Chapter 4. The Hierophant
Oh! Wait a second, Yugi, I almost forgot! Said Neko, running after him and fiddling with her hair.
What is it, Neko? He asked, turning to her. She stuck out her hand, offering one of her rings.
Oh, right! I did beat you in that duel, didn't I?
Yes, you did. You earned this.
I almost forgot, too. I guess it's because I have nothing that I'm dueling for this tournament... Unless... Her thought back to the strange phone call he received before he left. Does someone want to hurt my friends? If that's so, then I definitely have something to duel for! I don't want anyone to hurt Joey, Téa, or Tristan! He paused and looked back at Neko, who seemed to be looking for a duel. Or Neko, either. She seems very nice, and that Mauhu... MAU hurt her, she made Neko do something, but I don't know what it was... why didn't Yami send her to the shadow realm?
Well, then, I guess, I should just... go, then... Neko began, drifting off.
You don't have to, Began Yugi, Unless of course you want to, if we're annoying or something.
You aren't annoying... it's just... I mean, a clump of duelists just hanging around together, won't it be harder for us to find opponents?
Neko, look around you, Laughed Tristan. We're the only two non-duelists here.
Ah... well, then, plenty to go around I suppose... Something seemed to be making her very nervous.
Are you alright, Neko?
Oh, I'm fine, I'm fine, really I am. Everyone shared a nervous glance, which, for Neko at least, stopped right on Bakura's ring.
Say, Bakura, She began, We'll need to face each other eventually, won't we? Why don't we just duel right now?
Well, uh, if you want, I'm just not sure that's the best idea...
Why not?
He shrugged. I just don't. Neko stared at him, with a quiet innocent stare. Her eye twitched. Say it... Whispered Mau. Say it right now. Are you saying-
Are you saying that you don't think I am a worthy opponent?
No I-no, no, I never-
Dueled an innocent little girl? Are you afraid you might hurt me?
Dueled an innocent little girl? Are you afraid you might hurt me?
No, well, yes, it's not that, I-
You're saying you don't think I can handle myself in a duel.
You're saying you don't think I can handle myself in a duel.
Of course you can, it's just, I'm...
Scared? Of a little girl like me?
Scared? Of a little girl like me?
No! I-um.. He sweat dropped. Bloody hell! Where do girls learn this stuff?
Well, when you're ready to duel, I'll be over there, looking for a real opponent.
Well, when you're ready to duel, I'll be over there, looking for a real opponent. What does that mean? Thought Neko.
What does that mean? I'm ready to duel right now!
Now, just turn your head and throw your hair back as you walk away....
Now, just turn- No! Don't say it! -this way, we'll use this one, shall we? Bakura threw a very scared glance back at the group, who mostly shrugged, choosing to follow them and watch. Good. Thought Bakura, He won't be able to pull anything with them watching. He won't be able to take control.
** Kittywitch=^-,-^= La la la... I can't write duels for crap... so let's say it worked much the same way as the last one, only at little more thinking and they are both at the brink of destruction, Mau gave her speech (I am Sailer Mau! I stand for...) right, gave her speech and (Prepare for trouble! Make it double!) GAVE HER SPEECH and now the spirit of the ring is spilling the beans about who he is.
The spirit asked with a laugh. I remember who I was quite well. I was Oni, the Hierophant, the highest of the high priests. I also remember a certain commoner who danced in the temple.
Oh, bastet. Moaned Mau, hiding behind her cards.
What's wrong? Asked Neko.
So... are you still single? Mau tried to ask politely.
Is that an offer?
Hardly. So... what have you been doing recently?
Oh, stealing souls... dueling... harvesting millennium items from fools who know not their true power.... also I've taken an acute interest in stamp collecting.
No. Should I have? What else should I have done? Dammit, Mau, I was never good enough for you, was I?
Oh, shut up. I'll be glad to send you to the shadow realm.
Is this-- is THIS your husband? Asked Neko in wonder, half between horror and shame.
Spat Mau. He's my ex-boyfriend. Before I married. Bakura goggled as Oni continued his rant, Oh, I try to get you up in life, I try to get some nice mindless servants to help you with that pathetic farm you owned, but no! You had to go and give them all the relief of death, didn't you? And then, when I try to make up for it you're shuddering in a corner with blood on your hands amazed you'd kill and would NOT accept ANY form of affection for a month.
Any form of affection? Make it up? Oni, I don't see how trying to rape me constitutes as either making it up or a form of affection!
Aw, T.M.I.! Moaned Neko. Bakura was blushing, and while it was a good look for him, he was not enjoying this conversation.
Trying to rape you' ? Oh, so that's what it's called now? I had no idea a kiss constitutes trying to rape you!
It doesn't, but beating me about the face until I fell, and then laying me on the ground and... proceeding generally does. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Thank you for not going into any more detail. Muttered one of the vessels, it didn't matter which one.
Oh, that time... well, that might have been rape...
Might have? Well, it doesn't matter now, now we're dueling, and now I'm going to finish this! She drew a card. Hmm... if I play Reborn the Monster on Dark Elf, I could polymerize Dark Elf and Mystical Elf, which is still in play. The resulting elf should be strong enough to destroy his Man Eater Bug...
I play Reborn the monster on Dark Elf, and now I shall polymerize her with her lighter half, and create- A white skinned elf with dark brown hair, rather like Arwen formed before her. Resulting Elf! The Resulting Elf opened her eyes. Your move. Damn! All I have is Man Eater Bug face down, but she's too strong for that.. He touched his deck, tilting up the first card so slightly she didn't notice. No, that won't work... He flipped up the next card, willfully cheating. Perfect... He drew the second card with an almost Yami-like flourish, and played it swiftly.
I play De-Fusion, breaking your Resulting Elf off into two easy pickings for- He flipped up the card he had been hinting at. -my Man-Eater Bug! Because it destroys one creature when it is flipped up, it is not an action, so he may then attack the other! The elves, as well as your life points, are destroyed! She gasped as her hair flew back.
I-I'm out of the tournament--just like that.. two duels... Oni laughed.
Oh, no no... you're still in the tournament.. for I will not take that ring as a prize... rather, I have something else in mind... you said it was sadly easy to overpower Neko?
Stay away from my vessel, you soul-stealing...
Tut tut tut... you'll speak this way to every old flame you meet, won't you, Mau? She seemed to have fallen to her knees, and as he drew closer she reached for the comb, fingers brushing the eye on the back, it had begun to turn when he reached her.
Don't worry about the comb, Mau... that's not what I came for... And he bent over the queen and touched her lips with his own, pulling the comb out of her hair and laughing wickedly as Neko returned to herself and screamed.
Oh... I've have fun with you... he breathed in slowly, and took his face from hers slightly as a white stream of ectoplasmic-like substance was sucked from her mouth into his.
=^-.-^= Kittywitch KISS OF DEATH! KISS OF DEATH!
Neko grew pale, even for her, and tried to scream again. But that's the problem with the shadow realm.
No one can hear you scream.
Hey, has anyone seen Neko or Bakura? Said Yugi suddenly.
Neko shuddered, ...I deny you... this can't be happening.. you aren't real.. none of this is real..
Nothing is more real then it is perceived. Whispered Oni, lowering his face to hers. He breathed quietly. Do you perceive me? He breathed in and touched to her lips again.
Hey, has anyone seen Neko or Bakura? Said Yugi suddenly.
No.. oh... we should really keep better track of our psycho, I'm sorry... Muttered Tristan, bending down his head remembering that not stopping Bakura from turning evil was generally a not good thing.
Said Angelie, leaning on the heavily. You weren't there when Mau came out.
Asked Téa in surprise.
Mauhu- Mero- ergh! Spat Yugi, stumbling on the words. He said carefully and slowly. The spirit of the millennium comb.
Said Téa slowly. Yugi, what was I saying to you in the restaurant? Yugi sighed a classic anamai mushroom, complete with sweat drop.
I saw her, Téa, this is not a voice modulator, this is a spirit. She is real, and she is not the nicest person. Téa sighed and muttered as she turned away. Yugi drew breath and tried a most unexpected way to get his point across.
Now Téa, listen to me, because this part's very important... He rumbled, standing on tiptoes and obviously doing an impression of someone with a gruff voice. Not all duelists are good. Joey snorted and Téa turned around incredulously. She shook her head a few times then turned her eyes to the sky.
Seriously, now-
This is new. Muttered Angelie.
Shut up, Angelie.
=^-.-^= hmm... this could easily become as much as 100 pages... better get to the point.
He replied in disgust.
No. I will continue to talk, and you don't have to listen to do it. Oh, and by the way, Yugi, She continued, facing the shortest of the group. Are we going to do something about Neko? She is a bit pathetic, which makes me want to leave her there and save her as well, and I don't think she's going to brake free herself. Should we try and see if we can save her?
Why is it just you and Yugi? Asked Joey. Can't we do anything?
Actually, rainbow dumb, if you could make sure that no one tries to use this arena and stays away so that people who wouldn't understand don't see us popping out of nowhere, that would actually be useful.
Okay.. just do your part, and I'll do mine.
You say that like you've got the harder job.
Have you tried to stop duelists from dueling? He replied. She rolled her eyes and turned to Yugi.
Hold on. He gingerly took her arm as she took the chime in one hand and slipped it off the chain and over her lace gloves. BAMF!
I actually like that part. Admitted Joey.
BAMF! Yugi was suddenly surrounded by blackness, and he grabbed Angelie's arm tightly in surprise.
She said sounding very offended. He let go and searched the blackness.
I don't suggest that. Said Angelie, taking Yugi's arm and leading him towards the only not black spot to be seen for miles.
Yugi, keep this in mind as you walk. There is only ground where you think there is. Put your foot down and look for a bit of solid ground right below your foot. Yugi stepped forward, and nervously put his foot down, unsure what the ground Angelie told him about would feel like. Probably a little like an under filled air mattress or maybe a water bed... And there it was. A little springy, but there. He let go of Angelie and started forward. Angelie nodded and started moving forward herself, yet her way looked more like ice skating in all directions.
Try to see if you can't go a bit faster, Yugi.
Umm.. sure.. he he.. this would almost be fun if I wasn't so worried for Neko, and if this place wasn't so creepy.. He muttered, bouncing along. He tried jumping further as he went, flattening his body at a lunge and then bringing his feet forward and finding the waterbed again and bouncing back along, which allowed Angelie to speed up a bit. The closer they got, the more form the white spot took, until it was recognizable.
Said Yugi.
Yugi, hang on, I stop better than you, I can get us there faster. Said Angelie, skating down a bit so that she was perfectly angled to get onto the back of. Yugi threw his arms around her neck and she sped up to the people they saw at the distance.
Why look, Neko. Said Oni with a smirk, We have company. He was standing behind her, as she seemed to be collapsed in a chair too tired to move. Her eyes where hung, and her irises where faint, as if something was missing. He took her face in his hand and angled it towards the duelists with an evil smile. Her lips parted, but talking seemed too much of a strain.
What have you done with her? Asked Yugi, horrified.
I've done little. I'm not done. I'm extracting the soul from this vessel so I may have a hollowed shell to use the ring from. I'm drawing Neko's soul from her body and making myself stronger, while emptying her vessel for use, as this one has cause me more trouble than he's worth. And this form would be exceptionally useful... anyone with a half a heart would gladly try to help her if they thought she was in danger, and I could put her in that situation easily. It's just a matter of one.. more.. He drew his mouth above hers one again.
And the comb? Asked Angelie calmly. What about the comb?
It's here. He sighed, pulling himself away without sucking, lifting it out of his pocket. It's not a millennium item, but it will help me to catch more. He returned it to his pocket and turned to Angelie. And who would want that?
I dunno.. I could handle the comb... but I think Yugi'd better take Neko.
Her eyes flicked to the two. Oh, yeah, sure. I'll- I'd rather... but her soul would be a problem.
That's why I removed it.
Easy removal, eh? Asked Angelie. Well then.. She looked pointedly at Yugi.
Asked Oni as the two suddenly came at him. He dropped Neko and took off, looking much like he was gliding with his arms out and one knee bent. The chase was on.
Hold on, Neko! Called Yugi, bouncing down as she fell into blackness. Angelie and Oni flew and skated around each other, not letting either get too close, but both trying to get closer to the other one.
Neko! Look at Angelie! There's ground here, just find it it with your foot, it's everywhere you want it! Called Yugi.
I-I can't... She shuddered, falling into darkness.
Just trust me! He shouted. Look at her! And she looked at Angelie skating around Oni, and she closed her eyes, and she hit the ground. Neko slid to the side before she could get to her feet and stumble closer to Yugi before she fell again. Angelie and Oni flew apart, then flew against each other like jousters, seeing how close they could dare get and looking back to see if the other shied away, while below Yugi caught Neko's hand and tried to bounce up, but Neko was sliding, and kept sliding even though she was much higher than the surface she was just sliding on she continued to slide, and, since she was holding Yugi's hand and he was bouncing, he couldn't be pulled along because he was bouncing up, so the momentum twisted her around, and his arm with her, because while she could not change his course, she could effect it, resulting in a spinning pattern with Yugi in the center, and the two's feet flew out beneath them as they spiraled up towards the others. Angelie made another pass and the tip of the comb sprung from his pocket. I should be able to snatch it in the next pass if everything goes well. She thought. But it rarely does. And sadly, she was correct, for just at the time her fingertips brushed the comb again, Yugi and Neko came spinning up below and crashed into the two, sending Neko, Yugi, Angelie, Oni, and the comb off in different directions.
If only you where two seconds later... Moaned Angelie, diving for the golden speck spinning away from her, yet Oni rather ungraciously threw himself over her legs and she could not stand back up, and she had to do a sad, slow breaststroke to get at the comb. Oni pulled her back and scrambled over her, growling when suddenly Yugi bounced up past them and towards the comb. Unfortunately, he overshot and only made it roll like a pinball away from him perpendicularly. As he cried out in frustration, Neko slid up to the item, seemingly on her chest, as it slid towards her, and as her fingers where upon it, Oni came up below her and batted it away towards Angelie's head. Her hair, at the moment, was floating up like she was underwater but she grabbed it away so it wouldn't obstruct the comb's projection. It spun along the nothingness as Neko hissed at Angelie.
You had it right there!
I'm not letting that thing anywhere near my head, no thank you, I see what happens when you wear it.
Yugi! Watch out for- Gasped Neko suddenly. Just so, the comb spun out and hit Yugi in the back of his head.
Ouch! That's pointy! Hey, I've got it!
Now for the soul... I cannot say I am completely adverse to doing this... Said Angelie, skating up behind Oni.
Two words: Short cord.
He began as Angelie pulled on the back of the ring's cord and removed Neko's soul in a way much similar to how he removed in the first place.
=^-,-^= Remember children, although they may be very sexy, never, ever do this to a soul-stealing evil entity. MWA!
Dogh yo are too ong for me. She continued, pulling away.
Asked Oni. She spat out a huge wad of white, kind of glowing, gel-like substance into her hand.
Shouted Yugi in surprise and disgust.
I said, though you are too young for me.'
Too old would be more appropriate. I'm leaving you ridiculous people. What's wrong with dueling, anyway? He muttered, disappearing into shadow. Angelie shuddered and handed Neko the jelly-fish like ball.
Here.. you just eat it and you're back to normal.. just.. not in front of me, okay?
I'm not sure I want to eat it in front of ME. She shuddered. looking at the glop.
Well, you have to, or else you'll have no soul. Just do it and get it over with. And- She covered her mouth and made a face. -turn around, would you? Neko sighed and turned, and suddenly made a disgusting, gloppy sucking noise.
Oh, my god, I think I'm gonna puke. Moaned Angelie as Yugi made a face.
That was the most disgusting thing I've ever done. Moaned Neko. I mean, I've... Mau's... She fell silent.
Said Angelie softly, putting her arm around Neko's shoulder, Let's just go. You'll feel better in your own world. Yugi came up on Angelie's other side and grabbed her arm in case she forgot him. She turned to him and said, Hey, I need an arm here people, I've got to take off the chime. Yugi nervously contemplated other places to that he might keep contact with her and suddenly said, You mean like this? pulling it off the hand he was connected to. BAMF!