Yami appeared in the basement of the building, huge boilers rumbled in the distance and the silvery smell of cement mixed with the sour smell of fresh paint fumes, gave the space an unwelcoming odor. Yami wrinkled his nose and walked toward the signs that pointed toward the main elevator. He had no clue how he would get to the second eleventh floor even if he did know where Yugi was.

Yami ran, his feet leaving echoing claps along the walls of the cold basement, he skidded to a halt and rounded a corner and pressed the elevator up button. He hopped on once the dull gray doors opened revealing a small room with windows all around and a golden carpet with a silver dragon curled in the center. Yami rolled his eyes as the doors closed showing a poster of the grand opening wedding. Yami pulled it off of the door and ripped it to shreds.

Duke wasn't going to get away with this. Yami had been waiting years to beat the shit out of Duke and now it was his chance to do so. He smirked maliciously at himself in the mirrored wall and his eyes lit with a lust that would only be quenched when Duke let out his final breath.

Yami exited the elevator and entered a long hall with doors on either side, classic hotel set up. A cart of cleaning supplies sat in the middle of the hall and Yami ran to it. Maybe something would be useful.

Suddenly the sound of something heavy falling to the ground shook Yami. It came from above him, it sounded like a sack of laundry had rolled off a bed. Yami's gaze held its place as he looked up. The floor was there, but how would he get to it?

"You'll never find a way in." Yami jumped back and watched the elevator; Duke took a step into the hall and smiled. "Welcome to my casino, Yami, King of Games." He laughed, "Or soon to be known as "the late King of Games." He died tragically in a casino explosion in Vegas, trying to rescue his one true love. I can see the headlines, "The fairytale without a happy ending.""

"Explosion? I made all of that up to get you out of the building. But it still works; no one else is here to get hurt."

"Please. I thought your idea about a bomb was a great idea, but it was missing something so I added a few details. Why marry Yugi and kill him? When I can kill both of you now and watch my company skyrocket!" he smiled. "I planted a bomb in here, somewhere, you'll never find it."

"Try me." Yami glared.

"You have two options." He smiled. "Find Yugi and escape before the bomb goes off and kill innocent people." Yami's eyes flashed. "Oh, did I forget to mention the hostages?" He smiled "or save the innocent and let Yugi die by my hands."

"I will save all of them."

"Good luck, you have one hour." Yami took a step toward him with his fingers parted looking much like a clawed-cat ready to pounce. "You won't be able to save him if you fight me. There won't be time." He said slipping into the elevator as Yami dashed at him but the doors shut before Yami could get to him. He looked at the floor lights on the top; he was heading for the basement. Yami considered going after him but an hour wasn't much time.

He pushed away from the door and looked up at the ceiling as he walked down the hall. Something had to give him an answer. Yugi! Yami came to a stop and closed his eyes. A burning sensation ran over his forehead has he concentrated. 'Yugi. Yugi can you hear me?'

'Y-Yami?" came the pain filled reply

'Yugi! Where are you? How do I get to the second eleventh floor?'

'S-service… elevator.' The link was severed then and Yami flinched.

"Hold tight, Yugi. I'm coming." Yami looked down the hall once more but he caught no sign of a service elevator. Yami smiled when he saw a fire escape map on the door next to him and looked at it. The service elevator was on the lobby floor. And it only went to one place. Yami ran to the elevator and pressed the button, but when the door flew open he noticed a note on the carpet.

"You don't think I would really let you use this elevator, do you?" Yami looked at his reflection in the mirrors of the elevator and heard a small pop. A small bomb went off and the elevator came off the cables and was sent hurdling down to the basement floor sending bits of glass flying upward. Yami moved his head out of the way just in time but noticed a few strands of his blonde hair fell around him.

He would have to use the stairs. "Damn." Yami cursed and ran for the stairs. He pulled the door open and started a mad dash down nine flights of stairs. On the fifth floor Yami was shoved into the hard concrete wall. When his eyes came into focus he noticed Duke had him pinned to the wall. "That's far enough. I have a gift for you." He said and Yami's body wrenched forward. Duke moved away and smirked as he watched Yami look at the object of his sudden pain.

Yami's eyes widened to see that a knife had been embedded in his side and the handle was all that remained on the outside. Yami glanced over at Duke and glared pushing off the wall. He reached down and pulled the knife from his side. He let out a dry cough and looked at him. "You have another one?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Let's play a game."

"Still have time for a game?"

"One final game."

"Sure." He smiled. "I suppose I can grant this wish of the dying game master."

"Alright, we each have a knife. We are on the fifth floor; the first one to the lobby is the winner. Put the knife in your mouth the sharp end inside your mouth and bite the blade."

"Easy."

"There is more. We can only walk on the edge of the steps and you cannot use the railing for support." Yami smiled. And stood at the edge of the first step and so did Duke. "Game start." Yami murmured and vaguely felt the world shift in to the world of shadows then put the knife in his mouth as far as he could without gagging and bit down hard to keep it in place and looked over at duke and gave the nod and they were off.

Yami took careful steps to the edge of each step only teetering slightly and Duke bolted down the steps quickly but carefully and gracefully making it to each step perfectly.

"Duke smirked and was on the last flight and smirked in over confidence. He would win this for sure. His body suddenly gave way to gravity and he grabbed for the rail to keep from falling. "The door to darkness has been opened." Yami said loudly. Duke looked up at him and shrugged.

Suddenly the world around him swirled in an inky haze of dust and suddenly the rail vanished and the stares turned into a purple slide and Duke slid down fast. His eyes widened as a wall came closer and closer and he came to an abrupt stop, smashing into the wall hard, his bones cracked and the knife pushed through the back of his throat and stuck out from behind.

Yami walked down casually and looked down at Duke. "Cheaters never win." He smirked and Duke's body was covered in a purple smoke and was gone.

Yami looked at his watch and jumped running down the last flight of steps and out the door. He was in the lobby. He had half an hour left. Fifteen minutes to save Yugi and fifteen minutes to find the hostages. He headed for the service elevator, the adrenaline from the fight with Duke wearing off as he felt the sharp pain at his side.

Yami made it to the service elevator and climbed in and pushed the up button, it took him to the eleventh floor. It was dark and not as pleasant as the rest of the hotel. There were metal doors on either side of the hall and Yami's resolve faltered a bit but he pushed it from his mind and banged on every door. "YUGI!" he pounded on each door hard. "YUGI, SAY SOMETHING SO I can find you!"

'Yugi!'

Yami tried through the mind link, but nothing. Then his fist came in contact with room 666 and his heart skipped a beat. It was the room. Yugi had to be in there. Yami pushed the door open and his nose wrinkled again. It smelled like blood. "Yugi." Yami rushed to the bedroom and found Yugi, wrapped in a white sheet, dried blood sticking to him and the sheet.

"Yugi." Yami brushed his hair from his face and cocked his head to the side. "Little one. Aibou."

"Mou hitori no boku." Yugi mouthed and his eyes opened slowly. He took a breath and smiled before throwing his arms around Yami. "I love you!"

"I love you too, Yugi." Yami picked him up and faltered again, his body growing weaker by the second. He ran out of the room and shoved Yugi into the elevator and climbed in with him and pressed down. Yami got out at the lobby and held Yugi close as he headed for the stairwell and down to the basement. He ran to the exit but stopped suddenly. A bomb was attached to the door and a note dangled from it.

There are no hostages, just two dead gamers.

Yami glared at the bomb and looked down at Yugi who held him tightly. "Yugi."

"Yami, no. I'll die with you."

"I love you. Yami kissed Yugi's cheek and moved over to a window too small for himself but big enough for Yugi and pushed him through and latched the window shut. "Run Yugi!" Yami said and Yugi shook his head. "The cops can help. Run!" That was all Yugi needed to hear; he got up and ran as fast as he could to the front of the building.

The moment the cops caught a glimpse of Yugi they surrounded him. "Please… Yami… he needs… to… bomb… inside… about five minutes left."

"Yug'!" Joey ran up to him and glared at the cop. "See I was telling the truth."

"Shh, there is a bomb. Duke planted it… Yami's inside."

"Shit!" Joey said and Anzu grabbed onto Mai for support.

"Shh, Hun, what happened?" The cop asked and Yugi told her everything in short summary form. "Yami is still in there! Get him out please!" But it was too late and Yugi's heart stopped and so did the world. It was slow. The light from the alley was what started it. Then a cloud of smoke filled the bottom of the building and fire engulfed it as the bomb went off as scheduled.

"YAMI!!!" Yugi started to run for the building but the cop held him back. The fire lit up his face and his heart wrenched. Suddenly people ran from the explosion in a mad hurry and the cops stood back calling on everyone.

Yugi looked at the ashes of the Silver dragon, tears falling every second as thoughts of his Yami. Their adventures, misadventures, mistakes, heartaches… everything flooded through his mind. He didn't want to live. He had no reason to live now.

"Yugi…" Tristan started but Joey stopped him.

"YAMI!" Yugi's breaths came in heaving pants, his pain tried to push out of his body but he couldn't… he couldn't breathe… He placed his forehead to the cement and cried harder.

He felt a hand on his back, rubbing softly, and heard collective gasps from the others but ignored them. He Yami wasn't going to come back. Not this time. Yugi didn't save him in time! Yami came all that way to save him and Yugi couldn't repay him.

The rubbing on his back felt so good and comforting, he could feel the pain spill out of him slowly. "Yami…"

"Aibou…" Yami whispered softly and Yugi held his breath and sat up slowly looking over his shoulder he saw him. Yami. His violet eyes looked tired, his skin was covered in burn marks and his cheeks held black smoke, Blood covered his clothes. But there he was… alive… Yugi wrapped his arms around him.

"I love you. I'll never doubt you again." Yugi whispered.

"I love you too."

"A fairy tail, complete with happy ending."

"Yugi! It's on!" Anzu called to them and they all gathered around the T.V.

"Here we are with Yami and Yugi, owners of Turtle Game Shop Industries, with the incredible story of how they saved the lives of thousands in the name of love. Tell us how you got out of the building." The reporter looked at Yami. "There was a moment there when Yugi, here, thought he had lost you."

"Yes, well I knew I didn't have time to wait there but I managed to find a door in the back, it was locked up but fortunately I know just how to bypass locks. I passed out shortly afterward and came too hours later to find Yugi. "He smiled at him and slid from the chair and the reporter smiled, knowing something was up.

Yami got on one knee in front of Yugi and smiled. "Yugi, in front of the world, I want to ask you something I've always wanted to ask you. Yugi, my light, my true love, my savior…" he paused and pulled a ring from his pocket and held it out. "Will you marry me?" Yugi's tears began to fall and her slid from his chair and wrapped his arms around Yami, kissing him passionately.

"Yes, Yami. YES!" They sealed the deal with a kiss and the T.V. went blank.

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