Alverna: And here's chapter 4. I'm doing good.
Joey: So what's on the agenda for our heroes today?
Seto: If you would read they chapter you would find out.
Bakura and Marik: Shut up Priest!
Ryou and Malik: Shut up you two!
Alverna: I am slightly disappointed though. The last chapter only got 8 reviews, 5 favorites, and 2 subscribers, raising the totals to 41 reviews, 33 favorites, and 33 subscribers. I'm more concerned about the lack of reviews. Was the last chapter that bad?
Serenity: No it wasn't. And this chapter is Yugioh! Manga Chapter/Duel 4, Season 0 Ep. 2, and a bit 'How did it come to this?' Chapter 4, based.
Mokuba: Alverna does not own Yugioh! Enjoy!
Chapter 4: Jail Break!
"Oh boy." Solomon sighed as he looked at the pile of bills of the table.
"Everything okay Grandpa?" Yugi asked from the doorway of the kitchen.
"Not really." Solomon replied. "We're not making enough to keep the shop open Yugi."
"Oh no!" Yugi exclaimed. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." Solomon nodded. "If we don't get enough money in six months, we will have to close down."
"That's terrible." Yugi sighed, scared that his home could be lost. "Is there anything I can do grandpa?"
"Sorry Yugi." Solomon shook his head. "Unless you get a job, there's nothing you can do right now. Now how about you head to bed?"
"Okay." Yugi replied with a sad smile.
As he passed the kitchen counter, Yugi saw the Classified Adds. More specifically, there was a new restaurant opening in a month and needed waiters.
Three months later…
Sirens and alarms rang as the lights of the Domino City Jail as a dangerous convict, Jiro Jorogumo aka Jackpot, escaped his cell, grabbed the gun of a passing guard, and shot him.
"It was written in a magazine whatever I do will turn out well." Jackpot said to the dead guard while rubbing the '777' tattoo on his forehead. "All because the star I was born under was at its peak. Therefore, I figured a prison break would be easy!"
Running down the hallway, Jackpot cackled as he dodged search lights and guards.
"I'm out and you can't catch me!" Jackpot yelled as he hotwired a car and speed off.
"Prisoner 777 has escaped from Domino Prison!" the head guard bellowed on a blow horn. "He killed a guard and escaped! Furthermore, he's in possession of a pistol, and heading towards Domino City! Our first priority is to alert the townspeople! I repeat…"
The bell rang at Domino High, signaling the school was over.
"Ah, it's over." Joey yawned and stretched. "No more class. Yugi, want to stop anywhere on the way home?"
"Sorry Joey." Yugi said as he packed his bag. "I have a few errands I need to run for grandpa today. Maybe tomorrow."
"Okay." Joey nodded and turned to Tea. "How about you girl?"
"Maybe we could go to that new Burger World that opened a month ago." Tea suggested. "Their hamburgers are supposed to be really good."
"Sounds good." Joey agreed. "Let's go to Burger World."
"Uh, Joey." Yugi turned from his desk. "About that Burger World place…"
"You want to join us Yugi?" Joey asked with a grin.
"No!" Yugi exclaimed. "I just want to warn you! I heard a bunch of people got sick on opening day. You shouldn't go there."
"That so?" Joey asked.
"Yeah." Yugi nodded. "Beside, didn't you hear the TV report this morning? A convict escaped from prison and he has a gun! He's even robbed a few placed."
"That's right!" Joey nodded as he remembered. "And everyone needs to head home as soon as possible."
"What about your errands?" Tea asked Yugi in concern.
"I stop at stores on the route home and go as fast as possible." Yugi replied.
"Okay." Joey replied as they exited the school.
"See you later." Yugi waved as he turned down the street heading towards his house. 'That was close.'
"Hey Tea," Joey asked as he watched Yugi walk away. "Have you noticed Yugi acting oddly lately?"
"Now that you mention it." Tea nodded. "It has been a while since we've walked home together with him."
"I've got a hunch Tea." Joey said with a grim look. "I think Yugi might be dating older women for extra money*."
"What!" Tea exclaimed. "There's no way! Yugi's never shown interest in dating!"
"But didn't you see what he ordered for lunch today?" Joey asked. "The top level one! It's really expensive, so he's got to have money. But he told me that the game shop wasn't doing to good, so he wouldn't spend money like that unless he had extra."
"What should we do?" Tea asked with a worried look. "Follow him?"
"No choice really." Joey shrugged. "Operation: Follow Yugi, commence!"
So they took off after Yugi, keeping their distance so he wouldn't see them.
"He's heading for the business district." Joey whispered as Yugi made a sharp right turn a couple blocks from the game shop.
"I really don't want to do this." Tea mumbled under her breath.
As if he heard them, Yugi glanced back nervously. Thankfully, they had ducked behind a corner before being spotted.
"That was a close one." Tea whispered.
"He's getting smarter." Joey admitted. "But I think part of it is the constant bullying he's had in the past. Hey look! He's going into a building. Bet the older lady is waiting there."
"Joey, take a closer look." Tea sighed at Joey's obliviousness.
"Huh?" Joey looked up to see a hamburger on top of the building and read the sign. "Burger World?"
At that moment, the door opened to reveal a young and short male in the male Burger World uniform, a green t-shirt and pants, and a golden upside down puzzled hung from around his neck.
"Hello, and welcome to Burger World." Yugi said nervously as he greeted his friends and led them inside. "Come on in. Seats for two?"
Joey and Tea just nodded numbly as Yugi lead them to a booth and gave them their menus so they could decide what to order.
'Why did those two come here?' Yugi thought as he picked up his pad and pencil. 'Having a part time job is against the school rules. If I'm caught, I'll be expelled. And Joey isn't exactly known for keeping secrets very well.'
Taking a deep breath, Yugi pasted a smile on his face and went back to Joey and Tea's table, overhearing a small part of their conversation.
"Maybe we shouldn't have come here Joey." Tea was whispering. "Yugi looked upset."
"Maybe." Joey agreed. "No wonder he didn't want us to come here."
"Are you ready to order?" Yugi asked softly, making them jump.
"Sure." Joey grinned. "I'll have the Double Cheeseburger Combo with a large Cherry Cola to drink."
"I'll have the Hamburger Combo with lemonade to drink." Tea added as she folded up her menu and handed it to Yugi.
"Alright them." Yugi said, taking the menus. "I'll be right back."
"He's really nervous." Tea noted.
"Wouldn't you be?" Joey asked with a raised eyebrow.
"True." Tea nodded and unrolled her napkin. "What's this?"
"What's what?" Joey asked.
Tea turned her napkin around. On it, in Yugi's handwriting, were the words, 'Please don't tell.'
"Why do you think he doesn't want us to tell?" Joey asked.
"You idiot!" Tea hissed quietly. "If we tell, Yugi gets expelled. Plain and simple."
"Oh right." Joey rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Here is your meal." Yugi said as he put the tray down and quickly left the table.
"Hey Yugi." Joey called, making Yugi stop and slowly turn.
"Yes?" Yugi asked softly.
"Come here." Joey said waving his hand. "Why are you working here?"
"The game shop wasn't doing to good." Yugi whispered. "So I got a job to bring in some extra money. We were going to get evicted in a few months, but things have picked up a little. Plus my paychecks for the past two months have helped. Please don't tell."
"Not a soul." Joey vowed.
"Yeah." Tea agreed. "You're secret is safe with us."
"And if I do tell," Joey added, "I'll buy you 10,000 burgers."
"Thanks guys." Yugi really smiled and winked. "And since it's your first time here, these burgers are one the house. Enjoy!"
"Yum!" Joey cheered and dug in.
"Joey!" Tea exclaimed in disgust. "We're in a public place! Stop eating like a pig!"
Outside the restaurant, Jackpot panted as the heat of the day started to get to him.
'So thirsty… I can't last much longer. I sure could go for a smoke, and a glass of booze right about now.'
At that moment, Jackpot spotted the restaurant.
"There's the Drive-In!" Jackpot exclaimed as he crossed the parking lot. "I knew I was lucky! They'll have all the booze and smokes I want."
"It's really nice that Yugi wants to help his grandpa." Joey was saying, not noticing the man pulling a hat on through the window.
"Yeah." Tea agreed. "And he does manage to make the male uniform look cute."
"Hello sir." Yugi greeted when the doors opened. "Table for one, or are you meeting someone today?"
"Just me." Jackpot said and let Yugi lead him to a corner booth.
"I'll be back in a minute." Yugi said when he saw his boss beckoned him and a few other employees over.
"Look Tea." Joey pointed as he watched Yugi go back to the staff room with his boss, a few employees, and an official looking man who had entered after Jackpot did.
"Something appears to be happening." Tea said.
"Let's go check it out." Joey said as he slipped out of the booth, being followed by an extremely reluctant Tea.
"Escaped convict!" Yugi's voice was faintly heard through the door.
"You're saying the convict might be in this restaurant?" the restaurant owner asked.
"Yes, there was a report this morning." Detective Hiketsu** replied. "This seems to be the focal point of the break-ins. So I'm searching this area."
"What does this culprit look like?" the owner asked.
Detective Hiketsu held up a picture of a spiky yellow haired man with a '777' tattoo on his forehead, and he was surprisingly clean shaven.
Yugi looked around the restaurant with Tea and Joey.
"I don't see him." Yugi sighed.
"He's a master of disguise." Detective Hiketsu said. "It's rare to see him not in disguise."
"Then we'll just check each one." Joey said.
"No Joey." Yugi hissed. "He has a pistol, remember?"
"Does he have any other characteristics?" Tea asked.
"Well, he had a scuffle with some guards when stealing some jewels a few days ago." Hiketsu said. "A fallen guard was able to hit the fleeing culprit on his right leg with his baton, so it may have left a bruise."
"If that's true…" Yugi walked up the counter and picked up a basket of toy cars they used to keep kids entertained. "Let's use these."
"How?" Joey asked.
"Like this." Yugi said and walked foreword.
Yugi allowed some kids to bump into him, and he dropped the basket, sending the cars under practically all of the tables in Burger World.
"Good idea!" Joey said and began searching under the tables with Tea, Detective Hiketsu, and the restaurant owner.
'My heart is pounding just watching.' Yugi sighed as he picked the basket back up. 'I wish I was that brave.'
Yugi went over to a table that had a man in a business suit smoking, his feet on the table.
"Excuse me sir." Yugi said as he grabbed the man's ankles. "This is a public restaurant. Please don't put your legs on the table, and please put out your cigarette."
"What?" the man growled. "Why are you messing with my resting time?"
"Sorry sir." Yugi's boss said. "We have a small situation. But we do request that you don't put your feet on the table, and the restaurant policy says no smoking inside the building."
"Don't give me that!" the man hissed, and stopped when Detective Hiketsu came over and showed him his badge. "Police?"
"Yes." Detective Hiketsu nodded. "I ask that you would please stay in your seat while the establishment is checked over."
"We can't find him." Joey said as he and Tea came up.
"Are there no other clues we can use to find him?" Tea asked.
"Yes, actually." Detective Hiketsu nodded as he held up a small notebook. "When in prison, he was admitted into the hospital for having an allergic reaction to eggs."
"Oh, then we'll find him quickly." Yugi said brightly. "Our hamburger buns have lots eggs in them."
'Wait, this hamburger has egg in it?' Jackpot thought and put down the burger he swiped from another table and began to breathe heavily. 'Now that I think about it, my body feels…'
"What's wrong?" Detective Hiketsu asked as he stopped in front of Jackpot's table. "You don't look well."
"Shut up!" Jackpot yelled as he jumped out of the seat.
Detective Hiketsu moved quickly and grabbed Jackpot from behind, pulling his hat off in the process. With the hat on the ground, everyone could see the man's spiky yellow hair and '777' tattoo.
"Jiro Jorogumo," Detective Hiketsu said as he held the man in a strong and firm grip. "You are under arrest."
"But first call an ambulance!" Jackpot yelled. "Call an ambulance! I'm allergic to eggs!"
"It was a lie." Yugi said quietly from by Joey.
"What?" Jackpot hissed as he looked to the 16 year old.
"Our burger buns are 100% flour, water, and oil." Yugi said. "And all of the meat is 100% cow."
"Shit!" Jackpot yelled and elbowed Detective Hiketsu in the groin.
Pulling out his gun, Jackpot grabbed Yugi, and pointed the gun at his head.
"If anyone moves, this kid dies." Jackpot hissed to the restaurant. "Now get down on the floor and don't make a sound!"
Joey refrained from growling as he lay down on the ground, behind a big reared man, and next to a shaking Tea. Both of them were unable to see Yugi from their position.
"I'll blindfold you with this." Jackpot said as he pulled a ribbon off a nearby female staff member. "When a person's loses their sight, they become so scared they can't even scream. The opposite effect when gagged. When a prisoner is killed, to they blindfold him, or gag him? That reminds me, I was on death row."
Yugi whimpered as his sight was loss to him and he was pulled into the seat of a nearby booth, Jackpot entering first.
"Now someone bring me what I whatever want." Jackpot demanded, keeping his gun pointed at Yugi.
'I just wanted to help grandpa and the shop.' Yugi thought, his panic growing. 'Someone, please help me.'
Yami had awoken when he had first sensed Yugi's initial panic about the criminal, and had been keeping an eye out ever since. But right now, he was greatly angered by this man who was holding a gun to his light's head.
But what angered him more, was even thought Yugi was crying out for help, Yami couldn't protect Yugi when he was in such danger like this.
YU-GI-OH!
The Millennium Puzzle flashed brightly, and Yugi felt a massive drain of energy.
Yami on the other hand, felt very heavy as he appeared in a physical body, wearing the Domino High School Uniform, a few feet away from the booth.
"You!" Jackpot said when he spotted Yami. "You bring me what I want. The rest of you, stay down and keep your eyes close. Or you'll get this."
Jackpot pointed the gun at the ceiling and fired, making everyone whimper and cringe.
Yami got to his feet, glaring at Jackpot the whole time, but the criminal didn't notice.
"Bring me some booze!" Jackpot demanded. "And some smokes. 'Lucky Stripe'! Bring me only that brand!"
Yami looked around, and thanks to Yugi's memories, he was able to locate some alcohol and 'Lucky Stripe' cigarettes in the kitchen. Why there were cigarettes there, he didn't know. Setting the items on a tray, Yami carried it back out and walked over to the table, his anger growing at seeing Yugi being held hostage.
"Stay away!" Yugi cried out when he heard the footsteps come close. "You'll get hurt!"
'I'm supposed to protect you Little One.' Yami thought to himself.
"Shut the hell up!" Jackpot shouted and slapped Yugi across the face.
That was the last straw.
'How dare you put my innocent light, Yugi, through this!' Yami hissed in his mind. 'Choosing me was your biggest mistake!'
The Eye of Anubis glowed briefly on Yami's forehead, and Yugi began to feel his energy getting drained. Just before he blacked out, a deep baritone voice that made him loose what little bit of his breath he had left speak in his mind.
-I shall protect you my light.-
Yugi slumped in the seat as Yami set the item down on the table.
"I've brought what you've ordered." Yami said as he sat down across from the two.
"Did I say you could stay?" Jackpot shouted, but Yami didn't even flinch.
"What? I just thought I'd keep you company." Yami smirked as he raised a finger and shook it as if he was scolding a child. "If you've got guts, how about we play a game?"
"A game?" Jackpot asked confused.
'Who is this guy?' Tea thought, feeling shivers as the man spoke. 'He's so confident.'
'I don't know who this guy is…' Jackpot thought angrily. 'But he's got to be crazy to challenge a guy with a pistol to a "game".'
Taking the box of cigarettes in one hand, Jackpot grabbed one with his mouth.
"A game…" Jackpot mused. "I need to have a little fun."
"However," Yami replied. "This is no ordinary game. This is a Shadow Game, where your very life is at stake."
"Sounds like fun." Jackpot said as he picked up the bottle of alcohol and began to pour it into a glass. "What are the rules?"
'Stupid idiot.' Jackpot thought. 'I should just shoot him. All it would take is a twitch of my finger and he'd be heading towards the afterlife.'
'It's too quiet.' Joey thought from the floor, cursing the guy with the lard butt who was in front of him. 'What's going on?'
"The rules are: You and I must stay on opposite side of the table." Yami explained. "We can interact with one restriction. We each choose one of our ten fingers, and that is the only we can move. Which finger is entirely up to you, so which will you choose?"
"I choose my right index finger." Jackpot said, holding up the gun and showing that finger was on the trigger. "It's all I need to kill you."
"And I will choose my thumb." Yami said as he held up his right thumb.
'They guy is nuts!' Jiro smirked. 'What can he do with just one thumb? If he tries anything, I can kill him in an instant!'
"After the game starts, you can do anything you like." Yami continued with his own, having caught Jiro's smirk. "Even pull the trigger. So, let's begin!"
GAME START!
"And now it's Game Over!" Jackpot shouted in glee as he aimed the gun at Yami's heart.
Yami didn't reply, just flicked the lighter that was on the tray open.
"I forgot." Jackpot mumbled as he eyed the unlit cigarette in his mouth. "It hasn't been lit yet. As your last act, you can use your thumb to light my cigarette. After that, I'll kill you!"
Yami still didn't reply as he lit the lighter, and then the cigarette. Jackpot took a deep breath of tobacco, and exhaled with some relief.
"You can have the lighter back." Yami finally spoke as he pulled his palm away from his fingers and let the lighter land on the back of Jackpot's left hand, which was still pouring the alcohol. "I think I'll just leave it there."
'I can't move!' Jackpot thought as he gasped in horror, realizing he had been cornered as he watched the alcohol start to over flow from the cup and onto his lap. 'If I do, the lighter will fall into the booze, and my body!'
"Your drink is Russian Vodka, which is 90% alcohol." Yami smirked. "I'd almost like to see you fire your gun. The recoil would defiantly make the lighter fall."
'Shit!' Jackpot thought as he started to tremble, cursing Yami in his head.
"Time to go Yugi." Yami whispered as he picked up the unconscious boy and moved him out of harms way a few booths over, removing the blindfold.
'At this rate…' Jackpot began to panic, but then decided what the brat didn't know what happened when his back was turned wouldn't hurt him.
Oh yeah, it would.
Setting the gun down, Jackpot took the lighter off the back of his hand and set it back on the table, leaving it open.
"I knew you wouldn't be able to follow the rules." Yami smirked, the Eye of Anubis glowing on his forehead.
"What?" Jackpot asked, more confused how someone could have an eye made out of light on their body.
"A Shadow Games reveal your true nature." Yami explained, glaring. "For rule breakers, it is destined to be a punishment."
"You brat!" Jackpot hissed as he snatch the now alcohol soaked gun back up. "Don't you dare try to feed me that crap!"
"Bab ul-zulumat futeh.***" Yami replied as the eye on his forehead expanded and enveloped the criminal. "Penalty Game! Fire Enveloper!"
"AH!" Jiro screamed and fired the gun towards the ceiling.
Smoke pour from the gun, and morphed into flames that only Jackpot could see and feel.
"Someone…" Jackpot screamed, dancing around. "Someone put out this fire!"
Yami watched with emotionless eyes as Jackpot bumped into the table, making the still lit lighter tip over, and set the alcohol and criminal ablaze. Turning away from the dying man, Yami went back over to the sleeping Yugi a few booths away.
"I will always be here to protect you." Yami whispered as he felt himself get drawn back into the puzzle, but not before he placed a kiss to Yugi's forehead. "You can count on it."
With another flash of light, Yami disappeared as quickly as he showed up.
GAME OVER!
Yugi stirred and opened his eyes, groggily sitting up.
"Yugi!" Joey shouted as he and Tea raced over. "You're safe!"
"What happened?" Yugi asked as he shook his head.
"You don't remember?" Tea asked.
"No." Yugi replied. "I passed out."
"Understandable." Joey nodded. "The guy the criminal picked to bring him his stuff challenged him to a game of some sort. I don't know the details since I was behind a huge phannied person and couldn't see. But the convict ended up dead."
"Nice." Yugi muttered with a small wince at the thought of someone dying, even if they were on death row.
"Yugi." Yugi's boss came over to him. "Go home. You've had a frightening day."
"Thank you sir." Yugi nodded, gathered his thing, and clocked out.
"And we're walking home with you." Joey said. "Not 'buts' about it."
"Thanks." Yugi smiled as his stomach grumbled. "I'm so hungry."
"We can fix that when you get home." Tea smiled, her mind still on the voice of the person who challenged Jackpot to a game.
"But I want a hamburger!" Yugi protested.
Despite the situation, Joey and Tea could only laugh while Yugi became lost in thought.
'I wonder who saved me.' Yugi wondered as Joey ran back to Burger World to grab a bite for his friend. 'I sure would like to thank them, wherever they are.'
-You're welcome Yugi.- Yami whispered softly threw their mind-link.
Yugi glanced around, wondering who had spoken, but shrugged it off as he gently rubbed the Millennium Puzzle, his fingers tracing over the eye.
'Yes.' Yami thought to himself as he watched Joey arrive with a burger, which Yugi wolfed down in less than 10 seconds before looking around for another. 'You're welcome, my beloved light.'
That night, Yugi yawned and fell asleep, not bothering to take the puzzle off.
Dream
Yugi was being carried by Joey. Except he wasn't in Domino, it looked like he was in some sort of Egyptian palace.
"If you don't watch where you're going mutt, you're going to crash into something." the person Yugi had previously identified as cousin, the one who looked like Seto Kaiba, said while looking over his shoulder.
"I don't need a-" Joey started to sass back, until Yugi pinched his side.
Looking down at him, Yugi gave Joey a look that plainly read, 'Don't.'
"Don't need a what mutt?" cousin asked.
"Nothing." Joey mumbled.
"Something." cousin shot back.
"If anyone starts arguing, I will follow threw on Seto's threat and lock them in the dungeon for the remainder of the night, and…" the crimson eyed, tri-colored haired man glared at his friends as he looked over his shoulder, "I will not tell my father why you aren't present at tomorrows meeting."
Cousin glared at crimson eyes, who plainly ignored him and focused on where he was going.
"I'm going to run ahead and surprise Healer." dangerous white hair suddenly said.
"I'll go with you." a very eager spiky white-blond hair spoke.
"Puh-lease." cousin said. "She probably already knows we're coming. She is the bearer of the Millennium Necklace. Besides we're already here."
"And in answer to your comments Cousin," a new voice spoke, "I did know you were coming."
The speaker was a young woman was wearing a cream colored dress with a golden belt, and a head cover with a gold hawk framing her face. Her grey eyes, knowing and kind, looked at the group from her tan face.
Isis turned her attention to Yugi, Joey, and the two other people Yugi didn't know but were apparently part of his group of friends.
"I have bathes prepared for all of you." she said, gesturing to a door in the wall. "It will be easier for me to treat your wounds if I can see them properly. And don't worry about dirty water. I have placed a spell over the tubs so when the water gets so dirty, it will automatically be filled with clean water."
As they entered the room, Yugi glanced back, and his eyes connected with the crimson ones.
End Dream
Yugi jerked awake, blinking slowly. He hadn't had any dreams for months now, so why were they happening again?
*That's a nice way of say 'prostitution'.
**Hiketsu- Japanese for secret, mysteries, key. In the season 0 anime, the detective never received a name, so I decided to give him one.
***Bab ul-zulumat futeh- The Door of Darkness has been opened.
Alverna: End chapter -hides behind a sofa-
Atemu: How dare you put Yugi in danger like that?!
Alverna: Would you rather have stuck with the original and saved Tea?
Atemu: No.
Yugi: How did Yami get a body?
Alverna: In some extremely dangerous situations, Yami is able to temporarily manifest to protect Yugi.
Atemu: Will I do it again?
Alverna: Yes. I can think of a few times when you will need to do it.
Atemu and Yugi: Please review and let Alverna know if her idea was a good one. And if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask.