A/N: Chapter 18. What more is there to say?
Lumen: I doubt it's any consolation to say that the best (or worst) cliffhangers are yet to come... but I'll leave that up to you to decide. As for the duel, thanks! It took a lot of effort to make that work, in that last segment.
Mira: Good to hear from ya! Worked hard on that duel, so it's good to know it paid off. And you're starting to catch on to my style, aren't you? Hmm... will have to develop some new twists...
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Kyle screamed, barreled into the magician with the rope. He smashed the old man in the face with his shield and forced him to fall off the platform.
It all became a blur. Rage blinded him, cast a red curtain over his vision.
No... the red curtain couldn't be just over his eyes... the magicians shouted at the sight of it, too... they threw up their arms, their hands clawed at their eyes...
Kyle suddenly felt a split. That's the only way he could begin to describe it. A split in himself. Not a split like the one between himself and Theoris... but more like a rift, separating him. Cutting him in half. One part forced him to turn to the cable that still held Chubs, the cable that had drawn taut. His left eye stared up at the crossbar that bore the cable, sought out the grain to the wood; his left hand shot out and broke the crossbar with a single swift stroke. His left ear heard the sound of a body hitting the ground.
His right eye surveyed the magicians in cold fury. His right ear took pleasure in the sound of their outcries. His right foot caused him to jump down from the platform, and it kicked the magician he'd downed violently in the ribs.
His right arm came up, and the Millennium Shield glowed.
You'll all go to Hell for this! I SWEAR!
"I SWEAR!" he shouted.
And he sent them to a Hell more terrible than any of them could ever imagine.
All that was left behind were their blue cloaks.
The echoes of their shouts faded, leaving Kyle the only one standing.
Kyle slumped to his knees, in a mixture of exhaustion and despair. No... I couldn't save him...
You do not know that, Kyle – he may yet live! Find him below and search for life within him!
Kyle crept over to the edge of the gaping hole in the deck made by the trap door.
Chubs lay motionless on the ground nearly six feet below. His eyes were wide open, his mouth slightly ajar. The chain had dug in around his neck, the padlock on it right behind the base of his skull.
Kyle felt tears spring into his eyes. A lump formed in his throat and deprived him of breath. My God...
He swung his legs over the edge and let himself fall to the ground beside Chubs.
He's so still...
Kyle reached out with two fingers, not even daring to hope that–
There's a pulse! He's still alive!
Seek out medical attention!
Kyle reached out to Chubs, to try and heft him onto his back, but Theoris stopped him. Do not move him! Did you not pay attention in your health classes? Injuries to the neck and spinal column may be severely aggravated if you attempt to move the victim! Find medical attention first, and immediately!
Kyle stumbled to his feet, climbed out of the pit, and searched wildly for a telephone.
--
A team of EMTs arrived on the scene almost instantly, and they had to cut a hole in the side of the platform in order to move Chubs out; they didn't want to lift him any more than absolutely necessary. They carefully put a neck brace on him and strapped it on tightly, then took him to the hospital. Kyle followed them on his motorcycle.
Kyle was held by the local police force for at least an hour and a half explaining what had happened. Of course, he couldn't tell them the whole story, so instead, he told them only as much as could be corroborated by Chubs. He had been told by a group of men to come to the abandoned building; when he came, he discovered that Chubs had been abducted and strung up into the gallows; in the process of trying to stall for time, he'd accepted the men's demands and dueled Chubs; he'd won the duel and tried to save Chubs, but the men were too fast for him; then, in their haste to avoid police detection, they ran off, not even bothering to pick up their cloaks.
Even Kyle had to admit that last statement sounded unlikely – especially since he knew it to be a bald-faced lie – but for the police, it was much more credible than the truth. Still, the interrogating officer eyed him warily as he took notes.
After what seemed like an eternity, the officer said, "We are finished here. We will contact you if we have any more questions for you. Do you have any questions, before you leave?"
Kyle nodded. "Has Mr. Smith's condition been determined?"
"When he was brought in, he was in critical condition. With an injury to the neck, I do not imagine that condition has changed in the last two hours. The doctors have determined, however, that Mr. Smith's neck has not been broken. That is no small miracle. If he had fallen any further, even so much as two centimeters, it would have been." The officer beheld Kyle with a measure of sympathy. "The best are caring for him even now. But you should know that he may not live."
Kyle looked down at the table and nodded dismally. "I didn't want to duel, not like that."
"No one could blame you for wishing not to fight. I do not yet understand what these men hoped to gain by forcing this upon you. Would they not have demanded something of you in the event of your loss?"
Kyle winced mentally. This was a question he'd been avoiding the entire time. "They didn't tell me. They implied all sorts of things. My deck..." He fingered the Millennium Shield, which had returned to the chain around his neck. "My life."
The last was not entirely a lie. The magicians didn't seem to care much for Kyle's life, and he had no doubt that given the chance, if they were to take the shield, they would do away with him to make sure he never interfered with them again.
"A life for a life," the officer mused. "In which case, it was even more important that you fought." He thought on this a moment longer, then refocused on Kyle. "Have you any further questions?"
"Actually, I do have one. Where is Mr. Smith's duel disk?"
The officer's eyes narrowed. "Is that your business?"
"It is. I have a receipt for the duel disk." This was true; each of them had been given a copy of the receipt.
"Duel disks were given out freely for the Battle City tournament."
Kyle fished around in his pockets, then remembered he'd put the receipt in his wallet. He handed the slip of paper to the officer. "We obtained our duel disks together. This receipt has the serial numbers of each disk obtained. One of them belongs to another friend of ours. I have the second one. His is the third; where is it?"
The officer inspected the receipt a moment, then nodded. "Very well. I recognize that number. We have the duel disk, along with its separate components and the deck of cards within it. Do you wish for us to return it to you?"
"Is there a problem in that matter?"
The officer shook his head. "No. We have already dusted it for fingerprints, and I can assure you that it was not tampered with in any fashion. Kaiba-san took great care in ensuring the security of the duel disk technology."
"In that case, I would like it returned to me as soon as possible."
"Allow me to retrieve it from the evidence locker. Then you may go."
Kyle nodded. The officer left the room.
He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and sighed. This is unbelievable. I just... I can't believe this is happening. Chubs might die? Even after we did our best to try to save him?
Kyle, he yet lives. And he may yet continue to live.
I can't focus on that... and I want to. But how can I focus on his chances of living when I was the one who caused there to be a chance that he would die?
How do you mean? It was I who angered the magicians first. It was I who protected the Millennium Shield from its destruction so long ago. It was I who stayed with the shield until this day. If the fault should go to one of us, let that one be me. If I had allowed the Millennium Shield to be destroyed, none of this would have happened. But I choose not to dwell on the fact that he may die. Most people have died, you know. Everyone dies. Even I have died.
Well, Chubs doesn't exactly have a convenient Millennium item to put himself inside, now, does he? Kyle snapped mentally. You haven't died, Theoris, you've cheated death. Your essence remains intact within the shield. Does it matter that your flesh has become dust and that your bones rattle against those of your brethren back in that cave? You are here. What scares me is that, at any time, Chubs might no longer be here.
...and you blame me for this?
I don't need to. You've already done a pretty good job of blaming yourself for it. But if he dies, Theoris... if he dies, I...
"...won't be able to forgive either of us," Kyle finished aloud, his voice barely a whisper.
Yourself, Kyle?
"For not being fast enough," Kyle whispered. "If I'd moved faster..."
No, Kyle. You could not have moved any faster. If you could have, you would have. I am to blame for all of this misery. Do not blame yourself.
Why did you do it, Theoris? Why did you save the Millennium Shield? You had to know that it was necessary... you have to have realized that, even while you were doing it. Didn't you? Didn't you realize it?
I did. But the shield has a will of its own, and it did not – and still does not – wish to be destroyed. It created some sort of instinct of preservation within me. I felt as if there was no other option. I wanted to fight it. I tried to. But it overwhelmed me.
And now, because the shield wants to exist, our fates are intertwined. Yours, mine, the shield's... what happens to one of us affects the other two. Kyle bowed his head. I'd take back the life I once knew if it meant Chubs would be safe. I'd take it all back. I'd have let Shadi have the shield if I'd known what was going to happen today.
And that is why you can still call yourself his best friend.
Silence reigned over their link for the time being. A few moments later, the officer came back into the room carrying Chubs's collapsed duel disk, and he offered it to Kyle. "You have our word that we have confiscated nothing from it."
"I believe you," said Kyle, accepting the disk. "Thank you."
The officer bowed politely. "You may leave."
Kyle got to his feet and exited the interrogation room, then breathed the cool air. He sighed, his body mollified. It was getting hot in there.
He made his way through the station, went out the front door.
And almost smacked head-on into someone.
"Sorry," Kyle mumbled, glancing up only briefly to see the face of the person he'd bumped.
That person was wearing a long white overcoat and an irritated expression. His rough voice uttered brisk, accented English. "You had best be apologetic."
Kyle glared and gave the person another look.
His eyes widened. "You."
Seto Kaiba chuckled. "Yes, me. Who did you expect, Mr. McCraine?"
"Not you," Kyle answered, his eyes narrowing. "My sincere apologies. Now, if you'll excuse me..."
He stepped around Kaiba and descended the front stairs. Kaiba called out after him. "Not so fast, McCraine. You have something I want."
"So what?" Kyle scoffed, not even turning to face Kaiba. He was eager to get away from the ruthless boy billionaire before he could challenge Kyle to a duel. The last thing I need is him pestering me about the Blue-Eyes cards.
The Blue-Eyes cards! Kyle blinked as he realized that Chubs had told him he'd been given a Blue-Eyes White Dragon and a Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. Maybe they're in his duel disk? He said he wanted to use Cyber-Stein, so Ultimate has to be here somewhere... what about the White Dragon?
"McCraine!" Kaiba called out. "Don't turn your back on me. I'm the reason you're here. Show a little more respect."
Kyle twisted around. "I know what you want, Kaiba. But I'm not interested in dueling you right now. I have other things I need to take care of."
"'Other things'?" Kaiba chuckled again. "The only reason you're even in Japan is because of this tournament, and you have 'other things' that demand your attention? How convenient that as soon as I approach you, your thoughts turn to matters besides that which you flew halfway across the world for."
He stepped down from the stairs to face Kyle at eye level. "Or perhaps you fear me? And that is as it should be. I am the world's best duelist, as you well know."
"You were," Kyle corrected. "Until Yugi Motou. Duel him. That way, you can reclaim your glory. You've got no business with me."
Kaiba glowered. "I will most assuredly be dueling Yugi. He has already obtained six locator cards, as have I, and so we will be going to the finals."
"Then you'll meet me there," said Kyle. He pulled his locator cards from a storage slot in his duel disk and revealed them to Kaiba. "Until then, I'm not going to duel you."
"Impressive," Kaiba remarked, in such a tone that Kyle knew he didn't find it impressive at all. "Nevertheless, I wish to challenge you before the finals. The winner takes all of the loser's locator cards and every card in the loser's deck."
"Forget it," Kyle said. He turned and started walking towards the hospital.
"Refusing a challenge is a violation of Battle City rules," Kaiba noted.
"And so is trying to nab my entire deck over one duel. The rules don't state that I give up my rare cards for refusing. If you want the Blue-Eyes White Dragons, you're not going to kick me out of the tournament."
"Those are my cards, McCraine," Kaiba growled. "They were stolen from me. I have primary rights to them."
"You can't prove your ownership of a Duel Monsters card," Kyle responded. "No legitimate court on this planet would convict me of a crime for winning the Blue-Eyes cards in this tournament. I did so in a fair manner. Winners, keepers; losers, weepers. I'm sorry they were stolen, but there's nothing I can do about that. They don't belong to you anymore. Besides, I imagine there are a lot more stolen cards out there, and you're not the least bit concerned with those."
Kaiba's eyes narrowed. "You had better be at the finals, McCraine."
He turned and stalked off.
Kyle blinked. That was abrupt. I must've hit a nerve.
Perhaps.
He shrugged, then made for the hospital. Gotta check up on Chubs.
--
There was no news. Kyle wasn't surprised. He didn't really expect there to be. Chubs' life was teetering on the edge of a razor blade, Kyle knew that.
And there was nothing he could do.
He wanted to pound the wall in frustration, but he restrained himself. It does me no good to break my knuckles. Instead, he slumped down into a seat in the lobby, Chubs's duel disk cradled in his lap.
Kyle felt guilty in picking through Chubs' cards, but he already knew what most of them were. Or, at least... I think I do... He pulled the few cards that constituted the remainder of Chubs's deck – those that hadn't been in his hand or sent to the graveyard in their duel – and glanced through them. Most were high-level Fire-Type monsters... Ryu-Ran (2200/2600), Mr. Volcano (2100/1300), others. There were a couple of nondescript magic and trap cards at the very bottom, but there was no sign of a Blue-Eyes.
Kyle rocked his head to one side. Maybe he had it on him? Maybe it's in his pockets or something. Won't be able to get to it, in that case. Despite these thoughts, he continued to search, first through the graveyard – he's discarded cards he felt he didn't need before – and then through the RFG slot – only the cards he sent there deliberately during the duel.
He sighed and opened the fusion deck slot. I can at least retrieve the Ultimate Dragon. But when his fingers touched the card, he felt an edge and another card below it. He blinked. Two cards? He never keeps a fusion deck, not even with Cyber-Stein... he thought that was a stupid card, anyway...
Intrigued, he pulled the two cards out.
They were exactly what he was looking for.
The Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon cards gleamed at him, their holographic pictures glinting under the light. Kyle's heart pounded as he stared at them... first at the White Dragon, then at the Ultimate Dragon. Unbelievable. And I thought Gate Guardian had power... it couldn't touch this monster even if it was in defense mode!
You shall need it, Kyle.
Why? I've met the magicians' demands. I've dueled the three people they assigned to stop me, and I won all three duels.
They will undoubtedly have more. And once they hear of the disappearances of their brethren, it is unlikely they will relent in their drive to find difficult decisions for you to make. Keep in mind that they still hold Monica captive.
Yeah, well, if she hears I've got the Blue-Eyes cards, I'll bet she'll be so mad she'll escape the magicians on her own just to get the cards back. Kyle tucked Chubs's duel disk under his arm, got up, walked over to the nearest window, and stared through it for several moments. Seems like everyone's been consistently after my cards. The magicians, Kaiba, Jade...
His eyes darkened. Jade. I'll bet she's here. This is one of the biggest gatherings of duelists, and there're rare cards galore here. Besides which, she's obsessed with my Labyrinth Brothers.
Enough to fly all this way?
I flew all this way, too, and I'm not nearly as obsessed. All I came here for was to try to have a little fun, but instead... this.
And now the magicians torture us instead of the other bearers of the Millennium items.
But because they can't overpower us physically, they're trying to break me psychologically. Kyle sighed. And it may cost Chubs his life. Unbelievable.
At that moment, a loud squealing noise blared from one of the rooms beyond. Papers shuffled and doctors and nurses virtually ran through the hallways. Words were being spoken in Japanese; Kyle couldn't make them out, but he thought he heard "Smith" in the gibberish.
He closed his eyes and bowed his head for a moment, trying to find it in him to even utter a single prayer for Chubs. Don't die...
His breath shuddered, and he quickly moved outside. The emotion was too much for him. He didn't want to make a scene. He wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand. I need to be doing something. Something to distract me. He glanced down at his hand, which still bore Chubs' duel disk. He snorted mentally. He won't need this, and it's a burden for me right now.
He carefully removed all of the cards from Chubs' duel disk – he'd already taken the single locator card it had been equipped with. Man, Chubs... your first and only Battle City duel was against me? That's not fair at all... He placed the cards in his pocket and made sure the pocket was buttoned. Then he sought out his motorcycle, which was in a parking deck next to the police station; the trek took him above five minutes, and when he arrived, he put the duel disk into one of the storage compartments.
All of this was done on automatic, it seemed, because the next thing he knew, he was back at the hospital, wondering what on Earth was happening with Chubs. The alarm had stopped, but nurses and doctors alike were still moving about quite quickly through the hall.
Just staring at them, he found himself getting teary-eyed again, and he turned quickly around and left. This was a mistake...
He looked around for some sort of off-road or alley he could take and just escape into. I just need to get away from everything for a few moments... He found an alleyway about half a block from the hospital, and in a slight panic, he ran towards it, stopping short once he reached the gap between the buildings.
Kyle trudged into the narrow passage. At the other end of the passage was a larger, central alley, but he didn't make a move toward it. He just needed a place to stand and think.
He closed his eyes tightly and felt his knees grow weak. His stomach, too. I can't believe this is happening... this is... oh, God, this can't be happening. Theoris, tell me this is a dream.
Theoris's voice was comforting, but the words he spoke provided no comfort. I am afraid I cannot, Kyle. To my knowledge, this is as real as one can get.
But how?! Why are they doing this to me? What have I done to them? This is all so stupid!
I know, Kyle... I know.
Kyle slammed his fist against the wall. "Damn!" he muttered.
His breath shuddered out of him, and he felt himself on the verge of despairing. I've got no idea what to do. I can't help Chubs, I can barely help Monica... both of them may die at the drop of a hat, and there's so little I can do. No choice.
"No choice," he repeated aloud.
He turned his head this way and that, as if searching for an escape route.
And that was when he saw her standing there.
I knew it...
She was leaning against the wall, and though her posture suggested relaxation, her face showed anxiousness. "Are you all right?" she asked.
He felt too spent to even be irritated at her for approaching him. He shook his head. "No... no, I'm not."
Her brow furrowed, but she looked unsurprised by his answer. For several moments, there was silence, and finally she said, "You need to get up."
"Why?" he asked, his voice full of misery.
"Because I need you at the height of your game when we duel."
He rose to his feet and glowered at Jade upon her statement. "Damn it, Jade, is that all you care about?!" he snapped. "I'm about to lose two friends over some stupid card game, and all you care about is my Gate Guardian pieces? Where did your humanity go?!"
"If it's so stupid, why are you still wearing that duel disk?" she countered. "And I know your friend is in the hospital, Kyle, so don't play superior to me. I know you happen to think I'm some sort of ruthless monster, but at least I wasn't the one looking like I wanted to cry alone in the alley just a few moments ago." Jade met his glare with one of her own. "I'm sorry to hear he's in bad shape, but whatever is going on with you right now isn't going to be resolved by curling up in a ball and hiding from the world, or wishing it would all go away, like a bad dream!"
Kyle's glare only deepened. If she wasn't a girl, I'd have fewer reservations about belting her one right here and now!
That would not help matters, Kyle, no matter her gender, Theoris sternly informed the teen. Deal with it, as you so quaintly put it. Besides which, Monica said almost those same words to you not so long ago.
Thanks for the support. "Have you ever felt the need to curl into a ball?" Kyle asked. "Seriously. You told me your fairy-tale ending came back to bite you in the ass. Sounds like an ideal time to do that, to me. Everyone does it. I'm taking my time. So lay off."
He released a sigh after a moment. "And as for my duel disk... if I could, I'd take it off right now and forget about this entire tournament. I might even give you the pieces, if it'd help... at least you would take care of them, respect them. But that's not an option."
Jade held up her left arm, showing him her own duel disk. "Well, turning down a challenge isn't an option, either. If you do, you're out of Battle City once you get reported, and you know it."
"I don't need to be reminded of that rule," he grated. "Tell me what you want, already."
"Whoever wins takes the Gate Guardian set."
Kyle pursed his lips and glared at her. For several moments, he considered giving her a counter-offer.
No, Kyle.
Why not? My three pieces to her one? How fair is that?
It is not a matter of fairness, it is a matter of closure. No matter the outcome of a battle with such stakes, she will stop harassing you for Gate Guardian. If she loses, she will not have the material necessary to defeat you; if she wins, you will slip beyond her interest. Accept the challenge. Fate will decide which way the battle shall go.
I don't believe in fate.
I do. And I find that it is enough that I believe for both of us.
Kyle breathed deeply, released his breath, then breathed in again. "Fine. If only to get you off my back. I accept. I've got six locator cards; are we putting any of those up, as well?"
Jade chuckled and held up six of the gleaming, transparent cards so coveted by the duelists that had gathered here. "I think we're both set on locator cards, Kyle, so that won't be necessary. This is purely for rights to the Gate Guardian. We can duel right here, unless you prefer to find a noisy crowd somewhere."
Kyle scoffed quietly. "The alley will do just fine, thank you." He paced down the passage and into the alley, which was basically a large – albeit almost completely enclosed – space among several commercial buildings.
With a press of the activation button, the holoprojectors shot out on either side of Jade, coming to a stop before they hit the walls on either side. "This seems to be a pattern, but since I challenged you, you choose your start."
"I'll go first this time," Kyle answered, firing holoprojectors from his own duel disk. He drew his first five cards, inspected them a moment, then looked up at her. "Before we start, though, I need to know something. No matter the outcome of this duel... will you leave me alone after, if I ask?"
She paused, apparently thinking out her answer. "If I win, then you won't ever hear from me again. If you win... then I no longer have reason to be around, do I? So... yes, I will. I guess these are what you could consider 'ultimate stakes'." She grinned. "Ready?"
Kyle drew his sixth card, then made his move.