Disclaimer – Yu Yu Hakusho, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Ronin Warriors (a.k.a. Yoroiden: Samurai Troopers) and all related characters, events, and concepts belong to their respective owners. I get no monetary benefit from this. My benefit is the enjoyment of dealing with beloved characters. If you recognize him/her/it, I don't own him/her/it. If you don't recognize, I might still not be the owner but it'd be best to ask. I'd appreciate it, anyway. ((grin))
"The Spellfire Saga – 1: Shards"
by DragonDancer5150
Chapter 21 – Interrupted
"Oh, great! They've moved on already."
The spirit's two guides stopped abruptly at a concrete planter, surveying the town square where they said they had left Jonouchi and crew. The spirit skidded to a stop behind them, his breathing slightly ragged. He had been hard-pressed to keep up, hampered by Yugi's much shorter gait, and these two had a level of endurance that put even Jonouchi's to shame.
"They can't have gotten far," the blue-haired Ronin insisted. "Come on. Maybe they've wandered back into the park or somethin'."
The spirit growled, not for the first time questioning why he had trusted these two. Yugi recognized the black-haired boy from school, but that did not mean anything. Not truly meaning to speak his suspicions aloud in his own deep frustration and worry, he caught the Ronin's arm before he realized what he was doing. "If you're leading me in circles or deliberately off-course – "
"Huh?" The accusation honestly seemed to surprise Ronin.
"Whoa, hey! Back off, spook!" the other snapped, yanking the spirit's hand off of his companion's arm.
"E-excuse me?" the spirit startled, taken aback by his choice of words.
"Look, Pharaoh-sama," the Ronin murmured, dropping his voice as he pulled the spirit aside to a marginally more private spot in the square. "You're worried. I understand that. We only wanna help, I promise!"
"Yeah, you heard me right," the rougher of the two grunted. "Chh, with or without that Malik guy, we already know you're not Mutou. In fact, is he in there? Hey, Mutou, can you hear me?"
"H-how do you – ?" The spirit stopped, shaking his head.
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Yugi was only a little surprised when the blue-haired boy reacted and turned in his general direction, sensing when he emerged to stand by his friend's side. It was the fact that his schoolmate looked him dead in the eye without hesitation that unnerved him a little. [U-urameshi-kun?] He pushed a little, expending extra energy, in the hopes of being heard. He was rewarded with a startled flinch from the Ronin.
"Hey, there you are. Listen, tell your buddy he's the one wastin' time findin' Jonouchi if he's gonna start askin' a bunch of questions."
"You . . . can see him?" the spirit realized in shock. This was quickly getting very disconcerting.
Without taking his eyes off Yugi, Urameshi nodded. "Hear 'im, too."
Yugi regarded him for a brief moment before turning to the spirit. [I think it's all right, Nakama. Besides, I've known of Urameshi-kun for a long time as a really tough street brawler like Jou-kun and Honda-kun used to be, but he's not really a bully or anything. He even got in that car accident from trying to save a little boy he didn't even know. I've never known him to do anything I'd really suspect.]
Urameshi gave him a lopsided grin. "Heh – gee, thanks, I think."
The spirit considered his partner's words, then turned to Urameshi. "How much do you know of what is going on?"
"More than we have time to explain right now, believe me!"
[What of your own . . . enemy, though, Urameshi-kun? Is your group going to be all right?]
Now it was Urameshi's turn to be surprised, asking without thinking, "Huh? How do you – ? What do you know 'bout that?"
Yugi shrugged with a small grin. [Heh, more than we have time to explain right now.]
"Why are you helping?" the spirit wanted to know, ever braced and wary of traps.
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Yusuke met both their eyes and all but growled with remembered pain and anger, "'Cuz I know what it's like to have the few friends I've got threatened and used against me." He watched the spirit hold his ground, though Mutou took a step back from the low, unbridled fury in those words. " 'Sides, I've spent some time with your buddy now, and he seems all right. I won't stand by and let that Malik guy take advantage of him – or your granddad or your other friends."
Yugi gasped. [Grandpa! Oh, no! That's right – he's in danger, too, and Anzu and Honda-kun!]
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"That way," Touma murmured suddenly, gazing off to their left. He could not don his sub-Armor out in such a public spot – so he could sense but not see Yugi, and hear him but barely. Therefore, he had turned his attention instead to locating any trace of dark energies and caught a brief impression down one of the cross streets just yards from their current position.
Yusuke nodded, then held a hand out to the spirit. "In or out, Pharaoh?"
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With Yugi's trust in their new companions, the spirit did not hesitate, accepting Urameshi's hand in a Duelist's clasp. "In. Thank you, both of you. Let's go!" Yugi withdrew, and the three took off once more.
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Darting down the cross street, the trio rounded a corner and into an alley only to find their way blocked by a pair of thugs in plum-colored robes, each sporting a Duel Disk on his arm. One was squat and bald, just barely taller than Yugi and as wide as he was tall, the other a beanpole of lanky proportions with spiky, periwinkle hair. The two gave them nasty grins as they braced, presenting their Duel Disks.
"Going somewhere?" the fat Ghoul smirked. "Lookin' for your friends, I bet? We'll tell you – after you beat us in a Duel."
"Heh, if you can," the tall one taunted.
Yusuke braced down in a fighting stance, reflexively pulling the spirit behind himself to protect his smaller schoolmate as he threw Touma a grin of anticipation. "Hey, Hashiba, your buddy Anubisu was right. Purple's definitely the color of the day. I say it's time for some new colors – like black and blue!"
Touma nodded, turning to glare at the two Ghouls. "Tell us where Mutou-san's friends are, and I might be able to keep Urameshi-kun here from breaking both your legs."
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The spirit moved from behind Urameshi, laying a restraining hand on his arm. "Urameshi and . . . – " He paused just long enough to recall the blue-haired boy's name from the introductions he had overheard the evening before. " – Hashiba, thank you but that will not be necessary – "
At the same time, Fatty was chuckling cruelly. "Heh, that's not how the game is played, boy. Our orders from Malik-sama are quite specific. You, Yugi, have to duel us – both of us – to get past us."
"Yeah, and if you refuse, your friends will be killed."
The spirit saw Hashiba glance down at him and note the scowl on his face. "How do we know you even have them?"
Slim smirked. "How do you know we don't?"
"Enough," the spirit grunted, bold steps carrying him ahead of his companions. "I agree to your terms. Who's first?"
Fatty looked up at Slim. "Well?"
"Heh, the honor's yours."
"No, no – you first. I insist."
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Yusuke rolled his eyes as the two villains decided to settle the order of play with Rock-Paper-Scissors . . . only to tie one another over a half-dozen times in a row. At length, he heard "Pharaoh" growl.
"This is ridiculous," the spirit snapped at them. "It doesn't matter which of you I defeat first, so I'll choose."
"No, you will not! It does matter, especially since only one of us can Duel you at a time – "
"Not if both of us Duel against you."
Everyone turned in shock at the new voice. "Kaiba," the spirit breathed in disbelief.
It was Yusuke's turn to growl. "Whadda you want, rich boy?"
Kaiba ignored him as he drew even with the spirit, Mokuba catching up just behind. "Now it's two on two."
"Fine," Slim barked. "We accept your challenge."
Touma gazed for a moment at Kaiba, then motioned at Yusuke, palming his Armor orb in his other hand. "Urameshi, you . . . better get back." With a frown, Yusuke followed suit.
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Kaiba met the blue-haired boy's eye only briefly, smirking, as he slid his Deck into place on his Duel Disk. By peripheral vision, he noted Yugi doing the same. Without taking his eyes off the opponents, he told his new, temporary Dueling partner, "Don't misunderstand me. I'm holding this Battle City Tournament not only to gather the God Cards but to vanquish the Rare Hunters. I can't let them do whatever they want. I'm not here to help your 'nameless' friend . . . but if you want to use your new God Card," he added, shifting his eyes then to his primary rival, "that's all right. I'll step aside."
" . . . Kaiba."
"Heh, we know Yugi has Osiris the Sky Dragon, and we plan to take it – along with your Obelisk, if you really do have it, Kaiba," Fatty taunted.
"Duel us and find out," Kaiba returned confidently. "Duel start!" He and Yugi activated their Duel Disks in unison, professionally matching gestures in pageant and flourish.
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Touma and Yusuke backpedaled further as four sets of projectors shot out to define the Dueling field, the launches setting off fleeting dust devils across the pavement. Four small screens popped into existence for an instant, registering the starting 4000 Life Points each of the quadruple Duelists. Touma crossed behind Kaiba to join Yusuke in the spirit's corner of the field as each participant drew his first five hand cards.
Fatty simpered, "So, who shall begin?"
"We'll let you go first, Kaiba," Slim offered at the same time, his tone one of mock-graciousness.
"Hn. Conquering you two fools won't take long at all – trust me." Kaiba drew his first card, glancing at it with a smirk before turning it out for his opponents to see. "First I play the magic card: Pot of Greed. It allows me to draw two additional cards on my turn." He did so. "Next, I summon the mighty Lord of Dragons." A thickly-muscled warrior appeared on the field in front of Kaiba, wearing an armor reminiscent of a stylized dragon skeleton. His stat screen displayed 1200/1100. "And I give him, not one, but two Flutes of Summoning Dragon." Two carven horns appeared, one in each of the Lord's hands, the flaring ends worked into dragonheads with mouths open.
"Wha-what is all this?" Slim wanted to know.
"Hn. Even an amateur knows that a Flute of Dragon Summoning combined with the Lord of Dragons allows one to Special Summon two dragons onto the Dueling field – and since I have two flutes in play, I can call four dragons!"
Fatty gasped. "Four in one turn!"
"Yes!" Kaiba hissed. "Now, behold the awesome power of three Blue-Eyes White Dragons! Plus the magnificent Hyozanryu!" Kaiba's signature great wyrms rose from their cards amid thunderous bellowing roars, their stat screens reading an impressive 3000/2500 apiece. Another creature joined them a second thereafter, a dragon of glittering diamond, her stat screen displaying 2100/2800.
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The spirit stood rooted for just a moment, gazing up at the beasts – though he could hardly help a twinge of relief that he was standing alongside the dragons for once rather than facing them himself.
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"Whoa . . . So those are Kaiba-kun's Blue-Eyes' that Shu's told me about," Touma breathed in awe, stunned by the sheer power of the dragons. He could feel their tangible strength throbbing in his mind and through the orb in his hand. Yusuke only nodded mutely, similarly aware of the dragons.
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One of the Blue-Eyes advanced a step, leaning in to roar over Slim, who backpedaled from the terrible dragon. Kaiba stood proudly, arms folded in rude confidence, his five Monsters surrounding him and Yugi and completely filling their end of the field. "I hope you realize that this is just the beginning of the terror my Deck has in store for you," he commented in a low, almost lethal voice. "It only gets better from here . . . for me, that is. So feel free to forfeit the Duel at any time."
Ignoring him, Fatty drew for his turn. "No. I place one Monster in Defense Mode."
"My turn." The spirit drew a card, adding it to his hand, then removed two that he had drawn initially. "I play two cards facedown – "
"Stay out of this, Yugi!" Kaiba snapped, startling the spirit. "I don't need your help. I want to fight these Rare Hunters on my own."
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The spirit regarded him for a moment. "All right, Kaiba. I'll just watch. I play Kuriboh in Defense Mode." The oversized, brown furball appeared, his stat screen showing 300/200. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hashiba elbow Urameshi before the other could comment. "It's your move."
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Fatty gazed in trepidation at the dragons. "I hope you've got a plan," he muttered at his companion.
Smirking, Slim only nodded. He drew, and his ugly grin deepened. He slid the card into a spell/trap slot. "I set one card, and add this Monster in Defense Mode." Both cards appeared on the field, facedown.
Kaiba sneered. "If you're trying to lay a trap, you're wasting your time – and mine."
"Be careful, Kaiba," the spirit warned. "Rare Hunters can be cunning."
Kaiba favored him with a glance sidelong. "I said, mind your own business, Yugi."
"This is my business!" the spirit snarled, and Kaiba knew him well enough to know what he was thinking, how he must be worried over the time slipping through his fingers – time that might cost his friends their lives.
Undaunted by his rival's anger, Kaiba grinned in anticipation, his answer surprising the other a little. "It's time, Yugi." He turned back to the Hunters, though he still addressed his partner-rival indirectly. "Let me show you my God Card." He glanced again for just an instant, smirking at the hint of wonder seeping into amethyst eyes at his words. "On my turn, I sacrifice my three mighty Blue-Eyes White Dragons to summon my all-powerful Egyptian God, Obelisk the Great War God!"
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The spirit fell back a step, staring in disbelief as a great shining radiance enveloped the three proud dragons and their bodies shattered, consumed by the effects of the summoning. Light erupted from Kaiba's Duel Disk as he placed the card, a column of power that temporarily engulfed the entire alley, shooting skyward for hundreds of feet. When anyone could see again, a massive figure of at least fifty to seventy feet in height stood towering over the players, a thickset golem of ancient stone. Only Kaiba himself was unmoved by the god's appearance. The Rare Hunters gaped up at the beast in unrestrained terror. Hashiba and Urameshi fell back against the wall of the building behind them, heads pounding with the incredible energies washing up and down the alley. Even the spirit himself gazed up in unbridled shock, the Monster's power hammering at his supernatural senses.
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"I'm not finished." Kaiba's voice broke through the air. "I next sacrifice my other two Monsters to further power up my Obelisk." The Great War God reached down, taking Hyozanryu and Lord of Dragons each in an oversized fist. Both burst into electronic sparks, their energies flowing visibly into Obelisk. Poor little Kuriboh, the only other remaining Monster, was left to gaze up with eyes rolling in stunned reaction to the power of his deific companion. "And now, Obelisk – demolish their defenses!" The god pulled back his fist, then punched forward in an open-palm strike, devastating energy washing the opposite side of the field and consuming both facedown Monster cards.
"Ahh! Our defenses!" Fatty moaned in horror.
"It's Obelisk's special effect to wipe out all opponents' Monsters," Kaiba gloated. "And now, my God Card, finish them off!"
"Hah!" Slim cried even as Obelisk dove forward with a tight-fisted punch. "Sorry to disappoint you, but – reveal trap card: Mirror Force! This will reflect your attack right back at you!" His facedown card stood up, a prismatic wall of force erupting to catch the Monster's attack energy.
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The spirit gasped. He had used the ploy numerous times himself, being the owner of an identical card. One of the rarest and most potent traps in the game, Mirror Force would indeed reflect the attack, automatically destroying all Monsters on his and Kaiba's side of the field. Even though both stood at full Life Points, they could not afford such a strike, the intensity of the attack sure to wipe them both out in one fell blow. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do to stop it. He braced in dismay, glancing at Kaiba.
Kaiba Seto's smirk was undiminished. "Heh, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm afraid that your weak trap card won't work against a God!" As if to prove his summoner's words, Obelisk punched right through the irised film of energy as easily as through a soap bubble, inflicting his damage directly to his enemies' Life Points. The result exploded through the alley like a tactical nuclear bomb, and both Rare Hunters were thrown backwards to the ground by its force, the numbers on both of their stat screens plummeting to zero in a heartbeat. Kaiba stood laughing almost maniacally as the Duel Disks powered down, their projectors retracting back into position on either side of their owners' armcuffs. "Yugi, did you see that!" he crowed in exaltation.
The spirit could not deny that he was impressed. "Yes, I did, Kaiba. Now – " He darted forward, descending on Fatty. Dropping to one knee, he buried both fists in the front of the squat villain's robe and pulled him into a half-sitting position, snarling, "Where are my friends?" He dropped the man in disgust when the other only moaned, barely on the verge of consciousness.
"Mutou!" "Mutou-san!" Urameshi and Hashiba sprinted to his side.
Kaiba strode forward to Slim, pulling two puzzle cards off the unconscious Ghoul. "Yugi!" As the spirit turned, Kaiba flung one of the plastic cards, retaining the other for himself. "Don't leave without your prize. Catch!"
The spirit easily snatched it mid-flight, then shoved back to his feet. "Thank you for your help, Kaiba." He met Hashiba's and Urameshi's eyes, each of whom nodded grimly. "All right, then. Let's go." The three started off.
"Yugi, hold on!"
The spirit stopped with a growl. He had expected it, but that did not make it any less frustrating. "Kaiba, I will NOT Duel you! Not until I know my friends are safe!" he cried, pre-empting Kaiba's request.
Pointedly ignoring the comment, Kaiba surprised the spirit by turning instead to his brother, Mokuba, standing several feet back with the ever-present big steel-alloy briefcase. "Mokuba, contact headquarters. Have them use the satellite system to track the location of Jonouchi Katsuya. I'm sure the rest will be with him."
The spirit relaxed his braced stance, further surprised by Kaiba's gesture. "Again, thank you, Kaiba."
Urameshi was not impressed. "Ri-ight. In return for what, rich boy?"
Kaiba allowed a brief glance of disdain before addressing his rival. "I'll help you find that pathetic wannabe and your other cronies. Then, you better be ready to Duel me."
Hashiba folded his arms. "Tenacious and single-minded – those can be admirable traits."
For his part, the spirit only nodded, face set in grim determination. Those were terms with which he could live.
"My state-of-the-art tracking system should pick him up in no time. Come on." This time, Kaiba led the way, continuing on down the alley as his brother broke off in another direction, having his own duty to fulfill as tournament commissioner.
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Hm . . . interesting. They gather, fracture, gather . . . fracture again. Too bad they can't seem to get their collective acts together. Perhaps I'll just tag along and see what fun there is to be had before ending this once and for all. Who knows? Maybe there'll be some additional rewards to gain in the process. I've been too hasty just yet. Time has passed in spades . . . -snicker- and hearts, clubs, and diamonds, to boot. Anyway, what's a little longer? All things are really nothing but games in the end. Master the rules, learn how to bend and contort them . . . twist and shape them, and every game becomes yours for the winning. This Malik person seems to know the game well. "Check" has been declared, and I wonder –
How soon to "checkmate?"
Author's Note: Please be sure to check my bio page for any updates, etc. Thanks!