"Your track record stinks Weevil!" Rex had continued the search for rare cards while Kaylie and Weevil tried to locate the missing glasses. "So why should I believe that there are more rare cards in here?"

"Because I'm the smart one," Weevil's hands searched the floor. "And you're just the goofy sidekick."

Tristan glanced up, noticing the antics of the shorter teenagers, "What are you guys up to over there?"

Weevil quickly covered for Rex, "My glasses... I can't find them. This dope over here knocked them off!" He motioned towards where he thought Kaylie was. He was off by ten feet. Kaylie looked at Tristan, shrugged, and held up his glasses. She'd found them only a few moments before.

"Uh... They're right there..." Tristan pointed at Kaylie. "Right in her hand..."

Weevil spun and shot a glare at empty space. "I'm over here..." Kaylie held the glasses out, now standing in front of him. "You really can't see without them can you?"

Weevil just glared and put the glasses back on his face. Kaylie sighed and leaned against one of the various rocks that decorated the room. She was starting to wonder if everyone here was just as destined to hate her as everyone else in the real world did.

"So now that we know who's causing this whole mess, what are we supposed to do about it guys?" The group went right back to ignoring the three teens as Tea continued their conversation.

"We find this Dartz guy and his goon squad and we rescue Mai," Joey answered.

"Unfortunately they split without leaving an address," Tristan frowned. "So that's not going to work."

"Good point..." Joey looked slight defeated.

"Plan B anyone?" Tea sighed.

Use your resources? Kaylie thought to herself. Internet search?

"We could chill out back at my crib," Duke offered. "Play a little Dungeon Dice Monsters." Kaylie visibly face palmed, catching the Pharaoh's attention. Suddenly his eyes lit up.

"Wait! I know." He turned back to the group. "Professor Hawkins!" Seeing the blonde teen must have remind him of the first time they'd seen each other, in the museum. "He lives around here. He may have some new information that could help us!"

"Good call!" Tea smiled. "He did say he was going back home to continue his research on the lost city of Atlantis!"

"Yes," the Pharaoh nodded. "And I have the feeling that somehow his discovery is related to our new enemy."

"Okay," Tristan, as usual, had to find something wrong with this plan. "We know where we're going, but what about how?"

Suddenly a large noise sounded through the room, causing everyone to look up.

"Kaiba!" the Pharaoh realized.

The group rushed to the nearest window and pulled the curtains open. Sure enough, Kaiba's Blue Eyes White Dragon jet could be seen rising from the ground.

"Flag him down or something quick!" Tea cried.

It's a lost cause... Kaylie stayed put.

"Hey!" Tristan yelled through the glass. "We need a lift prince boy!"

"He can't hear you through the glass and over his jet..." Kaylie muttered, earning her a few glares as the dragon disappeared into the distance. Kaylie caught Duke's eye and made a driving a car motion with her hands. His eyes lit up.

"Well..." Tristan sighed. "So much for that idea."

"Dude no sweat!" Duke laughed. "We'll just take my car."

"Cool!" Tea smiled. "But are you sure we can all fit in there?"

Everyone turned to stare at the three misfit teens. "The five of us can squeeze in there no problem," Duke started. Kaylie's heart sank. She couldn't lose the group after she'd come this far to find them! She didn't have anywhere to go anyway!

"Hello!" Weevil growled.

"What about us!?" Rex huffed.

"Why are you three here anyway?" Tristan asked suspiciously.

Weevil and Rex laughed nervously, but Kaylie stepped forward, "That's our business. Not yours."

"Well then I guess we don't have to take you with us!" Tristan shot back.

Kaylie glared at him, "Then I guess you don't need our help."

"Tristan wait!" The Pharaoh looked the girl up and down. "There's something she's not telling us..."

"And she's not going to tell us!" Tristan growled. "Let's just go!"

"Hold on..." Duke looked at Kaylie. "I've got a spot for them." She mouthed thank you and he shrugged. "She ran into these two by accident, so it's not fair to affiliate her with them, and none of them have anywhere to go. It's the least we could do."

"So where are we gonna put them?" Tea asked.

"Easy. They can sit with your luggage in the trunk!" Duke grinned.

"We are not extra baggage!" Weevil spat out.

"Yeah!" Rex joined in. "We deserve better than that!"

"You could always stay here with the creepy toons," Kaylie muttered to them under her breath. Weevil and Rex glanced around at the monsters and shook their heads. "Thanks Duke," Kaylie smiled. "It's better than nothing."

"Alright!" Duke cheered. "To the car!"

There was a flurry of activity as bags were thrown in the car trunk. Kaylie was just about to get in when she felt a hand on her shoulder, "Wait..." She turned and came face to face with the Pharaoh. "You can sit up front between Tea and Duke."

Kaylie flinched at the his touch, "I think I'll be okay..."

The Pharaoh's eyes hardened, "Please... I have a few questions I'd like to ask you..."

Kaylie shrugged his hand off, "I said no!"

Suddenly, Tristan and Joey were at their friend's side, "C'mon. You don't really want to sit back there with those two do you?" Tristan frowned.

"What's wrong with us!?" Rex exclaimed.

"Nothing," Kaylie said cooly, still staring at the Pharaoh. "But I don't think I'm being given a choice."

Rex and Weevil both frowned before climbing in the back. Kaylie jumped into the car and sat between the driver and passenger seats. In a few minutes, the car was speeding down the road. It didn't take long for the prying questions to start.

"You look familiar," The Pharaoh started.

"We saw each other at the museum in Japan," Kaylie stated flatly.

"And now you're in America?" He asked.

"And so are you.." The small teen snapped. "But if you must know, I'm here because Kaiba put me on the earliest flight he could to get me out of his sight."

"Kaiba?" Joey jumped in.

"Yes..." Kaylie rolled her eyes. "I got beat up and Mokuba decided to help me, so he took me to his brother. Kaiba and I had a little bit of a disagreement, and the easiest way to solve it was to get rid of me, so he did."

"That's a little hard to believe," Tea raised an eyebrow.

"It's the truth," The Pharaoh was gone, replaced by Yugi. "I saw one of Kaiba's men talking to her in the museum."

"Yugi," Joey looked at his friend. "Are you sure pal?"

Yugi nodded, "I don't think she has any reason to lie to us about it, and didn't you see the looks Kaiba kept throwing her way. They've definitely met before."

"I'm still sitting here..." Kaylie muttered. "And I can hear what you're saying."

"Sorry," Yugi laughed nervously.

"So why didn't Kaiba want you around?" Tristan asked. "Is it because you're a kid?"

"That's none of your business," Kaylie snapped. "And I'm an adult!"

The shocked looks on everyone's faces caused Duke to break out into a grin, "It's true. She's eighteen."

"I was supposed to be on a plane to go home, but I wasn't feeling well and ended up on the wrong flight. I got dumped off in Japan, ran into Mokuba, who took me to Kaiba Corp, where Kaiba's men proceeded to beat me to a pulp," The teenager showed them the bruises on her arms as proof. "Then I was put in some sort of hospital until Kaiba came and got me and informed me he'd be sending me back to America on the next flight he could. Unfortunately the plane only went as far as San Francisco, so I got lost in the big city where I ran into those two," She motioned to the back, her voice rising. "We got mugged on the streets and Duke rescued us. That's how I ended up here." She was practically yelling. "Now if you're all done prying into my personal life, I'd appreciate it if you left me alone!"

They did just that. For the next half hour, everyone was silent. Finally, Tristan broke the silence by leaning forward to talk to Tea, "Are you sure you're not holding that map upside down?"

"Will you please zip it!?" Tea snapped. "Unless you want to join those dorks in the trunk!" Kaylie bit her tongue to keep from saying something.

"Can't we just take that blue line?" Tristan asked.

"If we had a boat!" Tea growled. Duke started laughing. He was the only one who seemed to be in a good mood after Kaylie's tirade, "Blue lines are rivers..." Tea finished.

"Duh..." Tristan looked embarrassed. "I know..."

Kaylie turned to glance at the three boys behind her, when she realized Joey hadn't even heard the exchange. He seemed thousands of miles away. "Joey..."

"Huh?" Joey looked up at the girl sitting in front of him.

"She'll be okay..." Kaylie bit her lip.

"How do you know?" Joey asked. Everyone shifted positions, letting Kaylie know they were all listening in.

"Because I know you won't give up on her..." Kaylie started. "Anyone who..." She choked on her words. "As long as she has you, I know she'll work through it."

Joey looked stunned, "Thanks..." He stopped. "Uh... I don't even know your name."

"It's Kaylie..." The blonde teenager turned back around to watch the road, but her thoughts were on Zac.

Zac woke with a start. He wasn't sure when he'd finally fallen asleep, but sunlight was streaming in through the window now. He stood up and stretched, realizing the TV was turned off too. He was about to turn it back on when his mom appeared from around the corner. "Don't even think about it..." She held up a suit.

"Huh?" Zac looked confused.

"The newspaper is coming to interview you today. You told me yesterday you wanted to do it. Have you changed your mind?" His mom frowned worriedly.

"No!" Zac jumped up. He'd agreed to do the interview because this was his chance to tell everyone not to give up on Kaylie. Somehow, the suicide note had been released to the public, and it was all over the news.

"If you're sure..." His mom handed him the suit. "Go get showered and dressed..." She turned and went back upstairs, leaving Zac alone with his sleeping sister.

The red head turned and looked at the TV, "Good luck Kaylie."

"You sure this is the place?" Joey looked shocked. Kaylie frowned. The house ruins in front of her were still smoking.

Yugi looked around, fear in his eyes, "Professor Hawkins! Rebecca!"

"Yugi..." Rebecca was suddenly there, standing in front of Yugi, tears in her eyes.

"Rebecca!" Yugi sounded relieved. "What happened here?"

"Yugi..." Rebecca's voice shook. "They took him. My poor grandpa!" Suddenly the tears were streaming down her cheeks, and she was hugging the spikey haired teen. She continued talking, but Kaylie couldn't make out what she was saying through her sobs.

"We're gonna find him..." Yugi said soothingly. "I promise."

"Thank you..." Rebecca looked up. "Who would do something like this!?"

Kaylie looked away, "It's getting dark. We need somewhere to stay..."

Rebecca looked up at the blonde teen, "Our trailer is still intact. We can go in there."

Yugi nodded, and everyone followed the young girl to the trailer. Soon there was a pot of tea on the stove, and discussions had started. Kaylie sat by herself, staring out into the desert. She was surprised when Tea came and sat down by her. "Hey..."

"Hey..." Kaylie answered softly.

"I just wanted to say thank you..." Tea tilted her head. "For what you said to Joey earlier."

"Oh..." The blonde looked away. "It was nothing."

Tea frowned, "It sounded like you were speaking from experience..."

"Not really," Kaylie sighed. "More like a lack of experience..." Tea looked confused, so she continued. "I know what it's like to feel like you don't have friends who care... Just like Mai." Tea started to say something, but Kaylie cut her off. "Except no one came after me." She looked down at the phone in her hand. It was still turned off.

"You didn't have friends?" Tea asked finally.

Kaylie shook her head, "My friends were the ones that were saying things about me... Behind my back. I didn't have anyone I could turn to. I was lost... I guess Mai is feeling similarly."

"But there must be someone," Tea pushed.

Kaylie shrugged, "I can't talk to anyone without getting hurt... The things he says..."

"Who?" Tea asked.

"A friend..." Kaylie's hand closed around the phone. "I guess we both said some pretty terrible things to each other. I'm not sure how to..." She stopped. "I don't know how to apologize."

"Well..." Tea grinned. "I'm sorry would be a good place to start!"

"Yeah..." Kaylie looked down at the phone again. Perhaps it was time to turn around and face the past.

"Look what I found!" Tristan slammed his hand down on the strings of a guitar. "Whoo!"

"Stop!" Kaylie snatched it away quickly. The teenage boy looked at her stunned. "You'll break it retard."

At first, Tristan looked offended, but slowly, a smile creeped across his face. "Alright then. If you're so smart, why don't you play us something?"

Kaylie blushed bright red, "I'm not very good!"

"I think we could all use a little wind down," Duke nodded towards her. "Play. We're not going to judge you..."

Kaylie found herself smiling as she held the guitar in her lap, "Just one song..." Her fingers brushed gently across the strings. It had been months since she'd practiced her own guitar, and she was a little rusty, but music had never sounded better. She strummed one song softly, then started another. Soon some light conversation started, and everyone began to relax for the first time that day. After a few minutes, no one noticed the music stop, or the door open and close. No one saw the small teenager slip out with guitar in hand.

Zac flipped the TV on and sighed. The interview had gone terribly. Not only had he been accused of causing a girl to commit suicide, he'd also been accused of murdering her and forging the letter himself. He was emotionally drained, and just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, he turned the TV on to find Kaylie talking to Tea. They were talking about him.

Zac recognized the song Kaylie played right off. He found himself crying softly as she played and hummed the song. Sad Song by Christina Perri. There was no mistaking it. She had played it out in front of the school every day after he told her they were no longer friends. He used to walk by with her old friends as an excuse to listen to her sing... But this time, he realized why she was playing it. It was her apology. He sat down and closed his eyes. "Kaylie... I'm so sorry..."

Kaylie watched the phone light up. She quickly dialed Zac's number, and held it to her ear. The moment he picked up, she started crying. "Zac... I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"

"Hey..." His voice echoed softly through her ear. "You don't need to be sorry. I think you've said sorry plenty of times now..."

"Zac..."

"No, let me talk." His voice was determined. "Kaylie, I'm sorry too. I'm sorry I spread those rumors about you, and I'm sorry you lost so many friends over it. All your friends over it. I understand if you don't forgive me, and I'm sorry for saying what I did earlier about missing being your friend. It was selfish and stupid and inconsiderate. It was me who said we couldn't be friends anymore."

"It's okay..." Kaylie wiped the tears off her cheek.

"Alright..." She could practically see him grinning in her head. "Then let's get you home!"

"Thank you Zac..." Kaylie whispered. "I'll talk to you later..."

"Definitely. Now go get some rest."

"Bye..." Kaylie hung up before giving him a chance to reply. She didn't want him to change his mind. That's when she became aware of the voices coming from not far off.

"I haven't eaten in like five days..." Rex mumbled. "My stomach won't stop growling!"

"Some french fries would be nice," Weevil agreed.

Just then, the trailer door opened, and the two duelists jumped up, only to find themselves pushed down. "Shhh..." Kaylie held a finger to her lips. Yugi and Rebecca exited the trailer, and stood not far off.

"Interesting," Weevil mumbled once they had finished making plans for Yugi to go to Death Valley alone.

"Hush..." Kaylie whispered, passing them a plate of food. "Here..."

The two teen boys gobbled the food down while Kaylie watched Yugi and Rebecca re-enter the trailor.

"What was that about?" Rex asked through a mouthful of food.

"Yugi's going after the Professor," Kaylie answered, strumming the guitar quietly.

"Nothing for us to worry about," Weevil assured Rex. "Those losers' problems aren't ours."

"Get over yourselves..." Kaylie muttered.

"What?" Rex frowned.

"I said, get over yourselves!" Kaylie growled, louder this time.

"Excuse me!?" Weevil glared at her.

"You don't understand what's going on at all do you? You don't even care!" The blonde teenager stood up. "There are people out there getting hurt, and all you two care about is getting some stupid rare cards! How selfish can you be!?"

"Oh we're the selfish ones!?" Rex stood up to match Kaylie's height. "Those guys ruined our lives! You have no idea what we've been through!"

"Oh I don't do I?" Kaylie snapped. "Please, enlighten me!"

"We used to be the best!" Rex pushed her. "People looked up to us! Do you know what it's like to go from being on top to being the bottom of the heap!?"

"Actually," Kaylie spat back. "I do! I know what it's like to have your best friend turn on you and do everything he can to ruin your life ON PURPOSE! What Yugi and his friends did wasn't on purpose! They were fighting for something they believe in! That's why they beat you! They had other people they were fighting for. You two only fight for yourselves!" She spun on her heel and started to walk away. Rex looked like he was about to tackle her to the ground, but Weevil stopped him.

"Rex..." The blue haired duelist shook his head. "Don't."

Rex huffed and sat down as they watched her disappear. After a few moments he turned to Weevil, "You like her don't you?"

"Shut up Rex."

"Ready Copernicus?" Yugi looked up at Rebecca's horse, determination shining in his eyes.

"Wait!" Kaylie ran over, grabbing the horse's reins. Yugi stared at her in shock.

"Kaylie!" He shook his head and recovered. "Go back to bed! I'm going alone."

"No you're not..." Kaylie held the reins firmly. "Look, I know you and the Pharaoh have figured I know something you don't, and you're right. You have to take me with you."

Yugi's mouth dropped open, "How do you know about the Pharaoh?"

"I can't tell you..." Kaylie stared at him, equally as determined. "You have to trust me though..."

Yugi glanced to the side, where Kaylie assumed the Pharaoh must have been standing. He nodded his head slightly. His puzzle glowed, and suddenly, the taller version of himself was standing in front of the teen.

"Alright, you win..." The Pharaoh jumped up on the horse. "But I expect some answers..." He reached his hand down. Kaylie smiled and took it.

If only you knew what you are about to do... The blonde thought sadly. You would hate me if you knew I could have warned you and didn't. No... You can't know the truth. "You've got a deal," She took the Pharaoh's hand, and was hoisted up onto the saddle. Soon they were speeding off into the night, every minute drawing them closer to the danger that awaited them.