Me: Hey everyone long time no see hun?

Hikari: I'll say it's been how long since you've last updated this story??

Me: Oh hush... It doesn't matter how long since I've last updated this story the point is I'm updating now.

Hikari: My Yami makes a good point so we do apologize for such a long wait on this chapter we hope to do better now that were back to updating again

Me: Anyway's I don't own YuGiOh and never will the only thing I own are my books on YuGiOh that I buy out of my own money at Barnes and Nobles, also this story is NOW rated R for Romance and Tea/Anzu hate, plus we don't own Heila or Yami Heila either but we do own Arainaina who will show up in future chapters to come.

"..." - Talking
'...' - Thoughts
(...) - Yami's to their Hikari's
/.../ - Hikari's to their Yami's

Me: I also want to thank Animegirl20 for helping me with this chapter

Duel 8: The Poison Man

Later in the day Joey was taking Yugi, Yami, Heila, Yami Heila and Tristan to a place that Joey really wanted to check out! "Joey, where are you taking us?" asked Tristan. "Don't worry 'Bout it! You got something better to do?" replied Joey as he and the others continue to walk down an unfamiliar street. "Hey, here's the street! Umm…The map says it's around here…." said Joey as he looks on to the map to make sure. "Is this place safe…?" asked Yugi who was feeling a little uneasy. "Don't worry, Yugi! If anything happens I'll protect you" vowed Yami as he places his arms around Yugi making him blush and feel more at ease.

"This part of the area gives me the creeps" said Heila as she holds onto Yami Heila's arm ever so tightly. "Joey, what place are you exactly taking us to?" asked Yami Heila. "This joint is famous with the fans. They say the owner's crazy for his stuff" remarks Joey as they finally arrive at this big store marked "Junky Scorpion." "Yup! Here we are! Junky Scorpion!" said Joey as he saw the sign. "Too weird!" said Tristan. "They've gotta have what I'm looking for!". So with nothing left to say the gang heads inside the store.

Inside the store Joey saw the item he was looking for. "Air Muscle! It's the real thing! I gotta have "em!" said Joey as he took up one of the shoes in his hand. "What the… You're looking for shoes?! If it covers your feet, who care?" said Tristan who wasn't impressed by the rare brand shoes. "High Tech shoes are really popular right now" replied Yugi. Just then a man wearing a long sweat shirt, baggy pants, and shades walked up to Joey. "Hey! Don't touch those!" ordered the man. "Tch!" said Joey as he put the shoes back. "They aren't for sale! Those are incredibly rare, you can't find them anywhere!"

"You're the owner?" asked Joey, "You gotta sell these to me! Me and my friends came a long way so I could find this shop!" , "There are more guys who want those sneakers than stars in the sky. But I won't sell them to just anyone. You got to show you have the stuff to where these sneakers!" the owner declared. "Some guys will pay anything to get what they want… Some will even kill… In America, someone got murdered over the sneakers I'm wearing…" "Ha! Ha! Thanks for you opinion! You gonna sell or not" asked Joey.

"Let's see… How about this… Let's play a little game. See if you have the right stuff!" replied the owner. "A game…?!" Joey repeated in wonder of what the owner meant by a game. "This scorpion is more than a mascot. It's a real one with real poison! I put it in the sneaker. Now if you got the balls to put your foot in sneaker?" said the owner. "What!? I don't know about the "Right stuff." But we're not the Tokyo shock boys and girls!" Joey stated to the owner just as Yugi walked up to Joey. "Joey, you can't play this game! It's too dangerous" Yugi says to Joey. "Yugi's right Joey, your more likely to get poisoned". As that was said Joey thinks for awhile because he really wanted those sneakers so with out a second thought Joey took action.

"Daaahh! I'll show you who's got balls" shout Joey as he closed his eyes and quickly put his foot in the shoe. When nothing happened to him, Joey opened his eyes and realized that he was still alive.

But all the owner did was clap his hands and say "Heh! Heh…you pass. I didn't really put a scorpion in the sneaker. Just testing you; I wouldn't ruin the sneaker like that! Okay, they're yours and even though they sell for 100,000 yen. I'll let you have those premium rare shoes for half price. "Alright!" they all shouted except Tristan. "Just let me warn you. It's dangerous to wear those in town these days. Some gang who call themselves muscle hunters go around stealing rear shoes" said the owner. "Muscle Hunters!" said the gang in wonder. "Be careful not to get stripped to your bare feet! Heh! Heh!" So with that said Yugi and the other left the shop.

Outside the shop Joey was the first to talk. "I know what you're gonna say, That shop is half crazy! Heh! Heh! Hee…But the air muscle shoes are mine!! I pitched my other shoes with holes!", "No one will forget the guy who risked his life for a pair of shoes!" Tristan said sarcastically. "I'm happy for you, Joey" said Yugi. "So am I" replied Heila. "Ahh…the light cushioned mid-sole!! This is top of the line foot gear!!" said Joey as he skipped down the sidewalk. "You're not a little kid, y'know. It's embarrassing to walk with him" said Tristan. "Even little kids don't skip like that" Yami pointed out.

"What should we do now?" asked Yami Heila. "Let's get some burgers!" replied Joey. But on they're way to Burger World, they were unaware that they were being followed by the gang the owner warned them about. So with out warning they began charging at them when suddenly the one who was the leader, drops a car tire around Joey.

"Wha…what the hell?!!" shout Joey. Just then another one hits Joey in the back of his head. "Joey!!" shout Tristan. "Joey's in trouble" said Heila. But just then the others jump Yami, Tristan and Yugi, knocking them both out while the other two grabbed Heila and Yami Heila. "Ahhh!" screamed Heila. "Get your hands off me and unhand Heila" shouts Yami Heila.

"Yugi, Yami, Heila, Yami Heila, Tristan!" says Joey as he struggled to get up. But before he could the leader ran behind him shouting "Rim shot" as he kicked Joey in the back of his head knocking him back to the ground. "Heh! Heh! Y'know these sneakers; they're just too good for you…" said the leader as he took Joey's shoes off his feet. "You damn…" was all Joey could say as she saw his sneakers get taken away. But they weren't satisfied there; the gang continued to hit on the boys and harass the girls.

After they were done the leader gave them the signal that it was time for them to go. "We'll be taking these sneakers. You can walk home in your bear feet!" said the leader as he and his gang took their leave. Once they were out of sight, Yami went up to Yugi and took him in his arms, while Yami Heila did the same and held Heila in her arms. "Is Yugi and Heila alright?" asked Joey in much concern. "Yes, he's fine" replied Yami as she stroked Yugi's face gently. "Heila is going to be ok" said Yami Heila as she held Heila closer to her. "Ow! Ow! Ow!" groan Yugi as he finally woke up as Heila clung to Yami Heila tightly.

"Are you three, alright?" asked Tristan to Yami, Yami Heila and Joey. At Tristan's remark Yami looks up to Tristan and says "I'm ok, just a little sore.", "I'm fine too" replied Yami Heila. "I'm alright! Damn… Didn't have the air muscles on for two blocks!" "It was them… The hunters!" said Tristan pointing out the obvious. As Joey stood and says "Yami, Yami Heila, I'm sorry I got you two involved in this and I'm really sorry about Yugi and Heila. I didn't mean for them to get hurt. It's best you get those two home."

"What about you and Tristan?" asked Yami. But all Joey and Tristan did was look to each other and reply "We want… Revenge!!!", "I'm not going home until I have those sneakers on my feet again" remarks a determined Joey. "I owe those guys a beating!!" said Tristan while cracking his knuckles as Yami and Yami Heila helped their lights up and turn to Joey and Tristan. "We'll go too. If we aren't in the way" said Yami. "Yea! I want to see this" said Yami Heila with a grin.

But all Joey did was just grin and says "Ok!", "We want to come too" said Yugi as he finally got on his feet. "Please… We'll be careful" said Heila as she stood next to Yugi. "Yugi, are you sure? Maybe it's best you and Heila head back to the game shop and rest" said Yami. "Please Yami! We won't get in the way" pleaded Yugi to Yami. "We promise" Heila agreed with Yugi. "Alright then" Yami Heila said. "Just leave the fighting to me and Tristan!" smiled Joey.

So with that said they started to run in the direction the gang went. "They went right" Tristan pointed out as he leads the way and the others follow. Meanwhile the gang headed into the arcade to playing a few games with the money the received. "Heh heh heh…. That was a piece of cake" said the leader. "We got short dough! Let's play some games!!" said one boy. As two of the boys decided to have a match playing a fighting game. So as they played the boy with the bald head shouted "No fair! You were turtling that whole fight." as the other boy just laughed. "As long as you win!" said the leader.

Just then the boys notice they were being over shadowed. When they turned around they saw Joey and Tristan glaring at them. Meanwhile Yugi, Yami, Heila and Yami Heila stood to the side and watched the action. "We don't attack from behind like cowards. We come from the front!" With that said Joey hit the leader straight in the face breaking his nose in the results. "Yeep…st…st…stop…you broge by node…" begged the leader but he could hardly get the words out since his nose was now broken.

"Because of you… I have holes in my socks" shouted Joey as he kicked the leader in the face with his foot while Tristan decided to join in the fun as he punched two of the other boys in the face hard. "Take this! And this!", "You shouldn't have picked a fight with us!!" With that said Joey and Tristan gave them the final blow while Yugi, Yami, Heila and Yami Heila just watch in amazement as they saw how quick Joey and Tristan made work of those boys. "Now… I'll have my sneakers back. Thank you!" said Joey in a serious tone as he held the leader by his collar.

"W-we don't have them… We were just hired like always…" said the leader. "What do you mean" asked Joey as he roughly pulled the leader closer to him so he could hear him more clearly. "3000 yen for each person. That doesn't even last a hour at the arcade… It's him… The shop owner…", "Wha..?!" Yugi looked Yami with his gentle eyes and said "How could he… He knew how much Joey wanted those sneakers… Having us beaten up… Swindling people!!!" When Yami looked into Yugi's sweet eyes and heard his words it was time for him to take action and Yami Heila sensed that.

"Yugi, you stay here with Joey and Tristan" instructed Yami. "Where are you going, Yami?" asked Yugi not wanting Yami to leave his side. "Don't worry I won't be long" Yami replied. "I'm coming too…If that's ok" said Yami Heila with a smirk on her face. Yami just grin and said "Sure, why not!" Yami Heila then turns to Heila. "Heila, stay here with Yugi.", "Umm! Please be careful."with that said Yami and Yami Heila finally went on their way.

Meanwhile back at store the owner was gloating about the way his plan had worked with him in tricking those boys to do his dirty work. "Heh! Heh! Heh! I love those fanatics. When they hear that it's rare they'll pay through the nose. It's all good business for me. All for a pair of sneakers" laughed the owner. Just then Yami and Yami Heila burst into the store causing the owner to turn around. "I see. Those sneakers are just a way to make money…" said Yami.

"W…what the..! Look at the sign we're closed." "We'll take my friends sneakers back now!! We know that you paid the hunters to steal them back!" Yami said as he glared at the owner. 'Urk… D…damn…those brats. I can't let them leave the shop knowing my secret…' thought the owner, "Huh…?! What…? Your friend's sneakers… Ummm… Ah…." The owner picked up the sneakers. "What are these? How did these get here?? Ha! Ha! That's strange…" chuckles the owner as he turns his back to Yami and Yami Heila.

But Yami and Yami Heila looked to the owner with look of suspension. 'Heh! Heh! Heh! Just slip the scorpion in and…' the owner plotted as he slipped in his pet scorpion into the right sneaker. When he was done he turns his attention back to Yami and Yami Heila. "Sorry 'bout that. Here take them! They're yours!" The owner slowly gives Yami the sneakers. 'When you reach for these sneakers' all you'll get is a poison string.'

But all Yami did was slowly place his fist over the sneaker. 'Heh! Heh! Bring your hand closer…closer…' the owner grinned in his thoughts. But instead of taken the sneakers, Yami put in some coins inside the sneaker the scorpion was in. "What?! Why did you put coins in the sneaker?!" shouted the owner in disbelief. But Yami just grinned and said "It's a game! Just like your test of courage! Only this time there is a scorpion in that sneaker!" "Uh…!" Was all the owner could say since he knew Yami saw threw his trick.

"The rules are simple! There are ten coins in this sneaker. We'll take turns pulling out coins and hoping your scorpion doesn't sting us. The person who takes the most coins wins!" Yami explains to the owner. 'What…what is this brat…?' thought the owner. The owner just grins at Yami meaning he wasn't going to back down from the game. "I'll take your challenge, but on one condition! If I win you owe me 100,000 yen for each coin! I'm a business man after all!" '100,000 yen for each coin' thought Yami Heila who was a bit surprised.

"Okay! 100,000 yen for each coin! On the other hand if I win… All I need are these sneakers back" said Yami and now that the rules were set and the conditions were made it was time to start the game but it was no ordinary game, it was a Yami no game. 'Urk… The mouth of the sneaker looks like the jaws of a shark…' thought the owner to himself. "Then I'll go first" said Yami as he slowly put his hand into the sneaker and quickly took a coin out, luckily with out getting stung by the scorpion. "Phew! One down…"

"Heh… That pet has no respect for its owner! My turn huh…" The owner did the same as Yami and slowly put his hand into the shoe. "You wouldn't bite the hand that feeds you…" said the owner as he quickly took a coin out the shoe. "Phew! Good boy! That was close… You risk your life each turn in this game…" Now it was Yami's turn.

'Damn… I have to think of a way to win so I can wring some money out of this brat. But I'm getting nowhere one coin at once' thought the owner as he watch Yami managed to get another coin. "Phew…" signed Yami in relief. 'There is a way…!! Heh! Heh!' the owner planned as he was to take his next turn. "Now it's my turn. One question! As long as you stick your hand in the shoe to grab the coins, anything goes, right?" the owner asked Yami.

"Yeah" replied Yami. "I see… If that's the case…" The owner went into his back pocket and took out his knife and stabs the shoe right in the middle. "Hyaa! Then this goes too!" The owner put his entire fist in the shoe and grabs all the coins inside. "Too bad scorpion, but if you're dead then I can take all the coins at once! Ha Haa! This game is mine!! Pay up kid!!" the owner said as he was sure he was victorious. "Baka" said Yami Heila causing the owner to look directly at her. "What you said" shout the owner.

"You think? That's a dangerous card to play! You got greedy and took a fistful of coins and now…" said Yami with a grin. The owner turns his attention back to the shoe and realizes he couldn't get his hand out of the shoe. "H-Huh…?! M-My hand's stuck!!" gasped the owner in great shock. "And is the scorpion truly dead…?" Just then the owner heard the shifting sound coming from straight from inside the sneaker. "That sound…!! That shuffling sound… It couldn't be…!!" said the owner in great fear and in the end he was stung by his own pet scorpion.

"In the shadow games, those with weak hearts always lose! If you hand any love for your scorpion or those sneakers, I couldn't have foretold how this game would turn out" Yami stated as he walked over to Yami Heila with the sneakers in hand. 'Great work, Yami' thought Yami Heila with a smile on her face. So with nothing left to do or say, Yami and Yami Heila took the sneakers and bid the store farewell.

Upon leaving the store Joey and the others had finally arrived only to see an ambulance there as well as they loaded the store owner into the truck before taking off. "Hey Yami what happened?" asks Yugi.

"The owner got stun by his scorpion so needed to be rushed to the hospital to be treated" replies Yami Heila. So as that was said Joey takes a glance towards Yami only to see his shoes in Yami's hand.

"My shoes...You got them back for me" remarks Joey. "Yep, but sorry there's a hole in the top of them" remarks Yami as he hands Joey his shoes. "Ah no worries I'll consider this a battle scar from are extreme and interesting day" remarks Joey as he puts the shoes back onto his feet where they should have been before all the crazyness.

Well it's getting late and I think someone is getting tired" remarks Yami Heila as she motions to where Yugi was rubbing his eyes. "Right" and with that Yami walks over to Yugi and picks him up Bridal style before he begins making his way home with a tired Yugi.

"See you guys tomorrow" calls Yami over his shoulder as he continues to walk towards the Turtle Game shop. "Bye, See Ya Yami" calls Yami Heila before they too decided to head home for the evening.

TBC

Me: Well what did everyone think??? If you liked this chapter then wait for the next two because they're be even better