Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Bull's-Eye ❯ Chapter 3

This is my version of the Duelist Kingdom tournament, so not everything goes exactly to the actual series. Don't flame me saying things like `that's not how it goes!' or `he didn't do that!' or `that didn't happen!' because I KNOW what happens in the series! This is a story and nothing more. It's not my problem if you cannot read.

WARNING: Slight language. Nothing harsh.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, although I wish I did. (Seto Kaiba… mmm…)

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We set off together mid-morning when all the duelists were just now waking up. We had already woken about an hour prior to our departure. Gradually making our way up the beach and into the forest, neither of us mentioned the fact that we were traveling as a pair. I guess we enjoyed one another's company after all. Many duelists passed by us and stared at us as if we each had three arms. We knew that we were the hottest gossip in Duelist Kingdom, and that there would be some nasty rumours going around about us. It didn't bother us though; we knew the truth and that was all that mattered.

"Hm, what's this?" Kaiba stopped abruptly and looked at a sign which was mounted on a cliff face outside a large cave entrance that we were passing by. It said `Duelists Beware!' in poorly applied red paint.

"Somebody is probably in there wanting to duel." I stated.

"Shall we go and get our last star chips then?" Kaiba asked.

"Suits me."

After walking about fifty or so yards into the cave, the ground below us gave in and we found ourselves falling. I felt like I was Alice falling down the rabbit hole. We fell about three metres and landed in a heap on the hard dusty ground. This was a trap. I should have known.

"What is the meaning of this?" Kaiba asked as he got to his feet and brushed himself down.

I tried to push myself up off the ground but landed pathetically back down - I had sprained my wrist. It throbbed painfully and was already starting to swell. I got a bandage out of my bag and wrapped it around my wrist tightly.

"Are you alright?" Kaiba asked sternly, being careful not to show any emotion.

I nodded. "Just a sprained wrist. Nothing I can't handle." In the distance I could hear a familiar voice with an irritating coppery twang to it. The voice was male and it sounded like he was having an argument with another. I noticed the stone walls at either side of us had torches mounted on them, burning brightly; illuminating what seemed to be a hallway.

"Come on." Kaiba motioned me to follow him, his purple trench coat flowing behind him as he walked.

Much to our dismay, the moron parade soon came into view. The kid with the white hair was also standing with them, but he looked different than the last time I saw him… somewhat… more innocent. The blonde was the first to say something.

"Well, well, well, look who it is! It's the girl that never smiles and thinks that she's just the Mac-daddy at dueling!" He chided.

I gave him the one-finger salute. Kaiba crossed his arms and smiled maliciously at the mop-headed boy in the green coat. "At least she isn't a third rate duelist, mutt."

The blonde growled, much like that of a dog. I chuckled; Kaiba was right when he called him a `mutt'. I eyed each individual in the group; the girl looked at me as if I had my hands all over her territory, the taller brunet boy in the fawn coloured coat that had a hairstyle that imitated that of a shark-fin was staring at me like I was a Playboy model. Then finally, the dwarf kid with hair that looked like a firecracker gone-wrong stood looking up at me with huge violet orbs.

"Is there anybody down here besides you idiots?" Kaiba asked.

The girl clenched her teeth and fists even further and said, "We don't know yet Kaiba, and the least you could do is introduce us to your girlfriend!"

I snorted. Girlfriend? Boy was she way off or what?! Kaiba rolled his eyes and pushed through the four teens who were loitering around doing nothing. At least he had motive. I followed and walked beside him.

"Kaiba, how do you know where you're going?" I asked.

"I'm looking for a way out. There has to be another way and I'm not even going to think about attempting to climb up the wall of the pit that we fell down."

"Good point." Suddenly I heard footsteps running up behind us. The geek patrol had obviously decided to tag along behind us. I could hear them bickering once more.

"Hey! Hey you! Girl wit da green - err blue hair! Come back here a second!" The accent of the blonde boy was nearly driving me to drink. I stopped in my tracks and turned around. He ran up to me panting slightly.

"Lay one finger on me and you'll never see the light of day again." I stated. He backed up slightly so a comfortable space was between us. "Good, now what do you want?"

"Uh, well, me and da gang, uh, just wanted to know if we could uh, you know? Tag along? We're stuck down `ere just like yous are!"

"No shit, Sherlock." I rolled my eyes and continued to walk alongside Kaiba.

"Is that a yes?" The brunet boy asked from the back of the group.

"Sure, whatever."

We walked for a while when we began to hear eerie noises from further down in the cave. The torches on either side of the walls stopped and we found ourselves walking into complete darkness. I stopped to grab my torch out of my bag when the brunette girl walked into me.

"Watch where you're going." I said obnoxiously as I deliberately shined my torch in her eyes.

"Alright! Geeze no need to blind me! Bitch…" She replied defensively.

"I heard that."

"Look there's something up there!" Motou cried from behind us. Kaiba and I stayed silent as we kept walking. We encountered a group of about four male duelists all wearing Halloween masks, trying to intimidate us.

"Pathetic." I said, shining my torch in their faces.

"I agree. We're wasting our time here." Kaiba replied.

"If you don't duel us, you'll never make it out of this cave alive!" One of the masked duelists threatened in a bogus voice.

Kaiba opened his briefcase and pulled out a sleek silver gun. He cocked it. "Would you like to find out who really makes it out of here alive?"

At that instant, they took off their masks and put their hands up. I recognized one of the duelists as Bones - a duelist who duels with zombie cards. There was another one there - a champion American duelist named Bandit Keith. He was humiliated in the last duel monsters tournament when Pegasus asked a child to play the final move for him. He duels with Machine monster cards.

"You little punks! You're the ones dat trapped us in here?!" Jounouchi screeched.

"You got that right!" Keith chided.

"Shall we settle this with a duel then?" I asked.

Keith snorted a laugh. "You? Duel against… me?" He raised his eyebrows and smiled as if his face was going to split in half.

"I'm no coward, Keith, and I don't take my duels lightly. So back down now, or show me where your dueling arena is."

The duel was over in a matter of twenty-five minutes. Of course I won, finishing off the duel with my secret weapon and most beloved pet, my Blue Eyes White Dragon. I added my final star chip onto my dueling glove. Bones, Keith and their sidekicks muttered some directions to get us out of the cave. We emerged into the daylight and the dwebe brigade carried on on their own path. Kaiba and I walked silently for another half hour. We stopped as we came to a fork - one way went to a dense forest, the other was a direct route to the castle with a forest in between.

"Well Kaiba, I guess I'll see you at the castle then?" I said.

He tilted his head to the side slightly. I swore I saw his eyes soften. "Don't you want to watch me kick some other duelist's ass?"

A smile threatened to spread onto our faces and we cracked up laughing. "I don't need to watch you Kaiba; I already know you're going to be five minutes behind me on the way to that castle." I said, grinning.

One corner of his mouth lifted into a smile. "Well, don't get lost in the woods on the way there."

"I assure you I won't. I found you on the beach didn't I?" I said with an air of dignity.

"You never did tell me how long you were searching for me, Toya." Kaiba teased.

I shot him a spiteful look. "Nevermind that. What matters is that I found you, I dueled you, and I am satisfied. But I still wish I could have taken your star chips." I said, smiling arrogantly at him.

His cobalt irises softened even further and he stuck out his gloved hand. I took hold of it. "I'll be seeing you at the castle then, Toya."

"Yes, you will. Good luck on winning your last star chip, Kaiba."

"Luck's got nothing to do with it." He grasped my hand firmly for a second and then let go, turning on his journey to find his next victim.

It didn't take me long to reach Pegasus' castle. However walking up the steps to the castle doors was the biggest challenge I had ever faced since I arrived in Duelist Kingdom. I have to stop smoking… I thought. When I finally reached the top, there were two men dressed in black suits standing outside the doors. They asked me for Duelist Kingdom identification.

"Please take off your dueling glove for examination, Miss." One said. I took it off and handed it to him. He eyed each and every star chip carefully and took them out of their slots. I guessed it was to prove whether they were fake or not.

"Thank you Miss Toya. We will be asking for your Glory of the King's Hand and your Glory of the King's Opposite Hand identification cards once all the duelists have arrived. For now, Mr. Croquet will escort you to your guest room."

I took back my dueling glove and proceeded further into the castle. A man stood in the entrance hall wearing a black tux just like the other two. I guessed this was Croquet, or whoever those other goons were talking about.

"Welcome to the Duelist Kingdom Castle, you are the first finalist to arrive. Please, come this way." I followed him up a flight of dark wooden stairs accompanied with a red rug on them, and down a hall toward my room. Croquet halted and took out a key from his pocket. He opened the door and took out the key and handed it to me.

"This will be your guest room while you are on your stay here. I will escort you to the dining room at six o'clock for the introductory feast once all the finalists have arrived. That will be when you meet Mr. Pegasus. For now, feel free to take advantage of your room's facilities. If you wish to smoke, you may do so on the castle's upper deck outside. This applies for all rooms in the castle." He left me with the key to my room and disappeared down the hallway again.

I walked into my room, only to find that it was complete luxury - something I didn't get often. That would all change once I won that three million dollars though. I walked over to the bed and threw down my bag and kicked off my shoes. I advanced on the refrigerator - the only thing I had had to eat today was a chocolate bar that Kaiba didn't want from inside his briefcase. And I could hardly eat my tobacco either.

Inside the small fridge was a bottle of champagne, a large bowl of fruit salad with strawberries, some crackers with brie and camembert cheeses, delicatessen meats and a jug of iced water. I went for the jug of water first and gulped down about half of it. It had been a while since I crossed a river with fresh water in it. Come to think of it, I hadn't washed for two days either.

Once I had had my refreshments I went and showered in the bathroom. It had been too long since I had pampered myself in a full-length tub. I noticed that night was approaching, and wondered if Kaiba had come to the castle yet. I quickly got out of the tub and pulled on a robe. I rolled up a cigarette and went to my shorts pocket to search for my Zippo. I searched every pocket, including inside the pockets of my bag - it wasn't there. Shit, Kaiba must still have it! I'll have to get it back off of him tonight or tomorrow. But what if he doesn't make it to the finals? That would be ludicrous. There must be another lighter around here someplace… My keen eye fell upon a desk in the far corner which had upon it paper to write on and an old feather ink pen. I opened the draw, and, much to my satisfaction, found a small sterling silver lighter. I popped it in my robe pocket and made my way to the top deck of the monstrous castle.

The view from the top sure was something else. Although I never did have an eye for natural beauty. The sea lapped around the bottom of the rock face below calmly. I guessed the sea wasn't angry at the moment. I heard a rustling sound behind me.

"I've got something of yours."

"I know." I said, without bothering to turn around.

He chucked my Zippo to me and I caught it with one hand over my shoulder. He came and sat down beside me. To my surprise he was not wearing his usual purple overcoat. He lit up one of his own cigarettes and took a puff.

"So? Whose ass did you kick to get your last star chip Kaiba?"

"Some kid who didn't know who I was until I stated my name after the duel had already begun. It didn't take much of my time."

I nodded and took my final drag of my cigarette and flicked it over the cliff face into the ocean. My still-damp hair was beginning to give me shivers, though I tried my hardest to shake them off. I tied my robe up tighter and hugged my knees to my chest.

"Well it's nearly six o'clock. I'm going to go down for the introductory feast." I said, getting to my feet.

"I'll join you." Kaiba stubbed out his cigarette, although only half of it was smoked, and joined me. We went to our separate guest rooms to change.

The dining hall was huge, and the blonde-headed kid looked like he was gonna keel over any minute from starvation. He was already drooling half-way to the floor at the sight of all the food on the table. I guess Croquet had allowed Yugi to let his friends join him inside the castle. I was surprised to see that the Barbie doll girl was also standing with them. I guessed she was dense enough to join their friendship brigade too. Croquet soon sailed into the room through two French doors at the other end of the room.

"Welcome all finalists! Please make yourselves comfortable and feel free to choose whatever gourmet foods we have upon this table. Mr. Pegasus will be joining us soon."

Clearly, Kaiba was more than anxious about meeting this cold-hearted bastard who kidnapped his brother. All he was worried about was getting Mokuba back. If I was in his position, I would have ground my teeth right down to the gums by now.

Jounouchi looked as if he had an appetite of a rhinoceros that was having a near-death experience of starvation. Frankly, having him sit opposite me made me completely lose my appetite. Kaiba ate slowly and silently next to me. The only sound was the blonde's scoffing and quiet chatter among Yugi and the brunette girl whom I still didn't know her name.

Suddenly the doors opened and a tall, broad man with familiar long, straight silver hair strode into the hall with a smug smile on his face, looking startling in a red suit. Kaiba growled and put down his knife and fork, quickly rising up from his sitting position.

He yelled with force, "Where is my brother Mokuba and what have you done with him?!"

Pegasus laughed haughtily. "Well hello there, Kaiba-boy, so nice to see you. You'll find out soon enough where little Mokuba is. Now everyone, if you'll please follow me."

We all rose from the table and followed the tall, broad-shouldered man. I could see the look of distress on Kaiba's face; I could only imagine the way he was feeling right now. The only thing he had left in his life that really mattered to him was being jeopardized by a man who we all had little knowledge about.

Pegasus led us to a large room, about the equivalent size to the dining hall which we had just been in. A large dueling arena came down from the ceiling and positioned itself between the duelist stations which were at either end of the room.

"This, my dueling champions, will be our dueling arena for the competition. Now, Kaiba-boy, I have chosen you to duel for an exhibition duel, right here, right now. What do you say?" Pegasus asked in his `gentleman' manner.

"Right now?" Kaiba reasoned.

"But of course… it's the only opportunity you have to get your little brother back…" Pegasus laughed sadistically.

Kaiba clenched his fists. "So if I win this duel…. I get Mokuba back? What if you win…?"

"Well I get to take your soul too! It's only fair…"

A gasp came from the audience. Pegasus was a madman. What use was having Kaiba's and Mokuba's souls to him anyway? I decided to speak up.

"Kaiba, you don't have to do this! We can get Mokuba back without having to duel Pegasus for him!"

"Are you so sure about that, Leiko my girl?" Pegasus remarked.

I narrowed my gaze at him. "What are you talking about?"

Pegasus held up a card between his two fingers. "This is called a `Soul Card'. Mokuba's soul is trapped inside this card, and only I can revive them." He began to laugh manically again.

"You are a bastard, Pegasus." I stated.

"Let's get started then, Pegasus. You're on." Kaiba stated.

"Kaiba are you crazy?! You could get trapped in one of those soul cards too!"

"I don't care. I know how to take care of myself, Toya."

Kaiba strode off to his side of the dueling arena. I hope you know what you're doing Kaiba…