Hello, hello my faithful readers. I should really concentrate on finishing some of my other fics, but after seeing the Yu-Gi-Oh movie today, which KICKED ASS by the way, and listening to the soundtrack, which also rocks, I simply had to attempt a Yu-Gi-Oh/Yu Yu Hakusho cross-over. I've never written a Yu-Gi-Oh fic before, so this should be interesting. For this story, I am going to try to be more correct in the Japanese culture then I have been before, with all the proper -chan and -kun endings, last names before first, and all that other good stuff. For those of you who don't know the Japanese cast of Yu-Gi-Oh, Yugi is still Yugi, but Tea is Anzu, Joey is Jonouchi, and Tristan is Honda. Also, the card game isn't called Duel Monsters, it's called Magic and Wizards. If you're wondering what the title means, and I'm sure you are, Kessen: Bakemono no Hishi means Fight to the Finish: Secret History of the Monsters. In the Yu Yu Hakusho story line, this story takes place between the Dark Tournament and the beginning of the Sensui stuff, but Kuwabara still has access to his energy. In the Yu-Gi-Oh story line, this takes place right after the Battle City stuff, so Yugi has the God cards and everything. That's all for my insufferable ramblings, for now anyway. ON WITH THE FIC!!! :)
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-Kessen: Bakemono no Hishi (Fight to the Finish: Secret History of the Monsters)
Duel 1: Akakami no Shite (Red-headed Hero)
Nubayuki Arumi sat quietly in her history class at Meiou High. Meiou High was a private school that demanded a lot of its students in the way of test scores and paying attention in class. Normally, Arumi was more then happy to do all this and be the hardworking, attentive student the school asked for. But not today. Today was the day that the news was broadcasting a special story on Mutou Yugi. Mutou-kun lived in the town of Domino, the next town over, and he was considered the best player of Magic and Wizards in the country, maybe the world. Arumi, being the beginning duelist and lover of the card game that she was, and after being unable to find a tape to use to record the program on, had opted to see it during class instead.
Arumi had dragged her history book to the edge of the desk so no one would notice her staring intently into her lap where she held a small, portable TV. Her long, golden brown hair that she normally always kept tucked behind her ears had been allowed to hang wild and untamed on either side in order to conceal the headphones from the TV. She was rather proud of herself for having concocted such a plan, and she wasn't too worried about missing the history class since she planned to read over the chapters they discussed later that night anyway.
-Since his appearance in the dueling world of Magic and Wizards nearly three years ago- the reporter's voice said in Arumi's ear as scenes from Yugi's past duels played over the screen, -Mutou Yugi has gained the respect and power necessary to call himself the King of Games. Having beaten Kaiba Seto, the former champion, and even the game's creator, Crawford Pegasus himself, Mutou-kun has seemingly eliminated all those who could possibly beat him. Can no one overthrow this new King of Games? Mutou-kun says that his success is due to the encouragement and support of his friends, but this reporter thinks that the young duelist's power comes largely from the three Egyptian God cards that he has managed to assemble in his deck. As long as he has these cards, this reporter doubts that anyone will be able to beat Mutou Yugi-
"No kidding," Arumi muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes at the report's pointlessly obviously statements.
"Would you mind repeating that, Nubayuki-chan? I didn't quite catch what you said," Arumi's history teacher, Watsuki-sensei, said from directly behind her. Arumi jumped with a sharp, surprised cry, tipping her chair over and causing the portable TV to fall to the floor with a clang. Laughter echoed around her as she blushed and sheepishly removed the headphones from her ears.
"See me after class, Nubayuki-chan," Watsuki-sensei said with a sigh as he stooped to retrieve the TV.
"Hai, Sensei," Arumi said quietly with a slight bow, her face still stained deep red as she righted her chair and took her seat once more.
She stared at her textbook without seeing the words or hearing Watsuki-sensei's voice for the rest of the period. She felt so stupid. The worst part, the very worst part, was that he had seen her. He had watched her get humiliated in front of the entire class! She lifted her eyes for a second, chancing a fleeting glance at him. He sat a row ahead of her and a few chairs to the left, so she had a good view of his back. The glance was only for a second, only long enough to take in his attentive, emerald stare and his graceful, flowing crimson locks before her eyes darted back to the book before her. Minamino Shuichi. He had seen that!
She sighed as she stared down at a picture of early 19th century samurai battling each other. She had never spoken to Minamino; she had never had the nerve. So many girls far prettier then her asked him out on a daily basis, what hope did she have? She had messy, frizzy brown hair and dark brown eyes hidden behind golden-framed glasses while those other girls were thin, golden-haired and bright-eyed angels. Comparing her to them was like comparing a piece of coal and a diamond; there was no contest.
She was startled out of her thoughts as the bell rang and the other students began to leave the classroom. Arumi just sat there. Many of the other, prettier girls glanced in her direction, whispering or laughing behind their hands. Arumi just sat there. Minamino gathered his things and left the room without so much as looking at her. Arumi just sat there.
Finally, when the classroom was completely empty, Arumi closed her book, put it in her bag, and stood up. The walk to the front of the class room where Watsuki-sensei sat made her realize what must go through someone's mind when they're about to be executed.
"Nubayuki-chan..." Watsuki-sensei sighed when she stopped in front of his desk. He removed his glasses and tiredly massaged his temples before looking her in the face. "I saw an advertisement for a documentary on that Mutou kid yesterday. That's what you where watching, wasn't it?"
"Hai..." Arumi answered, lowering her head.
"Nubayuki-chan..." Watsuki-sensei sighed again, stressing her name. "What is it about this game that makes you forget your responsibilities? Do you realize that this is the third time this week that I've caught you at something like this? First the cards you had hidden in the back of your book, then the magazine with the article on this game that so fascinates you that you tried to read during my class, and now this. And I'm not the only one either, I've talked to your other teachers." Arumi winced, remembering countless other incidents like this that had taken place in her other classes over the past week.
"I'm sorry Nubayuki-chan, but I don't know what else to do. We asked you nicely not to bring material related to that game, we banned it from school premises, we've even threatened you, and nothing seems to work. This is your final warning. If I, or any other teacher at this school, catches you with such things again, you will be Suspend for a week," Watsuki-sensei said quietly.
"But Sensei--!" Arumi began.
"No buts," Watsuki-sensei interrupted, "you're lucky I don't Suspend you right now! And that's not all, if this continues even after you are given a Suspension, I am afraid you will leave us no other option but Expulsion. Is that clear?"
"H-Hai Sensei..." Arumi muttered, looking at her feet.
"Good, you may go now," Watsuki-sensei said, waving his hand at the door.
"But my TV--" Arumi started again.
"--is mine now. Sayonara, Nubayuki-chan," Watsuki-sensei answered without looking at her.
"Ja ne, Watsuki-sensei," Arumi replied weakly, turning and walking slowly out the door.
She couldn't help the way she acted; she had always been drawn towards the game of Magic and Wizards. Something about it just made her feel so right when she was playing it. To be brutally honest, she wasn't very good, but that didn't stop her from playing. The feeling seemed to have something to do with the bracelet around her right wrist. She glanced at it now as she walked. It was a simple golden band with an Egyptian-looking eye mounted on the front. Her father had been an Egyptologist and had given it to her. The only thing that was strange about it, was that she wasn't able to take it off. She had worn it constantly since he had given it to her simply because she had not choice. She had tried everything she could think of, but it just would not come off. It was a bit of coincidence though, when she thought about it. She had first received and put on the mysterious bracelet almost three years ago, about the same time that Mutou Yugi was just beginning to gain fame. She liked to think that it meant that she was destined for greatness or something, but even she couldn't deny that at the moment, she was a horrible duelist.
As she was about to leave the school grounds, a voice stopped her.
"Causing trouble again, Nubayuki-kohai?" a voice said from behind her.
"I'm really not in the mood for this..." Arumi grumbled as she turned to face Kaijuta Kogi. Kaijuta-senpai was an upperclassman who had a younger sister in many of Arumi's classes. After getting a report of all the mistakes she had made during the day via his sister, Kaijuta loved to harass Arumi about it. The worst part was, that he was a two-faced lair that all the teachers loved, so she couldn't do anything to stop him.
"I hear that you weren't paying attention in class," Kaijuta said with a sneer, taking a step towards the girl before him. Arumi took a step back to match his step forward. She knew from experience that Kaijuta had nothing against hitting girls.
"You must be punished for such a thing," Kaijuta continued, still advancing.
"I-I am being punished!" Arumi cried in her defense, still stumbling backwards, trying desperately to escape. "I-if I do it again, I-I'll be Suspended!"
"That's a threat, not a punishment," Kaijuta stated, a dark look entering his coal-black eyes. Arumi's eyes widened as he pulled back his arm for a punch. With a strangled cry for help, she ducked his punch and took off in the opposite direction. But she knew it was futile, Kaijuta was much faster then she was. She cried out in surprise and fear as she took a blow to the middle of her back that knocked her forward and onto the ground.
"Kaijuta-senpai...please..." she begged, trying to get up as he placed his foot on her back to keep her down.
"Kaijuta-senpai!" a soft but sharp alto voice called. Kaijuta turned his head and Arumi tried to move enough to see who had spoken. She gasped when she saw who it was. Minamino-kun?!
"Eh, I know you. You're that kohai that's got all the girls fighting over you, even ones in my class!" Kaijuta spat, not at all impressed by the younger boy's reputation. "Get outta here! That is, unless you want me to mess up that pretty face of yours."
"Let Nubayuki-chan up," Minamino ordered, his usually soft emerald eyes glaring at Kaijuta. Arumi was stunned; she hadn't even thought that he knew her name.
"Who do you think you are, baka-kohai? I'm a senpai, you can't order me around," Kaijuta said, venom dripping from his voice.
"I can when you abuse your power. You have no right to hurt Nubayuki-chan," Minamino answered calmly, but there was a dangerous annoyance behind the calm.
Kaijuta narrowed his eyes and let an evil grin spread over his face. "And who's going to stop me, pretty-boy?" He removed his foot from Arumi's back and took a menacing step towards Minamino. Arumi's eyes widened as she realized Minamino was about to be hurt for helping her. Finding herself freed from Kaijuta's foot, she jumped up and ran between the two boys throwing her arms out on either side defensively.
"Kaijuta-senpai, stop!" she yelled, facing the older boy and no longer caring what he did to her, just so long as no one else was hurt in the process.
"Move!" Kaijuta ordered, raising a hand to strike Arumi. Arumi squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the pain that would accompany Kaijuta's blow. But it never came. She slowly cracked one eye opened to find...Kaijuta! He was laying unconscious on the ground. Arumi stared in disbelief.
"Are you alright?" Minamino asked, startling Arumi out of her daze.
"N-nani? Oh...h-hai. Arigato gozaimasu, Minamino-kun," Arumi managed to choke out, bowing. Had Minamino knocked Kaijuta out? But how?
"Are you sure you're alright?" Minamino asked again at Arumi's hesitant answer, worry betraying his features.
"Hai! I'm--" Arumi began, but she was cut off in mid sentence by a sudden pain that came from her wrist. She glanced down to find the bracelet glowing and gave a cry as she felt her energy sharply, and painfully sucked away.
"Nubayuki-chan?!" Minamino cried, but she only barely heard him. Her mind was fuzzy and she seemed to be moving in slow motion. Her eyelids drooped and her mind was plunged into dark unawareness as she felt herself falling forward.
-()-()-()
In the city of Domino, Mutou Yugi was walking home from school when he felt a sharp pain tug at his heart. He clutched his chest with a cry as the pain quickly passed, so quickly that he wasn't even sure if he hadn't imagined it.
"You felt it too then?" the deep voice of the ancient spirit of the Millennium Puzzle sounded in his ear.
"What was it?" Yugi asked.
"I don't know. But I think it was an omen," the spirit replied.
"An omen, of what?" Yugi wondered.
"Again, I do not know. But I sense...some great evil; some...horrible plague that is about to unfold upon this world."