Yu-Gi-Oh! Love Selflessly – Chapter 12
Later that night, Emiko and Téa were both inside the tent Mai had set up before, wrapped in blankets, peacefully sleeping. Well, as peacefully as they could considering the circumstances. Emiko had her locket clutched in her hand as she slept on the rather solid ground. She grumbled a little and opened her eyes, hearing something outside. She murmured, "Wh-what...what's that?" It sounded like a distant helicopter. It wouldn't have bothered her if it didn't sound like it was getting closer. She sat up and reached over, shaking Téa awake.
"Téa. Téa, wake up."
Téa ran her fingers through her hair, yawning, "Emiko? What is it?" Emiko said, "Listen. Do you hear that?" The sound was close enough now that they were sure that it was, as they suspected, a helicopter. The girls walked out of the tent to investigate and saw that all of the boys were looking at the approaching aircraft. The light on it was bright. They all shielded their eyes and the wind from the blades on the helicopter was picking up, sending the trees rustling and the tent rattling against the stakes in the ground. As the helicopter lowered itself onto the ground, Emiko's eyes widened and she felt her heart skip a beat.
"Seto?"
Bakura said, fascinated, "Wow! Look at that!" Joey shouted, "Hey! Some of us are just trying to get some shut-eye here, you insensitive jerk!" Emiko stood up and walked closer. The blades slowed to a stop, the lights shut off, and the door slid open. Stepping down onto the grass in his long, silver and red coat, briefcase in hand, was Seto Kaiba. Joey asked, "What's he doing here?" Tristan said, "Probably here for his brother and sister. Whatever it is, looks like he means business." Emiko stepped forward, her legs shaking. Seto looked at her and said, surprised, "Emiko? What are you-" Emiko suddenly ran forward, sobbing loudly and slapping Seto hard across the face. Her slap made a very loud sound and his cheek turned red immediately after. Téa, Yugi, and the others all gasped. Joey said, "What the- Em, are you nuts!?" Emiko shouted, her voice unsteady and her eyes full of tears, "Seto, you big, selfish jerk!" Seto stood in front of her in silence. She yelled, crying, "I can't believe you! I can't believe you would just walk out on us like that!" Seto began, "Look. I know you're upset-"
"Upset!?" She shrieked, "Upset is an understatement! You just walked out on us, and for what?! Some sort of self-discovery quest? Seto, you left the company's secrets in the hands of a thirteen-year-old! When you left, Mokuba and I...w-we were scared! Neither of us knew what to do! Then, when Mokuba was taken, I thought...I-I thought...!" She balled up her fists and cried. Seto stepped closer and said, "Emiko. I'm sorry." She looked up at him. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. She lowered her voice and said, tears streaming down her face, "Seto...when I got home and saw your office...I-I didn't know what happened. I thought...the bullet holes...the window...!" Seto placed his hand on her shoulder. She finally threw her arms around his waist, crying into his chest. His face softened and he wrapped his arms around her. She sobbed, "I-I missed you...so much." Seto sighed, "I know. Don't worry, Emiko. I'm here, now." He looked up at Yugi and the others, still holding onto Emiko. He said, his voice returning to its usual, cold tone-of-voice, "I haven't seen you since our duel, Yugi." Yugi nodded and reached into the holster on his belt. He pulled out Seto's deck of cards. Emiko finally pulled away, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.
"Here," Yugi said, handing Seto his deck, "I've been keeping it for you. Just think of it as a thank-you for that duel you helped me win." Seto took it and said sincerely, "Thanks. You will be compensated for all your trouble and for keeping my little sister safe. Come on, Emiko." He turned shoving his deck into the empty holster on his belt. Yugi said, "Actually, Kaiba, I was thinking that since we're all headed for Pegasus' castle, maybe you and Emiko could stick with us. Of course, you'll need some star chips." Seto turned, glaring out of the corner of his cold, blue eyes, and said, "Don't be so naive. This isn't just a game for me, Yugi. I'm going after Pegasus to save our brother. Not so I can win some stupid prize." Emiko sighed and said, "Listen, Seto-" He said, cutting her off, "Have fun with your tournament." Her face dropped as he walked past her towards the castle. Joey ran up to Seto, grabbing his jacket and shouting, "Hey! Listen, tough guy!" Emiko gasped, pleading softly, "Joey, please!" Joey said, ignoring her, "I can understand you wanting to get your little brother back and all, but don't go thinking you're the only one here with a noble cause, got it?"
"Joey," Yugi said, "Take it easy!" Joey continued, "It's honestly no wonder Em didn't want to be associated with you, what with the way you act! I ain't scared of you, Kaiba!" Emiko said sternly, "Joey, stop it!" Seto smirked and said, grabbing the blonde's wrist and throwing him to the ground, "Nice grip, Wheeler. Now, let me show you mine." As Joey went tumbling to the ground, Bakura shouted, "Hey, that was uncalled for!" Emiko and Téa asked simultaneously, "Are you okay?" Joey growled, standing up, "Relax, guys. I'm fine." Seto said, "Do you honestly think I'm gonna let you and this little tournament you're in delay me from finding Pegasus?" Joey said, "Forget Pegasus! Now, you got me to deal with, so bust out your cards and let's get it on!" Téa muttered, "I can't tell if Joey's being really brave or nuts." Emiko pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed, "I can't watch." Seto chuckled.
"Forget it. Why don't you go look for an opponent you can actually beat," Kaiba mocked, "Like an infant...or a monkey." Joey snapped, "What'd you say?!" His face flushed red and he balled up his fists. Tristan said, "Wow. That monkey thing gets him every time." Seto scoffed, turning again to walk away, "I don't have time for this nonsense. Loser." Emiko caught up with him and said in a quiet voice, "Seto, don't you think that was a bit harsh?"
"Go ahead and run, Kaiba," Joey shouted, "Everyone knows you're nothing but a washed-up has-been!" Emiko turned around, frowning at Joey and Seto stopped dead in his tracks. Yugi said cautiously, "Joey, be careful what you say. He may be a jerk, but he's still pretty much considered the top duelist in the world." Joey sneered, "Not anymore!" Seto turned around to glare at him. Joey taunted, "That's right, Kaiba. I bet ever since Yugi mopped the floor with you, you can't even lay a trap card without flinching!" Emiko scolded, "Alright, that's enough, Joey." Seto stepped forward and said, "Alright. On one condition: we play using my newest innovation in holographic duelling technologies." Yugi asked, "What do you mean?" Emiko sighed, "I really can't watch." Seto held up his briefcase and explained, "It means that if Joey's really that eager to duel me, he's going to have to do it using my latest holographic system. It's a new, hi-tech duelling device that allows players the realism of arena matches in any setting." Joey cocked his head to one side.
"Looks like a regular old briefcase to me," he said. Seto snapped, "It's in the briefcase, you moron!" He set it on the ground, kneeling down to unload the contents of it, and said, "Emiko, this won't take long." She just sighed. She really wasn't sure if she could convince either Joey or Seto to back down, so she just resigned herself to standing by and watching. Seto tossed Joey a duel disk and said, "Its technology is unprecedented." Joey said, strapping it onto his wrist, "Looks like some kinda frisbee." Seto scowled at him and said, "Don't be an idiot. This is the most state-of-the-art display modulator that's ever been built." Joey said, "Yeah, okay. So, now, what happens?" Seto said, demonstrating, "First, insert your duelling deck into the display drive recognizer. A life point counter will light up and keep score for you during the match." He drew his cards, as did Joey.
"Then," he continued, "Choose a card to play and set it on the digital card reader. I think the rest will explain itself." Joey nodded and said, "Alright, Kaiba. Let's go!" Long story short, Joey was defeated in a landslide. As he collapsed to his knees, Seto said, "That's right, Joey. Fall to the dirt like the whimpering dog that you are." Emiko finally stepped forward, putting her hand on her older brother's arm, and said, "Seto, that's enough. It's bad enough that you had to beat him, but you don't have to rip away his confidence, too." He shot her an annoyed look. She said softly, "Let's just go find Mokuba and get off this island. Please." Seto said, turning back to Joey, "Look, kid, do you honestly believe that if you were duelling Pegasus, he would have been any more merciful than I was? I understand that the Heart of the Cards is a powerful philosophy. One that you all have even brainwashed my little sister into believing. That all works well enough for you, but I need to duel my own way, now. I shouldn't risk trying something new and maybe Wheeler shouldn't, either. Not unless he likes living life as a dog, scrounging on the scraps of past victories and begging for mercy from real duelists." Emiko calmly knelt down to help Joey up and said, "Seto. You've belittled Joey enough. That simply is not true." Yugi nodded and said in agreement, "He's improved in a very short period of time. You know that." Seto said, "Well, that's the attitude you have to take if you want to stand a chance against Maximillion Pegasus." He turned, gathering the duel disks and packing them into the briefcase.
"You don't understand, Yugi," he said sternly, "This is the man who created Duel Monsters. He has every card that's ever been made at his disposal. He's mastered every strategy that's ever been played. Pegasus always makes sure that he has every possible advantage working in his favour." Emiko sighed nervously. Seto continued, "If I'm to stand any chance against him at all, I'll have to play by my own ruthless rules." Yugi said, "But, this is Joey!" Seto walked past Emiko and said, "Emiko, I'm leaving the decision up to you." She looked up at him. He said, turning around to face her, "Will you come with me or stay here with your friends?" She furrowed her brows and said, "Seto, I came all this way to bring our family together again. I'm going with you." Joey asked, "Wait, you're actually going to go with him?!" Emiko said, smiling back at her friends, "It's nothing personal, Joey. I-I just...I have to do this." Yugi nodded.
"I understand," he said, "We'll see you later, then, right?" Emiko said, "You bet." She turned and jogged to Seto's side and said, "Good luck, you guys." The reunited Kaiba siblings walked into the woods, on their way to Pegasus' castle to save Mokuba.
November 21, 2020 – 1909 Words