What's this? two chapter uploads in the same month!? What is this? Anyway, since this is the 50th chapter and the holidays, I thought I would do something special. I know this is a filler chapter, but at least the story is moving along. I hope you enjoy it ether way.
Housekeeping. I don't own yugioh, Airi is mine, batousaisgirl16 is the best editor. Also, I had to play around with the chapter so when you rewatch it some of the dialogue might be different.
Enjoy :)
Chapter 50
How they got back to the others, Airi wasn't sure. Summoning Mystical Elf without a card seemed to have taken more energy than she'd expected, and the plane crash hadn't help either. Kaiba did most of the navigating, managing to call Mokuba on his cell phone while Airi and Yami walked behind.
Airi's mind was distracted with memories of Dartz. His eyes were the most creepy. Two different colors and looking like snake eyes as they stared without ever seeming to blink. Him being that creepy in a spirit hologram made her dread having to see him in person. But they had to find him, he had Yugi.
A a shout up a head snapped Airi back to the present. They had arrived at the Hawkins' trailer and Mokuba was running towards them. Rebecca and Duke were also at the doorway looking relieved at the sight of the trio. Mokuba collided with his brother, giving him a big hug.
"Thank goodness you're back." Mokuba said. "We were all getting worried.
"We're all alive." Kaiba said. "and now I know who I'm after."
"Who we're after." Yami said.
"Whatever." Kaiba snapped. "We know who's party to crash."
"Then we better hurry." Rebecca said. "We have to catch up to Joey."
"Joey?" Yami said. "What happened to him?"
"He's gone after Paradius by himself."
"Oh no." Airi had been afraid of this since she'd seen him after the duel with Mai.
"We'll catch up." Yami said. "If he's on foot we'll catch up to him."
"He better not screw things up." Kaiba said.
"Guys!"
All of them turned to see Tea running towards them.
"Where's Tristan?" Duke asked.
"Got separated." Tea gasped. "But that's not the worse part."
"You're right, things are worse." Professor Hawkins appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame. "According to the news people are collapsing for no reason all around the world."
"It's got to be from the monsters running around everywhere." Tea said.
"The Orichalcos power is taking more souls to revive the leviathan." Rebecca said.
"Also, don't trust the cops." Tea said. "They're all under it's control too."
"Sure is thorough." Airi said.
"Why are we still standing around yacking?" Kaiba said.
"Kaiba's right." Yami didn't seem thrilled to say that. "We have to get through those monsters to get to Dartz."
"Climb aboard then." Duke gestured to the trailer as he jumped into his car to pull it.
The trailer seemed crowded now with the number of people inside it. Rebecca took control of the table as she typed out even more information about the enemy. Kaiba stood behind her with Mokuba inspecting the results. The others did their best to hang on as the trailer rocked back and forth. Airi didn't know if she should blame the trailer's bulkiness or Dukes driving.
"We're less than a mile from Paradius headquarters." Rebecca announced.
"We'll get our company back in no time." Mokuba said.
"I doubt it." Kaiba said. "This is a powerful organization. They won't just give back what they took. It will take everything we have to convinced them otherwise."
There was a screeching of brakes and everyone in the trailer was knocked off their feet. Curses and groans came from everyone. Shouts from outside alerted them to something wrong. Yami was the first to the door, Airi close behind. She heard Yami shout something and a flash as a card was summoned. She made it outside and gasped as she saw what was wrong.
Tristan was in the gutter not to far away and had a large Orichalcos soldier standing over him. Tristan's hands were up in an attempt to fight it off. Before either the solder or Tristan could make a move, Celtic Gaurdian appeared and slashed the soldier through with one blow. Yami called his monster back before leading the way as everyone hurried to Tristan's side.
"Are you alright?" Airi said.
"Yeah I'm good." Tristan accepted Yami's hand to get up. "Thanks Ya-" he glanced up to see Kaiba standing nearby. "Yugi." he finished. "though I could have taken him myself."
"He might have taken your soul." Yami said.
"Tristan, have you seen Joey?" Tea said.
"Yeah, I did, but good luck catching him. He got in a motorcycle chase after one of Dartz's henchmen."
"Was it Valon?" Rebecca said.
"I'm not on first name basis." Tristan said. "I just know he was on a motorbike."
"That's probably him." Rebecca said. "he's got a thing against Joey and he's got a crazy powerful deck of cards I've never seen before."
"How do you know?"
"Trouble on the drive here." Duke said. "Valon met us on the road. Trust me, that guy is nuts."
"And that's not the worse part." Tristan said. "Mai is after him too."
Airi felt her insides clench. Two people after Joey with powerful decks. She knew Joey was a decent duelist, but these two were wielding Orichalcos. Could he hold up against two crazy duelists after him?
Behind her, Airi heard Kaiba's duel-disk activate. She turned as saw they were surrounded by a small army of Orichalcos soldiers. More were coming out of allies and doorways. Around her the others gasped or cursed.
"Heads up." she shouted, activating her own duel-disk.
"Can we out run them?" Rebecca asked, not having her duel-disk on her.
"Already tried that." Tristan said.
Airi pulled out some cards, but as she looked around she realized the attacks wouldn't be fast enough to take them all out.
Yami and Kaiba shared a look.
"Airi, protect the others." Yami said. "We'll handle this."
He and Kaiba ran forward, each pulling out a card.
"Seto, be careful." Mokuba called after him.
"They're just holograms." Kaiba shouted back.
"Stubborn." Airi muttered, putting her monsters in place to summon if this didn't work.
"Timaeus!"
"Critius!"
Both giant dragons hovered over them, teeth gleaming in the street lights. All the Orichalcos soldiers stopped their marching and looked up to look at the dragons.
"ATTACK"
The dragons dived, mowing down stone monsters. Some of the solders ducked the dragons and headed for Airi and the others. Airi opened her mouth to fight them off, but Critius appeared and took them out. Airi noticed Kaiba give her a stern look as he directed him monster towards some more soldiers.
"Are you all alright?" Yami ran up, directing them towards some more solders after them from behind.
"We are now." Tea smiled at him.
In no time the soldiers all were destroyed and disintegrated. The dragons gave a triumphant roar and disappeared inside their owner's cards. Tristan and Duke appear from a back ally.
"Where were you?" Rebecca demanded.
"Umm, leading the monsters away?" Duke said.
Airi looked around and saw Kaiba walking away. "Where are you going?"
"Going after Dartz."
"We have to stick together." Airi said. "We're in this together."
"Just because I had to save you from holograms doesn't mean I'm part of your pep squad."
"But what about Joey?" Tea said.
"Use your heads." Kaiba continued to walk, Mokuba hurrying to catch up.
"Fine, be that way." Airi shouted after him. She wanted to say something better, but she was too upset to think of anything good.
"He'll be back." Yami said. "We both have to face Dartz. We'll cross paths again."
"Fathead." Airi muttered.
"I've got it!" Rebecca said. "I know how to find Joey."
They entered the trailer again, Yami standing by the door in case more soliders appeared. Rebecca typed even faster as the others crowded around trying to figure out what was going on.
"All duel-disks are connected into the KaibaCorp system."
"I thought the system was hacked?" Tristan said.
"It's a different system. Directly connected to the satellite. If his security was easy to crack, then this should be too."
"Maybe Kaiba should get a new programing system." Airi said.
Rebecca made some more entries. Everyone waited, hoping the system was still clear to use. Airi glanced at Yami and could tell he was worried about Joey. They better find him soon before he got in over his head.
"Come on." Rebecca muttered. "It doesn't like my passwords."
"We've got to find Joey." Tristan said.
"He'll be fine."
"No, he's going after Mai to try and get her back from those creeps. He won't be thinking with anything but his heart, and none of those guys have one. Even if he gets to Mai he'll have to face her and that nut Valon."
"No, it's not your fault Tristan." Tea said. "Joey will be fine. You'll see." everyone could heard the doubt in her voice.
"Yeah, Joey's got a mind of his own." Airi said.
"Hope he's using it." Duke muttered.
"Rebecca any luck?" Yami said.
"No, I've tried all the passwords I can think of."
"What have you tried?" Airi knelt down so she was level with the screen.
"Pretty much anything related with KaibaCorp that I know about."
"Blue-Eyes?"
"No."
"Seto?"
"Nope."
"Mokuba?"
"That's too easy."
Airi tried to think of something. This was put in around the time of Battle City. What could have been connected to that, which only he would think about.
"God Cards?"
Rebecca typed it in.
"Nope."
Airi frowned, then it hit her.
"Obelisk?"
Rebecca entered the keys.
"It worked."
"Well done." Professor Hawkins said from the other side of the room.
Rebecca made some more entries into the system.
"I've found him. He's not far from here. And he's dueling."
The printer ejected the map and Rebecca handed it to Airi.
"Airi, may I see it?" Yami said.
She handed it over. He studied it for a moment and then nodded.
"All of you stay in the trailer. It will be easier to defend."
"Hang on." Airi grabbed his arm. "where do you think you're going?"
"After Joey."
"You're not going alone." Tea said.
"We're all in this together." Tristan said.
Yami looked at each of them, ending with Airi. Airi's grip tightened on his jacket in case he had any ideas of leaving without her.
"Alright. We need to get moving."
Yami, Airi, Tristan, and Tea stepped outside the trailer, which thankfully didn't have any soldiers around it.
"I'm coming too." Rebecca said from the doorway.
"No." Yami's voice was firm. "Duke and you will stay here with the professor."
"We need you here, my dear." her grandfather sad from behind her.
Duke didn't look happy with being left out, but didn't say anything.
Rebecca opened her mouth to protest, but stopped in surprise as Yami walked over to stand in front of her. It was the first time they had been within a few feet of each other since they'd joined up again.
"I promise you we'll get Joey back safely." he paused. "I also promise you Yugi will be alright."
Rebecca stared at him, but didn't protest as Yami walked back to the others.
"Go kick their butts." Duke called after them.
Airi stayed close to Yami and found she couldn't stop smiling.
"What's up with you?" Yami asked.
"Just happy to have old you back." she said
He smiled too. "Don't celebrate just yet."
They continued on down the streets. Tea took the map to guide them while Airi and Yami stayed prepared for attacks and Tristan was other look out.
"According to this, Joey should only be a few blocks away."
"Wait." Yami stopped, looking at his duel-disk. The deck holder was shining as a card was illuminated by a bright glow. "It's Timaeus."
"Joey must be playing his dragon." Tristan said.
Suddenly the glow from the card stopped.
"That can't be good." Tea said.
Yami took off, the others close behind. Airi silently prayed Joey would be alright when they got there.
The blocks seemed to stretch on forever.
"Guys stop." Tea said.
"We can't stop. We've got to find Joey."
"That's why we need to stop. He got to be around here somewhere."
They all looked around. Airi couldn't really see anything beside the grey of the buildings and dark street allies. For the first time in her life she wanted to see the green light of the orichalcos to give them a hint where they were going.
"We can't just stand here. We need to pick a direction and go with it." Tristan said.
"Guys over there!" Airi pointed. Her wish came true. A giant light in sky rising from a place several more blocks away. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw Yami's cards light up again.
"That way." Tristan started running, but he stopped as the light suddenly turned green and then ended.
"The duel is over." Airi said.
"Joey lost?" Tea said.
"No, he can't have." Yami said. "Come on, we've got to keep moving."
"Rebecca only said a few blocks away." Airi muttered as they headed off again. "I'll ask her to be clearer next time."
Yami had his Timaeus card in his hand. He suddenly turned down an ally.
"This way."
"Where are you going?" Tristan said.
"Just follow." Airi darted down after him. This better work, she thought.
"Yami, look!" Tea shouted.
They all looked up and another seal was in the sky.
"Not again."
"Do you think that's where Joey is?" Airi said.
Yami nodded an kept on running. The other followed.
There were so many alleys it was like a real maze. Airi was getting more and more frustrated. Who had laid out this city?
"I think it's just up here." Tristan pointed to a corner. "I think that's where the seal activated."
They rounded the corner and found nothing.
"But I was sure it was here." Tristan said. "Where did they go?"
"Do you think it's already over?" Tea said.
Yami didn't answer, but started down another alley. Airi again was close behind, hoping they'd find him soon, because she didn't think he legs would handle much more of this.
Suddenly Yami stopped, still looking at his card. She stopped next to him and realized that something was wrong. Both of them looked up to see Timeaus standing on top of a building. The dragon lifted his head and let out the most pain filled roar she'd ever heard.
From somewhere in the distance she head another dragon roar. But which one? She waited for another roar, but there was no third call.
"No." Yami said.
"Look." Airi pointed to only a block away where a green piller of light went up to the clouds.
"No." Yami tore away from her.
"What is it?" Tristan and Tea had just caught up.
"I think we found him." Airi said. The three of them headed after Yami.
They caught up with Yami at the top of an open area. At the far end of the open area was a chain link fence. Two limp figures were resting against it. One Airi guessed to be Valon. The second was . . .
"Joey?" Tristan said.
Airi walk forward, dreading what she was about to verify. She approached Joey and knelt down in front of him. She gently shook him, but there was no response. He was asleep, but too peaceful. It was like seeing Grandpa back in the hospital during Duelist Kingdom. He was breathing, but not responding. He was gone. She stood back up and shook her head.
"He's gone." Yami said to the others. He was shaking, fist clenched. "Dartz has him too."
The other two didn't seem to believe them. Tea tried to shake Joey awake and Tristan threatened to hit him if he didn't snap out of it.
"Who did this?" Tristan said. "He couldn't." he pointed at Valon."
"I think Mai did." Airi felt sick saying it.
"I'll get her for this." Tristan said.
"Dartz is the real enemy." Yami said. "and the only one with the power to bring back the souls of Joey and Yugi."
"Then let's get him." Airi pointed.
A little ways off, easy to spot over the shorter buildings, was a building with Paradias in bright letters.
"Pay back time." Yami said.
"Right behind you." Airi said.
They two of them started off. The others shouted for them to wait, but neither of them stopped. It was time to find Dartz and end this.
The doors were unlocked, though it looked deserted. Yami lead the way inside, Airi close behind.
"Where is everyone?" Airi said.
Dartz's dark laughter filled the foyer.
"Welcome Pharaoh." He said. "I've been expecting you."
"Where are you Dartz?" Yami shouted.
"Patience." Dartz chastised. "We will meet, but on my own time."
"Dartz!" Yami shouted again, but there was no reply.
"Yami." Airi pointed at the row of elevators. One of the buttons had started to glow, showing that one of the cars was coming down to their level.
"Stay back." Yami warned, stepping forward towards the elevators.
Airi nodded, but still stayed a few feet behind, duel-disk waiting in case of any traps.
Yami stepped in front of the elevator as it dinged to announce the it's arrival. The doors opened and Mai stood there.
Yami stepped back, but instead of speaking or stepping towards them Mai just fell forward. Yami stepped forward again just in time to catch her. He pulled her out from the way of the closing doors and lay her down on the floor.
"Wait, what?" Airi leaned down. "Mai, wake up. What's going on?" she shook her friend,but stopped as she saw the girl's shaking back and forth with her movements.
"They got her too." Yami said.
"But why?" Airi said. "She was working for them."
"Maybe Joey was able to get though to her after all." Yami said.
"And this is what they do with traitors." Airi wiped her eyes. "It figures."
Yami looked towards the elevator. "I think there is someone waiting for me up there."
"Who?"
"Rafael."
"The one who took Yugi?"
Yami nodded.
"Are you sure?"
"He's the only one left."
They stood in silence for a moment.
Airi pulled Mai toward the wall, and propped her up in a sitting position out of the walk way.
"OK, let's go."
"Are you sure you want to come?"
"Oh, I'm coming." Airi said.
They entered the elevator and Airi pushed the top number she remember first lit up. As they went up Yami pulled up his cards and shuffled though them. Airi watched him, realizing what was happening. Yami was going to face Rafael. It made sense, she guessed. She wanted a piece of the duelist who took her brother, but realized that might be the point. Yami knew she wouldn't be able to stay cool enough to duel Rafael, and Rafael would be only after Yami. It would have to be a rematch. She swallowed, throat dry.
The lights on the elevator moved too quick for her. Soon they would be to the roof. Yami slid his cards into his duel-disk and straightened.
"Airi." Yami said. "do you trust me?"
Airi looked at him confused, then realized what this was about. This was the opponent he'd lost Yugi to, and he'd be face him again with her watching.
"Do you?"
He looked at her. She realized that it had nothing to do with the question. He'd failed before. He could do it again. Did she believe he could do this? Could she watch this duel knowing what happened before? Would it be better if she didn't watch?
She step forward and put her arms around him.
"I trust you."
"Thank you."
The car began to slow down. Airi let go and stood next to him. It was time to finally meet Rafael.
A/N: Again, sorry it's a filler, but at least we're in duel territory again. I also hope this was a nice end of the year surprise. Will there be another one before the year ends? . . . maybe. Remember, it's a duel, and a major important duel, and thought i know what happens, i still hate writing them.
Have yourselves a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, and if i don't update in time. HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Thank you all for reading and reviewing. It really means a lot. No really it does. This year was FULL of up and downs, and I didn't feel like writing through most of it. Thank you for still hanging on and reading this story. I hope you still enjoy it.
Take care and God bless.
