Well, here we go! Chappy one. This is where it begins to get interesting. R&R, it would be nice to know what my readers like and don't. Oh, another thing, I happen to be anti-Téa, so there might be a few minute little things that put her down in my writing, but nothing major. She doesn't die… yet…
Disclaimer- Yes, MINEMINEMINE! -grabs Yugi and drags him away- What? Own Yu-Gi-Oh? No, only Yugi ^^
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Chapter One- The Fatal Decision:
The castle towered up before the small group of high school friends. An ominous castle made from impenetrable rocks that looked like sand but were harder than diamond. The double metal doors were just as solid, and it was those horrible slabs of metal that kept the young boy from rescuing his grandfather. He'd journeyed so far to rescue a loved one, and that same compassion had backfired, causing him to loose the only chance he would ever have to reclaim his relative. The gathering consisted of 5 people. 5 in all, however only four of those were there mentally. The four who stood, Tristan, Joey, Bakura and Téa had just witnessed their friends' biggest loss; he'd just lost any hope that he had left. Of course, that appeared to be the only reason for Yugi Mûto's sadness on the outside, inside though, it went much deeper.
'That ancient spirit inside of me… what if it had attacked Kaiba? He would have fallen, and I would have been none less than a murderer, no better than Pegasus or Seto Kaiba for what they have done' Gloved fists clenched inside the purple dueling gloves. Dueling Gloves that had been issued for the tournament that Yugi had so hoped to enter, had spaces for 10 star chips, golden stars that clarified the rank and skill of a Duelist… but now, Kaiba had taken five of Yugi's 10, leaving the boy lacking half of what he needed. But most of all, most desperately, Yugi seeked control; the freedom of not having to worry about the spirit inside his Millennium Puzzle, the will to control himself, and not have to fight for each movement. As Yugi shut his eyes tight, trying so desperately to block everything out, light, life, sound, he let forth a few sparkling droplets of water which trailed down his pale cheek to the ground, splattering in small bunches.
'Is there anyway I can know that I will be free of this evil once and for all, or does such a thing not exist on this planet, or on any planet? This ancient power dwells inside of my puzzle… what if I no longer had possession of the puzzle? No, that would do no good. Perhaps I could… if this puzzle were to shatter, I wonder what would happen to the horror that roams within?' One of Yugi's hands moved to the inverted pyramid of gold that hung around his neck as a pendant. It had taken so long to piece it together and unleash the magic of Egypt within, but who could have known how far that magic spirit was ready to go to win… 'It's as if one second I'm battling against Kaiba, next I'm struggling with myself. With, another spirit, inside of me… How'd do you fight something like that? How can I ever duel again, ever be free… what do you do when someone stronger takes control? What do you do then?'
Yugi's thoughts would have continued, had Joey Wheeler- the blonde haired, green clad youth who was Yugi's Best friend- not stepped in and offered the younger teen his star chips. It was a noble move on Joey's part. Whilst Yugi dueled to save the soul of his grandpa, Joey dueled for his blind sister, Serenity. The money he could win from the tournament would pay for her operation; and for Joey, the gaining of all 10 star chips was not an easy feat. He was, in true terms, an amateur, and was going up against duelists with twice, or three times his experience. Those five star chips, when given to Yugi, would grant the younger the right to enter the tournament, but would mean that Joey could not so much as set foot inside the building. Yugi however, turned his head away, 'I almost couldn't control it… the ancient spirit… I can never duel again, it's too dangerous… what if the spirit were to take control again, and put winning first, even above the well-being of another duelist… another friend'
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|..There's a presence deep within,
Search your soul, take control, you will win.
Two forces intertwined,
Just need the guidance of an open mind.
There's a power that's all around,
If you stand with your friends it won't let you down.
And when you come undone,
They stand by your side 'til the duel is won..|
~ Heart Of the Cards--
Joey watched, annoyed as a few more trails of water appeared falling down the side's of Yugi's face, but no other recognition was given to the sacrifice the blonde was willing to make for his best friend. Joey's eyes hardened, and just as he was about to scoop the boy up, lift him off the ground by his collar and shake him fiercely until some sense was knocked into that head of his, Yugi's back arched and he stood up slowly and stiffly, like a robot, every move precise and jarring. He opened his eyes and looked down at the puzzle around his neck. It had caused nothing but pain… he didn't need the powers of this Millennium Item… 'I can do it by myself'. In one swift movement, Yugi had swept the pyramid pendant from around his neck, and swung his arm back over his shoulder.
All his friends' eyes went wide as they had had no idea what was coming to cause their little friend to do this. It all seemed to happen in slow motion… Yugi's arm slew an arc through the air, before the puzzle connected with the ground and fingers let their tight grip loosen on the string and the puzzle completely left Yugi's grasp, for the first time in what must have been weeks. Joey had one arm reaching to try and grab the puzzle, or maybe Yugi; Bakura had taken a step backwards, a hand over his own Millennium Item, a beautiful halo of gold. Tristan had brought one hand to his face, Téa blinked stupidly, as she felt so much sorrow for Yugi, still catching up to the fact he had stood. It seemed to pause for a moment here, giving it enough time for a haunting light to build up in the center of the eye that graced the front most face of the pyramid, until time took a leap forward again, and the puzzle shattered into so many tiny pieces. 'All that hard work… all that time… but I am a free soul once more!' Yugi felt as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders, now that the Millennium Puzzle lay on the ground near his sneakers, shattered in an unfixable mess of golden jagged edges.
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Serina: I Heart Pointy Hair
