"So we all agree that was incredibly weird, right?" Alexis's question shot out the moment Yugi shut the door, earning an almost immediate round of affirmations from the rest of the group. "Okay, good, so it's not just me."

"If you had told me my afternoon would be spent listening to a pair of wizards telling me about knights that turn into dragons—" Zane could barely believe the words leaving his lips. "—Well, I would at least know for certain that Jaden would be involved somehow."

"Aw come on guys, it's not that weird," Jaden interjected as he approached the table where his friends sat. "And hey, we're getting sweet cards out of it! Why look a gift horse in the mouth?"

"You're getting sweet cards out of it, Jaden," Chazz emphasized with a grumble as he leaned back in his seat. "Unless you're offering that Hermos of yours out on loan. I certainly won't say no."

"Ehhh, maybe later." Jaden was quick to back off and give a dismissive, if humorous, promise to discuss it sometime after. No sooner did Jaden dismiss Chazz's suggestion, however, than did Hassleberry get up from his seat.

"Hey, no pilfering soldiers from other commanders!" he shouted, making stink eyes at Chazz. "You heard the missus, there's still more dragons for us to unlock. No use fighting over excess units."

"You really think it's gon' be another one of us?" Jesse asked, attracting Jaden's eye. "It could be any duelist that matches them there descriptions they gave us, and I don't reckon any of you know chess enough to count as a checkmate king, or whatever they call it."

"Ah come on, Jess, have a little faith!" Jaden with a hit of a laugh. "Besides the old guys, who'd be better for the part than the people in this room?"

"Aster?" Syrus suggested, noting his absence and poking a wide hole in Jaden's argument. That got a few laughs out of the gang as Jaden sheepishly rubbed his neck.

"Where is that guy anyway," he asked, looking across the table and fully realizing he hadn't seen him once since the incident earlier.

"Took off right after I gave him the story," Chazz explained, huffing and turning in his seat. "Said he had a few calls to make."

The words of the Dark Magician rang in Jaden's mind at that, prompting him to step back from the table.

"Yeah, him and me both," he muttered under his breath. Despite the rather jovial tone Jaden was taking to this whole deal with Pariah, there was still a (rather annoying) part of his brain that didn't want to take any chances. If the gang was going to be saving the world again, he wanted the whole gang.

He'd make the call for Jim and Axel later.

A moment of quiet passed before Hassleberry got up from his seat.

"Well, I'm headin' out," he announced, patting the side of his Ra Yellow Duel Disk and taking a few steps to the door.

"Out? But what about Pariah!" Syrus's signature worry was a familiar and comforting sound to Jaden's ears.

"We already know everything there's to know about the guy," he answered, taking Hassleberry's seat and kicking his feet up. "Can't let the guy dominate our lives, ya know, Sy?"

"And there's still a tournament going on," Hassleberry followed up, sending a spark of energy through the gang. "There's no way in sam hill I'm letting enemy forces get behind my front line in the meantime."

"He's right," Zane followed up, wheeling out from his spot at the table and approaching the door. "We each need an Obelisk Blue Locator Card in order to qualify for the next stage, and I'm not in the mood for challenging Alexis for hers."

"Like you'd get it!" Alexis quipped, drawing a smile from Jaden. There was that confidence he loved.

At that exchange, the room came alive, as nearly everyone heeded Zane and Hassleberry's word and began getting ready to leave. The only ones that remained sat at the table were Jaden, Alexis, and Chazz.

"Hey, Jay," Jesse called, walking by Jaden's seat and putting a hand on his shoulder. "I imagine you're gonna wanna stick around a bit longer?"

"Yep, heh." Jaden turned in his seat, taking Jesse's outstretched hand into a ready handshake. He missed this. "I'm gonna see you 'round though, right?"

"Course!" Jesse's assured grin made Jaden smile, as he felt a disgruntled feeling huff in his chest. Yubel was getting miffed. "Just you wait and see, Jay, I got big plans for this here tournament!"

"You and me both." Jaden got to his feet as he began to walk Jesse to the door. "Take it I'll see you in the finals, then?"

"You bet!" Jesse paused at the door, allowing Atticus to slip by after making one last goodbye to his sister. "You better bring your 'A' game ya hear? I don't wanna be seeing you goin' easy on me."

"When don't I bring my 'A' game?" With a laugh, Jaden opened the door for Jesse. "It's you I should be telling to get your game on!"

The two shared one last laugh between themselves, one they let hang in the air for a while as they looked at one another. Despite the silence, they were definitely communicating something.

"Alright, see ya around, pardner?" Jesse said, finally breaking the quiet as he took the door from Jaden.

"See ya around." And with a final nod, the two parted ways, Jesse heading on out while Jaden stayed behind. A silent moment passed before Jaden turned with a chuckle. "See ya around, pardner."

Jaden turned to find Chazz and Alexis giving him a look.

"What?" Stuffing his hands into his jacket pockets, Jaden returned to the table, confused as his two friends exchanged a glance and rolled their eyes. What were their deals?

Just as soon as Jaden sat down, Chazz stood up.

"Right, now that I'm done being everyone's stupid magic tour guide, it's time for the Chazz to get some actual rest," he called out with a grumble. A well-deserved grumble. "Let's just hope my hotel kept my room."

Jaden went a bit pale.

"Uh, good news, they did," he said, pausing Chazz from his trudge to the door. "Not so good news, it's a biiiiiit of a mess."

Grumbling, Chazz turned, his hands deep in his pockets as he mulled in place for a moment. Then, he stood straight.

"The true Duel Academy Dorm experience," he said with a chuckle, one that Jaden wasn't sure was ironic or not. "Ain't no mess like a Slifer Slacker mess. See ya two around, capiche?"

"See ya, Chazz," Alexis called out, a worried yet also relieved look on her face as she turned in her seat to watch him go. She was really worried about him, Jaden thought. He couldn't blame her. "Stay safe, okay?"

"I always do, don't I?" Chazz didn't even turn as he answered, a hand on the door and a foot already outside. What came next though, made him stop for real. Because next, Jaden called out to him.

"Hey, Chazz," he said, making his old rival stop in his tracks and turn. And when the two locked eyes, Jaden shot him a familiar pose. "I'm happy you're alright."

Chazz was grumpy after all the events of today. Jaden could see that plain on his face. But despite that, despite the exhaustion and annoyance, Chazz still smiled. He gave Jaden a knowing nod in return.

"Yeah, me too."

Yugi shook his head as he closed the door to the roof behind him, letting out a sigh of exhaustion as he pressed his back against it. The Dark Magician wanted to talk with Marik and Ishizu a bit longer, so Yugi was free to return to the others, return to his day.

What a day it was.

Yugi's hopes for a normal, non-magical day with his friends had been thoroughly dashed a dozen times by now, and he was beginning to wonder if hoping for a normal end to that day was even sane to consider.

Perhaps it—

"Hey, Yug."

Yugi's head shot up at the call of his name, as he came face to face with a sight that was comforting and intimidating all the same: His friend Joey, skulking in the dark hallway between the roof and the conference room.

Standing straight and giving a genuine smile, Joey readily tipped back to comforting.

"Walk wit me," he said, motioning Yugi to follow along. "Ah wanna talk."

"Sure, Joey!" With the cheerful note, the two were off, making the short trip back to the conference room. "What's up with you? You've been hanging out here the whole time?"

"Yeah, ah wanted to gets a word wit you," Joey explained as they neared the door at their destination. Putting a hand on it, he paused, looking at Yugi. "It's about dem kids. Rich boy seems to knows 'em, youz seem to knows a few of 'em, but the only one ah knows is that kid, Chazz. And ah met the schmuck this morning."

"What're you saying?" Yugi asked, unsure of where this was going. Pursing his lips, Joey looked to the door.

"You sure they gots the stuff, Yug?" Joey's words stood stark in the silent hall, lasting for a solid moment before he continued. "For dis whole savin' the world thing, ya know?"

Was that what he was worried about? Yugi could almost laugh.

"I can't say for most of them, but—" Pressing his hand on the door, Yugi pushed on ahead without Joey. "—Those two, Jaden and Alexis? They'll surprise you with what they can do."

With that, Yugi opened the door and stepped through, leaving Joey to think for a moment before following.

"Wit dat kid? Full of surprises is the least of it," he muttered.

Yugi nearly came to a full stop as he entered the room, finding it surprisingly empty outside of the two duelists he'd just mentioned, Jaden and Alexis. Though after the craziness of today, he couldn't blame the rest of them for getting out as soon as they could.

"Everyone else head out?" he asked, earning a nod from Alexis as Jaden hopped up to his feet, tossing his bag over his shoulder.

"There's still a tournament goin' on after all," Joey called out, stepping out from the hall next and arriving at Yugi's side. Jaden tensed up a bit at his arrival before relaxing. "Ah figure they're off gettin' their locator cards. So what're you twoz hangin' around for?"

"I wanted to talk to Yugi—" It was almost scary how synchronized that line came from the both of them, earning a sideline glance and a laugh.

"Well, take your time." Joey walked off to a seat near the corner, patting Yugi on the back as he passed. "Me and youz still gotta catch up!"

"Heh, course Joey, I'll be right there," Yugi said with a nod, as he returned his attention to the duelists in front of him. "Oh, Alexis! It's a good thing you're here, I actually have something for you."

"Oh?" She gave an inquisitive look as Yugi began rifling through his deck box, searching for presumably— "A card?"

Nodding as he pulled it out, Yugi gave his best attempt at a reconciliatory smile.

"I know I haven't been the most attentive mentor to you these last few months, so I hope this can make up for the lost time," he explained with an awkward laugh, handing the card forward. The card in question, a Spell named Preparation of Rites, was actually a card someone had given Yugi for his own deck a few years back. But he knew for a fact it'd find a better home with Alexis.

A smile crossed her face as she read over the card, a smile Yugi could tell held some child-like giddiness underneath it. Despite how much Alexis tried to carry herself as a serious duelist doing serious business, it was clear there was still a part of her that cherished the prospect of a gift from one of her heroes.

Yugi could tell all the Duel Academy kids had that, deep down.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Muto." Alexis quickly buried her excitement, taking a far more respectful tone as she took an even more respectful bow. A good student until the very end. After a solid moment, she stood straight again. "I wanted to ask you if there was anything you wanted me to be doing during the tournament, and I guess now this whole… save-the-world situation."

"Nope!" His tone was candid because quite simply his answer was as well. "Just keep doing as well as you always have, and it'll all work out!"

"Well, alright then." Alexis was clearly a bit dissatisfied with his answer, but there wasn't much that could be done about it. With a final bow and a goodbye, she turned to leave. "See ya around, Jay?"

"Course!" And with a salute from Jaden, Alexis was finally off. Now it was just Jaden and Yugi (and Joey in the corner). With a heavy sigh and shift of the bag on his shoulder, Jaden looked to Yugi. "Hey."

"Hey yourself." Despite the friendly face Yugi put up, there was a line of anxiety running through him, one he could tell Jaden was already clued in on. The kid was a good read. "What's up?"

"I don't know if you have time to listen to this, after everything that's happened today, but I think I got an idea on why your God Cards went haywire." Jaden's words immediately sent alarm bells ringing in Yugi's mind. The God Cards? What did Jaden know about them? "Call it a hunch of a hunch, but it's a pretty good idea I think. I just need a few more details to tie it all together. Can you tell me what you know about the God Cards themselves?"

"Less than I should," Yugi confessed, scratching the back of his neck. "If you want a history lesson, it'd be better if you talk to Ishizu. She's been my go-to for all this god stuff lately."

"You've been talking to her lately?" Jaden asked, earning a nod from Yugi. Where was this going, he wondered. "Why? Have the God Cards been acting up before?"

"Oh, no no," Yugi answered quickly with a shake of his head. "Far from it. I've been talking to her because of an incident involving Joey a while back."

Yugi glanced over to where Joey sat, just missing Jaden going pale in the face at the realization of where this was going.

"He said someone dueled him with a monster, we've been calling it a fourth God Card." With a shake of his head, Yugi turned back to Jaden, who was suddenly seeming far more interested in leaving, what with his sidelong glances to the door. "Something wrong?"

"I, uh. No, nothing at all." Jaden's voice hit a high pitch as he took a step back to the door. "Anyways, I'll talk to Ishizu about my idea later, kay— thanks— Bye!"

And before Yugi could get another word in, Jaden sprinted off out the door, leaving Yugi standing alone and just plain confused. What was that about?

After all the craziness of today, though, he didn't blame Jaden for wanting the day to be over already. In any other case, Yugi would be right alongside him, racing home.

Still, that wasn't the case right now. Yugi's day wasn't over. He had a dozen different things to do— Call Pegasus about the Legendary Dragons, call Téa to assure her he's not dead.

Turning, Yugi faced the only person left in the room, a smile growing on his face.

But before all of that, he had this: Catching up with Joey! This was the first time in a long time they'd seen each other after all.

"Hey!" Yugi ran up to where Joey sat, sliding into the seat next to him. "Sorry about the wait, I wanted to make sure everything was settled."

"Ain't no sweat, Yug, so don't sweat it, hah." With that, Joey began reaching into his deck box, looking for something or other. "But hey, abouts that. Since when were youz the type to pick up a protégé?"

"Oh, heh, maybe that's a bit presumptuous of me," Yugi answered, wondering for a moment if he was letting the title get to his head for a moment. "She's more, a friend really. One that I've been giving tips and cards occasionally. Not that she needs it honestly. Such a strong head on her shoulders— it reminds me of Kaiba."

"High praise for a schoolgirl," Joey muttered under his breath, as he pulled out the card he was looking for. "Anyways, dis belongs to you."

Cylinders fired in Yugi's mind at the sight of the card in Joey's mind: The Dark Magician.

"Thanks for letting me borrow it these last few years, bud." Smiling, Joey pushed the card forward, pressing the momentarily hesitant Yugi to take it back. A moment, however, was all he hesitated for. With a nod, Yugi took back his ace card.

"I owed you for letting me borrow Red-Eyes all the way back in Battle City, heh," he explained, looking over the familiar face of his most trusted card. With a nod, he slid it back into his deck. "I'm going to need him for what's coming."

"What, Pariah? Or dis tournament?" Joey asked with a chuckle, poking fun at his best friend and earning a giggle in return. "But seriously dough, Yug. I'm glad youz decided to come back for Duelist Ultimatum. I've been gettin' ready to take that fancy title off ya hands."

Yugi laughed, Joey's tone telling him this was probably a joke.

"I proudly accept the challenge, buddy. I'm ready for you," he said with a smile, looking down at his deck box, a hundred different thoughts going through his mind. "But are you ready for those kids? They can give you a real run for your money, you know."

Another laugh took Yugi, as he looked up to face Joey once more.

Joey wasn't laughing.

"Are you ready for them, Yug?" Joey's tone had taken a drastic turn, from humorous and upbeat to scathing.

"Huh?" Yugi was thrown off-kilter, as Joey continued.

"Ah saw your duel against Marik, Yug. Thing was streamin' on every jumbotron in Domino," he explained, pulling a confused look from Yugi.

"Yeah, and?" What the heck was this all about?

"And ah wasn't impressed." Joey's words left Yugi stunned, striking him silent as he continued. "You weren't your best out there, Yug. Youz weren't even ten percent of your best. And I'm worried you're gonna face someone and just come off as a parody of yourself. Is dat how you wanna go out? A joke?"

"Joey, what're you—"

"I've been a joke long enough, Yug. I knows you wouldn't like it."

Laid silent at Joey's words, Yugi looked down at his deck once more, turning it over to see the card at the very bottom: Giant Soldier of Stone. A thought worked its way through his mind.

"Come on Joey, I'm, I'm not that rusty," he explained, looking up to face his friend once again.

"Youz looked pretty frickin' rusty to me, Yug." Joey sighed, leaning forward in his seat. "Look, Ah know you're not that big into the game no more. I gets it. You got your own thing going on. But think about how's it gonna look when it comes down to the finals and me or one of doz kids wipes the floor with ya. Wha're people gonna think?"

Joey hit a rare nerve with Yugi.

"No one is going to wipe—"

"They're gonna think you threw the match, Yug." Joey's claim made Yugi stare at him in shock. "Worst of all if it's against me, or that Jaden kid, or your protégé."

The words rang through in Yugi's mind, even as he tried his best to dismiss them. If he lost as badly as he nearly lost to Marik? People would start talking, and Yugi's reputation would tank.

His game's reputation would tank.

"Then I won't lose, not like that," Yugi assured, his expression going firm as he stood strong against Joey's warning. If that was the price of failing that badly, then he wouldn't fail. Not like that.

"Den prove it." Joey stood up, hands in his pockets as he seemed ready to leave. "Starting with your deck. The years have gone by, but your deck's still the same. Improve it, and den we'll see if you're really ready to defend that title."

And with that, Joey left Yugi to the room alone, pausing only once more at the doorway.

"See ya around, Yug." His tone was far more charitable than before, a familiar sense of friendliness running underneath. "Me and youz? We're gon face each other in the finals, and I will win your title. So, let's make it a great match, alright?"

And so finally, Joey left, leaving the room silent and leaving Yugi alone. And alone Yugi did think.

Thoughts whirred in his mind as he processed Joey's words, Joey's warning, about what would happen. Maybe he should just let it go, he thought. Just continue in the direction he's been heading, and coasting on that. He's got things to do, to think about, calls to make. Getting Pegasus to help with the Legendary Dragons again, for one.

But then, Yugi paused.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a card, a special card, separate from his deck. Taking a moment to think, a word crossed his mind, a word that had been playing on loop for days now.

Legacy.

Yugi added the card to his deck and rose to his feet. He had calls to make.

He had a favour to call in.

End of Intermission 3

And with that, we complete our Intermission! Yu-Gi-Oh! Intertwined Legacy will now be entering full hiatus until the completion of Book 2! As the title says, I can't way until When I Can See You Again!