SirLarry: When doing 'Reveal' we wanted to take a page from the Yugioh story and have the monsters be real for a few chapters.
Bluerain: And the whole thing about 'yugi's birthday' was just a bit of filler, and to set up the 'mono story' in Chapter 10. Please enjoy this new, revised chapter.
Chapter 9:
Reveal
In two days, they would be back in Musashi, and then Kagome, Yugi, and the other time travelers would be going home. Kagome looked forward to it. Between no sightings of Jewel shards, dead ends with the search for Naraku, and Inu-yasha and Joey at each other's throats, math and English homework and shrine chores would be a welcome break. Still, these last two weeks were more fun than before Joey and his friends joined them. It felt good to see some fresh faces.
'Especially when Joey's is so cute,' Kagome thought with a sigh. But today, Yugi seemed a little withdrawn.
"Hey Yugi," Kagome asked the boy, "Is something wrong?"
"No," he replied quietly, "It's just, are you sure that the village and the well are two days away?"
"Yes, why?"
"Oh," he mumbled, looking down and very disappointed, "It's nothing. Forget I said anything."
"But- " Kagome started, but then Tea pulled her aside and said, "He's worried we wont' get back in time."
"In time for what?" Kagome asked Tea.
"For his birthday," Tea said. "He knows his Grandpa has something special planned, and he assured him that he'd be back from our trip in time for it."
"Well," Kagome said, turning to Yugi again, "Yugi, why didn't you say so?"
"I didn't want to be any trouble," Yugi said.
"You wouldn't have been," Kagome told him. Before she could say anything else, Joey said, "We could have a party for you here."
"Yeah," Tristan added. "Would that help?"
"Wait a sec," Mai said to them, "What would we celebrate with? We don't have anything for a party. We don't even have food."
"Don't worry," Tristan said, chuckling, "I'm sure Joey can cook another candy bar."
"Will you let that go, man?" Joey replied, ticked off.
"I don't see the whole bother with 'Birthdays' anyway," Inu-yasha said, from up ahead. "I don't even know mine, and I'm perfectly fine with that."
"Like you'd remember anyway," said Shippo, from the basket on Kagome's bike. "You're over 60 years old." Then Inu-yasha smacked the kitsune, and said "Yeah, and I look pretty good for it, don't I?"
"Leave him alone," Kagome said, blocking the little fox cub from any more bullying.
"Look up ahead," Sango called out. "There's a village!"
"Finally," Kagome said as they approached the village. As they entered, they saw that the streets were filled with people, and different stands were set up, and the houses adorned with colorful lanterns and streamers. Kagome's nose was bombarded with the sweet aromas of pastries and different foods being cooked.
"A festival!" Sango said, her face bright and excited. "To celebrate high spring! Oh, I remember when our old village used to have these festivals. This is so, so- !" and Kagome saw tears start to well up in her eyes. 'She must be thinking about her family,' Kagome thought. But then, a thought came to her, and Kagome said, "Hey, we can celebrate Yugi's birthday now!"
"Wow! I never expected something as cool as a Spring Festival," Yugi said, laughing.
With that, they all went around the festival, looking at all the different booths, which were not only food booths, but games. They were amazing! One man was running a mini archery contest, with the target being the local nobleman with an apple on his head. Kagome volunteered to go first, and got a lot of snickers from the men in the crowd, but she showed them all up with a perfect hit to the center of the apple. The man in charge asked her name, and she said, laughing, "I'm Kagome!"
Yugi came up next, and he hit the apple too, although not quite in the center. He said, "I'm Yugi!"
Then Tristan made a try. His arrow ended up an inch to the left of the nobleman's ear. As the poor man was sinking down to the ground in a faint, poor Tristan said, "I'm sorry!"
After that incident, they went around to more stands and shops. At one point while Joey and Tristan were getting some food, three boys came up and said, "They must be very great men to wear such fine garments," and they started grabbing at their jackets.
"Hand's off the merchandise!" Joey yelled, sending the boys scattering.
They weren't the only ones to get stared at. Kagome was with Mai and Tea at a jewelry stand, when they both heard some women say, "So strange that such lovely women would wear naught but scantly rags."
"This outfit cost 5000 yen, for your information!" Mai yelled at the passing women. Kagome only giggled. She also used to get a lot of comments and stares when she first came to this era, but now she was either known for being 'immodest' or just didn't notice if anyone said anything.
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Night descended upon the small village, and the lanterns were glowing brighter than ever. When the small group met up again, they saw a crowd growing under a tree, and headed for it, since everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun. As they approached, they saw a man pulling on a string, and the string was dangling an pear from a tree branch. He called out, "Who's next! Who want's a try for the pear!"
"Oh!" Sango exclaimed, "I love this game! It used to be my favorite in our village."
Meanwhile, Yugi summoned Yami in his mind. "Hey Yami," Yugi silently spoke to the spirit, "Why don't you take over for a while? Have some fun? It's kinda your birthday, too."
"Perhaps I shall," Yami said, taking up his young friend's offer, and they began to change. Once Yami was in control, he felt someone grab his hand, and looked up. It was Tea! She was beaming, and said to him, "Hey Yugi, let's go!"
"Wait, Tea! I- " But he never got to finish.
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Kagome almost missed it, but she managed to catch Yugi's switch with Yami. But Then she heard the man at the tree say, "We need a young man and a young lady to have a try at the pear! Any takers?"
Then. Kagome saw Tea grab Yugi/Yami's hand, and she said, "Hey Yugi, let's go!"
"Wait, Tea! I- !" But he didn't get a chance to finish. They were soon under the pear, and their hands were tied behind their backs. Suddenly, Kagome realized what this game was, and she called out, "Wait, Tea! That's not-!"
"Kagome, you'll love this game," said Sango, taking Kagome's arm and pulling her back, "It's so much fun to see what will happen."
"But Tea thinks-" she didn't even get a chance to explain. She was drowned out by the cheers of everyone rooting for Tea and Yugi/Yami. The poor guy wasn't even trying to get the stupid pear, he looked kind of scared. But Tea was having fun, jumping and running around to get the dangling piece of fruit.
-----------------Scene Break-------------------
"You've a lovely partner, lad." said the man who was tying Yugi/Yami's hands. The Game King was uncharacteristically nervous. He was unfamiliar with this game, but it seemed fairly simple: one must try to get the piece of fruit without their hands. That left trying to bite it down. But then he looked around, and saw many young men laughing and jabbing each other in the sides with their elbows, while the girls giggled wildly. He remembered that teens in Yugi's time act this way when... Oh no! His suspicions were confirmed when he saw the vendor pull the string up away from Tea just as she was coming down to get the pear.
--------------Scene Break--------------
Kagome almost couldn't bear to watch! But she, and she alone saw, that as Tea fell forward, landing in an awkward kiss, Yami had switched with Yugi just in time! It was Little Yugi who got to kiss Tea! Kagome was so surprised and tickled at the sight that she cheered with her friends, yelling, "Woo Hoo, Tea! Way to go, Yugi!"
------------Scene Break------------
The kiss was over almost as soon as it had begun. Tea's face went red, and she pulled away. She seemed so embarrassed. Yugi knew he must have been blushing red as a beet, too, although he was glad that this happened. He silently thanked Yami for leaving so quickly.
"Uh, Yugi, I'm so sorry," Tea said, still blushing.
Yugi smiled, and said, "Don't be. It was A great kiss" At his smile, she smiled too.
"Really?" Tea asked. "You mean it wasn't all awkward?"
"No," Yugi said, "In fact, I wouldn't mind doing it again."
"Don't get your hopes up, Yugi," Tea said as the vendor untied her wrists.
As the two walked back to the group, the vendor once again called for volunteers. Immediately Miroku grabbed Sango's hand, and yelled, "That's us!"
"Oh no!" she said as she jerked her hand out of his. "Not with you."
"But you said this was your favorite game," he reasoned.
"Yes, but I know how you are. We mighty start with a kiss, but sooner or later one of us will get something we don't want."
"You mean a slap in the face?"
"Exactly. I care for you too much, Miroku, to put you through that kind of public embarrassment. "
"Sango, your affections are very much appreciated- if not misdirected. I for one am willing to risk it though," he said, grabbing her hand again, and dragging her into the ring. "let's go!"
Just as with Yugi and Tea, their hands were tied, and the fruit was dangled between them.
'This should be fairly simple,' Miroku thought. 'Simply miss the fruit, and go for her lovely lips.' He dashed forward.
'Remember, Sango,' Sango thought, 'Get the fruit. Get the fruit!' she went forward, and jumped.
CRACK! Their foreheads met with tremendous force, sending them flying backwards on their butts.
"Oh no!" Kagome said, rushing to Sango's side. "Sango, speak to me!"
"I'm tired, father," Sango slurred. "Can I slay the donkey demon tomorrow?"
Kagome helped Sango up as the vendor helped Miroku. "You okay, lad?" the vendor asked.
"I never knew she was such a marvelous kisser!" Miroku rambled. "She packs a punch!"
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They didn't stay too long after the pear game. They hit the food stands again, where they got enough extra food to last till the next afternoon, and headed off to the outskirts of town. When they had set up camp, Joey started goofing around with Yugi, saying, "Hey man, nice move back there. Was it good?"
"Cut it out Joey," Yugi said, blushing again. "It's no big deal."
"Yes it is," Joey replied, "I bet it made for a pretty happy birthday present, right?" and he started laughing.
"Just let it go," Tea said from her spot next to Kagome, Sango (who was just recovering from her concussion), and Mai. "It's late, and we're tired."
"Not me. I still feel pumped," Joey said.
"Because you ate ten sweet rolls," said Tristan, who was finishing his eleventh sweet roll.
"I'm not real tired, either," said Yugi," But we still need to rest."
"Hey, I know," Joey said, getting his bag. "How about a duel before bed?"
"I don't know, Joey," Yugi said cautiously.
"Oh, come on," Joey replied, "After you diluted the spell, they're just fine now."
"They still smell like ink," Inu-yasha grumbled from his blanket, covering his nose with his sleeve."
"I don't smell nothing, 'cept you, dog-breath," Joey retorted.
"Cut it out," Kagome said as she got in her sleeping bag. "You two can play, we'll watch."
"Ok, then," Joey and Yugi said, and they both got out their decks. It was true, Kagome thought as they set up the game field. The decks did look normal, but as she looked harder, she still saw a slight purple-black mist around the cards. She prayed that nothing would come of Naraku's stealing and enchanting those cards, but she doubted it.
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From his hiding place in the woods, Naraku watched they boys get out their cards. Now was the time.
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Yugi had just laid down his Dark Magician to go up against Joey's Wolf Axe-wielder, when Inu-yasha jumped up and shouted, "I smell Naraku!"
Everyone was getting up and running around, Kagome, Miroku and Sango looking for their weapons, as the rest were trying to obey Inu-yasha's commands to run and stay out of danger, when Naraku himself, cloaked in a baboon's skin, and another creature that looked like a human with long fangs and red hair, chained at the neck, came out of the trees. Naraku was holding that chain. "Ah, Inu-yasha." he said in his deep, rumbling voice, "I believe you've been looking for me?"
"No more games," Inu-yasha growled, "We finish this, NOW!"
"I'm sorry," Naraku chuckled evily, "But I must decline. I do, however, send a worthy replacement. Meet my newest offspring, Hinumko. He's more than willing to fight you." And with that, he vanished, dropping the chain, and loosening the wild Hinumko.
The beastly thing lunged at Inu-yasha, but as the han-you was about to strike with the Tetsuseiga, it changed direction. It wasn't after Inu-yasha at all. It wanted the others. It wanted the humans!
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As Joey stood looking at the horrid sight, he saw the beast Hinumko dodge Inu-yasha's attack. It was heading for… for…
"KAGOME!" Joey screamed as he took his Staff and charged at the beast. Kagome had just gotten her bow up when Joey ran in and swung at Hinumko, knocking him down. But that didn't stop him. The creature simply got back up, shook it's head, and struck at Joey. It lunged and sent them both rolling around on the ground, while everyone else was calling out to Joey to get away, hit it, or do something, while all the poor boy could do was hold it back with the Millennium Staff so it wouldn't sink it's teeth into his neck.
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"INU-YASHA!" they all screamed, "HELP HIM!"
"I'm trying!" he yelled back, the sword glowing in his hands. "But I don't want to hit him when I swing at that thing!" This was hopeless, Inu-yasha thought. He had to go and get himself in trouble again. But at least he'd saved Kagome.
"Inu-yasha," Miroku called, "Naraku must still be near, watching this. We must find him before he gets away."
"Right. Destroy him, we get rid of that thing." Inu-yasha said. He and Miroku headed for the trees.
"Inu-yasha, you get back here and help him!" Kagome screamed. She had no choice. She raised her bow, and knocked an arrow. 'Of please,' she prayed silently, 'Please don't let me hit Joey.' he hands shook as she readied her aim.
--------------Scene Break---------------
Naraku stood within the trees of the woods, concealed in shadow. As he watched the boy try to hold off his incarnation, he laughed. He then said, in a low voice, "Reveal: Wolf Axe-wielder! Finish them off!"
-------------Scene Break--------------
Joey's arms were getting weak. Soon he wouldn't be able to keep Hinumko from tearing out his jugular, and that'd be the end. He didn't want to admit it, but he was scared! He was truly scared out of his wits! But he couldn't let his friends get in this thing's way, it would tear them all to pieces. He did the only thing he could do. He used what was left of his bodily strength to scream out, "HELP ME!"
-------------Scene Break-------------
At his call, the card Wolf Axe-wielder, started to glow, and then, it disappeared in yellow light, and emerged out in the open air. It was really there; in living flesh and blood; its white fur standing on end, it's eyes red with the urge to fight. And it looked over at the one who'd called it, the shadow in the forest. But then it heard the cry of it's true master, Joey Wheeler. "HELP ME!"
It made a loud howl, and charged at the wild beast attacking his master, holding it's axe up high.
--------------Scene Break---------------
Joey felt his arms start to buckle as he felt the weight of Hinumko suddenly vanish. He looked up and saw the beast's body raised high above, at the end of an axe. The axe was being held by a creature that minutes ago had been two dimensional on a card. "It- It can't be!" Joey stuttered, as the Wolf shook the lifeless corpse off it's blade, and knelt before him, offering it's axe to him.
"Joey?" Mai asked.
"Oh Joey!" Kagome cried, rushing forward, and hugging him. "I was so scared! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Thanks to him." Joey said looking at his monster. "Um, good boy," he praised the Wolf as it bent down. Joey reached out, and started scratching behind it's ears.
"We lost him!" Inu-yasha yelled, coming out of the woods, Miroku behind him. Inu-yasha looked at the Wolf, and yelled, "What the heck is that!?" he hefted his sword, prepared to fight it.
"Oh this," Joey said casually, "This is my Wolf Axe-wielder. He saved my life." the young man said, pointing to the dead shell the was Hinumko.
"But- but how did it get here?" Inu-yasha demanded.
"Perhaps it has something to do with what we heard Naraku say in the forest," Miroku said.
"What? He said something?" Yugi asked.
"Yes, I believe he said, 'Reveal'." Miroku explained.
"The spell," Kagome said to herself. "Maybe that's what it was supposed to do. It was supposed to make the Duel Monsters come to life."
"No doubt he wished to use them against us," Sango said.
"But Yugi already diluted the spell," Tristan said. "So it didn't listen to Naraku. It listen to Joey instead, cause he called for help."
"Let me give it a try," Yugi said. He looked through his deck, and pulled out a card. "Reveal: Mystical Elf." The card vanished form his hands, and in a blast of brillinat white light, a beautiful, golden haired, blue skinned Elven princess appeared before them.
"Oh my!" Sango exclaimed, "Such a lovely creature!"
"Indeed," Miroku said, his eyes twinkling.
"Down boy," Tea remarked.
"That only works on Inu-yasha," Miroku said.
"Oh, then will this work?" Mai said, kicking him in the groin. Miroku doubled over in pain, moaning and groaning.
"How inappropriate!" Sango exclaimed. "To kick a poor man there!"
"Relax, honey," Mai said. "It's a basic move taught in Women's Self Defense class. The pain'll go away, but message will be ingrained in his tiny brain forever."
"Oh, I see," Sango said, stepping over to Miroku, "If I wish to keep in check, all I need do is this," she said, kicking him in the groin again.
Miroku screamed in pain, then said in an unusually high voice, "That was unnecessary!"
"What happened to his voice?" Shippo asked.
"Side effect," Tea answered.
"Mystical Elf," Yugi said, ignoring the scene behind him, "Place a shield around us, to protect us during the rest of the night."
The Elf princess clasped her hands, and started to chant in an ancient tongue. Then, a white force-field appeared around them. Under the Elf's protection, they all settled down, and went to sleep.
--------------Authors' Note--------------
Bluerain: Please review!