Yami no Game: Dark Saga

Chapter 52

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Jounouchi was wounded but he wasn't counted out the game yet. He had hoped Gilfer would shake him out of it but it did little to break the hold. Then there was only one creature to do it for him, her call to Yugi showing she was still willing to fight beside him. But what to do was the question on his mind as he looked to what remained on the field. Seto ground his teeth as he looked to the timer. Less than ten minutes before the explosives went off and Yugi was at his last 700. There wasn't much else he expected the small teen to do. A whimper from Mokuba reminded him of his own situation and a soft growl left him.

He had an idea in mind and he had to count on Ruby to follow through with him. It was a risky gamble but if he can do something, he can attempt to stop this. He refused to see his lover or someone so willing to save him die like this. Jounouchi took his turn, looking to the Skull Dice he drew while Malik contemplated leaving Jounouchi in doing nothing. There was so little time left that stalling will still give him the revenge he sought for. The kings will suffer to a watery grave with no vessel to host them and the fractured friendship he brought between the two will never have a chance to be restored.

And a little bonus is that Kaiba would be ill-fitted for dueling, making the last card a steal before he obtained all the god cards. With a grin, Malik nodded and went through with the idea, telling Jounouchi he could relax now, that he had done his part and all he had to do was wait now. Even for his defiance, he fought as he wished, now he just had to run out the clock and he can sleep...forever. Yugi looked to him as his turn was passed and he closed his eyes. "Jou-kun...do you remember the promise you made to Yami at Duelist Kingdom?" The mention of the tournament made realization spark in his mind, through the deep seated memories that Malik tried so hard to push back. Yugi smiled as he spoke of the promise, of how he went into that tournament to win the prize money for Shizuka. That Yami told him that he owes him a proper duel to make up for the money even though the demon didn't expect him to stay true to it as his payment, to the demon, was the bond they made as friends.

But he had, he joined Battle City to keep to that promise, to become better and fight Yami on equal ground. The mention of all this sparked yet another memory, a memory of the night before and after the operation. It was hard to go there and confront his mother, even with Kaiser beside him, but he had promised. Promised to get stronger for her, she was so scared and couldn't take off the bandages after the operation. She hadn't since then as far as he remembers. His mother told him he had done enough and the removal of the bandages was on her now but he knew, she still lacked courage. Courage that he didn't hold at that time.

Even now, as he was reminded that he told Yami he'd become a true duelist to make their duel one to remember for the ownership of Red-Eyes, he lacked courage. The courage to face him, to face Yugi. Looking down to his hand, Jounouchi moved to draw his card before he continued on, leaving Panther Warrior in attack to bait the small teen into attacking while setting two cards face down. Malik inhaled sharply as Jounouchi worked outside his command. Why...why did he wish to continue?! All he had to do was keep quiet and let the timer run out! His brainwashing couldn't have worn off now, not at such a crucial time.

Unless...he was fighting on pure instinct. He wouldn't have believed such a thing if he wasn't a front seat witness to it. Yugi smiled to see Jounouchi continued to fight and knew that he had to keep it going, even if he saw the reason that Panther Warrior stayed in attack. The hold was loosening but he still needed to do more. A glance to the clock showed he had little time to make it happen and had to make it quick. He drew his card, seeing it was Mystical Rift Panel and nodded, covering the card before sending Gilfer to attack Panther Warrior. Jounouchi was prepared for this and conducted a simultaneous activation of Skull and Graceful Dice, using the Skull Dice to weaken Gilfer while using Graceful Dice to increase Panther Warrior's. Yugi wouldn't allow it and activated De-Spell to negate the Graceful Dice. Jounouchi bit his lip, turning hollow eyes to the Skull Dice, knowing its roll would make or break the attack.

As the die came to a stop, his eyes widened to see the result ended on one, hardly making a change to Gilfer's attack as it went through, wiping out the warrior and bringing their attack to become equal at 700. Yugi breathed a sigh of relief before looking down to the boxes at his feet. If he could possibly make them hit zero at the same time...perhaps he could save them both. With three minutes left, Seto finally committed to his plan, pulling a card from his deck. 'Please bless me with a common card.' he thought as he flung the card towards the ghoul holding Mokuba.

Like the knife he held, the card dug into his hand, making him wail as he release the knife while releasing Mokuba. With the boy freed, Seto glanced to Ruby who charged in to tackle the one that held Mokuba, twisting his arm behind his back before pulling the card from his hand. "Blue-Eyes always knows how to sense your anger." Ruby murmured as Mokuba went to hug Seto. He smiled, petting the boy on the head before looking to the other. "That he does...but for staining my card, they don't deserve to stand here." he whispered darkly as he charged for the other, both making little struggle before they were tossed into the waters.

With the two out the way, Seto sent Mokuba to Ruby before he ran for the dueling field. He only had so much time to fix this. To save them. Jounouchi's turn was back on him and as he drew, he found the last card to deal direct damage. Meteor of Destruction. He was silent as he looked to the card before the sultry poison of Malik's words began to echo through him. He could save himself with the use of the card. If he didn't care for Yugi as much as he thought he did, that will end everything and free him from his shackles. But if he refused to do so, they both will be dragged under. /Look, your precious lover is coming to rescue you...it would be a shame if you were gone from his arms just as he got to you./ He continued to be silent, even as Seto reached the field and called to them both. "Seto..." Yugi whispered as the brunet looked up. Two minutes and counting. There was little he could do from his position and the two that could still hadn't moved to appear since Jounouchi took possession of the puzzle. What was taking them so fucking long?!

But it did not matter as he had to think of what he can do here and now to save them both. There would be regrets if one or the other dies and it would hurt him severely if Katsuya were to die in front of him. Malik growled from where he stood but continued to speak, to urge Jounouchi to use the card. He had no other choice if he wanted to keep breathing. But even with his words, his memories still played out the strongest. He remembered his friends, his family and most of all, his pride and soul as a duelist. "Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up! This is not what I want ta remember! I don't want this moment in my memories!" Jounouchi cried out, Yugi covering his mouth to keep the cry from emerging. He was fighting back, fighting against the control.

But while he was happy to know it was happening, they had no time to make the control leave him fully. Yugi held himself high as he looked into the eyes of his best friend. "Malik!" The teen called, making the other start as he looked to the opponent before him. "Yes, I'm speaking to the part of you within Jou-kun! I have thought about this long enough and wanted to make this my last words to you. The real loser of this duel will ultimately be you! You have done such harm in making this duel happen but Jou-kun is resisting you and fighting against your control! He knows this is wrong and he will find a way to break free of this!"

Taking a glance at the clock, time ticked down further, only a minute remaining. "Even if we both get dragged into the ocean's depths...the fact you lost the game you tried to play with our bonds will forever haunt your mind. That there is no second chance to get the victory you sought for as it was not your hand that brought Yami and Aqua down as your revenge." The flaxen blonde snarled in anger. How dare this pathetic whelp of a vessel tell HIM that he lost?! Seto looked to the two, wondering what Yugi was up to baiting Malik. But he didn't see the mental struggle that Jounouchi was in. The struggle to reclaim his body and mind back. If Malik lost his cool, then he was sure to lose even the slightest control and Jounouchi would be free to get himself back together. But he just had to use the right words to bait him as Yami would've done. "Come at me, Malik! Give it your best shot to defeat me!" Angered to be taunted, Malik did as the boy requested, taking full control even as Jounouchi tried to resist. 'No...this...this isn't right...'

/Silence! You have long expired with your usefulness!/ Malik snapped as Jounouchi lifted the card he had considered casting. All his rage and vengeance will be placed into this card. He will destroy Yugi completely and watch his corpse sink to the bottom of the ocean before the puzzle joined him! "I use Meteor of Destruction!" Clouds swirled above the battlefield, Seto and Yugi gasping as they watched the huge meteor ready to descend down onto the field and right onto Yugi. A horrible direct damage card that was banned for its 1000 life point cost to the opponent. If that connected...Seto wouldn't dare think more as he looked to the violet-eyed teen.

In time, the meteor shot down from the skies, heading straight for the smaller teen and from within, Yami could see through the eyes of the blonde and gasped in horror. "Yugi!" he cried and that same cry echoed through Jounouchi as hollow eyes widened. "Don't die, Yugi!" Hearing the voice, the real voice of Jounouchi break through brought a smile to his face, tears coming to his eyes. He just knew it would work. Wiping the tears away, Yugi went to activate the trap he had prepared for this moment, Mystical Rift Panel.

The spirit that carried the mirror appeared onto the field, looking up to the meteor hurtling towards the smaller duelist before raising the mirror and catching the meteor's path from its original target, ready to redirect it in whichever way he chose. Malik was absolutely floored. This weak, simpering vessel had caught his last move. So close was he to destroying him and everything he stood for and now, he was in a situation where he could turn the meteor back onto him. 'You...you little shit! I hate you so much! You and your demon partners!' Malik thought in agonizing rage.

Seto looked between the oncoming meteor and to Yugi. He had the power to redirect it back to Jounouchi but the brunet knew that Yugi didn't play the trap to do such a thing. The teen struggled this hard to get to this point, stopping Malik's path of destruction. It was absolutely clear what he was to do next before the meteor crashed. Heavy breaths left the blonde as he looked down to the puzzle around his neck. How did it even get there...it was supposed to be with Yugi, wasn't it? And speaking of Yugi, why was he there...across from him? And his Red-Eyes...she was hurt. They were in a duel? But...why?

"Yugi...why are we fightin'?" he whispered. Recognition fell slowly into his eyes which Yugi smiled to. "You're back...you're finally back." he whispered as he rubbed his eyes again. The teen couldn't help it. His friend was back, Jounouchi won his life back and that's all he could ask for. "The fight...is over, Jou-kun." Yugi whispered, sniffling a little before bringing his hands down, removing the duel disk from his arm. The deck still had a purpose here and it didn't belong where he was going. He told Jounouchi everything, of how Malik had control over him, of how he had to fight against the piece that he implanted into him that made this entire duel happen. As he spoke, Seto's eyes drifted to the timer. It was winding down quick and if something didn't happen, both would fall and he still had no idea what to do.

The boxes were the only hope but with no tools, he had no way to pry them open. Oh how he will make Malik pay for this before taking the Sun Dragon from him. "I used this trap to buy more time...before the very end. And I wanted to tell you, Jou-kun...thank you for everything. For being my friend...and being my strength. Please...honor my wish...and take care of Yami and Aqua for me." Jounouchi shook his head, crystalline tears coursing down his cheeks and he screamed out to Yugi as he commanded the mirror spirit to aim the meteor at him once more, now in full control of its path taken from Malik so he did not get the last laugh. The spirit did as asked, angling the mirror and rebounded the meteor towards him and all could only watch at the fiery ball engulfed him, taking the last of his life points.

"Yugi!"

Jounouchi could hear them now, the anguished cries of the demons within and gripped the chain as the timer had paused on a single second. A brief second that could've been an end to both, only halted by Yugi's final decision. A pop at his feet made the blonde look down, seeing the key for his cuff there as the countdown timer for the anchor's drop set up and started ticking away the fifteen seconds. Yugi raised his head weakly, telling him to free himself before the timer ended and brought the anchor down. But Jounouchi couldn't do it. They both had to escape, both had to! He urged Yugi to get up, to find a way to get free but the strain of the duel had taken its toll on him. Looking to Seto who stood there, he called to him, asking if there was anything he could do. Seto growled as he looked to the puzzle but knew trying to get the two out would be too late. A weak roar caught his attention and he looked to the Red-Eyes. She was still on the field...she was still an active monster and no matter who's hand she was in...

She was still a loyal monster to Katsuya.

"Have the Red-Eyes attack you! She may be on Yugi's side but she is still loyal to you! If that damned demon taught me anything, monsters have a soul and they understand us! Ask her to help you now!" Seto called. Jounouchi nodded before looking into her eyes. He hated that things had come to this but this was a time now to fix it. He commanded her to attack and she obeyed, raising her head and gathered the fire in her jaws before unleashing it at Jounouchi and he took the blast hard, finishing off his points as well and the box popped open before Yugi. There was little time for the blond to think of his next action, removing his disk to set beside him before gripping the chain of the handcuffs. Two seconds...hardly enough time as Jounouchi swung across the gap between, arm stretched out for the key that was in the box as the timer hit zero...

"Katsuya!"