Let the Battle City Tournament begin!
Usual reminders:
Italics are thoughts, memories, and emphasis. Bold is Malekos' speech and thought emphasis.
I do not claim Yu-Gi-Oh as my own. I only own Jessica and Malekos.
The phone ringing echoed in Jessica's ears and she groaned in protest, not wanting to get up just yet. She felt too comfortable. It was when the bed shifted that she cracked her eyes open. She caught sight of Yugi's back as he left the room to answer the phone. She furrowed her brows.
Oh, that's right. I crawled into his bed last night… She buried her face into his pillow in embarrassment. He had hugged her all night until she managed to fall asleep again. She only hoped he had gotten some sleep after that. She heard his voice in the living room as she glanced around the room.
His puzzle rested on his nightstand in front of the alarm clock as usual, glinting in the morning light. "Why are you so bright so early in the morning," she grumbled, glaring at the puzzle as she shielded her eyes from the reflecting sunlight with her hand. She briefly wondered if Yami could hear her outside the puzzle when it wasn't hanging around Yugi's neck. When she found she couldn't escape it's glint of light, she hugged the pillow to her face and blushed as she smelled his scent on it.
"Jess!" Yugi's worried voice made her lift her head again, giving him her full attention. "Joey's missing. Can you help us look for him?"
She could see the concern flashing in his violet orbs and it made her heart twist. "Yeah. Let me go get dressed real quick," she said as she was already sliding off his bed and darted towards her room. All previous embarrassment was quickly forgotten.
After they both got dressed, they met up in the living room and then left the game shop. They bolted down the streets in search of his friend. It wasn't long until they met up with Téa and Tristan. Jessica could already see the glare in the brunette's eyes but she seemed otherwise focused on finding their friend to start up anything.
"Hey, guys!" Yugi greeted his friends as they met up. "Any sign of him?"
They all shook their heads.
"I checked all of his usual spots and there was no sign of him," Tristan sighed, scratching the back of his head.
"This just isn't like him…" Yugi muttered. "He'd never miss his sister's operation. Something must have happened to him!"
Jessica hummed quietly in thought as she listened. She didn't know the details about what they were talking about, but it wasn't her place to ask, especially at this time. She'd wait another time. "Is there any place he'd go when he wants to be alone?" She asked, glancing between Yugi and his friends.
They thought about it for a moment and then they all agreed to split up again to search. Tristan sped off on his motorcycle to search downtown while Téa ran off by herself to search in another direction. Jessica stuck with Yugi since she didn't want to get lost in the city herself, and served as a second pair of eyes as they ran through the streets calling for the blonde.
They stopped to rest on a hill and Téa met up with them. Still no sign of Joey. Jessica heard the engine of a motorcycle getting closer and she watched as Tristan passed them without stopping, just managing to catch a glimpse of a head of blonde hair sitting behind him.
"Look who I found!" Tristan had called out and continued down the road as he raced against the clock.
They breathed a sigh of relief and agreed to go home to wait on the news. Jessica shivered as she felt Téa's glare on her back as they split up again. A girl's jealousy was a scary thing.
When they got back to the game shop, she busied herself in the shop as usual. She had explained why she was late and then got to doing the chores of the store. She helped move boxes and restock some shelves. And over the next few days, that's all she did.
Yugi would help out in the store sometimes but she found herself slowly starting to avoid being alone with him. She couldn't get the kiss out of her head even though it was just on her cheek, and the fact that she had slept in his bed the same night. Although in her defense, her nightmares had steadily gotten worse when she did have dreams. It was either a dreamless sleep or one filled with nightmares. There was no inbetween.
You're both dense and it's making me sick just watching you, Malekos had huffed in her mind and she mentally scoffed at him in response.
You're in no position to give relationship advice, she shot back.
What makes you think demons don't have relationships?
She paused at the question. She was currently knelt down in the back room over a box, putting some board games on a lower shelf. She hadn't actually thought about how demons lived. Actually, she hadn't even talked to Malekos like this until after she started living with Yugi. It was like he had rubbed off on everyone and friendships were blooming everywhere. Well, an 'acquaintanceship' was more so the term for the relationship between her and Malekos. And with them speaking to each other more often, she got less and less headaches from it unless he was angry with her.
Did you ever have one?
Before I was stuck with you? No. But I did have my eye on someone.
She felt herself biting her lip, feeling guilty for ruining something in his life. I'm sorry.
Don't apologize for something you didn't do. She never had eyes for me anyway. She could just see the nonchalant shrug of his shoulders in the back of her mind, but it sounded sad to her in a way.
Well… What do you suggest I do then? She decided to change the subject to avoid opening the wound further and asked for his advice.
Stop avoiding him and face your feelings before you both end up hurting each other. And with that blunt advice, his presence retreated to the back of her mind to leave her to her own thoughts.
She flinched at his words and bit her lip. He was right. Avoiding Yugi wasn't the answer and it would only hurt them both in the end. She let out a sigh and finished emptying the box. Grabbing a box cutter, she cut the box so she could flatten it and make space, throwing it onto a small pile in a back corner with the rest of the boxes from the day. But how exactly was she supposed to face her feelings? She already knew she liked Yugi. She just didn't know if he liked her back. He was shy so it wasn't hard to make him blush. If she read too much into every blush he had, she'd only hurt herself in the process. Not to mention there was the Téa problem. That girl just didn't seem to like her at all.
On the day of the tournament, she had woken up early to do the daily chores. Wiping down the counters in the shop and helping Solomon sweep. He seemed to be complaining about something as he swept angrily at the doormat outside.
"Grandpa, what's wrong?" She asked, pausing in her sweeping to turn to look at him.
He seemed to have a realization come over him and he grabbed the broom from her hands. "Kaiba's tournament is today and I'll be darned if I miss out on it! I'm closing up the shop early today so go enjoy yourself," he had told her, practically shoving her back into the building so that she could get ready for a day not in the game shop.
Her brows furrowed in confusion but she slowly headed back up the stairs anyway as she listened to him closing the shop. "Okay… That was weird," she muttered. She went to her room and changed into her usual outside outfit, consisting of her dark jeans, black shoes, gray shirt, and black sleeveless hoodie. When she opened her door, she came face to face with Yami who had opened the door to Yugi's room at the same time. They blinked at each other in surprise and then chuckled. "Someone looks eager for the tournament," she commented, seeing the outfit Yugi had dressed him in. For some reason, his school uniform was something he was most comfortable in.
"Yes, and it seems like you're headed out as well." He inclined his head curiously as they walked down the stairs and out the door together.
"Well, grandpa decided to keep the shop closed today so I got nothing better to do. Mind some company while you duel?" She lifted her hands as she shrugged nonchalantly.
He smiled fondly, "Of course not. Your company is always welcome. I just hope the crowd doesn't bother you too much."
She scoffed as she pulled the hood over her head and stuffed her hands in her hoodie pocket. "As long as some asshole doesn't try to start something with me, I think I'll be able to keep my nerves in check. Malekos seems to know better than to act up in public."
Of course I do. Who do you take me for? It would cause both of us problems. He scoffed at her in response, making her giggle quietly.
Yami watched her curiously as she spoke again. "Besides, you need as much encouragement as you can get I'm sure. Who knows what type of people you'll be facing."
He nodded, "I appreciate that. This tournament does seem to be more than it looks. Especially with somebody out there stealing cards like Joey's Red-Eyes Black Dragon."
She hummed in response, pursing her lips. "How about we both kick his ass together when we find him."
Yami couldn't help but laugh, and she smiled as well. "Sounds like a plan."
They arrived at the plaza where Battle City would start and just hung out, making idle chatter until the countdown. When it started, it didn't take long for duels to pop up around the plaza.
"I wonder where Joey is," Yami said as he looked around. "He should be here for the tournament."
Jessica looked around and tried to spot his mop of blonde hair amongst the crowd. She heard an argument brewing somewhere and it sounded an awful lot like Joey. "I think he's over here!" She grabbed Yami's wrist and darted through the crowd without a word. She didn't want to get separated or else that would spike her nerves real fast. He didn't seem to mind one bit. She stopped just outside the crowd and let go of Yami's wrist as she spotted Joey arguing with some dude in a dark cloak and a grin that sent shivers down her spine.
"Joey, what's going on?" Yami asked as he stepped forward, narrowing his eyes at the cloaked man.
"This is one of the guys that swiped my Red-Eyes!" Joey exclaimed as he pointed his finger accusingly. "They call themselves Rare Hunters and that translates to card stealin' freakazoids! And this one owes me a rematch so I can win back my Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
"I told you, you have nothing that's of any use to me." The man closed his laptop and stood from the table he sat at. "But your friend can be my next victim!" He stared right at Yami.
A challenge was made and accepted as Yami stepped forward to duel the Rare Hunter, wanting to win back his friend's card that was wrongfully taken from him before the tournament even began. Jessica stood beside Joey with her hands stuffed in her hoodie pocket as she watched the duel start. She flinched back as the holograms brought their monsters to life, catching her off guard.
Joey noticed her shock. "It's pretty neat da first time ya see it, yeah?"
She glanced at him and then back at the monsters glaring at each other. "Yeah. Interesting." She said simply. She focused on the duel and tried to keep up with what was going on. But she started to realize a trend. Joey kept trying to tell Yami something about the Rare Hunter's strategy, but the Rare Hunter kept threatening the fate of his card if he did. So the next time she saw him try to speak up about it, she jabbed him with her elbow before he could even get out two words.
"Ow! What was dat for?!" Joey hissed through his teeth as he rubbed his side gingerly where she elbowed him in the ribs. She sent a hard stare in his direction and he flinched back, shutting his mouth. Yami glanced in their direction, curious about what was going on.
"Shut up for five minutes! I know you're worried about him, but it sounds like there's more at stake to this duel than just two rare cards," she huffed, crossing her arms as she glanced at the field. "Now if you really trust your friend like you say you do, let him duel for you like he promised. You say he's an amazing duelist, but I want to see it for myself now. You're ruining it."
"Oh, sorry…" Joey rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
Yami sent an amused yet grateful smirk in her direction to which she returned. They then focused on the duel again, and she was grateful when she didn't hear another interruption out of the blonde next to her. He shouted encouragement instead. The way Yami dueled with confidence when he figured out someone's strategy and the flaws of their cheating ways sent chills down her spine, and not the uncomfortable kind. His confidence was invigorating and she found herself smirking along with him.
When he won, she ran over to him immediately with sparkling green eyes, catching him by surprise. "That was amazing, Yami! You really are an incredible duelist!" She grinned and stuck her hand out for an excited high five, to which he smirked and clapped his hand against hers.
"Thank you, Jessica. I couldn't have done it without yours and Joey's support." Yami watched her blush sheepishly before walking over to examine the Rare Hunter's deck. He found Joey's card and then realized that some of the other cards were fake, so he ripped them to shreds in anger. "Now they can't be used against anyone else."
She smirked as she placed her hands on her hips. "Nice one! I think he'll like that better than a kick in the stomach." The boys chuckled at her and then they turned back to the Rare Hunter as he started to freak out.
After screaming into the sky as he clutched his head, he suddenly became zombie-like as he started to speak. The way his body acted like a puppet on strings and the distortion in his voice made her shiver and she stepped closer to Yami on instinct, clutching the sleeve of his school jacket for comfort.
"Remember me, pharaoh? Actually, perhaps you don't. You were trapped in the puzzle when I dueled little Yugi."
Yami growled in response and Jessica bristled. So this was the person who almost killed Yugi that day!
Not that man. The one controlling him. I sense a power casted over that man's mind. You're speaking to someone who doesn't belong in that body. Malekos explained with a deep growl, having surfaced to the forefront of her mind when he sensed the power he spoke of.
"Congratulations on defeating my Rare Hunter. Though, he was the weakest duelist in my crew. My other minions will prove much more formidable!"
She didn't even pay attention as Joey tried asking Yami about what was going on. Her free hand clenched into a fist as she grit her teeth. He almost killed Yugi… He needs to pay!
Patience, little one. It will be useless to fight his puppets. It seems as though he can activate the power at will, so he can simply retract from their minds if it gets dangerous. She growled quietly in response, barely noticing when Yami reached over with the arm she wasn't gripping tightly to place a gentle hand over hers.
"Pharaoh, I've waited for you for years. Finally, after all this time I will destroy you. I will not allow my other Rare Hunters to fail me like this one did! I have little time for this kind of foolishness, so I have taken over his body and trapped his mind in the Shadow Realm!" As if to prove his point, his body started to move about as if it were being controlled by invisible strings. She shuddered and pressed her body against Yami's side as if to seek protection, absolutely creeped out by the way the body was moving and floating about unnaturally.
They learned that the one in control was someone named Marik, who owns the Millennium Rod with the power of mind control. He wants to take what "rightfully" belongs to him by force if he has to, using some Egyptian God cards. Just the title sent a chill down Jessica's spine. When all was said and done, the Rare Hunter dropped to the ground like his strings were cut. Jessica shivered and only relaxed when Malekos assured her that the power from the rod had disappeared, for now. She let go of Yami so he could return Joey's card, but Joey allowed Yami to keep it so it could help him in a time of need.
When their friendship speech was over and they shook hands, the boys split up to find their own duels. Jessica followed Yami after wishing Joey luck on his duels.
And the first duel of Battle City has ended.
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