Chapter Five

Disclaimer: see first chapters

Enter the Duellists

Michael's POV

'There is n such thing as a miracle… is there?"

I must admit that by the time I returned to my new room I was fairly confused. True, Miki had assured us that so far everything was all right in the world. True, nothing seemed to be out of place. Even Telian believed – she was hanging on to each word Miki said in there.

True, the magnificent sword Miki now carried was not natural – it would be just impossible for a sword to look like new after spending five years in the closet.

But I still have doubts. Which is the reason for me going up into the forest and down the winding stairs now.

I meet Miki nearly at the bottom of the staircase, and Ria catches up with us shortly. Miki gives us a tense smile.

"Remember, you cannot interfere in a Duel," he says quietly.

"He could have changed the rules – for all we know," I remind him, as we stride into what seems to be a stone chamber. Miki's opponent is already there, and black rose materializes on the girl's chest. I and Ria gasp, as Miki's uniform changes slightly, and a sky-blue rose appears.

The girl's closed eyes fly open and she charges blindly into attacking.

Amy's POV

I struggle against the bonds. No, you won't be able to see them, but those bonds re something tht brought me here, to this arena. As soon as I feel my opponent here, I am out of control. Someone else charges, and the swords collide.

The illusion is shattered and for a brief moment I catch a glimpse of the one I'm fighting with. A slender teen about a year older than myself. If not for the fire that roared around us ever since the duel started I could have seen him closely.

He was on the defense, and I got a dim impression that he did not want to fight.

I scream at myself to stop, and I try to struggle.

The rules were changed. Now it's not just to cut the rose, now it is to kill. And I know I don't have it in me – not to take another person's life.

For a second I take control of myself and let the blade to slip on purpose. His eyes widen in mild surprise before he thrusts his sword in the deliberate opening and wrenches it out of my hand.

I am more accustomed to holding a paintbrush rather than a sword.

The last thing I see before I lose consciousness is the black petals of my destroyed rose flying on the wind.

Miki's POV

It looked like she did not want to fight. That opening she gave me was not that hard to miss – in fact, it was hard not to strike it.

I crouch down beside the still girl. She is slightly pale but the color returns to her skin. I notice a blot of paint on her face and grin in understanding. The girl is an artist, not a Duellist. Her long, midnight-black hair had spilled out of its braid and now fan around her still form.

"You okay?"

I glance back at Ria, who is slightly worried and nod.

The girl slowly wakes up and I smile in relief, noticing that her beautiful blue eyes are now filled with light. She looked like she just woke up from some dream, and I have no doubt she was one of Akio's newest group of Marionettes.

"What…" she gasps as the fire circle goes out around us, leaving us all in the darkness.

"What a brilliant conclusion to dramatic duel," Michael grumbles. "Let's get out of here before it can get any worse."

"Agree." I stand up and look around, letting my eyes to adjust slightly to the light. "Let's hold on to echo the, we'll make it out of the cave faster."

I hear various murmurs of agreement as my friends and the new girl slowly take holdof each other. One small hand grabs mine and I grin lightly.

"Ria, where are you?"

"Behind you… I think," Ria's contralto comes from the air. A soft giggle reaches me from the right and I clasp the new girl's hand firmly.

"I'm Amy," the girl replies.

"Pleased to meet you, Amy," comes Michel' voice from my left, and then his hand grabs mine. "Is that you, Miki?"

"Yes, it is," I reply. "Ria? You found anyone?"

Amy yelps softly from my left.

"I guess that answers your question, Miki," Ria replies. "I thought I grabbed somebody's hair.. Sorry, Amy."

"It'a all right, I just wasn't expecting you.."

I stifle a laugh and quickly glance around. A small beam of light is all I need to identify the exit from the cave and onto the staircase.

"All right, everyone, I think I found it. Let's get out of here."

Daniel's POV

I stifle a laugh when I see the group o the Duellists plus the new girl coming up the staircase. Miki, Michael and the black-haired girl seem to be okay. Ria's eyes are tightly closed and it seems like she had been gripping the other girl's long hair too long and too hard.

"Ria you can let go now," Miki says with mild amusement. Ria slightly opens her eyes then sighs in relief and lets go then blushes. We all laugh.

"You're claustrophobic?" Telian asks. The other girl is leaning lightly on the handrail of the staircase, and is watching the green-haired girl with amusement.

"No, I'm not," Ria replies, shaking he head vigorously. "I'm just afraid of the dark."

The new girl is introduced to us as Amy Anderson.

"Anything you know about Akio's plans for the Duels?" Miki asks seriously.

Amy nods slowly as she glances at all of us. I wait with bated heart.

"The rules of the Duels have been changed," she says. "now the main rule is to kill your opponent."

Delivered in Amy's soft voice, the words are even more ominous. Ria and Michael exchange uneasy glnces, and Miki frowns. I shiver as the silence rings out in the still air...

A/N: chapter five is done...