We began to fill Serenity in on the reason why her brother was being controlled by old Egyptian magic. She didn't believe us at first, but after some convincing especially from Joey. She hesitantly nodded.
"So," she said. "Yugi and the Phararoh share a body, and Mana was reincarnated to help. They have to get back their memories and save the world. And you guys are all helping them."
"Pretty much yeah," Téa laughed.
"Wow my big brother is helping to save the world!" she laughed hugging his arm.
Uh, yeah I suppose I am," he said before looking very proud of himself. I laughed popping a few more fries in my mouth.
"Come on, lets go see who else is in the final." I said standing up the rest of them followed, waving at the service staff as we left.
"That gets easier every time." I wink nudging his arm. He laughs shaking his head slightly.
"By the end of the tournament we'll have it down to an art form." He agreed.
"How are you coping, you know with everything that just happened there. Both of you." I said raising an eyebrow at the figure that had appeared beside Yugi.
"Shaken," Yugi admitted. "But, hey like you said, getting easier everytime – ok I'm lying – we were both scared for all of you. I hate that this puts you all in danger –"
"You know I'd be in the thick of it anyway right?"
"She is right Yugi, this is mine and Mana's burden to –"
"All right, Captain brood, let's remember that our friends want to be with us and destiny is on our side."
They both smiled.
"Will you pay attention!" I whirled round to see why Mai was yelling, Surprise, surprise Joey had gotten distracted, I glanced to see that he was looking at the new poster for the ninja movies he liked.
I laughed shaking my head, I turned back round.
I heard a screech of tires braking.
I whirled around to see Mai and Joey on the ground and… a limo?
God did it hit them, before I could get my body to work they got up, and began to talk to the man.
Thank Ra it missed them – did that limo come out of the poster… and was that John Claude Magnium. The movie star! We rushed back to where the poster was.
"Watch it you nearly knocked them down!" I yelled, I went to take a step closer, but Duke caught my arm.
"Pick your battles Mana, this guys is highly trained in multiple flighting arts, Kon fu, karate, juditsu, stay away from him."
I squirmed out of his arm.
"You should duel him" Joey said.
"A second ago you said I should marry him," she said, putting her hands on her hips.
"What? I think we need an explanation." I said, he reshowed the ring.
"So why is there a duel?"
"If I win she marries me," he said.
"You misogamist creep!" I yelled. "Mai, lets go," I said taking her arm and starting to pull.
"You're right, I am not a prize to be won," she went to turn, when a ninja jumped from the side of a building.
I took out my staff, and hit the ground causing a shock wave to know the guy down and blow John off his feet.
"Your ninja is unconscious, and Mai if I were you I would get a restraining order. He's stunned for two minutes. Lets go," I turned back towards the stadium. I could feel the rest follow me.
"Jeez Mana," Tristan said. "Remind me not to get on your bad side,"
"What a slime ball, I'll never watch one of his movies ever again," Téa said shuddering.
We walked close to see Kaiba and Mokuba in the middle.
"This is it?"
"This place looks like its still under construction." Duke said as we stopped at the Kaiba brothers.
"We're unfashionably early," Mai quipped.
"Welcome," said one of the two suits. "Present your locator cards."
The other suit pulled cards out of his jacket as an example, and Yugi, Mai and Joey all showed their own.
"Check it out! We got all six!" Joey grinned.
"Then these are your tournament IDs," said… you know, we are just going to call him brown haired suit. "Congratulations, you three are officially Battle City Finalists."
"We already knew that," Mai said, raising an eyebrow.
"Now, security is tight so make sure that you have these with you at all times." Said the second suit. I'd have to get their names at some point.
"Thanks," Joey said as he took his, the others followed suit. "Now where is everybody else?"
"So far it is just the three of you, and Mr Kaiba of course. We expect the other four to arrive shortly. Ah, here is someone now." He said looking behind us, we all turned to see the new finalist, the wind began to blow around us, as the shadow began to walk into the stadium.
"Guys, I got a bad feeling about this." Yugi said nervously, I took his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"Hey Yug, you think it could be that evil creep Marik?" Joey said.
"Could be." Yugi said nervously, not taking his eyes off the entrance. "He must be one of the finalists."
A familiar figure in a purple crop top appeared.
"Narmou!" Téa called, as the others walked over to greet him. I stayed back, I still had a bad feeling about him. Something I couldn't explain, it seemed too convenient that this guy happens to know our story, and then happens to be around before we got kidnapped. If he wasn't Marik, he worked for him.
Or. Maybe the last few months had made me paranoid. People have hobbies and interests it could be a coincidence, but my gut – no my magic – did not like this guy.
"Hey is that Bakura,"
The voice snapped me out of my thoughts and back to the doors where Bakura was coming through.
"He should be in the hospital," I said, as we all rushed over to him.
"You gutta get back to the hospital," Joey said, holding Bakura's good shoulder.
"Yeah Bakura," Téa said. "You really should be resting,"
"Grandpa, told me you were in pretty bad shape," Yugi's concerned voice chimmed in. I glanced back at Bakura and noticed the duel disc.
"Bakura… have you been duelling?" I said, trying to keep a straight face. I had a feeling that the spirit was back and was controlling him. There is no way Bakura could have made it to the finals without some dark magic and some cheating.
"Yes, I have managed to get all the locator cards needed to get to the finals." He said super cheerfully.
"Anything you need to share?" I said raising an eyebrow, my eyes flickered automatically to his chest where the ring would be.
"Mana, I don't have it. We got rid of it at Duellist Kingdom remember." He said.
"Yeah, Mana I threw that thing into the forest," Tristan said.
"Well… then I guess a well done is in order," I said forcing a smile, I was still suspicious. Hell maybe I was paranoid. Maybe the vibes I was getting of "Narmou" were making me more conspiracy crazy.
"Hey look here comes the 7th finalist." Bakura said pointing into the direction of the door. We all turned to see a tall man with a billowing purple cloak. His face hidden beneath the hood, but I knew there was that Egyptian tattoo underneath.
"That's the guy who interrogated me when I was kidnapped." I muttered to the rest of the group. As I did so his hood lifted up, revealing his half hieroglyphed face.
"Yeah," Joey said. "Ya never forget a mug that looks like that."
"State your name right now," Kaiba said.
"I am Marik," he said calmly.
Joey ran forward, Tristan quickly grabbed him preventing Joey from moving to far.
"I'll kick your brain washing kester!"
"You are no match for me fool," he said continuing to walk towards the group.
"The only reason I'm not tossing you out by your cape right now is so I can save my energy to take you down in the finals. You got that pal?"
"Why do you have a protection spell on your face?"
"Part of the secrets within the Pharaoh's tomb, my Queen." He said stopping a few metres before us. He gave a bow to me and then to Yugi.
"I know the Pharaoh can hear me." He said still knelt. "His power will soon be mine, and I shall take what I deserve."
I tried to look into him see what emotions were driving him, but all I saw was the rod. I couldn't get to him without removing it from play.
"So… what is the plan with the finals," I turn towards Kaiba and Mokuba. "Do we start tomorrow? Are we given another location, as it won't be here," I said gesturing around us.
"No it's not here," Mokuba said smirking. "What do ya say big brother, shall we get everyone on board?"
Kaiba rolled his eyes before muttering something into his watch. Lights appeared above us, we all looked up to see what look like a…
"Whoa, is that a blimp?" Trsitan cried.
"Yep," Mokuba said. "This will be where you guys are staying for the next round of the tournament."
"That is very cool," Joey said grinning.
"It's huge," Mai said.
"Just like his ego," I muttered to Mai, she laughed.
"Stand back," said one of the suits. "We will be boarding shortly Kaiba craft 3 you are cleared for landing." He said into his headpiece.
"Awe man," Joey grinned.
"So were duelling in the sky?" Yugi asked hiding his excitement better than Joey.
"You got it," Mokuba said. "In fact 4000 feet in the sky to be exact."
"You got barf bags? Just checking?" Joey said, as he realised how high that actually was. After watching excitedly for a few minutes while the aircraft landed in the middle of the stadium. Mokuba spoke again.
"All right everyone, time to board Kaiba craft 3 and start the Battle City Finals."
"We will depart as soon as the 8th finalist arrives," the green suit guy said. "Climb aboard and watch your step."
"A girl could get used to this kind of treatment," Mai smirked as we began to walk towards the entrance.
The other suit began to frown as he saw us all approach, I looked at Mokuba who immediately realised the problem.
"You can let them all on, Roland" Mokuba smiled, Roland looked at Kaiba who crossed his arms but gave a single nod.
"Sounds like a yes to me," Tristan headed up the steps.
Hello everyone! I hope you guys liked this chapter! I changed the bit with Mai cause, I dunno it didn't feel like Mai to allow the chance that she could end up married to that creep. Just seemed odd… Anyway! I move abroad at the end of this month which is very exciting! Going to be setting up wifi, meeting new humans. It is all very exciting.
I will update again in a few months once I am settled in. xxx