Flower Petals: Well, hya everyone! It's good to be back!!! - The only problem is, I've been soooooooooo far behind in all my writing (but especially typing..) that's it's taken me FOREVER to get this chapter up. So sorry!
But please be aware that this story is sorta out-dated (as I became even more cognizant of when I was re-typing it up).So some of the information may be obsolete, and to put it simply, absolutely wrong now!!! So please excuse my very old story.......;
But anygohoobles, I have people to thank, so here they are!!!
Mina: I had a line from Tragedy of Julius Caesar?Oh, cool! I didn't even know! You seem to know a lot about literature and plays. I wish I was smart like that........ Thanks for reviewin'!
Nari: sniff, sniff A short review??? sniff Well that's okay. Even I sometimes am not in a chatty mood. everyone shoots skeptical glances Alright, alright! Thanks for reviewin', though!
Misura: Yes, the supremely evil cliffie!!! You're going to hate me even more, 'cause this chapter has one too! Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Erm, yeah...Thank you SO much for taking the time to review.
Peace Writer: You found your way to a lap top? Man, I wish I could find my way to a lap top, then I could keep it and go on the net whenever I like! day dreams Oh, and thanx for the offer of criticizing any future original duels, it was very, erm.....generous.....But hey thank you for the support and for reviewing!
Mamono: Hey, I'm glad I inspired you! beams proudly Usually the only person I inspire is myself! But then often a times, I forget why I wanted to do that something in the first place, and then just stop and eat some chocolate.....THANKS FOR REVIEWING!!!
Lady Silvertongue: Thank you for the kind review. I'm really flattered you take the time to read my story. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Sakurelle: I'm, erm, sorry you had to wait millions of billions of gajillions of years before my last update. It wasn't too long this time I hope! 'Course, the wait is nothing compared to my other stories. I rarely ever update them!!! But hope you likie, and please review regardless! Thank you!
Tamara Raymond: I really enjoy reading your reviews. The ironic thing is, they are better written then anything I could ever hope to write!!! And you're right about avoiding the strict narration of the anime. That is what I should have done from the beginning of this duel. Especially, since now, I am having a difficult time with it.... But I have tried to dull how strict the dialogue is, and hopefully I have exceeded a little! So I hope you enjoy and be sure to let me know! Sorry again..... And thanks for reviewing!!!
Well, that's all folks! Onto the obsolete story....
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh nor anything pertaining to it. Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!Sugar!!!!!!!!
Flower Petals
Power of Three
Part 3
Kaiba smirked to himself. No card his opponent drew could be used against him. He was in control now. And soon, he will have completed Pegasus's twisted task and freed Mokuba from his sick grasp. Soon. . .once he defeated Muto.
"It doesn't matter what card you play next. You have nothing that can withstand the phenomenal attack power of my Ultimate Blue Eyes White Dragon. You should give up."
"Dat Ultimate Dragon can wipe out da res' of Yugi's life points wit' one breath," Joey stated. Kaiba cast him a quick glance of dislike. "Kaiba has da upper hand and he knows it. He's jus' waitin' for Yugi da back down." He shook his head, messy hair falling about his face. "I don' know if Yugi can pull dis one out."
He can't, Kaiba thought to himself. I have played an ingenious and infallible strategy. He cannot win.
It was Yu-Gi-Oh's turn to smirk. "Kaiba, I just drew the card that will defend me against your Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon."
What? He's losing it. "Impossible."
"Watch and learn. This is it-the beginning of your defeat. Kuriboh, in attack mode!"
Kuriboh was a tiny, furry creature the color of sand. It floated in mid-air and had cute, cuddly green paws and big round eyes.
Kuriboh: 300
Ultimate Blue Eyes White Dragon: 4500
Kaiba scoffed at the idea that Kuriboh could do anything except look cute and make vexatious noises. What was Muto saying? Had he lost his mind? "That's ridiculous! In the entire game, Kuriboh is the weakest monster."
"He's right," the annoying blonde said in his heavy accent. "Wha' can Yugi be thinkin' playing dat little guy?"
Even his friends think him insane. "Muto, you're free to concede and forfeit the match, but come on. You must know that your creature is the puniest monster with the lowest attack strength in all of Duel Monsters. I've never known a serious duelist to keep one in their deck!" He aimed a finger at his opponent. "Muto, don't insult my intelligence by pretending that miserable creature can defend you against the unbridled might of my Blue Eyes."
"You're mistaken Kaiba," Yu-Gi-Oh countered. "This card will defend everything. And, before this duel is over, your dragon will fall."
He's not in his right mind. "My Ultimate Dragon? Nonsense! Hurry up and finish your turn so I can knock the stuffing out of your Kuriboh."
"As you wish. My last card will be the magic card, Multiply. Multiply works with monsters with attack points below five hundred and multiplies them endlessly. More than you bargained for eh, Kaiba?"
What had been one furry little creature only a moment ago, were many now. Seconds later, there was an entire army of identical small Kuriboh. In the next second, there would be enough to cover the whole dueling field.
Kaiba bit his lower lip angrily. "So, is this some kind of joke?"
Yu-Gi-Oh chuckled. "The joke is on you, Kaiba. You thought I only had one defender. But now I have many. And I'm getting more and more defenders by the second."
"No matter. Have you forgotten the incredible assault power my dragon possess? It will burn them all to a crisp. Neutron Blast!"
Smoke billowed around the Kuriboh encompassing them in its suffocating, inexorable grasp. Yu-Gi-Oh could be heard coughing from somewhere in the midst of the blinding haze.
"So there," Kaiba retorted.
But then the smoke cleared, revealing a dozen more Kuriboh continuing to add onto their already impossibly high number.
What? What's going on here? "My dragon's attack had no effect on your life points?!"
"That's right." Yu-Gi-Oh gazed around at his creatures with pride. Which made Kaiba feel sick with disgust. "You can't take my remaining life points away until you wipe out all the Kuriboh. But as quickly as they are destroyed, they multiply right back."
"Hairballs to each and every one I destroy," Kaiba swore.
"You may have created the ultimate attack force," Yu-Gi-Oh acknowledged, "but I have created the ultimate defense: an ever expanding army of furry protecters. They may not look like much, but they stopped your dragon in its tracks. That's just the beginning, for now, I go on the attack."
Kaiba lifted his head questioningly. "You've nothing strong enough."
"Watch me. For I'm going to show you the combo that will bring your dragon down-Mammoth Graveyard, Polymerization, and the Living Arrow Card."
Kaiba's heart pace quickened. He felt a surge of anger and disappointment come over him as the realization dawned that he did not know what the last card was. And he hated not knowing. It made him feel weak and inferior. He was a champion at the game, but nevertheless, his opponent, who had yet to win his first tournament, possessed a card he did not know about. So as painful as it was to ask, he forced the words out.
"What's the 'Living Arrow Card'?"
Yu-Gi-Oh looked a little surprised to hear the question, but obligingly answered it. "Living Arrow allows me to use my other cards in combination not with my own cards, but with my opponent's as well. I'll show you. Normally, I'd make a fusion with my own cards, but for a new twist, Living Arrow lets me fuse my cards with yours, opening up bold new possibilities."
Not satisfied, Kaiba snorted. "Now what?"
"I can use the power of the Living Arrow to bind my Mammoth Graveyard to the heart of your beast."
The three cards Yu-Gi-Oh had named, merged together to blend into one brightly shining hologram. A huge elephant which had died long ago, emerged from the combination of the three cards and began galloping towards the colossal form of the Blue Eyes White Ultimate Dragon. Nothing remained save for the skeleton of the once magnificent creature. Its head was that of a skull and large tusks. Ribs protruded from its spinal column, forming what had once been a stomach and proud chest of the long dead beast.
Half way to its destination, it transformed into a golden arrow with golden feathers at the tip that stabilized its flight and bore the shaft deep into the dragon's chest, piercing its heart.
The dragon cried out in pain, all three heads contorted in anguish, as a black portrait of the Mammoth Graveyard appeared where the arrow had entered.
Anger and fear gripped Kaiba. "Not my dragon! What have you done?!"
"Since my Mammoth is an un-dead type monster, he can't properly fuse with your living Ultimate Dragon. Instead, it causes your dragon to rot and decay from the inside out. Each turn the dragon will loose attack points until your creature is no more. Your so called Ultimate Dragon and your victory is rotting away Kaiba! It's only a matter of time now, and there's nothing you can do to stop it."
"No. There must be something I can do to save my Ultimate Blue Eyes."
If there was, Yu-Gi-Oh offered no clue. "My Mammoth Graveyard has attack points of twelve hundred. That means each turn that goes by, he will drain twelve hundred points from your Ultimate Dragon's attack power. Soon it will be weak enough for me to destroy."
Kaiba gazed at his dueling device with a sinking feeling as his unstoppable creature's attack power dropped to thirty-three hundred. He began frantically going over every card he had in his deck, hoping against all odds that he had something to neutralize the catastrophic effects of Muto's play. He mentally went over trap cards, magic cards, effect cards. But none would aid him. His dragon was getting weaker every turn and there was nothing in his deck that could reverse it.
"Way da go, Yug!" Joey cheered. "Ya're da man!"
"Great move!" Tea and Bakura chorused.
Mai's hand was on her shoulder, no longer shaking. Kemo had returned his sunglasses to their original position. Tristen didn't say anything, but his eyes shown with hope. Taleah's were dim as if she felt nothing at all.
"Ya've had dit!" Joey told Kaiba. "Ya're never goin' da win dis duel. So wha' da ya say now? Guess three heads aren't better den one."
Ignoring the moron's words, Kaiba shook with the horrible truth that he really didn't have anything that could save him. He was done for. No, he shouldn't think such a thing. Not here, not now. "I can't lose. The fate of Mokuba's soul rides on this duel. And now my Ultimate Dragon, Neutron Blast!"
Once more, the smoke from the vicious attack cleared to show the Kuriboh still producing even more of themselves abundantly.
"Again?" Yu-Gi-Oh sighed. "When will you learn? The Kuriboh multiply faster then you can eliminate them with your Neutron Blasts."
Ultimate Blue Eyes White Dragon: 2100
Kuriboh: 300
"No. I will not, can not be defeated."
Yu-Gi-Oh gave his opponent an almost sympathetic look. "I'll draw one more card and let my mammoth finish my turn."
Kaiba felt as if he were in denial. Soon his Ultimate Dragon would be weak enough for Muto to destroy outright. He had to keep on trying. It was his only hope. "Neutron Blast!"
The flesh dripped off the dragon's heads as it lifted them to unleash its attack. Its necks now melted into its once proud body. It was almost out of strength.
"Once again your attack has failed, Kaiba," Yu-Gi-Oh stated. "My defense holds and you have no other strategy to use against me. Your time is running out. You should have never challenged me." His gaze became narrow. "You see, my mammoth takes another twelve hundred points from your dragon. Even my weakest monsters can destroy it now."
Ultimate Blue Eyes White Dragon: 700
Kaiba's eyes dropped to the dirty ground beneath his feet. The realization had sunk in now. He had lost. Even after running through all the cards in his dueling deck, perfecting a strategy, conceiving ways of overcoming any possible scenario, he had still lost. He could not believe it. He had failed. Failed his brother. Failed Kiddo.
Never again would he see that cute little smile, or cuddly round face. Or hear his brother's endless chatter. He had never payed any attention to what the child had been saying. He regretted it now. Now, when all things came to an end.
Suddenly, everything went black. A younger version of himself stood on the other side of the darkness, shaking his head in disgust and bitter hatred. As the older Kaiba stared at his younger self, he realized how much he had missed those days in the orphanage. The days when everything and everyone had been bright and cheerful and the future remained unclouded. The days of a lost innocence; the days, before he had met Gozubaru Kaiba. Evil had only existed in fairy tales and late night television shows back then. But now he knew it was very real. Everyone contained some margin of evil, dormant, until unlocked.
A scream banished his reverie and Kaiba returned his gaze to his counterpart, to find that he was glaring at him. He was about to call out to the smaller version of himself, when the younger Kaiba pointed downwards.
Curious, Kaiba dropped his gaze to find Kiddo in a cell gripping at the bars with his small frail fingers, pleading for someone to help him. No, not someone. Him. Kiddo was imprisoned far below the invisible ledge Kaiba and his other self stood, calling out for help.
In that moment, nothing else mattered except rescuing his brother. But he could not move. He was paralyzed with fear and sorrow. It was too far. Kiddo's picture began to fade. He'd never make it on time; he had already lost.
His younger self did what he could not; he began running with all his might, head down in order to gain speed, feet pounding on an unseen path. He ran into the darkness, arms outstretched, calling out his brother's name.
The older paralyzed Kaiba could only watch as his counterpart ran as fast as he could, but not fast enough. Never fast enough. He reached Mokuba just as his portrait faded away into nothingness. He stood there for awhile, panting, as if not believing that he had not made it on time. Then he flung around to face his older self, and spoke for the first time.
"You promised you'd always be there for him. You promised! You promised Seto Kaiba! Why? Was he not good enough for you? Nothing ever is. You never had time for him. You felt as if he didn't need your time or effort! But no, your company was always more important. Just admit it. Admit the only reason you indulge yourself in your work is to have an excuse to stay away from him. Admit it! Say it Seto Kaiba!"
Kaiba wanted so much to open his mouth and correct his child form, but he could not. The paralysis was absolute; binding.
"You've always envied him," the younger Kaiba continued. "Were always jealous of his child like innocence. You wanted so much for him to be like you. Miserable and unhappy. Well, you know what? He's not like you. He never has been and I pray that he will never-ever- become like you are now. He accepts who he is and doesn't feel sorry for living the life fate handed him. Did you think you were the only one who went through such tragedies? Mokuba went through everything that you did. Took it a bit better than you, wouldn't ya think? If anything you should be more like him!"
"But no, you like it in your own little world in your own little house not caring who or what's at the front door wanting in. You are your number one priority. You think yourself above all others. Ask anybody if it is true. Ask Taleah." Kaiba's younger self began to pace. "And you absolutely despise anyone who you consider better then yourself. Hence your bitter hatred towards Joey and Yugi. Oh, and um, your brother. You hate Joey because of his strength and his willingness to show his affection towards those he loves. You despise Yugi because he's everything that you're not and try so hard to be. Lets see, all the reasons you hate Mokuba..."
Kaiba wanted so much for the younger him to stop. He wanted to scream it at the top of his voice. He wanted to knock the little fool off the invisible ledge. But the paralysis prevented him from doing anything; he could not tell his smaller self just how wrong he was.
"You hate him because he's strong, you hate him 'cause he ain't week, you hate him because he's lovable, you hate him 'cause he's meek," the younger Kaiba chanted. "Shall I go on? You hate his ability to forgive and forget. You hate his endurance. You hate everything about him, because all those qualities you think you despise, you secretly want to have for yourself." He shook his head. "You've spent half your life trying to be someone you were not, and the other half wishing to be another person. How messed up is that?"
You're wrong, Kaiba wanted to say with every fiber of his being. So wrong. The only person I've ever hated is myself. Not Kiddo. Not anybody. How he wished he had the ability to speak, but it was gone. Possibly forever. Just like Kiddo. . .
"You know what?" the child asked, eyes flaring with emotion. "You're right about one thing. You'll never be Noah. And you'll never be Mokuba. Because you are Seto Kaiba. Do you want to hear about him?"
No. Please stop. I can't take this anymore. . .
"I'll tell you about him. He's a said, miserable person who makes himself feel better by picking on others. By destroying their confidence and their pride, so they can understand what he goes through. What he puts himself through. He doesn't realize that no one else feels sorry for him. Just himself. He likes to think himself as a victim that no one else cares about. Poor him. It just hasn't hit him that it's his fault no one cares for him. That it is his fault everyone stays away. He likes it in his own world of misery, where he can feel sorry for himself and not be bothered by anyone else's cares and troubles. He doesn't feel their pain or sadness, he only feels his own.
"It's time," the younger Kaiba declared. "Time to wake up, get out of your own world and house, and see what's been going on outside all this time! It's about time you realize that you're not the only one suffering.
"Mokuba suffered. He never understood why his older brother ignored him after their parents died. Could it be all his fault? His brother seemed to think so. It was manifest in the way he talked, his actions, that he despised the little Kaiba. Mokuba was hurt, but he got over it. He didn't sulk in self pity and wish for everything and anyone to leave him alone. He didn't lock everyone out.
"He didn't become you.
"It's time to wake up Seto Kaiba! You hurt those around you, fearing that if they got too close, they might have actually cared something for you. God forbid that ever happened! You made Kiddo suffer and now he's gone and it's all your fault!"
"NOOOOOOOooooooooo!" Kaiba screamed. He screamed it over and over again before he at last, became aware his voice had returned. He fell to his hands and knees and clutched at his chest. Grief and immense sadness that was deeper then the limitless depths of the darkness surrounding him, overwhelmed him. "No."
"Well, it's true," his younger self insisted. "Very true. You're rotten to the core Kaiba, just like that dragon!"
Kaiba looked at his fingers to see them melting away. Flesh dripped from his rotting hands and fell into the eternity of darkness. He brought them up to his face to find that he no longer had one. It had long since lost its shape. He looked like his dragon now. Rotting away, soon to be nothing but a pile of decay.
"Stop! Please stop!"
"As you wish."
He was back to normal now. No melting, no decaying. But he still felt rotten. "What is this place?"
"Your world," his younger self answered, peering around with indifference. "A place of solitude and seclusion. This is where you go to rid yourself of reality. To isolate yourself from everyone and everything. Beautiful, isn't it?"
"It's dark and dreary," Kaiba contradicted. "I hate it here."
"On the contrary, you love it here. You love to escape to its murky depths and indulge yourself in its darkness. You come here to escape Mokuba who has never done anything except worship the very ground your filthy feet walk on."
Mokuba. Kiddo. A sensation came over Kaiba that had only once ever occurred before. His father had forbidden it. He himself had thought it a waste of time. Below him. Not now. Now, he wept tears of sadness and misery. Not for himself, but for Kiddo and all the pain the child had gone through. His wept for his brother's dismal future. He wept for his brother, who would never feel a parent's love or sit in his mother's lap as she read him a fairy tale story before bed, or share a special bond with his father. He wept for Kiddo's lost childhood, of which he could never regain. He wept and wept until at long last, he ran out of tears to shed.
The younger version of himself stared at him without sympathy. "So now you know." He pivoted on his heel and began to walk away when the older Kaiba stopped him.
"Give me another chance," he begged. "Please, I need another chance."
"You don't deserve another chance," the child Kaiba said scornfully. "Besides, you've already been given a second chance. It was your last."
Kaiba was stunned. "What second chance?"
"Don't you know? Here, I'll refresh your memory for you. Three men broke into your house. You refused to go with them so you-"
"Jumped out the window," Kaiba whispered.
"Yes. You could have died that day. Correction, would have died, except you were given a second chance at life. So you could resolve all your issues and undo all that you have done. But you did none of that. You wasted it. It was all for nothing.
"Seto Kaiba, you do not deserve a second chance."
"Please," Kaiba begged. "I threw my last chance away. I realize now what a mistake that was. I won't do such a thing again. I promise. I'll change my life around. I'll see to it that I redeem myself."
"You don't deserve redemption."
"Please!" Another tear slipped from Kaiba's eye and plummeted into an unknown darkness. "That is all I ask. I know what I have become, and I must prevent Mokuba from ever becoming like me. I must save him, and teach him to learn from my mistakes."
The younger Kaiba thought about it. "You do seem to have a lot of those."
"Please." Kaiba's voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "Please..."
His younger self reached a decision. "Very well. You know what you must do."
"Thank you." Kaiba's eyes shone with gratitude. "Thank you so very much."
"Oh, and Kaiba?"
"Yes?"
"Don't ever come back here." With that, the child began to walk away once again into the blackness and gloom of his future self's dismal world.
"Thank you," Kaiba whispered.
No sooner had he spoken those words when the ground disappeared from underneath his feet and he felt himself falling into a bottomless pit of nothingness. As he fell, the darkness gradually began to decline until light penetrated his vision, and he instantly came back to his senses.
Mai was yapping something only barely audible while Taleah and the rest were sort of edging away as if whatever she was saying was too hateful for their ears. Muto was staring at him with a concerned expression, and Joey was yelling something about it being his turn.
But none of that mattered to him. He was given a second chance, and he wasn't going to spoil it. Although it would hurt him to do so, he knew what he had to do. What was intended of him. And right then, he would do anything in his power to save Kiddo.
Kemo adjusted his sunglasses over his hazel eyes. "Kaiba hasn't said a word. It's like he's in another world."
"Yeah," Joey agreed. "Wha's wit' him? He's jus' standin' der completely spacin' out."
"Maybe it's finally sunk in that he's lost," Tea offered.
Bakura bowed his head in agreement. "True. In just a moment, it'll all be over. It's almost sad to see a duelist of his caliber take losing so hard."
Muto placed a card on the high-tech dueling device and whipped it out into play. "This is it Kaiba, prepare to meet your demise! Celtic Guardian, attack Ultimate Dragon!"
Celtic Guardian was a warrior elf of mediocre ability. It had short, sunshine colored hair and gentle brown eyes. Its garments were that of which someone might have worn in medieval times when swords were the weapons of choice and helmets and carefully disguised armor were an excellent defense. In one lighting-swift attack, the elf sprang into the air with much grace and agility, and brought its naked sword through the middle of the Ultimate Dragon's heads, severing it from the center neck.
The deformed head unceremoniously fell with a resounding splat, as it collided into a pool of its own melted flesh. Purple fumes of decay began emanating from the other two heads as the dragon continued to deteriorate further.
Kaiba didn't even flinch.
"All right!" all the onlookers chorused.
"This is so cool!" Tea declared. "Once Yugi defeats Kaiba, he'll be able to save his grandfather."
"Hey!" Joey exclaimed, startling everyone out of their celebration. "Da Ultimate Dragon's still standin'! Wha's up wit' dat?"
The white haired teenager shook his head as if he considered Joey very hopeless indeed. But he answered the question patiently enough. "That's because the Ultimate Dragon is a fusion of three Blue Eyes. Each of its three heads has its own attack power. Celtic Guardian took out one of them, and Kaiba lost the five hundred point difference in their attack strength. When the Celtic Guardian takes out another weakened head next turn, that will wipe Kaiba out and win the match."
Kaiba: 400
Yu-Gi-Oh: 400
"You mean Kaiba's toast!" Kemo gleaned.
I think not, Kaiba said to himself. I have to win this duel. No card in my deck can turn this around for me. But maybe if I use Muto's weakness against him. . ."Muto, it can't end this way. If I don't defeat you in this duel, Pegasus will keep Mokuba prisoner. . .forever. I can't let that happen." A persistent wind picked up and pressed against Kaiba as if wanting to take him with it on its flight. "And even though I don't have a card that will keep you from attacking, I think I still have a strategy that will stop you in your tracks."
Muto looked curious, but incredulous. "What do you mean?"
Kaiba began taking long strides backwards towards the end of the ledge. It wasn't until half way to his destination, that the realization of what he intended to do, dawned on Taleah and her friends. Taleah watched him with undisguised horror as he reached the far end of his side of the dueling arena, and positioned himself directly behind his dragon, on one of the faded brick pillars above oblivion, that surrounded the entire area.
"Stop this!" Muto demanded.
"Wha's Kaiba up da?" Joey wondered out loud. "Does he think dis cheap stunt dis goin' da keep Yugi from winnin' da match an' savin' his grandfather?"
"Your move," Kaiba reminded. "You can attack my Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon and wipe out my remaining life points, but if you do, the resulting shock waves may cause me to lose my balance."
"Don't tempt me!" his opponent warned.
Kaiba smiled a satisfactory smile. "My fate is completely in your hands. You'll decide this duel on way or another. Of course, if you don't surrender, I might be. . .hurt. You wouldn't want that, would you?"
"Stop this Kaiba!" Tea cried. "You know this is dangerous."
"He's bluffin'," Joey claimed. He struck a funny pose and waved his fists at Kaiba. "Now come on! Drop dis cheap ploy an' get down from dat ledge an' play fair! Ya know Yugi doesn't want da hurt ya."
Bakura caught on. "He knows. He's counting on Yugi to surrender."
"But he can't do that," Kemo objected. "If he loses to Kaiba, he won't get into the castle."
Muto looked distressed. "I'm warning you Kaiba, don't push me too far. I must win to rescue my grandfather."
"And I must win this duel to save Mokuba. The difference is, I'm willing to risk everything to do it. You know I can stand up here all night, and I'm certain you won't make any attack in fear that you might knock me off. Even though you know by not attacking, you give up the only chance you have to save your grandpa. Which means I have the advantage over you. For in my case, there's nothing holding me back."
Muto was shaking now. Not from anger, but from the stress of having to make such a difficult decision. He wouldn't make an attack. Not that he didn't have the courage or the strength. It was because he was too kind-hearted. He could never risk hurting another person. His whole life revolved around everyone else. He put others' needs in front of his own. Which fit into Kaiba's nefarious plan perfectly.
He drew another card and practically sighed with relief. "Ah, a magic card." He flipped it around so his opponent could see. "Reborn the Monster. Which I'll use to resurrect the Blue Eyes head that was just destroyed by your Celtic Guardian."
Muto was baffled. "Restore a head of the Blue Eyes?"
From the rot and decay of the wasted dragon, came a new life. A new strength. A shiny, silver neck emerged along with the graceful head of a newly born Blue Eyes White Dragon.
"Now one of my Blue Eyes with its normal attack strength of three thousand has been resurrected. With all of your Kuriboh protecting your life points, I could not attack. But now that you've put an attack monster on the field, I can wipe out the rest of your life points. Which I'll do next turn. Two of the Ultimate Dragon's heads are still weakened. But the third can wipe out your Guardian in a breath. Our life points are equal, Muto. So attack me now if you dare. Otherwise, I swear I'll take you down."
"If he defeats one of the weaker Blue Eye's heads, he wins," Mai stated. "But what if the duel battle accidently knocks Kaiba off the edge?"
Kemo shrugged. "I say, so what? That chump is in a losing situation anyway."
"Surrender now, Muto!" Kaiba challenged. "That is, unless you have the courage to unleash your attack!"
His opponent could no longer look him in the eye. He averted his gaze to his Celtic Guardian and then his dueling glove. The ten starchips had become dull, for they had ceased to shine, as if they were no longer of any importance. As if to buy himself time or lessen the burden of such a decision, he drew a card from his deck. And smiled.
This is no time to be smiling, Kaiba thought bitterly to himself. Give up already, so I can get my brother back. You know you don't have the guts to attack, so surrender. I've left you no other choice.
But nevertheless, Muto was smiling.
Is he in denial?
His opponent slapped the card on the dueling disc and fixed his gaze on him. "It's time to finish this once and for all, Kaiba."
Flower Petals: Ya know, I just realized something.....I guess the reason why I had never noticed before was because I just simply took this fic too seriously, but you know how I made up the rule where if someone challenges somebody to a duel they're the Challenger? And the one asked is the Challenged? Well, thinking really hard about it, I realized how funny it is! Yugi is Challenged!!! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! And Joey's been "challenged" quite a few times....But hey, that's no big surprise, right???
Well anygohoobles, plz review! It's soooooo nice to know that there are people out there reading this fic! And it's even NICER to know they have opinions that could help improve my writing, so review! PLZ!!!!
Please????????