Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ A Summer to Remember ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Kleptomaniac Can Opener 
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Hentai / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.02.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.6K | Visits: 895 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Hentai / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.02.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.6K | Visits: 895 | Status: Work In Progress
Title: A Summer to Remember 3/7
Author: Kleptomaniac Can Opener
Rating: NC-17
Pairing(s): Seto x Jounouchi
Disclaimer: Any and all things related to Yugi-Oh do not belong to me. However, everything else that has nothing to do with the original series does belong to me.
Summary: The last thing they expected to find at the beach was a naked body.
~*~*~*~
"This is where we are by the Seto-Nai-Kai in Western Honshu." Shizuka's dainty finger points to the map she thought to bring, indicating our spot by the Inland Sea. "Your compass thing is pointing that way, so it could be going anywhere. Kyoto, Lake Biwa, Nagoya, Suigen no Mori, Mount Minakami, Tokyo, Mount Fuji... I'm sure you see my point."
"Meaning no bullet train," I groan. I see Kaiba's questioning face. "It's a mode of transportation. We can probably show you later."
Shizuka speaks up again. "How well do you know this sorcerer?"
"Not as well as I would like. He's some two hundred years old, with a fetish for stealing away children he considers 'too pretty' to grow up. I hear he turns them to stone to forever capture their beauty."
"Damn, hasn't he heard of Kodak?" I sweatdrop at their expressions. "I'm shutting up now."
"There's no way for you to pinpoint his location?"
"I can sense the sorcerer's magic when it is close by, but no better than that."
Shizuka's pouty expression makes a return as she thinks. I can't help but smile, or I do until I sense Kaiba staring at me. I feel my cheeks heat up against my will. We match eyes a moment, those endless blue steal my breath. I look away.
What is wrong with me?
"I guess we could buy bikes. It's faster than walking at least."
I look up at Shizuka's words. How could she not notice what just happened? Was it just me? Am I going insane? Did his singing screw my head over after all? Wait a minute...
"Hey, Kaiba? How come your singing didn't blow our heads up or something?"
"Big brother that's gross!"
"It's a valid question!" We both look to Kaiba, waiting for his answer.
"I did not intend my spell for you. My voice works not only on the manipulation of vibration and sound waves, but also to the will of the spell I sing."
"So those pretty songs you were singing to the squid were attack spells?" How does she ask that with a smile? Oh right, she didn't see what I saw last night.
"They were," is all he says, like it's no big deal. Why is he looking at me like that? I didn't say anything!
"Katsuya, if you're feeling better we should get going."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm good, sis." I stand and brush the sand off. "See? Good as new."
Who am I kidding? This is way out of our league. I don't care if she can summon the Red Eyes Black Dragon; it's insane for us to go along with this!
We're going to blow the money we've been saving all year to hike across the country with a guy who sings Death Scales like a kid sings 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' because his brother got netted by a pedophile who likes art a little too much!
WHY AM I GOING ALONG WITH THIS?
Damn you, legs! Stop walking!
I give up after going another twenty steps. I have no idea why I can't stop. So what if Kaiba is walking closer to Shizuka than I like, and that his tail looks real good in my pants? So what if I can't hear a word they're saying cause I'm lagging behind too much? And so what that you could bounce a yen piece off his ass?
ARGH! I'm going insane!
"Big brother! Stop lagging! We won't be able to travel when it gets too dark!"
"Coming!" I grunt and catch up. At least now I don't have to stare at Kaiba's back...end...
DAMMIT!
"Katsuya, are you okay? Do your injuries still hurt? You look like you're in pain."
"I'm fine, sis." I smile at her. "I'm just thinking. That's all."
This is going to be a loooong journey.
~*~
Wow. That's a lot of coppers. Guess they found the bodies.
I suddenly feel sick. Really, really sick. I try to swallow it down, but images from last night keep coming back to me. I feel a cold sweat break out on my brow.
I need to throw up.
"Back in a sec!" I shout and run off before Shizuka or Kaiba can respond. I thank God that we're right next to the gas station. I dash into the restroom and empty my stomach into the toilet. I swallow and dry heave. My chest and sides hurt. I still see them.
Red and gray and red and white and red...
I wince from a sudden sob. My vision blurs and tears run down my face. It's just now hitting me what happened. I saw a bunch of guys, human beings, freakin' DIE! Die in a really gruesome way in front of my eyeballs!
My back hits the stall wall. More sobs rack my body. I slide down to the cold floor and wrap my arms around myself.
I haven't cried in a long time.
I'm not sure how long I stay in the bathroom, but I feel like total crap when I leave. Even after repeatedly splashing my face with cold water.
Shizuka rushes up and hugs me when I'm finally out. "Katsuya! Are you okay? You were in there for a while!"
"Yeah, I'm okay... I just felt sick, but I'm better now."
"Are you okay to travel? Do you want to go back?"
I snort. "Oh please, like I'd let you go off on your own. I'm good to go, okay?"
"Okay... But if you start feeling sick like that again, you tell me."
"Yes, mom." I laugh when she smacks me on the arm. I feel a little better now.
While I had been bawling like a girl who lost her cherry, Shizuka and Kaiba had located the local bike merchant. Not that Kaiba was any help, I'm sure.
It's lucky for us the elderly storeowner is having a sale to get rid of some of the older models. We grab a black one and get a blue one for half off. And don't ask me how, but sis convinced the guy to give us an adult bike caddy for half off as well.
I'm beginning to suspect my sister isn't as innocent as I thought.
"Shizuka has exceptional negotiation skills."
"Huh? Oh, yeah." I scratch the back of my neck as we watch her bargain the man down a couple hundred yen. "I have no idea where she gets it from."
Whoa! When did he start standing so close to me?!
I quickly step away under the guise of looking at bike chains. I swallow. It feels like he's burning holes into the back of my head.
Oh God...I can feel his eyes going down my body. He can't be checking me out!
I jump when my arm is touched. "GAH! Don't do that to me!"
Shizuka giggles. "You were completely out of it. Come on, let's go. It's almost four already."
"Man, no wonder I'm starvin'! We didn't have lunch, you know."
"Grab a sandwich from your bag then. Kaiba and I already ate so we only have to wait on you."
"Yeah, yeah. I can take a hint. I'll hurry up."
The buzz of the town is the dead gang. There's not a place you can sit and not hear people speculating about it. The most popular theory, according to Shizuka who is a typical girly gossip, is drugs of the experimental kind. Some figure it must have caused their hearts to beat so fast and their blood pressure to build up so high that all the vessels in their heads blew at once.
I only eat half of my sandwich.
It's a quarter after four when we finally get going. I'm on the black bike pulling Kaiba and our luggage along in the caddy, and Shizuka's on the blue bike. I slip on a pair of sunglasses to shade my eyes and sigh. I just know this isn't going to be any fun. I'm gonna get all hot and sweaty and it won't be for good reasons. Ugh, I'm going to need a shower afterwards too.
"Hey, sis? What if it rains?"
"I figured we'd just pitch the tents and weather it out."
"Oh."
"You're going to have to share with Kaiba, you know."
"WHAT?"
She laughs. "I'm a girl! You can't expect me to share!"
"No fair using that excuse!"
"Hey, you're in my debt since I was the one who thought to bring the tents before we left Domino."
I stick my tongue at her. "Whatever."
I swallow. I don't know how I'm going to handle sharing a small tent with him.
~*~
"Remind me never to go camping again. If I get Poison Ivy on my butt I'm gonna be PO'ed," I complain as I put away the toilet paper.
Shizuka just laughs. "Poison Ivy is only native to North America, big brother. You'll be fine."
"Poison Ivy?" asks Kaiba.
"It's a plant that eighty-five percent of the population is allergic to. It makes you really itchy and gives bad rashes. We don't have any here so you don't have to worry about it. Oh! I know! I'll show you the plants we do have that you shouldn't touch!" She grabs him by the hand and pulls him along behind her. I feel something sharp shoot into my belly.
I bite the inside of my cheek. I refuse to be jealous over a...a cod!
I busy myself with fixing up the insides of our tents. It's too warm to sleep with the sleeping bags closed right now, so I spread them out instead.
Damn. Like this I don't really have a way of separating our sleeping areas. He better not roll around.
I hope I don't roll around.
I'm already settled down for bed when they get back about fifteen minutes later. I listen as Kaiba crawls inside. There's the sound of cloth as he undresses then lies down.
It's hard to sleep. I can feel his body heat, hear his breath. Maybe if I just keep my eyes closed...
A warmth on my ear.
A hand on my chest.
A hot tongue on my neck.
I moan and try to open my eyes.
Teeth slowly scrape across my bare shoulder, that hand moving down my stomach at the same time.
My eyes open to meet two brilliant orbs of endless ocean. Waves of passion and lust crash into each other in a storm of need.
"Kaiba...?"
"Katsuya, wake up."
"Huh? Wha?" I jerk up and find Shizuka next to me. For some reason she has a huge grin on her face.
"I thought we should get an early start. Wash up and grab some breakfast."
"Sure, sure." I rub my eyes. "Where's Kaiba?"
"He's already waiting in the caddy, so don't take too long."
The entire morning I feel like she's giggling about something I should know about.
Aw geez...I hope she didn't notice that I was a little...excited. That's way too embarrassing!
I need to throw her attention off of me.
"Hey, Kaiba! Tell us about yourself." Man, I can feel him glaring at the back of my head. "C'mon! You know all about us. It's only fair."
"I don't think we should force him if he's not comfortable with it, Katsuya."
I pout. I want to know more about him. Even if I won't understand what he's going on about...
I don't even know his favorite color.
~*~
We follow the directions the compass points in for several days, passing the time by telling Kaiba about anything and everything under the sun. He has a damn good memory too.
Our muscles stopped being sore a while back. I don't know if that's a good thing or not though.
I now worship truck stops and 24-hour businesses. And coffee. If you need to stay awake for roadtrips, coffee is the way to go. I suggest trying Hazelnut.
"You okay back there, Kaiba? We can stop for a break if you need to stretch your legs." I glance over my shoulder and feel my mouth go dry. His eyes haven't lost their intenseness. Those dreams I keep having aren't any help either.
"That would be good."
"It doesn't look like we're too far from the city. How about we wait until we're there?" suggests sis.
So we pit stop in some town I didn't catch the name of. We visit a gas station to freshen up then locate a small diner to get something different to eat. I don't know about anyone else, but I can only eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for so long.
I groan as I sink into the booth. "I feel like I've been biking for freakin' ever. I vote we never do this again."
Shizuka sits next to me and picks up a menu. "We should do this with a car next time! It'll be more fun then!"
"It's not right for you to be so perky after all that exercise..." I grumble then lay my head down on the table. "Just get me something easy to digest."
After lunch, we stop by a laundry mat to wash our clothes then head to a small store to restock on toilet paper and anything else Shizuka thinks we need. We're back on the road around three hours later. On the way out of town, Kaiba freezes in his tracks.
"What is it?" I ask. He has a strange look on his face. It chills me.
"I sense the sorcerer's magic."
Before I know it we're standing outside an old warehouse. It smells of rusted steel, oil, and grease. "Okay, sis, you stay here and we'll check it out."
"Nice try, but I'm going in. Besides, you're the one who should stay out here. You don't have magic."
"I'm not having my sister walk headlong into danger!"
She glares at me with her hands on her hips. "I can take care of myself! I've been practicing and making pacts with new Spirits!"
"What? When?"
"While you were being lazy and sleeping."
Did becoming a Summoner increase her endurance or something? Cause this is ridiculous.
The metal door slides open with a low groan. "Both of you come in." With that, Kaiba disappears inside. We hurry to catch up.
It's quiet, cold, and creepy. It looks like the place is used to store old construction equipment. I catch the sound of...Duel Monster commands? "Shit! Kids are in here!"
We rush deeper inside, our footsteps echoing off the walls in angry shouts.
It looks like a sixth grade fieldtrip, only the students forgot the teachers.
"The sorcerer's minion is nearly here."
I curse when Kaiba says that. I don't need to be a genius to be able to tell who the targets are. It's a two-on-one Duel, and the two are a pair of twins who are pretty enough to be models.
Shizuka runs in ahead of me. "You have to get out of here! It's dangerous!"
"Don't just stand there gaping!" I push a few of them towards the exit. "Some bad guys are headed here! Get out!"
We all freeze when the room shakes with a loud THUMP. That can't be good.
THUMP.
THUMP.
Kaiba comes to stand next to me, his body tense and eyes narrow.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
It's here.
It looks a lot like Stone Guardian, only it's made of metal instead of rock. The damn thing has to be nine feet tall!
A sharp note cuts through the air. The monster stumbles back as the song hits him.
"Flee!" At his command, the children make a run for it.
"Sis! Stick with them in case there are more!"
"But what about-"
"Protect those kids!" I know she has a better chance of keeping them safe than I do.
She nods and guides them out.
Kaiba keeps singing in short bursts to hold him back, but he's not doing any real damage. "What can I do?" I run up beside him.
He coughs harshly into his hand. "Be useful." He shoves something into my mouth.
I swallow.
Colors.
Yellow, red, blue, white...flickering all around me, dancing to music I can't hear.
A starburst winks in the distance. It floats closer and closer until it engulfs me in its light.
"Is it power you want, little warrior? Power like the one who kissed your hair and filled your heart?"
"Who...?" I can't see anyone...just fire.
"Is it what you wish? Tell me now or be gone."
"Yes, I want to help!"
"So be it. Recite the contract."
"But I don't know any-" But wait. I do. I do know.
"Lord of passion and lust,
Lord of love and betrayal,
With your ever-burning flame
Grant unto me my desires.
A will that controls heat and fire,
A body with the strength and speed to consume all.
Lord of the crimson tongue,
I pledge to you my hallow soul.
Take me as your vessel and be reborn!"
Something inside me changes.
The chill in the air disappears.
My body quivers. I've never felt so strong.
Pain bites into my side. I scream, my eyes snap open. That monster is standing right in front of me. I distantly hear Kaiba yelling my name, but he's hard to hear over the roaring of blood and fire between my ears. A quick glance tells me metal-head morphed his arm into a blade. A blade covered in my blood, the tip embedded in the floor. I grab him about where a hilt should be and turn up the heat.
"RAAAWR!"
I smirk. "Yeah! See how you like it, asshole!" I'm too high on adrenaline to feel the pain anymore. It's almost funny how Tin Man on Steroids stumbles back, flailing.
I hold up my new toy. It's as light as cotton to me. "Let's rumble!"
I laugh. The fire in my belly is dancing higher, hotter. My flame sword cuts through the monster like he's jelly.
A cool touch brings me to a standstill. It's a splash of cold water to my senses.
"He's dead, Katsuya."
"Oh." Looks like those last few dozen strokes weren't needed.
"You're injured."
"Yeah, I forgot." I collapse against him.
Even oblivion is warm now.
Author: Kleptomaniac Can Opener
Rating: NC-17
Pairing(s): Seto x Jounouchi
Disclaimer: Any and all things related to Yugi-Oh do not belong to me. However, everything else that has nothing to do with the original series does belong to me.
Summary: The last thing they expected to find at the beach was a naked body.
~*~*~*~
"This is where we are by the Seto-Nai-Kai in Western Honshu." Shizuka's dainty finger points to the map she thought to bring, indicating our spot by the Inland Sea. "Your compass thing is pointing that way, so it could be going anywhere. Kyoto, Lake Biwa, Nagoya, Suigen no Mori, Mount Minakami, Tokyo, Mount Fuji... I'm sure you see my point."
"Meaning no bullet train," I groan. I see Kaiba's questioning face. "It's a mode of transportation. We can probably show you later."
Shizuka speaks up again. "How well do you know this sorcerer?"
"Not as well as I would like. He's some two hundred years old, with a fetish for stealing away children he considers 'too pretty' to grow up. I hear he turns them to stone to forever capture their beauty."
"Damn, hasn't he heard of Kodak?" I sweatdrop at their expressions. "I'm shutting up now."
"There's no way for you to pinpoint his location?"
"I can sense the sorcerer's magic when it is close by, but no better than that."
Shizuka's pouty expression makes a return as she thinks. I can't help but smile, or I do until I sense Kaiba staring at me. I feel my cheeks heat up against my will. We match eyes a moment, those endless blue steal my breath. I look away.
What is wrong with me?
"I guess we could buy bikes. It's faster than walking at least."
I look up at Shizuka's words. How could she not notice what just happened? Was it just me? Am I going insane? Did his singing screw my head over after all? Wait a minute...
"Hey, Kaiba? How come your singing didn't blow our heads up or something?"
"Big brother that's gross!"
"It's a valid question!" We both look to Kaiba, waiting for his answer.
"I did not intend my spell for you. My voice works not only on the manipulation of vibration and sound waves, but also to the will of the spell I sing."
"So those pretty songs you were singing to the squid were attack spells?" How does she ask that with a smile? Oh right, she didn't see what I saw last night.
"They were," is all he says, like it's no big deal. Why is he looking at me like that? I didn't say anything!
"Katsuya, if you're feeling better we should get going."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm good, sis." I stand and brush the sand off. "See? Good as new."
Who am I kidding? This is way out of our league. I don't care if she can summon the Red Eyes Black Dragon; it's insane for us to go along with this!
We're going to blow the money we've been saving all year to hike across the country with a guy who sings Death Scales like a kid sings 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' because his brother got netted by a pedophile who likes art a little too much!
WHY AM I GOING ALONG WITH THIS?
Damn you, legs! Stop walking!
I give up after going another twenty steps. I have no idea why I can't stop. So what if Kaiba is walking closer to Shizuka than I like, and that his tail looks real good in my pants? So what if I can't hear a word they're saying cause I'm lagging behind too much? And so what that you could bounce a yen piece off his ass?
ARGH! I'm going insane!
"Big brother! Stop lagging! We won't be able to travel when it gets too dark!"
"Coming!" I grunt and catch up. At least now I don't have to stare at Kaiba's back...end...
DAMMIT!
"Katsuya, are you okay? Do your injuries still hurt? You look like you're in pain."
"I'm fine, sis." I smile at her. "I'm just thinking. That's all."
This is going to be a loooong journey.
~*~
Wow. That's a lot of coppers. Guess they found the bodies.
I suddenly feel sick. Really, really sick. I try to swallow it down, but images from last night keep coming back to me. I feel a cold sweat break out on my brow.
I need to throw up.
"Back in a sec!" I shout and run off before Shizuka or Kaiba can respond. I thank God that we're right next to the gas station. I dash into the restroom and empty my stomach into the toilet. I swallow and dry heave. My chest and sides hurt. I still see them.
Red and gray and red and white and red...
I wince from a sudden sob. My vision blurs and tears run down my face. It's just now hitting me what happened. I saw a bunch of guys, human beings, freakin' DIE! Die in a really gruesome way in front of my eyeballs!
My back hits the stall wall. More sobs rack my body. I slide down to the cold floor and wrap my arms around myself.
I haven't cried in a long time.
I'm not sure how long I stay in the bathroom, but I feel like total crap when I leave. Even after repeatedly splashing my face with cold water.
Shizuka rushes up and hugs me when I'm finally out. "Katsuya! Are you okay? You were in there for a while!"
"Yeah, I'm okay... I just felt sick, but I'm better now."
"Are you okay to travel? Do you want to go back?"
I snort. "Oh please, like I'd let you go off on your own. I'm good to go, okay?"
"Okay... But if you start feeling sick like that again, you tell me."
"Yes, mom." I laugh when she smacks me on the arm. I feel a little better now.
While I had been bawling like a girl who lost her cherry, Shizuka and Kaiba had located the local bike merchant. Not that Kaiba was any help, I'm sure.
It's lucky for us the elderly storeowner is having a sale to get rid of some of the older models. We grab a black one and get a blue one for half off. And don't ask me how, but sis convinced the guy to give us an adult bike caddy for half off as well.
I'm beginning to suspect my sister isn't as innocent as I thought.
"Shizuka has exceptional negotiation skills."
"Huh? Oh, yeah." I scratch the back of my neck as we watch her bargain the man down a couple hundred yen. "I have no idea where she gets it from."
Whoa! When did he start standing so close to me?!
I quickly step away under the guise of looking at bike chains. I swallow. It feels like he's burning holes into the back of my head.
Oh God...I can feel his eyes going down my body. He can't be checking me out!
I jump when my arm is touched. "GAH! Don't do that to me!"
Shizuka giggles. "You were completely out of it. Come on, let's go. It's almost four already."
"Man, no wonder I'm starvin'! We didn't have lunch, you know."
"Grab a sandwich from your bag then. Kaiba and I already ate so we only have to wait on you."
"Yeah, yeah. I can take a hint. I'll hurry up."
The buzz of the town is the dead gang. There's not a place you can sit and not hear people speculating about it. The most popular theory, according to Shizuka who is a typical girly gossip, is drugs of the experimental kind. Some figure it must have caused their hearts to beat so fast and their blood pressure to build up so high that all the vessels in their heads blew at once.
I only eat half of my sandwich.
It's a quarter after four when we finally get going. I'm on the black bike pulling Kaiba and our luggage along in the caddy, and Shizuka's on the blue bike. I slip on a pair of sunglasses to shade my eyes and sigh. I just know this isn't going to be any fun. I'm gonna get all hot and sweaty and it won't be for good reasons. Ugh, I'm going to need a shower afterwards too.
"Hey, sis? What if it rains?"
"I figured we'd just pitch the tents and weather it out."
"Oh."
"You're going to have to share with Kaiba, you know."
"WHAT?"
She laughs. "I'm a girl! You can't expect me to share!"
"No fair using that excuse!"
"Hey, you're in my debt since I was the one who thought to bring the tents before we left Domino."
I stick my tongue at her. "Whatever."
I swallow. I don't know how I'm going to handle sharing a small tent with him.
~*~
"Remind me never to go camping again. If I get Poison Ivy on my butt I'm gonna be PO'ed," I complain as I put away the toilet paper.
Shizuka just laughs. "Poison Ivy is only native to North America, big brother. You'll be fine."
"Poison Ivy?" asks Kaiba.
"It's a plant that eighty-five percent of the population is allergic to. It makes you really itchy and gives bad rashes. We don't have any here so you don't have to worry about it. Oh! I know! I'll show you the plants we do have that you shouldn't touch!" She grabs him by the hand and pulls him along behind her. I feel something sharp shoot into my belly.
I bite the inside of my cheek. I refuse to be jealous over a...a cod!
I busy myself with fixing up the insides of our tents. It's too warm to sleep with the sleeping bags closed right now, so I spread them out instead.
Damn. Like this I don't really have a way of separating our sleeping areas. He better not roll around.
I hope I don't roll around.
I'm already settled down for bed when they get back about fifteen minutes later. I listen as Kaiba crawls inside. There's the sound of cloth as he undresses then lies down.
It's hard to sleep. I can feel his body heat, hear his breath. Maybe if I just keep my eyes closed...
A warmth on my ear.
A hand on my chest.
A hot tongue on my neck.
I moan and try to open my eyes.
Teeth slowly scrape across my bare shoulder, that hand moving down my stomach at the same time.
My eyes open to meet two brilliant orbs of endless ocean. Waves of passion and lust crash into each other in a storm of need.
"Kaiba...?"
"Katsuya, wake up."
"Huh? Wha?" I jerk up and find Shizuka next to me. For some reason she has a huge grin on her face.
"I thought we should get an early start. Wash up and grab some breakfast."
"Sure, sure." I rub my eyes. "Where's Kaiba?"
"He's already waiting in the caddy, so don't take too long."
The entire morning I feel like she's giggling about something I should know about.
Aw geez...I hope she didn't notice that I was a little...excited. That's way too embarrassing!
I need to throw her attention off of me.
"Hey, Kaiba! Tell us about yourself." Man, I can feel him glaring at the back of my head. "C'mon! You know all about us. It's only fair."
"I don't think we should force him if he's not comfortable with it, Katsuya."
I pout. I want to know more about him. Even if I won't understand what he's going on about...
I don't even know his favorite color.
~*~
We follow the directions the compass points in for several days, passing the time by telling Kaiba about anything and everything under the sun. He has a damn good memory too.
Our muscles stopped being sore a while back. I don't know if that's a good thing or not though.
I now worship truck stops and 24-hour businesses. And coffee. If you need to stay awake for roadtrips, coffee is the way to go. I suggest trying Hazelnut.
"You okay back there, Kaiba? We can stop for a break if you need to stretch your legs." I glance over my shoulder and feel my mouth go dry. His eyes haven't lost their intenseness. Those dreams I keep having aren't any help either.
"That would be good."
"It doesn't look like we're too far from the city. How about we wait until we're there?" suggests sis.
So we pit stop in some town I didn't catch the name of. We visit a gas station to freshen up then locate a small diner to get something different to eat. I don't know about anyone else, but I can only eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for so long.
I groan as I sink into the booth. "I feel like I've been biking for freakin' ever. I vote we never do this again."
Shizuka sits next to me and picks up a menu. "We should do this with a car next time! It'll be more fun then!"
"It's not right for you to be so perky after all that exercise..." I grumble then lay my head down on the table. "Just get me something easy to digest."
After lunch, we stop by a laundry mat to wash our clothes then head to a small store to restock on toilet paper and anything else Shizuka thinks we need. We're back on the road around three hours later. On the way out of town, Kaiba freezes in his tracks.
"What is it?" I ask. He has a strange look on his face. It chills me.
"I sense the sorcerer's magic."
Before I know it we're standing outside an old warehouse. It smells of rusted steel, oil, and grease. "Okay, sis, you stay here and we'll check it out."
"Nice try, but I'm going in. Besides, you're the one who should stay out here. You don't have magic."
"I'm not having my sister walk headlong into danger!"
She glares at me with her hands on her hips. "I can take care of myself! I've been practicing and making pacts with new Spirits!"
"What? When?"
"While you were being lazy and sleeping."
Did becoming a Summoner increase her endurance or something? Cause this is ridiculous.
The metal door slides open with a low groan. "Both of you come in." With that, Kaiba disappears inside. We hurry to catch up.
It's quiet, cold, and creepy. It looks like the place is used to store old construction equipment. I catch the sound of...Duel Monster commands? "Shit! Kids are in here!"
We rush deeper inside, our footsteps echoing off the walls in angry shouts.
It looks like a sixth grade fieldtrip, only the students forgot the teachers.
"The sorcerer's minion is nearly here."
I curse when Kaiba says that. I don't need to be a genius to be able to tell who the targets are. It's a two-on-one Duel, and the two are a pair of twins who are pretty enough to be models.
Shizuka runs in ahead of me. "You have to get out of here! It's dangerous!"
"Don't just stand there gaping!" I push a few of them towards the exit. "Some bad guys are headed here! Get out!"
We all freeze when the room shakes with a loud THUMP. That can't be good.
THUMP.
THUMP.
Kaiba comes to stand next to me, his body tense and eyes narrow.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
It's here.
It looks a lot like Stone Guardian, only it's made of metal instead of rock. The damn thing has to be nine feet tall!
A sharp note cuts through the air. The monster stumbles back as the song hits him.
"Flee!" At his command, the children make a run for it.
"Sis! Stick with them in case there are more!"
"But what about-"
"Protect those kids!" I know she has a better chance of keeping them safe than I do.
She nods and guides them out.
Kaiba keeps singing in short bursts to hold him back, but he's not doing any real damage. "What can I do?" I run up beside him.
He coughs harshly into his hand. "Be useful." He shoves something into my mouth.
I swallow.
Colors.
Yellow, red, blue, white...flickering all around me, dancing to music I can't hear.
A starburst winks in the distance. It floats closer and closer until it engulfs me in its light.
"Is it power you want, little warrior? Power like the one who kissed your hair and filled your heart?"
"Who...?" I can't see anyone...just fire.
"Is it what you wish? Tell me now or be gone."
"Yes, I want to help!"
"So be it. Recite the contract."
"But I don't know any-" But wait. I do. I do know.
"Lord of passion and lust,
Lord of love and betrayal,
With your ever-burning flame
Grant unto me my desires.
A will that controls heat and fire,
A body with the strength and speed to consume all.
Lord of the crimson tongue,
I pledge to you my hallow soul.
Take me as your vessel and be reborn!"
Something inside me changes.
The chill in the air disappears.
My body quivers. I've never felt so strong.
Pain bites into my side. I scream, my eyes snap open. That monster is standing right in front of me. I distantly hear Kaiba yelling my name, but he's hard to hear over the roaring of blood and fire between my ears. A quick glance tells me metal-head morphed his arm into a blade. A blade covered in my blood, the tip embedded in the floor. I grab him about where a hilt should be and turn up the heat.
"RAAAWR!"
I smirk. "Yeah! See how you like it, asshole!" I'm too high on adrenaline to feel the pain anymore. It's almost funny how Tin Man on Steroids stumbles back, flailing.
I hold up my new toy. It's as light as cotton to me. "Let's rumble!"
I laugh. The fire in my belly is dancing higher, hotter. My flame sword cuts through the monster like he's jelly.
A cool touch brings me to a standstill. It's a splash of cold water to my senses.
"He's dead, Katsuya."
"Oh." Looks like those last few dozen strokes weren't needed.
"You're injured."
"Yeah, I forgot." I collapse against him.
Even oblivion is warm now.