From New Zealand the four teams split up, each going to a different section of the world to duel, and to explore. Team Higurashi went to Moscow and battled in the cold Russian winter. Team Wheeler, which consisted only Serenity Wheeler, and Tea, went to India and dueled amongst the crowded streets of Istanbul. Team Kaiba went to Spain and dueled in the great Arenas where bulls were usually slaughtered by Matadors. Team Bakura went on to compete in Berlin, Germany, and that's where they won their greatest victory in a three on three team duel against the German State's top duelists, Hans, Fritz, and Hienric. Three blonde headed, blue eyed, muscle men who were more muscle than brains. They were three top duelists in all of Germany but they couldn't stand up to three teens from Japan.
Everything was going smoothly for the teams as they crisscrossed the globe gaining experience and rare cards to boost their decks. Kagome's team even ran into Mako again who this time was only one loss closer to being disqualified.
"Alright Higurashi, this time I'm walking away the winner." Mako said.
"Not likely." Kagome said as they dueled for the second time and once again her deck proved the better for Mako not only lost the duel but he also lost his rare Mystical Space Typhoon and his not so rare Cure Mermaid but what made this card special was that it was a misprint. The card was supposed to be Japanese but instead it had all Japanese markings on the back and was written in English on the front..
"Well Higurashi, I'm out of the game this time, but just you wait. I'll rebuild my deck and see you and Yugi again for the next tournament."
"See you then Mako." Kagome said and they waved him off to his plane.
"We've got our own plane to catch now don't we, Kagome?" Shippo asked as they walked to the gate.
"Sure do, now it's on to the Semi finals in London." She said to the kitsune. "And the last of the rare hunters." Kagome was now very determined to stop this Blitz character and get back the jewel shards he had. Not to mention how many souls he must have collected in them.
-----------Scene Break----------
Blitz Kreege walked from wilderness of Morocco into it's growing metropolis. He'd just beaten his latest opponent, leaving the fools' limp body with the officials who followed them everywhere. He did not care, did not so much as glance behind him. He needed to get to the airport. He was due in London for the semi finals.
"Come to me Pharaoh. I'm waiting." he said as he grasped the jewel that hung form his neck. He'd gotten just a glimpse of the opponent he most wanted to duel when he'd went to punish his lackeys in New Zealand. What he saw had not impressed him. Yugi Motou was but a boy; he was expecting a man. And yet, there were others there who more than lived up to his expectations. Most of all, The Masked Duelist, Inu-yasha. The image of the black cloak and Ninja gar did serve for an imposing image.
And Seto Kaiba; now there was an opponent! He even looked like the Sorcerer of old. Then there were the others he'd never heard of nor seen before. He was especially intrigued by that one girl, the one with the black hair and cold stare. It seemed to him that she carried an ancient soul inside her; one that would feed his crystal's power. Already the crystal was swelling. It had become enlarged, somewhat, and was steadily growing with every soul it devoured. And along with it, his shadow powers.
He was soon at the gate, ready to board his plane. The end would come soon. He felt it in veins.
"You had best prove yourself worthy, Pharaoh," he said as the doors closed behind him.
----------Scene Break----------
As Shippo slept in the seat beside her, Kagome looked out the window on the plane. They were going to London. The Semifinals. But tonight, her thoughts were not filled with anxiety over the tournament, or ideas for combos with her newest cards. No, instead her mind teemed with the memory of her last words with Inu-yasha before their teams spilt up.
"' Kagome, I want you to be careful. These Rare Hunters are out for blood this time.'"
'Inu-yasha', she thought, 'I wonder where you are now? Are you thinking of me too?'
-------------Scene Break--------------
Not three rows away, Sango found she could not sleep. Miroku snored on her right, Ryou lay quiet and peacefully on her left. They'd been to so many places, places she never even knew existed. They were now leaving Paris, after a layover, to pick up Kagome and her team, to go to the mysterious and lightly ominous location of the Semi-finals, London England. She wondered what this city would be like. If it would have the same strange customs that many of the other countries had, or if it's rules and customs were completely different.
She'd seen teens the world over, each dressed differently from the rest. She'd seen veils and turbans, silks and burlap, cotton and sackcloth, textiles and handspun; some hardly wore any clothes. And almost no one wore the uniforms Kagome and her other friends wore almost all the time in Japan. She never guessed how different people could be. Yet they were also the same in that they lived virtually sheltered and protected lives, never guessing of the evils which walked around them daily.
Now they were headed for their greatest challenge. And now, in her heart of hearts, she feared for the all friends, but most of all the two beside her, whom she loved so dearly. She would never have admitted it to Miroku, but now she was actually quite torn between him and Ryou.
"I only wish I there was a definite way to know," she whispered to herself. Suddenly, she felt a familiar hand stroking her thigh. She growled, the SMACK!
"OW!" cried Miroku, grabbing his head as the bump formed. "What was that for?"
"That hand again!" she yelled. "Maybe I should do you a favor and cut it off."
"Cut what up?" Ryou Bakura asked, waking up. 'Miroku, you haven't been trying anything with Sango, have you?"
"Oh, he's trying," Sango said, "But he's failing." She wasn't feeling so torn between them anymore.
"I wasn't trying anything," Miroku said, 'I was asleep. I can't control what my hand does when I'm not aware."
"Idle hands," Ryou said, turning over to go back to sleep.
"Ryou, will you change seats with me?" Sango asked.
"What if he starts stroking me?" Ryou asked, appalled.
"Believe me," Miroku said, shuddering and tucking his hands inside his sleeves, "You WON'T"
The teams each paddled their way across Thymes River to reach the site of the Semi Finals, the Tower of London. When each boat full of duelists arrived, they ascended the stairs, and stood on the great turrets overlooking the city. They were here. The Semi Finals had begun.
"On behalf of our great sponsors, welcome to the semi-finals, in beautiful London!" cried the bucktoothed British announcer. "We're here now with the best of the best form all over the globe to sdee who will make it to the Finals in lovely New York!"
"What weird language is he speaking?" Shippo asked.
"It's English, Shippo," Serenity said.
"To be precise, it's Cockney," said Bakura. "My mother was originally from England, so I know how to speak it very well."
"Where's that Creep, Blitz, everyone's been talking about?" Joey asked, looking around.
"We'll know when he arrives," Yugi/Yami said.
"Now," the announcer continued form his vantage point, "Allow me to introduce, the first duelist of the tournament, with 3000 Dueling Points alone: Blitz Kreege!"
The other teams gasped as the mysterious Blitz stepped form the shadows of the shadows of the Tower. His eyes were blank, dulled with the power of the Jewel and his own bitter hatred. His head was completely shaved, and he had rows of gold earring on his ears. He was dressed in black leather from top to bottom. Yet, Yami and Yugi saw the resemblance immediately.
"He looks just like Flame!" Yugi said to Yami. "The guy Inu-yasha beat!"
"Yes, there is no doubt," Yami said to Yugi.
"Alright now, our judges have decided, and Mr. Kreege will face the raining champion of the Dueling world first this afternoon. Yugi Motou of team Higurashi from Japan!"
"Go get him, Yuge," Joey said.
"You can do this," Kagome added. Yugi/Yami stepped up to Blitz, and each handed the othe their deck to shuffle.
"You will not win today, Blitz Kreege," Yugi/Yami said to him.
"Whatever," Blitz replied, bored already. "Let's make things a little interesting, Your Majesty. I'll put up my Crystal shards against your soul, and I don't just mean your soul, Pharaoh. I mean the soul fo you and little Yugi Motou. The both of you for the Sacred Jewel"
"What?!" Yugi/Yami exclaimed.
"Yes, I know what it is," he said. "I've always known. I spent my life studying ancient legends, and that of Jewel has never escaped my mind. So when I found just one shard that existed, I took, kept it, and I have been collecting souls within it to increase it's power."
"Is that possible, Kagome?" Inu-yasha asked. "Can the sacred Jewel really absorb souls?"
"I don't know!" Kagome answered. "I guess it's true if he says it is."
"Oh, it is," Blitz told them, "The Jewel, in the right hands, not only can change a soul, but take it as well. It then transfers the power and strength of that spirit to the Jewel's Keeper."
"You are insane!" Yugi/Yami said. "You just can't go around the world stealing souls!"
"I already have," Blitz said, "Every opponent I've defeated has had their soul sucked into my Sacred Jewel. And as you can see, my shard has grown in size as well as strength."
"I won't sacrifice Yugi for your twisted game!" Yugi/Yami said. He'd known that horrible curse already. Never again would he do that to his reincarnation.
"Then the Jewel stays with me, and I'll take your soul anyway. King of Games," he said sarcastically.
"Enough talk!" Yugi/Yami shouted, "Let's duel!"
"I'll go first," said Blitz, "and to get things rolling, I play The Element Soldier in attack mode, and I lay a card face down on the field."
"My move," Yugi/Yami said. "I play The Skilled Dark Magician in attack mode, and I lay two cards face down. Your move."
"Already I see a flaw," said Blitz. "I activate my face down card: Kaiser Coliseum. Now through out the rest of the duel you can't more monsters than I do if I have even one card on the field."
"So I'm limited to the same number of monsters as you're willing to play," Yugi/Yami said.
"Exactly," Blitz said. "And now I also sacrifice my Soldier to summon Fairy King Truesdale," he said. "And I use Monster Reborn to bring back my Soldier. Now, I attack your Magician with Truesdale, and your life points with the Element Soldier." As the monster attacked, Yugi and Yami felt the pain as their life points dropped to 2200.
'One more attack fro Truesdale and we're done for,' Yugi said Yami in their minds. 'Yami, what are we going to do?"
'I don't know, Yugi,' Yami said. 'Even though these cards aren't as powerful as others, I sense a strength in them far greater than ordinary Duel Monsters."
'Is it the Jewel that's making them stronger?" Yugi asked.
'It's possible,' Yami said. "My move. Play Breaker the Magical Warrior in defense mode! And I lay one card face down on the field. Your move!"
"I'll end your suffering here and now," Blitz said. "I play Secret Pass to the Treasure, allowing one of my monsters to attack you directly, and I choose Truesdlae."
"Not so fast!" Yugi/Yami said, "I activate Spell Vanishing! It negates your magic card, and it destroys all duplicate magic cards in your deck!"
"Fine, I put tow card s in the Graveyard," Blitz said, nonchalantly. "You put to much drama into dueling. My turn, and I use Element Soldier to attack Breaker, and your life points with Truesdale."
"Activate Spellbinding Circle, and Shadow Spell!" Yugi/Yami called. "These freeze your monsters, and Shadow Spell decreases Fairy King Truesdale's attack by 700 points."
"Impressive," said Blitz. "But ultimately futile."
"That's what you say," Yugi/Yami said. "I draw, and I sacrifice Breaker to summon The Dark Magician Girl, and I attack your Element Soldier!"
As Element Soldier attacked, Blitz yawned. "How boring. How predictable. Give me a challenge, Pharaoh. Don't tell me this mediocre playing is how you beat Masters Merik, Vash, Viola, and Amir. If they lost to you, it brings into question their dueling skills. I play sacrifice my monsters to summon the Big Koala." as the gigantic fuzzy creature appeared, all of Yugi friends stared in disbelief.
"That's hi trump card?" Joey asked. "I big Koala?"
"Oh it's so cute!" Serenity,. Tea, and Kagome gushed.
"This is sad," Mai said, crossing her arms. "If Yugi loses to that monster, I lose all respect for him."
"Koala, show them your strength." Blitz commanded. The adorable, yet huge, koala ooked down upon Yugi's Dark Magician Girl, and swatted her like a fly.
"Only 1500," Yugi/Yami said in shock at his life point counter.
"He's losing to a Teddy Bear," Kaiba said, "Delicious."
"Now I play Convulsion of Nature," Blitz said. "we flip our decks, and continue the duel. Let's see if you fare better dueling from the bottom of your deck. I see I will when my turn comes."
'Dark Magician!' Yami thought.
'But we can't play it unless we use the last three cards in our hand,' Yugi said.
'Yes, but we must,' Yami told his young friend. "I play Swords of Revealing Light, and the Feral Imp."
"You delay the inevitable," Blitz said without any feeling. "I play the Unshaven Angler. Your turn."
"I play the Celtic Guardian. Your move."
"Yugi'll pull this off," Joey said.
"Without a doubt," Tea said
"I lay one card face down," said Blitz, "and sacrifice the Unshaven Angler to summon the great Suijin."
As the Exodia class monster engulfed the field, Yugi/Yami objected, "You must sacrifice two monsters to summon a seven star monster!"
"Not when I'm summoning a water card, per Unshaven Angler's affect. Now it's your turn, Pharaoh, and I play the trap card Pyro Clock of Destiny, skipping you and going back to, sans Swords of Revealing Light."
"NO!" Yugi/Yami cried, "I didn't get to summon Dark Magician!"
"Too bad." said Blitz. "I was expecting more of a challenge. Koala, Suijin, destroy his monsters." Koala swiped away the Imp, as Suijin sent a great tsunami to drown the Celtic Guardian, and both attacks were so fierce that they brought Yugi/Yami down to his knees as his life points dropped to 0.
"Yugi lost?!" everyone exclaimed. This was unthinkable! This was impossible!
"Now," said Blitz, his voice rising, "I call forth the souls within you! Come to me! Make my crystal stronger! Give me your power!!" The causeway the stood on filled with light, and a gale stronger than a hurrican sucked blew about them, making the people cover their eyes.
When it was over, Yugi's body lay motionless, and Blitz was flying! The Millennium Puzzle was around his neck!
"I feel it," he said, his voice deeper and gravellier. "I feel the powers of the Millennium Items flowing through me. This is what he feels!? This is the power of the Pharaoh!? How does he control it!? Does he not sense the darkness!? How can anyone hold this power and not give in to it!?!! The Universe, the moon, the stars, the sun! I control it all! The Elements are at MY command! I RULE THE HEAVENS! I AM THE Pharaoh!!!"
As he spoke these things, Joey, Mai, Serenity, Bakura, and Kaiba doubled over in pain, each screaming, howling in the agony!
"Rafiq!" Joey cried, "Help us!" from inside his Key, Rafiq came forward, and with the Power of the Millennium Staff, he shattered the Jewel around Blitz's neck!
The shards shot out, and Blitz cried, "NO! Without the Jewel, I cannot control the Pharaoh's power! ARRGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!" Blitz fell from the sky, and to his death on the stones before the Bloody Tower London.
Yugi's body stirred, and slowly stood as the others helped Joey and the Millennium Carriers to their feet. Kagome looked to him, and called, "Yugi! You're okay!"
"Yuge?" Joey asked as he held on to Miroku's shoulder for support., "Dude, are you alright?"
"The- The power," their friend wheezed, "I must regain the power." He stumbled over, and picked the Millennium Puzzle off the stone floors, and he put it around his neck, cradling it his shaking hands.
"Yugi," Tea said, going over to him, "I was so scared," she reached to take his hand, but he slapped her away.
"Don't touch me, vassel!" he hissed.
"Yugi?" Tea asked.
"Tea," Kagome warned, "Get away form him."
"What do you mean?" Tea asked. "He needs our help!"
"I don't need anyone's help," the one behind Tewa said. He turned, and it was not the face of their dear friend Yugi, not even the wise visage of Yami. This thing- ! "That worthless child is gone," he said, taking a shard in his hand. "I alone rule this body." He smiled wickedly, his face contorted, and he threw his head, and laughed the laugh of a raving lunatic.
"Inu-yasha!" he called, "Join me! We will rule this world! I give you the Jewel as you've always desired!" He screamed as purple lightening shot out from his fingertips, and shot past them all into to Inu-yasha! The power was so strong, so strong, it shorted all but one camera.
"Are you getting all this!?" Demanded an American announcer.
Inu-yasha fell to his knees. His hands turned into paws, and ripped through his claws. His body started to grow, his exposed back sprouting razor sharp hairs! And his face elongated into a snout, and he stood up on his hind legs, his claws extended to one foot long, and his fangs dripping with poisonous fumes.
"What is this?" he said slowly, his voice unrecognizable.
"The power you've always desired," Dark Yami said. "This is your true form, Inu-yasha. The form of a Demon Dog! This is what you wanted!"
"No!" Kagome screamed, rushing at them. "SIT BOY!" As the beads glowed, they snapped, and broke apart, falling to the ground.
Inu-yasha chuckled, "You stupid human," he said, "Nothing can stop me now. Those beads were made for a weak half blood. My blood is now pure! I feel nothing!"
"Oh yeah?" She challenged. "Then eat me!"
"Kagome!" Shippo cried, "what are you doing!?"
"Kagome, he'll kill you!" Sango cried.
"Kagome! Get away!" Miorku begged. All the while Inu-yasha approached, saliva dripping form his teeth and hanging tongue.
"Go ahead, Inu-yasha," she said, spreading her arms. As all gazed on the girl, she now looked the utmost like Kikyo, going into battle, prepared for death, fearing nothing. "Eat me! Show how strong you are! I am the physical and spiritual form of both me and Kikyo! You destroy us, and take our power, then and only then will I free you to take control of the earth! Kill us, the women you LOVED! If you can!"
Inu-yasha howled and growled with ear shattering sound, as he swiped at Kagome, who was snatched from the spot quickly by Sango and Kirara. Inu-yasha stared at Kagome, and suddenly, tears ran down his cheeks. "YAMI!! What a have you done to me!?!" he roared in fury.
"I AM NOT YAMI!" the being cried, "I am Dark Yami!Born from the marriage of the Jewel and The Millennium Puzzle! I have the souls of both Yami and Yugi trapped in the Jewel! I am free! And I am not done yet," Yami sneered. He stretched forth his arm, and lightening again shot form his fingers, into the body of Bakura!
"Bakura!" Duke yelled.
"Ryou!" Sango cried desperately.
Bakura screamed in agony, then, he grabbed the wall. He gasped for air, and stood erect. All who saw him saw that the Evil Spirit, Li Zhou, was now in control.
"You Summon me, my Pharaoh?" Li zhou asked, stepping up to stand with Dark Yami.
'Indeed," Dark Yami said. "Rafiq! Join us! Unite with the power of the crystal! Banish the Idiot who's body you share!"
"Never!" cried Joey.
"You swore to serve me," Dark Yami said. "You go back on an eternal oath!"
"You're not the same Pharaoh I swore to serve," Rafoq said, taking control of Joey's body. "My Pharaoh is locked away within your Puzzle, and I will set him free!" He said, the Staff shrinking again to become the Key.
"This could get ugly," Kaiba said, lifting his Rod to project a force field around them.
"Fool!" Dark Yami cried, "Your Pharaoh lives not in the Puzzle, but in the Jewel Shards in my hand!"
"No!" Tea cried, her face wet with tears.
"Kaiba, do not be a fool like these children," Dark Yami said. "You once wanted to control this world, now you can. With us!"
"A tempting offer Yugi," Kaiba said. "But on another day, I might be inclined to take up your offer. But right now, I'm just not in the mood. I have a tournament to win."
"Ah yes ," Dark Yami said., "These silly children's games. I had forgotten. But I myself am the King of Games. I shall stay in tournament as well."
"Hey, wait a minute buddy," said an announcer, "You lost."
"My opponent is dead," Dark Yami said, turning and looking at the man with cold, hateful eyes. "I would say that HE lost."
"Point Taken," said the American announcer.
"Uh- Y- Yami is the winner," said the British announcer . "Please step aside, and let the next pair in the Semi Finals Duel."
"How could you go on with the Tournament like this!?!" Tea demanded.
"Look here, Miss," said the frightened Brit. "Blimy if I know what's going on. I only do what my instructor says I must. Next up, is the Duelist Sango against Miss Higurashi."
Dark Yami waved his hand, and suddenly a throne appeared. "Yes," he said, stiing down, 'Play for my enjoyment." Inu-yasha stretched out on his belly at Dark Yami's feet, while Li Zhou stood beside his new master.
"I would rather forefit," said Sango. "And in fact, I shall. Kagome, I give you my rarest Cards, Command Knight, and Cosmo Queen."
"Alright then ladies and Gents," he said. "It's Miroku against Joey, I suppose."
"Nope," Joey said, "We both quit."
"But your cards must go to someone," said the announcer.
"We are aware," said Miorku. "And we choose Kagome to take our cards. I give my Kycoo and Null and Void."
"And my Skull and Graceful Dice," Joey said. They handed her the cards, and the announcer 's jaw dropped.
"Are any of you going on to play?!"
"I am," Kaiba said.
"Count me in," said Li Zhou.
"Very well then," said the annoucer ,"Since all of you forfit, hand your rarest cards over to the duelist you wish to go on in your place."
"I'm giving my cards to Kaiba," said Mai. "Delta Force and Gryphon's Feather Duster."
"Why won't you give me your precious Harpy Cards?" asked Kaiba.
"Honey, I wouldn't give my Harpies to my mother, let alone you."
"And I'm giving my Big Brother my Two favorite cards, Cost Down and Stone Statue of the Aztecs."
"Kagome," Shippo said, "You can have my GraveKeeper's Chief, and Necrovalley. They're the rarest cards I have. But I want you to take this special card," he said handing her from aseemed to be a common card.
"Thanks Shippo," she said, hugging him closely.
"You already have my rarest cards," Tea said.
"And Mine," Serenity said.
"Now you carry a piece of us all with you," said Joey. "Your deck is now the symbol of our great friendship."
"Please," Li zhou scoffed, "Spare me this sickening display."
"Such strength in one deck," Mused Dark Yami. "I wish to play Kagome in New York."
"Hold on just a minute," said the American announcer, his camera man close behind, "She's fighting Bakur- I mean Li Zhou next. You'll be fighting Mr. Kaiba."
"Excellent," said Dark Yami, "I'll take your great Blue Eyes White Dragons, your Millennium Rod, and your soul."
"Dream on, Your Royal Insanity ," said Kaiba. "I'm finally going to beat you."
"We have our four Finalists!" said the announcers. "Stay tuned for the climax in New York City!" they screamed into the one working camera, not knowing to where it's broadcast was going.