Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Eight Ringing Bells ❯ Skirmish ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 2
-Skirmish

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, if I did, I wouldn't be scouring every card shop in my city for a Skilled White Magician and a Buster Blader, would I?

The first day of school at Domino High went by rather smoothly. None of the people in Alcauld's class got that much homework to do. As he was walking down the hall full of people that were getting out of class, Yugi ran up and walked by him, followed by Valeria. Yugi looked at him.

"If it's not that much of a problem, I'm meeting some of my friends after class. Is that alright with you?", Alcauld nodded. "That's alright, I need to meet up with Rui anyway."

"Rui?"

"Yeah, he likes being called Gear, though. I don't really know why.", Valeria said as the three of them walked outside. Looking out at the schoolgrounds, Yugi saw Jou talking to a man with spiky blonde hair. He was wearing a white T-shirt with a dark green vest on. On his head was a pair of goggles, he was wearing deep blue jeans and dark sienna hiking boots. Jou was dressed in a light gray T-shirt with a Red Eyes Black Dragon on it and was in regular jeans and his lucky shoes, the ones with a hole in the left one that Yugi got back for him.

"Heya Yug!", Jou said in his usual Brooklyn accent as he walked toward Yugi, along with the man with the goggles.

"Yo Alcuald!", the man said as he waved at Alcauld. "Hey Gear.", Alcauld said as he waved lightly at his friend. He was then greeted by a punch in the arm, in which Alcauld quickly grabbed his arm, "Ow! Knock it off."

Yugi laughed at this scene, "Hey Jou, where is everyone?" he looked around, but just saw Jou.

"Anzu told me that the other were gonna wait at Kaiba Land for the match."

"Oh! Okay then!" Yugi said cheerfully. Alcauld then looked to Yugi, "So then, where is this place?"

"Oh, Kaiba Land?", Yugi started, "Follow me!" With that he ran towards some large buildings, making the others sprint after him. After about twenty minutes of running, Yugi suddenly stopped.

Gear looked at the large complex, "Yep, that's Kaiba Land alright." Gear walked towards the building with his deck in his hand, "I'll be around!!!" With that and a quick war cry, he ran into the building screaming, "WHO WANTS SOME!?!"

Alcauld and the others had sweatdrops on their heads, "...well, that's Gear for you.", Valeria said as she headed towards the building, "C'mon guys, I really wanna see Alcauld get clobbered by the King of Games!"

"Hey!", Alcauld said in protest as Yugi, Valeria and Jou chuckled at that comment. Yugi and the others walked in to be greeted by Gear, standing by him was a small boy who looked to be about eight. He had on a Kaiba Corp T-Shirt and khaki pants. His hair drooped down just above his eyes, and a pair of goggles was on his head, similar to Gear. Valeria smiled as she patted the boy on the head.

"Hi Bit!", Valeria said cheerfully as she hugged the small boy.

"Guys, guess what?", Gear said estatically the others waited for him to speak again.

"Well, what?" Jou said while looking at him.

"....damn, I just forgot what that thing was.", Gear thought about that as everyone fell over. Just then, Bit spoke up.

"I got you and Yugi an arena, Alcauld. However, you might be surprised at it.", Bit then looked at Gear. "Oh, yeah. Forgive my brother, he can be forgetful sometimes." Gear glared at his little brother, "You stay out of this, bro!"

Alcauld grinned as he looked at Yugi, clutching his blue deck box, "You ready?" Yugi grinned right back at him, "Whenever you are." They both then walked into the arena Bit reserved for them.

To their surprise, the arena was packed with people! Students, Gamblers, Businessmen, every kind of person imaginable was here! Cameras were posted up, watching their every move. Alcauld looked up, "Wow, Bit's got this thing going city-wide!", he said in awe as they headed towards the Dueling Arena.

Yugi looked around at the people who were here. Looking to his left, he saw Jou, Honda, Anzu, Shizuka, Ryou and Otogi. From Alcauld's view, he saw Valeria, Gear, Bit and Atsuko. The room was filled with the cheers of both contenders as him and Yugi finally reached the platforms.

"Good luck.", Alcauld said as he stepped onto the blue platform, which lifted up to the area he would be dueling at. "Same to you, Alcauld!" as Yugi walked towards the arena, his puzzle shined brilliantly, replacing him with his darkness, Yami. Yami calmly stepped onto the platform and was then facing Alcauld.

A voice was heard as they both looked up to see an annoucers box, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! I'M GLAD YOU ALL COULD MAKE IT BECAUSE THE BATTLE IS GOING TO BEGIN!!! IN THE RED CORNER, THE KING OF GAMES, YUGI MOTOU!!!"

Yami looked around at the wild cheering as he turned to his friends and smiled.

"GO GET 'IM, YUG!!!" Jou cheered.

"We're with you all the way!", Anzu said.

"Don't let that guy beat ya!!!", Honda said.

"Good luck Yugi!", Ryou said, cheering along.

"AND IN THE BLUE CORNER, THE MYSTERIOUS CHALLENGER, ALCUALD KURODA!!!", Alcauld looked around and heard cheering as he heard Atsuko's voice clear as a bell.

Atsuko was almost on top of Gear's shoulders, waving wildly, "Good luck Honey!!!"

Alcuald sweatdropped at that comment, but then again, it was his mother...

"YEAH!!! GO ALCAULD!!! WOOOO!!!! YEAH!!! WOOOO!!!!!", Gear was sceaming and cheering almost as much as Atsuko was. Bit and Valeria were also cheering along.

Alcauld placed his deck down on the field, as did Yami. Yami smiled at Alcauld, "Alcauld, I hope you're ready to give me your best game."

"I wouldn't give you anything less, Yugi.", Yami placed his deck on the field as they both looked at each other.

"THE LIFE POINTS WILL BE AT EIGHT THOUSAND! GET READY.....! DUEL!!!", with that Alcauld drew his first hand, (Witch of the Black Forest, Premature Burial, Magic Cylinder, The Fiend Megacyber, Jinzo) as did Yami (Celtic Guardian, Dark Magician, Graceful Charity, Waboku, Gemini Elf). Yami looked at him, "I will allow you the first move.", he said calmly.

"Very well then.", Alcauld drew a card (Kuriboh), "I'll set one card face down.(Magic Cylinder) Plus a monster face down in defense mode.(Witch of the Black Forest)", two spots on his side of the field were blinking, he nodded to Yami, "Your turn."

Yami drew a card, (Monster Reborn) "I'll set one card face down (Waboku) and I'll play Celtic Guardian (1400/1200 - Warrior) in attack mode! He threw down the monster card and a blonde-haired elven knight clad in a green helmet and cuirass appeared in a battle stance, brandishing a silver longsword, an azure cape flapping behind him. Yami pointed at the glowing monster space on Alcauld's side. "Go, Celtic Guardian! Attack his monster!", the elf knight then charged at the space, leapt up and drove his sword into the glowing spot. The Witch of the Black Forest appeared for a second, then screamed and shattered as the silver blade went clean through her. Alcauld grinned, "Congrats, that's excatly what I want you to do."

Yami looked puzzeled, "What?" He looked at Alcauld's cross, which was now glowing rythymically. "Excatly, I'll now get monster with a defense less than 1500 from my deck and put it in my hand!" Effortlessly, Alcauld pulled a Cyber Jar from his deck and showed it to Yami. "I'll draw a card now.", Alcauld drew his card (Nobleman of Crossout) "I'll then set a monster (Cyber Jar) in defense mode!", another spot glowed on Alcuald's side, "It's your turn now."

Yami was concerned about Alcauld's mysterious cross. It bore the marking of a Sennen Item, however he had never seen this one in his life. The strangest thing was that the Sennen Items were golden, and this one was silver. Just then Yugi's voice rang out in his mind.

*Yami! What's wrong?*

*It's....it's nothing aibou.*, Yami lied. It was strange how they just happened to plan a duel, and now everyone is Domino is watching him and his light's mysterious friend battle? Something was up, and he didn't like it at all. "Very well then. Celtic Guardian, attack now!", once again the elven knight plunged his sword into the glowing space, revealing a metallic grinning jar covered in machinery. The green eye glew brightly as it exploded, taking the elf with it. Alcauld grinned malevolently, "Ha, now we each draw five card from our decks!" Alcauld drew five cards, (Seven Tools of the Bandit, Magic Jammer, Mystical Knight of Jackal, Metamorhosis, Dark Hole) Yami did the same, (Mystical Elf, Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts, Raigeki, Dark Magician Girl, Dark Hole) "Now I'll summon my two monsters face down, then Sacrifice them to summon the Dark Magician (2500/2100 - Spellcaster)in attack mode!!!", the two spots on the arena died down as Yami slammed down Yugi's soul card onto the arena. The purple armor clad, lavender haired wizard appeared in flash of black light and stood in front of Alcauld defiantly while holding his emerald scepter.

In the stands, admist all the cheering, a man with piercing blue eyes and a flowing white trenchcoat glared down at Bit, "Bit Tokomoshi."

Bit spun around to see Seto Kaiba, glaring down at him, "I hope the information that your brother told me was true, that this heavy metal freak can actually beat Yugi."

Bit grinned, "I set the entire thing up, just as you said. I even hacked into the school records so they would be in the same class, and then duel each other. It was mostly on chance, but it worked out fine."

Kaiba sat next to Bit, "So what do you know about Alcauld?"

"Well, besides his amnesia, he is one of the best duelists I've ever seen, however, he doesn't like to duel very often."

"How can you tell? It looks like he's having the time of his life down there.", Kaiba said whle looking at Alcauld who was grinning darkly at Yami and his Dark Magician.

"This is strange, normally he doesn't like to duel like this. Anyway, having not made a name for himself, he was not invited to Duelist Kingdom. In addition to this, when you made Battle City, he left Domino entirely and lived in Kyoto until it ended. He says he's not a 'Sport Duelist'."

"Hm, so he's for the most part a pacifist then. Interesting.", Kaiba then stood up, "Let's see what he's capable of when he's backed into a corner, all I have seen him do is defend."

Bit looked at Kaiba, "He's just like a fox, Kaiba. He's waiting for his opportunity to deal the crushing blow."

Kaiba grinned slightly as he looked on, "This will be quite interesting."

Back in the arena Alcauld laughed, "So I see you've brought out your Dark Magician. Quite impressive; however, it is now my turn." Alcauld drew his next card (Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer), "Your defeat is inevitable! I'll set two cards face down,(Seven Tools of the Bandit, Magic Jammer) then place Kuriboh (300/200 - Fiend)in attack mode!" a little brown ball of fuzz with green paws and big indigo eyes floated in the air, "Next I'll use Metamorphosis on my Kuriboh!"

"Metamorphosis?" Yami asked.

"Excatly! For a while now, I wondered how to get it out onto the field, and now I found a way. Metamorphosis allows me to offer one moster on my side of the field who's level starts equal the same level as a monster in my fusion deck, and special summon that fusion monster at the cost of the original monster!", Alcauld said as his cross glew more rapidly. The Kuriboh became enveloped in a bright white light, and was then replaced by a hellish being whose black hide was covered top to bottom in eyeballs. On top of it's body was a large tentacle bearing the symbol of the Sennen Items. It mouth was covered by large teeth that were sealing it's mouth shut. It had large claws that were hooked and most likely used for disemboweling, and to top it off, it had two indigo shoulder plates, also eyeball encrusted. The hellish creature floated in mid-air, its eyes were scanning this way and that, its two green glowing eyes glaring at Yami.

Yami gazed at the nightmare which was floating before him, eyes widened, "That's...!"

Alcauld laughed darkly, "The Thousand-Eyes Restrict(0/0 - Spellcaster). Yes, that's excatly what it is.", Alcauld grinned, "Anyway, this card allows me to absorb one monster on your side of the field so it can copy it's attack and defense points, so your Dark Magician is mine!", with that the Thousand-Eyes Restrict opened it's mouth and like a vaccum, sucked in the Dark Magician. After absorbing him, he appeared in his left shoulder plate as his claws glew a deep indigo."

Thosuand-Eyes Restrict (2500/2100)

Alcauld only pointed a finger at Yami, "Rend.", the beast flew foward and tried to slash at Yami, however...

Yami flipped over a card, "I'll activate my trap card, Waboku!", Three priests in green robes, one clutching a strange artifact, appeared in front of Yami. They started chanting and a force field appeared around Yami, halting Thosand-Eyes Restricts attack. Alcauld only chuckled to himself, "No matter, you'll be destroyed next turn. As long as this card is out on the field, none of your monsters can change positions or attack. It's your turn now." At that moment, Alcauld felt something sharp in his chest, a dark voice boomed in his head.

*Evening.*, the voice said.

*Wha...? Who...who are you?*, Alcauld said. As he looked ahead, he saw Yami motionless about to draw his next card. Looking around, everyone stopped, some in midair.

*Oh? I see you've admired my spell.*

*Where are you?*

*I'm right in this very arena.*

Alcauld looked around the arena, *Where at?*

*That is of no concern to you right now. All you need to know is that your fate will soon be sealed, so will everyone elses at the sign of autumn, until that time, adieu...catalyst.*

*Wha?*, at the that moment, time resumed as Yami drew his next card (Dark Magic Ritual).

Yami slammed Raigeki down onto the field, "I'll play Raigeki, destroying your Restrict!"

Alcauld then flipped a card over, "I'll activate Magic Jammer now! I'll discard one of my cards to negate your Raigeki.", Alcauld barely had any emotion in his eyes. That whole...event quite frankly startled him. A strange circle came out from below the Raigeki card and spewed purple smoke. When it faded down the card was gone, and Alcauld sent his Mystical Knight of Jackal to the graveyard. Yami only grinned, "That was just a disraction. I'll now activate Dark Hole! This card will banish your wicked beast!"

Alcauld scowled, as his Thousand-Eyes vanished into nothing as it was consumed by a vortex of eternal darkness.

"That's not all Alcauld. I'll now play Monster Reborn, reviving my Dark Magician.", Yami laid down the card as the Dark Magician appeared again, ready to battle. "Now, Dark Magician! Attack him directly!", the Dark Magician fired a large bolt of black energy towards Alcauld. Alcauld smiled as he flipped over another card, "I'll activate Magic Cylinders, this negates your monsters attack and sends it right back at you!" Two cylinders appeared in front of Alcauld as the magic blast went in one cylinder, and then came out the other one and hit Yami.

Yami - 5500
Alcauld - 8000

"I end my turn.", Yami looked at Alcauld, <He seems distressed over something...>, he thought. Alcauld drew his next card, (Dark Blade) "I'll play Premature Burial! This card allows me to pay 800 life points to bring back a monster." Alcauld looked down where the earth was cracking, soon the Thousand-Eyes Restrict smashed onto the surface, ready to strike. Next I'll play Dark Blade (1800/1500 - Warrior) in attack mode! A warrior appeared on the field next to a Restrict, he was wielding a pair of jagged cutlasses, and was clad in spiked black armor with a crimson cape flowing behind him. He glared at Yami with piercing red eyes. "Absorb the Dark Magician once again!" The Thousand-Eyes Restrict once again inhaled the Dark Magician, "Then, I'll have my Thousand-Eyes and Dark Blade attack!" The nightmare lunged at Yami and slashed at him again, this time connecting with Yami's side, followed by Dark Blade slashing at Yami's chest, "Heh, it's your turn now."

Yami - 1200
Alcauld - 7200

In the stands, Kaiba was watching with much intrest, "Hmm...he seems to be a worthy adversary for Yugi."

"I told you, this guy can and will beat him!", Bit said.

"Don't be too sure Bit. I know Yugi, he thrives on situations like this."

Yami drew another card, (Summoned Skull) "I'll play Pot of Greed, allowing me to draw two new cards." Yami drew his cards (Harpie's Feather Duster, Magician of Black Chaos). "Next I'll play Harpie's Feather Duster, eradicating all of your Magic and Traps on the field!", a huge whirlwind came out of nowhere and destroyed all of the Magic and Traps on Alcauld's side, making his Thousand-Eyes Restrict turn gray and crumble into dust, "Then I'll play Dark Magic Ritual!!", a black flame surrounded by ornate artifacts appeared, "I'll sacrifice two monsters to summon the Magician of Black Chaos (2800/2600 - Spellcaster)!", Summoned Skull and Dark Magician Girl appeared for an instant before they were cast into the fire. When the flame died down, a very gothic-looking magician with wild raven colored hair leapt out of the flames and stared at the opposition. "Next I'll play Gemini Elf (1900/900 - Spellcaster) in attack mode!" Two beautiful looking elves clad in blue and purple stood next to the magician. "Now I'll have both of my monsters attack!" The elven twins shot a spiraling beam of magic at the Dark Blade, making him scream and shatter into pieces, the gothic wizard then leapt in front of Alcauld and shot a huge blast of black magic in his face. Alcauld was extremly grateful that it was just a hologram and not an actual attack.

Yami - 1200
Alcauld - 4300

Alcauld looked on at the two monsters that were out, "He was holding out on me. That Gemini Elf must have been in his hand the entire duel!" Alcauld said to himself as he smirked at Yami, maybe he would not be so easy as he first though when the duel started. Saying nothing he drew his next card (Ring of Destruction). He smirked, maybe he could not beat the King of Games, however he could get him in a draw, "I'll set one card face down (Ring of Destruction), and I'll set one monster face down (Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer). Your move, Yugi."

Yami drew his card (Swords of Revealing Light). "I'll have my monsters attack once more!" The Gemini Elf shot a beam of magic at Kycoo, slaying him instantly. The Magician of Black Chaos then shot him in the face with black magic once again.

Yami - 1200
Alcauld - 1500

Alcauld then flipped up a card, "I'll now activate Ring of Destruction, sending the duel to a close." A steel ring covered with explosives latched around the Magician's neck then detonated, sending both of their life points to zero.

"THE MATCH IS A DRAW!!!", the announcer said. As people cheered on, Yami and Alcauld stared at each other. Yami then let his light take over again.

"Good game!", Yugi said as he gathered his deck together.

"Same to you. C'mon, let's get out of here.", Alcauld said as they both left to meet up with the others.

Seto looked on in shock and disbelief, "A draw!? Incredible....", he said to himself. Only he was able to defeat Yugi, and yet this man was his equal, almost destroying Yugi!

Bit looked up at his employer, "So...?"

Seto looked down at Bit, regaining his composure, "From what I can see, my next tournament will be quite interesting. You and your brother may keep your jobs, for now. However, the assessment is now complete. Your next mission is to make sure Alcauld does not leave Domino. Got it?"

"Yes sir."

"Also, how are the new Duel Discs coming along?", Kaiba said.

"On scheldule. They'll be ready come the tournament, though my brother says that before they are mass produced, he still needs to do more testing."

"Tell that simpleton he's got until sunrise to finish it."

"But it's probably 7:00 in the evening!"

"Then hurry.", with that, Kaiba left the arena. People began pouring out of arena until only one man laid against a corner of the arena. He was shrowded in a black cloak, a black bell dangling off his finger. After the lights turned off in the arena, the bell chimed softly...

"...the time is near...catalyst.", the man said before walking off out of the arena.