Flower Petals: Well, hya peoples!!!!!!!! Sorry it's been so long, but just recently I've actually been able to go on the computer to type but unfortunately, I type about as fast as my sister thinks-
Taleah: HEY!
Flower Petals: -so, well you get the point.......But here's the next chapter! Oh, and I have to warn you....there might be a few spelling mistakes for two reasons.
1. Mom just got my father this certain stretcher like thing where you can lay on it and slide under cars to work on them, and he loves it SO much, he's been rolling around on it in the room I'm typing in right now. Which is distracting in itself, but when you have a cat viciously attacking him, well let's just say, it's much more amusing than finding silly mistakes...
2. Yu Yu Hakusho is on right now!!!! AND IT'S ABOUT HIEI!!!!!!!! Sorry peoples, but it's a bit hard to concentrate on correcting your mistakes when the love of your life is killing people with his sword and third eye! Jeez, that happened last time I was typing too......
Thank you all for being so supportive! It was a real pleasure reading the reviews you submitted. My UNENDING thank you's go out to..........
Peace Writer: I've sorry you've been so tired recently. _ Eat sugar though, it really helps! ^^ Oh, and since you ALWAYS complain about my pitiful duels, I rewrote this entire chapter for you! (It wasn't actually going to have a duel, but I thought it would be fun to write). So I hope you enjoy!
Tamara Raymond: Wow, thank you for all those wonderful compliments! You are too kind.....And thank you SO much for putting me on your favorite list! It's a real honor being the authoress of the first serious fic on your favorite list. ^^ And interesting, you liked how I originally spelled "Tea"? No one's ever told me that before.......Well thank you again for reviewing! And I hope you continue to enjoy reading my story. ^-^
Sakurelle: So you like that line, "Maybe you kiss too damn slow,"? I'm sooooo happy!!!! Oh, and sorry for making Crimson jealous.....^_^; And don't worry Crimson, in real life, Taleah is of now, totally obsessed with Kurama from Yu Yu Hakusho, so all you have to do is fight the other millions of fan girls totally obsessed with Kaiba!
Misura: Well, actually, I don't know if Croquet is a good guy or not. Mostly, because he didn't have a big part in the episodes, and where I'm from the manga is NO where NEAR getting that far ahead yet. But I thought it would be kinda cool to make him at least semi-decent anyway and create a past for him. I don't know....I have a thing for unpopular characters...Hence my fascination with Rishid and Shadi........And so you noticed the sinister ending of the previous chapter? Well, it's goin'a get soooo much worse! Bwahahahahahahahaha! Erm, yeah...Thanks for reviewing!
Nari: Jeez Nari, thank you for the cake! And since you were gracious enough to let me pick the flavor, I think I'll have it half an ice cream/German chocolate/strawberry cake with lemon glazing and half a chocolate lover's chocolate fudge supreme with TONS of chocolate chips and chocolate sprinkles!!!! Awrighty, I'm a bit sick, aren't I? But that's what cake I'd luv to eat!!! Thank you for reviewing, and for the cake! And thank your yami too for me! (She's going to kill me, but I forgot her name again......)
Mina: Are you kidding me?! I LUV getting long reviews! So don't worry about nothin'. And it's always nice hearing from ya. ^^ Thank you for reviewing!
Mamono: Hi pal! ^^ Sorry I haven't been able to read any of your great stories lately.....*sad face* I miss them.....But I will whenever I get past this I-can-only-go-on-the-net twice a week thing. Thank you for reviewing!
TAB: OH MY TARTARSAUCE!!! I JUST REALIZED SOMETHING: MY SISTER DIDN'T REVIEW THE LAST CHAPTER!!!!!!!! HOW DARE YOU TALEAH?! I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY SISTER!!!!! *huffs and puffs, then runs off to hunt down her sister*
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, and even if I could own something it would be an ice cream parlor! Yay! I LUV ice cream!!!
Flower Petals
Power of Three
Beyond the doors was an entry hall that consisted of gorgeous dark wood and fantastic paintings of various things. Beautifully designed rooms were spaced every few feet along the attractive hall. It was an exquisite place, but it lacked the sense of humbleness and modesty that the other castle had exhibited. This one felt empty. Unfulfilled. As if there was something missing.
Kaiba walked as calmly as he could to the main hall and through the large wooden doors into the "Celebration Room." He knew the place well, having been there many times. Before the ordeal of his brother being kidnaped, and his company turning on him, he had considered Pegasus an associate. He had always known what kind of person Pegasus was, but that hadn't stopped him from making deals and compromises with the man. Now though, Kaiba could look back and see what a fatal error that had been.
Pegasus was waiting for him in his usual red tuxedo, and welcoming stance. In that light, Pegasus didn't look at all wicked or evil. Much less capable of the vile deeds he had committed against so many people. He looked charming and innocuous.
"What have you done with my brother?" Kaiba demanded, slamming the wooden doors closed behind him. "Where is he?"
"What? No 'how are you' or 'good to see you'?" Pegasus drawled. "I thought we were friends, Kaibaboy. Calm down. Your brother is fine."
"Bring him to me."
"That impatient are you?"
"Now. I have no time for your games."
"Ah, Kaiba means business. Very well. We'll discuss this like business men would. I will let you have your brother back on one stipulation. Ready Kaiba?" He pressed a button on a control pad and a large computer screen came down from the ceiling. It was blank at first, but then it began to contort itself until a little body covered in dirt could be seen, sitting in a cell in the dimmest of dungeons.
Kaiba felt his knees begin to weaken. He couldn't take his eyes of the monitor and the sad figure it was showing. All his composure and self-control left him. He felt hopeless. "I'll do anything."
"Good." Pegasus's tone had become very hard. "Defeat Yugi in a duel. Then all your requests will be taken care of."
Kaiba was taken back. "What is it to you? Knowing you, there's something in it for yourself. How would you benefit by having me duel Yugi?"
"It's really none of your business, Kaibaboy," Pegasus said sharply. Too sharply. "Just do it. Or else, Mokuba will have the great pleasure of staying here with me."
"You are a sick, demented man."
"Do I sense antipathy?"
"I won't duel Yugi."
"You must, for I'll leave you no choice. Yugi must be defeated in order for me to obtain what I want from him. And I always find ways of getting what I want. Don't you lose, Kaibaboy. Don't you lose."
"You conniving snake! I will do no such thing! I am one person you're not going to manipulate into doing your sick deeds for you. Find someone else." He looked at the screen. "I'm not leaving until I get my brother back. No matter what it takes."
Pegasus's one visible eye narrowed. "Don't be stupid Kaiba. In my castle, in my island, in my realm, the only one who makes threats. . .is me. Do as I demand or else your little brother may find his accommodations in this place a bit. . .hostile."
"You wouldn't-"
"I would. You know I would. Now then, if you have that much objection to dueling Yugi, how about a different duelist? Say Taleah, perhaps?"
"Leave her out of this," Kaiba said through clenched teeth.
"No? Well it's either her or Yugi."
Kaiba opened his mouth, then shut it. If he didn't duel Yugi, Pegasus would hurt Kiddo. And he couldn't duel Taleah; he just couldn't. It left him no other choice: Kiddo's life was in danger. He had to play Pegasus's twisted game. "I'll duel Yugi."
"Brilliant my dear boy." Pegasus looked proud. "Just brilliant. I'll have Croquet set up your arena.
"Oh, and by the way, I have found where you had been hiding that briefcase of yours. Thought you were so smart to leave it in that helicopter. Don't worry," he added as he saw Kaiba's furious expression, "I only made a slight change. Something I think you might take to your liking. You will duel using it. And make sure that Yugi understands when he loses, he is not allowed to compete in this tournament any more."
Pegasus took a sip from his wine glass. "Brilliant."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Four came close dagether in the very end," Joey recited. "Okay, I'm still confused. Am I supposed da have da sixth Millennium Item or somethin'?"
Mai stared at him. "If they're supposed to make you smarter, then no, hon."
They were all sitting at the top of the stairs, (with the exception of Joey who was sitting balanced on the banister) trying to solve the riddle. Even Kemo , who had nothing else to do, joined in.
"So what do you do in your spare time when you're not dreamin' about runnin' your own café?" Joey asked Kemo.
"Er, my job doesn't allow me to have a lot of free time," Kemo answered.
"Come on, tell."
"Write out plot maps of my dream location to put the cafe. I like to imagine the customers and their faces when the taste the best mochas they've ever had." Kemo's eyes told them that he was far away in his own world. "Then of course, I like to play Nintendo, Game Cube, Play Station. You know."
"Cool," Joey said. "Ever play Spyro?"
"Yes, but I've never made it past the first few levels."
"Oh man, I've beat da game. Maybe I could show ya how da get past wherever yar stuck at, an' give ya da few pointers."
"That would be great."
"Den maybe we coul' try out-"
"Stop!" Kury exclaimed. "You're supposed to be working on figuring out this riddle, not talking about some Nintendo game."
"Play Station," Kemo and Joey said, simultaneously.
"The riddle please," Taleah reminded, exacerbated.
"Maybe a member of your family has one," Mai suggested. "Like a parent or something."
"But based on the rhyme, the Item would have to be a ring, stone, puzzle, piece of jewelry, or bowl," Bakura thought out loud. "I don't believe any of our parents have something like that. That is ancient and powerful, anyway."
"Kury's right," Taleah agreed. "None of our families would have a Millennium Item. There must be something else. Something that we haven't thought up yet."
Tristen shuddered. "What would happen if Pegasus was able to assemble all seven Millennium Items?"
"Complete chaos," Kury answered. "Trust me, I know. He'd gain unthinkable power. There would be nothing he couldn't do. People would fall before his great strength. He'd unleash Armageddon upon the world."
"Isn't that just a myth?" Tea countered. "And if he had all seven Millennium Items, well...I thought they just contained souls. Not destructive power."
"True," Yugi acceded, "they do hold souls, but magic is what keeps them there. I don't know exactly how or why, but it was believed long ago that the more souls one had, the stronger he became." He gripped his puzzle. "We can't let Pegasus get them all. I'd die before I'd let him take my puzzle."
"I'd die if you died," Tea said, crying.
"I'd die if any of you died," Bakura said.
Taleah wiped the tears from her eyes. "Then I guess, we may all die."
Mai rolled her eyes. "Cry babies. Right Kemo? Kemo!"
Kemo was crying also; big tears rolled down his face and made wet splotches on the limestone.
Quite suddenly, a bright object appeared around Bakura's neck. It glowed brilliantly, emanating a golden shine painful to look upon. Then, as if being sucked away, the light fled the item and disappeared entirely. Only one trace of the magnificence remained, and that was in one of the many pointers that hung from a grand ring. Instead of the others surrounding it, lying dormant in an inactive state of rest, that one pointer stuck out defiantly in a bath of golden radiance. It was aimed right at the castle itself, as if it was able to pierce through the thick walls with impeccable vision and perceive a scene that may or may not have been occurring that very moment.
"Quite an interesting item, I should say," Mai mused. "Wait, don't tell me. It's a Millennium Item, correct?"
Bakura blushed. "Yes, that would be right. It appears I have the lost the ability to surreptitiously mask its presence. But I guess there is no need to hide its existence now."
"Don't you think it's a little weird how it points like that?" Tristen inquired, edging away. "Has it done that before? And more importantly, what exactly is it pointing at?"
"The castle," Bakura said irrelevantly.
"Not exactly," Yugi countered. "It's pointing at what's inside the castle. I've noticed before that your item responds oddly to other Millennium Items. Or mine and Taleah's, anyway. If we are correct in guessing that Pegasus owns one also, then I bet my dueling glove and all the starchips I've accumulated, that your ring is somehow able to zone in on his Millennium Item. Whatever it may be."
"If dat's so, den we coul' use Bakura an' his strange object da find da others," Joey proposed.
"Maybe." Kury glanced down at his Millennium Ring. "Maybe."
There was a great cacophony of noise as metal scraped against old, rust metal, and hardened links of chains once again began their oh so familiar cycle. The doors of the castle were being opened.
A tall figure that looked angry, but ever so proud, stepped forth and flung back a cape that soared as it caught the wind. The figure faced the company sitting in wait on the uppermost flight of steps, eyes focused on one person alone: Yugi.
The company on the steps were all taken by surprise. But their astonishment only lasted a moment before they sprang to their feet, avid for answers.
Kaiba never once took his gaze off from Yugi. "I have a proposition for you Muto. A proposition that I believe you'll find much to your dislike. Well, huh! Not a proposal really, for in the end, I'll leave you no choice but to accept what I have in mind."
"Stop this Kaiba!" Taleah demanded. "We have waited long enough. Now explain yourself, or else we'll go into the castle without any helpful information you may have gathered."
"That is not possible," contradicted Kaiba. "For I will not allow you to enter this castle until-" There was a pause-"Until Yugi faces me in a duel. If he should lose, he'd be disqualified from this competition."
If Yugi was surprised before, it was nothing compared to his sudden wonder and amazement then. "Duel you? Kaiba, I don't have to! I have earned the right to proceed into this massive structure. I am relieved of any dueling for now. Until the championships, anyway. I refuse your offer."
"It wasn't an offer."
"Step aside, Kaiba!" exclaimed Joey. "Yugi won't duel ya. We haven't come all dis way for ya da turn on us. Now dat ya're through wit' him, Pegasus dis ours now. Sa step aside."
"I won't let you pass," Kaiba said simply, with a shrug of his shoulders.
Taleah stared at him in disbelief. Surely this wasn't the same Kaiba that she had known almost all her life and just spent the last few days with. He was different, almost as if his little trip inside the castle had made him a different person. To Taleah, he sure seemed like he was. There was a certain coldness about him that made him seem very arrogant and ruthless. And he acted as if she and her friends were opponents; enemies, that hindered his priories, rather than his friends. Taleah was suddenly aware that she did not know that man. He was a stranger. Not the Kaiba who cared so much about his little brother. Not the Kaiba she had come to know well over the years. Not like Kaiba at all.
And there he stood in front of them all, with a very complacent look upon his face that portrayed both pleasure and self-satisfaction. "None of you can get by me until after I duel Yugi. That is Muto, if you're man enough."
"This is folly!" Tea claimed. "It lacks good sense, or any sense at all for that matter, and is a perfect example of adolescent foolishness! Yugi doesn't have to battle you, Seto Kaiba, so get out of our way. Joey's right, we didn't come all this way so you could block us from out destination. We're going in and that's that."
"No. You may not enter; give me what I want first."
"Why are you doing this?" Bakura questioned. "Surely there is no need for you two to duel. We're on the same side here, are we not? Let us all go into together and face Pegasus once and for all."
"You're not going anywhere," Kaiba insisted. "I have too much counting on my victory. It is the only way to get my brother back."
Yugi understood now. "So Pegasus has found a way to manipulate you. I wish I could help you rescue Mokuba, but unfortunately, I cannot. For I would also duel with the fate of a loved one at stake."
"If Yugi shoul' lose-sorry buddy-den he'd not only lose any hopes of savin' his grandfather, but he'd also lose dis Millennium Puzzle!" Joey remarked. "And dat coul' be disastrous."
Kaiba put up a hand. "Please spare me. I have no wish to learn about such items. My concern-" he turned to Yugi, "-is with dueling."
Tristen tugged at Kemo's suit sleeve. "Kemo! You're the guard here. You're the one who decides who goes in and out. Tell that creep to leave us alone!"
"I can't." Kemo ran a hand through his slick, dark hair. "If Kaiba has orders to duel your friend here, I could not go against them. I am not in command. But I do suggest this: duel him. And get it over with. 'Cause he sure ain't goin' to let you enter the castle otherwise."
"But Yugi can't duel Kaiba!" Tristen protested. "Kaiba is one of the world's greatest duelists. This is Yugi's first tournament! Correct me if I'm wrong, but he's never faced a duelist with as much experience as Kaiba has."
Joey turned to face his friend. "Are ya sayin' he'd lose, Tris? Yugi is da great duelist. So wha' if Kaiba has more titles? Yugi's still goin' da mop da floor wit' him."
"Kaiba is a world class competitor," Mai warned. "I wouldn't be so sure about the outcome of their duel."
Kaiba cast a sapphire eye in her direction. "Ah! Mai Valentine. We meet again. It's been awhile has it not? I wish we could have met under different circumstances. Less antagonistic, that is."
Mai spat in distaste. "I wish we could have never met. My humiliating defeat was enough to make me wish to never see your face again, let alone be in your company. I wasn't paying you a compliment you egotistical bastard, I was simply advising a better course of action to my friend here."
"A better course of action that you think he'll take?" Kaiba inquired.
Joey ignored him. "Well I say, go Yugi!"
"Take him pal," urged Tristen.
"He doesn't have much of a choice," Bakura murmured.
"If they're dueling, I'm watchin'," Kemo said. He crossed his massive arms, and waited impatiently for Yugi to reply. They were all waiting.
Taleah's heart ached in pain as she stared at Yugi. He seemed torn between two paths, struggling desperately to come to a decision. He was there to save his grandfather and also to keep Pegasus from amassing the last pieces of the puzzle; the last two Millennium Items. But he could not do either if his entry to the castle was being forbidden. If he lost to Kaiba, the results would be so terrible, so severe, that Taleah did not even want to think that dreadful thought. He'd just have to win. "You can do it Yugi," she whispered.
Yugi's head bowed as he finally came to a decision. He muttered something inaudible under his breath, glanced at his dueling glove, then focused his gaze upon Seto Kaiba, eyes burning with intense emotion.
"Do you accept my challenge?" Kaiba gestured towards the castle. "Defeat me, and you may enter. Lose, and well, we shall see. So what will it be, Muto?"
Plower bled from Yugi's Puzzle and poured into his soul. He was no longer just Yugi, for the presence had returned. Stronger than ever. He felt powerful, and in charge. The presence completed him and filled up the areas of which he had been lacking. He was more than he ever thought he could be.
Yu-Gi-Oh faced Kaiba with effrontery and surprising confidence. "I accept your challenge."
Kaiba looked pleased. "Our dueling field has already been arranged, follow me."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Night had arrived quite suddenly, and with it, an icy breeze that gave them all chills. The last rays of sunshine were strewn askew the sky, almost completely masked by the intimidating clouds which swiftly approached. An eerie light seemed to emanate from the overcast sky. It was a strange sort of radiance that was as beautiful as it was mysterious.
The dueling field was no more then a shelfish projection shaped like an hourglass, looking over an abrupt cliff. It consisted of two circular nooks, one on either side of a long, fat, open surface that lay in-between. The whole area was made up tightly compacted bricks that had long ago lost their original color. The makeshift arena was positioned on the eastern most corner of the castle overlooking the sea.
Yu-Gi-Oh and his comrades followed Kaiba to that place. Each, silent, absorbed in their own thoughts. It was not a time for talk, Yu-Gi-Oh felt. It was a time for decisive action. He reminisced upon all his grandfather's words of wisdom. How he wished the old man could be with him now, telling him how horribly wrong his decision to duel Kaiba was. But his grandfather was off somewhere unknown, and Yu-Gi-Oh could not take back what he had decided. The duel was to take place. And there was nothing he could do to change that.
Face whatever your future holds for you with open arms, a voice told him. What is meant to happen will come to pass. Accept your destiny, Yugi Muto.
What if I can't win? Yugi found himself asking the voice much to his own surprise. It was the first time he had ever spoken to it; before he had only accepted its advice. Now, he felt foolish speaking with himself. But then again, he wasn't; the presence was sharing his mind. If I win, Mokuba would be kept prisoner, but I would be safe to continue on my quest. If I should lose, my grandfather and my puzzle would be taken away. How fair is that?
There was a brief pause before the voice answered, It is not fair. Life is never fair. It is made up of choices of which are extremely important and effect our lives daily, as well as our futures. Life is full of losses and sorrow. But sometimes, we have to lose in order to gain. So no, it is not fair that people's lives are being waged on the outcome of a single duel. If you lose, then yes, Mokuba will be saved. Because your grandfather was not supposed to be rescued.
He deserves to be! Yugi cried. He felt his eyes begin to water, and quickly wiped away the tears in shame. He deserves to be saved.
And Mokuba doesn't? asked the voice.
I'm sorry, Yugi apologized. I didn't mean it that way. It's just that Grandpa is a good man and a wonderful person. He didn't deserve to be kidnaped. It's all because of me that he was.
Don't blame yourself, scolded the voice. He was meant be taken away just as you were meant to go on this journey. You have learned a lot, have you not? You have become aware of things you would have never before. You are wiser because of it. There is always a reason for everything that occurs.
But who am I to gamble with people's lives?
You are Yugi Muto, proud owner of the Millennium Puzzle and faithful believer in the Heart of the Cards. That is who you are. As for the gambling part, you must, in order to save the lives you are risking. You are simply playing the hand you were dealt. Think of all the lives that would be lost if you didn't take that risk. Mull over that, will you?
It just seems so wrong, Yugi insisted. I don't want Kaiba to lose his brother, and I don't want to lose Grandpa and my puzzle and I don't want to win the duel, or lose either, and I don't want to face Kaiba, and I don't really want to confront Pegasus, and. . .and. . .
You want everything back to normal, the voice concluded. The way it was. Don't give up Yugi. Not when there are better times ahead. You have stumbled across a rough path. A dark tunnel. Remember your grandfather's words: There is always light at the end of the cave. How are you going to reach the light, if you do not enter the tunnel? Don't give up now. You will only regret it later. Face the dark cave. Reach the light.
I don't think I can do it, Yugi admitted.
Do it. Do it for your grandfather. Do it for you parents. Do it for Tea and the rest of your friends. If that isn't motivation enough, do it for yourself. You always put the cares of other people in front of your own. Do this one thing for you. Do it to prove yourself. Do it just so you can show yourself what you have accomplished. Do it. There is light at the end of the tunnel, Yugi.
What about Mokuba?
There are plans for him as well. They might not include Seto Kaiba's victory. Remember, what is meant to happen is meant to happen. Don't blame yourself for something that is destined to occur. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Reach it. And with that, the voice ceased to speak.
Kaiab strode over to the right side of the playing field where a silver briefcase stood in wait. Dropping to one knee, he quickly released a lock and a few latches, opened it up, and flung one of its contents at Yu-Gi-Oh who caught it just as it was about to sail over his head.
"You mock my height?"
"Never," refused Kaiba. "Why would I do such a thing when I know of better ways of crushing spirits? But anyway, we'll use my duel disc system. Insert your shuffled deck into the card recognizer. Life points automatically set to two thousand."
Yu-Gi-Oh rested a hand on his deck, feeling the power surge underneath. "Alright. Are you ready to duel Kaiba?"
"This is it, Yugi. Whoever wins, faces Pegasus, and whoever loses. . .well, you'll be left a broken man."
"Ya're goin' down Moneybags!" Joey claimed. "Yugi won't lose."
"I sure hope you're right," Bakura said as he stood by his friends, ready to observe the match. "I sure hope you're right."
"We'll see who gets broken Kaiba," Yu-Gi-Oh countered. "I will defeat you and gain admission into the castle. You shall not win."
Kaiba gritted his teeth. "Stand back and prepare." He whipped out his dueling disc. "I play Ryu-Kishin in attack mode!"
An array of dazzling light became visible on the dimly lit dueling field. They sparkled and shined while slowly transforming into the creature that had been called upon. A fiend the color of a red rose appeared and let out a throaty roar. It stood hunched over as if carrying something burdensome on its back and had sharp talons, making it quite a worthy opponent.
Four enormous Duel Monster cards spread around Kaiba. They looked as real and as life-like as Ryu-Kishin and sat hung in mid air high above even Kaiba's head. Only he could identify the cards, for everyone else could only see the back of them.
"Dey must be holograms too," Joey thought out loud. "Though dey sure look pretty real. Shame we can't see wha' dey are."
Yu-Gi-Oh placed a card on the digital card reader. "On you guard, I play Curse of Dragon in attack mode!"
A fantastic winged beast appeared, its yellow scales reflecting what little sunshine still shone. It stretched its mighty wings and lifted its proud head high into the air. The dragon was magnificent. It took one's breath away just to stare at it.
"Ha! Well done," Kaiba complimented. "A formidable card, Muto. And a play I would expect from a duelist if your caliber."
"Don't patronize me," Yu-Gi-Oh spat.
Kaiba blinked, innocently. "I know from hearing about and observing you that you're a talented duelist. But you're just not as good as I."
"Wrong," Yu-Gi-Oh opposed.
"Then attack and find out," Kaiba challenged. "What's the matter, Muto? No faith in your monster?"
"You'll see." Yu-Gi-Oh clenched his fists. "He's mightier than yours. Go Curse of Dragon! Attack Ryu-Kishin with Dragon Flame!"
Ryu-Kishin succumbed to Curse of Dragon's attack and disappeared in a flash of tiny, twinkling lights.
"There," Yu-Gi-Oh said, satisfied. "Ryu-Kishin is no more."
"Ha!" Kaiba scoffed. "You're good, but ever so predictable. Don't you think I expected that attack? You've played right into my trap, Muto."
"He's bluffin'," Joey claimed. "Yugi has ya on da ropes, Kaiba."
Kaiba payed the blonde no attention. "I play Sword Stalker! Sword Stalker gathers the life force of a fallen ally, raising its own attack by twenty percent. Watch."
Sword Stalker: 2400
Curse of Dragon: 2000
"Attack now, Sword Stalker! Vengeance Strike!"
Sword Stalker was a dark and frightening beast that could arouse fear in the most fearless of men. It resembled something one might see in the worst of their dreams, or come across at dark after, for it was as powerful as it was hideous. The stealthy warrior raised its putrid sword of which stank of lost lives and passed souls, and brought it down upon Curse of Dragon with celerity. But just as the sword was about to sink into its target, its victim vanished.
Kaiba was appalled. "What? The Curse of Dragon disappeared!"
"That's because I played a Monster Replace magic card on the field," Yu-Gi-Oh replied. "This card switches the monster on the field with the monster in my hand with the highest attack power." Hi grinned. "And you know what that means: the creature with the greatest attack power in my hand is Dark Magician. Dark Magic Attack!"
In a spectacular display of intense light, a mystic Spellcaster dressed in dark purple robes erupted from the dueling disc and bore its great staff upon Sword Stalker. The distasteful warrior shrieked as the attack hit, and it was thus, destroyed.
Kaiba: 1500
Yu-Gi-Oh: 2000
"Your repugnant creature was vanquished," Yu-Gi-Oh stated as he placed a card upon his dueling disc and whipped it back out into play. "Now I can replay Curse of Dragon in attack mode. Your turn Kaiba."
Kaiba angrily jerked at the line attached to his device and caught it as it returned to him. "I'll take on your magic with a magician of my own. I play La Jinn the Mystical Genie of the Lamp. My wish is his command."
A supernatural creature, one of mediocre power levels, appeared on the makeshift arena and crossed his green, almost transparent arms.
I wonder why he played that card, Yu-Gi-Oh thought to himself. Its weaker than any of my monsters. Oh well. I guess I'll find out. "Dark Magician, Dark Magic Attack!"
"Your attack activates my trap!" Kaiba folded his arms. "The Ancient Lamp. First, it protects my genie by dragging him into the lamp. Then, the lamp deflects your attack aiming it at your monster which lowers your score to mine. Reflect upon the incredible powers of my Ancient Lamp."
Kaiba: 1500
Yu-Gi-Oh: 1500
Yu-Gi-Oh stared blankly at the golden lamp that now held Kaiba's genie. It had directed his Dark Magician's attack back at Curse of Dragon, destroying it. Good move. I should not have underestimated you, Seto Kaiba. "My deflected attack may have destroyed my dragon, but I still have the Dark Magician. Kaiba, for all your bragging, the score is tied. We are evenly matched."
Kaiba did not reply.
"This is way too intense," Tristen remarked. He shuddered and stepped behind Taleah who put an encouraging hand on his shoulder.
"He'll beat Kaiba," she said. "He'll win."
Joey wrinkled his nose. "I'd like da beat Kaiba."
Mai glanced at him. "You would too."
"Ya bet I woul'."
Yu-Gi-Oh was confused. Kaiba is trying to finish me off as quickly as possible. And that's not like him. I've watched him duel before in the Nationals and everything. He enjoys toying with his opponents almost as much as he loves winning. This time though, he's all business.
"What's the matter, Muto?" Kaiba gibed. "You look worried. Finally realizing you don't stand a chance against me?"
"I will defeat you Kaiba."
The Challenger drew his next card. A smug sort of smile played upon his lips. "If I keep drawing cards like this, you won't. I arm my genie with the De-Spell card. The De-Spell can dis-activate any magic card. And that's a loss I'm quite sure you can't afford. La Jinn my genie of the lamp, activate De-Spell!"
Yu-Gi-Oh tensed. "Oh no! My cards!"
A mass of rainbow colors and lights shot from the fiend's green hands and struck one of Yu-Gi-Oh's oversized Duel Monster cards. It immediately brightened upon impact and turned around, revealing itself.
Kaiba crossed his arms, satisfied. "De-Spell has destroyed your Swords of Revealing Light. That's a tough loss, Muto. Your Swords could have paralyzed my monsters for three turns. But I guess you'll just lose three turns sooner."
"Huh! Don't count on it Kaiba."
"That genie is big trouble," Bakura said to his friends. "As long as he as the lamp protecting him, Yugi can't attack him."
Tea fixed her eyes on Yu-Gi-Oh. "Is there any way to destroy it?"
This card might do the trick, Yu-Gi-Oh thought to himself as he drew the top card from the card recognition slot. The Mystic Box. It might be just the magic card I need to evict La Jinn from his Ancient Lamp. "But first, I call upon the Dark Magician!"
"I'm surprised you'd put your Magician at risk," Kaiba muttered, "when you have no idea what I have in store for you."
Yu-Gi-Oh smiled. "Then before I attack, I should see what you're planning for myself."
"What?!"
"Behold the Eye of Truth. So called because the Eye of Truth knows all, sees all. And it will reveal every card in your hand."
Kaiba unfolded his arms and took a step back, utterly taken by surprise.
His cards rotated in the air, revealing their identities. On the far right was the De-Spell card with its picture of a severed lock expelling a dangerous magic. The next card portrayed a portrait of a sinister, ominous looking, deformed clown with a star over one eye and a crescent moon shading its entire face. The second to last was the Ancient Lamp card. And the very last, was the Blue Eyes White Dragon.
"What's this?" Yu-Gi-Oh asked himself, out loud. "You have a Blue Eyes White Dragon in your hand, but you haven't played it?!"
Joey snorted. "Ya can always count on Kaiba da have da Blue Eyes White Dragon or t'ree up his sneaky, slimy sleeves."
"He sure loves his Blue Eyes," Tristen agreed.
Bakura fingered his Ring. "Three Blue Eyes White Dragons? Why, that's got to be nearly impossible to beat!"
"He'll do it." Tea cleared her throat so she could speak more clearly and with more conviction. "He'll do it."
"I wouldn't sound that positive," Kemo cautioned. "I've known Kaiba for a long time, he's good."
"Well so is Yugi," Tea said, defensively.
"So Muto, the mundane magic of your wimpy Eye of Truth allowed you a sneak peak of my hand." Kaiba had regained his composure. "But what good does that do you? The fact still remains that your Dark Magician can't do anything against my genie, La Jinn. Not while he has his lamp protecting him."
"Then I'll extinguish it!" Yu-Gi-Oh cried. "Through the magic of my Mystic Box! Now watch Kaiba, as first, my Dark Magician is sealed within the box,."
"A trick!" Kaiba accused.
"It's much more than a mere trick, as you'll soon find out," Yu-Gi-Oh replied. "Now watch as the mystic Box is skewered by swords raining from the sky. But have I destroyed my own Magician? Or have I magically extinguished your Ancient Lamp just as I promised?"
The holographic Mystic Box appeared to disclose Kaiba's Ancient Lamp card, penetrated by hundreds of swords.
"The magic's only half done, Kaiba," Yu-Gi-Oh warned. "For my Dark Magician emerges from another Mystic Box unharmed." No sooner had he spoken those words, when a new box covered in question marks materialized beside the original one. The Dark Magician exited and shook a long, narrow finger at Kaiba.
"But how?" asked a very astonished Kaiba.
"You know a good magician never reveals his secrets. Now Dark Magician, use your Dark Magic Attack!"
The defenseless La Jinn would only watch helplessly as the great green staff aimed at him and let loose a deadly sort of magic that brought his short life to an abrupt end.
Kaiba: 800
Yu-Gi-Oh: 1500
"It's just like you said, Kaiba; the Ancient Lamp may have protected La Jinn, but once it was destroyed, your genie was no match for my Dark Magician."
"You're little magic show was entertaining," Kaiba remarked, "but let's not loose perspective, mmm? You know I have a Blue Eyes waiting in the wing, and I know you have nothing that can stand against it."
"You know nothing," Yu-Gi-Oh declared. "The Eye of Truth showed me your hand, not the other way around."
"I don't need to see your hand," Kaiba hissed, contemptibly. "But I think you need to be taught a lesson. And I'll be thrilled to make my next play painfully instructive. Behold Saggi, the Dark Clown!"
Yu-Gi-Oh stared at the ghastly clown with amazement. Saggi the Dark Clown? I was expecting him to sink his Blue Eyes White Dragon on me. He knows Saggi is no match for my Dark Magician. What's he up to? He didn't have any trap cards earlier when I got a look at his hand. But he might have drawn some by now. The only way to know for sure, is to attack. But I dare not risk my Dark Magician. "Dark Magician, return!"
The powerful Spellcaster disappeared, seemingly back into the dueling device and with it, the holographic images of the giant sized Duel Monster cards surrounding Yu-Gi-Oh. The only hologram left on the field was Saggi, who chuckled wickedly to himself as he did a somersault while levitating in the air.
Yu-Gi-Oh slid another card off from his dueling deck. Alright! Gaia the Fierce Knight. Saggi won't stand a chance against him. "Gaia, in attack mode."
A brave and honorable knight on his trusty steed, stampeded from the dueling disc and towards his opponent. His battle-charge was a force to be reckoned with, for his horse traveled faster than the wind, carrying him closer to Saggi every eighth of a second. He lowered his spear and plunged it into the ugly clown with needle like precision. Saggi cried out in despair as he broke apart into many pieces and slowly dissipated into nothingness.
"Your Dark Clown has been vanquished!"
Kaiba was unfazed. "Vanquished and sacrificed are two very different things. Look again!"
Yu-Gi-Oh watched in horror as his Fierce Knight flickered out of sight and then appeared, only to disappear again. Each time, gradually fading. Soon, there would be nothing left.
"No! What's happening? Gaia!"
Gaia was no more. His horse's shrill whinny still rang in everyone's ears.
"And not just Gaia, Muto," Kaiba announced.
One of Yu-Gi-Oh's holographic cards started to fade. "My Dark Magician! What have you done Kaiba?!"
"It's quite ingenious, actually. Knowing you couldn't resist attacking my Dark Clown, I infected him with a Crush Card virus."
"Crush Card?"
"By destroying the infected Saggi, you released the Crush Card virus. A virus so highly contagious to Duel Monsters, that as I speak these words, it is infecting all but the weakest cards in your precious dueling deck."
"No!"
Kaiba threw his head back and laughed, much to everyone else's surprise. But it wasn't a merry chuckle. It was a cold laugh that foretold of victory and self-satisfaction. And it made all listeners, shiver just to hear it. "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Muto, the monsters unaffected by the Crush Card virus are those with an attack power below fifteen hundred."
His eyes glittered with a dark pleasure. "Looks like I've broken your Heart of the Cards, Muto."
~
Flower Petals: Whew, long chapter I know! But thank you all for bearing through it. ^^
And please review! It always makes me happy when I get reviews. *shoots a death glare at sister*
Taleah: *gulps* Uh....I forgot???
Flower Petals: NOTHING WILL SAVE YOU NOW!!!!!
Taleah: EEEEEeeeeek! Uh, Flower Petals, Hiei is on Yu Yu Hakusho right now and he's killing people with his katana!
Flower Petals: *drops the hammer and scrambles off towards the TV*
Taleah: Geesh, that was close......*wink* Until next time!
Flower Petals: TALEAH, HIEI IS NOT ON!!!!!!!! IT'S ABOUT UGLY KUWABARA!!!!!
Taleah: Oh no! *runs and hides under Flower Petal's bed* She'll never be able to find me under here. Hey, is this my Kurama doll? *gets up and confronts Flower Petals* Sister, is this my Kurama doll?!!!!!
Flower Petals: *gulps*