AN:I know, there is no excuse for procrastinating this long. I've the duel written for well over a month now... Sorry! But I'm working on it now, so here you go! :)

"I can't do it, Atem," Yugi whispered into the darkness of his room.

"Of corse you can," Atem reassured him gently.

Yugi punched the wall, drawing blood from his clenched fist."You don't understand-"

"No, Yugi, I don't think you understand! It's not just Anzu on the line right now!"

Yugi turned his face as if to hide from the voice he knew was in his mind, "But after Jonouchi-"

"You should be all the more willing!" The Pharaoh took a deep breath and sighed, "I don't like this anymore than you do, Yugi, but we have no choice. We either do this or they're all lost. Forever."

Yugi nodded solemnly, "Atem just tell me you'll be there if I can't do it.'

"You have my word."

Seto Kaiba stared into the blankness of his celing, trying to distract himself from the darkness all around him. Even with the light on he couldn't escape it. It would find him and wrap him in it's vicous grip. And with it came the screams.

The little girl. Wheeler's red haired sister. Kisara. their screams all merged together in a chorus of agony for the young CEO. The girls face and her voice constantly floated into his head, tormenting him about what he had done.

The great Seto Kaiba had developed a soul.

But why did the mutt's sister haunt him so. He didn't like her, didn't know her, and definitely didn't care what happened to her. So why did it bother him so?

Because that's what awaited the loser of this horrid game. That's what awaited whoever gave up.

Seto would not give up. No matter how much it tormented him.

He didn't care about himself anymore.

"I agree, Larry. I expected more from our last challenger," a perfectly manicured finger swirled the water around in the small glass fish bowl.

"Blubble blubble bloop."

She sighed, "I suppose I should have expected as much. But don't worry your scaly little head. This next duel is guaranteed to be quite entertaining."

Larry blubbed happily, swimming in and out of his sunken ship.

The room was set up as normal when the group entered the arena. There host lay sprawled in her chair, fish bowl balanced in her lap. "Only two left now?" she mused, "Such a pity, I was really hoping to drag this out a bit longer."

Yugi looked over at his soon to be opponent. Kaiba's jaw was set in a hard line, clearly showing his annoyance and determination. Kaiba wasn't going to hold back. Yugi couldn't either.

"Bring out our captives, will you?" she asked one of her servants surprisingly sweetly. He rushed from the room only to return moments later with the two girls. each one held there heads high, though they were obviously dirty and exhausted. Anzu looked surprisingly at ease, unlike the white haired girl at her side. She tried to hide her discomfort, but was not as skilled an actress as Anzu was. Still, she gave Kaiba a brave and rather convincing smile before they were lead to their spots. Yugi and Kaiba took to their sides of the field and drew their first hands.

Yugi examined the cards he was holding, he still wasn't sure of what he was capable of. He picked a card and placed it on his platform. "I play Yellow Gadget in attack mode."

Kaiba sighed inwardly. When he had told himself that he would win, no matter what, he didn't think it would be so easy, "I play Enraged Battle Ox, attack his Yellow gadget!"with a shower of dust, Yugi's monster disappeared from the field along with 500 of his life points.
Yugi cringed, he knew it wouldn't hold up against any of Kaiba's monsters. He drew a card and examined his hand once more. "I place one card face down," he declared, "and I end my turn."

"What is he doing?" Honda asked jaw dropped.

"Deciding," Bakura breathed.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean Yugi has to make a choice. A difficult one. Despite everything Kaiba has put him through, he still considers him his friend. Now, in order to win, he has to take from Kaiba something he cares about."

Honda blinked, "Why should that matter, Kaiba's not going to go easy on him."

"But still- "

Bakura broke off, staring a Jonouchi. He had been silent all day, head down, inwardly sulking. Now he looked up, staring determined at the duel before him, "C'mon, Yugi. Don't let me down," he breathed.

"Enraged Battle Ox, attack his face down monster." Kaiba commanded his beast. It lunged towards the other side of the field, delivering a swift blow to the card projected before Yugi.

Instead of disintegrating, a monster appeared. Kaiba had barely opened his mouth when Yugi explained, "Marshmallon can't be destroyed in battle and, by attacking it face down, you activated it's special ability. It takes 1000 damage from your life points."

Kaiba gave a small smirk, it wouldn't have been any fun to crush Yugi if he hadn't been trying. He pulled a card, looking at it thoughtfully before placing it in his hand and choosing a card. "I play Saggi and one card face down. "

It's probably a trap, Yugi. Atem warned.

I know, but I don't really have a choice, do I? Yugi asked as he pulled a card from his deck "I play Green Gadget. Green Gadget, attack!" Yugi commanded his warrior.

"I sacrifice Saggi in order to activate Crush Card virus," Yugi was amazed that the only emotion in Kaiba's voice was a slight tinge of boredom, "As you know, this card stops you rom using any card with 1500 points or more for 3 turn."

Damn it! Yugi cursed himself inwardly. Of corse that had been Kaiba's plan! Everything Kaiba was planing depended on Yugi's rash decisions brought on by the situations. He was trying to use this whole mess to his advantage...

And Yugi couldn't let that happen.

Marik Ishtar sat in his small house flipping endlessly through the T.V channels, searching desperately for something good to watch. "What are you doing?" Jennifer asked from his kitchen.

"Looking for something entertaining," Marik sighed.

"I think I might be able to help you there."

Marik paused, turing to look at his girlfriend, "Really?" He smiled mischievously.

Jennifer opened her mouth to speak but was hushed unexpectedly as Marik's attention was drawn to the television. A young reporter was standing in front of the Eiffel tower, her dark hair blowing in the slight breezes talking hurriedly and seriously to the camera. "No one knows quite what is happening here in france as the reports keep coming. Many people hearing terrifying screams, claiming murder. None of these claims, however have been proven-"
"Really? You're ignoring me for some conspiracy theory?" Jennifer asked curiously.

"Shhhhhh!" Marik inched closer to the television. Something seemed off...

It was a different reporter on screen now, she thanked the other reporter before moving on to the next headline. "Still no word on the finals of Bronya Sahan's tournament as the secret duels continued-"

Something clicked in Marik's head. Bronya, wasn't that the girl he... shit.

"Babe," He said, jumping up and running to pack a suitcase, "I'm going to Paris!"

"Why?" Jenifer questioned.

Marik rolled his eyes, "To see my other girlfriend!" his voice dripped with sarcasm.

"I hope she knows she's dating a whore."

"He does!" And with that, he ran out the door.

Yugi's hand was shaking slightly as he went to draw a card. He had to separate himself. If he didn't, he would get reckless and Kaiba would win.

Yugi, Atem's voice was soft, I can do it.

Atem, you don't have to.

Yugi, it might be the only way. Please...

Yugi nodded inwardly, allowing Atem to take his place once again.

Atem glanced over the cards Yugi held in his hand. "I play Big Shield Gardna in defense mode. And I end my turn," He declared.

Back to defense, Kaiba thought, Pathetic. "Enraged Battle Ox, attack Green Gadget!" He commanded and the monster disappeared taking 200 of Yugi's life points with it.

Atem was straight faced as he drew another card. They were all counting on him. Glancing at the card, he placed it on the field. "I place one card face down and summon Red Gadget in attack mode. "

Seto immediately dove into an attack, "Enraged battle Ox, attack his Red Gadget."
"I activate my magic card Mirror Force!"

Damn it! Seto thought to himself, Of corse! How could I be so stupid! I can't help Kisara if I don't think things through! He looked up at the light haired girl, who gave him a shaky smile in return.

"I think you know what this card does. It reflects your attack back at your battle Ox."

"Enough with the definitions," Kaiba growled as he drew a card and his life points dropped to 5,300 compared to Yugi's 7,200. He had to stay focused. "I play Peten the Dark Clown, Kaiser Sea Horse and place 2 cards face down."

Atem studied the field as he drew his card. He knew Kaiba's strategy well enough to know those two face down cards. But, he sent his Gadget to attack Kaiba's Peten anyway.

"You activated my trap card, ring of destruction and I'll attach it to your Red Gadget!"

As his Red Gaget exploded along with 1,300 of his life points he saw Kaiba had (unsurprisingly) saved himself with the Ring of Defense.

Atem growled slightly, figures. He picked up a card and smiled. "I sacrifice my Marshmallon and Big Shield Gardana in order to summon my Dark Magian! Dark Magian, attack his Kaiser."

Kaiba's monster shattered before him, but he didn't seem to care. He had drawn exactly what he needed. "I play Lord of Dragons and Flute of summoning dragon allowing me to summon two blue eyes white Dragons. Then I'll sacrifice my Lord of Dragons and Peten the Dark Clown to summon the Third Blue eyes. Then, I'll used Polymerization to form Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragoon!"

So it's almost over, Kisara thought to herself, frowning. Her mind kept taking her back to what Anzu had said. Yugi had a plan. And he was, arguably, the best duelist here. What if Seto won here but lost to Bronya? No. He had to loose. But how was she supposed to convince him?

"Blue Eyes, attack his Dark Magian!"

Atem put an arm up to shield his eyes from the destruction before him. Kaiba had summoned his most powerful monster, and he had nothing in his hand to stand up to it. He needed time!

He reached out and drew a card, once again his faith saved him. "I play Kurriboh in defense mode and place one card face down."

"I used a Kurriboh," Bakura muttered, "it failed." Honda smacked his fluffy friend's head.

Seto Kaiba smirked. He really thought his Kurriboh could hold up to his dragon? "Blue eyes, attack his fuzzbal!"

"I activate my Swords of Revealing light!" Atem declared as Kaiba was trapped in a cage of swords. Three turns. that's All he had to turn this duel around.
He drew a card, looking at it briefly before placing it on the field. "I play Catapult Turtle and Celtic Gaurdian. Catapult turtle attack his life points directly!" Celtic Guardian hauled himself onto the turtle and was hurled across the field lowering Kaiba's life points to 3,800.

Kaiba could do nothing but draw a card as his hopes started to melt away.

"I play Queen's Knight and fire her at your life points," Atem announced as once again Kaiba was struck.

3,150. Kaiba could do nothing.

"I sacrifice my Kurriboh to attack your life points again!"

3,000. Still Kaiba could do nothing next turn. He would have to come up with something or...

He looked up at Kisara who smiled at him. It was stronger this time, resolved. She shook her head slowly, as if reading his thoughts. His face fell. She didn't want him to win.

I.. I can't, His eyes seemed to beg with her, pleading with her.

She didn't look away, Trust me, her blue irises seemed to whisper to him, trust me...

Atem drew a card and froze. This was it. The card that could save him. It would also bring an end to this duel.

Kaiba saw the torn expression on his face, swallowed his pride and spoke, "Yugi, if you're half the duelist you think you are, you would play that card."

Atem opened his mouth to object, "But-"

"I don't need your pity!" The words pained him, for he knew what they meant, "If you have the damn card, play it!"

Atem nodded somberly, "I place one card face down, and end my turn," his voice was little more than a whisper.

Kaiba knew this was it, "Blue Eyes," his voice shook ever so slightly, something Atem was sure only he notice, "attack his face down card."

Kaiba's hands gripped the platform, knuckles white from the strain, "I activate magic cylinder. It negates your attack, then it takes away life points equal to the attacking monsters attack." Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon had 4500 attack points. The duel was over.

"My goodness, Larry! Wasn't that exciting!" Bronya giggled, "But I'm afraid little Kaiba's girl will have to pay the price!"

She laughed again as Kisara let out a small, sharp scream and started to fall. Seto caught her before she hit the ground. He crouched there, holding her limp body close, a single tear dripping onto her face and rolling down her cheek.

And some thing in the king of games snapped.

AN: Well, there you go guys! Not the best chapter, but eventually I'll hopefully come back and edit it. Next chapter is the final duel! Will Yugi survive? I sure hope so! :)