---- Chapter 2: The King of Games Cup ----
As Masaharu fell through the vortex, he felt as though his body was being torn in two. He looked down at his hands, and saw them phasing in and out of sight. Steeling his resolve, he continued to travel through the passage, and after what seemed like an eternity, he finally saw a light at the end of the tunnel....
.... leading to the dueling arena at Duelist Kingdom. Crashing down next to Kaori, he crawled over and held the unconscious girl tightly in his arms.
"Welcome to Duelist Kingdom, Masaharu-chan, Kaori-chan!!"
"Shut it."
Getting to his feet with Kaori in his arms, Masaharu stared coldly over at Pegasus. "What.... did you do?"
Another voice pierced the air, a calmer voice....
"I'll be the one to answer that."
Stepping into view was a young-looking man wearing loose brown robes and a turban. Masaharu's eyes widened as he murmured, "S-Shadi.... ?"
It was indeed Shadi, who was missing his Millennium Ankh, no doubt due to its destruction.
"What happened," began Shadi, "was a twisting of dimensions. Your world and this world collided through the properties of an ancient Egyptian spell, creating a gateway between the worlds. However, one portal in a lifetime can be opened.... and no more. There is no going home for you, I'm afraid."
Masaharu's grip on Kaori tightened. "Y-You.... you did this.... Why? Why us?"
With a chuckle, Pegasus replied, "Because you're the best duelists in your world. We need only the strongest to determine the next King of Games."
"W-What?! King.... of Games?!"
Shadi stepped forward again, speaking softly.
"After Pharaoh Atem passed into the afterlife, the occupation of the master of the Shadow Games is vacant. The Shadow Games must have a guardian - one who can manipulate their energies, and hold them in check. Only one with a true duelist's soul can become the King of Games.... and there can only be one, to protect each and every dimension. Without such a guardian, the Shadow Games would overrun the worlds.... tearing them to pieces. That is why, with my help, Pegasus is sponsoring the 'King of Games Cup.' Hundreds upon thousands of duelists will compete, to take seven cards from their opponents that represent the Millennium Items. The one true winner will be crowned the King of Games, and gain the thousand ways of the Shadow Games. You two have been.... invited to compete."
Masaharu was silent for a moment, before speaking. "If I become the King of Games...."
".... then you will be able to return to your world, yes," interrupted Pegasus. "You've nothing to lose by competing."
Kaori stirred in Masaharu's arms, as her eyes opened slowly. Seeing his hand caressing her thigh, she slapped him hard and forced him to drop her. Scrambling to her feet, she stammerred, "P-Pegasus.... ? Shadi.... ? W-What in.... ?!"
After Masaharu recovered from the brutal (but well-deserved) blow, he explained the situation to a very stunned Kaori. As she gaped in shock at the revelations, she yelled out, "I'm in an anime?! This is insane!! Why should we have to go through all this just to get home.... ?!"
Placing a comforting hand on her shoulder (and taking great pains not to move it any lower), Masaharu sighed, saying, "We don't have much choice.... The Shadow Games are all that we can rely on to get home."
"Y-You're.... right. We'll compete.... and one of us will win!"
"Splendid!" Pegasus cried, clapping his hands loudly. "I knew you two would do it!"
Turning to walk away, Shadi spoke only a few more words....
"Take care not to be swallowed by the Shadow Games, should you become their guardian...."
And with that, he was gone. Steeled with resolve, Masaharu and Kaori bid farewell to Pegasus, and set off on a nearby boat for Domino City. That was where they'd begin their travels.... and the journey of a lifetime.
=== Domino City - Kaiba Corporation, Main Office ===
Seto read the e-mail carefully.... and clenched his fist in anger.
["Dear Kaiba-chan, I hope you're doing well. You never seem to call me anymore.... Oh, and by the way, two duelists are heading to Domino City as we speak, each stronger than you. Bye!"]
".... Mokuba!"
Rushing into the room, Mokuba ran up to his brother's desk. "Yes, Seto? What is it, niisama?" he asked.
".... Go to Domino Harbor and bring the two people on the boat from Duelist Kingdom here. Use force if you must."
"S-Seto.... ?"
".... No one will get in my way.... I'll defeat them both.... and kick them out of the tournament!"
=== Domino City - Kame Game Store, Yugi's Room ===
As Yugi re-read the e-mail carefully, he leaned back in his chair. Jounouchi, who was looking over his shoulder at the message, was in shock at the revelation of two strong new duelists that they'd never heard of before.
"Oi, Yugi," he said with a groan, "Don't you think it's just a bit too strange, that strong new duelists that no one's ever heard of before have all come from Duelist Kingdom?"
".... There's something strange going on. And we're gonna find out, Jounouchi-kun."
As Masaharu fell through the vortex, he felt as though his body was being torn in two. He looked down at his hands, and saw them phasing in and out of sight. Steeling his resolve, he continued to travel through the passage, and after what seemed like an eternity, he finally saw a light at the end of the tunnel....
.... leading to the dueling arena at Duelist Kingdom. Crashing down next to Kaori, he crawled over and held the unconscious girl tightly in his arms.
"Welcome to Duelist Kingdom, Masaharu-chan, Kaori-chan!!"
"Shut it."
Getting to his feet with Kaori in his arms, Masaharu stared coldly over at Pegasus. "What.... did you do?"
Another voice pierced the air, a calmer voice....
"I'll be the one to answer that."
Stepping into view was a young-looking man wearing loose brown robes and a turban. Masaharu's eyes widened as he murmured, "S-Shadi.... ?"
It was indeed Shadi, who was missing his Millennium Ankh, no doubt due to its destruction.
"What happened," began Shadi, "was a twisting of dimensions. Your world and this world collided through the properties of an ancient Egyptian spell, creating a gateway between the worlds. However, one portal in a lifetime can be opened.... and no more. There is no going home for you, I'm afraid."
Masaharu's grip on Kaori tightened. "Y-You.... you did this.... Why? Why us?"
With a chuckle, Pegasus replied, "Because you're the best duelists in your world. We need only the strongest to determine the next King of Games."
"W-What?! King.... of Games?!"
Shadi stepped forward again, speaking softly.
"After Pharaoh Atem passed into the afterlife, the occupation of the master of the Shadow Games is vacant. The Shadow Games must have a guardian - one who can manipulate their energies, and hold them in check. Only one with a true duelist's soul can become the King of Games.... and there can only be one, to protect each and every dimension. Without such a guardian, the Shadow Games would overrun the worlds.... tearing them to pieces. That is why, with my help, Pegasus is sponsoring the 'King of Games Cup.' Hundreds upon thousands of duelists will compete, to take seven cards from their opponents that represent the Millennium Items. The one true winner will be crowned the King of Games, and gain the thousand ways of the Shadow Games. You two have been.... invited to compete."
Masaharu was silent for a moment, before speaking. "If I become the King of Games...."
".... then you will be able to return to your world, yes," interrupted Pegasus. "You've nothing to lose by competing."
Kaori stirred in Masaharu's arms, as her eyes opened slowly. Seeing his hand caressing her thigh, she slapped him hard and forced him to drop her. Scrambling to her feet, she stammerred, "P-Pegasus.... ? Shadi.... ? W-What in.... ?!"
After Masaharu recovered from the brutal (but well-deserved) blow, he explained the situation to a very stunned Kaori. As she gaped in shock at the revelations, she yelled out, "I'm in an anime?! This is insane!! Why should we have to go through all this just to get home.... ?!"
Placing a comforting hand on her shoulder (and taking great pains not to move it any lower), Masaharu sighed, saying, "We don't have much choice.... The Shadow Games are all that we can rely on to get home."
"Y-You're.... right. We'll compete.... and one of us will win!"
"Splendid!" Pegasus cried, clapping his hands loudly. "I knew you two would do it!"
Turning to walk away, Shadi spoke only a few more words....
"Take care not to be swallowed by the Shadow Games, should you become their guardian...."
And with that, he was gone. Steeled with resolve, Masaharu and Kaori bid farewell to Pegasus, and set off on a nearby boat for Domino City. That was where they'd begin their travels.... and the journey of a lifetime.
=== Domino City - Kaiba Corporation, Main Office ===
Seto read the e-mail carefully.... and clenched his fist in anger.
["Dear Kaiba-chan, I hope you're doing well. You never seem to call me anymore.... Oh, and by the way, two duelists are heading to Domino City as we speak, each stronger than you. Bye!"]
".... Mokuba!"
Rushing into the room, Mokuba ran up to his brother's desk. "Yes, Seto? What is it, niisama?" he asked.
".... Go to Domino Harbor and bring the two people on the boat from Duelist Kingdom here. Use force if you must."
"S-Seto.... ?"
".... No one will get in my way.... I'll defeat them both.... and kick them out of the tournament!"
=== Domino City - Kame Game Store, Yugi's Room ===
As Yugi re-read the e-mail carefully, he leaned back in his chair. Jounouchi, who was looking over his shoulder at the message, was in shock at the revelation of two strong new duelists that they'd never heard of before.
"Oi, Yugi," he said with a groan, "Don't you think it's just a bit too strange, that strong new duelists that no one's ever heard of before have all come from Duelist Kingdom?"
".... There's something strange going on. And we're gonna find out, Jounouchi-kun."