SailorStar9: Figured it's about time I updated this fic, so this is Chapter 4. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimer: I own nothing expect the Safiastra.

Chapter 4: The Lost Exodia

"Welcome, chosen duelists to the Duel Monsters Tournament hosted by Illusion Industries." The guard declared. "You all have been chosen by us as superior duelists from your performances in previous tournaments. Everyone has an equal chance to win. Now, bright halos of glory shine around each of your heads. Well then, duelists, let's cross the ocean to the kingdom where you will learn your glory. Show your star chips and then please go aboard."

"Jonouchi." Yuugi hurried over to his friend who was being pulled away by one of the guards. "Wait." He broke the pending fight.

"Jonouchi, why are you…" Ami blinked.

"I was worried about you two." Jonouchi replied.

"Let my friend go on board." Yuugi pleaded.

"No exceptions allowed." The guards insisted. "Only people with star chips can go aboard."

"Jonouchi does have a star chip." Yuugi replied. "Look." He held out one of his star chips.

"According to what's written on the card, people with star chips qualify as duelists." Ami reminded.

"A valid duelist must have two star chips." The guards confirmed.

"It's fine." Yuugi assured. "Even if it places me under a disadvantage, I choose to be together with Jonouchi."

"That guy Pegasus actually has an understanding side." Jonouchi remarked, the trio having boarded the ship, Ami using the 'Honoured Guest' invitation she received a week earlier. "Yuugi, I'll never forget your kindness for the rest of my life."

"Don't worry about it." Yuugi assured.

"Everyone sure is excited." Ami noted.

"Unbelievable." Mai cut in. "Are you that Yuugi boy from the headlines? How unexpected. Never thought a chibi-chan like you would defeat Kaiba. You really are good."

"Really?" Yuugi stammered. "Thanks."

"In a duel, even if the opponent is chibi-chan, I won't go easy on him." Mai assured, totally ignoring Jonouchi. "I'll knock you down. I'm Kujaku Mai. See you later, boy."

"Ouch." Ami winced sympathetically.

"Why is it so noisy in the lounge?" Ryuzaki inquired.

"It's Yuugi." Haga blinked. "Aren't you Yuugi?"

"You guys are…" Yuugi turned.

"Insector Haga and Dinosaur Ryuzaki." Jonouchi finished.

"Right, and only people like us who got the first few places at the last tournament can be given a single room." Ryuzaki grinned.

"Haga, congratulations for winning the last tournament." Yuugi remarked.

"Well, I went easy on him." Ryuzaki shrugged.

"To tell the truth, even though I won the last tournament, I won't have any feelings of success until I defeat you and Kaiba." Haga admitted. "Otherwise, I'm not the real champion. I think I'll have a fight with you at the Kingdom, Yuugi. I really look forward to it."

"Big deal, he's only a kid." Ryuzaki stated.

"By the way, do you know about the new rule for the duels in the Kingdom?" Haga asked. "I don't know much of the details either, but I've heard you'll need to strength your old strategies to be able to handle it."

"Anyway, for us, these rules doesn't really mean anything." Ryuzaki added. "Because there's only one outcome. Well then, I'm going to rest in my single room now."

"This room really isn't that bad." Haga remarked. "Look over there. They've already started trading cards. People who came in here can trade cards which raise the power of their decks. At the same time, they can check out what their opponents' decks are made of. I already know those people's cards can't be trusted. I'll be going now."

"'Salamandra', 'Chain Attached to Boomerang', 'Baby Dragon', and 'Shield in the Right Hand, Sword in the Left Hand'." Ami gave Jonouchi's traded cards a glance-over. "If you add these magic cards too, your strategy should be more powerful than before."

"I don't think the tournament is gonna be that easy." Yuugi voiced. "Right," he opened his card box. "You can use this. I think it'll help you out in critical times."

"'Time Wizard'." Ami mused, as Jonouchi took the card. "Interesting choice."

"Hey, Yuugi." Haga voiced. "The night wind feels so nice. By the way, did you get any good cards from the trade?"

"Nope, I'm gonna use the cards I already have." Yuugi replied.

"I thought so." Haga noted. "Then your deck also includes the cards that defeated Kaiba, Exodia? Say, can I have a look at those illusionary cards?"

"Darn, you've got my strategy all figured out already." Yuugi joked. "Here you go." He handed the cards over.

"Yuugi, I have long been thinking of a way to defeat those cards." Haga admitted. "And I couldn't manage to find one. But now I have. If I do this, I'll win for sure." He tossed all five card into the ocean. "This way, you're no longer a worthwhile opponent." He laughed and walked off.

"My cards!" Yuugi exclaimed in horror. "The precious cards that jii-chan gave me!"

"Damn!" Jonouchi cursed and jumped into the water.

"It's too dangerous!" Ami warned.

"Wait for me, Yuugi." Jonouchi promised. "For sure, I'll…"

"Hurry up and get back on board." Yuugi urged.

"There's the first one." Jonouchi retrieved the first card.

"Life is more important than cards." Yuugi shouted.

"There are some things in the world that you've gotta protect with your life." Jonouchi argued. "Everyone has something that can't be replaced. Precious things that can't be lost. There, another one." He recovered the second card.

"Jonouchi!" Yuugi jumped in after a wave swallowed the blond.

"Yuugi, just three left." Jonouchi breathed, before sinking into the water. "The other cards…" he muttered, Yuugi pulling him back to the surface.

"Yuugi!" Anzu shouted.

"Are you all right?" Honda yelled.

"Grab it!" Anzu instructed, lowering a rope ladder Yuugi holding onto the lifesaver Ami tossed to them.

"But why did you guys sneak onto the ship?" Yuugi inquired, back on board.

"Because we were worried." Anzu replied.

"Sorry, Yuugi." Jonouchi apologized. "I only found two of your cards."

"It's okay, Jonouchi." Yuugi assured.

"Look guys, the island." Honda alerted the group.

"That's Duelist Kingdom." Yuugi mused.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.