Chapter 2:  Not your Average Dueling Tournament…

            Yugi and the gang enjoy the first half of their first day back in school as they all have a seat together at lunch.

Yugi:  "Your friend sure is good at Duel Monsters Joey.  Do you know how long he has been playing?"

Joey:  "Not a clue.  I still want my rematch against him. So Yugi, is your Grandpa gonna come and play too?"

Yugi:  "No…he said he has to run the store, so I should give this ID to someone else…"

            As soon as he spoke, an idea popped up in his head as Yugi stood up suddenly.

Yugi:  "How about Kaiba…?"  (He spoke quietly to his friends with the usual smile on his face.)

Joey:  "That sleazeball?!  Why him of all people?!" (He grits his teeth to the sound of Kaiba's name.)

Tea:  "Calm down Joey…what happened between you two is over and done with. Get over it."

Yugi:  "As I was saying…if anyone would like to enter this tournament, it would be him.  Anyway, I'd like to see how well his deck has improved in a year, and so would Yami."

Tristan:  "Honorable rivals I must say Yug'.  So, you gonna head down to Kaiba Corp and find him?"

Yugi:  "Yeah, I'm on a half-day schedule of classes this year so I'm done for today.  You know I'm always an honor student!"  (He smiles happily like a little child.)

Joey:  "Right Yug'.  Do what you want, so that'll make two duelists I've got a score to settle with!"  (He slams his fist on the cafeteria table filled with determination to prove his worth.)

Yugi:  "Well, let me go and have a talk with Kaiba!  I'll see you all later at the Gameshop, okay?"

Joey: "Sure Yug'.  We need to practice for tomorrow night.  Catch ya' later."

            Yugi grabs his things and walks off the campus of Domino High and barely catches the public bus, riding it until he reaches Kaiba Corp and gets off.  He walks into the huge skyscraper and up to the front desk.

Yugi:  "Umm…hi miss.  Is Kaiba around?"  (He speaks to the secretary nervously.)

Secretary:  "Oh…you look familiar.  Aren't you that Yugi boy?"

Yugi:  "Yeap, that's right ma'am."

Secretary:  "Oh, you're quite the player! I'll let Mr. Kaiba off your presence right away!"

Yugi:  "Thank you so much!"  (He gives her a warm smile.)

            The secretary sends up a message to Kaiba's private quarters as Kaiba and Mokuba descends into the lobby where Yugi is waiting for them.

Kaiba:  "Yugi…it's been awhile."

Yugi:  "Yeah, how are you Seto?  Good, I hope."

Kaiba:  "Hmph…save the formalities.  What brings you to my company?"

Yugi:  "An invitation to a dueling tournament being held in secret."  (His eyes widen with anticipation as he speaks.)

Kaiba:  "Hmm…probably no one worth my dueling talents…"

Yugi:  "You're wrong Kaiba…this tournament is filled with some of the best duelists in the world…the "Underground" duelists!"

Mokuba:  "Brother!  Didn't you talk about that when you were younger, about the man that taught you how to play Duel Monsters?!"

Kaiba:  "…How do you know about this Yugi?"

Yugi:  "It seems that an old friend of Joey's is a very skilled duelist in the Underground Dueling League, and he's very good.  He defeated Joey in two turns!!!"

Kaiba:  "Even though Joey is rather weak in my opinion…even we couldn't do that to him.  This situation bares further investigation Yugi…"

Yugi:  "Here, take this badge." (He hands Kaiba the badge that Lee gave to him.)  "The tournament is tomorrow night at the abandoned Domino City Power Plant and you need this to get in.  Only duelists are allowed and I hear the competition will be fierce."

Kaiba:  "If there are worthy duelists, then I must prove my strength as a duelist, the number one duelist in the world, and the worthy holder of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"

Yugi:  "Hey Kaiba…if you're not always busy, you're always welcome to hang out with me and the guys back at the Gameshop.  Even though you're a busy guy, just know that we are your friends whether you believe us or not.  We are always dueling and you can duel me whenever you--!"

Kaiba:  "Is that all Yugi…?  I'll be there tomorrow night, so prepare your deck and I'll witness your dueling prowess that night.  Good day to you Yugi Mutuo."  (He turns along with Mokuba and heads back to his office.)

Yugi:  "Well…I tried.  I'd better head back to the shop before Grandpa gets worried."

            Yugi heads back later that evening to see everyone crowded around Yugi's grandfather and Lee standing away from him, a duel plate around his wrist.

Yugi:  "Grandpa!  Are you okay?!"  (A worried expression overtakes Yugi's face.)

Solomon:  "Yugi…I lost to Lee and his deck.  His skills…are uncanny Yugi." (He coughs slightly as his stunned face looks at Lee.)

Lee:  "It was an honorable duel Yugi…and he lost.  I've heard a lot about your grandfather, but he was no match for my powerful deck."

Joey:  "Lee! What happened to you?!  How…how could defeat Yugi's grandpa?!  He's a dueling expert and he taught me and Yugi how to duel! I mean…if you could defeat HIM…then…"

Lee:  "…He is skilled, but not that tough.  I suppose old age has begun to diminish his dueling skills.  I respect his skill and his deck.  He is a very honorable duelist and he has my utmost respect…"  (He walks over and helps Solomon up.) 

Solomon:  "Thank you my boy…you're right.  It was a grand duel!"

Lee:  "T-Thank you Mr. Mutou…now, I must take my leave of you all.  I take it, you all will show up for the tournament tomorrow evening…?"

Yugi:  "There's been a change in plans.  My grandpa won't show up, but the renowned host of Battle City, Seto Kaiba will show up in his place!"

Lee:  "How fortunate…I've wanted to try him out…to see the extents of his power in his deck.  Excellent…so I'll see you tomorrow night.  Have a pleasant evening everyone."  (He turns away and heads off into the night, leaving the duel plate on the ground where he stood.)

            Lee wanders off into the night, returning to the Domino hotel where he checked in earlier to return to his room for the night.  He reaches his room and unlocks the door, walking into his room.

Lee:  "Marienne…have fun shopping?"  (He gives the woman a warm smile.)

Marienne:  "Hey honey!! You're back!"  (She gets up and hugs Lee lovingly and kisses him deeply.)  "I missed you…what have you been up to you little devil?"

Lee:  "Hmm…I ran into Joey and his friends today…just like I thought I would."

Marienne:  "Joey…?  Your old friend when you were growing up?  Didn't you say he was a duelist now?"

Lee:  "Yeah…but his skills need some work however."  (He shrugs slightly to himself as he smiles warmly to his fiancée.)  "So, what have you been up to today?"

Marienne:  "Nothing sweety.  So, is your deck prepared for tomorrow night?"

Lee:  "Hmm…you know it is.  I'll continue to win in the league for our sake.  I'll win that money so we can have the best wedding ever…because you deserve the best.  Who knows…I'll probably make Joey my best man after this is all over with."

Marienne:  "Right right! Now, aren't you tired…?  Why don't you come and rest now?  You look rather tired!"

Lee:  "Yeah…I will. Just give me a minute baby."  (He closes the door to his hotel room behind him.)

            The night soars by in a sea of snores as the day of the tournament arrives.  The school day soars by with anticipation as Yugi and Joey rush to the Power Plant to see Kaiba standing by the entrance waiting for them.

Joey:  "Kaiba!  You're here already?!"

Kaiba:  "Of course…I believe in being on time, unlike some idiot I know."

Yugi:  "Anyway, I guess we must show these badges once we are inside to enter the arena."

            As the three of them spoke, Lee and Marienne walk up behind them and stops in front of them.

Lee:  "Good to see that you all decided to come.  Especially you Seto…"

Kaiba:  "So, you're the one who defeated that idiot Joey…don't go getting your head filled with pride over such a useless victory whoever you are."

Lee:  "The name's Lee Gilford, and show some respect to my friend Joey there, will you?  Or else…I'll have to teach you some respect Mr. Kaiba…and I'll be just the man to do it."

Kaiba:  "Hmph…you're no match for my superior deck.  So, that's enough chit-chat.  Let's enter and get this inferior tournament over with."

Lee:  "Fair enough…follow me gentlemen."  (He smirks quietly, as he removes a lock of hair from his vision.)

            He leads them into the inner sanctum of the Power Plant until they come up to a set of double doors with a card scanner.  Lee takes their cards and scans them, gaining them entry into the arena. Yugi and the gang stare in awe at the size of that steel-caged dueling arena and all the roaring spectators and duelists all around.

Yugi:  "Whoa!!  This is the "Underground Dueling Arena"?!"

Lee:  "Yeap…this is the newest arena added to the league.  Come with me so we can register for the tournament this evening.  I made special preparations for you three so prepare your decks for the ultimate challenge…"

Yugi:  "Alright Yami!  It's time!!"  (His puzzle begins to glow and levitate as a warm light engulfs Yugi, undergoing is usual transformation into Yami Yugi.)

Yami:  "Hmph…I'm ready Lee, and it's time to duel!"

Joey:  "Oh yeah!  I'm gonna kick some major ass down here!! Me and my Red-Eyes aren't takin' any prisoners!!"

Kaiba:  "Hmph…we'll see how far these fools have come in a year since Battle City…"

            Lee brings them over to the registration table as they all sign up filling up the last slots for the evening's tournament.  An announcer walks into the steel-caged arena and begins to speak to the crowd.

Announcer:  "Good evening fair duelists!!  The duelists have been selected for tonight's grand tournament!!  He have some very special guests down with us "inferior" duelists tonight!  Three top-notch duelists from Battle City, fairly know to the world as Yugi Mutuo, Seto Kaiba, and Joey Wheeler!  We will finally get to see the strength of these here top-notch Battle City contestants!!  As for the rules, the usual "UG Rules are in effect!!  Life Points are always set to 8000 in the beginning of a duel, you must sacrifice summon Level 5 of higher monsters, and fusion monsters CAN attack the turn they are summoned to the field!!"

Kaiba:  "Hmm…excellent, now that rule will make this tournament even easier…what a bunch of fools.  They have no idea what they are up against!"

Announcer:  "For the first duel of the evening, Seto Kaiba versus Fang!! Will the duelists please step into the steel cage and shuffle your decks, and let this grand duel commence!!!!"

            Kaiba and his opponent step into their rightful positions, shuffle their decks and nod to each other as they place their decks down, setting their Life Points to 8000.

Fang:  "Hmph…so you're the infamous Seto Kaiba, and the owner of three Blue-Eyes White Dragons.  This will be interesting indeed."

Kaiba:  "Quiet the talking and let's duel now…I haven't got all night you know.  I just want to get you out of my way so I can advance, even though it's inevitable that I'll win over your feeble deck anyway!!"

Announcer:  "Duelers, BEGIN!!!!"

Fang:  "I'll go first and draw my hand."  (He draws 5 cards and takes a look at them.)  "I'll set a monster in defense mode, and set one card face down on the field and end my turn Kaiba!"  (He plays his cards down as their holographic image appears inside the steel cage.)

Kaiba:  "I'll draw a card…" (He draws a card into his hand and smirks, knowing the superior power of his cards.)  "This duel is already over for you fool…by this superior combination of my deck!! I'll summon the "Lord of Dragons" in attack mode!! (He summons his Lord of D in face-up attack mode and activates a magic card.)  "I'll activate the Flute of Summoning Dragon card of Lord of Dragons, allowing me to summon up to 2 Dragon-type monsters to the field from my hand of nay kind!! So, I'll summon TWO Blue-Eyes White Dragons from my hand onto the field in face-up attack mode!!"  (The pair of dragons appears on the field ready to attack Fang's face-down monster.)  "Next, I'll activate the magic card, "Raigeki", which allows me to destroy all of your monsters on the field!!"  (He activates his magic card as Fang's monsters disappear from the field.)  "Now, all of my monsters will hit your Life Points!!!"

Fang:  "Hmm…not yet. I won't use it yet, so I'll accept your attacks!"

Kaiba:  "Hmm…?!  Go, Blue-Eyes!! Rip his Life Points to shreds!"  (The Lord of Dragons and the two Blue-Eyes hit Fang directly for 7300 Life Points.)

Fang:  "AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  (He howls in pain from the huge volts of electricity surging through his body as smoke is sizzling from his body.)

Kaiba:  "What happened?! Are these dueling stations wired with electric sensors for pain?!"

Fang:  "Argh…yeah, that's the way things go down here in the Underground Dueling Arena…we're really hardcore, unlike you soft-ass duelists on the surface dueling for the people and for other foolish reasons! So, I think I'll turn the tides in this match by activating this Quickplay Magic Card, "Defense Wheel"!  (He activates the card he had face-down on the field as its effect starts.)

Kaiba:  "Damnit!! Now, I'll take 7300 Life Points damage in return from my attacks for this turn!!! (His Life Points decreased to 700 instantly as a huge surge of electricity begins to surge through Kaiba's body.)  "AAAAAAGGHHH!!!!"

Fang:  "Hehe…how does it feel?  Is it painful Kaiba? Well, get used to the shocking excitement cause this duel will be mine!!  Now, I'll draw a card for my turn and summon the "Rogue Doll" in attack mode, to destroy your Lord of Dragons!"  (He summons his Rogue Doll with an attack force of 1600, and deals 300 damage to Kaiba's LP, destroying Lord of D.)

Kaiba:  "OWW!!!!!! DAMNIT!!!!" (The pain continues to surge through is sore body as more electric current flows through his body from his reduction in life points.)

Fang:  "I'll set two cards face down and end my turn Kaiba!"  (He sets 2 cards face down as they appear on the field in their holographic form.)

Kaiba:  "Huff…I'll…draw a card…" (He draws a card from his deck as he looks through his hand for a way to turn the tables in his favor as a slight smirk overtakes his face.)  "Well…you can play your cards well, but this duel will be mine by my faithful servant, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!! First, I'll set a magic card face down on the field, then I'll activate this magic card, "Final Destiny"!!"  (He sets his card face down, and then activates the Final Destiny card.)  "This card allows me to discard five cards from my hand to destroy all the cards on the field!! So, swipe all your cards now, duelist!!!" (Every single card on the field goes into the graveyard pile as Kaiba's grin grows wider.) Now, as to chain the effect of Final Destiny, I activated my set trap card, the "Vase of Greed", which allows me to draw one card from my deck extra! (He draws his one card and plays it with extreme glee, the "Monster Reborn" card, to revive his destroyed Blue-Eyes White Dragon.)  "Blue-Eyes!! Return to the field and ravage my opponent limb from limb!! White Lightning Attack, NOW!!!!!"

Fang:  "N-NO!!!!!!!!!!"

Kaiba:  "FINISH HIM OFF NOW!!!!" (The Blue-Eyes White Dragon attacks Fang directly once again depleting his life points to zero, as an extreme amount of electricity begins to electrify Fang.)

Fang:  "AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STOP IT!!!!!!!A-A-A-AH-H-H-H-H-!!!!!!!!!!!"

Kaiba:  "As I said before, I am the victor in this duel…as my deck will not fail me….huff…puff…" (He picks up his deck and staggers out of the steel cage arena, gasping for air, sweating from the pain his body still feels.) 

            Lee and the rest of them walk up to Kaiba and offer their congratulations for getting into the semifinals.

Lee:  "Well done Seto…just like I expected…but your weakness is your lack for respect for your opponent.  You were rather lucky against Fang there…but we'll see how far you go."

Kaiba: "Just mind your god damn business you fool…I'll only accept a defeat from Yami and that is all, do you understand?! We are the best duelists in the world, and no one will topple me and my ultimate deck of aggression!!"

Lee:  "…As you wish. Well, you better rest your body for your upcoming duel soon.  I'm pretty sure we will duel each other tonight, so make sure your "ultimate" deck as you call it, is prepared…"

Yami:  "It looks like the next duel is about to begin soon…"

            The announcer steps back into the middle of the arena.

Announcer:  "Wow!! What a show!! I guess Kaiba is pretty tough as people say he is!! For our next duel, Joey Wheeler versus our famed duelist, Skull!!!"

Joey:  "I guess I'm up…wish me luck guys…I think I'm gonna need it!"

Yami:  "You'll do fine Joey. Just believe in yourself, and in the heart of the cards just like you always do. Everything will be fine my friend, so show these guys what you're made of."

Joey:  "Right on Yug'. I've come too far in my career as a duelist to be defeated by some guys like this…I'll show them not to mess with the bad-ass Joey Wheeler!!!!"

Skull:  "Hmm…interesting.  I hope you can entertain me boy…because you look like dip-shit to me youngster! I'll mop the floor with your puny ass and your weak-ass deck so prepare to get your ass kicked!"

Joey: "Save your smart remarks until after the duel!! So, prepare yourself to feel my Red-Eyes Black Dragon's sting as I'll defeat you tonight!!! Mark my words!!!"

To be continued.  Stay tuned to find out what happens next in the next update. I hope all who read this enjoyed it thus far. All comments welcome.