It had been five days since Paradox last ate. He knew it wasn't healthy, and he was sure that grandfather would be angry.

What was he saying?

Tea Cake whined and nudged Paradox's limp hand with his nose. Paradox lifted his head and studied his small companion.

"Oh, how selfish of me, Tea Cake," Paradox mumbled, his voice cracking. It had been five days since he had last spoken as well. "Tea Cake, I am sure that you are hungry. You probably ran out of food and drink yesterday."

Paradox sat up slowly and stretched, feeling his bones creak with each minute movement. He hadn't moved from his spot in bed very often since grandfather had died.

"Come on Tea Cake, let's go get a snack."

The hedgehog trailed close on Paradox's heels as the young man stalked down the hallway. As he walked, Paradox observed the treasures that he had picked up in the past. Bicycle wheels, and used phone cards, and candy boxes, and cassette tapes littered the floor.

In the kitchen, next to his deck of Duel Monster cards, sat the basket that he had picked up for Tea Cake.

"Duel monsters," Paradox mumbled, scooping out a large helping of cat food for his pet. He filled the bowl and sat down at the table.

"Duel monsters!" He exclaimed, slamming his fist down on the table.

Of course it was duel monsters. That game is what led to the downfall of that lovely society that he had witnessed in the past. If it weren't for the godforsaken game, things would be okay. Grandfather would not have had to die. That blasted card game had destroyed everything, especially the one thing that Paradox held most dear.

Paradox had to find the root of it.

"Tea Cake," Paradox growled, turning his dusty laptop screen toward the small rodent, "This man is my enemy now. This man is the reason that Grandfather is dead." The rodent sniffed at the screen, and the picture of the purple haired man.

"I swear that I will find the Pegasus J. Crawford, and I will make him pay for what he has done to grandfather," Paradox spat.

Paradox gasped. "I know exactly how I shall make him pay…"

Paradox patted Tea Cake absently on the head and grabbed his deck and his duel disk. He was formulating a plan, and he wasn't exactly sure how well it would work, and he was certain that it would not be exactly humane, but grandfather had died, and it was unfair. It was unfair how much grandfather had bled, how much he had cried, how much Paradox had lost.

"Tea Cake, I would like to take you with me, but I just cannot. I will come back to you when I have finished, and hopefully we shall see each other again in a much better time. Until then, my dear friend."

Paradox climbed onto his D- wheel and put on his helmet, a cold feeling rising up into his chest.

No remorse for them, he thought, looking back at the tombstone he had fashioned for grandfather. I will make this better, I promise.

"All I need is those cards…"

Before he drove away, Paradox glanced once more at his well-worn home, and Tea Cake's tiny bed in the window sill.

Of course he would make things better for Tea Cake, and for Grandfather's memory. He'd fix it for everyone.

There wasn't anything particularly bad that could happen was there?