I'm really sorry about the late update. I originally had the author's note up, because I realized how horribly late I was on an update. But here we are! Duels are coming next chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh.
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Aida walked up the stairs of her apartment. She did not want the rare hunters to attack her while she was unaware or asleep, so she agreed to go with Yugi, but she did not want to depend on him any longer. She also knew that if that white-haired guy was going to be around, it was better if she returned to her apartment again. She unlocked the door and walked inside to find the super had fixed the windows, but there was still broken glass all over the floor. She put her bag down, tossed down her mail, and went to grab a broom for the glass. She threw all the shards in the trash, and sat down at the counter in the kitchen. It felt good to be back in her own place again. She had not realized how much she had missed it.
She walked over to a linen closet in the hallway and opened the door. Instead of linens, however, there was a strange array of weapons and ancient looking items hanging on the walls and on shelves that lined the small space. She pulled a chest from a dark corner. It had Egyptian symbols carved over its dark, wooden surface. She opened it up, and pulled out several weapons and strange paraphernalia. If Bakura was to return, she would be ready.
She walked into the living room and picked up her forgotten mail. She never got that much seeing as how she tried to keep a low profile. There were a few bills, but stuck between them was a flyer about the Battle City tournament. It intruiged her a bit. She knew that Yami would not be able to resist it.
"Come one, come all to see the best players from around the world compete in the biggest battle tournament ever thrown in Duel Monster history," she read to herself. 'A duel monsters tournament in Domino, huh? It's thrown by the High Priest himself. Interesting, but I have a bad feeling about this.'
She put the folded flyer into her pocket, went into her bedroom, and packed a bag. In light of the tournament, she would have to make certain preparations. She grabbed her sword and started to the door, but before she could touch the handle she felt a presence behind her. She whipped out her metal staff as the metal cling rang through the room and spun around ready to strike anything that moved.
"You are leaving?," Shadi asked from inside the apartment.
"I must," she said calming down, "There are some matters I need to tend to." She turned to leave.
"The Pharaoh is about to go through a trying time and great battle, yet you are leaving his side?," he almost taunted.
She stopped with her back still to him, but he could still feel the icy glare, "I would never leave Yami's side. You know that, so why would you say such a thing?"
"I was testing you," he replied plainly, "You still feel guilty for what happened 5000 years ago, do you not?"
"When you have nothing but eternity, it's hard to forget. Besides, I let him down, and there is no shame in feeling guilt for that."
"When will you see that it was not you who failed him, but the lines of fate ending for you?"
"Fate?," she asked simply turning around to face him. Her moon colored eyes were sharp and icy, "I've always heard you talk of fate as if it is some wonderful being that decides your destiny. As if the entire world is only spinning because fate decides it to be so. If this is true, then fate has damned me. It is no more my friend than the demons that haunt the realm of shadows, and as far as I'm concerned it can forget about me."
"It was your fate to be with the Pharaoh just as it was your fate to die that day!," Shadi said in a demanding voice, "Do you deny them both because of your own fickle mind?"
She laughed sardonically, "Why do you come here, Shadi? Why do you even care? You do not walk endlessly around this earth like I do for my sake. You do it because you promised Yami you would be by his side, so why do you continue to linger with me as well?"
"You are just as much a part of him, as he is of you. When I promised him, I promised you as well."
"Well, you needn't have. I can take care of myself. Now if you'll excuse me."
"Why do you dodge questions that would open yourself?," Shadi interjected.
"Why do you pry into me by asking them?," she spat back.
"I'm trying to show you how you are. You dwell on the past, but insist on being haunted by it. You close yourself off to everyone, even the very man who should be told everything about you and inside you. You deal with everything with an iron fist instead of a sharp wit like your brother would have. . ."
"Why do you bring him into this?," she demanded.
"You will find out in due time," he said simply, "You truly are his sister; with mirrored talents and aspects. . ."
"Truly was his sister. He's dead, and is no longer a part of my life."
"You look at him in such a poor light?"
"Why should I dwell on his memory if he is long gone? It will only bring back pain that I do not need. In 5000 years and more lifetimes than I care to remember, the one thing that I have learned more than any is that forgetting things that cannot be fixed or brought back is the only way to survive. One can spend their entire lifetime wishing to see one single person again. I wished to see Yami and my brother. My brother is long gone, and I will never be able to leave this hell of a world to see him. He is best forgotten and laid to rest. I was able to see Yami once more, but he has forgotten every trace of me in his life. I mourned for my brother and yearned for the day I would see Yami again for hundreds of lifetimes, and look what it has gotten me; nothing but a cold slap in the face from your beloved fate showing me why I am damned to an eternity of misery, but go on, Shadi. Talk of fate and its wondrous plan for us all. I've got better things to do than waste my time on it any longer. I will not leave Yami's side even if it means I have to be taunted by his presence every day, but I will not stand here and be goaded by you all day!" She walked out and slammed the door before he could say another word.
"In these 5000 years, my Queen, your heart has grown cold. A barrier of ice protects it from everyone," he walked over to the window to see her walking down the sidewalk, "Will you ever let down your guard, or are you too afraid the past will repeat itself and you will be scarred again?"
Yugi stood by the door looking out the window of the game shop. He could feel a cold draft of night air nip at his face. He searched the darkened streets and sidewalks, but saw now signs of life at all. Where had Aida gone? She left in a rush after walking in on all his friends, but the way she looked at Ryou was concerning. The moment she laid eyes on him something scared her, but what could possibly have been so scary about Ryou? Did it have anything to do with the Millennium Ring? Honda had rid them of it at Duelist Kingdom, so that was not a likely scenario, but he had read her lips. She had barely mouthed "Bakura". That was Ryou's last name, and he knew she did not know that, but he also knew that was what the spirit in the Millennium Ring had dubbed himself. Her description of the tomb robber named Bakura from the past certainly seemed to describe a harsher side of Ryou, but he was not sure if he was jumping to conclusions or if Ryou just resembled the entity from the past. Either way, Yugi could not understand what happened earlier that day, but without Aida's return, it made him feel even worse.
"Yugi," Yami said via the mind-link, "You need to get some sleep. Tomorrow you will need to prepare for the Battle City Tournament. Do not worry about Aida. I'm sure she can take care of herself."
"I know, Yami. I just can't figure out what happened today. Why did she have that terrified look on her face?"
"I don't know, Yugi, but don't worry about that right now. Aida is very strong, and it would take a lot to beat her spirit but you've got the Battle City Tournament to think about, and you need some rest."
Yugi treaded up to his room reluctantly, "Do you think she'll come back?"
The transparent spirit looked back at the door, "I feel like she will, but knowing her, she will do it on her own terms. With Aida we should expect her to take the reigns herself."
Yugi fell asleep rather quickly while Yami roamed around his soul room. He paced to and fro thinking about the tournament, Aida, the impending threat he had to stop, and everything that had come up on him. It seemed his mind never stopped working. He never ceased for a moment of the day or night. His high intellect caused his mind to constantly be reeling and never let him have a moment of rest or quiet, but he was used to it. It was often that very gift, curse, whatever you wanted to call it, that let him figure his way out of difficult situations. This tournament would be one of them. He had no idea what was waiting for him out there, but he was going to meet it head on no matter what the consequences. He did have one worry, however. No matter how much Yugi tried to convince him that he would be there for him, and help him with this task at hand, he worried for Yugi's safety. He would kill himself just to ensure Yugi's wellbeing if he had to. He did not want to see something happen to him. Not only would he never forgive himself, he would end up killing himself in misery at the thought that he harmed Yugi in some way. In all their trials together, he had created a very strong bond with the boy, and he loved him more than Yugi could probably even contemplate. He was his aibou, and nothing could ever change that. Let every adversary try as they might to take the puzzle away from them, take away everything, maybe even their lives, and it would never change the bond they held and would never deter the undying adoration Yami had for him. He came out of the puzzle and his transparent form watched Yugi sleep. He stroked a few stray strands of hair from Yugi's face. His sweet little aibou. . .
He sat down on the bed next to Yugi, and his mind changed over to Aida. Yugi had been very worried about her, and even though Yami told him not to worry, Yami couldn't help but wonder about her and where she was. She had just disappeared into thin air. Surely she had not run away. He could hardly believe everything she had told him. Had he really had someone 5000 years ago? Why did he have to forget that? It made sense, however. He could not even remember his real name let alone someone from his past, but he still felt it was important to try and remember. Though, try as he might, nothing would come to him. He knew it hurt her to think he had completely forgotten, but he wished she would understand that he had forgotten everything. Yugi had asked him why she was so bitter. Yami knew. That is exactly why he did not answer. He did not want to tell something like that to his aibou. He understood where Aida was coming from. For 5000 years she had lived and died for something, and when she finally found what she was looking for, all her hopes were slaughtered. She had lived and died, while he remained in the puzzle. He knew what it was like to see 5000 years flash by without any way to control or stop it. He remained in the scattered pieces of the puzzle feeling like he had been broken. His soul was only fragments of its former self. He had nothing, he knew nothing, and he had no one. He was blinded by darkness, and comforted only by the thought that the light might reach him one day. He knew not who he was, where he was, or if there was even a world anymore. His mind was numb, and he could not feel, see, taste, speak, or sense anything. His world was nothing but a black void of death. Was he dead? Was he alive? Nothing. Was it really him thinking, or were there demons lurking around him whispering horrible thoughts to him making him want the end of whatever hell he was trapped in. A hell it certainly was. He knew nothing but despair and being broken. He was not complete nor was he even there. It was just nothing. Everything was nothing. He held on to the singular notion that one day maybe he would see the light, and it would save him from the black oblivion that was his entity. May it all be damned. However, his light did come. After what seemed like an eternity, the light had come. He felt himself released, reborn almost. He still did not feel complete however. There was something missing in himself that he could not find, and to that very day he still had not found it. 'Maybe,' he thought, 'Maybe in this tournament, I'll find it.' With that, he retired back to the puzzle to rest as best as he could with all the thoughts and pending enemies still reeling in his head. Where was Aida anyway?
A man stared in a dark corner of the room. He grinned at it as he lit his cigarette. To anyone else, the corner was empty, but he knew there was someone standing there waiting for him to answer. He took his time in striking the lighter, inhaling the sweet flavor, and then letting the promiscuous puffs flow from him like sweet smog.
"I suppose you expect us to just give it up to you with no repercussions," he said smiling, knowing that the dark-shrouded figure was not.
"I left it here. Everyone knew who left it, and now I want it back," a woman's voice came from the corner. Aida slowly came into the light, "Are you going to give it to me? Or am I going to have to take it by force?"
"That little item you left is worth a lot of money. I'm not responsible for anything coming up missing after it has been here for over twenty years. You were thought to be dead," he said as he sucked in more of the hazy smoke, "It's amazing that twenty years hasn't taken a day from your pretty face, but other things do change. What makes you think I still have it and haven't hocked it already?"
"I know you, and you wouldn't sell it until it got you a fair enough price to get you out of this dump," she said kicking over some of the things decorating the room, "Now hand it over."
Three men from behind the desk walked around it and surrounded her. "We aren't cross, are we?," the man sitting behind it said.
She eyed the men closing in on her. This was not good, but three she could handle. If she needed to take them out, then that is what she would do, but she wanted to get what was hers and get out of there.
Dayan sat on a bench outside a card shop looking through his new pack of cards with the afternoon sun crisping his skin. He searched through them picking out which cards would be useful. He was preparing his deck. Known only by Ryou and Seto Kaiba, he was going to play in the Battle City tournament. Kaiba had indeed done his homework on duelists for his tournament. Dayan had only dueled on London's underground where dueling usually was much more serious than a friendly game. He had made a name for himself among the stragglers and thieves. It was nothing to be proud of, but he had won a lot of money, plenty of favors, and most of all respect. Dueling on the London underground was much more dangerous than many knew. Sometimes lives were put on stake let alone money and cards. Dayan had gambled a lot in his lifetime on a duel, but somehow he always felt that even if he lost, he was not losing much in the end, even if he was gambling his life.
He was mildly looking through the cards seeing if there were any he could use when one of them caught his eye. Maha Vailo peeked from behind another card. He stared at it for a moment. It almost felt as if it were burning under his fingers. He knew it meant something. There was something special about it that he could not figure out. That happened a lot to him. He would always find himself wondering if there was some hidden truth about the world he did not know. He would have strange dreams sometimes; dreams that were so real they confused him when he woke. He could not figure out where he was, what he was doing, or even who he was as he sat up in a cold sweat. He would then realize it was only a dream, or was it? He dreamt of himself in every country imaginable, speaking every language possible, and sometimes he would even dream about his own death. His death always came in the same way, however. He would feel immensely sad like a dreading depression. It was as if he was searching but all hope was lost. A black cloud would shroud him, blinding his sight, and obstructing his senses. Then he would feel the claws of the reaper dig into his skin as it steadied its prey. The sharp swoop of the scythe forged from the flames of hell as it swung toward him. The sickening slice as he was cut in half, watching his blood spew and gurgle from his other half while the hot liquid shot through his mouth, choking him in its gory effluence. He would lie in his own blood, shattered, while looking up at the demon before him. It wore rotted, human flesh like a cloak. Its own body was cavernous filled only with the screams and blood-curdled cries of the damned that were forever lost in its putrid, decayed corpse. It would make its final attack, and slay every hope he ever had.
He looked over at the people around him. They walked about getting errands done, talking to their friends and loved ones, and all the while he wondered. He wondered if they too had dreams about things they could not understand. He wondered if they were haunted every day like he was. Did they get up every morning with their pillow soaked with tears and sweat? Did they always have a deep depression lingering with them no matter what happy occasion? In every second of their miserable lives, did they feel like someone had ripped something away, and were dangling it just out of reach? He felt empty inside as if a part of him were missing, and he had no idea how to get it back. He shook his head trying to free his mind of his thoughts. It was not the time to be thinking about things like that.
He brought out his deck and added the new card. He stared at his deck for a moment. He had been in many tough situations where it was necessary for him to duel, and it was the deck that had brought him victory every time. It was a part of him in every way possible. He kept his total faith in it, and never let it waver. It was one of only two prized possessions that he ever held dear. The only other thing he cared deeply for was the necklace he was never without. It was a small silver pendant with a moon over looking mountains and stars. He did not remember where he got it from, he only knew that it meant something. Whether it was from a mother he never knew, or he just found it on the ground, he did not know. He had it since before he could remember, and it never left him. It was almost as if it was trying to tell him some hidden truth about himself, but he could never understand its message.
"You still have that necklace," a woman's voice came from behind him. He turned around to see a woman in Egyptian robes with a veil over half her face. She had gold adornments about her that looked old, ancient even.
"Who are you?," he asked curiously.
"I see your memories have not returned yet," she said taking a seat next to him, "My Millennium Necklace told me that you would remember me, but you do not. Maybe I am here to invoke your mind."
"What are you talking about?," he asked. Who the hell was this crazy woman?
"That necklace you have is over 5000 years old. It was given to an Egyptian queen by her brother all those years ago," she explained.
"How do you know that?," he asked. There was something vaguely familiar about her. Though he could only see her eyes and hear her voice, something was digging at him trying to remember her.
"I knew the queen's brother very well," she stated plainly.
"What? How can that be? You said that was over 5000 years ago," he said. This woman was crazy!
"Maybe this will help you," she said as she took the veil from her face. Ishizu Ishtar gazed over at Dayan wondering if it would jolt him at all.
Dayan just stopped and stared at this woman. Very clearly she was gorgeous and he was very attracted to her, but it was more than that. Something inside him ached for her like she was an old friend, but he felt more than just an old friendship for her. He could not explain his want to hold her. His heart jumped and threatened to burst out of his chest. He was mesmerized by her every line and curve. Her eyes beckoned him to her, and he almost felt himself fall into her. He could not explain why he wanted to kiss her, and feel her arms around his neck. Why was this happening to him? It did not make any sense.
"W. . . What's your name?," he stammered just gaping at her beauty.
"My name is Ishizu, but you may call me Isis," she replied.
He felt another jolt. Isis; that meant something! He knew it! There was something in his heart that was dying to get out. It wanted to explode out of him and scream. What was it about her? He had seen plenty of pretty girls before, but none had affected him this way. There was something about her that seemed all too familiar, and even though he could not explain it, he begged her to give him a reason to touch her soft, bronze skin, but before he knew it, his wish was granted. She leaned forward suddenly and their lips met.
Like fire blazing through his veins, it spread from his lips, to his cheeks, through his face, and all down his body to his fingertips and toes. It was the most amazing thing he had ever known. He had just met this woman, but he wanted more. He put his arms around her waist and pulled her in deeper wanting taste her kiss. It was then that something flashed in his mind; an image of the same woman on his lips at this very moment, walking through a desert by his side. Before he could do anything, his memories and long forgotten emotions came rushing back. He pulled back and fell off the bench onto his knees. He was panting and holding his throbbing head as every memory painful, sweet, heart-wrenching, and horrific flooded through his veins and filled him completely. Every inch of his skin prickled as he felt the world around him start to sway to and fro. He could hear his own heart beating into his ears like a drum. All the blood in his body felt like it was collecting in his brain, and his head felt like it wanted to burst from the pressure of the crimson liquid. Just as he thought he could not take anymore, it slowed and subsided while he was still on his knees. He slowly raised his head and looked up at the sky. It had happened again. He had been reborn again. He had done it countless times, but each was more depressing than the last. The whole cycle had started again. He would never lose his determination, but every time he came back, he felt he had lost a part of his sanity. Its repetitive nature ate away at him taking of piece of him time and time again. He never knew if he would find the person he was searching for and be able to right what had gone wrong, but even though he tried to hold hope, it would always end in a sour, tumultuous defeat. He would continue his search for his sister trying to rectify the wrong he had committed against her so long ago.
He would always feel her when her memories would awake. At first he would not know what it was, but as soon as he had awoken as well, he went in search of her. He hated first getting his memories back, however. It meant he had to start the process all over again; searching for her, finding her dead, dying not long after, and being reborn once more to search for her again. Something was different this time, however. Isis was standing before him.
"Isis!," he cried as he flung his arms around her. He held her close and never wanted to let go. He had not seen his love in 5000 years. He would often think about her when he had his memories, but even when he didn't, he would dream about her. That was the only way he could ever be with her for all those years. It was in his dreams. It was always the same dream as well. She was standing in Egyptian robes flowing all around her, accenting her perfection. She would smile at him and say "I will wait." Then it would end in its sweet briefness.
Ishizu pulled back and gazed into his sharp eyes, "I can hardly believe you are finally here. I would see visions of your return with my necklace, but the time has finally come."
"I've waited so long to hear your voice," he said and captured her lips once again. It was a moment he had waited so long for. He had yearned for her, but never had he ever imagined that she would one day return as well. This could mean only one thing.
He pulled away, "The Pharaoh has returned?"
She laughed at his abruptness, "Yes. He has, and she has already met up with him."
"You mean. . ."
"Yes, Ateyda has returned and met up with the Pharaoh."
He pulled away, but held onto her hands, "You must take me to her."
"She is somewhere you already know."
"Where?"
"She is staying with a recent acquaintance of yours; Yugi Motou."
He thought for a moment, "Yes, it all makes sense. He looks very similar to the Pharaoh, so he has to be the Pharaoh's vessel. The long-awaited prophecy is coming true! Some great battles are ahead, and I will not miss a minute of it! Isis, I have waited for this for 5000 years."
"Yes, and you will need to aid the Pharaoh just as Ateyda will. I must leave you now, but we will see each other again soon."
He did not want to see her go. He wanted to protest it, but he knew just as well as she did that they both must continue on their paths to help the Pharaoh despite their need for each other. So he gave her one last kiss before he watched her leave. He still felt her on his lips. They burned and ached with her caress, and he was almost in a trance. There was another important item to be taken care of at that moment, however. He had to find his sister. It had been 5000 years since he had seen her as well, and he knew she did not know of his presence. He just had to find her.
The bell above the door rang through the Kame Game shop, and Solomon Motou looked up to see Ryou come through the door.
"Why hello, Ryou! Come to see some new cards?," he asked hopefully.
"Actually, I'm here to see Yugi. Is he in?," Ryou asked politely.
"Yes, he's upstairs in his room. You can go on up," Solomon replied.
Ryou walked up the stairs and found Yugi's room easily. It was not hard to figure out it was behind the door with the gigantic Dark Magician poster. He knocked softly and heard Yugi call through the door. He slowly opened it to see Yugi's deck scattered all over the floor.
"Hey, Yugi!," Ryou greeted the small teen, "What are you doing?"
"I'm preparing my deck," Yugi said smiling, "I've got to be ready for the Battle City Tournament. It kicks off tomorrow."
"I'm rather excited, really," Ryou said sitting down on the other side of Yugi's cards, "Is Aida around?"
Yugi looked up at him confused, "Uh, no she's not. Do you know where she is? You haven't seen her in town or anything, have you?"
Ryou returned the confused look, "You mean you don't know where she is?"
"When she left yesterday, she never came back. Anzu stopped by her apartment this morning, but she called me and said she wasn't there either."
"Oh, my," Ryou said.
"Damn!," Bakura thought hearing this, "Where did she run off to? She better not have run away. She should know better than that. I shouldn't worry, though. I'll find her one way or another. She wouldn't leave the Pharaoh if her very life depended on it."
There was another knock on the door. Dayan walked in.
"Hey, Dayan!," Ryou waved at him. Looking at Ryou, it hit Dayan. Ryou's last name was Bakura. That meant he was none other than the reincarnation of the Tomb Robber Bakura himself. The Gods liked their irony. His best friend was the reincarnation of the very man who wanted his sister dead, beat her within an inch of her life, and whom he hated with every beat of his heart. His eyes narrowed and he accidentally let out a long string of Egyptian curses.
"What?," Yugi asked confused.
Dayan realized what he was doing, "Oh, nothing. Sorry. I just thought I'd stop by. I hope you don't mind." He tried to cover up his accident. Yugi seemed to buy it, but Dayan noticed something flicker in Ryou's eyes.
"Aha. I see, Mitonen. You are back. . ," Bakura thought watching the scene through Ryou's eyes, "It's about time. The fun is about to begin."
"So where are your other friends?," Dayan asked Yugi as he sat down on the floor.
"Well, I imagine that Jonouchi is at home getting ready for the tournament. Anzu and Honda are probably at home as well, but I don't know where Aida is," he replied looking solemn on the latter.
"Aida?," he tried to ask surprised. 'That has to be her!'
"Oh, yeah, you haven't met Aida yet. She's been staying with us for a while. Ryou met her yesterday," Yugi explained, but then quickly stopped remembering the odd situation.
Dayan looked over at Ryou who gave him an unsettling look. What was it about Ryou? Was Bakura, that damned Tomb Robber from so long ago, really in there? Sure, some strange things had happened back at their old school, but was it really Bakura? As he gazed deep into Ryou's eyes, that question was answered for him. There was no doubt in his mind who that smug grin and sharp stare belonged to. He wondered if Yugi had any idea about Ryou's other presence. With the Millennium Puzzle around Yugi's neck, Dayan had no doubt that he knew of the Pharaoh, yet he did not dare say anything with Ryou and possibly Bakura right there to hear.
"You don't have any idea where she went?," Dayan asked innocently as if only out of plain curiosity.
"No. It was strange. She just left yesterday and we haven't heard or saw her at all," Yugi said scratching his head, "I don't have any idea of where she might be or might have gone, but I guess she can take care of herself."
Dayan pretended to look at his watch, "Oh, I didn't realize the time. I'm sorry this was such a short visit, Yugi, but I've got to be going. I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
Yugi looked at him surprised as he turned to leave, "Ok. See you tomorrow, Dayan," he turned to Ryou after Dayan left, "That was strange."
Ryou turned toward the door with Bakura's amusement flashing in his eyes, "Yes, I suppose it was, but Dayan is always like that. Anyway, do you want to have a quick duel?"
Yugi brightened up, "Sure! I could use some practice for tomorrow!"
Dayan pounded up the sidewalk from the game shop. He had to find her. He could not take it any longer. He hated to leave Yugi hanging, and he hated giving Bakura any hints about anything even more, but he had a mission he had been carrying for 5000 years. He was not about to stop just to show courtesy or hide like a coward from the damned Tomb Robber.
Aida sat on a chair in a dark room. The door was her only way out, yet it had been locked. 'Stupid, bastard,' she thought, 'He knew I would not be able to take on more than three. That's why he stalled. He was calling the rest up.' She started to contemplate her escape from the room when the door opened. She reached for her staff to find it gone. The bastards had taken it, but luckily for her they did not know where everything was.
"There's no need to be hostile," the man said walking in with a few of his men, "I have a proposition for you."
"And that would be?," she asked.
"Glad you want to get to the point," he said taking out a stack of papers, "If you sign this release, then I will return your possessions."
"What is it and what does it say?," she asked not liking it already.
"It is a contract. You will fight under me, and give all your profits to me. I will provide you a place to stay, of course, and proper training, if needed, but you will belong to me," he said with a smug grin on his face.
"And what the hell makes you think I would agree to such terms?"
"If you want your things back, you will have to abide by my rules."
She smiled, "I don't think so." With a flash, she threw three very small tipped knives into the men around him. They looked almost like needles. They did not kill or harm the men very badly, but they all fell to the ground. Their systems had ingested the small amount of poison on the tips, and they were out cold. She ran up to the man holding up the contract and threw him to the ground. She put her knee in his back while holding up his head in the crook of her arm.
"You bitch," he barely choked out.
"Now tell me before I get angrier," she said through her teeth, "Where is that sword?!"
The next day, Yugi woke up to see that Aida had still not returned. There had been no calls from her just as she had not stopped by at all. He wondered what was going on. She just disappeared into thin air with no notice at all. Had she been mad at something? Had he done something to offend her? He did not think so, but he could not think of anything that would make her vanish without a trace.
Yami was putting the finishing touches on the deck while Yugi looked through the new rules of the tournament. Kaiba had instated some new rules that would require a lot of strategy, and was indeed much more difficult to master than the Duelist Kingdom rules.
"It's finished," Yami said laying the finished deck out on the desk, "Yugi, I want you to know, I believe in this deck we have created, but I will not be able to win without you."
"Don't worry, Yami," Yugi said, "I will never leave your side."
"Thank you, aibou," he replied, "Now, let's go. The tournament is about to begin."
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Read and review please! Stay tuned for the Battle City tournament next chapter!
