Chapter 4: - A Skilled FIGHTer
When Yugi had decided on going back to Domino, this hadn't exactly been his plan.
Not that he was complaining about being driven there in a limo and having his friends there, it was more the fact that they couldn't talk about anything they normally talked about because they had had to bring Toya, Sakura's big brother, and he was worried about how to get Toya out of the way long enough to ask his Grandpa the questions he needed to ask.
"Yugi, cola?" Tomoyo asked, opening the mini fridge.
Ok, forget any complaints, this was unbelievably cool. He couldn't believe that Tomoyo's mother, who was the CEO of an electronics company, had let them use the limo for a two and a half hour drive to the Kame Game Shop in Domino and he would have to think of some way to thank her, it certainly was about a million times better then travelling on the train.
"Yes, please."
Sakura was watching Toya, aware that he'd skipped work for this and that Yukito, his best friend, was covering for him. He was deep in a book about spirits and snorting derisively at some of the information in it.
His little sister was aware that her older brother could see spirits, he'd mentioned a couple of times that he'd seen their mother, so he probably knew more then the book did, which made Sakura wonder why he was reading it.
Tomoyo passed him the drink and went back to her sketching. Kero, who was hidden in Sakura's bag, had said that he didn't think that there would be any Clow Cards all the way out here, but she'd brought a couple of costumes, just in case, including the pink one she'd designed just to annoy Kero.
"Yugi…" Tea started and trailed off. She was really worried. Worried about how Yugi's grandpa would react to all of this, about what they would learn from Mr Muto, and worried about how Yugi himself would react if there was bad news about his magic.
It was funny, she'd become his friend because she hated seeing anyone get bullied and he looked lonely. She'd never expected to get drawn into all of this insanity and she was wondering exactly what she could do to help.
Sakura was the Cardcaptor, Yugi had magic, Tomoyo recorded the battles and made the costumes and Kero gave advice… where did she fit in? Was she just there to ground them in normality?
She sighed and watched the country pass the window. She didn't like thinking like this, but it did feel a lot like she was the odd one out in the group and it wasn't fair…
They were passing through Domino's outer boroughs when Sakura sat upright and they heard a muffled sound from her bag.
Tea frowned at her as Toya looked up from his book for a moment. In response Sakura took out the key hanging around her key, holding it for a moment before letting it fall onto her top.
Tea's eyes drifted to Yugi, who looked like he'd caught the exchange and wasn't quite sure what to make of it.
What he was actually thinking was, "Great, now we have to lose Toya long enough to get the answers from Grandpa and catch a Clow Card." Then he paused, "And why is it all the way out here in the first place? Does this mean that they could be anywhere?"
Pulling up outside the Game Shop, Tomoyo asked her bodyguards to pick them later, and Toya, surprisingly, went with them, telling Sakura that she'd better behave while she was here or he'd never take her go anywhere ever again.
Sakura promised, while Tomoyo asked her bodyguards to drop Toya off in the centre.
Once all the adults were gone and Yugi had led them around to the back door of the game shop, he turned to them and asked, "Alright, how did a Clow Card get to Domino?"
"I don't know." Kero admitted, "It shouldn't have travelled this far from where it was released."
"Are there any Clow Cards that Tomoeda is unsuited too that might have made the effort to migrate?" Tea asked, noting Kero's complete confusion.
"I don't think so." Kero shook his head, "Tomoeda's pretty comprehensive, even WATERY and EARTHY shouldn't want to go anywhere."
"Then why is it here?" Sakura asked.
"I don't know."
"Maybe we should go get it before we speak to Grandpa." Yugi frowned.
"No." Sakura shook her head, "We can go get it afterwards."
"If we don't see your Grandpa first we might run out of time before it gets too late and they come and pick us up, and then he'd wonder why you came when you said you would and mention it to your mum." Tomoyo pointed out.
Yugi sighed, agreed and pressed the doorbell.
Tea had to wonder if his Grandpa had been waiting for them, as the door opened almost immediately and Yugi introduced them to his Grandfather, who ushered the group upstairs.
"It's nice to see you Yugi, and I'm glad you've made some friends while you've been in Tomoeda." There was a pause, "You said that you completed the Millennium Puzzle? May I have a look?"
Yugi took it off and handed it over. "Grandpa, we need to ask you some questions, but…"
"What about?" Solomon asked as he examined the completed puzzle, which resembled an upside down pyramid.
"It's going to sound crazy." Yugi said quietly…
"What is?" Solomon looked at his grandson and could easily read from his body posture that he wasn't sure how to approach the subject. "Yugi, what's wrong?"
"What magic did the people who owned this have?" Yugi blurted.
"What?"
"The Puzzle's from Ancient Egypt, right?" Yugi asked, "What magic did the Ancient Egyptians have?"
"Yugi, what do you mean?" Solomon asked, "Why do you want to know?"
"Well… say for instance someone found a magic book and accidently activated the magic in that book and then her friends decided to help and one of them discovered that he… I mean they had magic that they didn't have before and the only new thing they could think of was the fact they'd completed the Puzzle… what new powers should this person have?"
Subtlety, Tea decided, was not Yugi's strong point.
"Which one of you has the magic book?" Solomon asked the girls.
"I do." Sakura said.
"Kinomoto-San, right?"
"Just Sakura, please, Moto-Sensei."
Solomon laughed, "It's been a while since anyone called my Muto-Sensei. Just call me Solomon, please Sakura, or Grandpa, whichever you feel more comfortable with. Could you tell me more about the book?"
"I think Kero could tell you more," Sakura said, "Is it ok if I let him out of the bag? He's been in there since we left Tomoeda."
"Sure." Solomon tried not to laugh at the indignant look on the winged teddy's face as he scolded Sakura for letting him be stuck in there to two and a half hours.
"I'm sorry Kero, but could you please explain about the Clow Cards to Yugi's Grandpa?"
"Sure, but you owe me cake." Kero growled and turned to Solomon. "I'm Kerberos, the Guardian of the Clow Cards and information provider to Sakura, the Cardcaptor, and your Grandson, Yugi, who's a new mage." Kero bowed to Muto Solomon, "I was hoping you could provide information that would be helpful for training your Grandson to use his magic."
"And what are the Clow Cards?" Solomon asked reasonably, surprising the children, who had expected him to flip out at a talking teddy bear.
"Fifty-Two magical cards with different abilities." Kero said, happy that Solomon was being so reasonable and willing to have a conversation about magic with someone who might know what Kero needed to, "The Clow Cards were created by Clow Reed, my old Master, a very long time ago, and have been dormant in the Clow Book since his death. When Sakura used The WINDY, she accidently blew away the other cards and has since recaptured five of them. Yugi has assisted with almost every capture."
"What do you need to know?"
"Everything you know about the Millennium Puzzle," Kero said, "As well as anything you know about the magic of the people that owned it."
"You want information on the magic of Ancient Egypt."
"If you have it."
Solomon frowned, "I found the Puzzle in a tomb that contained 'The Ultimate Game', that was supposed to have belonged to the most powerful Pharaoh in history." He said, putting the golden item down on the table as they took seats. "There isn't much written about the Pharaohs from those times, except that they had the power to control Shadows and summon incredibly powerful monsters." He paused, "Let me get something…"
"I'll make some tea." Yugi said, diving into the kitchen and they waited for him to get back with tea and cake before Solomon continued, "My friend and colleague, Professor Hawkins, thinks that the monsters that the Millennium Item wielders could summon are some how linked to monsters like these…" He held up a card with a white dragon on it. "Magic and Wizards cards, but there's no proof of this yet other then the fact they've come across carvings that are very similar to the card art."
Kero nodded as Yugi dished out the cake, "Were there any other Millennium Items?"
"Legend says there's seven, but they haven't been seen in so long, I don't doubt that some of them are still buried."
"And do they have any powers of their own?"
"No one knows, it's been such a long time since they've been in circulation and the majority of information about them has been hidden or lost in time."
Kero frowned, "That doesn't help me very much."
"I'm sorry that I can't be more assistance." Solomon said, "I could get in contact with Professor Hawkins and see what information he has, but I think it's best if we keep the magic a secret."
The children agreed.
"What has Yugi been able to do so far?"
"Barrier spells mostly, or that's what it seems like." Kero said, "But he hasn't really gotten into a huge fight with anyone involving magic, he's been providing assistance to Sakura and letting her capture the cards."
"Grandpa…" Yugi paused, "What was the Pharaoh who owned my Puzzle like?"
"Apparently he was incredibly powerful, but no one knows his name, it's been erased, and no name means no afterlife to Egyptians."
"Does that mean he could still be here, as a spirit?" Sakura asked nervously.
"I don't know." Solomon admitted, remembering the young man that had looked so much like Yugi that had saved his life in the tomb, when he'd been shot by his guide. "It's possible."
"Is that who's been controlling me during the blackouts?" Yugi thought, "Are you a Pharaoh, trapped here because you lost your name?" There was no response from the Puzzle on the table, not that Yugi expected one.
"What about 'controlling the Shadows'?" Kero asked, "What's that about?"
"I'm not sure about that either, some kind of dark magic that allowed them to use their powers, it wasn't evil, not in the right hands, but it was incredibly powerful but very dangerous." He looked at Yugi, "If your magic is related to that of the Shadows, you will be careful, won't you."
"I will, I promise Grandpa."
"Good. So what about capturing these Clow Cards?" Solomon asked, looking relieved, "How do you do it?" He tucked into his cake.
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Grandpa Muto had said that he'd cover for them, let Yugi and Sakura change in the spare rooms and let the group out the back door, from which Kero and Sakura had led them down several back alleys and up another three before they'd stopped and had a proper look around.
The gold patterns on Yugi's white jacket shimmered in the day light and he was rather glad that he'd gotten away with just gold and white, while Kero, having asked for it with his comment the other day, had found himself landed with a bow that matched Sakura's pink, white and gold dress.
"Where?" Yugi asked.
"Around here somewhere." Kero snapped in reply.
Calling her staff, Sakura looked around, trying to work out exactly where the Clow Card was.
Yugi stiffened as a group of young teens came out from one of the alley ways and Kero dropped into Sakura's arms, but not before noting that Yugi's eyes had gone red.
"Hey look, it's the shrimp." One of them laughed. "It's been a while, shrimp."
"I suggest you turn around and leave Ushio." Yugi growled, "I wouldn't like for something to happen to you."
Tea groaned, magic or not, that group's ring leader was twice Yugi's size, why was he antagonising him?
"I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you, Yugi, after all, remember what happened the last time you tried to back chat me?"
"Yugi…?" Sakura asked, her staff behind her back.
"I'll deal with them." Yugi growled.
"You?" Ushio laughed, "Deal with us." He'd crossed to Yugi in two steps and picked his up by the scruff of the jacket collar. "You've been away so long, you've forgotten your place."
"I'm not scared of you, Ushio." Yugi's eyes glowed, unnerving the huge bully.
Ushio released him and glared as something pushed him back. "What the hell?" He launched a punch.
"Pick on someone your own size!" Someone their own age and blonde was between Yugi and Ushio before Yugi could react to Ushio's attack, blocking the incoming punch and landing a blow that winded the bully. "I hate bullies who pick on kids smaller then them." The blonde growled.
"This has nothing to do with you, punk." Ushio growled as he and the blonde circled.
"Seven on four?" The blonde asked, "Seems like pretty uneven odds to me."
"I repeat, nothing to do with you."
"What if I make it something to do with me?" The kid asked, he had to be around the gang's age, certainly not much older then Yugi, "That is, if you don't mind?" He looked at Yugi, who considered him for a moment and then shook his head.
"Your funeral, kid." Ushio laughed and his bullies advanced.
The blonde surprised everyone by shifting into a (very) rough martial arts stance.
Then there was another interruption as a blue girl dressed in an odd blue dress and knee high blue boots got between Ushio and the blonde. "You're one of them too?" The blonde asked.
"Sakura…" Kero hissed. "The FIGHT card."
The blue girl bowed to the blonde, who bowed back and she attacked, leaving Yugi alone to deal with the huge group of bullies.
"Yugi…"
"Stay back, keep your eyes on HER." The way he stressed her meant he already knew that the girl was a Clow Card. Then the Puzzle, that still hung from that golden chain, glowed brightly, a bright golden light and shadows rose around the legs of Yugi and the bullies, stopping Yugi's friends from approaching, but stopping Ushio and his cronies from moving forward too. "You have threatened my friends, and for this you will pay, Ushio."
"I don't fear you, Yugi." Ushio sneered, "A trick of the light can't cause the sort of pain that I can."
Yugi smirked, a look that the girls had never seen on his face before, "You think you can beat me at everything?"
"That's right, you're too small and weedy to beat me at anything."
"Then how about we play a game?"
The blonde kid was locked in combat with the blue girl and was holding his own remarkably, countering her attacks and striking back when the time was right.
"He's good." Kero murmured.
Sakura nodded, half watching for an opening to capture the Clow Card and half trying to pay attention to the magic that Yugi was using to play his 'game' with Ushio.
Yugi had enticed Ushio into his game, even getting the huge bully to agree that playing without fists or feet. It was some strange game that Sakura didn't recognise, with pieces that had been formed from the shadows that were swirling around and from the terrified looks on the goons' faces they were wishing that their 'boss' hadn't dragged them into this.
The blonde hit the floor hard, rolled to avoid the incoming attack and swept The FIGHT's legs out from beneath her, giving himself time to scramble away and catch his breath.
"Sakura…"
"I know. I know." Sakura murmured as Yugi played a move and she felt the magic shift. "He's going to win, isn't he?"
"Uh huh." Kero answered, having felt the shift, "And the magic knows it."
The FIGHT knocked the blonde into the shadow barrier, making Yugi jump and giving Ushio the opening he was looking forward, kicking Yugi in the stomache as Sakura got between the groaning blonde and the Clow Card.
Yugi went sliding along the floor, but when he got up his forehead had a strange glowing symbol on it and the irritated look in his ruby eyes had hardened into real anger, as he staggered to his feet, holding his stomache. "You cheated Ushio." Yet the tone said that Yugi had expected him too. "Penalty Game."
Everyone's head, even that of The FIGHT, turned towards the Shadows at the tone of Yugi's voice as the Shadows closed in on Ushio, his thugs turning and fleeing as they were released. "Let every blow you inflict upon others be felt by you until you learn that bullying others is not the way."
The Shadows swirled and Sakura felt them settle on Ushio, who roared and went to hit Yugi.
Yugi didn't move and though it was him that Ushio landed the blow on, it was Ushio who went flying backwards with the force of the blow.
"I told you Ushio. Until you learn the error of your ways, you'll feel every blow you land on another person." Yugi sounded smug. "Now I suggest you leave, we have something a lot more important to deal with." Yugi turned away and Ushio attacked again.
The FIGHT countered, sending Ushio flying into a building, where he stopped and slid down, unconscious.
"The FIGHT Card was used for martial arts competitions and real battles." Kero explained as Yugi helped the blonde up, "So she seeks strong opponents. She has a real sense of honour too. Ushio's cheating would have annoyed her."
"What are you?" The blonde asked.
"A friend." Yugi said, ruby watching Sakura, "If you'll let us be."
The blonde didn't say anything, just shoved Yugi and Sakura aside as The FIGHT attacked, managing to knock it down.
"Return to the guise you were meant to be…" Sakura called, pointing her staff at the downed FIGHT card, "Clow Card!"
It became a Clow Card and floated into the blonde's hands. He stared at it, then at the group. "What is it?"
"A Clow Card." Kero said, landing on Sakura's shoulder and startling the kid, "Very powerful magic."
"And those Shadows?"
"Magic." Yugi said, ruby turning tired amethyst.
"Cool." The blonde said, "Wheeler Joey, at your service."
There was a round of introductions, and an exchange of addresses, before Joey handed over The FIGHT and rushed off; calling something about having to tell his little sister all about this and that he'd get in touch soon.
Tired and confused the group headed back to the Kame Game Shop.
"Yugi…?" Tea asked, "What was that?"
"What was what?" Yugi asked.
"That's not funny Yugi, the Shadows that you used against Ushio."
"I think they're part of my magic, but…"
"What?"
"Nothing." Yugi shook his head, "Ushio cheated."
Is he feeling guilty for casting a spell like that on that thug? Kero wondered.
Yugi was, in fact, only partially thinking about that, the other part thinking about how he'd been partially aware during that entire thing, and that he wasn't sure he was comfortable with taking a back seat, especially when whatever was inside him was able to turn the magic they'd been using the defend their friends, against people with that much ease.
Although maybe it wasn't whatever, but whomever, he couldn't help thinking that it was in fact, the Pharaoh, trapped in his item because his name had been lost or stolen…
Was that it? Was he possessed?
It had only attacked Ushio after Yugi had been terrified and the thug had threatened Yugi and his friends… although did it count if the Pharaoh had antagonised Ushio into attacking?
Yugi really didn't know… but now he had more questions for his Grandpa…
Not that he was complaining about being driven there in a limo and having his friends there, it was more the fact that they couldn't talk about anything they normally talked about because they had had to bring Toya, Sakura's big brother, and he was worried about how to get Toya out of the way long enough to ask his Grandpa the questions he needed to ask.
"Yugi, cola?" Tomoyo asked, opening the mini fridge.
Ok, forget any complaints, this was unbelievably cool. He couldn't believe that Tomoyo's mother, who was the CEO of an electronics company, had let them use the limo for a two and a half hour drive to the Kame Game Shop in Domino and he would have to think of some way to thank her, it certainly was about a million times better then travelling on the train.
"Yes, please."
Sakura was watching Toya, aware that he'd skipped work for this and that Yukito, his best friend, was covering for him. He was deep in a book about spirits and snorting derisively at some of the information in it.
His little sister was aware that her older brother could see spirits, he'd mentioned a couple of times that he'd seen their mother, so he probably knew more then the book did, which made Sakura wonder why he was reading it.
Tomoyo passed him the drink and went back to her sketching. Kero, who was hidden in Sakura's bag, had said that he didn't think that there would be any Clow Cards all the way out here, but she'd brought a couple of costumes, just in case, including the pink one she'd designed just to annoy Kero.
"Yugi…" Tea started and trailed off. She was really worried. Worried about how Yugi's grandpa would react to all of this, about what they would learn from Mr Muto, and worried about how Yugi himself would react if there was bad news about his magic.
It was funny, she'd become his friend because she hated seeing anyone get bullied and he looked lonely. She'd never expected to get drawn into all of this insanity and she was wondering exactly what she could do to help.
Sakura was the Cardcaptor, Yugi had magic, Tomoyo recorded the battles and made the costumes and Kero gave advice… where did she fit in? Was she just there to ground them in normality?
She sighed and watched the country pass the window. She didn't like thinking like this, but it did feel a lot like she was the odd one out in the group and it wasn't fair…
They were passing through Domino's outer boroughs when Sakura sat upright and they heard a muffled sound from her bag.
Tea frowned at her as Toya looked up from his book for a moment. In response Sakura took out the key hanging around her key, holding it for a moment before letting it fall onto her top.
Tea's eyes drifted to Yugi, who looked like he'd caught the exchange and wasn't quite sure what to make of it.
What he was actually thinking was, "Great, now we have to lose Toya long enough to get the answers from Grandpa and catch a Clow Card." Then he paused, "And why is it all the way out here in the first place? Does this mean that they could be anywhere?"
Pulling up outside the Game Shop, Tomoyo asked her bodyguards to pick them later, and Toya, surprisingly, went with them, telling Sakura that she'd better behave while she was here or he'd never take her go anywhere ever again.
Sakura promised, while Tomoyo asked her bodyguards to drop Toya off in the centre.
Once all the adults were gone and Yugi had led them around to the back door of the game shop, he turned to them and asked, "Alright, how did a Clow Card get to Domino?"
"I don't know." Kero admitted, "It shouldn't have travelled this far from where it was released."
"Are there any Clow Cards that Tomoeda is unsuited too that might have made the effort to migrate?" Tea asked, noting Kero's complete confusion.
"I don't think so." Kero shook his head, "Tomoeda's pretty comprehensive, even WATERY and EARTHY shouldn't want to go anywhere."
"Then why is it here?" Sakura asked.
"I don't know."
"Maybe we should go get it before we speak to Grandpa." Yugi frowned.
"No." Sakura shook her head, "We can go get it afterwards."
"If we don't see your Grandpa first we might run out of time before it gets too late and they come and pick us up, and then he'd wonder why you came when you said you would and mention it to your mum." Tomoyo pointed out.
Yugi sighed, agreed and pressed the doorbell.
Tea had to wonder if his Grandpa had been waiting for them, as the door opened almost immediately and Yugi introduced them to his Grandfather, who ushered the group upstairs.
"It's nice to see you Yugi, and I'm glad you've made some friends while you've been in Tomoeda." There was a pause, "You said that you completed the Millennium Puzzle? May I have a look?"
Yugi took it off and handed it over. "Grandpa, we need to ask you some questions, but…"
"What about?" Solomon asked as he examined the completed puzzle, which resembled an upside down pyramid.
"It's going to sound crazy." Yugi said quietly…
"What is?" Solomon looked at his grandson and could easily read from his body posture that he wasn't sure how to approach the subject. "Yugi, what's wrong?"
"What magic did the people who owned this have?" Yugi blurted.
"What?"
"The Puzzle's from Ancient Egypt, right?" Yugi asked, "What magic did the Ancient Egyptians have?"
"Yugi, what do you mean?" Solomon asked, "Why do you want to know?"
"Well… say for instance someone found a magic book and accidently activated the magic in that book and then her friends decided to help and one of them discovered that he… I mean they had magic that they didn't have before and the only new thing they could think of was the fact they'd completed the Puzzle… what new powers should this person have?"
Subtlety, Tea decided, was not Yugi's strong point.
"Which one of you has the magic book?" Solomon asked the girls.
"I do." Sakura said.
"Kinomoto-San, right?"
"Just Sakura, please, Moto-Sensei."
Solomon laughed, "It's been a while since anyone called my Muto-Sensei. Just call me Solomon, please Sakura, or Grandpa, whichever you feel more comfortable with. Could you tell me more about the book?"
"I think Kero could tell you more," Sakura said, "Is it ok if I let him out of the bag? He's been in there since we left Tomoeda."
"Sure." Solomon tried not to laugh at the indignant look on the winged teddy's face as he scolded Sakura for letting him be stuck in there to two and a half hours.
"I'm sorry Kero, but could you please explain about the Clow Cards to Yugi's Grandpa?"
"Sure, but you owe me cake." Kero growled and turned to Solomon. "I'm Kerberos, the Guardian of the Clow Cards and information provider to Sakura, the Cardcaptor, and your Grandson, Yugi, who's a new mage." Kero bowed to Muto Solomon, "I was hoping you could provide information that would be helpful for training your Grandson to use his magic."
"And what are the Clow Cards?" Solomon asked reasonably, surprising the children, who had expected him to flip out at a talking teddy bear.
"Fifty-Two magical cards with different abilities." Kero said, happy that Solomon was being so reasonable and willing to have a conversation about magic with someone who might know what Kero needed to, "The Clow Cards were created by Clow Reed, my old Master, a very long time ago, and have been dormant in the Clow Book since his death. When Sakura used The WINDY, she accidently blew away the other cards and has since recaptured five of them. Yugi has assisted with almost every capture."
"What do you need to know?"
"Everything you know about the Millennium Puzzle," Kero said, "As well as anything you know about the magic of the people that owned it."
"You want information on the magic of Ancient Egypt."
"If you have it."
Solomon frowned, "I found the Puzzle in a tomb that contained 'The Ultimate Game', that was supposed to have belonged to the most powerful Pharaoh in history." He said, putting the golden item down on the table as they took seats. "There isn't much written about the Pharaohs from those times, except that they had the power to control Shadows and summon incredibly powerful monsters." He paused, "Let me get something…"
"I'll make some tea." Yugi said, diving into the kitchen and they waited for him to get back with tea and cake before Solomon continued, "My friend and colleague, Professor Hawkins, thinks that the monsters that the Millennium Item wielders could summon are some how linked to monsters like these…" He held up a card with a white dragon on it. "Magic and Wizards cards, but there's no proof of this yet other then the fact they've come across carvings that are very similar to the card art."
Kero nodded as Yugi dished out the cake, "Were there any other Millennium Items?"
"Legend says there's seven, but they haven't been seen in so long, I don't doubt that some of them are still buried."
"And do they have any powers of their own?"
"No one knows, it's been such a long time since they've been in circulation and the majority of information about them has been hidden or lost in time."
Kero frowned, "That doesn't help me very much."
"I'm sorry that I can't be more assistance." Solomon said, "I could get in contact with Professor Hawkins and see what information he has, but I think it's best if we keep the magic a secret."
The children agreed.
"What has Yugi been able to do so far?"
"Barrier spells mostly, or that's what it seems like." Kero said, "But he hasn't really gotten into a huge fight with anyone involving magic, he's been providing assistance to Sakura and letting her capture the cards."
"Grandpa…" Yugi paused, "What was the Pharaoh who owned my Puzzle like?"
"Apparently he was incredibly powerful, but no one knows his name, it's been erased, and no name means no afterlife to Egyptians."
"Does that mean he could still be here, as a spirit?" Sakura asked nervously.
"I don't know." Solomon admitted, remembering the young man that had looked so much like Yugi that had saved his life in the tomb, when he'd been shot by his guide. "It's possible."
"Is that who's been controlling me during the blackouts?" Yugi thought, "Are you a Pharaoh, trapped here because you lost your name?" There was no response from the Puzzle on the table, not that Yugi expected one.
"What about 'controlling the Shadows'?" Kero asked, "What's that about?"
"I'm not sure about that either, some kind of dark magic that allowed them to use their powers, it wasn't evil, not in the right hands, but it was incredibly powerful but very dangerous." He looked at Yugi, "If your magic is related to that of the Shadows, you will be careful, won't you."
"I will, I promise Grandpa."
"Good. So what about capturing these Clow Cards?" Solomon asked, looking relieved, "How do you do it?" He tucked into his cake.
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Grandpa Muto had said that he'd cover for them, let Yugi and Sakura change in the spare rooms and let the group out the back door, from which Kero and Sakura had led them down several back alleys and up another three before they'd stopped and had a proper look around.
The gold patterns on Yugi's white jacket shimmered in the day light and he was rather glad that he'd gotten away with just gold and white, while Kero, having asked for it with his comment the other day, had found himself landed with a bow that matched Sakura's pink, white and gold dress.
"Where?" Yugi asked.
"Around here somewhere." Kero snapped in reply.
Calling her staff, Sakura looked around, trying to work out exactly where the Clow Card was.
Yugi stiffened as a group of young teens came out from one of the alley ways and Kero dropped into Sakura's arms, but not before noting that Yugi's eyes had gone red.
"Hey look, it's the shrimp." One of them laughed. "It's been a while, shrimp."
"I suggest you turn around and leave Ushio." Yugi growled, "I wouldn't like for something to happen to you."
Tea groaned, magic or not, that group's ring leader was twice Yugi's size, why was he antagonising him?
"I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you, Yugi, after all, remember what happened the last time you tried to back chat me?"
"Yugi…?" Sakura asked, her staff behind her back.
"I'll deal with them." Yugi growled.
"You?" Ushio laughed, "Deal with us." He'd crossed to Yugi in two steps and picked his up by the scruff of the jacket collar. "You've been away so long, you've forgotten your place."
"I'm not scared of you, Ushio." Yugi's eyes glowed, unnerving the huge bully.
Ushio released him and glared as something pushed him back. "What the hell?" He launched a punch.
"Pick on someone your own size!" Someone their own age and blonde was between Yugi and Ushio before Yugi could react to Ushio's attack, blocking the incoming punch and landing a blow that winded the bully. "I hate bullies who pick on kids smaller then them." The blonde growled.
"This has nothing to do with you, punk." Ushio growled as he and the blonde circled.
"Seven on four?" The blonde asked, "Seems like pretty uneven odds to me."
"I repeat, nothing to do with you."
"What if I make it something to do with me?" The kid asked, he had to be around the gang's age, certainly not much older then Yugi, "That is, if you don't mind?" He looked at Yugi, who considered him for a moment and then shook his head.
"Your funeral, kid." Ushio laughed and his bullies advanced.
The blonde surprised everyone by shifting into a (very) rough martial arts stance.
Then there was another interruption as a blue girl dressed in an odd blue dress and knee high blue boots got between Ushio and the blonde. "You're one of them too?" The blonde asked.
"Sakura…" Kero hissed. "The FIGHT card."
The blue girl bowed to the blonde, who bowed back and she attacked, leaving Yugi alone to deal with the huge group of bullies.
"Yugi…"
"Stay back, keep your eyes on HER." The way he stressed her meant he already knew that the girl was a Clow Card. Then the Puzzle, that still hung from that golden chain, glowed brightly, a bright golden light and shadows rose around the legs of Yugi and the bullies, stopping Yugi's friends from approaching, but stopping Ushio and his cronies from moving forward too. "You have threatened my friends, and for this you will pay, Ushio."
"I don't fear you, Yugi." Ushio sneered, "A trick of the light can't cause the sort of pain that I can."
Yugi smirked, a look that the girls had never seen on his face before, "You think you can beat me at everything?"
"That's right, you're too small and weedy to beat me at anything."
"Then how about we play a game?"
The blonde kid was locked in combat with the blue girl and was holding his own remarkably, countering her attacks and striking back when the time was right.
"He's good." Kero murmured.
Sakura nodded, half watching for an opening to capture the Clow Card and half trying to pay attention to the magic that Yugi was using to play his 'game' with Ushio.
Yugi had enticed Ushio into his game, even getting the huge bully to agree that playing without fists or feet. It was some strange game that Sakura didn't recognise, with pieces that had been formed from the shadows that were swirling around and from the terrified looks on the goons' faces they were wishing that their 'boss' hadn't dragged them into this.
The blonde hit the floor hard, rolled to avoid the incoming attack and swept The FIGHT's legs out from beneath her, giving himself time to scramble away and catch his breath.
"Sakura…"
"I know. I know." Sakura murmured as Yugi played a move and she felt the magic shift. "He's going to win, isn't he?"
"Uh huh." Kero answered, having felt the shift, "And the magic knows it."
The FIGHT knocked the blonde into the shadow barrier, making Yugi jump and giving Ushio the opening he was looking forward, kicking Yugi in the stomache as Sakura got between the groaning blonde and the Clow Card.
Yugi went sliding along the floor, but when he got up his forehead had a strange glowing symbol on it and the irritated look in his ruby eyes had hardened into real anger, as he staggered to his feet, holding his stomache. "You cheated Ushio." Yet the tone said that Yugi had expected him too. "Penalty Game."
Everyone's head, even that of The FIGHT, turned towards the Shadows at the tone of Yugi's voice as the Shadows closed in on Ushio, his thugs turning and fleeing as they were released. "Let every blow you inflict upon others be felt by you until you learn that bullying others is not the way."
The Shadows swirled and Sakura felt them settle on Ushio, who roared and went to hit Yugi.
Yugi didn't move and though it was him that Ushio landed the blow on, it was Ushio who went flying backwards with the force of the blow.
"I told you Ushio. Until you learn the error of your ways, you'll feel every blow you land on another person." Yugi sounded smug. "Now I suggest you leave, we have something a lot more important to deal with." Yugi turned away and Ushio attacked again.
The FIGHT countered, sending Ushio flying into a building, where he stopped and slid down, unconscious.
"The FIGHT Card was used for martial arts competitions and real battles." Kero explained as Yugi helped the blonde up, "So she seeks strong opponents. She has a real sense of honour too. Ushio's cheating would have annoyed her."
"What are you?" The blonde asked.
"A friend." Yugi said, ruby watching Sakura, "If you'll let us be."
The blonde didn't say anything, just shoved Yugi and Sakura aside as The FIGHT attacked, managing to knock it down.
"Return to the guise you were meant to be…" Sakura called, pointing her staff at the downed FIGHT card, "Clow Card!"
It became a Clow Card and floated into the blonde's hands. He stared at it, then at the group. "What is it?"
"A Clow Card." Kero said, landing on Sakura's shoulder and startling the kid, "Very powerful magic."
"And those Shadows?"
"Magic." Yugi said, ruby turning tired amethyst.
"Cool." The blonde said, "Wheeler Joey, at your service."
There was a round of introductions, and an exchange of addresses, before Joey handed over The FIGHT and rushed off; calling something about having to tell his little sister all about this and that he'd get in touch soon.
Tired and confused the group headed back to the Kame Game Shop.
"Yugi…?" Tea asked, "What was that?"
"What was what?" Yugi asked.
"That's not funny Yugi, the Shadows that you used against Ushio."
"I think they're part of my magic, but…"
"What?"
"Nothing." Yugi shook his head, "Ushio cheated."
Is he feeling guilty for casting a spell like that on that thug? Kero wondered.
Yugi was, in fact, only partially thinking about that, the other part thinking about how he'd been partially aware during that entire thing, and that he wasn't sure he was comfortable with taking a back seat, especially when whatever was inside him was able to turn the magic they'd been using the defend their friends, against people with that much ease.
Although maybe it wasn't whatever, but whomever, he couldn't help thinking that it was in fact, the Pharaoh, trapped in his item because his name had been lost or stolen…
Was that it? Was he possessed?
It had only attacked Ushio after Yugi had been terrified and the thug had threatened Yugi and his friends… although did it count if the Pharaoh had antagonised Ushio into attacking?
Yugi really didn't know… but now he had more questions for his Grandpa…