossed his shogun away. "You believe that since this is my room and I set up Raijinhai which is a game from my family, you assumed I tampered with something to give me an advantage." The fact she was admitting what he believed, was making 'Yugi' have his doubts about his theory. If she was cheating like she said she was, why admit it? "I assure you though, I don't need any tricks and don't rely on cheap tactics. I prefer to win my games without any underhanded cheats. Something you might not be used to." Despite the slight savageness of her comment, 'Yugi' did admit that there was something about the way she presented herself to make him dissuade his belief that she was cheating and lying. Why risk taking Anzu hostage for this game if she could have won at any time? She sounded honest enough, and it seemed as if she was not doing this game of her own choice. Perhaps… someone else was making her do it? Why else would she go this far just for this game? "Then again, perhaps I just know everything you are thinking." She pointed out.

'Yugi' didn't believe for a second she possessed such a power. Even if she did, he would not be dissuaded any longer. "I highly doubt that is true." He reached over to his stash and placed another piece on his board, ready for the next round.

Aileen paused, looking over her figures as it seemed she was ready to put one down, only to second guess herself. "Oh, one moment. I think I'll go with this one instead." She finally set her piece down, and this time it was 'Yugi' who opened the gate to see how the third match would go. It was his cavalry against her king. "Looks like you lost your cavalry." Aileen declared.

"You chose the king again?" 'Yugi' was baffled, unable to grasp the situation. She risked her king twice now for a chance to get ahead, yet this meant that he was down three pieces.

Aileen pulled her piece back and chuckled. She wasn't risking anything since she knew what her opponent was going to play. "Now you no longer have anymore cavalry and you are also down a shogun. If you don't get serious soon, you may end up losing the game entirely." She warned him.

Despite her mockery, Aileen did have a point. It was clear that blindly placing the pieces on his side of the field wouldn't get him anywhere. Despite knowing the rules of the game, there was something that the young man was not understanding which resulted in him losing so often. 'Could she really be reading me? Is it possible I am giving off hints on what pieces I'm choosing?' If that was the case, he didn't know what kind of signals he was exposing that she could take advantage of. Even if he was stone-faced, that wasn't enough to keep himself ahead of this game. 'I have to keep calm, let my hand do the work.' He told himself, trying not to over-calculate for now. This time, his hand set down a soldier. When Aileen opened the gate, 'Yugi' saw she had one of her soldiers do battle as well.

"Oh my, we both chose the soldier." Aileen sounded impressed and stunned. "Which means they simultaneously strike each other down and end in a draw. Took you a while, but you managed to get a kill." 'Yugi' wasn't sure if she was genuinely complimenting him or toying with him. For all he knew, she was aware he would set down a soldier and decided to humor him by giving him a draw so he could feel better. Even so, he would take the win, but wouldn't let it get to his head.

"Next match!" He declared, setting his next piece down while Aileen did the same. When the gates opened, it was 'Yugi's' queen against Aileen's calvary.

"Your poor queen, taken out on the battlefield too soon." She reached over, holding up his piece with a sly grin on her face. "At least this means that my king is safe." She set it down on his side, joining the rest of his fallen army.

'Yugi' knew his luck was just a red herring in the last match. Now, he only had half of his pieces left, which meant it would only be a matter of time before he would lose his king. 'The game has barely gone on for ten minutes, but I'm already one step closer to losing.' He realized. All he had left was a soldier, both his elephants, his king and the thunder good. 'If I'm to avoid losing, I will have to hold out any casualties for a while. Which means I can not risk my king just yet. She still has her own queen and Indra, if I can take them out, then I will have a better chance.' He theorized, believing that was his best course of action. 'However… why am I having such a hard time? How is she able to know what I will put down?' It was this question that still plagued his mind. If only he could somehow find a way to stop her from reading his moves, then he would have a better shot.

Aileen could see how much he was struggling, which meant she had him right where she wanted him. All she had to do was keep him on the ropes and she would win in no time. 'Keep fretting, boy. That's just how I like my opponents. Although, I'll give you the chance to see how strong you really are.' She promised herself, setting her piece down.

"Open!" 'Yugi' shouted. This had better work. He put all of his faith and power into this one piece, if he didn't win this round, then he could say goodbye to Anzu. Anticipation swelled in him as the divider was pulled down, revealing the pieces they put out. Both of them placed their own king on their field. "Double death!" 'Yugi' declared, slightly relieved that at the very least, he didn't lose the match.

"Impressive," Aileen mused. "Well, you didn't lose. But you didn't win either. We'll consider this just the warm up match."

"So, we're still going." 'Yugi' noted, but at least he was getting the hang of this game despite the struggles.

Aileen reset the pieces so they could start the match over. "Even though you didn't lose anything, since you didn't win, you don't retrieve anything either." She pointed out. This caused 'Yugi' to look back in the studio where Anzu was. She was still in her frozen state, forced to hold that position. Despite calling out to her, he knew it would do no good. At least she was still safe for now, but he hadn't won yet. "With the current rules we have, we may find ourselves in another draw. It's better if we use the formal rules for this match." She suggested.

He turned back to face Aileen, keeping that glaring feature in his eyes. "Fine by me, so long as we can put an end to this game." Before they began the second game, the supermodel decided to take a small break so they could both relax. She took the time to make herself some tea. 'Yugi' still remained in his seat, waiting for her as she came back. When she did, she set the tray down and started to pour the hot liquid from the tea pot into her porcelain cup. "So, what are these formal rules?" 'Yugi' didn't want to wait any longer, he wanted to get started on the game.

Aileen finished pouring her tea so she could explain. "In the event that we end up tying, the winner will be the one with the most pieces. Of course, Indra and the queen aren't added to those numbers." She explained, taking a sip from her cup before asking, "Would you like a cup of tea yourself?"
"No, I just want to know the rest of the rules so we can finish this match." 'Yugi' stated, he couldn't afford to waste anymore time as he was becoming serious.

Aileen noticed this, and decided to use it to her advantage. "Easy now, depending on how this game proceeds you might end up losing her." The model's warning caused 'Yugi' to gasp. She lost her smile, showing off her intimidating nature. "Do you see that door in the room? Covered by the shudders?" The two turned to the studio, seeing the wall that the woman was pointing at. The door was lifted a bit, where 'Yugi' could see something poking out. A large paw of white and orange fur, scratching the floor. He felt his heart skip a beat, realizing there was an added danger to that room and the game. "That is where I keep my pet tiger." Aileen explained. "Of course, he's very nice once you get to know him. But… he doesn't like strangers. So if he gets too close to her, he'd probably attack her. For every piece that you lose, the door will open inch by inch. If you lose all of your pieces… well, I think you know the penalty."

'Yugi' glared back over at Aileen, growing more resentful at the added danger towards Anzu. "Stop this at once! This has gone too far!" He demanded.

"This is what a Shadow Game is all about: Survival and fighting for your freedom. In ancient times, kings and nobles would wager lives and territory to become more powerful. Some games, like Raijinhai, were used to determine life and death." Once again, she wasn't wrong. 'Yugi' knew all too well how Shadow Games operated, and he would be a fool to turn back now. "Not to worry, if you win the game you will set her free. So," Aileen set her empty cup down, adjusting her seat as she grew just as serious as him. "Let us begin."

'Yugi' had to keep playing, he was already too deep and there was no chance of turning back. Even if he could back down and take the loss, best case Anzu would remain in that hypnotic status. Worst case… she would be torn to shreds. All he had on his mind was winning to free her. Reaching his hand over, he grabbed one of his pieces and set it on the other side of the gate. Once Aileen did the same, she declared the barrier to open. The model had set out her king, while 'Yugi' once again started this match by using his shogun. "Goodbye, shogun." Aileen shimmed as she grabbed his pawn, setting it to the side. "Blame your incompetent commander for your early death."

Her mockery caused his mind to whirl, many thoughts scattered in his brain as 'Yugi' stared at the board, at his pieces, at himself. 'How can she keep putting out her king like that? Is it because she knows I won't put mine out?' He thought to himself, trying to solve this mystery. 'No… My problem has nothing to do with me not putting certain pieces out that can defeat a king. The real issue is how can she make such decisions so easily?' There had to be a reason she was able to figure out what moves he would make, what pieces he would set. It had to be something that he couldn't see, yet it felt it stared him right in the face.

Aileen kept her gaze on her opponent, noticing how tough he appeared to be. But deep down, he was a mess as he was attempting to learn her secrets. 'His aura has changed from before. Good, it means he's not just half-assing it. This game is starting to get more interesting now.' That grin returned to her face, satisfied that she would have a more challenging game. The question is, was it too late for him? "Look over there," Aileen pointed to the studio where Anzu was. 'Yugi' looked back over, seeing the shudder door opening up slightly, to the point the whole paw of the tiger could escape. The beast was inching ever so closer to Anzu. If he lost any more pieces, she would meet her fate at the claws of that overgrown cat.

'Hang in there, Anzu. I'll definitely save you!" He swore to himself. He could not afford to lose this game.

"Can't you see that your girlfriend is in danger?" Aileen asked, mocking him once again. "Are you sure you are serious? Or are you not properly seeing what is in front of you?" She continued to plaster on her manipulating nature.

What she didn't realize was that 'Yugi' was listening to what she said, but it made him wonder something."Why is she showing me Anzu in the first place? What's the point of making Anzu a hostage?' Come to think of it, before the second game started, Aileen showed the actual danger that the brunette would be in. Considering that she must have planned on using that studio to trap Anzu in, she would have also set up that cage her pet would be in. It's just as the supermodel stated: This was her room that she set up. But if that were the case and she already had an advantage, why need to hold Anzu? And why only show her in immediate danger only after the first game? Was it to just infuriate him and remind him what he was fighting for? Or… was there more to it?

Aileen continued to stare at 'Yugi', her eyes not showing anything out of the ordinary for him to pick up on. "That's it, fret! Let me see what pieces you will choose.'

'Yugi' was still trying to figure out her strategy, as he was certain it was related to Anzu. 'What's the purpose?! Damn it! Think!' He needed to clear his head, to put himself in Aileen's shoes in an attempt to understand her motives better. 'Why would I want to hold someone that was important to my opponent hostage? It can't be one of her tricks, she said she doesn't like using cheats… so…' He closed his eyes, trying to focus on the reasoning behind this torment. The reason she could predict his moves.

"What's the matter? You've gone quiet all of a sudden." Aileen pointed out, staring at him.

The only way he could be certain, was to test this theory. He bowed his head for a moment, thinking of the best way to overcome these tricks that were making him lose. "If I am an ineffective commander as you say, then it seems I have no way of winning with the way I am strategizing. So, I will have no choice but to rely on luck."

This caught Aileen by surprise, blinking a few times. He was going to leave it to chance to get himself an advantage? That wasn't how the game worked as it would surely backfire. "Are you serious or is this a bluff?" Aileen asked with amusement. "You already lost your shogun, which puts you at a disadvantage. Besides, Raijinhai isn't the kind of game where you can win with just luck. It would be foolish to rely on that."

'Yugi' looked over at his opponent, crimson orbs filled with determination. "No matter the outcome, I will let luck decide the result of this game!" That was his final answer. He reached over to his pieces, his eyes closed so as to not look at any of them. His fingers were in control, grabbing one of the figures and holding it in his hand so the supermodel couldn't even see. "I'll settle for this one."

Aileen looked at him, scanning his eyes, his features for any sign but she came up with nothing. 'I can't read anything from his expression, he's really going through with this.' She was surprised, yet intrigued as to see if his plan would actually work.

"Now, hurry and pick yours." 'Yugi' told her, as he was ready to end this game.

"Very well," Aileen reached over to choose her piece, setting it down on her side of the divider. Before 'Yugi' could set his piece down, he had to do the final test.

"Before we open the gate, let me take a guess. You picked the elephant, correct?"

Hearing that made Aileen's eyes widen for a brief moment, staring up at him. "What was that?"

A smirk played on 'Yugi's' face, as he not only got her, but fully understood the meaning of this challenge. "I now understand the trick of this game. The one you have been using this entire time."

Aileen wasn't sure what he meant, she couldn't believe that he had managed to know the truth of this ancient challenge. "Is it just guessing? Or are you the one that is cheating?" Despite her disbelief, even she could hear the wavering in her voice.

"I remember back at the Game Shop, you stated that you preferred games where you trick and read your opponent. You did not like the ones that rely on luck."

Her eyes narrowed over at the high schooler. "What is your point?"

"Raijinhai is a game that is based on probability and tactics. You need to read what your opponent is thinking in order to get ahead.

Aileen raised a brow, listening to his explanation. The amusement came back on her face as she had to applaud him for figuring out the true mechanics. "Very well done. You managed to understand the basic notions of Raijinhai. But that does not explain how you managed to reach your conclusion. Do indulge me."

'Yugi' decided to explain, if only to make her understand. "The conclusion is the problem that lies in this game. If you are able to limit your opponents thinking it will become easier to read them and the moves they will make. That is why you took Anzu hostage, so you could limit me. With her on my mind, it kept me from figuring out the basics and concepts of this game. But now I see that the true way to win: Is with prudent tactics."

Aileen didn't make any remarks to his statement. Instead, she declared the gates to open, flipping the switch so she could see the outcome of the match. 'Yugi' ended up picking the cavalry, while Aileen chose the elephant, just as he had guessed. "There, you see? Despite your so-called luck, I still won." Yet her voice still held that tone that was uncertain.

'Yugi' didn't lose his own confidence, on the contrary he was regaining it. Crossing his arms over his chest, he made his own remark. "While it is true that you beat me, you fail to see that I was correct in that you would pick the elephant."

"Because you merely guessed!" Her voice raised as she was holding onto the table. Her collected approach was slowly slipping, and they both knew that.

"Not exactly," 'Yugi' went on. "In order to counter my randomly picked pieces, it was a matter of calculation. You did not want to risk your king, queen and Indra since you didn't know what I would pick. There was a one in nine chance that I would have picked the king. So, since I didn't have the shogun, you went with the elephant. It was the best choice based on probability and tactics." This left the supermodel baffled, as she realized how far he had read into her thinking. At this rate, he was on his way to being an expert in this game, despite this being his first challenge. "Am I wrong?" 'Yugi' asked, though he already knew he was on the track to turn the tables.

Aileen couldn't let him get to her like this, she had to keep her calm. After all, she was at the advantage as he was already down two pieces. "Think what you want, you were the one that lost another piece. Which means the door opens more" She pointed out, looking back into the studio. The shudder lifted up, letting the tiger crouch as it was attempting to squeeze through the small space, pawing at the air as he had his eyes on Anzu. "You shouldn't afford the luxury of losing pieces with her on the line."

'Yugi' couldn't deny the damage he had done, but he would not waver upon finding out the method. He turned back to face her, fire in his eyes as he was not backing down with his new strategy. "Even so, I know how I will beat you."

Aileen looked at him, her own thoughts racing in her mind. Despite her calm expression, she couldn't deny the new confidence in him. "This can't be… no one has ever been able to understand my mind. I can't let him get me again.' She had to win, for herself and her family bloodline. She was still in the lead, so long as she had the most pieces by the end, she would be able to claim her victory. 'Yugi' grabbed his piece without looking while Aileen chose the one on her own.

"Open!" 'Yugi' declared, watching the gates go down as they saw the next match. It was 'Yugi's' soldier vs. Aileen's Indra.

"I won another round."

"But you ended up losing your most powerful pawn, Indra." 'Yugi' stated. "All to the weakest opponent." He had a point, which Aileen hated to admit. If it had been a powerful piece like his king or queen, it wouldn't have been much of a sacrifice. But it was a worthless play.

'He read my move again. He read me! This can't be!' She was beginning to lose her grip as this young man was able to oversee her thoughts and use them against her. It seemed that he was just as clever and skillful as Seto Kaiba said.

"There is no cheating nor are there any tricks. And there is no supernatural power where you are able to read a person's mind. The only thing I am reading are the probabilities and strategies." 'Yugi' stated, having found a handle on the game. "All you are able to do is decide based on your opponent's words."

It was true that he managed to understand the game at a different angle, as well as being able to read Aileen's mind. However, there was a single flaw that the supermodel saw in this strategy he was using. "Even so, you have not established a tactic of your own. There is over 2000 years worth of history within the multiple tactics behind Raijinhai."

Despite her statement, 'Yugi' kept up with his own method. Picking his next piece by chance and placing it for battle. When the gates opened, it was a fight between Aileen's elephant against his king. The third Game Master was in complete shock, as the second most powerful of the pieces went up against her. Her nerves began to shake, Aileen's eyes went wide as saucers as he risked using this piece based on luck, and in the end it actually won him a match without a sacrifice. "Y-You… used the king…"

'Yugi' reached over to take her elephant and placed it on the side of the board. "The origins of this game are much younger than that of Egypt. A country I am all too familiar with."

Aileen felt her heart beating a mile a minute. She allowed one of her pieces to be lost against her opponent without it taking the other down. This was a first for her, and it had struck a nerve inside her core. 'This person is far different from my previous players. No wonder he was able to beat the other two Game Masters.' She concluded, fully grasping the full extent of what 'Yugi' could do.

They got their next pieces ready, set up on the board. Upon 'Yugi's' declaration, the gate was pulled down to show the anticipated match. The moment Aileen laid eyes upon the board, her face drained of color. She ended up laying her king, but 'Yugi' had pulled out his queen. He had done it. He actually took her king out while surviving. This action based his Millenium Puzzle to glow, making it seem like the setting sun was behind his queen figurine. "I have over 3000 years of Egyptian knowledge." He declared, and it definitely showed as he officially won the game. Even if they continued, there would be no way that Aileen could continue her match, because he still has his own King, which would take out any of her players. And Indra as a backup. There was no way to turn this around.

Aileen's body moved on its own, going out of her seat as she slowly moved to the curtains where the window was. Opening the fabric, she allowed the light into the room as she stared out into the sky. She didn't know how to process this loss. For the first time since being given Raijinhai, she had been bested by her opponent. Someone that had maneuvered through her tactics and managed to outwit her. It was information she could not fully handle, and yet… it was not something she could ignore either. "It seems… that I have lost, huh?" Her bronze arms fell to her side, unable to look in 'Yugi's direction at the moment. Her brown eyes softened, as much as she hated to admit it, she would have to accept defeat. Those were the conditions as it was a fair and honest game.

'Yugi' stood up from his own chair, his eyes glued to her back as he spoke. "There is something else about this scenario." He noted. "Raijinhai may have a long history of being a game to decide life and death, but it does not give you the power to manipulate people. So, was it really hypnotism that you used on Anzu?"

Aileen heard him, but she kept her eyes on the glass still. Trying to cope with the loss of her own family game. Even so, he had earned an explanation. "I do not manipulate anyone." She finally admitted, keeping her gaze at her reflection. "I am above that. I only use sweet words to get into the crevices of people's hearts. I target what they cherish most and then use that as my leverage. Once those words confuse their minds, they lose something important when they lose the game." She kept a very modest and tame voice while explaining. "They end up losing to the weaknesses they hold inside their heart.

"So even though you lost the game, you didn't really lose anything in a sense." 'Yugi' pointed out.

"It is hard to lose something when you don't even know what weaknesses you have. However, that isn't entirely true." She admits, walking away from the window towards the studio door. "I did lose something during this game."

'Yugi' watched her walk around the room, his curiosity peaking. "Lost something? What was it?" He wanted to know, as he pondered what could a woman like her, who has it all, possibly have gotten taken from her?

Aileen stopped as she was in front of the door. Pausing for a moment as she took out the key. "It seems I also have a mystery surrounding myself as well." It was a vague answer, but she had one final question herself. "Tell me… when you were picking a piece as you closed your eyes, was it really random?" She turned to face him, genuine curiosity in her eyes.

"It was the only way for me to read your strategy and thwart it." 'Yugi' admitted, not giving out any details about his method at all. "I must admit though, out of all the opponents I have fought before, you were the one that really had me on the ropes for quite a while and truly made me doubt myself there. You have my recognition as seeing you as a true game master, Aileen Rao."

The supermodel smiled with grace once more. "I appreciate your view on me." She said in her soft-spoken tone. "Well, you won fair and square, so you may claim your prize." After unlocking the door, she opened it to reveal the dance room. The shudder wall was all the way down, pushing the tiger back in his cage. Anzu was safe, now she had to be freed.

"Anzu!" 'Yugi' hurried to where she was. "You're safe now…" He reassured as he started to reach out to her so he could snap her out of the state she was put under. Just as he was about to lay his hands on her, he was met with a slap to the face as it caused him to fall back on his behind while Aileen laughed at the situation.

"W-What the?!" Anzu gasped, looking around confused as she went back on her two feet.

"Anzu?!" Yugi winced as he looked up from where he got knocked down. His cheek stung from the slap.

The brunette looked over at her friend, glaring down with her hands on her hips. "Yugi? What are you doing here? I was doing well holding that pose." She scolded him. Anzu looked up as she noticed the supermodel standing next to them. Despite it having been only an hour, to Anzu it only felt like a few minutes had passed. "Sorry Miss Aileen, Yugi got in the way. I can't believe you ruined my lesson with her." Yugi just stared at Anzu, confused as he didn't understand her attitude. Perhaps she didn't remember anything being under that trance?

Aileen walked over, trying to dismiss the situation by reassuring her fan. "It's fine, Anzu. You held that pose longer than I expected. You seem to have a great balance for a beginner. I even say that you are dancer material."

That comment made Anzu flush as her eyes sparkled. "Really?!"

The woman nodded. "You still have quite a way to go, but you definitely show much potential. I think that should be enough of a lesson for today. I plan on staying in Japan a bit longer, so if you want any more pointers, don't be afraid to come to me." She offered.

Anzu bowed as she was excited by the idea. "Thank you, Aileen Rao!"

Yugi picked himself up, rubbing the cheek that had been where she hit him. "That hurt, Anzu… Why did you have to slap me so hard?"

Anzu turned her back on Yugi, being cold to him. "It's your fault for interrupting me!"

"That doesn't seem fair!" He whined.

Upon seeing his puppy eyes, the high school girl sighed. "Fine, I'm sorry for the slap, okay?" It was a half-apology, but better than nothing.

Aileen watched in amusement as the two bickered a bit. They certainly had quite the character, especially this Yugi boy. He could be kind-hearted and timid one moment but then confident and ruthless the next. Even though the woman didn't quite understand this other 'Yugi' or his origins, she could see why her boss took an interest in him.

---

Seto Kaiba was in his office once again, checking over the reports and data sheets for his project now that the deadline had been moved. So far everything seemed promising despite the change in plans. The workers were doing their part and progress was moving along at a fast pace. As long as he could open this project within the next two weeks, then everything would be set up. He was interrupted from his concentration as the landline on his desk buzzed. Pressing a button on the machine, he answered. "Yes?"

"Seto Kaiba, Game Master Aileen Rao is here for her progress." The voice stated.

"Send her in." Seto ordered, getting up from his desk to walk towards the center of the room. He wanted to hear everything from her perspective. The doors opened, as Aileen walked in to come back to face her boss. Once they were a few feet apart, he spoke. "I saw the progress from the cameras you planted in the room."

Aileen gave a small smile his way. "So you saw that I lost. And at my speciality of Raijinhai. Talk about pathetic." She shook her head in utter defeat, yet she didn't sound disappointed.

"Even I'm surprised he was able to find a way around such an old game only your family could have been familiar with." Seto admitted, as he placed his arms behind his back. "Then again, Yugi Mutou possesses such skills that are just as savage and ruthless as our own. Compared to what the other two Game Master's received, you got off pretty lucky. At least he recognized you as someone strong, that is the best compliment you can be given."

Sighing, Aileen crossed her arms as she asked. "So, will I be demoted for losing?"

The CEO raised a brow as he chuckled. "Don't be absurd. You may have lost to Yugi, so did the others and I haven't demoted them. Besides, no one can ever match a candle to him… not now at least."

"Does this mean you are going to challenge him?"

"Not yet, but soon. Once everything is in place." He reassured her, as Aileen grew interested in his words. Seto walked over to the window, looking through the glass to check the view of the city. "He is the one person that has challenged me, pushed me to get this far. He entered my domain and nearly took my title. A nobody, going up against someone like me who had to work through sweat, tears and blood to get where I am. He mocks the Kaiba name, thinking that just because he has confidence in himself with his skills, he can walk over people and show them they are nothing."

Aileen placed a smirk on her face. "He sounds just like you."

Seto grinned back at her observation, as a soft chuckle escaped his throat. "Perhaps that is why I have put so much time and effort into him. We are the same: We use games to bring people down to show them what they really are in the end: human. People that are consumed by hatred and greed, thinking they can use that as an excuse in order to get what they want. But when you beat them and leave them with nothing, you see how broken they truly are to the point that they can not deny it themselves."

"That's the best part about beating people in games, isn't it?" Aileen mused. "The feeling of showing those that no matter what they have or how skillful they believe they are, once they see their flaws it all comes crumbling down."

Seto turned back so he faced Aileen once more. "This is why you are the second strongest Game Master, Aileen Rao. You understand perfectly what it means to hold that title." She couldn't deny it, though she was only the second strongest, she was still above the two of the four Game Masters regardless. "So, are you going to head back to Paris?" Seto questioned. "I can arrange a flight for you."

"Actually, I'll stick around Japan for a week or two. I could use a break and maybe get some inspiration for my new line."

Seto nodded, not bothered by her plans. She already did what she was summoned for, so it didn't matter what her next move would be. "Before you go, I want you to answer me one question. And I want your honest opinion." Aileen gazed at her boss before he asked. "How strong do you think Yugi Mutou is?"

Aileen stared at him as she thought. He didn't want her to beat around the bush, he was looking for honesty and she would give it to him. Narrowing her eyes, she finally spoke. "He may have been able to defeat most of us Game Masters, though I don't know how much more he has to go to reach your level. However, if there is anyone that can beat you in a game, It's definitely Yugi Mutou. He is strong, but whether he is stronger than you… only time will tell."

Seto took her words to heart, giving a curt nod to her answer. "Thank you, Aileen. You may go now. And good luck with your next line." The model chuckled, waving to him as she turned and headed out the door. After she left, he turned back to the glass and sighed as he stared both at his reflection and the buildings of the city. "Three of the four Game Masters were defeated by Yugi. It seems my time to face him again is coming much sooner than I thought. But I am almost ready. And I still have one more ace card up my sleeve. This will be the final test before you can reach me. Let's see how well you deal with the most powerful of the Game Masters, Yugi Mutou."