I can't believe I forgot the disclaimers! I do not own anything in the Yu-Gi-Oh franchise except the characters I made.
Chapter 3: Midnight Hunting
Taki was utterly speechless. His terrified brown eyes immediately looked up at Kai's equally scared sky-blue ones. The two started bombarding Aaron with questions.
"What the heck just happened!"
"Where'd the necklace go?"
"Is that thing cursed?"
"What's going to happen?"
"Will Taki be alright?"
Aaron stuttered, "I-I didn't know that was going to happen, I swear! I've put the necklace on myself numerous times and nothing like that ever happened!"
The contributor's confession was not at all comforting to Taki. Forgetting all sense of dignity, he pulled off his shirt to examine his chest. On the spot where the fang should be resting was a tribal marking of the fang. The mark was pitch-black with a few weird flame-like designs around it. It looked like a tattoo, which was the last thing Taki needed.
"My mom's gonna' freak if she sees this!" he cried. I wish it was gone! Almost instantly, the mark slowly but sure began to fade away.
Kai stared at Taki's chest as if what he saw was an illusion. "Did you somehow do that?"
"I think so." Taki murmured. Only one way to find out. "I…Let me see the mark again." he said in a clear voice.
On cue, the mark reappeared on his chest. Okay, so this is cool.
"I don't know what to tell you boys." Aaron's voice was completely apologetic.
"I guess…since nothing is happening to me right now, there's not much we should worry about." Taki replied slowly, pulling his shirt back on. The rope of the necklace was lying on the floor, as it was when Taki took off his shirt.
Aaron reached into his pocket and pulled out a small card. "This is my business card with my personal phone number at the bottom. Call me if something happens." Taki took the card and Aaron ushered the boys to the front door.
"Now please boys, you must not tell anyone of the necklace," Aaron warned, "Let's just say it would be very bad for my credentials if word got around that I let two boys just walk off with a priceless artifact."
"But you gave it to us," Taki blurted out.
"True, but others might not see it that way. There is a reason why I never put it on display."
The three waved their farewell, and Taki and Kai started their walk home through the cool night. The streets were quiet and empty.
"What a day!" Taki said breathlessly, "And to think, all I had was breakfast today. Hah, when I get home, I'm going to be starving."
Kai couldn't take his eyes away from Taki. "You sure you're okay?" He inquired. Taki nodded, a goofy grin plastered on his face.
"I'm fine, relax. This just means you're gonna' have to treat me with more respect 'cause I'm the Beast King now."
"Heh, as if! You may have some old fossil inside of you, but you're still idiot Taki to me."
"Who are you calling an idiot? I beat you in three moves, remember? Three!"
"Lucky shot. I'm winning our final duel you know."
"No, you're–" He heard a noise coming from the alley behind them. The duo whirled around to see a shadowy figure step out.
"Well, well, well. Look who we have here." Taki recognized that voice. It was Dylan Colegale, a tenth grader from the local high school. He and his gang loved to pick on the younger middle-schoolers. Taki instinctively placed himself between the intruder and Kai.
"I'll distract him while you make a run for it," he whispered.
"Don't even try," Dylan laughed, "You're surrounded." Indeed, the rest of Dylan's posse had appeared from seemingly nowhere and formed a circle around the two boys. If it was down to a fight, six against two wasn't remotely fair.
"You twerps seem to be out late," Dylan taunted, "Where're ya' headin'? Back home to yer mommies?" The rest of the group snickered at their boss's taunting.
Taki was scanning the circle, trying to find an escape route. He shot a quick glance at Kai. The boy would appear calm and collected if he had to, but if a fight proved too much for him to handle…
"Get them!" Dylan suddenly ordered. The group swarmed, and before Taki could do anything, the delinquents pulled Kai away, separating the two.
"Kai!" Taki shouted, and he tried to run after his friend, but a gang member blocked his path.
"You'll have to pass through me if ya' want to get to 'im," he sneered.
Taki glared at the adolescent. Behind him was Kai, his hands pulled behind him by another gang member. The rest of the boys crowded around Dylan.
Taki's opponent flung himself at him. Taki barely missed the punch and swung one of his own. It connected, but unfortunately it came from an angle that didn't do much damage to the delinquent. In return, the boy gave a side kick at Taki's leg, making the latter stumble.
"Do I hear any wagers?" Taki heard Dylan's voice cry out, "I'm betting he will fall first." Taki couldn't bother to see which 'he' he was referring to; he was too busy dodging punches and kicks.
"Taki! No, stop this now! Taki!" Taki could hear Kai shouting, but the gang just ignored him. He had to end this soon. Too bad his opponent had other things in mind.
The brawl felt like hours to Taki, but it mustn't have been more than two minutes.
"Hey! Let me go! Let. Me. Go!" Kai was fervently struggling against his captor. Dylan only gazed at him.
"I think you've played long enough," he said to his fighting henchman, "Time to get serious."
Taki barely braced himself for the onslaught of punches that followed. It was like being hit by stones over his face, chest, arms, and even a few to the legs. He tasted blood in his mouth. His ears were ringing, his world was spinning, and his vision blurry. He was only dimly surprised to still be standing.
"I think one more should do it."
"NO!"
Without warning, Taki's entire vision went white as the delinquent's uppercut connected with his jaw. Taki was sent sprawling to the ground.
"Taki! Ta…ki…"
Of all the things, it was that quiet whisper that shook Taki awake and forced him on his feet again. With blinding fury, he leaped at the thug, swinging his fist around. The punch to the side of the head knocked the surprised boy unconscious. Two other boys rushed forward to carry their fallen comrade away. Huffing, Taki collapsed to the ground on all fours– too exhausted with fatigue to move. He hardly registered Dylan clapping.
"Well, it seems I was right. He was the first to fall."
What is he talking about? Taki thought, I'm still...
He looked at Kai with horrid realization. The boy was lying on the ground, not moving. Dylan nudged him with his foot.
"Like knocking two birds with one stone," he said. "That'll teach ya' to come through our turf again. Come on fellas'." He and his group turned to leave.
Slowly, Taki crawled toward Kai. He tried nudging him awake. "Hey. Hey Kai. Wake up. Come on buddy." The silvery-haired boy's eyes slowly opened.
"Taki?" he mumbled. "Taki, are you…? I'm so sorry…"
"This is nothing, and besides, you're okay," Taki tried to grim, but it hurt. Kai didn't respond.
Carefully, Taki lifted his friend onto his back. He was mentally surprised he still had enough strength to not only pick his friend up but to carry him down the road. The two were silent as Taki walked through town.
"It's all my fault."
Taki barely heard his friend's angry whisper. "It is not your fault, Kai."
"Yes, it is! If I wasn't–wasn't born with a weak heart, I would have been able to help you. I could have helped fight those guys off! I wouldn't have fainted like that!"
"Hey! Don't get worked up again. You know physical and emotional stress isn't good for you."
Kai scowled, but he complained no further.
"Forget him, Kai. Dylan's nothing more than a coward. He has to send his own goonies to beat me up. Some tough guy he is. Don't worry about it. Besides, I'll soon have my revenge." He muttered the last bit so Kai didn't hear him.
Taki was surprised at himself. His revenge? Where did that come from? And where did that sudden flash of anger come from? Taki was preoccupied by his sudden outburst that he didn't realize he was already standing at Kai's house.
"Uh, Taki? You can put me down now."
"Huh? Oh, sorry, Kai. Here…" Kai walked to his front door.
"Want to come inside? My mom could fix you up, and you could spend the night."
"No thanks. My mom's probably worried about me right now. I'll be fine."
Kai doubted the brown-haired boy, but he bade him goodnight and went inside. Taki hurried home, his house not too far from Kai's. When he got to his house, he managed to sneak through the front door but was busted on his way upstairs.
"Itaki Kagawa! Where have you been!"
Taki froze. "You see, Kai and I were having so much fun at the museum that we kind of lost track of time." He was determined not to turn around and show his mom the bruises on his face and arms. Nonetheless, he could feel her eyes glaring up at him.
"You better no be lying to me, young man."
"Honest! You can call Kai and ask him."
Taki's mom was silent for a moment then seemed to let it go. "Alright then, I believe you. You can go." Taki nimbly climbed the remaining steps, took a quick shower (to wash off the dirt and blood), put on his pajamas, and got into bed.
Taki felt miserable going to bed without eating something, but he would rather starve than be interrogated by his frantic mother if she ever spotted him all battered up. He musingly wondered how big a breakfast he was going to have tomorrow and reminded himself he was going to have to come up with an excuse for his mom in the morning. Finally, from lack of eating nearly all day and the brawl from earlier, Taki drifted into sleep.
It was around midnight when Taki began to twist and turn in his sleep. He fidgeted about as if suffering from a horrible nightmare. No one could see it, but the mark on his chest was clearly visible. "…Eat…" he muttered. "So…hungry…haven't…eaten…for so long." His eye suddenly flew open. No longer were they warm with a chocolate-brown iris but harsh and golden with slits, like a wild animal's. He deftly slipped out of bed, a long, thick, black tail slithering after him.
Taki looked up at the moonlight and grinned, the moonlight gleaming off of his sharpened teeth and now elongated canines. An audible growl escaped his lips. He lifted the window up effortlessly, his claws leaving behind the tiniest of scratch marks. He sniffed the air and let the cool night air flow through his now pitch-black hair. That hungry smirk was still on his face.
This was not the Taki everyone knew and loved; this was someone–something–else entirely. With graceful skill like a cat, he jumped from his bedroom window to the roof, to the wall, then finally to the street below.
And with startling speed, he bolted on his hands and feet down the dark street.
Fun Fact: Taki and Dylan were originally supposed to duel each other in this chapter, but I took it out. I replaced it with the brawl instead since I needed a way to tie in Kai's condition (and I feel I did a bad job doing that as well).
It may just be me but I feel like I'm missing something (which isn't good since I'm the author). Oh well. Next chapter is a duel- and thus, a pretty long chapter. Until next time, please leave a review. Always looking out for those! R. out!
