Kaiba's POV

"What exactly is Erin? I saw her transform"

"She's a Nine-Tailed Fox" I answered Mokuba while my eyes were still glued to Erin. "Well she's also half human"

My little brother's eyes widened at that. He then looked at the unconscious woman in my arms.

"I knew she and Zane were cool"

I smiled at that before our attention went to Yugi and Noah.

"Noah! You used deceit and betrayal to try and overpower Kaiba as well as manipulate Mokuba, you won't win this!" my rival shouted at Noah and Silverwing roared in agreement while Noah simply chuckled. My brat of a stepbrother let Yugi go first and my rival played Gazelle in defense mode.

Noah then drew before using a special ability from Shinato. His deck master opened its arms and six orbs with Japanese writing appeared, and the next thing everyone knew, Gazelle was destroyed. Yugi's life points went to 200, while 200 were added to Noah's.

"You and your friends will pay the price for challenging me!" Noah shouted at Yugi. "All for someone who doesn't even like you, Yugi"

"Kaiba and I have a lot more in common than you think" my rival addressed my stepbrother. " We're both participants in an ancient struggle going back 5,000 years"

"Oh, here we go," I mumbled.

"He speaks the truth my Zaldrizes"

Immediately my attention went to Erin when she said that.

Erin's POV

Kaiba and Mokuba looked relieved when I opened my eyes.

"Sorry I worried you both" I apologized to my mate and Mokuba.

My Zaldrizes gave me one of his rare smiles before helping me sit up, and then Mokuba hugged me. The younger Kaiba sibling was in tears and I did my best to comfort him.

Noah made a noise of disgust while Yami played a monster face down in defense mode. After making his draw Noah said.

"Now I'll play monster that resides in the Spirit World"

I had a WTF look, as did Kaiba and Mokuba, when Noah summoned his beast. He then had his deck master attack Yami's face-down monster. This made Yami smirk because the face-down monster was an Obnoxious Celtic Guardian; thanks to its special ability, it couldn't be destroyed by a monster whose attack points were greater than 1900. Annoyed Noah instead had his spirit monster return to his hand and then played the magic card Spring of Rebirth.

Thanks to his spirit monster returning to his hand, Noah gained 500 life points.

"I never heard of a spirit monster," my beloved said after witnessing Yata-Garasu returning to Noah.

"The Valyrian deck is cooler" Mokuba added.

"Glad to see you think so young one"

Vermithor appeared beside the younger Kaiba sibling. The Bronze Fury looked at the preteen with affection.

"I am Vermithor, and Silverwing thought it was best if I came out to guard you three"

My Zaldrizes frowned at the idea but Mokuba didn't seem to mind. His eyes wouldn't leave Vermithor and the Bronze Fury gave a fanged smile before pressing his snout gently into Mokuba's hand.

"Looks like Vermithor is fond of you, buddy," I pointed out to Mokuba. "That's a good thing because he protects who he deems important"

Yami drew a new card and placed another monster face down.

"I bet I know what monster he just played," Kaiba said.

After drawing, Noah played another spirit monster, and since its attack was lower than Obnoxious Celtic Guardian, it destroyed the elf. Also, due to Asura's special ability, it could destroy all monsters on the field, making Yami's face-down monster its next target.

My Zaldrizes smirked as Cyber Jar was revealed, meaning all monsters on the field would be destroyed, including Noah's deck master. Asura went bye, bye along with Cyber Jar. Silverwing didn't get destroyed since she hadn't participated in battle yet.

The others began to cheer, thinking Yami won, but Vermithor rumbled.

"This duel isn't over yet"

Sure enough, Noah decided to activate Shinato's second special, and Shinato returned to the field thanks to Reversal. However, playing Reversal came at a cost, meaning it couldn't return to the field, and Noah chose that moment to separate himself from his deck master.

Yami looked annoyed but drew five new cards due to Cyber Jar's second special ability. He brought out Sangan and Magnet Warrior in defense mode.

"Hmm, it looks like Noah doesn't have any monsters," my mate said with his typical smirk.

"True but this duel is still on Stubborn One"

"Will you and the Valyrian Deck quit calling me that" my Zaldrizes reprimanded Vermithor glaring at him.

Vermithor pulled back his mouth revealing his sharp teeth in his version of a scowl.

"You don't command me or my kin, Seto Kaiba," the Bronze Fury growled.

"Seto, I wouldn't push it," Mokuba suggested.

Kaiba shook his head before turning his attention back to the duel. Vermithor gave Mokuba a gentle nudge with his snout and the younger Kaiba brother stroked it. Yami sacrificed Sangan, and thanks to its special ability, Big Shield Gardna came into play. Then a familiar roar I knew too well joined the duel.

At seeing Moonstone Dragon I immediately felt Zane's presence in my mind. At Yami's command, the beautiful dragon unleashed its fury at Noah, and his life points dropped.

"How dare you humiliate me like that!" Noah roared angrily.

"You humiliated Kaiba and Mokuba just to prove your superior to your father, and in doing so, you hurt Erin," Yami pointed out.

Silverwing hissed in agreement.

"I am superior and I deserve to be rewarded for my father's unsurpassable power!"

"Noah one must earn respect, not demand it, while you were treated badly by your father that's still no excuse for how you've been treating us"

"He speaks wisely"

"Be nice Vermithor"

The Bronze Fury gave me a smirk while the duel resumed. Noah played Next World, and my eyes went wide as Moonstone Dragon was soon trapped in it, struggling to get free. Then a big ass dragon appeared and it destroyed Moonstone. Since Moonstone Dragon's attack points matched Yamata Dragon, Yami didn't lose any life points. The hydra-looking dragon then returned to Noah's hand, and he gained another 500 life points.

"Ow damn"

Alarmed Kaiba and Mokuba looked at me with worry.

"The burns from Noah zapping me are just bothering me you two"

"You can't blame them for worrying wielder" Vermithor reminded me.

"How bad are they bothering you?" Kaiba demanded gently.

"Nothing I can't handle"

"Erin you are just as stubborn as Seto is"

"Kid"

The CEO of Kaiba Corp blushed slightly and I did my best not to chuckle. Mokuba smirked at his older sibling just as Yami played Swords of Revealing Light. With Noah unable to attack for three turns, Yami summoned Kuriboh, and the little guy gave Noah a well-deserved smack to his life points. Noah then insulted the cute monster after putting a monster face down in defense mode.

"HEY DON'T TALK SMACK ABOUT KURIBOH!" I bellowed at Noah hoping I didn't make my Zaldrizes and Mokuba deaf.

Yami ended his turn by having Big Shield Gardna and Kuriboh go into defense mode. Noah laid another monster face down in defense mode and then put either a magic or trap card face down. Yami drew but didn't have anything to play so he played a card face down. Noah then boasted again how Yami was going to lose and this annoyed Silverwing and Vermithor.

"Such arrogance"

"Agreed," Kaiba voiced with the Bronze Fury. Then the familiar flash that hit me and meant to turn my Zaldrizes and Mokuba into stone hit Duke!

Everyone around Duke freaked out, and Noah said with each turn, all of us would be turned to stone.

"Over my dead bronze scales," Vermithor growled. "He will not hurt you or the Kaiba sibling's wielder, not when I am here"

"Sounds like you might be warming up to me" Kaiba teased the Bronze Fury.

"Don't push it human"

"Hey at least he didn't call you Stubborn One again, Seto"