D,H. A.N.: Okay, there are a ton of POTO references in here, either from the movie / musical, or the book. I would like to think I've hidden them well, but who knows, I may be fooling myself. Enjoy Chapter Eleven: Phantom Vs. Phantom Pt. II.


Chapter Eleven: Phantom Vs. Phantom Pt. II

Here's a quick recap of the duel:

LP:(B:3700 K:1200

"I set one card facedown, and activate my Shade Blade Slight! You must now pick one of the cards from my hand, and if it is a Shade Blade monster, I can summon it to the field. If it is not, the card chosen gets sent to the Graveyard, and I lose 500 Life Points. So pick a card, Bakura."


Bakura pointed to the one on the left.

Which one did he choose? Both Kariu and Mhera wondered. Keimo's grin showed that he had the card that he needed chosen.

"Congratulations, you chose my 'Shade Blade Master Keimo'(2800, 2400). Now I special summon it to the field in attack mode.. You should have chosen the one on the right." Keimo grinned as he placed the card on the disk. An almost mirror image of the duelist appeared on his side of the field, drawing his black broadsword. "Then I'll summon my 'Shadow Sentry'(1500, 1400) in attack mode." A soldier wearing a silver helmet wielding a throwing spear in black armor appeared soon after.

"What did he do that for? Bakura still has three cards in his hand, he can easily discard with Yata Fiend's effect, and redirect both Keimo's attacks." Joey said loudly.

"Effect is the key word here Joey." Mhera smiled, "His Shade Blade Master cancels out all opponent Monster effects. So, in order for Bakura to redirect an attack, he'll have to tribute his Yata Fiend."

"But if either one of his monsters turns on him, he will lose the duel.." Joey protested

"Watch, Joey, watch." Mhera said coolly, remembering being on the receiving end of that strategy.

Flashback

The Seal was around them. Mhera had her 'Angelic Sword Heir 'outwith 3500 attack points, as she had destroyed two of his Monsters with 1400 Attack points a piece. (When Angelic Sword Heir successfully destroys a target of its attack, divide the original Attack points of the destroyed Monster by half. Half of the Attack point value is added to the controller's Life Points. The other half is added to "Angelic Sword Heir's" Attack Points.) Keimo had no monsters on his side of the field. She could easily win, but that would mean losing him to the Oricalchos forever, something she'd never be able to forgive herself for. For that reason, not pity, she spared him. "I end my turn."

"You show cowardice, Mhera. A real duelist attacks when their opponent is open, it's their instinct to break their opponent, not spare them." Keimo sneered

This isn't my brother talking. Even though it is his voice, those are not his views. "I ended my turn, and do not mistake my mercy for weakness or cowardice, Keimo. We are bound by blood, and as your sister, I have made it my duty to free you from the darkness that is consuming your soul." She looked at his scarred face, on which emotional scars had become physical At first she had been frightened of them, but realized that those were not the true horror of her brother. "Your haunted face holds no horror for me now. It's in your soul that the true distortion lies, only you can overcome it."

Keimo drew, his eyes shining darkly, and that unmistakable familial smirk on his face. "I summon my Shadow Sentry (1500, 1400)" The Sentry came onto the field. "And don't forget, my Sentry gets 500 attack Points, courtesy of my Seal."(2000,1400) The Sentry's brown eyes turned red as its attack increased when the Seal was inscribed on its helmet. "I end my turn. Attack me!"

Mhera grimaced. He was taunting her effectively. He has only 2000 Life Points left. Of course I'm no better at 1500. If I attack his Sentry he'll survive with 500 points left. How do I end this without a soul being taken? I doubt achieving a draw would work. I need help… I can't lose him again, this time it will be for eternity. A tear slipped from her eyes, as she drew her card. She felt fate's familiar touch. She opened her eyes, staring at the card in her hand. It was the card she had received after one of her duels, she was unsure of which one it was, but it was from her father. His voice echoed in her mind. "This card will aid you in times of despair, use it wisely."

"I'm waiting." Keimo sighed irately.

"I summon my 'Mheralo Mage'(1800, 1500) in attack mode." The pretty auburn haired mage appeared beside the Angel of Sword Heirs. "And now, I attack your Sentry with my Sword Heir! Divine Blazing Blade attack!" The Sword Heir's Blade began to glow white as she rushed at the Sentry to slash at it. The sword was swung, but the Sentry remained, blocking it with its spear.

Did I mention that my Sentry cannot be destroyed as a result of battle?" He paused, "I didn't? shame on me. I must also thank you for attacking me, you gave me a 1500 Life point boost." He smirked as his Life Points rose to 3500. "That's part of my Sentry's ability as well."

"I set one card Facedown and end my turn" Mhera sighed I hope this card works. - "Hey Mhera, you zone out too often. The duel's still on, nobody's made a move yet." Joey said, brining her back to the present. Keimo's voice shook her out fully.

End of Flashback

"I attack your Yata Fiend with my Shade Blade Master. Shadow Slice attack." Before the Swordsman could advance, the raven vanished, causing the swordsman to turn and strike Keimo, but instead of striking Keimo, the broadsword was intercepted by the Shadow Sentry's spear.

"What trickery is this?" Bakura asked with a shocked look.

"Once every two turns, either my own or yours, my Shadow Sentry can change a loss of Life Points into a gain, regardless of what kind of damage it is."

"Oh yeah, that puts him back up to 4000 total Points. Come on , blondie, give the creep what's coming to him!" Joey yelled

"Joey, take it easy. This duel isn't over yet." Mhera sighed.

"Now I attack you directly with my Shadow Sentry! Without any defense my attack goes right through!"

LP( B:2200 K:4000

"I end my turn." Keimo sighed half relieved that his strategy worked. It was a strategy he hadn't used since he had dueled his sister that night.

"I draw" Bakura declared.

"Now my Possession of Destiny activates." Keimo said, as he picked the only trap card from his opponent's hand

"Now I activate a card known as 'Cryptic Choice' " He inserted the spell card into the disk, the image was then reproduced through the hologram simulators. It had a picture of an undecided thief looking at two sarcophaguses, deciding between them.

"That's not what cryptic implies, is it?" Coletta asked.

"No, it's not. But you have to admit it is a clever play on words." Kariu answered

Bakura smirked at his opponent, irony was so sweet. "Now, you choose one card from my hand. If it is a spell, or trap card nothing happens. However, if it happens to be a monster card of a type that I have in my Graveyard, namely Fiends, I can discard the card chosen, and special summon a creature of the same type from my Graveyard to the field." He smirked again, "Choose."

"Two choice cards in one duel, that's rare." Coletta commented. "Doesn't Christine choose something in the play?" Coletta looked at Kariu for the answer.

This is a callback duel for Phantom…wait! That's why. Kariu mentally kicked herself for not tying the two together earlier.

Whoa, it's way too coincidental that both duelists have to choose a card… oh no, Mhera's face went pale in mid-thought if Keimo chooses a fiend from Bakura's hand, this duel is done. Mhera's mind raced.

"Keimo's gonna pick a monster, because he took the only trap Bakura had in his hand with that Possession card." Joey interrupted her thoughts.

Joey's right!

"You try my patience, Keimo. Make your choice." Bakura snarled, impatiently holding his hand of two. Keimo picked a scorpion-like fiend, 'Yang Hunter', which Bakura then discarded, grinning wolfishly.

"Thanks to you, I can bring back my Despair from the Dark (2800, 3000)."The shadow reformed on the field, grinning wickedly. "Next I summon my 'Ying Hunter' (1500,1200), the only light monster in my deck"A grasshopper like fiend appeared on Bakura's field. "You get the connection, don't you?" Keimo grew pale at his opponents words.

Mhera and Kariu both looked at each other, as pale as Keimo. "Ying and yang." Kariu began

"Darkness and light" Mhera finished to her sister

"Your monsters are of the Dark attribute, correct?" Keimo nodded. "I thought so." Bakura said darkly.

"Now I activate Ying Hunter's ability. At the cost of half my Life Points, I am able to destroy all of your Dark attribute Monsters." Bakura laughed manically, as he watched Keimo's monsters burst into dust.

No, I failed her. Forgive me, sister, I tried. Tears stung his eyes, making minute routes down his face. His face hardened. "Attack me, Bakura. I want to end this with dignity."

Bakura sneered, "You think being attacked twice by my monsters is a dignified end?"

"It's better than losing because of a Destiny Board." Keimo retorted, grinning.

"I would have waited for that , but this way is quicker. Now, my monsters, attack his Life Points directly and end the duel."

Keimo wordlessly waited until his Life Points hit zero.

LP( B:1100 K:0000

"The winner of the duel and our Phantom is Bakura Royou! Keimo Ishtar shall be the understudy for the role. All callback results will be posted in one hour." Roland boomed.

Bakura just waltzed off the stage with his smirk.

Keimo was on his knees, panting. Mhera just waited, fighting the urge to go to him. knowing that she was not to be his first comforter. She saw Coletta go to the stage, and lay her hands on his shoulders. He looked up, and let her help him to his feet. Keimo then turned his green gaze to Coletta, allowing her to stroke his face. He then pulled her close, and their lips locked.

Mhera couldn't watch anymore. She turned around, only to find that Joey had left, and Sheon was now beside her. "You deserve something for what you did." His gray eyes were sparkling.

"What?" Mhera asked, wanting to know what she had done that was deserving of anything. But instead she got what was deserved, by Sheon's standards. He pulled her close, and locked lips with her, tenderly stroking her soft hair as she held his strong shoulders. In a loving embrace. When they released each other, Keimo and Coletta were still locked in theirs.

"We haven't kissed since before the tournament." Mhera blushed.

"I know." Sheon said softly. "I think your brother's found his hope, like I found in you."

Mhera looked at the couple on the stage. "I think you're right, Sheon." She then grabbed his hand, and led him out of the theater.


D.H: Was the double kiss too much? The special card was not played in the flashback, you'll have to wait until Book Three of the Powers Trilogy to find out. If I made an error on the Ying and yang affiliation, please let me know. Please review.