Chapter 18 – Part 2: The Fight Over Love and The Fight for Life

"I can't believe you almost got us killed back there!" Duke ranted as he angrily shook of the dust that now covered his trademark vest.

"Well we were doing just fine until you leaned against that inconspicuous lever shaped like a demon's head!" Tristan shot back as he examined his jacket for holes and groaned in frustration as he found one. "Your just lucky that spiked ceiling didn't mess up my hair!"

"Oh heaven forbid that your hair should ever be messed up." Duke said sarcastically as he nonchalantly messed up Tristan's hair and smiled as he fumed. "Besides I wouldn't want to ruin any chance you might have with Serenity. Oops did I just say that out loud?"

"OH THAT'S IT!" Tristan roared as he flung himself on top of Duke and the two began wrestling as they rolled all over the floor. "You can insult me, you can insult my hair, but when you drag Serenity into this, it's a whole 'nother story!"

"You are so ignorant!" Duke shot back as Tristan wrapped his arm around him in a headlock and began squeezing…hard. "Serenity barely even knows you exist!"

"TAKE IT BACK!" Tristan yelled as he began yanking Duke's hair.

"NEVER!" Duke yelled as he reached past Tristan's thigh and managed to grab his leg. Then he pulled back his black blue jean pants, and without any hesitation bit into Tristan's leg as hard as he could.

"OW THAT HURT!" Tristan cried out in pain as Duke began snickering, "Oh you think that's funny you scrawny little dungeon gnome? Then take this!" he retorted as he grabbed Duke's dice earring which was dangling down in front of his face and yanked it as hard as he could.

"NO ONE GRABS THE DICE, ANTENNA HEAD!" Duke roared in pain, outraged that Tristan would dare grab his sacred dice like that.

As Akari got closer and closer to the feuding monsters, her worst fears were confirmed. Lying in the middle was Bakura, "Oh no…" she whispered softly as she felt a wave of energy wash over her and she spread her wings, jumped into the air, and began flying towards them at breakneck speed.

"STOP FIGHTING!" Akari cried out as she finally reached the edge of where the fight was occurring and began to force her way towards the center. "Can't you see you're only hurting each other when you do this?"

"You cannot make them stop fighting," Ryo said sternly as the monsters began attacking Akari and try as she might; a Summoned Skull slashed her brutally across her abdomen. She screamed in pain as she fell down and tried to cover the wound as the blood poured freely from the deep cuts. "I hate it when mortals don't listen to my practical advice." Ryo muttered as he clenched his fists in frustration and prepared for the inevitable fight. "Hold on Akari! I'll be there as soon as I can!" he called out as he charged the group of monsters ahead.