Ok, this was fun, painful, and made me fangirl. Judging by my beta's reaction, i've put some cute scenes in for both major ships in this story. Please tell me if i did a good job.
I've changed a lot of things in this chapter to keep the tension up, so if i just out a part you liked, i'm sorry, but i hope the chapter makes it up to you. Thank you batousaisgirl16 for fangirling and editing my chapter. And thank you all for being amazing and still reading.
Here we go. the Dartz duel. Enjoy.
Chapter 54
The helicopter landed outside the temple's doors. It was mixed feelings for Airi. They were finally close to their goal, but the strong presence of dread and darkness made her want to fly as far away as possible.
"It is the center of evil." Yami said.
"Stop being so dramatic." Kaiba said.
Everyone exited the helicopter. Tea suggested someone should stay with Joey's lifeless body, but no one volunteered and she followed after them anyway.
"Why do your friends have to come?" Kaiba muttered Airi. "This is a business matter."
"Strength in numbers." Airi shrugged. "And do you really want them with your chopper?"
Kaiba rolled his eyes, but didn't respond to her sarcasm. Airi wish he'd be more sarcastic. Her nerves were about to snap from the tension. She would welcome a chance to release some tension.
They entered the temple. The stone hallway stretched out before them, echos tinting each footstep. The air was dry despite the storm outside and the water. Yami, Kaiba, and Airi lead the way with Mokuba, Tea, and Tristan close behind.
The farther they traveled down the hall they walls changed. A grid pattern from ceiling to floor containing humanoid shaped figures inside. Airi's realized these images were familiar.
"Please someone tell me those are carvings." Tristan said.
"I don't think so." Tea said. "They look too real."
"They are." Airi suddenly remembered where she'd seen these before. In her diadem visions. "They are the Seal's victims."
"That's not possible." Tristan said.
"It is." Yami said. "Look, there's Mai."
Airi gasped. Her friend's image trapped in stone sent shivers up her spine.
"And Weevil." Mokuba pointed.
"They're just carvings." Kaiba said, though he didn't sound as confident.
Airi almost tripped, steadied by Yami. Looking down she jumped back and almost felt again. The stone carvings were also on the floor. Terrified faces stared up at them with empty eyes.
"What kind of place is this?" Tea squealed, also drawing close to Yami. No one had an answer.
The hallway ended up ahead. Careful not to step on the stone faces they all hurried towards the flickering light. They found themselves in a large room, large enough to fit all three legendary dragons and still have room. A raised area at the far end had three large stone snake heads snarled at them. Stone tablets of trapped souls decorated the floor and traveled up the ceiling as a morbid decoration scene. Remembering her vision of this place, Airi looked around until her gaze fell upon a familiar face.
"Yugi!"
The stone image of her brother stared blankly into the void, hand out stretched as if pushing against his stone prison. Airi ran to him, jumping over the stone souls. She stopped in front of the carving. She scanned it up and down with her eyes looking for any damage. Her eyes lingered on the face. It was impossible, but she wanted some hint of life inside the frozen expression.
"To bad your brother is such a stiff." Dartz mocking voice echoed around the stone room.
"Dartz!" Yami shouted. "Show yourself."
"I'm glad you all found your way here. Though you're all nearly too late."
Fire balls appeared on the stage. They merged together and Dartz appeared before them.
"I suppose I must give you some kind of credit." Dartz sounded bored. "You've managed to defeat all my followers. Now I alone remain."
"Cut the dramatics." Kaiba said. "All I'm here for is my company, which you stole."
"Certainly, Mr Kaiba, but you know I can't just give it back. I want something from you."
"You've taken everything I have."
"Not everything. Is your company worth gambling your soul?"
"No." Yami said. "We're not here to bargain. I'm here for Yugi's soul."
"Oh Pharaoh, Pharaoh. You know the rules of the shadow realm. Exchanges are made. If you want your friend's soul you'll have to face me in a duel."
"I know that." Yami said.
"There has to be another way." Airi said. "You're not the Shadow Realm."
Dartz finally looked at her, eying her carefully. A cruel smile spread across his face.
"Congrats, Pharaoh. You're tastes haven't changed in 5,000 years. Though, I must stay, the last one was much more beautiful."
"Silence." Yami growled.
"So we have to duel." Kaiba said. "That's not surprising. What are the terms?"
"Kaiba, you don't know what you're getting into." Tea said.
Mokuba looked from Dartz to his brother to Yugi's friends, expression confused and scared.
"Enough!" Dartz said. "The more your resist the more time you waste. All these souls are already in the service of the Leviathan. If you wish your futile attempt to get your brother's soul back then you must face me now."
Yami and Airi both looked at Yugi. Airi reached up and touched Yugi's stone fingers. They were rough and cold. Her hands shook, scraping fingers against the stone.
"What do you want?" Airi said.
"Simple. I need two more powerful souls for my collection to be complete."
Airi realized there were two empty slots in the wall next to Yugi.
"So I and Yugi will face you." Kaiba said. "If I win, I get my company back."
"He still doesn't get it." Airi muttered.
She felt a protective arm encircle her shoulders and gently pulled her away. Her arm dropped her to side and allowed Yami to turn her away from the wall of collected souls.
"I accept too, Dartz." Yami said. "If Kaiba and I win you will return everything you've taken from us."
"Everything? Be more specific."
"You will return the souls of our friends, Yugi, Joey, all of them."
Dartz considered the offer. "Seems fair. A company and a few souls for your victory. Your two souls for all of mine."
"No." Airi whispered to Yami. "Let me duel instead of you. He needs your soul to be successful. I won't let him get what he wants."
"Airi, I promised you I would get Yugi back."
"But-"
"Mokuba. If you need a reason to stay out, please stay with him. He seems to understand the seriousness. If things go wrong, he'll need you."
Airi looked over at her young friend. Mokuba was looking around, his expression still scared and confused. He wasn't trying to convince his brother not to duel, but he believed Seto could do anything. Besides trying to talk Seto out of anything was pretty much pointless.
"It will be alright." Yami touched the slight bulge under his shirt where her pendent was hidden. "I'm not going in alone."
She managed a slight smile. "Alright."
Yami and Airi walked over to the others. Tea and Tristan gave their encouraging words, sounding like they were sending them off to a war. Kaiba was only concerned that Yugi not lose him his company. Mokuba stepped closer to Airi, still shouting encouragement to his brother. Yami and Kaiba both stepped forward onto the dueling field.
"Shall we begin?" Dartz raised his arm and a duel-disk appeared.
They activated their duel-disk in unison.
"Stop talking and start dueling." Kaiba said.
Dartz drew his five cards. "Will you do the honors?"
"Your mistake." Kaiba drew. "I activated the magic card White Dragon Ritual. Discarding one card from my hand summons Knight of White Dragon to the field. I sacrifice my Knight to summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon to the field."
"Wow, that was fast." Tristan said.
"He's not taking any chances." Airi said.
"I end my turn." Kaiba looked meaningfully at Yami.
Dartz motioned lazily that Yami should go next.
"I play the magic card Black Luster Ritual. Discarding a card from my hand I can summon Black Luster Soldier directly to the field."
"Copy cat." Kaiba muttered.
Mokuba cheered. "Dartz better watch out."
But Dartz didn't look intimidated or impressed by their monsters.
"Those pathetic creatures may work for your little tournaments, but this is a different game. A game of darkness." he raised his cards towards the ceiling.
Lines of energy swirled around the temple. All the lights except for two went out. The remaining two lights bathed Dartz in a threatening glow. Airi shuttered. The dark energy in the room had magnified. The familiar green circle stretched across the floor until it enclosed all three duelists. Airi felt the familiar sensation of her connection with Yami weaken.
Dartz grinned. "Behold the power that will strip your souls."
"Orichalcos." Airi murmured. This was worse than any of the other duels she'd witnessed.
"Um, do you guys feel that?" Mokuba said.
"You mean the drop in temperature and the freaky vibes?" Tristan said. "Yes, I think we do."
Even Kaiba seemed to finally realize this was something far darker than he'd first expected.
Yami looked back towards Airi. She tried to smile, but it felt fake. He touched where he pendent was and gave her a nod. She relaxed a little, grateful she had decided to give him her necklace. At least a part of her was in that pit of evil with him.
Dartz drew. "I summon Orichalcos Gigas in defense mode." The ugly monster appeared and the small Seal appeared on its forehead.
"Careful that monster is almost impossible to destroy." Yami told Kaiba.
"That's because it hasn't faced me." Kaiba said.
Dartz continued his turn. "I pay 500 life points to summon Orichalcos Kyutora in defense mode. And I think I'll end it there."
Kaiba started laughing. Airi felt like slapping him. Didn't he understand how serious this was?
"I actually thought you'd be a talented duelist. But that was one of the worst opening moves ever. Two monsters left undefended?" he drew. "I'm not the head of the worlds top gaming company for nothing."
"Not any more." Tea said.
"Shh." Mokuba stared at his brother in adoration.
"I play Polymerization to fuse the two Blue-Eyes in my hand with the one on the field. Behold Blue-eye Ultimate Dragon!"
The three headed dragon appeared on the field, three heads pointed directly at Dartz. Kaiba smugly looked at Yami as if daring him to top that.
Yami drew. "I also play Polymerization to combine my Black Luster Soldier with Blue-eyes Ultimate Dragon to create Master of Dragon Soldier."
Kaiba visibly flinched, but didn't stop as the monsters combined.
"We will end you together." Yami said.
"Attack!"
The three dragon heads blasted the monsters in white fire. Gigas shattered into pieces.
"Wow, that was fast." Tea said.
"Go Seto!" Mokuba cheered.
Airi wanted to cheer, but she waited for the remnants of the monsters to disappear and for Dartz to again appear from behind the debris. There was still a monster on the field. And Dartz was still smiling. Her heart sank.
Dartz laughter again filled the room. "Valiant effort, boys, but vain."
The space inside the Seal became filled with energy again, blocking all those inside from view.
The group rushed forward but the Seal kept them back. They could see or heard anything that was going on in there.
"What is Dartz doing?" Tea said. "He's not taking their souls by force is he?"
"Even he wouldn't stoop that low." Tristan said. "He would want to see them suffer."
"Seto!" Mokuba
Airi closed her eyes, willing herself to concentrate. Come on, she thought, there had to be something. Then she felt it, faint as it was, a trace of her connection with Yami.
"They're alright." she announced. "Whatever going on they're both alright."
"Then what is going on?" Mokuba demanded.
"I don't' know." Airi turned back to the thick fog engulfing the duelists. "We'll just have to wait."
They waited for what seemed like eternity. Not seeing anything was worse than seeing soul-less bodies. She felt Mokuba step closer to her and she put and hand on his shoulder. The siblings and friends waiting for something to change.
Tea's gasp made everyone look back at the Seal. Airi's heart leaped at the sight of Yami and Kaiba. They were still safe.
"Now do you see you can not defeat the darkness of the world." Dartz was saying. "My father failed to defeat the darkness, and once I've collected your souls I will be able to continued unhindered to cleanse the world."
"Hey, they got important plot information and we didn't?" Tristan demanded.
"Of course." Tea said. "At least the Pharaoh's back."
"What was the outcome of the battle if the darkness hasn't taken over?" Yami said.
Dartz smirk slipped a little. "There was not victor on either side. The leviathan lost it's power and my father's army was scattered. I've been collecting souls for 10,000 years for this day. With your two souls, it will be complete."
"Hold it." Kaiba snapped. "We defeated you."
Dartz motioned that his monster Kyutora was still on the field and still had all this life points. "It's my monster's special ability. He makes all damaged directed at me go to zero." he smiled. "and now it's my turn."
Orichalcos Gigas returned to the field.
"I told you it was hard to destroy." Yami told Kaiba. Kaiba didn't respond.
"Since my Gigas returned I can't draw this turn, but I don't need to draw." Dartz held up another card. "I can add to the Seals power by activating Orichalcos Deuteros."
The Seal on the floor glowed brighter. A second ring of light appeared on the ground and surrounded the first seal, making it thicker. Airi started as the already weak connection with Yami withered nearly to non-existent. Dartz life points rose to 4500. How many more rings did he have?
The next few moves were infuriating. Gigas attacked Yami and Kaiba's combined monster but it was easily destroyed. However, it came back stronger than the last time. Kaiba played Blade Knight and set a face down. Yami drew, but Kaiba interrupted his turn by activating the face down card Reflect Energy. A small satellite launched to the opposite side of the field and attached itself to the back wall.
"Yugi, attack now and it will be reflected at Dartz's life points."
"Master of Dragon, attack."
"They're actually working together?" Tea said. "Weird."
The blast rocketed back out of the seal to the satellite and was directed back towards Dartz. The attack didn't hit the life points. Instead it hit Orichalcos Gigas.
Dartz continued to smirk at them. "I'm safe behind the second level of the seal. Your own monster will take the hit."
Airi gritted her teeth to keep from groaning out loud.
The blast was redirected back towards Master of Dragon.
"I play Diffusion." Yami said. Blue-eyes and Black Luster Soldier separated and were able to dodge the blast.
Dartz huffed. "Lucky draw."
"No it isn't. It's teamwork and determination."
Dartz's lip curled. "Are you ever tired of being right?" his smiles suddenly returned and Airi realized he was looking right at her. "Teamwork, huh? You thinking having friends is your greatest strength? You're so naive."
Airi's stomach churned. What was he planning?"
"My turn." Dartz drew. "I summon Orichalcos Mirror. By sacrificing a monster from my hand to summon Mirror Knight Calling, which calls four knight to the field."
"Four in one go?" Tea said.
"You'll never get past these Mirror Knights."
Airi frowned at the four knights. They were all different heights, from short to tall. Weren't similar monsters supposed to be similar sizes? This had to be some kind of trap.
"These monsters are designed to reflect the points of whatever it takes on."
The mirrors flashed and suddenly a number appeared in each of their mirrors. Before anyone could fully comprehend how powerful these were Dartz sent them to attack. Two took out the both of their monsters and the other two sliced into Kaiba and Yami taking life points.
"Wait, those monsters are the same attack points as their monsters. Why aren't they destroyed?" Tristan demanded.
"It must be the card." Mokuba said. "It must have some loophole or something."
"As long as my Mirror Knight Calling is on the field my knights can not be destroyed."
"My turn now." Kaiba was visibly upset by having his Blue-Eyes Ultimate destroyed. "I play the magic card Card of Demise. I can now draw five new cards as long as I discard them in five turns from now." He drew his new cards. "Now I play the magic card Silent Doom, which allows me to bring back a monster from my graveyard in defense mode." Blade Knight returned to the field. "I sacrifice him to summon Kaiser Glider. I set a face down and end my turn."
"Impressive." Dartz admitted. "Your monster is safe, for the moment."
Yami drew. "I summon Big Shield Gardna in defense mode and place a card face down."
Dartz drew, but Kaiba had been waiting for this.
"I activate Ring of Destruction. I now destroy your Mirror Knight Calling. Now when your Mirror Knights get destroyed they won't be able to come back."
Dartz nodded. "Very true. They won't be able to come back."
Suddenly the helmets on the knights crack. They fell to the floor reveling the faces of Yugi, Joey, Mai, and Pegasus. Airi looked at the slab where Yugi's soul used to be to see it was gone. She look back in horror. That was her brother's soul on the field.
"I control the souls of your companions Pharaoh." Dartz gloated. "Attack the knights, and you're attacking our own friends. You can't defeat me without destroying these monsters. No matter what you do, you'll lose."
Airi stared into the glassy eyes of her brother, clearly being controlled by Dartz. This was impossible. Yami wouldn't attack his friends no matter what, but he would have to win the duel. But she couldn't watch him destroy her brother's soul either.
"Maybe he's bluffing." Tea said.
Airi shook her head. "He's not. That's Yugi and the others out there."
Tristan call Dartz something under his breath. Mokuba looked even more confused.
"Stop with the magic act, Dartz." Kaiba said. "We're dueling not showing off."
"I am dueling, by my rules." Dartz's smile widened. "your Pharaoh said he believes in team work and friends. Friends can be used against you."
"Leave them alone." Yami's voice shook.
"Oh really. I thought you'd be happy to see your friends one last time. I know your Queen is happy to see her brother again before he disappears forever."
"I won't let you take them." Yami shouted.
"So, your anger is still there." Dartz said. "Yes Pharaoh, let it out. That's the dark soul I've been waiting for for 5000 years. The more rage you feel the stronger the leviathan will be when he consumes your soul." Dartz Pointed at Yami. "Mirror Knight Yugi, attack your Pharaoh."
Something in Airi's head seemed to snap back in place.
"Yugi don't do it." she shouted. "Please, don't do it. Fight Yugi. Fight against it."
Yugi's expression didn't change, but he was visibly shaking from the effort of not carrying out the command. Finally he stopped shaking and remained still. Airi gasped for air not realizing she'd been holding her breath. The group cheered.
Dratz wasn't pleased. "I set a card face down and end my turn.
"Enough of this." Kaiba drew. "I play Pot of Greed." he drew two cards. "I play Cost Down, allowing me to lower a monsters level so I can summon it to the field. I summon Different Dimension Dragon. Because this dragon is special summoned it's special ability is that it can not be killed by any monster with less than 1900 attack points. In fact this is the ability of both my monsters."
Kaiba pointed to Mirror Knight Mai. "Kaiser Glider, attack knight 3."
"Kaiba, no." Yami said.
"Be quite." Kaiba snapped. "I'm not going to let a mind trick stop me from winning this duel. He took my company and I'm getting it back no matter what."
"No you can't." Yami said. "they're not just holograms."
"Snap out of it, Yugi." Kaiba said. "It's my move."
Yami backed off. Airi watching in horror. Kaiba looked back at Airi, and then at Yami.
"Dartz, is your game supposed to make me afraid to attack."
Dartz Shrugged. "Only if you're afraid of destroying innocent souls."
The monster attacked and the shield was destroyed. One last strike and Mai would be destroyed.
"Seto please." Airi scream, unable to stop herself. "Don't attack them. There has to be another way."
Kaiba ignored her. "Different Dimension Dragon, attack."
The group scream for the attack to stop, but the monster didn't listen to their pleas. At the last moment Mirror Knight Joey stepped in front of Mai, allowing his shield to be destroyed instead of her.
The group cheered again and the knight returned to his place in the ranks.
"Figures Wheeler would mess this up." Kaiba said. "I set a card face down and end my turn."
Yami drew, but didn't do anything else. He looked over the line up of monsters.
"What are you waiting for?" Kaiba snapped "you know what you have to do. Take out the second and third knights with no shields."
Yami still didn't move. Airi didn't know what to do either. They had been through so much with each one of those people. Even Pegasus, who she personally didn't really care about, didn't deserve to be obliterated in a duel. Attacking any one of them was attacking a close friend. She shot a hate filled look at Dartz. Oh he knew which buttons to push. Yami wouldn't attack any of his friends out of loyalty and with her there he especially wouldn't do anything to Yugi because it would hurt her. Dartz was a monster through and through.
She could see Yami's hand's shaking as he tried to decide what to do. They had to win, that was the only way to get all their souls back, but would that be worth anything if they were destroyed in a duel.
"I end my turn." Yami said.
There was an uproar all around. Tristan and Tea shouted encouragement while Kaiba shouted Yami was an idiot.
"You had your chance Pharaoh." Dartz drew. "I play the magic card Twin Bow Centaur."
A double ended centaur appeared on the field, each end pointing at each end of the field.
"I will chose one of each of our monsters and ,my monster will choose which one will be destroyed." Dartz surveyed the field. "I choose Kaiser Glider and Mirror Knight Joey."
"No!" Tristan shouted, again trying to run forward, but being knocked back by the Seal. "If Joey's chosen we'll never get him back."
"But Seto will lose most of his life points if the other is chosen." Mokuba said.
Dartz snapped his fingers. The arrow pointing at Kaiser burst into flame before it was launched into the monster's chest. Kaiser disappeared and Kaiba's life points dropped down to 600.
"There is an upside Kaiba." Dartz said. "This card requires I end my turn now."
"Good." Kaiba drew. "Now I can do what your Siamese donkey twins should have done. Different Dimension Dragon, attack Wheeler."
This time Yugi jumped in front of Joey to protect him from the attack. Airi smiled in pride. It was Yugi under all that armor and dark magic. Then she realized he no longer had a shield so any attack directed at him next would destroy him.
It was Yami's turn. He drew, looking at his card and then again at the line up of friends.
"I activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Twin Bow Centaur." Yami then again ended his turn.
"Idiot" Kaiba said.
"Very foolish Pharaoh." Dartz drew. "Wasting the turn on a monster I no longer need. I now summon Orichalcos Malevolence." I fiery monster appeared on the field.
"I activate the trap card Attack Guidance Barrier." Kaiba said. "I switch your attack to another monster. I choose Big Shield Gardna."
The attack fails, but Dartz didn't receive any damage thanks to his Kyutora.
"That wasn't the greatest move." Dartz said.
"No, but now your turn is over." Yami pointed out.
Kaiba drew. "I put my Different Dimension Dragon in defense mode and set two face downs and end my turn." he gave Yami a sharp look. "If you want to win Yami you have to attack those mirror knights."
Yami drew, but again hesitated. Airi wanted to scream in frustration. There was no move for Yami to make but attack the mirror knights.
"Yami . . . Attack . . . " Everyone was shocked. Yugi had spoken.
"Yugi?" Yami said.
"Only . . . Way . . . Attack" Yugi managed to get out.
Airi's hand went to her mouth. He wanted Yami to attack him.
"No I can't." Yami protested. "You'll be destroyed."
"Can't . . . Lose . . . Promised."
"Yugi!" Airi cried, tears pricking her eyes. "No. Don't make us."
"Trust . . . Me. . . . Please . . . will be . . . fine . . . Airi."
Airi sank to her knees closing her eyes. She couldn't watch.
"I put Big Shield Gardna in defense mode and set a face down." Yami again paused. "I end my turn."
"Ha," Dartz crowd. "I knew you were a weaker version of your past self. There is no way you can stop me."
Airi slammed her fist against the pavement. Why couldn't she have told Yami to do what was needed? They needed to win, and because of her lack of support Yami wouldn't be able to attack. Tea knelt down next to her and put her hand on her shoulder, but it was little help.
"Now seems appropriate for me to fortify my seal even more." Dartz held up another card. "Orichalcos Tritos."
The third ring slithered across the floor to join with the others. The moment it connected to the other two Airi gasped as the felt the last of her connection with Yami die. She was alone. And so was he.
"I use Orichalcos Malevolence's special ability to switch Different Dimension Dragon into attack mode. I guess this is the end of you Kaiba."
"I activate my face down card Shrink to cut your attack in half." Kaiba said.
The card shattered.
"Orichalcos Tritos doesn't allow trap cards or magic cards against my monsters." the attack continued the same strength.
"I activate my trap card Ambush, allowing me to sacrifice Big Shield Gardna and give it's attack points to Different Dimension Dragon's attack points."
The monsters collided and with the difference in points Orichalcos Malevolence was destroyed. But again, Dartz's life points were safe thanks to Kyutora.
"He helped Kaiba again?" Tristan said.
Even Dartz seemed shocked. "Is your partner really that important to protect?"
"He's my friend." Yami said.
"Oh of course." Dartz mocked. "But you've forgotten I have four of your friends right here. And they all want to give you something." Dartz pointed at Yami. "Mirror Knights, attack the Pharaoh's life points directly."
Airi watched in horror as Yugi didn't hesitate to run forward and bring his sword down on Yami. Yami screamed in pain and she found herself screaming as well.
"I should mention," Dartz said. "the third ring prevents any of my monsters from defying my control."
Airi closed her eyes unable to watch as Joey and Mai's attacks resulted in Yami's yells of pain. She waited for Pegasus attack, but heard a clank as the sword hit something. She opened her eyes to see Yami had block this blow and Pegasus and he were now face to face. Pegasus seemed to be saying something, but Airi had no idea what they were talking about.
"I said attack." Dartz shouted.
Pegasus stepped back and this time his downward strike cut through Yami. Airi screamed as Yami sank to his knees. Yami's hand raised in a silent motion that he was fine. It was little consolation, but at least he was still breathing.
"Get off your knees." Kaiba said. Airi wanted to shout at him to leave Yami alone, but Yami managed to get back on his feet.
Dartz put a face down and ended his turn. "Make your final move Kaiba."
"I'm not ending up like Alister." Kaiba drew, and then laughed. "I'm not done yet. I summon Fang of Critius to the field."
The Legendary Dragon appeared on the field. Dartz was visibly shaken.
"One thing you don't know about Yugi, Dartz, is that he's predictable."
"Then why can't he beat him." Tea muttered.
"I know Yugi's face down is Mirror Force."
"That's right." Yami said.
"I merge Mirror Force with Critius to create Mirror Force Dragon. Now, we all know those Mirror Knights are preventing me from winning."
"Kaiba-" Yami started but Kaiba cut him off.
"You're too weak to do this Yugi, but I'm not." he looked back at Airi. "Besides, he's making Airi cry. If you won't do something, I will."
Airi's jaw dropped. Seto actually acting noble. She must be seeing things.
"Mirror Force Dragon," Kaiba ordered. "attack Mirror Knight Four."
"But he still has a shield." Tristan protested.
"It's part of the plan." Mokuba bounced up and down from excitement. "Mirror Force Dragon will suck up any attack bounce back at it. It will be enough to take out all of the knights."
Yami seemed to have realized this too because he seemed to be asking Kaiba to reconsider. Again, Kaiba wasn't going to let "magic tricks" keep him from winning. The attack bounce off Pegasus and was absorbed into Mirror Force Dragon.
"Mirror Force Dragon, take out Dartz's monsters."
Airi buried her face in her hands, unable to watch. She heard the attack and Yami shouting. Then it was over. Airi slowly looked up, eyes straying to the stone block where Yugi's soul was kept. It was back. It was there, trapped but undamaged. She let out a sob of relief. It was a bluff. Yugi's soul was still safe.
"You have no more monsters, Dartz." Kaiba said.
"I wouldn't say that."
Airi looked back at the field to see that all the monsters on Dartz side of the field were indeed gone, but something else was forming where the Kyutora had been.
"My Kyutora has a special ability. When it is destroyed it evolves."
A new monster did appear on the field.
"Welcome my Orichalcos Shunoros." Dartz grinned.
"Oh no." Tea said, helping Airi back to her feet. "That thing has enough attack points to wipe them out in one shot.
"But there is more. I activate Shunoros special ability." the monster's right arm detached from the body. "Now I have another monster, Orichalcos Dexia, and when the other arm detaches it becomes Orichalcos Aristeros. Dexia's attack will always be 300 points more than the monster attacking and Aristeros will intercept any of their attacks and return it back with an increase of 300 points."
Airi's head felt like it was spinning. How were they going to defeat this thing?
Dartz still wasn't finished with his turn. "I activate my trap card Martyr Curse. It forces an opponents monster to battle with mine and cancels out any special effects their monster might have. It looks like I don't have many options do I?"
Mirror Force Dragon was the only monster on Kaiba and Yami's side of the field. Everyone knew with the reflection ability deactivated there was no hope for the dragon to survive the attack.
"Orichalcos Shunoros, attack."
Their dragon didn't have a chance and is disappeared. The force knocked Kaiba back into the seal where he hit with a laud thud.
"Seto!" Mokuba ran to the seal, pounding on it when it wouldn't let him in. Airi ran forward too, though she knew there wasn't anything she could do.
Kaiba's life counter fell to zero.
Kaiba staggered forward, raising his last card.
"I activate Wish of Final Effort." for some reason he was looking at Airi as he spoke. "I transfer all of Mirror Dragon's attack points to Yugi's life points." then he fell to his knees.
Yami ran to him and tried to pull him up.
"Come one, you've got to hold on." Yami said.
"Seto!" Mokuba continued pounding on the Seal.
Kaiba head raised up. "You can't lose this, Yugi. I've given everything for this."
"I won't." Yami promised.
Kaiba smirked. "Your brother better not mess this up, Airi."
Airi could respond, tears again sliding down her face.
The inside seal began to shrink, closing in around Kaiba and Yami. Airi pulled Mokuba to her covering his eyes so he wouldn't see. It closed in and there was a flash. A green flash of light rocketed out of the seal and entered one of the empty squares next to Yugi's soul. Dartz then flicked his finger and Kaiba's lifeless body was lifted from Yami's arms and tossed out of the Seal and landed on the stones several feet away from the group.
Breaking away from Airi, Mokuba ran to his brother's body, shaking it and crying out for his brother to answer him. Airi and Yami shared a look through the Seal. It was up to Yami now. Airi turned away to kneel beside Mokuba. He'd given up waking up his brother and was trying hard not to cry. Airi put her arms around him and he broke down, tears soaking the front of her shirt.
"Well Pharaoh, again you're the sole survivor."
"You disgust me." Yami's voice came in a growl.
The ground shook and somewhere in the distance they could hear a bone-shaking roar.
"Do you all hear that?" Dartz said. "Thanks to Kaiba's donation the great beast is about to rise.
"Spit out my brother, you worm!" Mokuba shouted.
"Silence!" Dartz motioned with his hand and a forceful wind blew towards them. Before anyone knew what was happening it had lifted Tea, Mokuba, Tristan, and Airi into the air and through them against the wall. Airi heard a loud smack, and then everything went black.
Yami watched helplessly as his friends were thrown against the wall to fall in crumpled heaps on the stone floor. It was hard to see with so many layers of seals and distance, but from what he could tell they were all still breathing.
"What did you do to them?" Yami shouted at Dartz.
"They were distracting." Dartz's evil smirk returned. "Now it's just you and me."
Airi felt the pounding in her head and realized she was awake. She didn't want to open her eyes or move. She hurt too much. Why? It was a bit fuzzy. This hard place she was lying on was far from comfortable. Why was she here again. She should get up. But her head hurt to much. Maybe if she went back to sleep it would go away.
"You've put up a good fight, but what's the point? Look around you Pharaoh. You're alone."
She knew that voice. Dartz. Her eyes snapped open. She sat up and groaned, clutching her head. Whatever had happen didn't feel good. She should go back to sleep and it would go away. No she had to wake up. Dartz was still around and Yami . . . Yami was facing him alone. She made herself look around. The others were piled around her unconscious. Fortunately they were all still breathing. There was Seto's soulless body not too far away. The Seal was still there and through the three different rings she could make out Yami still standing. That was a good sign.
"I mean it, Pharaoh." Dartz continued. "You don't have anyone here to support you. And your points aren't in your favor."
No, Yami was not alone. Airi made herself get up, nearly falling over again. She forgot about the uneven ground. Gritting her teeth against her still spinning head she made her way forward.
"Why stretch out the torment?" Dartz said. "All you have to do is forfeit and it will be over quickly. You can see your friends on the other side."
"No, Yami, don't listen." Airi tried to use the link but then remember the connection didn't work with the seal. She had to get closer so she could talk to him.
"You see why you're here, Pharaoh. You're dark heart killed so many people you're the perfect sacrifice to fix the world."
Airi finally reached to the Seal, leaning against it for support. Yami stood with only Celtic Gardian between him and the three monsters on Dartz side of the field. Yami's head was lowered as if he was thinking, but his shoulder looked dejected and slouched in defeat.
"No, Yami don't give up." Airi shouted. "You're not alone. I'm right here."
He didn't look up or acknowledge that he'd heard. What had happened? She looked over at Dartz who was stareing intently at Yami. His eyes weren't blinking and seemed to be glowing. He continued to talk, repeating the same phrased over and over. The piece of trash was brainwashing Yami into surrendering.
"Just surrender." Dartz said. "Don't drag this out. Give up. Surrender."
Yami's hand raised and slowly started to go towards his deck to surrender.
"No!" Airi looked around for something to help her get his attention. She had to stop him. He was going to give up everything. She had to stop him. Yami's hand pause above his deck and hover there, shaking. He was still had some will left. There was still time. She had to get to him before he completely lost his will. She needed some kind of power. Her head gave another throb and she remembered she did have something.
She put up her hands on either side of her diadem and closed her eyes. She willed every fiber of her being for this to work. She pictured the millennium puzzle. A body and soul couldn't get through the seal, but maybe just a soul could?
"Just give up."
Dartz words pounded through Yami's mind as it ate away at every sense of will he had. There was no reason to keep going when he'd lost everything. Yugi was gone, because of him, Airi was in danger, because of him, Kaiba was defeated because of him. His past self killed millions of people and his family. Dartz was right. Why would he bother to keep fighting when there was nothing for him to keep fighting for?
His hand dropped closer to his deck.
No, he couldn't give up. He couldn't. He should. He couldn't. Yes. No. His hand shook, suspended over his deck. No, he couldn't. He wouldn't. Yes. No.
"Yami"
Voices in his head? It wasn't surprising. It was probably Dartz again making him go crazy.
"Yami, don't give up. Listen to me. You're not alone. I'm right here. I love you. You're not alone."
"Airi"
"Close enough." Dartz voice crashed back through Yami cloudy brain. "Seal, take his soul."
Yami opened his eyes. The inward seal was moving towards him. There was no way to stop it. It was over. He failed.
"Airi." his hand moved up and pulled out the jade pendent from under his shirt. He gripped it tightly. "I'm sorry Airi. I failed you. Goodbye my love."
A tear slid out and landed onto the millennium puzzle.
Suddenly a golden light erupted out of the puzzle. It surrounded him on all sides and created a barrier that kept the green circle away. Dartz's angry shouts seemed to come from miles away. Yami still wouldn't look up, afraid his mind had finally broke and this was still part of his soul being stolen.
"Yami?"
He made himself look up. Standing in the gold light was a translucent Airi standing with her hands on his shoulders.
She smiled. "I told you you weren't alone.
"How?" it was the only word he could think of.
"Honestly, I'm not really sure." she looked down at the Seal pushing against the golden circle. "But if it works I'm fine with it."
"Airi I'm . . . I'm not going to make it."
"Shh." Airi's hand rested on his cheek. "That's Dartz talking. You never surrender and I'm sure you'll find a way. You always do."
He looked her in the eye. "And if I don't."
She met his gaze. "Then at least you know I love you."
He smiled. "I love you Airi."
She smiled. The gold began to break up.
"My body's pulling me back." Airi leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. in a flash of gold, she disappeared.
Airi's eyes snapped open. She gasped for air, leaning against the seal to keep standing. Her head threatened to split in two. She looked through the Seals to see Yami was still standing. Good he was alright. Then everything went black.
A/N Yes i know, i'm terrible for having another clifhanger, but honestly this chapter was already getting long. Stay tuned though, we're almost to the end of this season.
Oh, before i forget. I'm going to start adding chapter names for the past chapters. if anyone has suggestions on title names please let me know.
Thank you all so much for the reviews and messages and for still reading my story. You're all amazing.
Take care and God bless.
