Chapter 2

Shin no Duelist

"Anzu!"

Anzu turned her head. Balanced on one hand was a plate full of delicacies. The spirit hovered beside her. The two hadn't talked to each other since they boarded the boat to duelist kingdom that afternoon. Despite her will to save Yuugi, Anzu wasn't sure how she was going to explain to her parents and dance instructor that she was going to be gone for three days… to duel for her friend.

Her eyes widened. "Jou… Jounouchi, Honda?!"

"What you doing here?" Jounouchi questioned. He blinked his eyes, confused.

"Err… duelist kingdom," she stated sheepishly.

Jounouchi felt his mouth slip open. "You're joking right. You… dueling?"

"Of course she's joking. She's just here… I'll be dueling."

"Stupid up, spirit," Anzu hissed under her breath. The spirit was starting to get even cockier especially when he learned that Anzu had never dueled before. He almost cracked a smile when he asked if she had a deck.

"You okay Anzu?" Jounouchi asked confused.

"Of… course." She added sheepishly. "I didn't know you dueled either."

"Well, since Yuugi's accident, I've been spending time at the game shop. Sugoroku jii-san showed me some moves and taught me to play. When I heard about this contest, I… I just had to enter." Jounouchi boasted.

"And for his si… oo-ouch!" Honda exclaimed. He eyed Jounouchi. The blonde simply looked away, innocently. Anzu blinked furiously… confused. Like always, the spirit simply blinked before disappearing into the puzzle.

--------------

"Yuugi-boy!" A mocking voice cut through the castle walls. Pegasus appeared from the darkness of the walls. He walked over to Yuugi's body. The boy was lying upon a four poster bed. His face was now beat red. He was perspiring heavily. "You really should give it up, boy." Yuugi's breathing continued to slice through the air. Pegasus smirked. He pulled up a chair and sat down beside Yuugi. He glanced over at the window amused at the sight below.

"Your poor friends… are they even your friends Yuugi-boy? That pitiful girl, Anzu. Doesn't know what she's doing. Then Kaiba-boy… ooh… he's such a crack! You should have seen his face when I took Mokuba-boy's soul." Pegasus flicked back a piece of his hair. "No contest, no contest at all." His grin widened. He lightly stroked Yuugi's face. The boy made no motion to flinch. His breathing thickened. "My lovely little pet… do you see the contest?" He chuckled. He drew away his hand before glancing over at the window.

--------------

"Kaiba you won't win!"

The young CEO chuckled. He grinned… amused at the young girl before him. Pegasus was right. She was a worthy opponent. Had circumstances been different, he would have enjoyed this fight more. "Your stupid friendship cards are worthless. They don't stand a chance against my Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon!"

The spirit growled. He tightened his grip on Anzu's deck. He felt the girl's heart tighten. "Baka," he hissed under his breath. He turned the dueling glove… "ten sparkling stars". He had earned them all. Now he was annoyed by Anzu's arrogance, her friendship beliefs. It sickened him that he had duel this 'Kaiba'. He didn't want to duel. He only dueled the last couple matches for the stars. The goal was Yuugi. When he had Yuugi, he could go back to playing his 'yami no games'. This was just annoying little set back.

"I'm amused you actually have ten star chips with that deck of yours, Anzu."

----------------

Pegasus's eyes widened. "My, my little Yuugi-boy. Look at that friend of yours now. She has Kaiba-boy now." Pegasus chuckled. He flicked his eyes back at Yuugi. He watched the boy… amused.

----------------

"Kaiba! What are you doing?" Jounouchi shouted. His eyes widened from the sidelines. He glanced over at Anzu. He still couldn't believe that she was so strong. Now, she was… about to defeat the number one duelist in the world.

"Changing fate," Kaiba chuckled. "Pegasus has my brother! I will get him back. As amusing as this duel is, I can't lose. I have to push fate my way." Kaiba's face darkened. "Attack me Anzu! But beware, the after effects… may… kill me!"

"Kaiba! You bastard." The spirit hissed. He felt Anzu's tugging. He looked away, growled. "I have to defeat him," he hissed. His red narrowed and drew a card.

"Anzu."

"She wouldn't."

"Attack!" The spirit roared at his monster. He ignored Anzu, Jounouchi, and Honda's screams.

"Stop!"

A far off voice… a familiar voice… "Stop," the voice muttered again.

A blinding white light, the spirit's hold on Anzu weakened. He faltered. The monster sensing its master faltering stopped in mid attack. Anzu's eyes widened. She collapsed. The spirit no longer in possession of her body. She looked up, saw Kaiba's chuckle. Her monster destroyed. Her life points dropped to zero. Her chance at saving Yuugi, gone.

"Gomen ne, Yuugi." She muttered. She felt tears threatening to fall.

"Anzu!"

---------------

"My, my, my Yuugi-boy. What an interesting battle. It seems you will always be my pet." Pegasus grinned. He pulled closed the curtain and turned towards the young boy on the bed. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the boy.

---------------

Anzu stood alone in her room. She drew her arms together, trembling. Kaiba's duel with Pegasus had shaken her. Kaiba was gone. Mokuba was gone. Yuugi…. Yuugi was….

"Yuugi," she whispered. "He's right. I can't save you. I've lost way too many people already. I… I should just quit."

"Baka," the spirit hissed. He appeared beside Anzu. He leaned against his hip. An annoyed expression appeared on his face.

"Spirit," Anzu looked up. Her eyes were masked with tears. The two hadn't spoken since he lost the duel against Kaiba. He wouldn't answer when she called out to him.

"Yuugi means a lot to you, doesn't he?"

Anzu simply nodded. She clenched her arms tighter unable to coup with the pain of losing her friend. "Then you can't quit, baka! He's counting on you to save him!"

Anzu looked away. She knew the spirit was right. She had to save him. Jounouchi had given her the chance. He had given her five of his star chips to save Yuugi, and hell he didn't even know. Anzu hadn't told anyone about Yuugi. She couldn't bear it.

"Jounouchi is a good man." The spirit stated finally. He rubbed his legs together. His face remained emotionless.

"But… I'm not strong enough!" Anzu screamed. She turned around. Her face was a mess. Her makeup had run together.

"Then get stronger." The spirit simply stated before disappearing.

"Damn."

----------------

"Anzu-girl! Oh, oh! This is delightful! Simply delightful… grand champion with a friendship deck! Splendid!" Pegasus's smile widened. He flicked his long, free flowing hair back. "Simply delightful duel… very, but I… I love variations. So many variations now! Like you dueling me! Lovely." Pegasus chuckled. He glanced up at the balcony overlooking the dueling arena. His grin widened. "Jounouchi-boy and Honda-boy. Comrades brought together under unforeseeable circumstances. Delightful! But…!" Dramatically Pegasus gasped. His eyes widened. "One is missing! The star! Croquet!"

Lights flashed once before going out.

"Damn," the spirit muttered. He hovered next to Anzu. His eyes narrowed.

Slowly, a small beacon of light appeared high in the air. Anzu blinked. Jounouchi and Honda, both higher up, saw much sooner than Anzu did. A horrified gasp escaped Honda's lips. A growl left Jounouchi's lips. "Pegasus!" He roared.

"Oh? No like my show Jounouchi-boy?" Pegasus asked. He blinked. A grin appeared on his face.

A muffled squeak left Anzu's lips. "Pegasus!"

"Oh, Anzu-girl. You too? I didn't want Yuugi-boy to miss the performance. He's such a sweet boy." Pegasus grinned. He raised his arms as Yuugi's coma state body tumbled into his arms. Like a lovely parent, Pegasus ran his palm against Yuugi's bright red cheeks. "Such a sweet, innocent boy." Pegasus sighed hugging the boy closely.

"Pegasus! I came here! I fought! If I win, Yuugi is mine!"

"Anzu!"

Hearing Jounouchi's voice, Anzu immediately flinched. She forgot about Jounouchi and Honda. She didn't want them to know that Pegasus had captured Yuugi. She wanted to rescue Yuugi alone. Her principles nearly smashed those dreams. Jounouchi, his purpose for entering still unclear, had given up his stars for her.

"You knew? You knew who took Yuugi?" Jounouchi's voice wavered.

Anzu merely nodded, too ashamed to speak.

"Of course, Anzu-girl. If you win, I'll release Yuugi-boy. Better yet, I've even release your dear friends Kaiba-boy and Mokuba-boy. But, if you lose," Pegasus chuckled. His eyes darkened. His clasp around Yuugi's skin tightened. "Yuugi-boy dies."

Anzu's eyes widened. The puzzle bounced against her hip. Frantically, Anzu unlocked the puzzle from her belt. "What about this?! I thought you wanted it?"

Pegasus chuckled. "You really are much too fun, Anzu-girl. So gullible, so naïve."

"If I lose, I'll give you the puzzle, and you spare Yuugi."

"Ho, ho, ho. I just love you Anzu-girl. I thought the 'puzzle wasn't yours to give'," Pegasus commented mockingly.

Anzu's eyes narrowed. She felt her voice straining. "If Yuugi dies, nothing matters. I swore I would protect him. He…he," Anzu felt her body shake. "When we were in junior high… he had a hand-held game console. It was the newest thing, really expensive. He loved it. I liked it so much… that he gave it to me. I… I broke it because I couldn't win the game. I sobbed when it shattered. The next day, Yuugi bought me another one."

"Touché, Anzu-girl." Pegasus's smile widened. He arms slipped tighter around Yuugi's waist.

The spirit, uncannily quiet, narrowed his eyes. He scanned the comatose boy's body before shifting his gaze down at his host. He fleetingly had a small recognition of the boy. From what Anzu had been willing to divulge, she had received the puzzle complete save for one piece from Yuugi's grandfather.

"I'll win," the spirit commented. Anzu quickly glanced over. Her field of vision was slightly off.

--------------

"Don't you love the scenery, Anzu-girl?" Pegasus's smile widened. His arms still draped loosely around Yuugi's body. The players' life points showed that

The spirit, haven taken control of Anzu's body, narrowed his eyes. "Bastard."

"You no fun," Pegasus grumbled. "I'm sure little Yuugi-boy here doesn't appreciate your foal language, 'Anzu-girl'."

"Play your card, Pegasus," the spirit hissed. His red eyes burned fiery. He clenched Anzu's pathetic friendship deck harder. The foolish girl had refused to exchange them. She said they were her principles. They were so worthless, so pathetic and weak though.

Pegasus's grin widen, amused by the turn of events. He haphazardly covered two cards before ending his turn. The spirit growled as he drew another card. "Ho, ho, ho, Anzu-girl, what card did you draw now?"

The spirit attempted to brace himself for the inevitable mind scan.

"I will help you…" the familiar voice muttered. The owner seemed strained and weak. The voice seemed hollow.

"Who are you?" the spirit smattered.

"T… trust me."

The words wavered… falling into oblivion. The spirit could slowly feel Pegasus's mind slowly slipping through. The other's words rang in his mind. "I'll trust you," the spirit whispered. A blinding white light… the spirit blinked confused. As he looked over at his opponent, he found that like himself Pegasus too looked winded.

"What did you do," Pegasus growled.

The spirit smirked. "I trusted." He merely stated. The words seemed more real than Anzu's friendship speeches. He picked up his newly drawn card and set it faced down without looking at it. He would trust that voice. "Your mind tricks won't work anymore Pegasus!" The spirit roared.

-----------

"Thousand eyes has killed your monster, Anzu-girl! What you going to do?" Pegasus grinned. He had regained the lead. That idiotic girl will lose. The change in plans… foolish Fate, would prove the world's undoing. He lightly stroked Yuugi's cheeks. The boy's breathing had grown labored.

The spirit hissed. He drew another card. Lightly Anzu's arm passed across the game board. The unknown he had set early in the game. He looked up at Pegasus's life sucking monster. Would the mystery card save him? Dare he believe it would?

He felt Anzu's mind in her heart. She was a strong girl… despite being annoying sometimes. "I'll take a bet," the spirit mumbled. The spirit ran his card through the face down card. Only then did he realize how old and worn the card was. His brow ceased. None of Anzu's cards was so worn. Had he simply overlooked this one card? He uncovered the card; he felt his breath hitch.

"Black Luster Ritual." What was Anzu doing with such a card?!

"Black Luster Ritual!" Pegasus felt his mouth drop. He clenched Yuugi's body tighter.

-------------

"I win, Pegasus!" The spirit smirked. The monsters upon the field vanished.

"Damn!" Pegasus hissed, slamming his fist upon the game board. He chuckled, glancing down at the boy. Bitterly he nodded. "I lost, Anzu-girl." Yuugi's body blinked before vanishing.

TBC