The Quirks of Love
Part Five: From the Shadows
Yugi and his friends stood inside the game shop the next day with heavy hearts.
"I know the kid was a real brat last time," Joey spoke, "but I still can't help but feel sorry for her, ya know?"
"Poor Rebecca," Tea sighed, "she can't even duel anymore without risking unleashing duel monsters."
"It's definitely a problem," Yugi remarked.
"I just wish there was something we could do for her." Tristan said, "Someway we could help her…"
There is, a voice inside Yugi's head spoke carelessly.
Yami! Yugi perked up, You know of a way to help Rebecca?
Yami made a sound of agreement but said nothing more.
C'mon Yami, Yugi persisted, you heard Rebecca, she said she's sorry about what she said. Can't you just forgive her and help us figure out what to do?
Yami hated it when Yugi made a point. He did want to help Rebecca, and he had been hurt by what she'd said to him, but she had apologized. He supposed he could understand why she would be driven to say such things.
Alright, Yami began, it's simple. If we want to help her we must first aid her in fine tuning her powers. Once she has mental, emotional, and spiritual balance she'll be able to control her life bringing touch. It's basically the same principle that one must use when calling upon The Heart of the Cards.
Sounds easy enough, Yugi agreed. But how should we go about it?
How else? Yami answered, Duel her. Only this time, make her EARN the win.
But want she wind up calling out her creatures? Yugi questioned.
Yami nodded, That's why you'll need the same powers, you're the one who possesses the skill to call upon the cards should you need them. I don't know how Rebecca came to have such a skill but now you both must use it to duel each other as you have never dueled before. To teach her control and maintain the safety of this world, you must duel Rebecca, in the Shadow Realm.
The others were all looking at Yugi as a look of sullen determination crossed his face. He knew what he had to do. He only hoped that Rebecca was up to the challenge.
******
Rebecca sat alone in the hotel room on her bed. She already missed Yugi and his friends. They were the only real friends that she had made, except for her cards.
The Winged Huntress sat at the end of her bed gazing at Rebecca with sorrowful eyes. The young duelist seemed so distraught. The Dark Night Sorceress focused her attention out the window. Rebecca merely thought that she was keeping watch for her grandfather but in reality the card sensed something approaching. Something, with dark intentions.
"Mistress," she began, "something approaches and I don't sense it's human."
"What do you mean?" Rebecca asked getting up and joining the creature in human disguise at the window.
"There," the sorceress pointed to the entrance of the hotel below where a young woman with pale orange hair entered.
Rebecca studied the woman as she disappeared into the building. "What do you think she's up to?"
"I think she's come for someone."
"Who?"
"You."
Rebecca would've continued with her questioning but there was a knock at the door in the living room area of the suite.
Thinking perhaps that her grandfather had slipped by she went to answer the knock. As she placed her hand on the doorknob an odd and chilling sensation swept through her body. Jerking back she motioned for her two friends to join her.
"I think she's outside." Rebecca whispered.
The Winged Huntress bared her fangs through her human form, "And outside she'll stay, unless she wants to test my skills at combat."
The knocking continued, Rebecca stared silently as her duel monsters shifted out of their human forms and prepared to strike. Suddenly the doorknob twisted, "But it's locked!" Rebecca cried as the door swung open revealing the woman with the pale orange hair and yellow eyes.
The woman didn't seem fazed at all to find two duel monsters ready to attack her. "Rebecca Hawkins I presume." she smiled.
"Y-yes," Rebecca answered, "who are you? What do you want?"
"I'm a seeker of gifts, like yours." the woman answered, gesturing towards the two creatures.
Recognition came into the eyes of the sorceress, "Felaine the Proclaimer."
"Who?" Rebecca asked.
"She has great power mistress." the sorceress answered, "Felaine can be called upon by mortals to seek out those with special gifts and pit them in battle against another. The catch is that while the victor of the duel retains their power the loser must surrender their services and freedom to the mortal who's called upon Felaine."
"What?!" Rebecca gasped, "Oh no, I'm not dueling anybody!"
"The truth of the matter is that you have no choice young duelist." Felaine grinned, "A mortal has summoned me and I am bound by ancient laws to obey. Now that I've sought you out I have but one other, your opponent, to find before your duel begins."
Rebecca looked to her friends for help but she knew ancient laws weren't something that duel monsters were very good at opposing. "Don't worry mistress," The Winged Huntress vowed, "you will not lose this duel. We shall see to it."
"That is for time and talent to tell." Felaine answered as a bright glow consumed her and shifted her form to that of a cat creature with jewels and a silken robe. "Come now duelist, call back your cards. You'll need them for battle."
Rebecca was at a loss faced with such strong and ancient powers. She knew her own skills weren't strong enough to take on Felaine. She'd have to go along with this arranged duel until she could find a way out. Reluctantly she raised the two cards high above her head and ordered the two duel monsters to return. Casting threatening looks at Felaine the duel monsters returned to the cards leaving Rebecca alone with The Proclaimer.
******
Yugi entered the hotel a few minutes later. The facilities were nice, not too extravagant, but nice. Something he'd expect to be to the Hawkins liking. Rebecca's grandfather had given him the room number and spare key so he entered the elevator and fidgeted around as he started ascending levels.
"I hope this works," he murmured to himself.
The elevator dinged and he walked off into the hallway. Finally he came to Rebecca's door and knocked. He knocked twice more before inserting the key into the lock only to find that the door was unlocked.
"That's odd." he commented as he stepped inside. Yami had a bad feeling about this. "Rebecca?"
Yugi searched around and found Rebecca's room. He made his way inside and called her name. No answer. Yami was uneasy, something about this situation seemed strange, and even dangerous to him.
Yugi had just stepped back into the living room when her heard a female's voice purr, "Looking for someone Yugi Mutou?"
Yugi spun around and saw a catlike figure perched atop the living room sofa. "Wh-who are you?"
"Felaine the Proclaimer."
Yami's eyes widened as he heard this, he knew of Felaine's powers.
"What have you done with Rebecca?!" Yugi demanded.
"She hasn't been harmed, I can assure you that." Felaine replied. "She's merely been taken to a place I like to call, the Shadow Realm."
Yugi gasped, Rebecca would be totally overpowered in a place like that without someone like Yami there to help her. The strain would be overwhelming, there was no telling how long the poor girl would last.
"Don't worry about her," Felaine seemed to know his thoughts, "her powers will sustain her. For now."
"Bring her back!" Yugi ordered.
"I'm afraid I'm barred from doing so." Felaine smiled. "But if you want her back so badly, why don't you go and retrieve her yourself."
"Don't think I won't!"
No Yugi! That's just what she wants! Yami warned.
"I don't care!" Yugi answered the spirit aloud. "I have to save Rebecca."
It's a trap Yugi! Yami shouted, She wants you to enter the Shadow Realm! A mortal has summoned her and you're to be Rebecca's opponent!
"I can't just stay here and do nothing!" Yugi insisted.
Felaine waved her hand over a wall by the torn duelist. "Rebecca lies within. The Shadow Realm awaits. Will you leave her there to suffer it's power? I must caution you, the risk is great."
Listen to her Yugi! If you lose the battle you'll be trapped in the clutches of the mortal that summoned Felaine!
"I don't care," Yugi said, placing himself before the portal, "Rebecca's my friend and I won't leave her in there alone."
"Mind yourself duelist," Felaine seemed to be enjoying this heart wrenching decision, "if you lose the battle the mortal will claim you and your powers."
Without another moment's hesitation Yugi entered the portal. There was no way he was going to leave Rebecca in a place like that, even if it meant risking his own freedom and the power of his Millennium Puzzle.
******
The mortal responsible for the impending duel sat in a hotel suite not far from where the two duelists had been taken to the Shadow Realm. He held a glass of red wine and smirked as a glow emanated from the center of the dark room.
"Ah Felaine the Proclaimer," he smiled, "I trust you've done my bidding?"
"It is complete summoner," Felaine answered, "the duelists await their battle in the Shadow Realm."
"Well then," the figure began as he got to his feet and smoothed the wrinkles out of his red suit, "let's not keep them waiting."
With a slight bow Felaine waved her hand and caused another portal to appear. Then she and Pegasus entered into the Shadow Realm to witness what would surely be, the duel of the century!
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*Thanks for all the great reviews everyone, I love these twists that I keep throwing in, lol. Well, if you wanna see what's in store for Yugi and Rebecca please review and I'll have part six up soon.*