Sakakku
Notes: Like I mentioned last chapter, there's a lot of time-gaps and time-jumping. I hope you can follow things.
There are two Monsters in here you might really wanna look at. I thought they were fascinating, which is why I featured them in here. Check these two website addresses to really flex your imagination later: http: www. pokeorder .com /yuin ofchojbl. html and http: www. pokeorder .com /yuin ofchojye. html , minus the spaces of course. Trust me; it adds a lot to the story.
Those are the main two Monsters you should look at, but you can always use Pokeorder to find the other pictures. I particularly like Manticore of Darkness.
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Chapter 23
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Shadi guided Odion into the temple; they were trailing a smaller boy that had to be Mokuba, but he was with someone neither of them recognized. Shadi didn't want to call out; he said it would be pointless and dangerous, so they waited until the secret door closed behind them. Mokuba's voice was still ringing "We're back" when they entered the room.
"As are we," Shadi said, helping Odion down the stairs.
"Hey!…" Yugi said, the only one who still seemed surprised at all these new arrivals. "Mokuba! Hello! And- Shadi! And… oh…" He was gazing at Odion.
"Sit down, Odion," Ishizu said, rising from Mai's bedside and rushing over to her brother. "Oh, Odion…" She abruptly embraced him, then quickly pulled back and led him to a bed. He still looked exhausted. "Odion…" she said again.
"Ishizu…" Odion closed his eyes, looking pained. "Sister… I have failed you."
"No, Odion," she said determinedly, sitting next to him and clutching his hand. "No."
"What's going on?" Yugi finally blurted, his attention now on Ezra. She was glancing around the room, not recognizing anyone but Yugi. She'd seen him on television as King of Games a long time ago. And then… that taller, darker boy across the room had to be Yami. Seto spoke about him with severe annoyance and grudging respect.
"All right, everyone sit," Ishizu finally said, forcing Odion to lie down. He and Mai rested while the rest of them gathered in the center of the room and, at Ishizu's lead, sat cross-legged. Her eyes traveled the room quickly: "Mokuba? Where is Seto?"
"He…" Mokuba suddenly lost his voice, and Ezra took the initiative.
"Seto went to the palace," she volunteered, twisting her fingers.
"He what?" several voices sounded- a white-haired man, a broader man sitting next to him that she thought might have been Maximillion Pegasus, creator of Duel Monsters; Yugi; and Yami. They all appeared distressed.
"He wanted to…" Mokuba spoke up, staring at the ground. He was obviously worried.
"That's… unforeseen," Ishizu said, tapping her fingers together. "But, then again… perhaps I should have guessed he would." Murmuring broke out throughout in the room. "Do not fret," she added, raising her voice as everyone turned to look at her. "I think things will be okay."
Shadi pursed his lips. Everyone in the room was either shaking their heads or wearing a blank look. "We have too much to talk about now," Ishizu said impatiently. "We must discuss the situation, and decide when you, Yami- when you are going into the palace, as Seto Kaiba has just done."
"And Joey Wheeler."
Immediately, everyone turned to look at Odion. He was partially sitting up in 'bed'.
"Like I said…" Ishizu muttered. "We have a lot to talk about."
xXx
He'd practically bullied Yugi into staying behind. But, Yami mused as he silently crept though the city, he had to protect the little one.
'I promise I'll come back safely, Yugi'.
His hikari's eyes had glared up at him. 'How can you promise something like that? Let me come with you!'
'It's too dangerous.'
'But that's why I have to come!'
'No, Yugi. No.'
Yugi had stormed around the room for a while, glaring at everyone who bade Yami farewell. But as Yami started to climb the stairs out, looking at Yugi beseechingly, the purple-eyed boy had dashed up after him and flung his arms around his midsection in a good-bye hug. 'Remember what you promised. And- Yami? Don't come back just for me. Come back for the world.'
Yami started to nod, but Yugi felt the need to elaborate. 'We'll need you, in the end. What do you think will happen after Marik and Bakura are defeated?'
That thought had been nagging at him ever since he left. What would happen? Could the world just pick things up from where they had started? There was bound to be a whole new power struggle. And Yugi thought he should be around for that.
He was in an odd place. It was a huge, two-story, sprawling home. Giant bushes surrounded the house and most of the yard. The home, however, was mostly isolated. He'd passed through an abandoned road and clumps of scrawny brush to get here; it was in between the main city and the also-isolated palace.
Yami was wishing he'd chosen a different way now. But, of course, it would have taken time. And time wasn't something he could afford to waste. He'd just have to be really careful. Unfortunately, the only way to remain unseen from an upper room of the house was to keep close to the bushes; although those were far too close to the house.
It was a lose-lose situation, either way you looked at it.
A branch cracked up ahead and Yami froze in place. Someone was there. Maybe more than one person. He didn't think they could have heard him; he hadn't made much noise, but he was definitely treading on thin ice now.
"You idiot!"
"It's not my fault that branch was there!"
"But it is your fault you didn't look before you stepped!"
"You know, you shoved me out of the way so you could look for that woman. It's mostly your fault."
"Shut up! I thought I saw something moving!"
The frantic whispering darted in and out of the light wind. Yami stiffened. Something sounded oddly familiar about those voices. And something they had said…
"So, hot-shot, what did you see? Find the woman?"
"No, blockhead. I think she's gone for good."
"That was creepy. I think she was a ghost."
"And I think you're an idiot."
"Hey! She could have been! I mean, she was practically glowing and all. And who wears dresses like that now anyways? Besides, then she just disappeared. Maybe she was leading us here for a reason."
"Yeah, because she knew you'd be dumb enough to follow."
"Hey! It was your idea!"
"Well, it's not every day you see a ghost. I had to follow."
"But you said-"
"Shut up! Someone's coming!"
The door at the big house opened and closed. New voices floated up the lawn. Yami strained, but could barely catch the tail end of their conversation. As for the two other boys in the bushes with him, they had fallen dead silent.
All that Yami heard was some indistinguishable mumbling, but the new voice had actually said, "I still can't believe it." In the faint lamplight close to the house, Yami caught sight of a purple cloak. So. This must be a station for the Rare Hunters.
"Shizuka Kawai," a woman's voice agreed. "Really Serenity Wheeler? She lied to us."
"Can you blame her?" a young man with a buzz-cut chimed in. "She must have known what would happen if we found out who she was."
"Dill, lying to the Rare Hunters- not to speak of Master Marik- yields harsh consequences," the woman said sternly. "It would have been better for the girl to speak the truth from the start."
"So we could lock her up sooner?" Dill grumbled.
Perhaps it was lucky Yami couldn't hear this conversation. All he knew was that the muttering was coming closer to him.
"Dill!" the woman reprimanded.
Dil sighed. "What do you think will happen to her?"
The first man added his opinion back into the conversation. "I think she'll stay a prisoner under Mel for the time being. They don't want to kill Serenity Wheeler just yet. She could prove useful in baiting Joey out of hiding, and perhaps even the Pharaoh himself."
They were coming towards him. Yami tried to step softly backwards, but he'd ended up sandwiched between the three Hunters and the two mysterious voices from before. The Hunters were close enough now that he could make out what they were saying:
"I don't think she deserves to be locked up," Dill said flatly.
"Well, just don't let Marik or Bakura hear you saying that," the woman snapped back.
"Don't worry, I won't." Dill sped up his pace and stomped right into the bushes. This was it. Knowing it was inevitable he'd be caught, Yami whipped out his deck and prepared his deck, splaying it out and letting his fingers guide him to the proper cards.
"What in the name of-" Dill said, astonished, pulling up just short of Yami's outstretched hands. "Hey! Richie and Sophie, get over here!"
"We're right behind you," Sophie said impatiently. "What is it- hey!"
Dill pointed a trembling finger at Yami, which gravitated downward to the gleaming edge of the Millennium Puzzle that was just barely visible in the folds of his cloak. "The Pharaoh!"
"Indeed," Yami said grimly, feeling his hand being tugged toward a card towards the middle. Without hesitation, he drew it, and focused all his attention on Summoning.
"Mirror Force?"
The gleaming bubble shimmered around Yami. He stared at it blankly.
"All-Seeing White Tiger!" Dill said in a sneer, drawing the card from his deck. The tiger appeared, lazily flexing its claws. "Attack!"
The tiger looked at Yami. Yami looked back, letting his fingers wander over the cards. Nothing was calling to him. Slowly, the tiger drew its upper lip over its teeth. Then, with a feral snarl, it leapt.
Just as the beast collided with Mirror Force, the two voices from before picked up again. "That guy said Yami was over there!"
"I heard him, you dolt. I'm standing right here, after all."
"Well, didn't you want to save him?"
"That's not what I said! I said I wanted to put him in my debt!"
"Soo… don't you have to save him? He's being attacked!"
"I know. Geez, Raptor, have some patience."
The Trap card surrounding Yami shattered as the White Tiger hit it. He shielded his eyes with his arm, but nothing hit him. Carefully, he peered over the top. All the debris from the mirror had exploded outward. The tiger lay on the ground. With obvious effort, it lifted its head to glare into Yami's eyes. Pieces of glass were sticking out of its fur at odd angles and blood was starting to leak though. A lump formed in Yami's throat. Suddenly, the tiger had become his friends- had become Joey, or Téa, or Mai, or even Kaiba. Then, his vision warped once more and he saw Yugi in the tiger's place, bleeding from a thousand wounds and knowing it was futile to go on.
His fists clenched involuntarily. Violence was a two-way street. And, unfortunately, to preserve the peace- he had to resort to it.
The All-Seeing White Tiger gave a final, mournful cry, and laid its head down. A soft wind blew, and it disintegrating, returning to the Shadow Realm, where it had come from.
The three Rare Hunters were all staring at its final resting place in a fascinated horror. Dill was the first to move, but he didn't immediately Summon another Monster. Instead, he bowed his head and muttered, "Good luck, Shizuka." Something stirred in Yami; he realized that this was somehow significant, but didn't entirely grasp what the Rare Hunter was saying.
Sophie and Richie, jarred from their daze by his speech, jumped into action. "Ojama Yellow!"
"Ojama Black!" Richie added.
The impish-looking Monsters appeared side by side. In a wicked show of acrobatics, they bounded on top of each other, cackling madly. Yami swallowed over a lump in his throat. All of a sudden, he didn't think he could Summon a Monster. He didn't know why, but he couldn't do it right away. It was too much- after the tiger.
The ojamas suddenly turned to Yami and grinned widely, displaying a disgusting array of teeth. He involuntarily drew back. "Attack!" Sophie commanded, sounding exasperated that the Monsters couldn't figure this out on their own.
Ojama Black suddenly leapt forward, and collided with a new figure. This giant, cartoonish-looking insect regarded it coolly, then slashed twice with its metallic claws. Ojama Black disappeared.
Ojama Yellow, expressing probably Sophie and Richie's feelings, yelped in distress and pranced around.
"Hehehehe," a familiar voice snickered.
As one, Yami and the three Rare Hunters whipped around. Weevil Underwood, looking exceptionally smug, was leaning against a tree, holding a card calmly in his hand. Rex Raptor stood a few feet away from him, looking uncomfortable and rolling his eyes at Weevil.
"Who are you two?" Sophie asked nastily, but still sounded slightly afraid.
"Weevil Underwood, insect duelist extraordinaire!" the blue-haired boy announced.
"Rex Raptor, dino duelist," Rex grumbled. Suddenly he turned to Weevil: "You're so arrogant!"
"Shut up, dino-brain," Weevil snapped. "Hey, Basic Insect! Attack that other Monster!"
The bug obeyed, flicking its wings and dashing forward. Ojama Yellow gave a squeal and a twist, and dodged away. Reflecting Weevil's irritated groan, Basic Insect kept up its attack. Ojama Yellow took to the trees, and Basic Insect pursued it.
"What are you doing here?" Yami asked in high astonishment.
"Saving your pathetic rear," Weevil responded smugly. "Better run along, now, Pharaoh. We'll handle things from here."
"Yeah! Come on, Two Headed King Rex and my namesake!" Rex crowed, holding the card aloft. Then he immediately had to jump to the side and duck as the dinosaur was Summoned nearly atop him.
"And no battle is complete without my Insect Princess!" Weevil said, with a look in his eyes that was a bit too dreamy. The green Monster, half-human, half-bug, with a set of butterfly-like wings, appeared, fluttering them slightly.
Richie and Sophie prepared to Summon more of their Monsters, and Dill started to rejoin the fight with Manticore of Darkness.
"Run already," Weevil urged, the sunlight reflecting off his glasses. When Yami hesitated, he made a quick shooing motion with his hands. "Go on!"
"Whatever," Rex muttered. Being closer to Yami, he nudged him in the back with an elbow.
Yami finally stumbled forward, glancing over his shoulder. A muscular beast with wings sped after him, but Insect Princess darted lightly in his way. While the two titans clashed, Yami clutched his cloak around him and escaped into the sands surrounding the palace, a cloud of dust around the battle masking his retreat.
xXx
At about the same time Yami used the magic of the Millennium Puzzle to mask his presence as he crept past the guards and directly into the palace- a trick he'd tested with Shadi only briefly before he left- Weevil and Rex realized that they were about to lose the fight unless they tried something different.
"Okay- uh- I know! Uraby, come on out!" Rex desperately clutched his card and tried to Summon it. Nothing happened. The card barely even glowed.
"Why could I do it before?" he moaned, directing his question at Weevil. Weevil was watching his Insect Princess be battered from all sides with huge eyes.
"I don't know!" he admitted frantically, glancing down at the Neo Bug he held. He, too, had been trying to Summon. What neither of them realized was that it had been the energy of the Puzzle helping them during the early stages of the battle. But now- Yami and the Puzzle were gone-
It probably wouldn't have made a difference in the end, however. The battle had attracted all the Rare Hunters in the house. They began pouring out and into the lawn, adding their own Monsters to the scuffle.
Rex barely had time to see Dill's Manticore of Darkness plow through Insect Princess, sending her flying backward into Weevil and knocking her master unconscious, when a Monster he never saw attacked from behind, lightly striking him across the head in a sensitive spot and sending him collapsing to the ground.
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Notes: Ojama Yellow and Ojama Black are two in a trio. According to the cards, "It is said that when the three are together, something happens." Does it say what happens? Nooo… Does it say what the third card is? Nooo… ::sigh:: I eventually found out, but decided not to use the effect.