Disclaimer. I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V CHAPTER NINE: YUZU, RIN AND YUGO BECOME KIDSITTERS? (Like with kids instead of babies...)

Rotten, stinking air filled Yugo's senses. He opened his blue eyes, sitting up and glancing around. Broken, torn homes were scattered everywhere. People fought each other for food. But what surprised him was the fact that some people, didn't seem to mind. They walked along the streets, greeting people as they went. Children laughed and played together. While some were trying to pickpocket people without getting caught. Yugo stood up, blinking as a faint image of gray sand appeared in his mind. A desperate red eyed teen appeared, and Yugo gasped. 'That's Yuya! Where is he?' The image started to fade. 'But then again...do I know him...who am I even...I'm lost...' The blue and yellow haired teen wandered around in a circle, muttering about amnesia.

A hand reached out and grabbed him. With a yelp, Yugo turned around, hands raised. Blinking, he lowered his guard when he saw it was just an old man. He wore a ragged brown shirt and fraying gray pants. His shoes were geta elderly man chuckled at him. "I assume you aren't from around here are you? What's a nice looking lad like you doing in a place like this?" Blushing, Yugo answered him. "I uh...thank you. I was uh...how do I say this? I was transported here for some reason. I can't seem to remember." The elderly man blinked. "You're an interesting lad. How about you come to my house? I assume you have nowhere to go. We can stay at my house until you've remembered everything you need to know. How about it sonny?" Yugo put a hand on the old man's shoulder. "I think that's for the best. But how about you tell me your name?" The elderly man smiled at him. "Just call me Ginko." He turned around, motioning for Yugo to follow him.

Yugo walked beside Ginko as he chattered away, telling him about the days of old. Yugo smiled. 'I like this guy...' He put a hand to his face, frowning. 'What is it I'm supposed to do? Why can't I remember?' He looked up as he saw a broken down house. But Ginko walked towards it happily. A few kids came out, just as raggedly dressed as the old man. Their smiles were bright. They rushed over to Ginko, shouting and laughing and pestering at him. "Grandpa! You're back!" "Did you steal anything?" "I'm hungry." "Branz was picking his nose again." "No I wasn't." "Yes you were." "Nuhuh." "Yeahuh." Ginko smiled, the skin around his eyes crinkling. "Children Children. Please. We have a guest." Four pairs of eyes turned towards Yugo. Then the kids rushed over to him, poking him, jumping on him, and bombarding him with questions. "Why are you dressed funny?" "Why is your hair funny?" "Where are you from?" "Do you have food?" Yugo laughed, trying to answer all their questions as they clambered over him. One even hung from his arm, smiling cheekily up at Yugo. Yugo lifted his arm up and down, and the kid laughed. The three other children clapped their hands. "Oooh. He's so strong." Ginko came over, his eyes warm. "I can see you're a natural with children. Perhaps you can take care of them and this sack of bones can rest." Yugo gaped at him. "Um. I don't think I'd be right for the job." Three of the children hugged him. "Yes you would." "Don't leave us." "I like you." One kid cried. "Grandpa what are you saying?"

Ginko ruffled the girl's hair. "It'll be okay Hope. Remember, your name is Hope. You, as the oldest of them all, must guide them towards a hopeful future." The girl sniffled. "Okay Grandpa. I'll help my brother and sisters." (Her brother is Branz. The two other girls are named Sky and Jania.) Hope walked over to the other children, then glanced up at Yugo. Yugo crouched down, looking the children in the eye. "I won't be a great foster dad for you. But with your Jiichan's help I'll make sure you're all safe and happy." Cheers echoed in the air as the children all hugged him. Ginko stood to one side, a tear shining in his old brown eyes. 'Yugo. I hope that, while you try to regain your memories, that you help these children as well. They're going to need you when I'm gone. I know I'm putting a lot of pressure on you, but if these children can make you smile and find joy, I know that you won't need me." He cleared his throat. "Okay. How about we grab some food. I do have a few cans of beans left for you. I kept them secret for occasions such as this and as well as emergency supplies." Yugo stood up as the kids tugged him towards the house, chattering excitedly.

Yuzu blinked at her surroundings, while Rin was immersed in trying to find the nearest store. 'What dimension have we landed in? From Reji's explanations I would guess this is the Synchro Dimension. Sigh. What is Rin doing? We need to find Yugo.' Rin oohed and ahhed at some guy holding up a homemade watch. He turned the watch around, showing Rin the gears turning in the back. Rin watched it. "Oooh. So cool. I want it..." The man clutched the watch, shaking his head. "No. I'm afraid I can't sell this one. Maybe some others?" He gestured towards multiple other watches on the plastic table. The green haired girl glanced at them, yelping when someone grabbed her hand and pulled her away. "Come on Rin. We have to find Yugo!" Rin glanced back at the watches. The man waved at her. "Come again soon!" Yuzu tugged Rin into an alley. "Rin. You have been here previously before you came to the Standard Dimension. Do you know your way around?"

The orange eyed girl tilted her head, frowning. "It's all muddled. Everything is kind of foggy." Yuzu sighed, glancing at some people walking by. "It's okay. I understand. Maybe we could ask for directions." Rin walked out of the alley. "Then let's go. We aren't going to get anything done just standing around." Rin smirked at her, and Yuzu wished she could smack her with her fan. But she forced a smile and followed her. Rin poked a woman passing by. "Excuse me. Have you seen anyone with blue eyes and partially yellow hair?" The woman blinked. "Hmmm. I think so. He was muttering about amnesia or something and he seemed very confused. Do you two know him?" Rin nodded. Yuzu then spoke up. "We need to find him. We have been...well kind of transported here. It wouldn't make sense. But we're in a hurry. We have a mission and the boy we're looking for is a part of it." The woman put a hand to her mouth. "Aren't you ladies cute. Stalking boys." Rin blushed. "No! It's not what you think it is!" The lady just laughed. "Okay. I saw the boy you described head towards the edge of this place with old man Ginko. He's a gentle old man with lots of grandkids. He also helps people who are lost or need help. No doubt he wanted to help your friend." Yuzu glanced northward. "The edge. Got it. Thank you for your help." The lady smiled at her. "Of course. Don't get lost and watch out for pickpocketing hooligans. Kids these days. They bring joy and mischief to our lives." Rin laughed, her eyes twinkling. "Haha. Yeah. I swear, that boy will be one of the pickpocketing hooliagans and learning bad behaviour if I'm not there to smack some sense into him." The woman nodded and chuckled. "Well you'd better hurry then." She walked away. Yuzu pointed northwards. "Let's just keep going this way. I'm sure we'll end up there eventually." They both set off.

Yugo stared as the kids scarfed down their food. He was sitting besides Branz, as he tended to eat too fast and choke, Ginko had said. True to his word, Branz started sputtering. Yugo patted his back and Branz coughed, then smiled. "Thanks Onisan." (Did I spell this right? I'm pretty sure it means big brother, with the san at the end being a respectful term.) Yugo nodded. "Try to breath when you eat." Branz ignored him, scarfing down his beans again. Suddenly, Sky pointed outside, and jumped down from her chair, Hope and Jania following. Yugo glanced outside, and leaped out of his chair. He recognized the two girls. Spreading his arms, he ran over the the green haired girl. "RIIINNNN!" Yuzu leaped foward and smacked him with her fan. (Seriously. This fan comes out of nowhere. Where does she keep it?) "Hands off buster. We're here on some serious business. We need to start our mission." Yugo blanched at her. "What are you talking about Yuzu?" Rin whispered to Yuzu. "He really does have amnesia. Let's just take it slow. Considering the peaceful atmosphere right now, I'd say we have some time to get adjusted." The pink haired girl nodded. Hope and Sky jumped around the two girls, while Jania looked at them shyly. "You're both pretty." She said quietly. Rin and Yuzu smiled. "Awww. Thank you!" Yugo started walking back inside. "Come on! Let's go in together!" Rin followed him with the girls. Yuzu looked up at the sky, an expression of sadness on her face. 'Yuya.'

END OF CHAPTER NINE