Crystal: Hey all. I got this posted so much quicker than the last one : )
Kris: Yippee, aibou. *glomps me* See? You're over your writer's block.
Crystal: I guess I am. Okay, Thanks for all the help with your voting guys.
Kris: Here's the final scores …
VR World = 6
Kaiba Craft = 4
Crystal: Thanx for the votes. Oh yeah I only own Kris, Neko-chan, and Sanura.
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"Blah" = speaking
[Blah] = thoughts
//Blah// = yami to hikari
/Blah/ = hikari to yami
+Blah+ = Ancient Egyptian
Chapter Eleven: When a Kitten Bares Her Claws
"Crystal, Neko-chan, please you've got to understand I-" Seto started, upon seeing Crystal standing at the foot of the stairs when he finally arrived home.
"Stop while you're ahead, Kaiba-san." Crystal said coldly, glaring at Seto with icy, piercing sapphire eyes.
"I was wrong to not tell you." Seto sighed, "But if you hear me out this will make sense."
"Mokuba is barely thirteen, and you're letting him run around Battle City as a commissioner." Crystal spat acidly, "Whereas I'm sixteen, almost seventeen, and you ban me from the tournament, while telling Mokuba to avoid me."
"Neko-chan, please, listen to me." Seto pleaded as Crystal headed up the stairs, "Trust me that this is for your own good."
"Don't call me Neko-chan." Crystal said coldly, not turning from where she stood halfway up the stairs, "You have earn the privilege of calling me that; just like you have to earn my trust, Kaiba-san."
"How will I know I've regained your trust?" Seto asked, causing Crystal to turn and look him in the eye.
"When I call you Seto-kun again." Crystal replied before continuing up the stairs, "Don't bother calling me down for dinner; I'm not hungry."
"How long do you think she'll stay mad at you, Big Brother?" Mokuba asked, coming up to Seto from the hallway where he had been watching.
"I have no idea, Mokuba." Seto sighed, "I've never seen her this mad at me before."
"Well, I'm going to see if I can help." Mokuba said, heading up the stairs, "I'll tell you what I can."
Mokuba hurried up the stairs and headed straight for Crystal's room in the west wing of the second floor. Padding down the hallway almost silently, Mokuba could hear the faint sound of weeping from behind Crystal's closed bedroom door. Mokuba knocked gently, causing the sound to cease before Crystal opened the door. Her eyes were red and puffy from all her crying and tears stained her cheeks. Mokuba hated seeing Crystal so sad and mad at his brother, and knowing this was the worst time ever made even harder for him to see.
"What do you need, Moku-chan?" Crystal asked, wiping her eyes.
"I'm sorry for not waking you and for avoiding you, but you have to understand were Seto is coming from." Mokuba replied, "He knows that I can take care of myself. I've escaped from a lunatic who kidnapped me. Seto knows that I'll be okay during this, but he doesn't know how well you would be able to defend yourself."
"Tell me what's going on, Mokuba, please." Crystal urged, "The only way I'll understand is if someone tells me what's going on."
"To make it simple, Seto doesn't want the Rare Hunters to kidnap or hurt you." Mokuba replied with a very serious expression.
"Rare Hunters?" Crystal asked, walking back to her bed and sitting down, "Come in and explain."
"Rare Hunters are card thieves who are trying gain all the most powerful cards, and three God Cards." Mokuba explained, sitting on Crystal's bed beside her, "Seto has one called Obelisk the Tormentor, and he thinks the Rare Hunters will stop at nothing to get Obelisk from him."
"What do Rare Hunters look like?" Crystal asked, "So I know what to avoid?"
"The only one we've seen wore a long, hooded, violet robe." Mokuba replied, "My guess is that they all wear something similar to his, but I'll bet others wear long dark trench coats too."
"Similar to Seto's violet-navy one?" Crystal asked, remembering the guy she had confused with Seto.
"Yeah, I think that's why he's wear that awful white one." Mokuba replied with a slight grin.
"It isn't that awful." Seto's voice stated from the doorway, "Is it, Crystal?"
"Why didn't you tell me about the Rare Hunters?" Crystal asked, turning to face Seto, "Then you wouldn't have had to ban me from Battle City."
"I still would have." Seto replied firmly, "You weren't with us during Duelist Kingdom, so I still have no idea how well you can handle yourself."
"If they duel to get rare cards, I'll be able to take them." Crystal retorted, "I've been dueling more people than you nowadays. Jono and Yugi have been dueling against me, Mokuba's been playing Capsule Chess with me, and Otogi's been teaching me Dungeon Dice Monsters. I can hold my own against anyone here now, and maybe even beat you."
"If you want me to duel you forget it." Seto replied, "Obelisk would tear you apart in less than a second."
"Duel me without Obelisk then." Crystal challenged, "I don't think you'd be able to beat me if you didn't have your trump card."
"Don't say something that you can't back up, Hikari." Seto replied; his ocean blue eyes glaring daggers at the younger girl.
"You heard me, Kaiba-san." Crystal shot back, her sapphire eyes flashing just as dangerously, "Without that God Card, or whatever it's called, you wouldn't be able beat me in a duel, no matter how hard you try."
"Prepare your deck, and we'll see how you fare against me." Seto growled, "We'll be playing by Battle City Rules, except for the winnings."
"Fine, but if I win you have to stop being so paranoid about my safety, and allow me to explore Battle City." Crystal stated coolly.
"However, if I win, you get tagged with a radio/tracker so I can keep a closer eye on you." Seto replied, before the two of them shook hands, "Oh, by the way, you can invite one friend, except for one of your teachers, to come watch us. Our duel will be at seven-thirty, one hour from now, at Kaiba Land."
"I'm calling Ryou and asking him to come." Crystal said coldly as Seto walked out of the room.
"Fine." Seto nodded, "Come on, Mokuba."
"Bakura residence, Ryou speaking." Ryou's voice came over the other end of the phone line.
"Hi, Ryou. It's Crystal." Crystal replied, "Do you think you can come over? I kinda blew up and pulled one of Jono's stunts."
"You challenged Kaiba to a duel, didn't you?" Ryou asked.
"Yeah, I did." Crystal responded, "He said I could ask one friend to come watch, except for Jono, Yugi, or Otogi."
"Oh, I see, so if you were allowed to pick one of them instead you would have." Ryou said disappointedly.
"No, Ryou." Crystal said in shock, "I would have still chosen you, but I would have tried to sneak Jono in just to make him mad."
"You and Kaiba are fighting, aren't you?" Ryou asked in concern.
"Hai, we are." Crystal replied, holding back her tears, "It's not fair. He doesn't think I can do anything alone."
"I'll be right over." Ryou said after a moment of silence, "See you in a few minutes, all right Neko-chan?"
"Okay, Ryou." Crystal replied with a sigh.
"Don't sound so unhappy, Nura (1)." Bakura said firmly, "You should feel grateful that I'm letting him come visit you."
"Of course, Bakura-san. Sayonara." Crystal replied, before hanging up her phone.
Crystal decided that while she waited for Ryou to arrive, she should start modifying her deck in hopes to win the duel. However, Crystal couldn't bear to remove any of her card from her deck and only found herself running through tactics that might win her the duel. She was so engrossed by her planning, Crystal never heard her door open and close as Ryou walked into the room. Ryou felt Bakura take over, creeping behind Crystal as she muttered under her breath, oblivious to everything around her. Then Bakura stiffened as he felt an aura of Ancient Magic weave around the two of them, as Crystal started muttering in Ancient Egyptian, just as she did the night before.
+Shadow seeks to overcome the Light with its strong and terrible might.+ Crystal chanted, +The Light must not be destroyed as in ancient times gone by. Light must survive, or the ones that Light holds dear will surely die.+
"No, not them, too." Crystal whimpered, dropping all of her cards, "I can't lose anymore of my friends and family."
"Don't cry, Neko-chan." Ryou said gently, encircling his arms around Crystal's shoulders after Bakura released him, "You won't lose anyone close to your heart."
"Ryou?" Crystal murmured, "You're not gone. You shattered into a million pieces, just like Seto-kun and Moku-chan."
"It was just another of your visions." Ryou spoke softly, hugging Crystal close as she turned and wept into his shirt.
"I was running away from a shadow, but it caught me." Crystal hiccupped, "I watched as you, Seto-kun, and Moku-chan tried to get to me, but all three of you shattered to pieces and blew away as the darkness claimed me completely."
"Don't duel Kaiba." Ryou said gently, "You can't duel him like this. Please, Crystal, don't do this."
"I have to Ryou, and I have to win." Crystal answered, "I have to prove to him that I can take care of myself."
"Then take this card." Ryou said, handing Crystal his Change of Heart, "I know you have one, but put mine in instead. Call it a good luck charm from me."
Crystal took her friends card and placed it into the same protector as her own Change of Heart, and then took her card and placed it in his hand. Then Crystal gathered all of her cards together and shuffled her deck one more time, before placing it into her deck box. The two teens left Kaiba Manor and headed to Burger World and then Kaiba Land. When Crystal and Ryou arrived at Kaiba Land, they were directed to go to the top floor by elevator. Who Crystal first saw after the elevator opened made her gasp in shock and jump back into Ryou.
"Yugi, Jono, Otogi?" Crystal asked in confusion, "What are you doing here?"
"Kaiba invited us." Yugi replied, "He said that he wanted the teachers to witness their pupil's greatest defeat."
"That's why I couldn't ask one of them?" Crystal asked, wheeling on Seto while her sapphire eyes flashed violently.
"I thought you would like someone who didn't teach you to be present as well, Hikari." Seto spat back, "You'll need someone to comfort you when you lose."
"It is you who will lose, Kaiba-san." Crystal replied, sarcasm dripping off her cold voice.
"Did Crystal just call him, Kaiba?" Jono asked in shock.
"They're fighting." Ryou said, "Crystal challenged him in a fit of anger over something about her not being able to take care of herself."
//He's trying to protect her from something.// Yami said in Yugi's mind, //I can see it in his eyes.//
/I'll bet he knows about the Rare Hunters and that's what he's protecting her from. I'd bet my Millennium Puzzle on it./
"DUEL!" Crystal and Seto's voices chorused, the holograms lighting up on the arena and their Life Points rising to 4000.
"Crystal, please, you don't have to prove anything to him or to us." Ryou called, "Please, Neko-chan, listen to me."
"Boy, stay out of this." Seto snapped, "This duel is between Hikari and me."
"Now you asked for Kaiba." Crystal growled, "Shining Abyss (1600/1800) in Attack Mode."
"Oh, so you think you're something, huh Hikari?" Seto sneered, "Battle Ox (1700/1000) destroy her creature."
Crystal: 3900
Seto: 4000
"Mystic Elf (800/2000) in Defense Mode." Crystal said, [My Life Points are safe for now.]
"I sacrifice my Battle Ox for Judge Man (2200/1500)." Seto said, "Now attack her Elf and clear me a path to her Life Points."
Crystal: 3900
Seto: 4000
Crystal watched as her Mystic Elf shattered before her, just as she had seen Seto Mokuba and Ryou shatter in her vision. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she started to tremble slightly as the vision flashed before her. Pulling herself together quickly, Crystal drew her next card, which was one of her Wingweavers. Then Crystal played her Graceful Charity, allowing her to draw Marie the Fallen One, her second Wingweaver, and Soul of Purity and Light.
"I discard Marie and my Ancient Elf to the Graveyard. Then I remove both Ancient Elf and Mystic Elf from play to Summon Soul of Purity and Light (2000/1800), equipping her with Silver Bow and Arrow (2300/2100). Attack his Judge Man (1900/1500)."
"Activate Reinforcements raising Judge Man's attack to 2400." Kaiba called, "You lose 100 Life Points as your monster is destroyed."
"No, not my monster." Crystal cried in shock.
"Now my turn." Seto smirked, "I place one card facedown, and then play Lord of D. (1200/1100) and use Flute of Summoning Dragon to bring out two of my Blue Eyes (2500/3000), and then use Polymerization to fuse them with a third Blue Eyes forming Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon (4500/3800). Then Lord of D. attacks your Life Points directly. Top that Hikari."
Crystal: 2700
Seto: 4000
"I draw, and then gain 200 Life Points." Crystal said, "And then I summon Hoshiningen (500/700)-(1000/700), which raises the attack power of all Light Monsters. Then I use Monster Reborn to bring back Marie from the Graveyard and use Polymerization to fuse her with Forgiving Maiden, creating my strongest monster St. Joan (2800/2000)-(3300/2000), and place one card facedown. Then St. Joan attacks-."
"Sorry, Hikari, you can't attack with her this turn." Seto chided, "It's one of the new rules. Now it's my turn. Blues Eyes Ultimate (5000/3800) attack her St. Joan (3300/2000). That brings you down to 200 Life Points."
Crystal: 200
Seto: 4000
"Crystal's only got a sliver of Life Points left." Jono gasped.
"Crystal, you must believe-." Yugi started.
"Silence, Yugi." Seto snapped, "I don't want you to stuff her head with that Heart of the Cards nonsense."
"Now, I play Change of Heart on your Blue Eyes and have it attack Lord of D., bringing you down to 200 Life Points."
"You finished Hikari?" Seto asked.
"No, Hoshiningen attack him directly." Crystal stated firmly.
"Activate Waboku." Seto called, "Now, Blue Eyes return to me. This is it, Hikari. I'll give you this much you dueled well, but now It's time to end this. Blue Eyes attack her directly."
"Waboku, protect me." Crystal shouted, shielding her face.
"I see that we think very much alike." Seto smirked, "Your move."
"Then you realize that I plan to win this duel." Crystal replied, "I activate Fissure on Blue Eyes Ultimate and finish your Life Points with Hoshiningen."
Crystal: 200
Seto: 0
"You won this duel, Hikari." Seto nodded, stepping down from his dueling platform, "As agreed, you are allowed to explore Battle City at your own caution."
"Crystal, are you okay?" Ryou asked, seeing his friend shaking on her dueling platform.
"Seto-kun, I'm so sorry." Crystal sniffled as a single tear rolled down her right cheek, "Please forgive me for being so stubborn and stupid."
"You called me, Seto-kun." Seto said with a slight smile, "Come here, Neko-chan."
"Oh, Seto-kun." Crystal cried, dropping her hand and jumping down from her dueling platform, "Please forgive me."
"Of course I forgive you." Seto replied, hugging the smaller girl close to him, allowing her to cry into his black shirt.
"They love each other as brother and sister, even though they aren't related at all." Yugi smiled.
"I know." Ryou replied, "They are really close."
"Now, go with Mokuba, and I'll see you later, Neko-chan." Seto said, "I need to have a word with your friends."
"Okay, Seto." Crystal answered, rising and grabbing her cards, before taking Mokuba's hand and heading to the elevator.
"You let her win didn't you, Kaiba?" Ryou asked, after the elevator door closed.
"What would make you say that?" Seto asked raising an eyebrow.
"By looking at your hand." Yugi answered, "There was card is a De-Spell card in it."
"Besides you could have use Lord of D.'s effect, and you could have used Waboku earlier than you did." Otogi said with a nod, "You were leading her through the whole duel, and we know it."
"Any of you say anything-," Seto threatened.
"Kaiba, trust me." Jono said, "We didn't say anything last time, and we won't this time. We swear on our honor as duelists."
"Good, because I don't want anyone to know that I let her win." Seto replied coldly, "Now if you'll excuse me. I must be going."
With his trench coat flaring out behind him, Seto grabbed his cards and left the four other boys alone in the room. When he entered the limousine, Crystal was curled up in one of the seats, while Mokuba sat grinning across from her. Seto sighed softly, climbing into the limousine beside Mokuba. Crystal shifted slightly as the limousine started its way back to Kaiba Manor. When they finally arrived home, Seto carried Crystal to her room and tucked her into bed.
"You always seem to get your way. Don't you, Neko-chan?" Seto chuckled, closing the door behind him.
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(1) You like Bakura's nickname for Neko-chan? =^_^=
Kris: You made Kaiba lose?
Crystal: I had to so that Neko-chan could hang out with Jono and Anzu for the next day of Battle City.
Kris: That makes sense I guess.
Crystal: Oh yeah I don't mean to sound blunt, but I like Seto's violet/navy trench coat a lot better than his white one.
Kris: I like this duel better than the last time you wrote one.
Crystal: Me too. I hope that you readers will review and tell me what you thought. Ja ne.