Hello my long missed Readers! I must apologize for my prolonged absence. I totally just had no time to work on this these past few weeks with vacation and summer courses. I hope you'll forgive me.
Anyways, here's the next chapter and the conclusion of the Junior Division, some lovely Kaiba Family Drama (If Seto Kaiba has a family... It will be far from perfect), and some Senior Division action!
Hope the wait is worth it.
Also my normal editor isn't going to be having much time to help me out for the next couple of chapters. Though their time and effort were greatly appreciated and made this fic ten times better than my rough drafts. Anyone interested in helping me out, PM me
-B
Chapter 9: Griffins and Dragons
^^Artemis Kaiba^^
I am slightly relieved. I couldn't face my best friend. Besides Liam and I have some business to finish. We both have a title under our belts; it's time to see who is truly the best.
I passed Zella and she smiled. She had lost but I could see she wasn't that upset over the fact.
As I entered the arena for my final duel with Liam, I saw him enter on the opposite end. We stood in the shadows of our respective ends of the arena. I looked up where my dad stood with his arms crossed that ever-steady glare of his. But, as I walked out, his lips hinted a slight smile. I looked to my twin, who was about 10 feet away on the other side of Gwen, he was smiles ear to ear. My mother stood there inattentive nearby. I know she was never into the whole Duel Monsters thing because of Grandpa but still. I took a deep breath and sighed as I reached Liam. We shuffled each other's deck the shook hands. I returned to my spot and activated my duel disk. This was it. I drew my cards and smiled. My hand couldn't be more perfect this will be fast. Liam is good but I built this version of my deck on the fact that all his monsters are dragons.
"I will start by summoning my Earth Griffin and place one card face down"
I have my Air and Water Griffins in my hand. If I can draw my Fire Griffin, I can summon my strongest monster. I wanted to smile but I kept my stare steady as my dad taught me. Don't give any emotion away.
"A lonely Griffin? Really Artemis? I thought I would have a little more of a challenge from the Great Artemis Kaiba! I summon my Armored Dragon; attack her Griffin" I smiled inwardly. He was as prideful as ever.
"You triggered my trap! I play Dragon Slayer! It cuts every dragon card in your deck attack points in half for the small price of 1000 life points" He cursed under his breath. I knew I had him beat. I drew my next card and it was my Fire Griffin.
"I play the magic card Griffin's Nest. It always me to summon every Griffin Card in my hand, which happens to be 3! I summon my Fire Griffin, Air Griffin and Water Griffin!" Liam didn't flinch. His life points dropped to 3400. He drew and didn't look happy.
"I summon my Baby Dragon in defense mode and place one card face down and end my turn"
"Fine by me" I said drawing my favorite card, but not the card I needed to finish him off.
"Fire Griffin attack Baby Dragon. My others attack his life points" he excepted the attack and his life points dropped to 300.
"I activate my Duplicate Attack Trap Card. It allows me to inflict the same amount of damage to your life points that you have inflicted on mine the past two turns" my jaw couldn't help but fall. We both now have only 300 life points.
"Artemis, you're good but you were not going to defeat me in 3 turns"
I drew my polymerization card and activated it.
"Then I will have to settle for 4 turns. Activate Magic card and bring forth my powerful Elemental Griffin. Wipe out his life points" his face went dark with realization that I actually won.
^^Zella^^
She did it! Artemis beat Liam! She is now once again the Junior Regional Champion. I smiled and clapped as everyone one around me did. I couldn't help but see Mr. Kaiba smile. He doesn't show emotion often, but Artemis seems to be his soft spot.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you this year's Junior Regional Champion, Artemis Kaiba!" Mokuba sounded extremely happy for his niece.
"Now onto the Senior Division. The first duel is between Joey Wheeler and Marik Ishtar"
Honestly I didn't pay much attention to the Senior Division Duels. I was trying hard to find Artemis. I spent almost all night looking for her. I called her cell and she was nowhere to be found. I returned to my seat. Liam and Gwen remained where I left them but the seat reserved for Artemis was empty. I hope she's okay. I sat down and we laughed as The final four were announced.
"The Final Four Senior Division Duelists are Seto Kaiba, Yugi Muto, Joey Wheeler and Hugo Matters. The first duel will be between Seto Kaiba and Joey Wheeler" I looked at Gwen. Mr. Kaiba has defeated Joey on multiple occasions in the past, and that's when he was at his prime. This Hugo character defeated Mai so he has to be good. I have a bad feeling that Seto is going to humiliate Joey.
^^Seto Kaiba^^
"Well if this isn't déjà vu I don't know what is?" I said laughing.
"Hey Rich Boy, I'm glad you invited me to the tournament, but it will end differently this time!"
"I doubt it. Just because you may have a few new cards or tricks, so do I. Mutt, this isn't going to end any differently"
"Kaiba! That's enough with the 'Mutt' jokes. We're all adults here. Let's settle this the old fashioned way, with a good ole duel"
"I might actually agree with you there. But as you saw, even my daughter is a Duel Monsters Champion. I look forward to her squashing you in the next generation. Oh wait, she already beat you" I said laughing and remembering briefly that day just weeks ago. There's nothing better than seeing Wheeler defeated, especially by Artemis.
I looked to where Artemis should be sitting. The seat next to Zella was empty. My little girl never misses my duels. I found Jem and tried to keep from smiling. She is beautiful as ever. Having her here at the tournament brings back memories, good and bad. I shook it all from my mind. Wheeler will not take much effort to defeat but I cannot be distracted.
I handed him my deck to be shuffled and I shuffled his. We returned to our spots and shouted "Lets Duel!"
As I suspected it was a short duel. Wheeler had a couple lower level monsters that I wasn't familiar with but running two huge companies I don't have that much time to look at the lower cards. He was no match for my combinations and my 4 Aces that lie in my deck. I smiled and laughed as he fell to his knees in defeat.
"Try again when you actually have some new tricks. Oh wait, you can't teach an old dog new tricks! Haha!" I said leaving the field. I came down a hallway and was shocked to see Artemis with Jackson. Jackson, my son.
"Jackson?" I asked as I got closer.
"Hello father" he wouldn't make eye contact.
"I'm going to go find Zella" Artemis said leaving us alone.
^^Jackson Kaiba^^
My heart sunk as I saw my father exited the duel arena. I was having such a good time especially since he didn't know I was here. Artemis was always his favorite. When she expressed the slightest interest in Duel Monsters, I was kicked to the back burner. I was just the child who loved music like my Uncle Jude. Mom doesn't say much about him or how he died. She just says he made some bad choices and now he's gone. I just wish he was here, that I could have met him. At least then, I could have someone to encourage my dreams besides my mom and sister.
"I'm not happy with your decisions. However, you are a Kaiba and therefore you will get the best. You will be classically and modernly trained." his only words when I told him I wanted to be a musician. After that day, I hardly saw my father. He never did anything for me execpt pay for my time at the Academy. He ensured I stayed for summer term as well so he wouldn't have to see me. Some father.
I know he loves me but I'm not the son he wanted. I don't want to be the next CEO of Kaiba Corporation. I didn't have a father because of it. My dad just doesn't understand me or my dreams.
"Why are you here and not at the academy?" He snapped.
"I wanted to see Art duel. Mom flew me in for the extra days" Why should I have to explain why I'm here? He should be happy not questioning me.
"Jackson, I know I wasn't the best father to you, but I've turned a new leaf I swear. I'm cutting my hours back and the vacation is just the start"
"I've had that promised to me too many times before. I'm sorry. I can't believe you. I wasn't the true son you wanted. So, I was mom's problem. You never made it to any of my recitals or came for family weekend at the academy. I never saw you. Now do me a favor and leave me alone!" I said leaving the Kaiba Dome and heading for my house. I caught a taxi and left. I entered Kaiba Manor and found a necklace lying in my bed.
-Happy Birthday Jackson! Love Always, Artemis- It was a blue stone pendent with music notes engraved around it. I hummed the notes. It was our lullaby mom used to sing.
"Art" I said laying down on my bed. I looked around my room. Nothing has changed in the 5 years since I left for the Academy. I pulled my guitar out and played the chords before I fell asleep from the time change.
(A/N: I picture it as the lullaby my own mom used to sing to me when I was little but I can't find it anywhere online. But I found a piano piece that resembles it a little if you're curious watch?v=y8sjkMBf4p0&feature=related)
^^Zella^^
I was watching my dad duel Hugo when Artemis reappeared. I about jumped honestly because I was so attuned to the duel.
"Hey" she said sitting down.
"Where did you go?"
"I was hanging out with Jackson, but then my dad found us"
"What's wrong with that?"
"They don't exactly get along"
"Oh, that would be awkward"
"I love both of them. They need to get over the fact that Jackson is not Daddy and he will never want anything to do with Kaiba Corp."
"So, it's a father-son issue over Kaiba Corp"
"A lot of things added up for Jackson. He doesn't hate my dad. It's just they have problems accepting each other is a good way to put it"
She looked like it was nothing. But, I could tell she was upset. I turned my attention to the duel just as my dad sent the final blow securing his place in the finals against Mr. Kaiba. Watching my dad duel was just awe striking. I can see why people admire him so much as well as respect him.
"The Senior Division Final between Seto Kaiba and Yugi Muto will begin in 15 minutes. You won't want to miss this match!" Mokuba sounded excited to have an official rematch between the former rivals of the decade.
I smiled as Mr. Kaiba entered the arena. My dad left to regroup, I guess. They both have been waiting for this rematch for years. I looked at Artemis she was on the edge of her seat. She always gets into the duels, but I think it's worse when her dad is dueling.
The crowd quieted as my dad reentered and walked towards the center of the arena to meet Mr. Kaiba. They traded decks to shuffle them and shook hands. My dad looked determined but nervous. Both parties had a lot on the line here. I heard Joey yell something about kicking Kaiba's ass to redeem him, but I only smiled. My dad had everyone behind him cheering him on. Kaiba only had Artemis, her mother, and Mokuba.
"May the best duelist win! Begin!" I heard Mokuba say over the speakers.
"Let's duel!" they said in unison.
I'll let the final duel of the tournament for the next chapter! Sorry if I'm evil… ^.^
Although, I'm pretty excited for the next few chapters. This tournament is just the prequel to the real plot and I'm relieved that it's almost over!
-B
Author Question:
What will happen after the tournament is over?
Sneak Peak of Next Chapter!
"He lost" she said it so softly. She sounded devastated. Sorrow was beyond evident in her normally confident tone and stature. Her eyes looked blank and filled with tears.
