Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monster GX Fan Fiction ❯ The Darkness of Destiny ❯ Arrangements ( Chapter 5 )

The Darkness of Destiny

 

Just to clear things up, with Zane's possible impending defeat in episode 129, so this story's purposes, Season 3 never happens. No Martin, no Johan Andersen, no alternate dimension, no Professor Cobra, nothing, okay?

 

Chapter 5

 

Arrangements

 

“Quite a victory, Ms. Rhodes,” Sartorius said, turning off the recording of the match. “I am pleased to see you retain the same talent I remember from Duel Academy.”

 

“Thanks, I guess,” Alexis replied, nodding. Sartorius picked up a sheet of paper from his desk and held it out to her.

 

“I contacted this young woman. She doesn't normally participate in professional duels, so you'll be dueling her here. She's quite talented, and should you defeat her, I'll sponsor your career in the leagues,” He said. Aster looked down at the paper.

 

“Jaclyn Martingale?” He muttered. “Never heard of her.”

 

“She's an old friend. She's a good duelist but detests the official tournaments. I assure you, Aster, she's as strong as any professional,” Sartorius explained. “I look forward to your performance, Ms. Rhodes.”

 

“Thanks,” Alexis replied. The door the lounge opened, and Sean appeared in the doorframe.

 

“Master Sartorius, you have a Mr. Thunder waiting you in the foyer,” He called. Sartorius frowned.

 

“I don't know a Mr. Thunder,” He protested. “I didn't even think that was a name.”

 

“Well he claims to know you,” Sean sighed. Sartorius nodded.

 

“Very well. Aster, keep Alexis company for a moment while I sort this out.” Sartorius followed Sean out of the room, leaving his client alone with Alexis. Aster crossed the room and turned on the game system above the TV and grabbed the controller.

 

“When did you find time to slip those cards into my deck?” She asked, watching him sit down and start the game.

 

“Remember when I shuffled your deck for luck before the match?” Aster replied, loading his file. Alexis turned her attention to the TV, and the game image of a winged creature slashing a glowing sword of energy.

 

“Legacy of Kain?” She muttered, remembering when Atticus played the series before enrolling in the Academy. “You really get off on this Destiny stuff huh?” Aster shrugged.

 

“Games give me time to chill. Besides, yeah, I do believe in it, I practically live my life based on that belief,” He explained. Alexis put an arm on the back of the sofa and used it to support her chin. She remembered when Atticus, the weirdo, had had their parents send him his PS2 from home with his games, and had spent a weekend telling her every detail about the series. She wouldn't deny it seemed interesting, but console games were never really her thing.

 

“Cool game, this one,” Alexis said, knowing Aster was listening, and if he wasn't, he would soon. “Raziel…born with the power to change the course of fate, but constantly manipulated by his supposed friends and allies into helping them achieve their own goals…” She trailed off and looked down at Aster out of the corner of her eye.

 

“I like Kain myself,” Aster muttered, jumping across a lake. “Bound to follow his fate and ridiculing and mocking the one person who can help him, when all Raziel is trying to do is show Kain the error of his ways so they can both fix their past mistakes.” The two sat in silence for a moment, then Aster paused the game. “I never did go for the passive aggressive stuff,” He admitted, leaning back his head to look up at Alexis.

 

“Look, you're trying to help me, fine, just know that I'm not going to be led by the hand,” Alexis explained. “I don't mind it that much, but really, why me?” Aster shrugged.

 

“You just happened to come along. Right place at the right time, I suppose,” He replied, starting again.

 

“So the man of destiny's big excuse is coincidence?” Alexis laughed. Aster smirked and chuckled quietly. The game switched to a cinema of a robed figure confronting Raziel.

 

“Ah, the Timestreamer,” Alexis said. “Moebius, seeing into time's passages and manipulating others to accomplish goals only he understands. The so-called great prophet, watching time from the bowels of his fortress.” The two watched the cinema quietly for a moment. “You have any other games?” Alexis asked suddenly.

 

“Yeah,” Aster muttered, standing and turning off the system.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

Sean led Sartorius to the entrance hall of the manor. Sean bowed as they neared the doors and slipped away, leaving Sartorius with a young man in a long dark coat, looking up at the bust above the door with his back to Sartorius.

 

“Isn't that some kind of composer?” The man asked. Sartorius' eyes widened. He knew that voice. “Mozart or something, right?” The man continued, turning and shoving his hands in his pockets.

 

“Beethoven, actually,” Sartorius corrected, walking up to him. “I must say, I'm surprised you're here. I didn't think you even knew where I lived, never mind the fact I never thought you'd speak to me again.”

 

“Yeah, well, I've been doing some traveling, digging up some research,” The man replied with a shrug. “Finding you was easy compared to what I have to find next. But enough about me, I'm here about you.”

 

“Me? What do you want with me?” Sartorius asked, narrowing his eyes. The man fixed him in a hard stare. One of his hands emerged from his pockets with a dueling deck.

 

“I need your powers,” The man said.

 

“Absolutely not,” Sartorius snapped right away.

 

“Hey, you don't even know what I want them for, and it just so happens I'm trying to help you out here,” The man protested. “I'm here because of Zane.”

 

“Zane? What do you wish to do about him?” Sartorius asked. The man snorted.

 

“Look, I'm not stupid, I know what you did to Zane. No one suffers from a loss that badly without a little outside help. You did this to him, and now you have to help me undo it.”

 

“I don't know how you found out about that, but I did nothing to Zane to send him down this path. He chose his path of darkness on his own, I merely…faced him that way, even if unintentionally,” Sartorius sighed.

 

“Yeah, well, one way or the other, if he goes on like this, someone is gonna get hurt, and some people already have. The way I see it, you help me, I take down Zane, and it all goes back the way it should be. Zane pulls his head out of his ass, you can sleep easy, and Aster gets a worthy challenger for the title besides the goth loser Zane is now,” The man explained.

 

“I thought predicting the future was my job,” Sartorius joked. “Besides, even if I did help you, what assurances do you have you can defeat Zane anyway?”

 

“Who else, if not me?” The man replied. “Aster won't let you do this, Jaden's gone AWOL, and you and I both know there's no one else out there duelist enough to take him on. I admit, I may not beat him, but I have to try. You know me, beside Aster and Jaden, if anyone can beat Zane, it's me.”

 

“I will give you that…” Sartorius whispered. “Alright, but please, never tell anyone about this, especially Aster.” The man nodded and held out his deck. “Know that I do this only for Zane and Aster, and because I trust you.” Sartorius warned, placing a hand over the deck. A purple aura spread over the cards, and Sartorius' eyes glowed brightly for a moment. The aura faded, and Sartorius closed his eyes.

 

“Ya know, five years ago this would have seemed pretty weird,” The man smirked, tucking his deck away.

 

“Destiny often works in strange ways,” Sartorius agreed. The man opened the door to a rainfall and groaned.

 

“Do me a favor and let Alexis spend the night again. She deserves better than this,” The man tossed over his shoulder, pulling his collar up. Sartorius nodded and closed the door as he climbed into a cab, watching him drive before realizing he had never mentioned Alexis in their conversation.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

The serrated teeth of the steak knife tore the meat to shreds, and Shroud skewered the piece with his fork and popped it into his mouth with a grin.

 

“You sure you don't want anything? You're going to become league champion in two weeks, Zane, you've earned a meal. My treat,” He offered. The dark duelist sitting across from him responded with the same stony glare he had fixed his face in ever since Shroud had called him to come to the restaurant they were now at.

 

“Gentlemen, would either of you care for a drink?” The waiter asked, approaching the table.

 

“Yes, scotch on the rocks, please,” Shroud said.

 

“And you sir?” The waiter continued, looking at Zane. Zane ignored him.

 

“Zane, the man asked a question,” Shroud warned, reaching for his breast pocket. Zane snorted, catching the threat of what Shroud had there, and decided this particular battle of wills wasn't worth it.

 

“Ice water,” He muttered after a moment. The waiter nodded and hurried away.

 

“So, I imagine you're pretty excited, being able to finally get a second shot at the man who nearly ruined your life, hm? Being able to rip Aster apart on national television, you can't wait, can you?” Shroud asked, cutting off another piece of steak.

 

“Maybe if you two switched places,” Zane replied. Shroud smirked. He had always known Zane didn't like him, but in the few days since they had rejoined each other, his distaste had blossomed into full blown hatred. It wasn't something Shroud wasn't used to, but still, if his plan was going to work, booby-trapped Duel Disk or not, he would need Zane's favor. He spotted a red dress enter from the waiting room, and waved a hand. “You can go now,” He said. Zane stared for a moment, then got up and marched away. A few moments after he was gone the woman sat down in his seat.

 

“He hates you,” She said, extending a hand over the table. The woman had long, curly red hair and bright blue eyes. Shroud kissed the back of her hand and shrugged.

 

“He's still a kid, he'll learn,” He replied. “You're sure this will work? I told you I had no interest in taking the brute back.”

 

“Ah, but then I wised you up. I told you he was a shoe-in for that little tournament Kaiba has organized. My spies know their research,” The woman grinned, wagging a finger. “That brute, as you call him, is your ticket to glory, and mine too. Remember, I told you about the tournament in exchange for your cooperation, Thomas.”

 

“I know. You brought my money?” Shroud asked. The woman fished a check from her purse and slid it across the table. Shroud picked it up and frowned. “This isn't what we agreed on,” He said.

 

“Ten percent now, the rest when Zane defeats Aster,” The woman explained. “Once he's the champion and denounces Kaiba Corporation afterwards, my husband and I can sweep in. Pegasus will have no choice but to turn control of the leagues to us, once Kaiba Corp's stocks plummet when their champion chews them out.”

 

“Your husband? I thought Zigfried wasn't in on this yet,” Shroud replied.

 

“He will be soon enough. I don't trust him to go along with this, but I need his stocks to seal the deal so I'll bring him on board when our success is assured. I only own thirty percent of Schroeder Corp, my husband and that brat brother of his hold the other seventy,” She said with a shrug. “When Zane wins and Kaiba Corp falls, the leagues will go with them. Pegasus will have to turn to the Schroeders to salvage them.” Shroud nodded. The leagues were owned and sponsored by Industrial Illusions, but operated on Kaiba Corp technology. Much like so many other Duel Monster related enterprises, it was a joint effort - neither company could support the leagues alone.

 

“Then the deal is still on?” Shroud asked. Alicia von Schroeder nodded.

 

“Zane will defeat Aster Phoenix and claim the championship, then lampoon Kaiba Corp. Once the crowd turns its back on the Kaibas, Zigfried and I will buy out their position with Pegasus and take command of the leagues. You, my dark friend, will be a very rich man, the Schroeders will control the dueling world, and Zane will be champion of it all, under your control and in turn, under mine. Everybody wins.”

 

“Except for Aster and Kaiba,” Shroud reminded. Alicia smirked and leaned back.

 

“Too bad for them.”