Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Shadowy Links to the Past ❯ The Rescue ( Chapter 9 )

Sorry it took so long to update…I've uhhh, been kinda lazy of late… ;)

Calupe: I was trying to convey that the men came up so suddenly, before either Dwenny or Bestian could react. Guess I didn't do too good of a job. And rats, I got the names mixed up. Oh well. Too lazy to change it now. Anyways, thanks for reviewing!

Disclaimer: Still don't own Yugioh.

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Chapter 9: The Rescue

Up in his room, Yugi was still in the process of teasing Yami, when he heard a young girl's short scream. His eyes met Yami's briefly before he dashed out of his room, down the stairs, and through the already open door. He could see his grandpa kneeling down next to a small dark form near Dwenny's car. He rushed over to him, calling out, "Grandpa! What happened here?!"

Grandpa looked up as Yugi came to halt next to him. Wordlessly, he pointed down towards the body. Yugi peered around his grandpa, and gasped at what he saw. It was Bestian! The poor puppy was lying on his side unconscious. Thankfully though, he was still breathing.

Suddenly, Yugi felt an immense feeling of mixed fear and anger searing through him. At first, he had no idea where that had come from. Then he realized that those were Yami's feelings, not his own. A rising fear of what might have happened to Dwenny, if she was seriously hurt, or in serious danger. And an equally rising anger over whoever did it. Yugi could feel Yami starting to lose control a bit. He had to act fast.

Yami! Calm down! Don't worry, we'll find Dwenny, and whoever did this.

Yes, and when we do, I'm going to make them pay! Yami said in a deadly tone.

Yami's tone frightened Yugi a little, and Yami could sense it. He forced himself to regain control of himself. First things first: find Dwenny and make sure she's alright.

Yugi reached down to stroke Bestian's head. He felt a large bump swelling on the back of his head. He must have been hit from behind, he thought. The he noticed something stuck underneath Bestian's spiked collar. He gently plucked it out, realizing at once that it was a folded sheet of paper. A ransom note maybe!

"Yugi, what's that?" Grandpa asked.

"It's a note of some sort. I found it under Bestian's collar."

"Well, go ahead and open it! Maybe it will tell us what happened to your friend."

Yugi nodded. He gently unfolded the piece of paper. The note was addressed to him, to his surprise. He read it aloud for Grandpa.

"Yugi. We've kidnapped the witch, rendering her powerless. To save her, you're going to have to duel and win! But if you lose, then your Millennium Puzzle will belong to Master Marik! Come to the empty warehouse on Fifth Street as soon as you get this note. Come alone or she dies! We'll be waiting for you. Signed, the Rare Hunter." Yugi looked up from the note. He should have known Marik was behind this. He had hoped that Marik could have been stopped before any of his friends had gotten hurt, but now it looked like Dwenny was in great danger. He had a feeling Yami really wasn't going to like this, and hoped that he wouldn't lose control…

Indeed, Yami was furious. Not only has Marik attacked Yugi and his friends, but now he attacks his love as well. This time, he thought, he's gone too far. The Millennium Puzzle glowed, and Yugi allowed for Yami to take over, but with a warning.

Yami, remember to stay calm. Don't be blinded by your anger! I want to help Dwenny as much as you do, but YOU HAVE TO STAY CALM!

Don't worry Yugi, I will.

Yami said this in a deadly calm voice, which seemed to worry Yugi even more.

Okay. But just don't…hurt anyone, k? Yugi said in a kind of pleading voice.

Yami smiled. I'll try not to…but I'm not making any promises. It was just like Yugi to show concern for an adversary. He remembered that lesson well from their duel with Kaiba at Duelist Kingdom. He knew he had promised Yugi that he'd never go against his wishes again, but now, he wasn't so sure he was going to be able to keep his promise. He wasn't sure that he would be able to control his anger…

Yami stood up, then looked down at Yugi's grandpa. "I'm going to that warehouse. Can you please watch over Bestian? I don't want anything else bad to happen to him."

Grandpa nodded. "Yes, of course. But Yugi…? Please be careful."

"I will."

With that, Yami turned and sprinted off in the direction of the old warehouse. He didn't want to keep the Rare Hunter waiting any longer. With Yugi's help, he easily found the warehouse, which turned out to be the same one where Yugi and his friends had been taken to, and where he had been imprisoned in his own soul room. Yami growled a little at the thought. Marik had much to pay for.

The door to the warehouse was wide open, beckoning him to enter. Cautiously, Yami walked through the door. Inside, he immediately saw before him a dueling platform. Marik must have had one put in there just for this.

"Welcome, Yugi Muto! Glad you could make it!"

Yami turned his head left towards the voice. He was angered by what he saw. There were half a dozen brown robed men, standing to the side of Dwenny. Her wrists were chained above her head to the wall. Even though her head was down, Yami could still see the glowing red metal around her neck. That's probably what is binding her powers, he thought. He narrowed his eyes at the men. "Let her go now, or else you'll regret ever being born."

The man who had spoken to him laughed. "You are in no position to make threats!" He removed his hood, revealing spiky grey hair and a pair of beady, dark eyes. "Now, here's the deal. If, and that's a big if, you win, then the witch is set free. But if you lose, then your Millennium Puzzle belongs to Marik, and you mind is sent to the Shadow Realm!" He laughed again.

Yami smiled. "And what makes you so sure that you're going to win?"

The man laughed. "Because I had 3 full sets of Exodia, and my deck is specifically made to draw all 5 cards of Exodia! You are no match for me, the Rare Hunter!"

Yami's smile faded at this. Exodia?! He had not expected this. But it didn't matter. He would gladly risk his own life to save Dwenny's. But it's not your life you are risking here… a voice in the back of his mind told him. It was right. Yugi's life was at risk here, not just his own.

Yugi knew what Yami was thinking. I'm willing to take that risk, Yami. Dwenny saved us before, and now we have to save her!

Yami nodded in agreement. Thank you for your bravery, Yugi. He looked at the robed man. "I accept the challenge, Rare Hunter. But I will not lose!"

"We'll just see about that. And just to make sure you don't try to do anything tricky, Marcus here is gonna have a blade near the witch. One wrong move, and she's dead!"

To make his point clear, Marcus stepped forward, laying the flat side of his blade against Dwenny's cheek, ready to slice if necessary.

Yami growled at this. "If you hurt her, you'll be sorry."

The Rare Hunter grinned. "By you? I think not. And don't think she'll be of any help to you. That metal ring around her neck is filled with ancient magick. Its powers are unbreakable. Her magick is useless."

Weakly, Dwenny opened her eyes, and lifted her head. She had been listening for quite some time now, and knew exactly what was going one. She could feel her anger beginning to grow. "When I get out of these chains, you'll. Be. Very. Sorry." She spoke slowly, menacingly towards the Rare Hunter.

The Rare Hunter turned towards her, shock apparent on his face. "You're awake?! But how? You're stronger than I thought. But no matter. You won't be so lucky this time!"

"I thought I smelled a familiar stench. So you're the same man who attacked Yugi and his friends last week. I should have taken care of you when I had the chance."

The Rare Hunter didn't like being reminded that she had bested him with magick. Enraged, he stalked over towards her, and before anyone could react, he grabbed Marcus's blade and slashed Dwenny across her right cheek. Dwenny cried out from the pain, turning her head down from the blow. She heard Yami's concerned voice calling out to her, and she could sense his growing anger as well. Breathing deeply, she once again lifted her head to meet the cold glare of the Rare Hunter. She had been cut deeply, and could feel blood dripping down her face. Ignoring the stinging pain, she whispered, "I'd be careful if I were you, Rare Hunter. Or are you unfamiliar with the Rule of Three?"

The Rare Hunter looked at her cautiously. "Rule of Three? What's that?"

"Simply this. Whatever energy, good or bad, that you send out, you will get back times three." She smirked. "It's what I used to send your dark attack back at you the last time."

The Rare Hunter's eyes widened. Then he narrowed them again in anger. "I don't believe in that nonsense. And without your magick now, you are powerless to save little Yugi again!" He turned to Yami. "Let's start the duel now! I've had it with all this talk!" He shoved Marcus's sword back towards him, then stalked towards the dueling platform.

Yami looked at Dwenny, meeting her gaze. She shook her head slowly, as if to say don't worry about her. Focus on the duel. Yami nodded his understanding, then turned and walked toward the far side of the dueling platform. That way, he could keep an eye on Dwenny. If they harmed her again, he wasn't sure if he'd be able to control himself.

The duel began. Yami knew the Rare Hunter would have cards like Sangan and Graceful Charity to draw all 5 pieces of Exodia as soon as possible. He couldn't let that happen. Once again, much depended on the outcome of a single duel. There was no room for failure…

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I know I know, I promised a "surprise" for Marik this chapter, but that would have made the chapter too long, so I decided to hold off on it till next chapter. And I know this chapter had a lot of yapping "drama" in yet, but it was necessary to set up the next chapter, which should have some more action in it. *shrugs* Well, hope you enjoyed anyways. I would appreciate the reviews!