1:10 pm
Tristan Taylor. A name most people only know about for two reasons. The first, and most common, is they read about how he was a friend of Yugi Moto and Joey Wheeler. Yea, how is that for a kick in the teeth? The guy was head of several clubs at his school, actually made it on the honor roll (more then could be said for his friends, with Wheeler dropping out of High School to become a pro duelist, Moto having to settle for a GED what with him missing so many classes to take part in tournaments…and we all know what happened with Tea Garner), popular, handsome…and he is reduced to being Yugi's lackie.
But nowadays, Tristan at least has something else he can hang his hat on: The nice Doctor title he got. Yea, it's in pharmaceuticals, but still, a doctor none-the-less. A step up for the former duel-cheerleader, though you wouldn't know it, by the way the world still considered him little more then a part of Yugi entourage.
Of course, Tristan didn't mind this one bit. I'd heard stories about how he had never paid for a drink in his life, always finding some fan of the King of Games willing to buy the rounds all for the cost of a story.
But I've lost track of the story.
I met up with Tristan a few hours later, having grabbed a quick bite and gone online to get some info on him. I always like to know exactly what I am getting into when I go meet with someone, to know if I need a second gun. Luckily, Tristan hasn't even gotten a parking ticket, so I was a bit at ease. Still, I always carry at least one weapon…in this town, where you have people robbing people just to buy cards, you have to come prepared.
Tristan had asked me to come to the drug store he managed, one of the more upscale places. Of course, I had to wonder if Tristan knew about the dark side of this place. Duelists would commonly come here to get a…supplement…that helped them duel. It the last 10 years, the medical community had come up with all sorts of new drugs, and there was always a duelist looking for something to make them thing a bit faster or numb their nerves so they could serve a Death Duel for a few turns longer. This store was one of the worst when it came to selling the drugs illegally, most likely caused by one of Tristan's employees.
One of said employees led me to Tristan's office, the older man sitting at a desk working on some files. He glanced up as we entered, smiling slightly and offering me a seat. "Here, take a load off…Jeffrey, could you get him some water…"
"I got to get back to work." The employee said without a glance back, heading out of the office. Tristan blinked, before flashing me a smile.
"They all love me here. Honestly…I bet you 2 bucks he comes back in here any minute with the water. Infact, I bet it happens right…now!" I didn't bother to glance back, knowing no one was there. "Man, how cool would that have been if he would have come in?"
"Very." I quipped, pulling out a tape recorder and turning it on. "Now, Mr. Taylor, you said something about seeing someone at Mr. Moto's Game Shop…I am assuming it is someone of interest."
"Oh yea." Tristan said. "I had gone to see Yugi, talk to him about some stuff, nothing really that interesting, and guess who I see come in?"
"I have no idea." I said sternly. "That's why I'm here."
"Oh…right." Tristan waved his hand. "Seto Kaiba. I'm not kidding, Seto Kaiba comes into the shop. Naturally, Yugi is all cold to him, wanting to know why he is there, and Seto just scoffs and asks to buy some cards. Yugi gives him a tough time, tells him he won't sell him a thing, and Seto snaps that it isn't for him, its for his wife. Yugi clams up, and I am about ready to throw Seto out, when Yugi just grits his teeth and asks what he wants. Seto gives him a list, Yugi reads it, throws some cards in a bag, and Seto plunks down a wad of cash, then heads out." Tristan rotated his shoulder. "Knocked into be pretty hard, which is rude, considering I'm his doctor."
"His doctor?"
Tristan shrugged. "Seto is on these anti-depressants, my store is the only one that carries them in the city." He looked back at me, hands clasped together. "Now, I'm assuming you've heard about Seto's recent announcement."
I had, actually. Seto had recently done an interview about what it felt to be retired from dueling. What should have been a puff piece that a few people saw had become an international sensation after it ran on TMZ.
In the interview, Seto had blasted the dueling community, snarling how everyone didn't use their brain and instead relied upon copying other people. He had snapped about how people spent more time complaining that I2 wasn't releasing certain territory exclusive cards to everyone then figuring out how to use their own cards to win. Seto ranted for 10 minutes about how duelists were little more then whiny fanboys that wanted the most powerful cards, but only for themselves, not for, "Every noob to have". According to him, it was better back when the game was about using your brain and strategy, not simple smash and grab tactics combined with almost scripted dueling. There was no more improvising, no more trying new things. Everyone just wanted to go, "Cyber Dragon, Cyber Dragon, Crush Card Repeat", instead of battling with a new game plan for each opponent.
But the person who had really come under fire was Duke Devlin. Seto had charged that Duke could have used his comeback and new title as King of Games to clean up the dueling world. He charged that instead of working to fix things, to bring things back to the way they use to be, when people made their own decks instead of complaining about the ones they bought from I2. Back when there was a firm line between duelist and game maker. Back when there was honor, not flames and spamming. Seto said Duke should have gotten kids off the message boards and into tournaments.
Personally, I thought it was the stupidest thing I'd ever heard. But people ate it up with a spoon.
Tristan nodded his head. "I can't help turning it over and over in my head. Duke Devlin is dead. Seto Kaiba was at Yugi's shop. A business card for Yugi's shop was at the scene. And Seto apparently hated Duke." He looked at me, confused. "You don't think…"
"Don't jump to conclusions." I muttered, clicking off the tape. "I'll handle this. Thanks for the info."
"Wait…" Tristan said, grabbing me by the arm. "You need help? I'd be willing to do what I can…" He sighed. "Listen…its no secret me and Duke fought over Serenity. But she made her choice, and I stood by it. And if someone prevented her from being with her soulmate, they deserve to pay."
I shook my head, however. "Thanks, but no thanks. I work alone…besides, if I'm gonna deal with Seto, I don't need you there pissing him off."
Tristan nodded. "Yea…guess it wouldn't be smart to be there. Would think it was an ambush…"
I shrugged, heading out the door, mind already in motion. I still wanted to know what Seto had come to that Game Shop. It just made no sense.
Why go to a game shop when you were married to the owner's former love?
