Hotshot: Looks like it will be split into three parts. Hope you guys don't mind! Welp, onward to the chapter, hope you all will enjoy!

Clarity

Chapter 3

Joey

Joey walked beside Yugi, Tristan and Tea as they walked towards game shop after school. It was a pretty peaceful day, especially with Kaiba not being in school. Though Joey had to wonder why he didn't come in today. Work crossed the blondes mind but he wasn't so sure. He shook his head and focused on the building that was getting closer by each step.

"Okay Gramps! I'm back to get more cards!" Joey called out as they walked through the entrance of the game shop. "Hey! Hey Gramps!" There was no response.

"Grandpa, I'm home!" Yugi decided to try. Again, no response.

"Maybe he...went out?" Tea suggested uncertainly.

"Maybe, but why would he leave the door unlocked?" asked Joey as he looked down at Yugi. The phone suddenly sounded and Yugi quickly went over and picked it up.

"Hello, game shop?" Joey watched as Yugi answered. He could see Yugi's face turn into shock.

"Kaiba?!" Yugi gaped before pausing. "Kaiba, what have you done?! Kaiba!"

"Yug' what's wrong? Why did Kaiba call?" Joey asked his friend as Yugi put the phone back onto its place on the wall.

"Kaiba...he said that Grandpa was there visiting...we have to go!" with that, Yugi ran out and the others quickly followed.

They made it to the Kaiba Corporation building by nightfall and rushed inside. They all rushed into the elevator and Yugi quickly pushed their desired floor. The doors closed and they were moving up.

Grandpa's prone form was the first thing they see a the doors slide open with a chime.

"Grandpa!" Shouted Yugi before he quickly ran over to the old man and knelt down. "Are you okay?"

"Yugi...I failed." was the first thing that Solomon said. "I wanted to teach that boy Kaiba a lesson about the heart of the cards, but I lost…" He lets out a groan.

"Grandpa!" Yugi gasped worriedly.

"How's the old man feeling hmm?" Kaiba asked from the doorway.

"Kaiba, ya sleaze! What have ya done ta him?!" Joey snarled, his fist clenching.

"We had a duel, that's all. With each of us putting our most valuable card as the prize, but I guess playing against a champion like myself was just too much stimulation for the old fool."

"Kaiba, you should be ashamed of yourself!" Tea stated while pointing a finger at him.

"It was fair," Kaiba pulled a card from his pocket and showed it to them. "And look at the sweet prize I won."

Solomon's Blue Eyes White Dragon card.

Kaiba turned it sideways and gripped the other side of the card and with one swift movement, it was ripped in half.

"Grandpa's most treasured card!" Yugi gasped in horror.

"Yes," Kaiba throw the two halfs off to the side. "The Blue Eyes White Dragon is a rare and powerful card and this one will never be used against me."

"Ah...my Blue Eyes White Dragon….my treasure…" Solomon reached his hand out for the now ripped card.

Joey could feel a white hot anger coursing through his veins. Never in his life could he imagine Kaiba doing something like this! He could hear Yugi shouting at the tall brunette but didn't latch onto what he was saying. Very dimly, out of the corner of his eye, he could see the old man giving Yugi his deck.

"Kaiba…" growled out Joey as he stared to said boy down. Cold blue eyes stared back and in those eyes were a darkness that wasn't like the rest. It was a small sliver that contained the madness of a broken being.

"What is it mutt, you have something to say? Come on, speak boy." Kaiba taunted with a cold smirk.

"Alright, dat's it!" Joey snarled before launching himself to the boy. He ignored everything and focused on Kaiba. He quickly threw a fist towards the other's face but his fist met the palm of his hand. The moment it did, a spark of….something….ran up his spine. What it was, Joey had no clue and by the looks of Kaiba's expression, it happened to him as well.

"Nice try mutt." Kaiba was the first one to recover from the odd feeling. "But you have to do better than that." He let Joey's fist go before giving him a hard shove, causing the blond to stumble backwards. Luckily, Tristan caught him before he lost what little balance he still had.

"So Yugi, what will it be? I'm sure your friends can care for your grandpa while you duel me." Kaiba smirked.

" Do it Yug'!" Joey was the first one to voice his opinion. "Show this creep what happens when you mess with family!"

"For your Grandpa Yugi!" Tea piped up.

"I don't know…"Yugi swallowed.

"Trust me, you're, like, the best player I've ever seen. And ya got the Millenium Puzzle." Joey told his shorter friend. "You can do this Yug'. I know ya can!" Yugi stared up at them before nodding and turning back to his grandpa, hand reaching out to take the old man's deck.

"Alright Grandpa, I'll do it."

"I know you will my boy."

"Everyone," Tea spoke as she held up a marker. "Put your hands together and I will mark us with a special sign."

The four put their hands together and Tea managed to put a smiley face on their hands. Joey lifted his hand up towards his face and stared at it with a bemused expression.

"What gives Tea?"

"It's a symbol of our friendship. So, when Yugi's dueling, no matter how tough it gets, he'll know that he's not alone. We're all right there beside him." Joey made an 'O' face before nodding. Now it made more sense.

"I'll go call an ambulance for him." Tea stated before taking out her cell. As she was talking to the operator, Joey helped Solomon get on Tristan's back.

"The ambulance should be here soon, we better go down to the lobby." The brown haired girl stated and the three friends quickly made their way to the elevator.

Hotshot: Next chapter shall be the duel~ Remember to review!