Hikaru: Here's another new part!
Witty: (Is looking rather smug)
Hikaru: (Looks at her curiously)
Witty: (Gestures to where Yami is tied up with tape over his mouth and looking rather bruised up)
Hikaru: (Snickers) Nice. ((A/N: I don't hate Yami, he's just fun to mess with)) Hey, Witty-chan? Would you do the disclaimer for me?
Witty: (Nods) We don't own YGO, but anything original is ours.
Hikaru: Arigatou! And now, on with the fic!
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Chapter 12: Raphael Vs. The Pharaoh
"Ow, that was not fun," the one with glasses muttered.
"Remind me never to listen to you anymore, bug-brain!" his friend griped, glaring at him.
Hikaru watched them, not sure if she should be amused or annoyed by the fact that these two had interrupted her thoughts. She reached up, and was about to hide her Oricalchos crystal, when she heard what sounded like footsteps from somewhere close by. She ducked into the shadows, watching as Yugi rode away on Rebecca's horse, Copernicus. Her curiosity at where he was headed started to get the better of her and she slipped back inside the RV, only to be met by Witty. She glanced around to see if anyone else was awake, and was relieved to find that they weren't. Witty looked at her, wondering what had her friend so uptight.
"Hikaru? What's wrong?"
"Come on, we have to follow Yugi," Hikaru replied.
Witty looked at her in confusion. "Why, what's going on?" she asked.
Hikaru shrugged, shaking her head. "I'm not really sure. But I just have the feeling something's going to happen, and that Raphael and Alastair are involved," she answered.
Witty nodded, and a question that had been nagging at her in the back of her mind since earlier came back to her. "Hikaru, what happened earlier at Industrial Illusions? Something upset you. And who was that guy who was with Raphael?"
"He was another one of the palace guards, named Varon," Hikaru replied, not really wanting to answer Witty's other questions right now.
Witty, seeming to sense this, nodded and left it at that. The girls left the RV and started off in the direction that Yugi had gone. Hikaru was half-tempted to just use her magic and teleport them there, but since they had no idea where he had gone, it would have just been rather pointless anyway, really.
They finally found him though, farther out in the deserts of Death Valley. Her two-tone eyes went very wide in shock when she saw the Seal of Oricalchos on the field, and that Raphael was there, dueling against the Pharaoh, rather than Yugi. They watched as Raphael taunted Yami a bit, before calling out one final attack, using Guardian Eyatos to deliver the crushing blow. Yami fell to his knees as the attack hit and the Seal closed in on him, collapsing a moment later.
Hikaru nudged Witty as they heard the sounds of a helicopter approaching. Raphael took the Oricalchos shard that Yami wore around his neck and the Seal of Oricalchos card. Then he picked up the fallen Pharaoh and grabbed onto the rope ladder that had been extended from the doorway of the helicopter. But Hikaru noticed that something seemed a bit off about Yami. She had sensed the dark power of the Oricalchos emanating from him, but yet, somehow, it seemed to be much stronger now. That was when she realized what had happened. Yugi must have somehow found a way to break through the Seal and had taken Yami's place rather than let the Pharaoh be captured.
They heard Joey shouting at Raphael angrily, and Hikaru saw Raphael smirk at her and Witty, unnoticed by the others, as he threw Yami roughly to the ground, before taking off into the distance with Alastair. The girls ran over to the others, Witty casting a glare at the helicopter as Weevil and Rex took off after it, unnoticed by anyone else.
By the time they got to where Duke, Tristan and Joey were standing, Yami had started to open his eyes and sat up. The other three looked relieved by this, but apparently they didn't realize that it was Yugi's soul that had been taken, judging by the conversation that followed. Witty and Hikaru exchanged looks, then stared in surprise when Yami fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face.
"It's not fair! It should have been me, not him!" Yami cried out in anguish.
Hikaru, feeling sorry for Yami despite the fact that he was the one her father had sent her to capture, kneeled down in front of him, sympathy shimmering in her eyes. She placed her hand comfortingly on Yami's shoulder, a single tear sliding down her own alabaster cheek. Crimson met sapphire and gold as Yami looked up at her, the pain of loss shining in his eyes.
Just like Witty's...... Hikaru thought to herself sadly. Damn it!
"Yami, we'll find a way to get him back. Come on, we should probably get back so we can figure out what our next move is going to be," she said softly.
Yami just nodded and Hikaru reached out her hand to him, helping him to his feet. The group walked back to Duke's car and headed back to Rebecca and her grandfather's RV. The drive back was spent in an uncomfortable silence. Hikaru stared out at the endless expanse of desert, her eyes glazed over slightly as she let herself get lost in her own thoughts. She didn't even really notice that the car had stopped until she saw Yami get out and Rebecca and Tea come over to them.
"Oh, Yugi, I knew you'd win!" Rebecca said happily, hugging who she thought was Yugi.
"No, Rebecca. Yugi's gone." Yami said quietly.
"Yugi?"
"What's going on?" Tea asked, having watched this whole exchange.
"Yugi didn't win. That card took his soul," Duke spoke up.
"How can that be possible if Yugi's standing right---huh?" Tea said, then turned around and got a good look at the other. "Oh no," she whispered.
Rebecca looked at Yami, and tears streamed down her face. "You knew that card was evil and you still played it?! How could you?! It's not fair! I want my Yugi. It should have been you instead of him!" she sobbed brokenly, hiding her face in Yami's chest after a moment.
"Now wait just a minute, Rebecca....." Tea started and Rebecca ran to her. Tea held her, trying to comfort her.
The rest of the conversation was lost on Hikaru, who seemed to have zoned out again. She stepped out of the car and wandered away from the others. She stared up at the sky, lost in her own thoughts. Her heart went out to Rebecca--who apparently had a crush on Yugi--when she heard the younger girl's heartbreaking sobs. She sighed. How long can I keep this up? It hurt me to see Yami that way. But my father.......
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when she felt a gentle hand fall onto her shoulder. She turned around and saw Ryou standing there, a kind look in his soft, mocha-colored eyes. Bakura came over to them too, his usual smirk replaced by a deep frown that didn't seem to suit him at all. She gave them a sad look, but didn't say anything.
"Are you all right, Hikaru?" Ryou asked, concern for her seeping through the soft British accent in his voice.
She nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. I hope you don't find me rude, but I kind of need to be alone for a little while," she replied.
They both nodded. "All right. But we'll be here if you need us," Bakura said.
Hikaru smiled a little at that, deeply touched by their kindness. "Thank you both. Can you do me a favor and tell Witty and the others that I just have something I need to take care of? I promise, I won't be gone very long," she requested.
"Of course," Ryou answered. Both of them hugged Hikaru briefly, causing her to blush prettily, but she hid it behind the veil of her sky-colored hair as they turned and walked away.
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To Be Continued. This one is a little longer than the last chapter, and there's a bit of fluff between Hikaru, Ryou and Bakura here. Yes, she's pretty much starting to get over Varon. But how much longer can she keep the others from finding out her secret? And what will happen if they do find out who she truly is? Can you say, look at the purdy explosions? Everyone back up, because I don't know how wild this thing is gonna get! Sorry, couldn't stop myself, I was watching Garfield the movie last night and for some reason that line just popped into my mind just now. Yes, I'm hyper. I'll try to get at least one more chapter up, but I don't know if I'll do much more than that tonight. If I don't put up past one more chapter tonight, I'll update again tomorrow if I have time. Promise. Well, ja ne, minna-san!
--Hikaru Shinatoru, Daughter of Shaadi and Dartz--
