A Light In The Darkness...
8
A small boy scaled the castle walls, sneaking his way out a window on a sheet rope to escape his prison. The rope fell short however, and the scream of a falling victim fell into the brush beneath him...
Crawling his way out from the bushes he landed in, he made sure his disguise remained in tact...a hat to hide his hair. And a bandanna that covered his face to help keep him from detection.
Gotta escape...
He thought to himself.
Yugi is here somewhere...I gotta find him...and boot him out of here...!
Their strategy of taking on the lower leveled duelists was working...
If not running a little slow.
"We're getting no where fast..." Shizuka said softly sighing.
She had gathered a few star chips...and eventually a dueling glove that she had swiped from a loser shipping out.
However, given that she only had one starchip- that means she could only bet one at a time for a while...which made progressiing a very slow task.
"Yeah you're right." he said softly,"This is a slow process...but reliable one at least."
"Yeah I guess..." she sighed, "But the longer it takes...the more rattling it becomes...Huh?" she gasped sharply as she heard some rustling in the woods.
" , are you all right?" Bakura asked.
"Uh yeah...Maybe it's just woods giving me the creems...seeing as creatures tend to live in them and- EEK!"
The sound of even harsher rustling pulled a shriek from the girl, triggering Bakura's protective instincts as he pulled her back behind him-
"Whatever that was I think it's a bit bigger than some woodland creature!" said Bakura.
They had no weapons on them in the middle of the woods- and Bakura wasn't much for fighting with fists...but he still had them up and ready. As a gentleman, he should do his best to protect a lady...
Eventually the rustling ceased and a small body stumbled it's way out of the bushes.
"Oh...it's...a kid?" Bakura blinked, lowering his hands.
Surely he couldn't punch some child in the face...
It was a relief too.
He was far too docile to want to bring harm onto anyone...
"More duelists!" the kid stated huffing and pffing while he dusted himself off. He wore a beanie...and his face was covered with a bandanna, thrusting an arm forward pointing at them.
"Listen Duelists! I challenge you to- uh..." he stopped suddenly, his gaze shifting to the girl.
"W-Wait...Shizuka?" he blinked.
"Huh?" Shizuka blinked looking down at the smaller, covered up figure, "How do you know my name...?"
"Ms. Shizuka?" Bakura blinked, "Do you know this boy?"
"What!? No!" she quickly denied with a wave of her hands, "At least...I don't think so..."
"This tournament is for top players-" said the boy, "Tobi said you've never even competed in a tournament before- how did you get an invite!?"
"W-Well I-" she paused, "Wait...you know Tobi...?" she blinked, eyes narrowing in curious confusion.
"ULP!"
Crap! I gave myself away- Ahh...but, I didn't expect to see my best friend's SISTER here...
the boy gulped.
This tournament is for experienced Duelists all around the world...like my big brother-! So how did someone like Shizuka with little to no experience at all even get invited! What is she doing here!?
the boy paused in his thoughts
Could it be...she might be here trying to win the prize money...?
his eyes narrowed sadly.
...It would make sense...she's probably here to help Tobi...
A flash back of the weak bed ridden boy played behind his eyes, and he quickly shook it off.
"Hold on...I think I know DO know you..." she said softly, startling the boy out of his thoughts.
"Wait...you do?" Bakura questioned curiously.
"Yeah...I think I do." said Shizuka, stepping away now from Bakura's protection toward the child and kneeling, "You're Mokuba...aren't you?"
The boy gasped.
Crap!
"Mokuba?" Bakura blinked, "Seto Kaiba's little brother?"
Shizuka nodded.
Well...so much for my disguise...
"I remember you." she said softly, "You're Tobi's friend? From his class." she pointed out, "You used to pay him visits in the hospital too...he wondered why you hadn't been by in a while...I guess now it makes sense." she stated, "What are you doing here, Mokuba?"
The boy sighed and removed his face covering.
It didn't do him any good now to keep up the act when he had already been foiled.
"I'm sorry for not visiting Tobi for a while." he said softly, "I kinnda have a lot going on right now..."
"It's all right Mokuba...I know you're often busy helping your big brother out but..." she blinked looking at him curiously, "...But that doesn't explain why you're here? A lot going on? Is everything okay?"
Shizuka is so nice...
Mokuba thought to himself.
I can't let her know exactly what's going on...
It's too dangerous for someone like her here...
the boy sighed.
I have to get her out of here...I have to make sure she never reaches Pegasus...I have to protect her, for Tobi!
He gulped.
"I'm sorry Shizuka...but I'm afraid I can't tell you that." he said to her, "...In fact...I have no choice...but to boot you off of this island!"
"What!?" Shizuka and Bakura gasped as the boy's demeanor suddenly changed.
I have to do this...for Tobi...I can;t let him lose you like I lost my big brother...you're all he has.
His eyes narrowed and he thrusted his hand forward.
"You heard me Shizuka! I'm challenging you to a Duel for All of your star chips!"
"A Duel for all of my starchips!?" she stated.
But...she only had 3 so far...
"Only contestants should have starchips." said Bakura, "Mokuba- are you a contestant?"
"Wheather I'm competing or not doesn't matter!" the boy scoffed, "The point is I have starchips to wager, and I can't let you enter that castle!"
I can't do it...I just can't.
Mokuba thought to himself.
You're not strong enough to defeath Pegasus...If I let you go in...you may never see Tobi again...and I can't let that happen!
"Don't ask how I got them, just know that I am challenging you to a duel! Right now!" he said reaching into his pocket and pulling out 3 chips.
I stole these from other duelists...and cards too...
He thought to himself.
I'll do whatever it takes...
"You can't be serious." Bakura said softly, "How about you duel me instead.
"I don't even know who YOU are!" Mokuba huffed, "Back off, I'm challenging her!"
"But-"
"It's all right, Bakura-kun..." Shizuka said softly.
"But Shizuka." he said to her, "This is all of your chips- and you you don't have very many to begin with." he stated, "If you lose, you'll lose them all!"
"And if I win, I'll double them." she said firmly,
It's true, she didn't have many...but wagering one at a time wasn't going to get her anywehre. 6 star chips will bring her over half way to her chance-
"I understand but I still feel it's too risky." he said to her, "Mokuba may be a kid...but he IS Seto Kaiba's little brother." he stated, "Stated Kaiba is one of the strongest players of the game..."
"That's right!" said Mokuba, "My big brother taught me how to play, and I am going to use everything he taught me to defeat you!"
"I'll take that chance." said Shizuka, "I don't know why you're doing this Mokuba, but I'm sorry- I need to get into that castle, I need to take a chance at that money to help Tobi."
I knew it...
Mokuba thought to himself.
She's doing it for the money to help Tobi...but she has no idea what she's getting into...and I can't let her find out.
"Then that settles it." said Mokuba, "We're dueling!"
To Be Continued...