"You have an hour to relax and freshen up before food then we would like you to head down and eat before the games begin tonight." The main guy said.
We all watched as we flew higher and higher.
"This is awesome I've never seen the city from this high up." Téa her eyes on the city below.
"The lights are so beautiful, thank you for bringing me Joey," Serenity said.
"Just one of the many perks of being related to a champion." Joey grinned.
"You call yourself a champion," Kaiba snorted. "Wheeler, you're here by a fluke,"
"Keep walking, Kaiba," he growled.
"Enjoy this while you can, and listen, I wouldn't get your hopes up too high cause it's a long way down from here. Oh and er, last time I checked monkey's can't fly." He walked next to me and Yugi.
"Yugi, I have some words of advice for you too."
Oh boy, I thought rather than listening to Kaiba's monologue probably about how he is the best thing since sliced bread. I looked out the window, drowning out his words. My thoughts went to the impending danger of Marik, I recalled my time as a captive… Something just felt off about the man with the protection tattoo on his face, why would one of the biggest threats to this world have a protection spell on his face…
I snapped out of my thoughts as Kaiba's muffled voice stopped, I looked to see Yami's transparent form looking between me and Kaiba.
"Sorry, what did I miss?" I asked looking at Yugi, then Kaiba who was – as usual – scowling at me.
"Nothing that you need to be concerned about," he said, I glared at his tone. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a tournament to run," he walked passed us. I rolled my eyes, what a dick.
"Mana, you want to met in my room so we can discuss some things," Yugi said. "You know, the three of us," he said glancing at the puzzle. Yami appeared beside him.
While everyone was looking out of the window we made our way to the elevator, Yugi holding the key for the right floor.
It didn't take long for us to find it, and as soon as we were inside we looked around at each other.
"I should prepare my deck for the finals," Yugi said, he glanced anxiously at the cards. He was silent for a long while, I let him think I knew he would speak eventually about what he actually wanted to talk about.
"If I'm honestly expected to stop Marik from getting what he wants I have to put Slyfer into my deck, but it's a really powerful card, using it could be dangerous." Yugi said looking between me and Yami.
"Only if we are in the shadow realm, which admittedly we have a very high chance of being in over the next few days." I sighed leaning against the table, Yami made a step towards me his face concerned. I smiled at his reassuringly. "But the only people we have to worry about the shadow realm with are those who are trying to destroy the world, and that's the whole reason we have the card in the first place."
"All right, no matter what happens I have got to believe in my deck, and in myself."
"You made the correct decision Yugi," Yami said looking very leaderly. "In order to save the world from destruction we're going to need that card, it will help us defeat the Egyptian God card held by Marik and from winning the one held by Kaiba, Oblisk the Tormentor. The Battle City finals will be an epic clash between these three Gods only one will triumph."
"That's not the only thing I am worried about," Yugi said.
"Hmm?" Yami pressed for him to continue.
"Bakura?" I guessed. "Our old friend from the ring is back."
"Yes, I fear this too. I believe our old enemy has found his way back to Bakura and is using him once more."
"We've fought him before, both in this life and our past." I said smiling confidently at them both. "We can do it again. I am not saying it will be easy, but I believe we can do it."
"Mana is right Yugi," Yami said, walking towards me, putting his translucent in mine.
"While we are all gathered there is something else, I want to bring up," I said looking between the two of them.
"What is it?" Yugi asked.
"Marik, the tattoo on his face, it's a protection spell. I can't see a logical reason as to why it would be there… unless of course it is not really Marik."
"You think that he is another puppet being controlled –"
"No, not exactly. I think… I think Marik is here, not just through possession. But I think this purple cloaked guy a fake."
"Then we will uncover the real Marik." Yugi said. "Together."
Yami smiled at him.
"Yes, Yugi we will, but for now we need to focus on the battles ahead we have a while to go before we face off against Marik."
"Attention duellist." We all jumped and turned to the speaker. "The Battle City Finals are about to begin, Mr Kaiba requests the presence of all finalists in the main hall."
"Good luck, Yugi, Yami," I kissed Yugi on the cheek, before he change into the Pharaoh, where I repeated the gesture.
As most people were still upstairs, Yami took my head. He gave it a squeeze as we made our way to the door. For now we were alone. We walled to the list in silence, just enjoying the moment. It wasn't till Yami pressed the button with his free hand did I decide to speak.
"You'll be fine fates on our side."
"How do you know?" Yami said.
"Cause we're both here," I said. "And with you and Yugi's strategies no one will beat you. Especially with the heart of the cards."
He smiled at me.
"Of course, you are right, with you and our friends by my side how can I possibly lose?"
We got in the elevator and made our way up to join everyone else, sadly letting go of his hand as the elevator opened. I glanced around the room and saw Mai on her own. I headed towards her Yami on my tail.
"Hello, you two." She smiled gesturing for us to join her as we got closer.
"Hey Mai, you enjoying the food?"
"Well, I have to admit the blip is a nice touch and Kaiba's spared no expense, but I'm ready to stop smoozing and start duelling."
"Well, I wish you the best of luck in the finals, Mai." Yami said.
"Who needs luck," Mai said laughing. I laughed with her popping a grape into my mouth. I glanced around to see all of my friends enjoying themselves. I was happy for all of this to continue until tomorrow at least. I knew once the tournament started all hell would break loose. As I glanced around, I saw Kaiba enter the room. Joey noticed too and turned to him.
"Hey what's the hold up? When are we going to duel Kaiba."
"You're in quite a rush to lose Wheeler." He said. He touched the speaker on his coat. "Let's begin this now."
A muffled response filled the room and Kaiba replied. "Yes now." And clicked his fingers. "Let's go,"
A spot light up a small stage and what looked like a giant blue eyes lotto ball rose from the floor below.
"Huh, what's that thing?" Joey said.
"Finalist and guests –"
I zoned out not wanting to hear another speech, it didn't really apply to me as I wasn't duelling. My thoughts trailed to Egypt and the mission. Getting our memories back. I thought about the dreams so far, what memories were likely to come. There would have to be a point where the Pharaoh could have his own body.
"Yugi Muto," a voice called, I zoned back into the tournament. Yami vs Bakura.
"The first duel of the Battle City finals will begin immediately in the duelling arena."
"I guess I'm duelling Yugi, this should be fun." Bakura said.
"Mana what were you thinking about before?" Joey said.
"Nothing overly important," I said.
"You wouldn't be thinking about that prophecy, now would you?" Tristan smirked.
I just rolled my eyes not bothering to give him an answer. Yami and Bakura walked towards the lift they as they were instructed.
"We have to go this way," Mokuba said gesturing towards the other lift. We all walked that way as soon as the lift doors closed, I made sure to elbow Tristan in the ribs.
"Ow!"
"Will you cut that out, not everyone on this thing knows about the Pharaoh, you are making out as if I am dating Yugi and it's weird." I hissed.
"All right, jeez that hurt," he rubbed his rib.
"You did deserve it," Téa she said putting her hands on her waist.
The elevator dinged and as they opened a gust of cold wind whipped around us. Were we on the top of the blimp?
"Wow, duelling up here is insane," Joey said looking at the sky around us.
"And freezing," Serenity said wrapping her arms around herself.
"Here," I said shrugging off my coat and handing it too her. I had pretty much dried from the water now. Wow yeah that was only a few hours ago. I gave my cardigan to Téa and put a warming charm on each of us.
"Thanks Mana," Téa said, smiling gratefully.
"Oh look, here comes the master of ceremonies now," Tristan muttered.
Kaiba appeared from practically nowhere, there must have been a secret entrance or something.
"All right, I'll make this speech quick so we can begin this duel. Kaiba craft 3 is now cruising at an altitude of 4000 feet, the strong wind and cold air will test your strength and stamina. If you can't take it you don't belong here."
"Yeah, I dig this little twist," Tristan smirked.
"You wouldn't if you were duelling, touch luck Mai," I grinned.
"Are you prepared to lose it all," Bakura said.
"I won't lose, before we begin this duel why don't you tell me who you really are, and stop this charade," Yami called over the winds. As the dark chuckles started, Bakura put his head down, hiding his face as his body began to change.
"All right, have it your way then," Yami said. "But I think I know who you are,"
As he said this, the millennium ring appeared around the evil spirits neck.
"Oh man, he's wearing that millennium ring again," Joey said.
"That can't be," Tristan said staring at it in shock. "I got rid of it during Duellist Kingdom. I tossed that thing into the deepest part of the woods. Miles from anywhere. I dunno how Bakura got it back. But I know it's not a good thing."
"So why all the fuss," Namou said. "What's around Bakura's neck?"
Ok so you knew my story, but not the millennium items? Nope, don't buy your little act.
"Namou it's kind of a long story." Téa said.
"Ok let's give the basics for all those who are lost. Spirits inhabit the ancient gold objects around both of their necks. The spirit who is currently inhabiting Yugi's body is good, and does so with permission. However, the one who is currently controlling Bakura… let's just say he isn't the nicest of spirits."
"I just hope he doesn't drag us back to the shadow realm again. And let's not leave out the bit about you also being 5000 years old –"
"My soul is 5000 years old, not me. There was a big gap between Egypt and now. I haven't been roaming the earth that whole time."
"Yugi," my brother's name made me snap my head around. "Perhaps there is something else I am planning to take away from you. Besides your millennium puzzle."
"What are you talking about," Yami said.
He chuckled looking at me. Great, I thought.
"You will leave her out of your games." Yami snarled.
He just laughed again. "Hello again Mana, I bet your little mind has been busy since our last encounter. I wonder if at least one of you can remember your lovely childhood in the palace."
"Shut up!" I snapped. "I don't have to tell you anything."
"Ah you've been sharing your memories with the Pharaoh? How very touching. Have you shared how you died in the battle?" he said smirking. "Your teacher was no longer with you and you had not completed you training making you an easy target for the dark side. Ironically that was the down fall of us, it was your death that allowed the pharaoh to vanquish the darkness locking it away and wiping his memories, just as the prophesy foretold. Do you remember your death yet, Mana?" he asked me. "Do you remember how they strove a sword through your heart twisting it pulling it out and throwing it to the Pharaoh." He laughed as recollection crossed my face. Pain. The Pharaoh's eyes the moment I died. I clutched my chest and fell to the floor.
"Mana!" everyone cried, one voice clearer than all the others. I felt multiple hands holding me.
I snapped my head up as my killer's face came into focus.
"It was you!" I snarled. "You… you were on a horse. I was… It was my job to try and get the Pharaoh back into the palace... You… you killed me!" I yelled; my hand clutched tighter as I re-felt the pain. Both mine and the Pharaoh's as he realised what had happened... How our eyes had locked until…
The evil spirit laughed again.
"Did I just jog the whole thing back by its mentioning? I do apologise Mana. I suppose that happens frequently these days. I thought it was rather poetic at the time, he had your heart anyway didn't he?" he said laughing.
"I said keep her out of your games!" Yami snarled.
"Yeah, leave her alone!" Téa yelled, crouching down and wrapping her arm around me.
"Leave her alone you jerk!" Tristan yelled, putting his fists up at the spirit.
"Can you remember the previous Pharaoh's death yet Mana. I don't think you ever told the Pharaoh how his father died,"
He triggered another memory this one just as unpleasant as the last; I felt my eyes burn as I remembered his death.
"That wasn't my fault. I was just there when it happened, he even told the guards I didn't do anything so don't even try and frame me again!"
He started cackling again. "Wow sensitive about this aren't you, I remember how panicked you got when he collapsed protecting you –"
"Shut up, his death was not my fault! You are the one who threw dark magic– "
"I threw dark magic at you, and he blocked it with himself," the sprit said smirking. "Now, if you weren't a stupid child in my way, he wouldn't have died."
"Mana do not listen to him," Yami said loudly, I looked up at him our eyes meeting for a moment before mine filled with tears I fled running from that awful Spirits smug look I couldn't cope. The new horrific memories swirling around in my head.
I ran down several flights of stairs my eyes blurred and blurring as I felt the hot water leaving my face. I didn't know how many I had done before I fell to the floor, the air wasn't getting into my lungs anymore. The pain of my death haunting me. I could feel the cold metal twisting into my chest. The screaming. The blood. The grief. The pain. Bodies everywhere. Dead. Alive. Injured. Friends and enemies. Cold metal slicing. The pain.
Even though my eyes were open I could only see the sword, the spirit and Yami. Memory flashing.
I tried to pull myself from the old memory.
It's not happening, I tried to tell myself. Its over it is not happening now. I tried to look past the flashed and look at my hands they were shaking. My body curled in a ball in a corner, trying to breathe. Was there blood on my arm… was it real or the memory?
I was beginning to lose vison.
I closed my eyes trying to suck in a big breath. Three small shaky ones happened instead before my body expelled again.
Focus.
I touched the cold metal floor with my hand. It was smooth. I began to tap it.
I focused on the sound and the feeling of my nail hitting the metal. I slowed it down trying to match my breathing to it.
1 2
Deep breathe. I could feel myself uncurling, relaxing. Had I been this tense the whole time. Why did my arm hurt? Had I fallen?
I look around seeing I'm still in the stairwell, the blood was real. I healed it. I focused on the present.
Then I felt it, the great power of one of the Egyptian God… though they were not in the shadow realm I could still feel its strength! I rushed to head back up there.
As I burst through the door I could hear the Spirit of the ring yelling.
"Come on Yugi!"
"All right, it's time. Now go Slyfer the Sky Dragon attack!"