The Pharaoh's Rose (Atem/Yami Yugi x Reader)

Season 3; Episode 7

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"(Y/N)'S DUELING MARIK!?" Joey gasped as his eyes grew wide, "OH HELL NAWH, KAIBA YA CAN'T BE SERIOUS!"

"He'll send her to the Shadow realm if he duels her!" Tea gasped,

"If she loses." Duke added, "Isn't she a good duelist?"

"She is and I am not changing anything. (Y/n) will be dueling Marik." Kaiba sneered,

"Kaiba. Please reconsider this. This is far too dangerous for (y/n) to do." Yami shook his head,

"Don't get so worked up about her, she's not your girlfriend." Kaiba sneered in return, "She is fully capable of dueling Marik. Even if she loses, she'll still stand on her ground."

"But he'll make it a Shadow Game!" Tea retorted, "And when she loses, she'll be like Mai!"

"...Tea....that's if she loses." Duke reminded again, "You never really know if she's gonna win or lose."

"Um..." You chimed in,

"(y/n), don't worry, you will not duel Marik." Yami turned to you, "Kaiba, do the machine once more. She will not be dueling-"

"I don't see what the big fuss is." A familiar voice filled with malice spoke as he walked out of the blimp. Everyone froze in their positions, except Kaiba, and stared at the source to find that familiar tanned man with the Millennium Rod - his beige hair a mess with his Third Eye gleaming over everyone.

"Marik..." Yami hissed as he clenched his fists,

"Let's begin this pathetic duel already, it's me dueling her, right?" Marik asked,

"Yes." Kaiba nodded and glared at Yami, "(Y/n) will be dueling Marik, and that's final."

"NO SHE WILL NOT." Joey hissed, "Marik, duel me instead!"

"Joey!" Tea gasped,

"I'm tired of this." Kaiba rolled his eyes, "(Y/n). Duel him so we could move forward with the Finals."

Yami gritted his teeth at Kaiba and pulled you closer to him, "(y/n). Please, don't do this."

"If you're all worried about me making this a Shadow Game..." Marik smirked as he watched Yami tense up, "..I'm afraid this will be a normal game."

There was a long pause that ensued after Marik said that. Everyone stared at him in absolute shock,

"....whaddya mean a normal game?" Joey broke the silence with sweat going down his neck,

"I mean a normal game." Marik sneered in response,

"N....No Shadow Game?" Serenity's voice trembled as she watched Marik nod his head with a disappointed look on his face,

"No Shadow Game. Unfortunately." Marik shook his head with a disappointed tone,

There was an even longer pose that transpired after Marik's confirmation.

"....WHAT?!" Tristan and Duke screamed at the same time in absolute shock,

"A...A duel without a Shadow Game?! From Marik?! Is he on crack or something?!" Duke gasped,

"That's insane! That's not like Marik at all!" Tea shook her head,

"I know, I know~" Marik rolled his eyes as he grinned at the reactions of everyone around him, "It's a surprise that I am not having this become a Shadow Game~. I'd love to make it a Shadow Game, but I feel if I do, it'll end up becoming a lose-lose situation for me." He shrugged his shoulders,