A/N: No reviews, but then again, I'm writing this as much for my enjoyment as anything else. I like the story, and for those of you reading right now, I hope you do, as well. So, without further ado, Chapter 14 is here. Enjoy!

Jade pulled away from the museum, moving out into the traffic which by now, was picking up. She glanced at Monica out of the corner of her eye, then looked back at the road.

"What about a hospital?" Monica asked. "Who's hurt?"

Without looking at her, Jade replied, "Cody Smith."

Monica blinked. "Chubs? What happened to him?"

Jade chewed on her lower lip for a second, then decided that she should be able to tell Monica. "When your Blue-Eyes were stolen, the magicians divided them up and gave them to other duelists, orchestrating duels for Kyle to play. One ended up with Chubs. But the magicians didn't fight fair. They threatened to hang Chubs if Kyle won the duel."

"...I take it Kyle won, then."

"Yes. And so you are going to the hospital to visit him. But what happened to him isn't known except by Kyle, you, and me... and Chubs. When I was there, the police were still questioning. So play dumb."

Monica nodded, the thought of Chubs getting hurt like that whirling around in her mind like a tempest. How many people have they hurt in their bid to get something that doesn't belong to them? "What about Zack? Is he okay?"

Jade looked surprised at the question. "Zack? As far as I know, yes. I dueled him early in Battle City."

Monica blinked. "Wow. I think this is the first time I've even bothered to worry about him."

Jade changed lanes, and made a left turn to pull into the parking lot. "He's on the fourth floor."

Monica nodded, then headed for the elevator and began the trek to the fourth floor – the Intensive Care Unit in this hospital. She approached the nurses' station and asked after his whereabouts. "Excuse me, can you tell me where to find Cody Smith?"

One of the nurses glanced up with a look of recognition – she knew which patient Monica was referring to. She pointed further up the hall Monica had been taking. "On the right side, number 415."

"Thanks." Monica went where she was instructed, and when she entered the room, it took a considerable degree of self-control to retain her initial reaction – which was to gasp in shock.

Chubs was lying on a bed that was slightly inclined, to allow for better breathing and spinal integration. His body was festooned with tubes and wires. The largest of these was the breathing tube that had been inserted directly into his lungs through his mouth. His neck was in a brace, so it was impossible to see its condition underneath.

"Oh... my God," she whispered, stepping to his side. "Chubs..."

His eyes were closed. His vital signs looked stable, but his breathing was slow and slightly shallow. There was no movement in him save for the steady rise and fall of his chest.

She carefully placed her hand atop his, and then patted it gently.

"Chubs... if you can hear me... I know Kyle didn't want this to happen. He could never have wanted it... you're his best friend..." She resisted an urge to pound her fist on the arm of his bed in frustration. "Don't blame him... please?"

Chubs didn't answer. He simply slept.

–

Monica returned to the parking deck, where Jade's car still waited. She couldn't be sure, but she thought she saw Jade reading a book as she approached.

"Is he awake yet?" Jade asked as Monica got into the car.

"No," Monica said. "And it doesn't look like he will be for a while. He's probably sedated because of that tube."

"Probably," Jade agreed, starting the car. "Now where?"

Monica pursed her lips as she considered for a moment. "I need to go to the hotel I was using for the tournament," she finally answered. "My luggage is there. So are all my spare cards. I'd just as soon not have to pay for their services, and tomorrow's the deadline for all duelists to leave."

Jade nodded. "Good idea. Anything else?"

Monica shook her head. "Then back to the motel. I can't think much beyond that. I don't want to go back to the States and leave Chubs here in Japan, but I don't know what else I would do here." She shrugged. "Maybe drop by a rental car place so you don't have to be my chauffeur."

"You're welcome to share the room if you like. And I don't mind driving. I'm in no huge hurry to go back to the States myself."

Monica blinked, and for the first time in a long time, she offered a smile. "Well, well... that wasn't what I'd expected from Kyle's cold and calculating competition."

"No, I don't suppose it was."

"Heh. Since you're offering... sure, I'll share the room. It'll at least cut the cost for both of us." Silence reigned in the car for several moments, and then Monica spoke once more. "I worked hard to get that Gate Guardian card for him."

Jade didn't respond, but the silence in the car turned almost brittle.

Noting the lack of response, Monica kept her eyes on the road. "But it was his to give to whom he chose. In a way, it's good to know it'll at least be safe. And well-treated." She offered Jade another awkward smile. "Not like the Blue-Eyes cards, huh?"

"I think they're as well-treated with you as they were with Seto Kaiba. Speaking of whom, did he ever get in contact with you about them?"

"No, never did. That puzzles me. Especially after that tabloid, I was sure he was going to come after me. He didn't get the chance in Battle City, of course, but I'd thought it would be much sooner than this."

The trip to the hotel was uneventful. Monica quickly removed her luggage from her room and checked out. She hadn't been exactly eager to re-enter the room she'd been abducted from, but there was no trace of that confrontation now. The bed had been carefully re-made, the trash taken out, all her luggage placed in the same general area.

Upon returning to the motel room, Monica found that the red light on the phone was blinking. She glanced at Jade. "Strange... did anyone know you were here besides the personnel?"

Jade shook her head. "No," she said, perplexed. "Even if they did, who would call?" She lifted the receiver and put it to her ear.

The voice coming from the receiver was unmistakable – full of arrogance and supreme confidence. "This message is intended for Kyle McCraine. While I did not expect you to have the courage to show up at the Battle City finals, I do expect you to take me seriously. Either you have the Blue-Eyes White Dragon cards I desire, or someone else does. Whichever it is, I want the current controller of those cards to return this call as soon as humanly possible... otherwise I will hold McCraine accountable, and punishment will be dealt accordingly. You may receive the return number for this call at the lobby of your pathetic living quarters. Oh, and have a nice day."

Jade blinked, hit the speaker phone, and replayed the message so that Monica could hear it.

A crease formed and deepened in Monica's brow with each passing second as the message replayed. She repressed another violent urge – this one involving the phone and the window – and instead looked to Jade. "I think this is a problem."

"That might be putting it lightly. What are you going to do?" Jade answered.

"I'm going to return his call." Monica picked up the phone. "I'm not going to have Kyle held responsible when I was the one who's had them all this time."

"I want to know how Seto Kaiba knew to call here, to leave a message for Kyle. The room's in my name."

Monica shrugged. "How should I know? You're the one who downright creepy with how much information she's got, not me."

"Yeah, well, between Ishtar and Kaiba, I'm feeling a little less unique."

"Hardly. You're still one-of-a-kind. I'm sure you could do the same as Kaiba if you really wanted to. Difference is that you've got no reason to toy with everyone you meet. And than makes you more exceptional than Kaiba." Monica dialed the lobby.

"Yes, hello? This is room 14, we got a call from Kaiba Corporation... yes... yes. Thank you." Monica took a pen and scribbled the phone number down. "One five? Two fives? Make up your mind, lady... one-five – oh I get it. Okay. Thank you. Bye."

Jade raised an eyebrow.

"I've met Russian bellhops who could speak better English," Monica scoffed. "Why do I get the feeling Kaiba will want to challenge me to a duel?"

"That does seem to be his preferred method," Jade commented, sitting down on the bed. "I don't suppose, if you're going to call him now, that you'd put the call on the speaker?"

It was Monica's turn to raise an eyebrow. "You're wanting to know what he's up to?"

"If you don't have any objections..."

"Oh, no, hardly. Might be better, actually, to have someone else listening in." Monica activated the speaker phone and dialed the number she'd been given.

Several rings went by, and then there was a click. "Kaiba Seto."

"This is Monica Zocallos. I'm the current owner of the Blue-Eyes White Dragons."

"Ah." Monica and Jade could hear Kaiba's lips curling into a grin. "Mr. McCraine has been bested after all?"

"Mr. McCraine has been enormously generous in returning to me what was mine before Battle City."

"As you wish. Ms. Zocallos, I am a busy man, so let us not waste time. I hereby challenge you to a duel."

"Knew it," she muttered, glancing back at Jade, who nodded. "First thing's first – how did you know to call this number?"

"KaibaCorp has extremely accurate tracking devices, Ms. Zocallos, most notably the ones built into our duel disks. McCraine's duel disk is currently located in a rental car whose license plate number was registered to that motel. Cross-referencing with motel records gave me this number. Anything else, or shall we get back to business?"

Monica raised an eyebrow at Jade for a moment, as if to indicate the Spellcaster duelist had her answer, then shrugged. "Okay, fine. You want a duel. What'll the stakes be?"

"The Blue-Eyes White Dragon cards and Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon card currently in your control. As you may or may not know, McCraine refused me the right to duel during Battle City even though this was a violation of the rules. My patience has run out. If you do not accept this challenge, I can make life very hard for both you and McCraine."

"I don't take kindly to threats, Mr. Kaiba."

"Then accept."

"You haven't yet told me what you're offering if I win."

"The concept is laughable. But very well. If you win, I will grant you access to KaibaCorp's considerable Duel Monsters card database and allow you four cards of your choice – one for each Blue-Eyes."

Monica rolled her eyes. "And if I lose, you'll claim the Blue-Eyes cards in my possession as your prize, is that it?"

"Exactly. Do you accept my challenge?"

Monica shot a glance at Jade, then looked back at the phone. "Yes, I'll accept."

"I knew you would see things my way. Come to Kaiba Corporation Headquarters this evening at five o'clock. I will be waiting."

Click.

Monica blew out her breath and looked back up at Jade. "Well. That was interesting. But he's given me an idea..."

Jade arched an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"Kaiba said he tracked Kyle's duel disk to your car. Maybe he can do the same with the disk Kyle was wearing when we last saw him."

Jade shook her head. "That one was off the shelf of a convenience store, never registered. KaibaCorp would have no idea which one to look for."

Monica harrumphed. "Well, there goes that idea." She made her way over to Kyle's bed – now her bed, and pulled out her deck and duel disk. "The Blue-Eyes are always welcome to come back into my deck, of course. They're going to end up being my primary advantage. I'll use mine..." Her face contorted. "But Kaiba will most definitely use his, too."

"The ones he had printed after those were stolen," Jade clarified. "Must be nice to have any card you want printed."

"Max Pegasus would know." Monica scanned through her deck.

"True."

After a few moments, Monica huffed. "Come to think of it... I really wouldn't mind it if my deck received a modest boost before going up against one of the greatest duelists in the world. Do you know anywhere nearby I could get some cards?"

"Well," Jade said after a moment, "Now that you mention it..."

–

When the car pulled up to the store, Monica took one look at the shape of the dome above it and gave Jade a look.

Defensively, Jade said, "Don't look at me like that. It's supposed to be a turtle on the roof. Turtle Game Shop, see?"

"Hmm." Monica kept an eyebrow raised as they got out of the car and entered the store.

The old man behind the cash register smiled at the two duelists, and gave a nod to Jade. "Let me guess... you couldn't stay away from my charms," he chuckled.

"That's it," Jade replied with a perfectly straight face. "I've just got a thing for charming older men."

"Well, in that case, perhaps I can charm you into some recent acquisitions?" He gestured to a pair of yet-unopened boxes on his counter.

Jade glanced sidelong at Monica, deciding to let her figure out the significance of this shop on her own. "Certainly. What have you got today?"

"Some new booster packs that just arrived this morning in this box... and specific cards in this one, for those who don't like not knowing what they're getting." He offered her a smile. "As I understand it there are even some new Spellcaster-oriented cards to consider."

"I take it you've met," Monica said.

"Kyle and I came here once before," Jade replied, and then, "And I prefer specifics... Spellcaster specifics, of course."

The salesman nodded. "Of course." He turned to Monica. "And how about you? Would you care to take a look at the collection?"

"That's what I'm here for," she nodded.

"Specifics or boosters?"

"Specifics, for now, thanks. I'm into Dragon-Types."

At that, the salesman's expression changed. "Ah-ha," he said, stroking his beard. "Now that... is very interesting. Just a moment."

Jade grinned at Monica. "Like the shop?"

"It's very... personal," Monica answered, looking around. "Very comfy... but it also feels like I'm invading someone's home."

Jade continued to smile.

Monica caught the grin. She found it to be infectious. "What? Am I missing something?"

"Monica," Jade said, immensely amused, "look around."

"Um... okay..." Monica's eyes scanned the area, though now she knew it wasn't cards she was looking for... she knew that suspense tactic quite well. They flashed over pictures on the walls, pictures of a kid with bizarre dark hair contrasted with a few unruly blond locks–

"Oh!" She twisted around and looked at Jade, who was still sporting the same smile. "This is his house?"

Jade only chuckled.

"Jeez..." Monica's ears turned pink. "Now I really feel like an invader..."

"Nonsense!" The salesman strolled back into the waiting room with a pair of binders, one for each duelist's specialization. "You're welcome here anytime. This is a business, after all."

"When you get a chance, could you tell your grandson we said congratulations on Battle City?" Jade asked, opening up the purple binder labeled Spellcasters.

"Certainly. For a while there, even I was uncertain about what would happen." He handed Monica the blue binder with the Dragons label. "But he is quite strong. And a little bit of luck now and then never hurts."

After a few moments of browsing the folder, Jade commented dryly, "I'm not sure I brought enough money."

"As I recall, that was your concern yesterday," he commented.

"And you haven't changed your mind about shipping internationally?"

He chuckled. "Not economic."

Still, Jade refused to give up. "What about shipping to, ah, select and well-paying customers?"

At that, he guffawed. "My dear, you are awfully stubborn. I like that. But I'm afraid I can't make any exceptions."

With a few token grumbles, Jade started removing cards from the binder and laying them aside. "Had to try. Find anything over there?" she directed the last part towards Monica.

As if on cue, Monica let out a squeak of delight. "You have a Kaiser Glider! I've been looking for one of those!"

"Ah, yes," the salesman chuckled. "I understand that is a particular favorite among Dragon duelists. A few duelists will even use it as an off-type advantage."

"Well, this is right on-type," she grinned.

"Mm. What of this one?" The salesman pointed to another card. "Tri-Horned Dragon? It's extremely powerful, rather hard to come across... and I'm willing to sell it. For the right price, of course."

Monica chewed her lip uncertainly, however, upon sight of the monster, and she glanced up at Jade.

"And what would be the right price?" Jade inquired.

The salesman named a figure that, considering the exchange rate, sounded reasonable enough. Monica shook her head. "The price isn't really the problem, it's just... I have a friend with that card and it might feel wrong."

"You've used... duplicate cards... before, Monica," Jade judiciously pointed out.

"Yeah, but not to duplicate the tendencies of someone I care about." She cocked her head at the card. "Well... I can at least think about it."

"Hey, doesn't this one have – oh. Thank you," Jade said, as the shopkeeper put down a magic and trap binder next to the Spellcaster one, already opened to the page she had been about to mention.

Monica grinned. "Looks like he's got your number."

"Perhaps I'm getting predictable."

"Maybe." Monica considered for a few moments. "Maybe what I need is a change in deck concept. Make Dragon-Types the base, but use another main type just in case I need it."

"Themed decks are extremely difficult to maintain," Jade said, "And you know I speak from experience. With them, you miss out on a lot of very beneficial monsters. How many times could I have used a Cyber Jar, for example. My deck's worst nightmare is a Regulation of Tribe. But it's also got a lot of strength."

"Because you can use specialized equip cards and field cards with impunity."

"Exactly. Among other effects."

"Hm. I may need a Warrior folder, then."

"And here one is," the salesman supplemented, not three seconds later handing Monica a brown binder.

Jade turned back to the pair of binders in front of her, then added two more cards to her steadily growing pile.

Monica began going through the folders with a little more vigor as she tried to determine what exactly she wanted. When she closed the Warrior binder, she'd gained a sizeable stack of cards, and her Dragon pile was hardly low, either. "I think I've got all the monsters I need... ah, thank you," she said, as the salesman smilingly handed her magic and trap binders.

The two girls spent nearly another half hour bent over folder after folder, perusing cards like there was no tomorrow. For all they knew, there wouldn't be one anyway.