DISCLAIMER: If you recognise it from somewhere else, it isn't mine.

Playing With A Parasite Part I

Sharee sat in the café in Battle City. She tapped her left heel on her right toe under the table as she waited. Her eyes were on the door. In front of her, unseen by anyone else, Shamee appeared and leaned against the edge of the two person table.

Are you sure about this?

Maybe it's being nosy, but call me a hopeless romantic. I have to at least try.

The door suddenly opened, causing the bell above to ring. A pretty blonde woman, stepped in. She looked around, unsure. Sharee stood up and looked for any signs of attachment. She saw none. The woman crossed over to her.

'Are you Sharee?'

'Yes.' Sharee offered her hand. 'You're Catherine?'

'That's right.' Catherine shook her hand. 'Your sister called me and said you wanted to talk to me…?'

'Yes, well…' Sharee waved to the waitress, letting her know they were ready to order. 'I should probably start…uh, there's no easy way to put this. I have to tell you something and I doubt you'll like it.'

YGO

Yugi stood with Mai. They were waiting on Joey. Sharee wasn't duelling, of course, but she'd told him she'd find him later that day. She had something else planned for the morning. Yugi wondered what it was. She'd left the room after the duel with Arkana pretty fast.

'That slacker should have been here ten minutes ago,' Mai said. 'I've got duels to win.'

'Here comes Joey now.'

Almost as soon as she'd said that, Joey shot around the corner. 'Hey, guys.' He saw Mai. 'Long time, no see.' It might've been Yugi's imagination, but Joey always seemed extra happy to see Mai.

'Hey.' Mai raised her hand and Joey gave her a high five. 'Still in the tournament, Wheeler?'

'You bet. I'm already the proud owner of two locator cards.' He produced them from his pocket.

'Then I guess I'm twice as good.' Mai held up four locator cards.

'What?' Joey staggered. 'You got four locator cards?'

'Awesome job, Mai,' Yugi said. He pulled out his. 'I've got three so far.'

'Aw, man!' Joey groaned. 'I got the least.' He hit himself in the head. 'How am I ever gonna make it to the Battle City Finals?' He'd asked a question like that in Duellist Kingdom too.

'Don't worry, Joey,' Yugi said. 'There's still plenty of time. You need a total of six locator cards to get to the finals and I know you can do it.'

'Well, none of us are going to get to the finals if we're standing around here,' Mai pointed out.

Joey grinned. 'Mai's right.' He turned and gave them a thumb's up. 'Watch out, cause I'm about to do some serious catching up!'

'Good luck and miss me, boys.' Mai blew them a kiss. Although…it seemed more aimed at Joey.

'See you.' But Yugi wasn't going to say anything about that.

'Luck is for amateurs,' Joey said, as he and Mai headed off. 'Later, Yug.'

Yugi watched them go and then he put his hand to his duelling deck. 'I know one of Marik's Hunters is after me. I'll be ready for him.' But as it stood, he couldn't see anyone like that around – Rare Hunters always stood out like a busted thumb – so he headed off to find his own duel.

YGO

Sharee stepped out of the café. She wasn't sure how successful her endeavour had been, but Catherine had listened to her. It had been clear, from the way the woman was nearly crying as she listened, that she did still love Arkana. The whole story was done with heavy editing. No mention of Millennium magic or other realms, just a madman and the illusionist's desperation. Instead of saying Arkana's mind was banished, she'd told her that he had fallen into the coma after the ordeal. Sharee had finished by explaining that she had called Catherine to tell her all this simply because she had felt sorry for Arkana. He knew he'd done something wrong and it destroyed him.

Sharee took Catherine's reaction after the whole thing as positive. She'd first asked which hospital Arkana was in. Then she'd quickly excused herself and left, with a quick "thank you" over her shoulder. Then, to reward herself, Sharee had bought a glazed donut from the café.

When she stepped outside, she had already bitten into it and was chewing on her mouthful. That was when she heard a familiar voice yell. Turning her head, she saw there was a short kid running, a duel disk clutched in his hands. Joey, Tristan, Téa and Mr. Moto were chasing him. The kid had clearly stolen the disk from Joey…and with the way he was running, he'd go right by her – within arm's length.

Easy.

Rolling her eyes, Sharee stood where she was and waited. She timed herself and then snapped her hand out. He fingers swiftly curled around the kid's collar and she yanked him back. He got the wind knocked out of him as he hit the ground. When he looked up at her, she smirked.

'I hope you just got a little overexcited.'

Ten minutes later, the kid was sitting on a bench. He looked suitably contrite. Joey had put the duel disk back on his arm. Why he'd taken it off and handed it over in the first place was beyond Sharee, with his duelling deck still in it no less. Maybe she was just more familiar with underhanded tactics than was normal for her age. Side effect of being the daughter of a top Egyptologist, she supposed.

Now the kid had to explain himself.

'Come on, boy-o,' Sharee said. 'Out with it.'

'I'm sorry,' he said. 'I didn't know how else to become a duellist.'

Lie. But Sharee's father had, among other things, taught her when to let a fib slide and when to call it out.

'See, I finally built the deck that I could duel with and this guy stole all my cards.'

That one was true.

'So you stole someone else's?' Tristan demanded.

'I know it was wrong,' the kid insisted. 'I just wanted to be in the Battle City Tournament. That's all.'

'The most important part of being a great duellist is always playing with honour,' Mr. Moto said. 'There would be no satisfaction in cheating your way in.'

The kid looked at him. 'You're right. I'm sorry.'

'So who's the punk that stole your duelling deck?' Joey asked.

'I don't know.' The kid looked at him now. 'He had bug eyes and a head like a blue beetle.'

Sharee snapped her teeth together. She knew precisely who that was. Weevil Underwood. In other words, the truth was that Weevil had put this kid up to doing this. But what for? What was the point? There had to be one. That guy was a cheat, so he must've been hoping to eliminate Joey this way.

The others only then caught on. 'It's gotta be Weevil Underwood!'

'I guess Weevil's still up to his old tricks, eh, Joey?' Tristan said.

'All right! Now I'm angry!' Joey shook in anger. 'Where is he? I'm gonna teach that little bug a thing or two!'

Sharee noticed that the kid was startled with how fast they'd worked it out – or maybe that they even had at all. Well, it wasn't that hard to work out. If Weevil didn't want to be identified, he had to make himself look less…buggy.

Mr. Moto just gave Joey a patient, indulgent look.

'He's by the fountain,' the kid said.

'He's mine!' Joey took off.

Tristan was hot on his heels. 'Hold on!'

'Joey!' Téa called, following.

Mr. Moto walked after them. 'Goodbye, now.'

The kid stood up. 'See you, and good luck.'

Sharee rolled her eyes and took up the rear. What obviously hadn't crossed their minds was the fact that, if Weevil had merely stolen the kid's deck, he wouldn't know where the thief was. But they were all on too much of a roll for her to point that out. It'd be like telling Kaiba he was going to lose a duel when he had a distinct upper hand and a seemingly unbeatable strategy.

YGO

Joey stood with his friends around the fountain. He groaned. 'Where is that bug-eyed punk?'

'That kid said he was around here,' Tristan said.

Sharee muttered something to herself. 'Dink. If Weevil just took off with the kid's deck, why would he know where to find him?'

'I don't know,' Joey responded. 'It's not important.'

'No, it is, Joey,' gramps said. 'She's got a point.'

'Looking for someone?' Weevil stepped into view.

Joey scowled. 'I thought I smelled a dung beetle.'

'That's my greeting after all this time?' Weevil sniggered.

'You stole that little kid's cards, didn't you, worm breath?' Joey pointed accusingly at him.

Weevil glared at him. 'I don't remember stealing any cards.'

Tristan cracked his knuckles. 'Well, then maybe I can help refresh your memory.'

Sharee was about to grab him before he could do something stupid. Joey, though, bet her to it. 'Tristan, wait.' He looked over at Weevil. 'We'll settle this fair and square with a duel.'

Téa gasped and stepped forward. 'Be really careful, Joey. Remember when Weevil threw Yugi's Exodia cards off the boat to Duellist Island. This guy's a major cheater!'

Weevil cackled. 'Careful where you point your finger, Téa. It might get bitten by one of my pets.'

Téa flinched. 'Gross!'

Joey ignored her. 'All right. Let's do this!'

'That's fine with me,' Weevil said. He held his hand up. 'But we'll duel for two locator cards.'

'Two of them?' Joey asked.

'But if you lose both locator cards, you'll have no way of getting to the finals,' Téa reminded him.

'That's obvious,' Sharee muttered.

'It's way too risky, Joey,' Tristan stated.

'As if you even have two!' Weevil sneered.

'That's it.' Joey wasn't having that slime push him around.

'Be careful, Joey,' Téa said.

'Yugi squashed this creepy little bug the first time they squared off at Duellist Kingdom.' Joey stared Weevil down. 'Now, I guess it's my turn to do the same. How many locator cards do you have?'

'Two,' Weevil crowed.

'Then once I step on you and take them both, plus your rarest card, I'll be personally responsible for kicking your ugly mug out of the tournament.' Joey was satisfied with that.

Weevil growled.

'Just like Yugi did last time!' Joey activated his duel disk. His life points shot up to 4000.

Weevil sniggered and activated his own duel disk.

'Let's do this.'

The two opponents stared each other down. 'It's time to duel!'

Joey drew and then he went first. 'First I'll play my Swordsman of Lanstar in attack mode.' The card appeared on the field and the monster emerged from it. He laid another card. 'And I'll leave this little number face-down for later.' It appeared on the field. 'Take your best shot.'

Weevil mocked him. 'Your Swordsman looks like he popped out of a toy box.'

'This toy's gonna slice and dice your hive,' Joey shot back.

'Well, is that so?' Weevil drew and played his card. 'Not if I play the much more powerful Flying Kamakiri Number One.' The card in question appeared on the field and the monster emerged from it. 'Now, my flying friend, attack!' The bug came at the Swordsman. 'Crush his mini-monster!'

Joey smirked. 'Uh-uh. Watch this.' He activated his face-down card. 'It's my Shield and Sword magic card. It swaps the attack and defence points of both our monsters…' Just that happened. '…making my Swordsman's attack strength a cut above your bug,' The Kamakiri was destroyed.

Weevil growled as his life points were dropped to 3700. Then he sniggered again. 'Oh, nice try.' Another card appeared on the field. 'When Flying Kamakiri Number One is sent to the graveyard, it automatically summons an even more powerful warrior to take its place: the dreaded Flying Kamakiri Number Two!' He cackled. 'You're no match for my winged warrior, so give it up, Wheeler!'

Joey drew. Awesome! It's Jinzo, the card I won from Espa Roba. Now I just need to get it on the field.

'Hurry up, Wheeler!' Weevil snapped. 'My Flying Kamakiri is getting hungry and it's feeding time.'

'Joey, just ignore him,' Téa said.

'Come on, Joey!' Tristan called.

'Heh.' Joey smirked. 'No sweat. I'll just sacrifice my Swordsman so I can put Jinzo on the map.' The Swordsman vanished from the field and Jinzo appeared. 'Jinzo, smash his Kamakiri like a bug on a windshield!' Jinzo raised his hands and fired the attack. The Kamakiri shattered.

Weevil glared as his life points dropped to 2800. 'That wasn't supposed to happen!'

'Ha! Eat dirt, you little grub!' Tristan called across at Weevil.

'Squash that worm, Joey!' Téa told him.

'Here's one more, in defence mode!' Weevil took a card and played it.

'You just set 'em up, and I'll knock 'em down.' Joey gave the order. 'Jinzo, attack!' This time the destructive waves of power came from Jinzo's eyes and the card was hit. Instead of being destroyed, though, it morphed into, quite literally, a worm.

Weevil sniggered as the worm shot forward and attached itself to Jinzo.

'What's that?' Joey asked.

'Ah, that's my leach Kiseitai,' Weevil said. 'It attaches itself to the first monster that attacks it, then it increases my life points by 1200 every time it's your turn, so as long as my leach continues to feed my life points continue to grow.'

'That's not cool,' Joey said.

'Disgusting!' Téa cried.

'And this is just beginning of what I have planned for you!' Weevil gloated as his leach injected its limb into Jinzo's head. 'You've got a lot to learn about the insect world, and I'm just the duellist to teach you, Wheeler. Now, I'll play another monster in defence mode.' The card appeared on the field.

'I'll take care of that.' Joey gritted his teeth, however, when the leach activated.

'And I'll take more life points!' Weevil's life points shot back up to 4000. 'Thanks to my leach friend.'

Joey growled and drew. 'Jinzo may have a leach on him, but he can still cyber-attack.'

The beam shot out and attacked Weevil's face-down card. The monster appeared on the field and shattered. Weevil's life points shot up to 4500. He sniggered. 'You're too kind.'

What? 'Hey, wait. More life points?'

'That's right!' Weevil gloated. 'You attacked my Skull-Mark Ladybug which gives me an extra 500 life points. Didn't I tell you, you had a lot to learn?'

Joey growled.

Weevil drew. 'I'll play yet another monster in defence mode.' The monster appeared on the field. 'And since it's your turn again, more life points please!' They shot up to 5700. 'With my leach feeding on your monster my life points will continue to grow, making me indestructible! Say goodbye to the Battle City Tournament, Wheeler!'

YGO

Sharee watched Joey's duel, hopping from one foot to the other in agitation.

'Here goes nothing.' Joey drew. 'It's time to burn off your leach.' He played his card. 'Bug boy meet Panther Warrior!' The card appeared on the field and the Warrior emerged with a roar. 'He needs a sacrifice in order to attack, so I'll sacrifice my Jinzo and get rid of you leach!' Just like that, Jinzo and the leach were destroyed together. 'Now, Panther Warrior, attack!'

With a roar, the Panther Warrior charged forward and slashed Weevil's face-down card. The monster was revealed and shattered.

'All right!' Téa cheered. 'Joey got rid of that blood-sucking leach!'

'That stops Weevil's life points from increasing,' Mr. Moto said.

Weevil growled. 'Okay, Wheeler, enough playing around. Up until this point, I've been going easy on you. But you're starting to bug me so the time has come to unleash the fury of my ultimate destroyer.' He drew and laid a card. 'I summon the Larvae Moth.' The card appeared on the field and the Larvae emerged.

Sharee recognised that one.

'It's the bug that Weevil used against Yugi,' Joey said.

Weevil sniggered. 'I see your memory's better than your duelling, Wheeler. You probably know that you're about to get demolished.' He played another card. 'Once I wrap my all-powerful Larvae in the terrifying Cocoon of Evolution!' The next card flipped up and the Cocoon wrapped around the Larvae.

It was less disgusting than the last time.

'Ah!' Joey cried in alarm. 'This isn't good!'

Weevil cackled. 'Over the next five turns the Cocoon will transform my mere Larvae Moth into a huge beast known as the perfectly Ultimate Great Moth!'

He ought to know we know this.

'Heh!' Weevil was still smirking widely. 'Five more turns, Wheeler, and my Ultimate Great Moth will emerge and tear you into bug chow!'

Joey was tense as if this was physical pain to him. 'No! I gotta pop that pupa!'

'I don't think so, Wheeler. My next card will crush any chance of that happening. You see, there's already a parasite living inside your deck.' Weevil pulled a card from his hand.

Sharee's teeth snapped together. She'd thought he had that kid do something.

'A what?' Joey demanded.

'Parasite,' Weevil said. 'An insect that lives off of other animals.' He played his card and it flipped up. It glowed as it was activated. 'So I play Reckless Parasite, which brings the parasite in your deck to life!'

'You gotta be outta your mind!' Joey looked at his deck. 'My deck doesn't have any insect car – ah!' The deck glowed bright and the card appeared on the field.

'You were saying? Looks like you had a Parasite Paracide card in your deck and I activated it.' Vine-like tendrils shot out of the card and injected into Joey's Panther Warrior, infesting him. 'Now, every monster you play will be infected!'

'That's really gross!' Téa insisted.

'That little germ!' Tristan yelled. 'It looks like Weevil pulled a fast one on you, Joey!'

Joey turned. 'I know! But how'd he get that parasite card in my deck?'

'Obvious!' Sharee called. 'I told you it was weird, that kid knowing where Weevil was. Man, you guys gotta get out more.'

'Huh?' Joey looked back at the parasite. 'Whoa, you're right!'

Weevil sneered. 'A great duellist prepares for an encounter long before it takes place.'

Tea stepped forward. 'But that's against the rules!'

Sharee gave her a bland look. 'I thought we'd already established Weevil was a cheat.'

'Yeah.' Tristan glared and the bug duellist. 'You creepy little cheater!'

'Cheater?' Weevil had that smarmy grin on his face. 'It's not my fault that Joey didn't think to examine his deck before challenging me to a duel.'

'Hey, watch it!' Joey snapped as he watched his Panther Warrior be changed into an insect.

'And while your monster's being infected, my Great Moth will be evolving!' Weevil crowed. 'So I'll play one card face-down and end my turn.' He did just that.

Sharee clearly had a lot to teach these guys.

YGO

'It's true my Panther Warrior maybe infected, but he can still attack you as long as I sacrifice another monster, bug breath.' Joey drew.

'Uh, uh, uh.' Weevil shook his finger. 'Remember, every monster you play becomes infected by the parasite.'

'So?' Joey demanded.

'So you can't sacrifice a parasite-infected monster,' Weevil said. 'Which means your pathetic Panther Warrior can't attack.'

Joey made an irritated sound. 'Well, I got another plan so I'll play Tiny Guardian!' The card and the monster appeared on the field in attack mode.' The parasite reached out and Joey watched in disgust as his Guardian was infected too.

'Now another one of your monsters is infected,' Weevil said. 'And my Great Moth is still evolving.'

Joey's eyes narrowed. 'You don't seem to realise that your Cocoon of Evolution has zero attack points.

'Attack points mean nothing, you fool!' Weevil insisted. 'It's defending me.'

'Take a closer look, flea brain,' Joey told him.

Weevil made a sound of alarm. 'I forgot to switch my Cocoon into defence mode!'

'That's right,' Joey said. 'And with zero attack points, it's a sitting duck. Tiny Guardian, attack!' The Guardian brought his sword up and shot forward.

'Oh, no!' Weevil drew back. 'I'm done!' Suddenly, he grinned again. 'Or so you think.'

'Eh?' Joey demanded.

'This magic card will save me.' Weevil activated his face-down card. 'I activate Insect Barrier.' A golden network of lines appeared over his side of the field. 'It protects me by repelling all insect attacks.'

The Guardian got caught in the barrier and was tossed back.

'And since every monster infested by a parasite becomes an insect, my Barrier will protect me and my Cocoon from all of your monsters.'

'Ah, I can't attack!' Joey cried in alarm.

'Come on, Joey!' Tristan called to him. 'You gotta kick Weevil's cheating butt to stay in the Tournament.'

Gramps called out too. 'Joey, you've got to stay calm and believe in your deck. There may be a way to use Weevil's own trick against him.'

Yes, there might've been. Joey thought hard about that one. What would Yugi do if he was the one standing here with an infested deck?

Weevil sneered. 'It is hopeless. Once my Great Moth awakens and then emerges from its Cocoon in just four turns it will completely annihilate you!' He planted his hand on his hip. 'Wheeler, thanks to my Barrier, none of your monsters can attack me.' He drew. 'And while I wait for my Great Moth to evolve, I'll start weakening your life points.' His eyes slid across to look at the card.

Joey ground his teeth. I know I can take this guy. But first I gotta build up my defence to protect my life points. Then, like Yugi's grandpa said, maybe I can use that Parasite card to help me.

Weevil played his card. 'Now I summon Leghul!' The card appeared on the field and the worm-like monster emerged. 'Attack his life points directly!' Leghul shot forward and, in a tribute to his own name, he bit Joey's leg.

Pain shot up and Joey flinched back with a grunt of pain. His life points dropped to 3700. 'How'd you do that?' He watched the monster return to Weevil. 'I still have monsters on the field.'

Weevil sniggered. 'Leghul is able to bypass your monsters.' He held up a finger. 'Your life points are in serious trouble. And you still can't attack me. Care to throw in the towel, Wheeler?'

'Nah,' Joey said. 'I don't think so.' He drew. 'I switch both of my monsters into defence mode.' They shifted.

'How sad.' Weevil drew. 'You know what happens in just three more turns: my Great Moth is born.' His smirk deepened. 'But meanwhile…Leghul, attack his life points directly!' This time, the worm bit his arm.

Joey's life points dropped to 3400.

YGO

Téa was worried. She knew that Mr. Moto and Tristan were too. She thought that Sharee was also just as worried, but she was a lot better at hiding it. The only indications were her hopping from leg to leg and chewing her bottom lip. But Sharee said nothing unless she thought it was necessary.

'Two turns,' Weevil said. 'And you still can't attack me.'

'I gotta pass again!'

'Just one turn to go. I promise you this, my Ultimate Great Moth is like nothing you've ever faced before. Or will ever face again.'

Poor Joey. He looked so down in the dumps.

Tristan stepped forward. 'Enough with the Moth, Underwood, we get it!'

Joey lifted his hand. 'Stay cool, Tristan.'

Tristan made a worried sound in his throat.

Joey lifted his head and drew. 'I play Alligator Sword in defence mode.' He laid the card and it appeared on the field. The Alligator emerged from it. 'And I play another card face-down to end my turn.' Joey did and the unidentified card also appeared. Immediately, the parasite reached out and infected Joey's Alligator.

Weevil scoffed. 'Now your Gator is parasite food too!'

'All right.' Joey pulled his arm in front of him. 'I'm all set to face this big Moth of yours. So why don't you bring it on now?'

Weevil laughed. 'We're about to see exactly how ready you are. Time's up, Wheeler. Ultimate Great Moth,' he spread his arms, 'erupt from your Cocoon and reveal your supreme power!' The Cocoon shifted. Then it cracked and burst, releasing the Great Moth from inside, screeching as it lifted into the sky. Téa was barely even aware of the surprised sound that left her throat – or Tristan's or Sharee's or Mr. Moto's.

'Man, that's big,' Joey said.

It was even bigger than the one Yugi had to face.

Weevil crowed. 'Behold the insect embodiment of your final destruction. It's all over for you, Wheeler!' He cackled in laughter.