Disclaimer: Put simply, I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or its characters. I do own all of my original characters. Oh yeah, I own the Thunder Mage monster too!
Replies to Reviews:
AuroranWings: Yes...slow them down. That's it... ::evil grin:: Kaiba's a weirdo, I agree.
Ayame akakaru KaibaPerfect chapter? Well, thank you. He wasn't supposed to kill them...just slow them down. Of course, that didn't really matter to those thugs. Tory can also summon a monster without a duel disk because her Essence Tauk allows her to do so.
Sylvia Viridian: When you say 'Kura-kun'...are you talkin' about Akogi? Because that question shall be answered now.
T-Bone: Yep, Akogi's way too thick! Akogi's name is Japanese, so it'd be pronounced in...three different syllables, if you know what I mean – I did Japanese at school so it's no problem for myself. Tory's not psychic (I can't spell it either), she's just one of those people o.0
MidnightBallad's Notes: Here's a new chapter for my reviewers. Enjoy it! A very special appearance by...someone...in the next chapter!
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Chapter VI:
"I Can Help You"
Tory sat up, frowning slightly. 'Where'd our spiky-haired Egyptian man go?'
Yami laughed softly. 'Are you talking about me, or Marik?'
Tory laughed too. Yami seemed to have dug out a small sense of humour since their last story together. Tory got up off the bench, gazing around for Marik. She saw him sitting by a large pond, where a few ducks were swimming around.
'I'll be back.' Tory said, going over to him. She wasn't sure if she could trust Marik – but he had bought her here without delay – then again, Yami said he was known to be a little strange.
Marik looked up as Tory stepped up behind him. He noticed that her eyes changed from blue to brown as the sun hit them. 'Hi.'
Tory nodded back to Yami. 'We have to get going. Kaiba may not be here yet, but we still have to hurry.' She doubted every word she said.
Marik was quickly off the subject. 'Whatever. You don't look too well.'
'I don't see why you should care.' Tory said coldly. Marik just held his hands up in defeat and stood up. He stretched and said, 'I guess I have to thank you for the incident in the airport.'
A raised eyebrow from Tory. 'What?'
'The bullet – when it froze. You did that, didn't you? You summoned one of your Duel Monsters like you did the Thunder Mage.' He smirked. 'Impressive, I didn't think you would be able to work the power of your Essence Tauk so fast.'
Tory gave him a look. And then she said, 'I've owned it for a long time, both in this life and the previous. You can be certain I can use it. As for freezing the bullet...no problem.'
She and Marik went back to Yami, who was on his feet and talking to an old man walking through the park. He seemed to be giving Yami directions to Akogi's building. Yami nodded and went up to the other two.
'Its just down the street,' he said. 'Apparently Akogi doesn't like those who haven't made an appointment.'
Tory grinned. 'Yeah? I think we can manage.' The grin was nice and evil.
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'Do you have an appointment?' The receptionist at Akogi's building asked. Marik and Yami groaned silently, but Tory kept her cool.
'I am the granddaughter of...Mister O'Brian – he bid on the scales Akogi but on the Internet. Just last night, he bid. But he's ill, got a crooked leg and wanted me and to come talk to Akogi about it. He's offering more than a million dollars for them.'
The receptionist obviously knew nothing of Seto Kaiba already purchasing the Essence Scales, and said, 'Okay, then. Go on up to level twenty-five.'
'Thanks.' Tory said, hurrying off the elevator with Yami and Marik. She gave a loud sigh as she entered and the doors slid shut.
'Nice work.' Marik commented.
'Thanks, I didn't think she'd fall for it.'
Ping! Level 25.
'Here we go.' Yami said, stepping into the office. The guards glared down at the trio, and Akogi rotated slightly on his chair. He gave them a tiresome look. 'Can I help you?'
Marik said, 'We want to have a look at those scales you're selling.'
Akogi smiled slightly. 'Too late – someone already got them.'
Tory closed her eyes, shaking her head. 'Damn it. I knew Kaiba would get here before us.'
Akogi shrugged. 'That's the way the cookie –' He paused, frowning slightly. 'What's wrong with 'ya head?'
Tory's hand went to the wound on her head. It was bleeding again. 'Oh, that? Nothing too serious.'
Akogi's bright eyes narrowed. 'You three didn't happen to be at the airport during the gun firing, did you?' He glanced at Yami, who had dust from the wall on the jacket....must have settled there after a bullet had hit the wall and crumbled it.
Tory jumped to the opportunity. 'Yeah. We came to get the scales, but Kaiba sent his henchmen to slow us –'
Yami clamped a hand over her mouth. He said to Akogi, 'What she means, is that...we were supposed to be helping Kaiba, but his goons thought we were trying to steal from him.'
'You're a bad liar, Yugi. Yeah, I know you. Who doesn't?' Akogi got out of his chair. 'I had no idea that you would want the scales. Perhaps they're of more value than I thought.' He turned to Tory. 'Tell me...what do they mean to you?'
'Nothing –' Yami began, but Akogi cut him off.
'I wasn't asking you, Yugi. I was asking your lady friend.'
Oh, man... Tory thought, rolling her eyes. 'They're...' She paused, looked at Yami. He shook his head. Marik, however, nodded.
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'So – these three thousand year old scales are dangerous?' Akogi asked, eyebrow raised slightly. By now, he was sitting on his desk, and the other three on three other seats. Tory had just told him all the background on both the Millennium and Essence Items, and how they were connected.
Tory licked her dry lips. 'Yep.'
'And Kaiba wants them all? But you already have one?'
'Yep.'
Akogi leant over his desk, picking up a small laptop. 'The least I can do is direct you to the man with the Essence Eyeball then.'
'Essence Eye.' Yami corrected him flatly.
Akogi paused, before going back to work. There was a full minute's pause, before something spat itself from the printer and floated to the floor. Marik leaned over his chair to pick it up. Grimacing, he said, 'I already knew where he was.'
'Good for you.' Akogi said, closing his laptop. 'Now...good luck on the rest of your quest. May the road rise to meet you...and so forth.'
He went back to his desk. Yami and Marik left first, and then Tory. But as she left, the guards barred her way. Tory paused, and then looked behind her to Akogi. He was standing up, and slowly walking toward her.
'Well, well. I didn't think that those scales were worth anything.' He paused a few feet from Tory, sinisterly smiling. 'I guess I was wrong...and you have the Essence Tauk. It's no surprise you want the other items also. I can help you...' he slid a single finger up Tory's neck and to her chin, so gently that Tory shivered. 'If you play the cards right. Can you consider my offer?'
Tory froze. Another cold chill went down her body. But, quite suddenly, anger raced through her body and Tory's eyes sparked with complete disgust. 'Yeah, that'll happen...' With that, she turned and left, hopping in the elevator and racing right down to ground level.
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'Where were you?' Marik asked as Tory joined them in the foyer. He saw that she was shaking all over, and was quite flushed. Brushing her hair from her eyes, Tory muttered, 'Never mind.' She looked guiltily at Yami, before speaking to Marik again.
'We better get going. Kaiba could get to Kontan before us. It seems that using your warping magic doesn't really put us too far ahead.'
Marik folded his arms across his chest. 'It's the best we can do.' He turned and exited the building, and Tory was about to follow him, when Yami took her hand from behind.
'Are you okay?' He whispered. Tory swallowed and nodded.
'What happened?'
'Akogi thought that...hitting on me would help him get my Essence Tauk.' She turned and stared into Yami's dark eyes. 'You know...people that have the equipment to do what they want...still tend to do that –'
'HEY GUYS! Come on!' Marik shouted from outside. Tory and Yami joined him a few seconds later, Tory still looking rather flushed.
'Are we ready?' Marik asked, holding out his Millennium Rod. Tory and Yami both gave very firm nods.
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Seto Kaiba was as happy as a pig in the mud. He was missing his briefcase that held the million dollars; it had been replaced with a briefcase that held the Essence Scales. And Seto was happy that he had it instead of Tory.
He had also grabbed the location of Kontan, the Bearer of the Essence Eye, from Akogi. Seto had said that the Essence Scales were in fact for Kontan. Seto smirked – the stupid guy had believed him. So, Seto was now flying back to Japan.
Seto wasn't concerned at all about the shootout in the airport; no one knew that he had planned it. He had heard that Tory had been injured, which was an added bonus. Perhaps she'd give up the race and go back home?
Smirking again, Seto leant back in his seat and sipped a bit of wine, watching the sunset beyond his window. What a perfect day it had been for himself.
As soon as he returned home, Seto was going to boost his young secretary's payroll by a good sum. Maybe he'd throw a party for her. Because, if it hadn't been for Jemu, he wouldn't even have the Scales now.
-End chapter VI-
MidnightBallad (pointing at Akogi): AHA! I knew he wasn't right! Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. I forgot to put in the time things above each paragraph, so I've decided to leave them out. Please review, and thanks for all the previous ones!