AN: Hey everyone! We're finally at the good part! Well, good for you, not so much for me... Now I have to write duels... But not to fear my dear readers, for I have with me my trusty Yu-Gi-Oh rule book! :D Anyway, I hope this turns out half as good as I planed it... Then again, you stuck with me this long!Thanx to anyone who's read and made this story the most favorited/alert/reviewed story I've ever written :) I'd be nothing without you guys.
Yugi sat in the lavishly furnished living room staring at the cards laid out before him. He was attempting to think up a strategy for his first duel, but his heart wasn't in it. The moment they were shown to their apartment like courters Kaiba retreated to his room. The others, however had sat in the living room conversing. They talked about themselves and those they came to rescue. But no one said anything of the duels to come. More than anything they were trying to separate themselves from the others, but the only one succeeding thus far was the elusive Seto Kaiba.
Sarina explained that she and her sister came from a broken family. The girls lived in Japan with their mother while their father lived out in California, wanting nothing to do with his children. Her mother worked three jobs and was almost never home, which left her to look after her sister. She had entered the tournament to get the prize money to help support their family. Jonouchi tried not to show it, but Yugi could see the sympathy he felt for the girl. Their stories were so similar, but only one could walk out with what they wanted. What they needed...
One by one the group retired to their room until it was nearly midnight and Yugi sat alone with his cards. We need to concentrate, Yugi, Atem's gentle voice prodded.
Yugi sighed, I know it's just... Every time things got hard, she was there, you know?
In the back of his mind Yugi could see Atem nod, And she will be again, Yugi.
But what about the others? Yugi asked, pulling his knees up to his chin and hugging them tight, looking like a lost child.
There has to be a way, Atem assured him, We just need to find it.
What if there isn't a way?
Atem blinked, What?
What if there isn't a way. What if, no matter what we do, we loose?
Yugi, you've got to have faith. Have faith in yourself and your cards.
Yugi nodded slowly, sadly. Atem sighed, Why don't you get some rest? You've got to be ready tomorrow.
Yugi nodded again. Atem felt sorry for the man who would always be a child to him. We will find it Yugi. I promise.
Be careful what you promise...
Seto Kaiba sat bolt upright in his bed sweat dampining his dark brown hair. He looked around the room for a moment before sighing. It was that dream again. He'd been having that dream over and over again since they took her and he always woke up after the bolt of enerygy hit her. It was almost as if he could feel her as she lay dying in his arms and there was nothing he could do...
He glaced at the clock next to the bed. Two a.m. He sighed again, no use trying to sleep now. he might as well prepare for his first duel.
Jonouchi tossed and turned in his bed, trying to sleep. He had been in bed for hours yet sleep and the comfort it brings with it continued to elude him. he couldn't help but think of the day ahead and wondering if he would be the first to duel.
One thing he was sure of, he didn't want to face Yugi. Yugi and Anzu had been his friends for years and the thought of losing them was unbearable. He didn't want to face Sarina either. They were too alike, fighting for such similar causes he wasn't sure he could do it. That left only Kaiba. But still, could he really steal away somebody else's hope? Even someone who he hated as much as that rich ass.
Joouchi sighed, falling back into the pillow. He just wanted things to go back to the way things used to be back before this whole tournament when it was just him, his friends, and his sister...
Finally, the quietness of sleep claimed him and took him into it's comforting clutches.
"Ohhhhh! Larry I'm so excited! Finally we can get the real fun going!"
Blub, blub, bloop. blubble, blubble.
"I agree, Larry." She turned to one of her minions, "Go. Fetch the... motivation for our first duelists."
Their courters bustled with the sleepy activities of the awakening party. Coffee was made, toast tosted ( and in Jonouchi's case, burnt), and the tention in the air was almost unbearable. Today was the first deul, the first step to gaining, or ultimately losing, the one they came to save. Mokuba sat on the couch legs curled up to his chin staring at his brother's door.
"What's wrong, Mokuba?" Honda asked sitting next to the boy.
Mokuba forced a smile, "Nothing. I'm just... Worried I guess..."
Honda nodded, he was nervous himself. Nervous for his friends not to mention the one that he loved...
He glanced towards the king of games and frowned. Yugi was distant today, lost in his own world. Honda hoped that was a good thing, that he was preparing himself for the battle to come. But he also hoped his pointy headed friend knew he wasn't alone...
An hour later there was a click as the door was unlocked and pushed open. The same man who had shown them to their room was standing in the doorway, face expressionless, "Duelists, grab your decks and come with me."
For a moment, no one moved. Then Yugi grabbed his deck and slowly stood. He led the small party out the door and after the man.
They entered the same room as before Bronya lounging in a chair, swirling the water of her fish bowl. The oly diffrence from the night before was the deul platform in the middle of the room. "Good morning!" Their host greeted cheerfully, "Sleep well?" When she got no responce from the group, She continued, "I hope you're ready for today. Otherwise, you'll regret it." She smiled sweetlybefore calling to one of her minions, "Choose our fist chalengers, will you?"
The man dissapered for a moment before returning with two girls, one a child, no older then ten, with dark hair and her head down. The other was thin with pale skin and white hair. Yugi gasped when he saw her, he knew her...
"Analee!" Sarina shouted, taking a step forward.
The child looked up then staring at her sister, "Sarina!"
"Kisara," Yugi heard the name whispered as Kaiba pushed his way forward And stood by the pointy headed deulist. The girl said nothing back, but she focused her blue irisis on him and smiled.
The girl, Atem whispered in the back of yugi's mind. The girl from Egypt.
Bronya giggled, "Wounderful! Now, start the duel before I grow bored!" And with that command, they took their sides and drew their first hand.
Sarina looked at the cards in her hand, studying them carefuly. Then she pulled ut a card, "I play Mother Grizzly in attack mode," She announced as a giant grixxly materialized in front of her.
Kaiba didn't hesitate as he played his card, "X-Head Cannon, attack her mother Grizzly!"
His 1800 point X-Head Cannon was easily a match for her 1200 poit Grizzy, but she was smiling while he attacked, "Thank you, Kaiba. Thanks to my Grizzly's special abilaty I can summon one monster with attack points up to 1500. "
"Wow." Joey mermered, "Maybe this girl has a shot, huh Yug?"
Yugi nodded, but he doubted if Kaiba would lose that easly.
"So I summon Mermaid Knight," Sarina declared still smiling, "And I'll play the spell card Umi. This Raises the attack and defence of all water type monsters and lowers that of all machine and fire types. Say good bye to 200 of you Cannon's attack points!" They watched in astonishment as Kaiba's Monters points lessed and she attacked. "Then, just for fun, I'll summon 7 colred fish and attack."
The second turn in and Kaiba was down 6000 to 7400.
A meniacal laugh drew Yugi's concentration away from the duel taking place and toward there host. She seemed to be having a whispered conversation with her fish...
Then he noticed a peice of jewelry flashing in the light and gasped. He grabbed Jonouchi's arm and sook it violently. "Woah, Yugi! I'd like to keep my arm attached to my body," the blonde responded after a couple minutes.
"Jonouchi, look!" Yugi whispered frantically pointint to the crazed woman in the chair.
"She's talking to the fish? She's crazier than I thought..."
"No! Not that! look at what she's wearing around her neck!"
"Is that...?"
"Yeah," Yugi confermed, "The melenium key." That's how she knew who to take, what they cared the most for. She had used the key to see into Their hearts.
Kaiba was straitfaced and expressionless when Yugi looked back at the duel. He drew acard looked at it and drew another from his hand. "I'll place one card face down and Play ring of distruction. I'll attach it to your Mermaid knight!"
The ring attached it'self to the monster and blew up as allways when the dust cleared, Kaiba had been saved by Ring of defence.
The girl sighed. She had seen Seto Kaiba duel many times before and this move diddn't surprise her in the least. Still, she didn't try to fool herself. This deul would be anything but easy.
She drew a card and placed it in her hand, looking over her options. "I play Unshaven Angler and end my turn."
Kaiba's turn. As the young CEO studdied his cards, Yugi looked at the girls they were fighting for. The youger girl, Analee, stood with her arms around herself and shaking. Silent tears trailed from her eyes as she observed the deul taking place.
Kisara on the otherhand stood straight an silent, but there was fear in her eyes. Yet, whenever she looked at Kaiba her eyes only showd concrn. Kaiba looked towards her briefly before playing his next card. " I discard one card from my hand to play Cost Down. Then I'll summon Blue eyes white dragon."
Sarina shook her head and sighed. " I'll sacrifice Unshaven Angler in order to summon Ocean Dragon Knight! Attack his blue eyes white dragon!" Yugi and the others watched in awe as Kaiba's dragon was wiped from the feild.
Aside from being slightly annoyed, Kaiba was not fazed. they were now tied at 5,900 points, This would be easy enough to finish. "I play Kaiser sea horse and Peten the dark clown as sacrifices so I can summon Chaos Emporor Dragon. Due to his special ability, I can send all Monsters on the feild and in our hands and on the field to the graveyard by sacrificing 1,000 life points." Now Kaiba had the lead 5,300 points to 1400.
Sarina blinked. What just happened? as she drew a new hand she skanned for a card the could help her. Any Card. She had to help her sister! " I play Creeping doom manta in defence mode and end my turn."
Kaiba gave The slightest of smiles. He had every thing he needed to finish this right here. But still, he hesitated. The more he looked at these to girls the more he saw himself and Mokuba. It only took one look at Kisara for all of his doubts to melt away. She tried not to show it, but he could see the fear in her eyes. He played his next cards without a second thought, " I play Lord of Dragons and Flute of summoning Dragons. With these two cards, I can summon two dragons from my deck."
Oh no, Yugi thought.
"I summon Two Blue Eyes White Dragons. Then I play the card Monster Reborn to bring back the third and final Blue Eyes. And I'll use polymorization to make Blue eyes ultimate dragon. Lord of Dragons, attack Creeping Doom Manta. Blue Eyes, Attack her life points!"
With a final flash of white lightning, the duel was ended. Scilent tears fell from sarina's eyes as Bronya cackled evily. "Wonderful! Wounderful!" she cheered.
"Blubble, blub," Larry agreeed.
"What... What are you going to do to her?" Sarina chocked out.
"I'm going to kill her of corse!" Bronya giggled.
"No!" Sarina screamed, "Not her! take me. Kill me instead."
Bronya thought for a moment, "A vallent offer, but I'm afraid I have to follow my rules. Say bye bye to sissy."
With a sharp twist of her wrist, the young girl gave a short scream and crumpled lifelessly to the floor.
AN: Yay! finally! There's no excuse for me not having this up. It's been planed for over a month now... Next chapter will be up soon. Thanx :D