Chapter Four

Duelist of the Flame

"You're setting yourself up for a fall, Deirdre," Yami Bakura chuckled, already forming strategies in his head. But one particular strategy trumped all others. He just had to draw the necessary cards. "I have experience years beyond yours. And I am being very literal about that."

"I'll be sure to kiss your shoes later, Your Highness," Deirdre deadpanned, "but for now just lay your cards."

Bakura nodded and glimpsed his hand. A sinister grin spread across his face and he drew a card. He set one card down then took up another.

"My first monster of the game will be Doma, the Angel of Silence." Appearing in a swirling funnel of smoke, an armored woman with skeletal wings appeared. She carried a gnarled sword in her right hand and a large eye adorned the front of her breastplate.

"I also play the Pot of Greed." An ornate clay jar appeared on the field emblazoned with a grinning face. Its effect activated, Bakura drew two more cards from his deck.

Deirdre had always firmly believed that a good, confident duelist could discern what their opponent will do simply by reading his or her expressions. Bakura's snide grins and full-throated laughter told Deirdre that he was planning something that most likely started with that down card.

"I'm looking forward to seeing which two cards your Jar allowed you to draw, Bakura." Deirdre said, more as a mocking tactic than of actual curiosity.

Bakura looked at his new cards and grinned. "Then I'll be sure to grant you the courtesy later on."

Deirdre drew a card from his deck and upon first glance began to formulate a plan. He set that card face down and another, and then set a monster card on the field. "I play the Kwagar Hercules in defense mode." A large brown beetle appeared, sporting huge mandibles and thick armor. "The field is yours, Bakura."

"Greatly appreciated," he laughed and flipped up his face down card. "I equip my Angel with the Axe of Despair, increasing its attack points by 1000." In place of her sword, a massive, vein-covered double axe appeared. Her attack points shot from 1600 to 2600. "Now, let's see how well you prepared. Doma! Attack the Kwagar Hercules!"

His Angel shrieked and propelled forward, using her wings like jet thrusters. She rose up over Deirdre's insect and slashed, but the axe was caught in-between his monsters huge mandible pincers.

"What?!" Bakura breathed.

"I prepared very well." Deirdre said with one finger on his now face-up trap card. "I played the insect-exclusive trap card called Attack Net. And because your monster fell for it," he snickered lightly, "her attack points are reduced by four hundred."

Bakura gritted his teeth in frustration as his Angel's attack dropped from her stupendous 2600 to 2200.

"I also play my other face-down card Mirror Image." The Kwagar Hercules beetle flashed for a minute, like the static of a broken television set, and split into two separate monsters, each with identical attack and defense scores. "Now you have two of my monsters to contend with."

Bakura shook his head. "That still won't be enough. Expend your turn and let's get on with your drubbing."

Deirdre drew another card and set it into his hand, then set down another monster card. "I sacrifice one of my Kwagar Hercules and summon my mightiest card, the Flame Champion." In place of his insect, a man appeared wearing an armored suit, a plated petticoat, and handling a longsword. In his other hand was a large shield wreathed in flame.

Bakura scoffed. "That is your mightiest card? Well, this duel will be easier than I thought."

"I'm not done," Deirdre said, irritated that he was so quickly dismissed. "I lay another card face-down and play Salamandra." The Flame Champion grinned and took a step forward, thrusting his sword above his head. A burning yellow snake wrapped itself around the blade and changed its color from steel silver to bright crimson. His attack was now 2600.

Deirdre grinned at Bakura's angered expression. "His attack is now greater than that of your Angel, so what is your move going to be? Flame Champion, attack with Burning Sword Slash!"

His monster charged forward, shield before him at the defensive. He tackled the Angel in a cloud of embers, knocking her off-balance then sundered her down the middle, dropping Bakura's life points down to 3600.

"Well played," Bakura said, still looking rather irritable but not completely peeved. "Now we have a game."

"Quite," was all Deirdre said and he braced for Bakura's next move.

"But, just as a friendly warning, if you knew what I had in store you would forfeit the match now. The hands of fate are not in your favor today."

Deirdre curiously raised his eyebrow but decided to ignore Bakura's banter, obviously meant to distract and worry his opponent's, and focused completely on the duel. As he watched Bakura draw another card, he shot the crowd a quick glance. A veritable barrier of cheering people had surrounded him and Bakura and among them were Yugi and his friends, all nervously biting their fingernails. But Skylar was nowhere to be seen.

"You should be here for this, Sky. This is a good lesson." He said quietly to himself, and then turned back to his opponent.

*~*~*~*~*

A quiet rapping sounded at the door to Skylar's room. Another few attempts and she finally forced her sleep-deprived eyes open and looked around blankly for the source of the disturbance. Soon another series of soft knocking struck her door.

"Yeah?" She said, her normally high soprano voice gruff and hoarse.

The door creaked open and her mother stepped in. "Sky, are you okay? You look terrible."

"I'm just tired," she replied and brushed her messy, tangled hair away from her eyes.

"Well, it is the weekend but you should probably get showered and dressed soon. The Battle City tournament has already started for the day. A few of the matches are being aired over KCSK right now."

Skylar blinked experimentally a few times then swung her legs over the side of the bed. "That's Kaiba Corp's. television station, right? Wow, Seto Kaiba usually just broadcasts the stock market on that channel."

Her mother smiled and nodded. "Well, whenever you're ready, come on down."

Then a mental reminder of something struck Skylar like a bus. "Mom! Wait!" She got up and pulled down the T-shirt she was wearing that doubled as a nightgown. "By chance, did you see a short, creepy-looking boy wearing a bandanna in any of those matches? His name is Deirdre Masako."

Her mom, with one hand on the doorknob, looked up at the ceiling for a moment then nodded. "Yes, I think I do recall a boy by that name. He's dueling another boy with pointed silver hair named Bakura Ryou." She snickered to herself. "Kids these days and their fancy hairdo's."

Skylar smiled and ran over to her dresser, snatched out a set of clothes then bolted past her mother and into the bathroom. After a second, she opened the door and peeked around the doorframe. "By the way, thanks!" She shut the door again and soon after the shower water began to run.

Her mother closed her bedroom door, shrugged and went back downstairs.

*~*~*~*~*

"C'mon, Bakura! That was nothing but a small setback, buddy!" Joey shouted over the dissonance of cheering and applause coming from other people in the crowd. An equal amount seemed to be rooting for both competitors. When a guy next to Joey cheered for Deirdre, he got a sharp elbow thrust in the side. Joey pretended he didn't do it by whistling merrily to himself.

"I'll even the playing field with this. Go, Illusionist Faceless Mage!" A bizarre creature with three heads appeared, one being a blank countenance and the other two flanking it were of a boy and girl marionette. "This is one of the best defenses I have. My mage can manipulate your attacks and return them back at your monsters once per turn. So no matter which of your monsters attacks I will come out on top regardless."

Deirdre's bad mood only increased every time he saw that wicked grin on Bakura's face. And this time he had a very dangerous defense. If his Flame Champion attacked then the attack would be caught and fired back at his Kwagar Hercules, destroying it and reducing his life points. If his insect attacked, then the attack would be returned to his Champion, and his life points would be deducted from half of his attack points and still destroy the beetle. So physically attacking was currently out of the question, but that didn't mean he had no way of destroying the Faceless Mage.

"And I'll end my turn after I lay this card face-down." Bakura chuckled and looked up at Deirdre. "Your move."

Deirdre nodded and again, drew a card from his deck. "I've been screwed out of one duel already today, so I won't lose this one," Deirdre said quietly to himself. "I'll lay this card face-down and play the Darkfire Soldier #1 in defense mode." Appearing next to the Flame Champion, Deirdre's blazing samurai appeared and crossed his swords in a defensive "X" pattern.

Bakura looked at Deirdre's three monsters and grinned, then nodded understandably. "I know what this is for," he said quietly so that not even Deirdre could hear him. "I can prevent it, though." He drew another card from his deck and smiled menacingly once he saw it. He placed it in his hand and took out another. "I play Gemini Elf in defense mode." Two beautiful elven women appeared embracing each other alongside the Illusionist Faceless Mage.

"But that is only half the fun. I now play the Zera Ritual card." Behind Bakura's monsters appeared a regal figure hidden behind a heavy cloak and sitting in a large golden throne.

In the crowd, Yami Yugi took one look at the forming ritual and gasped; amazed that Bakura had such a rare card. Not to mention one that had given him so many problems in the past.

Tea looked at Yugi beside him and gently shook his shoulder. "Yugi? Is something wrong?"

He nodded. "Yes, the Zera Ritual card summons the very powerful machine monster Zera the Mant. I'm dumbfounded that Bakura has gotten a hold of such a powerful combination."

At the mere mention of the word "powerful," Joey and Tristan began to cheer insanely.

"Yeah, buddy! You lay out this Didgeridoo kid! He doesn't stand a chance with your mad skills running wild!"

Yami Bakura shrugged. "What can I say? They are right, 'Didgeridoo.' You don't stand a chance." He took his two monster's cards off his Duel Disk's battlefield plate and laid down the Zera the Mant card. "I offer my Illusionist Faceless Mage and my Gemini Elf as a sacrifice!" His two monsters were struck with twin beams from the cloaked individual's eyes and exploded into twisting globes of smoke. "Now, I summon the unstoppable Zera the Mant!"

The two sacrificial monsters combined into one, forming a giant funnel of red smoke. Once the cloud lifted, a giant fanged beast came into being. A crimson cape billowed behind it and its huge claws stuck out in front as if they were two large to move. Its attack and defense scores were also incredible. 2800/2300.

Deirdre stared up at the beast slack-jawed. He didn't have anything strong enough in his deck to destroy this creature outright, but he did have several defenses in place that were originally meant for the Illusionist Faceless Mage. They would work just as well against Bakura's newest challenge.

"I'll have to wait until my next turn to begin your thorough thrashing, Deirdre. Until then, do whatever you think will save you. But I know for a fact it won't be enough."

"It will be enough," Deirdre grumbled and drew another card. Instantly his spirits brightened. This match wasn't looking so hopeless now. "I sacrifice my Kwagar Hercules and my Darkfire Soldier #1 and summon the Barrel Dragon!" Once his two other monsters vanished, a huge mechanical dragon appeared wielding three long cannons and sitting atop treaded wheels.

Bakura clenched his fist and released a deep, feral growl. "It still isn't enough. Zera the Mant can withstand its three attacks and after your pathetic attempt at destroying him, I'll strike down your Barrel Dragon, then your Flame Champion, and then the remainder of your life points!"

Deirdre set another face down magic card and pointed his outstretched finger at Bakura. "Do the math! Your monster cannot withstand a 2600 attack three times! Barrel Dragon! Use Photon Blaster and destroy Zera the Mant!"

The Barrel Dragon howled and began to charge its three smoothbore howitzers. A moment later, they all fired, sending three bolts of energy at Bakura's monster.

"Not so fast! I activate Rebound!" The three attacks from Deirdre's monster entered a sparking cerulean vortex that appeared and saved his monster from certain death. The three attacks then formed into one and left the portal, making a beeline back at Deirdre's monster.

Deirdre pressed one of the buttons on his Duel Disk and activated his own face down card. "Negate Attack!" The Barrel Dragon's returned blasts vanished into another portal and this time, left for good. But after all that, he had accomplished nothing and it was now Bakura's turn.

"Admirable, Deirdre, but ultimately futile. Your dragon is about to meet his maker! Zera the Mant, attack with Jagged Claw Slash!"

The giant beast lunged forward and prepared to cleave Deirdre's monster, but he was further prepared for Bakura's attack. "Flame Champion, activate Incinerator!"

The Flame Champion jumped in front of the Barrel Dragon, seemingly to his death, but Deirdre's face-down card flipped up and the Champion raised his shield, which set a towering wall of fire in front of the two monsters. Zera's attack stopped before it got anywhere near the fire, but it was still repelled by the unbearable heat.

"What?! Impossible!" Bakura screamed as his monster returned to its previous place breathing hard. Black, acrid smoke rose painfully from its oversized claws.

"And you mocked me for placing faith in my Flame Champion. He's my best card because he never fails me. The Incinerator is a card exclusive to him that neutralizes any attacks pitted against it, but that is not all. Your Zera the Mant is now burned and it will lose five hundred attack points every turn until it is at zero."

Yami Bakura was beyond furious. He looked at his hand and saw nothing that would be able to help him yet. His ultimate plan could not be completed unless he had one more card. Hopefully, he would get that card very soon. If not, he was sunk.

"Hey! No fair!" Shouted Joey.

"Yeah, c'mon! Don't take that, Bakura!" Further encouraged Tristan. "You can still win this! Show us some fancy comeback tricks!"

Yugi gave Tea a worried look but said nothing and returned his gaze to the duel.

"Don't give up on Bakura yet, Yugi. He can still win this. You've come back from the brink of defeat on more than one occasion and so can he."

Yugi shook his head. "That isn't my concern. This duel is insignificant. But Bakura is still under the control of the spirit of the Millennium Ring, and the spirit is becoming desperate. His anger is fueling his drive to win and in the end, such unbridled anger will destroy them both."

Tea gasped and looked back at the duel. Bakura was still enraged but she could also see a slight glimmer of amusement in his expression. He was planning something big and was apparently stalling until he could accomplish it.

"I am not finished with you yet, Deirdre. You have the advantage now but by the end of this duel, I will prove victorious and the overall better duelist."

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that," Deirdre said and drew another card. He placed it into his hand and looked up at his Barrel Dragon. "All right. Dragon! Destroy Zera the Mant!"

Because Incinerator had already effected Bakura's monster, it was down too 2300 from its original 2800. And because it was still burned, Zera lost another five hundred attack points and was now a meager 1800. Either of Deirdre's monsters could finish it now.

But the Barrel Dragon had already declared its attack and fired its three shots, each one striking Zera the Mant's body with a high-pitched pinging sound. After the third one impacted, the monster exploded in a shower of depleted holographic particles. Bakura's life points were now down to 2800 and Deirdre's had yet to be affected.

Deirdre gestured toward his other monster. "Now, Flame Champion! Attack Bakura's life points directly!"

With a pleased grin, Deirdre's fiery knight leapt forward and slashed at Bakura with his sword, enhanced by Salamandra. Bakura yelled as he shielded his eyes from the brightness and heat of the attack. The shear force knocked him to the ground. When he looked back up, the Flame Champion was standing over him and grinning. His life points now barely survived with a scant two hundred.

Bakura got to his feet and cursed under his breath. Though he cared nothing for those people in the crowd, they were still cheering him on and that gave him, or more accurately, his other half, a greater drive to win. He was no longer guarded by anything so one more attack and he would be finished. He closed his eyes and practically begged whoever or whatever might be watching the duel to help him. He drew a card and his eyes widened.

Deirdre saw it too and prepared for the worst.

"Hey! Deirdre!"

He turned in the direction of the voice and saw Skylar next to Tea waving and jumping up and down. "C'mon, Deirdre! You've almost got him down! I'm counting on you!"

Deirdre wasn't sure what to make of that but he let a small smile creep on his lips. He nodded and turned back to Bakura, who's own grin had yet to subside.

"Unfortunately, your girlfriend is about to be sorely disappointed. I lay down the Destiny Board!"

Deirdre's eyes grew wide and his arm dropped limply to his side; the only card still in his hand fell to the ground. The duel was now over. He had lost.

Bakura spread out all five cards that spelled out the word "F.I.N.A.L." The Destiny Board appeared in front of him and exploded into a cackling skull, which shot forward followed by a creeping shadow and obliterated both of his monsters. Deirdre's life points plummeted down to zero.

The crowd burst into an uncontrollable machine of frenzied applause and whistling. Joey and Tristan's voices rose above the rest, however. They hugged each other and started to jump around, ignorant of how dumb and childish it looked. Tea was also all smiles but that faded into a depressed frown when she saw Yugi's face. His was a mask of disappointment.

Deirdre fell to his knees and let out a shout that was a mixture of both anger and the crushing feeling of failure. He slammed his fist into the cold concrete of the street as Bakura loomed over him, grinned and held out his hand. "I'll be taking your two cards now, as stated by the Battle City tournament rules."

Skylar was also at his side immediately to gather up a few of his fallen cards. She pulled Deirdre to his feet, though his head never left its hanging position. After a few moments of silence, Deirdre sighed and fished into his pocket, drawing out one of his locator cards. He flipped the Flame Champion off of his Duel Disk plate and handed them both to Bakura, who greedily took them.

"It was a good duel, though unsatisfactory. Come and challenge me again when you've gained at least a small measure of skill."

"Hey, c'mon, that isn't cool, Bakura." Joey said surprisingly. "Yeah he lost but it was a good duel. Can't you shake his hand and congratulate him instead of just puttin' him down?"

Bakura shot him a nefarious glance, took one last look at Deirdre, then turned around and walked away. Joey sighed, gave Tristan a light thwap on the arm and they both followed after him. Tea also had to turn away and gave chase.

Yugi, however, did not immediately leave, and placed a reassuring hand on Deirdre's shoulder. "I'm sorry, you did put up a great fight. Bakura, though...he isn't himself." He looked at Skylar, gave a curt nod then trailed after his friends.

Skylar sighed and tried to straighten him with her arms. He gave her a harsh glare, then turned away and started walking toward a nearby bench. He sat down, and instantly slammed his fist against the wood. It cracked under the pressure.

Skylar sat down next to him and looked him over, trying to restrain the tears wanting to come into her eyes. "C'mon, Deirdre. Don't be so bummed. I wasn't when I lost."

He nodded insincerely and looked up at her. She smiled when his eyes found hers but he again looked away.

She brushed away one tear that trickled down her cheek. "If it makes you feel any better, I still want to be your apprentice. Your duel was still exceptional. He won only because of a card that gives him the win by default! You would have won if it wasn't for that card."

He nodded slowly, though how Bakura won didn't matter. The fact remained that he lost, and it crushed him internally. "Damn," he whispered, and looked at his Duel Disk. Though the holo-imagers returned automatically, he didn't return it to its neutral position. He did so, then undid the latch and slid it off. He let the Duel Disk drop down on the bench next to him.

"Y-your not going to quit, are you?" Skylar said, quiet as a mouse.

Deirdre shrugged. "I don't know." An absolutely silent minute passed and he let out a heavy-hearted sigh. "Damn."