Author's Note: Hey there everyone! I'm really sorry I didn't update last week. =.= I had the computer open but then—BAM! ...my little sister jacked it. xDD But don't worry! I am back right now and ready to get this on! Thanks for reading! ^^' Hope you like it. x3
So, Yugi/Yami is dueling their first Rare Hunter of the tournament. By their ingenious skills, the ancient Pharaoh and his Light figured out their opponent's deck; it's an Exodia deck. All he's been doing is defending—but it won't save him from this duel any longer. He's going to have to attack soon, but everyone knows he'll only attack when he has all five Exodia pieces in his hand. The Yugi and Yami will have to figure out how to defeat the ancient beast before it awakens.
Disclaimer!: Fanfiction, and I do NOT get any money out of it either. Thanks. ^^
Battle City-New Evil Emerges, Old Friends Reunite Chapter 21
LP: Rare Hunter: 4000/Yugi: 4000
The mental tug in the side of my brain grew even more. I don't know why.
Gosh...what is it trying to tell me? I asked myself, beginning to wonder if ignoring it is even going to help. It all started when I was pondering about why the Rare Hunters would be collecting rare cards. As I thought more and more, Yugi's duel with Keith and his mind controller, ideas of how Joey's duel with the Rare Hunter could have gone, and the two who attacked the Pharaoh and me entered my mind, fogging it over so much, I could barely think straight at times.
There was something about them wanting rare cards that has me at an unease.
What was their reason?
As I watched the current duel on, half my mind marvelled at how strategically the Pharaoh always dueled. He hasn't lost his touch in over 5 millennia, and anyone who duels him have the right to be scared. He's a really good duelist. Not to mention a great Pharaoh, right beside his father.
What could make people target him?
These Rare Hunters want something. We won't rest until they've been put a stop to. Then we can freely focus on Bakura. That bastard must be up to something right now...
I gritted my teeth absentmindedly, just because of my thoughts. I despise him. With all my being. He's the one who's taken my brother. And even though he was in his control, he's not here right now. So Bakura is working alone.
I don't know whether to be happy there will be no...interference from my mind controlled older brother, or sad because...he wasn't here. It's like I felt both emotions. It was heartbreaking to have family members taken from me, but it's best if he wasn't here...like his crazy thief of a boss.
Oh—stop thinking about him. I mentally sighed, thinking that I was thinking way too much. Rare Hunters...Rare Hunters...why would cloaked people we've never seen before want to duel for rare cards?
The most logical and humane solution was so they could strengthen their decks.
...but strengthen their decks for what...?
I found my eyes on the Pharaoh's.
They were an intense crimson colour, burning with a fire I've never seen in anyone else. Always—always—he's courageous and brave; never letting anyone batter his collective composure down. His movements are steady and precise, and when he draws a card, the whole world seems to hold its breath.
It's the most beautiful sight.
In its own...ancient way.
Ancient and powerful.
Well...whatever these Rare Hunters have planned...the Pharaoh and I are ready. Now that our bond has begun, our powers will be even stronger. Because it's just like what Yugi taught us; we're stronger with our friends. The closer the Pharaoh and I can get, the closer we'll be to beating Bakura. Once and for all.
Ah! Get back to the Rare Hunter. Get back to the Rare Hunter...!
The nagging decided to return.
I felt a vein throbbing on my head in annoyance.
Gosh, I wish I knew what it meant...
"So, you've figured out my strategy is to assemble all five cards of Exodia," cackled the Rare Hunter. He smirked lethally. "That still doesn't mean you can defeat me! Exodia is the most powerful monster in the whole game!"
"Just because it's the most powerful monster," said Yami, his narrow eyes full of as much concentration as there is courage. "that does not mean that he is unstoppable! Every monster has its weakness!"
"That's right! You tell 'em Yugi!" cried Joey, cheering his buddy on. His fists were clenched, holding determination for his friend. "Nobody can beat you! This clown has so many Exodia pieces in his deck, he thinks he's already won! But you'll show him!"
I blinked. "What do you mean by "so many Exodia pieces"?" I asked the blonde curiously. Did he mean the Rare Hunter found copies for the incredible creature? That could raise his odds of winning...couldn't it?
Joey turned to me. "I mean just what I said. This guy says he's got a lot of Exodia pieces in his deck—three sets of the whole thing! He showed me when he won in our duel."
My mouth fell open. How are Yugi and Yami going to defeat three Exodias? If this Rare Hunter wants to draw the head of Exodia, he'll have a much bigger chance of drawing it when he has three sets. His chances of drawing Exodia pieces tripled from the norm!
"That's not cool!" I cried.
Yami drew his card for his turn. With the knowledge of there being an Exodia in the Rare Hunter's deck, he's going to put his focus into overdrive. He has to defeat him before he can get the chance to play his beast, otherwise, it'll be even more difficult to beat.
"I'll play one card face down," he said, doing so. A face down Duel Monster card appeared onto the holographic field, along with all the other cards. "But I'm not finished there! I'll also send Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast to attack your Stone Statue of the Aztecs! Go, and batter his monster to rubble!"
The beast lunged in, with its claws out, and reduced the blue stone monster to gravel. The Rare Hunter's life points didn't go down because the monster was in defensive mode. At least he has only one monster defending him now.
The Rare Hunter smirked, as if losing a monster didn't faze him. "Do you think I care if you destroy one of my monsters?" he said. "Just because I lost one doesn't mean I'm defeated! You still have my ever growing defence to worry about and my strongest monster waiting in the wings!"
Yami glared. "Just make your move."
"Ah, he doesn't have anything to worry about," I said nonchalantly, waving it off. The Rare Hunter looked amused. "Yugi will beat you. There's no way you can draw Exodia in time anyway!"
"We shall see," said the Rare Hunter. "I have three copies of each of the five cards. My chances to draw an Exodia piece using this deck have increased than that of a deck with only one set of the cards."
"It also means that your deck is cluttered," said Yami absolutely. "You have chances of drawing Exodia alright, but not for a specific part of him."
The Rare Hunter's smirk almost faltered—almost. His glare intensified though. "As I said, we shall see," he said, getting ready to draw his next card for this turn.
But he had to stop short. "Reveal trap card!" cried Yami, pressing a button on the circular part of his Duel Disk for his magic and trap cards. The face down card on the field flipped over, revealing an illustration of chains going around a Duel Monsters card. "Time Seal! It forces you to skip your turn. Now you can't draw your next card—and be able to draw anymore Exodia pieces."
The Rare Hunter was mildly annoyed. "You're only prolonging your inevitable defeat," he persisted with his smirk still in place. He was so full of himself! Does he honestly think Exodia, or the threat of Exodia at the moment, is going to faze Yami and Yugi? They aren't going to let anything get to them! Gosh this guy was beginning to annoy me... He hasn't even drawn all five pieces of Exodia yet, so how can he be so damn confident?
"Soon...you'll regret ever playing with a Rare Hunter. But you can't really help it because of current circumstances. Isn't that right, Guardian?"
Upon hearing my alias I stood my ground. I'm guessing whoever the boss of these lunatics are didn't let anyone go about taking rare cards from people without having the knowledge of the Pharaoh and me. Why would he say it aloud, though? Is he trying to be intimidating? Well...it's not going to work.
"What do you know of our current circumstances?" I challenged him with a glare. Maybe I can get some information out of him. It would help a lot if I could. We wouldn't be dealing with Rare Hunters so empty handedly.
His reply was only a smug smirk. "I know enough to tell you that you will fail in your quest," he said. "Your power will fall into our Master's hands and you will be forever powerless!"
His words seemed almost convincing. His overconfidence was nearly getting to my head. It really did seem to me that I'll be...powerless. "How?" I persisted, never dropping my determined gaze, though on the inside, I felt myself tremble. If I was powerless...I'd be no use at all. What will I do for the Pharaoh then? "Tell me! What is it that you and your Master are trying to do?"
His smirk never left. The Rare Hunter knew he would win. Overconfidence should be a crime. "You'll just have to wait and see," he said. "For the moment though, it's Yugi's move. And he'd better make it a good one, because I have a distinct feeling that I am going to draw what I'm looking for next turn!"
Distinct feeling or not, something's up. He's way too confident in this duel. Who is that cocky anyway? It's like he already has this duel figured out and won.
"You won't get very far," I said, holding my chin up high. "Yugi will beat you. And when he does, you'll have questions to answer."
"Your belief will be shattered."
"We'll see about that."
The tension subsided back to how it was while Yami was dueling the Rare Hunter. It was still there, but it wasn't as bad as it was just a few moments ago. I caught Yami's crimson eyes, watching me. My serious mask never fell, and I merely focused back onto the duel. This Rare Hunter was secretive. He wasn't going to tell me anything until Yugi wins.
"My turn then," said the Pharaoh, returning his gaze from me back to his deck. His eyes seemed different that time. It was like for a moment there, when I was demanding answers from the Hunter, he seemed careful; watching me discreetly, as if trying to piece something together. He was probably hoping for some answers to actually piece together. It's too bad we didn't get anything.
He took a while to draw his next card, staring at his deck in thought.
At first, I was confused. But then it all clicked together. If Yami didn't draw something good this turn, then by next turn, if the Rare Hunter really does get a good card like he gloated he would, it's all over. He needs something to stop him.
...something odd tells me that the Rare Hunter is really close to drawing all five pieces of Exodia... I don't know exactly what it could be, and all his confident talk seemed really real.
Could he really be close to putting together Exodia? Not a few minutes ago, he said he had a "distinct feeling" that he would be drawing what he was looking for in his next turn. Most likely it's the fifth piece to Exodia. The way he just talks a big game.
He's already got four of the five? I asked myself incredulously. The three copies really did give him an advantage! Hopefully his luck would run out soon. Because as much as having three copies of Exodia useful and nifty, it's just as dangerous. For example, if the Rare Hunter wanted to the draw the head piece in order to complete one set, he might draw another right arm piece instead, because of how much his deck is littered with Exodia pieces.
The odds don't seem fair. But their aren't that bad either.
Yami's pouring a lot of thought into this one draw. Because it's almost 50/50.
"Come on, Yugi, Yami," I murmured encouragingly, though I know they can't hear me at the moment. "You've got this. Just do what you do best."
Their belief cut out for them.
When Yami drew the next card, new determination lining his vivid red eyes, my heart almost leaped out of my chest in excitement. From here on the sidelines, I could see the card perfectly, and it was the best one for the turn.
"I play the magic card, Lightforce Sword!" said Yami, activating the card onto his Duel Disk. A holographic image of the card appeared onto the duel field. Its illustration was a sword piercing through a Duel Monsters card.
This is just what he needed! I cheered. With this card, the Rare Hunter will be stuck!
The Rare Hunter eyed the card a little hesitantly, though his smirk was still there. "What does that card do?" he asked, and when Yami smirked, his face almost fell.
"What does it do?" repeated the Pharaoh tauntingly. "This magic card will prevent you from summoning Exodia for three turns."
The Rare Hunter blinked uneasily at the sword beginning to materialize right before his eyes in a shower of white sparks. Its blade shone under the sun. "What are you saying!" he scoffed. "I have three copies! If you destroy one of them, I'll just wait until I draw the other! You're foolish to keep this duel on when you know I have three Exodias!"
"Just because you have three copies of each individual piece of Exodia," I started saying, my eyes narrowed at this Hunter's obnoxious behaviour. "that doesn't mean you will be able to draw the right piece each time."
"Sarah is right," said Yami. "Because you have so many Exodia pieces cluttering your deck it'll be difficult to draw the one you will need. Even if my Lightforce Sword takes out one of them, preventing you to even use that card for three full turns."
The Rare Hunter's eyes widened. "Is that what your card does?"
"Exactly," said Yami prevailingly. "Lightforce Sword will randomly pierce one card in your hand, and take it out of the duel for three turns, as I have mentioned before."
The Hunter's eyes darted to the shining sword still hovering in the air. He bared his teeth, ready for the assault.
"This is it," I said to Joey. "If the sword doesn't slash a piece of Exodia, Yugi might lose the duel."
The blonde nodded. "He's got a good chance though," he said. "Out of the five cards in the Rare Hunter's hand, four of them could be Exodia, judging from how much of a big deal the Rare Hunter was making of it not a turn ago. Yugi's got a 75 percent chance that the sword will hit an Exodia piece."
I blinked at him. He just did math. I opened my mouth to tease, but realized something much better.
"You've come a long way since Duelist Kingdom."
His eyes shone. "Do you really think so?" I nodded. "Awesome. Now I can be at the top of my game with ease! I was wondering if I had improved or not."
It was amazing how Yugi taught Joey everything he could about Duel Monsters. It's made the both of them really close—and really strong, all at the same time.
"Lightforce Sword!" called Yami. "Strike the Hunter's hand!"
With a stream of light, the sword slashed through the air, and right through the Rare Hunter's cards. It struck down a golden hand and pinned it to the floor. The Rare Hunter looked down at his removed from play card with shock. "No!" he cried. "You've pierced the Right Arm of Exodia!"
I cheered and bounced on my feet. "Way to go!" I applauded. "Nice job! You've got another few turns to figure out how to beat this creep!"
Yami gave me a nod. "But I'm not finished yet," he said. "Next, I'll sacrifice Chimera to summon a new creature! Summoned Skull, come forth!" In a shower of dispersed white sparks, Chimera disappeared, only to be replaced by an even stronger creature, the demon skull beast.
"Now my beast," said Yami, raising a hand to point at the last defensive monster the Rare Hunter had on the field. "Attack the Rare Hunter's Moving Fortress with Lightning Strike!"
A powerful surge of electricity bolted through the skull beast before being directed towards the second stone monster. It was blasted to pieces—but again, the Hunter's life points were safe because it was in defence mode.
I scoffed. What a coward. He's only counting on one monster to win the duel for him. Well...in his case three because he has three copies of it.
"Oh yeah! Way to put the Hunter on the endangered species list!" cried Joey ecstatically. "He's toast!"
I blinked, expecting my stomach to growl for dramatic effect. "Toast? Where?" I asked. Joey merely glanced at me carefully, wondering if I was okay or not.
Yami smirked. "Now you have no monsters on the field," he said to the Rare Hunter, who merely held his confident smile and expression. Under the light of the sun, his evil eyes seemed to glimmer different colours. Was that normal...or odd? It certainly seemed odd to me.
"It looks like a whole new game Rare Hunter. Now you're the one in a difficult predicament."
Suddenly, the man cackled. It nearly sent shivers down my spine. Not from being frightened, but from being totally creeped out. "A whole new game?" he asked amusedly, as if it was something impossible. "Hardly, Yugi! Do you really think you can stop me with one card?"
Yami glared. "I do."
The Rare Hunter's smirk went back to being what it was since the duel started. "A professional card hunter like me is prepared for any situation." His cackling returned, like he was ready to conquer the world. He was getting creepier... What is he up to?
He drew his card but referred back to his hand and pulled one out from there, slipping it into the magic card slots. "Take this! Swords of Revealing Light!"
"Oh no!" I watched the shining swords rain down from the sky and lodge themselves around Yami and his half of the duel field. The Pharaoh merely gave them a glance through narrow eyes but returned the gaze back to the Rare Hunter, annoyed by his antics to further delay HIS inevitable defeat.
"What a coward!" cried Joey, clenching his fists.
I bared my teeth as well. "I agree so much right now...it's not even funny," I growled. "This must be how he buys time to draw the Exodia cards. Grr...he disgusts me. I despise people who hide in the shadows and decide to attack when they think it's the right time."
Joey watched me carefully; I sensed his warm honey eyes directed to me. "What's the point of playing with Hunters?" he asked once again, like he did near the beginning of the duel.
I was beginning to think of getting the answer too. Sure, all duels are hard to defeat, but we should have been using this time to find what the Pharaoh and I came for. Not be in the middle of another supposed "evil".
Images of Yugi's first duel with a Rare Hunter came into mind. The one with Keith being "mind controlled" by someone and almost losing the power of the Millennium Puzzle just because "he" wasn't going to get it. It was so crazy...
What was even more crazy was that the nagging returned. Damn it...I thought I had gotten rid of it.
I shook my head at the blonde, just as troubled by this situation. "I wish I knew," I said. "But ever since that time someone stole the Millennium Puzzle from Yugi, these guys haven't left us alone. They want something from us. All we have to do is fight back."
Suddenly, the nagging grew harsher, until it felt like my brain was being clawed at by some creature. My hands clutched my head and I grimaced. Joey caught my arm, thinking I was going to fall over.
"Sarah!" he called anxiously, seeing me in a daze. "What happened? Are you all right?"
I missed the Pharaoh looking over in my direction upon hearing my name. The pain in my head was throbbing now, but my hand never left the side of my head. It was like they were keeping my head together from splitting.
"I-I don't know," I managed to form into a sentence through the sudden jolt of pain. It felt exactly the same as it did back when I was trying to remember the other half of me becoming the Dueling Legend. It hurt like hell because I was trying to pressure my brain into forgetting the amnesia and try and remember about the time before it.
"But...it's something important I'm not thinking of. I know it is."
The Rare Hunter smirked. "The Guardian is supposed to know everything, so she can help the Pharaoh," he said, as if reciting something a professor has told a student. "How is it that you will have questions to seek answers for?"
Yami's eyes became even more narrower. "Everyone has questions they want answered," he said. "It is what makes us all human."
The Hunter scoffed, watching me try to regain balance and holding onto Joey's arm. "Fools," he growled. "Humans have mortal lives. You are one today, but after our Master acquires what he desires, then you'd wish you'd be dead even faster!"
I brought my hand to my mouth in shock. "What—he's going to try and kill us?" I yelled, momentarily forgetting about the pain shooting up and down my head, trying to get me to remember something. For some odd reason, it keeps showing me images of Yugi's first duel with a Rare Hunter.
The Rare Hunter threw back his head and laughed. He was insane! "Kill you?" he practically shouted hysterically. "Why, he's only trying to get something back. Something that he deserved but was never given."
"Oh really? Is it because of his bad occupation?" spat Joey. "You know, sending Rare Hunters out to snag rare cards? Maybe that's why he didn't get what he wanted!"
The Rare Hunter shook his head. He was amused by the torture—and what it was doing to us. Instantly, I knew there was a chance that he might not tell us anything useful, even if I had strangled him. "You really are foolish," he said. "When this duel is done, and I have won, you will know just how powerful he is!"
"You will have to get past me," said the Pharaoh. "After three turns, your Swords of Revealing Light will wear out, and then I will show you no mercy."
"Don't let him win!"
Yami's glare disappeared and he turned around to meet my gaze. I have no idea where that came from. It was the light tug in my mind. It's trying to tell me something, but I don't know what! I wish I did, because it was getting really confusing.
I stared back into his eyes. "Whatever happens..." I said, trying to gather as much of my thoughts together as I could. Those same images flew past my eyes every time I blinked. They were connected with the tugging, I know it. "Whatever happens...don't let him beat you. There's...more at stake than we know."
Yami blinked at me slowly, thoughtfully. "More at stake than we realize?" he asked me. "What makes you say this?"
I shook my head, confusion lining my scarlet eyes. "I'm really sorry, but I have no idea," I said. "There's just this...voice or something in my head telling me there's more to this duel...and all the other duels to come...than we actually know of."
Yami's eyes searched mine, until he pulled back and nodded. "Alright," he said. "Don't worry, Sarah, I'll defeat this Rare Hunter. He can just try and summon Exodia, but he won't get far."
You can win. I thought. I've always had Faith for you. Now, you have the Faith of all our newest friends too. So you can't lose.
There's something...something about these Rare Hunters and their quest for rare cards, and what their Master is trying to gain by dueling Yugi and Yami...
...that seems oddly familiar to me.
Yami turned back to the duel, after having one more glance at me. Then his eyes focused on the Rare Hunter, with his hand on his deck. "It's my move. I'll only draw for this turn," he said, doing just that and adding the new card to his hand. "Then end my turn."
The Rare Hunter smirked. "Thanks to my Swords, that's all you can do," he gloated, drawing his next card. "You are reduced to watching your own duel. Unable to attack. Unable to even move! I should just end your misery."
"No!" I gasped. Did he find a way to summon Exodia? If he did, it's all over! And the Pharaoh just started with this tournament!
"Why wait for your magic card to expire when I can draw another Right Arm from my deck?"
"Of course," said Joey. "He's got the three copies."
"In the midst of my head ache I have forgotten," I sighed. "For shame."
The Rare Hunter smirked. "Exodia cards are so rare that most duelists don't even own a single piece. But I have three copies of each, which means there are two more Right Arms waiting in my deck."
Yami's collective expression now held a smirk. It was confident. The Rare Hunter was taken aback.
"Hey! What's so funny!" he demanded, unable to find the humour in what we've been trying to drill into his head.
"It's like what we've said before, but you must be too dense to comprehend it," commented Yami smartly. The Rare Hunter glared. "Your deck's loaded down with so many Exodia body parts, the odds of drawing the Right Arm are slim to none."
"We'll find out, won't we?" said the Rare Hunter, determined his strategy would work.
"Your mistake is that you're relying on one monster, but a good dueling deck requires the right balance of cards. And you're still a prisoner of my Lightforce Sword." The Pharaoh held up three fingers, emphasizing on his point. "Which means I have three turns to defeat you!"
The Rare Hunter didn't seem all too fazed by his threat. "Hmm, wishful thinking, Yugi," he said. "Now, it's my draw."
When he drew his next card, he seemed mildly annoyed, but his expression had quickly changed. Did he draw a random piece of Exodia? From the look on his face, it looked like he already had that card. Hey, we tried to tell him. But he's such an arrogant jerk it's not going through his head.
"Come on, Yugi!" cheered Joey encouragingly. "You still have two more turns to figure out a way to beat this card swiping freak! You can do it!"
With a nod, Yami drew his next card and looked over his hand. "I place one card face down," he said, slipping the chosen card into one of the magic/ trap card slots. Then he held up another card. "And, I summon Alpha the Magnet Warrior. In attack mode!"
Another magnet creature materialized onto the field. This one was a darker green than Beta and a little bit taller too. With 1400 attack points, it matched the Celtic Guardian for strength.
"You forget about about my Swords of Revealing Light?" smirked the Rare Hunter. "You can't attack."
Does it look like Yami's going to attack? I wanted to say, but I held my talk at bay.
Yami smirked his own classic smirk, startling the Hunter. "I can't," he agreed. "...yet.
"But once I destroy your swords, my monsters will be let loose!"
"What?" I blinked in confusion. "Can Yugi really destroy the swords?"
Joey shrugged. "He might," he said, just as curious. "This is Yugi here we're talking about. He has a strategy for practically anything! And he can find loopholes to others people's strategies with little problem."
Hm...Joey's right. What could the Pharaoh have planned now?
"You won't," glared the Rare Hunter. Obviously, he doesn't think they can be destroyed. But I suppose Yami will have to teach him the hard way...
"And remember, your deck has a tragic flaw," said the Pharaoh. "It's cluttered with so many Exodia pieces that you've squeezed out room for other cards needed to protect your life points. You need more magic and trap cards to destroy my monsters, but all you have in your hand are Exodia cards."
With his smirk replaced by slight fear, the Rare Hunter looked down at the cards in his hand. Did he really have only Exodia pieces? That's so sad!
"And take a look in front of you, Rare Hunter," continued Yami, directing everyone's gazes to the half empty duel field. "I've already destroyed the only two monsters you've summoned, leaving you without a single monster to guard against a direct attack!"
"Oh right!" I exclaimed. "In Kaiba's rulebook, it says direct attacks are allowed! This should be fun..."
"The only thing stopping my monsters is your swords card; a weak and temporary shield. Once my monsters are free, I'll begin attacking your life points."
The Rare Hunter gritted his teeth, angered by how well Yami had put together everything, but his arrogance still pushed him forward. "Impossible," he said. "You'll never break free from my trap before I summon Exodia and obliterate you and your monsters! It's over, Yugi!"
"Oh, give me a break!" I cried. "You're in the worst position! With no monsters to protect you, you're practically asking to get hit so freely! Show no mercy for this Hunter, Yugi! He has to be stopped!"
"Yugi, take him down!" cried Joey after me.
"There's no way you'll summon Exodia in time," said Yami determinedly.
The Rare Hunter glared. "You are in no position to be making threats of any sort," he growled. "Your monsters are still trapped in my Swords of Revealing Light. And it's my turn!"
When the Rare Hunter drew his next card, his face was expressionless. "I bet it's a duplicate Exodia card," said Yami.
"It makes no difference to me," said the Hunter. "Your Lightforce Sword will soon disappear, allowing me to access all five pieces of Exodia for an automatic win!"
Yami smirked, his crimson eyes shining in determination. "But, not soon enough."
The Rare Hunter looked down at his hand, searching anxiously for a card to play. I suppose he's finally realized how right Yami is. Now he's going to try and figure out a way to defend his life points, just in case Yami really does find a way to destroy the glowing swords, locking his monsters in place.
The Rare Hunter reached for a card and quickly played it. "I summon Exodia's Head in defence mode! Now, you can't strike my life points!" The golden head of Exodia appeared onto the field in front of the Hunter. It had 1000 attack and defence points. But...why would he play that card when he needs it in order to summon Exodia?
Oh my gods...he probably had a duplicate of the card in his hand! He's using this card as a monster card so Yami won't be able to get to his life points! Damn it. And I really did think Yami had a plan to bring him down.
But...the Pharaoh's confident face never fell. His plan hasn't been thwarted.
Instead...his smirk just intensified.
"That's exactly what I wanted you to do, Rare Hunter." he said, making my jaw drop. "Now, it's time for me to destroy Exodia."
"What?" exclaimed the Hunter, his cool smirk fall off his face for good now.
"You activated my trap card!" said Yami. "A costly mistake!" With a flick of wrist, he pressed the button on his Duel Disk to activate the trap card. The face down card he had placed earlier now flipped over on the duel field, showing three cards with a chain going through them.
"Chain Destruction!"
Before anyone could comprehend what was about to happen, a golden chain shot out from the card, piercing the Exodia Head the Rare Hunter had played in defensive mode, before racing straight into his deck.
"It struck my deck!" cried the Hunter astonished, watching the chain disappear into his Duel Disk. Everyone watched in awe.
"While it can't destroy your Exodia head on the field, it can destroy the ones in your hand and your deck!"
The Rare Hunter yelled in outrage. "Oh no!" he bellowed. "My Exodia heads!"
"Are now gone!" said Yami.
Smoke billowed from the Hunter's cards, the one in his hand and deck. The Chain Destruction card destroyed the Exodia Heads the Rare Hunter had that haven't been played. It was amazing! Now he can't draw all the pieces of Exodia!
"All of your Exodia Heads have been eliminated from your hand and your deck," said Yami. "And with no heads left to play, you can no longer draw all five pieces into your hand to summon Exodia."
The Rare Hunter's eyes widened as the ever confident Pharaoh struck him down with his smirk. He stared at him in shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Yami has found a way to stop the unstoppable Exodia! The legendary monster, who is considered the highest of all Duel Monsters, has just been destroyed! And by a man who thought he could win if he had three copies of the beast in his deck! Even with three he's lost the duel!
Joey and I were just about to cheer our heads off, when Yami's voice rang through the air once again. "And I'm not through, Rare Hunter," he said, his smirk dominating. "I also found a way around your Swords of Revealing Light."
What—there's more? Of course! Yami hasn't officially won yet! He's defeated the Rare Hunter's only offensive monster, but his life points are still intact.
"Activate Dust Tornado!" he shouted, raising his hand over the card to summon it face up. Feathers and wind mixed together, forming this gigantic tornado about the size of a mini skyscraper. It blew and blew, creating huge gusts of wind, blowing our clothes around and whipping our hair in every direction. Bystanders looked on at the duel with excitement and awe. Joey and I couldn't get our jaws off the ground.
"This trap destroys one magic card," explained Yami. "You can guess which one I will target. Your Swords of Revealing Light! It will shatter them to bits!"
The tornado ravaged through the bright white swords, blasting them into tiny little pieces. Yami's monsters stirred. "Now my monsters can attack," he said. But then he played one more card, sealing the Hunter's Fate. "Next, I play, Monster Reborn! Revive Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast!"
In a flash of bright gold, the beast monster he used to sacrifice became again, growling fiercely at the Hunter.
"Chimera, destroy the last Head of Exodia!"
The beast lunged into attack, and with its claws outstretched, it tore through the golden head of the Hunter's last defensive monster, leaving totally defenceless. The Rare Hunter yelled out in horror, finally realizing his defeat.
"Now he's wide open for his attack!" I cried ecstatically, trying my hardest not to start jumping up and down like a lunatic.
Joey punched the air with excitement. "Blast him, Yugi!" he cried.
"Right! Summoned Skull, raise Alpha's attack power by 200 points, thanks to your electrical attack! Now, my monsters, attack the Rare Hunter! And end this duel!"
With his defeated yell drowned by the attack of both incredibly strong monsters, the Rare Hunter was struck down with Alpha's sword and Summoned Skull's Lightning Strike. With a beautiful double attack, both monsters sent the Hunter's life points to zero, ending the duel, and sending him flying to the ground from the impact. He fell back, unmoving.
LP: Rare Hunter: 0000/Yugi: 4000
"Alright, Yugi!" Joey and I cried together. "You won!" The crowds around us began to cheer as well.
The holograms disappeared and the projectors flew right back into Yami's Duel Disk. Joey and I quickly followed after him as he made his way over to the fallen Hunter. He picked up his deck and began to look through it.
"Yugi! That was a good duel!" cheered Joey with a grin. "You beat the strongest monster in the whole game!"
I lightly touched the Pharaoh's arm, making him switch his gaze from Joey to me. "Congratulations on your first Battle City win," I said with a smile. "That Rare Hunter had no chance, and that will teach him something about rare cards."
Yami smiled at the both of us. "Thanks Joey, Sarah," he said. Then he continued looking through the Rare Hunter's deck until he found what he was looking for; a shining black dragon with piercing red eyes.
"I'm taking Joey's Red-Eyes Black Dragon and your locator card," Yami told the Rare Hunter, who still hadn't moved yet. Either from the shock of being beat, or he just hit his whacked up head too hard. "You won't need to find the finals now."
I glared down at the broken form and nudged his ribs with the toe of my shoe, not too lightly either. "Next time, bite something you can actually swallow," I glowered. "You Rare Hunters are making me sick. Dueling for rare cards just so you could acquire more of them... Bah."
Joey eyed at me curiously. "Are you feeling all right?" he asked me, concerned.
I held my head, remembering the time I almost collapsed during the duel. "Yeah...I think so," I replied. "Maybe it was just the wind catching me off guard. That was so confusing..."
Yami glanced from me then back to the deck in his hand. His crimson eyes narrowed as he kept shuffling through the cards, mostly from a little confusion himself. Joey and I noticed this as he kept searching through the deck for nothing more we know of.
"Is everything okay?" I asked him.
"Something's rubbing off on my fingers," he answered with a small glare directed to the Hunter's cards. Exodia's pieces were almost everywhere, not to mention really good defensive monsters and many Swords of Revealing Light cards.
Curiously, I took two of the cards into my own hands. Instantly, I felt them slip in my grasp. "Hey, you're right," I said, showing Joey as well. "There's something on these cards. It's like a thin film of something like...a liquid or something."
Realization struck Yami's eyes. "All these cards are marked!" he said angrily.
I gasped. "What a coward!" I cried, wanting to kick the Rare Hunter again, only this time so as not to leave him breathing. "Does he have to cheat too, to get his way? What else is next? Cameras?" This guy was setting a bad example for the Rare Hunters.
"As if using invisible ink to help see your next card before you draw them isn't bad enough?" asked Joey pointedly. "What a jerk. He was a cheat!"
In one swift movement, Yami ripped up the cards. None were left to survive. "Not anymore!" he said, throwing the tiny pieces into the air. They fluttered slowly back to the ground, around our feet and the fallen Hunter.
"Good riddance," I said as well, tearing the two cards I had in my hand too. "These poor cards have been tainted. There was nothing we could have done to save them." Joey and Yami agreed.
It was then we heard a small voice. A small and defeated voice. "I...I lost..." it said and we found our eyes looking down to the Rare Hunter who was just waking up from his nap. Darn...I wish he would stay down.
I stepped over him and grabbed the collar of his shirt, jerking him off the ground to meet my face. "Now, answer me this," I said surprisingly calmly, but glad that h was awake to answer for me. "Who is your "Master"? Huh? Who do you work for? I told you you would have questions to answer from me."
"...I failed..." he murmured, beginning to regain conciousness. What was he talking about? Was he referring to the duel he just lost?
Joey and Yami stared down at the Rare Hunter with just as much confusion as me. What was this guy muttering on about? He sounded crazy!
"Forgive me, Master," he said and I almost lost my grip on his shirt. How is he talking to his "Master"? Was the leader of the Rare Hunters nearby? "I tried my best!"
Suddenly, he began to get up on his own. My grip faltered dramatically and I stepped away, back to beside Yami. The Rare Hunter looked almost doll-like; his movements were swaying and choppy. He stood onto his two legs with slowly, and then he grabbed for his head, yelling to the sky for mercy. My heart jolted in shock.
"No!" he shouted, still clutching his head. Hey...I've seen this before... But where...? "Please, don't be angry!"
Our eyes widened at the freakshow. His face was full of horror and...fright? The once cocky Hunter Yami was dueling just a moment ago was now scared? He's supposedly talking to his Master at the moment. Is he really that terrified of his power?
"Please, Master," he pleaded to the sky. His hands never left his head, as if it was splitting in half—just like mine was a moment ago. "...don't...please...spare me!"
"Yugi," called Joey, creeped out by the Hunter's continuous cries for mercy to no one in particular—except for his Master actually. But who knows where he is now?" "This whacko's lost his mind!"
Yami's narrow eyes stared at the Rare Hunter, trying to piece together the strange event just as I was. "I've seen this before," he said.
I nodded. "Yeah...it does seem familiar, doesn't it?" I said, turning to look at him for a moment. "I recognize his plead and composure from somewhere else...but it's not coming to me..."
I noticed Yami's eyes widen, and felt the blood drain from my face. I didn't feel like looking to see what had confounded the Pharaoh. "Sarah, he has the Millennium Symbol glowing on his forehead!"
Turning my head around to see, I was met with a horrified Hunter holding his head and yelling for mercy while a bright yellow symbol glowed on his face. It was the Millennium Symbol. "You're right!" I exclaimed. "We have definitely seen this before!"
Flashes of Yugi's duel with Keith ran past my eyes again.
Of course...
It took me this long to figure it out.
I just couldn't think of it to be true...
Suddenly, the Rare Hunter's arms fell down to his sides, almost automatically. The golden Eye of Anubis, known widely as the Millennium Symbol, was glowing brightly on his forehead. My heart almost stopped from the realization and surprise of the Hunter's cries quieting.
"We meet again, Pharaoh," said the Rare Hunter. But it wasn't him. We knew it wasn't him. Two seconds ago the Hunter was crying to the heavens for help when all of a sudden he says this.
This was definitely not the Hunter.
This was someone completely different.
The Rare Hunter's body glowed a glaringly golden colour, almost blinding us. The light died down, and what stood before us was a complete stranger. At least when Yami was dueling the Rare Hunter, we knew who he was. Now, this new...person...was completely different. He was no longer in hysetria, but as calm as a cucumber. Sure his face looked dark...and his eyes an unusual blank colour...but he was no more than a stranger to us, right?
No...I thought carefully. He's an enemy. Our newest one. He's wanted what he couldn't get—now I understand the Rare Hunter's words...
""Why, he's only trying to get something back. Something that he deserved but was never given.""
That was what he said. The leader of the Rare Hunters wants something that he thinks he deserves.
It couldn't be...
"Remember me, Pharaoh?" asked the lifeless doll of the Rare Hunter's body. It seemed that way, mostly because of the emptiness in his eyes and the way his body is just slumped over like a rag doll.
My Locket glowed under my skin.
It was sensing the same kind of presence it sensed during Yugi's first duel concerning these Rare Hunters.
The Pharaoh and I stood our ground.
The situation reminded me so much of Keith's mind controller. Could this be the same person? The Hunter seems controlled enough. I mean...he's not boasting about Exodia anymore...and he looks almost half dead. His eyes were colourless, and abnormal shade of it too. And the Millennium Symbol glowing on his forehead did not make matters any better.
...yep. This guy is definitely under control.
The lifeless body showed no emotion. Instead, it just stood there hunched over, as if it was unable to hold itself up. "Actually, perhaps you don't," he remarked. "You were trapped in the Puzzle when I dueled little Yugi."
"Ah, so he is the same person!" I exclaimed. The nagging finally disappeared and my head began to clear up. All the pain of trying to remember materialized into thin air, and I was left with realization. "Back in that warehouse, when all of this weirdness started, Yugi had to duel someone—Bandit Keith I might add—to save his Millennium Puzzle from someone else's hands. The mind controller controlling Keith's mind was after the Puzzle for reasons unknown.
"Now...I know why the duel looked familiar to me. And, I know what you seek! You are behind everything, aren't you!"
The Hunter's lifeless body turned in my direction, though his eyes showed nothing more than white emotionless orbs. "Did you honestly believe I would leave the Millennium Puzzle behind after only one try, Guardian?" he seethed.
I gritted my teeth in anger. He almost lost a piece of the Puzzle that day. If Ryou hadn't come by to help, then...I don't know what would've happened.
"Congratulations on defeating my Rare Hunter, though he was the weakest duelist in my crew," the mind controller carried on, telling the Pharaoh. "Keith was only a test to see how strong your host was. Then came that night I sent my other two Hunters to take care of the Guardian. Obviously, they didn't do a very good job."
I glared at him. I could sense the familiar dark powers of another presence nearby, they same one I felt during Keith's duel with Yugi. Back then, I felt both his presence and Keith's. Now I only sense the mind controller's. What happened to the Rare Hunter?
"I'm not going anywhere," I said determinedly, stepping forward to place myself in front of the Pharaoh. I glared at him again, feeling myself fill with courage. "You won't get rid of me that easily."
"Even if one of them almost cut you in half?" replied the mind controller snidely. What an exaggeration... But when I did receive the slash, it actually did fell like I was being cut in half...
"I still have their kunai," I said. "Tell them to come back and try again. I'll teach them how to dance—"
I felt someone's hand on my shoulder, making my blood stop its boiling. I looked over it to find Yami's hard gaze telling me to stop. Making threats this early in this game won't be very smart. Who knows how powerful this guy really is?
Shooting the empty man one last glare, I fell back beside the Pharaoh, looking down to a spot on the ground. But I made sure I was tense, so I could move fast enough to react if this poser tried anything.
"My other minions would prove much more formidable," he said, only acknowledging my words, but not dwelling on them for too long. He thought of my threats as nothing, and only thought he was the superior one. "And...I've decided to give those other two another chance, since they were some of my strongest Hunters. You might just run into them again."
"...great..." I muttered. Was I in the mood to get slashed again? No, not really. But, if I don't fight back, they'll get whatever they want from Yami without a stand. I can't let that happen.
Will I have to say hello to more slashes though?
Joey leaned into Yami's ear. "Yug'..." I heard him say. "What is with this freak show? Is someone really controlling his mind?"
Yami concentrated on the glaring war he was having with the controller, though the lifeless body of the once Hunter still wore no mask. "It's the person behind the Rare Hunters," I said. "The man controlling the Hunter is using some sort of magic to control his mind. It's just like with Keith and Yugi's duel, the one we told you guys about yesterday morning. Remember?"
Recalling, Joey nodded, eyes full of understanding. "So, this is the guy who's Hunter took my Red-Eyes?" I gave him a nod. With his fists clenched, he said, "Well, this guy better be careful now. I'm not taking something like that lightly."
Nobody is. I thought. This man wants something; something important. He tried to get rid of me that one time when it was only me and Yami out in the night alone, all so he could get whatever he wanted from him. Once I was out of the way, he could strike the Pharaoh."
I wasn't going to let that happen now.
Not only am I going to be on my guard times two, but I'm also going to have to keep a first aid kit with me everywhere I go. If those two come back, and neither of us want to back down, we might as well be starting World War III.
I'll have to sharpen Asima some more...
"Pharaoh," said the mind controller through his slave. "I've waited for you for years. Finally, after all this time, I will destroy you!"
Our eyes widened. "You'll have to get through me first," I said challengingly. "And trust me, that's not easy."
If the Rare Hunter could smirk, he would be smirking right now, judging from the mind controller's words. "For you, of course, you'd think it wasn't easy," he said scornfully. "But I have tricks up my sleeve you couldn't have imagined. I'll get rid of you once and for all and then I'll have all the time in the world to plan out my future with power!"
What is with this guy? Is he really going after the power I'm thinking about? Judging from the Millennium Puzzle being on the line during Yugi's first duel with these creeps, I'd say that it was true.
That kind of power does not belong in the wrong hands. One Millennium Item could cause damage. If this guy found out about the other six Items, he'll probably go after them too, to acquire unlimited—but very dark—strength. Who knows what'll happen then?
"I will have to admit, though, that I won't allow my other Rare Hunters to fail me like this one did," said the mind controller distastefully. "I have little time for this kind of foolishness, so I have taken over his body and trapped his mind in the Shadow Realm! I am in control!"
Wait—did he just say Shadow Realm? Only Millennium Items can send souls there. ...Does that mean that he has one?
So that's why I couldn't sense the Rare Hunter's soul... He's been sent to the Shadow Realm!
As if to show off his great power of mind control, the body of the Rare Hunter began to twirl around—in a sickly manner. His arms and legs almost bent in inhuman ways, making me so close to looking away. What a horrible soul... Torturing bodies as if they were puppets... And only to display to everyone how disgusting their mind can get...
Joey stepped back from the horrible show. "Nyah! This guys is creepin' me out!"
I can relate. I feel my breakfast returning to my throat...
The Pharaoh held his ground, though it didn't faze him, it did show him how shallow the mind controller's heart is. The Rare Hunter was one of his own. And he could freely give up his soul to the Dark Realm, just like that? What terror.
"How do you control him?" demanded the Pharaoh.
The Rare Hunter's body was back to being still and hunched over, his emotionless eyes never moving, nor his body ever twisting again. He was back to being a mindless puppet, controlled by a malicious man. "Each of the Millennium Items contains its own unique power," he answered with neither a confident smile or frown. Those two straight lines called lips were only moving up and down from their straight line to produce words in the Hunter's voice. What a coward to be hiding behind his crew...
"So, mind control is a simple task with my Millennium Rod!"
I glared lethally now. "I thought so," I said, now feeling m y Locket glow against my skin. "I thought I sensed a Millennium Item from you. Mind control is dangerous."
"No good can come from that power," agreed Yami, his narrow crimson eyes set onto the Hunter.
"I'm getting the feeling that this tournament will hold more than answers for us, Yami," I said, turning to him. "I think this guy will use the tournament against everyone—all so he can get what he wants from you."
The Millennium Symbol on the Hunter's forehead glowed ever more brightly. "And I will obtain what I deserve. In order to make things more interesting, allow me to introduce myself," said the mind controller. "Remember my name.
"Marik."
"Marik," spoke Yami, taking a step forward. His name was sharp and fast, but it also sounded Egyptian. I couldn't imagine a man with that exact name controlling people's minds and trying to indulge themselves in the power they so very badly crave for.
He just told us his name. I thought. Not from stupid actions, but as a threat.
Marik...eh?
So he's the one behind all the Rare Hunters...
"What is it that you want from me, Marik?" questioned the Pharaoh strongly.
"I want what belongs to me," continued Marik. Hah. Now we can name the coward, who thinks he's so strong he doesn't need to show his face until the time is right. "And I'll take it using the strength of the Egyptian God cards!"
My eyes widened and I felt my heart nearly skip a beat. I had not been expecting him to say something like this. "Egyptian—what?" Yami and I asked in unison.
"Millennia ago, a trio of powerful behemoths rampaged throughout Ancient Egypt. These Egyptian God monsters spread destruction throughout the world! Until the Pharaoh sealed them away for eternity. But when Pegasus created Duel Monsters, he resurrected these mighty beasts as cards. With these Egyptian Gods, I can destroy you and claim the power I deserve!"
What in the world? Pegasus has recreated the Egyptian Gods as cards? Did he not understand how powerful they were? Cards can never truly match the Gods' powers! He could have been killed making them!
And now they're loose cards? Who knows who has them? If the wrong person gets a hold of even one of these cards...they could destroy something for good.
With all three cards in one's possession, who knows what catastrophic doom will be set!
"You'll never claim the Millennium Puzzle!" pronounced the Pharaoh.
"Just try and you'll be sorry!" I challenged as well. "That power will never belong to you!"
"You misunderstand. I want more than the power of the Puzzle," Marik replied, confusing me the slightest bit. If he doesn't the Millennium Puzzle...then what does he want? What was he trying to pull during that first duel?
...he couldn't want the power I'm thinking of...can he?
"I want the Pharaoh's power," said Marik wickedly. My breath hitched. I was right. Oh no... "The boundless energy of the ancient ruler himself! With it, no one will stand in my way! I'll use the almighty magic I gain to conquer and lead the world!"
"Just try it!" I challenged, taking a step forward and showing my clenched fist to the Hunter's face. Though the Rare Hunter can't see it, I know Marik can. When someone can control someone's mind, they can control their body as well. Whatever they see and whatever they hear, they can witness too. "I swear to you, Marik!" His name sounded weird to me. Like I had to get used to it. "You won't get far; especially with me Guarding the Pharaoh! You go near him...and you might just lose a limb..."
The Rare Hunter chuckled, but still held no emotion. His puppet face stood still. " I will be unstoppable," he said maliciously. " There's no way you can stop me without having the knowledge of anything I do. All you know for sure is that I'm after the Pharaoh's power, and that I have Rare Hunters out to weaken your defences so that I can finally knock them down for eternity and gain the power I deserve!
"The end is near for you, Pharaoh. It's my world now!"
Yami glared and bared his teeth. "Not yet, Marik," he said.
"Then your Destiny is easier said than done, you fool."
"The only fool here is you!" I spat. "You've got a lot of talk, Marik. How about you come out here and show us just how bad you are? Instead of hiding behind your lackeys like a coward."
"In due time, Guardian," he sneered, yet again, there wasn't any facial expression on his puppet to go with it. "In due time. So enjoy the game while you still can, because your reign is coming to an end, Pharaoh!"
And just as fast as the body was put under his control, Marik dropped it. His spell broke and I could no longer feel the dark presence of his Millennium Rod in work. The Rare Hunter's body fell to the ground with a thump.
All was silent.
Fast heartbeats reigned at the witnessing situation.
With a careful nudge, I stabbed the toe of shoe into his ribs again, just to make sure he was really gone. "Damn..." I muttered, shaking my head at his empty shell. "What a horrible Fate. This Marik guy isn't kidding. He's playing for keeps."
Yami nodded, casting a just as distasteful glance over the fallen man. "We definitely have another evil to contend with," he said, turning to face me. "Next to Bakura, it's Marik."
"Unfortunately," I sighed. "I suppose we have no choice. We have to be careful."
He nodded, carefully gazing at my face.
Joey shook his head, confounded at what just happened. "Man, that was weird," he commented with slightly confused dark honey eyes. "I knew that guy was a big creep, but who knew he was just a front for an even bigger creep?"
I shrugged for him. "Who knew, right?" I said. "Well...at least we know now that it wasn't just all a dream.
"It's a realistic nightmare."
"You said it," agreed Joey.
With the newly acquired card in his hand, from before all the madness had just occurred, Yami held it up to Joey between his fingers. "Here you go, Joey," he said. "Take your Red-Eyes back."
Joey looked at the card...but he didn't take it. Instead, there was this unreadable look on his face. What I could tell from it was that he felt saddened. But why? Yami won the card back for him. Wasn't that what he was trying to do himself?
"Nah, Yug'," he said, looking away to the left. "You hold on to it. It isn't mine to take, pal."
Yami and I exchanged glances. We were just as confused as the other.
"But, Joey," I said, trying to talk some sense into him. "Yami won back the card for you."
"I know he did," he said. A small but sad smile graced his lips. "Thanks, man, but...I can't take it."
"But, why?"
Joey looked away for a moment, trying to gather his words, and come over the fact that he doesn't want his Red-Eyes; the card he's bonded so well with since his first tournament. "You won it, fair and square," he said, turning back to face Yami. "The duel was yours and you won. It wasn't mine, so I couldn't have won it."
Then he puts his hands into his pockets and focuses on the sky above, a thoughtful gaze lining his eyes. "You know, Yug', these Rare Hunters have been filling their decks up with rare cards for who knows how long. Their decks are going to be totally suited up, so I know they're going to be tough to beat."
"What are you saying, Joey?" asked the Pharaoh, not quite following.
"All I'm saying is that you're going to need all the strong monsters you can get," he said. "Back in Duelist Kingdom, you taught me rules, killer strategies, and everything someone like me needs to know to make it to the top.
"It was you who helped me back then. Now, it's my turn to help you.
"Even without Red-Eyes, I still have the rare card requirement down," At this, Joey pulled out a card from his pocket and showed it to us. It was a red clock wearing a cape and round face, and carrying a staff.
"The Time Wizard," I read. "Hey...that's the card Yugi gave you, isn't it?"
Joey brought the card back up to look at it. He smiled at the memory. "That's right," he said. "Like I said; he's helped me out so many times. Now, it's my turn. And if you think about it...both of our hearts are in our decks. Yugi's got my Red-Eyes and I've got the Time Wizard he's given me.
"You have to understand, guys, that I'm not doing this as only a selfless act," continued Joey. "Not only do I think that Yugi will need the help of my Red-Eyes to defeat this Marik guy, but personally...if I just take the card back from Yugi, I won't be a True Duelist.
"The Red-Eyes is my partner. If I take it now, it won't forgive me. You always duel honestly with any opponent, Yugi. I look up to you for that. I want to be able to do the same.
"You can have the card temporarily, Yugi," said Joey. "I have a deck of forty cards to play with. Even without my Red-Eyes, I'm still qualified to be in the tournament.
"I want to become a True Duelist," he continued. "In Battle City, I must show you—when I win in this tournament, when I become a True Duelist, please duel me again like we did back in Duelist Kingdom. I want to show you how much of a True Duelist I will become."
Joey's words...touched my heart. He wants not only to be a good duelist, but a True one. One that won't back down from a challenge, one who will always hold courage, one who will never give up, and one that will always believe in himself.
You certainly have come a long way, Joey. I smiled thoughtfully. You're beginning to think properly. Back in Duelist Kingdom, you had something to fight for—someone. Now, you have a way to be true to yourself.
Yami looked at the card in his hand, then back to Joey. His smile told us everything we needed to know.
He accepted Joey's challenge.
Both boys shook hands. It was strong, and full of understanding. "You're already a True Friend, Joey," he said with a smile. "I hope you find what you're looking for in this tournament."
Joey nodded, determination glowing in his honey coloured eyes. "Thanks, man," he said. "And I learned it all from you."
I pouted, not being able to help it. "Does this mean you're going to have to leave? So you can go be a True Duelist?"
Joey smiled and playfully ruffled my hair. My pout stayed. "That's right," he said. "But don't worry. I'll help you guys with these Rare Hunters and Marik.
"It's true. We'll whoop this creep so hard, he'll never know what hit him."
I took a hold of his hand and determinedly held it up, with a smirk on my face. All this talk about being determined at what we're going to do got me pumped up for the tournament even more.
I'm ready to battle. Marik had better be careful.
Or he's going to be sorry he ever messed with us.
"We'll hold you to that," I smirked, gripping his hand tighter, like two buddies would do just to form a link. "So, Wheeler, will we see you again?"
The blonde returned the gesture and smirked in reply. "Oh yeah," he said. "Yug's got my Red-Eyes. I'm gonna have to win him back sooner or later. Until I can prove myself a True Duelist, I won't be back."
We let go. "I wish you luck," I said. "Yugi doesn't take his duels lightly, you know."
Joey nodded. "I know. That's why, I have to do this."
My smirk faltered and what replaced it was a smile. "Good luck, Joey."
He returned the smile and nodded his thanks.
Yami gave him a thumbs up, to which he beamed with new determination.
"Alright! Who's ready to duel?" yelled Joey excitedly, turning on his heel to walk the other way. We did the same, making it look like those cowboy movies when both participants, in this case three, went two different ways away from battle. It was swift.
The whole thing just...happened.
Yami and I ended up walking one way, while Joey walked the other.
Who knows when we'll meet again in this tournament.
"I respect Joey's wish."
I blinked at Yami, who was staring ahead with a thoughtful gaze. His hands found their way into his pockets and his crimson eyes were not only as assertive as always, but they were also deeply prudent. He was wondering about Joey and Marik.
Marik... Will I have to get used to that name?
"I'm sorry?"
Yami looked away from the street and over to me, his cerise eyes locking into my scarlet ones. "I was just thinking about what Joey said," he answered.
I nodded. "Yeah...it was kind of out of the blue," I agreed. "But then again, he could have been thinking on it for who knows how long. He's come a long way since Duelist Kingdom, and he honestly did look like he meant what he said about you keeping Red-Eyes."
The ancient Pharaoh took out the card from his pocket. "I know he meant it," he said, gazing down at the beautiful black dragon on the card. "His eyes held the conviction. Joey might not know this, but he's already started on his path to becoming a True Duelist, even without having to duel honestly and honourably."
I tilted my head to the side, not quite following. The subject had never been brought up until today and I was beginning to feel lost. "Was it...from not taking the card?" I asked. It was a guess, since Joey didn't take it. When the Rare Hunters had took it from him, he was determined to get it back. Now that the Pharaoh had won it in a duel, he isn't taking it. Was it just me or was that odd?
"That's right," said Yami. "Kaiba's rules state that the winner of the duel gets the loser's rarest card. In this case, it was Joey's Red-Eyes Black Dragon card, all because the Hunter's other cards were marked illegally. Since I won the duel, Joey sees it fair that I should take the card. He needs to win it back fairly."
I slowly nodded, somewhat able to understand what Yami was trying to explain to me. "That's why he said he wanted to become a True Duelist? So he could win the card from you?"
"And he's also promised to help us in our quest," he said, tucking Joey's card safely away into his card sheathe around his waist. "Along with becoming a True Duelist, he said he was going to help us defeat Marik."
I wanted to face-palm, despite the situation, all because of how busy this tournament might become. You've got Joey trying to prove himself at heart, and then two evil men trying to destroy the Pharaoh; Bakura at first, but now it's also Marik.
I wasn't going to let either of them succeed.
Through the determined mood in the air, I could feel the tension.
Marik and his Rare Hunters were going to leave their mark. We were going to have to be extra careful.
"Especially since he has the Millennium Rod," I said to Yami, also explaining to him about what I was thinking about before. "This won't be easy."
Yami agreed. "Definitely not," he said. "We will have to be cautious. Marik's Rare Hunters could be anywhere."
I blinked over my shoulder to look at the disappearing Hunter still unconscious on the floor—or practically dead, since his mind is trapped in the Shadow Realm. "Like that guy..." I shivered, remembering his throaty voice booming cocky remarks. "Is it legal?"
Yami blinked. "Is what legal?"
"To leave him like that?"
"There's nothing we can do," he said. "His mind is somewhere we can never reach."
I turned away, right when I overheard someone calling 9-1-1 to call for an ambulance at the sight of the fallen man. A few others were crowded around him in worry. No longer could I see Joey or his familiar mop of blonde hair anywhere.
I sighed thoughtfully. "Battle City...here we are.
"And a whole new evil decides to emerge."
Author's Note: A lot like the title, eh? lol. xD I'm really sorry it took me three weeks to update. :( I was caught up with...things. There's school, family, friends...and all that good drama of a teenager's life. (Sarcasm, by the way...I know...it's not fun.) ^^' But, it's life...we have to hold on. And I'm trying my best to update when I can.
SUMMER'S ALMOST HERE! I will be able to update FASTER than normal! ^o^ It will be epic~ xD lol.
Reviews will be awesome! ^^' Thank you everyone, for reading! :) I'll be sure to update as soon as I can.
I have exams coming up... :( I'm going to miss you all. I'm really sorry, but because of them exams, I might take a longer while now. ^^' Please forgive me! I'll keep trying though, I promise! Thanks so much for understanding and for being patient.