Yep, I'm still alive!

Keep in mind that since the anime version of Death-T doesn't quite fit this, I'm going to be using the manga version…manga version is just better and more fun (it also seems more popular among some people, and besides…some of the elements in the manga fit way better). This may be split into more chapters than normal, and I apologize for this chapter being short, but I had to get it out there before I was eaten alive by the story's inactivity.

Yu-Gi-Oh!

The Shadow Games

Game Thirteen

A Deadly Attraction

Sugoroku found himself sitting in a strange glass box in a room full of darkness. He sat silently, contemplating what had happened to him. He'd been kidnapped and taken to Kaiba Corp, where he had been tied up and set in front of a camera for a few moments. Kaiba must have sent some sort of message to his grandson after that…but why did that young man hate Yuugi so much?

More importantly, why was he in this strange box, with his deck in his hand? If Kaiba was planning to kill him, he sure was going to do it creatively.

With a lurch, the box shoved upward. An eerie light was cast upon the glass box as it moved, and with that light came the old man's opponent. Sugoroku clutched his deck tightly as he gazed upon the dueling field and – more importantly – the familiar face in front of him.

Seto Kaiba smirked, and in his best imitation of Yuugi's other voice, he spoke only a single phrase: "Well, then…Game Start!"

Fireworks were going off outside. Many people visiting Kaiba Land were excited at the opening of the attractions. Children everywhere crowded the arcade games, even some of the teenagers there seemed to be having fun. The entire indoor park was filled with laughter and cheerful sounds, not to mention the constant sound effects that the video games gave off. In one part of the crowd, however, there was a small group of people that wasn't so thrilled.

Yuugi quietly walked past the games – a very rare thing for him to do – in search for his grandfather. Anzu seemed worried as well, but Jounouchi was simply angry (of course, this was technically the only way for Jounouchi to be worried, but Yuugi never pondered it much). It didn't take them long to decide where to go.

"Thank you for visiting Kaiba Land. The Opening Battle will begin soon. All wishing to see this battle, please proceed to the Battle Tower stadium."

"Sounds like that's our destination," Honda said somewhat flatly. "Let's head over there."

It wasn't hard to get there; everyone else was headed in that direction as well. When they reached it, they leaned over a metal railing to see the sight before them: an enormously tall tower. The stairs nearby led upward to what was probably the seating, but as hard as he tried, Yuugi couldn't clearly see what was in the center of the area due to the massive crowds of people headed there. Of course, it didn't help much that he was naturally short, either.

"Please head this way."

The group spun around to see a man in a uniform standing behind them, bowing politely. Even though he acted polite, however, Yuugi had a strong suspicion about this man's true side. "You are Yuugi Mutou and his companions, correct?" The man asked. "Master Kaiba is waiting for you. Please come this way."

Jounouchi was about to throw another fit, but Anzu silenced him quickly with a look. They followed the man politely into an elevator, where they stood in silence as it rose. Thoughts flew through Yuugi's mind, like where they would end up, how his grandfather was doing, how this even started…he hoped nothing terrible was going on, but something told him that he would have to tread cautiously.

Unfortunately for him, when the door opened his worst fears were confirmed. His grandfather was at a dueling table, but he had fallen out of the chair where he must have been sitting earlier. Three-dimensional holograms of ferocious monsters were projected in the glass box that he was confined in, and their roaring, gaping maws reached closer and closer to Sugoroku.

Wha…you bastard, Kaiba!

Yuugi couldn't take it anymore. Ignoring the angered voice in his mind, he shoved past the guards and raced toward the glass box, throwing open the door and dragging Sugoroku out. "Grandpa! Are you okay?!"

The old man was breathing heavily. "Yuugi…" He said, still trying to regain his breath. "I lost, I'm sorry…"

It was hard to suppress looking at Kaiba on the projection screen above them, but with whatever emotion, Yuugi didn't know. In the back of his mind, he felt a strange and alien emotion.

He'll do anything to win…even this?

As Yuugi was finishing his thought, Sugoroku pressed a deck of cards into Yuugi's hands. "I put my heart into making this deck, Yuugi…If you have it, I'm sure it'll help you."

Yuugi nodded quietly. "I'll win, Grandpa. I promise." As he stood, a team of paramedics rushed in and Sugoroku was placed on a stretcher. As they left, Yuugi clenched his teeth.

Kaiba's image on the overhead screen grinned maliciously. "It's good to see you made it, Yuugi. Welcome to Death-T!"

At his words, the entire room lit up. It was a lot bigger than Yuugi had anticipated. In fact, they were standing right in the middle of the stadium they had seen earlier. Surrounding them were countless crowds of cheering people, and bright lights shone from above. Not only was it unnerving to be the center of attention like this (the something that had plagued Yuugi for a while was starting to jab at him the moment he began feeling nervous), but the knowledge that his grandfather's life depended on a revenge that Kaiba had turned into some hellish game show made him incredibly frightened.

"Open the door to the first game!" Kaiba announced on the screen. On cue, a billowing steam blew from vents at the nearby door (probably just as an effect, but Yuugi didn't want to take his chances). Inside was a futuristic hallway. Warily, Yuugi stepped forward, his friends following him. Once they all entered, the door slammed shut behind them.

"Guess there's no turning back now," Jounouchi mumbled.

"Who said he would give us a choice?" Anzu replied, to which Jounouchi silently agreed.

The group continued forward into the room ahead, finally coming upon another door marked "Death-T 1." As it opened, they stepped into a pitch-black room, which promptly began flashing with a red light, sirens blaring into their ears.

"Emergency! Emergency! The space station is being under enemy attack and is being destroyed!"

"Did he have to go out of his way to make it theatrical?" Honda groaned, wincing.

"You are the only remaining hope for the space station. Please put on the cyber vests and defeat the enemy with the laser guns you are given!"

"I'm not all that partial to violence," Yuugi mumbled, "But this kind of reminds me of laser tag. It shouldn't be too bad."

"I'd be careful if I were you Yuugi."

Yuugi's attention spun to the monitor nearby, where Kaiba's face appeared grinning malevolently back at them. Jounouchi was the first to remark. "What do you want, you bastard?!"

"It would only be fair if I explained the rules before you entered," he boy replied slyly, a broad smirk plastered on his face. "This game is not unlike a simple game of Laser Tag, but there are still rules to remember. There is a sensor on each of the vests that you are wearing. Hitting that sensor will end the game for the one that is hit. Once all of the enemies are defeated, you will proceed to Death-T 2."

"And if we lose?" Honda demanded, only to receive a chuckle in return. Yuugi felt his eyes narrow. He didn't like the look on Kaiba's face. Laser Tag or not, this was definitely more dangerous than it seemed, especially if Kaiba was laughing in that tone of voice.

"Your opponents aren't just anyone. They are trained army professionals."

"I knew it was going to be something twisted," Jounouchi growled.

Kaiba apparently didn't care. "Game Start!"

The monitor flickered off, and the door nearby them opened. Cautiously, the four stepped into the enormous, maze-like room before them, the only light appearing from the floor below them. Armed with their laser guns, they moved cautiously forward. The first game of Death-T had begun.

Yep...I'm still alive. One game at a time, folks. Time to shoot some stardust...or we could just play laser tag. Laser Tag is a lot safer.