Griffin Tale

Chapter 10

Lino's Warning

"No, no, no! You're gonna have to do better than that. I'm telling you. The kid's booked solid till spring." Sykes paced back and forth, talking on the phone in Yugi's pad as Bernie and Ernie played the brand new Griffinslayer video game on the wide-screen TV.

"Yeah, well I've got news for you! The Griffinslayer made me his manager, so I'm now what I like to call 'untouchable'!" Sykes boasted.

"Later, Sykes!" Yami and Mai walked past him to the elevator. Yami had planned on taking Mimi out on a date while Mai was going shopping with Kenai. But before they had a chance to push the button, the doors suddenly burst open and a frantic Yugi ran in.

"What's with him?" Yami asked.

Mai shrugged, "Probably hero business."

"SYKES!" Yugi dashed into the living room.

Ernie and Bernie gave him a friendly wave, "Hey, Yugi!"

Yugi looked at the video game they were playing as he passed. Bernie was playing as the griffin while Ernie played as Yugi. The virtual griffin suddenly lunged forward and chomped down on the virtual Yugi. Yugi cringed at the chomping sound, "Ow! Hey!"

"Hey, there he is. My brother, my player, the Griffinslayer." Sykes shook Yugi's hand absently. Then he went back to his conversation. "Oh, and another thing. From now on you're gonna have to start payin' me protection!"

"Sykes." Yugi gestured to Sykes to get off the phone. "Sykes, the deal's off. That griffin I killed was Don Lino's son!"

"I know." Sykes told him. "Isn't it great?"

"Not if he finds out!" Yugi said.

"What'd ya mean, finds out?" Sykes asked. "I've got him on the phone right now."

Yugi's jaw dropped. Sykes was talking to Lino! That was just great. Now the godfather of the entire city knew who he was.

Sykes, oblivious to Yugi's reaction, continued his conversation. "That's right, Lino. I've got the griffinslayer in front of me right now."

Yugi slid his hand across his throat, gesturing to Sykes to hang up. Unfortunately, Sykes misunderstood.

"And he's gonna slay you and all you're griffins!"

Yugi panicked, "Sykes, shut up! SHUT UP!"

"Hey, hey!" Sykes said. "That's good. I like that. Shut up, Lino! Ha, shut up!"

Yugi slapped his forehead in dispear.

"What?" Sykes listened to Lino. Then he turned to Yugi, "Kid, he wants to talk to you."

Yugi's heart skipped a beat. Lino wanted to talk to him! This was deferentially not good. "No, no. I'm not here." he said, shaking his head.

But once again, Sykes didn't listen. "Yeah, he's right here." He handed Yugi the phone.

Taking the phone with a shaking hand, Yugi took a deep breath and spoke in a small voice, "Hello..."

On the other line, Lino's raging, growling voice could be heard, "Shut up? Shut up! You don't tell me to shut up! I tell you to shut up! I -"

Lino's threat was cut short as a ringing noise was heard on another line. Both Yugi and Lino listened as a voice spoke up, "Hey, hi, how ya doin'? Let me have a pie with everything on it. Anchovies, meatballs, sardines-"

"Luka?" Lino asked, recognizing the voice.

"Hey, hi boss!" Luka said. "What are you doin' workin' at the pizza joint?"

Lino roared, "GET OFF THE PHONE!!"

"But I'm hungry." Luka protested pathetically as he did as he was told.

Yugi could hear Lino's hard breathing on the other end. The old griffin was clearly not happy.

Lino growled, "My guys are comin' for you griffinslayer! They're gonna tear you limb from limb!" Then he slammed the phone down.

In his shock, Yugi dropped the phone and collapsed on the sofa. He felt as if his heart would jump into his throat. His blood ran cold. Now he was really in for it.

But Sykes was once again oblivious to the young teens reaction. "Come on, who's your puff daddy? Who takes care of you, huh?" Sykes did a little two step. Then he turned to Ernie and Bernie. "Come on, you two." he said. "We've got work to do." He turned off the tv.

"Mon, I was winning!" Bernie whined.

Regaining his composure, Yugi ran after Sykes as he headed for the elevator. "Sykes! Sykes! Hold...look...you got it all wrong!"

But Sykes didn't hear him. He was already in the elevator. "They're gonna write songs about you, kid." he said, pressing the button. "Oh, the griffin bites...with his teeth, dear..."

"Sing it, mon!" Ernie said.

"And then Yugi...kicked his butt..."

The elevator door closed.

"Sykes! Come on!" Yugi yelled, frantically pushing the button. But the elevator just kept on going down.

Yugi was frantic, litterly scared out of his wits. He began to kick and bang on the elevator door. He couldn't fight a whole pack of griffins! He didn't kill the other griffin! It was an accident! But, of course, only he and Harry knew that.

Defeated, Yugi slumped against the door. What could he do? He could tell the truth, but that would only make matters worse. He had gained so much. Money, fame and the pride of his family and friends. If he were to tell the truth then it would all be taken from him. Yugi sighed, everything just seemed so hopeless.

"What am I gonna do?" Yugi moaned.

"Maybe I can help." a voice behind him said.

Yugi spun around. There, sitting on the sofa was none other than Rebecca. "Whoa, hey, Rebecca!" He was surprised and shocked. "What are you doin' here?" Yugi asked lamely. "You just keep poppin' up sometimes..."

"You said to wait." Rebecca said, batting her long eyelashes. "So I've been waiting." She clapped her hands. The lights in the apartment dimmed, and some romantic music came from the stereo.

Yugi just stood there, dumbfounded. She was just so alluring. He quickly shook his head. He couldn't start thinking about this now, he had other things to worry about. "Look." he began. "I don't have a whole lotta time for the hand – clapping – making – the – lights – go – off – music – playing – in – the – dark kind of thing right now..."

"What are you afraid of?" Rebecca purred, walking up behind him. "I don't bite...much." She batted her eyelashes again and nuzzled her forehead against the back of his neck.

"Afraid?" Yugi bristled, blushing heavily. "You know that's funny. I'm not afraid of anything. It's just that..." He suddenly stopped short as he felt a wonderful feeling spread through his shoulders. Rebecca was gently rubbing his back.

"Ooh, baby." Rebecca crooned. "You're sooo tense!"

"Yeah." Yugi said, suddenly feeling sorry for himself. "I've been really stressed lately. You know, protecting the city...'cause I do that by myself, you know..."

"Oooh!" Rebecca said sympathetically.

"It's just, it's to crazy."

Rebecca nodded, "It's too much. It's piling up."

"Yeah, you know. It's just one thing on top of the other. It's all piling up. All the chips are against me." Yugi was beginning to enjoy complaining to Rebecca. She was such a good listener...

"Let Rebecca help." Rebecca murmured. "You know what I do when all the chips are stacked against me?" She backed Yugi up against the giant lava lamp.

"Quit?" Yugi asked hopefully. His face was now beat red as Rebecca gently pressed up against him while stroking his face and neck.

"No." Rebecca said, smiling. "I raise the stakes."

Yugi frowned, "Raise the stakes?"

"You just show 'em who's boss." Rebecca said seductively. "Then those griffins will leave you alone."

Yugi was thoughtful for a moment. Then he smiled, "Yeah, you're right!" And suddenly, he knew exactly what he was going to do.

"Harry!"