Note: I apologize so very much for this taking like…forever to post!! I've been swamped and quarter finals are this coming week, but here it is.
Chapter Twenty-Two – And So It Begins
Serena stared up at Kaiba from her place near his podium and blinked hard. Unintentionally, she had read his mind and was now questioning what she thought she had heard his mind say. Could it be true? Does he feel for me the way I feel for him?
"Since I'm sure we're all familiar with the rules, why don't you go first Seto Kaiba," Jared commanded more than stated and chuckled to himself. The fool has no idea what he has gotten himself into!
"If it means I will defeat you sooner, then I will! I play Dark Titan of Terror in defensive mode and I place two cards face down, ending my turn," Kaiba said, putting his cards in their respective places and glancing across the playing arena at Jared.
Jared smirked and looked at his cards. "Is that all you have to offer me Seto Kaiba?" he taunted. "Well, I'll just have to destroy your monster. And I'll start with this card! Zombyra the Dark!" Jared's horrendous cackling could be heard throughout the entire arena as it echoed off the hollow walls. "And I too, will place two cards face down, ending my turn."
Kaiba's eyes narrowed as he scanned his hand and drew another card. Hmm, this will come in handy. And I think now is as good a time as any to use it. His monster looses 200 attack points every time it destroys a monster, bringing it's attack down to 1900…perfect! "Did you enjoy your false sense of security Jared? Because that ends now! Opticlops, in attack mode!" Kaiba yelled out, hitting his card to the proper place.
"Your monster is still weaker than mine," Jared sneered.
"That's why I play this magic card! Sword of Deep-Seated! It raises my monster's attack and defense by 500 points, making it stronger than yours. Attack!"
Serena took a deep breath of air as Yami led her a little bit away from the arena and sat down. A faint smile appeared on her face as she watched Jared's life points drop from 4000 to 3600.
"Your turn," Kaiba said smugly, glancing at Serena from his peripheral vision.
"And I'll take it with pleasure! This duel is nearly over Seto Kaiba," Jared stated, drawing a card from the top of his deck. Perfect. You have already learned to obey your master and serve him when he needs you! "It's a shame this duel has to end so quickly. I'll now play Nightmare's Steel Cage, stopping all attacks for two complete moves. And now, I will play Kojikocy, in attack mode, and end my turn."
Kaiba quickly drew a card from his deck. My Blue Eyes! "I play a monster face down in defense and end my turn."
Perfect. "I now play Feral Imp, also in attack mode. Your turn."
What is he up to? Kaiba inquired himself, drawing another card. "I activate Fusion Gate and summon my Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon!" Kaiba yelled out, placing his three Blue Eyes in the non-playable stack and his Ultimate Dragon on the arena. Whatever he is planning, it won't work.
Jared's face was blank as he drew another card. I think I'll lead Kaiba into a false sense of security. "Well, all I can do is place this monster face down into defense mode. Your turn Kaiba."
Kaiba's eyes narrowed, but he wasted no time in making his move. He could hear Serena's voice warning him, but he quickly shook it away. "Blue Eyes, attack his Feral Imp!" He smirked as Jared's life points dropped to 500. "It looks like you're right, this duel is over."
Such a fool! "Yes, it is, but it isn't turning out the way you had hoped. I active Change of Heart to control your Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon. Now that I have three monsters on my side of the field, I can sacrifice them to bring out my ultimate weapon!"
"It can't be!" Kaiba yelled out, watching an image appear before him, horror striking his memory of this monster.
"But it is! Winged Dragon of Ra! My monster gains the attack of all the monsters sacrificed to summon it. Now my monster, obey my word and attack!"
Serena watched in dismay as Kaiba's Opticlops was destroyed, as well as a major chunk of his life points.
"There is no monster in your deck that can defeat mine. Not even Obelisk has enough power. And I'm sure you know that magic cards only work for one turn and trap cards have no effect on the Egyptian gods.."
Kaiba didn't even look at Jared, and his face remained emotionless. There was nothing he could do. He would never have the chance to destroy the Winged Dragon of Ra. Not unless, by some miracle, he could come across the card he needed. "I play one card face down and another monster face down in defense."
~*~*~*~*~
After five minutes of Kaiba playing a monster only to have it destroyed, Jared grew weary and decided to change his strategy.
"Well Kaiba, I sacrifice the two other monsters I have on the field to bring forth Red Eyes Black Dragon. Attack," he said, feigning a yawn.
With his life points at 600, Kaiba had to act fast. Being his turn, he remembered a card he had played earlier in the duel. "Rageki!" he yelled out, flipping the card over.
"You fool! That magic card doesn't work on the Winged Dragon of Ra!"
"No, but it does work on your other monsters," Kaiba stated calmly, but inside, his heart was racing. Serena…there's nothing I can do to stop his god card from destroying me. And by losing, I'll be destroying you as well. I'm so—
Don't even think about that Seto. Trust your cards. There is a card you hold in your deck that can destroy Jared's god card.
I can't summon Obelisk, I'll never have the chance to have three monsters on the field.
I was referring to a magic card Seto. You'll know when you see it because you've never seen it before. Trust your cards Seto.
Kaiba cocked an eyebrow at Serena's response. A magic card? Has she lost her mind? Most magic cards don't work on Egyptian gods.
~*~*~*~*~
Throughout the entire duel, Mitch had been standing deep within the shadows; seen, yet unnoticed. As soon as Jared wins this duel, I will destroy him. And then I will take his daughter as my own and cleanse her mind of all things good and pure. And of course, I will destroy that necklace. For she shall have no recollection or memory of her past!
Yami turned his head and looked deep within the shadows. Ever since they had entered the arena, he had sensed another presence, besides Jared. When they had walked in, he was certain he had seen another figure near Jared, but in the blink of an eye, that figure was gone. But now he was certain he was right. Yet, instead of investigating, he stayed besides Serena, his arm around her shoulders in a friendly embrace.
~*~*~*~*~
"Face it Kaiba, there isn't a single card in your deck that can destroy my Egyptian god!" Jared yelled out, his eyes burning into Kaiba's.
"Oh really?" Kaiba replied skeptically, staring at the card he had just drawn. Is this what she was talking about? Kaiba chuckled in surprise. Well, if she said it works… "I play a magic card! Egyptian Vortex!"
"What!?" Jared yelled out irately. "It can't be!"
Slowly, a sand tornado appeared on the field and began to circle the Winged Dragon of Ra. As it began to pick up speed, lightning began to flash from a vortex appearing above the Egyptian god. And in a bright flash of light, the god card was gone.
"What just happened!?" Jared yelled out, slamming his fist down.
"Egyptian Vortex removes the opponent's Egyptian god card from play," Serena replied, a smile returning to her face. "It is one of the few magic cards that will work on an Egyptian god. And there are only three of those cards in the world…all in my possession; as of now, Seto has one."
A look of surprise was instantly replaced with a stern look as Jared played a card. "I play Removed-Reborn, allowing me to bring back any of my opponent's monsters from the removed zone."
"My Blue Eyes!" Kaiba yelled out as the majestic white bodied, blue eyed dragon appeared before him.
"It seems your most faithful monster has turned against you Seto Kaiba," Jared sneered. "You may have destroyed my Egyptian god with some strange new magic card, but you won't have time to destroy my life points. In two moves, your points will be down to zero."
Jared tossed his head back and laughed as Kaiba stared at him incredulously, with only one monster left on the field, face down, in defense.
"Mitch," Jared snapped his fingers, and a man emerged from the shadows. "Prepare to take our prize."
"Serena!" Kaiba yelled out as the man advanced towards her.
"This duel isn't over! I advise you to stand your ground," Yami growled, stepping in front of Serena; his eyes daring the man to defy his word.
I trust you Seto. I know you can defeat him, just trust yourself…and your deck. You know what to do.
I don't know if I can do this, Kaiba screamed out within himself. So much was riding on the single draw of a card.
A/N: Alright…I totally stink at writing like, any form of action whatsoever. Anyways, I'm sure you all know that "Egyptian Vortex" and "Removed-Reborn" are just cards I created to go with my little plot. And I read somewhere that magic cards work for one turn…but I guess I changed that…heh ^_-
So, is Jared going to destroy Kaiba? And if so, will Mitch brainwash Serena's memory of her love and her past? Will she be forced into a life of servitude towards Mitch's lustful desires? Well, we'll find out. *dun dun dun* I'm sure you all know how it's going to turn out. Then again, you may be surprised ^_^