The Change.
Inspired by and dedicated to: AGKamon18
09; Gorgeous Nightmare
Day in and day out for the next week, Virah and Alister traveled up and down the west coast. They dueled any person who even thought knew how to duel. Young, old, novice, pro; they didn't care. They took souls and had fun. Alister was glad to have Virah on his side, because he knew he wouldn't last more than five minutes against her. Her record currently stands at two minutes quickest, and four minutes longest.
Virah imagined that every man she dueled was Bakura, and every woman was Sybian. She was ruthless. Even more than her old days in Egypt. She was like a fire running down and burning everything that she passed. She alone collected at least sixty souls.
Usually they would switch off every other duel with each person they came across. The few tag teams they did ended in about three minutes. They were unstoppable.
Alister never felt so empowered before. It was as though Virah was his lucky charm. He wanted to impress her. His life points never got lower than 2500, and after one duel where he didn't lose any, Virah just spontaneously kissed him. He suddenly loved the state of Washington when it happened twice more. He felt on top of the world.
Eventually, the two headed back to the California home. When they walked in laughing, Valon naturally had to start with Virah.
"Oi, what's got you so smiley?" He said to the ravenette. "Been out kicking puppies?"
She smirked and got in his face. "Nope, prawns."
Alister flicked the Australian boy's forehead before he could take a swing at Virah for calling him a prawn again. "We've been collecting souls for the boss."
"Oh yeah? And how many the Princess of the Dead get? Ten at best?" He snickered.
Virah reached into her pocket and flung at least seventy Orichalcos cards with captured souls at his feet. "Multiply your sarcasm by seven and add another four. Can a prawn like you handle that math? Oh, and I'll have you know it's Queen of the Damned."
Before Valon argued back, Alister said, "I only got 67 myself. She's amazing when she's furious."
"Yeah, well, while you two were off tormentin' people, Raphael and I had a run in with some ole' friends of Virah's."
Virah snorted. "What friends? The losers I used to associate myself with?"
"Yeah, hun; they're here too. And they ain't too happy."
The ravenette arched an eyebrow upon seeing Mai Valentine. "Mai? What are you doing here?"
The busty blonde crossed her arms over her chest. "Basically the same as you, hun. I got ditched and I'm gonna show them what they threw away."
"That Joey Wheeler fellow is quite the nuisance," commented Valon.
Oh great, if Wheeler's here, Virah thought bitterly, that means Yugi and the other two idiots are too. I wonder if my brother—
Your only family is here, Elvirah, she heard a dark voice say in her head. Do not worry about them, or your hallucinations. They have been taken care of. Just focus on your goal.
As Ryou and Marik passed a newspaper stand, Ryou briefly saw something about over 130 people on the west coast dropping into a coma. His heart ached, knowing it was Virah.
"I know what you are feeling, Ryou-kun," said Miri. "To see Virah like this breaks my heart..."
Do you think we can save her...? He asked as he caught up to Marik.
"For the sake of those who currently breathe, and Virah's own heart and soul, I do hope so."
"Bakura still won't answer," Marik growled. "He's probably doing Ra knows what with that whore."
An idea then came to Ryou. "Why not try calling Virah's phone...?"
As Mai and Valon caught up Alister and Virah on everything, Virah's phone rang. She had forgotten she even had her phone. Taking it out of her jacket pocket, she saw Marik's picture flashing on her screen.
"My brother is calling me," she said in a confused tone. She didn't know how to feel.
"Answer it," suggested Alister.
She nodded and flipped open the phone. Her phone was loud enough for everyone to hear the conversation.
"Hello, Marik," she greeted, half sarcastically.
"Virah!" Marik exclaimed on the other end. He was shocked she picked up. "Virah I'm so sorry for everything that happened. Bakura's gone off the deep end and—"
"Oh I already know all about Bakura."
"Y-you do...?"
"I know he fucked that cheap whore, yeah." Marik flinched at the harshness and vulgarity she used. "Which is why I've vowed to slaughter Sybian in a duel and Alister will do the same to Bakura. This is not a story about forgiveness, Marik. Someone has to pay."
"But Virah, this isn't the way! Sybian is the Romanian duel monsters champion! Just...where are you so we can talk and go home?" (A/N: AG, your question about Sybian's dueling has been answered! Haha.)
"You're mistaken, Marik. I am home. Most of my time growing up was spent with my uncle, Alister, Raphael, and Valon. This is my home. And with the power of the Orichalcos, we're going to make the world a better place. I don't care if Sybian is the Romanian champion. I just took down 74 worthless idiots in days. That's not counting the five Alister and I tag-teamed. When I dueled in Battle City, I wasn't even using my real deck or true strength and I still took down your Rare Hunters easily. My quickest duel stands at two minutes. I will destroy Sybian and anyone who dares to stand in my way."
Marik's jaw dropped on his end of the line. "Virah that's it, now you're talking absolutely crazy and nonsense. This whole Orichalcos thing has gotten to your head. I'm taking you home."
Alister held his hand out for the phone and Virah shrugged and handed it to him. "Listen here nimrod, Virah is home. She's back where she belongs and doesn't want to leave. Bakura hurt her one too many times. It's about time somebody put him in his place. And that's going to be me. If you try to take Virah from me, I won't hesitate to do the same thing to you. Aside from Valon, everybody in Doma wants the best for Virah. And that's exactly what she's gotten here with us. None of you stand a chance against us. Virah will stay here where she is happy. End of story." He hung up the phone and put it on the coffee table.
"You should make sure they can't trace the phone," Mai suggested.
"I got a better idea," Valon grinned.
Virah shrugged. "Do what you want with it. I have no need for it anymore."
Valon took the phone and stood. "Bet it'd certainly piss off some people to see Virah's phone but no Virah!"
Marik just stared off into nothing with his jaw slightly dropped. "There is no way that was Virah talking...she's been totally brainwashed by the Orichalcos..."
"So...she's really gone...?" said Ryou, scared and sad.
The sandy blonde balled his fists in frustration. "No. She didn't give up on us, right? So we can't give up on saving her. Bakura may have, but I refuse to."
"I can't believe he had the nerve to call and talk to me like I'm a child!" Virah fumed as she and Alister headed upstairs. "First he snoops through my stuff with Bakura, and now this?"
He caught up to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "Forget him, Little V. You're here with us now. You're here with me."
"I know, but—"
"Shh," he gently rubbed her shoulders. "No. No worries, no cares, none of that. Soon you will get to royally destroy Sybian, and I'll do the same to Bakura. And once the Pharaoh is trashed by the boss, it's all uphill from there. You're not in Domino City anymore, Virah. Just let it go."
"I can't help it, Alis. In the last few weeks I've lost everything I thought made me happy. I don't know what to do anymore..."
"First of all, you need to relax and breathe. And I know you, Little V. You need something to distract you so your mind will focus on that instead of the 112 problems you think you have to face, that don't even really exist."
She chuckled at that. "We're not exactly ten anymore, Alis. Letting me do your make up, or giving me piggy back rides while we pretend to be Dyna Dude and Alice the Wandering Doll doesn't exactly work anymore."
Alister smiled at those memories. "That's very true, but I do know other ways to distract you."
"Oh? Like what?" she had to force her breaths and voice to be remotely steady.
Alister put his hands over her heart, feeling it beating rapidly. "You still think the same way I do, Virah. It's your call."
Virah closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing. She never felt like this with Bakura. With him it was all about passion, and being spontaneous and sexy. But right now she knew it was more than that. Compared to her past with Bakura, she thought this was what romance must feel like. Like what you see in those stupid movies or books. She didn't feel seduced like she did with her now ex-boyfriend, she felt...loved.
She turned and faced Alister, looking up slightly at him with indecisive yet so certain eyes. "Take your chance before I change my mind," she teased him.
Alister's eyes went wide. She said yes. She actually just said yes. He did not see that coming at all. Don't screw this up, he scolded himself. He also knew not to ask questions, but that's when she changes her mind. So instead, he gently lifted her chin up with his index finger and leaned down to kiss her. He didn't care about her past with Bakura, because this was now. And now, she was with him.
Valon was watching secretly in the stairway, knowing something was going to happen. He had Virah's phone in hand with her camera up and ready. He grinned evilly as things started getting heated quickly, and once her hands were in his hair, and he backed her against a wall with his hands on her hips, he clicked a picture.
Time to really stir up some trouble with some good old blackmail.
