Disclaimer: No I do not own Yugioh.

Legends of the Demon Duelist-Midnight Arc

Chapter 30: Surprise Surprise

Within a large chamber a single form sat at a throne, giving him a perfect view of the stars in their entire splendor. "It's strange to think that the whole universe is made up of hundreds of billions of stars, and yet the fate of all these things can rest in the hands of beings that could not ever hope to understand what it all is." He rested his head against a hand and chuckled. "It's time to begin the planned tournament. Heart."

Someone flickered into existence right behind the throne. "Yes milord?"

"Go and retrieve those that I have listed."

"As you wish." The humanoid disappeared.

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Ichigo rolled over in his sleep, unable to get comfy. A loud snore came from his mouth and he bit his pillow angrily, eyes shut.

Heart appeared next to him. ("The first of them.") Reaching down and tapping the boy on the back of the neck, he whispered a few words and Ichigo disappeared. ("Now for the rest of them.")

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Staring out at the night sky, the Sage of Bahamut frowned in concern. ("A great power is here…and it is doing something…taking the Children of Bahamut with it.") Standing up slowly, he walked towards the sliding door of his room and opened it. Poking his head out into the warm night, he extended his senses and felt something moving about the shrine. Everywhere the energy stopped, he felt a source of life disappear before it moved again. ("Is it after our guests?")

There was a light tapping noise coming from around the corner in the hallway.

Picking up his walking stick, the Sage turned around the corner and rubbed at his beard. "And who might you be?"

Covered from head to toe in red armor, Heart looked at the old man calmly from underneath his helmet. "I'm here to pick up your guests. My master requests their prescense. My apology if this causes you any problems."

"I suppose there is no problem…you are Heart?"

"Yes." Heart was slightly surprised at this. "How do you know who I am?"

"I have spoken with your master in the past…and I understand who he is." The Sage turned and walked towards his room again. "I'm going to bed."

Heart disappeared. ("Now it's Hand's time to work.")

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Midnight kept his back against his throne, clutching at the wounds he had sustained when Kifunsuiryu had struck him with its Hell Pile-driver. ("That little child will be crushed beneath the hell of the final dark child…")

A wraith appeared alongside him. "Master…we have located the final Yami Makai Kami no Kado."

After getting over his moment of pleasure at hearing this, Midnight turned to look at his servant. "Where?"

"Right here." A yellow-armored form appeared at the foot of the throne, a card held in its hand. "I am Hand, and you will come with me."

Midnight looked down at the armored form…and then snapped his fingers. Fire exploded up around the humanoid in a pillar. "No one tells me what to do."

"I'll repeat myself only once more." Hand stepped out of the fire, completely unharmed. "Come with me."

Midnight growled and stood up, ignoring the pain in his side. "And I'll only repeat myself once more as well!"

"There is no need." Hand appeared next to him and grabbed his right arm. A second later Midnight disappeared.

The Wraith reached out to grab Hand, but he was already standing next to the time-frozen form of Kilomet Sestros. "Considering your situation, I will assume you would come willingly." Grabbing the Torture King's arm, he disappeared along with his passenger.

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Sitting in his seat and still looking out at the stars, the man smiled as he felt two of his servants return. "You have them?"

"Yes milord," both Hand and Heart said at once, kneeling behind the throne. "We shall retrieve the remaining numbers.

"There is no need for that." A blue-armored form appeared between them both. "I have already collected the rest of them."

"Excellent work Brain." The man sat back in his chair and smiled. "I suppose I'll have to explain to them what this is all about. But for now…let's see how they react." Closing his eyes, he saw a giant beautiful hotel lobby. Within it were thirty-two different people…and a lot of things at once.
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Rikuo clenched his fist and pointed at two demons. "I'm not sure who I want to beat the life out of first! But oh happy day, because I've got you both within my grasp!"

Sestros cracked his knuckles and got ready to fight. "Keep talking Mutt."

Midnight, his black hair and red eyes glittering the light of the lobby, frowned at the fact that he was suddenly in a room surrounded by groups of humans and demons. Most of which had an agenda against him.

Ichigo stepped forward, his eyes beginning to turn night black. "It's my lucky day…I'm going to rip you apart. I don't know how I got here, but this will be nice…" He started to advance towards the demon.

Until a loud tapping caught the attention of everyone in the room. Standing at the desk of the lobby was an old man in a butler's suit. "If you would please look here…presenting the lord of this manor."

A man wearing a feudal Japanese lord's garments walked down a staircase, a sword strapped to his side. He had his red hair done up in a pony-tail, and his brown eyes swept over the assembled thirty-two quickly. "Greetings one and all! I am the Mediator. It is a pleasure to meet all of you. Welcome to the Tournament of Tears."

"Tournament?" Deondre Anderson stepped forward. "We didn't sign up for any tournament."

"That you didn't, but some of you were rescued from rather distasteful positions to be brought here." He tilted his head in the direction of Ryu, Daniel, Adriel, Kenshin and Ahran. "And by entering, win or lose, you may keep your souls."

Ryu narrowed his eyes. "I'll participate…if just for a chance to get at the blasphemer." He glanced over at Midnight angrily.

The Mediator glanced at all of the gathered demon and humans again. "Well then…shall we get the preliminary matches underway?" Turning, he began to walk up the stairs. "Follow me please. If you do not have a deck then one will be provided to you!"

Jennie nearly crashed into Daniel in her hurry to hug him. "Dear…what's going on?"

"I have no absolutely no idea…" Hugging her back with one arm, he watched the Mediator's back. ("You're familiar…like I should know you. Why?")

Slowly, everyone filed up the stairs.

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The Mediator led them all to a giant arena, with balconies surrounding it on all sides. "Come along now, find a seat." He walked down along the arena floor to a large statue of a dragon at one end.

Everyone quickly found their seat amongst the balconies, though it was difficult for many of the demons not to start fighting over the fact that they were sitting so close to their hated enemies.

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Ichigo looked at the Mediator and growled darkly. Something about that guy pissed him off. ("Smug bastard interferes with our world and without a word of explanation expects us to play his little games.")

("Go with it for now.") Halo spoke quietly in his head. ("This might be our chance to stop Midnight before he hurts anyone else.")

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Standing in front of the statue, the Mediator lifted his hand up and snapped his fingers. A hole opened in the wall next to him and revealed a screen. "First, let the preliminary matches start! Go randomizer!"

Names began flashing across the screen…and then it stopped.

First match: Ichigo Pilkington vs. Ahran Amero

Ichigo blinked in surprise…and realized that as he was standing up someone else was standing up at the same time. Slowly he turned his head…and found himself staring at his mirror image, which were a few seats away. "Ahran…you're…not part of me?"

"No…not this time." Closing his emerald eyes, the wolf demon leapt from the balcony and landed on the arena floor. "Let's begin…Ichigo. I have no hate against you, but my father spoke with me shortly before we left that lobby. I will duel without regret in my heart. I apologize for the fact that you will not win."

Ichigo dropped down next to him. "Speak all you want about winning, but understand that I plan on taking down Midnight."

"We'll see…" Both of them loaded up their duel disks.

The Mediator smiled slightly. "And here are the rules. Each player has 4000 life points, and basic card rules apply. No God Cards may be played, however. Also, cheating will result in instant disqualification. Now, begin!"

Ichigo- 4000

Ahran- 4000

Ichigo drew. "Let's do it! Duel!"

And all the while the Mediator smiled slightly and rested his back against the statue. ("It will all come to pass…the ultimate power will be mine.")

End of Season; Continued in Tournament of Tears Arc

To Star AJT: Yeah, but for now the Mediator has it.

To Wolfy: Yes, I do duel in regional tournaments sometimes.

To Seeker of the Soul: It isn't like Bringer of Ragnarok is going to find lots of use in this tournament.

To Lucien Shadow Master: Apocalypse? No, Ragnarok means Ragnarok. It's a big end all battle between the Norse gods.