LoneWolf16: Okay, I just don't know what's with me. I try being serious and this comes out funny and then serious again. I have absolutely no writing style for this fic; it's just everything. Seriously, I tried to make this solemn and all that since characters are going to be dying left and right. But I can't help it…this fic has no set genre at all. Or maybe it's just the characters. . Whatever. So warning, readers – the tides may change…
Disclaimer: I don't own YGO. So go away, all money hungry lawyers.
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Chapter Seven: Lightning Strike
Mako's death had hit many of the remaining duelists hard. He had been the only cheerful duelist in Duelist Combat. Although he too, had a reason for entering this deadly tournament, he was the only one who would laugh, smile, and joke with death surrounding him. With Mako Tsunami gone, the atmosphere was dampened with loss.
Joey was hit especially hard. Just before Mako had left, Mako had told Joey about his father. Both Joey and Mako had lost their fathers: one to the sea, and the other to alcohol. In a way, Joey admired Mako for his loyalty to his father and secretly believed that if Mako could find his father, maybe, just maybe, Joey could find his father also. The real one, the one that was hidden under the kegs of beer, the one his mother used to love. But now with Mako gone, it seemed as if both Mako's and Joey's dreams were swept away by the tides of sadness.
The announcer unexpectedly came back with a weeping Marik. Yami Marik had retreated after losing so much energy, leaving Marik to deal with Mako's death. In that brief span of time, Marik had begun to consider Mako as a friend. But like so many other times in Marik's life, happiness was quickly snatched away.
Marik slumped into a corner, forgetting revenge with Bakura for the moment and instead wallowed in his grief. Grief for his sister, grief for Mako, and grief for his failure.
The stone-hearted announcer uncaringly declared the next duel of death. "The next duel will be Seto Kaiba against Maximillion Pegasus. Please come with me."
The two rose from the benches and moved towards the door. Kaiba grumbled beneath his breath, "Finally. I am getting so tired of watching these fools play around."
Pegasus just gave that strange, mysterious smile at Kaiba. Kaiba glared at him, and stalked through the door and into the black limousine that the announcer was waiting in.
* * * * *
"So, Kaiba-boy, are you looking forward to our little duel?" Pegasus chatted.
Kaiba crossed his arms. "I am, Pegasus. And now you are going to pay for what you did to my little brother."
"Aaah, that little fiasco. I must say that I truly sorry about that. I was, shall I say, not myself at that time."
"Meaning…?"
"I was too interested in my Cecilia that I forgot about other people."
Kaiba snorted and turned his head. "Figures that you would never make any sense."
"Oh, come on now, Kaiba-boy. Don't be so harsh." Pegasus twirled a finger around his silver hair.
"Whatever, Pegasus. I have a duel to do, and things to settle. And they happen to revolve around you." Kaiba growled.
"Whatever you say, Kaiba-boy. Whatever you say."
* * * * *
They stopped in the parking lot of a park. A large field (one of the few in Japan) was nearby with various hills, bushes and small trees. Thunderclouds were beginning to rumble, and no one was nearby except for Kaiba, Pegasus and the announcer.
"The dueling arena is the surrounding field. Feel free to move about."
The two former business partners squared off. A thundercloud nearby flashed a warning of lightning, and it looked like the weatherman had been wrong again today.
"BEGIN."
As if that word had spoken towards the clouds, the heavens opened up and rained like fury. Kaiba and Pegasus were instantly soaked. And being businessmen, they were unused to being exceedingly wet.
Kaiba growled. Dang weather was going to make his cleaning bills go sky-high.
Pegasus looked like a wet white rat. Hair all strung down and soaked, face dripping water, and only his Millenium Eye glinting brightly in the rain. Nevertheless, Pegasus still had that half-smile on his face.
"Shall we begin Kaiba-boy, with this lovely setting at our backs?"
"Fine."
And so it began. Two men, both alike in dignity, but using totally different techniques. Kaiba was attempting to get close so he could wallop Pegasus, but the rain was hindering Kaiba's visibility and mobility. Pegasus had the advantage of his Eye – he could blast at Kaiba while staying far, far away.
Well, actually, Pegasus had a lot of advantages.
Okay, a lot.
Poor, poor Kaiba. He really was getting a beating by Pegasus. Oh, he hadn't gotten hit by Pegasus – yet – but Pegasus was definitely hitting something else of Kaiba's. His pride.
Kaiba prided himself on his superior training and dedication. He was, of course, Seto Kaiba, CEO of KaibaCorp, second degree black belt, and not to be trifled with. He could beat anyone he met in a one-on-one spar, and Pegasus was just a tall, gangly businessman. (Kaiba was one as well, but that's beside the point.) And this infuriating white-haired man was getting in his way!
"Oh Kaiba-boy! Where's your spunk? You haven't managed to hit me even once." Pegasus taunted.
Kaiba growled and lunged at him from about ten meters away. However, since it was 1) dark and 2) raining, Kaiba slipped and fell flat on his face onto the wet, slick grass.
Pegasus looked down. "Whoops, Kaiba-boy. Seems like you'll never catch me." He then trailed off into his television dreams. "Just like Funny Bunny and Ruff-Ruff…run, run, run, but you'll never catch me, Kaiba-boy."
Lying down in the grass, Kaiba's mind was swirling. (Abruptly falling flat onto your face kinda knocks it outta you.) Little images of cartoon bunnies and Joey-dogs were running in circles around Kaiba's head. And one scene was startlingly clear…his little brother Mokuba, lying almost dead in the lonely hospital bed.
"Huh, Kaiba-boy?"
That did it. Stupid cartoons were not going to get the best of Seto Kaiba. Kaiba growled and lunged at Pegasus again, mud dripping from his face.
Pegasus jerked back and launched a blast from the Eye. However, Kaiba was past caring about superficial troubles such as highly dangerous Millenium blasts and kept on running at Pegasus. Pegasus was caught off guard and Kaiba tackled him.
They fell to the ground with Kaiba pummeling Pegasus for all that he was worth. (Which is a lot.) The mud was being washed off of Kaiba's face by the rain, only to drip onto Pegasus, who was getting mauled by a mad Kaiba.
"I am sick *whap* of your stupid *whack* cartoons! And this *smack* is what *whap* you get *smack* for stealing *whump* my little *whap* brother's *whack* soul!" This was followed by several other Japanese curses, along with a good all around beating for poor Pegsy.
Now it was Pegasus that was on the disadvantage. A very angry former business partner was disfiguring his lovely face (to him) and he was in no such position to return the favor. Pegasus was not exactly a man interested in physical exercise. But fortunately, his shadow powers were still usable…
The Millenium Eye glowed. "Relinquished! *whack* Ow! That's my eye! Come here right now or I'm going to be—"
Thankfully, the very disturbing duel monster heeded its master's cries and came onto the playing field. If Pegasus could have, he would have sighed in relief. But in any case, Relinquished did what it did best – sucking out the enemies energy and transferring it to its master.
Kaiba could actually feel his strength slipping away, could feel his punches become weaker and weaker, and could not resist as Relinquished enveloped him and took him into its depths. The tides had turned once again…
Pegasus stood up in the rain and stared into Kaiba ice-cold eyes. "Sorry, Kaiba-boy. Can't let you have all the fun." His lone eye was dark and weary, but the Millenium Eye glinted in the sleet.
"And why not?" Kaiba spat out. He struggled to break free, but Relinquished clamped him even more.
"Issues and matters that don't concern you. Or would ever concern you, I suppose." Pegasus trailed off into his dream world again. "You could never understand the twist of love…"
"What?" Kaiba asked in surprise. Him and love? Granted, he didn't deal with a lot of it, but still…
"Cecilia, Kaiba-boy. My deceased love. I'll bring her back though."
"You," Kaiba stated flatly, "are crazy."
"Yes, I know. So sorry to disappoint you, but I can't let you win. Cecelia's waiting for me on the other side, and I need to meet up with her." The Eye lit up. "I'll just have to send you to the Shadow Realm for a short while. Don't worry, I'll let you out after I win this tournament…"
Kaiba gritted his teeth. He was not going to lose to some businessman chump like Pegasus. Wrenching out a hand, he yelled, "I summon the Blue Eyes White Dragon!"
A battle-cry screeched in the rain. With a flash of light, the breathtaking beast formed and reared, shining in blue-white scales and dangerous intent. The Blue Eyes White Dragon had come to protect its master. It stood between Pegasus and Relinquished, screaming in defiance. Hail was beginning to fall down, ringing off in metallic tones hitting against the powerful dragon. The dragon craned its awesome neck and roared.
Pegasus stumbled back. His eye had not foreseen this…
The Blue Eyes White Dragon launched its lightning attack. Pegasus barely had enough time to put up a shield to defend himself.
It was a puny little silver-haired man against big, strong dragon. Not too much competition there.
Relinquished dropped its hold on Kaiba and floated over to protect his master. It began to absorb the dragon's attack, easing Pegasus' burden.
Then it began to absorb the dragon itself.
Not an easy job.
The Blue Eyes White Dragon fought every bit of the way. In shock though, Kaiba saw his dragon – and it was his, he could not deny that fact – slide closer and closer into the ever-hungry mouth of Relinquished.
The tail was in the mouth now.
Then its back left leg.
Then its back right leg.
"Forget it, Seto Kaiba!" Pegasus yelled behind his shield. "No magic or beast you summon can stop my monster!"
Kaiba stared at the losing battle with his dragon and the eater. Magic? That couldn't be right. He didn't have any magic. The Blue Eyes White Dragon was simply a highly advanced hologram, just like in his virtual reality game. When the announcer had said they could summon monsters to do their bidding, Kaiba thought that it was just like his virtual reality game. It was just a very realistic hologram "fighting" each other, while the real people did the real battle.
And yet, he could see the rain running down the blue scales and the grass being trampled. The sounds of struggle seemed real, the hail bouncing off of the two monsters very real. His dragon, for some unknown reason, was…alive.
Relinquished had about half of the dragon now. Kaiba stood in the back, watching as his dragon was sucked away. His fists clenched. It was his Blue-Eyes, after all. His dragon. Somehow, by some weird…magic…he had summoned it and now it was being taken away.
The dragon roared. Kaiba couldn't tell if it was for help or in rage. Even with the Blue Eyes White Dragon, he could not save his little brother…But he had promised to always be there…promised to protect him…promised…
"Nii-sama!"
"Yes, little brother?"
"Can we go on the swings today?"
"Of course."
Higher and higher they went, little Seto pushing Mokuba up into the blue sky. Mokuba squealed in happiness.
"Higher, nii-sama!"
"Whhheeeee!"
Kaiba began to fill with despair. He had promised Mokuba, and now he was breaking that promise. There had to be a way, there had to be a way to turn the tide and change things. He couldn't lose, there was too much at stake.
In desperation, he reached for something to help him. For once, Seto Kaiba needed help and was asking for it. Kaiba was stretching out his hands, pleading for someone to help save him and his little brother. Kaiba let the rain wash down his face, let them mix with his own tears, let the hail hit his body in gladness of the pain. He lifted up his arms, and reached, to a place he neither knew nor cared…
…And something answered his call. Memories flashed through his mind – desert sands, cool rivers, and a pale, blue-eyed girl flitted through his mind. He had called upon the power, and it answered his call, just like it had thousands of years ago.
The skies opened up and a lightning bolt came down from the sky, called down to strike Pegasus. His shields were no match for nature's awesome fury. Nothing can withstand Mother Nature.
Pegasus was lit up in a blaze of heat and electricity. The air around him rose to 30,000 degrees and his silver hair rose straight up in the pure power. Pegasus' heart stopped with several hundred volts of electricity, and his body was charred to a crisp. Pegasus didn't even have the chance to cry out. Kaiba noted in the detached part of his mind that his skeleton didn't light up like they did in the cartoons. Pegasus did, however, collapse on the rain-soaked ground, never to move again.
As if the lightning bolt had called for an ending, the thunderstorm abruptly stopped. The two duel monsters left the field, their duty done. Kaiba was left standing in the middle of the field, with only a single, fallen body left on the ground.
"K.O.!"
He had caused Pegasus' death. He, Seto Kaiba. There was blood on his hands. Kaiba fell to his knees in shock. Pegasus was no more. He would no longer yearn for his lost love, because of Kaiba. It was his doing that brought Pegasus' death. And although he had despised the annoying man, Kaiba had somehow lost a part of himself. Staring at the body before him, Kaiba felt shame.
* * * * *
Oh, this was just delightful. What joy it was to cause mental pain and suffering! What fun it was to watch these little pawns play his game of death!
More magic came towards him, bloated with anguish and despair. The man soaked it in, glorifying in its darkness. Then he waited eagerly for the next one. The next one would be so much fun to watch.
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LoneWolf16: ^^ Eeeee, lightning bolts!!!!!!
Djanil: -_- Oh goodie. She's in one of her moods again.
LoneWolf16: *bounces around* You know this really cool fact about lightning?
Djanil: No, but I really don't care.
LoneWolf6: *says it anyway* You should never, ever huddle together in a lightning storm. Lightning is attracted to bodies, so it'll probably hit you. A single lightning bolt killed 504 sheep that were huddled together. Can you imagine that? Five hundred and four sheep, gone in a poof! *laughs*
Djanil: -_-;;;;
LoneWolf16: *shrugs* So anyway, another duel done. I can't exactly say this was well written, I'm having problems with the characters' personality. So sorry if they're OOC. My other Action/Adventure fic, I think, is much better though.
The next chapter…hm, I'll let you wonder. There's only three duelists left to do their first round: Joey, Yami, and Shadi. I'll give you a peek though…one of them is Shadi. And the other I'll leave up to your imagination. And as for the location…I'll just say it's high-tech. But anyway readers, *waves* see you around!