Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Duellist League ❯ Battle Stage 25; Ambushed! Demons of a Recent Past ( Chapter 25 )

Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who's reading this story. I have to admit to being disappointed with the lack of reviews, despite the strong number of people reading each chapter. It has led me to taking the story out of Fan Fiction and completing privately.

 

Battle Stage 25: Ambushed! Demons of a Recent Past

 

It was evening before Yuugi, Serenity, Mai & Kaiba returned from the dead island of Rhodes. Arriving back at the Duellist Centre, the four made their report to Hitomi who was understandably shocked by what she heard.

 

Rising the next morning the group discovered Hitomi was gone. Outside sheets of rain hit the doors and the only people remaining the in centre were Yuugi, Serenity, Mai and Kaiba who were gathered in the lobby. Mai was leaning against the counter which Serenity had perched herself on with Seto sitting behind them at the computer. Yuugi, who was leaning against the door was the first to speak, “Are we staying here all day?”

 

Mai smiled riley, “If you think I'm going out in that honey, you've been knocked around more than I thought.”

 

Yuugi smiled, “Could be fun, running around in the rain.”

 

Mai clucked shaking her head, “Yuugi, Yuugi, Yuugi, under all that sweetness and light you're just like every other boy.”

 

Yuugi chuckled, “This shocks you?”

 

“I guess not.”

 

While Mai and Yuugi bantered Serenity glanced back to Kaiba who was typing and clicking at the computer. The duel monsters tracker he'd been given in Oceanos after defeating Mako Tsunami was hooked by a cable into the computer's USB port. “Seto, what are you doing?”

 

“I am redesigning the duel monster tracker to include a map and a location map to all duel monsters tribes up linked to a satellite so it will update daily.”

 

“Cool, why?”

 

Kaiba looked up to Serenity, “The duel monsters tracker was poorly designed, my improvements will help us avoid attacks from random monsters.”

 

“I like the sound of that.”

 

“So do I Serenity.” Yuugi agreed handing Kaiba his dmt, “I'm hungry.” He announced walking into the café to get a sandwich, Serenity smiled and shook her head.

 

Emerging from the café after lunch Yuugi stretched and sighed as rain continued to fall in sheets rather than drops. “I don't think we're going anywhere.” He announced handing Kaiba a coffee.

 

Kaiba was about to agree with him when an almighty crash at the doors drew their attention. At the foot of the doors splayed on the floor were drenched versions of two people they knew and one they didn't. Rising from the floor Anzu Masaki shook her head, spraying her two companions with water.

 

“Anzu! As if I'm not wet enough already… shut up Jyoonouchi!”

 

“I didn't say anything!” Jou defended to the red head hottie.

 

“You were about too.” She bit back helping Anzu up.

 

“Oh, so you're a mind read… oh boy…” Jyoonouchi responded, but stopped staring into the eyes of his former friends and rivals as they stared down at them.

 

“Jou what's… oh…” Anzu asked before the voice died in her throat seeing her Yuugi standing over Jyoonouchi. She rose to her feet and cleared her throat. If Anzu was honest with herself she was slightly scared of how Yuugi might react to her being here, but she had to try, “Um, hi, Yuugi…”

 

Yuugi's eyes darted from Jou to Anzu and his scowl deepened turning on the spot to assail the stairs to the second level, “Yuugi get back here!” Anzu yelled running after him. Serenity growled and ran after them with Amy following close behind.

 

Jou shook his head and glanced over to Mai, “I guess you blame me for all this?”

 

“I blame both of you.” Mai spat, the contempt clear in her eyes, Jou glowered, “This isn't our fault!”

 

“Oh, really, which part?” Mai yelled angrily.

 

“All of it!” Jou yelled back.

 

Before Mai could snap back Kaiba placed his hand on her wrist, “It's not worth it.” He said gently, Mai nodded moving around to sit beside Kaiba, who resumed typing. Mai intertwined her fingers with his; he smiled pulling her in for a kiss.

 

Jyoonouchi growled, “What the hell are you doing?”

 

Mai pulled away, “What does it look like?”

 

“Are you two an item?”

 

Kaiba snorted and rose to his feet passing Mai and Jou, “Does it matter, you're screwing around with Anzu.” He muttered walking into the café, “What, he don't walk away from me!” Jou yelled running after him. Mai shook her head and sat down at the computer.

 

Upstairs Yuugi stormed into a bunk room slamming the door as Anzu rounded the stairs, “Yuugi!”

 

Serenity came up the stairs following Anzu who was now at the door, “Anzu why don't you just leave him alone, haven't you done enough?”

 

“Stay out of this Serenity; this is between Yuugi and me.” Anzu spat banging on the door, “Yuugi get out here!”

 

Serenity grabbed her wrist yanking Anzu away from the door, “Don't you get it, he hates you, you slept with my brother and then led him on, he doesn't want to talk to you, he doesn't want to see you, he doesn't even want to know you.” Serenity cursed at Anzu moving around the said girl to get between her and the door, “Just leave us alone!” Serenity yelled turning the handle pushing into the room.

 

“Leave… us?” Anzu repeated slowly, “Yuugi!” She yelled pushing her way passed Serenity into the room, Amy entered as well perching herself on one of the beds. Yuugi emerged from one of the bathrooms wiping his hands on a towel, he scowled again seeing Anzu in the room, “I thought you'd gotten the hint…” Yuugi spat.

 

“What hint would that be, that you've traded me in for a child?” Anzu stabbed pointing at Serenity, Yuugi glowered, `Serenity isn't a child, in fact she's more mature than you, at least Serenity is honest about her feelings.”

 

“I… um…” Anzu tried to respond, but was failing miserably, Yuugi scoffed a disingenuous smile crossing his face, “I've had enough of listening to you.” He said passing Anzu approaching the door, he grabbed the handle and was about to open it when Amy spoke, “How do you know you can trust the information you have?”

 

Meanwhile in the café Kaiba was fixing himself a coffee as Jyoonouchi entered after him, “For your information I've never had sex with Anzu.” Kaiba scoffed, “That's not what Yuugi thinks.”

 

“I know what Yuugi thinks, but he's wrong.”

 

“Is he?” Kaiba asked sarcastically.

 

“Yeah, unlike you I don't go around screwing my competitors girls out of spite!” Jyoonouchi spat, Kaiba's head shot up the spoon he was holding clattering back to the tray he'd taken it from, “How dare you!”

 

“You know it's true, you used this just to get into Mai's pants, didn't you!” Jyoonouchi yelled, Kaiba stormed towards Jyoonouchi and collided his fist against Jou's jaw sending him over a table backwards onto the floor. Kaiba leered down at him massaging his knuckles, “You bastard, do you think Mai is stupid enough to fall for something like that?”

 

Jou rose to his feet nursing his jaw, “Wouldn't stop you from trying though.”

 

“Perhaps, but I wouldn't get very far.” Kaiba responded ready to boil over.

 

“Oh really, then why are you with her?” Jou questioned, Kaiba scowled, “Why does it matter?” Jou smirked, “Afraid to answer?”

 

Kaiba growled, “No.”

 

“Then tell me.”

 

“No!”

 

“Kaiba you bastard answer me!”

 

“I'm with her because I care about her, because I don't want to be alone anymore. I've spent my life caring for Mokuba, now he can care for himself I can enjoy myself without worrying I might be neglecting him. I've never had a chance to be a teenager and…” He paused, “Mai is an elegant sophisticated woman, I care about her Jyoonouchi and I will not have that questioned.”

 

Jou slumped, “Yeah, I'm sorry for saying what I said.”

 

“Hmph, whatever.” Kaiba responded walking away, “But I still care about Mai, if you hurt her I'll find you and we won't be duelling.” Jyoonouchi warned, Kaiba smirked, “You really think you can win anything against me?”

 

“Yeah, I do.” Jyoonouchi responded with a grin.

 

Meanwhile Yuugi stood staring at Amy mouthing an attempted answer to her question but was failing, Amy smiled, “Well, how do you know?”

 

“I have a photo of them together!” Yuugi yelled producing the photo Malik had given him.

 

This was the first time Serenity had seen the photo, the picture showed Jyoonouchi's room flooded in lamp light, Anzu was beneath Jou her shirt was off and his head was near Anzu's breasts, Anzu had her eyes closed, her mouth hanging open. Yuugi smirked angrily, “Well, is that proof enough?”

 

Serenity approached Yuugi, her heart breaking with every step, “Yuugi… you're wrong…”

 

Downstairs Mai was playing solitaire on the computer while everyone was arguing. Suddenly she felt cold, shivery, looking down Mai felt her heart sink and her fear rise. Black mist was creeping into the lobby through the doors, Mai's memories shot back to battle city where black mist and Marik combined to send her to hell, she couldn't be sent back, if Mai was sent back she would die.

 

In the bunk room Yuugi stood in silence as Serenity's broken heart stared into his eyes, “What do you mean?”

 

“I know when that photo was taken… It was at Honda's birthday party last year at Jyoonouchi's. Anzu and Jyoonouchi got tipsy and ended up in bed together, but… they made out, Katsuya wanted to go all the way but Anzu stopped him, she wanted to save herself for you…”

 

“Why didn't you tell us when we were in the forest?” Anzu asked and growled.

 

“Because I never saw the photo, you, Yuugi and Katsuya saw it but I didn't.” Serenity bit back crossing her arms.

 

“Is, this true?” Yuugi asked feeling suddenly unsure on his feet, Serenity nodded and Yuugi staggered to a bed sitting with his head in his hands, “Anzu, I, I, I've…” He stuttered not even being able to look at her.

 

“I know, so am I.” She whispered laying her hands on his head, “But you were right, I couldn't make up my mind and I led you on, but I know who I want now.”

 

He looked up into Anzu's tear stained eyes, “I'm sorry Anzu, I've moved on.” He whispered placing his hand on Serenity's shoulder, “You made your bed Anzu, you have to sleep in it now.”

 

“I, I understand…” Anzu whispered standing and moving over to the window Amy putting her arms around the said girl as she sobbed silently.

 

Unfortunately their moment was broken by a scream from below; rushing downstairs they discovered the floor covered with hellish black mist. Mai was cowering near the desk looking utterly terrified. Jyoonouchi and Kaiba burst in from the café; Mai looked up and ran into Jou's arms. Jou held her for a moment before passing her to Kaiba who heard her whispering into his chest.

 

“Yuugi what is this?” Jou asked edging away, “What does it look like?” Yuugi sarcastically shot back. Jou winced as if Yuugi had struck him, again.

 

Suddenly a voice in the darkness rang out with a sinister cackle, the lobby darkened as the smoke rose filling the entry way with mist. A figure rose in the mist its striking crimson eyes were the only feature visible. “I have trapped you at last…”

 

To Be Continued…

 

End of Stage 1