I LIVE!
Really really really sorry i haven't posted in ages. School is finally over and i have an entire month before i go back. I really hope this chapter is good. It's short, by my standards, but i hope it gets the point across. the duel might not make sense, but its done. did i mention i hate writing them?
HUGS and BIG THANKS for still reading and review even though i suck at posting. You are all amazing and AWESOME!
OK, lets get the formal stuff out of the way. I don't own Yugioh. Airi and Cerys are mine. Special thanks to battousaisgirl16 for editing and telling me this was good enough to post.
Enough talk, lets fight (read)
Chapter 46
Strapping on her duel-disk, Airi watched her opponent carefully from the corner of her eye. Cerys stood, agitated, clearly anxious to start. She flicked her black hair out of her face with the air of a spoiled diva, a movement which was slowly getting on Airi's nerves. The behavior was like a less confident Seto. Airi frowned. There was something off about the haughty act. Despite the implied confidence, Cerys kept glancing around, likes she was uncomfortable. Airi also sure she saw her slip the Seal near the bottom of the deck. Wouldn't she want to put it near the middle?
"Airi." Yami's voice cut into her thoughts. She faced him and he press a card into her hands. She glanced at the card then back at him. He nodded. "Best strategy is keep that card from being played. This might help."
"Thank you." She slid the card into her deck.
"Hurry up." Cerys said.
Yami's eyes flashed, but he didn't respond. Airi gently squeezed his shoulder before turning to her opponent. She slid her deck into the duel-disk and it activated. As the girls drew their first five cards, Airi carefully watched Cerys' face, watching for any indication the girl had already drawn the Seal. The girl was going through her hand, but didn't look excited. For a split second she looked relived. Airi blinked. That didn't seem consistent.
"I'll start." Cerys announced. "I summon Six Samurai Yarzia in attack mode. And I end my turn."
Airi frowned. That was quick. "I summon Dark Witch in attack mode. I also play another monster face down and end my turn."
"Really?" Cerys huffed. "You're copying me. Unoriginal." Cerys drew, and again a slight hint of relief flashed across her face. "I summon Six Samurai Kamon to the field, and send my Samurai Yarzia to attack you directly."
Airi braced for impact. It wasn't bad like a shadow game attack, but it still was a shake up. She refused to break composer, for Yami's sake if nothing else.
"Honestly," Cerys said. "you're making this too easy."
"You done?"
"I guess. I place one card face down and end my turn.
"Good." Airi drew. "I summon Victoria to the field. Dark Witch, attack Samurai Yarzia."
The witch attacked, but at the last moment she attacked Samurai Kamon instead. Cerys only smirked.
"When you attack one of my Six Samurai, I can redirect the attack on to a different Six. I also activate Shein's Scheme." The face down flipped over. "Taking out one of my Six Samurai allows me to summon two more from my hand."
"Great." Airi muttered. "I end my turn." Airi had to admit her opponent knew her stuff. The Samarai cards were some of the rarest sets, or so she read. This girl must have been someone to have this deck. But that still didn't explain why she was on the same side as Dartz.
"Really, I thought you were better at this game than that." Cerys said. She drew, and again her face showed relief.
"She'll draw the card soon." Yami said.
"I don't think she wants to."
"She put it in her deck." Yami pointed out with disgust.
"I know, but still, something seems off about her."
"Samurai Kamon, attack Dark Witch." Cerys called out.
The warrior attacked Airi's monster, slicing it in half before it disappeared.
"You were saying." Yami said.
"I don't tell my monsters how to attack." Airi said flatly.
The duel continued, and it wasn't going well for Airi. She put her cards on the field and Cerys always had one to match it. Cerys wasn't a pro and most of her moves were predictably standard, but Airi's mind was too occupied with wondering when the Seal would come out and if she would be able to keep it off the field. That was her only chance, but could she pull it off?
"I thought you were a pro, but you're playing like a beginner." Cerys observed after another round. "Rafael would have you beat in four moves or less."
"Then why didn't he teach you." Airi snapped.
"Airi, focus. You can do this!" Yami said.
Airi took a deep breath. It was clear the girl knew how to duel. Airi needed to do her best to stay focused on the game. Her emotions were still in mess with the past few days. Balancing knowing her cards and worrying if the the Orichalcos card was going to appear wasn't helping the situation. She had to stop thinking about what might happen and focus on what was happening on the field.
"You don't have a chance?" Cerys said.
"We've just started." Airi said. "The cards don't tell the future."
"I know enough about you to know you're going to lose."
"Oh really." Airi wasn't in the mood for this. "What makes you say that?"
"You're siding with evil." Cerys pointed at Yami. "He's on the side of the enemy, and he's against the creation of a better world. You're just as bad as him."
Airi's eyes narrowed. "You're one to judge. You're side took my brother and killed Neal."
"Those were necessary."
"Necessary to kill for your cause?"
"Rafael had no choice." Cerys snapped. "It's you who's making things difficult for him."
"For him?" Yami stepped forward. "He's the one who challenged me. You're comparing me to a murderer?"
"Don't call him that!" Cerys' eyes flashed. "Rafael isn't like that. He's helping to change the world for the better. To get rid of all the darkness and make a new world, that's all this is about."
Airi frowned. "You don't sound convinced."
"You're trying to confuse me!" Cerys placed a card on the field. "I place a card face down and end my turn."
Airi drew, studying her cards carefully. Still, the girl in front of her was confusing. She was working for Dartz, but talked more about this Rafael guy. The man who had taken her brother. Anger started rising up inside of her. This girl was a friend of Rafael's, a close friend by the sound of it. Taking her out would be a way of getting to him. She scrunched the thought. She wasn't going to be sucked into the whirlpool of hate this had all come from. She had to think about her moves, but her mind was getting more and more agitated.
"Don't over think your moves." Yami said. "Second guessing will bring you up short. Trust your instincts and the heart of the cards."
Airi smiled. Two references to dueling and family in one statement. She took a calming breath. She could do this.
Airi looked back at Yami and smiled. "Thanks for having my back."
He inclined his head slightly, still looking concerned.
"See," Cerys said. "How can you call yourself better when you're always facing towards corruption itself?"
Airi faced her opponent. "He's not the corrupt one. He's only stopping all of you from making a mistake."
"Rafael isn't evil." Cerys almost screamed. "He has a reason. This is for a better world. He promised."
Airi took another careful look at this girl. Cerys might act like Kaiba, but now Airi could see she wasn't confident. Something was off.
Airi placed a card face down on the field. "I end my turn."
"Finally." Cerys said. She reached again for her deck. There again was the slight hesitance Airi had noticed before. Why wasn't she as adamant about her cause as the others they'd met?
"Why are you fighting this war, Cerys?"
"Airi." Yami warned, but she ignored him.
"Why should you care?" Cerys said.
"If I'm going to get my soul stolen, I'd like to know why?" Airi said, voice deceptively calm.
"Arrogant, just like the rest." Cerys muttered. "I'm doing this to help the world."
"Strange way of doing it." Yami said.
Cerys' eyes flashed again, but she didn't respond to him. "I grew up in a rich family. Everyone seemed to have everything, but they still wanted more. Everyone kept taking, thinking only of themselves. Evil people stole my father's business from him, his own friends betrayed him. He died a broken man, leaving me alone. The more I saw of the world, the more I realized how evil and fake it is."
As she spoke, it was as a mask was slipping. She wasn't the stuck up jerk anymore. The girl in front of Airi looked more awkward now. She was just a girl hanging on to a cause.
Cerys' face suddenly lit up. "But then Rafael came back. He'd been my friend, but I thought he had died in an accident at sea. He saw the world in its true light as well. He was the only true person I knew and we were going to make the world better. Then he found Dartz, and there was finally a way for us to reach our goal. Rafael says once we get rid of the corruption we'll be able to start over."
Airi sighed. "Your wish is a noble one, Cerys. But how can you reach it when you're acting like the corruption causing the problem?"
"Oh, and you're not?" Cerys said. "If you knew everything about that pharaoh you seem to care about you'd see how corrupt and individual he is." She pointed at Yami. "He must be tricking you. How else can you still be with the one who lost your brother?"
"Your boyfriend was the one who stole him." Yami growled. "He's the one who's fooling you."
"Enough!" Cerys shouted. "Rafael is a good man, and you have no right to judge him. He's doing this for a better world, and for me." She drew. For a spit second her eyes showed shock, but then she looked at Yami and gave him a crazed grinned. "And I'm not going to let anything stand in his way." She raised the card. It was the seal. "I activate-"
"I activate Lightforce Sword!" Airi flipped over her face down, the card Yami had given her.
The sword erupted from Airi's side of the field catching the card from Cerys hand in the center of the brown circle on the back. The two sailed behind Cerys, the sword appearing to sink into the ground, the card, resting under the point, completely unattainable.
"Now the seal is out of play for three turns." Airi said.
"You." Cerys' teeth were bared in furious snarl. "Rafael needs to get back in Dartz's favor, and you're stopping him from fulfilling his missions. How dare you get between me and my goal?"
Airi shrugged. "I don't much care to get zapped."
"I'll make you pay for that cheep trick."
"Go ahead." Airi said, more confident than she felt. She had only had three moves before the Seal returned to play. If only she got the right cards.
Cerys ended her turn, still glaring at her opponent.
Airi drew. She'd have to do some quick thinking to keep her life points safe. If she lost the duel, Cerys might not get her soul, but might not tell her where Yugi was. She looked over the field. Cerys was too distracted at not playing the Orichalcos she didn't use her two monsters to attack, a lucky break for Airi. She only had one monster on the field. It was time to change that.
"I summon Mystical Elf in attack mode." the familiar figure appeared on the field, and Airi felt a reassured from the elf's appearance. "I place a card face down and end my turn."
Two more turns to go before the Seal came back.
"Your really a coward." Cerys said. "You're hiding behind your cards instead of working with them. It shows your true character."
"I'm not a coward." Airi wasn't paying attention. It was mostly trash talk coming from the other girl.
"Is that why you hide behind powerful boyfriends?"
Airi looked up. "Sorry?"
"Well, you latched on to Kaiba for your success." Cerys' smiled at finally getting Airi's attention. "And now you hang on to your brother and this Pharaoh to bring you back. Are you that insecure?"
"Insecure?" Airi snapped.
"Don't' listen to her." Yami said. "She'd distracting you." by the sound of his voice he was getting upset as well. Airi knew the other girl was just trash talking, she was Kaiba's ex after all. She knew about trash talk, but she didn't have to take this kind of language sitting down.
Cerys drew, confident smirk still in place. "I mean, who else is so dedicated to other people's lives. First following around a budding CEO to ride on his glory. Then you hang around with high school kids because they're also good at dueling.
"Then what would you call hanging around a man just because you want to be with him even if what he does is hurting other people?"
"In your case, your an accomplice." Cerys said.
"Oh, I thought we were discussing your life, my bad." Airi said.
Cerys' face went blood red, and Airi smiled. She still had some of her old flair for infuriating people. Maybe she should thank Seto. She glanced back at Yami. His poker face was still in place, but she could tell he was impressed.
"I attack twice with my Six Samurai Yarzia, first at your Herald of Creation and second at you directly."
Airi let the Samurai take out her monster,and pretended not to care her as her life points went down twice. She could feel Yami's agitation and worry, but was grateful he didn't ask her what was up. It was nice having someone who believed her abilities.
Cerys took Airi's non reactions in an opposite light. She grinned as she called out her final attack. "I'll finished off your points with an attack from Enishi. Take out her Mystical Elf."
"I activate Mirror Force." Airi said. "Destroying your Monster instead."
"Again with the reflections." Cerys looked like she wanted to throw something.
"You done?" Airi said.
Cerys glanced back at the hologram Lightforce Sword holding the seal out of reach. "I end my turn." that command didn't sound as confident.
Airi drew. "I summon my Mystical Shining Ball in attack mode." it was a very weak monster, but it was a monster just the same. "I also activate my Gift of the Mystical Elf, raising my life points per monster on the field." she glanced at Cerys. With this girls anxiety, it would be better for both of them to finish this duel quickly. "I also activate the spell card Sword and Shield allowing me to switch my Mystical Elf's attack points for her defense points. Mystical Elf, attack Six Samurai Yarzia."
Cerys visibly flinched as the life point counter dropped.
Airi glanced at her cards. "I end my turn."
One more turn to go
"You'll pay for taking out my Samurai." Cerys drew. "I play monster reborn and revive Enishi, Chalcoler. I also use my trap card Spellbinding Circle to entrap Mystical Elf." the circle gripped the elf in a deadly embrace, holding her in place. Airi inwardly smacked herself. She'd thought her opponent was too distracted to pull off a move like that. Her switching her Mystical Elf's defense and attack points would make a devastating blow to her own life points.
Cerys paused. Airi knew she was going to attack, it was the only move she could do with just one monster on the field and no cards in her hand. Again her opponent looked back at the seal. Airi realized the seal would be back in play next turn. Was she having second thoughts?
"Enichi, take out Mystical Shining Ball."
Airi inwardly groaned. It was the less powerful monster, but she would rather it had taken out Mystical Elf. Now things were really getting tight. Now she had no monster which could attack the next round.
"I end my turn." Cerys didn't sound as excited at before.
Airi drew. Okay, she'd have to play this carefully if she was going to have any chance for the next round.
"I sacrifice Mystical Elf to summon Athena in defense mode." the elf was replaced by her gold clad fighter. The circle remained on the field, preventing Airi from switching the card out of her current position. Airi waited for a wise crack from Cerys, but there wasn't anything.
Only one more move before Cerys would get the Seal back from Lightforce Sword. Cerys became more excited, but not in a good way. She kept looking back at the hologram Lightforce Sword and her card. It was like she was scared about getting it back.
"I have to do this." Cerys muttered to herself. "I have to help Rafael."
"Will this really help him?" Airi said. "Think about it, Cerys. You said you don't like fakes. Dartz is a fake. He's only after the world to rule it, not help it."
"No, Rafael says the world is corrupt and we have to start over in order to destroy all the evil."
"The world isn't perfect." Airi said. "and it never will be. But that doesn't give you the right to destroy was is good about it. Forcing what you want on others is a version of fake as well."
"Tell that to your friend." Cerys snapped. "He sacrificed your brother to stop us. Rafael told me he let his entire family die and killed his own people to stop a so called threat to the world. You can't judge us when you're just as manipulative and heartless."
"Heartless!" Airi pointed at her. "Your Rafael left a boy by an exploding building for his cause."
Cerys' face paled. "There was no other way."
"What, you couldn't have two hostages in your helicopter?" A tear slid down her cheek and Airi wiped it away angrily. "Did Dartz only say the professor and no one else?"
Cerys took a step back. "Rafael wouldn't do that. He's not a killer."
"Of course not." Airi's voice was sarcastic. "He was just following orders. It's going to help the world, after all."
"Airi." Yami said.
Airi closed her eyes. She didn't know what to think. Whatever Yami was supposed to have done in his pasted life sounded horrible. She knew how dangerous Yami could be. The Battle City and the duel against Weevil on the train top proved that. But all she could see was Neal's burned face and the professor laying almost dead in the motor-home. A group which could produce results like this couldn't be right either.
"I don't care what you say." Cerys' face was distressed, but was also determined. "I promised I was going to help him in any way possible, and I can't let him down. You can't understand what that means."
Airi didn't look away. "You're wrong, Cerys."
"I don't care about Dartz." Cerys snapped. "All I care about is Rafael."
"I mean you're wrong about me not understanding." Airi eyes flashed. "You're willing to do anything for Rafael, even if you don't believe in the cause. I know what it's like to do anything for someone despite knowing what you're doing is changing you, and not for the better."
"Airi?" Yami's voice was barely a whisper. It gave her the courage to continue.
"But I'm different than you. I believe in Yami's cause and I know who he is. He's messed up, but he's going to make it right." Airi drew. "You're willing to do anything for Rafael. I'm willing to do anything to help Yami, and I won't allow you or Dartz to use me against him."
The two girls glared at each other from across the field.
"It's your move." Cerys said through gritted teeth.
Airi looked at her cards. There was nothing else she could do. She looked back at Yami. Both knew this was the third turn. Yami's arms were folded, and she could see the white knuckles as his fingers dug into his arm. He nodded, encouraging and resolved. She managed a small smile. She thought she should say something, but words wouldn't come. This wasn't time for last words. She turned back to the field.
"I end my turn." Airi swallowed. It was a good fight. Now it was out of her hands.
The hologram sword, levitated back to Airi's side of the field, pausing to let Cerys pick up the card as it passed. The sword returned to the face up card, and the hologram dissolved. Airi wished it could stay.
The Seal was back in play.
Cerys looked at the card, visibly torn. Airi swallowed. She'd made her opponent really fired up. She'd play that card for sure to get Airi back for saying those things about Rafael. Well, so be it. Airi straightened. She's spoken her mind, and she'd take what she got. Behind her she heard Yami take a step forward, probably positioning himself to intervene, like he could stop Orichalcos from claiming a victim. Both waited.
Cerys still stared at her card. It was impossible to distinguish thoughts from the vast expressions on her face. She looked at Airi. Her green eyes were like sparking stones. Cerys drew, looking between the seal and her new card. She closed her eyes and let out a sigh. Airi knew that sigh. It was a collecting of will. Here was the final move. She looked back at Yami, their eyes locking.
"I play Lightning Vortex." Cerys said. "With this card I can destroy all the monsters on the field."
Airi spun back around to face the field, shocked. She had that card, and knew the activation of that card required . . .
"I activate this by discarding a card from my hand to the graveyard." Cerys discarded the seal. Lightning cracked across the field, striking each monster on the field, wiping the field completely void.
"She didn't use . . ." Yami was in shock.
Airi let out a long breath. "Thank you, Cerys."
"Just play." Cerys snapped. She stood, arms folded, impatient again.
Airi drew, and her face lit up. Just the card she needed.
"Because your card destroyed my Athena, I can summon Minerva, Sister of Athena directly to the field." the silver clad warrior appeared on the deserted field. "Minerva, attack Cerys directly."
The monster raised her weapon and shot a stream of light at Cerys. She didn't move, but let it engulf her. The life point counter dropped to zero. Airi had won. It was over. She still had a soul.
Airi felt weak kneed. That was one of the shortest duels of her life, but she felt drained. She'd manage to avoid the Oricahlos by one card.
Some one was at her side keeping her steady. She smiled as she took Yami's hand and gave it a grateful squeeze.
Cerys was walking towards her bike.
"Wait." Airi called. "Where are you going?"
"I need some questions answered."
"So do I." Airi said. "Where is Yugi?"
"You wanted to know where to find Dartz?"
"Fine, where is Dartz?"
Cerys paused, helmet in her hands. "Look up Paradius. That's where you'll find them."
"Is it in California?"
"One question only." Cerys put on the helmet and started her engine, spraying sand in their direction as she sped away. In a few moments she was out of sight. Another moment, the engine sound faded as well.
"Great that's wasn't helpful." Airi muttered.
Yami shrugged. "At least you're still here."
"We both are." Airi still watched after the falling dust from the bike. "Come on. If we're going to find this Paradius we're going to need some place with phone reception. And that's the easy part."
She tried to step forward on her own, but Yami still had to hold her upright. She turned to say she could manage alone. Instead she was pulled into a hug. She froze, but then hugged back, squeezing tightly.
Neither of them spoke, words failing both of them. After a while, Airi gently pulled away.
"Thanks. I needed that."
"You and I both." Yami let his hand drop. "Can you manage?"
She held out her hand. "You better stay close."
His hand slide into hers, gripping it firmly. "Always."
Dartz wasn't surprised in Cerys' failure. He suspected this girl wasn't as dedicated to the Orichalcos cause as her lover. Rafael stood in front of him, having just heard the news from Dartz, face was showing more emotion that usual. The dominate expression was of betrayal.
"You should consider yourself lucky." Dartz said. "She could have turned on you at any time."
Rafael didn't answer. Dartz continued.
"This is a way for you to redeem yourself, Rafael."
He looked up, confused. "How, master?"
"Now Cerys has turned traitor, she must be removed."
Rafael stepped back. "Removed."
"She will try to turn you away from your goal. This is dangerous, for you and the world. You are my strongest disciple, Rafael."
Rafael was uncertain, Dartz could see it. This girl did mean a lot to his follower. Good thing he figured this out now. This girl had to go.
"She's coming back." Dartz said.
Rafael looked up, hope faint in his serious eyes.
"You might have a chance to convince her to come back." Dartz made sure his tone was void of the possibility of success. "If not." He looked the other man in the face. "You know what to do."
Rafael's face smoothed into his usual resolution. "I will not fail you this time, master."
"I know."
Dartz turned back to his alter, smiling as he heard the footsteps retreating across the stone floor. He watched the wall, one of the few empty spots left in his collection of souls. If he was lucky, he would be one soul closer to his goal.
The spot was filled before Rafael returned to report on his success.
A/N: Wow, that's over with. I really hope that was good enough. I'm hoping to post soon, I have another duel coming up i need to write, and not looking forward to it.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know this was good and who is still reading this story. I really hope i will not be so negligent.
Take care, and God bless. Thank you for reading.
