After a week of writers block i finally got this written. thank you EB and Quiet Harmony-chan for suggesting ideas, and special thanks to EB for putting up with my frantic rantings.
I don't own Yugioh, which i hope you figured out by now. i also hope everyone reading already knows the show because i was rereading this and no one who doesn't know this show will be able to get it.
sorry i had to repost, there were some errors i didn't like to leave unfixed.
so here is the rest of duelist kingdom. hope you like it.
Chapter 8
Airi spent Monday morning arguing with the admissions office of Yugi's school. The school had called, asking why Yugi hadn't been in class. She had forgotten to excuse Yugi from classes for the tournament, it had slipped her mind with everything going on. It would have been a simple matter to fix over the phone, but the woman on the other end insisted she had to being in a note. Muttering some nasty things about the school's red tape, Airi closed the shop early and walked to the school. The desk assistant was a new lady, who was as pleasant as a vulture as well as looking like one. She apparently knew her job very well and new every piece of red tape in existence. Airi smiled warmly as she handed her the note, inwardly missing the old assistant.
The vulture lady looked over the note, squinting to see if it was a forgery.
"You want to excuses Yugi Muto for the whole week?" she said, scratchy voice annoying Airi's already tense nerves.
"Yes." Airi still wasn't sure when he would be back so she decided to be on the safe side.
"Your not the guardian?"
"Not exactly."
"How old are you?"
"17."
"Then I can't proses this."
"But I've written notes before and they were ok."
"If your not the guardian this isn't valid."
"I'm his sister for petes sake."
"What is going on here?" Mrs. Lauren, the assistant principal, came in.
"This girl is trying to excuse a student without the proper authority." vulture lady said.
"What's going on Airi?" Mrs. Lauren knew Airi, mostly from last year's bully troubles. The older faculty knew about the situation of the Muto's, but apparently no one had told the new person.
"Yugi wont be able to go to school this week. He has some . . . business to take care of. It will take some time so I'm excusing him from school."
"Why didn't your grandfather write one?
"Grandpa isn't feeling well."Airi made it sound simple, but Mrs. Lauren slightly raised and eyebrow. From her experience it took a lot to get a Muto down. The strain in Airi's eyes was enough to tell her something was wrong.
"I'll vouch for the note." The assistant principal told the new lady.
"But policy. . ."
"I know the boy in question. What ever he is doing, I'm sure he has a good reason."
Vulture lady pursed her lips in disapproval, but she didn't dare contradict her boss.
"Thank you so much, Mrs Lauren." Airi said, as the two women walked out of the office.
"It seems as if Yugi isn't the only one who one checking out. I've heard there is some event going on, so half of the students have been excused from classes." Mrs. Lauren said, "I'm sorry to hear that your grandfather isn't feeling well, I hope he gets better soon."
"So do I."
"It is nice to see you again, Airi, and thankfully for an emergency. I'm happy to say I have not seen any bully trouble in a long time."
"All the credit goes to Yugi's friends." Airi said, smiling. 'and magic.'
"I've seen quite a change in that boy. Even when he doesn't have his friends with him, some people even say he becomes a different person some times." the assistant principal laughed. "I guess that anyone can seem different at times."
Airi just smiled. She took leave her, thanking Mrs. Lauren again for her help. She walked back to the game shop, frowning slightly. What Mrs. Lauren said had made Airi think. Ever since Yugi had finished the millennium puzzle things had been different. She had attributed everything to Joey, Tristan, and Tea, which credit was due. But having friends didn't explain why she had been seeing so many odd things. The Yugi she had known before had been brave, but he never had had that much confidence. She remembered how he acted in the duel with Kaiba, looking as confident as like a pro. She had dueled Yugi for years and she had never seen him look like that. It must have been the circumstance.
'But that doesn't explain why I keep seeing double.' she shook herself. She knew Yugi, he wasn't two different people.
At the hospital it was about the same amount of excitement as it was before. Airi kept looking at the pitchure in the locket. It had been so long since she had seen couldn't stop looking at it. Suddenly she sat up. She had felt a strong feeling of panic shot trough her. There was no explanation. She had felt flickers of foreign emotions ever since Yugi left. She had brushed them off her nerves acting up.
"Get a grip on your self." she told herself, sharply. "Your tired and worried. Your going to be a wreck. You don't want Yugi to see that when he gets home." but she couldn't bush these last feeling off. There was no way to for her to check on him, no one in the Muto house owned a cell phone. During the evening she continued to feel uneasy. She would have been happy if Tristan or Tea could have come over, but she hadn't seen them since them in days. Probably busy with their own lives. By midnight all the worry had made her exhausted. With all the stress it was amazing that she managed to fall asleep.
She was walking down endless stone passages, trying desperately to find Yugi. There was a danger and she had to get to him before it happened. Down endless passages she ran, her panic increasing with ever step. When she was about to give up, she turned the corner and there he was. His back was to her.
"Yugi!"
He turned, smiling when he saw her. His millennium puzzle shining in the torch light on the walls. His eyes suddenly widened as he saw something behind her.
"Airi look out!"
she turned. A giant monster was there, its ugly face was enough to make her blood turn cold. It's evil eyes were narrowed, a dark growl in its throat. Airi couldn't move. But before she could react Yugi was in front of her.
"Yugi run!" She stared at him. Everything was different; the way he held himself, his height.
He turned to her. His eyes instead of being violet were blood red, and the black of his hair was streaked with gold.
"Everything will be alright." he told her, voice deep and confident.
The monster roared, claws raised about to slash through him.
"No!"
Airi sat up, panting. She hadn't had a nightmare in years. She looked around the room. Grandpa was still motionless.
"I hope your having a better night then I am." she said to him. She got up and walked over the window. That voice, the last thing Yugi had said, where had she heard that? It sounded so familiar. Her eyes widened. The Puzzle. That was the only explanation. She had heard that voice when she had touched the puzzle a year ago. But puzzles can't talk, even magic ones.
Early Thursday afternoon, Airi decided that she was going to close the shop early again. She had done it yesterday with out the world coming to an end. Beside she didn't feel much in the mood to deal with people. She was about to leave when the phone rang.
"Hello."
"Airi."
"Yugi?"
"Yep, its me."
"What. . . why . . . is everything ok?"
"wow calm down. I called to tell you I made it and I'm going to duel Pegasus. I would have called earlier except Tea's phone couldn't get reception. I'm using a phone here in the castle."
"Wait Tea is with you?"
"Yep, and Tristan and Bakura, wait you don't know him. Anyway, I just wanted to call you to tell you I'm ok."
"You have no idea how wonderful it is to hear from you. I've been worried sick."
"That's what The Spirit said."
"Spirit?"
"Of the millennium puzzle."
"what are you talking about?" but in her mind things were starting to click. A Spirit in the puzzle would be able to talk.
"It's rather hard to explain, but he lives in the millennium Puzzle. He has been helping me duel, though I haven't know it was him. I'm sorry your worrying."
"What else is there to do?"
"Oh, before I forget. Joey got second place."
"What? That's wonderful."
"and he is going to get the money for his sisters operation. I'm letting him have my winnings, I wont need it. All I'm here for is grandpa."
Both went silent. The reality of the upcoming duel finally donning on them.
"Yugi, are you ok?"
"A lot better then I was."
"I know you will win." Airi said, confidently.
"I know I can. With you, Grandpa, my friends and the spirit of the puzzle with me."
"Trust yourself as well. I'll be right here rooting for you." with all that was happening, it was all she could do to make sure her voice didn't crack.
"Airi."
"Yes."
"It will be ok." it was Yugi talking, but Airi could tell that someone else wanted to tell her that as well. "Grandpa and I will be back before you know it."
"I know."
"I've got to go. The duel takes place in a few minuets."
"Yugi."
"Yes."
"Be careful, both of you."
"We will."
Knowing Yugi was dueling was some what of a blessing and a curse. Blessing because know she knew what was happening, curse because the knowledge was causing her to be more aware of the strong feelings she kept having.
Airi paised up and down the hospital room, unable to sit still. For the millionth time she wished she knew what was going on. The small hints of emotions she was feeling were driving her crazy.
Suddenly she froze. The panic was back, and was more intense. It didn't help that she knew he was in the dueling Pegasus.
"Yugi please be alright." she said.
Inside the bubble of the shadow realm, The Spirit was trying desperately to revive Yugi. Pegasus had overwhelmed him with an attack. Yugi wasn't used to shadow magic so his spirit had crashed under the pressure. The Spirit couldn't feel him at all.
"Yugi wake up, please." Yugi couldn't be gone. They were a team, The Spirit needed him. Yugi had risked playing that card, even when he knew the shadows were too strong. Now The Spirit was alone. He had failed in protecting him. Stab of feeling he had realized was some connection he had with Airi, jerked through him, adding to his own panic. She must be going mad with worry. The Spirit couldn't bare to think he had failed his promises to both of them.
"Yugi, ya in there pal?"
"Yugi are you alright?"
"Yugi! Don't give up, we're right here."
Even though The Spirit couldn't see them he could hear Yugi's friends calling to him from out side the purple clouds.
"Rather pathetic."Pegasus was talking for the benefit of hearing himself. "Those poor children. They must sense that Yugi-boy has bitten the dust. Good thing none of Yugi-boy's family can see what's happening, I'm sure they would be disappointed in their little hero."
An feeling of overwhelming contempt for Pegasus overwhelmed The Spirit. This man was making his friend and those he cared about suffer. All this for his puzzle. The only way to make things right was win this Shadow game. For Yugi. For Airi. For all of them. He couldn't let them down now.
"Tisk Tisk." Pegasus said, looking and his pocket watch and glancing over at the slumped form of Yugi. "Times a waiting."
The puzzle around the boys neck flashed. The eyes snapped open. The Spirit stood up, red eyes glaring at his opponent across the way. Pegasus had stolen Yugi's grandpa, scared his friends, worried his sister, and hurt Yugi directly.
It was time to end this.
Airi sat by grandpa's bed, hand on his. It wasn't cold, only the soul was gone not his life. But that didn't make her feel any better.
"I hope your looking out for Yugi, Spirit." she said to herself, "What ever is going on over there, I know you have Yugi's back." she guess she sounded silly, trusted a spirit that she had never met, not properly anyway.
'Yugi trusts him. If he does, the I will too.' she thought.
there was a moan. Airi look up, not daring to hope. She saw grandpa open his eyes.
"Grandpa?" she said hesitantly, in case her eyes were really playing with her this time.
"who dropped me on my head?" he said, rubbing his temple.
"Is that all you can say." Airi hugged him, happy tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Hey now. What are all those tears for?" Gramps stoked her hair.
"Don't you try to make light of this Solomon Muto." Airi scolded, but smiling all the same. "You've had everyone worried and . . . oh, never mind. It is so good to have you back."
"It's good to be back."
Both said nothing after that. No word would have been able to describe their feelings anyway.
The group on the island had managed to catch Kaiba before he left in the helicopter he had bought to get to the island. Joey was talking non stop for most of the ride, until Kaiba threatened to though him out the window if he didn't shut up. Tristan was just as bad as Joey, even is was mostly making comments that made Joey want to knock his face off. Bakura warn out by all the events was taking a moment to rest, while his Spirit of the Millennium Ring privately gloated about the prizes he had captured. Tea was sitting next to Yugi, who was leaned back, apparently asleep. She envied him, being able to sleep after all that had just happened. Though dueling Pegasus and being in the shadow realm she guessed he deserved it. Yugi wasn't really asleep, not technically anyway. He and the Spirit were in the the others soul room, perched on one of the ledges in the endless maze. The Spirit was glad to finally be on speaking terms with his host.
Once they were in range for reception, Tea was able to use her cell phone to call the game shop. No one was home, they must still be at the hospital. Bakura had to go home and of course Kaiba wanted nothing more to do with them. Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and Tea practically ran down the dark streets to the hospital. Finding grandpa's room, Yugi was the first trough the door. Gramps was sitting up in bed, very much awake. Yugi almost made the bed shake as he jumped to give grandpa a hug. Every one stood back, not wanting to get in the way. Airi stood in the door way. She had stepped out for a moment before Yugi had arrived. She watched the tearful reunion, patiently waiting her turn. However, Tea looked around and saw her first and alerted the others to her presents. Airi then had to wait longer as she congratulated Joey on second place and thanked Tea and Tristan for sneaking on the boat to give Yugi support. Finally Yugi nearly toppled her over with the force of his hug. Even though it was all over he could see still see signs of worry. He couldn't imagine what she must have gone through. Airi just held on tightly. Forget the panic she felt, he was back safe.
"So, tell me what happened." Grandpa ordered, after all the hugs had been shared.
All of Yugi's friends started talking at once. Joey of course went on about how well he had Dueled, repeating his being second place several times. Tristan and Tea made sure that all the facts and events were accounted, except the odd business of the larger Yugi during that duel with evil Bakura. That seemed a little to much, even with all the crazy things that had been going on. Yugi didn't bother correcting. He was all to happy to let his friends tell what had happened. Airi could sense somethings were being smudged in the story, but didn't mind. She had Yugi and Grandpa back.
While the others were relaying the events of the tournament, Yugi signaled to Airi that he wanted to talk out side. Both walked a little down the hall until they were sure that no one was around.
"Whats up?"
"I have someone who wants to meet you."
The puzzle flashed and beside him in the deserted passage way appeared The Spirit. Except for the height and the way he carried himself, the two of them could have been twins. He looked exactly as he had in her dream, except his eyes, though narrow and serious, weren't blood red, more like a fire; powerful and dangerous, but still warm. It was a good thing she was some what prepared for this meeting or she probably would have fainted or something.
"Airi, this is Yami."
"It is a pleasure to properly meet you." Airi said. With out thinking she held out her hand.
"The pleasure is all mine." Yami said, smiling slightly as he took her hand. When their hands touched, it confirmed that he was the same spirit she had heard before.
"You two know each other?" Yugi was a little taken aback that his sister knew of the spirit before he did.
"That's a story for another time." Yami said, before Airi had to explain the circumstances.
"Another time is right." Airi said, sitting on one the benches along the hall, motioning for Yugi to sit next to her. "I want to hear what happened. All of it. How did you beat Pegasus?"
"It's all thanks to Yami. He is the one who was there to get me through."
"All because of you determination and faith in the heart of the cards." Yami put in.
"Ok, slow down." Airi said, laughing. "Start from the beginning."
So Yugi went through all the events; from the boat ride to his and Yami's team work to defeat of Pegasus. Airi was on the edge of his seat during the whole recount. She wasn't surprised by Weevil's trickery and was please that Yugi had squashed him in the first round. Their running into Mai made her eyebrows go up slightly, but she didn't comment. Seto's duel made her eyes flash, and her bitter feelings didn't completely go away even when Yugi assured her that Kaiba himself wasn't counting there duel as a fair one. The severe panic feelings she had felt Monday turned out was the combined panic from both of them at the end of Kaiba and Yugi's duel; panic on Yugi's part in almost hurting Kaiba and Yami's for realizing that he had broken his friends trust.
By the time both had finished the recount, Airi was shaking her head in wounder.
"That was quiet the adventure." she said.
"I'll say." Yugi said, stretching. "I really hope I don't have to go through any more duels like that."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN EXODEA IS GONE?" came grandpa's voice from down the hall.
"uh oh." Yugi said.
"Looks like Joey let it slip." Yami observed.
"I knew grandpa was going to freak." Airi moaned. "I was hoping he wouldn't find out until after we got him home."
"I better get in there before Gramps hurts himself." Yugi hurried down the hall, Yami and Airi behind him. Yugi disappeared into the room where Gramps could be heard calling Weevil Underwood a lot of unprintable words.
Yami was about to fallow.
"Yami."
He turned to Airi. She didn't know why she suddenly felt awkward. It was hard not to feel a little flustered when those serious eyes were looking at her.
"Uh, I just wanted to thank you for being there for Yugi." she looked down at the floor, why did she have to get nervous. "From what I could gather, you took most of the hits. If you weren't there . . . " she gulped, not wanting to think about it.
Yami placed a hand on her shoulder, making her look up.
"You don't need to make a speech, Airi." he said kindly. "Knowing I restore your family safely is all the praise I need."
She smiled, eyes shining.
"Thank you, Yami." Airi said "For everything."
With a final nod, Yami disappeared.
Airi stood out in the hall a moment more before joining the others.
A/N so there it is, all my blood sweat and tears. if some of you didn't like it, its your own fault for not giving me suggestions. anyway, Airi and Yami have finally met, thank heavens. I can stop writing 'The Spirit' now.
anyway, i hope you liked it and PLEASE review. if anyone has any sugestions for upcoming episodes please tell me, in case i get struck with writers block again.
hope you like this chapter and have a good week. hopefully the next chapter wont be as hard to write.
Thanks for reading. :)
