Yami no Game: Dark Saga

Chapter 49

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As the dust settled and the god returned to its stance behind Seto, imposing, Mask of Darkness gave a sharp inhale as his life points fell to 0. "See now how one touch from a god has reduced you to nothing." Seto spoke menacingly before his eyes narrowed. "Now die to your own bomb!" Eyes widened as he turned back, hearing the beeping of the counter hitting zero before the explosion filled his vision. The glass pane he stood on was a webbing of thin cracks before the entire pane fell beneath him from his weight, making the male scream as he fell to his supposed death. But to the demon's expectations, a cord was pulled from underneath the dark robes, revealing a parachute hidden that guided him safely below. Yami gave a snort as he watched Mask of Light called futilely to his partner to see if he was alright. "So you had planned to descend down safely while speaking you had the means to stop me from my flight abilities. Some deathmatch you had in mind." he murmured as he continued to watch the last man standing. "So you are without your partner now. A sad little tale. Would be best for you to give yourself up here unless you wish to meet Obelisk's fist just as your friend had." Seto glanced toward him with narrowed eyes, claiming that the battle wasn't over yet until he crushed the Mask of Light as well.

Yami sneered as he returned the brunet's glance. The other had no will to fight, he was done and yet Seto persisted. It was in his nature, sure, but even he had learned when to give mercy to the fallen. "Listen to me, Yami," Seto began as he turned to face Mask of Light. "I only partnered with you for this duel because I had to for Katsuya's safety. We both had a common goal here to see him safe, myself more so than you but don't be mistaken. This is still Battle City and still my tournament. In the end, we will meet on the battlefield and I will defeat you!" Yami could've rolled his eyes to his claim but he knew he wasn't wrong either. Destiny had made this tournament and destiny will bring them into the ultimate duel that would lead him closer to the truth.

It was a bitter pill to swallow to know where the end of this will lead not just for him but for Aqua as well. He closed his eyes and nodded before a scream torn from Mask of Light's throat made him look up, seeing the glow of the wadjet eye on his forehead. 'Malik!' he thought as the pawn was brought under his control looked to the two with dead eyes. "I saw the whole thing. Not bad for the God Obelisk!" he spoke and Yami snapped his fangs. "Stop hiding behind your pawns and come out here to face me!" Malik laughed through the pawn while Seto demanded with his eyes to know what was going on. "The leader behind the Ghouls, Malik, is controlling this foolish mortal with the use of an item again. Remember from before, same person. He holds the last God Card." Acknowledging this, Seto sneered as he looked to the pawn. So, the man behind the pawn holds the last card he needed. Malik, from his location, smirked as he told him that he was grateful for putting up with such weak minds to buy him a little more time for his plans to go just as he wished.

Thanks to the duel, he had assessed all he needed and could easily claim that the Sun Dragon Ra was a step above both their gods and hardly make any means to pose a threat to him and his power. "And I surely can't forget the royal himself...Yami, I have something special awaiting you. This battle...I've waited a thousand years for the stage to be set for this...and now it's finally time. To see the blood of a demon spill as revenge for the Tomb Guardians!" Yami was silent but within, Yugi was worried. Revenge of the Tomb Guardians? For what reason was such hatred put onto Malik's shoulders for something Yami can't even remember. He was in this tournament to learn such and yet was met with a constant death wish from another who knew more but clearly only half a story. "The third act is about to begin, Yami. I do so hope you like the stage I have planned for this show. Friends and co-stars alike are waiting for you~" That made him alert and he snarled. "What have you done with Jou?!"

"A fine little puppet show I have in the making. My finest yet, even~" With a cackle, the connection was cut and the pawn fell just the same, like a doll with his strings cut. /Yami! We have to get to them!/ Yugi begged and he nodded before looking to Seto, who had a hand on his collar, likely speaking to Mokuba or Ruby. "You said their last location was near the Domino Aquarium. Where are they now?" Seto ignored him for the moment as he walked to the limp body, reaching down to dig through the robes and pulled out the puzzle cards, clearly a failsafe should one fall before the other. "Take this first. As of now we both have six cards and able to see the location of the finals. I know what should be on my mind now but if I have to hazard a guess, nothing will happen without you on the stage." he spoke, Yami snatching the card from him with a huff before slipping it into his pocket. "Now, humor me just a while longer. Here, we shall see to the location of the finals..."

"I don't have time for this! Do you not care for your lover?!" Seto gave him a cold glare. "Do you think I'm stupid? Of course I do! But I want to impart to you a question." Seto began as he set the cards onto his duel disk. "You have gained plenty. Friends, a lover that can accept all that you are. But if someone so close to you were to turn against you, can you think to trample over them towards the destiny you seek?" Yami was silent and so was Yugi, the holographic projection showing off a complete panorama of Domino City once all the cards were on the disk. He closed his eyes and took in a peaceful inhale. "I do not know as much of me has changed. From vengeful and self-centered to kind and compassionate of this second life I was given. But what I do know...is that I know where to find the answer." Seto smirked, the pinpoint of light marking the location of the finals but also proved to be a convenient beacon as a helicopter came above the roof and a ladder dropping. Mokuba peeked out from the copter and smiled. "We found Katsuya like you asked! We lost him but didn't take us long to locate him again!" Mokuba called as Seto took the ladder into his hand. "Show me your conviction, Yami. But know this that it will be your head should anything happen to him." he spoke and Yami nodded, wings spreading out to its full length. "You will have him back. I will swear my life on it." With a mutual understanding of the matter now at hand while their views were different, the copter took off for the location and Yami was close behind.

Their destination...Domino Harbor.

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-Battle City: 4:30 PM-

A group of figures walked the silent pier, devoid of all but their presence. A ghoul shoved one of the bodies and Topaz snapped for him to be careful with their precious dolls. It was an effort to get them where they are now. Bakura didn't lie when he said to be wary of the one who clearly knew of the items and their power. It made it hard to avoid Keara's eye but she told them she had something come up and left them alone. That moment was enough to have Topaz bring the Rod back to him and with it, take control of who he needed. Dead eyed like any other pawn was Kaiser, Jounouchi and Myrrh. They followed in silence and Malik smirked as he looked to his bounty. They were indeed good pawns, just the right amount of pull that he needed to bring the pharaoh to him. Of course, knowing that he could've had a greater pull if he brought the little lover into the mix, that would be impossible and he didn't want to risk a rampaging demon tearing through the city to find him. 'I know my gamble with these three alone. Katsuya here definitely is the main course in this. Now to see if Yami will cow to the idea of hurting a friend and lover to another or let instinct win the battle at stake to keep himself alive.' Steps behind him alerted him of another and Malik knew who it was before he spoke.

Topaz turned to Rishid and smiled. "See you were successful." Topaz murmured as the other presented the twelve puzzle cards needed, six for himself and six for Malik, to grant them the location to the finals. He also procured plenty of rare cards to add to their growing collection and Malik nodded in approval. "See that you took all head on with your trap strategy deck. No one could possibly think to stand against it." Rishid nodded, keeping his head bowed. It was his sworn duty to be as little trouble to Malik's goal. He had promised to serve him for as long as he drew breath and he would do whatever it took to keep himself above the meager competition that this tournament has brought out. But knowing what the end goal was, he was ready to take on Yami himself and destroy the demon to free the master from his own sworn duty after so long.

Too long he suffered and finally, Malik was so close. The finals is where the gods will clash and Malik will regain them while taking possession of the royals' memories. But of course, there was still one step before that, to see how this show will play out. Taking the puzzle cards as they were handed to him, he smiled as he looked to the gleaming surface before turning to two of the ghouls behind him. "You two! Prepare Jounouchi's deck with as many illegal direct damage cards as you can! I want to see the demon king pushed to his limits." They nodded and got to work in fixing Jounouchi's deck. While they did so, another came to Topaz, whispering into his ear that they have affixed the location of the finals and he gave a nod. "Malik, we got the location of the finals. Shall we leave the stage and head there?" Malik nodded, stepping towards them as Rishid moved to stand. Malik would be able to still control his pawns from a distance and both Myrrh and Kaiser will be a nice front row seat to the show about to befall on the harbor. It was simply delicious of what destruction he could cause when the bonds of friends was teased upon.

Unknown to them, on top of a warehouse, Keara watched with narrowed eyes. She held her suspicions about Namu when he appeared and they were confirmed as she thought. Dear Namu wasn't all he claimed to be but this was yet another trial for the reborn kings. She could easily interfere and break the connection Malik had over the three but she was there to observe. "There is much I can do but I've been told now to allow the demon kings to find their path. Only in the direst do I provide my assistance but both Yami and Aqua have to learn all that is out there waiting for them." She closed her eyes and smiled softly. "Malik, you sincerely belittle the forces at work here. But suppose I will see from here who's fate will surpass the other." she whispered.

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"Kaiba-sama, we shall arrive at Section F, Area 5362 shortly." The pilot spoke, Mokuba fidgeting in his seat. "Do you think we'll be too late, Seto?" Mokuba questioned as he looked to his brother. Seto was silent as he pondered all that has happened so far. He didn't know a lick about the Ghouls' leader as a person but from what Yami spoke, he was similar to him in terms of the unnatural power they held. His old self would never believe such nonsense and would play it off as illusionary or hallucinations fabricated by old stories that had no place in the modern world. But for all he had been through, it would be callous of the brunet to dismiss all his own eyes have witnessed. "I don't know, Mokuba, but what I do know is if Yami had to truly fight someone he cares for, this will be something he has to prove to himself. Does he have to heart to save him? Something I personally don't doubt but considering we don't know exactly what this fool has set up is why this is becoming a test for him." Seto moved to take a glance out the window where the demon kept pace, eyes sharp towards their location.

"In every human being, there is a passion of victory that we look to achieve. It's why we fight. This is no different for him. He fights to win to see safety to those he keeps close. But how far he has to go in doing so is the question and the answer will be awaiting him there." Within the room of his soul, Yugi wrung his hands. He was in pieces from worrying and he hoped that whatever was coming up, Yami won't have to make a decision that was anything similar to what happened back at Duelist Kingdom. He trusted in the demon to make it through this mess that Malik is putting him through but to what lengths will the Ghouls' leader motive go that required him the use of Jounouchi? He did know he didn't want to project all his stress onto Yami and closed his eyes, calling out to another. It didn't take long before the door opened and Aqua stood in the doorway. "Yugi..." he whispered before feeling the smaller body attach to his hip. "I'm so scared, Aqua..."

"Believe in him, Yugi. He will not falter and he will not let anything happen..." From outside, Yami's eyes widened as the location grew closer and the sense of familiarity hit him. Domino Pier, the very same they had stood on departing to Duelist Kingdom. The promise that had been made...

/"I'm about as serious as I can be. Let go win that tournament...to save jii-chan and your sister!" Jounouchi looked to him before smiling. "Alright! For jii-chan an' my sister!"/

The grind of his teeth was audible before he went to take off ahead of the copter much to Mokuba's surprise. "Wha-! Did he see someone?" Seto's eyes narrowed before urging the pilot to follow the demon and find a safe spot to land. Down below, soulless amber looked on, one thought in the controlled mind ringing true beyond all others. The urge to kill. The urge to silence. The urge to see the demon king fall. A ring from the side had Kaiser reach into his pocket, pulling out the cell he held before answering. He said nothing as the persistent calls from Honda filtered through the earpiece. The brunet was worried when he received no response aside from the blare of a boat horn and called to him louder before the line was abruptly cut. "Goddamn it..." Honda cursed. "What the hell is happening..." he whispered. Yami landed hard onto the solid concrete, panting hard as he went to stand and looked to the three that stood before him.

"Jou-kun..."

/Kill him...kill him...kill him!/

A malicious grin split the blonde's face as dead eyes stared right back into Yami's. "I've been waiting for you, Yami!" The voice to come from his mouth was not the happy go lucky blonde he remembered but a voice fueled by contempt and spite. All of it directed at him which made the demon growl.

Yami had been too late to stop Malik and now, he had to fight a friend, a close one, in a fight that could very well mean his death.

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Honda grumbled as he walked back into the train car. "Since Ruby got him that cell, he would talk people's ear off nonstop. No way in hell that cell broke so soon. Then again if I told him I have Shizuka with me, he'd probably kill me for coming out here without their permission..." Ryuji looked up as Honda came back, the girl beside him also glancing up though she saw nothing with the bandages over her eyes. "Did you get a hold of Aurum?" Jade asked from a seat ahead and Honda shook his head as he moved to sit back down, Ryuji giving him a look as he saw his arms laden with more food from the bar. "Didn't you just eat lunch?!" he groused and the brunet shrugged as he settled in with his second meal. Ryuji sighed before sitting back while the girl beside him looked in the direction of Honda, asking if Jounouchi was winning his matches. "I'm sure he is, Shizuka. He'll show off his best moves to you! I'm sure of it! We'll be at Domino Station soon." he said as he popped open the container while Jade leaned over to Ryuji, asking if they had any idea where the blonde could be.

The raven shrugged. This was who knows how many attempts in trying to reach the other to see how they were. Now of course, one would ask just how these three got into this position and it was more of a happenstance...or the raven trying to rebound after his failure to charm the blonde. But whatever the case may be, Honda had found Ryuji and Jade tagging along as he was heading off to pick up the youngest sibling. The brunet felt obligated that she should be there to witness her brother dueling. To have her see how much he had improved himself since the last time she saw him. He had worked so hard to get to where he is now and to have gained that money for her operation, he deserved to see Shizuka in her full glory and he renewed sight. As a bonus, she can see how her siblings net themselves a rich duo. He sighed as he took a bite of the chicken in the box before the sound he heard in the background rung in his head.

"Wait, I know where that sound came from!"

"What?! What sound?!"

Ryuji glared at the brunet, brushing off a crumb of food that flew onto his lap as Honda explained that he had heard a sound when he went to call Kaiser and he finally placed that it was the sound of a boat horn. "A boat horn...then that must mean he's at Domino Harbor!" Ryuji spoke and Honda nodded with a grin around another mouthful. "Now we know where to go. Hope you're excited, Shizuka~"

"I am!"

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A gust breezed past the two, Yami looking to Jounouchi with a sharp gaze. "What did he do to you..." But even to his inquiry, Jounouchi didn't respond. The boat horn went off again and Yami glanced to the docked boat before looking back to the blonde before him, the copter landing to allow Seto and Mokuba to step out. Yami stepped forward, asking if the blonde remembered that sound, the same boat horn that they heard upon leaving for Duelist Kingdom. Where his adventure as a duelist began. There was hardly a glance to the boat, a nasty smirk crossing his face as he told the demon point blank that the sound or the memories mean nothing to him. Yami felt the chilling words as a stab to the heart and growled. Mokuba stood beside his brother, holding onto his sleeve. "What happened to Katsuya-kun..." Mokuba whispered. "Controlled most likely from what Yami's told me...by the leader of the Ghouls." Mokuba gasped as he looked up to him then back to the two.

Jounouchi continued with the wicked smirk, holding up the duel disk, demanding that this was now the time for them to battle, a battle of life and death. Only one of them will leave alive and the blonde was sure of it that he will win and reclaim the god card while he was at it. "No...no, we have to stop this, nii-sama! Your boyfriend can't be allowed to do this!" Mokuba cried. But Seto knew...a deep part of him knew as much as he did want to stop it, the magics of the Sennen Rod were still unknown and he didn't trust Malik to have an ulterior plan if he tried to force invalidity of the match being unofficial and a risk to both players. 'This is Yami's match now. A match to find the answer in his heart. If this so called unity will save not only himself but Katsuya.'

And if Yami valued his life, he better find a way to save Katsuya or he'll end his life himself.