Da-Ka and David shrunk from under Mr. Yishi's piercing glare. He was
breathing heavily and his face was red.
"I didn't want to believe it. I thought I could trust you Da-Ka. But the phone calls, and the letters and now… I am so disappointed in you Da- Ka."
The young duelist cast her eyes to the floor. She had done her best to keep the fact that she still played Duel Monsters, but the fact that so many kids sent her letters and called her for tips on how to win at the popular card game had caught up with her. Her father had found out and now she had to pay the price.
Da-Ka's mother put a soothing had on Mr. Yishi's arm. "Now Joseph. Please don't overreact to this. If she wishes to play that silly game then I say let her. She doesn't hurt anyone. And she is responsible enough to know what not to do and what little clubs not to join."
Mr. Yishi didn't let up. "That's not the point Kathleen! I expressly forbid her to play that game, I don't want to lose her to those fanatics that throw away their lives just to put a piece of cardboard over a circuit board. I don't want her to neglect school and her real responsibilities like those fools on the street do! And I NEVER WANT TO SEE THAT NO ACCOUNT PIECE OF FILFTH IN MY HOUSE AGAIN!" He was yelling now, and pointing a savage finger at David.
The boy shrunk back. He was well aware of how much Joseph Yishi despised him. He was after all a pure bred street kid. His parents had been divorced for as long as he could remember and when his mother died he and his dad had no more means of cash flow. David wore scruffy looking clothes and his hair was sleeked back in the classic "tough guy" look. A cloth band with the Japanese symbol for "fight" was stretched across his forehead and tied at the back of his head, slightly tucked under the short strands of jet- black hair. His narrow eyes made him look even more like a street fighter, and indeed he had gotten a reputation for being one of the best "kick-butt" fighters in town. No wonder Da-Ka's father despised him.
But that was the last straw for Da-Ka, she had had enough of her father's insults.
"How dare you say that daddy?! How dare you insult my friend like that to his face?! I can't believe that just because he doesn't have it as good as we do you would dare to judge him! I can't believe you and I wish I wasn't your daughter! Come on David!" And with that she grabbed her friend's arm and her deck of cards and huffed down the stairs, her face a mask of fury.
Joseph stood, dumbfounded, outside of the now empty room. It wasn't the first time his daughter had used her way with words to put him into a stupor. He cut a comical figure, standing with his eyes and mouth wide open, a large anime sweatdrop beside his head.
His wife spoke absently, staring after her daughter. "Where do you think that came from?"
Joseph sulked and in a weak voice responded: "Reminds me of my mother- in-law." His face and slumped stance didn't change. After a second they both fell into the exasperated faint.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Da-Ka was inspecting an official looking letter that had been angrily torn from the envelope. From the tattered remains of the paper, she could make out that the letter was addressed to both her and David. They read it in awed silence before dropping it and turning to each other and embracing in a way only the best of friends could: Complete with shrieks of excitement and jumping for joy.
The letter was a formal invite that went a little something like this:
Dear Miss Yishi and Mr. Kargen:
We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to participate in the upcoming Duel Monsters tournament in the Duelist Kingdom. We at the Duel Monsters company have been observing your outstanding performances in the local contests, and believe your skills will be a delightful addition to the Duel Monsters universe. With this letter is the package containing your gloves and star chips, we look forward to seeing you on the island soon. Till then, ta-ta.
Sincerely,
Isaac Griffon
Assistant to Mr. Pegasus
The two friends eagerly tore at the package left on the table. In it they found two red gloves with white cuffs containing ten star-shaped holes, and four golden chips, shaped to fit the slots in the gloves. They pulled on the gloves, and placed two star chips each in their cuffs. Da-Ka gave David a meaningful look and he nodded. If they were getting out, this was the way. Da-Ka scribbled a note to her parents on the back of the invitation, and bolted out the door just as the adults were coming down the stairs.
Mr. Yishi saw the door slam shut and ran to the window to see his only daughter and the street kid he loathed darting down the street at a speed he could never match.
Joseph raced to the letter on the coffee table and read aloud: "Dear Mom and Dad, I'm sorry but I can't take the confinement you have put me in and so have gone to the Duel Monsters tournament in the Duelist Kingdom. I will be back before school starts again but please do not expect me to return for the rest of the summer. Love: Da-Ka"
He crumpled the note in anger and sorrow, he knew he had pushed too hard this time. He slumped to the couch and joined his wife in weeping after their rebellious daughter. Neither of them thought to call the police, they knew Da-Ka would not be brought back.
"I didn't want to believe it. I thought I could trust you Da-Ka. But the phone calls, and the letters and now… I am so disappointed in you Da- Ka."
The young duelist cast her eyes to the floor. She had done her best to keep the fact that she still played Duel Monsters, but the fact that so many kids sent her letters and called her for tips on how to win at the popular card game had caught up with her. Her father had found out and now she had to pay the price.
Da-Ka's mother put a soothing had on Mr. Yishi's arm. "Now Joseph. Please don't overreact to this. If she wishes to play that silly game then I say let her. She doesn't hurt anyone. And she is responsible enough to know what not to do and what little clubs not to join."
Mr. Yishi didn't let up. "That's not the point Kathleen! I expressly forbid her to play that game, I don't want to lose her to those fanatics that throw away their lives just to put a piece of cardboard over a circuit board. I don't want her to neglect school and her real responsibilities like those fools on the street do! And I NEVER WANT TO SEE THAT NO ACCOUNT PIECE OF FILFTH IN MY HOUSE AGAIN!" He was yelling now, and pointing a savage finger at David.
The boy shrunk back. He was well aware of how much Joseph Yishi despised him. He was after all a pure bred street kid. His parents had been divorced for as long as he could remember and when his mother died he and his dad had no more means of cash flow. David wore scruffy looking clothes and his hair was sleeked back in the classic "tough guy" look. A cloth band with the Japanese symbol for "fight" was stretched across his forehead and tied at the back of his head, slightly tucked under the short strands of jet- black hair. His narrow eyes made him look even more like a street fighter, and indeed he had gotten a reputation for being one of the best "kick-butt" fighters in town. No wonder Da-Ka's father despised him.
But that was the last straw for Da-Ka, she had had enough of her father's insults.
"How dare you say that daddy?! How dare you insult my friend like that to his face?! I can't believe that just because he doesn't have it as good as we do you would dare to judge him! I can't believe you and I wish I wasn't your daughter! Come on David!" And with that she grabbed her friend's arm and her deck of cards and huffed down the stairs, her face a mask of fury.
Joseph stood, dumbfounded, outside of the now empty room. It wasn't the first time his daughter had used her way with words to put him into a stupor. He cut a comical figure, standing with his eyes and mouth wide open, a large anime sweatdrop beside his head.
His wife spoke absently, staring after her daughter. "Where do you think that came from?"
Joseph sulked and in a weak voice responded: "Reminds me of my mother- in-law." His face and slumped stance didn't change. After a second they both fell into the exasperated faint.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Da-Ka was inspecting an official looking letter that had been angrily torn from the envelope. From the tattered remains of the paper, she could make out that the letter was addressed to both her and David. They read it in awed silence before dropping it and turning to each other and embracing in a way only the best of friends could: Complete with shrieks of excitement and jumping for joy.
The letter was a formal invite that went a little something like this:
Dear Miss Yishi and Mr. Kargen:
We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to participate in the upcoming Duel Monsters tournament in the Duelist Kingdom. We at the Duel Monsters company have been observing your outstanding performances in the local contests, and believe your skills will be a delightful addition to the Duel Monsters universe. With this letter is the package containing your gloves and star chips, we look forward to seeing you on the island soon. Till then, ta-ta.
Sincerely,
Isaac Griffon
Assistant to Mr. Pegasus
The two friends eagerly tore at the package left on the table. In it they found two red gloves with white cuffs containing ten star-shaped holes, and four golden chips, shaped to fit the slots in the gloves. They pulled on the gloves, and placed two star chips each in their cuffs. Da-Ka gave David a meaningful look and he nodded. If they were getting out, this was the way. Da-Ka scribbled a note to her parents on the back of the invitation, and bolted out the door just as the adults were coming down the stairs.
Mr. Yishi saw the door slam shut and ran to the window to see his only daughter and the street kid he loathed darting down the street at a speed he could never match.
Joseph raced to the letter on the coffee table and read aloud: "Dear Mom and Dad, I'm sorry but I can't take the confinement you have put me in and so have gone to the Duel Monsters tournament in the Duelist Kingdom. I will be back before school starts again but please do not expect me to return for the rest of the summer. Love: Da-Ka"
He crumpled the note in anger and sorrow, he knew he had pushed too hard this time. He slumped to the couch and joined his wife in weeping after their rebellious daughter. Neither of them thought to call the police, they knew Da-Ka would not be brought back.