Kill me and you won't have any more chapters!! I NEVER meant to have this up this late. But better late then never, right? I don't have time for any of these reviewer's responses, sorry. I'm in kinda a rush because my computer is crashing---again. So please enjoy and Leigh and Zillah are in this! Yay!
Jump
Chapter 14
--- Bad CompanyLeigh slowly picked herself up from the floor, her head throbbing with pain. "Ow…ow…ow…" She looked around and found the other two sprawled out on the floor beside her. Bums. Leigh shook Michael. "Come on genius, wake up."
Michael rolled over and muttered, "Mom…wake me up in five minutes…"
Leigh sighed and….WHACK! Hit the poor boy right in the head.
"OUCH!!" Michael screamed and sat up abruptly. He glared at Leigh and rubbed his sore head.
"Hey, it was coming to you anyway." Leigh shrugged and stood up. "Wake up Zillah."
Michael snorted. "You better not mess with me girl."
"You threatening me?"
"No no, I'm not threatening you--I'm warning you." Michael retorted.
Leigh growled and crossed her arms. "One more comment and I'm gonna--"
"CAN YOU TWO STOP FIGHTING!" Zillah yelled, sitting up. "Jeez! I couldn't even sleep if I wanted to! With you two duking it out ever minute!"
Michael and Leigh both turned to her and snorted.
"Hey! I and I personally don't like your attitude mister." Zillah pointed at Michael and stood up.
Leigh smiled smartly.
"You better watch it too."
Leigh's smile faded and now it was Michael's turn to smile smartly--which he was a pro at doing anyway…(since he was indeed smart.)
Zillah just sighed and massaged her temples. "I need some Advil…" This was going to be one long day, and she knew it. Zillah looked around, something seemed familiar…too familiar. "Hey…guys."
Leigh looked around also. "Where are we? This place rings a bell…"
Michael rubbed his eyes, making sure he was seeing correctly. "It should…we are on the Kaiba Corp. Blimp."
"THE HENDENBURG?!!" Leigh clutched her stomach. "I don't feel so good…"
Zillah shook her head. "But this can't be the Kaiba Corp. Blimp. Yu-Gi-Oh isn't real. The show isn't real."
"But this is proof." Leigh pointed out, rubbing her stomach. "And I don't care too much for heights."
"We can tell." The other two said, still not believing what they were seeing.
"But this place is real! The walls are solid and the floor is cold!" Michael looked around excitedly. "And my sister might be here!" He started to run down the hall.
"HEY! WAIT!" Leigh yelled after him. Michael disappeared down the hallway. "Awe…"
Zillah waved Michael off. "Don't worry bout him. He can care for himself."
"I was thinking we needed to stay together."
Zillah shrugged. "Either way, we're doomed."
"Why do you say that?" Leigh questioned, looking at Zillah suspiciously.
"That's why." Zillah pointed to Marik walking swiftly down the blimp hallway, along with a lady. Both had the most disgusting, evilest smirk you had ever seen plastered on their faces.
Leigh gasped and pulled Zillah into an open room. She closed the door quickly and locked it. The two people walked by, not noticing them at all.
The two girls sighed heavily, until a voice spoke from behind them.
"Well well, look what the cat dragged in."
Michael ran down the hallway, no one in sight. Suddenly Kaiba's voice rang out through the speakers.
"Duelists, your break is over. Report to the drawing room to set the next match."
Michael gasped as door opened around him. He looked around, no where to go. Then he looked up. He sighed and jumped. Worth a shot.
"HA HA! I wonda who's gonna be in da next match." Joey stepped out of one room, followed by Tristan, Tea, Duke, and Serenity.
"I hope no one will get hurt in this match…" Serenity said with a sigh and looked away. "When I wanted to see you duel Joey, I didn't expect to see all of this…"
Tea looked down. "Don't worry Serenity. Everything will turn out fine, as long as Joey and Yugi win."
Joey nodded. "Yep! And dere's no way I can lose!"
They disappeared down the hallway as Yugi just came out of his room. He was looking to the ground and walked sullenly down the hallway. After what he saw Jake do, he knew that there was more riding on this tournament than ever!
Bakura walked by also, followed by Marik and a woman with long black hair in a dark blue trench coat. They disappeared down the hall.
Michael sighed heavily, his hands growing tired of hanging on to the pipe he was stuck to. That was one of the smartest moves he had made yet! He jumped back to the ground and followed the contestants. Something was up…he could feel it.
Leigh and Zillah turned around slowly to meet a girl with long glossy blue hair and light blue eyes. Her attire was weird. Silver covered her body, spiraling in circles along her hands and feet. A blue leotard adorned her mid-body silver rimming covering it and a silver tiara rested on her head.
"And you are…?" Zillah asked, looking at Leigh, who looked back equally baffled.
"Forgive me." The girl bowed. "I am Destiny and here to warn you of a great evil…"
"Isn't Ishizu suppose to do that?" Leigh asked, thinking aback.
"This is a different evil. One that has already consumed two of your own already."
"We have two of us here?"
"Leigh, shut up and listen to her."
"Why don't you shut up."
"You first."
"Why me?"
Destiny cleared her throat, but the two just kept jabbering away. "I..."
"Because you're the annoying one."
Leigh snorted, "I'm the annoying one Cynical Cindy."
"My name is Zillah, get it straight blondie."
"Alright mustard hair."
Destiny tried again, "Will you two..."
"It's musty hair."
"Whatever."
Destiny blew her top. "WILL YOU TWO STOP PLEASE?!"
"Yes." The two girls said abruptly, standing straight and tall from the outburst, stiff, and gulped.
"Alright, you two and the boy are in great danger. You have to help the chosen ones -- the ones who came here before you -- to complete their mission. They are falling apart as we speak. You have to help them realize why they are here and how they can save this world and all the others. Please consider this and help them." She begged and began to fade. "But this might be the adventure of a lifetime, enjoy it." And she faded away.
"Well that was useless." Zillah finally said after a moment of silence, rolling her eyes.
"I agree."
"Well, care to find the 'Chosen Ones'?"
"Sure, why not." Leigh shrugged and they both walked out the door.
"Okay." Roland said and drew the next two competitors. He was a bit shaken, who wouldn't be? After they witnessed the God assault on Jaken... Even Kaiba was a bit stiff from it.
Tiki looked to the ground, waiting. Kurt ran his fingers through his hair, prancing about. He couldn't take this! What if Tki doesn't realize? What if another of his friends fall? That would be his worst nightmare... he didn't want that.
Yami was staring out a porthole, thinking. Having the fate of the world on his shoulders was enough, but now this? He sighed and turned towards the lottery machine.
Joey was looking nervously around, Tea trying to calm him down. What if e ended up like Naomi and Jaken if he faced Marik? It wasn't right! None of this should have happened and he knew it. But what really scared him was the fate of his little sister... he cherished her more than his own life, and would do anything for her.
"Joey, try and calm down." Tea said softly, stopping Joey in mid-prance. "It's okay. Nothing will happen. You won't face Marik." She smiled reassuringly, but Joey just looked away.
"But what if I face Tiki though? That would be worst in a way..." He clenched his fists, gaze shifting to his sister, who was in the middle of Duke and Tristan, fear all over her face, he could see it. It broke his heart. "And Serenity... If anything happened to her, I don't know what I would do! If she..." He broke off and closed his eyes.
Tea sighed, knowing that she couldn't comfort him this time. "I know Joey, I know how you feel in a way. But we have to keep our faith that something good will happen to turn this around. There is always room for open possibilities." She said, trying to be optimistic. It seemed to work, if only for a few seconds.
Joey smiled, "You're right Tea. Thanks."
Tea smiled at this, and looked to the machine too. Roland was perched stiffly on the platform. waiting for Kaiba's orders to start the machine.
The others were just waiting in anticipation--except for Bakura and Marik, they were as cool a cucumbers. (Not really, Bakura's heart was racing faster than it should have been, he was puzzled why.) And Marik's heart was pounding from expectation, knowing another one would go to the darkness this time as well...
Kaiba stood beside his brother, turning his gaze to see if everyone was there, and signaled for the next match to be drawn. His brother clutched onto his trench coat tail, which he only did when he was scared. Seto promised himself to protect his brother at all costs. His brother was his life, and if Mokuba... No, he couldn't think that way, he wouldn't. At this time, stubbornness was a gift that should be used well. He used it well alright.
Roland cleared his throat and started the machine. It hummed lowly and caught the numbered balls in the Blue Eyes heads, He looked at the first number and read the number out loud, trying not to falter. "The next two duelists are…Number one! Joey!"
Joey clenched his fists and looked to the ground. Great, he was going to be dueling. His sister came up to him and buried her head in his chest. He embraced her into a tight hug, dreading the answer to his question. Who was his opponent?
The second came rolling down and Roland read it bitterly it seemed. "And the second is... number Seven..." He looked at audience. "Tiki Bandora."
Serenity felt her brother's grip tighten around her, tensing up. She looked up to see her brother looking away to the Jamaican, miserably and fearfully. She had only seen that look on her brother's face one before... when their parents became divorced and her mom took her away, leaving Joey behind. This was that same face from that day seven years ago.
"Tiki..." Joey whispered, watching the younger girl come up to him and stare at him, not hatefully, but determinedly. He just looked at her sympathetically, they were friends... and now they had to fight each other, one losing, one winning. He knew that if his opponent lost, she would willingly giver herself to the Shadow Realm. Joey did not want to see that...
Tiki snorted, "Stop looking at me like that Wheeler. You knew that we would face each other. And I will win." She turned and walked away coldly, then slyly said, "See you on the field" With void emotion.
(A/N: SONG! Here we go! Whoopii!)
Company, always on the run
Destiny is a rising sun
I was born six gun in my hand
Behind the gun I make my final stand
That's why they call me…
Joey looked to the ground, clenching his fists. This couldn't be happening… he couldn't fight a friend. A memory emerged from his mind, one that almost made him cry. He couldn't stand this... this madness! The memory played in his head, messing with his mind and feelings.
"Who you saying 'Hi' to?" Tiki asked as she looked around. "Oh..." She noticed and stood up. "W-Where are we?" She asked anonymously, pulling down on her shirt.
Joey motioned to the sky and then slammed his fists to the ground, as if they hit like a brick. Then he pointed to his throat and then pointed at the two girls. "H-How?" He asked. Clearly, he had a loss of words.
"Ummm..." Naomi scratched her chin and looked to the ground. She had no words to explain. Sure, she could tell them that they were from another dimension and all, but their reaction would be crazy. She shrugged and smiled. Then she pointed upward and shrugged again. "Skydiving?" She laughed innocently as Tiki walked over and touched Joey.
"He's real!" She exclaimed and jumped on top of him, smothering him in hugs and kisses.
"Get her offa me!!!" Joey screamed as Naomi slapped her hand on her face, knocking herself dizzy.
"Ow...that wasn't so smart..." She groaned and turned around. There, right in front of her was not Yugi, but Yami. "Hi again?" She shortly laughed and backed away. He looked rather disturbed at the girls entrances and didn't believe 'Skydiving' was the case. But he decided not to question right now, he was a little scared of the blonde headed girl, and if she would do the same thing to him, like her friend was doing to Joey...
"Joey! Joey! Joey! Joey! Joey! Joey! Joey!!!" Tiki squealed as Joey tried to push Tiki down his left leg. Apparently, Joey had managed to get Tiki off of him, but she jumped right back and aimed for his leg. And now, she wouldn't let go.
"Get this girl offa me!!" Joey yelled again as Naomi came to the rescue, followed by Yami.
Naomi kneeled down to Tiki and attempted to pry her off. It just made Tiki's grip tighter. She attempted to tickle her to get her off. That didn't work either. So finally, she and Yami managed to strip her off by Joey undoing his pants and sliding his leg out.
Tiki sat there with Joey's jeans in her grip as he yanked them away. Her face fell, "Dang...did I just do that?" Tiki asked the trio as they all nodded. "Opps..." She managed to get out before Joey gave her a death glare. "Umm...Nice boxers?" She complemented. pointing to the red and white briefs. She started to laugh the I-Am-In-So-Much-Trouble laugh and scooted away.
Joey blushed at the complement, and then put back on his pants, not wanting to flash everyone with his boxers. He stared hatefully at her, "If you come twelve feet distance from me, I will take you down." He threatened as Naomi stepped between him and Tiki.
The blonde softy sniffed and wiped blinked back tears unseen tears. He now wished he had never made that threat to Tiki… he couldn't take Tiki down, she was too much like a friend now. Too much like a friend...The gang looked at Joey, who hid his face and walked away quickly. The young man couldn't stand to let his friends see him like this, especially Kaiba. He wouldn't stop pestering him about it. Never.
"I'm going to the duel floor." Joey muttered quietly as he hoped onto the elevator, surprised to see Tiki there too, glancing at him for a second, then shifting her eyes. Joey gulped and spoke, "Hey Tiki--"
"--I don't want to hear it." Tiki said coldly and turned her back to him rudely, staring out the glass shaft at the passing steel walls.
Bad company, I can't deny
Bad company
'Til the day I die
'Til the day I die
'Til the day I die
The elevator came to a stop and dinged, opening the door and allowing it's passengers out.
Tiki quickly walked out of the elevator towards the dueling platform, daring not to look back, for fear that she might soften up. No! She couldn't! She had to save Naomi, her friend, her partner, her sister. (Not genetically speaking 'o course...)
Joey followed right behind her, stiffness covering his body, from head to his toes. His hands shook with nervousness and heart pounded like no tomorrow.
They walked out upon the dueling platform, the wind playing gently with ttheir clothes and hair. Tiki stopped suddenly, looking out to the night sky, waiting for Joey to board the platform first. She looked at the starry night sky. It was beautiful, peaceful. She sniffed, "Naomi... Jake..."
Joey to his spot on the dueling platform and looked at his deck, clenching his fists again. "Deck, don't let me down. Let me make the right choice here." He pleaded. "I don't want Tiki to end up…" He shook the thought off, still blinking back tears. How would anyone have ever known that this tournament would turn into a nightmare? Friends against friends, in dire situations.
The rest of the group made it to the top seconds later, ready to get this duel over with, but dreading the outcome. All quiet. Not one breath was breathed during the moment of secluded silence. Another memory emerged from Joey's mind… Tiki is not like this, she shouldn't be.
"This way!" Tiki pointed down one hallway as Naomi dragged her down the other.
"No! This way Jamaican!" Naomi pointed, pulling her friend into the other hallway. They struggled to go there way to the same class for about a minute, until the warning bell rang. They stopped instantly and looked at each other. They started to hear faint footsteps and turned around to see who was running.
"Oh no..." They rang in unison as two very familiar faces appeared racing towards them from around a corner. The two girls closed their eyes as the boys walked up to them.
"Hey Yug, aren't toes the loons dat fell from the sky yesterday? And grabbed onto my leg? I'd thought day be long gone by now!" He said pointing to the two girls as they smiled sheepishly and backed away.
Tiki held up a finger and slowly smiled, "Thank you for putting so bluntly and i am deeply sorry about that. You won't believe us even if we told you the truth. And...." She stopped and looked at Naomi as she sighed and walked up to the two boys.
She rolled her eyes and shoved the list with all the courses into Joey's face. "Would you happen to know where these classes are? We are nutheads and are utterly confused here." There was a pause as Tiki stepped up.
"Hello?!" She practically screamed, "Girls in need here! Do. You. Know. Where. These. Classes. Are?" She asked slowly so the words could sink in.
Joey grabbed the paper and looked at the girls. "We have the same teachers, so just follow us around. We'll show you the place. But please don't grab onto my leg like dat again! I still have red marks from were you stuck toes fingers of yours into my leg!" He complained, pointing to her long fingernails. He sighed and scratched the back of his head, "Ah, don't worry bout it." He folded the paper up and handed it back to Naomi. "But could ya tell us what was up yesterday? And why ya'll are at our school?" He asked as the girls quietly agreed.
"But it's not like you'll believe us anyhow...Jake would need to explain things.." Naomi muttered following the two boys.
Tiki always had a way of getting people to listen to her, in some odd ways. Joey snickered at the thought, who knew that those girls would wind up in the worst trouble yet. They seemed so… carefree. So innocent...But Joey knew deep inside that that wouldn't last for long. His feeling was dead on, nothing can last forever, he knew.
Tiki fixed her Duel Disk on her wrist, it was bothering her so, and finally walked towards the dueling platform slowly, confidently, all eyes on her. Center spotlight. This was it. It was now or never, either she would win or loose. But if she failed, she didn't know she'd do. Things were in her hands now, not no one else's, not Joey's, not Yami's, not Yugi's, not Bakura's and not Seto Kaiba's. This was her fight, her war. She had to win.
Rebel souls, deserters we are called
Chose a gun and threw away the sun
Now these towns, they all know our names
Six gun sound is our claim to fame
I can hear 'em say...
Tiki walked up to the dueling stage, slamming her deck into the slot. The stage rose quietly. The secluded silence still in the air over the humming of the lift for the stage, the Duel Disks, and the wind that whispered past their ears.
Joey gulped and looked at his deck again, then back at Tiki. This wasn't right. He had a gut feeling this would end darkly... and he had learned to trust his gut instincts. "Tik, can't we talk this out? Do we have to--"
"Don't you dare try and change my mind Wheeler. I entered this tournament to win and save Naomi and Jaken now. And that is exactly what I plan to do. Now I will topple everyone in my way. I swear on that." She sneered lowly.
Joey sighed and looked down to his friends. Most nodded.
Tristan yelled, "Take her down Joey! You know what you have to do!"
Tea agreed reluctantly. She had to cheer her friend on! "Yeah! Show Tiki who's the boss! If she won't listen, then you shouldn't either!"
Duke agreed, "Yeah Joey! Win for you sister!"
Serenity yelled, "Joey! You can do this!"
Joey nodded, defeated by his friends to duel. "Alright Tiki. But just know dis one thing. You're my friend too. I am your friend--at least I hope I am. Never like to duel my friends, and never will. But you made it clear, so we'll duel. Save Naomi, but we are here too."
Tiki snorted. "Ha! Bull. If you were a friend, then you could have helped us." Anger rose within her. They could have helped!
"I couldn't, I was under Malik's--"
"No! You could have!" Tiki said stubbornly, clicking her duel disk into place. "Now let's duel!"
Joey was taken aback, mutely gasping. He then looked to the ground. "Alright Tiki, let's get dis thing over with." He clicked his Duel Disk into place also and took his deck from his pocket, laying the cards in the holder gently.
Tiki stood confidently... on shaky legs.
Bad company, and I won't deny
Bad, bad company
'Til the day I die
'Til the day I die…
Roland raised his hand. "Let the duel commence!" He lowered his hand and both duelers drew their hand.
Michael walked up to the Blue Eyes drawing machine and looked at the numbers in the plate, the looked at the people who had the numbers on a computer screen. He scratched his chin and thought out loud, pairing the number with the people on the screen.
"First duel was… Yugi against… Raven? Who's that?" He raised an eyebrow and cocked his head in question. The question was answered.
A voice sounded from behind him. "He was the first to fall child."
A woman with long black hair and sinister dark purple eyes walked up to him. Her lips shone with the most malevolent smile. Her dark gray trench coat zipped up to her chin barely shone the smile, her dark high boots making a low clicking sound as she walked. A gray fedora rested on her head. She walked around the boy, admiring his intelligent stance and laughed slightly.
"Well well, another one, looks like my sister and that old man are at it again. When will they learn?" She said and stood in front of Michael, lifting his chin. "Poor boy."
Michael growled, he didn't like the way she was talking. He shoved her hand away quickly and backed up. Something wasn't right about him. "Who are you? What do you want?"
She laughed again. "I am Ushima dear boy. The one that wove this web of deceit." She licked her lips and walked away from him. "And here to warn you that you will never see your dear sister again."
Michael gasped and turned around. Before he knew it, she was gone. The huge screen behind him switched on automatically, as if to show him the next road, the duel commencing. Michael looked at who was dueling now, his expression becoming one of panic. He gaped in horror, his eyes as big as saucers. "Joey vs. Tiki!"
Zillah and Leigh walked up behind him with an eyebrow raised, each of them. They had been looking all over for him!
Leigh cocked her head. "Who's Tiki?"
"She's my sister's best friend!" He said in panic and rushed to the elevator. He had to do something. This occurrence didn't settle too well in his stomach for osme reason. "We have to stop this! It isn't right!"
Leigh and Zillah looked at each other and sighed, rushing off after him. Here they go again... racing after the boy who got them into the trouble in the first place. Ironic.
Tiki drew her cards. She would go first. "Alright Wheeler, prepare to lose."
Joey shook his head, "Sorry Tiki, but you will be the one losing, I don't like dueling a friend, but if it's a duel you want, then I'll give it to ya."
The girl snorted and drew a card. She had rarely used these cards and didn't know most of the... What a fine dueler she was. She whimpered to herself and declared her move. "I-I play Water Harmonics (1400/1200) in Attack mode and set one card face down (Magci Jammer)."
Joey nodded and drew his card, he debated and slammed Axe Raider down on the field in attack mode and attacked Water Harmonics.
Tiki growled as she watched her maiden disperse into a thousand pieces.
Tiki- 7700 Joey- 8000
"Alright Wheeler," she slapped her hand down on her deck and drew her card. "I set a monster (Invader of the Throne) and end my turn."
"Scared yet?" Joey asked, smirking, and drew his card.
Tiki growled, "Don't push it."
The young man shrugged and looked at his hand, "I call Panther Warrior (2000/1600) to the field! Axe Raider! (ATK 1700) Attack Tiki's face down monster!"
The Axe Raider charged for the face down monster and stuck it with it's axe, which bounced off as the Invader on the Throne appeared, lounging on the throne lazily. She flipped back her hair and laughed.
"Think you're monsters are cock?!" Joey shouted, seeing the smug face of Tiki, "well take this! I sacrifice Axe Raider so Panther Warrior can attack! Panther! Go!"
Tiki stepped back for a second as they shards of her Invader of the Throne was sliced and diced with a scream. She growled and drew her card, "My turn!"
The Jamaican drew and smirked, "Lookie what I got here! Take this on my ASS!" She shouted and picked the middle card from her hand, slamming it down on the duel disk, "I summon the great and gorgeous Lady Assailant of Flames (1500/1000)!"
A girl with long silver hair, a purple strapless dress of an ancient culture, and a purple flower in her hair emerged from the card, somersaulting to the Panther Warrior and sitting on it's shoulders slyly.
Joey's eye twitched as the duel monster tickled his Panther Warrior under the chin like a cat! And his Panther Warrior liked it too!! That was okay... Until she started to nuzzle with the Panther Warrior. "HEY!" He shouted, "BREAK IT UP!!"
Tiki shrugged and slapped a magic card into the slot, "I equip my Lady with Malevolent Nuzzler! It increases any monster I want it too with 700 more attack points, but that's not all... You'll find the rest out soon enough." She laughed and pointed to Joey.
"See how you're kitty like's this nuzzling, my Lady, Attack!!"
Lady Assailant of Flames (2200/1000) suddenly grinned maliciously the hand that had been petting the Panther Warrior suddenly lit up in flames, the Panther Warrior's eyes bulging, and thrust it through the Panther's chest. The Panther shattered into millions of pieces and the Lady somersaulted back to her position on Tiki's side of the field, flipping her hair back cockily.
Joey stood there for a moment before registering his life points a tad lower and both Tiki and the Lady in the same hip-swung-to-the-left-hand-on-hip stance, the cocky I-have-your-butt-today-mister grin, and both seemed very much like twins if he didn't know better for the moment.
The blonde gulped. Tiki was playing with the best of her abilities, and her monsters were feeing off of that and performing the way she would... Acting as one. The one thing he needed to beat Tiki, the one thing he didn't have, something to really fight for...
Tiki - 2300 Joey- 2200
Joey watched in disbelief as Tiki's Gemini Elf (1900/900) cart wheeled back to Tiki's area of the field and stood their together smugly. The two Elves laced their arms around each other, hair falling from locks behind their ears, both with a solemn expression on their faces.
Wheeler's powered down Zobyra the Dark (1900/500) shattered into a thousand pieces. He gulped as the Water Magician (1400/1000) geared up for her assault.
The Water Magician swung her staff around herself, her red hair flailing about as she did so and blue cape swirling around her, as she pushed upward from her feet, raising her staff into the air, blue eyes twinkling, and brought her staff upon Joseph Wheeler, who winced in pain as she somersaulted back to Tiki and landed behind her with the utmost grace.
Tiki - 2300 Joey- 800
"How do you like that Wheeler?" Tiki sneered and looked over to her last monster ready to attack, the Mystical Elf. She had planned everything right.. But now she was going to win... But not the way she wanted. She turned back to Joey and shouted, "I will show you how far I will go to win this tournament Joey! And I'll do it by summoning Ra!"
Joey gulped as he drew a card and looked at his hand. Nothing! Damn! I have nothing! And after all this... I'm going to lose and Tiki will win. He sighed mutely and looked up at Tiki. Maybe it is for the best...
"Tiki!" Joey shouted, "I won't go down a loser either! I'll stick it out to the end. I end my turn -- with nothing on the field."
"JOEY!" Yugi shouted, "Just surrender! You can do more surrendering than you can being trapped in..." he shook his head, "Please Joey! Think this through!"
Joey shook his head, "I've thought it through Yug, and I won't back down... I won't lose."
Tiki's eye twitched as she drew from her hand and drew the God of Ra... She smirked.
"I will end this now."
Joey stared in disbelief as the colossal God Card was summoned. He gulped and backed away. He lost. Fear weld up inside of him. "I-I-I…"Serenity gasped and closed her eyes. "Joey!" No... this couldn't be, couldn't be. "Joey..." She sniffed and started to cry, falling to her knees. Now he was going to the darkness with Jake and Naomi, Marik would make sure of that.
Tristan, Duke, Tea, and Yugi all looked up at the God Card. One attack, and Joey would be smithereens. Something had to be done! But what? What could they do against someone who was only fueled by hatred? The didn't know...
Tiki laughed. "I won! You lost!" She sneered, clapping joyfully. "I don't need anybody, and once I attack you, this duel will end. And attacking you will be a pleasure--"
"TIKI!!" An unknown voice shouted. A boy around the age of ten with a black suit on and raven hair ran up to the dueling arena and shouted, "Tiki! What are you doing?!"
Tiki looked down at the boy, dropping her cards. Her face looked at him in disbelief. She couldn't believe it. "Michael?"
Michael nodded, exasperated. "What are you doing Tik, what are you doing?"
Tiki snapped out of her awestricken state and said simply. "I'm going to win this duel." She pointed to Joey. "NOW! GOD RA--"
"TIKI BANDORA!" Michael shrieked. He couldn't let this happen! Not while he was around anyway. Tiki looked annoyed at him.
"What?"
"Where's my sister? Where's Naomi?"
There were murmurs from the group. Everyone staring at him sadly as if to say 'I'm sorry'. Joey looked away, clenching his fists again. Yugi just looked at the boy sadly. He couldn't even bring himself to say the answer... it would break his heart, Yugi knew that for a fact.
"Where's my sister?" Michael repeated stubbornly.
"In the Shadow Realm." Tiki said heatedly anger rising in her yet again.
Michael backed away, calculating all of this. He pieced everything together quickly and looked back up to Tiki. He knew what happened, everything… though later, he didn't know how. Even for a genius, that was pretty remarkable.
The ten year old shook his head. "Tiki, don't..."
"I will."
"Don't. Naomi wouldn't want you to. I know."
Tiki growled, her anger flushing into her cheeks. "And how would you know brat?! She's in some place that is total darkness! How do you know what she wants?! Answer me!!"
Michael glared at her. Tiki could always be the stubborn one. "She is my sister. Naomi is my one and only sister. She doesn't want this."
"Yeah?! Well I've known her forever! I've spent every second that I could with my best friend! I think I know what she wants!"
Michael kept his cool, even though anger and frustration flushed his face as well.. "Maybe Tik, but I've known her all my life. Day and night. I am a Rockertale and so is she. We share the same blood and the same parents. We have had to share rooms for a long time and I've had to put up with her obsessions. I know what she wants Tiki." He shook his head. "And Naomi does not want this." He spread out his arms to show this whole conspiracy.
Tiki looked down stubbornly, he was right. Michael was always right, and she hated it! She whimpered for a second, swaying in the wind, and fell to her knees, crying. "B-But then… what does she want? I can't do anything for her! I'm hopeless and helpless…" She sobbed in her hands tears leaking through he cupped hands, dripping to the ground in soft splashes. She had wanted to cry for a while now... and now she finally got her chance.
Joey looked at her sadly, shaking his head. "Tik, you're not hopeless or helpless. I'm telling' ya--" Joey took a step forward, but Tiki suddenly looked back up at him, then at Michael. "Tiki?" Joey and Michael both said in chorus and blinked, seeing what she was going to do in her eyes.
"Sorry…" She whispered and said loud and clear. "God of Ra… attack…" She smiled. "Me."
"TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKKKKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIII!!!!!" They all shouted, her name ringing through the air for hours afterwards. The name would never stop echoing through the stage...
Tiki looked around the darkened space, her whole body still tingling from the attack. A smudge mark covered her left cheek and her hair was a bit frizzy, but besides that, she seemed perfectly healthy. "Naomi? Jaken?"
Two shadows appeared out in the distance, running to her. They seemed happy and familiar. Bounding towards here, the female figure waved her hands about joyfully.
Tiki became overwhelmed with joy. "NAOMI!" Tiki yelled and hugged her friend, then hugging Jaken.
"You lost too?" Jaken asked, smiling, when Tiki released him from the hug.
The Jamaican shook her head. "I won." She said triumphantly, releasing Naomi from her second hug. "I won what I wanted to win." She smiled as a blue glow broke the darkness behind them. Filtering the growing darkness behind them.
A girl with blue glossy hair and blue eyes tripped out of the blue portal. She had a tiara on her head and a blue leotard. (You've seen her already in this story…) She regained her position and smoothed out her long hair.
"Hello." She greeted sharply and innocently, bowing. "I'm the one that brought you three here, along with Kurt."
Naomi nodded. "I could have figured that… Destiny, is it?"
Destiny nodded and bowed again. "You know me?"
Tiki snapped her fingers. "Now I know why this story sounds so familiar! I read this happening to four kids… but at Duelist Kingdom. But that was only a fan fiction… wasn't it?"
Destiny laughed. "So one of them posted a story about their adventure, huh?" The two girls nodded. "Well, I'm not surprised. No, that was no fan fiction. That was as real as it comes."
Naomi scratched her chin. "Then that means there is Fate, Hope, and Time."
Destiny nodded. "Yes, they are my brother and sisters. But one was not quite happy with her position..." Her eyes became downcast. "She isn't with us anymore."
Jake looked up, wide-eyed. He was catching on. "Is it Ushima?"
The girl nodded. "But her name isn't really Ushima, it's Time. She knows of the past and present of all worlds and has much knowledge of them. But that didn't satisfy her craving. She wanted more than that."
The trio nodded, acknowledging the name and her position. Yearning something more... didn't they all? But Time. It would have fit her perfectly come to think of it.
Tiki looked up slowly. "Hey Destiny... in the first story... the one that was turned into fan fiction. The ending said that everyone forgot about the adventure... that it was a mishap and all. So... did the characters forget but not the people from our world? Or what?"
Destiny thought for a second. "Good question. All of them were suppose to forget about everything. The one who wrote it must have remembered it as a dream and wrote it down to share. So yes, the characters here that took place in that have no recollection of what happened. They saw it the way you did on TV, the exact plot and everything."
Naomi bit her thumbnail. "Then does that mean we will...?"
Destiny smiled slightly. "That is yet to be seen. It all depends actually on what roads are taken. But that decision is far off and distant. You need not worry of that my friends." She sighed. "But the truth is, even with you here, I still need your assistance..."
The trio looked at her curiously, Jake eyeing her up and down. "What type of assistance?"
Kurt lead Michael and two other girls into the room where Naomi and Jaken were, he laid Tiki down on the bed and sighed, looking at Michael, who was staring at his sister.
Michael stepped closer -- then stopped. "Stupid... Stupid sister." He choked out as Yugi, Joey, Tea, Mia, Tristan, Serenity, and Duke stood in the doorway. "Stupid stupid sister." He clenched his fists, trying to hold back tears which were already falling. "I let you and Tiki away from my sights just for a second and look what you got yourself into!" He screamed at no particular person. "It's not fair... Not fair..."
Leigh gulped. She couldn't stand for that kid to cry! Especially for his sister and her friends. Heck, she couldn't stand anyone crying, except for her enemies of course. She walked over to Michael and rested a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Don't worry, these people will get them back, I have the faith, don't you?"
Michael shook his head, "No. I don't have faith anymore... Yet I don't want revenge either..." He trailed off, still sobbing heavily.
Zillah sighed and came up too. "Hey, if worst come to worst, at least we'll die together!" She said happily, getting a few short laughs from the others, Michael was one of them.
"You're sure the optimist, aren't you Zillah?" Asked Duke, still laughing a little.
"Me? An optimist? Meh, I'm just someone who tends to think the worst'll happen." Zillah said, scratching the tip of her nose.
Michael dried his eyes and turned to the group. "My sister wouldn't want me crying, and that is not what I am going to do."
"Good spirit." Yugi commented softly, nodding. "Don't worry Michael, we'll get your sister, Tiki, and Jaken back all safe and sound."
"I do hope so." Michale replied back. "If not, well, I am a genius you know."
"And arrogant one at that." Leigh commented, earning a kick from the boy. She yelped, "Well, it's the truth!"
Michael rolled his eyes and snorted, "And the truth is -- is that blondes are the stupidest of the bunch."
That remark didn't just earn a hard stare from Leigh, but from Joey and Mia too. "What?" They asked through gritted teeth.
Michael's eyes widened as he gulped and loosed the tie around his neck, "Uh... Now now... There aren't many genius around these parts...and-and you don't really want to hurt a genius now... Do you?"
Mai, Joey, and Leigh rolled up their sleeves and charged for Michael, who slipped through their grip and ran out the door.
"Catch me? Ha! I'd like to see you--ACK!!" He ate the tile flooring.
Leigh and Joey looked at each other and high fived, Mia 'humph'-ing and crossing her arms prissily. No one got past blondes.
So there you have it folks! The 14th installment! I hope it wasn't too mushy...and we're in the home stretch too! (Chaos will errupt before they even arrive on the Duelist Tower...I hate to say.) And Ushima will unleash her plans next time during the next duel! This is not good! So stay tuned and check out my art account here! www.thetikisuite.deviantart.net. Please check it out when you have time!
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