Me: Wow! Am I on chapter six already? Thanks you guys! We couldn't have
done it without your support.
Sandy: Yayz! Now things will start to get interesting!
Me: that's right! How did lil' Yugi end up in the care of the Tokyo Ready Team? If Neo is here, what about the rest of the Tokyo Ready Team or more importantly, what chaos will they cause in Domino?
Read on, dear fans. Read on. (o^.~o)
*****
ONE STARRY NIGHT
*****
"ALRIGHT! Petal to the metal baby!" Neo shouted as Blade accelerated up a large hill. The car's four wheels lifted off the ground when it reached the crest of the hill. Blade and Neo laughed and whooped toward the night sky. Blaze growled miserably in the back seat.
"So how'd you guys find me?" Blade asked when they where driving on a more level section of the road.
"Oh, it wasn't that hard," Neo said, his trademark grin still plastered on his face. "The Old Man's working on the way back to Zi as we speak."
"Great," Blade said, thought he really wasn't too keen on going back now. He had questions that needed answering. That girl. He needed to find her. She seemed to be one of those understanding types, and pretty cute to boot.
"What's up?" Neo asked looking at Blade. "Aren't you excited to go home?"
"No, it's not that," Blade answered. "It's just. . . I have a few things I need to figure out here before I leave."
"What sort of things?" Neo pressed, getting more suspicious. "Why would you want to stay he-" His eyes widened and his grin grew wide.
"What?" Blade asked curiously.
"Uh-huh! That's exactly what it is!"
"What is?" Blade said, getting a little annoyed.
"Well c'mon, who is she?" Neo asked excitedly.
"Say WHAT?!"
"What's she like? Cute 'n clingy? Sweet 'n sexy? C'mon! Give me all the details here!"
"IT'S NOT THAT!" Blade shouted.
"Then what is it?"
"Look! I had some weird crap happen to me in the last 24 hours and I'm trying to figure out something really important to me! So if you'd just tell me where the Team meets so I could go on and take care of some business then that would be very helpful!" Blade vented in one long breath.
"Geez, sorry. I was just asking. . ."
Blade sighed inwardly. This world was bringing out the worst in him. "Here. You hungry?" Blade pulled out the crushed chips and melted chocolate from his vending machine raid earlier.
"Alright! I was starving!" Food mended all for Neo, who had his goofy smile back.
"So where do all of you meet?" Blade asked again.
"In some storm tunnel by a bridge over there," said Neo pointing west. "Can't miss it."
'I hope not,' Blade thought.
"I think I'll take some of these," Neo picked up some flat chocolate bars. "Blaze! Let's motor!" Together, Neo and Blaze jumped from the car and melded into the night.
Blade leaned back and sighed. He let his mind wander. . .
***** Flashback *****
Sun, sky, and sand. No clouds, not even the tiniest shrub could be seen in all directions in the vast desert of planet Zi. Powdery sand dunes rolled across the landscape, white hot in the noonday sun. The dunes were only broken by the brilliant sapphire sky, forever home to the merciless burning sphere above.
This harsh yet beautiful land usually held still for days on end, but a thin treadle of dust disturbed the serene desert this day. The dust was being thrown up by a topless jeep as it thundered through the valleys in between the dunes. With the wind in her face and her trusty black Organoid behind her, Lucky Raven drove toward the Tokyo Ready base, hidden deep within the desert. She drove down secret roads only she and the others knew about, anyone else would've surly gotten themselves hopelessly lost trying to find the base.
Lucky drove with one hand on the wheel and with the other elbow hanging over the side. Her white trench coat lay on the passenger's seat, so her serpentine tattoos along her arms and back could be plainly seen. The jeep only had two seats in the front and a platform on the back, like the bed of a truck with no sides. It was here that her black Organoid Shadow lay, curled up on its side with the tip of his tail hanging off the back, soaking up sunrays. Suddenly, Shadow lifted his head up and stared in a certain direction.
"Hm? Something wrong, Shadow?" Lucky asked, turning her head sideways to look at the Organoid.
She slowed the jeep down and Shadow stood up. He unfurled his draconic wings and took off in a blast of blue-white after burn from the booster rockets on his back. Lucky pressed on the accelerator again and steered after her Organoid. It wasn't long until she came to the spot where Shadow landed, and to find what he found.
It was a boy. He lay on his stomach with his right cheek on the sand. He was wearing a black sleeveless shirt, blue pants and a black collar around his neck. He was sunburned on his arms and the left side of his face, and he was hot and dehydrated. Lucky gently rolled him onto his back. He had spiky black and red hair and blonde bangs. His left wrist was swollen, maybe broken, and his breathing came in rasps.
"Get my coat," Lucky said to Shadow. This kid needed help and fast.
Once he was wrapped up in her trench coat, Lucky placed him the passenger seat and set out for the base, this time with urgency.
*****End Flashback*****
Tsume growled, breaking Blade out of his trance. She warned him to pay attention while driving.
"Hey, you're the one possessing the car, you can drive just as well as I can."
Tsume reminded him of his task for the night.
"Oh yeah. That girl. But how to find her. . ."
*****
Anzu stood in the shower, letting the warm water caress her face. It blended with the tears that fell from her eyes, yet not a single sob escaped her throat. It felt good, to cry like this in privacy without even feeling the tears through the shower water. After she got out, she slipped into her PJ's and crawled into bed. She stared into the darkness and sighed. Her thoughts consisted of nothing but the familiar stranger called Blade.
Just who was he? He seemed so much like Yugi, but at the same time, not. Why? Anzu felt that she just did not share the Gods' sense of humor.
Anzu drifted off into a merciful sleep when she was awoken by a soft "clunk," that sounded like it came from above her room. She lifted her head up and listened. Sure enough, she could hear soft footsteps creeping along on the roof above. She crawled out of bed and toward her balcony door. She looked out into the night and saw nothing. She carefully slid the door open and slipped outside. She looked up at the roof and saw absolutely nothing.
"Way to go, Anzu, now you're hearing things," she said to herself placing a hand to her forehead.
"That's a pretty name."
Anzu cried out in terror and turned toward the grinning specter that materialize beside her.
"It IS Anzu, isn't it?" Blade asked.
"H-how'd you do that?" Anzu gasped.
Blade blinked. "Do what?"
"How did you find me?" Anzu asked, coming out of her shock.
"Well you have to give me some credit, it wasn't easy," he answered. "In fact it took me all evening."
Blade gave a charming smile, one he had always used to get his way with the ladies. This seemed to help calm the nervous Anzu, who couldn't help but smile back, though his many daggers still made her a bit nervous.
"Well. . . why have you been searching for me?" she asked, still holding her ground.
"Because," he said shrugging. "I never really got the chance to say thank you, for what you did for me the other day."
"Oh. So how's your arm?" Anzu asked, pointing to the dirty scuffed up bandage on his arm.
Blade looked at it and shrugged again. "It's alright. I'll live."
But Anzu wasn't so sure. "But the bandage is all dirty, your wound could get infected."
"Then I'll change the bandage," Blade answered.
"With what?"
"With whatever I want," Blade said grinning again. "Whether on the go, on the mend, or even in our sleep, we thieves have sticky fingers." He held up his hands and wriggled his fingers in a comical fashion to make his point.
Anzu's eyes widened. "You're a thief?"
"Yep. One of the best out there, thankyouverymuch. Oh, that reminds me," he shoved a hand into his pocket and pulled something out. "I think this might be yours." He held out jeweled butterfly pin that Anzu had pinned on her purse the day she first met Blade.
"Oh! I was wondering where that went." Anzu stepped closer and gingerly took the pin from his outstretched hand. She looked at it, then at Blade's dirty bandage.
"Stay here for a moment," she told Blade as she ran inside.
Blade wondered if he had done something wrong. Inside he could hear what sounded like water running before it shut off. Anzu came back holding a wet towel and a roll of bandages. Without saying anything, she began to unwrap the old bandage.
"You don't have to you know. . ." Blade started.
"You jump in front of cars and jump out of buildings several stories up. I doubt you have enough sense to change your own bandage," she teased.
Blade chuckled and let her do her work without compliant. His gazed softened as he watched her gently dab the deep gash with the towel and wrap his arm up with the new bandages and tie it in a secure knot. This girl was truly something special.
"How's it feel?" she asked. Blade turned his arm over and back again.
"Feels great," he answered. "Thanks again." Blade suddenly remembered the reason he was here. "Hey, could I ask you something?"
"Sure," she said smiling.
"The first day we met, you called me by some other name. What was it?"
Anzu's eyes suddenly became dark and full of pain.
*Whoops. . . maybe I shouldn't have said that. . .*
"He. . . I thought you were someone I used to know, named Yugi," she answered sullenly.
"Oh. . ." Blade said softly, not sure if he should dig any deeper into the subject.
"He went missing a long time ago," she continued. "We were friends since elementary school, we've been through a lot together, I-I miss him so much. . ."
She couldn't continue speaking. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over. Regardless of how she looked she continued to cry. She suddenly felt a firm hand on her shoulder. Anzu looked up to see Blade staring at her with a very anxious expression.
"Anzu, please tell me," he said in a controlled voice. "WHEN did your friend disappear?"
"A little over a year ago," Anzu answered.
The look on Blade's face gave way to a look of terror, then it softened and he turned away. Confused, Anzu wiped her eyes and stepped closer to Blade.
"Blade, is there something wrong?"
"I have no memory of my past," Blade said, as if speaking to himself. "My earliest memory was of waking up in the base of our team. . . about a year ago. . ."
Anzu's eyes widened. *I-it couldn't be. . .* she thought.
"That's it then," Blade said looking at her, his eyes glinting with excitement. "I lived in this city, I grew up here, didn't I?"
Anzu didn't answer, she just continued to stare in disbelief. She couldn't believe that this thief, this confident super-human being was actually her Yugi! Suddenly, Blade grabbed her hand.
"This is it!" he said with a big grin on his face. "This is what I've been searching for! You have to help me!"
"Huh?"
"You have to tell me everything," Blade insisted. "Everything about me, and about you and my friends and family."
"Right now?" Anzu asked, not sure she could explain EVERYTHING they've been through together. "It could take hours. . ."
"Right, silly me," Blade chuckled, finally letting go of her hand to rub the back of his head. "We could meet up later, or tomorrow, any place you want!"
"Uhh, sure. Tomorrow's great. . ."
"Alright! I'll see you then!" Blade said, smiling bigger than ever. "Oh, you haven't really met Tsume yet have you?"
Anzu blinked. "Who?"
She then noticed the large metallic cat that had been sitting behind Blade the whole time. At the sound of her name, Tsume looked up and made a soft mechanical growling sound. Blade suddenly took Anzu by the elbow and lead her toward Tsume.
"Don't worry, she's friendly," Blade assured her when she hesitated to move. Tsume stood up and purred when Blade gave her a pat on the head. Anzu slowly extended a hand and gingerly touched the smooth metal armor on Tsume's muzzle. Anzu then brushed the back of her hand toward Tsume's ear where fur clashed with steel. Beneath the fur she could feel a soft pulse.
"Whoa," she breathed.
"Cool huh," Blade agreed. He then grinned. "See? You two are best friends already!"
Anzu smiled, then she tried to stifle a yawn.
"It's late. You should go back to bed," Blade whispered. "I'll see you tomorrow Anzu-chan. C'mon, Tsume!" Blade and Tsume leaped over the balcony rail and melded into the night.
Anzu smiled and held her hands close to her chest. She couldn't wait for tomorrow. Then a sudden thought hit her.
"Wait, where were we going to meet?"
*****
Me: SORRY IT TOOK FOREVER TO FINISH!!
Sandy: In the name of all that's holy, PLEASE DON'T KILL US!!
Me: Next time, Anzu runs into the Tokyo Team leader and reveals everything to Blade about her past, as Blade does to Anzu. Tokyo Ready Team name and Blade's origins are reveled!
Sandy: Yayz! Now things will start to get interesting!
Me: that's right! How did lil' Yugi end up in the care of the Tokyo Ready Team? If Neo is here, what about the rest of the Tokyo Ready Team or more importantly, what chaos will they cause in Domino?
Read on, dear fans. Read on. (o^.~o)
*****
ONE STARRY NIGHT
*****
"ALRIGHT! Petal to the metal baby!" Neo shouted as Blade accelerated up a large hill. The car's four wheels lifted off the ground when it reached the crest of the hill. Blade and Neo laughed and whooped toward the night sky. Blaze growled miserably in the back seat.
"So how'd you guys find me?" Blade asked when they where driving on a more level section of the road.
"Oh, it wasn't that hard," Neo said, his trademark grin still plastered on his face. "The Old Man's working on the way back to Zi as we speak."
"Great," Blade said, thought he really wasn't too keen on going back now. He had questions that needed answering. That girl. He needed to find her. She seemed to be one of those understanding types, and pretty cute to boot.
"What's up?" Neo asked looking at Blade. "Aren't you excited to go home?"
"No, it's not that," Blade answered. "It's just. . . I have a few things I need to figure out here before I leave."
"What sort of things?" Neo pressed, getting more suspicious. "Why would you want to stay he-" His eyes widened and his grin grew wide.
"What?" Blade asked curiously.
"Uh-huh! That's exactly what it is!"
"What is?" Blade said, getting a little annoyed.
"Well c'mon, who is she?" Neo asked excitedly.
"Say WHAT?!"
"What's she like? Cute 'n clingy? Sweet 'n sexy? C'mon! Give me all the details here!"
"IT'S NOT THAT!" Blade shouted.
"Then what is it?"
"Look! I had some weird crap happen to me in the last 24 hours and I'm trying to figure out something really important to me! So if you'd just tell me where the Team meets so I could go on and take care of some business then that would be very helpful!" Blade vented in one long breath.
"Geez, sorry. I was just asking. . ."
Blade sighed inwardly. This world was bringing out the worst in him. "Here. You hungry?" Blade pulled out the crushed chips and melted chocolate from his vending machine raid earlier.
"Alright! I was starving!" Food mended all for Neo, who had his goofy smile back.
"So where do all of you meet?" Blade asked again.
"In some storm tunnel by a bridge over there," said Neo pointing west. "Can't miss it."
'I hope not,' Blade thought.
"I think I'll take some of these," Neo picked up some flat chocolate bars. "Blaze! Let's motor!" Together, Neo and Blaze jumped from the car and melded into the night.
Blade leaned back and sighed. He let his mind wander. . .
***** Flashback *****
Sun, sky, and sand. No clouds, not even the tiniest shrub could be seen in all directions in the vast desert of planet Zi. Powdery sand dunes rolled across the landscape, white hot in the noonday sun. The dunes were only broken by the brilliant sapphire sky, forever home to the merciless burning sphere above.
This harsh yet beautiful land usually held still for days on end, but a thin treadle of dust disturbed the serene desert this day. The dust was being thrown up by a topless jeep as it thundered through the valleys in between the dunes. With the wind in her face and her trusty black Organoid behind her, Lucky Raven drove toward the Tokyo Ready base, hidden deep within the desert. She drove down secret roads only she and the others knew about, anyone else would've surly gotten themselves hopelessly lost trying to find the base.
Lucky drove with one hand on the wheel and with the other elbow hanging over the side. Her white trench coat lay on the passenger's seat, so her serpentine tattoos along her arms and back could be plainly seen. The jeep only had two seats in the front and a platform on the back, like the bed of a truck with no sides. It was here that her black Organoid Shadow lay, curled up on its side with the tip of his tail hanging off the back, soaking up sunrays. Suddenly, Shadow lifted his head up and stared in a certain direction.
"Hm? Something wrong, Shadow?" Lucky asked, turning her head sideways to look at the Organoid.
She slowed the jeep down and Shadow stood up. He unfurled his draconic wings and took off in a blast of blue-white after burn from the booster rockets on his back. Lucky pressed on the accelerator again and steered after her Organoid. It wasn't long until she came to the spot where Shadow landed, and to find what he found.
It was a boy. He lay on his stomach with his right cheek on the sand. He was wearing a black sleeveless shirt, blue pants and a black collar around his neck. He was sunburned on his arms and the left side of his face, and he was hot and dehydrated. Lucky gently rolled him onto his back. He had spiky black and red hair and blonde bangs. His left wrist was swollen, maybe broken, and his breathing came in rasps.
"Get my coat," Lucky said to Shadow. This kid needed help and fast.
Once he was wrapped up in her trench coat, Lucky placed him the passenger seat and set out for the base, this time with urgency.
*****End Flashback*****
Tsume growled, breaking Blade out of his trance. She warned him to pay attention while driving.
"Hey, you're the one possessing the car, you can drive just as well as I can."
Tsume reminded him of his task for the night.
"Oh yeah. That girl. But how to find her. . ."
*****
Anzu stood in the shower, letting the warm water caress her face. It blended with the tears that fell from her eyes, yet not a single sob escaped her throat. It felt good, to cry like this in privacy without even feeling the tears through the shower water. After she got out, she slipped into her PJ's and crawled into bed. She stared into the darkness and sighed. Her thoughts consisted of nothing but the familiar stranger called Blade.
Just who was he? He seemed so much like Yugi, but at the same time, not. Why? Anzu felt that she just did not share the Gods' sense of humor.
Anzu drifted off into a merciful sleep when she was awoken by a soft "clunk," that sounded like it came from above her room. She lifted her head up and listened. Sure enough, she could hear soft footsteps creeping along on the roof above. She crawled out of bed and toward her balcony door. She looked out into the night and saw nothing. She carefully slid the door open and slipped outside. She looked up at the roof and saw absolutely nothing.
"Way to go, Anzu, now you're hearing things," she said to herself placing a hand to her forehead.
"That's a pretty name."
Anzu cried out in terror and turned toward the grinning specter that materialize beside her.
"It IS Anzu, isn't it?" Blade asked.
"H-how'd you do that?" Anzu gasped.
Blade blinked. "Do what?"
"How did you find me?" Anzu asked, coming out of her shock.
"Well you have to give me some credit, it wasn't easy," he answered. "In fact it took me all evening."
Blade gave a charming smile, one he had always used to get his way with the ladies. This seemed to help calm the nervous Anzu, who couldn't help but smile back, though his many daggers still made her a bit nervous.
"Well. . . why have you been searching for me?" she asked, still holding her ground.
"Because," he said shrugging. "I never really got the chance to say thank you, for what you did for me the other day."
"Oh. So how's your arm?" Anzu asked, pointing to the dirty scuffed up bandage on his arm.
Blade looked at it and shrugged again. "It's alright. I'll live."
But Anzu wasn't so sure. "But the bandage is all dirty, your wound could get infected."
"Then I'll change the bandage," Blade answered.
"With what?"
"With whatever I want," Blade said grinning again. "Whether on the go, on the mend, or even in our sleep, we thieves have sticky fingers." He held up his hands and wriggled his fingers in a comical fashion to make his point.
Anzu's eyes widened. "You're a thief?"
"Yep. One of the best out there, thankyouverymuch. Oh, that reminds me," he shoved a hand into his pocket and pulled something out. "I think this might be yours." He held out jeweled butterfly pin that Anzu had pinned on her purse the day she first met Blade.
"Oh! I was wondering where that went." Anzu stepped closer and gingerly took the pin from his outstretched hand. She looked at it, then at Blade's dirty bandage.
"Stay here for a moment," she told Blade as she ran inside.
Blade wondered if he had done something wrong. Inside he could hear what sounded like water running before it shut off. Anzu came back holding a wet towel and a roll of bandages. Without saying anything, she began to unwrap the old bandage.
"You don't have to you know. . ." Blade started.
"You jump in front of cars and jump out of buildings several stories up. I doubt you have enough sense to change your own bandage," she teased.
Blade chuckled and let her do her work without compliant. His gazed softened as he watched her gently dab the deep gash with the towel and wrap his arm up with the new bandages and tie it in a secure knot. This girl was truly something special.
"How's it feel?" she asked. Blade turned his arm over and back again.
"Feels great," he answered. "Thanks again." Blade suddenly remembered the reason he was here. "Hey, could I ask you something?"
"Sure," she said smiling.
"The first day we met, you called me by some other name. What was it?"
Anzu's eyes suddenly became dark and full of pain.
*Whoops. . . maybe I shouldn't have said that. . .*
"He. . . I thought you were someone I used to know, named Yugi," she answered sullenly.
"Oh. . ." Blade said softly, not sure if he should dig any deeper into the subject.
"He went missing a long time ago," she continued. "We were friends since elementary school, we've been through a lot together, I-I miss him so much. . ."
She couldn't continue speaking. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over. Regardless of how she looked she continued to cry. She suddenly felt a firm hand on her shoulder. Anzu looked up to see Blade staring at her with a very anxious expression.
"Anzu, please tell me," he said in a controlled voice. "WHEN did your friend disappear?"
"A little over a year ago," Anzu answered.
The look on Blade's face gave way to a look of terror, then it softened and he turned away. Confused, Anzu wiped her eyes and stepped closer to Blade.
"Blade, is there something wrong?"
"I have no memory of my past," Blade said, as if speaking to himself. "My earliest memory was of waking up in the base of our team. . . about a year ago. . ."
Anzu's eyes widened. *I-it couldn't be. . .* she thought.
"That's it then," Blade said looking at her, his eyes glinting with excitement. "I lived in this city, I grew up here, didn't I?"
Anzu didn't answer, she just continued to stare in disbelief. She couldn't believe that this thief, this confident super-human being was actually her Yugi! Suddenly, Blade grabbed her hand.
"This is it!" he said with a big grin on his face. "This is what I've been searching for! You have to help me!"
"Huh?"
"You have to tell me everything," Blade insisted. "Everything about me, and about you and my friends and family."
"Right now?" Anzu asked, not sure she could explain EVERYTHING they've been through together. "It could take hours. . ."
"Right, silly me," Blade chuckled, finally letting go of her hand to rub the back of his head. "We could meet up later, or tomorrow, any place you want!"
"Uhh, sure. Tomorrow's great. . ."
"Alright! I'll see you then!" Blade said, smiling bigger than ever. "Oh, you haven't really met Tsume yet have you?"
Anzu blinked. "Who?"
She then noticed the large metallic cat that had been sitting behind Blade the whole time. At the sound of her name, Tsume looked up and made a soft mechanical growling sound. Blade suddenly took Anzu by the elbow and lead her toward Tsume.
"Don't worry, she's friendly," Blade assured her when she hesitated to move. Tsume stood up and purred when Blade gave her a pat on the head. Anzu slowly extended a hand and gingerly touched the smooth metal armor on Tsume's muzzle. Anzu then brushed the back of her hand toward Tsume's ear where fur clashed with steel. Beneath the fur she could feel a soft pulse.
"Whoa," she breathed.
"Cool huh," Blade agreed. He then grinned. "See? You two are best friends already!"
Anzu smiled, then she tried to stifle a yawn.
"It's late. You should go back to bed," Blade whispered. "I'll see you tomorrow Anzu-chan. C'mon, Tsume!" Blade and Tsume leaped over the balcony rail and melded into the night.
Anzu smiled and held her hands close to her chest. She couldn't wait for tomorrow. Then a sudden thought hit her.
"Wait, where were we going to meet?"
*****
Me: SORRY IT TOOK FOREVER TO FINISH!!
Sandy: In the name of all that's holy, PLEASE DON'T KILL US!!
Me: Next time, Anzu runs into the Tokyo Team leader and reveals everything to Blade about her past, as Blade does to Anzu. Tokyo Ready Team name and Blade's origins are reveled!