AGKamon: Hey, here comes chapter thirteen!
Bakura: ...This isn't your best chapter, AG...
AGKamon: I know that! Anyway, this chapter probably isn't very good because it involves a very long duel. Writing duels isn't something I excel at. But anyway, readers, I'm kind of disappointed. Only one person actually reviewed chapter twelve, reviews make me write even faster than I usually do. I'll reply to the reviews I got anyway... *sigh*
Marik: Oh great, she depressed herself. Uh, AG, why don't you talk about you new idea or something...?
AGKamon: ...I feel like sulking. I'll do it after I reply to the reviews...
Bakura: Once again, I wonder why I agreed to be here.
Kayla: *glomps Bakura, knocking him over in the process* It's because I'm here~!
Bakura:...I'm not going to deny that, nor will I say yes to it.
Marik: AGKamon doesn't own me, Bakura, or anything else related to Yu-Gi-Oh! She only owns Kayla.
Yami's P.O.V.
"Yami!" I turned my head, expecting to see Yugi floating beside me in spirit form, but to my surprise, he was solid and cuffed to a wall of shadows. The chilling laugh belonging to Marik's dark half filled the air.
"Marik, what did you do?" I questioned.
"Why, I simply made this little game of ours into a Shadow Game. Don't worry, my sacrifice should be arriving shortly." As soon as the words left his lips, a form began to materialize next to him. Starting at the feet and moving upward, I didn't even notice the two other forms that appeared on Dark Marik's other side.
"No…" I breathed at seeing the familiar blue-haired girl I'd turned away.
"What's going on here, you monster?" another angered voice grabbed my attention. My eyes widened at seeing the two other figures: Marik's lighter side and Bakura's darker side.
"Hey! Ain't that Mona, Bakura's girl? What's she doin' here?" Joey shouted. I shook my head, momentarily stunned at their reappearances.
"No Joey, she lied to us about her identity. She's with Marik and the dark Bakura," I replied. The murmuring behind me was ignored completely.
"You pathetic sadist, I thought we made a deal! Leave her out of this!" Bakura protested, pulling at his chain-like cuffs in an attempt to most likely strangle Dark Marik. That very same Egyptian clicked his tongue in disapproval and leaned slightly forward to look at Bakura, who was past the lighter Marik - farthest away from Kayla.
He probably set them up that way on purpose.
"I don't think I will; she's my sacrifice for this Shadow Game."
"How does this Shadow Game work, Marik?" I asked warily.
"Oh you'll see. You'll see, Pharaoh, but shall we begin this duel?"
"Fine."
"I'll go first then. I summon Vampiric Leech in attack; now I activate it's effect to attack you directly!" Seconds after my life points decreased, a cry of pain sounded itself from above my head; I looked up just in time to witness a portion of Yugi's leg disappearing.
"Yugi!"
- Yami: 3500 Life Points - Dark Marik: 4000 Life Points -
Bakura's P.O.V.
So the sacrifice of the duelist loses a piece of their body to the shadows that equals the amount of life points the duelist lost. Well then, I happen to know a way to redirect that penalty to myself… The pain will be worth her being spared. I glanced down at the Millennium Ring hanging from my neck; I could feel the power inside it increasing with the passion flowing through my veins. If I wasn't chained here, then I'd be down there strangling Dark Marik.
I just need to be able to intervene in this Shadow Game…
"Now I'll activate Vampiric Leech's second effect. By discarding one card, I can shift my Leech into defense mode. I set a card facedown and end my turn." I watched as the Pharaoh held a short conversation with his host before he drew his card.
He'll be reluctant about attacking, even if he did turn Kayla away that first time. I need to convince him that she won't be hurt without revealing my plan to Dark Marik.
Yami's P.O.V.
"I summon Queen's Knight in attack mode. Now, Queen's Knight, attack his Vampiric Leech! I'll place one card facedown to end my turn."
So that's the cost of this Shadow Game… I cast a glance at the small girl hanging from her cuffs worriedly; she didn't look to be in the best shape. This fact alone made me reluctant to attack because I knew what it would cost her, but I couldn't allow Marik's dark side to win either. Once again, this girl had me conflicted. I looked at the other two who were held captive.
The real Marik was glaring venomously at his darker, obviously wishing he was free. Bakura was watching me but not in a threatening way; however, it seemed as though he was planning something.
What is he planning? What could he be planning from his position?
"My turn then. I summon Juragedo, now attack his Queen's Knight! I'll set two facedown cards to end my turn."
"Yugi?" I said, looking up at my host. He seemed tense, and now part of his arm was missing.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. What matters is defeating Marik," he reassured. I nodded and drew my card.
- Yami: 3300 Life Points - Dark Marik: 4000 Life Points -
"I activate one of my traps, Left Arm Offering! This allows me to discard my entire hand in order to pick one spell card out of my deck and add it to my hand," Marik said, before I could even make a move.
I have a sinking feeling that he played that card in order to find Monster Reborn, meaning that he probably has the Winged Dragon of Ra in his graveyard now. I have to get rid of Monster Reborn somehow before he can use it; I still have my facedown!
"Well, then I activate my spell card Exchange, allowing me to take one card from your hand and you to take one card from mine." We walked over to meet in the center of the playing field; I obviously took Monster Reborn. I noted that De-Fusion was missing from my hand afterward.
"Now I activate Monster Reborn to resurrect my Queen's Knight from the graveyard! I'll also summon King's Knight and activate his ability so I can summon Jack's Knight as well. I end my turn there."
"Alright then, Pharaoh. I set one card facedown, and I'll activate my spell card, Card of Sanctity. Now we can both draw cards until we have six in our hands; I think I'll also switch my Juragedo into defense mode. Your move."
"I sacrifice my three Knights in order to bring forth Slifer the Sky Dragon! It's attack points raise to 6000 due to the fact that I have six cards in my cards, multiplied by 1000. Now Slifer, attack his Juragedo!"
"Fine then, I activate Dark Spell Regeneration! Pharaoh, since you attacked me, I can use this card to activate any spell in either of our graveyards. Including my choice, Monster Reborn. I use Monster Reborn to summon the Winged Dragon of Ra!"
"Oh no!" I cried, and my eyes widened at seeing it in its Phoenix Mode. That was the effect Marik used in his duel with Joey.
"Even if your Egyptian God is on the field, it will soon leave because of Silfer's second mouth ability that will destroy Ra!"
Bakura's P.O.V.
I watched as the three spheres of energy raced toward the Winged Dragon of Ra, but the monster didn't vanish, nothing happened.
"Sorry Pharaoh, but I'm afraid that the Winged Dragon of Ra will not be destroyed by your worthless ability. Now, I'll pay 1000 life points to activate Ra's effect, destroying all your Slifer the Sky Dragon," Dark Marik explained, and I braced myself.
I can't let her get hurt anymore… The first thought was that the pain reminded me of was a burn, except two times worse, but I didn't make a sound besides the small growl that rumbled in my throat.
"What…? But how?" Dark Marik shouted, looking at Kayla, obviously expecting part of her to disappear any second.
"Bakura, what are you doing?" the real Marik whispered to me. I grinned.
"What does it look like? Keeping someone close to me safe; she's been hurt too many times by him," I replied, smirking in victory when the insane Egyptian finally noticed who really took the penalty.
"Well, well, well, I shouldn't be so surprised, Bakura. After all, you've been the one protecting the girl this whole time."
"Did you really think I'd let you hurt her again? I promised myself that I wouldn't allow you to hurt her anymore; you've done enough to her."
"Bakura, what are you doing? Stop being an idiot!" she exclaimed. Her midnight-blue eyes held a mixture of fear and anger; I didn't care if either of those were directed at me, she's been hurt enough.
"Be thankful, I'm keeping you safe."
"B-but you shouldn't hurt yourself because of me."
"Trust me, darling, I've lived through worse."
There I go again with calling her 'darling'. Why do I keep doing that?
"If you insist…" I heard her sigh, and from my position, I could see the Pharaoh mouth something with an awed expression. Did he really think that I didn't have the capacity to show emotions, or even have them? Emotions are exploitable; that's why I'd never normally show them, but everything changed for me if Kayla was involved. It didn't matter anymore, all that mattered was keeping her as safe as possible.
"On with the duel then Pharaoh, I'm afraid my sacrifice has a substitute. The Winged Dragon of Ra will return to my graveyard, as it was special summoned. I now activate Zombie's Jewel, allowing me to take Monster Reborn from your graveyard and add it to my hand. You should feel lucky, Pharaoh, this gives you a chance to draw a card. Perhaps it will be the card you've been hoping for, the one Kaiba gave you before this duel started." Eventually, the Pharaoh did draw a card. Without looking at it, he placed it facedown.
It's just like the Pharaoh to play a move such as that; he's trying to prove that 'heart of the cards' trash to everyone.
"I end my turn; it's your move Marik." I watched as the real Marik grit his teeth.
"I'm assuming you don't enjoy your name being used as the name of your dark side," I said to him.
"You got that right. He sickens me; he shouldn't have the privilege of using my name." I chuckled.
It's amazing how even in the situation we're in, Marik will always act as he does.
"Fine, I activate Monster Reborn to, of course, bring back my Winged Dragon of Ra. This time, Monster Reborn will go to my graveyard. Now I will pay all of my life points but one to fuse myself with Ra and strengthen it!" I prepared for the pain again, but it never came.
He did sacrifice most of his own body to fuse with Ra; perhaps the penalty doesn't affect me in this case…
"I'll also tribute my Juragedo to raise the attack points of Ra even further, giving it a total of 4699 attack points! Now, Ra, attack the Pharaoh directly!"
"Not so fast Marik, I activate my facedown, Fiend Sanctuary! I can now summon a Metal Fiend Token onto my field; this monster becomes a mirror, meaning that if you attack it, you'll damage your own life points instead."
It's not over yet, Dark Marik has a plan. He always does. I wasn't surprised when he reappeared on the ground, his body whole again.
"But how?" the Pharaoh questioned.
"Why, it's simple Pharaoh. I used the De-Fusion that I got from you earlier when you used your Exchange card. Ra's attack points are also added back to my life points, giving my 4700 of them! Unfortunately, Ra must return to my graveyard." The portion of my arm that had previously vanished suddenly reappeared in its rightful place.
Interesting…the sacrifice gains their lost body parts back if the duelist's life points are increased.
"I'll place one card facedown to end my turn. Now, Pharaoh, your Metal Fiend Token may be a good defense, but it comes with a cost, doesn't it? A cost that will send more of your friend's body to the Shadow Realm!" The Pharaoh was obviously unnerved by the idea of hurting his host, but the smaller boy convinced him that he'd be fine. So the Pharaoh accepted the drop in life points.
"I pay 1000 life points so my Metal Fiend Token can remain on the field, and now I activate the card Multiply! This gives me two more Fiend Tokens, three in all!"
- Yami: 2300 Life Points - Dark Marik: 4700 Life Points -
Three monsters, he must be planning to summon his other Egyptian God.
"Now I tribute my three Tokens to summon Obelisk the Tormentor! Now, Obelisk, attack Marik directly!" As the large, blue fist belonging to the Pharaoh's Egyptian God came toward us, I braced myself for the damage I suspected I was going to take. However, the idea that Dark Marik was finally going to get hit was a comforting thought to me.
The pain hit me all at once in a single blow, sending the both the feeling of being burned and a stinging sensation running through my body.
"Are you alright, Bakura?" the real Marik asked. A smirk split my lips, and I looked at him to reply.
"As I've said before, I've faced worse. I must look really pathetic, right?"
"Sacrificing yourself to protect someone you care about? Pathetic? No, not at all! In fact, that's really honorable. From what I've heard, it's hard for anyone to find someone who cares about them that much," he replied.
He's not as nearly as bad as what I first thought; although, he's still annoying at times. It's still difficult for me to able to stand being around a mortal for so long. Kayla and Marik are the only two who've been able to accomplish such a feat.
"That's a nice thought, but I meant that literally. There's a lot of me missing, am I right?"
"Pretty much." The sound of a dark laugh distracted us, and we looked down to see Dark Marik's next move.
"Well Pharaoh, it's impressive that you've been able to decrease my life points so much. However, remember it's him who takes the fall, not me." I frowned.
There's no reason to worry about me; I can take pain. It would've been unbearable for me to see Kayla hurt again; that's why I specifically redirected the penalty to me.
"Even so, you activated my facedown card with your attack. It's both a trap and a monster, I activate Metal Reflect Slime! It transforms into the monster the previously attacked me, and it's defense points become three-fourths of the attacking monster's attack points. This gives my Metal Reflect Slime the form of Obelisk the Tormentor and 3000 defense points!"
"I end my turn, Marik."
"Well then, I believe you'll recognize this monster of mine. I summon Revival Jam. Now I activate Polymerization to fuse my Metal Reflect Slime and Revival Jam to form Egyptian God Slime! Your move, Pharaoh."
What's he planning by fusing those two monsters together?
"I summon Big Shield Gardna in defense mode. Obelisk, attack his Egyptian God Slime!"
"Nice try, but like Revival Jam, Egyptian God Slime is revived from the graveyard when it's destroyed."
"Fine then, your turn."
"I set one card facedown, and I'll summon Bowganian in defense mode. Go ahead, Pharaoh."
"Alright then, I'll also set a card facedown. I tribute my Big Shield Gardna to summon the Dark Magician Girl, now Dark Magician Girl, attack his Bowganian!"
"Sorry, Pharaoh, but I activate Jam Defender, allowing my Egyptian God Slime to be the target of your attacks instead. Therefore, you lose 1000 life points because your attack failed."
"…I end my turn."
"Then I'll activate Bowganian's effect, which deals 300 points of damage to you."
- Yami: 1000 Life Points - Dark Marik: 700 Life Points -
"Now, my turn. I activate the spell card Mining for Magical Stones. This lets my discard two cards, and in return, I can add one spell card in my graveyard to my hand. I would expect that you know by now that it's Monster Reborn."
I should've known that he would've found another way to get that card back in his hand…
"I'll place one facedown card and summon the monster Swallowtail Spike Lizard in defense mode. Pharaoh, it's your turn again."
"I summon Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts to the field in defense, and then I'll set two cards facedown. That marks the end of my turn."
"Of course, Bowganian's effect activates again, and you lose 300 more life points."
Well, Dark Marik's going to summon the Winged Dragon of Ra once more. I do wonder how the Pharaoh's going to fend it off this time.
"First, Swallowtail Spike Lizard's effect activates, giving me an additional 1000 life points. Next, I'll use Monster Reborn to once again bring back my Winged Dragon of Ra! I'll pay 1000 life points to activate Ra's ability to destroy all of your monsters."
"Or perhaps not, I activate my own Monster Reborn to resurrect Slifer the Sky Dragon, allowing it to be destroyed instead of all my monsters!"
"…Fine then, since Ra was special summoned, it once again returns to my graveyard. However, I activate Surprise Attack from Beyond, allowing me to bring Ra back to my field! Once again, I'll pay all but one of my life points to strengthen Ra and to fuse myself with the beast."
"But now I'll activate Soul Taker! This allows you to gain 1000 life points, but it allows me to use one of your monsters as a tribute; I choose your Egyptian God Slime! I can now activate Obelisk's ability, which will destroy all your monsters and deal 4000 points of damage to you!"
"I sacrifice my Bowganian and my Swallowtail Spike Lizard to increase Ra's attack points again, and I also remove all but one of my life points to increase its attack once more. Now I activate Class System! Since Obelisk the Tormentor's level is the same as Ra's, the ability of Obelisk is negated. Winged Dragon of Ra, attack now!"
"Not so fast, Marik! I activate Magical Dimension (DM), and since I have Dark Magician Girl on my field, I can sacrifice Obelisk the Tormentor and Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts to summon my Dark Magician! And now, I activate the spell Ragnarok! Because I have Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl on my field; I can remove all the monsters in my hand, deck, and graveyard from play to destroy your Winged Dragon of Ra." I glanced at Dark Marik's surprised expression.
Does he have a plan for this, or was he caught completely off-guard? All of a sudden, every one of the Pharaoh's monsters materialized and floated above him. They all combined their attacks, and the mighty Winged Dragon of Ra was gone, along with the large portion of Dark Marik that was fused to it.
- Yami: 700 Life Points - Dark Marik: 1 Life Point -
"Master Marik!"
"…Odion?" I heard the real Marik whisper in response to hearing the voice. His eyes widened he saw the tall, tanned man stumble out of the elevator. He seemed familiar to me, I knew he was the man who had been the decoy Marik, but I never actually knew who he was.
"Master Marik, you have to regain control over your body!" the man said, leaning on one of the railings for support.
"But…"
"Marik, you have to. Who else is going to? Besides, you want your body back, don't you?" I persuaded.
"Yeah…"
"He's weakened now, take your chance Marik and get your body back!" Kayla shouted. I smirked in amusement at how impatient she sounded.
"You're all right, I have to try." I watched as Marik concentrated on switching places with his darker half. Then, suddenly, in a flash of purple light, I realized the person hanging next to me was no longer whole. That it was the Dark Marik; I glanced down, the real Marik was in his rightful place.
"Bakura…the Egyptian Gods have an important discussion that they need to hold with you right away." Zorc's voice suddenly rung through my mind.
"Of all times, it had to be now?" I mentally questioned him.
"Yes. They're giving you time to warn one of your associates about your temporary departure, but hurry."
"I'll try my best…"
"I'm sorry, Pharaoh, for all that I've done. I hope that by surrendering this duel, I can partially redeem myself." With those words, Marik placed his hand over in his deck in forfeit, and a dark cloud briefly surrounded us to signify that the Shadow Game was ending. Dark Marik was really gone; obviously, I hadn't allowed myself to be sent to the Shadow Realm again. When the dark cloud descended, that's when I decided to warn Marik of my departure.
"Marik…" I called.
"Bakura? What is it?" his voice asked from behind me.
"The Egyptian Gods wish to hold a meeting about something, mostly likely its about myself or the Pharaoh, and they need me to be there."
"Yeah, what does that have to do with me?"
"That means I'll be gone for a while, and I'm asking if you'll keep an eye on Kayla until I get back."
"Of course, she's now a friend of mine. I was planning on sticking around anyway. When do you think you'll be back? Should I tell Kayla about it when she asks?"
"Go ahead and tell her, but I don't know when I'll return. These meetings have been known to last an extremely long time, so, at least a few months. …Ugh, Zorc is warning me that they're beginning to get impatient for my arrival. I have to go Marik, keep her safe in my stead."
"Of course!" That's when everything faded to light.
Bakura: So instead of me being mysterious stuck in the Shadow Realm, the Egyptian Gods wanted to speak with me. Well, it's an interesting concept, I'll give her that. AG, what about the next season where Marik and I don't appear, are you planning on doing anything with that?
AGKamon: I'll tell you after I reply to my reviews.
sorecess of the nile - I'm glad you like Kayla; it's a good thing I switched the story before I posted it to make Bakura be Kayla's love interest and not Marik. Imagine how that would've turned out. *Bakura in the background: Why even consider that option? Kayla likes me better anyway.* I tired to come up with a past that Bakura would relate to because I think he'd be a lot closer to someone he could understand. That's why he doesn't think Kayla's weak or pathetic for showing emotion when she does.
Serenity Williams -
AGKamon: More thanks go to .Fortune for putting A Pyromaniac's Past on their favorite list.
Marik: Not upset anymore?
AGKamon: Nah, I just hope I get more reviews this time, but once again, I'm sorry this chapter's kind of boring! I'm not very good at writing duels.
Kayla: Moving along, what was the news you wanted to share?
AGKamon: News...? Oh, right! I made a decision, I'm planning on making Neutral the first in a series. I think I'll call it the 'Taking Sides' series or something like that.
AGKamon: That is my plan and I'm not changing it, but if you have anything to say about my ideas put it in a review. Speaking of which, please read and review! The reviews always make me happy because they let me know that people are actually reading this and it's not being ignored.
Marik: So, the OC's name...? Are you going to tell me?
AGKamon: *considers it* I guess I could... *chapter ends*