Aha!  Another update!  And so quickly, too!  I won't keep you waiting any longer, so here it is: Chapter 28!

Chapter 28: Turning the Tide

            What now? thought Serenity.  Shira's just too strong; I can't beat her.  Her hands shook as she faced the Spirit of the Sea.

            "Uh-oh," whispered Tristan to Tea. "Looks like Serenity's starting to freak out."

            Serenity looked at her hand again, desperately trying to piece together a strategy that could defeat Shira with the cards she held.  It's no use, Serenity told herself.  I can't do it.  I'm going to lose . . .

            "Come on Serenity!" encouraged Joey.  "Beat this creepy spirit thing!"

            "Trust in your deck," advised Yami.

            But Serenity wasn't listening to them, so lost was she in her despair.  Suddenly, she heard another voice.

            "Don't lose your focus," called Seto Kaiba, interrupting her thoughts.  "And don't panic.  Remember everything you learned."

            Serenity didn't reply, but everyone else looked at Seto in near-astonishment to hear something motivational coming from him.

            "My, my, my.  You're just full of surprises lately, aren't you?" snickered Nephilia.  Seto looked ready to make a smart retort, but began coughing again.  It was worse than before, and he leaned against the wall for support.

            The noise brought Serenity out of her trance-like state.  Seto's words had sunk in, and she was ready to continue the duel.

            Please, she silently prayed.  Please let me draw a card that can beat Shira.  She picked up the top card from her deck and looked at it.

            "Make your last move," taunted Nephilia.  "It doesn't matter; you and I both know that you can't win."

            "We'll see about that," said Serenity.  She smiled at Nephilia, who glared back.

            "What's so funny?!" snapped Nephilia.  "Stop that!  I'll wipe that smile off your face when I win this duel and send you all to the Shadow Realm!"

            "I play a magic card," said Serenity.  "Roulette!"

            A giant black slot machine dropped onto the field.  Nephilia gasped.

            "Oh no!" she exclaimed.  "Not that card!"

            "What?  What does it do?" asked Joey.

            "You don't know?  Oh wait, of course.  An amateur duelist like you wouldn't have even heard of Roulette, let alone seen it," said Seto.

            Joey looked as though he was going to explode, and Tristan prepared to step between them in order to stop an ensuing fight.

            "If the three slots land on the picture of a red monster, then one of Nephilia's monsters will be destroyed, and if they land on the red skull, Nephilia's life points will drop to zero," said Seto.

            "And Serenity will win!" said Joey.

            "Obviously.  But not without risk," added Seto.  "If the slots land on the green monster, then Serenity's monster will be destroyed."

            "But she doesn't have a monster," said Joey.

            "I wasn't finished yet, you idiot," replied Seto.  "If the green skull comes up three times, then Serenity will lose all her remaining life points, and therefore lose the duel.  Roulette is not played often not only because it is so rare, but because it is so risky."

            "What happens if there's a combination?" asked Tristan.

            "Don't you people know anything?!" snapped Seto.  "If that happens, the slot machine will roll again.  It will re-roll a maximum of three times.  If it doesn't get three of something within those rolls, then it will vanish."

            "Look!" said Tea.  "The slots are beginning to move!"

            All eyes turned towards the now-rapidly spinning slots.  They alone would decide the outcome of the duel.

            This should be a good place to stop.  ^_~  If any of you are G Gundam fans, I just created a songfic entitled "Here Without You", so feel free to check it out!