A/N: So Chapter 10 has arrived, and with it, a couple of unexpected visitors. Want to know what I'm talking about? Read ahead and you'll find out!
Mira: Thanks! He likes playing the coaching-type figure. He doesn't mind losing as long as it makes someone he likes do better.
Skraku: Zack doesn't have a lot of pride to begin with. He prefers to keep that in check and play for fun, not for fame and money. No sugar?! That's enough incentive!
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Kyle admired the two cards given him a moment longer, then found a nearby bench and took a seat to shuffle them into his deck. The duel disks actually had automatic shufflers, but for those who preferred to do it by hand, that option was certainly available – and Kyle was one who liked to shuffle them by hand whenever possible. It felt more real that way. More like he was in control, rather than some machine on his arm... no matter how advanced it might be.
"Excuse me."
He glanced up – and found himself staring into the face of the Egyptologist he'd seen the night before. Her Millennium Tauk glittered down at him in the bright sunlight... or perhaps the cause was instead the power within it.
The woman herself offered Kyle no readable expression. He recalled Shadi's face and found her expression to be quite comparable to his. His gray eyes narrowed. "Yes? Something I can do for you?"
"Be cautious," she replied. "That is the first thing you must do. Your plight has begun. This day may be one of the most difficult you have ever seen."
Kyle cut and shuffled his deck one last time before slipping it back into his duel disk, and he got to his feet. "Tell me."
She shook her head. "I cannot tell you everything, for even I do not know what is to become of you."
He frowned. "Your Millennium item is supposed to be able to see the future."
"The immediate future is clouded, to say nothing of the distant future." She linked her hands behind her back. "This world is facing its destiny. A pall has fallen over this place. Everyone here has reached a crossroads... even those that fate had not originally intended to allow continuation."
"Then you don't know who's going to win."
"I do not. The most I can tell you is that you have nothing to fear from the Rare Hunters who now plague these streets. Their purpose does not include you."
"The Rare Hunters?" Kyle glanced around. "I saw someone wearing a purple cape..."
"Not all of them wear robes. Some do. As I have said, you have nothing to fear from them. They will not approach you. But there will be others who shall."
"The magicians?"
She didn't reply to that. "I do not know what will become of you. But I will be here when you have need of my services."
"No offense, but if you can't see the future, I don't think I'm going to find much more use for you or your necklace."
She gave him a piercing stare with those blazing blue eyes, and said nothing. Kyle felt himself grow distinctly uncomfortable under her gaze. The sound of a low-flying helicopter approaching broke the awkward silence, and in the midst of the onrush of sound the woman apparently found fit to take her leave.
Kyle had no inclination to follow. In fact, he was beginning to feel heart-sick. I'd give a lot to know how Monica's doing so far. With these so-called Rare Hunters buzzing around, it's hard to tell whether this tournament is actually safe or not.
One thing's for sure, he thought, as he heard the helicopter passing low over the streets. Kaiba sure made this thing dramatic.
He glanced up in the general direction of the sound of the 'copter, and noticed that it was actually flying lower than he'd expected. Not only that, it was flying directly over the middle of the streets.
He frowned. No KaibaCorps insignia? I would have expected that, at least.
Then he noticed someone hanging out the side door.
Literally.
His frown grew deeper. What the hell's going on?
Kyle could just barely make out the sounds of that person shouting. When Kyle's eyes flitted down towards the end of the street, he spotted the people that person was yelling at.
Yugi Motou and Seto Kaiba... something's wrong...
Yes, terribly wrong... I can sense the concern and the fear coming from... from Him...
Who, Yugi?
Look closer, Kyle... that is not Yugi Motou. Do not use your eyes, use your heart.
Kyle squinted, nevertheless. Yet, he thought he could see it. Wait a minute. He seems bigger than I'd expect. Taller. And he's got some kind of aura around him...Oh... I get it...
Kyle's eyes widened as he stared into the face of the being who was not Yugi Motou.It is my king and my lord... It is the Pharaoh Himself... Ra-incarnate...
What's happening? Kyle looked back up at the helicopter, which had come to a rest in midair. The person hanging out the door became more recognizable to Kyle. That's Mokuba Kaiba, the commissioner... and he's been tied up!
Perhaps it is these Rare Hunters whom the woman spoke of.
But if Yugi–
He is the Pharaoh, Kyle... you must never forget that.
Fine... but he wouldn't be feeling that much concern for the commissioner, would he?
He was and is a compassionate creature... it only makes sense that He would take concern for others.
But concern and fear? Wouldn't that be Kaiba's job, to fear for his brother? Wouldn't Yugi – or the Pharaoh, whatever – simply be determined to help, instead of fearful? I think something else has happened.
Something might have happened, yes... I sense great anger and impatience from Him.
Could the Rare Hunters have done something else to provoke him?
Whatever they have or have not done, you should offer your services to Him... I can think of no greater purpose than to join the Pharaoh and His just cause.
If he's as powerful as you claim, then would he really need my help?
Perhaps not. However, everyone – even the Pharaoh – can make proper use of all the help they can acquire.
Kyle started towards the duo, who were now turned away from him and facing a rather stout man that had jumped down from the rooftops. However, before he even took five strides, another man ran into him and knocked him down.
"Jerk," Kyle muttered, and he struggled to get to his feet.
An age-spotted hand hovered above Kyle and snapped its fingers.
Kyle felt himself violently thrown back to the ground by some inexplicable, invisible force. Through a haze of pain, his eyes focused on the man above him. He groaned. "What...?"
The man's face, like his hand, was spotted and wrinkled with great age. His white hair was thin and wispy. His beard was long and ragged, and his mottled teeth were revealed in a smile of demented glee. He was cloaked in a robe of midnight blue.
A magician!
Oh, really?! I hadn't noticed!
Kyle growled under the massive pressure being exerted on him. "Let me up, you–"
"I do not think so," the man rasped. His voice sounded twice as old as he looked, a hoarse and reedy noise that oozed with contempt. "You and I, we have business."
"We've got nothing of the – agh!" Kyle's response was cut short by the pressure, which seemed to increase tenfold.
"Any harder and I shall shatter your ribcage," the old man whispered. "You may as well hear what I have to say, because it should be of great importance to you, anyway."
Kyle was trying too hard to breathe to respond. Fighting the pressure was next to impossible. He gasped in what little air he could, and his body tried to make do. Stars danced across his eyes.
"Will you agree to listen?"
Theoris... this really hurts...
I know. Give me only a few moments – there may be a way to absorb his attack.
Kyle could only tilt his head in acknowledgment. He was no good to anyone as a rag doll.
The pressure on his chest – all of it – lifted, allowing him to check for injuries. He stayed on the ground, however, to avoid incurring the wrath of the man now standing before him.
The old man pointed at the helicopter, which was beginning to lift higher into the air, and looked back at Kyle. "My message is brief, and so shall I be. Just as the Rare Hunters and their ilk have taken someone important to Kaiba, so have we taken someone important to you."
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
"You do not know? We have her even now."
This time, his eyes went wide. "Monica?"
"See for yourself, boy." The man brought his palm up, his fingers arched upward, and his palm seemed to catch fire. Out of that fire came unnatural light and colors that could not have come from a fire. Kyle knew it had to be some kind of optical illusion or an unfamiliar magic that powered this image.
The image was miniature, but it was enough. It showed Monica, securely bound to a metal chair. Her surroundings were impossible to discern, and Kyle was sure that it would remain a secret location for as long as this man, or those he was with, deemed necessary.
"If you hurt her..."
"You, my boy, are hardly in a position to make threats," the old man chortled, snapping his fingers. Again, the great, inexplicable pressure was applied to Kyle's chest, forcing him down to the ground.
"What do you want with her?" Kyle gasped.
"It is not her that we want."
"You sick maniac!" Kyle spat. "Let her go! There's no point in kidnapping her!"
"Ah, but there is. If only I knew what it was, it would make more sense... but I know no more on that matter than what I have already told you. Nevertheless..." The old man grinned again, his yellowing teeth displayed in all their ugliness. "This 'Battle City' tournament you chose to take part in should be of even more interest to you, now. Not only do you have us to consider, but you have three others to think of, as well. Three others who will be absolutely dedicated to dueling you for all that you're worth... that worth including that fascinating pendant about your neck.
"Of course, I could just take it now and save them the trouble... that way all they would have to worry about is which of the Gate Guardian cards they want." The old man closed his fist and flicked his index finger upward, as if to beckon to the Millennium Shield.
The pendant-sized shield glowed and did not budge.
Kyle allowed a small grin. "You might have some kind of power... but the shield answers to me alone."
"Pity. I had wondered why duelists were required in order to take it," the white-bearded man sighed.
"Ancient custom," Kyle responded. "And with ignorance like that – agh!"
Again, the pressure increased exponentially.
"Beware of who you insult," the man rasped. "A sharp enough wit may be what slices your own throat."
Kill me and you'll never get what you want, bastard...
He does not need to kill you to make his statement, and broken bones will not help you. You would do well to keep your silence for the moment. You can still talk to me.
Kyle ground his teeth. "What... what do you want?"
"I? I only wish to convey the message my masters told me to send. And I have. So now, it becomes a matter of what you're going to do about it. Besides, by now, one would have thought you already knew what they want."
"What use is my Millennium Shield to you?"
"Do not insult our intelligence, nor your own. It contains great power. Power that we desire to harness. But it seems that as long as you are the rightful owner of it, whether alive or dead, you are the one in control of that power."
"And you have duelists out there doing your dirty work for you?"
"The alternative would be to face you ourselves. And while I do not know why my masters choose to have you face other duelists rather than have us do it, I would surmise that they do not like the possibility that you would take them to the Shadow Realm to duel with them... particularly since they are unable to summon Duel Monsters."
Is he saying I scare them?
It sounds as though he is. Use that to your advantage.
"So what do they want me to do?"
"Duel the duelists we have selected for you. If you lose to any of them, your Millennium Shield and Gate Guardian cards will be the price you pay. The duelists are already aware of this. To deny this is to choose certain death for her."
"And if I win all the duels?"
"You will be apprised."
The old man abruptly vanished into thin air, leaving only a cloud of wispy blue smoke.
Kyle got up and brushed himself off. This is insane. They'd actually kidnap Monica to get what they want?
Her and many more, I would surmise. I do not doubt it for an instant.
Then we'd better find these three duelists. Otherwise things might get a lot more ugly.
It is much too late for that.