Greetings!
So very sorry for the delay in getting this posted! As I explained when I posted No Kinen Ni, I sprained my left elbow while rollerblading and was not able to type for a month.
So after the long wait, here is the last chapter of this story. Sniff, sniff. . . I've had so much fun writing it and getting to know some of you who've been reviewing since the beginning (you know who you are. Big cyber hugs and lots of cyber Oreos to you!!). I can't thank you enough for that. This was my first story so it made all the difference in the world to know that I wasn't boring you all to death! Cyber Oreos go to everyone else too for being such great reviewers. I've enjoyed reading all of your comments/suggestions/threats! I think I'm going to miss them!
QueenofGames: Wow. 20 chapters in 5 hours is very impressive, especially since my chapters are not short. Glad you decided the story was worth reading!
Okay, I'll shut up now and let you read what you really want to read. Enjoy!
**~~**
Epilogue: All's Well that Ends Well?
3 weeks later
"Come on, Tristan! He's not going to notice it if it's gone."
"Oh, yeah? His hearing has gotten pretty good, you know Joey. I wouldn't be surprised if he could hear you right now, plotting to steal his lunch!"
Yugi smiled slightly, trying very hard not to grin. After a few more moments of the continuing bickering, he opened his eyes and turned towards the sound of the voices. He could see the blurry outlines of Joey and Tristan sitting on two chairs by the far wall, his lunch tray in between them.
"With that kind of noise, I bet the nurses can hear you at their station," Yugi stated. "Joey, get your hands off my food!" he added, when he saw the blonde's hand hovering over a sandwich.
Joey and Tristan both turned towards him, both smiling sheepishly. Tristan swatted Joey on the back of the head, which caused Joey to turn and glare at him.
"What are you two still doing here? After all that time Joey spent in the hospital, I figured you'd want to be outside in the fresh air."
Yugi squinted and could barely make out Joey's grin. As if noticing Yugi's strain, both Tristan and Joey moved their chairs closer to him so that Yugi could see them better.
The coma that had been induced to repair the damage done to his brain had been successful, or so the doctors said. His vision was mainly blurry right now, but he could see. The doctor had assured him that with a few more weeks of rest and constant surveillance, he'd be back to normal. He'd suffered no permanent damage due to the operation and subsequent ordeal, which he was very grateful for.
"Are you kidding, Yug? We'd rather be in here with you."
Yugi shook his head. "In other words, my grandfather threatened bodily harm if you didn't stay in here and make sure I didn't go anywhere, right?"
Both Tristan and Joey looked at each other and then broke out into loud chuckles.
"Yeah, something like that. Gramps is pretty scary when he wants to be, you know!"
"Joey, I've only been out of my coma for a few days. I'm not going to go anywhere."
Tristan turned serious and put his hand on Yugi's arm.
"That's what we thought last time, Yugi, and look what happened. We're going to make sure nothing happens this time!"
Yugi sighed. He loved his friends. He didn't know what he'd do without them, even when they treated him like a child.
"How are you doing, Joey? Are you still in pain?"
Joey shook his head and unconsciously put his hand on his chest, over the bullet wound.
"It gets pretty bad every once in a while, especially when I sleep. Other than that, it's okay. Don't worry about it, Yugi, I'll be fine. The doctor said the wound was healing nicely."
Yugi smiled sadly. That was Joey, always the optimist.
"I'm really sorry, Joey. You had no reason to be dragged into all of this."
"Nonsense, Yugi!" Joey replied, grinning. "Besides, how else could I get the constant attention of so many beautiful nurses, all at the same time?"
Yugi laughed, wincing a little as his head began to ache.
"Hey guys!"
Yugi turned to see a blur standing by the door. He was too far away for Yugi to see any defining features, but the voice immediately identified him as Bakura.
"Hi Bakura. How are you?"
"I'm doing good, Yugi. How are you feeling?" he asked as he came closer to the bed.
"You're wearing your ring on the outside of your shirt, Bakura."
Bakura glanced down at his chest and touched the ring, then looked back up at Yugi.
"You can see it?"
Yugi nodded. "Something that glows like that is easy for me to see. It's why I haven't lost the puzzle yet. When I take it off and want to find it again, I just tell Yami to make it glow so I can find it."
*That is what I have been reduced to, huh, your 'make the puzzle glow' guy?*
Yugi laughed out loud at the unexpected jab.
**Oh, hush. You know you're much more than that**
"Sorry, that was just Yami trying to be funny," Yugi explained at the puzzled looks he was getting. "Why are you wearing the ring on the outside?" The last time that had happened, Yami Bakura had been controlling the body without Bakura's consent and was up to no good. Yugi wasn't up to dealing with Yami Bakura right now, so he wanted to make sure everything was okay.
"I don't know why, really. I hadn't realized I'd left it out," Bakura quickly replied and tucked the item underneath his shirt. "So, it's my shift now, I believe."
Yugi's eyes narrowed at Bakura's response, but said nothing. "Don't tell me, my grandfather has dragged you into making me stay put as well?"
Bakura chuckled. "He's definitely persistent."
"I'll stay with Yugi, you can all go."
All four teens turned to the door. Yugi didn't see anything but white, but the voice gave him away.
"Kaiba, what a surprise," Yugi said.
"It shouldn't be. We have unfinished business." Kaiba turned to the others. "I'd like to talk to Yugi alone."
Joey shook his head, and then leaned down so that his mouth was next to Yugi's ear.
"He's been chomping at the bit to talk to you for the past week so I'm going to be nice and leave. You can thank me later, Yug."
Yugi grinned and said goodbye to his friends. He had no doubt they'd be back for their 'shift' soon enough.
"How are you feeling, Kaiba? My grandfather told me you'd ended up with a concussion, among other things."
Kaiba didn't reply. Instead, he sat down on the chair Bakura had just vacated.
"It was nothing, Yugi. I'm perfectly fine."
*Of course he is. Remember Joey telling us they had to drag him out of here unconscious, aibou?*
**He doesn't want to appear weak in front of me and you, Yami, you know that. Let him keep his dignity. We know what's really going on with him. After all, he's not as cold as he'd like everyone else to believe*
*Too bad. I rather liked hating him for no reason*
"Yugi?"
"Sorry Kaiba, I was talking to Yami. What can I do for you?"
The elder teen was quiet for a moment and Yugi would have loved to clearly see the expression on his face. As it was, all he could see was Kaiba's hair and lips. The rest of his face was blurry, because he wasn't sitting as close as Joey and Tristan had been. He could remedy that, though.
"Would you mind sitting a little closer?"
"Huh?" Kaiba replied, obviously surprised. "Why?"
Yami laughed. *Careful, Yugi, he might take that the wrong way*
Yugi mentally sighed. **Will you cut it out? I'm trying to have a serious conversation here**
Yami retreated into his soul room, but not before making it very clear that he found the situation extremely amusing.
"I just want to be able to see the expression on your face, and you're sitting too far away. You're just a big blur to me from that distance."
"Oh," was all Kaiba said, but he did comply and brought his chair closer to the bed. "I take it your vision is improving, then?"
"Yeah. The doctors say I should be back to normal in a few weeks."
"Good. You'll need to have your sight back if you're going to participate in Battle City."
Yugi frowned. "Battle City? What the hell is that?"
"It's the Duel Monsters tournament I'm going to host in order to lure the Rare Hunters to town and recover the remaining two God cards. You're going to help me do that. The winner of each duel will get the other's rarest card, so all you and I have to do is defeat whoever has the cards and they'll belong to us."
Yugi remained quiet, digesting everything he'd just been told. That was just like Kaiba too, assuming, not asking, that he'd help. Yugi supposed that he really didn't have any choice in the matter. Marik had already dragged him into the mess so the least he could do now was help Kaiba finish it.
"Okay, and where is this tournament going to be held? Don't tell me you have an island set aside somewhere too."
Kaiba actually chuckled. "No, no island. Battle City will take place in the streets of Domino. You won't have to travel anywhere."
Yugi frowned. "How are we supposed to duel on the streets?"
"Using this," Kaiba said and brought up a brief case that Yugi hadn't noticed before. He set it on the bed beside Yugi and quickly opened it. He took something out and handed it to Yugi. "This is Kaiba Corp.'s newest release, the Duel Disk. It uses portable holographic generators to create and animate the monsters, so that duel arenas aren't needed anymore."
Yugi took the offered item and brought it close to his face, studying it. It was different, even different than what Kaiba had wanted to use against Pegasus at Duelist Kingdom.
"Wow, so we'll really be able to duel anywhere?" Yugi asked, excited at the prospect.
"Of course. So does that mean you'll help?"
Yugi looked up at Kaiba. "Is there any other option?"
Kaiba slowly shook his head. "I guess not. You should keep that then, get practice with using it. Once you're released from the hospital, give me a call and I'll explain the Battle City rules to you so you can get acquainted with them before I make the announcement to the rest of the city."
Yugi nodded. He sighed, knowing that he and Kaiba had more than duels to talk about.
"Kaiba, about what happened. . ."
"What happened, Yugi? We got caught in something neither of us could control, but we got out of it alive. Isn't that enough?" His voice was cold, but Yugi knew Kaiba enough to realize that the whole incident had frightened him. This was Kaiba's way of dealing with what scared him.
"Whatever you say, Kaiba. It's not over, you know. Marik will be back."
"Yeah, I know. We'll be ready this time, Yugi. He's not going to catch us off guard again."
*He's right, Yugi,* Yami said, emerging from his soul room once again. *The only thing we can do is be prepared, because Marik will return*
Yugi sighed. **I know, Yami. That's what I'm afraid of**
**~~**
Marik Ishtar stood on his yacht, examining the clear waters of Domino Harbor. He did not like to lose. He would not stand for it. Yugi Moto and Seto Kaiba had bested him this time, but the war was not over. The war had just begun, and when it was over, Marik would be the victor.
He knew about Battle City from Kaiba's own mind. It had surprised him to find out that a small part of him had remained in Kaiba's brain. Yami had apparently not done as good a job of getting rid of him as the spirit had thought, which worked to Marik's advantage. Every once in a while, when Kaiba's mental discipline was at its lowest, Marik could hear the teen's thoughts, feel some of his feelings. Being controlled by him had left Kaiba very frightened, and he had every intention of using that to his advantage. For now, he was content to spy on Kaiba and his friends through the weak link they still shared. The time to take control again would come soon enough.
For now, Marik would wait. He'd made a deal with the white haired spirit of the Millennium Ring, which assured him a constant flow of information. In the end, he would win. The God cards would be his.
THE END
******
So there you have it. Thank you very much for joining me on my very first Yu-Gi-Oh! fanfic. It's been a blast, and I thank you all for reading! Here are some useless stats in case anyone wants to know:
Story first posted on 12/1/02. Story completed on 6/24/03. No. of words: 61,602 (yikes!) No. of pages: 162
I do have another story, No Kinen Ni, that I'm still working on, if anyone is interested. I'll be starting another one soon, hopefully, so maybe I'll hear from some of you again.
So very sorry for the delay in getting this posted! As I explained when I posted No Kinen Ni, I sprained my left elbow while rollerblading and was not able to type for a month.
So after the long wait, here is the last chapter of this story. Sniff, sniff. . . I've had so much fun writing it and getting to know some of you who've been reviewing since the beginning (you know who you are. Big cyber hugs and lots of cyber Oreos to you!!). I can't thank you enough for that. This was my first story so it made all the difference in the world to know that I wasn't boring you all to death! Cyber Oreos go to everyone else too for being such great reviewers. I've enjoyed reading all of your comments/suggestions/threats! I think I'm going to miss them!
QueenofGames: Wow. 20 chapters in 5 hours is very impressive, especially since my chapters are not short. Glad you decided the story was worth reading!
Okay, I'll shut up now and let you read what you really want to read. Enjoy!
**~~**
Epilogue: All's Well that Ends Well?
3 weeks later
"Come on, Tristan! He's not going to notice it if it's gone."
"Oh, yeah? His hearing has gotten pretty good, you know Joey. I wouldn't be surprised if he could hear you right now, plotting to steal his lunch!"
Yugi smiled slightly, trying very hard not to grin. After a few more moments of the continuing bickering, he opened his eyes and turned towards the sound of the voices. He could see the blurry outlines of Joey and Tristan sitting on two chairs by the far wall, his lunch tray in between them.
"With that kind of noise, I bet the nurses can hear you at their station," Yugi stated. "Joey, get your hands off my food!" he added, when he saw the blonde's hand hovering over a sandwich.
Joey and Tristan both turned towards him, both smiling sheepishly. Tristan swatted Joey on the back of the head, which caused Joey to turn and glare at him.
"What are you two still doing here? After all that time Joey spent in the hospital, I figured you'd want to be outside in the fresh air."
Yugi squinted and could barely make out Joey's grin. As if noticing Yugi's strain, both Tristan and Joey moved their chairs closer to him so that Yugi could see them better.
The coma that had been induced to repair the damage done to his brain had been successful, or so the doctors said. His vision was mainly blurry right now, but he could see. The doctor had assured him that with a few more weeks of rest and constant surveillance, he'd be back to normal. He'd suffered no permanent damage due to the operation and subsequent ordeal, which he was very grateful for.
"Are you kidding, Yug? We'd rather be in here with you."
Yugi shook his head. "In other words, my grandfather threatened bodily harm if you didn't stay in here and make sure I didn't go anywhere, right?"
Both Tristan and Joey looked at each other and then broke out into loud chuckles.
"Yeah, something like that. Gramps is pretty scary when he wants to be, you know!"
"Joey, I've only been out of my coma for a few days. I'm not going to go anywhere."
Tristan turned serious and put his hand on Yugi's arm.
"That's what we thought last time, Yugi, and look what happened. We're going to make sure nothing happens this time!"
Yugi sighed. He loved his friends. He didn't know what he'd do without them, even when they treated him like a child.
"How are you doing, Joey? Are you still in pain?"
Joey shook his head and unconsciously put his hand on his chest, over the bullet wound.
"It gets pretty bad every once in a while, especially when I sleep. Other than that, it's okay. Don't worry about it, Yugi, I'll be fine. The doctor said the wound was healing nicely."
Yugi smiled sadly. That was Joey, always the optimist.
"I'm really sorry, Joey. You had no reason to be dragged into all of this."
"Nonsense, Yugi!" Joey replied, grinning. "Besides, how else could I get the constant attention of so many beautiful nurses, all at the same time?"
Yugi laughed, wincing a little as his head began to ache.
"Hey guys!"
Yugi turned to see a blur standing by the door. He was too far away for Yugi to see any defining features, but the voice immediately identified him as Bakura.
"Hi Bakura. How are you?"
"I'm doing good, Yugi. How are you feeling?" he asked as he came closer to the bed.
"You're wearing your ring on the outside of your shirt, Bakura."
Bakura glanced down at his chest and touched the ring, then looked back up at Yugi.
"You can see it?"
Yugi nodded. "Something that glows like that is easy for me to see. It's why I haven't lost the puzzle yet. When I take it off and want to find it again, I just tell Yami to make it glow so I can find it."
*That is what I have been reduced to, huh, your 'make the puzzle glow' guy?*
Yugi laughed out loud at the unexpected jab.
**Oh, hush. You know you're much more than that**
"Sorry, that was just Yami trying to be funny," Yugi explained at the puzzled looks he was getting. "Why are you wearing the ring on the outside?" The last time that had happened, Yami Bakura had been controlling the body without Bakura's consent and was up to no good. Yugi wasn't up to dealing with Yami Bakura right now, so he wanted to make sure everything was okay.
"I don't know why, really. I hadn't realized I'd left it out," Bakura quickly replied and tucked the item underneath his shirt. "So, it's my shift now, I believe."
Yugi's eyes narrowed at Bakura's response, but said nothing. "Don't tell me, my grandfather has dragged you into making me stay put as well?"
Bakura chuckled. "He's definitely persistent."
"I'll stay with Yugi, you can all go."
All four teens turned to the door. Yugi didn't see anything but white, but the voice gave him away.
"Kaiba, what a surprise," Yugi said.
"It shouldn't be. We have unfinished business." Kaiba turned to the others. "I'd like to talk to Yugi alone."
Joey shook his head, and then leaned down so that his mouth was next to Yugi's ear.
"He's been chomping at the bit to talk to you for the past week so I'm going to be nice and leave. You can thank me later, Yug."
Yugi grinned and said goodbye to his friends. He had no doubt they'd be back for their 'shift' soon enough.
"How are you feeling, Kaiba? My grandfather told me you'd ended up with a concussion, among other things."
Kaiba didn't reply. Instead, he sat down on the chair Bakura had just vacated.
"It was nothing, Yugi. I'm perfectly fine."
*Of course he is. Remember Joey telling us they had to drag him out of here unconscious, aibou?*
**He doesn't want to appear weak in front of me and you, Yami, you know that. Let him keep his dignity. We know what's really going on with him. After all, he's not as cold as he'd like everyone else to believe*
*Too bad. I rather liked hating him for no reason*
"Yugi?"
"Sorry Kaiba, I was talking to Yami. What can I do for you?"
The elder teen was quiet for a moment and Yugi would have loved to clearly see the expression on his face. As it was, all he could see was Kaiba's hair and lips. The rest of his face was blurry, because he wasn't sitting as close as Joey and Tristan had been. He could remedy that, though.
"Would you mind sitting a little closer?"
"Huh?" Kaiba replied, obviously surprised. "Why?"
Yami laughed. *Careful, Yugi, he might take that the wrong way*
Yugi mentally sighed. **Will you cut it out? I'm trying to have a serious conversation here**
Yami retreated into his soul room, but not before making it very clear that he found the situation extremely amusing.
"I just want to be able to see the expression on your face, and you're sitting too far away. You're just a big blur to me from that distance."
"Oh," was all Kaiba said, but he did comply and brought his chair closer to the bed. "I take it your vision is improving, then?"
"Yeah. The doctors say I should be back to normal in a few weeks."
"Good. You'll need to have your sight back if you're going to participate in Battle City."
Yugi frowned. "Battle City? What the hell is that?"
"It's the Duel Monsters tournament I'm going to host in order to lure the Rare Hunters to town and recover the remaining two God cards. You're going to help me do that. The winner of each duel will get the other's rarest card, so all you and I have to do is defeat whoever has the cards and they'll belong to us."
Yugi remained quiet, digesting everything he'd just been told. That was just like Kaiba too, assuming, not asking, that he'd help. Yugi supposed that he really didn't have any choice in the matter. Marik had already dragged him into the mess so the least he could do now was help Kaiba finish it.
"Okay, and where is this tournament going to be held? Don't tell me you have an island set aside somewhere too."
Kaiba actually chuckled. "No, no island. Battle City will take place in the streets of Domino. You won't have to travel anywhere."
Yugi frowned. "How are we supposed to duel on the streets?"
"Using this," Kaiba said and brought up a brief case that Yugi hadn't noticed before. He set it on the bed beside Yugi and quickly opened it. He took something out and handed it to Yugi. "This is Kaiba Corp.'s newest release, the Duel Disk. It uses portable holographic generators to create and animate the monsters, so that duel arenas aren't needed anymore."
Yugi took the offered item and brought it close to his face, studying it. It was different, even different than what Kaiba had wanted to use against Pegasus at Duelist Kingdom.
"Wow, so we'll really be able to duel anywhere?" Yugi asked, excited at the prospect.
"Of course. So does that mean you'll help?"
Yugi looked up at Kaiba. "Is there any other option?"
Kaiba slowly shook his head. "I guess not. You should keep that then, get practice with using it. Once you're released from the hospital, give me a call and I'll explain the Battle City rules to you so you can get acquainted with them before I make the announcement to the rest of the city."
Yugi nodded. He sighed, knowing that he and Kaiba had more than duels to talk about.
"Kaiba, about what happened. . ."
"What happened, Yugi? We got caught in something neither of us could control, but we got out of it alive. Isn't that enough?" His voice was cold, but Yugi knew Kaiba enough to realize that the whole incident had frightened him. This was Kaiba's way of dealing with what scared him.
"Whatever you say, Kaiba. It's not over, you know. Marik will be back."
"Yeah, I know. We'll be ready this time, Yugi. He's not going to catch us off guard again."
*He's right, Yugi,* Yami said, emerging from his soul room once again. *The only thing we can do is be prepared, because Marik will return*
Yugi sighed. **I know, Yami. That's what I'm afraid of**
**~~**
Marik Ishtar stood on his yacht, examining the clear waters of Domino Harbor. He did not like to lose. He would not stand for it. Yugi Moto and Seto Kaiba had bested him this time, but the war was not over. The war had just begun, and when it was over, Marik would be the victor.
He knew about Battle City from Kaiba's own mind. It had surprised him to find out that a small part of him had remained in Kaiba's brain. Yami had apparently not done as good a job of getting rid of him as the spirit had thought, which worked to Marik's advantage. Every once in a while, when Kaiba's mental discipline was at its lowest, Marik could hear the teen's thoughts, feel some of his feelings. Being controlled by him had left Kaiba very frightened, and he had every intention of using that to his advantage. For now, he was content to spy on Kaiba and his friends through the weak link they still shared. The time to take control again would come soon enough.
For now, Marik would wait. He'd made a deal with the white haired spirit of the Millennium Ring, which assured him a constant flow of information. In the end, he would win. The God cards would be his.
THE END
******
So there you have it. Thank you very much for joining me on my very first Yu-Gi-Oh! fanfic. It's been a blast, and I thank you all for reading! Here are some useless stats in case anyone wants to know:
Story first posted on 12/1/02. Story completed on 6/24/03. No. of words: 61,602 (yikes!) No. of pages: 162
I do have another story, No Kinen Ni, that I'm still working on, if anyone is interested. I'll be starting another one soon, hopefully, so maybe I'll hear from some of you again.