Hey guys! Time for the next chapter! This one's going to start differently than most continuous duels. It's because it's mostly focusing on Jaylin. Review please!
Yugi was sweeping the kitchen, while five-year-old Jaylin was glued to the TV. He would stop, and stare at her every minute longingly. He swept the dirt into the dust pan, throwing it into the garbage can. He walked to Jaylin, sitting next to her on the floor with one arm around her. She turned, looked up at Yugi, then smiled before gluing her eyes back to the television, which was playing the movie Jaylin chose called Spirited Away.
"What would you do, if you turned into a pig?" Jaylin asked, still looking up at the screen.
"Hm... I don't know... what would you do, Princess?" Yugi asked, showing a smile across his face.
"I'd run."
Yugi chuckled, replying, "I think I would too." He looked up at the screen. "You're a brave one. More than me, when I watched this movie, at your age."
"Am I?" Jaylin asked, looking up at Yugi with such surprise.
"Yeah. After watching this, I was afraid to eat hardly anything," Yugi admitted as Jaylin chuckled.
"Really?"
"Yes... then my doctor told me I had diabetes, and was forced to eat more than I wanted," Yugi said, smirking.
"What's diabetes?"
"Well... it's when your blood doesn't get enough, or has too much sugar. For me, my body doesn't have enough sugar in my blood."
"Is that bad?"
"It is, if you don't take care of yourself properly."
"I thought having sugar was bad for you."
"It is, if you get too much of it. Let's put it this way, you can't have too much or too little of anything... you need just the right amount."
"Oh... do you have enough sugar in your blood right now?"
Yugi laughed, replying, "yes, I do. Though... you know, I should teach you how to shoot some Glucagon in my body sometime." Jaylin looked at him with such curiosity as he smiled directly at the young girl. She smiled, then looked back at the TV. Yugi watched the movie, then stared at his daughter from the corner of his eyes. The clock ticked, Yugi looking at the time. "I'll be dropping you off at Mokuba's place very soon, okay."
"Okay," Jaylin replied quietly as Yugi continually stared at her longingly. He leaned over to her, and kissed her on her head. "I have to go pee!" She got up on her feet, and ran toward the hall before running into a marble side table, which knocked over to its side, the marble top breaking into chunks of pieces both big and small.
"Jaylin!" Yugi cried anxiously as Jaylin dropped herself on the floor, or was about to until Yugi instantly picked her up off the ground, and bawled loudly. Yugi backed up from the marble pieces on the floor, then sat on the couch, patting Jaylin's back. "Shhhhhh, it's okay, Daddy's here. It was just the table."
"Y-You're not mad?" Jaylin asked, staring at Yugi with such shocking tearful eyes.
"Why would I be mad? I'm just thankful you're not hurt. If there's broken glass or marble, you need to stay away from it immediately. I don't want you to hurt yourself and bleed."
"Bu-But marbles are expensive! Doesn't it have value?"
"It does, but let me ask you this. Do you know how much that table costs?" Yugi asked as Jaylin wiped the tears from her eyes.
"14,000 yen, I think."
"Adopting you cost me 1,600,000 yen, and I haven't even paid the full price yet. I'm having to pay the Orphanage 6,000 yen a month right now. This is not counting the payment for food, clothes and other things for you, including your medical bill from a few months ago, which I'm lucky that Kaiba volunteered to pay for me," Yugi explained as Jaylin stared at him with widened eyes and jaw dropped to the ground.
"You have to pay to adopt me!? And so much!?"
"That's right. Which do you think is more valuable?"
"Me?"
"That's right, and you always will be," Yugi promised, holding Jaylin in his arms. She clutched onto Yugi's black tank top.
"And... you're not angry that I'm crying so loud?"
"No, I never was before. Yes, I get sad, but that's only, because my little girl is sad. What gave you the idea I would be mad about that?" Yugi asked with two risen eyebrows.
"My teacher Miss Bonds said that, if I didn't stop crying, she would call you, and you'd send me back to the orphanage."
"She was probably under alot of pressure, and said some things she shouldn't have said. Though, whatever she tells you, know that I'm keeping you for life, and I'll never be mad at you for wanting me or breaking things."
"I don't think she likes me."
Yugi sighed, then said, "maybe. Though, she is your teacher, and you must still respect her as one. If she tells you to do something, you need to do what she says."
"What if she says something mean?"
"Then, be kind and respectful to her. People will take that as weakness, but it will reward you in the long run. Neither of us know what lives your classmates or teachers are living. It might not be good ones."
"Like when I was with the dragon and the witch?"
"Yes, like that, maybe worse."
"Daddy..."
"Yes?"
Jaylin placed a kiss on Yugi's cheek, then buried her face in Yugi's chest. Yugi kissed Jaylin on her head, holding her close, and letting a smile peep across the older man's face.
Jaylin looked up onto the field, after her daydream, while waiting for Alexis to decide her next move, after drawing her next card. Alexis had Blizzard Princess and Snow Fairy on the field with no face-down cards. She still had 4000 life points remaining. Jaylin's field only had Elemental HERO Absolute Zero on the field with 3000 attack points, due to its special ability, and one card face-down. She still had 2800 life points remaining though.
Alexis looked up, showing an intensive glare, declaring, "I summon out Illusion Ice Sculpture to the field, and use its effect to match its attack and defense with my Blizzard Princess!" A sculpture made of ice that looked like an exact replica of Blizzard Princess with 2800 attack and 2100 defense. "Then, I equip Crown of Command on my Ice Sculpture!" A crown was placed upon Illusion Ice Sculpture. "I place one card face-down and end my turn!" The audience clapped for the end of Alexis' turn.
Jaylin drew her next card, looking intensely onto the field. She declared, "I play Spellbook inside the Pot!" Her and Alexis drew three cards from their deck to their hand. "Now, I place one card face-down, and have my Absolute Zero attack your Ice Sculpture!" Elemental HERO Absolute Zero shot a blast of ice right at Illusion Ice Sculpture.
"Did you already forget the ability of my Crown of Command!?" Alexis glared, pointing at Elemental HERO Absolute Zero, whose attack was now 2500, due to the effect of Crown of Command.
"No, which is why I play my spell card Residual Reflection by banishing my Woodsman and Frost Blade!" Jaylin smirked as Blizzard Princess took in the attack from Elemental HERO Absolute Zero, and pushed it back toward the monster. It burst from the field, then Blizzard Princess, Illusion Ice Sculpture and Snow Fairy all burst from the field. "Now, I activate Hero Signal, and summon out my Elemental Hero Voltic!" The purple Elemental HERO appeared boldly on the field with lightning surrounding it. "He attacks you directly!" Elemental HERO Voltic shot volts of lighting right at Alexis, bringing her life points down to 3000. "Also, due to the ability of Voltic, I can send my banished monsters back to my graveyard."
"Fine, but I play my trap Call of the Haunted to bring back Blizzard Princess," Alexis smirked as Blizzard Princess arrived back on the field. The audience applauded for the return of Blizzard Princess. "I knew that effect of your Absolute Zero was going to be a bitch."
"That's fine. I throw in two face-downs and end my turn," Jaylin finished as the audience clapped for the end of her turn.
Alexis drew her next card, then peered at it. She declared, "I summon Frost Tiger in attack mode!" The white tiger with black stripes and an ice cycle sticking out of each side appeared on the field. "I also equip him with White Veil!"
"No, you don't, because I activate Protection of the Elements!" Jaylin smirked as a transcended Elemental HERO Frost Blade blast right at White Veil, and burst it from the field.
"Fine! Then, Frost Tiger will just attack your Voltic!" Alexis declared as Frost Tiger began charging for Elemental HERO Voltic until...
"I activate my trap card Negate Attack!" Jaylin declared.
"Then, I end my turn!" Alexis finished as the audience clapped for the end of her turn.
Jaylin drew her next card, smirking, "first, I play Pot of Greed!" She drew two cards from her deck to her hand. "Then, I'll equip my Votic with Voltic Spear!" A glowing gold shiny spear appeared in Elemental HERO Voltic's hands, raising its attack to 2000 attack. "Next, I play Card Destruction!" Her and Alexis placed their hand into their graveyard and drew the same amount of cards from their deck to their hand. "YES! I play Monster Reborn to bring back Elemental HERO Absolute Zero!" Elemental HERO Absolute Zero appeared back on the field. The audience applauded for the return of Elemental HERO Absolute Zero, whose attack rose to 3500.
"Oh no," Alexis muttered with widened eyes.
"Guess you didn't see that one coming, did ya?" Jaylin smirked. "Absolute Zero takes down your Princess!" Elemental HERO Absolute Zero shot a blast of cold ice at Blizzard Princess, who gasped, and burst from the field, leaving Alexis with 2300 life points remaining. "And Voltic takes out Tony the Ice Tiger!" Elemental HERO Voltic's spear began glowing, surrounded by pure electricity, before being thrown directly at Ice Tiger's heart. The spear struck the tiger, bursting it from the field and leaving Alexis with 2200 life points remaining. "I'll throw down a face-down and end my turn." The audience clapped for the end of Jaylin's turn.
Alexis glared directly at Jaylin, who gave her a daring smirk. She drew her next card, then began thinking up a strategy. She said, "I play Pooch Party!" Two Pooch Party Tokens, little blue dogs with gold collars and a birthday party hat on their heads, appeared on the field. "Then, I sacrifice both of them to bring out Ice Queen!" The dogs disappeared and a woman of white appeared on the field with an ice crystal white dress, long crystal ice hair with a crown upon it, and held an ice crystal wand. It's eyes seemed to be hidden under the icy bangs.
"Oh shit," Jaylin muttered with widened eyes.
"I pay 500 life points to take control of your Absolute Zero!" Alexis smirked as her life points dropped to 1700, and Elemental HERO Absolute Zero disappeared from Jaylin's side of the field, appearing right onto hers. "I'll start with having Ice Queen attack your Voltic!" Ice Queen waved her wand, and sent a gusting snow storm right at Elemental HERO Voltic, bursting it from the field and leaving Jaylin with 1900 life points remaining. "Now, you have no monsters on the field and I do, including yours, which has 3000 attack! Time for you to get a taste of your own medicine! Absolute Zero attacks you directly!" Elemental HERO Absolute Zero began shooting an icy blast at Jaylin, her quickly activating her trap card.
"I activate Miracle Kids on Absolute Zero!" Jaylin shouted, activating her trap card as Elemental HERO Absolute Zero's attack fell to 1800 before the monster finished its attack, leaving her with 100 life points remaining.
Alexis looked out onto the field, then smirked, "I think I'll set down a face-down, and end my turn." The audience clapped for the end of her turn, while Elemental HERO Absolute Zero returned to Jaylin's side of the field. "I hope you have some plan on catching up, because, from where I can see, you're close to considering me the winner of this duel!"
"Then, here it goes!" Jaylin smirked, drawing her next card. She peered at her card. "I special summon Bubbleman to the field!" The blue HERO with a bubble gun in his hand appeared on the field. "Due to its ability, I can draw two cards!" She drew two cards from her deck to her hand. "I play Reinforcement of the Army and add my Ocean to my hand!" Jaylin searched through her deck, got out Elemental HERO Ocean, shuffled her deck, then summoned the water monster as it twirled its wand. "I also summon it to the field!" The audience applauded for the summoning of Elemental HERO Ocean. "I also play my other spell card Magician's Archive to bring back Miracle Fusion!" Jaylin searched through her graveyard and got out Miracle Fusion.
"And, let me freakin' guess, you just happen to have the right monsters for a Terra Firma, right?" Alexis asked almost boredly.
"Eh maybe," Jaylin shrugged as Elemental HERO Ocean and Elemental HERO Woodsman, from the graveyard, fused together in the light, and appeared as the mighty white super hero. The entire audience applauded, whistling aloud and screaming at the top of their lungs, for the summon of Elemental HERO Terra Firma. "Terra Firma absorbs Absolute Zero, which not only powers him up, but will use the effect of the monster he's absorbing to destroy all your monsters!" Elemental HERO Absolute Zero morphed into Elemental HERO Terra Firma, raising its attack points to 6000 and defense 4000, enlarging its muscles and size. Alexis' eyes widened, jaw dropped, while Ice Queen burst from the field. "You're wide open, Alexis! Terra Firma attacks your directly!" Elemental HERO Terra Firma punched onto the ground, making a huge crack before...
"I activate Ice Block!" Alexis cried out as blocks of ice surrounded Elemental HERO Terra Firma, freezing the crack it created.
"Then, Bubbleman will attack you directly!" Jaylin cried out as Elemental HERO Bubbleman got out its gun and shot at Alexis, bringing her life points down to 1400. "Terra Firma absorbs Bubbleman, then I end my turn." Elemental HERO Terra Firma absorbed Elemental HERO Bubbleman's attack and defense before it returned back to its 2500 attack and 2000 defense. The ice blocks around Elemental HERO Terra Firma thawed as the audience clapped for the end of Jaylin's turn.
Alexis drew her next card, knowing she had to think up a smart move or some way to bring Jaylin's life points down to 0. So far, she couldn't think of another move. Her monsters were destroyed, and she only had one single card left in her hand. She sighed, "I place a monster face-down on the field and end my turn." The audience clapped for the end of her turn.
Jaylin drew her next card, then smirked, "I play Shadow Mist!" The black dressed Elemental HERO entered the field. "She attacks your face-down monster!" Elemental HERO Shadow Mist shot a blast of darkness at Alexis' face-down monster, bursting it from the field. "Then, my Terra Firma attacks you directly!" Elemental HERO Terra Firma punched the ground, which made the ground shake and making rocks fly right at Alexis, bringing her life points down to 0. Jaylin put her two fingers to her forehead, then shot them at Alexis' direction. "GOTCHA!"
The audience applauded for Jaylin's victory as Jaylin and Alexis walked toward each other to shake hands. Dr. Crowler announced, "THE WINNER IS JAYLIN YUKI! SHE WILL BE JOINING WITH THE FINAL EIGHT!"
"Almost had it!" Alexis smirked.
"It was close. I wasn't sure if you were going to defeat me or not," Jaylin replied.
"I'll get you next time."
"JAYLIN! ALEXIS!" The gang cried out as Jaylin and Alexis dashed over to their friends, having to climb over the wall, which led to the audience side of the auditorium.
"It looks like you'll be joining the final eight, along with my brother and I," Zane smirked.
"Don't forget me!" Carl smirked.
"Oh, we certainly can't forget you," Alexis teased.
"Shut up! You're only saying that, because I kicked your ass!"
"Still, aren't you going to go against Zane next?" Jaylin asked.
"Yep. Excited as all hell," Carl said.
"I think I'm going up against Lilly Mekal. I hear she's a bitch to defeat."
"I think everyone knows you're going to defeat her," Syrus smirked as Jaylin laughed.
"True. Guess we don't need to see that one huh?"
"Oh, we'll show up, we'll just not record it, and post it on Facebook," Ronda stated.
"You posted my duel with Alexis on Facebook? Sweetness!" Jaylin grinned, getting out her iPhone, then checking out her Facebook page. She saw the video Ronda posted, which made her smile. Then, she suddenly got an instant PM. "Hey guys..." Everyone looked at her direction. "I'll be right back." Jaylin dashed out of the auditorium, out of the school, and into the cave under the Slifer Red campus, where she normally fished at by herself.
Jaylin opened up her PM, which was a link to a video that Tea had recently posted, and Yugi forward it to Jaylin. She played the video, which was of Yugi braiding her hair as the camera moves toward the two.
"This is Jaylin Yuki's sixth birthday, and Yugi is getting our birthday girl ready!" Tea said in the background, holding the camera as little Jaylin smiled her biggest, showing pearly white teeth. "Are you excited?"
"I am!" Little Jaylin almost shout excitedly as Yugi took a pretty white ribbon with red polka dots, and tied it at the top of her head, making a bow. He did the same with the bottom of the girl's pigtails.
"She's so adorable, Yugi!" Tea squealed, then faced the camera at Yugi. "Ladies and gentleman, the man who ruined my dollies when I was ten years old is now Japan's famous little girl's stylist!" Yugi stuck his tongue out to the camera as Tea burst out laughing.
"My daddy takes good care of me!" Little Jaylin cried out.
"Now Princess, you know that, because you're six, I'm going to treat you like a big girl. This doesn't mean how I feel about you will be any different," Yugi said to little Jaylin, whose eyes were facing him.
"I know."
"And I want you to start by helping me carry the stuff to the car."
"Okay!" Little Jaylin cheerfully agreed, running to the table.
"Are you sure she's ready for this?" Tea asked, still having the camera.
"Of course I'm ready!" Little Jaylin said, being seen with two huge soda bottles, and already by the door.
"Guess that answers your question," Yugi chuckled, bringing the birthday cake.
"Hugs and kisses, Daddy!"
"You too, Princess!"
Jaylin chuckled as the camera stopped, remembering the rest of that scene...
Little Jaylin was walking down the sidewalk next to Yugi, on their way to the Game Shop. Tea walked beside them, walking several miles to the Game Shop where Jaylin's birthday party was to be held. Jaylin was excited, especially when she made it to the shop where Solomon looked up and gave out his biggest smile.
"Well, look who it is!" Solomon cried out as Jaylin walked quickly to him, giving a nod.
"Hello Grandpa!" Jaylin greeted. "Where do you want me to set these?"
"Inside. Make sure you don't shake them too much."
"Okay!" Jaylin replied, entering inside.
"It's so good to see you, Yugi! Jaylin is growing up really quick. I see you're finally putting her to work."
"Well, she is six now."
"I see. I also noticed she's not hugging me this time."
"I'm too old for hugs. I'm a big girl now!" Jaylin cried out from the inside of the shop.
"So quickly?" Tea questioned in utter shock.
"Well, I did tell ya that she would grow out of it eventually, didn't I?" Yugi smirked as Tea giggled.
"I suppose you're right."
"They usually do," Solomon agreed, noticing Jaylin getting a broom and sweeping the floor. "Though, I'm surprised this one has so quickly. They sure grow up fast."
"I know Mom might not agree, but I'm glad I adopted her," Yugi said.
"I'm glad you did too, Yugi. You were constantly sad before she came to your life. You're not the type used to living without family."
"Yeah," Yugi replied quietly before hearing his mother come down the stairs. She looked around, and her eyebrows rose when she saw Jaylin sweeping. Then, she looked at everyone.
"I have food ready," Yugi's Mom said as the men walked upstairs. She looked at Jaylin. "Jaylin, I want you to put down the broom, and join with us."
"Okay Grandma!" Jaylin replied, placing back the broom, and running up the stairs. She then stopped, turned and made a nod. "Thank you!" She showed a small smile, which took Yugi's mom by surprise. It wasn't that Jaylin smiled as much as that that particular smile matched perfectly with Yugi's at that exact age.
Little Jaylin continued back upstairs as Yugi's Mom placed her hand on her forehead, sighing deeply. That was Yugi's smile, the smile Yugi had inherited from his father and grandfather. How was that possible? How?