Chapter VIII Part Two: Feel the Burn! Gemin's Fiery Deck!

Ranma decided that trap doors suck. Especially ones with a slide and taking him further away from Hotaru. Eventually he reached the end of the slide and fell a number of meters before landing in cold water. The Flame Champion fell next to him. They swam to the shore of the underground lake as Ranma patted his still male chest.

"Damn good thing I don't have a curse anymore."

The Champion took a few moments to reheat his shield, and eventually made it burst into flames again.

"I suppose we need to find our way out of here. But where is Hotaru?"

Then monster and duelist walked down a tunnel after a few moments and wondered exactly where in the hell they were.

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"God Damn It!"

Flames, Ice, Water, Spheres of Power, Venus Love Chains, Thunder and Large Pink Hearts. All attacks of the Sailor Senshi.

Not one of them was working. The Dark Nebula had a very limited amount of 'Magocal' a metal that was stronger than steel and could reflect magical attacks. And with the energy-based weapons on the Tank-Like Spider-Like machine they were facing they knew they couldn't outlast it.

"Mercury, doesn't it have a weakness?" Moon asked as the two Scouts in question took cover behind a tree.

"It has an exhaust pipe on the top of it. We might be able to destroy it if we fired a non-magical energy attack inside it, but I haven't an idea were we can get a non-magical energy attack strong enough."

So as the hapless and helpless Senshi dodged a walking tank good old Murphy decided that he'd do his good deed for the year.

It came with the sound of regurgitating and from far overhead. As the Scouts and even the magic-resistant machine of war looked upwards one could see a sick lost boy coming down from a very high trajectory. Said trajectory was towards the exhaust pipe Mercury, Senshi of the planet of the same name, had told Sailor Moon, future princess, about.

With an odd sound Ryoga firmly wedged himself into the pipe. However his depression had hit an all time high. He was chased by a blonde girl who couldn't get enough, met The Telletubbies in a realm close to hell, been blasted by a dozen or more very powerful females, just ate something that HIGHLY disagreed with him and was sent sailing by his lovely Akane of all people.

So with no other outlet Ryoga released his depression the only way he could.

So the Scouts were treated to a muffled shout of 'SHI SHI HOKODAN!!' and the tank exploding from the inside.

This also caused the lost boy to sail back into the sky. As he sailed into the distance the Scouts heard a new shout.

"RANMA! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"

The collected Scouts gave a blink in complete unison heads still turned sky-wards.

"Ummm... Hoo-ray for love and justice?"

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"This passageway leads on forever!"

Even with the Flame Champion lighting the way Ranma was still in a sour mood. He couldn't tell if Hotaru was hurt or not, and with her weak body she have more trouble than he was wherever she was.

Eventually the passage led to an open cavern. At the opposite end of the cavern he saw...

"A labyrinth? Down here? What is going on here?"

"What is going on is a test duelist."

Ranma looked upwards towards the voice. A young man about his age leapt down from a place at the top of the cavern. He landed lightly on his feet and faced Ranma. Black robes with white markings covered his body, and his head was bare save a ponytail that ran to the small of his back.

"I am Gemin, one half of Cousins Gemin-Nai."

'Gemin? Gemin-Nai? What kind of names are those?'

"It is fate you have come to Labyrinth Cave, and I am your first test. We play a friendly duel, but with stakes. If you win I will lead you into the end of the maze. Lose and you must find your own way. Step from the proper path and the traps laid here by my forefathers shall kill you."

"And what of Hotaru?"

"If it is the girl of whom you speak my cousin Nai is her challenge. He will give her the same stakes as I have you."

"No choice then huh? Fine, Ranma Yu-Gi-Oh accepts your challenge!"

"Then, LET US DUEL!"

Once again the arena lit up, and the podiums rose. Flame Champion was recalled automatically by the games. Each player shuffled their deck and drew five cards.

------------ Ranma: 2000 Gemin: 2000 ------------

Gemin held up a card. "I move first with Fireyarou in attack mode." (1300/1000)

Gemin's monster rose up in the form of a young man in a lotus position while on fire.

'A fire monster huh? Well, lets bring out some fire-power!' "I also play a monster into attack mode, The Overdrive!"

Ranma's monster took the form of a half tank half jeep hybrid with a large mounted multi-barrelled Vulcan cannon. (1600/1500)

"Overdrive, Vulcan Rapid Fire Burst!"

As the weapon rotated bullets were fired at the fire-man, destroying him.

------------ Ranma: 2000 Gemin: 1700 ------------

"Ah, as I thought. But now my turn is here. One card I place face down, as well as Thyone Number Two, in attack mode." (1700/1900)

Gemin's new monster looked like a red rounded head with a cylinder like snout and a pair of wings.

"Burning Fireball!" Upon the call a red-hot ball of flames was breathed towards Overdrive, melting the machine-based monster.

------------ Ranma: 1900 Gemin: 1700 ------------

"You move Ranma."

Ranma drew his new card and nodded. "Vorse Raider, in attack mode, and a second card face down."

Raising from the ground the maniacally grinning beast-warrior hefted it's axe up high. (1900/1200)

"Attack Thyone Vorse Raider!"

The creature ran at the mini-dragon as Gemin flipped his down card.

"I activate my trap, Skull Dice." A giant dice was tossed into Vorse Raider's path. "The number it shows will be multiplied by one hundred, then it will be deducted from Vorse Raider's attack!"

As the dice finished the roll it showed the number four, reducing the axe wielder's attack as he went through (1500/1200).

"Burning Fireball!"

The small dragon let out another burst of flames, incinerating Vorse Raider.

------------ Ranma: 1700 Gemin: 1700 ------------

"And now I make my move." He drew a card and smiled. "And I now play Flame Cerebrus in attack mode." (2100/1800)

Roaring as it reached the field the burning three-headed dog stood menacingly at Ranma.

"You move."

Ranma drew a card as well, and also smiled as he saw it.

"I place another card face down, and place the Curse of Dragon (2000/1700) in attack mode!"

Ranma's bony dragon floated from the ground hovering over the field.

"Dragon Flame Assault, destroy Thyone!"

The dragon opened it's mouth and spewed out flames, hitting the smaller dragon with a powerful impact, shattering it.

------------ Ranma: 1700 Gemin: 1400 ------------

"Ha! You may have destroyed one of my beasts, but the other will crush you! Cerebrus, attack! Triple Fire Burn!"

As the three heads opened their mouths to attack Ranma played one of his down cards. Within moments a magic seal sprung from the ground trapping the fire-beast.

"What is this? What holds at bay my Flame Cerebrus' attack?"

"My Spell-Binding Circle! And not only will it weaken your monster, but it entraps it as well!" (1400/1800)

Gemin faltered at the sight of his trapped beast as Ranma drew a new card. "And now I play Gaia, The Fierce Knight in Attack Mode!" (2300/2100)

As the mounted warrior came up to the field, Ranma reached for his down card. "And now I can use the other card I set, Polymerization, to combine both my monsters!"

Merging together in a burst of light Gaia once more proudly rode upon Curse of Dragon.

"Attack Gaia, The Dragon Champion! Dragon Hero's Charge!"

Flying forth on the winged steed Gaia swiped at the three-headed fire- dog, sending it to the graveyard.

------------ Ranma: 1700 Gemin: 200 ------------

"Damage I have taken is too great! I must summon a greater beast!"

Drawing from his deck he drew a new card. "Ryu-Ran, defence mode."

The new monster that rose up had wings, feet and...

Hid in a blue eggshell. It's defensive power, however, was great. (2200/2600)

"For now, that is all I can do. But my defensive monster ensures I cannot take damage."

Ranma drew his new card... and grinned. "Or so you say. I have drawn the last card of this duel."

"What do you mean? What of this card you speak?"

Ranma smiled as he played it. "Catapult Turtle, Attack Mode!"

Rising from the ground was what looked to be a large mechanized tortoise. On it's shell was what looked to be a catapult used to launch jets ripped straight from an aircraft carrier.

"Catapult Turtle lets me sacrifice a monster. In turn half of that monster's attack is deducted from your life points, regardless of a defense monster. And I'm loading Gaia, The Dragon Champion on to it's launcher."

As he said the united monster rose down onto the launcher as Ranma lifted a hand skywards. As he brought it down he yelled out "Catapult... LAUNCH!"

The turtle growled as the payload on it's back was released with incredible force. Gaia glowed a bright blue before he and the dragon glowed like a comet, soaring past Ryu-Ran and exploding in front of Gemin's podium.

------------ Ranma: 1700 Gemin: 0 ------------

As the arena left Gemin forced a smile on to his face. "What father and uncle say are true, my skills need much work."

He gestured towards Ranma by waving his arm. "Come. I have known these passages since I was a toddler. I will take you to the end of this maze."

And Ranma followed, hoping Hotaru would be at the other end.

---

"So your saying this is Japan's first spaceship?"

"Yes professor. We believe, with today's technology behind us, we can travel to mars and back! The prototype is almost finished as you can see."

The first man gestured to the second to the launching pad of one of Japan's most hidden bases. Standing tall was an 'A' shaped ship, powerful rockets on bottom of it.

"When can we test it?"

"It should..."

"Sir?" A man at the radar in the control tower began. "Unknown object closing in!"

"What!?"

All eyes turned to the sky as a sound was heard it sounded like... someone yelling?

Before anything could be done the lost human ping-pong ball known as Ryoga Hibiki crashed into the ship. Since fuel was needed for future tests the ship was full of liquid chemicals for thrust. Hence an explosion that would make Godzilla proud. The control tower, far enough from the ship to have avoided damage almost shook as the control room personal broke into a crying fit.

And once more, the third time in one day, Ryoga sailed skywards to another destination. He failed to blame Ranma, but only because he was unconscious. Other wise we all know what he'd say.

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To Be Continued...

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Duellist Profiles

Name: Gemin

Deck Style: Fireball Barrage Deck

Favourite/Best Monster: Ryu-Ran

Other Monsters: Flame Cerebrus, Thyone Number Two (#2)

Info: Raised by his father and uncle along side his cousin Nai he has learned much about duelling. Forming the force 'Gemin-Nai' with his cousin, they are an unknown force in duelling.

Author's Note: Yes that WAS a fast and easy duel, but hey, I can make everyone a threat to Ranma now can I?

Next Chapter: We're back in time to when Hotaru reached the end of the trap! And to get out she must beat Gemin's cousin Nai, and his deck of monsters!