Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Yu-Gi-Oh! A Tapestry Incomplete ❯ Last Will--Ritual Era of Djinn Day ( Chapter 4 )

~Previously on Yu-Gi-Oh; "A surprise. Where is this surprise?" Yami Yuugi interrogated.

"It's like a miniature desert; nothing except dust and the granite box." Honda pointed out.

"I didn't choose her, she chose me. The minute she grew hatred towards you Yuugi! That's when I was unleashed, I was harbored inside her very soul."

"Let's say, if a monster is destroyed in this arena, some one will die, possibly even your friends." Hell Umei looked over to them, "Maybe even Honda, Jounouchi…Anzu…"

Anzu quickly dodged four of the spikes but the last one impacted her right arm. It ripped through her shirtsleeve, "Gah!" she screamed in pain. The ball was now lodged in her skin as blood gushed out of it. She held her shoulder as she stooped on the dusty territory.

"We'd be the only two out in that fog… Alone on that bridge…" Mesmori backed off. "How do I know if you won't try and-"

"Don't you care at all… This may be the last time you see your cheerleader…" Hell Umei began her sinister laugh.

Yami Yuugi stood emotionless, holding his position. He smirked and said: "Shut up and duel…"~

-

A Tapestry Incomplete

Episode Four: Last Will-The Ritual Era of the Day of the Djinns

-

"It's hopeless…" A young, fifteen-year old female stood by some crates of the crowded dock. She was holding her hands to her head as she shook her face back and forth.

It was getting very late in the evening, she wouldn't even be out this late if she hadn't heard about the event that would take place at dawn. But how WOULD she ever get on that massive, white boat? One of the men in those black suits told her-very politely by the way-that the only way stepping an inch on that boat was by possessing at least one star chip-however, by the way, that same man also added that he could let her slide through the rules IF she met him in a hotel room in five minutes! The female quivered as she thought about what that man told her.

"That… That… Deflowering Pedophile!" She stuttered peeved. She began shaking her head back and forth again. "If it wasn't for these REVEALING school uniforms the school system MAKES us WOMEN wear, maybe, JUST maybe, we would be treated more like people INSTEAD of some sex object!" The girl shouted frustrated-for once.

Her voice emitted through the cool, night air. All heads turned to her. The female backed into the crates as at least a hundred people stared at her perplexed. They heard everything that came from her once courteous, diminutive voice. The women in the audience began to giggle as the men held their heads downward.

The girl's steel blue eyes sparkled as she regained her balance. She began bowing her head over and over and kept repeating herself. "Gommen-nasai minna-san, Gommen-nasai minna-san, Gommen-nasai minna-san, Gommen-nasai minna-san!" The eyes finally turned away from her form.

The female fell upon the crates again; very exhausted. She pulled the grayish colored hat from atop her shoulder length, chestnut hair. The female gazed at her petite cap for a while. She was the only one at East Domino High that wore the required hat-she never knew why no one would wear this hat, she thought it was rather classy. Of course, it did look as if you were a bellhop because of its small size and square-like top. The girl placed it back on her head as the wind began to pick up.

"Oie!" she winced as she held her shoulders. The freezing wind kept coming at her, making her mahogany hair dance. "I knew I should've changed clothes before I came here!" She cried as she looked at her East Domino High uniform. Her short, gray skirt, ruffled by the breeze, almost flew up if she hadn't held it down. She left her left hand stapled to her skirt as she buttoned her outer gray, long sleeved blazer up; covering the inner white short-sleeved shirt she wore.

"When will this wind stop!" The female whined as if on cue, the gale had ceased. "Arigato!" she gasped as her emerald green bow laced around her collar ceased its little samba with the gust as well. She held her head down.

"I might as well go home." She murmured to herself, "I'll never catch up to Umei-sama now… The boat will set sail in a few minutes, and I'll be left here, cold and hopeless… as always…" the girl was almost at tears; how could not catching up with Umei Jopa Crawford make her cry? She should be hysteric that she won't be in the presence of THAT arrogant, stuck up juvenile!

"Matouchi Mesmori…" a deep voice ringed in the girl's ears, as if an echo. A shadow loomed over her form as she looked up. Here eyes bulged.

The carrier of the voice, a male obviously, was rather tall with broad shoulders. It was hard to make out what he wore because a dark, indigo robe covered his whole body; even his eyes were unrecognizable. The only thing the high school girl could make out was that she could only see his lips and part of his nose.

"H-Hai?" her legs and voice trembled in harmony as she stood up, almost falling back down to the wooden crates.

The man's robe rustled in another up coming wind, "… It hasn't been long, your face has become much more elegant from what I have remembered, at least you are looking more like a lady… Matouchi…" his voice left a trace of arrogance.

"Nani?! Please tell me who you are?" Mesmori jumped back at his statement.

"Since that fated day, I waited to have my retribution upon you… But alas… I shall not meddle with my master's plans… Matouchi…" the man's mahogany skin glimmered in the moonlight as he stepped forward.

"Retribution? Punishment upon me! But, please tell me what did I do to you… I have never harmed anyone!" Mesmori's eyes sparkled.

He stepped another foot towards Mesmori, inches away from her form, "If he didn't restrain me from killing you, I would do so… I have higher respect for authority… I don't know why I had that strange attraction towards you… Matouchi…" the man was talking in riddles and Mesmori could hardly understand him.

"Attraction?" Mesmori didn't like where this was going. The man was so close to her that she could feel his dark lilac robe brush up against her legs. She edged back since there was a crate that stopped her from stepping back further; not at all a comfortable position for Mesmori.

"I've noticed your predicament… Practically all your life from when you were merely ten, you have wanted to be in the good name of that American female… Matouchi…" He held his head upward, Mesmori could see his eyes now. Although they were still shadowed in darkness, she could make out that they were the color steel gray.

His eyes kept piercing through her form as he began to chuckle lightly. "Now this dilemma has appeared before you and you won't be able to face your nemesis… What if I told you I could help you… Matouchi…"

"Nani Nani!" Mesmori jumped at the thought of catching up to Umei, that is, if this figure was talking about Umei being that American girl. Even being as ecstatic as she was, she TRIED to keep her cool.

"The ship's captain has fallen ill… The crew can't find the first, second, or third mate, all that is left is inexperienced amateurs that don't know a thing about steering a boat…"

Mesmori looked at him confused. If she were positive at where he was coming at, wouldn't he think that she was an inexperienced amateur as well.

"I have come to you, to give you a second chance at gracing my presence…" the man's voice grew low and threatening as he placed his hands on top of Mesmori's shoulders. She stood still puzzled. "Matouchi, you WILL confirm my proposition, if you choose to decline my offer, I will choose to defile you, once again."

A faint gasp escaped Mesmori's lips, what did he mean by, once again?

Taking his right hand from Mesmori's right shoulder, the man placed it into the opening of his robe and presented greenbacks all rolled up in a thin, white piece of tape. He held the currency before her face, "I want you to do something for me… Matouchi…"

Mesmori shook his left hand from her shoulder and slid around him, she was directly behind him now. "Y-you know, jus-just because I-I-I wear a short skirt-that I would NEVER add to my regular day attire if it wasn't for school-doesn't mean I can be YOUR harlot." Mesmori stuttered her statement.

The man turned around, directly staring at her. "N-Nani?" he stammered but still containing his sober aura.

"Obviously you go both ways!" Mesmori's eyes sparkled as she looked very apprehensive. Her eyes enlarged as she backed away from him. "Not that there is anything wrong with that! You were looking for the captain and the shipmates to perform your bedding acts on! But unfortunately, they become ill and you are left to enticing a high school girl who is as big an inexperienced amateur as those other shipmates!" Mesmori paused but quickly regained her accusations.

"Furthermore, I will not become your courtesan that you want to discharge your erotic positions on! Go find sexual perversion from some other call girl!" Mesmori finally was finished voicing her opinion.

The robed man stood stunned, the currency fell from his hand to the ground. Obviously, Mesmori went a little overboard with her allegations. Why was it that every time someone of the opposite sex approached her that she would always believe he would want to ravish her… Well, she got that a lot for some reason.

Suddenly, the robed man flipped-flopped on her. He seized her by her arms now and grew angry. "Baka! You evidently don't follow someone's words very well!" He growled but suddenly grew calm again, "I want you to steer that boat, I don't want to have intercourse with you… yet" he suddenly said quietly as if he was thinking his words.

Mesmori was still a little bewildered. "Could've fooled me…" she gave a small smile, "Wait, did you add `yet' to that sentence!" Mesmori struggled from his grasp.

The man let her go, but, because she was struggling, she fell flat on her bottom. He tossed two shimmering pieces of metal at her. Star chips. She caught the metallic, yet painted gold pieces.

"Catch…" he snapped as he threw a gauntlet at her. A duelist glove. Something fell out of the inside of the duelist glove. A laminated card with Mesmori's picture on it! The picture didn't look like Mesmori at all, it looked more like a beautiful super model, and Mesmori was no beautiful super model.

"Um… Excuse me, but what do I need these for?" Mesmori asked dumbfounded.

"Dumb-ass!" the man cursed below his breath, "It's hard to believe you can be intellectual at times… You need these items in order to enter the competition taking place at the island this boat is heading for. That card is your access card to manage the steering of the boat. Show it to that guard so he'll grant you permission." The robed man closed his eyes for a while but then blinked them open again. "That picture is something I drew myself, characterizes your true beauty, won't you say?"

Mesmori looked at him as if he were crazy, even though it seemed like he was.

The man coughed, "Now, ahem, place your star chips inside the slots of your duelist glove, pick up your payment and get out of my sight…"

This was the only chance she got, she didn't want to sin herself and sneak onto the boat… But why did she have to become the ship's captain, hey it might just be fun.

"Uh, arigatou?" Mesmori quickly grabbed the currency and stood back up. She turned to run towards the long line of people waiting to board the boat but was unexpectedly stopped by the robed man's words.

"Matouchi… I want you to eliminate the duelist you are looking for… If you have chosen to become a failure at following my words this time, I certainly will abduct you…" he sneered at her, "You don't have a choice… Don't make me come after you again, you won't have that American girl to save you… Nezumi… Mi-Mi-Chan…"

Mesmori's muscles tightened at what he called her. Only one person in her life time called her that! That name that meant mouse, Nezumi; Mi-Mi-Chan for short! This couldn't be that same guy who tried to…

"I un-understand." She quickly blurted out and jogged away from him.

The man turned back toward the crates, he was left in silence. A mischievous smirk appeared over his face. He began to laugh sinisterly as Mesmori hadn't noticed that he, was who she thought he was… That he, had blood stained over his left hand… That he, stashed the captain and the shipmates behind the crates… Bleeding to death…

---

"Hey, there's about six hundred thousand here!" Mesmori said aloud. She had obviously ripped the tape off the currency to count how much she had. But what would she want with so much money.

Mesmori looked ahead of her, the line could go on for at least an hour. She didn't want to wait for an hour. A slight gust of wind blew by her; she shivered. Mesmori definitely wasn't going to wait for an hour in the cold, especially wearing such an uncomfortably short skirt. A notion popped into her head.

"I know! I'll go home and get a few things, I also have to go tell my parents where I'll be for the next few days, I'll call East Domino High and tell them to send me my homework for the week since I won't be there, and while I'm at it, I can change these clothes. No more offerings for me today." Mesmori smiled at her well thought out plan. She looked around, since she was the last in line, she wouldn't lose her spot… Unless someone showed up in the next thirty minutes, but it wouldn't be a whole group so she still wouldn't have anything to lose.

Mesmori jogged off for the main entrance of the docks with a smile on her face; finally, she was going to prove to Umei that she was not just some pathetic little girl that needed to hold someone's hand to cross the street.

Before Mesmori left the dock, she noticed someone sitting up against one of the warehouses. An elderly man-dirty and tired-took up the space with a brown suitcase and his mangy St. Bernard puppy. As plain as day, this man was poor and homeless. He looked as if there was no hope for him, that he had lost everything in the world. The man's dog lay up against him with wandering eyes; he was very hungry. The suitcase was acting like a seat for the aged man as he cuddled his puppy and himself up with some wet newspaper.

Mesmori walked up to the man, as she felt really sorry for him. Mesmori stood before him and gave him a slight smile as her eyes sparkled in the moonlight. She would become this man's savior. Mesmori reached her hand into her gray jacket pocket. At least this man wouldn't try to seduce her…

---

"I play the Hypnotic Water Dancer in defense position-" Hell Umei threw down her card without hesitating.

"Do you end your turn." Yami Yuugi spoke with a trace of stubbornness in his voice. He did not like the fact that if he didn't defeat this dark one soon, she would have enough time to accomplish what ever she desired.

"-Along with my turn, I sacrifice my two other monsters to bring forth the Hypnotic Dancer's special effect. Of course, by doing this, I pay five hundred life points." Hell Umei laughed maniacally. Her two monsters were sucked into the middle of the black void, they were gone. Hell Umei was getting into the game and going to the extremes…But so was Yami Yuugi.

"You make such a costly move so early in the game…" Yami Yuugi pointed out, not caring at all what the special effect would be.

On the field, the Water Dancer froze over; encased in that same old ice prism. The ice shattered, you know who was back. The blonde hair shimmered upon the female monster as her icy eyes stared downward on the Elven Swordsman. Rare Elven Ice Dancer: Attack-3000, Defense-2500

Yami Yuugi broke from his calm aura, "Before, you said you can call upon your frost dancer only if your water elf had frozen over, there is no ice on this field, is that the Hypnotic Dancer's special effect…"

"Exactly, when you sacrifice two monsters for your Hypnotic Dancer, her special effect is activated; no Arctic field card included. Unfortunately, when I use her special effect, my dancer is switched to defense position and can't attack the turn it has been activated." Hell Umei looked upon Yami Yuugi with glaring hot pink eyes. "Now… I am finished…"

Yami Yuugi shrugged as he pulled two new cards. He looked over them for a moment. "I play Curse of the Six-Pointed Star to delay your Rare Elven Ice Dancer for another turn further." The circular spellbinding curse formed around the Rare Elven Ice Dancer, forcing her to be halted like Yami Yuugi had said.

Jounouchi clenched his fist, "All right Yuugi! Kick her ass!"

Yami Yuugi heard his best friend's cheer and gave a slight smirk towards Hell Umei. "Now… I am finished…" he ridiculed the same statement that Hell Umei said.

"Bah!" the pink-eyed entity spat out, "Tarrying the inevitable, you degrading quip!" Hell Umei tried to keep her cool, how dare this rookie dawdle her plans of triumph. "No hence of mockery will befall me…" Hell Umei drew as many cards she needed to make five and glanced at them once.

The hellish Umei quickly glanced at her cards again and began that provoking shriek of hers.

Jounouchi was covering his ears as Yami Yuugi stood uneasy by her head-throbbing howl.

"A card that sweeps the field clean of ANY magic or trap cards! Heavy Storm!" Hell Umei propped the magic card down on the counsel. A whirlwind of energy emerged from the center of the black mass on the field region. The skeletons that were once planted into the ground were now being tossed around among the breeze. The hexagram curse shattered.

"Before I give you your pitiable turn, I place this card face down." Hell Umei sat a card in the Magic/Trap panels. "Come next turn, I'll annihilate your Elven Swordsman… There is only room for ONE elf on this field…" Hell Umei fanned herself with her cards.

Yami Yuugi grunted at what had just happened. He had only been toying with her, drawing her out to observe what Hell Umei could do, he was finished being attentive. It was time to show her what he was all about. "You cannot underestimate me, dreaded one… How can you attack me, when you are delayed once again?"

"Nani?! What trickery is this, cease the bewilderment act." Hell Umei closed her right eye and watched Yami Yuugi innocently.

"There is no riddle here… I formulate the magic card, Swords that Seal the Darkness." The glowing sealing swords formed over the head of the Rare Elven Ice Dancer, she was stopped once again.

"More of your insipid cessation acts…" Hell Umei spoke as if she didn't care. "Your swords will stop my elf, but they won't stop my Disk Magician." On her side of the field dawned Hell Umei's machine monster. Attack-1350, Defense-1000

"Not only that, I equip my mage with this magic card, Mechanical Spinner!" A metallic casing appeared around the disk of which the Disk Magician emitted from. "Let me school you Yuugi, now that Mechanical Spinner has been added to my Magician, I'm afraid it boosts his attack by four hundred." Hell Umei bellowed. Disk Magician: Attack-1750, Defense-1000

"Now Disk Magician!" Hell Umei announced with confidence dripping from her mouth, "Attack Koumori Dragon!" The mechanic magician did as it was commanded. He bolted his hands forward and the Koumori Dragon disintegrated. Hell Umei-1500, Yami Yuugi-1750

Hell Umei grinned, even though she was behind by two hundred-fifty points.

Now it was back to being Yami Yuugi's turn. A smirk emerged from the corners of his face as he drew a card from his deck. "I play my most valued card! Black Magician!" the magician in the dark colors emerged from the field. Black Magician: Attack-2500, Defense-2100

"Black Magician, attack Disk Magician." Yami Yuugi ordered. The Black Magician held up his staff. Dark magic shot from the green orb and spiraled toward the Disk Magician. Suddenly, the Disk Magician was sucked into the metallic disk as the dark magic flew past him and disintegrated.

"Nani?!" Yami Yuugi gasped.

"Oops, didn't I tell you?" Hell Umei's raspy voice reverberated in sarcasm. "When Mechanical Spinner is FIRST played, the FIRST monster you summon and attack with after Mechanical Spinner is equipped, can not attack the monster it is equipped to following that turn. You can attack my Disk Magician next turn though, Yuugi…"

Yami Yuugi glared at Hell Umei. It was true she had powerful cards, and it was true they were fighting on a field that gave her a home advantage, but Yami Yuugi knew something Hell Umei didn't. Hell Umei was fighting for the wrong causes, Yami Yuugi had his friends. So Much was riding on this duel; his friends, Umei's body, his Black Magician…

"Hang in there Yuugi! You're still ahead, you always come back in the end!" Jounouchi edged on as Mesmori stared at him.

"Ahead?" Hell Umei began to bellow. "All that is going to change! Since it is my turn, let me reveal my face down card from before." Yami Yuugi's eyes widened as he looked towards her. "It's a magic card…" Hell Umei smiled at Yami Yuugi as she explained what it could do. "Red Medicine, it increases MY lifepoints. No, not by two hundred, not by three hundred, but, five hundred points!" Hell Umei: 2000, Yami Yuugi: 1750

"Kisama!" Jounouchi cursed under his breath.

"Now who's ahead!" Hell Umei grimaced. "And soon, MY elf dancer will be free come next turn, you can't imagine what I have in store for you…"

`Hard to believe, but Umei's deck is very well constructed… Although Umei's heart might have went into her deck, this dark one's black heart has not… Whatever method this hellish soul uses, the strength of fate won't be recognized…' Yami Yuugi thought with a pensive look.

"That is such a magnificent philosophy you're thinking… Yet, very pathetic! Hurry up and finish your turn so I can execute what I have been waiting for!" Hell Umei laughed, reading his every thought.

Yami Yuugi drew a card and faced Hell Umei with a penetrating gaze. "There is a difference between you and me… Dark one… We both are fighting for something we truly, TRULY, desire… We are both entities from our respected items… But there is a consequential thing that separates us…"

"Per se?!" Hell Umei's eyebrows twitched.

That elfish smirk of Yami Yuugi's painted over his face; making him seem very suspicious, yet very alluring in a way. "You are impatient…"

"N-Nani?" Hell Umei was being ridiculed again, by this… By this… Enticing Playboy!

That attractive grin of his grew wider, his face looking more maniacal then arousing. "Let me assist you in becoming more patient, dark one… I play Black Magical Silk Hats!" The four black hats with the yellow, question mark buckles floated over Yami Yuugi's Black Magician and Elven Swordsman. The four hats fell on them and began shuffling around on Yami Yuugi's side of the field. The raving smirk of Yami Yuugi's grew seductive again.

"You think you're pretty arrogant, don't you…" Hell Umei's raspy tone shown with no appeal. "Whoever… Whoever the HELL you think you are, You will not trifle with me! I did not come this far to be fucked in the head with!" there's that little impatient wench as we know her!

"Eh, very pissy isn't she," Jounouchi snickered into Mesmori's ear, "Must be that time of the month." He began to chuckle.

"Oh my!" Mesmori gasped shocked holding her hands clutched up to her chin. "And right during a duel of all places!" her eyes sparkled in concern. "I may have something for her, always come prepared." Mesmori began looking through her junky, oversized jacket pockets.

Focusing back on the duel, and not other things that are conjured up from a high school boy's head whenever a girl is ticked off, Yami Yuugi still stood unmoved by Hell Umei's words.

"Your turn… Dark one…" he rested his hands on the sides of his counsel. "The fact that you only have a twenty-five percent chance yet a fifty percent chance at hitting one of my two monsters each turn you use, by then, I will have already found a way to beat you…" He closed his eyes. "Does it make you even more restless?"

Hell Umei tried to ignore Yami Yuugi as she drew a card. Her eyes bulged in a startle. A more demented sneer grew over her face now. The next of the layers to Hell Umei's meringue cake, so to speak. All she was using her Elven Ice Dancer was just to stall Yami Yuugi, but now, with Snipper and SUN'S RAYS, there was only one more left in her deck.

Now it was Hell Umei's turn to give Yami Yuugi a psychotic smile as her fangs shown. "I will always be one step closer to calling upon the holy grounds of my demise…" Hell Umei murmured.

"…" Yami Yuugi finally opened his eyes; those deep purple eyes would make anyone become overly suspicious the way they were looking towards Hell Umei. But she didn't grow nervous; instead, she began to chuckle lightly to herself.

Hell Umei coughed, "Ahem, anyway…" she couldn't stop laughing to finish her sentence.

"There's nothing funny about this duel!" Jounouchi shouted from the sidelines rather choleric.

Hell Umei held her right hand in Jounouchi's direction; she didn't even look towards him because she couldn't stop cackling. She clenched her hands.

The granite sphere lodged in Anzu's arm began to shock her with that same dark energy.

"Gah!" Anzu screamed in pain.

Jounouchi and Mesmori turned towards Anzu and Honda.

"Chikushoume!" Jounouchi cursed.

"What in the world?" Mesmori held her hands to her face and covered her eyes.

"Anzu!" Honda quickly grabbed at the sphere; it began electrocuting him too. "Shimatto!"

Yami Yuugi's head snapped towards his friend. His eyes widened, but then, with lightning speed, his head snapped back towards Hell Umei. "Enough! Stop it now!"

The dark, static energy halted. Anzu fell back with sweat dotted over her face. Honda was there to catch her. Anzu's breathing was sharp and loose, making Yami Yuugi even angrier.

"Someone tell me-What the HELL was that!" Jounouchi shouted bemused. Jounouchi suddenly noticed that Mesmori had abandoned her spot next to him and was praying besides Anzu.

"Don't talk to a Sovereign like that, next time I will kill her…" Hell Umei ceased her laughing spree. She turned toward the infuriated Yami Yuugi. "Keep your inu in line…"

"Inu!" Jounouchi grew hotheaded; no way did she just call him that. He could tolerate being called `cheerleader' but not what she just called him. "You're the inu! You Subeta!"

Hell Umei canceled out Jounouchi's words. "I could've killed you're cheerleader, but why not wait until it is the perfect time. Are you impatient now? Waiting to see what I have in store for you?" Hell Umei was talking as if there was a sort of sadness to her voice. "Since it still is my turn, I play this magic card…"

On the field stood a hooded figure in a grain colored cape.

Yami Yuugi didn't say anything, he just stood, mesmerized by the presence of his friends.

"The name of this magic card is Joker Tiger…" as soon as Hell Umei said the name of this card, the figure threw the hood off of his head portraying the face of the tiger. Yes indeed, the face of a tiger but the eyes were in red swirls.

Yami Yuugi finally looked back at Hell Umei, eyes burning with fury. He could never come to exile someone, nor even hate someone to an extent; he had Yuugi to thank for that. It was never a person's fault that they acted upon being hated, only the things they were influenced by. This dark entity was once a person… long ago…

"Watch and see what Joker Tiger desires…" a grin grew over the face of her magic card, it actually pointed towards Umei's Rare Elven Ice Dancer. "Oh, I see." Hell Umei smirked, "You want to perform that move that you did to that gray-haired boy…"

"Hm?" A sound finally came from Yami Yuugi.

"To tell you the truth, this is Umei's trademark move, I have become quite fond of her strategy for this move." Hell Umei pointed towards HER Ice Dancer. "Now, perform your trick." As Hell Umei demanded, the Tiger in the cape threw two poker cards onto the ground. The two cards revealed that it was the six of clubs and the five of hearts. The cards poofed into a ball of smoke that then surrounded the Elven Ice dancer in a mist-unable to be seen to any other eye.

"What kind of magic card is this?" Yami Yuugi asked, focusing back on the duel.

"The Joker Tiger card is able to convert any card it desires, for better or worse." Hell Umei seemed to be joking with Yami Yuugi.

"Enlighten!"

"You see, MY tiger will throw down two playing cards each turn for a monster of its choice, which will be my Ice Dancer each turn. It will increase the dancer's attack by the two cards subtracted by each other. The only way this Joker Tiger card will be sent to the graveyard is by throwing down a joker card in one of the two card draw and, when that happens, it will take a monster of my choice on either side of the field with it to the Graveyard." The way Hell Umei explained it could confuse anyone.

"What's happening to your Ice dancer now?" Yami Yuugi asked puzzled.

"The first time the Joker Tiger card plays two cards for the FIRST time on a monster, the monster will be split into the product of both the two cards added together. Let me introduce you to the Rare Eleven Ice Dancers!" Hell Umei laughed.

The smoke disappeared to show the silliest bunch of little monsters. There WERE eleven tiny versions of Umei's Ice Dancer all stacked up on each other. The one on the very top was holding a dark blue cape that extended all the way to one of the other the tiny Ice Dancers on the very bottom.

"You're cheating!" Jounouchi was at it again, yelling `out of line'. "There can be no more then five monsters on the field!"

Hell Umei looked at Jounouchi.

"Jounouchi!" Yami Yuugi's voice grew strict, trying to warn his friend.

"Not when fused…" Hell Umei clarified, "You see, when two monsters are fused together because of a polymerization card, there are still two monsters that can stand upon one slot of the arena. They just become one with each other."

"So…" Jounouchi said unshaken.

"Therefore, my ice dancers have become in tune with each other, making them one monster." Hell Umei turned back toward Yami Yuugi, "Unfortunately, my chibi ice dancers' attack is cut in half, but that can be made up for with my Joker Tiger." The Rare Eleven Ice Dancers-Attack: 1500, Defense: 2500

"I see…" Jounouchi mumbled wishing Hell Umei did violate the rules so this duel would be over with.

"Now, my little army, attack the hat farthest to the right!" Hell Umei ordered. The Ice Dancer on the very bottom began walking over to the silk hat farthest to the right-of course leading all the other elves that stood on its shoulders. They all punched at the hat with their right hands, revealing that there was nothing under that hat. Three left to go.

"How kawaii!" Mesmori smiled, obviously thinking the scene was comical and entertaining-Mesmori was standing back beside Jounouchi, evidently she forgot about what happened to Anzu.

Now being Yuugi's turn again, a thought popped into his head. "I expose my Black Magician." Yami Yuugi announced as his Black Magician jumped from the silk hat farthest on the left. "Now that your Eleven Ice Dancers are weaker, I can now attack you head on." Yami Yuugi's Black Magician shot dark magic from his green orb once again. But, instead of just hitting all the Ice Dancers, one of them jumped towards the beam of energy. It disintegrated, now leaving ten. Hell Umei: 1863, Yami Yuugi: 1750

Hell Umei stood with a smile, "That's right Yuugi, you can only attack one at a time. Unfortunately, for every one of them you vanquish, their attack goes up by one hundred thirty-seven points, and my life points go down by one hundred thirty-seven points each time you destroy one of my dancers. Rare Eleven Ice Dancers-Attack: 1637, Defense: 2500

"What a pathetic turn you've lost! Since you placed your Black Magician from the safety of the third hat, now there is only a fifty percent chance of hitting the Elven Swordsman." Hell Umei drew a card. `This is not the card I need, just Rock Assassin.' Hell Umei looked over the cards in her hand: Snipper, Sun's Rays, Sword of Dark Destruction, Dark Elf, and Rock Assassin.

`I can't attack with Dark Elf or I would have to pay one thousand of my life points.' Hell Umei read the card description; `I could however equip Sword of Dark Destruction to my Rock Assassin since it is a dark type monster.' Hell Umei looked back up from her cards. `I need to get rid of as many cards as possible so I can come closer to drawing my last card for the ritual…'

"For my turn, I play Rock Assassin…" Hell Umei quickly threw down the card. A tall man like being emerged with rock pieces attached to his appendages onto the field. Rock Assassin-Attack: 600, Defense: 300

Yami Yuugi's eyebrows arched.

"Since the Rock Assassin is a dark type monster, I can equip this Magic card, Sword of Dark Destruction, to it to raise its attack by four hundred and lower its defense by two hundred." Hell Umei declared with decisiveness. The sword of dark energy appeared into the hands of the assassin of stone as an egotistical grin lingered on Hell Umei's face. Rock Assassin-Attack: 1000, Defense: 100

"A costly move…" Yami Yuugi admonished even though every time Hell Umei made a move that seemed so inexperienced, there was always a twist.

Then, Hell Umei said something Yami Yuugi thought he would never hear escape her mouth, "Correct…" the dark one made a comical expression; right eye closed with her tongue sticking out. "Rare Eleven Ice Dancers, attack the left hat!" Hell Umei commanded her army.

This time, the ten little warriors created their own little life-sized pyramid of themselves; each standing on each other's shoulders in the process. With one standing at the very top, it was almost as if they were miniature cheerleaders… With elf ears… And more revealing clothing…

The one at the top began screeching like a banshee as the others did the same. They opened their arms and a yellowish ball of energy formed in the center. It shot towards the left hat… Nothing!

"Chikuso!" Hell Umei cursed under her breath but decided to brush off the mishap. The last black hat shifted off the arena, revealing truly where the Elven Swordsman was. "Now that my command is over, Joker Tiger draws two new cards to enhance my Rare Eleven Ice Dancers.

The Tiger with the outrageous eyes reached into the left side of his robe with his right hand and threw two cards, the Four of Spades and the Two of Clubs. The cards `poofed' once again into that misty smog and floated over all ten of the ice dancers.

"Now their attack increases by two hundred points." Hell Umei smiled at the brilliant strategy her pitiful host conjured up. The smoke cleared. Rare Eleven Ice Dancers-Attack: 1837, Defense: 2500

`If I attack her Rock Assassin or her Disk Magician instead of her ice dancers I won't have to worry about them getting stronger twice in one turn because of my monsters attacking them and that Joker Tiger.' Yami Yuugi closed his eyes as he grew deeper in thought.

Hell Umei's pink irises shrunk in size from what she heard Yami Yuugi think.

"Black Magician attack the Disk Magician." Yami Yuugi extended his right hand forward. The Black Magician fired another shot of dark magic that hurled towards the Disk Magician. Suddenly, the beam was halted by one of Hell Umei's ice dancers. One of them had jumped in the way of the dark energy. Rare Eleven Ice Dancers-Attack: 1974, Defense: 2500

"Nani?" Yami Yuugi stood bewildered.

"Hm? Surprised, my playboy?" Hell Umei jeered, "Every time you attack one of my monsters instead of my Eleven Ice Dancers, they will still sacrifice their life by taking the shot head on…" Hell Umei: 1726, Yami Yuugi: 1750

"This is a well thought out strategy… Amazing how someone could think of it… I'm impressed…" Yami Yuugi stood unnerved again. "But, every strategy has a fault…"

"Not this one…" Hell Umei crossed her arms as that confident grin painted over her face again.

"This is crazy…" Jounouchi mumbled.

"Go Jou-sama's friend!" Mesmori cheered as she held her hands up to her chin as if she were praying.

"Jou-sama!" Jounouchi shouted into Mesmori's ear.

"Fine, Jou-sempai." Mesmori's eyes sparkled.

"I'm coming closer to finding that fault." Yami Yuugi spoke, penetrating Jounouchi and Mesmori's conversation.

Now being Hell Umei's turn once again, she could draw two new cards.

"You're friends talk to much…" Hell Umei spoke as she placed her hand to the side of her deck. "If I could, I would rip their vocal cords out… but then there would be no room for entertainment when my ritual is summoned…" she threatened as she placed her hand above her deck now.

"How can someone harbor so much hatred…" Yami Yuugi grew angry. "Is it because there was no one ever there to encourage you? Is that why you grew a heart of jealousy and malevolence? Is that why you chose Umei… Because her heart of jealousy and malice was equal to yours that night?"

Hell Umei drew one card… Fusion card, Resurrect Dead. "I told you, I chose her because she wanted me." Before Hell Umei drew her next card, she placed her hands on the counsel and her eyelids lowered a little. "Her heart was weak, easy for me to control. All these centuries… Every dimension I've been to… I never found such an easy mark… such a slave like Umei. You should see the corners of her mind, all the memories. She is like a walnut… Not at all what you expect on the inside." The raspy tone of hers grew softer, "To be honest with you, a microscopic part of me doesn't want to hurt this girl… Yet, it is only a microscopic part…" Hell Umei placed her hand over her deck ready to draw her next card.

Amazing, Hell Umei just opened up to Yami Yuugi, something Yami Yuugi thought could never happen from an enemy. "You seem almost human, why drive yourself to cause pain just for a selfish act…"

"If you look at it, everything is selfish, everyone is selfish… But Umei… She-" Hell Umei stopped herself as her eyes bulged. She stared at the card she drew… That was IT! The last card for the ritual! Forest Guardian! Hell Umei almost lost her breath as her dark heart throbbed with pain. Finally, this duel, and this world, would be over soon. But did she really want to do this ritual? She lightened up to Yami Yuugi, she expressed too much emotion towards him. All a lie! Yami Yuugi, that alluring bastard! Hell Umei couldn't fall for his deadly eyes.

"…" Yami Yuugi stood puzzled noticing that Hell Umei didn't finish her statement, he also noticed how her eyes grew into saucers as she stared down that card in her hand.

A gasp of air escaped Hell Umei's mouth. There were three monsters on her side of the field, she needed to get rid of one in order to bring all three cards for the ritual out.

"What about Umei?" Yami Yuugi wanted to know why Hell Umei ceased her sentence.

"Forget that wench!" Hell Umei spat out, her psychotic smirk appeared over her face. "You have been very desirable, does seductive eyes of yours can cause ANYONE to fall to your mercy. But my eyes show something more then yours! They show the souls of my hosts! If you desire Umei's life, why not the others that have souls within me! None will ever find peace or crossover… Unless you dismember and cut my eyes in half!"

Everyone, even Mesmori, stood a little disturbed from what Hell Umei was saying. It was official; Hell Umei had gone insane from sure triumph because of her three ritual cards.

"Rare Eleven Ice Dancers, attack the Elven Swordsman." Hell Umei ordered, her head back on her duel. The nine little soldiers were back to standing one by one on each other's shoulders. Now, they began to twirl around, causing a tornado of nothing but blue destruction. They sucked the Elven Swordsman in and he was demolished. Hell Umei: 1726, Yami Yuugi: 1176

Yami Yuugi was still shocked from what Hell Umei had said about her eyes.

"I told you… there is only room for one elf on this field…" Hell Umei's eyes narrowed as she began to chuckle, "In this case, only room for one elf on one owner's side of the field."

The Joker Tiger took both of his hands and reached into his ears. He pulled two cards and threw them to the middle of the arena… Five of Diamonds and Three of Diamonds!

"Kuso!" Hell Umei slammed the counsel with her right fist. She calmed down, "At least my little nine warriors attack goes up by two hundred points…" Rare Eleven Ice Dancers-Attack: 2174, Defense: 2500

Yami Yuugi stared at the cards in his hand, "I… Place my Summoned Demon in attack position!" Yami Yuugi place his demon summon on the field. The skeleton-like demon brought out his mighty blue wings and they began to flap. Summoned Demon-Attack: 2500, Defense: 1200

With no other monsters to attack, Yami Yuugi had to always destroy Hell Umei's dancers each turn. "Attack one of the Rare Eleven Ice Dancers!" The Summoned Demon did as it was told. A bright electrical ball hurled towards the little stack of dancers. One jumped up as usual, and only one was destroyed as usual. Rare Eleven Ice Dancers-Attack: 2311, Defense: 2500

"And then there were eight…" Hell Umei was tapping on the counsel with her right hand. Hell Umei: 1589, Yami Yuugi: 1176

`She doesn't care? She'll sacrifice as many she wants in order to get attack points higher then both my monsters…' Yami Yuugi shook his head back and forth.

`Why should I care?' Hell Umei broke through his thoughts again.

`You are a monster…' Yami Yuugi held his head down.

"I don't care what you see me as, Yuugi… As long as I know what is about to happen to your friends, I could care less anymore…" Hell Umei stared at Jounouchi now. "Being my turn, I place my eight little minions in defense mode." The ice dancer on the very bottom that held the stack of other ice dancers up by its shoulders kneeled on the ground. The other dancers did the same as the ice dancer on the very top held out the long dark blue cloak and wrapped it around the whole stack. A blue cocoon.

Hell Umei turned back to Yami Yuugi, "I end my turn by placing this card face down in defense position…" Hell Umei announced, placing down one of her three cards needed for the ritual.

The Joker Tiger placed his covered hands to the sides of his face and pulled off his head.

"Oie!" Mesmori and Jounouchi gasped in unison as they were both holding onto each other from the scene.

Two cards flew from the insides of the Joker Tiger's body and dashed to the center of the field. Hell Umei finally stopped tapping on the counsel. On the field, a Two of Hearts and a Joker card!

Yami Yuugi smirked, finally this card will be annihilated and Hell Umei's dancers won't grow any stronger.

"As my Joker Tiger is sent to the graveyard, I have chosen for him to take Rock Assassin with him…" Hell Umei said with a lowered head, unable to see her eyes.

The Joker Tiger was pulled to the center of the field. As the skeletons grasped hold of him and pulled him down, the Joker Tiger's hand extended and grasped the Rock Assassin, bringing him to his demise too. Hell Umei: 589, Yami Yuugi: 1176

A perplexed look flew over Yami Yuugi's face.

"Yes Yuugi, the number of attack points from my monster are deducted from my life points when the Joker Tiger is destroyed and takes a monster with it…" Hell Umei still stood with unseen eyes.

`Her deck may be formidable, but all these cards… This dark one, or should I say Umei, would annihilate herself before the opponent in a duel…' Yami Yuugi drove his head from the arena and to the water crashing on the peak below him.

`Your turn Yuugi…' Hell Umei broke through his thoughts, but her voice did not sound threatening or filled with hate. Something peculiar was going through Hell Umei's head.

Yami Yuugi didn't look back at the arena, "How can you be so damn calm!" he quickly spat out without thinking. "I want an honorable duel, I set my own path and find my OWN way to beat my opponent, not having an opponent beat themselves!" Yami Yuugi finally looked back at Hell Umei. "You boast about defeating me, but you defeat yourself… Every duel is an honor… Does this duel mean nothing to-"

Yami Yuugi stopped himself as he noticed a dark smog flush over the eight ice dancers. As they were engulfed in the smoke, Hell Umei finally looked up at Yami Yuugi with a maniacal smile. The smoke cleared, and there, stood the Rare Elven Ice Dancer again. Rare Elven Ice Dancer-Attack: 3000, Defense: 2500

Yami Yuugi's eyes widened as he was left agape.

"Know this," Hell Umei's profound silence ceased, "since Joker Tiger has been sent to the graveyard, the monster he was enhancing goes back to its regular form before Joker Tiger was ever played!" Hell Umei shouted. "An expensive move, but good enough to destroy your remaining life points, ne? How honorable is that!"

"…" Yami Yuugi glanced away and then back at Hell Umei. "My Black Magician, attack the Disk Magician!" The skeleton monster did as it was told and a dark mass of electricity shot towards the magician. The Disk Magician spun about as its last action to live on. It disintegrated. Yami Yuugi began to laugh as he saw eight hundred and fifty life points get taken away from Hell Umie's five hundred and eighty-nine. Hell Umei: 0, Yami Yuugi: 1176

"Your planning has fai-uh!" Yami Yuugi gasped in mid-sentence as he saw the life point meter on Hell Umei's side go up. Hell Umei: 700, Yami Yuugi: 1176

"Arigatou, Yuugi!" Hell Umei sneered. Her eyes grew large as she stared at the sky and began to bellow in hysteria. "When the monster equipped with Mechanical Spinner is destroyed, the user gains seven hundred! Wahahaha! You really thought you had a glimmer of hope! Of faith!"

Yami Yuugi clenched his fists. "You should clarify a magic card's special abilities before hand, you vile cheater…." His teeth bit his lip as he began to wonder what Hell Umei's ploy was.

"Now that it is my turn! My turn! The end of this abominable world is at hand! My ultimate turn now embarked!" Hell Umei took three cards from her hand and threw two on her monster panel face-up and the other face-up on the magic/trap panel. She then switched her facedown card from before face-up now. "Yuugi…" Hell Umei's hot pink eyes shimmered, "Meet Sun's Rays, Forest Guardian, and Snipper…. The three ritual cards!"

Everyone in the scene, besides Hell Umei of course, stood unsteady with intense eyes and gaping mouths. In the shape of a cube was Snipper, a flaming bird bunched up in a square shape and with midget talons. In the shape of a cylinder was Forest Guardian, an extremely beautiful, pale, and bare woman with pale green hair and closed eyes, hovering on her stomach. And finally, in the shape of a pyramid was Sun's Rays, a shinning, golden light in the form of a triangle. Each monster had something special however embedded in them. Snipper had a blade gripped in its beak, Forest Guardian had an elegant mirror engraved in her forehead, and Sun's Rays had a sphere resembling a crystal ball at the heart of its lightened mass.

"Along with the fusion card from before, Resurrect Dead, I am able to form my monsters to one!" Hell Umei could not stop her riot of laughter as dark energies formed around her three ritual cards. The skeletons on the field began to sink into the ground as the field began to rumble. No, not just the field, but the entire area did as well. Streaks of lightning shot through the sky as the water below the flattened peak began to evaporate. The entire ocean was gone! The sea life jumped for life and reefs and coral were seen clearly. Ball's of fire were seen off in the distance as they surrounded Duelist Kingdom.

"Ah, the sky at its darkest, blacker than the blackest heart, colder than the coldest intentions…" Hell Umei's insane look traced over Yami Yuugi. "Well, Yuugi… brace yourself."

"Wha?!" Yami Yuugi couldn't stand because of the shaking all over the area let alone listen to Hell Umei's words. The battle ring began to break apart and crumble while the duelist platforms remained unchanged. Once the shaking had ceased, everyone was able to realize his or her surroundings. The world resembled a little bit of Egypt and a lot of a bit of hell. The ring, however, resembled a torture bed above quicksand. The now steal battlefield was chained up by bloody, rusty spears with decapitated bodies piercing through them in different positions.

"Egh!" Jounouchi and Honda gasped upon the scene. Anzu closed her eyes and did not want to see anymore. Mesmori, on the other hand, was tossing her lunch off the side of the metal bridge.

Yami Yuugi glared at Hell Umei. "What have you done!"

"The ritual has been made! Now the killing can commence! It must it must! Meet my indestructible Enmako!" Hell Umei began to bang the counsel and howl in triumph.

"Will she ever shad up that yap!" Jounouchi started smacking his head with his own hand.

"Why would you want her to shut up?" Mesmori started to itch her head as she appeared beside Jounouchi.

"You are so stupid… Baka." Jounouchi murmured.

The monster that stood side by side with the Rare Elven Ice Dancer was a grotesque beast not fit to be called a monster! There was no name for how hideous this creature looked. Only the head was seen from the shadow that surrounded it-a mutilated head able to make the ugliest of nightmare creatures run scared. It was so ugly that it was beautiful. With one blood-shot eye and the other hanging from it's socket by the vein, with one ear shaped disgustingly and the other ripped down the seam of it being attached, how could three pleasing monsters become something so putrid? Five steel bolts were punctured into the head of the beast's dark crimson skin. White strands of three hairs stuck from the lumpy forehead along with the bolts. Under the scrunched nose was a dingy cloth restrained over the mouth. Enmako- Attack: 3500, Defense: 4000

"Let death begin… My turn… But before I can do so, Enmako must first feed on one of my monsters in order to be active! I give him the Rare Elven Ice Dancer!" Hell Umei's maniacal grin did not falter yet her voice got louder and more annoying. A smog wrapped around the Rare Elven Ice Dancer who was now crying for mercy as she was sucked into the pit of Enmako's soul. "Now, my gorgeous Enmako! Attack either monster you see fit, three more souls must be vanquished from this world in order to infect the other THREE carriers…"

"THREE!" Yami Yuugi grunted; there were three more of a hellish entity living inside three other victims?! This could not be taken lightly anymore.

A gulf of steam seeped through Enmako's woolen mask. From the shadows spewed the darkest color of blood you could have ever seen-pools and pools of it spilled to the battle floor as pools and pools of Mesmori's guts spilled to the waterless ocean. A glowing orb fell from the shadow to the floor and was covered in the mucus. The orb was the same as Sun's Rays crystal ball. The orb rolled towards the Summoned Demon and exploded. Parts of the demon's appendages flung every which way and remained on the field bleeding. Hell Umei: 700, Yami Yuugi: 176

A whirl in the sky began to form as a flashing light fell from the center of it and onto the field. "Hm, who will die by ripped limbs?" Hell Umei growled. A flaming black skull engulfed in lilac fire emerged from the "dead" Summoned Demon and off towards the island.

"Chikuso! No one in your presence…." The vile entity smashed the panel with enough force to crack it. The scene grew dim as the orb rolled back towards the darkness and the Summoned Demon's dismembered body remained on the field.

---

"Help!" a man shrieked from the outside of Pegasus's castle.

Pegasus stood by the ten-foot window staring unmoved at the duelist calling to him.

"… Master Crawford…" one of Pegasus' suited guards ran behind him and bowed-he was very appealing. "We are to having crime scene."

Pegasus hunched his hands over the windowsill.

"Shall I be summoning medics just in case, if this gets out then this could be giving Duelist Kingdom a bad name if the other authorities is to be visiting." the guard removed the sunglasses from his yellow eyes and ran his hands through his hacked, pale blonde hair. He spoke in loose Japanese for his German accent would always get the best of him.

"You've been like a brother to me, Schwarz Wolfram-kun… But the medics or the authorities will not be needed…"

"Ja, Master Crawford." He bowed and wiped a drop of sweat from his tan skin.

"Help!" the man finally ran off in a different direction seeking assistance.

"Hmm…" Pegasus sighed. "Jopa-chan has hid my second wife's secret from me in the most unlikely place. Her own grave. Now she has reactivated it once again… Such a smart little vixen I have raised and that YOU've corrupted my dear…"

"Uh, sir?" Wolfram looked at the back of Pegasus's form a little puzzled.

"It is not Umei that is dueling Yuugi boy. Yuugi must figure out the true power of the battle arena he is dueling on… Schwarz-kun, prepare the guards to retrieve a metallic box on a peak off of Duelist Kingdom." Pegasus turned.

"The b-body-Wie? Warum? What about the body, Master Crawford?" the twenty-five year old man stuttered.

"Never mind it, the victim will rise as if nothing had happened very soon."

"Ja, Master Crawford." Wolfram jetted out of the dinning room.

Pegasus turned back to the window and peered outside, he peered at the sixteen-year old girl, he peered at her mangled body as if a bomb had exploded inside of her, he peered at the East Domino High school uniform she had been wearing.

---

"You can always forfeit… if you are frightened now? In one more turn this will all be over." Hell Umei tapped her fingers on the counsel with her demented smirk painted over her countenance.

"Why should I? Why should I let you get the satisfaction of killing everyone instead of just a few?" Yami Yuugi huffed.

"So you admit that your friends are not as important as all of mankind?! You aren't as selfish as I thought! Yet you'll lose either way and I will claim all in the end either way!"

"Selfish? You do not understand…. My friends are JUST as important as all of mankind!"

"Finish your foolish turn…"

"There has to be something behind this curse?!" Yami Yuugi began to mumble.

"Nani! What did you say! Heh! Getting smart are you?! Speak your strategies out loud but so quiet that I can no longer hear them nor read them!" Hell Umei bellowed.

"Come on Yuugi!" Jounouchi screamed so loud that it rivaled Hell Umei's shriek.

"Don't worry, your friend is about to win…" Mesmori's eyes sparkled as she said seriously.

"Nani!" the entire group gasped at what Mesmori had said. "Are you psychic!" they said in harmony once again.

"Nani?" Mesmori asked clueless. "Well duh, your friend will win, it's common sense, I mean, look at the life points! Plus, I just wanna liven up the certain outcome." The group sighed.

"I need one more turn." Yami Yuugi murmured. "I place Black Magician in defense mode and this card facedown!" A monster in the attack slot and a magic card in the magic/trap slot were now on Yami Yuugi's side of the field.

"Is this your brilliant plan? Your last resort?!" Hell Umei snickered. "Very well, Enmako! You know what needs to be done…" This time, from every opening on Enmako's face, larvae of worms and flies and scorpions and scarabs spewed out and blended with the drying blood below him. Along with the grim things that were expelled, a mirror resembling that on the forehead of the Forest Guardian emerged. The mirror shot towards the Black Magician and began to expand over him. The mirror formed around the magician, freezing him over. The Black Magician was no longer able to be played and was now dead in its encasement.

"Don't you admire how you juggle a life of your monster, now that they are of REALITY! You magician has frozen to death and occupies that space, unable to be played from now on." Hell Umei bellowed. "Don't forget, no matter if the monster is in defense or not, a life is still taken when that monster is killed!" As if on cue, the whirl returned in the sky and the beam of light shot over the field once again. The black skull in purple fire emerged. This time, it was swarming the peak.

"HAI! Finally a life of your friends will be taken! Who do you chose who do you chose!" Hell Umei jumped up and down. The skull bolted forward towards the defenseless foursome. Honda's eyes bulged as he gasped for air.

A dark light flashed as the skull went inside its victim like a gunshot. The easy mark fell towards their deathbed with rolling eyes as they closed. To the deep, dark world of the new hell, another casualty lost.

"Iie!" Yami Yuugi lost his own breath as he couldn't believe his eyes, of all people… why did the skull chose one of his friends, let alone THAT friend!

"Perfect…" Hell Umei's hysterical laugh broke through the drama as her vein bulging on her neck could have popped.

"…" Mesmori's mouth was gaping as a tear fell down her right cheek.

"KUSO!" Jounouchi cursed and fell to the dusty floor, he began to pound it and let all emotions flee from his eye sockets.

"ANZU!" Honda shook her. Anzu lay without movement, the granite ball still electrocuting her arm. Her skin turned purple, as her corneas were lost to her sclera. She was freezing cold in Honda's arms, possibly even colder than the Arctic or Antarctic combined.

"Why her! Why did you do this! Of all people… WHY ANZU!" Yami Yuugi's head shot down, not wanting to show the tears in his eyes. `Anzu, don't go… You are not dead… Are you?'

"You're lying! She isn't dead!" Jounouchi brought himself off the ground and clenched his fists. "You bastard!!!" Jounouchi ran in a quick haste towards the battle arena.

"Matte!" Mesmori screamed as she ran after him. It was too late, Jounouchi had forgotten all about the quicksand that was below the torture bed. He was sinking in! First his feet, than his legs, and finally his torso were completely gone. Mesmori grabbed hold of his arm and tried to pull him out of it, yet she was now getting pulled too.

"Stop this now! No more deaths need to be done! A monster has not died!" Mesmori cried.

The stuck grin pierced Hell Umei's face for a few minutes until she said, "You die of your own will, but further more, it is your turn Yuugi…." She brushed off the words and fixed her eyes on Yami Yuugi.

Besides the screams from Mesmori and Jounouchi, Honda was to stiff to move knowing he was holding a deceased body in his arms. His eyes were wide and a cold sweat spread over his body and was even drenching the top part of his shirt.

Yami Yuugi would not speak.

"Get with it!" Hell Umei began to itch her left arm, making her brown skin ashy in that area. "You wanted to learn more so you did! You lost some useless being in the process, oh wah wah. Come on, you know you want to see Jounouchi die next!"

Yami Yuugi didn't stir from his position.

"I mean… it is your fault after all." Yami Yuugi finally flinched from Hell Umei's words. "You made the foolish move in the first place after all… You never should have agreed to dueling with me… never." Followed by her words was a chuckle.

Yami Yuugi's shoulder began to shake.

"GET OVER IT! Will you go!" Hell Umei growled, as she became furious; She had finally dented the side of her control panel from her rage.

"…Ehhmeeh…" Yami Yuugi gasped as he finally held his head up, and for once, Hell Umei was left speechless. Yami Yuugi's eyes were gone!? No, not just the color in them, but the whole eye! Hell Umei held her hands to her mouth, her pupils growing small. You could clearly see the very vanilla-white of his skull now, along with the arteries. Strange, how could this have happened? Stranger still, he was not bleeding.

With everyone distracted from the field now-Honda petrified, Mesmori trying to submerge Jounouchi, and Anzu dead-Hell Umei was finally left without a remark or laugh. Yami Yuugi had fallen into darkness.

---

`Where am I…' Yami Yuugi pondered as he lay on a stone tile floor in a pitch-black room. His eyelids were weighted and halfway open. Yami Yuugi tried to move his appendages but it was as if the whole world has crushed his body beneath it.

`You are where you chose to be…' A voice broke through Yami Yuugi's mind. The voice was meek yet very raspy.

Yami Yuugi began to struggle to get up and speak, his mouth moved yet no words seeped through.

`Do not be alarmed, do not be afraid.'

Yami Yuugi regained his composed aura and suddenly, torches began to light up on the walls of the room. His eyes glanced every which-way on the floor as he looked for the being that talked through his mind. The room had no exit, the room had yellow stone embedded all over it, the room was empty of any other life form but Yami Yuugi.

`Do you not recognize me…' A figure emerged from the walls of the room but only came out enough to where her upper body down her navel was seen. Her skin was tan, her extremely long hair was blonde, and her eyes hot pink. Further more, she was nude.

`Hell Umei… You resemble her?' Yami Yuugi thought to himself as he finally figured out he could communicate telepathically with her.

`I am her, but I am not her.' She covered her small face with her hair as she held her head downwards.

`Why am I here? Where am I!' Yami Yuugi tried to move. `Why can't I stand!'

`You are here because you chose to be here, you chose this place to be here, you cannot move because you are failing.'

`Failing? You speak in riddles.'

The girl held her head up, `You speak the wrong questions. You are here because you have given up faith.'

`Faith in what!' Yami Yuugi clenched his eyes shut.

`Faith in being there.'

`Hugh…' Yami Yuugi gritted his teeth.

`Ask the right questions… Why did you come here…'

Yami Yuugi bolted his eyes open and glared at the female. `Why do YOU think I am here?'

`You have lost faith in your abilities, you need an answer to a situation, you will never move on if you do not believe you can.'

`How do YOU think I can overcome my situation?'

The female held her hands out. `Crystal Ball, Sword, and Mirror. Mythical totems told to be gifts of Yanma. Three artifacts, one carrier. You draw the carrier, the items falter.'

`Yanma? Chinese name of Enma?' Yami Yuugi's questions grew silent.

`You still do not believe… How will you be able to fight if you do not believe? What are you fighting for…'

`My friends, my family, mankind… NO! What do YOU think I am fighting for?' Yami Yuugi peered at the entity.

`You have no cause…'

`Your answer is inaccurate! I am fighting to save my friends and family! Both are what matter the most to me, and I will say it too, no matter if I seem selfish, I value them over mankind! I will not stop trying; I will not succumb to an opponent that threatens them! With what I have to do known now, I will not fail! I believe the battle will not be a turn for the worst, it will be a turn for new comings of jovial triumph!'

And with those words said, Yami Yuugi felt the weight being lifted off his body. He could move. He proceeded to stand.

"And that," Yami Yuugi spoke, "That is what will keep me from being held back… I know now I still have a chance to save everyone.'"

The female smiled towards Yami Yuugi as she closed her eyes and began to fade away. The entire room began to disintegrate.

"Matte!" Yami Yuugi called to her as he held one of his hands out. "What are you! Why are you here!"

As Yami Yuugi's savior began to become one with the wall as she opened her eyes halfway. `I am HER, but I am not HER. I am here because you wanted me to be here.'

And that was the last thing said to Yami Yuugi as he saw his own body beginning to disintegrate along with the room. But before he left, he quickly reached for the small, thin tablet on the floor between his feet that he had been lying on. He took it with him as he exited that dimension that was his own mind.

---

Yami Yuugi's eyes returned to his sockets as soon as he blinked. He looked around to see where he was. Back in the real world, the real world that was a thread away from destruction. He noticed that Hell Umei was glaring at the battlefield as her fingers clenched to her palms. Her pink eyes shifted in every direction while it was as if time stood still. Honda, still petrified, did not even attempt to move at all, it was as if he was not, could not, breath. Jounouchi and Mesmori; however, remained with a stuck expression on their face as they were in a panic-Jounouchi was not sinking into the sand anymore! It was too silent for Yami Yuugi to stomach. The entire world was suspended from time.

"… No matter what you do… I will live on!" Hell Umei murmured as she finally stared towards Yami Yuugi-becoming immune to the sudden halt in time. The grin was gigantic on her visage as her pupils in her eyes were practically microscopic. Tears began to fall from her very sockets-no, not tears, blood. She trembled from fear as she clutched her own head and began to shake it and mumbled over and over again: "Enmako! Enmako! Enmako!"

Yami Yuugi's eyelids became heavy; showing empathy to this tainted soul. Somehow she knew, she knew Yami Yuugi had something that would surely end this duel. He huffed as he glanced off back to Anzu. His demeanor grew dim while he stared at the frozen picture before him. `Anzu… Part of me believes you are still here, part of me; however, wants to deny that you are not here… I'm sorry! Revenge!'

"SHE'S DEAD! I WAS ABLE TO DESTROY SOMETHING YOU CHERISHED AFTER ALL! I TRIUMPH AFTER ALL NO MATTER THE OUTCOME! YOU KILLED ANZU!" Hell Umei laughed maniacally as her blood tears streamed down her face so rapid that it resembled an overflowed river.

Yami Yuugi closed his eyes to calm himself, but when he reopened them again, a new Yami Yuugi appeared. His pupils were rolled in the back of his sockets now while his entire countenance was blank-literally, he was faceless if he did not have his eye-sockets still in place! Yami Yuugi hands tightened on the stone tablet he finally revealed to the world by lifting over his head. A gust of wind began to blow over him as the blackened clouds began to clear from the Earth; a beautiful limpid blue was visible as it broke through the sky in patches. Time returned as the quicksand that was stationed under the battlefield began to swirl up into the sky, Jounouchi, Mesmori still with arms latched around his neck, felt himself being lifted out of the quicksand. Honda stood, now with a tranquil expression, while the water that once filled the ocean began to flood back to its place. And Anzu… Still dead.

`I may be selfish…' Yami Yuugi's voice echoed through the minds of every person at the scene-every person in the world! `But I rather be selfish to have the love of others instead of no love at all! I did not kill Anzu! I killed you!'

Yami Yuugi's entire body withdrew into shadow as an eye symbol illuminated his forehead. `Crystal Ball, Sword, and Mirror. Mythical totems told to be gifts of Yanma. Three artifacts, one carrier. You draw the carrier, the items falter! Friendship, Courage, and Love! Totems of all! None of you! Let me show you what they are worth! I choose… ATEMKO!

And the breath of life seeped back into Mizaki Anzu.

"That name!" Hell Umei screamed.

"Yuugi!" Anzu lifted herself from off the ground and, knocking the granite ball that was once lodged in her arm to the ground, began to run towards the arena-doing so, the ground began to shake, slowing her down. The entire world went through the tremor once again.

Assortments of colors flew from the panel Yami Yuugi had placed the small tablet on, a void of darkness spread over the arena and out of it materialized a being two-stories tall. Seven arms and hands covered in fine adornments, not connected to the body, moved freely and twirled at the sides of the massive male body. A codpiece of precious stones and silver was the only thing providing "coverage" from the male monster. Its body was red as a withering rose and white hieroglyphs were etched all over its body. The "monster" in the man was seen in his face. Besides having a muscular physique-the "perfect" male body-the man's face had the face of a jackal. Its eyes beamed like the sun and its sanguine fluid streamed from its snout as its rotted fangs were gritted so hard that the beast's very jaw began to bleed. It was certainly a rare sight to gaze upon such a grotesque creature. Atemko- Attack: 4000, Defense: 4200

Hell Umei held her hands upward, wanting the creature with opened arms while her fit of laughter would not cease. It was over.

Atemko brought his fists upward as he growled-a growl so mighty it was heard throughout the entire planet, possibly the entire universe. Enmako broke into its former pieces (Snipper, Forest Guardian, and Sun's Rays) and they began to float into the sky; the whole field was being lifted from the ground as well. Yami Yuugi-faceless still-stood without moving an inch as Hell Umei-maniacal still-was now staring a Yami Yuugi.

"Holy-" Jounouchi shouted from below as debris started to fall-Mesmori was suffocating him from the grasp she had on him.

---

The entire arena-breaking apart bit by bit-was now two stories in the air and was now over Atemko's form; he began to tear it apart with his bare hands until he was able to get his hands on all three of the monsters that are needed to form Enmako. Atemko proceeded to rip Enmako's disciples apart until the point where there was nothing left to tear away. Limbs, bones, and blood flung everywhere. Now, the battle was finally over… Hell Umei: 0 ,Yami Yuugi: 176

A void of luminous white light formed over Atemko, and the duelist ring, disintegrating both. The most realistic, most ancient, most rare duel monster ever seen to Yami Yuugi's eyes-besides Exodia-now dematerialized along with the field. And then, Yami Yuugi and Hell Umei were the only ones left floating in the sunny sky. Yami Yuugi's face returned. Hell Umei's face did not change. Both stood on their own small piece of stone platform-the only thing left of the battlefield. The world was spared.

Yami Yuugi stared below him to the peak below. Anzu was alive, Hell Umei was wrong. And a jovial feeling embraced Yami Yuugi as he smirked and peered over to Hell Umei. There was only one more thing to do now.

"Do my eyes deceive me, did you not just lose! Now, you can always change your path…"

It wasn't finished just yet.

Hell Umei's eyes began to roll behind her head as he mouth moved a mile a minute. "Not over! Join me in hell!" she held her hands towards him as granite balls still formed behind her. No matter what, she was determined to still destroy this world even though she had lost. This antagonist just would not give up.

Yami Yuugi would not allow anymore chances of rehabilitation anymore. It was time. Yami Yuugi held his left-hand forward and spread out his fingers. "Penalty!"

"YUUGI NO!" a transparent form of Umei emerged from Hell Umei as she screamed with all her might.

Yami Yuugi didn't know until it was too late, "Mind crush!"

---

Anzu fell to the ground as she was kneeled over the spot the arena had stood. Her eyes bulged as she looked to the sky. "Yuugi.. Come back…"

"A terrible ending…" Mesmori whispered as she walked up behind Anzu.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning broke through the sky. The once visible figures of Yami Yuugi and Hell Umei have now disappeared from sight as the rest of the world returned to its normal aura. Magic & Wizard Duel Cards began to fall to the peak like snow, each one once owned by the two hard-core duelists.

Anzu quivered as she screamed out in the silence: "Yuugi! Yuugi! Yuugi!"

---

To Be Continued…