Yu-Gi-Oh: The Twin Pharaohs

Chapter nine. Duel with a Ghoul

"Yugi." Kemo said. "You don't have a ghost of a chance because this time he is a ghost."

"How do you sign Ghost again?" I asked Yugi.

He shrugged. Soul?

I nodded. "That works."

"It's true!" Kemo assured us, trying to redirect our attention. "Two witnesses saw him fall to his death earlier today."

Everyone but me was appropriately shocked.

"And I have no doubt that those witnesses had nothing to do with the murder themselves." I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Liar!" Mokuba screamed. "Take that back!"

"Get used to it." Kemo snarled, switching his choke hold to a more manageable wrist lock. "All that's left of Kaiba are your memories and a very cranky ghost. And he's seen better days too. Alright, Yugi. It's time to duel with the ghoul."

"If this battle was a chapter I would totally title it Duel With A Ghoul." I told Yugi, spreading my hands like I was imagining it on a book cover. "Yugi Muto Vs. The Ghost of Seto Kaiba!"

I'm not sure how I managed it but he cracked a smile.

"He's not dead!" Mokuba screamed at me.

"Sorry." I said.

Do not make light of this. Yugi warned me across our bond.

I leaned in so that he was the only one who could hear my whisper. "What mattered most to Kaiba is standing right in front of him. According to all of the legends, ghost's emotions are magnified after death, meaning that he be literally unable to ignore his little brother right now. I know that there is goodness in Kaiba's heart but there is only darkness in this ghost. Kaiba is alive, Yugi. I know it." I sighed. "So the real question is what is he?"

Yugi nodded, almost convinced. "That guy is nothing but a fake. A trick by Pegasus. Don't worry, Mokuba. I'll win and then we will find your brother."

Yugi and I mounted our platforms.

Iris. Yugi said telepathically. Do me a favor.

I listened. "What the heck?" I said. "Sounds fun." I looked at Not-Kaiba "Don't expect me to come up with a clever nickname for you." I said. "Only real people deserve them."

"But I am real, Iris." Not-Kaiba said. "So what's my nickname."

"Pretty-boy."

That took him by surprise but he quickly regained his composure.

Thank you, Iris. You proved that he can be surprised. That will be valuable information in this duel.

"Pleasure doing business with you." I said to both of them.

"You both look as if you have seen a ghost." Not-Kaiba said.

I groaned. "I would rather hear all of Mako and Weevil's fish and bug jokes all over again instead of one more ghost joke. Really. There's only so much that you can do with them. I think there's one, maybe two total in the entire world."

"That's enough." Yugi agreed.

"I am no longer of this world, Yugi, and it's all thanks to you and your attack dog of a sister."

"This panther has claws, Pretty-boy." I snarled. "You're the dog, bowing down to the King."

What are you doing, Iris?

I lipped my answer.

Well when you're done annoying the common sense out of him you can translate.