Chaos Effect

Chapter 68

We were following Yugi and his friends down the street, the sun having finally fully set though you couldn't tell that from the way Domino was lit up. I didn't often go out at night, as I was someone who much preferred to be tucked away at home once the sun went down, but from the few times I had been out I knew that Domino, while always rather lively, was especially awake and active tonight. Every single store was open, theaters and restaurants were trying to entice all to come and step inside their walls, and there was an air of carnival all around.

Our large group, however, had other plans. Yugi was quietly following the direction his dex was broadcasting to him, leading us to the next stop on our Battle City tour.

'Not that Seto will take off without us,' I thought to myself. 'Even discounting the fact that we have so many finalists in our group there is no way he would let Yugi and his God Card miss out on the next round.'

I suddenly found myself yanked back, Mai having halted in her tracks, eyes wide as she gripped my arm tightly. "What the-" she said, blinking owlishly.

"Mai?"

"I... I know we were just walking after leaving the park... but... the museum. Us in costumes." Her brow furrowed. "I gave you a hand job and then you showed everyone your dick?"

"Filler arc," I told her with a shrug. "It happens. Doesn't count."

My girlfriend shook her head violently before rubbing her eyes. "Oh lord I'm becoming you, aren't I? Selene is making me like you! Am I going to begin playing rock music during my duels and referencing cheesy cartoons?"

"I think you mean bad ass cartoons!" I complained.

"Sure, sure," she said, still distressed. "Oh, I can feel the urge to buy plain zip up hoodies building in me! And monaloguing!"

"Yeah, that's a thing," I admitted.

"Is everything okay?" Yuri asked; her and Renard had decided to take the rear, to make sure we weren't snuck up on. Odion was also with them, though not as a guard but rather to be kept watch on. While he swore he was done with Marik until he proved himself we weren't going to just accept him being there.

"Halloween memories," I said cheerfully.

Renard frowned. "Why are you thinking about Halloween right now."

"Filler arc," Mai said offhandedly before her eyes went wide in horror. "No..."

"One of us! One of us!" I said, pumping my fists in front of me. "Eeeeeeeee!"

"...and yet somehow we work for THEM," Yuri pointed out. "There is no god."

"Actually-" Renard began.

"No, stop," Yuri said, holding up her hand. "I realized how dumb that was the moment I said it."

"Guys, come on!" Tea called out. "We need to hurry or we could be out of the finals!"

I shrugged and followed after, the rest of my group right beside me. We made for an interesting collection of people, to be sure, and I wondered what people thought when they saw us walking down the street together.

'The King of Games and his friends. The creator of Duel Monsters. Two shop keeps. Joey's new friend. A girl who was almost blind. The sole board member of KaibaCorp. Two international duelists. A ninja. A cop. A former Rare Hunter. We make a...'

I paused and rewound what I'd just said.

"Oh, hello Jean Claude Magnum," I said with a smirk, looking at the ninja who had been creeping up towards Mai. "Or are you just someone he hired. Is it like Downton Abbey and you can hire ninjas now? Ooooh! Are you his Mr. Bates?"

"A bit more giddy than normal, aren't we captain?" Renard asked.

"Let's blame the filler arc," I said as the others realized we'd been waylaid. "So... Jean Claude or his personal ninja? Either or let's wrap this up in a nice little bow, shall we?"

"Edwin?" Yugi called out. "What's going on?"

"Mai's ex is just her to harass her with toxic masculinity!" I called out. "Want to take a selfie with him before we deal with him?"

"What?" Tristan said, looking at the others before jogging back towards us. For his part the Ninja just kept staring at us, not moving a muscle. "Where did you pick up this guy?"

"No idea, don't care. Mai, does he look like Jean Claude?"

"Too skinny," she admitted, looking him up and down. "Are you sure he's even in his employ? And how do you know about Jean Claude?" She looked side-eyed at me. "Is this another dimensional traveler thing?"

"Yup."

She nodded before sighing. "Jean Claude, please come out!"

"Wait..." Joey said, suddenly excited, "you know Jean Claude Magnum?"

"Depends on your definition," Mai said.

"Uh..." Joey scratched his head. "Do... you know him?"

"I think, Joseph," Pegasus cut in, "that Miss Valentine is hinting that she knew Jean Claude Magnum rather... Biblically."

Mai rolled her eyes. "No, that's NOT what I meant!" She looked at the Ninja. "Seriously, go get him! We don't have all day!" She let out a huff, leaning against me. "I swear, I should have known that annoying little bug would pop up again."

"He's really a bad ninja, isn't it?" Koyo stated, watching as the man in the black stereotypical ninja garb hurried off.

"Ninja were actually more likely to dress as servants," I commented. "So a modern one should be like Agent 47."

"So wait," Joey said, looking at Mai, eyes squinted. "You used to DATE Jean Claude Magnum!?"

"Date would mean that he arranged for us to go some place, we had a lovely evening, and then he took me home, Joseph." Mai let out a sigh. "I barely remember him."

"You barely remember Jean Claude Magnum?!" Joey protested. "How can that be? He's one of the coolest guys in the world! He's suave, he's cunning-"

A limo crashed through a wall in front of us.

"He's a horrible driver..." I added.

Out of the limo stepped the man in question. He was wearing a white suit and I couldn't help but remember my father's comment about why he had refused to wear a white suit at his wedding: it made him look like a Good Humor man.

"Ah Mai, I have found you at last!" Jean Claude said with a smile, holding out some flowers to her.

"I'm sorry but I think you have the wrong gal," Mai commented.

"Maybe he mixed you up with your cousin?" I offered. "Mary Christmas?"

"...geez Edwin, that was bad even for you," Mai complained though she did snuggle up against me. I didn't know how much of that was because she actually wanted to cuddle and how much was her trying to show the actor that she was taken.

Jean Claude, for his part, finally noticed me standing there. "Excuse me, but who are you and what are you doing standing so close to my future wife."

"WIFE?!" Yugi and his friends all exclaimed in shock behind Jean Claude.

"Why didn't ya tell us you were gettin' married, Mai?!" Joey exclaimed. "And ta Jean Claude Magnum no less!"

"I'm not getting married to him, you dolt," Mai said with a roll of her eyes. "I don't even remember this guy."

"Come now Mai, don't you remember our deep connection from a year ago?"

And then Jean Claude just stood there.

"...no," Mai repeated. "I don't."

"I think that was supposed to be for a flash back," I whispered to her.

"Edwin, I'm already dealing with Halloween memories, don't push your luck any further."

"...fair enough."

"Come now Mai, enough teasing!" Jean Claude said with a smile. "We met on that casino barge... you not only defeated me in a duel but you refused to submit to me. I have never met a woman who didn't instantly fall for my charms... I was captivated. I knew you were the one for me."

I frowned. "Maybe that's because she's the first woman you met where you didn't have to pay for it."

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"You are not involved in this!" Jean Claude declared, grabbing me and shoving me away from Mai.

At once Yuri and Renard stepped forward, glowering at the man. "The word, captain, and he dies," Renard snarled, pulling out a collapsible baton while Yuri merely cracked her knuckles.

"Get in line, Renard," Mai said darkly, stepping between me and Jean Claude. "Look here, buster... I don't know what delusions you've built up for yourself but I am not interested. I am dating Edwin."

"You would allow yourself to be that blowhard's woman?"

"My woman? What is this, the 1950s?" I asked. "She's not my woman and I'm not her man. We're partners, dipshit... that's how a healthy relationship actually works. Trust, respect, equality. I don't need to claim Mai like she is some kind of prize I won at a carnival and she doesn't need to lead me around on a leash like I'm her pet dog."

"Though that does sound fun," Mai said, glancing over her shoulder at me.

Pegasus leaned in to Solomon, "Is the flirting a new thing between them? I don't remember that in Duelist Kingdom." Yugi's grandpa, for his part, shrugged.

"Maybe that's the problem you've had with women, Jean Claude. You see them as something that can just be bought or claimed or won. I have never seen Mai like that. She is my equal... hell, there are so many things she is better at than me. And I don't mind that... because when you actually love someone... their success makes you happy, not scared."

"Oh, but that is why I know Mai is destined to be my wife!" Jean Claude declared dramatically. "So many other women... they are scared of me. Frightened or entranced by my good looks and acting skills. But Mai... she has a fire in her and I want to spend every night being warmed by it. That is why I have come at last, to make her my wife!" He pointed right at Mai. "Do you remember your promise? You said that when I could beat you in a duel you would marry me!"

"...I admit that might have been something as said. Sarcastically-"

"It still counts!" Jean Claude said with delight, another ninja hurrying over with a duel disc. "We are going to duel, right here, and when I beat you we will forget all about this tournament. I have the chapel already booked and then we will be flying off to Rome for our honeymoon! Of course we'll have to let the press know all about it... interviews and all that."

"Awesome," Mai said dryly. "I'll do my first interview with a Chaos Communications Network reporter." She turned and walked over to me, grabbing me by the lapel of my jacket. "We'll need some privacy... don't be shocked if his questions sound like slurping-"

"Hahaha!" Jean Claude laughed uproariously. "Oh Mai... such a tease! I know I will never grow bored with you! Now come... let me show you my skills in dueling!"

"...no!" she exclaimed.

"Such a tease! Now come with me, Mai!"

"The only person I come with is Edwin," Mai retorted, causing me to choke a little.

"This almost makes me miss Duelist Kingdom," Tristan muttered as he watched the back and forth.

"I wouldn't say no to dueling Johnny Steps again," Tea admitted as Jean Claude continued to pester Mai.

"Bandit Keith is looking better and better," Joey said as he watched his hero continue to press Mai to duel him.

Yugi shook his head. "I would take hopping through alternate realities for a while..." His friends all looked at him. "Oh... right... I forgot to tell you about that."

"Oh, playing hard to get I see!" Jean Claude declared. "That only entices me all the more! I so do love a woman who plays hard to get!"

"Someone would call that 'Not taking no for an answer'," Yuri commented.

Jean Claude looked Yuri up and down before scoffing. "Mai, why do you surround yourself with those that are clearly beneath you? Don't you see you are meant for grander things?"

Mai's upper lip twitched.

"Oh boy," I muttered. "I've seen that look before."

~A Few Months Ago~

"I'm sorry Miss Valentine," the waiter said, "but we are out of curly fries."

"...your restaurant is called Everything With A Side Of Curly Fries," Mai snarled; I for my part slowly leaned back in my chair. "I have been dreaming of your curly fries all day. And you DARE to tell me you don't have any?!"

"I'm good with Onion Rings," I said meekly as Mai let out a scream that would make a Velociraptor proud and rushed the waiter.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Listen here, bozo!" Mai snapped, stepping forward. "I can put up with you stalking me and having delusions of mediocrity in your head... but NO ONE insults my friend. You want a duel?" Mai held out her hand and the band that Edwin had given her shifted and spread out into a duel disc. "Let's duel!"

"Yes!" Jean Claude cheered. "At last I will be able to show you my skill! And when I defeat you we shall be wed!"

"Not taking that bet in the slightest," Mai said firmly. "Now make your move."

"Very well then!" Jean Claude said excitedly. "I will start by placing this monster face down on the field and ending my turn."

Mai nodded. "Very well... I start by placing Amazoness Golden Whip Master in my left most spell zone and Amazoness Silver Sword Master in my right most spell zone."

Edwin's eyes went wide at that. "Mai..."

"Yeah," she said, looking back at him and smirking, "I decided to add in some of your tricks." She turned back towards Jean Claude. "And now you are about to see something REAL fun!" She reached down her shirt and pulled out a necklace, a locket dangling from it. Cracking it open she looked down, unable to stop herself from smiling softly at the picture within. It wasn't the touchy, lovey-dovey gooey picture one might have expected. A couple cuddling close or hugging each other as they stared into each other's eyes. No... the picture was of her and Edwin laughing at something... she couldn't remember what, they had been watching Airplane! and at some point during one of their many laughing fits Renard had snapped a photo of the two nearly tumbling into each other as they broke down in hysterics.

'Every time I look at this photo... I remember that Edwin was the first person that truly made me let my guard down,' Mai thought to herself. 'For so many people in this world I've had to pretend I was something I wasn't. Been confident and strong when I was scared. Determined when I was unsure. Aloof when all I wanted was to belong. Edwin makes me feel safe enough to actually be myself...' She looked up at Jean Claude Magnum and closed the locket, '...and that's why I'm going to defeat this clown.'

"Now then!" Mai said, holding her hands before her locket, which began to sway back and forth. "Behold the might of my tribe! I Pendulum Summon my Amazoness Paladin, my Amazoness Tiger, and my Amazoness Princess!"

The three Amazoness monsters appeared on the field, the Princess bouncing on her toes in eagerness to begin the battle while the Paladin remained a few steps behind, holding onto the chain of the Amazoness Tiger who snarled and clawed at the ground, ready to strike.

"Because there are three Amazoness cards on the field my Paladin gains 300 attack, bringing her to 2000. My Tiger also gains 400 attack points for each Amazoness monster, bringing her to 2300. And my Amazones Golden Whip Master and my Amazoness Silver Sword Master both give each of my monsters 100 attack points for their levels, bringing my Paladin to 2400, my Tiger to 2700, and my Princess to 1600."

"Wait... how did you-" Jean Claude stammered. "I've never seen anything like that! What is Pendulum Dueling?"

"I'm afraid the game has evolved, Jean Claude... and so have I. Amazoness Princess, attack his downface monster!" The Princess did so, leaping forward and plunging her spear into Goe Goe the Gallant Ninja. "and when Amazoness Princess attacks she summons another Amazoness Monster in defense mode! So say hello to my Amazoness Swordswoman, who increases my Paladin to 2500 and my Tiger to 3100!"

Jean Claude's eyes were so wide Mai thought his forehead was going to crack open due to the stress. "Wait... let me look at my hand... I must..."

"Sorry, but time waits for no man... and especially not you. Amazoness Paladin and Amazoness Tiger, attack Jean Claude directly!"

The actor gasped and shielded himself as the two monsters attacking, sending him flying back towards Joey who quickly stepped out of the way, letting the actor fall in a heap. (Jean Claude-0000)

"And that is a reminder, kids, that Mai is one of the Top Five Duelists in the world," Edwin said as the holograms faded away.

"Exactly," Mai said, linking her arm through his once more. "Let me make this clear, Jean Claude... I am not interested in you. I will NEVER be interested in you. Go find some groupie that will make you happy!"

The actor slowly brushed himself off. "I see... I must get even better!" He beamed. "Thank you Mai for that motivation! I will go get new cards and I swear when we duel again I will prove myself your better! Then we will be wed and live happily ever after! Fair well!"

And with that he hopped into his limo and drove off.

"...so he's going to come back in a few months and fuck us all over, isn't he?" Yuri asked.

"That seems to be the pattern of our lives," Edwin commented.

~MC~MC~MC~

Seto couldn't decide if he was pleased or annoyed that he was the first person to arrive at the arena.

On one hand it was only proper that he arrive first. This was his tournament, where he would make right all the wrongs that had occurred over the last few months. He would reclaim his title as the World's Greatest Duelist. He would claim cards that would allow him to never again lose a duel.

On the other hand it meant that he was stuck waiting for everyone else to arrive. And if there was one thing he hated in the world it was being forced to wait for others.

"Looks like we are the first ones here, Seto!" Mokuba said with a grin. Seto looked down at his brother and couldn't help but smile slightly to himself, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Then I guess that means we'll get to see who our competition is."

"We could find out now though, Seto," Mokuba pointed out, moving to get out his phone. "The rankings-"

"No, Mokuba," he said firmly though not unkindly. "While we know some of the people we are going to face I'd like the last few to be a surprise."

"...this is like not being able to shake the presents under the Christmas tree, isn't it?" Mokuba said with an annoyed huff and Seto smiled again.

"Yes."

His smile though quickly dropped the proximity alarm on his phone buzzed, letting him know someone was coming. But rather than it being Yugi or his friends it was, of all people, Rex Raptor who stepped into the arena, looking about in confusion.

"This place has seen better days, Kaiba," Rex commented. "We really gonna duel here? Half the walls are missing!"

"You'll find out soon enough," Seto said simply.

"Rex got in?!" Seto heard and he looked past the dino duelist to see Joey Wheeler hurrying into the arena, the rest of his dweeby friends a few steps behind him.

"What of it, Wheeler?" Rex demanded. "You managed to get in, didn't ya?"

"Yeah, just like I managed ta get to the Duelist Kingdom finals, unlike you! I didn't get drummed out!"

"I didn't either," Rex retorted. "I still had Star Chips when time ran out. An extra day and I would have been able to watch Edwin kick your butt right out of that castle!"

"Why you-!" Joey exclaimed, Tristan grabbing him before he could rush Rex. "Let me go, I just wanna talk to him!"

Seto rolled his eyes at that. "Can you go one time in your life without embarrassing yourself, Wheeler?"

"Hey!" Joey shouted, suddenly focused on Seto. "Stay out of this, rich boy!"

"Joey, come on man!" Tristan said, struggling to hold him back. "Calm down!"

Another young man walked up and placed himself in front of Joey, forcing him to focus on him. "Don't let him ruin your success. You made it to the next round... that's a good thing, right?"

Joey deflated at once. "Yeah... yeah you're right." He shook his head. "Thanks guys."

That settled Seto turned his attention on Yugi. "I was beginning to worry that you'd found some duckling with a broken wing or a grandmother that needed help crossing the road and that would keep you from continuing in my tournament, Yugi."

"Don't worry," the young man said, "I'm ready for whatever comes next."

"We all are," Tea said firmly, a glint in her eye.

"Mr. Kaiba?" Serenity Wheeler said, walking up to him nervously. "I want to thank you for your help back at the dock." She bowed to him and after a moment Seto nodded.

"Well... those Rare Hunters were trying to ruin my tournament. I couldn't let that happen."

"Well I'm very thankful all the same." Serenity stepped back just as a familiar, and grating, voice filled the air.

"You know, Kaiba-Boy," Pegasus said as he entered the arena, Yugi's grandpa right beside him, "when I had my tournament it ended in my castle, with a team of servants there to provide all that the duelists needed. I suppose a half constructed arena will do..."

Seto grit his teeth, forcing himself not to say a word. 'That pampered dandy will be eating his words when he sees what I have planned,' Seto thought to himself. 'Battle City is about to go global; when its over no one will even remember Duelist Kingdom!'

"What are you doing here?" Mokuba asked with just a touch of distrust and Seto felt a flicker of pride fill him. Good... Mokuba tended to make friends quick but he hadn't forgotten that it was Pegasus who had kidnapped him. At the events where the man had been in attendance Mokuba had always kept his distance but that would be hard during the next round of the tournament.

"Why I'm a plus one," Pegasus said with a smirk. "That is allowed per the guidelines of your tournament, is it not?"

Seto set his jaw; he'd been forced to put in that clause when he'd believed that Mokuba wouldn't be able to get the Locator Cards needed to make it to the next round. He didn't want to leave his brother behind. Mokuba himself had pushed for it, arguing that Edwin would want Renard along and Seto had agreed, thinking that most duelists didn't have hangers on that followed them about so it wasn't that big of a deal.

'But now I have a bunch of annoyances I'll have to deal with,' he thought to himself as he looked over the gathered crowd. 'Yugi's grandfather. Wheeler and his sister. Tristan and Tea will lay claim on those two teens.' He paused, smirking slightly. "I think you've miscounted, Pegasus. Who is bringing you along?"

"I will," a tall Egyptian man said, making his way out of the shadows he'd been lurking in. He was wearing khaki pants and a long sleeved tan shirt, his eyes dark though Seto could tell there was something other than determination behind his irises. Guilt... yes... it was guilt. But for what?

"Ah, thank you Odion," Pegasus said.

Seto let out a dismissive sniff, suddenly remember where he had seen the man before: the docks. He had been the one to save Solomon Muto; Seto hadn't recognized him without his robes and hood. "Whatever. Its not like you are actually part of the tournament. Just butting in."

"I decided to copy you, Kaiba-boy. After all... Battle City is just you copying me."

"Everything I do-"

Seto though didn't get to finish as at that moment the music began to play.

I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed

Get along with the voices inside of my head

You're tryin' to save me, stop holding your breath

And you think I'm crazy, yeah, you think I'm crazy (crazy)

As the woman's voice echoed off the lights of the arena began to strobe rapidly... and Edwin Chaos entered, Mai Valentine, Yuri Gardner, and Renard Volpe standing with him.

I wanted the fame but not the cover of Newsweek

Oh well, guess beggars can't be choosey

Wanted to receive attention for my music

Wanted to be left alone in public, excuse me

For wantin' my cake, and eat it too, and wantin' it both ways

Fame made me a balloon 'cause my ego inflated

When I blew, see, but it was confusing

'Cause all I wanted to do's be the Bruce Lee of loose leaf

Abused ink, used it as a tool when I blew steam (ooh)

Hit the lottery, ooh-wee

But with what I gave up to get, it was bittersweet

It was like winnin' a used mink

Ironic 'cause I think I'm gettin' so huge I need a shrink

I'm beginnin' to lose sleep, one sheep, two sheep

Going coo-coo and kooky as Kool Keith

But I'm actually weirder than you think, 'cause I'm

"He... he always like this?" Rex asked one of the teens that had come with Yugi who Seto didn't recognize as Edwin strolled forward with a confident smirk on his lips.

"Pretty much."

I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed

Get along with the voices inside of my head

You're tryin' to save me, stop holdin' your breath

And you think I'm crazy, yeah, you think I'm crazy

"What?" Edwin said as the music trailed off, his hands reaching up to adjust his jacket. "Battle City needed a bit of spectacle, don't you think?" He looked around at the gathered duelists. "We do have an interesting collection of people here... a regular whose who."

"That we do," a deep voice declared and everyone whipped around to find a man sitting in some of the finished seats of the arena. He had a truly powerfully built form, with broad shoulders and a wide muscular chest; even with the black loose dress shirt he was wearing it was clear the man was strong. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail while the little pointed beard on his chin was well oiled so it formed a spear-like point at the end. Seeing that everyone had finally noticed him the man got out of his chair and leapt down to the arena floor, showing far more agility than someone of his size should have possessed. "I was wondering when the rest of you were going to show up. I kept myself busy..." He tapped a small notebook he was holding in his left hand, "...but now that everyone is arriving I believe proper introductions can be made." He smiled, open and kind which only made it more unnerving that such a look was on a man built like a freight train. "Brom Bones, at your service."

"Bones... like that kid Bonz from Duelist Kingdom?" Tristan asked.

Brom though frowned. "Not that I am aware of..." He looked over at Edwin's group. "Renard."

"Doctor," the former eliminator said, holding out his hand and shaking the darkly dressed man's hand. "Your practice still going good?"

"It is, it is. That doesn't mean that I don't have time for you to join me for a session." He glanced at the others. "From what I've gathered all of you could use some psychiatric help."

"Psychie-whatie?" Joey said, confused.

"Psychologist," Mai said, rolling her eyes. "Seriously Joseph you can't be THAT dumb."

"I so could too!" Joey protested... only to blink as he realized what he'd said. "I mean..."

Seto's phone buzzed again, letting him know someone else had arrived. With Yugi and his friends, Edwin and his crew, Rex, Brom, and Odion that meant that they were only missing three more duelists. They also happened to be the last three to make it into the tournament, the ones he didn't know about. He was rather interested to see who might show up...

...so he was disappointed when another of Yugi's little dweeb friends appeared.

"Bakura!" Yugi exclaimed. "I didn't know you were in Battle City!"

"Hello Yugi," Bakura said softly. "And yes, it was spur of the moment."

Edwin scoffed. "Yeah, spur of the moment." He took a step forward. "Are we really going to do this?"

"Do what?" Bakura asked, blinking his wide eyes in Edwin's direction.

"Unlike many people I'm not an idiot and I'm not gullible. Drop the act, Spirit."

At once Bakura's entire demeanor changed.

"Ah, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you of all people would suspect the truth," Bakura stated, his voice a bit lower. His accent had also changed; where before his words had been soft and gentle now he seemed to savor every letter, allowing them to fall from his tongue.

"The Spirit of the Millennium Ring!" Tea exclaimed in shock and Seto rolled his eyes; not more of this magic talk.

"Hello Tea," Bakura said, leering at her. "Its been a while."

"Hey, Florence!" Edwin said, snapping his fingers. "Eyes on me, dipshit." He pointed at Bakura with his index and middle finger before twisting his hand around to point at his own eyes. "The real threat is right in front of you."

"NO, actually," another person called out and Bakura turned as another Egyptian walked into the arena. He was a few inches shorter than Seto with dusty white hair, a familiar purple robe on his shoulders and a golden rod held in his hand. "You'll find the threat is in front of YOU, Edwin Chaos."

"Marik," Yugi said, narrowing his eyes while Joey moved to push his sister behind him. Seto didn't blame Wheeler for once for his actions, as he too moved to make sure his brother was safe from the criminal that had sought to ruin his tournament. It didn't matter that he had thrown it with the goal of drawing the man out... his actions had meant that he was now his enemy.

"Oh, are we doing this?" Edwin said, throwing his arms out wide and walking towards Marik and Bakura. "Because I REALLY hope we are."

"So eager to die, are we?" Bakura demanded with a smirk.

"Death is boring... there are so many things in life to experience. Ones you'll never get to try yourself," Edwin countered. "But how about you just slide to the side... for once its not you I am interested in."

Bakura... did just that.

"You dare?!" Marik screamed in outrage.

"Our alliance is over... you made that quite clear in the alley. Why should I risk my neck for you?"

Marik growled before turning to face Edwin. "Fine... have I end this fool I will deal with you next!"

"If it's a whoopin' you're after then I'll give it to ya!" Edwin declared as he shrugged off his jacket, tossing it to Yuri before he began to unbutton his sleeves. "Your little Millennium Rod is flaccid when it comes to me, Marik. And while you MIGHT be able to snag someone behind me... do you have enough time to take control of them before I rush you, unlock YOUR brain, and worm my way through your gray matter?" He paused. "Assuming I don't just drive my knee into that shriveled worm you call a cock. Would you like to summon a Rare Hunter to try and fluff it for you? I can wait."

"Enough of this," Seto snapped. "We are here to duel, not get into petty squabbles."

Edwin and Marik stared each other down before Edwin finally made a mocking bow and motioned for Marik to step forward. Marik, for his part, merely shot him a side-eye glare and walked closer to everyone... though he did keep his distance from the tense teens. It didn't miss Seto's notice that he seemed rather pleased with the reactions he was getting from everyone.

"Well said, Kaiba," Ishizu said, finally making her presence known. "The fate of the world will not be settled with threats and fists." She moved towards Yugi and his group even as Seto grit his teeth at the sight of the woman that had sent that deranged nut at him and Mokuba. "It will be in Duel Monsters, the game of my ancestors, which the Pharaoh will win."

"Still pinning your hopes of the weak and feeble I see, dear sister," Marik retorted.

"And you still refuse your duty," Ishizu said softly with a sad shake of her head. "But the Pharaoh will show you the error of your ways." She turned to Yugi. "I must speak with-"

Ishizu's head snapped back, her hands flying to her face. Blood gushed down her lips and chin as she stumbled back, Tea shaking the hand she'd just used to break Ishizu's nose.

"You lied to us!" Tea thundered. "Hid things from us! And you think you can just walk up and act like you're our friend?" She took a step forward as Ishizu gasped out, fingers gingerly touching the already swollen flesh of her nose. Behind her Marik had been rendered utterly speechless while Bakura laughed so hard it was a wonder he wasn't going to pass out. "People almost died because you kept things from us! Because you wanted to hide your little secrets!"

"You... you dare strike a servant of the Pharaoh?"

"She dared punch a servant of the Pharaoh!" Edwin shouted. "And magically her hand hasn't fallen off!"

"You-" Ishizu began only for Tristan to step forward.

"Back off, lady," he warned.

"Yeah!" Joey added. "If Tea says you're bad news then that's all we need to know!"

"Right," Duke said.

Ishizu gathered up some of the silk from her veil and pressed it against her nose, stopping the bleeding. "You... have no right to touch me. By the ancient laws your life is forfeit-"

Now Yuri moved. "Come near my sister and I'll go to the most ancient of ways. Cain and Abel. I'll find a rock and cave your fucking head in."

"And I'll hold you down myself," Mai added.

Edwin merely flashed a dark smile.

Ishizu narrowed her eyes before focusing on Yugi once again. She tried to compose herself, to appear regal and haughty... but it lost a lot of its effect with blood staining her mouth like a vampire who didn't know how to eat properly. "My Pharaoh, it is now more than ever clear you must listen to me. These people... they don't understand-"

"These people?" Yugi demanded. "You mean my friends?" He shook his head sadly. "I was willing to hear you out, Ishizu, but-"

"I wasn't talking to you, Yugi Muto. It is the Pharaoh who matters, not you."

Silence.

"Oh you pressed Yugi Button," Edwin muttered as Yugi suddenly stood up all the straighter, the familiar glint that Seto saw whenever Yugi began to duel flashing in his eyes. "Ya shouldn't have did that."

"You talk of people I should allow around me, Ishizu. Of who I should trust and respect. But both of those things are earned... they are not a right that you can demand be given to someone. You come here and demand we all listen to you and do as you say but you then tell us nothing and send us off like lambs to the slaughter. You have shown that you do not care about us, that we are merely pieces on the chess board, being moved about by you through your whims. My friends? They have stood by me during this tournament, many times against threats you knew about but failed to warn us of-"

"My Pharaoh-"

"You have no right to call me your Pharaoh. You have done nothing to earn my respect, my trust, or my loyalty."

And with that he turned his back on Ishizu, the Egyptian woman left standing there, frozen in place, eyes wide in shock.

"Hmmm," Seto huffed under his breath. "If I could kick you out of my tournament I would, Ishizu... but I think I'd much rather defeat you myself."

"I might be able to buy a new house if I set up my office..." Brom murmured to himself, tugging at his beard.

Rex slowly raised his hand. "I mean no offense and honestly it was fun watching Yugi's friend punch that woman but aren't we here to duel?"

"We are," Seto said, glad SOMEONE remembered that there was a tournament going on. "And as such let us move on to the next round."

"We really doin' it here, Kaiba?" Joey said, looking about. "No offense but this place has seen better days."

"It hasn't seen any days, Wheeler. This is the new KaibaCorp Arena that I am having built. When finished it will be the greatest Duel Monsters Arena in the world. However... since it isn't ready yet... I have something much better in mind."

He threw out his hand and suddenly the spotlights around him turning on, revealing the massive blimp that had been hovering silently above them the entire time. He smirked as he saw Yugi's friends all gasp in shock, stunned by the sight of the great flying craft.

It was an absolutely beautiful vehicle, one Seto had personally overseen the development of. While so many people feared blimps due to the Hindenburg Disaster there was nothing to be concerned about if one knew what they were doing. His blimp used a mixture of gasses that were not flammable. The engines were whisper quiet yet also consumed far less fuel than normal engines did. The blimp contained within the main structure itself many rooms and compartments and the dueling platform he had created...

...well, everyone would see soon enough.

"Battle City is over. It allowed us to cull from the many duelists seeking to prove themselves the best of the best the true elites. And now we shall ascend to the heavens, to battle in the sky as we make our way towards the next part of my tournament!"

As he had been speaking the blimp had descended and servants emerged the moment the entrance ramp was lowered to the ground, all smiles and welcoming gestures as they asked the duelists to come in for a late meal. Of course Wheeler was the first to rush towards the blimp, his friends following just behind. Edwin and his foursome waited, the blond arching an eyebrow at Bakura and Marik before the two both made their way up the platform. Brom Bones and Rex shrugged and were next and then Ishizu, one of the servants grabbing her arm and taking her to the doctor to have her nose checked out.

"This is a powder keg," Edwin muttered as he walked up. "And I'm not talking about the blimp."

"I'm surprised you weren't the first person to punch someone," Seto admitted.

"Yeah well... today has been a long day and I'm a bit tired." He paused. "She goes after what's mine and she dies."

Seto frowned, knowing that Edwin was including Mokuba in that group. "You'll have to beat me to it."

"We'll take turns." And with that he and his group boarded.

'Yes, it has been a long day,' Seto thought to himself. 'But tomorrow will prove to be even longer for you!'