Chapter Twenty-Five
"The first duel of the playoffs has come to a close," Croquet announced. "Yugi Muto has beaten Mai Valentine and will move onto the next round."
Tea, Tristan, Joey, and Bakura all cheered. I just smiled. The millennium puzzle shimmered and I knew Yugi was back.
Pegasus started to clap and we all looked at him. "Well done, Yugi," he said. "Superb duel. You certainly know how to put on a good show."
"What a creep," Tristan growled under his breath.
Yugi glared at him, but didn't say anything.
The second match began and Joey walked down to the arena.
We waited quietly for Yugi to join us.
Croquet asked for the tournament verification cards. Bandit Keith showed his, but Joey could find his anywhere.
"He lost his tournament entry card?" asked Tea in disbelief.
"Joey couldn't be that absentminded," said Bakura.
"Yea he could," said Tristan.
"Aww, what a shame," said Bandit Keith.
"If you find your card within five minutes, then you will be allowed to duel," said Croquet. "These are the rules and they will be enforced."
Joey took off running for his room.
"Can't we just disqualify that punk right now? We all know he's not coming back," said Bandit Keith.
"What's the supposed to mean?" asked Tristan.
"Come on," said Keith. "Your little friend's been scared to death of me since our little run in back at that cave. He's probably looking for a place to hide."
"Joey has never backed down from a duel before," said Yugi, glaring at Bandit Keith. "He'll be back, you'll see."
"Believe what you want, twerp," said Keith, "but there's only one minute left. Hey, Olive, are you sick of those losers yet? Ready for a real man?"
"If I recall, Yugi just won the last match," I snapped, grabbing Yugi's arm as if he were a playboy of some sort. I kissed his cheek. "You shouldn't be talking when you haven't even had a chance to lose your duel yet."
Keith scowled. "So how about if I win, I get to take you out on a little date?" he asked.
"You aren't going to win," I said.
"Then what's the problem?" asked Keith.
"Fine," I said. "A date, but only if you win. Which you won't."
"Joey better hurry," Tea said, worried.
"What if he can't find that card?" asked Tristan.
Right as the timer was about to run out, Joey arrived.
"So, you've come back to give us the bad news?" asked Keith. "Let me guess. You couldn't find that card anywhere."
Joey held out the card. "What are you talking about? I've got it right here."
Bandit Keith looked shocked.
As the duel began, I walked over to the couch and sunk down into the cushions, sighing tiredly. Bakura came to sit next to me.
"You okay?" he asked. "You're looking a little pale."
I nodded. "I'm fine, I just feel so tired," I said. "It's weird, because I didn't stay up late last night. I must have not slept well, I guess."
Bakura looked like he was trying not to smile. "Yea," he said. "I guess not. That's too bad."
"You know, your ring really freaks me out," I told him. "I'm glad you wear it under your clothes because I don't like seeing it. Back in the cave when you offered to let me wear it, the thought was so terrifying I could barely think straight. I just…I can't touch it."
"I can understand that," said Bakura. "It freaks me out a little bit too."
I sighed and rested my head on his shoulder.
"Just remember what you're fighting for and you can't lose!" Tea called the Joey.
We watched the first few moves of the duel.
"I feel so useless," I told Bakura.
"What? Why?" he asked.
"I'm here for pretty much no reason," I said. "Pegasus invited me here to throw Kaiba off his game. I can't play duel monsters and I had to watch Kaiba and Mokuba be stolen right out from under my nose. I can't even do anything to get them back. I just feel useless."
"You shouldn't," said Bakura. "Everyone is glad that you're here. Plus, Kaiba knows you would have helped if you could have. And you tried to save Mokuba."
"Yea, I guess that's true," I said. I turned to face Bakura. "Do you remember anything from the duel when the spirit of your millennium ring took us into the shadow realm?"
"Not really," said Bakura. "I don't remember anything until I was played on the dueling field as the change of heart card."
I paused for a minute. "That sounds so weird," I said. "A year ago if someone had told me I'd be on an island in the middle of nowhere watching people play a card game in a tournament created by a nut job with a magical metal eye, I would have called the police. If you would have added in that half my friends would have magical powers and I'd start hearing people's thoughts, I would have escorted you to an insane asylum. It's just crazy that there's an evil spirit inside of your ring that can turn you into a playing card."
"Yes, well, he's very powerful," said Bakura, frowning. "I've felt his power and it's stronger than any of you realize. He is an ancient spirit and I can't do anything to stop him when he takes over." He quickly added, "I only hope he really was banished from my ring."
"Me too," I agreed. "It's funny that you call him an ancient spirit because that's what he called me."
"What?" asked Bakura. "When?"
"When you were a playing card," I said, smirking. "In the shadow realm he spoke to the spirit of Yugi's puzzle. He told him that I was an ancient spirit and that I had great power. When we were in the shadow realm, he…drank some of the blood from my cut," I said, motioning to the scar on my cheek. "Since then, I've been able to sense millennium items and hear the thoughts of those who use them."
"I…he…drank your blood?" asked Bakura, making a face.
"Well, I guess it was technically your body," I said. "Which is even stranger."
"I wonder what he meant by an ancient spirit," said Bakura.
"I'm not sure," I said. "But the spirit in the millennium puzzle and the millennium ring are ancient too. I know they are. I wonder if maybe I knew them in a past life or something like that. I've never believed in that stuff, but after all I've seen the last few weeks, I guess anything it possible."
"You're becoming more and more pale," Bakura whispered to me. "Maybe you should go back to your room and rest."
I nodded my head. "Yea, you're right," I said. "I think I will, but just so you know, Joey's going to win and Keith is cheating."
I lay down in bed for about thirty minutes, when I realized I was never going to be able to sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Kaiba's blank eyes or evil Bakura from the Millennium Ring. I couldn't stand those images in my head, so I got up and headed back up to the dueling arena, just in time to see Bandit Keith's life points drop to zero.
"Yea!" Tristan cheered.
"This duel doesn't count!" Bandit Keith yelled, slamming his hands down on the platform.
I jumped and Bakura snickered a little bit.
"Shut up," I muttered.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked.
"Nightmares," I explained.
"Doesn't count? What is he talking about?" Tristan demanded.
"Keith just doesn't know when to quit," said Tea.
"The entry card Joey showed to play in this match wasn't even his," said Bandit Keith. "Therefore the duel shouldn't count and he ought to be disqualified right here."
"He's right," said Joey. "My card was missing so Mai gave me hers. But, tell me, Keith. How could you have known that this wasn't my card? I'm all ears. Why don't you explain yourself?"
"He doesn't need to," said Pegasus. "It's clear that Keith stole Joey's card. That's why he was so certain that you would never be able to find it."
"You son of a bitch," said Joey. "I knew it!"
"What a cheat!" Tea exclaimed.
"Then Keith ought to be disqualified, not Joey," said Tristan.
I laughed, drawing everyone's stare. I shrugged. "It just seemed funny for some reason," I said.
"Oh, Keith ought to be disqualified alright," said Pegasus. "But not just for what he did outside the dueling ring. There was quite a bit of misconduct taking place during the match that I observed as well." His millennium eye glittered and I could almost ignore the headache.
"Is that so, Keith?" asked Joey, looking pissed.
"Oh yes," said Pegasus. "Keith kept his set of seven completed cards beneath his wristband. That way he could power up his slot machine monster whenever he wanted to."
"Man, Keith, that's low," said Joey.
"Take the scoundrel away," Pegasus ordered his men. "Far away." Two men escorted Keith out. Pegasus clapped for Joey. "Well done, Joseph. You should be proud. You dueled quite admirably."
Suddenly, Keith broke away from the men and came running back down the bridge. He jumped and used the dueling platform for momentum, launching himself at Pegasus where he sat on his own balcony opposite ours.
"Pegasus!" he yelled. He landed on the balcony and put his fist to Pegasus's head.
Pegasus smiled and closed his eyes. "You truly are a stubborn one, aren't you?" he asked.
"Shut up," said Keith. "You aren't talking your way out of this one. Now hand over the prize money or else."
"Oh, certainly Keith, I'll do whatever you say," said Pegasus, with a slightly mocking tone in his voice. "Just give my body a moment to recover from the complete paralysis that your terrifying demands have shocked me into."
"Okay, wise guy. I'll give you til three," said Keith.
Pegasus opened his eyes. "Fine," he said. "One, two, three." He stepped on a button next to his foot and Keith fell through a trap door.
"There will now be a ten minute recess," said Croquet. "So rest up. Our host wants you in top form for your duel."