"A Moment with the Masked Duelist"
By: Von Stupor
It was nightfall before Von Stupor made it back to the Kamé Game Store. As he walked in, he was heartily greeted by everyone.
"Where were you, Von Stupor? We were getting worried," Yugi told him.
"There was slight difficulty in finding one who was still in the tournament. However, I am now qualified for the finals!" he replied.
"That's awesome! So now it's you, me, Yugi, and Mai! There's a fifty-fifty chance of one of us winning!" Joey observed.
"I saw on a bulletin board that the seven other finalists have been chosen, too. That means the finals will start tomorrow morning," Téa informed everyone.
"If that's the case, I shouldn't stay up much longer. I'm hitting the sack," Tristan announced. "Good-night, everyone."
"See you tomorrow, Tristan!" Yugi called to him as he walked out the door.
"Say Yugi, you wouldn't mind if I stuck around here tonight, would you? We can work on some last-minute strategies, you know?" Joey asked.
"It's fine with me," Trusdale answered for Yugi. "Just be sure to notify your parents."
"Will do, Mr. Mutou!"
Von Stupor sighed, and said, "With that said and done, I shall return to my abode."
Von Stupor said his good-byes and left. The streets were dark, and not many people were out and about. It was very quiet due to the absence of cars going by.
This must be a street of much popular is, he thought to himself. Potatoes. I… I wish I could enjoy some potatoes right now. I haven't had any since I arrived. Oh, how delicious they are when mashed. …With lumps! Mashed potatoes must be lumpy to be at their peak of tasting good!
Von Stupor wandered down the street thinking this when he heard Téa say from behind him, "You're going this way, too?"
Startled, Von Stupor wheeled around and began flailing his arms, screaming. Luckily, Téa was further back, so Von Stupor merely slapped at air. After a moment, he processed whose voice it was and stopped.
"Téa," he said, shakily. "Thou art quite fortunate. Had thee been any closer, thou wouldst have fallen victim to the ancient art of dumb-fu."
"Von Stupor, you're really weird," she laughed. "Do you mind if I walk with you?"
"Yes, go away."
Téa looked at Von Stupor incredulously.
"I only kid, Téa of Gardener, you should know me better than that," Von Stupor explained.
"Oh, okay. I was confused for a minute there."
"As is everyone else. My job is done here."
"Von Stupor, I'd actually like to know a little more about you. You're son mysterious and you didn't say a whole lot about yourself last time we were talking."
"What would you like to know?"
"Well, you kind of appeared all of a sudden. Where did you come from?"
"I hail from America, land of the hot dog!"
"America? That's really neat! I hope to move there and become a dancer someday!"
"A… pole dancer?"
"That's not funny."
"Then it's not true either, I take it."
"No!" she said, elbowing his arm.
"Right, then. I apologize."
They were silent for about a minute, when Téa suddenly spoke.
"What do you hope to do when you're older?"
"Oh, I don't know. I have no plans as of now."
"You sound upset."
"I just recently began contemplating why I came here and realized that I have found no clues and/or leads towards Pegasus's disappearance. I am sad."
"Well, I'm sure something will come up. He can't be dead or the whole world would have known by now."
"I suppose. If that is so, however, then what happened? Where is he?"
"I wish I knew… You really are determined to find him, though."
"Why would I not? He is not only a role model, but a good friend."
"I like that about you," she said, blushing slightly.
"What???" he asked quickly. Just as fast, he corrected himself. "I mean, you like what about me?"
Téa looked up to the sky and said, "I like that you're so fiercely loyal to your friends, but not only that. I also like how you're so friendly even to those you don't know. I remember what you did for Yugi back when you defeated the rare hunter. You blindly went in there without even caring about the consequences. It was really nice of you to do that."
"Bah! It would have been a major disadvantage for Yugi to face that burlap sack of stinky stink with the condition he was in!"
"You wouldn't have helped if he was well?"
"Anyone who can defeat Maximillion Pegasus is more than capable of handling themselves against a mere rare hunter. However, I would have offered support from the side."
"I guess you're right."
"Just then, a few teen-aged boys approached them. They appeared to be unfriendly. One wore a backwards baseball cap. He had long hair that came down to his shoulders. Another had his hair buzzed off. The last appeared to be the youngest. He had a small cut on his cheek.
The one with the baseball cap stepped forward and said, "You two are out awfully late. It could be dangerous to wander around alone at this time of the night."
"Yeah," snickered the buzzed one. "How much money ya got?"
"You should have plenty in that coat of yours," said the young one with a sneer.
Téa remained silent while Von Stupor slid his hands into the sleeves of his cope and fastened snaps, saying, "I have one rupee! It is Indian currency and if you ask me real nicely, I might let you hold it!"
"Don't pull no shit with us!" said the one in the baseball cap. "You wouldn't want anything bad to happen, would you?"
On saying this, the two older boys pulled out switchblades. Téa was frozen in shock.
"I have no Japanese currency, but if you wish, I can give you one Canadian nickel. The rupee must stay with me, though. It has sentimental value," Von Stupor offered.
"Don't screw with us, man!" said the boy with the buzzcut menacingly. "Give us the money and no one will get hurt!"
Téa began to reach into her purse, but von Stupor quickly grabbed her hand, shaking his head.
"They'll hurt us if we don't!" she whispered.
"No they won't," Von Stupor said aloud. "If they do anything, they will be tracked down and punished accordingly."
The one in the baseball cap seemed irritated at this remark.
"You want a demonstration, freak?!" he asked.
Von Stupor stood up, arms wide open, and with a chuckle, said,"Do it, he who has no future!"
The two boys then proceed to stab Von Stupor multiple times in his stomach. Téa watched in horror as Von Stupor fell to the ground, his cope tattered.
"Now that we got your boyfriend taken care of, what can we do with you?" said the one with the buzzcut to Téa with a sick grin.
Téa was frozen in fear as the two older boys slowly moved toward her. Just then, the youngest boy piped up.
"Guys, look at your knives!!!" he shouted.
The two older boys looked at their switchblades to find a shocking surprise; their knives had no blood on them whatsoever.
"If you are to stab a man to death," they heard Von Stupor shout from behind them. "make sure you pierce every layer of clothing!!!"
As the boys wheeled around to see Von Stupor holding his tattered cope in his hands, Von Stupor swung his cope and smashed the youngest to the side. The youngest fell and hit his head on a tree root, knocking him out. Immediately after hitting the youngest, Von Stupor brought his cope into the air and slammed it upon the buzzcutted kid's head, knocking him out as well. By this time, the one in the baseball cap had time to react. He lunged at Von Stupor with the switchblade, but Von Stupor held the cope in front of him like a shield and the cope was stabbed instead. The kid slammed the knife down, cutting the cope in half. Von Stupor pulled a flyswatter out of it and dropped the cope to the ground.
The kid would try to stab and slash at von Stupor, but every time he did, von Stupor would hop back and swat his hand. After a few minutes of this, the kid lunged angrily at Von Stupor. Von Stupor used his flyswatting hand to knock his hand holding the knife and hit the kid with a left hook, followed by two hard smacks across his face with the flyswatter. At this time, the kid's hand was bright red and covered with welts. Getting desparate, he jumped over to Téa and grabbed her from behind, putting the knife to her throat.
"You make one move and I'll slit her!" he said, backing up.
Von Stupor pointed behind the kid and said, "Look! A distraction!"
The kid stupidly looked away and von Stupor gave the kid a fierce smack on the hand. The kid howled in pain and dropped the knife. Téa quickly got away and Von Stupor, seizing the opportunity, grabbed the kid by the head and slamming it face-first into his mask. The kid's nose was shattered and blood spewed from it. Von Stupor let him drop to the ground where he laid, crying in pain.
Téa, realizing it was over, ran over to Von Stupor and latched herself to him. Von Stupor grunted in confusion.
"You could've been killed…" she said with relief. "Why did you do that???"
"My cope is very thick," he answered, struggling for air. "I knew their puny knives wouldn't pierce the whole thing. Why do you ask?"
"I was so scared, I thought you were hurt…"
"Do not fear for me, fear for yourself. I am expendible."
She finally let go of him and he nonchalantly sucked in a mouthful of air.
"You would sacrifice your life for me?"
"I would sacrifice my life for anyone who is deserving of it."
Téa stared at Von Stupor for a moment. Breaking the silence, Von Stupor looked away and said, "You should probably go home before these delinquents recover."
Téa agreed and Von Stupor followed her home.
Before going inside, she said to von Stupor, "Thank you, Von Stupor… for everything you've done."
"Téa, seeing Yugi's dark Magician and Millennium Puzzle in his possession, or seeing you safe from harm, or seeing any of my attempts at a good deed not made in vain is thanks enough for me."
Téa smiled sweetly at Von Stupor, but as she did, he clenched his chest with his right hand and wobbled a bit.
"Von Stupor—" she started.
"D-don't ask," he cut her off, panting. "I-I'm fine, but… I must go. Good night."
"Good night, and good luck at the finals tomorrow. I'll be rooting for all of you."
Von Stupor nodded, still breathing heavily. He then headed back to his hotel room.