Shayla sat in Ishizu's room, trying to figure out what was going on and
what she should do about it. It was getting harder and harder for her to
ignore the fact that she would have to do something about it. But Shayla
was very uncertain in how to act. She didn't want anyone else to get hurt.
Bakura was already in the hospital wing, and Ishizu was implying he
wouldn't be alone.
"Fear not, child," said Ishizu, when she noticed how melancholic Shayla was being. "Your stronger than you realize."
Shayla nodded. But before she could reply, she heard a noise, which caused her to jerk her head up straight.
"What is it?" asked Ishizu.
"Someone else is here," answered Shayla.
Ishizu looked skeptical, but then she looked to her left and saw a stranger in a white turban sitting next to her. Ishizu jumped a little, but did a good job at regain her composure.
"Greetings Lady Ishizu," he said.
"Shadi! What brings you here?" asked Ishizu.
"A disturbance in the Millennial Items," he answered. "There is potential for great evil on board this ship.
"I know," said Ishizu, sadly.
"Marik has strayed far down the path of darkness. He can not be allowed to continue."
"I know that too well," replied Ishizu. "But I can still sense good in him. I cannot give up while there is still hope."
"I am missing something here," thought Shayla, but she remained silent. There was a current of magic from the stranger, and she knew he had to be another bearer of a Millennial Item.
"Marik cannot gain control of the god cards and the Millennial Items, all of which are on this ship at this very moment," continued Shadi. Shayla tried to fathom what it could mean, but she didn't like the direction things were heading already. "As a tomb-keeper, you know what needs to be done."
"Yes, I..." started Ishizu. "Huh? Where'd he go?" Shadi had seemingly vanished entirely.
"He's still here," said Shayla. "One moment...now he just left."
"Will the finalists appear in the main hall for the selection of the next two duelists," announced the PA for the second time for round two.
"Are you going to go?" Shayla asked Ishizu.
"No, I will not be chosen," Ishizu answered, simply. Then she added with much thought, "I understand, Shadi's Millennial Key can hide his presence from people's eyes. Then it is understandable why you can still detect him."
"There was something familiar about his voice," said Shayla. "Do you know Marik? It..It seems...so ...familiar." Shayla began to trail off as she felt her self drifting off, almost like she was falling asleep again.
"Duelists Marik and Joe will be our next finalists," said the PA as Shayla drifted from reality.
*Dream*
Shayla was again sitting deep inside the Temple of Isis. Ishizu was explaining some of the hieroglyphics to her. The Hebrew girl was completely absorbed in her lesson, which is something she should never have had, had society had its way.
A temple servant ran in and bowed to Ishizu while ignoring the other girl. He delivered a message in broken Egyptian before leaving again as fast as he had come. Ishizu seemed a little bit tense.
"What is it?" asked the girl.
"I must go and see my brother," answered Ishizu. "Please remain her and study. I won't be gone long."
Shayla felt herself nod and Ishizu walked out of the room. She scanned the hieroglyphics a little longer, but curiosity was nagging at her. She knew virtual nothing about her mentor, and she wanted to.
She got up and slipped into the halls. She could hear Ishizu's voice in the next room over, so she pressed her back against the wall and listened in through the doorway, which had no door itself.
"Brother, think about our family," pleaded Ishizu.
"I'm sorry," he answered, rather gruffly. "But I cannot go through with it. Our family will just have to understand."
"You can't mean!"
"I thought you'd understand, sister. That is why I came," he interrupted her. "But this is good-bye. I am leaving."
"Malik! Wait!" exclaimed Ishizu, but the sound of fading footsteps did not stop.
Shayla sort of jumped when she heard that. Something clicked into place, and it freaked her out.
Ishizu could be heard walking, much slower, out of the room. The girl quickly scampered back to the chamber and sat down in front of the writings, as if she had never left. Although she doubted if Ishizu would be fooled.
Ishizu entered with no emotions on her face. "How is it coming?"
"I think I am beginning to understand more," she answered. "I can almost read the whole thing."
"You are very diligent," complimented Ishizu.
The Israelite girl nodded, but she just needed to know, so she blurted out, "How did things go with your brother?"
Ishizu looked at her but did not answer. So she changed her tactics. "Is he a priest also?
Ishizu looked at her and Shayla got the impression that that was the wrong question to ask.
"My family have always served the gods," answered Ishizu. "..but Malik's ambitions are in other areas."
"That isn't too different from my family," said the girl with a bit of thought. "I mean, I have eight older brothers and they are all priests. But I'm just expected to get into a good marriage.."
Ishizu smiled at her. "Do not sell yourself short. You have great potential and there is no knowing where fate my lead us."
The girl merely smiled and nodded. This was a religious difference that they had to agree to disagree on.
*End Dream*
Shayla sat up straight, snapping back into reality. She shook her head trying to clear it. "Now I'm dreaming when I'm awake...this is reaching the limits of bizarre."
"What did you see?" asked Ishizu.
"Marik is your brother, isn't he?" asked Shayla.
Ishizu's eyes went wide, "Yes."
Things were starting to make sense, and Shayla was thinking almost too fast to process everything. "The person dueling now..that isn't your brother, is it. It is someone else.."
"Yes," answered Ishizu.
Shayla stood up, trying to get a grasp on everything that had just been revealed to her.
"I have to go," she said at length. "I am going to the duel."
"That is your choice, but you will return."
"I know," said Shayla as she put a hand on the doorknob. "Ishizu, thanks for everything so far."
Ishizu smiled, which Shayla did not see, and left.
She made her way through the halls, somehow knowing which way it was to the dueling field. She knew it was on the top level, so all she had to do was keep finding staircases.
The entire time the PA was announcing the moves. Things didn't look good for Joe. His opponent had summoned the Mystical Beast of Circuit, who was slowly consuming every single one of Joe's monsters.
Shayla made it to the top of the blimp and was greeted by a blast of strong wind. She slipped over to the side of the field where the rest of the spectators had been standing.
"Shayla! You're here!" exclaimed Téa.
"Where have you been?" asked Mai.
"Um..." started Shayla. After seeing so much of the past, she had picked up the habit of telling no one she had seen Ishizu. But she knew the scales would not tolerate a lie.
"I can't watch!" exclaimed Serenity as she started to run. Joe had lost his Insect Queen to the Mystical Beast.
"Don't leave me, Serenity. You're the reason I am hanging in here," said Joe from the dueling platform.
"You have all of us!" added Tristan.
"Serenity, stay, Joe needs you," encouraged Yu-Gi.
"He needs a miracle," muttered Duke Deblin.
"The duel isn't over yet," said Yu-Gi. "There is always a way to win."
"Marik, listen to me," said Joe, turning to his opponent. "You won't beat me. I have this feeling in my gut. And that feeling is telling me I am going to win."
There came an unmistakable snort from the other end of the field where Seto Kaiba was, showing he clearly doubted that.
"I also have another feeling," continued Joe. "And that is that you're not the real Marik. Last time I ran into Marik he was heartless and a cheat. But you actually fight with honor."
There was a gasp and some murmuring everyone else.
"Have you forgotten one thing, Mr. Wheeler?" asked 'Marik.' "Only the real Marik has the Millennial Rod." He brought it out form behind his back.
Shayla paused and began to focus on the magic flow around her. The 'scent' of the Millennial Rod wasn't coming from the duel arena, but rather from someone in the crowd. Shayla cringed and involuntarily took a step away from it.
"It has been fun, Mr. Wheeler, but now I will destroy your last monster," said 'Marik' as the Mystical Beast devoured the Legendary Fisherman.
"I hate to say this, but Joe is in a rut," said Duke.
"He'll find a way out, won't he?" asked Serenity.
"I don't see how," muttered Mai. Then she quickly corrected herself for Serenity's sake. "Not that it isn't possible."
Joe drew a card for his next turn. "I pass."
"Funny how you think you can win this with no monsters to protect your life points," gloated 'Marik.' "Now to finish you off! Attack him, Mystical Beast!"
Everyone winced as they expected Joe to get blasted out of the tournament. But then Shayla felt a tug from the rod.
"Stop!" ordered 'Marik.' The Mystical Beast did, barely an inch from Joe's face.
"What is he doing?" asked Tristan. Yu-Gi's eyes narrowed. Joe took a deep breath.
"I am going to summon my Egyptian god card," announced 'Marik.' There was another wave of talking amongst the spectators.
"If he does that Joe's toast!" exclaimed Mai.
"God card?" asked Shayla. "He isn't Marik, there shouldn't be a god card..."
"This is officially bad," stated Tristan.
"I tribute my Mystical Beast and half my life points and summon the Winged Dragon of Ra!" announced 'Marik.' Shayla could detect a tremble in his voice.
"It's so big," said Serenity, nervously, as the golden Egyptian god appeared.
"This is going to be trouble," said Téa. Joe seemed incredibly nervous to have such a creature on the opposite side of the field.
"Joe.." muttered Mai. She reached down and grabbed Shayla's hand for support and then continued to squeeze very tightly. Shayla winced, but she didn't withdraw.
"Now, Ra attack and destroy him!" ordered 'Marik.'
FLASH! Anything but happened. Shayla was nearly blow away by the surged that raced through the magic current. First she felt as the real god card glowed angrily. The rod flared with hidden strength, as well. The sky overhead turned an evil shade of black and lightning began to pelt the surface of the blimp. The hologram of Ra was glowing strongly, but had seemed to have completely frozen.
"What is going on?!" demanded Joe.
"The god cards seem angry," thought Yu-Gi, surprised.
"The gods are angry that I used a copy," thought the real Marik. "Their power is out of control!" Thunder was coming dangerously close to striking someone.
"What the heck is this?!" demanded Kaiba.
Mai had tightened her grip even more on Shayla's hand, but Shayla was squeezing back. Téa screamed a bolt crashed behind her.
"Get down from there, Joe! You'll be hit, too!" cried Serenity. Joe seemed to consider it.
CRASH! 'Marik' was struck and fell to the deck hard.
"Are you okay?!" gasped Joe as he took a step towards the fallen.
CRASH! The next bolt took him down.
"Joe!" cried everyone. Well, almost everyone. The one member of the audience who had been quiet so far was struggling against a powerful force from within.
Joe's friends began to race up the sides of the duel arena to get to him.
"Stay back!" ordered the official. "This is still an official tournament. If you enter you will disqualify your friend."
"They have just been struck by lightning!" exclaimed Mai.
"You can't be serious about continuing this!" yelled Tristan.
"Joe! Speak to me!" cried Serenity.
"Well...um..." stammered the official, looking to Kaiba for an answer.
Kaiba shrugged. "It will take the medical team five minutes to get here. The first to stand before that time will be declared the winner. If not, they both lose." He sound as if he couldn't have cared less.
"Joe! Get up!" his friends instantly started to encourage him. Shayla noticed Mai seemed unusually intense, then again, it was an intense situation.
On the other side of the field, Joe's opponent was stirring. He was trying to stand.
"We have a win.." started the official. He collapsed with a groan.
"I hope that medical team hurries," said Shayla, hopefully. "I was afraid someone would get hurt."
It seemed like the longest moment in history. No one stirred. The thunder clasps faded, making it easier to hear the desperation in everyone's voices.
Finally, Joe began to wake. He pulled himself to his feet.
"Joe Wheeler in the winner of this duel!" announced the official.
"Yay!" cheered everyone.
"What happened?" asked Joe, a little disoriented. Tristan and Yu-Gi climbed onto the arena to help him. Joe ignored them, however, and walked over to his opponent, who was conscious, but not moving.
"Are you okay?" asked Joe.
"I'm sorry," he stammered.
"What was that all about? Who are you?" asked Joe.
"I am Odion, a servant to the real Marik," he answered.
"Where is he?" asked Joe.
"There," answered Odion, who raised a shaking finger. Then he fainted. The medical team then arrived, nearly trampling Duke in their haste to get on the platform.
The person he had pointed to was clutching his head as if in great pain. Shayla knew he had to be the one introduced as Namu. In his left hand was the Millennial Rod.
"Is that?!"
"That's the real Millennial Rod!"
"Namu! This whole time!?"
"How can this be?"
Another surge swept through the Millennial Items and Shayla could tell something had drastically changed about the bearer of the rod. Someone screamed, although Shayla wasn't sure whom. It could have been herself, for all she knew.
"Yes, I am Marik," said Marik in a voice that could freeze water.
Téa and Serenity had joined Mai and Shayla in wringing the life out of each other's hands. Tristan and Duke were eyeing up the door. Yu-Gi and Kaiba, strangely, seemed to be the only ones who weren't disturbed.
"Greetings, pharaoh, at last we meet face to face," continued Marik. "It won't be long before I claim your power as my own." He then laughed, very evilly.
"Marik, your disguises have all failed, and soon you will. You will never take my puzzle," said Yu-Gi.
"I will take more than the Millennial Puzzle," gloated Marik. "I will take your god card as well, then you will wander the Shadow Realm forever."
"He is a total nutcase!" exclaimed Duke.
"I'm scared," muttered Serenity.
"I think we all are," answered Shayla.
"Kaiba, you also have something of mine," said Marik. "I have my eyes on your god card as well."
"You'll never be able to win it," said Kaiba, coolly.
"We shall see," said Marik as he walked away with a flounce.
"What just happened?" asked Tristan, who sounded unnerved.
"I don't like this one bit," muttered Shayla. "Things are going to get worse before they get better."
************************************************************************
It was late by the time everything had been sorted out. Odion had been moved to the hospital wing with Bakura. The rest of the group had split up to head for their various rooms. Shayla had been given her room number by an official, and was currently trying to find it on the massive blimp.
"Let me think," she muttered. "Second level, down the stairs...Second hall on the right was it? Fourth door on the left. Or was it second hall on the left, fourth door on the right...Dang it! I knew I should have explored the blimp before hand."
She walked down a hall and found a large set of double doors at the end. She entered and found another hall on the other side.
"This can't be right!" said Shayla. "He said nothing about a set of doors. It's official, I'm lost." She took another step forward, and then heard a door open nearby. Someone stepped out and walked over to her.
"This area is restricted," said Seto Kaiba.
"Oh! Sorry!" exclaimed Shayla, nervously. "I didn't know."
"Didn't you see the sign on the doors...oh, yeah."
"I'm just trying to find my room," said Shayla, slightly annoyed because she hated be talked to like that just because she was blind.
"This way," said Kaiba as he started walking. Shayla followed, one hand on her patched walking stick, one hand on the wall. "How did you get down here?"
"I followed the directions from one of your staff," she answered.
"Must have been poor directions."
"Yeah.."
"You seem distracted."
"I'm worried."
"About what?"
Shayla took a deep breath. "Four finalists have dueled, three have gotten hurt. Two are still unconscious. I think this tournament is getting way out of hand."
"They were merely accidents," replied Seto, gruffly. "My technology had nothing to do with it."
"No one said it did. But if these accidents keep happening...I'm afraid someone is going to die."
"I doubt it."
"I have friends involved," replied Shayla, somewhat harshly. "I don't want them to get hurt."
"You're exaggerating. Nothing is going to happen."
"You're going to have to duel in these freak conditions in case you've forgotten."
"The only thing that is going to happen to me is that I am going to win all the god cards and reclaim my title."
"You've said that so many times you qualify for the broken record title," replied Shayla. Seto looked at her as if he couldn't believe that she had said that to him.
"Huff!" he replied.
"It hurts to lose someone you love," responded Shayla. "I never want to go through that again." She seemed to be talking more to herself.
"You sound as if I wouldn't know what that is like," he replied. Shayla paused a moment, thinking it through. "I lost both my parents, remember, and Pegasus nearly took Mokuba from me."
"Now you know how I feel. I want to prevent that."
Kaiba stopped and so did Shayla. He looked her over once. "This is your room."
"Oh! Thanks," said Shayla as she groped for the doorknob and opened it.
She shut the door behind her. Kaiba linger outside a moment longer, then started to walk away.
Across the hall, a door opened and Mai stepped out. She had watched the entire thing through the eyehole in her door. She quickly checked down the hall, trying to find out which way Kaiba had went. Then she followed him.
He had just made it to the double doors when she caught up with him.
"Kaiba, wait!" called Mai.
"What is it?" he asked with only a glance to acknowledge her.
"I need to talk to you."
"It can wait."
"I know you like her," said Mai, catching up and walking in step with him.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied, not looking her in the eyes.
"Shayla, my roommate," explained Mai. "I know you like her. There are about a dozen signs I could list. I see the way you look at her when you think no one else is looking, you're not so mean when she is around, I could keep going."
"Leave me alone," snapped Kaiba as he pulled out a key to enter his room. Mai stepped between him and his door.
"You don't deny it!" she exclaimed. Kaiba began to stare her down, but his ears were turning slowly pink. "I knew it."
"I may...feel attracted to her," admitted Seto. "Is that all?"
"No, now you have to tell her."
"What?!"
"I'm not going to let you lead her on," said Mai. "I don't want to see my friends hurt, so you have to tell her."
Kaiba rolled his eyes as if he was getting a headache. "If I agree will you leave me alone?"
"Yes."
"Then fine," replied Seto, not meaning a word of it.
"I'll expect you to keep your promise," said Mai. With that she walked away, her high heels clicking on the tiles.
Kaiba watched her leave, shook his head, and then entered his room for the night.
"Fear not, child," said Ishizu, when she noticed how melancholic Shayla was being. "Your stronger than you realize."
Shayla nodded. But before she could reply, she heard a noise, which caused her to jerk her head up straight.
"What is it?" asked Ishizu.
"Someone else is here," answered Shayla.
Ishizu looked skeptical, but then she looked to her left and saw a stranger in a white turban sitting next to her. Ishizu jumped a little, but did a good job at regain her composure.
"Greetings Lady Ishizu," he said.
"Shadi! What brings you here?" asked Ishizu.
"A disturbance in the Millennial Items," he answered. "There is potential for great evil on board this ship.
"I know," said Ishizu, sadly.
"Marik has strayed far down the path of darkness. He can not be allowed to continue."
"I know that too well," replied Ishizu. "But I can still sense good in him. I cannot give up while there is still hope."
"I am missing something here," thought Shayla, but she remained silent. There was a current of magic from the stranger, and she knew he had to be another bearer of a Millennial Item.
"Marik cannot gain control of the god cards and the Millennial Items, all of which are on this ship at this very moment," continued Shadi. Shayla tried to fathom what it could mean, but she didn't like the direction things were heading already. "As a tomb-keeper, you know what needs to be done."
"Yes, I..." started Ishizu. "Huh? Where'd he go?" Shadi had seemingly vanished entirely.
"He's still here," said Shayla. "One moment...now he just left."
"Will the finalists appear in the main hall for the selection of the next two duelists," announced the PA for the second time for round two.
"Are you going to go?" Shayla asked Ishizu.
"No, I will not be chosen," Ishizu answered, simply. Then she added with much thought, "I understand, Shadi's Millennial Key can hide his presence from people's eyes. Then it is understandable why you can still detect him."
"There was something familiar about his voice," said Shayla. "Do you know Marik? It..It seems...so ...familiar." Shayla began to trail off as she felt her self drifting off, almost like she was falling asleep again.
"Duelists Marik and Joe will be our next finalists," said the PA as Shayla drifted from reality.
*Dream*
Shayla was again sitting deep inside the Temple of Isis. Ishizu was explaining some of the hieroglyphics to her. The Hebrew girl was completely absorbed in her lesson, which is something she should never have had, had society had its way.
A temple servant ran in and bowed to Ishizu while ignoring the other girl. He delivered a message in broken Egyptian before leaving again as fast as he had come. Ishizu seemed a little bit tense.
"What is it?" asked the girl.
"I must go and see my brother," answered Ishizu. "Please remain her and study. I won't be gone long."
Shayla felt herself nod and Ishizu walked out of the room. She scanned the hieroglyphics a little longer, but curiosity was nagging at her. She knew virtual nothing about her mentor, and she wanted to.
She got up and slipped into the halls. She could hear Ishizu's voice in the next room over, so she pressed her back against the wall and listened in through the doorway, which had no door itself.
"Brother, think about our family," pleaded Ishizu.
"I'm sorry," he answered, rather gruffly. "But I cannot go through with it. Our family will just have to understand."
"You can't mean!"
"I thought you'd understand, sister. That is why I came," he interrupted her. "But this is good-bye. I am leaving."
"Malik! Wait!" exclaimed Ishizu, but the sound of fading footsteps did not stop.
Shayla sort of jumped when she heard that. Something clicked into place, and it freaked her out.
Ishizu could be heard walking, much slower, out of the room. The girl quickly scampered back to the chamber and sat down in front of the writings, as if she had never left. Although she doubted if Ishizu would be fooled.
Ishizu entered with no emotions on her face. "How is it coming?"
"I think I am beginning to understand more," she answered. "I can almost read the whole thing."
"You are very diligent," complimented Ishizu.
The Israelite girl nodded, but she just needed to know, so she blurted out, "How did things go with your brother?"
Ishizu looked at her but did not answer. So she changed her tactics. "Is he a priest also?
Ishizu looked at her and Shayla got the impression that that was the wrong question to ask.
"My family have always served the gods," answered Ishizu. "..but Malik's ambitions are in other areas."
"That isn't too different from my family," said the girl with a bit of thought. "I mean, I have eight older brothers and they are all priests. But I'm just expected to get into a good marriage.."
Ishizu smiled at her. "Do not sell yourself short. You have great potential and there is no knowing where fate my lead us."
The girl merely smiled and nodded. This was a religious difference that they had to agree to disagree on.
*End Dream*
Shayla sat up straight, snapping back into reality. She shook her head trying to clear it. "Now I'm dreaming when I'm awake...this is reaching the limits of bizarre."
"What did you see?" asked Ishizu.
"Marik is your brother, isn't he?" asked Shayla.
Ishizu's eyes went wide, "Yes."
Things were starting to make sense, and Shayla was thinking almost too fast to process everything. "The person dueling now..that isn't your brother, is it. It is someone else.."
"Yes," answered Ishizu.
Shayla stood up, trying to get a grasp on everything that had just been revealed to her.
"I have to go," she said at length. "I am going to the duel."
"That is your choice, but you will return."
"I know," said Shayla as she put a hand on the doorknob. "Ishizu, thanks for everything so far."
Ishizu smiled, which Shayla did not see, and left.
She made her way through the halls, somehow knowing which way it was to the dueling field. She knew it was on the top level, so all she had to do was keep finding staircases.
The entire time the PA was announcing the moves. Things didn't look good for Joe. His opponent had summoned the Mystical Beast of Circuit, who was slowly consuming every single one of Joe's monsters.
Shayla made it to the top of the blimp and was greeted by a blast of strong wind. She slipped over to the side of the field where the rest of the spectators had been standing.
"Shayla! You're here!" exclaimed Téa.
"Where have you been?" asked Mai.
"Um..." started Shayla. After seeing so much of the past, she had picked up the habit of telling no one she had seen Ishizu. But she knew the scales would not tolerate a lie.
"I can't watch!" exclaimed Serenity as she started to run. Joe had lost his Insect Queen to the Mystical Beast.
"Don't leave me, Serenity. You're the reason I am hanging in here," said Joe from the dueling platform.
"You have all of us!" added Tristan.
"Serenity, stay, Joe needs you," encouraged Yu-Gi.
"He needs a miracle," muttered Duke Deblin.
"The duel isn't over yet," said Yu-Gi. "There is always a way to win."
"Marik, listen to me," said Joe, turning to his opponent. "You won't beat me. I have this feeling in my gut. And that feeling is telling me I am going to win."
There came an unmistakable snort from the other end of the field where Seto Kaiba was, showing he clearly doubted that.
"I also have another feeling," continued Joe. "And that is that you're not the real Marik. Last time I ran into Marik he was heartless and a cheat. But you actually fight with honor."
There was a gasp and some murmuring everyone else.
"Have you forgotten one thing, Mr. Wheeler?" asked 'Marik.' "Only the real Marik has the Millennial Rod." He brought it out form behind his back.
Shayla paused and began to focus on the magic flow around her. The 'scent' of the Millennial Rod wasn't coming from the duel arena, but rather from someone in the crowd. Shayla cringed and involuntarily took a step away from it.
"It has been fun, Mr. Wheeler, but now I will destroy your last monster," said 'Marik' as the Mystical Beast devoured the Legendary Fisherman.
"I hate to say this, but Joe is in a rut," said Duke.
"He'll find a way out, won't he?" asked Serenity.
"I don't see how," muttered Mai. Then she quickly corrected herself for Serenity's sake. "Not that it isn't possible."
Joe drew a card for his next turn. "I pass."
"Funny how you think you can win this with no monsters to protect your life points," gloated 'Marik.' "Now to finish you off! Attack him, Mystical Beast!"
Everyone winced as they expected Joe to get blasted out of the tournament. But then Shayla felt a tug from the rod.
"Stop!" ordered 'Marik.' The Mystical Beast did, barely an inch from Joe's face.
"What is he doing?" asked Tristan. Yu-Gi's eyes narrowed. Joe took a deep breath.
"I am going to summon my Egyptian god card," announced 'Marik.' There was another wave of talking amongst the spectators.
"If he does that Joe's toast!" exclaimed Mai.
"God card?" asked Shayla. "He isn't Marik, there shouldn't be a god card..."
"This is officially bad," stated Tristan.
"I tribute my Mystical Beast and half my life points and summon the Winged Dragon of Ra!" announced 'Marik.' Shayla could detect a tremble in his voice.
"It's so big," said Serenity, nervously, as the golden Egyptian god appeared.
"This is going to be trouble," said Téa. Joe seemed incredibly nervous to have such a creature on the opposite side of the field.
"Joe.." muttered Mai. She reached down and grabbed Shayla's hand for support and then continued to squeeze very tightly. Shayla winced, but she didn't withdraw.
"Now, Ra attack and destroy him!" ordered 'Marik.'
FLASH! Anything but happened. Shayla was nearly blow away by the surged that raced through the magic current. First she felt as the real god card glowed angrily. The rod flared with hidden strength, as well. The sky overhead turned an evil shade of black and lightning began to pelt the surface of the blimp. The hologram of Ra was glowing strongly, but had seemed to have completely frozen.
"What is going on?!" demanded Joe.
"The god cards seem angry," thought Yu-Gi, surprised.
"The gods are angry that I used a copy," thought the real Marik. "Their power is out of control!" Thunder was coming dangerously close to striking someone.
"What the heck is this?!" demanded Kaiba.
Mai had tightened her grip even more on Shayla's hand, but Shayla was squeezing back. Téa screamed a bolt crashed behind her.
"Get down from there, Joe! You'll be hit, too!" cried Serenity. Joe seemed to consider it.
CRASH! 'Marik' was struck and fell to the deck hard.
"Are you okay?!" gasped Joe as he took a step towards the fallen.
CRASH! The next bolt took him down.
"Joe!" cried everyone. Well, almost everyone. The one member of the audience who had been quiet so far was struggling against a powerful force from within.
Joe's friends began to race up the sides of the duel arena to get to him.
"Stay back!" ordered the official. "This is still an official tournament. If you enter you will disqualify your friend."
"They have just been struck by lightning!" exclaimed Mai.
"You can't be serious about continuing this!" yelled Tristan.
"Joe! Speak to me!" cried Serenity.
"Well...um..." stammered the official, looking to Kaiba for an answer.
Kaiba shrugged. "It will take the medical team five minutes to get here. The first to stand before that time will be declared the winner. If not, they both lose." He sound as if he couldn't have cared less.
"Joe! Get up!" his friends instantly started to encourage him. Shayla noticed Mai seemed unusually intense, then again, it was an intense situation.
On the other side of the field, Joe's opponent was stirring. He was trying to stand.
"We have a win.." started the official. He collapsed with a groan.
"I hope that medical team hurries," said Shayla, hopefully. "I was afraid someone would get hurt."
It seemed like the longest moment in history. No one stirred. The thunder clasps faded, making it easier to hear the desperation in everyone's voices.
Finally, Joe began to wake. He pulled himself to his feet.
"Joe Wheeler in the winner of this duel!" announced the official.
"Yay!" cheered everyone.
"What happened?" asked Joe, a little disoriented. Tristan and Yu-Gi climbed onto the arena to help him. Joe ignored them, however, and walked over to his opponent, who was conscious, but not moving.
"Are you okay?" asked Joe.
"I'm sorry," he stammered.
"What was that all about? Who are you?" asked Joe.
"I am Odion, a servant to the real Marik," he answered.
"Where is he?" asked Joe.
"There," answered Odion, who raised a shaking finger. Then he fainted. The medical team then arrived, nearly trampling Duke in their haste to get on the platform.
The person he had pointed to was clutching his head as if in great pain. Shayla knew he had to be the one introduced as Namu. In his left hand was the Millennial Rod.
"Is that?!"
"That's the real Millennial Rod!"
"Namu! This whole time!?"
"How can this be?"
Another surge swept through the Millennial Items and Shayla could tell something had drastically changed about the bearer of the rod. Someone screamed, although Shayla wasn't sure whom. It could have been herself, for all she knew.
"Yes, I am Marik," said Marik in a voice that could freeze water.
Téa and Serenity had joined Mai and Shayla in wringing the life out of each other's hands. Tristan and Duke were eyeing up the door. Yu-Gi and Kaiba, strangely, seemed to be the only ones who weren't disturbed.
"Greetings, pharaoh, at last we meet face to face," continued Marik. "It won't be long before I claim your power as my own." He then laughed, very evilly.
"Marik, your disguises have all failed, and soon you will. You will never take my puzzle," said Yu-Gi.
"I will take more than the Millennial Puzzle," gloated Marik. "I will take your god card as well, then you will wander the Shadow Realm forever."
"He is a total nutcase!" exclaimed Duke.
"I'm scared," muttered Serenity.
"I think we all are," answered Shayla.
"Kaiba, you also have something of mine," said Marik. "I have my eyes on your god card as well."
"You'll never be able to win it," said Kaiba, coolly.
"We shall see," said Marik as he walked away with a flounce.
"What just happened?" asked Tristan, who sounded unnerved.
"I don't like this one bit," muttered Shayla. "Things are going to get worse before they get better."
************************************************************************
It was late by the time everything had been sorted out. Odion had been moved to the hospital wing with Bakura. The rest of the group had split up to head for their various rooms. Shayla had been given her room number by an official, and was currently trying to find it on the massive blimp.
"Let me think," she muttered. "Second level, down the stairs...Second hall on the right was it? Fourth door on the left. Or was it second hall on the left, fourth door on the right...Dang it! I knew I should have explored the blimp before hand."
She walked down a hall and found a large set of double doors at the end. She entered and found another hall on the other side.
"This can't be right!" said Shayla. "He said nothing about a set of doors. It's official, I'm lost." She took another step forward, and then heard a door open nearby. Someone stepped out and walked over to her.
"This area is restricted," said Seto Kaiba.
"Oh! Sorry!" exclaimed Shayla, nervously. "I didn't know."
"Didn't you see the sign on the doors...oh, yeah."
"I'm just trying to find my room," said Shayla, slightly annoyed because she hated be talked to like that just because she was blind.
"This way," said Kaiba as he started walking. Shayla followed, one hand on her patched walking stick, one hand on the wall. "How did you get down here?"
"I followed the directions from one of your staff," she answered.
"Must have been poor directions."
"Yeah.."
"You seem distracted."
"I'm worried."
"About what?"
Shayla took a deep breath. "Four finalists have dueled, three have gotten hurt. Two are still unconscious. I think this tournament is getting way out of hand."
"They were merely accidents," replied Seto, gruffly. "My technology had nothing to do with it."
"No one said it did. But if these accidents keep happening...I'm afraid someone is going to die."
"I doubt it."
"I have friends involved," replied Shayla, somewhat harshly. "I don't want them to get hurt."
"You're exaggerating. Nothing is going to happen."
"You're going to have to duel in these freak conditions in case you've forgotten."
"The only thing that is going to happen to me is that I am going to win all the god cards and reclaim my title."
"You've said that so many times you qualify for the broken record title," replied Shayla. Seto looked at her as if he couldn't believe that she had said that to him.
"Huff!" he replied.
"It hurts to lose someone you love," responded Shayla. "I never want to go through that again." She seemed to be talking more to herself.
"You sound as if I wouldn't know what that is like," he replied. Shayla paused a moment, thinking it through. "I lost both my parents, remember, and Pegasus nearly took Mokuba from me."
"Now you know how I feel. I want to prevent that."
Kaiba stopped and so did Shayla. He looked her over once. "This is your room."
"Oh! Thanks," said Shayla as she groped for the doorknob and opened it.
She shut the door behind her. Kaiba linger outside a moment longer, then started to walk away.
Across the hall, a door opened and Mai stepped out. She had watched the entire thing through the eyehole in her door. She quickly checked down the hall, trying to find out which way Kaiba had went. Then she followed him.
He had just made it to the double doors when she caught up with him.
"Kaiba, wait!" called Mai.
"What is it?" he asked with only a glance to acknowledge her.
"I need to talk to you."
"It can wait."
"I know you like her," said Mai, catching up and walking in step with him.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied, not looking her in the eyes.
"Shayla, my roommate," explained Mai. "I know you like her. There are about a dozen signs I could list. I see the way you look at her when you think no one else is looking, you're not so mean when she is around, I could keep going."
"Leave me alone," snapped Kaiba as he pulled out a key to enter his room. Mai stepped between him and his door.
"You don't deny it!" she exclaimed. Kaiba began to stare her down, but his ears were turning slowly pink. "I knew it."
"I may...feel attracted to her," admitted Seto. "Is that all?"
"No, now you have to tell her."
"What?!"
"I'm not going to let you lead her on," said Mai. "I don't want to see my friends hurt, so you have to tell her."
Kaiba rolled his eyes as if he was getting a headache. "If I agree will you leave me alone?"
"Yes."
"Then fine," replied Seto, not meaning a word of it.
"I'll expect you to keep your promise," said Mai. With that she walked away, her high heels clicking on the tiles.
Kaiba watched her leave, shook his head, and then entered his room for the night.