Me: Hey everyone and welcome back to another brand new chapter to The Millennium Puzzle
Hikari: Hopefully everyone enjoyed the last chapter
Me: Yeah, for things are about to spice up in the next chapters to come
Hikari: So without further ado please enjoy Chapter 25 to The Millennium Puzzle
Disclaimer: We do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! and never will. It's the rightful property of Kazuki Takahashi the only things we do own are the manga that we buy. We also do not own Heila or Yami Heila for they belong to Animegirl20 she's just kind enough to loan them to us the only one we do own is Arainaina and any others who may appear in future chapters.
"..."- Talking
'...'- Thoughts
(...)- Yami to Hikari
/.../- Hikari to Yami
Duel 25: The One-Inch Terror
"Yugi, want to go to the arcade?" asks Joey as he and Yugi walked home from school. "Sure, Let's Go" chimes Yugi to his pale Joey for it was another gorgeous day in Domino and the teens were looking for something fun to do.
/Yami just letting you know I'm going to the arcade with Joey/ replies Yugi threw the mind link for ever since the mishap with Kaiba over monster capsule Yami had become super protective of him always wanting to know where he was and even though Yugi didn't mind he knew something bothered Yami after that encounter but he wouldn't say why.
(Okay aibou) was all Yami said before going back to what he was doing which was staring at the book on Yugi's desk as it still continued to sit there for neither had been able to see Heila or Yami Heila at school and for some reason whenever they would swing by their house no one would answer the door.
"I guess I owe them an apology" sighs Yami as he moves his gaze away from the book. "But I can't help shake the fact that they knew Shadi and hid that fact from me...not to mention they put Yugi in danger because of it" growls Yami before turning to leave the room.
Meanwhile, Yugi and Joey had just managed to reach the arcade before Joey cheered in excitement. "AWRIGHT! TODAY I'M FINALLY GONNA BREAK THIS DUDE'S RECORD".
"Is this someone good at arcade games Joey?" asks Yugi who was curious by what Joey ment.
"Yup, this guy's a legend" replies Joey while glancing back to Yugi. "Take that racing game for example, see the top ranked guys get to record their names right? Well see this guy, this "KAI" dude" answers Joey as he points to the top players name on the game.
"KAI…?!" questions Yugi as he takes note of the name before him.
"It's not just this game...The puzzle games and the fighting games… This "KAI" has the high score on almost ALL of the games in the arcade" remarks Joey as he glances at the other machines within the arcade as if to prove a point.
"WOW! He must be AWESOME" exclaims Yugi in excitement even though deep down he knew Yami was the best.
"Plus, these games are connected online to arcades across the country, that means this "KAI" dude is the number one gamer in Japan" answers Joey as if stating a fact.
"I wonder who he is?" asks Yugi.
"DUNNO, never seen him" answers Joey with an almost shrug to the shoulders.
"But get this Yugi, If I beat this guy, I'll be the best in Japan" exclaims Joey as he gets all excited to try and beat this KAI at his own game.
"You're right" replies Yugi as he continues to watch Joey become excited for this.
"AWRIGHT! Today, I'm gonna beat "KAI"
"YAY!"
"PFFT...SHYEAH RIGHT! NOT IN A MILLION YEARS…" scoffs a kid who just happened to overhear both Yugi and Joey as they were passing by on their way out of the arcade, snickering in the process only to halt long enough for Joey's reaction.
"There's no way you can break Kaiba's record" answers the kid.
"What was that, you little brats!?" grumbles Joey as he turns to look at the kids who stood before them.
"K...HEY! You guys, Did you just say "KAIBA?" asks Yugi in surprise who couldn't help catch the name as well unaware that Yami was listening in on the other end of the mind link.
"Yeah, Kaiba the game master! He's so tight, he's like a legend", remarks one kid.
"There's two brothers, the older one's the game whiz" remarks the other as Yugi takes another glance over his shoulder at the word KAI.
'It's him...KAIBA', 'He's not just a genius at duel monsters...he's an expert at any game' thinks Yugi who had yet to notice Yami still listening in as well.
"But...they say Kaiba got bored with normal games…", "No surprise, no one can beat him" chimes the kid again who is aww over Kaiba.
"And then, there's this rumor…" remarks the other as they catch both Joey and Yugi's attention including Yami's even though he wasn't physically there but listening in through the mind link in case Yugi needed him or something.
"He's working on this super secret project… They say he's building the ultimate game…" smirks the kid almost like he knew more than he was leading on.
'The ultimate game…' wonders Yugi.
'Could it be… DEATH T' thinks Yami who remembered back to the other Kaiba's words when they were playing capsule monster chess.
"LATER! Have fun challenging his record forever! WA HA HA HA HA" laugh the kids before they turn and leave the shop.
"GRRR…" growls Joey all the while Yugi just stares at him pondering over the information he just learnt in regards to Kaiba.
"LET'S PLAY, YUGI!" shouts Joey who totally did a 360 once the kids were gone from site as if they were never there.
"OKAY"
And with that said, Joey and Yugi run over to the games and start playing Joey on the race car games and Yugi over to the fighting games. "ARRGGH! I SUCK AT THIS ONE!" cries Joey who was sucking it up pretty terribly with the race car game before he finally decided to call it quits and find Yugi.
"I'll play a fighting game" remarks Yugi almost happily as he loads in his money before moving to pick a character. "I'll play as "The dragon, Bruce Ryu", "He's a Kung Fu Master".
"Hey, he looks just like Bruce Lee" exclaims Joey who was watching Yugi the whole time as the screen flashed Ready at the top of the screen.
"Yeah! I'm a big fan of him" replies Yugi.
'Bruce Lee, everyone knows this legendary action star. His best-known films are Fists of Fury (1971), The Chinese Connection (1972), Way of the Dragon (1972) and Enter the Dragon (1973)'. Thinks Yugi before jumping right into the game.
"Alright! I can't lose with this combo" exclaims Yugi as he K.O the challenging opponent.
"Hey, not bad" remarks Joey.
"Oh! Someone's challenging me" replies a surprised Yugi. "I love these sit down fighting games cause you never know who you're fighting against".
"WHOA! He's using Bruce Ryu too", AWRIGHT! I can't lose", "Ready", "GO" and just like that Yugi moved into the next round fighting another Bruce Ryu.
"AH-TAAH! YEAH GET HIM", "HAI-YAAH!" shouts Yugi as he moves in for the finishing move.
"Awright! You got him with the close-quarters attack, the "one inch punch" remarks Joey who was watching the whole thing as Yugi K.O another player.
"NEW CHALLENGER", "OH, It's the same guy, he continued" remarks Yugi as he goes back to playing with the same challenger.
"I WIN"
"I WIN AGAIN"
And just like so, Yugi continued to play and play with the same challenger everytime he would beat him as if the other guy wouldn't take defeat nicely.
"WHA… He's challenged me again!" cries Yugi who was in total shock that the guy wanted to keep going.
"Is this the same guy? This is like the 30th time...Weak guys never give up" remarks Joey who was starting to get annoyed with the dude who wouldn't stop challenging his friend before deciding to go over to the vending machine.
"Want something to drink Yugi? It's on me" asks Joey.
"Thanks! I'll have a cola" replies Yugi to Joey as he continues to play the fighting game while Joey goes to get drinks for them.
"OK" was all Joey could say as he heard Yugi say I win again.
(Aibou...what are you doing?) asks Yami via mind link.
/I'm playing this fight game… apparently the person I beat wants to keep playing/ answers Yugi to Yami as he tries to explain about the game.
(Well, just be careful koi, I don't want you getting hurt because of some game) admits Yami who didn't like what Yugi was saying about the challenger being the same person over and over again.
But as this was going, Yugi couldn't help but notice the screen of the game he was playing. "Oh… Looks like he's not continuing…"
'HEE HEE… I wonder if he gave up…' wonders Yugi who unbeknownst to him the other player was just on the other side of the machine fuming at the many losses he had received from Yugi during their time together.
Furious, the guy moves to stand before walking around the machines and straight over to Yugi with a pissed off face. "Hey Kid! Turn around" remarks the guy catching Yugi's attention in the process.
"HUH…?!" was all Yugi had a chance to say before the guy threw a punch right at Yugi's face which sent him flying right off the chair and to the ground.
"You brat! Don't act so tough just because you won at a video game! I'll show you what a real fight is! HOYAHH" spats the older guy, venom dripping from every word as he continues to throw punches left and right at poor Yugi.
"AH-TAH-TAH-TAH-TAH-TAH-TAH-TAH-TAH-TAH"
"HAI YAA!", "HOYAAH!" come the cries of the guy which catches the attention of the other children within the arcade as he continues to plummet Yugi like a boxing bag which was also affecting Yami in the process for he had felt the full force of the guys first punch to the face which had caught him off guard and sent him to his knees before the onslaught of blows continue to rain down on him.
(AIBOU! What's happening) grunts Yami as he tries to reach Yugi via link.
/…/ was the only response Yami was able to get from Yugi.
(AIBOU! KOI!) screams Yami as he continues taking blow after blow to the face unsure of what was happening to his beloved.
"UGGH…" whimpers Yugi once the guy had stopped punching him right in the face.
"HA HA! Where's your arrogant grin now! Let me see you laugh again! Hey" and with that the guy makes one final swing at Yugi which sends him flying backwards to the ground exposing his Millennium Puzzle and his only connection to Yami currently.
"Hey! That's a cool pendant you got there… I always take a prize from the opponents I beat in my street fights! HEH HEH…" laughs the guy evilily as he licks his pocket knife before bending down over Yugi and grabbing his Millennium Puzzle.
"I guess you won't mind if I take this" and with that he grabbed the Millennium Puzzle which took any chance Yami had with Yugi for as soon as Yugi's puzzle vanished so did Yami's leaving both of them defenseless.
"HA HA HA… Fighting games really DO help burn off stress" laughs the guy as he turns to walk out of the arcade with Yugi's puzzle in tow.
"HEY! HEY! Are you okay?!" asks a kid as he moves to kneel next to Yugi who tried to move off the ground once the guy had left.
"URK…" grunts Yugi as he tries to fight back tears as he notices his puzzle missing.
/Yami?/ tries Yugi, hoping Yami would be able to hear him.
(...)
/YAMI/ cries Yugi but like before all Yugi is met with is silence for as long as the puzzle remained gone neither would be able to communicate with each other let alone merge with one another.
'MY PUZZLE… MY PUZZLE IS…' cries Yugi's mind as he begins to panic because he knew without it Yami wouldn't be able to help.
"HOT HOT HOT.. Jeez, this canned coffee is HOT…" remarks Joey as he began heading back to Yugi from the vending machines only to notice Yugi on the ground surrounded by kids. "WHA…!"
"YUGI!" cries Joey as he drops the can of hot coffee and rushes to his friends side. "Yugi! Are you alright?!"
"Y-Yeah… I'm okay…" grunts Yugi as he tries to get up off the floor.
"GGRR…" glares Joey as one of the kids point in the direction of the guy who bullied Yugi and stole his Millennium Puzzle.
"HEH HEH... I like this pendant! It almost looks like real gold…" smirks the guy as he looks down at the puzzle hanging from around his neck, completely unaware that he was being followed.
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!"
"EH…?" replies the guy as he turns to see Joey standing behind him with a pissed off look.
"HOW DARE YOU HURT MY BUDDY… I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU LIVE!"
"HEH HEH… You got guts to challenge me to a street fight" scoffs the guy as he and Joey move to a secluded alley way.
"It's not a fight! It's gonna be a slaughter and then I'm gonna take back that pendant" answers Joey as he holds his ground with the bully in front of him.
"Well, get this! I've never lost a fight. I know karate and boxing. You're the one who's gonna die" grins the guy as he cracks his knuckles, waiting for his fight with Joey to start.
"Quit flapping your jaws and make your move" barks Joey who wanted to end things quickly so that he could get back to Yugi and return his Millennium Puzzle.
"Don't be in such a hurry… HEH HEH… I may not look like it, but I'm a big fan of Bruce Lee… Bruce Lee wasn't just an action star, he was a REAL fighter. He showed his true strength to the world in the ed porter international karate tournament at Long Beach! That's where he used his "One Inch Punch" the records show that with just one inch, and no handicap, his punch blew his opponent away" replies the guy as he goes about explaining everything about Bruce Lee to Joey.
"Do you get it? Just- One- Inch! And now I'm going to teach you the terror of one inch"
"Let's do this like a fighting game! And if you win, i'll give this pendant back" grins the guy who was getting excited about using the one inch punch on Joey.
"A GAME?!" asks Joey almost confusedly as if he wasn't sure what was running through this guys mind.
"Let me tell you the rule! You fight with this knife clenched in your teeth" remarks the guy as he holds out an extra knife to Joey as he goes about explaining the rules.
"WHAT?!"
"If you don't like it, I can smash this puzzle right here"
"GGGH…"
"See… Like this…" grins the guy as he moves to show Joey that he'd do the exact same thing. "I'll have a knife in my teeth too. We'll be evenly matched".
'Or so you think… Mine is a trick knife where the blade slips into the hilt' smirks the guy as he places the knife between his teeth hoping to fool Joey in the process.
"Alright! I'll play! But first… Take that knife out of your mouth! I don't mind doing it… but if YOU had one, I'd have to hold back on punching your face" smirks Joey as he moves to place his own blade between his teeth before standing his ground.
"HA HA HA… fine, it's your funeral! But when I punch you in the face, that knife will go right into your throat! One inch is enough to kill you! This is a "GAME of DEATH" just like the film with Bruce Lee"
"Let's go"
"HAI-YAA"
And with that the guy makes the first move throwing fist after fist towards Joey who could barely hold his ground. "URK…" grunts Joey as he continues to dodge. 'He's right… I'm one inch between life and death'.
"HAI-YAA", "HAI-YAA" shouts the guy as he continues throwing punches, each one landing closer and closer to Joey's face.
"GGK…"
'It gets worse! In this narrow alley, I can't dodge that far to either side! He's got a double advantage' thinks Joey as he continues to try his best in dodging each punch.
"HEH… What's wrong?! You punch so slow, I can see 'em coming the day before" taunts Joey.
"Y-You! Are you making fun of me?! Take your hands out of your pockets" huffs the guy in front of him as he starts to tire out from trying to punch Joey in the face.
"I have promises to my friend in both these pockets… You don't get to see 'em 'til it's over" remarks Joey as he continues to hold his ground.
"HEH HEH…"
"YOUR TORSO IS WIDE OPEN" yells the guy as he moves to punching Joey's stomach.
"GUK…!" chokes Joey as he doubles over in pain from being slugged in the guts.
"THIS IS IT… DIEEE!" yells the guy as he aims for the face.
"GGHH…"
'ALL RIGHT! THESE ARE MY PROMISES!'
And with that Joey makes a quick dodge before opening up a can of cola that he had shaken up in his coat pocket which ends up spraying all over the guys face, blinding him in the process. "AGH-... PBBT…", "WHA…" sputters the guy as he tries to clear his face of cola.
"HEH HEH… This is the promise from my left pocket…A COLA!" exclaims Joey as he holds up the shaken up can of cola before moving on to his right pocket.
"UGH… My eyes... " cries the guy as he continues to wipe at his eyes.
"And here's what's in my right pocket…" answers Joey as he brings out his right hand with a grin.
"EEP... "
"THE PROMISE TO CLOBBER YOU!" and with that Joey makes a swing for the guys face, making direct contact with him and sending him flying.
"HEH, Not in a million years you jerk" spats Joey as he spits out the knife before walking up to the guy who now laid motionless on the ground after being knocked out by Joey's swift punch to the face. "Uh Oh...Broken jaw...Not my problem…" remarks Joey as he bends down to grab Yugi's puzzle.
"YUGI! I've got your puzzle back", "Now all I've gotta do… Is buy another cola" is all that Joey says as he begins to make his way back to Yugi, Millennium Puzzle in hand.
TBC
A/N: Well? Good? Bad? Please R&R. I know probably not my best chapter but the next chapter will be Duel 26: Russian Roulette, here we get to see more of Heila and Yami Heila and more from Mokuba.