Chapter Twenty-Five
We reached the stadium in no time. When we entered, Kaiba and Mokuba were standing in the center next to two men who worked for Kaiba. Kaiba was looking around the stadium as if he'd heard something, which immediately made me frown.
"Hey!" said Mokuba. "The first three finalists, Yugi, Joey, and Mai." He moved forward and hugged me. "Nice to see the rest of you too."
I kissed Mokuba on the cheek. "Oh, Mokuba Kaiba. How I've missed you," I said.
"This is it?" asked Yugi.
"This place is still under construction," Duke said, looking around.
"We're unfashionably early," said Mai.
"Welcome," said one of the suits. "Present your locator cards." They all showed their cards and the other man handed them their tournament IDs.
"Security is tight, so have those cards with you at all times," said the second man.
"Thanks," said Joey. "Now where's everyone else?"
"So far it's just the three of you and, of course, Mister Kaiba. But we expect the other four finalists shortly," the man explained.
"Not that it matters," I heard Kaiba think. "You'll all lose soon enough." He saw me watching him and asked, tauntingly, "Trying to get inside my head, Olive?"
"I don't have to try, hun," I said.
He was about to respond when we saw someone walking in the stadium. The wind seemed to start blowing.
"Guys, I've got a bad feeling about this," said Yugi.
"You think it's that creep, Marik?" asked Joey.
"It could be," said Yugi. "He must be one of the eight finalists."
"This is the end, Pharaoh," Marik's voice echoed around my mind. "Soon the strongest power in the world will belong to me."
But when the person emerged, it was Namu, not Marik.
Tea, Joey, and I ran forward.
"Blondie!" I exclaimed.
"You're Namu, aren't you?" asked Joey.
"You helped save Bakura's life," said Tea.
"Glad I could help," said Namu. He gave me a quick hug and I was overcome with a strange sense of uneasiness. "Where's Bakura now?" he asked.
"He's resting in the hospital," said Tea.
"Excellent," said Namu. "I'll do anything to help someone in need."
"I don't know what it is, but there's something I don't trust about this guy," I heard Joey think. It was so unexpected, that I had to keep myself from looking at him. "With all of these rare hunters running around, I don't believe what anyone says."
"How'd you end up getting away?" I asked him.
"Turns out, those thugs only wanted you. Once you disappeared, which was weird, they let me go. I tried to find you, but I didn't see you anywhere," Namu explained. He smiled at Joey. "So, Joey," he said. "It looks like we both made it to the Battle City Finals. I never thought I'd get this far, but since the day I met you two, I've been winning every duel."
"You'd better beware!" an angry voice snarled in my head.
Shocked, I took a step back. Tea and Joey's eyes seemed to flash strangely for a second. I looked at Namu, but he looked as pleasant as ever.
Yugi walked up to us and Tea, shaking her head, said, "Yugi, meet our friend Namu. Olive met him last summer in Egypt."
"Yea, we worked together," I said, still watching him carefully.
"He's the one who saved Bakura's life," Tea continued. "And get this, he's also one of Battle City Finalist, isn't that right, Joey?"
"Yea, sure," said Joey.
Watching Namu's eyes when he saw Yugi made the uneasy feeling grow inside me.
"I've heard about you, Yugi," said Namu, his voice slightly darker, although I didn't think anyone would notice unless they were looking for it. Or maybe I was just paranoid. Namu held out his hand to shake Yugi's. "It's an honor to meet you."
Yugi shook his hand. "Thanks a lot for helping out Bakura," said Yugi. "Any friend of Joey, Tea, and Olive's is a buddy of mine."
Namu smiled. "I'm so happy to be surrounded by such a welcoming crowd," said Namu. "I remember seeing Olive's pictures of most of you in the summer. I just hope everyone I meet tonight is as friendly as you people."
"Maybe he's not so bad after all. What do I know?" I heard Joey think.
I glanced at him, but my attention was immediately drawn to the tunnel behind us where another person was arriving. I let out a cry of shock and ran forward. I threw my arms around his neck, furiously blinking back tears. He hugged me back, burying his face in my hair.
"Are you okay?" I whispered, stepping back.
"Olive," he murmured, looking down at me, his hand still on my waist. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
"That's Bakura," I heard Yugi say, as the others hurried forward.
"What are you doing here?" asked Joey. "You should get back to the hospital!"
"Bakura, you should be resting," said Tea.
"Grandpa said that you were in pretty bad condition," said Yugi. "They let you out?"
Bakura pulled me back into his arms. "I'm fine, guys," he said, smiling.
"Look, Bakura, I don't know how you found us here, but you'd better get back to that hospital," said Tristan.
"What are you doing wearing a duel disk?" asked Yugi, as soon as he noticed.
I took a step back, away from him, to look. I hadn't noticed either. "You've been dueling?" I asked.
"How else could I win six locator cards and enter the finals?" asked Bakura. He held up his locator cards.
Everyone gasped, shocked.
"I didn't even know you were playing, Kura. Why didn't you tell me?" I asked.
"Perfect," I heard Marik's voice and it sounded so close, that I looked around. "He's holding up his end of the bargain."
"Bakura..." I said, quietly, my eyes skimming over Namu.
"No way, Bakura could barely walk. How'd he win six locator cards?" Yugi thought suspiciously.
"Hold up, when did you even join the tournament?" asked Joey.
"Join?" asked Tristan. "How'd you make it all the way to the finals? This is freaking me out."
But instead of answering, Bakura looked across the arena and he said, "Hey look, it's the seventh finalist."
We all turned and Bakura stepped forward and put his arms around me again.
"This guy looks familiar," I heard Joey say.
"He must hold the third Egyptian God Card," I heard Kaiba think.
"I missed you," Bakura whispered in my ear.
"I missed you too," I said, smiling despite everything. "I'm glad that you're okay."
"I can take care of myself, sweetheart, you don't have to worry about me," said Bakura. "And now that I'm feeling better and we're both finally in the same place, maybe we can pick up where we left off with that kiss. What do you think?"
I glanced up at him and tried to hide my smile. "I'll have to check my schedule," I teased.
"Oh, I have a feeling you'll make room for me," said Bakura.
"State your name right now," Kaiba demanded as the man approached us.
"I am Marik," he said. He was tall and dark skinned, with gold-colored eyes. His lips were turned down in what looked like a permanent frown and the left side of his face was covered in tattoos. He was dressed in a long black robe with a hood over his head.
"I'll kick your brainwashing butt!" Joey yelled.
"You are no match for me, fool," said the man, turning his gaze on Joey.
Something was weird. I frowned, watching him.
"The only reason I'm not tossing you out by your cape right now is so that I can take you down in the finals," said Joey.
"I could disqualify you for hacking yourself into my tournament right now," said Kaiba. "But you have something I want and before the finals are over, your Egyptian God Card will be mine."
"Doesn't look like you have too many friends around here, tattoo face," said Mokuba.
A few moments passed and then a large blimp landed. The Battle City Finals were going to be played in the sky. Everyone was told to climb aboard. The two men working for Kaiba tried to stop Duke, Serenity, Tristan, Tea, and me from boarding, but Kaiba told them he didn't care. I hurried up after Bakura. Kaiba and Mokuba boarded behind us.
A wave of nausea hit me, and Ishizu's voice flooded my mind. "I'm here to save you, my brother. The final confrontation begins and the fate of the world hangs in the balance."
I paused for a moment, leaning against the wall to shake the nausea. Duke stopped to help me and then escorted me to the sky deck. There was a clear wall where we could see the city lights below us. Kaiba was talking to Yugi. Duke and I walked over to the window and looked down at the city.
"Thanks, Devlin," I said, quietly.
"Anything for a pretty girl," said Duke, smiling. "Besides, I need to earn more brownie points than that Bakura kid, huh?"
I blushed and didn't answer.
The finalists were told to go to their rooms. Serenity followed Joey, but Duke, Tristan, Tea, and I were left awkwardly on the sky deck. A few minutes later, Mokuba showed up.
"Hey, Olive," he said. "We're trying to find some rooms right now, so just hang out for a while until I tell you otherwise."
"Okay, little Kaiba," I said.
He rolled his eyes. "You don't have to call me that, Olive," he said.
I laughed. "I know." I kissed his cheek and we went down the hall to Yugi's room.
But we didn't stay long. Yugi almost immediately asked us to leave. He said he needed some time alone to prepare.
"Let's go check out Joey's room," Tristan suggested. "I bet it's huge."
The door was open, so we walked in.
"Nah, I think Yugi's room is bigger," said Tea.
Duke made his way over to the fridge. It was filled with drinks and snacks.
"What's the matter? You guys never heard of a doorbell or knocking?" Joey demanded, sounding irritated.
"It's good to see you too, buddy," I said, rolling my eyes and following Duke over the fridge. I reached for a bottle of coconut flavored rum, but Duke grabbed it first.
"Allow me," he said, going over to the cupboards to look for cups.
"You know," I said. "Kaiba knows I like that stuff. I wonder if he stocked up on it just for me."
Duke grinned. "That must be it," he said. "There's tequila in there too."
I shook my head. "No thanks," I said. "Tequila makes me lose my inhibitions and not think straight."
Duke laughed. "So maybe Kaiba stocked up on tequila just for you too," he joked.
"Relax," Tristan told Joey. "We need a place to crash while they try to find some rooms for us." He began to rummage through the fridge while Tea sat down and flipped through the room service menu.
"Room service on Joey!" she cheered.
"Get out of my room, guys!" Joey yelled.
"Come on, Joey," said Serenity. "Be a good sport. They're hungry. And they're lots of fun too."
"But I can't focus," said Joey. "How am I supposed to prepare for duels will all this going on?"
"Serenity..." I began, holding out a cup to her.
"You are not to take any drinks from Olive," Joey cut me off.
"Fine," I said, rolling my eyes and taking a big gulp.
"You could say thanks," Duke said.
"I could," I agreed.
He gave me a look and walked over to Serenity, pushing Tristan out of the way. "Hey, Serenity," he said, with a pointed look at me. "Wanna check out the view with me?" He took her hand and led her over to the window.
"That was my line," I heard Tristan grumbled, sinking into a chair.
"Don't worry, man," I said, sitting on his lap. "Duke's just trying to make me jealous. It bugged him how close Bakura and I are."
We watched them look out the window and talk quietly.
Joey groaned and sat next to us.
"Hey, sorry we screwed up your family time," said Tristan.
"You wouldn't have to be sorry if you would leave," Joey grumbled. "Go bother Yugi."
"He wanted some peace and quiet before the finals started, Joey," I said.
"I'm dueling too, you know," Joey growled.
"Oh, that's right," I said.
"Jerks," said Joey. Then he looked at Tristan. "By the way, thank you. For taking care of my sister."
Tristan looked flushed. "Just helping out a buddy," he said. He scooted me off his lap and mumbled something about going to get some drinks.
"It means a lot," Joey told him.
Tristan smiled. "Any time. I mean it," he said.
"Someone has a crush on Serenity," I said, in a sing-song voice.
"Apparently a lot of people do," said Joey, looking annoyed. He was watching Serenity and Duke.
"Duke's trying to make me jealous," I said. "I think I'm the first girl he's met who doesn't fall all over him, and when I ran to see Bakura, he got annoyed."
"Maybe he's sick of chasing after you," Joey suggested.
I shrugged. "I doubt it," I said. Then I laughed. "Have a drink!" I said. "I'll mix you one or Tristan can get you a beer."
"I don't drink," said Joey.
I gave him a look. "I've had beers with you, Joseph Wheeler," I said. "Don't lie to me."
"Fine, I don't want to drink the night before the tournament," said Joey.
"A couple beers will just relax you," I said. "It'll do you some good. Trust me. You don't want to think too hard. They always say that the night before the big competition, you should relax or you'll psych yourself out."
As everyone ate and talked and I drank, I felt myself growing more and more relaxed. Before long, I was laying on the couch, my head feeling fuzzy. I felt dizzy every time I sat up. It was then, in my relaxed state, that I realized something wasn't right.
"Marik's voice," I whispered, sitting up too fast and falling off the couch.
"Olive, are you okay?" asked Tea.
"It wasn't the same voice I heard in my mind," I said.