Chapter 3: - Tag Team
Joey hadn't gotten that far into the park before the air horns went off, but they were the least of his worries right now.
Somehow Hirutani's punks had made their way into the Tournament and while Joey didn't really credit them with enough brains to be any real threat to him Tournament wise, he wasn't stupid enough to assume they'd stick to the rules like everyone else.
In fact, if he was right, he was going to walk around this corner and there were going to be four of them.
He walked around the corner.
Not quite right.
Five.
"You can't all want to Duel me at once." Joey snorted before they could get a word in edge ways, "At least show some sort of honor."
"You're the one that has no Honor, Wheeler." One growled, "Abandoning the gang and then nearly killing our leader." The gang closed in.
"Hirutani was the one who attacked us, he fell off the roof. I didn't try to kill anyone." Joey growled, "It's what happens when you decide to pick a fight on a roof." Joey shifted into a fighting stance, "What are you clowns even doing in this Tournament?"
"We have a job that involves your little friend, Yugi." One of them sneered, "And the Boss thought we'd see how you were doing at the same time." He rose his arm so Joey could clearly see the Duel Disk, "Now, we challenge you."
"All five of you?" Joey asked, or rather tried not to yelp, "You can't be serious."
"Deadly serious, and you have to accept or forfeit your map card."
"What do you want with Yugi?" Joey growled as he tried to look for a way out of this, nowhere near confident enough to take on five guys in a Duel, in a fight he might come close, but a Duel was a different matter.
"Something about that gaudy gold item of his." The apparent leader of this group shrugged, "We've got you surrounded Wheeler, Duel us or fight us, your choice."
"Think you've got enough opponents there?" A girl's voice, heavily accented, rang out above the crowd, "Share them around why don't you?"
Joey looked over his shoulder to where an unamused looking brunette Duellist and her blonde friend were taking in every aspect of the scene.
"Stay out of this, chick." One of the goons growled.
The brunette said something to her friend in another language, something rude from her tone, but Joey didn't understand it, she turned to Joey, "You're Joey Wheeler, right? Second at Duellist Kingdom, Fourth in the first Battle City?"
Joey nodded, wondering what she wanted.
"I saw most of your matches on TV, I'm Kari Ironhide, will you accept me as your Duelling Partner?"
Her friend looked doubtful, as if she didn't think this was a wise course, and Joey examined the girl. She was confident, as if she didn't expect to lose, but two against five was still bad odds.
He hadn't planned to Duel, he'd planned on fighting his way out, but…
"Go on then Wheeler." One goons laughed. "And to make up for your handicap," He waved towards Kari, "We'll let you pick the two to go against the pair of you."
The circle of goons cleared a path for the two girls and Kari pulled out her deck, shuffled and put it in the correct slot. She smiled at Joey who smiled ruefully back, "You two." Joey pointed to the dumbest looking two, "We win, we get your map cards."
"You lose, you're coming with us, Wheeler and your new friend gives up her Map Card."
The girl shrugged, taking in where the bad guys shifted to, nerves slightly showing as she realised they were in the perfect places to jump them if their friends lost.
"You're crazy, you know that?" Joey asked, drawing his first hand.
"I know." Kari grinned back, "But then when it comes to Duelling I've always been a little mental. Besides, I can't stand cheats."
Joey smiled slightly, he knew plenty of people like that.
"Ladies first!" The goon mocked and Kari drew.
"A card in defence mode and four cards face down." Kari played quickly and confidently, "Next."
One of the goons, "Dark Blade in attack mode and two cards face down, Wheeler, you're next."
Joey drew, "Three cards face down and I end my turn." Joey had so many questions he wanted to ask but couldn't with the two girls here that he partially resented their interference, he wanted to know what they were planning for Yugi.
The last goon drew and played a second Dark Blade in attack mode and a card face down. "Your go again, girl."
"My name's Kari." She growled as she drew, "I sacrifice my face down card in order to summon my favourite Monster." She grinned and Joey's eyes widened as it appeared, "The Dark Magician Girl." The Spellcaster glared at the goons who looked unworried, "Then I activate Sage's Stone to summon a Dark Magician!" The magician that appeared had different coloured robes to Yugi's.
"I also activate the spells Thousand Knives, Dark Magic Attack and Magic Formula, killing your Dark Blade, destroying all your face down magic and trap cards," She pointed to one of the goons, "And equipping it to my Dark Magician Girl."
Joey gulped, suddenly glad she was on his side, "Dark Magician! Dark Magician Girl! Take him out!"
The two Spellcasters attacked the defenseless goon and his points hit zero.
"Where did you get all those cards?" Joey asked, slightly awed by the move as the goon sat down on the floor.
The girl shrugged, her attitude changing on an instant, like she had a personal grudge against these guys. Perhaps she just hated bullies, someone as small as this girl had to have been a target of a group of them at some point.
"My friend doesn't tend to eat, she spends all her money on cards." Her blonde friend answered for her, "She has done for years."
Joey grinned, he knew a few people like that too, were all Duellists obsessive?
"Your move." Kari glared at the remaining goon.
"Raigeki."
"What?" Kari yelped as all of her monsters blew up, closely followed by Joey's face down one. Magic Formula increased her life points by 1000 but she looked furious, "You cheating git! That card's forbidden!"
"We all have one, and that's not all we carry."
"You'll be kicked out." Kari growled.
"We're not here for the Prize Money." The goon laughed at her, "Ask your friend."
Kari looked at Joey who sighed, "They're trying to cause trouble for me and a friend."
"I won't lose to a cheat." Kari growled, "Finish your move."
"A second monster, Giltia, the Dark Knight!"
Both common monsters stood side by side.
"Attack the girl!"
Kari threw up her arms to protect herself from the sword, but couldn't stop herself being thrown back by Giltia's magical attack. She groaned as she sat up, seeing stars from hitting her head. It was a lot of damage to take in one hit as her life points hit 1350. She grumbled something in the other language as she retook her place in the Duel.
"Wheeler, your go."
Joey drew, it was funny how a Duel could change on an instant and yet Joey marvelled over how he was more angry that they were cheating, even though he'd expected it, then that they'd jumped him. "Gearfried the Iron Knight!" Joey growled as he summoned it, "I guess it's Kari's move."
She drew, "I summon Magician's Valkeria, in attack mode and end my turn."
Joey frowned as the older looking Duel Monster who looked a lot like the Dark Magician Girl appeared, and looked at Kari, Valkeria didn't have enough attack points to stand up to his monsters on her own and her face down card hadn't stopped his attack last time…
The goon drew, arrogant in his self assurance, "Giltia, destroy her Valkeria!"
Something exploded in the magical blast but Joey couldn't help but grin when he saw what she'd done.
"What?" A yelp from the goon, "What are those?"
"Magical Hats." Kai grinned, "A present from a friend. My Valkeria is in one of those hats, care to take another shot at her?"
"Dark Blade!" The goon growled, "Attack her!"
Another hat exploded and Joey held his breath.
Nothing.
Kari's grin turned into a smirk. "Sorry, but you wasted both your goes."
"I'll hit her next time, three cards face down and it's your move Wheeler."
Joey drew, wondering how he was going to get the girl back in this, she was trying to recover from the loss of what were probably her two best monsters and doing admirably, but their opponent would destroy Valkeria next turn and then she'd be wide open. "I summon Exarion Universe and play a card face down. Gearfried! Attack his Dark Blade!"
The two monster met in combat and were both killed.
"Kari, your move."
The girl nodded and drew, her face taking on an odd look, then shrugging. "I have to pass this turn."
Damn. Joey thought as the goon sized up the hats and summoned Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight.
"That's a seven star monster!" Joey growled. "You have to tribute two monsters for it!"
"Not if it's the only card in my hand." The goon laughed, "I stole this one from a Duellist who thought he was tough enough to take us all on, on his own. I equip it with all my face down Equip Cards." Swift Gaia went up by around 2000 points.
"Lunatic." Joey muttered, though he hoped they hadn't done anything permanent to him.
"Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight attack her left hat!"
Kari braced herself.
"Kunai with chain!" Joey grinned as he activated it, "It stops your monster from being able to attack and increases Exarion Universe's attack by five hundred."
"Thanks Joey." Kari grinned at him.
"I still have Giltia! Attack her hat!"
Kari growled as her hat blew up, revealing a Magician's Valkeria who for some reason wasn't dying.
"What's going on?"
Joey, who had noticed the crowd gathering to watch the Duel from around Joey's first turn and was rather glad of it, they wouldn't try anything afterwards if there was a large crowd to get them into trouble, grinned, "Graceful Dice, all we need is a two or higher and Valkeria is stronger then your Giltia!"
"Dust Tornado." The goon growled, "Destroying your Graceful Dice."
Valkeria died as Giltia's magic reached her.
"Sorry Valkeria." Kari murmured as her last Magical Hat faded away with nothing on the field to hide, her points dropping by another 250.
"Wheeler, make your move!"
Joey drew, "Roulette Barrel, in defence mode!" He called as he summoned, "I activate it's effect, rolling two dice, so I can destroy a monster with same number of stars as the total of both dice."
Two virtual die appeared and rolled themselves, on stopped on a two and the other on a five. "I destroy your Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight." Joey grinned, "And Kunai with Chain still acts as an equip card for my Exarion Universe, who attacks your Giltia!"
The goon's points went down by 450 as Giltia exploded.
"Kari." Joey nodded to her.
She drew and frowned again, "I have to pass, there's no move I can make."
"Then you're going to lose this turn." The goon laughed, "I summon another Dark Blade and attack you directly.
"I discard Kuriboh!" Kari's voice could be heard over the resulting explosion as her Kuriboh wall exploded at the attacking monster, saving her life points. Kari was left with a rather big grin, she enjoyed annoying people with that card.
"Come on Kari, you can do it!" Her friend yelled, or something that was the English equivalent, Joey guessed, it certainly had the same tone to it as his friends' many pep talks.
"Wheeler." The goon growled, "Make your move."
Joey drew again, "Axe Raider, in attack mode and I switch Roulette Barrel to attack mode too." This turn the two dice didn't roll the same amount as any monster, "Exarion Universe! Attack his Dark Blade!" The goon's points dropped to 3050, "Axe Raider! Roulette Barrel! Attack him directly!" They dropped again to 350. "Kari, your move."
She drew and grinned, "Skilled Dark Magician in attack mode! He attacks you directly too!" The goon snarled his points hit zero and Kari grinned, "Now, hand over your Map Cards."
The goons would have just run except for the crowd that was now boxing them in. They handed over their Map Cards, one each to Joey and Kari, then legged it.
"Damn it." Joey muttered, as they got away. He sighed and turned to Kari, "Thank you for the help."
The girl shook her head, "You kept me in that after they destroyed my Magicians, I should be thanking you."
Joey just shrugged, "Who's your friend?"
"I'm Robyn Golden." The blonde said, nodding, "Hi."
"Hi." Joey nodded back and smiled, getting a small, wary smile back in exchange. He turned back to Kari, "You gonna be alright if they come after you for this?"
"Hopefully." She frowned after them, "I hate bullies, I hope they don't cause you and your friend too much trouble."
"Me too." Joey frowned. "I'll go find him."
Kari nodded, "Good luck."
"Thanks, you too. See ya around." Joey smiled as the girls went one way and Joey went after the goons, who'd already fled. He'd wanted to ask them why the hell they wanted Yugi's Puzzle.
He had two choices.
No, there was really only one.
Joey raced back towards the City Centre, where he was sure Yugi would be. Hirutani back, girls that jump into the middle of large conflicts, people after the Puzzle…Joey couldn't help the grin even with the worry, this was just like normal.
Mai had been right though, the madness had struck again. It seemed like they were jinxed to have to deal with insanity. If anything Joey was kind of glad the type of people they were fighting this time were just goons. Both he and Yami had dealt with them before and they didn't have any magic, which meant no Shadow Games as long as they avoided Bakura.
Speaking of whom, Joey slipped past the duel between Bakura and some poor sod who didn't know what he was getting into and carried on running, saner villains or not, Yami was capable of outsmarting and outdueling Hirutani's goons, but outfighting them… Joey had no idea.
Joey was back to the square before he had to slow down. Panicking wouldn't do him any good. There was a plus side to all this madness.
He already had two Map Cards.
Now if he could be sure that Yuge was alright, he'd be happy to carry on kicking ass and taking names.
Somehow Hirutani's punks had made their way into the Tournament and while Joey didn't really credit them with enough brains to be any real threat to him Tournament wise, he wasn't stupid enough to assume they'd stick to the rules like everyone else.
In fact, if he was right, he was going to walk around this corner and there were going to be four of them.
He walked around the corner.
Not quite right.
Five.
"You can't all want to Duel me at once." Joey snorted before they could get a word in edge ways, "At least show some sort of honor."
"You're the one that has no Honor, Wheeler." One growled, "Abandoning the gang and then nearly killing our leader." The gang closed in.
"Hirutani was the one who attacked us, he fell off the roof. I didn't try to kill anyone." Joey growled, "It's what happens when you decide to pick a fight on a roof." Joey shifted into a fighting stance, "What are you clowns even doing in this Tournament?"
"We have a job that involves your little friend, Yugi." One of them sneered, "And the Boss thought we'd see how you were doing at the same time." He rose his arm so Joey could clearly see the Duel Disk, "Now, we challenge you."
"All five of you?" Joey asked, or rather tried not to yelp, "You can't be serious."
"Deadly serious, and you have to accept or forfeit your map card."
"What do you want with Yugi?" Joey growled as he tried to look for a way out of this, nowhere near confident enough to take on five guys in a Duel, in a fight he might come close, but a Duel was a different matter.
"Something about that gaudy gold item of his." The apparent leader of this group shrugged, "We've got you surrounded Wheeler, Duel us or fight us, your choice."
"Think you've got enough opponents there?" A girl's voice, heavily accented, rang out above the crowd, "Share them around why don't you?"
Joey looked over his shoulder to where an unamused looking brunette Duellist and her blonde friend were taking in every aspect of the scene.
"Stay out of this, chick." One of the goons growled.
The brunette said something to her friend in another language, something rude from her tone, but Joey didn't understand it, she turned to Joey, "You're Joey Wheeler, right? Second at Duellist Kingdom, Fourth in the first Battle City?"
Joey nodded, wondering what she wanted.
"I saw most of your matches on TV, I'm Kari Ironhide, will you accept me as your Duelling Partner?"
Her friend looked doubtful, as if she didn't think this was a wise course, and Joey examined the girl. She was confident, as if she didn't expect to lose, but two against five was still bad odds.
He hadn't planned to Duel, he'd planned on fighting his way out, but…
"Go on then Wheeler." One goons laughed. "And to make up for your handicap," He waved towards Kari, "We'll let you pick the two to go against the pair of you."
The circle of goons cleared a path for the two girls and Kari pulled out her deck, shuffled and put it in the correct slot. She smiled at Joey who smiled ruefully back, "You two." Joey pointed to the dumbest looking two, "We win, we get your map cards."
"You lose, you're coming with us, Wheeler and your new friend gives up her Map Card."
The girl shrugged, taking in where the bad guys shifted to, nerves slightly showing as she realised they were in the perfect places to jump them if their friends lost.
"You're crazy, you know that?" Joey asked, drawing his first hand.
"I know." Kari grinned back, "But then when it comes to Duelling I've always been a little mental. Besides, I can't stand cheats."
Joey smiled slightly, he knew plenty of people like that.
"Ladies first!" The goon mocked and Kari drew.
"A card in defence mode and four cards face down." Kari played quickly and confidently, "Next."
One of the goons, "Dark Blade in attack mode and two cards face down, Wheeler, you're next."
Joey drew, "Three cards face down and I end my turn." Joey had so many questions he wanted to ask but couldn't with the two girls here that he partially resented their interference, he wanted to know what they were planning for Yugi.
The last goon drew and played a second Dark Blade in attack mode and a card face down. "Your go again, girl."
"My name's Kari." She growled as she drew, "I sacrifice my face down card in order to summon my favourite Monster." She grinned and Joey's eyes widened as it appeared, "The Dark Magician Girl." The Spellcaster glared at the goons who looked unworried, "Then I activate Sage's Stone to summon a Dark Magician!" The magician that appeared had different coloured robes to Yugi's.
"I also activate the spells Thousand Knives, Dark Magic Attack and Magic Formula, killing your Dark Blade, destroying all your face down magic and trap cards," She pointed to one of the goons, "And equipping it to my Dark Magician Girl."
Joey gulped, suddenly glad she was on his side, "Dark Magician! Dark Magician Girl! Take him out!"
The two Spellcasters attacked the defenseless goon and his points hit zero.
"Where did you get all those cards?" Joey asked, slightly awed by the move as the goon sat down on the floor.
The girl shrugged, her attitude changing on an instant, like she had a personal grudge against these guys. Perhaps she just hated bullies, someone as small as this girl had to have been a target of a group of them at some point.
"My friend doesn't tend to eat, she spends all her money on cards." Her blonde friend answered for her, "She has done for years."
Joey grinned, he knew a few people like that too, were all Duellists obsessive?
"Your move." Kari glared at the remaining goon.
"Raigeki."
"What?" Kari yelped as all of her monsters blew up, closely followed by Joey's face down one. Magic Formula increased her life points by 1000 but she looked furious, "You cheating git! That card's forbidden!"
"We all have one, and that's not all we carry."
"You'll be kicked out." Kari growled.
"We're not here for the Prize Money." The goon laughed at her, "Ask your friend."
Kari looked at Joey who sighed, "They're trying to cause trouble for me and a friend."
"I won't lose to a cheat." Kari growled, "Finish your move."
"A second monster, Giltia, the Dark Knight!"
Both common monsters stood side by side.
"Attack the girl!"
Kari threw up her arms to protect herself from the sword, but couldn't stop herself being thrown back by Giltia's magical attack. She groaned as she sat up, seeing stars from hitting her head. It was a lot of damage to take in one hit as her life points hit 1350. She grumbled something in the other language as she retook her place in the Duel.
"Wheeler, your go."
Joey drew, it was funny how a Duel could change on an instant and yet Joey marvelled over how he was more angry that they were cheating, even though he'd expected it, then that they'd jumped him. "Gearfried the Iron Knight!" Joey growled as he summoned it, "I guess it's Kari's move."
She drew, "I summon Magician's Valkeria, in attack mode and end my turn."
Joey frowned as the older looking Duel Monster who looked a lot like the Dark Magician Girl appeared, and looked at Kari, Valkeria didn't have enough attack points to stand up to his monsters on her own and her face down card hadn't stopped his attack last time…
The goon drew, arrogant in his self assurance, "Giltia, destroy her Valkeria!"
Something exploded in the magical blast but Joey couldn't help but grin when he saw what she'd done.
"What?" A yelp from the goon, "What are those?"
"Magical Hats." Kai grinned, "A present from a friend. My Valkeria is in one of those hats, care to take another shot at her?"
"Dark Blade!" The goon growled, "Attack her!"
Another hat exploded and Joey held his breath.
Nothing.
Kari's grin turned into a smirk. "Sorry, but you wasted both your goes."
"I'll hit her next time, three cards face down and it's your move Wheeler."
Joey drew, wondering how he was going to get the girl back in this, she was trying to recover from the loss of what were probably her two best monsters and doing admirably, but their opponent would destroy Valkeria next turn and then she'd be wide open. "I summon Exarion Universe and play a card face down. Gearfried! Attack his Dark Blade!"
The two monster met in combat and were both killed.
"Kari, your move."
The girl nodded and drew, her face taking on an odd look, then shrugging. "I have to pass this turn."
Damn. Joey thought as the goon sized up the hats and summoned Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight.
"That's a seven star monster!" Joey growled. "You have to tribute two monsters for it!"
"Not if it's the only card in my hand." The goon laughed, "I stole this one from a Duellist who thought he was tough enough to take us all on, on his own. I equip it with all my face down Equip Cards." Swift Gaia went up by around 2000 points.
"Lunatic." Joey muttered, though he hoped they hadn't done anything permanent to him.
"Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight attack her left hat!"
Kari braced herself.
"Kunai with chain!" Joey grinned as he activated it, "It stops your monster from being able to attack and increases Exarion Universe's attack by five hundred."
"Thanks Joey." Kari grinned at him.
"I still have Giltia! Attack her hat!"
Kari growled as her hat blew up, revealing a Magician's Valkeria who for some reason wasn't dying.
"What's going on?"
Joey, who had noticed the crowd gathering to watch the Duel from around Joey's first turn and was rather glad of it, they wouldn't try anything afterwards if there was a large crowd to get them into trouble, grinned, "Graceful Dice, all we need is a two or higher and Valkeria is stronger then your Giltia!"
"Dust Tornado." The goon growled, "Destroying your Graceful Dice."
Valkeria died as Giltia's magic reached her.
"Sorry Valkeria." Kari murmured as her last Magical Hat faded away with nothing on the field to hide, her points dropping by another 250.
"Wheeler, make your move!"
Joey drew, "Roulette Barrel, in defence mode!" He called as he summoned, "I activate it's effect, rolling two dice, so I can destroy a monster with same number of stars as the total of both dice."
Two virtual die appeared and rolled themselves, on stopped on a two and the other on a five. "I destroy your Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight." Joey grinned, "And Kunai with Chain still acts as an equip card for my Exarion Universe, who attacks your Giltia!"
The goon's points went down by 450 as Giltia exploded.
"Kari." Joey nodded to her.
She drew and frowned again, "I have to pass, there's no move I can make."
"Then you're going to lose this turn." The goon laughed, "I summon another Dark Blade and attack you directly.
"I discard Kuriboh!" Kari's voice could be heard over the resulting explosion as her Kuriboh wall exploded at the attacking monster, saving her life points. Kari was left with a rather big grin, she enjoyed annoying people with that card.
"Come on Kari, you can do it!" Her friend yelled, or something that was the English equivalent, Joey guessed, it certainly had the same tone to it as his friends' many pep talks.
"Wheeler." The goon growled, "Make your move."
Joey drew again, "Axe Raider, in attack mode and I switch Roulette Barrel to attack mode too." This turn the two dice didn't roll the same amount as any monster, "Exarion Universe! Attack his Dark Blade!" The goon's points dropped to 3050, "Axe Raider! Roulette Barrel! Attack him directly!" They dropped again to 350. "Kari, your move."
She drew and grinned, "Skilled Dark Magician in attack mode! He attacks you directly too!" The goon snarled his points hit zero and Kari grinned, "Now, hand over your Map Cards."
The goons would have just run except for the crowd that was now boxing them in. They handed over their Map Cards, one each to Joey and Kari, then legged it.
"Damn it." Joey muttered, as they got away. He sighed and turned to Kari, "Thank you for the help."
The girl shook her head, "You kept me in that after they destroyed my Magicians, I should be thanking you."
Joey just shrugged, "Who's your friend?"
"I'm Robyn Golden." The blonde said, nodding, "Hi."
"Hi." Joey nodded back and smiled, getting a small, wary smile back in exchange. He turned back to Kari, "You gonna be alright if they come after you for this?"
"Hopefully." She frowned after them, "I hate bullies, I hope they don't cause you and your friend too much trouble."
"Me too." Joey frowned. "I'll go find him."
Kari nodded, "Good luck."
"Thanks, you too. See ya around." Joey smiled as the girls went one way and Joey went after the goons, who'd already fled. He'd wanted to ask them why the hell they wanted Yugi's Puzzle.
He had two choices.
No, there was really only one.
Joey raced back towards the City Centre, where he was sure Yugi would be. Hirutani back, girls that jump into the middle of large conflicts, people after the Puzzle…Joey couldn't help the grin even with the worry, this was just like normal.
Mai had been right though, the madness had struck again. It seemed like they were jinxed to have to deal with insanity. If anything Joey was kind of glad the type of people they were fighting this time were just goons. Both he and Yami had dealt with them before and they didn't have any magic, which meant no Shadow Games as long as they avoided Bakura.
Speaking of whom, Joey slipped past the duel between Bakura and some poor sod who didn't know what he was getting into and carried on running, saner villains or not, Yami was capable of outsmarting and outdueling Hirutani's goons, but outfighting them… Joey had no idea.
Joey was back to the square before he had to slow down. Panicking wouldn't do him any good. There was a plus side to all this madness.
He already had two Map Cards.
Now if he could be sure that Yuge was alright, he'd be happy to carry on kicking ass and taking names.