Uploaded: 01/04/13

Author's Note: Yay! It's been so long! No, it's not a good thing. My second semester had made me lazy. x'D I apologize for that. But... the next chapter is still here. :3 So, enjoy!

Eric seemed distant. Right when he leaves, Sarah and Yugi set off to find more duels. Along the way, they hit a roadblock - and it's not just any roadblock.

Disclaimer!: Fanfiction, and I do NOT get any money out of it either. Thanks. ^^

Battle City-New Evil Emerges, Old Friends Reunite Chapter 32

Locator Cards: Yugi: 3/Joey: 2/Sarah: 4

Eric was an odd person. First, he forfeited the duel claiming he couldn't play any of the cards in his hand, then he left without a trace. If I knew him as well as I thought I knew him, he wouldn't have given up, even with a bad hand. He could have played some random card to throw me off, that was more his style. But he didn't...

Yugi bounded towards me as the crowd dispersed. "That was a good duel, Sarah," he said with a smile.

"... Thanks, Yugi."

I noticed him blinking at something on the ground by my feet as he approached. Following his gaze, my eyes met the back of a Duel Monsters card. I picked it up and flipped it over to see the illustration and description. Yugi's eyes widened. I grew even more puzzled.

"Triple Threat Dragon? Eric can't be that careless, can he...?"

Shaking my head, I sighed. "Things are getting stranger, Yugi," I said. "He didn't give me the prize of the duel while facing me. He had to leave it on the floor..."

"Oh right, the rule Kaiba had about forking over our rarest card. Eric left in such a hurry that I completely forgot..."

"Me too... It's not like him to be so peculiar."

I tried to picture the ever-so-cool Eric Hall in my mind: the orange spiked hair on his head, that light blue hoodie he wore over his black muscle shirt, those skinny, jet-black jeans, the black and blue converses, the wristbands he never took off, and those deep, maroon eyes. High cheekbones lined his face, and his skin was fair. I tried to imagine the way he stood defiantly with his hands in his jeans' pockets.

Eric seemed normal... he didn't appear to be mysterious even in the slightest. So why would he...

"... My head hurts," I declared.

Yugi looked at me. "Let's go find some more duels. We can think about it later, maybe even when we meet Eric again."

"... Okay..."

We headed off the middle of the road and walked on the sidewalk, watching all the duelists as we went by. It was nearly noon and everyone was trying to finish their duels before lunch. I didn't know about Yugi, but I haven't had an appetite for a long while. With one more look at Eric's card, I tucked it into my thigh sheath along with my deck.

"Are you hungry?"

"Not really."

Blinking, I looked over at Yugi, wondering if he was alright. I wasn't in the mood to eat because I felt so troubled. Was Yugi feeling the same?

"Marik had said that someone will challenge me today," he said. It didn't surprise me until he reminded me of the scary bit. "He'll have one of the Egyptian God cards."

"Yugi..."

The other shook his head. "I won't let him win," he said, conviction lining his amethyst eyes.

I admired the courage Yugi had. Who knew how powerful the Egyptian Gods were in their card form? I couldn't believe Marik's arrogance. He was a coward for not facing Yugi and the Pharaoh himself, and letting his Rare Hunters do all the work. They used Kaiba's own tournament against us; gathering rare cards and strengthening their decks. They had locators cards as well so they would be allowed to duel. The question here was how did they get into the system in the first place? Those Rare Hunters were, nonetheless, all the same - Marik's most darkest shadows. And now one of them was going to challenge Yugi... and he'll have one of the Egyptian God cards.

"Besides, Sarah... we can't do anything about it until Marik does something. We can't look for him because we don't know where he is and the only sort of connection we have to him is the Rare Hunter he sends us. We just have to be on our guard and figure this out as it goes."

He was right. We were like mice in a labyrinth - we had to keep walking around until we ran into the cheese, in this case, the Rare Hunters.

"So... you didn't meet with Ishizu?"

Shaking my head, I remembered what actually happened. I wanted to fight Bakura and end this once and for all so badly but there were too many innocent people around, not to mention a historical museum and lots of other buildings. I couldn't risk the destruction.

"No... I didn't see her. Someone else was there. Bakura."

Yugi's eyes widened. Amethyst orbs looked up at me with sudden question. "Bakura? What could he have been doing there?"

"He wasn't just gazing at ancient artifacts. He was in the basement looking at the stone carvings. And when I showed up, he tried to take my Locket."

Yugi grew confused. "Your Locket? But why would he want that?"

"I have absolutely no idea. But what I did find out was that I had to willingly give it to him for it to be his."

"Just like you have to win a Millennium Item in a duel for you to use its power? Like what Marik is trying to do right now?"

"Exactly, yes."

"But your Locket is the Millennium Locket, isn't it? Shouldn't it be won in a duel too?"

"According to Bakura, I have to give it to him with full intention of never wanting it back. I believe it has something to do with it being partially made of the same material as the other Millennium Items. See, this was my parents' gift to me when I was born. I kept it on my person at all times and that's the kind of behaviour they wanted towards the Millennium Item they would give me to ensure its safety. Rather than make me a whole new Millennium Item, the Pharaoh's Court infused some of the ancient magic into the ordinary gold locket to make the symbol, only so I could help the Pharaoh. I'm not able to summon monsters using its powers because I don't have enough. I can only sense its energy from other Millennium Items."

"I see... but I don't understand Bakura's plot. You would never give him the Locket of your own free will..."

"I know, it doesn't make any sense. "

"There's something we're missing."

There was a lot of that going on. I decided to drop the subject because at this rate we'd be running around in circles. We needed more information.

"What about with what Marik told you? Did he say anything else that we couldn't talk about last night?"

"He wants you dead."

I felt cold. The last time someone wanted me dead was during that battle centuries ago. Hearing it now, I brushed it off.

"Let him come at me," I said. "This is what I'm supposed to do, I'm supposed to put my life on the line for the Pharaoh. If someone thinks I'm a bother and in the middle of their plan, then I'm doing my job right. Marik will have to go through me to get to the Pharaoh. Even if I die, I still wouldn't let him touch him."

I noticed Yugi looking at me.

"If... you don't mind me asking... where does your conviction come from? I remember Yami talking about it last night when you mentioned that you healed completely in less time than anticipated. From your stay at the hospital after Arkana's duel."

"After my parents died and my brother disappeared... all I wanted to do was help someone else even if no one could help me. It was all I could do with my family gone and it's still all I have left. I have no dreams other than to help people."

"Sarah... that's very passionate but... you could have had a dream, right?"

I blinked slightly. "Oh, I did have a dream..." I realized, thinking about when I was younger.

"What was it?"

"I wanted to be a scribe."

It was the other's turn to blink. "Why a scribe?"

"When I was first considered to be the Pharaoh's Guardian, I had to start my training as soon as possible. Who knew how long it would take me to learn magic, right? So I took this linen bag with me to all my classes. It was filled with rolls of papyrus, clay bottles full of ink and dried twigs that blew into the village from the wind. I would take notes on strategies and make diagrams about everything that I learned. I was even taught how to read and write some hieroglyphics and phrases to help me remember things. I always loved writing and took every opportunity I was given to quickly jot something down. It was only this one time when I thought about what it would be like to be a scribe and that was the closest thing I had to a dream."

"That's it? Just that one moment?"

"Better than nothing, I suppose."

Yugi chuckled. Then he looked down and watched the passing sidewalk beneath him.

"You know... the Pharaoh, Yami... he's too proud. He won't emphasize certain things no matter how much he might think about them. Like the fact of how glad he is that he has someone from the past who's helping him. I just wanted you to know that he felt like that..."

I smiled. "Thanks, Yugi..."

"If you don't mind me asking... could you tell me more about how you came to help the Pharaoh? In this time period, I mean. It's been 5,000 years..."

"Ever since I saw him sacrifice himself to save the kingdom, I've realized that I couldn't do what I was doing. I had to do more. I told Priest Seto that we had to figure out a way to free the Pharaoh. He said that it was done, the battle was won. The King sacrificed himself to lock the evil away and keep us safe. There was this feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. I told him, "Well, what if someone set the evil free"? He hadn't thought about that. He was too busy rebuilding the city and taking care of the civilians. I didn't blame him...

"He acted strangely for a moment, like he was remembering something. Then he took me to the palace library and dug out an old scroll from a high shelf. Along the way, he told me about something Isis and Master Mahad had told him. Before they left...

"The Millennium Necklace had shown Isis bits and pieces about the future. They saw the Pharaoh and me in a setting much like Domino City, but it was the future for sure. This confirmed my suspicions about souls being released, but in this case it was the Pharaoh's soul. So there was a chance for it to happen. On that same parchment was written an advanced spell that sealed spirits away. Indirectly... Master Mahad was telling me to seal myself away. He and Isis both knew from the premonitions that I would be needed by the Pharaoh's side again if he was to come back to land of the living.

"We followed the instructions he left behind and... it was a complicated process, I can't remember what we did, it was so advanced... Priest Seto burned the scroll afterwards to keep it far away from enemy hands. The spell seals the targeted soul in a Dungeon in the Sky, a lighted cavern between space and time. I don't know the details... but it was named so because of what it was and where it was. I stayed there, waiting for the time when the Pharaoh's soul would be released. It was a lot of waiting, but most of the time, I was asleep. My body was stored in a hidden tomb deep in the sands and it was kept safe by another spell Master Mahad had written down for us. I didn't know where he got these spells... or whether or not he made them himself... but he was a great man. Heh... even when he was gone, he helped out..."

Yugi looked down. "And when I finished the Millennium Puzzle and released the Pharaoh, you were released too. That was the trigger?"

"Indeed."

"And what about that evil? Has that been awakened?"

"I don't think so... but, Bakura's here. So it may be in the process of being resurrected. Believe me when I say that if that evil was here, we would have known."

Yami appeared next to Yugi. He heard everything I said. Suddenly, I felt a little lighter knowing that both he and Yugi knew a little bit more about what happened. Again, they wouldn't know the full extent of how everything was because I simply talked about it, but... they got the idea.

Crimson eyes gazed at me wonderingly. I blinked, pondering what the Pharaoh could be thinking. Yugi managed a sigh.

"More evil..." He sounded exhausted.

I gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry yourself with that. Focus on Marik. Besides... I would have sensed the evil. I'm sure that Yami is the only one who's been freed." With a nod, Yugi took a deep breath.

Yami had a curious look on his face, as though he was trying to read my soul. I looked back at him and he looked back. I stopped walking and blinked.

"What?"

"..."

"... Um... Earth to Pharaoh?"

Yami finally blinked. "Oh..."

This day... was getting stranger...

I put my hands on my hips. "Um... yeah, hi. Are you feelin' alright?"

Yami nodded. "I'm fine," he said. "I was just... thinking a little too deeply, I suppose."

"I see..." I didn't know the Pharaoh as someone who could get sidetracked like that. Then again... a lot's happened in his lifetime. He probably couldn't help it. It could've happen to anyone. Heck, maybe I'll start spacing out at some point.

"Any questions?"

"..."

"Okay. So! Where do we go now? I feel like whacking someone across the head."

"Violent as ever, I see."

I turned to the direction of the male voice and nearly groaned.

"You've gotta be kidding me..."

Two very familiar figures stood before us wearing deep violet cloaks with the hoods covering their heads. Again, shadows swept over their faces like a dark secret. It was the same two people we met that night we were attacked. Back then, they had actual weapons. Would they take those same weapons out and fight against us in front of the entire city in broad daylight? I decided not to summon my sword until they drew first.

On instinct, I stepped in front of Yugi and the Pharaoh. I scowled at the two Rare Hunters as I remembered the deep gash one of them left behind on me.

"I thought I'd never see you guys again. We left on a bad note."

The female Hunter laughed. It was melodic in a way, but evil. "It was too bad you didn't bleed to death," she said, cockily. "I'll knock you down right now."

"Aw, and here I was thinking that you were going to give me another present, like a slash to match the one I already have."

"Looks like you'll have another scar that needs healing."

I growled.

The male Hunter stepped in. "Whoa there. Before the awaited chick fight begins, I'd like you to know that we came here on different terms."

I glared at him suspiciously. "What do you mean..."

He held up his left arm, the other followed suit. They had Duel Disks.

"Oh, so you're here for a duel? Fine by me. I'll take you both out, one-by-one!"

"I'm afraid that won't be possible. See, we're going to go against you together."

"Two against one? That's hardly fair," said Yugi with his own glare. Yami looked at me carefully.

The smaller one shook her head. "Two on two," she said. "You're joining us."

Something else that was strange.

Why would Marik want us to duel in a tag team duel right after telling us that Yugi's next opponent will have one of the three Egyptian God cards?

Ra... what's going on...

He's jerking us around...

"That's not very fair!"

The male Hunter looked towards me. At least that's what I thought he did.

"You've seen our faces... yet we haven't seen yours. Take off the hoods and maybe we'll think about your demented challenge."

"Rule number one in Seto Kaiba's new tournament rulebook: "Never back down from a challenge,"" the female Hunter quoted with a matter-of-fact voice.

They were amusing themselves with our misery. Marik loved sitting back in his throne and watching the Pharaoh and I grow more confused with each passing moment. He told us one thing but threw us another. I couldn't stand this anymore. I just wish I could find him and strangle him to death.

So many obstacles... so little time.

"We'll have to duel them," I said with a sigh.

A strange wind breezed past me. I turned around and found Yami activating his Duel Disk.

"The Rare Hunters have found us," he said, looking straight at me.

They'll wager locator cards in order for their duel to be valid. Because they're dueling in the first place, it could only mean one thing: They're after the Puzzle. Marik has sent us a warm up before the bigger match. I began activating my Duel Disk as well.

"You won't leave the least bit satisfied..." I said to them. "Because this time, we'll slash you!"

The male hunter chuckled. "We'd like to see you try!"

"Prepare yourselves... because it's time to duel!"

I was going to duel with the Pharaoh again. I couldn't possibly let him down.

Author's Note: Yes! I love school with a bloody passion! May it rot in Hell. ._.

Oh! Has anybody looked into Blue Exorcist? It is flipping awesome. :3

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I remember those long years... stuck in that cavern... waiting for the moment I had to be released. All I could remember thinking was... all that I've done... was it ever enough?