Today is Silvershipping's anniversary y'all! Hard to believe it's beena year already since I published this story! Again sorry for the late update I was very busy over the holidays.

Erin's POV

"You look all fired up, my Zaldrizes," I told Seto as he waited for Yami to show up.

"Well, this next duel is an important one," my mate replied. He then gave me an affectionate look. "But between you and me Kitsune, I won't be upset if I lose"

This almost got me to lose my footing.

"Who are you and what have you done with Seto Kaiba?"

Seto chuckled before drawing me into him.

"Winning this tournament isn't important to me anymore, not when I already gained the best prize of all and I'm holding her in my arms"

My boyfriend kissed my forehead after saying that.

"I meant what I said Erin earlier, I love you, and having you in this tournament has been the best thing to happen to me in a long time"

Not caring that Roland was watching my beloved kissed me to prove his point. Then Mokuba came through the radio on Seto's jacket asking his brother if he wanted the duel to be live.

"Go ahead, little brother," Seto responded to his younger sibling.

"Good luck my Zaldrizes"

Seto gave me a smirk just as Zane chose that moment to arrive.

"Yugi is on his way," my brother addressed my mate, out of breath.

"Don't tell me you ran up here" Seto stated.

"Dude I maybe half Nine-Tailed Fox but even us hybrids can get out of breath"

"I was out of breath when I hauled ass to the blimp with Mokuba on my back" I added.

"Well you were fast Kitsune, faster than the average human"

I kissed Seto on the cheek before Zane and I left the platform. On the side waiting was Ishizu.

"You and Zane are cute together" I complimented her.

Ishizu chuckled and Zane blushed.

"I am very honored to be the mate to a Nine-Tailed Fox"

She intertwined her hand with Zane's, and my brother kissed it.

"Oh please" came a rude voice.

Yami Marik decided to show up, and he looked disgusted.

"Got something to say to us?" I demanded.

"Love is for the weak little fox"

That hit a nerve, and a second later, Marik's dark half had a big fat handprint on his face since I just slapped him.

"The only weak one is you" I hissed. "And make no mistake your f**ked up plans will fail asshole"

But instead of getting angry Marik's dark half shot me a smirk.

"Tell me, little fox, have you forgotten about the spirit of the Millennium Ring?"

"No, I haven't, but he was never meant to be mine"

"He'll still think so"

Yami Marik then shot Seto a glance and my Zaldrizes glared daggers back.

"I'll deal with Bakura, you should worry about yourself"

I then returned to my brother's side, and Zane shot Yami Marik, the bird, which made me chuckle.

Seto's POV

Yugi finally arrived.

"So Wheeler is out of the woods?"

"Yes though I'm surprised you're asking about his welfare Kaiba"

"Erin did say Zane healed him so I'm just confirming he's awake and alert Yugi, for a while I was wondering if you weren't going to show up to duel me"

"To miss this duel is to deny my destiny"

I sighed. But before we started our duel I needed to know something first. I looked at Erin before facing my rival.

"Tell me the truth who dueled Erin in the first round of the finals?"

"That was the Spirit of the Millennium Ring" Yugi explained. My rival then looked at Marik for a second before looking at me again. "He's an entirely different person from Ryou"

"He's sure Erin is meant to be his"

"Yes I'm aware he also has feelings for her"

"Then he's just going to have to accept the fact that Erin is mine" I growled. "I'm still skeptical of this Egyptian stuff, but I'm willing to keep an open mind, but make no mistake I am Erin's mate and not even that freak of the Millennium Ring will take her away from me"

Yugi suddenly smiled.

"Then it seems you have changed some Kaiba, now I believe it's time to duel"

"Agreed"

He and I then went to our respective spots and the dueling arena rose. Roland announced the next duel was about to commence and like I did with my duel with Erin, I activated the hologram that transformed the arena into the Roman Coliseum.

Erin's POV

"Here we go," I muttered as the duel officially began. Yami started things off with Queen's Knight in defense mode and placed a card face down.

My Zaldrizes went next and summoned X-Head Cannon in attack mode before playing Spell Sanctuary.

"Your mate is up to something" Zane pointed out. "With that magic card, each of them can move one magic card from their decks to their hand"

"My Zaldrizes always has something up his sleeve, big brother," I reminded my sibling as Seto ended his turn with a card face down.

I wonder if that's Crush Card Virus Silverwing chimed in.

I don't think so he normally has Shrink with that

Silverwing then made a sound of disappointment.

I wish I was in this duel I am very fond of Kaiba

I smiled at the dragoness's words.

The next monster Yami summoned was Alpha, the Magnet Warrior in defense mode, and another hidden card joined the other.

It then hit me what card Seto's face-down card was!

It had to be Soul Exchange, three sacrifices were required to summon Obelisk. And I was proven right when Seto revealed said magic card and he took control of Queen's Knight and Alpha the Magnet Warrior. But Yami was ready for that, and in turn, he played Change of Heart.

X-Head Cannon went to Yami's side of the field foiling Seto's plan.

"You won't be able to summon Obelisk that easily Kaiba"

Seto smirked before revealing Enemy Controller. After coughing up 1000 life points, Enemy Controller latched itself onto X-Head Cannon, and Seto's monster was back at his side.

"Oh shit" Zane mumbled as Seto held Obelisk up.

But Yami countered with Lightforce Sword and Obelisk couldn't be summoned for three turns. Though thrown off guard Seto seemed impressed with Yami's move.

"You may have bought yourself some time Yugi but you'll eventually face my Egyptian God Card"

With Soul Exchange canceled out Queen's Knight and Alpha returned to Yami.

He drew and thought of his next move for a second before laying another card face down. Seto's next monster was Y-Dragon Head.

"Uh oh"

Ishizu and Zane looked at me.

"Why, uh oh, sis?"

"X-Head Cannon and Y-Dragon Head are the same type, meaning they can combine," I answered.

And sure enough, they combined to form XY-Dragon Cannon. Seto had his monster destroy Alpha the Magnet Warrior. And then my Zaldrizes played Lullaby of Obedience.

"Oh crap, that lets Kaiba choose any powerful monster from Yugi's deck and take it for his own," Zane said.

Seto and Yami approached one another and my Zaldrizes demanded Slifer. Yami took out his deck and handed his Egyptian God card out to my mate and Seto took it. Looking pleased, Seto returned to his dueling spot, as did Yami. But I noticed Yami smirking and the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle chose that moment to reveal Exchange.

Now Seto looked mad and I didn't blame him. He then approached Yami and reluctantly returned Slifer to Yami before choosing a card from his opponent's hand.

Seto's POV

Calm yourself, Stubborn One, a familiar voice advised me.

Silverwing?

I definitely heard her voice in my mind. The dragoness chuckled.

Who else would it be Seto Kaiba? Remember I have grown fond of you

It looks like I have more to learn from the Valyrian Deck, I responded. Again she chuckled.

We are no ordinary deck and besides us dragons can have affection for those we deem friends

Here words got me to relax. I then looked at Erin, and she flashed me a smirk, which made me smile within my mind. Now I was starting to understand what the nerd herd did whenever they watched Yugi duel. I felt that same support from not just Mokuba, but from Erin and even Silverwing as well.

You are no longer alone Silverwing told me.

Indeed, I'm not I agreed with her, and this duel was only getting started.