Yugi is quivering and twisting and rolling on his bed. He can't sleep. The normal boy is so worried that he hasn't taken off the Millenium Puzzle tonight. He's wearing it in the bed and hugging it.
Yami Yugi appears next to the bed, as an immaterial spirit. 'Partner, you need sleep,' he says.
'But how am I to sleep?' Normal Yugi wonders. 'How am I to sleep after my encounter with that... person or spirit or whatever that Shadi guy was?'
'Whatever fate sends to us, we will face it together,' Yami Yugi tries to encourage his partner.
'Didn't you hear Shadi?' Normal Yugi rhetorically asks, still worried. 'That new enemy will use one of the people close to us in his attempt to steal the puzzle. That means that, from now on, I cannot trust anyone. Not even my loved ones. How am I supposed to live like that?'
Normal Yugi buries his face into his pillow and bursts into tears. When he removes the pillow, Yami Yugi is gone.
Yugi sighs. It seems that even his partner grew bored of his whining and returned in the puzzle. Not that he can blame him!
Suddenly, Yugi realizes that he can hear something. He sits up, alerted. He trains his eyes forward. In the dark, he can make out a silhouette. Is it Shadi again? No, this figure looks shorter and more chubby than Shadi.
'Grandpa?' Yugi cries. 'What are you doing here at such an hour?'
As Solomon approaches, Yugi can discern his features better and better. And then... the boy's eyes widen. His grandfather seems different from usual. His eyes are blank, pupilless. His mouth is wide open, with drool trickling out of it. His face looks like that of a rabid dog!
'Grandpa, what the...'
'GIVE ME THE PUZZLE,' Solomon cries in a distorted voice and charges at his grandson.
Before the boy can react, the old man roughly wraps his hands around his neck and tries to choke him. Yugi can't breath. He tries to fight back, but, being an adult, albeit an elderly one, Solomon is naturally stronger than a short, unfit, wimpy boy who hasn't physically hit puberty yet.
'GIVE ME THE PUZZLE,' Yugi's grandfather or whatever is currently possessing him keeps hollering.
Yugi is being choked. 'Oh, my God, I am going to die,' he thinks, terrified.
Eventually, Solomon's appearance changes. Pupils return in his eyes, his expression becomes more compassionate, his tone of voice more worried, the drool magically disappears. But he keeps shaking Yugi. Also, the room around them transforms. Yugi only now realizes that, so far, everything around him has looked weird, blurry and it's only now that his vision becomes clear. The darkness of the night is replaced in an instant by daylight.
Yugi wakes up, with Solomon shaking him. 'Yugi, YUGI, are you okay?' the old man asks, freaked out.
Yugi places a hand on his neck and looks around, confused. He wasn't being choked. That feeling was just a part of his dream. But his grandfather was really shaking him.
Yugi's eyes back to his grandfather. 'Grandpa? What are you doing here?'
'You were writhing and screaming in your sleep,' the old man explains. 'You truly gave me a scare!'
Yugi sighs and hugs his guardian. 'I'm sorry, grandpa. It was just a nightmare. Nothing to worry about.'
He'd rather not tell him about Shadi. Grandpa went through a lot because of Pegasus recently. Let's not further upset him for the time being.
Mokuba is descending the stairs leading to the living room of the mansion. He never knows when the spirit of that damned ring underneath his clothes will surface again.
In the middle of the staircase, he peeks. He sees Kaiba, with his body sloppily dropped on the couch. He is unshaven. Some turned over, empty bottles of alcoholic drinks are on the table.
A female servant approaches. She is fairly young. She has black, middle length hair and is dressed in a maid cotsume.
'Mister Kaiba, excuse my intrusiveness, but I'm worried about you lately,' she says softly.
The young tycoon raises his eyes and looks at the servant, as if he saw her for the first time. 'Scram,' he snaps.
Nevertheless, the maid tries again. 'Umm, I've heard the grand opening of a new game store takes place today. The owner of that store will present his new game, dungeon dice monsters. Perhaps you should go. It will cheer you up...'
'I SAID SCRAM,' Kaiba screams, sitting up and causing the maid to step back in shock.
Suddenly, the Millenium Ring underneath Mokuba's clothes glows. The expression of the boy changes. It becomes malicious. Yami Mokuba just took control of the poor boy's body! Normally, the spirit of the Millenium Ring prefers not going as far as to directly possess that body, for precautionary reasons, especially since Normal Mokuba is obedient anyway. But he just felt the energy another Millenium Item emits. And it's coming from that new game store or somewhere near that store. It seems that another possessed person, a person possessed by another Millenium Item, is somewhere in that area. Yami Mokuba wants to go and see for himself!
Yugi and Tea are walking to the new game store. They are supposed to meet Joey and Tristan there. Originally, they were supposed to all walk there together, but Joey went himself sooner (dragging along Tristan), because, as he said, he couldn't wait to see what that dungeon dice game is about. Actually, his friends know that the real reason he was so hasty was that he couldn't wait to see Mai again!
'So, what's on your mind, Yugi?' Tea casually raises her hands above her head and smiles as they're walking.
Yugi turns to her. 'Why do you think that something is on my mind?' he asks.
'Because I know you, Yug,' Tea winks. 'Under normal circumstances, you would be super excited that a new game is in town. And yet, since we began walking, you have barely spoken five words!'
Yugi turns his head elsewhere. 'Umm... so, Joey has got it bad for Mai, huh?'
Tea raises an eyebrow suspiciously. She realizes that her friend is trying to dance around her own question.
She stands in front of Yugi, blocking his way with her taller body. She crouches in front of him. 'Yugi, what's wrong?' she asks with genuine concern, caressing his bangs and making him blush.
Yugi can tell that this is the real Tea. Thank God she is not possessed by that creep who wants to steal the Millenium Puzzle. He would lose it if something bad happened to her.
'Oh, Tea,' he cries and hugs her, to the girl's shock. 'You're the best friend a boy could ask for.'
Tea giggles and pats him on the shoulder.
Best friend, my ass! Yugi wishes he could tell Tea how he really feels. Curse his cowardice. He has been in love with her since they were little kids. But Tea obviously sees him as a friend.
After Yugi successfully constructed the Millenium Puzzle, Tea's attitude seemed to change. Yugi began feeling some hope, he believed that the Millenium Puzzle had heard his pleas, that it had caused Tea to see him in a different way. Until he realized that it was actually the spirit of the Millenium Puzzle that Tea was in love with. Not himself!
Stupid him! How could he ever believe that Tea would ever choose him, a short, shy nerd, over the real man that his partner is. I mean, Yami Yugi or whatever his real name is has the whole package: he is tall, confident, witty, he emits a charming aura. In short, he is the prince every girl dreams of. It is only natural that Tea fell for him.
Not that Normal Yugi has bitter feelings towards his partner or anything! But still, he's sad.
Duke Devlin's shop is packed. On a podium installed for the occasion, Pegasus and Duke are standing.
'... and I would like to stress that it is a huge honor to be a business partner of Mister Pegasus,' Duke concludes.
Maximillion clears his throat to draw the attention of Duke as well as of the audience and says, 'The honor is all... yours, Duke boy.'
This sends the audience into a fit of laughter. Duke awkwardly strokes his nape and forces himself to chuckle. After all, Pegasus was only joking... he hopes!
Meanwhile, among the audience, Joey is nervously looking around. Where is Mai? She must definitely be around here somewhere. Tristan could help him find her. Darn, where is that brown haired dimwit when you need him? He, too, has disappeared, all of a sudden!
Yugi and Tea resume walking. They walk silently for a while.
Suddenly, a blonde girl jumps out of a bush. 'At last, I found you, Yugi Moto,' she points at the boy, with a determined look on her face. She has long, blonde hair and blue eyes. She's wearing glasses, a pink jacket and a checkered skirt.
Yugi and Tea abruptly halt and gasp. The three people exchange silent looks for a while. Finally, Tea breaks the silence.
'Yugi... do you know that girl?' she asks.
The boy scratches his head, until he suddenly gets an expression of realization. 'Of course,' he cries. 'She's Rebecca Hawkins. A child prodigy. She rose to become the new USA champion recently, when Bandit Keith mysteriously disappeared after his loss at the Duelist Kingdom final. I have seen photos of her in magazines.'
The boy takes a step forward, smiles and offers her his hand. 'Anyway, nice to meet you. Though I don't know how you know me or what you are doing in Japan.'
Rebecca is standing opposite Tea and Yugi and looking at them with a confident (and kinda seductive, Tea would add with jealousy) expression and her hands on her hips. 'To answer your questions, I know you because you, too, are famous, Yugi,' she answers. 'You went pretty far at the Duelist Kingdom, reaching the semi finals. Though you were no match for Mai. That woman is awesome!'
Yugi strokes his nape and chuckles modestly. 'Err, yeah, she crushed me,' he admits.
With a sexy hair flip, which causes Tea to look at her with even further annoyance, Rebecca carries on, 'As for your second question, I came to Japan for you.'
Yugi's eyes widen. 'For me?' he points at himself curiously.
'Originally, I wanted to defeat you in a duel, thus getting revenge on your grandfather for stealing my grandfather's Blue Eyes White Dragon,' Rebecca explains.
'My grandfather... knows yours?' Yugi asks, confused.
'Wait, Yugi,' Tea interjects, baffled. 'I thought your grandfather said his Blue Eyes White Dragon was given to him by an old friend of h...'
'NEVER MIND THAT!' Rebecca snaps, tapping her foot impatiently. Next, she continues, 'Anyway, as I was saying, that was my original intention. But now that I saw how cute you are, I decided to let it go and just get to know you better. How about hanging out with me for a while? I know a pretty cool place I discovered yesterday.'
Yugi gasps and blushes. Tea's eyes widen. That precocious girl is REALLY straightforward!
'Umm, my friend (gestures to Tea) and I are going to the grand opening of a shop,' Yugi tries to politely refuse.
Rebecca takes a step forward, causing Yugi to gulp. 'What is more interesting, boy?' she winks. 'A shop or me?'
Yugi chuckles and lowers his eyes, now knowing how to answer. Tea is fuming, though she's trying not to show it.
'Are you scared of some real woman, dude?' Rebecca taps her foot. (This makes Tea think, 'Wait, is she implying that I'm NOT a real woman?') 'Are you gay? Or just not grown up enough yet?'
Ooohh, that hit a nerve! Yugi is tired of being treated as a child. Maybe it's not that his body is slow to hit puberty. Maybe it's his own demeanor that causes the others to treat him this way. Maybe this is why Tea, too, sees him as a little boy she has to take care of rather than a man she could fall in love with.
That does it! Time to grow up, Yugi Moto. Time to show everyone, especially Tea, that you are grown up, that Yami Yugi has nothing that you don't.
Yugi raises his eyes, with a determined smile. 'Ok, I'm coming,' he says to Rebecca.
Next, he turns to Tea and, trying to look cool and confident, adds, 'If you don't mind. Do you?'
'No, it's okay' Tea answers, a little more abruptly than she intended to. She turns around. 'I'll hang out with Joey and Tristan at the grand opening. Have fun, guys,' she says and walks away, her steps sounding more like thuds than steps!
'Awesome, let's go,' Rebecca cries and starts running, dragging Yugi along.
Mai is in the women's restroom of the shop. She has just exited one of the cubicles and is now washing her hands (and her face a little since she is at it).
Joey bursts in, forcefully opening the door.
Mai turns her head. 'Wrong restroom, Wheeler,' she says sarcastically. 'This is only for women.'
Ignoring that comment, Joey walks over to her. 'So, it seems you get along with Pegasus really well. Right?' he asks, trying to sound indifferent and cool, hands in pockets.
Mai sighs. 'Will you start lecturing me again about how wrong it is to hang out with the man that tried to kill several people at the Duelist Kingdom?'
Joey knows that Pegasuses crimes are not the real reason he feels angry, regardless of what he usually says out loud. The real reason is that he's jealous. Jealous like hell.
'Do you just hang out with him?' he eyes her. 'Or do you also do... other stuff?'
Mai gasps. She never expected Joey, for all his annoying traits, to be that indiscreet! 'This is none of your fucking business, Wheeler,' she responds, still shocked.
Under normal circumstances, Joey would realize that he's going too far, that his behaviour is inexcusable. But right now, he's got too hot headed to realize it.
'Tell me, does that asshole fuck you well? Does he make you scream in bed? Does he creampie you like the useless slut that you a...'
Joey is interrupted by a hard slap, which causes him to fall on his butt! Mai immediately crouches behind him, wraps her arm around in his neck and immobilizes him with a martial art hold. 'For the last time, blond shit,' she yells angrily. 'What I do with my vagina is none of your business. I didn't leave the house of that jerk that my father was only for an underage boy who thinks he's a man to take his place. GOT IT?'
Joey knows that Mai has every right to be mad, as she is. He really doesn't know why he behaved like that. He really doesn't know what got into him.
'I'm... sorry...' he says, trying to breathe.
That moment, Pegasus enters. 'Honey, I've been looking for y... HOLY RA, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?'
'Nothing, honey,' Mai violently tosses Joey to the floor. 'Joey had an accident and almost fell on the floor. Good thing I caught him just in time. Right, Joey?'
Standing up slowly, Joey looks at the creator of duel monsters. 'Yes, everything is okay, Pegasus,' he says. 'It was my fault.'
The white haired man doesn't look convinced.
'I mean it was my fault that I stumbled,' Joey tries a save. 'I should have been more careful.'
The blond boy exits the restroom, with Max watching him in shock.
When Joey has left, he turns to his lover. 'Mai, what happened?' he asks with his arms crossed and a serious expression.
'Honestly, it was nothing, Max,' Mai smiles and wraps her arm around his. 'Let's go back to the main hall.'
Pegasus sighs and opts to believe her. He is not currently wearing the Millenium Eye, so he can't read her mind to confirm it. Then again, if he felt the need to count on the Millenium Eye every time in order to find out whether his lover is lying, that relationship wouldn't be a very trusting one, would it?
Tea is walking to Duke Devlin's store. Yet she can't stop thinking about Rebecca and Yugi. She wonders what they're doing right now.
Oh, why does she care? After all, Yugi is just a friend. Right? The spirit of the Millenium Puzzle is her true love interest. Then why can't she take her fucking mind off those two? Wait, did she just swear?
Tea stops walking and sighs. She closes her eyes and places a hand on her forehead. 'Gosh, what is happening to me?' she wonders out loud.
She turns around. She looks in the direction Yugi and Rebecca went in. 'If I hurry, I might find them before they get too far,' she keeps talking to herself.
She knows that what she's about to do is stupid and immature. Yet, against her better judgement, she does it. She runs in the direction Yugi and Rebecca went in.
Outside an abandoned factory, Yugi and Rebecca are sitting on a wooden container and... making out.
Hidden behind another container, Tea peeks at them. She gasps.
