Fieren: Hey, everyone. Thanks for continuing to read and review. Means so much to me. Either way, sorry things have been taking me so long to write my chapters again… Now that I have a few chapters up, I'm taking more time and trying to make things better. Also, I still have a sort of writers block, but at least my main plan is still up here taps forehead. Also, I've been pretty engrossed in the Naruto manga . Either way, I hope chapter seven here doesn't disappoint.
Chapter 7: Countdown to Destruction
Yami glared hatefully at the man with the green hair. His friends behind him were holding Anzu captive. Yami gritted his teeth. He had to win to protect his friend. The green-haired punk leered back at her, and then turned back to Yami.
"So, Pharaoh… Who is graced with the first move?" He asked. His face belied the fact that he actually cared. This man was trying to goad Yami into anger with his calm appearance. If Yami hadn't noticed, he feared it would actually have worked.
"I'll move first." Yami drew a card from his deck, and with only a single glance, smirked inwardly. It was a promising hand he held. Held in it, was Black Magician (2500/2100), Yami, and Yuugi's favorite monster. Yami couldn't play it quite yet, however. Dark Magician's level was too high. Yami needed an offering so he could summon it, a double offering. So, Yami placed two cards face-down, and took one of his monster cards from his hand. "I'll summon Beta the Magnet Warrior (1700/1600) in attack mode!" On the field, a tiny yellow rock with magnets covering it's body appeared. It stood upright and looked like it was ready to leap forward and start to pummel the opponent right from the start.
The man with the green hair drew from his deck, he glanced at his drawn card and looked at his hand. He took a card from his hand and set it on the field in defence mode. "I summon Knife-Throwing Murderer (1200/1700) in defence mode." A man wearing a tight-fitting pair of pants appeared on the field, crouched low, he wore many belts with knives on them, three were held in each hand, clenched between the fingers.
Yami drew his card and set it into the magic/trap zone. Yami then clicked the button on the Duel Disk that activates the card in the corresponding slot on the disk. "I activate my Magic card, Exile of the Wicked! This magic card allows me to destroy one demon-type monster on the field, for no cost, and since my Magnet Warrior is not a demon-type, the only other target is your Murderer!" A solemn-looking friar appeared, holding a bible. He spoke some meaningless religious jabber and the monster burst into flames. "Now I summon Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts (1500/1200) in attack mode! Now, I'll activate Hand Obliteration! This card forces us to send our entire hands to the cemetery, and draw a new hand! Yami set his hand gently into the cemetery opening on the Duel Disk, and drew three new cards. Now, I'll activate Premature Burial! I pay the low cost of 800 Life Points to revive one monster in my cemetery. I choose my Black Magician (2500/2100)!" From the ground, a hand burst forth, and then the ground split open, and the purple-armoured Magic-User appeared on the field, arms folded confidently across his chest. Now, in front of Yami, stood an imposing force. The Black Magician, flanked by Beta the Magnet Warrior and Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts. Yami stood confidently.
Y: 7200, GH: 8000
"To those who would threaten my friends, I show no mercy. You die after my next turn. Quit now." Yami said coldly.
The green-haired man stepped back, in fright. He looked down at his shaking hand, his cards threatening to fall from his hand. He took a glance around, and noticed a dark mist flowing through the air. Looking back at Yami, his eyes widened in fear. Glowing prominently on his forehead was the Eye of Anubis. This was a Game of Death.
Calmly, and coldly, Yami pointed his finger to the enemy. "Attack." The three monsters leapt forwards into the air and attacked him consecutively. First, came Gazelle, who slashed him across the chest, secondly came Beta who struck him hard in the chest also, then came the Black Magician, he spun his staff around like a baton and then a bolt of black magic shot from the staff and slammed headlong into Yami's ragged-breathing opponent. The bolt engulfed him, and with a cry of pain, the bolt ended, and he fell to his knees.
Y: 7200, GH: 2300
He looked up, jaw clenched. Holding his hand to his chest, where most of the attacks were focused. He drew, hand still shaking violently. Before he drew, Yami spoke up.
"If you quit now, nothing bad will happen. I'll let you walk away." Yami offered a chance for the green-haired man to save himself. Yami was exercising his merciful nature.
The green-haired man glared hatred at Yami, and continued to draw. "You sentence yourself to death if you draw that card." Yami warned. The man faltered, and continued to draw. He looked down at his hand, and a look of wide-eyed fear enveloped his face. In his hand, he held nothing but Magic cards.
Pleadingly, he looked up at Yami. "Is it too late to resign?"
"I warned if you drew that card, nothing but death awaited you." Yami said calmly. The green-haired man sobbed. "However, if you release Anzu, and tell me what you want, I'll let you go."
"I'll do it! Please don't kill me!" The man looked as though he were about ready to piss in his pants. Yami released the dark mist, and where the two other robed men were standing, they were still. Anzu looked relieved. "Let her go."
The two men released Anzu and she went and stood beside Yami. He looked to her. "Are you all right?" Anzu nodded her response, the relieved feeling still having not fleeted. "Okay, uphold your end of the bargain." Yami ordered.
The green-haired man looked back at his cohorts. "We were sent here…." He was cut off, as the two other robed men lunged at him with knives, plunging them into his back, the green haired man cried out in agony. They stabbed again, blood dripping in torrents onto the sidewalk now. He coughed up blood and fell forwards, his face colliding headlong into the pavement. The two men reached down and wiped off their knife blades with the end of his cloak.
"Such selfishness." One said.
"The Master would not be pleased with this. Not pleased in the slightest." The other spoke. Yami looked back at Anzu, who was holding back the urge to vomit. Most people were not accustomed to seeing someone murdered before their eyes. Yami had a stronger stomach though. Yuugi was horrified.
Why?Yuugi asked.
It seems as though their leader, or Master as they said would not like it if they spoke of their reasons.Yami replied.
"Should we continue?" The first one asked.
"No, our Triad is broken by the fall of the coward. We should retreat." The second answered.
"No! I still have questions!" Yami raged.
The two looked back at Yami, and then turned and ran. Yami started off after them, but then stopped and looked back at Anzu, who still had that sickly look of horror on her face. Yami looked menacingly off in the direction the men ran in, but then turned back to Anzu. Letting Yuugi gain control of his body, Yuugi began to walk towards Anzu. She had started crying.
"They just up and killed him…" She whispered. There was no other noise in the park though. Yuugi could hear her clearly. "Right in front of us…"
Yuugi placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and she looked up with a start into his concerned face. "Don't worry so much about it Anzu." He tried to be more helpful, but his own disgust about what just happened was almost more than he could stomach.
"I don't think I'll be going to my dance class tonight, you'll walk me home, right?" Anzu asked, although pleaded was closer to what she actually sounded like.
Yuugi nodded and smiled warmly. He would take as much care of his friend as he possibly could. He helped her up, and together the two walked towards Anzu's home.
Bakura smirked menacingly at the robed man as the second later of the Ouija Board appeared above the field. "D", and "E". Bakura's hand was almost empty, and his only monster was the Ghost Duke (2000/1700). His Life Points weren't very low, and his victory was almost a certainty within three more rounds. (A/N: Yes, I did just cop out on the first portion of the duel with Bakura. I don't have a very good idea of most of the Occult cards in his deck. Guy didn't duel enough in the anime XP.) His opponent hadn't lost any Life Points. He'd been keeping himself remarkably well-defended, Bakura had deduced that his deck theme was all-out defence. It's size and monsters all but gave it away. Bakura's Life Point loss leading up to his point were when his attacks had ricocheted harmlessly off of high-defence monsters.
B:7000, RM: 8000
The robed man drew his card, and placed it in defence mode. Bakura sneered at the lack of strategy on this poor soon-to-be-lost souls part. Defence worked rather well, when you weren't about to lose in three turns. Bakura drew his card and ended his turn. The third letter appeared above the field. The "A". Bakura looked smugly out at his surroundings. Dark mist fluttering about everywhere. Bakura loved duelling in this place. He loved it more than he loved pudding pops (A/N: Bakura needs to love something, more than violence, right?), and that was saying quite a bit. Bakura really loved pudding pops. The robed man drew, and played defence. Predictable. What a horrid theme for a deck to have, Bakura thought. He drew and did nothing. This was turning into a very boring duel (A/N: I bet all my readers think so too . I swear he'll get a better one.). The fourth letter appeared. The "T".
"One more letter." Bakura said smugly. "One more letter spells out your fate."
The robed man swallowed the lump in his throat. He drew, and once again, played defence. Bakura spat at the ground as he completely skipped his Draw Phase and allowed the final letter to appear above the field. The "H". DEATH was the message spelt. One more letter spells out your demise. Bakura's cryptic message took on a whole new meaning to the robed man. Hanging from Bakura's neck, the Millennium Ring's Eye of Anubis glowed blindingly. The robed man fell over, stone dead.
"Such is the fate of those who lose in the Shadow Realm. Bakura looked to the remaining robed men, and glared. They ran away faster than their legs could carry them, and tripped quite a few times. Bakura laughed heartily at the display of foolishness before. He then turned back to Yuuhi, who had seen all that had happened. His facial expression hadn't changed much. Normally after watching someone die, people tend to react. Yuuhi remained calm though.
"What just happened?" Yuuhi asked Bakura.
"Exactly what I told him would happen. He would regret challenging me, and the message spelt out by the Ouija Board would predict his fate." Bakura chuckled.
"Death? You killed him?!" Yuuhi asked, his normally calm exterior melting away.
"Yes." Bakura answered simply.
"How?!"
Bakura really did not want to explain to Yuuhi the nature of the Magic the Ring gave him. Instead, Bakura tapped into more power of the ring, and erased Yuuhi's memories of the entire duel. It was too early to reveal to him the nature of the Magic, or his true self. Yuuhi's eyes glazed over, and Bakura could almost see the memories slipping from his mind. He stopped after a moment, and let Ryou take over again.
Don't disappoint me this time, Ryou.Bakura threatened.
Ryou waited for Yuuhi's eyes to return to normal, and then he spoke up. "Let's go get some pizza. Then call it a night." Ryou said.
"Fine with me." Yuuhi grinned. "I love pizza."
Honda and Otogi sat together in a karaoke café, both were dejected, and felt completely hopeless. Their coffee was getting cold, but neither seemed to care.
"Where does Jou get off telling us we can't see his sister?" Honda asked abruptly, slamming his fist down on the table.
Otogi looked up, uninterestedly. "Calm down, Honda. She is Jou's sister, and this is supposed to be their time together. I suppose I can understand why he doesn't want an idiot like you around her though." Otogi laughed.
"You want a fist in the mouth!?" Honda exploded at Otogi. Getting Honda mad was like shooting the broad side of a barn.
"That's what I mean, Honda. You're a brute. Face it, women like Shizuka aren't into the brawny, stupid, meat-headed, Honda Hiroto types." Otogi waved his hand at Honda.
"I suppose women like arrogant jerk-off's like you?" Honda asked with a laugh of his own.
"No, what women like about me is my debonair charm, my rapier wit, my movie star good looks… I prefer to call it Ryuji syndrome." Otogi laughed. Honda fumed.
"The money has nothing to do with it?" Honda raged.
"I suppose it's in there somewhere, a side-effect of Ryuji Syndrome." Otogi shrugged.
"So, I suppose Shizuka is immune to Ryuji Syndrome, she doesn't seem to be affected in any way by any of your symptoms." Honda said.
"I'll chip away at those soon enough." Otogi shrugged again. He started playing with his earring as Honda took a sip of his coffee. The door opened and both looked over and found the familiar face of Mai. Otogi stood and waved her over. She noticed, and her face brightened as she went and sat down.
"What're you boys doing here?" Mai asked.
"Just sitting around." Otogi shrugged. "I didn't know you were still in town."
"I've been staying at Jounouchi's, he offered me his extra room. I was told to hit the town while he had dinner with his sister." Mai explained.
Honda was still sipping on his coffee, not saying anything. Otogi continued playing with his earring as Mai struck up some idle conversation. It was your basic stuff, but the main thing was that Mai had complained about not being able to duel Jounouchi. She still hadn't gotten him back since Duelist Kingdom. Her coffee arrived, along with a refill for Honda, and she sipped it down slowly. Honda was a bit quicker with his than Mai, however, and quickly found out that coffee is hot. While Otogi and Mai watched as Honda made an ass out of himself, begging random people for water (A/N: Hot coffee, eh?), outside, they were being watched. Another triad of the Dark Jackals had found their next mark.
"Honda Hiroto, is it?" One asked.
"Yeah, not much of a Duelist, but he might put up a fight. We should be prepared." The leader of the three replied. "Master Laevenne recommends caution. When we targeted Jounouchi, we made the mistake of trying to both duel, and fight him. Honda isn't much different, he'd never duel though. Fighting him would be as big a mistake as fighting Jounouchi."
"What of the other two?" The third asked.
"Kujaku Mai and Otogi Ryuji will not be much of a problem when it comes to a physical struggle, but Kujaku will be a formidable duel. Either way, this situation could prove difficult." The leader replied. "Remember, caution."
The three readied themselves in a nearby alley, waiting for Honda, or all three to leave. Preparing for their attack, they sat and waited.
Malik looked out the window with a lazy expression on his face. The flight from Egypt had been long, and rather boring. Isis had fallen asleep, her head was resting on his left shoulder. In the aisle seat, sat Rishid. He was looking aggravated, the cart that the in-flight meals and random other things were on kept bumping his elbows. They'd been doing it since the moment they took off. Now, however, Malik was rather pleased. The plane would be landing soon, and he would finally be in Domino, like he told the Pharaoh he would be. He was also eager to tell the Pharaoh about his latest findings about the Dark Jackals. He knew where they came from. From there, it was merely a task of finding out who was funding their illegal activities. Someone who had a Millennium Item. That was the most he knew. As far as he knew, all seven items were accounted for. The only ones that might've been lost were Shadi's, and even then, the powers of those items were weak compared to the others. This entire business was leaving a sour taste in Malik's mouth, and he just hoped he could be helpful when it came down to it.
End of Chapter 7
Fieren: Man, is it just me or has anyone else noticed a decline in my writing? I think I've gotten worse, though I'm my own worst critic. I encourage people, nay, I beg you to read and review. I'd like to know what people think so far. I plan on updating within the next week, to answer any reviews such as the above ones (don't get me wrong, I appreciate them, thanks to all who have reviewed.). Either way, I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Please R&R!