Flower Petals: Well, hya there everyone! Hope ya all had a wonderful Christmas!!!
I tallied the votes, and have come to the unanimous decision, to keep the chapter 30 pages!!! Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Just kidding!!! ^_^
Taleah: Sorry people, she ate waaaaay too much pie and now she's going to be hyper forever.
Flower Petals: Hey, you're here!
Taleah: Yeah, so what?
Flower Petals: So you've been silent for awhile.
Taleah: So what?
Flower Petals: So I've enjoyed the silence.
Taleah: Arggggggggggggggg!
Flower Petals: Well anygohoobles, I really divided the chapter into three parts. They're not all equal, since of course, I just couldn't stop in the middle of a sentence, so this chapter is actually longer then the other two. And I've also changed "Tae"'s name to the rightful, "Tea," so you don't have to be confused any more!!!
I don't have room to chat regretfully, so I just want to say THANK YOU to the following list of reviewers, who are in NO particular order, and just know that I LOVE YA ALL, AND APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT!!! :
Lady Silvertongue Nari Psychotic Kitten Maiden of the Moonlight Misura Sakurelle TAB KrystalShadow Mamono Peace Writer
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or anything pertaining to it. But I do own Taleah. . .
Taleah: You just love saying that don't you?
Flower Petals: *giggles* yes!
Flower Petals
Rhymes and Reasons Part 1
A towel drenched with sweat was placed upon a table next to a crystal glass occupied by a red liquid and a highly decorative plate that bore cheesecake of the richest flavors.
"Are you okay, sir? Did you have another. . .vision?"
"Yes. Bring her to me."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Taleah awoke with a start. Beads of perspiration made thin lines down her forehead and trailed down her face. She put a hand over her heart. What a horrible dream! It was so real. . .too real. . . She jumped to her feet.
The early morning sun cast its glow upon the large island. Wispy clouds that looked very much like cotton candy were scattered here and there across the sky. The weather was warm, moderately hot. All in all, it was a beautiful day. Much the opposite of the previous night.
Her friends were still asleep. Joey was snoring lazily in a corner with a big smile on his face. Bakura and Yugi were sleeping under a large oak tree; Bakura curled up laying on his side, and Yugi lying on his back. Tristen was laying face down in the dewy grass, drool escaping his open mouth. Tea was in the tent, with her feet hanging out. It was early morning still, and they were enjoying their rest.
"Wake up!" Taleah shouted. "Get up! Get up! Wakey, wakey!"
"Go back to bed," Tristen whined.
Taleah was getting frustrated. "Get up now. It's an emergency!"
At the word "emergency" all her friends snapped awake and sprang to their feet. They surrounded Taleah and asked her what was so urgent.
"We have to find Mai."
Joey blew air out of his mouth. "Why did ya have da wake us up for dat? If ya really want da go shoppin' wit' yar girlfriend, den go ahead."
"No!" Taleah stamped her foot. "That's not it! Mai wanted my bracelet. She must know about It. We are not safe if she's after the Millennium Items too."
"That's probably true," Yugi thought out loud. "Well, I guess we better play it safe. Lets go find her."
"What about breakfast?" Kury asked. "I mean, I know this is highly important and all but. . ."
Yugi's stomach made a grotesque sound. "Okay, I guess we'll find her after breakfast then."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After their early morning meal, the six friends packed up camp and headed out to find Mai. At first, their spirits were high. But as their search continued, they realized just how big the island was, and their hopes of reaching her, quickly faded. The island was huge, and occupied by many dozens of duelists. The friends didn't even know what part of it she was on. They had pretty much stayed in the same general area over the last many days. Who knew how far or where Mai had traveled.
"Maybe she lost all her starchips and was kicked off the island," Taleah said, hopefully.
Yugi was skeptical. "Mai? I don't think so. She's a pretty good duelist. The last time we saw her, she had six starchips. I could only guess at how many she has now."
Taleah and Yugi were walking along a path that cut through a few vast valleys. The land was magnificently beautiful and lush with greenery and flowers. It was like something one might see in a post card. Only this was real. Almost too perfect to be real.
The group had split up a few hours before. They had figured that the more places they visited, the better a chance they had at finding Mai. Tea and Bakura had gone to search in the deserts, while Joey and Tristen checked out the marshlands and woods. They were all supposed to meet back up with each other in the valleys where Taleah and Yugi had been looking. Nobody came back with good results.
"She could be up in the mountains," Kury suggested. "No one has looked up there yet."
"And no one wants to," countered Tristen.
Right then, a very unhappy looking Kemo strutted by, carrying a computer. His fists were clenched, his mouth grim. When he saw them, he stopped and a quirky smile appeared on his face. He adjusted his sunglasses. "It's been awhile, Joe. I'm surprised you're still here."
Joey grimaced. "Hey der Shades. Long time, don't wanna see."
Yugi elbowed him gently in the stomach. "Don't mind him. Say though, is there something wrong? You look distressed. Could we be of any help?"
"Not if you haven't seen Seto Kaiba."
"Seto Kaiba?" Tea wondered out loud. "What's he doing here?"
"He's in big trouble, Miss. Big. He's on the run. Gotten himself into a deeper hole then he can get out of, he has. Loose on the island somewhere. So if you happen to see him, contact authorities immediately. Dangerous man, that one."
Taleah didn't say anything.
Yugi got a sudden idea. "Kemo, may I ask you a favor? Could we borrow your laptop? It will only take us a minute. We need to know the location of a certain duelist. Her name is Mai, do you know her?"
Kemo flashed them a mischievous grin. "Yeah, I know her. Don't know where she is, though. I guess it wouldn't be right to refuse you the use of my computer. After all, you did me a favor by beating that Kazae in a duel. Pegasus had been trying for a long time to get rid of him. He left the job up to me. Thankfully, you guys showed up, or I would have been in a dilemma. Anyway, enough talk. Take the lap and do whatever you want with it."
"Thanks!"
"Who knows how to use a computer?" Tea asked. "I sure don't. All the buttons and symbols, it's scary!"
"I can type wit' two fingers," Joey offered.
Tristen beamed. "I know how to turn one on. Although, I have problems turning them off. . ."
"I know how to use a computer," Bakura put in. "I used to send my parents emails all the time whenever they were out on their grand adventures. It's pretty simple, really."
The computer was thrust into Kury's hands. He set it on the ground, set the screen in place, and started typing away. His fingers moved so fast over the keys, that it was hard to keep track of them. His gaze never left the screen. He was completely focused, concentrating hard. When at last, he had gotten the information he wanted, he turned off the computer, folded it, and handed it back to Kemo.
"Well?"
"I was able to download every duelists' database," Kury replied. "It only contains information on active duels. Lucky for us, she's dueling nearby. Follow me."
"Thanks Kemo!"
"Bye!"
"Have a nice day!"
"See ya around!"
"Cool laptop!"
"Good riddance!"
It only took them minutes to reach her. She had been close the whole time. They met up with her at the dueling station she had just completed on and won. She was laughing and taunting the loser of the duel.
"Sorry honey, but you've been outsmarted." Mai threw her head back and laughed. "And now I have two more starchips. Thirteen, to be exact. Thanks, hon."
"Hello Mai." Taleah marched right up to the snotty duelist. "Just what did you want with my bracelet? What do you know about it?"
Mai was baffled. "Calm down girl. What did you say? Something about your bracelet? And me wanting It? Well, of course I want it you fool!" She paused as Taleah gasped. "It's a Millennium Item, is it not? I've always wanted one."
"Well, you're not going to have mine," Taleah claimed. "I don't care if you take my soul!"
"Once again, calm down Taleah," Mai begged.
Joey pulled Taleah away. "Wha' do ya know about da Millennium Items?"
"Only the rhyme, Joeseph," Mai answered. "Only the rhyme. It goes something like this:
"Seven in all that held their very souls,
In Items that looked like any other ring,
puzzle, jewelry, or bowl.
"It was said whoever owned all of Them
would acquire great powers.
Power to heal, take away and give, protect,
see, find, and take back hours.
"All were stolen and taken far away. Never
to be near each other, not even to this day.
"Three were spread apart over earth, water,
and wind. Four came to be close together in
the very end.
"Over the decades, many quests for them
have begun. So far all have ended, their last
song sung."
"I wonder who has the other Millennium Items," Yugi marveled.
Mai flung her hair out of her face. "I sure don't. Well, this was an unexpected visit. I better be going. Off to the castle. Catch you all later." She winked and left.
"I'm goin' da go back da sleep," vowed Joey.
Tristen grabbed his friend by the shirt collar. "Oh, no you don't. You're staying with us and helping us out with solving this riddle."
"Er."
"Well, based on the rhyme, one of the Millennium Items is clearly a bowl," Kury proclaimed. "And if it is a bowl, it would have to be an old bowl. Ancient."
"What are you getting at, Kury?" Tea asked. "What's your point?"
"Oh, I don't know. I'm just trying to figure all this out."
Joey yawned. "Ya can go antique shopping later. Lets all go back da bed."
"That's it!"
"Huh?"
"An antique shop! That would be the best place to look for it. The problem is, locating them all. There must be so many. . ."
"Too bad we don't have a telephone book," Tea sighed.
"No, but we have something better," Bakura stated. "We have the awesome power of the internet."
"Oh."
"How are we going to find Kemo?"
"That could be a problem."
"Could be anywhere."
"We'll never be able to find him."
As if on cue, they heard someone yell, "No! It's not fair!"
"Lets head in that direction," Taleah suggested.
It didn't take them long to find Kemo. He was trying to take away another kid who had obviously lost his starchips. The kid was putting up a rough fight, and was struggling hard. But Kemo knew how to handle him. It was his job, after all, and he set to it with a grim efficiency.
Joey got his attention by tapping him on the back. "Hey Shades. Don't ya ever get tired of pickin' on poor, defenseless kids? Isn't der somethin' else ya'd rather be doin'?"
To Joey and everybody else's surprise, Kemo took the question very seriously. "Well, yes. I've always wanted to run my own café, you know. Dish out hamburgers, talk with the regular customers, serve up milkshakes. Being one of Pegasus's guards was far from my first choice. I sure would love to be the manager of my own cafe. Just a fool's dream, if you ask me."
"I don't believe so," said the kid that had been fighting him just minutes before. "I believe that's a wonderful idea. You should do what you want to do. Do whatever makes you happy."
Kemo looked at the kid. "You really think so? I mean. . .er, hem. . .You're coming with me whether you like it or not. Excuse me, but I have business to take care of."
"Actually," Yugi stopped him. "We were kind of hoping that you might allow us to use your computer again. We really need it. Please?"
Kemo mulled over it for quite some time, while the friends held their breath. They twiddled their thumbs and chewed on their fingernails as they waited for his decision. ". . .Alright. But just until I get back. What do you want with it, anyway?"
Tea answered this question. "We need to find the remaining Millennium Items and hide them or stash them away or do something else to them, anything really, to keep them away from Peg-" Taleah clasped a hand over her friend's mouth.
"Don't listen to her," she laughed, nervously. "She's insane." My friend is a real knucklehead, she thought to herself.
"Whatever. Use the computer. I'll come back to get it later."
"Thanks!"
"Okay Bakura, ya're on." Joey handed him the computer. "Is der a way da bring up da list of all da antique shops in the world?"
Kury placed the laptop on the ground once again. "The world? There ought to be quite a few. But yes, I could get a list. First, I must download the main screen. From there, I can type in a command and access the information database. There, it will do whatever I ask of it. Watch."
His friends watched as he punched a few more keys and the computer screen changed drastically. Instead of showing many different numbers and computer codes, it showed a blank box with the word, "search" next to it. He typed in what he wanted to search for and pressed the return key. A long list of names and locations came into view. It was so long, that he didn't even find it necessary to look over.
"These are the antique shops from around the world, all in alphabetical order. There are thousands of them. We need to be more specific, guys. We need to find a way of narrowing down what we're searching for. Unless, you want to look through each and every one?"
Joey shook his head. "Dis is asinine. We're not even sure if dit's in an antique shop! Dit could be in Japan in da museum for all we know! Or, dit could even be right under our noses."
"It's worth a try," Taleah retorted. "Incase you really haven't gotten enough sleep and really are completely oblivious, we don't have any better ideas! If you do, then come out with them!"
Joey recoiled. "Ya're mean! Ya're da one would should go back da sleep."
Taleah sighed. "I'm sorry, pal. It's just that I'm so frustrated. It seems we're running out of time. I may be wrong, but it feels that way. I just want to get this all figured out."
"Me too."
Tea had an idea. "You guys, this may sound profoundly stupid and silly, but listen. We should try looking across the sea for an antique shop. After all, that's what the rhyme says, 'Three were spread far apart over earth, water, and wind. What if the bowl is on the exact opposite side of the world from another Millennium Item?"
"Are you, Taleah, and Bakura, the 'three that are spread far apart over earth, water, and wind?" Tristen inquired.
"That could be true," Yugi confessed. "But we're not far apart. And another line in the rhyme says that four came to be close together in the very end. There may only be three of us, but we're close together in every possible aspect. So I don't know which of those we apply to."
"If you guys are apart of the four that are close together, who's the other person? Wouldn't he or she be close too?"
"Hmm."
"Lets stick with one problem at a time," Kury proposed. "One's enough. Now, I can do what Tea has suggested. Is that okay with everyone? Yes?" He frowned and typed some more. "Would anybody happen to know the longitude and latitude of this island? No? That's okay. I can bring up a map. This should work." He pressed a single key.
The screen went blank as the computer registered the command. Then it beeped and revealed a rather short list with one name and one location.
Bakura was amazed. "There is an antique shop exactly on the opposite side of the world from where we are now. Pretty scary, eh?"
Joey swallowed. "Yeah. Freaky, man. Hey, is dat da phone number? We should write dit down."
"Why buddy? None of us have a cell phone."
"I think it's a good idea," Yugi supported his friend. "There's no other way of contacting the place and finding out if it has It or not. Besides, it would be nice to have the phone number just in case."
"Right." Kury wrote it down. "Should we start looking for another Millennium Item?"
"Sure."
"Okay."
"I think Pegasus has a Millennium Item," Taleah spoke suddenly. Everyone looked at her with surprise etched on their features. She shrugged. "It's just the way his hair covers half of his face, like he's hiding something. And the way it seems he knows everything. It could be the reason why he wants ours. Because supposedly, the more one has, the more power he gains and the stronger he becomes."
"Ah." Bakura understood. "That would also explain how we were able to locate the antique store on precisely the other side of the world. It's not us that it's on the opposite end of the Earth from, it's Pegasus. Which means that there's another Item out there over earth, water, and wind. Perhaps we should try looking for an antique shop directly in the center of us and the other one."
"Good idea."
"Times up duelists."
Kemo had returned.
"Da few more minutes?" Joey asked hopefully. "We're not quiet finished-"
"You are now," Kemo interrupted. "I have new orders from Pegasus that must be attended to this instant. You're time on the internet has sadly been truncated. Now, I must be leaving." He snatched his computer and passed by without another word.
"We just lost da only chance we had at findin' da stupid thin'!" Joey exclaimed. "Now what are we goin'a do? Dat slease, I bet he planned dis all along. Letting us borrow his computer, and den taking it away just when we actually figured somethin' out! I'm goina-"
"Relax Joey," Yugi requested. "It's okay. We'll find another way, without the use of the internet. We still have the phone number, remember?"
"All we need is a phone," Tristen said, quietly.
Taleah brightened up. "That should be pretty easy. There are probably over several dozen people on this island. Cell phones are pretty common. I would think that some people brought their cell phones with them. You know, to keep in touch with their friends and family? Finding one should be a breeze."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As it turned out, finding a person with a cell phone wasn't the problem. It was actually convincing the person to letting them borrow it. A few had been willing until they learned that they'd be paying for a long distance call. Many people, however, were touchy about their phones and wouldn't dare see it in the hands of a complete stranger. The six friends were finding it difficult to achieve what they wanted to do. People were just too reluctant to cooperate with them.
"I'm just about ready to collapse," Tea whined. "We've been walking around for hours and I'm hungry, sweaty, thirsty, and tired. Can't we take a break?"
At first, Yugi was reluctant. He really wanted to make that call. But after seeing Tea in her sad state, he suggested that they all take a small break. They settled under an array of trees, sat back, and relaxed. Everyone was tired although some were unwilling to admit it. The whole trip thus far, had taken a lot out of them. All of the unexpected coincidences had turned out to be a burdensome pain, and they were all both physically and mentally drained of their energy.
"Dit just seems so easy da give up and go home," Joey admitted. "I'm so tired of livin' dis way. I need da break, but I can't have one. All da stress, it's bringin' me down."
Yugi leaned back and put his arms underneath his head. "I know how you feel, Joey. Believe me, I feel the same way. But we mustn't give up. There's just too much depending on us and on our victory. To quit now, would be to throw away any chance we have at helping those we love. Stay strong. We're all in this together."
"You're too scholarly," Tea stated. "I mean, I know that this is serious and all. But you're too serious. With all that talk, you could be a priest or something."
"What would be wrong with that?" Yugi wondered out loud. "Think of all the people I could help and show the light."
"You're too nice."
"Yeah."
"Maybe we should get him da do somethin' evil."
"Yeah!"
Yugi chuckled. "I was just kidding about showing people the light and all. Although, being a priest wouldn't be so bad. At least, not as bad as you make it out to be."
"Sure, ya could preach all day about da Heart of da Cards," Joey quipped.
"Oh, I don't need to be a priest to do that. I could do it right now!"
They all laughed.
A girl with blackish hair and dark eyes approached them. She appeared very shy and walked with her head down, never quite meeting their gaze, her hands behind her back.
"Are you. . .Yugi Muto? You. . .have quite the reputation here. May-may I ask you to a duel?"
"Yeah, sure," Yugi murmured. He was tired and sore from all the walking he had done. He really didn't want to duel her, but he knew that it would be impolite to refuse. "Do you have a dueling stadium reserved for us?"
"Yes," replied the girl. "Oh, and my name is Daneeka. You can call me Danny, if you like. My friends call me Danny and so does my mother. I'd be honored if you called me by that name."
Yugi blushed. "Why sure, Danny. That's a. . .pretty name."
"Just duel!" Tea growled.
Yugi jumped. "Okay, Tea. You don't have to bite my head off!"
"Down girl, down," Tristen joked.
"Oh, you're dead."
"Make me," Tristen and Joey said at the same time.
"Wait, I'll duel you on one condition," Yugi changed his mind. "I see that you have a cell phone. My friends and I really need to make a long distanced phone call. It's immensely important. So I'll agree to duel you, as long as we may use your phone. It would be just one once. Please? Please. . .Danny?"
"Of course. Come on, follow me."
Daneeka led them to a dueling arena nearby. It was already set up and the dueling stations were ready for her and Yugi. They each boarded their own platforms and ascended to their dueling stations. Daneeka was in the red dueling station because she was the Challenger. Yugi had the blue, because he was the Challenged. Daneeka had the first move.
"Three starchips? Alright. Then I'll play Terra the Terrible in attack mode."
A green creature with red tattoos and purple hair appeared on the field. It bore an evil grin revealing repulsive, pointy teeth. The monster was such a hideous sight, that just a glance would make one want to instantly look away.
Numbers lit up in the right hand corner of Yugi's dueling station. It showed him that Terra the Terrible had an attack strength of twelve hundred. The blue box beside the numbers was empty because Yugi hadn't played a card yet.
Hmm, good hand, he thought to himself. If only I can decide what to play. My mind is all jumbled up. I can't think straight! But I cannot lose this duel. Not because of the starchips, but because of the phone. We need it, and I will not let my friends down. If only I had that strong voice-that presence-here with me now. It would make things a lot easier. Why isn't it here? Is it because my heart is not really in this duel? Whatever the matter is, I better begin concentrating. Suddenly the presence was there. He felt a warmth in his heart and a comforting aura around him. It guided him, and advised him.
"I'll play Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress in attack mode and I'll set this card face down upon the field. Winged Dragon, Fireball Attack!"
A powerful blue dragon came into view. It had long, pointy, dangerous claws and a mighty jaw full of razor sharp teeth. To unleash its signature attack, it rose far above the dueling field, as far as the holographic simulator would allow, and performed a spiraling, sweeping dive right at Terra the Terrible. Right before impact, it spat out an enormous ball of fire at its foe and did an elegant back flip to its original position. Terra the Terrible was no more.
Danneka: 1800
Yu-Gi-Oh: 2000
Daneeka was distressed only a moment until she drew her next card. A complacent smile formed across her face. Excitedly, she put a card down on her electronic game board. "Your monster may have a strength of fourteen hundred, which is pretty strong, but my monster is even more powerful. It is the Skull Red Bird. A winged beast, it swoops down and attacks with a rain of knives stored in its wings. Your Guardian, will stand no chance. My birdie is fifteen hundred and fifty attack points strong. Attack!"
Tristen shivered in fear. "I thought she was shy. She sure just sounded pure evil."
"An' pretty freaky," Joey added.
"Some people change when they play Duel Monsters," Kury explained. "Just look at Yugi. Do you see how he seems to have more confidence in himself? How he's so self-assured? Daneeka is a shy girl, but when she plays Duel Monsters, she turns into a true competitor. She feels comfortable playing, because she is doing what she loves to do."
"Not yet, Danny," Yu-Gi-Oh stopped her. "I played a face down, remember? True, Skull Red Bird would have eliminated my dragon and a chunk of my life points, but this card will turn that all around. I'll activate my trap-Reinforcements. It increases my beast's attack strength by five hundred points during the turn it is activated. Which makes Winged Dragon Guardian of the Fortress, nineteen hundred. Higher then your birdies'."
"No!" Daneeka cried. "Too late to call off my attack. My bird is defeated. I attacked too soon. . ."
Daneeka: 1450
Yu-Gi-Oh: 2000
"My turn now." Yu-Gi-Oh drew another card. "Because Reinforcements only lasts one turn, my dragon is back to fourteen hundred attack points. I will keep it in attack mode and play a defense monster, face down."
Daneeka, seeing that she didn't have anything strong enough to tackle Yu-Gi-Oh's forces, laid a creature in defense mode on the field. The same monster, of which next turn, was destroyed. As were many more defensive monsters to come. Guardian of the Fortress was a formidable dragon that fiercely protected Yu-Gi-Oh's life points. Much later, Daneeka was still strengthening her defenses.
"Another one of these," she expressed gloomily. "Wait! I have an idea! I'll play a card face down and bring Ansastu into play. This card has an attack strength of seventeen hundred. Ansastu, attack!"
A silent but deadly warrior appeared and quickly crept its way over to Yu-Gi-Oh's side of the field, drawing a long, steel blade. The Winged Dragon, sensing danger, helplessly tried to escape. It fluttered its wings and let out a woeful cry. But it was too late-Ansastu was too fast. In one lightening quick motion, it brought its blade down and severed the dragon in half.
Yu-Gi-Oh winced.
Daneeka: 1450
Yu-Gi-Oh: 1700
Heart of the Cards aid me, he thought. I need a powerful beast to wipe that dangerous warrior out. Anything would be okay. As long as it's over seventeen hundred attack points, anyway. I believe. . .
Without looking, Yu-Gi-Oh slapped a card onto his electronic game board. Bright colors briefly flashed as the holographic simulator organized and registered the card's information. Dark smoke billowed out unto the field, covering it like a dark blanket. The stadium rumbled and shook as a creature of immense power rose from the center of the smoke. It was dark. Evil. Most of its body was covered with bone. It had a head like a horned skull, and two large bone plates for each shoulder. Two deep purple wings remained folded against its back. It breathed of wickedness, and treachery and evil. Among the Fiend-Type monsters, it boasted a considerable force.
"Summoned Skull, Lightening Strike!" Yu-Gi-Oh ordered.
A burst of energy exploded from the devious creature and struck the warrior, Ansastu. Its aim was precise-Ansastu was destroyed, and thus, cleared from the dueling field. Summoned Skull let out a very complacent noise that sounded like a mix between a woman's scream, fingernails scratching down a rough surface, and a growl.
Daneeka: 650
Yu-Gi-Oh: 1700
"Your Summoned Skill may have the strong attack strength of twenty-five hundred," Daneeka admitted, "but this duel is not over yet. I have no monster in my hand that can beat it alone. But if I equip my Rogue Doll with this magic card, it makes it stronger then your fiend. Observe."
A deadly doll gifted with mystical power was now visible on the field. It wore a long, purple headdress covering its mysterious head, and bore a gold plated staff in one hand. Gradually, it lifted its staff to a desirable position, then pointed it right at Summoned Skull. The fiend was too sure of itself to know that its end had come. It was vanquished from the field.
Daneeka: 650
Yu-Gi-Oh: 1310
Yu-Gi-Oh clapped. "Well played, Danny. Well played. The only move that I have left is to play this card face down and call upon the Dark Magician in attack mode. But I don't think I'll attack you. That, ends my turn."
"In attack mode!" Daneeka exclaimed. "The Dark Magician has the same attack strength as your previous monster. Oh well, I guess my Rogue Doll will just have to destroy it as well. Rogue Doll, attack his Dark Magician!"
The Dark Magician braced itself for the assault. But the assault never came. The Rogue Doll was suspended in the air as if being held there by some invisible hand. It could not complete its attack.
Yu-Gi-Oh flipped over his face down card. "Shield Binding Circle! Not only does this card freeze and stop your monster from attacking, but it also lowers its attack by seven hundred points, making your Rogue Doll easy prey for my Dark Magician. Of which, I think I'll equip with the Book of Secret Arts. Any Spellcaster-Type monster equipped with this card, increases its attack and defense by three hundred points. Dark Magician, Dark Magic Attack!"
Daneeka held on as the shock waves from the Spellcaster's attack hit. "Yikes! My Rogue Doll is destroyed. Guess I lost. . ."
Daneeka: 0
Yu-Gi-Oh: 1310
"Good game, Danny."
The aura left him and he became Yugi again. He had ten starchips now, but he didn't care. He was so focused on contacting the antique shop that starchips seemed like a meaningless entity. Although in fact, they were of great importance. Now that we have that cell phone, we can finally see if what we have been hypothesizing about it really true. It's a long shot, but it's worth a try.
"Here's my phone," Danny handed it to him. "You press that button there and then punch in whatever phone number and talk away. I think I'll go challenge someone else to a duel. When I come back, have my phone waiting for me. See ya."
"Thanks."
"Appreciate it."
"Catch ya later."
"Bye."
"Good luck with your other duel."
"We'll have it ready for ya."
Tea glanced at the phone. "You guys really want to go through with this? It just seems so silly. To me, anyway. But I guess we should try anyway. Who gets to make the call?"
"I do," Bakura declared. "I'll phone the antique shop."
"Bakura, you don't have-" Yugi started, but Kury put up a hand.
"I feel I owe it to you, guys. Especially because of what happened the other night. Let me prove myself worthy of being your friend. Please, let me call this place."
Taleah was taken back. "But Kury, you don't have to prove anything. That wasn't you who almost did that terrible thing. You're not evil and manipulative and creepy! You're Bakura. You're our friend. So you don't have to prove yourself worthy."
"Again with Love Ties?" Tea asked.
"Bakura should make the call," Yugi said. "Although I do agree with Taleah, I also believe that no amount of convincing is going to change the way our friend feels. So Bakura, if you really do feel like you have to verify your loyalty to us by doing this deed, then go ahead. We're with you one hundred percent."
"Thanks Yugi." Bakura's eyes shone with gratitude and respect for his friend. "This means a lot to me. Here I go. Joe, do you have the phone number? Thanks you. Lets see. . .ah! It's ringing."
The friends gathered in a tight circle around Kury, so they all could hear. They held their breaths in anticipation. Ring after ring went by without an answer. Around the seventh ring, Joey re-checked the phone number. It was correct. But still, no reply. After the twentieth ring, Taleah calculated what time it would be there. According to her calculations, it was early morning around the world where the store was located. So really, it was the best time to call. But no one picked up the phone on the other end.
"Not open yet?" Tristen proposed.
Kury checked the phone number one last time. "Should I give up guys? There seems to be no-wait. . .Hello? Hello? Hi! Um. . .no, I don't have any plates or utensils on me. . .no, I am not a solicitor. . .no, I am not selling candy. . .hello? Are you there? Do you speak english?"
A high pitched nasal voice could be heard through the telephone. It belonged top a woman. An undoubtedly old woman, who had a very strong accent and wasn't quite sure what Bakura was saying. "Eeeeeenlish? Yeah, I speak English. What do you want?"
"I was wondering if you would happen to have a very ancient bowl with-"
"Bowl?" the woman cut in. "I have lots of bowls; small bowls, large bowls, pretty bowls, ugly bowls, decorative bowls, plain bowls, thick bowls, thin bowls, blue bowls, green bowls. . ."
"No, no ,no! I didn't mean just any bowl. I was referring to the one and only Millennium Bowl."
The woman quieted down. "Oh! That bowl."
Bakura, who was very frustrated, hit himself on the head with a hand. "Yes. That bowl. Would you happen to have it?"
"That bowl? Lets me thing. Ah! I do have that bowl. What do you want?"
Kury was about to reply, when he heard someone pounding on the elderly woman's door. She didn't bother waiting for him to speak. Instead, she set the phone down and went to see who it was. The pals all gathered even closer in order to hear better.
"What do you want?" they could all hear the woman say to whoever was at the door. "Let go of me! I did not give you permission to-hey!"
Bakura hung up. "Someone took her."
"We'll just have to enter Pegasus's castle as soon as possible."
"Yeah."
"Who else would want the Millennium Items?" Joey asked Bakura.
"I am not sure. The tale is only thought of as a legend, a myth. Probably only those who have an Item, crave Them all."
"I bet it's Pegasus," Tea accused. "I bet all my expensive, costly conditioning shampoo bottles that it's him. And because you three each have an Item, you're caught up in this too."
"I feel so helpless," Yugi muttered, "not being able to help that lady and all. Do you think she's okay? I sure hope she is. But if you're right Tea, and Pegasus is the one after Them, I don't see how anybody could be safe."
"We only not know of Two," Tristen said, obviously trying to be optimistic. "Right now, we have the advantage having Three and all. For even if Pegasus gets the Millennium Bowl, he'd only have Two. Wouldn't we be stronger?"
"I wouldn't underestimate Pegasus," Yugi warned. "Remember, he most likely knows more about these Items then we could ever learn. We still don't know what's fact from myth! The story the manager of that café told us could just be a made up version of the real one that has been handed down from his ancestors or whatever. So don't think too little of Pegasus. He is a dangerous man."
"What should we do now?"
"First things first, return the phone. From there, we can decide what to do next."
~
Flower Petals: Whew! Long chapter over with. . .The next two parts are shorter don't worry! Well anyhoos, thanx for reading and please review!!! Seven is the lucky number, peoples. So 7 reviews before I update!
And also, if you have the time and if it wouldn't be too much of a hassle for you, please check out my other story, Random Things You'll Never Hear. I set this really high goal of getting 50 reviews, and I need your help!!!
Later!!!