Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Duellist League ❯ Battle Stage 38; Re-Match! Restoration of Kings - Part 1 ( Chapter 38 )

Author's Note: Thanks to DJ Rodriguez and PrincessofHeartsNYP for reviewing.

 

Battle Stage 38: Re-Match! Restoration of Kings - Part 1

 

The gang ran to the far end of the duelling platform, but Marik was already gone, only small pools of blooed remained glistening in the moonlight as the cloud rushed overhead. Serenity looked back towards Mai, “What happened, where's…” She began, but stopped short staring into the wall of cloud screaming towards them from the other direction. As the group turned to see what had drawn Serenity's attention she screamed a warning, but the wall of cloud hit before she could finish washing over them like a wave.

 

Serenity moaned softly as she gingerly opened her eyes, she found she was now lying on the ground staring up into an undefined light source that lit the surrounding area. Grabbing her head Serenity moaned again quietly, quickly checking the rest of her limbs were working Serenity sat up, dizziness stopped her from rising further so Serenity decided to examine her surroundings.

 

The first thing Serenity noticed was they were now inside a large domed room empty and dimly lit by the afore mentioned undefined light source. What Serenity could see though were ornate marble fixtures and grand statues integrated into the walls. The floor beneath her was onyx with a rough texture, which wasn't nesscarily comfortable to sit on.

 

Drawing her eyes around to her companions her expression changed from confusion to fear as she counted only three people other than herself in the room, Yuugi was missing in action, “Katsuya, Mai, Se…” Serenity began before being cut off.

 

“Kaiba…” Jou started.

 

“Yes mutt.” Kaiba replied curtly.

 

“Were we just knocked out by a giant cloud bank?”

 

“Yes mutt.”

 

“That's what I thought and don't call me mutt.” Jyoonouchi replied sitting up rubbing the back of his head.

 

Serenity met the eyes of her older brother, “Where's Yuugi?”

 

Katsuya and Kaiba scanned the room trying in vain to find a trace of their spiky haired companion, Kaiba shook his head, “Maybe he recovered first and went in search of whomever killed Mazaki.”

 

Jyoonouchi pondered a distant look in his eyes, “Maybe, or maybe he was taken elsewhere after we were knocked out. He theorised as Mai regained conciousness, “Where… are we?”

 

“Not where we were.” Jou replied shaking off the dizziness, Mai glanced sullenly at his back, “Thank you Captain Obvious.”

 

“I don't think we're even on the blimp anymore.” Kaiba expounded staring around the room, Serenity stared, “What makes you say that?”

 

Kaiba placed his hand flat on the floor, “I can't feel the vibration of electricity through the floor, it's just silent marble.”

 

Serenity mimicked Kaiba's movements, “You're right… but how did we get to the blimp anyway, Shadow Magic?”

 

Jou shook his head, “No, felt too real for that, something else is going on…”

 

“You think you know what it is, don't you?” Mai queried, Jyoonouchi shrugged, “Maybe.”

 

Kaiba snorted helping Mai to her feet, “The mutt has a thought, how novel.”

 

“Shut it Kaiba, let's get out of here.” Jou snapped back giving his sister a hand to her feet.

 

The four made their way, pushing aside the heavy oak doors into the corridor. It was made of the same dark marble as the hall, the low arched ceiling was accentuated by the torches placed every few metres along the gradually curving path.

 

As they followed the path set out for them by corridors curve they noticed that apart from the entrance behind them they had yet to encounter a door on either side of the walls. Both sides were simple featureless dark marble with torch brackets every few paces on one side then the other. The claustrophobic feeling was accentuated by the low arched ceiling with barely enough clearance for Kaiba and Jyoonouchi's heads.

 

They stopped at the far end of the corridor with the impression of being above the hall they'd awoken in. The doors were even heavier then in the hall and even with both Jyoonouchi and Kaiba it wouldn't move. Jou rested against the door looking between his companions, “Well, what do we do?”

 

“We blast it down obviously.” Kaiba responded reaching for his deck only to find, “It's not here.”

 

“What are you talking about?” Jou asked as Kaiba searched his clothes.

 

“My deck, it's not here someone's stolen my deck!” Kaiba exclaimed, instinctively Jou reached for his own deck, “Damn it, mine's gone too.”

 

“So is mine.” Mai confirmed adding, “We also don't have our duel disks either.”

 

“Great, we're defenceless, directionless and useless, good combination.” Serenity commented sarcastically.

 

Jou kicked the door, “Damn it what the hell is going on?” He yelled.

 

“We're trapped in an underground corridor without duel disks or decks with no idea where Yuugi is or who's behind it…” Serenity responded.

 

“Funny…” Jou replied the tension building in his body until, “I can't take it anymore!” He yelled turning to pound on the door, “I want out, I hate this place, let me out, let me, huh?”

 

Jou went to pound on the door again, when suddenly the door wasn't there anymore, “Aaaahhhh… Owww!” Jyoonouchi exclaimed meeting air, overbalancing and falling on his face before the person who had opened the doors for them. The group was silent behind him as Jou gathered himself rising to his feet, “What… oh… hi…” Jou asked then answered for himself.

 

Before them stood Jyoonouchi's teacher, the only duellist Jou respected more than Yuugi, Yuugi's grandfather Sugoroku Mutou, “Hello Katsuya, I haven't seen you in quite some time.” He responded coldly.

 

“Uh, yeah, I guess the day we left for the duellist league…” Jou responded as Sugoroku cut in, “Yes when Anzu, Serenity and yourself smuggled my grandson out of the country when I had already expressly forbidden it.”

 

“Gramps, he's eighteen…” Jou countered.

 

“He's my grandson and he was living under my roof which means he obeys my rules. I didn't mind the three of you sneaking out to a nightclub or a movie when you thought I didn't know. That's apart of growing up and being your ages, but sneaking away to compete in a tournament in a place that I've never heard of? That I can't allow, so where is Yuugi?” Sugoroku asked, but paused, “Anzu isn't with you either, are they travelling together separately to you four?”

 

Jou opened and closed his mouth several times unable to form the correct response until Mai spoke, “Katsuya, let me…” Jou nodded letting Mai stepped forward, “Mr. Mutou, Anzu was murdered… we don't know where Yuugi is, he was missing when we woke up down below.”

 

Sugoroku was silent for several moments before speaking, “I think you should tell me everything from the beginning.”

 

“Mr. Mutou are you ok?” Serenity asked noting Sugoroku's sweaty brow and weary eyes, his breathing laboured.

 

He smiled, “I'm fine, I've just walked a long way to get here.”

 

Jou put his hand on Sugoroku's shoulder, “Are you sure, we could sit…”

 

Sugoroku shook his head, “No, I want to know what's been happening since you've been here…” He demanded.

 

Kaiba and Jou looked at each other silently debating who would speak first when Serenity decided first, “I guess we should start at the beginning…” She started going on to recount the events of the previous eleven days. Starting with the duel between Yuugi and Haga on the plane, recounting the less than easy journey from Haven to Erebus but providing only vague details about Yuugi's and Anzu's trip through Hel, neither one having spoken about it since it had happened.

 

Sugoroku was silent as Serenity continued recounting some of the details of the dual battles in Janus with Kaiba informing some of the vaguer details. Then it was on to that night in the forest, Jyoonouchi was ashen faced through Serenity's explination of the night's events. Sugoroku levelled a glare at Jou as Serenity finished with Yuugi running out on them, “I hope there is a reasonable explanation for this…”

 

“Continue Serenity.” Mai encouraged, Serenity nodded and moved to her and Yuugi's journey to Khepri skipping over the part where she and Yuugi and sex, moving straight to the re-match between Yuugi and Haga filling in details even Mai, Kaiba and Jyoonouchi didn't know. Serenity pushed her hair out of her face, “He said after we left the gym that nothing was the same anymore…”

 

“He's right, nothing is.” Jyoonouchi responded quietly allowing Serenity to move two days on, too her and Yuugi's arrival in Rhodes and his battle with the Vampire Lord leading to the explosion of death that left the city a hollow burning wreck. She wne on to the next day where Jou and Anzu were re-united with the rest of the gang and the confrontation that revealed the truth of what had happened the night of Honda's birthday. Sugoroku stood watching Jou frowning, “Why Katsuya, your father is a drunk, you told Yuugi you would never drink, so why?”

 

Jyoonouchi shook his head, “I don't know, I never would, I don't remember what happened very clearly all I know is that I regret the entire situation, I love Yuugi and Anzu and I would never hurt them, but I did and I'm deeply ashamed.”

 

“I know you are Jyoonouchi its ok, how long ago was this?” Sugoroku asked, Serenity thought, “It would have to be a couple of day ago, wow feels like months ago…” Serenity replied before resuming her explanation of the previous eleven days moving from the events at the Duellist Centre to the Underground Duelling event. Serenity attempted to indulge every detail for Sugoroku from the demonstration through the qualifiers to the Saints of Death matches. Glazing over the fact that Yuugi was unconscious for almost two days Serenity went straight into the final battle between Yuugi and Carlstrom with the unexpected and anticlimactic draw.

 

Sugoroku stood in silent ponderings for several before speaking, “Why would he let Yuugi get away, it's not the James Carlstrom I've heard of…”

 

“You know that nut job?” Jou asked loudly his voice echoing in the cavernness neo-gothic styled corridor, Sugoroku nodded, “I've even met him, his brother came in to buy Duel Monsters cards and to meet Yuugi.” Sugoroku smiled lightly, “The look in his eyes when Yuugi shook his hand was quite something.” He turned to Serenity, is that the end?”

 

Serenity shook her head, “No, not quite.” Serenity began again starting from the beginning of the day moving through the journey to the edge of Erebus, waking up and confronted by Bandit Keith. Serenity detailed the duel and painfully explained the events surrounding Anzu's death and Yuugi's murder of Keith. As she did Sugoroku's breathing became heavier and laboured sweat dripping off his brow.

 

“Mr. Mutou, are you sure you're ok…” Serenity asked gently, Sugoroku waved her away, “Yes, I'm fine just continue, please.” Sugoroku urged, Serenity nodded explaining the final two duels between the Ventriloquist and Jyoonouchi and Mai and a resurrected Marik Ishtar, “That's about it, we woke up below and made our way up here where we met you.”

 

Sugoroku nodded, “The one criticism I cannot make is that these last eleven days have been uneventful.”

 

“Tell me about it…” Jou responded sullenly looking down the corridor, he looked back, “Yuugi has to be here somewhere…” He started but Sugoroku cut in, “Yes Katsuya, we should find him.” He agreed beginning to venture forward, until, “Boys, do you even know where Yuugi might be? Or even where to begin looking?”

 

Both men paused, Sugoroku moved back to face Mai, getting almost uncomfortably close to the blondes E-cups, “Yuugi's told me quite a bit about you, it's a real pleasure to meet you.” Sugoroku replied grinning, a disgusted expression crossed Mai's face backing away, “Yeah, same.”

 

Seto grabbed Sugoroku by the strap of his overalls and dragged him back towards Jyoonouchi as Katsuya shook his head, his eyes covered by his hand. Mai glanced at Serenity, “It's terrifying to think what Yuugi might become…” She muttered ruefully, Serenity nodded adding, “It's terrifying to think what Yuugi's become already.”

 

Mai was silent as Serenity ventured forward following the others down the corridor. Mai sighed running to catch up, not realizing something was watching her from the shadows.

 

The corridor began to curve slowly as they walked, but remained level and again no doors were obvious to the eyes in the walls. Jyoonouchi sighed, “Come on Yuugi, give us a sign.”

 

All of a sudden there was a crash and a scream from behind, spinning around Jou witnessed Mai and Serenity on the ground. Archfiend Soldier (Dark/Fiend/4 ATK/1900 DEF/1500) was between the boys and the two girls its eyes flaring with rage, “Are you two ok?” Sugoroku yelled.

 

Mai and Serenity nodded as Jyoonouchi dodged an attack, “Any ideas?”

 

“A duel disk and my deck come to mind.” Mai yelled, Seto would have retorted, if it weren't Mai.

 

“She's right, we're useless without duel disks!” Seto yelled as the blade lost cohesion as it impacted the wall. Jyoonouchi's eyes brightened, “Hey, maybe the blade will just pass through us.”

 

“Feel free to test the theory if you want mutt but don't ask me too!” Kaiba yelled back as the Archfiend lunged for him, “SETO!”

 

At that moment another quieter, familiar voice spoke from the shadows, “Shinato, King of a Higher Plane (Light/Fairy/Ritual/Effect/8 ATK/3300 DEF/1900) attack.”

 

Out of the shadows the six winged angel of light appeared striking down the Archfiend Soldier as the tip of its blade touched Kaiba's shirt. After both monsters were gone there was silence that continued for a full minute before anyone spoke, in this instance it was Jyoonouchi, “What the hell… who the hell summoned that monster?”

 

A voice emerged from the shadows to answer, “That would be me.”

 

The voice echoed as its owner emerged into the light, none of the five could have guessed who it would be until they saw her. Serenity shook her head several times trying to assimilate the information but she couldn't, “No, we say you die… how, Anzu, how are you alive?”

 

To Be Continued…