I haven't updated in a loooong time… I lost my interest in writing for a while. (is a year only a 'while'?) I'd like to thank Ice Tiger Girl, Girl of Games, and Aislynn Goldleaf. They liked my stories and told me so, one way or another, so I felt like going back to writing.
To Ice Tiger Girl: sorry, I'm not continuing "The Millennium Staff" unless a lot of people pester me to.
To Girl of Games: sorry about rejecting your invitation, but I'm a really unreliable person and I probably won't be able to contribute to your community much.
Note: I've switched to present tense in this chapter. Just felt like
it. And, remember, last names come first in Asian countries. And I've
decided that this story takes place a little before Yugi goes on his
whole memory trip back to Ancient Egypt. There may be some incorrect
details since I haven't really been keeping up with the story.
Anzu currently has 3 Locater Cards. Ami has 4. They only have to collect 6 Locater Cards to enter the Finals. Only 8 people can enter the Finals.
Last Chapter –
Ami enters in Kaiba's newest tournament. She'd gotten 3 Locater Cards and Anzu had won 2 Locater Cards. The both of them were walking to the game shop when Ami suddenly disappears!
"So you're finally awake..." Someone in the darkness says. Ami hears footsteps. Her eyes adjust to the darkness and she finds herself in a large broken-down warehouse with a man wearing a robe, indistinguishable in the darkness, standing a few feet away.
"What did you bring me here for?" Ami demands looking around.
"I brought you here to avenge a friend of mine... I think you know him. Chijin came back to the hideout with bruises all over him. We're going to have a duel, you and me, girl." The man explains.
"You could've just challenged me to a duel on the street." Ami says, looking up.
"That's not the way I do things." The man says evilly. Ami rubs her head where she'd been hit.
"So, what's your name?" She asks.
"Not telling." The man answers with a sneer.
"Nice to meet you, Not Telling." Ami says cheerfully with a mischievous smile and stands up, dusting herself off.
"That's not my name." The man says, dropping his sneer.
"You told me it was your name." Ami points out in a fake innocent voice.
"It's not!" The man says.
"Then what's your name?" Ami asks innocently.
"I told you, I'm not telling." The man says, getting annoyed.
"Exactly! You're 'Not Telling'." Ami says.
The man grits his teeth. "Whatever. Let's start the duel already." He activates his duel disk and walks to the other side of the warehouse. "If I win, you'll become my slave. If you win, I'll let you go and leave you alone for the rest of my life."
"Alright." Ami activates her duel disc.
"I'll go first." The man says, drawing a card.
"I summon 'Sangan' in attack mode. Your turn."
"I summon 'Fire Princess' in defense mode and place two cards face-down on the field. I end my turn."
"I've observed your dueling strategy all day. That trick isn't going to work. Your other one's aren't either." The man says with a sneer.
"So? How do you know I don't have other strategies?" Ami counters, hiding her surprise.
"Heh. I place two cards face down. 'Sangan' attack her 'Fire Princess'!"
"That's stupid! My 'Fire Princess' has more attack points than your 'Sangan'!" Ami yells at the man. Yet, when the holographic 'Sangan' flies at 'Fire Princess', 'Fire Princess' bursts into millions of tiny glass-like shards and disappears. The man smirks in satisfaction.
"What!" Ami exclaims. "What happened?"
"I had equipped 'Malevolent Nuzzler' to my 'Sangan' increasing its ATK points higher than your 'Fire Princess'." A small wind kicks up in front of the man as he spoke. When it died down, a magic card faces Ami. The man continues to smirk.
Down the drain my 'Life Points Strategy' goes. I have a feeling this duel won't go very well… Ami thought to herself as she looked at her hand. Next… My 'Angel Strategy'. Ami chose a monster and summoned it to the field. "I summon 'Venus the Angel of Creation'!"
"Ready to give up yet?" The man asks with a very aggravating smirk. "Being a slave isn't all that bad…"
"Give up? What the hell do you think I am?" Ami replies in a rebellious tone.
"It doesn't really matter if you give up or not. I'll beat you either ways." The man says. Ami simmers.
"I'll fight this duel to the end." Ami says, staring defiantly at the man. "Try and make me your slave!" The man just laughs. Ami closes her eyes to think. Alright… So what can I do to win? I really don't want to become a slave to this guy. Slaves are illegal, right? No doubt this guy's found a way to keep slaves without getting in trouble. What am I going to do!
«I can help you…»
The stress is getting to me… I'm hearing voices now. Damn, must concentrate!
«I, Kusari, am not an imaginary voice in your head.» The voice speaks again.
Great… I've got a split personality living in my head… Is losing a duel really having this much of an effect on me?
«Let me assure you that you are perfectly sane.» The voice replies.
Well, I'll humor the odd voice in my head. «Who are you?» Ami asks, finally managing to calm herself down enough to convince herself that she had not gone crazy.
«Much better. I'm Kusari, the spirit currently housing the Millennium Chain.»
«Are you something like Yugi's yami?» Ami asks.
«Yes.»
«Oh… I'm stuck with you for a long time, aren't I?»
«Until the Pharoah decides.» Kusari pauses. «I can help you in your duel.»
«Wouldn't that be cheating?»
«Maybe. It all depends on your point of view.»
«How're you gonna help me?»
«Let me take over for a bit.»
«And why should I let you…?»
«Spirits aren't always evil.»
«How am I to know?»
«I swear, upon the great Egyptian gods, that I am not an enemy of yours.»
«Alright… I'll guess I'll trust you.»
Ami opens her eyes and she finds herself in a doorway facing a dark hall. An ancient-looking door across from her opens and she stands facing a girl that looks like her identical twin down to the clothes they wore. Her twin, though, has her hair across the right side of her face and an apathetic expression.
"You're Kusari?"
"Yes." Kusari steps out into the hall and the door behind her closes shut with an audible click—it's locked. Then Kusari turns and walks down the hall, disappearing into the darkness.
"My move." She says, absolutely expressionless, and drew a card. Without looking at it, she takes another four cards out of her hand. "I summon 'Shining Friendship' in Defense mode and play 'Numinous Healer' to increase my Life Points by 1000." Kusari places a monster in a slot and plays a magic card face-up. Two holographic cards appear and two beings emerged: a cute little round green creature with a pair of golden wings and a kind nurse/angel with a sphere of light in her hand that float down to Kusari's duel disk increasing her life points to 1400. The nurse/angel and her card disappear.
"Then I play 'Ultimate Offering'. With this card, I can summon another monster by paying 500 Life Points and I summon 'Spirit of the Harp'." Kusari places another card face-up on her duel disk and the card 'Ultimate Offering' appears on the field. Kusari places another monster card in a slot. A graceful-looking lady wearing a yellow robe emerges out of the holographic image of 'Ultimate Offering' carrying a harp. 'Ultimate Offering disappears and 'Spirit of the Harp' sits down and begins playing her harp. Heavenly music flows through the air. 'Shining Friendship' circles around the harpist, occasionally making an excited chirping noise.
"I now sacrifice both of my monsters to summon 'Yumiya the Archery Girl'." Kusari continues, taking 2 of her cards out of 2 slots and replacing them with her last card. The 2 monsters on her field abruptly disappear along with 'Spirit of the Harp's' music. Instead, a bright globe of light floats in the air. It expands into the shape of a little girl and bursts, showering sparkles all over the field, and revealing a little girl wearing green (for more info on her, see the bottom). A bow and arrow appear before her and she grabs them, quickly strings her bow and aims it straight at Kusari's opponent.
What happened! She summoned a level 7 monster in only 1 turn! Was she just toying with me before? The man thinks, confused, and then pulled himself together. "Just a little girl? What kind of puny monster is that!" He scoffs at Yumiya. Yumiya pulls the string even farther back on her bow, her eyes narrowed. The man just laughs. "That puny creature isn't going to save you!" He places a hand on his deck, ready to draw a card.
"Wait." Kusari says apathetically. The man freezes and stares at Kusari. "I'm not finished." Yumiya smirks at the man. Their opponent begins to sweat.
This is not good. Not good at all… The man thinks to himself. What is she up to?
"Finish him off."
Yumiya grins mischievously and begins to glow. The light then gathers at the tip of her arrow and Yumiya lets it fly. The arrow flies straight at their opponent's heart. The man screams in pain as strong electric charges from the duel disk shock him, then collapses. The Life Point counter on his duel disk quickly goes down to zero with a tiny 'ding'. The field and all its monsters vanish into thin air. Kusari walks over to the unconscious man and bends down over him. She takes his deck from his duel disk and a Locater Card from one of his pockets. Kusari looks through the deck and picks a card then drops the rest of the man's deck on the floor, scattering it all over the place.
"My prize: The 'Magician of Dark Chaos', a Locater Card, and freedom for my hikari." Kusari says.
Her chain flashes and Ami returns to her own body. She pushes her hair out of her face.
"Thanks." Ami says to no one in particular. She adds 'Magician of Dark Chaos' to her deck, puts the Locater Card away, and leaves the warehouse.
«Take the road on your right and when you reach the stoplight, turn left. After that, you'll reach the alley in which you were knocked out. At the end of that alley is the street on which you and Anzu were before that guy kidnapped you.» Kusari answers in a bored tone.
«Thanks.» Ami says gratefully, following Kusari's directions. «How do you remember these streets?»
«A good memory.» Kusari replies. «Let me take a rest, now.»
«No.»
«Why?»
«Which way do I go once I get to the street where I last saw Anzu? I don't know the way to the game shop.»
«Get a map.» Kusari orders grumpily.
«Where can I get one?» Ami asks innocently.
«I'll guide you to the game shop, then.» Kusari says then mutters in a quieter tone, «Never should have revealed myself to a bossy little girl.»
«I heard that!» Ami accuses.
«So…?»
«Whatever.»
"Sir? Someone wants to see you."
"Who?" A person sitting in front of a computer asks.
"One of the rare hunters, sir."
"This better be good, Rishid." The person in front of the computer, a teenage boy with dark skin and platinum purple eyes, replies, slowly spinning his chair around to face his 'servant'. Rishid bows and turns to open the door. The man that had been dueling Ami walks in. He immediately kneels.
"Malik-sama—."
"Get up!" Malik orders, interrupting. The man gets up, but keeps his head down. Rishid closes the door and stands beside it like a guard. "What do you want?"
"Master, I've found a rare card worthy of your attention." The man replies.
"What kind of card?" Malik asks glaring at the man.
"It's a monster called 'Yumiya'." The man answers.
"I have no interest in the toys of little girls." Malik says turning back to his computer. "You're a waste of my time. Rishid! Get him out of my sight!"
"Wait!" The man says This monster can directly attack you. It's at level 7 and has an attack power of 2000. It attacked me right after it was Special Summoned even though it shouldn't be able to." The man says quickly, desperate for his Master's attention. Rishid grabs him." It has other unknown abilities I don't know, too!"
Malik quickly spun around to face the man again. "Rishid, put him down." He ordered in a softer voice. Rishid drops the man on the ground, sprawling him on the floor. Malik looks down at the man with a glare. The man looks up, fear in his eyes "You better not be lying." Malik threatens then turns to face the computer again. "Tell me about the holder of this card and I arrange for someone to take it from the them."
"Y-Yes, Master." The man picks himself up from the floor, shaking. And launches into a combined description of Ami and Kusari. "The holder is a girl around 16 or 17. She is usually a very cheerful girl, but can be really serious and cruel, too. She hangs around with another girl with blue eyes and brown hair. I don't know the holder's name, but she has black hair and eyes a clear, but odd shade of purple… or red. Probably a foreigner since her Japanese has an accent. She always wears an odd-looking gold chain on her. It's easily distinguishes her from others."
"Thank you. You may leave." Malik says without looking at him. Rishid opens the door and the man stumbled out, visibly shaken. Rishid, about to close the door, hears a crash behind him and quickly turns around.
"Master Malik!" Rishid exclaims, running back inside. Malik is on the floor, under his chair.
"Ite…"
"Are you alright?"
«The game shop should be somewhere on this street.»
«Thanks, Kusari.»
Ami feels Kusari lock herself behind her door and smiles. She walks down the street indicated and spots the store.
"YAY!" She yells, running over to the store. She opens the door and walks in.
"Konbanwa!" She yells cheerfully as she enters the shop.
"Ami! You finally got here. Where's Anzu?" Yugi says.
"I lost her."
"Lost her!" Honda exclaims.
"What happened, hon?" Mai asks as Ami dragged herself to the counter.
"I got kidnapped, had a duel, won, and walked back here." Ami explains tiredly.
"Kidnapped!" Shizuka gasps.
"Someone knocked me out and dragged me to this empty warehouse and made me duel him."
"Was it scary?" Shizuka asks.
"No." Ami answers cheerfully. "I made fun of the guy that kidnapped me."
"Then what happened to Anzu?" Jounouchi asks.
"Dunno." Ami answers and the door suddenly burst open.
"Guys!" Anzu yells in a panic. "Ami disappeared! You gotta…" Anzu trails off. "AMI! You're alright! Where were you?"
"Some weirdo kidnapped her." Otogi explains.
"Oh… I was so worried."
"Hey, Anzu! I got another Locater Card and a new monster for my deck!" Ami says with a smile.
"What! That's not fair! I only have 3! How many do you have?"
"I have 5." Ami teases.
"You get kidnapped and now you have 5 Locator Cards!" Anzu cries. "How could you!"
Ami smirks. "Nya, ha!"
"Gr…" Anzu growls. "I'm going to twist your arm off so you can't duel, break your Duel Disk, steal your deck of cards, and… and…"
"And?" Otogi prompts.
"And…do other things!" Anzu finishes. Everyone laughs.
"You're a lot more outgoing than you used to be. Well, have fun!"
"I will." Ami says as she walks out the door.
"Be home for dinner." Ami's mother waves as Ami leaves.
Ami puts her duel disk on and heads for the game shop.
"Hey!"
Ami turns to see Anzu running over. "Oh, hi."
"We're not going to go to the game shop today." Anzu says as she reaches Ami.
"Why not?"
"We're going to all split up and duel instead of staying in groups."
"Why wasn't I informed and why are you here?"
"Well, you didn't have a cell phone and we had no way of contacting you, so they sent me." Anzu answers, turning to leave. "You get all the good duels when I'm with you. So, see you!"
"See ya!" Ami calls out as Anzu jogs away. "So… where should I go now?"
A man in a purple robe followed Ami in the shadows as she walked down the street.
"Excellent. I'll send someone to take care of her." Malik replies, speaking into a speaker.
Yes, sir. Malik smiles evilly and gets up… then falls down. His feet had somehow gotten tangled in the wire.
"Damn it!"
«Someone's following you.»
«There is?»
«A man in a robe nearly identical to the one the man yesterday wore.»
«Thanks, Kusari.» Ami looks out of the corner of her eye as she turns a corner and spots him. «I see him now.»
Ami watches as the man takes out a radio and speaks into it. A few second later, he turns and leaves.
«He left…» Ami 'paths to Kusari and turns, crashing into a young boy.
"Hey, watch it!" The boy complains, nearly falling over.
"Oh, I'm sor—." Ami gasps as the boy looks up and she finds herself looking
into eyes the exact same shade as her own. The boy's eyes narrow.
"Who are you?" The two ask at the same time. They glare at each other.
"I'm Meian Ami." Ami finally says. "You are?"
So she's the target… The boy's eyes wander down to the chain
hanging from Ami's waist. Having identified the target, he turns to
leave. "Takumi, a boy you ran into and is now going to leave."
Ami watches in semi-confusion as Takumi leaves. "What's up with him?"
Takumi rounds a corner and takes out a small device. A small dot traveled up the screen. Tracker planted. Takumi grins.
Ami sits down on a bench in a park and takes off her jacket. Tch. How annoying. Ami
pulls out a small green bead stuck under her collar. That kid was fast. I didn't even see him put this on me. Just a tiny bit of pressure on my back. Ami studies the bead.
«That kid is hiding in the trees behind us.»
«He can't see what I'm doing.» Ami pause, thinking. «Where should I put this? I think it's a tracking device.»
«A moving vehicle. It should throw him off.»
«Got it.»
Ami looks at the clock tower in the distance and pretends to look surprised.
"Damn, I forgot!" Ami says getting up and running out of the park. She
crosses a street just before the walk signal stops and attaches the
bead to a car as it passes by and 'disappears' by going down an alley.
Still on the other side of the street, Takumi looks at the screen of his detector. Must be on a car, if she's moving at that speed. Takumi walks over to the other side of the street. Following her will be more difficult now.
As he walks across the mouth of an alley, a hand reaches out and grabs him, pulling him into the alley.
This chapter contains 3347 words, not including my beginning words and what I'm saying now. At least that's what microsoft word says. Not much else to say, so, just please review!
Feel free to criticize (note: criticize, NOT insult/flame) my work. I would like to improve. Telling me I'm really good won't do that. But, compliments are VERY welcome, too. Thank you.