Love Will Find A Way (Sequel To Sands of Time) ~Complete~

Chapter 6: Aren't I In Japan

Atsuko had learned from his first move that Gamal's deck was a Nordic deck, which was something that she wasn't really expecting. The main problem for her was that Gamal had already seen many of the different strategies that could come from her duels. She was going to have to think of one on the fly but was already down to 1100 life points from Gamal's magic and trap cards.

"Sorry Atsuko, this duel is over." He said right after he drew his new card. "I sacrifice the three monsters on my side of the field in order to summon Thor, Lord of the Aesir!"

"What is that?!" Joey said from behind Atsuko. "It looks like he belongs in one of our comic books."

That's it! Atsuko realized how she was going to beat Gamal.

"First I'll have him attack your face down monster!" It was easily done, but thankfully Atsuko had it in defence mode so she lose any life points. "Now, I'll activate Thor's special ability to remove one of my Tuner monsters in my graveyard from the game and am able to inflict 800 life points of damage directly. Now Thor, show Atsuko why you are the God of Thunder!" (Atsuko has 300 life points) Even though they were underground a huge lightning storm began to form above their heads. Lightning was striking around Atsuko, causing everyone to voice their concern but she stood her ground, almost trying to intimidate the attacker. Obviously it wasn't going to work, because as Thor came crashing down towards Atsuko, she only saw the her reflection in his eyes. There was no emotion whatsoever in the creatures face and the force almost catapulted her across the hall.

"Atsuko!" Everyone yelled, worried that she was badly hurt. Weakly, Atsuko got up and her legs shook as they supported her small frame.

"I'll end my turn there." Gamal said, smirking as he watched Atsuko weakly make her way back to her position. "Too much for you to handle?"

"You wish." Atsuko looked at the monster across from her and knew that if she didn't draw the card that she needed now, the duel would be over and possibly her freedom. Atsuko cleared her mind as her hand drew a card from her deck, hoping for a miracle to happen. She has pulled off the impossible before in duels, drawing the card she needed right at that exact moment, but no other time would have been more necessary than now to pull something like that off. Pecking through her barely open eyes, Atsuko looked at the card in her hand and was ecstatic to see that see had drawn the card she needed, Monster Reborn.

"What's with the smile?" Gamal said worried, noticing Atsuko's stressed face turn into one of pure joy.

"Do you remember that monster card I made you remove from your hand and put into your graveyard a few turns ago? Well, I'm about to use him against you."

"Not my Odin card!"

"Yes. So I use monster reborn to take your Odin, All Father of the Aesir from your graveyard." A powerful wind blew through the tunnel and Odin suddenly appeared on Atsuko's side of the field. "Next I'll summon my Garoth, Lightsworn Paladin to the field. Now Odin, attack Thor!" With 1000 more attack points more than Thor and Gamal having had no face down cards, Atsuko almost wiped out the rest of his life points, leaving him with 400 hundred. "Now Paladin, attack him directly and end this duel." As Garoth attacked Gamal, soldiers moved toward him and quickly after the attack, the holograms disappeared.

Atsuko collapsed to her knees and immediately felt hands on her shoulders and saw shadows of people around her. Looking up, her father was directly in front of her, Atem to his left and Pegasus on his right. Everyone else was behind her still but she didn't get to see them clearly, because something within her almost made her body shut down, causing her to black out.

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Atem sat on the edge of the bed that Atsuko was lying on. Atem had carried her to a room that the President said was extremely safe and Atsuko's father finished up some business with what the President's sons had done to his program. Atsuko had been out for almost two hours now and Atem passed the time by grabbing her deck and looking through it. He was fascinated by the monsters and magic and trap cards that he had not seen yet, until he came across one he was familiar with, Black Luster Soldier. Even though in their duel she was unable to attack with him, Atem was surprised of how reluctant Atsuko was to play him during their duel. Even though it was slight, it was enough to cause some interest and something that he wanted to ask her about.

A quiet knock came from the door and as it opened, Joey walked in, keeping silent as he made his way to his friend. "How's she doin'?" Joey's voice was soft and almost inaudible, which Atem knew was very out of character. Joey pulled up a chair beside Atem, closer to the end of the bed.

"She is the same as when we brought her here. I just hope she doesn't stay like this for long." Atem replied back, also in a quiet voice.

There was some silence before Joey asked, "Is this what it was like when I was knocked out during Battle City?" Atem just nodded silently, knowing very well the feelings and worry that he had when Joey was unconscious. "Well, she's a strong girl if she's anything like that girl from your past. Just give her some more time and she'll pull through." Joey patted his friend on the shoulder and got up to leave the room.

Atem weakly smiled, but that expression quickly became one of high alert when he heard Atsuko make a noise. Joey heard it too, moving back closer to the bed and beside Atem. Slowly, Atsuko's eyes began to open, but she was obviously not very coherent about what was happening. As she looked around and let her eyes focus, she saw two people standing at her side.

"How are you feelin'?" One asked, her eyes still not fully focused yet.

"Where am I?" She asked.

"In one of the President's guest rooms." The same one answered.

"President? President of what?"

"Do you know what country your in?" The other asked after a long pause.

"I'm in Japan, aren't I? That's where I'm from." Her eyes were fully focused now and the two men beside her looked somewhat worried. "May I ask who you are?"

"Don't you recognize us?"