Wheelers Unite
It was time for Serenity's operation, but she locked herself in her room. She said she wouldn't go through with it until her brother finally came for her. On the other side, Max tried telling Serenity what happened to Joey, but the auburn girl wouldn't listen. Mrs. Wheeler gave Yugi a call and told him that Joey never made it to the hospital last night. Yugi promised Mrs. Wheeler that he and his friends would find Joey.
Yugi and the girls met up at the pier. Tristan parked his motorcycle and took off his helmet. "I checked all of his usual spots, but couldn't find him."
"It isn't like Joey to stand his sister up," Emily said. "Something must have happened to him after he left us and went on his way to the hospital."
Everyone agreed and decided to check every square inch in the city. They had to hurry, though. Time was running out. Tristan rode his motorcycle all the way through downtown. Téa looked inside all the empty warehouses. Emily checked every café and shop. Yugi decided to check out Joey's neighborhood. Finally, Tristan found Joey and rushed to get him to the hospital.
Serenity's doctor was about to give up and tend to his other patients, but Max told him he could wait a little longer. Joey arrived and agreed. Now that he was here, he could help his sister. "Serenity, it's me." The auburn girl lifted her head as she heard her brother's voice. "I know you're upset, Sis, but you've got to open this door so we can talk."
But Serenity still wouldn't unlock her door. "You said you'd be here last night and I was so worried about you!" She places her eyes over her hands and starts crying. "I really need you to help me through this!"
"I'm sorry," Joey said with guilt. "I know I let you down. But please listen, I was on my way to see you like I promised, but these creeps ganged up on me and forced me to duel. All I could think about was coming to see you, but they wouldn't let me go. Then they beat me and took the best card in my deck." Joey leans his head against the door and tears fill his eyes as he scolds himself. "And then I let down the one person important to me on the day that she needed me the most. I can't do anything right. I must be the worst big brother in the history of the world. But you've gotta believe me, Serenity. I'd never do anything to hurt you."
Serenity removed her hands from her face. "You're more than just my little sister, Serenity," continued Joey, "you're my friend and nothing can come between us. Now open this door and give your big brother a hug." And Serenity got out of bed and unlocked the door. As she opened it, she looked at her brother with wet red eyes filled with tears. "That's better."
"Joey," Serenity sobbed and wrapped her arms around him. She continued to cry as she turned to her mother. Mrs. Wheeler held her to soothe her.
Joey turned to their mother. All he could say to her after all these years was, "It's nice to see ya, Ma."
"It's nice to see you," she repeated. "Thanks, Son."
Joey spent the next few hours in the hospital as his sister's operation was underway. That afternoon, he called Yugi and told them the operation was a success and Serenity was recovering. Yugi asked Joey what happened and who attacked him last night. Joey answered that they were Rare Hunters and he vowed to get back his stolen card. Until then, he'd have to wait and find him. When Joey got off the phone, Max joined him. She was on her break, but her shift wouldn't be over until sundown. What confused Joey was why the Rare Hunters didn't attack her and how she escaped. All she could tell him was she had her ways. She actually tried to get Joey to the hospital after she found him, but he begged Max to go without him and take care of his sister.