Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! However, I DO own Marissa, Keline, Symari, and Joseph. Don't take them.
To warn you, I'm not sure what went on this chapter myself. I didn't plan any of it.
To Heaven Sent Tenshi: Thank you very much for what you said in your review. I appreciate it.
To …um: Ever hear of a thing called "author's notes"? It's what I'm typing right now. I've already explained what you're confused about.
Chapter 14------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While Téa and Joey attempted to coherently explain the situation to a confused Mai and a secretive Marik, the bleached blond took the opportunity of their distraction to steel a sidelong glance over to where Keline and Marissa were sitting. Or rather, as he then discovered, where they had been sitting. It appeared that they had disappeared yet again. Whether they cloaked before taking off was never to be known, but Marik knew that they were, indeed, not still sitting there, for he would have felt his son's presence.
He then decided to turn back to the conversation.
"…the Shadow Realm again," Joey was saying. "That's not a place you want to be."
"Now then, now that the introductions are over and done with, why don't we begin this duel?" Bakura proposed. And so the real conversation (and, eventually, the duel) began.
"I hate this," complained an angry Keline, hitting his head against the wall behind him. He sat on the floor against this wall, with Marissa next to him.
"I know you do," she said, sighing.
"Why does he have to do this?"
"You already know the answer to that. It's his anger."
"Why did his father have to do that to him?"
To that, she could not provide an answer. Could anyone? After a moment's thought, she replied quietly, "I guess…it was the Tomb Keeper's way." Then, before Keline could burst out in anger at that, she continued. "But you mustn't spend all your energy on the past."
"I know, but why does that stupid pharaoh have to be the only one able to save him?" She frowned at his dishonoring of the Pharaoh, but said nothing about it.
"Because of destiny," she answered instead. "Do you really wish to further upset the balance?"
"Yes."
Marissa rolled her eyes.
Yugi, Tristan, Duke, Joey, and Serenity left Ryou's room, leaving him on the bed inside and Téa to watch over him. Joey and Yugi wore the most saddened faces of the group, while Tristan the most hopeful.
"I wonder if Bakura's going to be okay," Joey hoped, somewhat to himself.
"I hope so," said Yugi.
"Remember, we still have to find Bakura's Millennium Ring," Tristan spoke up, grabbing Duke's hand. "Leave it to me and Duke." He began walking off down the nearest hallway, pulling Duke after him. The latter bore an expression showing that he was most reluctant to leave Serenity, but followed after Tristan nonetheless.
"You should go work on the finals, Yug," Joey said after they left.
"What about you, Joey?" Yugi asked. "You need to prepare yourself as well." Joey shook his head.
"I want to have a talk with Marissa." And so, he set off to find her.
"We should go with him…" Yugi thought, half to himself, looking at Joey's departing figure.
"I agree that some secrets must be revealed, but right now our priority is saving the world," Yami spoke through their mind link. "And to do that we must prepare our deck."
"I guess you're right," Yugi agreed, turning to enter his room.
Joey glanced down every hallway at every intersection he came to, but could not locate Marissa or Keline. He frowned, turning to the right. Just as he was about to abandon his search, he heard soft speech coming from the next hallway, echoed by a thump. He quickly made his way towards the sound, and discovered the couple leaning against the metal wall. Keline opened his eyes when he heard Joey's footsteps, and, seeing who it was, glared. The blond glared back at him.
"What do you want?" Keline demanded gruffly.
"I want an explanation, as I'm sure Yugi does too," he answered, trying to seem confident that he would receive an answer.
"Good for you." He went back to banging his head against the wall. For a moment no one spoke.
"You know that destroys brain cells, right?" Instantly, Keline stopped, and gave Joey a sinister stare.
"So that's how you became so stupid?" Marissa opened her mouth to verbally prevent a brawl, but was not fast enough. Joey's anger forced his fist out towards Keline. However, the Egyptian dodged the punch, causing Joey to hit the wall instead. As he rubbed his injured hand, Keline stood up and prepared for a fight. However, Marissa got up as well and stood between them, effectively cutting off any physical communication.
"Boys, cut it out!" she ordered, scolding the both of them. "We have enough violence on this ship as it is."
"But I don't see either of you trying to prevent it," returned Joey, growling. When Marissa tossed a confused glance back at him, he explained. "While Yug and I are fightin' to save the world, the both of you seem to just be hiding in the darkness, not telling us anything you know."
"Would you understand if we did tell you?" Keline practically yelled, then he turned on his heals and took off down the opposite hall. For a moment the two left stood speechless and in awe. Finally, Marissa spoke.
"I can only do what I am ordered to," she answered slowly and carefully, staring Joey straight in the eyes. "Already I have broken the rules." She put her outstretched arms back down by her side, then with one hand reached under her jacket and pulled out a large, golden, Ankh-shaped key. "You want me to tell you something? Fine, I'll admit that I can use this. I know plenty about It and all the other Millennium Items. And I know all there is to know about Pharaoh's quest to save the world." With that, she placed the Key back under her jacket and walked off in the direction Keline had gone.
Joey stood still, stuck in a stockade of shock and surprise.
Yugi sat in a cushioned chair in his room with his deck spread out before him on a coffee table. He picked up Slifer, the Sky Dragon, which stood out amongst all the other cards.
"Thanks to Slifer, we won the first duel of the Battle City finals," he mused. "But we still have to be careful with it." He turned to look out the window at the night sky, but instead saw the reflection of a certain turbaned man with smoky indigo eyes. He quickly whipped around to see Shadi standing before him. "I remember you! You came up to me after Duelist Kingdom."
Shadi nodded. "You have learned much since we first met," he stated, (1) "about your fate and how it is intertwined with the fate of the ancient spirit which resides in your Millennium Puzzle."
"Well, I know a little. The spirit was an ancient Pharaoh of Egypt, and together we have to save the world from an ancient evil." He glanced at the ground a moment in thought, then back up at the cloaked man. "Are you here to explain how?"
He shook his head. "I am the main guardian of the seven Millennium Items. I am here because I have sensed a disturbance in the mystical alignment. All seven Items are on board this vessel, as well as the three God Cards. All of these objects are capable of saving – or destroying – the Earth. But only those chosen by the Millennium Items can use their power."
"So, does that mean Marissa was chosen by the Millennium Key as well?" His eyes darted to where the Key usually hung around Shadi's neck, but he was surprised to see that the spot was vacant.
"Yes," Shadi answered, in his omniscient-like voice. "But she still has much to learn, so do not forget to leave some caution for her."
"I won't," Yugi assured him.
A few minutes later, Ishizu sat in her room in an equally comfortable chair. Keline sat nearby, in a similar chair, with eyes that reflected the deepest sadness. Ishizu looked worriedly at her nephew, contemplating of impossible ways to fix his problems. 'I will save you Marik,' she thought hopefully. 'I know there is still good within you.'
Just then, Shadi appeared in the chair across from her. "Evil once again walks the Earth," he said laconically. Noticing his arrival, Keline glanced up with a glare. Ishizu gave him a scolding sidelong glance before replying to the other.
"Yes, but I never thought that my own brother would be the medium," she stated, showing her true feelings. "The world must be saved, but at what cost? I don't want to lose my brother, for my sake and Keline's." Keline snorted. Within the time it took them both to blink, Shadi was gone.
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(1) My thanks to Yu-Jyo. (w w w . y u - j y o . n e t / i n d e x . p h p)