Yu-Gi-Oh! Love Selflessly – Chapter 21
Croquet announced as Mai walked out of the large arena doors, "The second match has come to a close. Yugi Muto has emerged victorious over Mai Valentine. He will now advance to the next round." Up on the balcony, the spectators cheered. Emiko smiled down at Yugi while her friends around her shouted excitedly. Yugi looked up at them and thought, "I couldn't have done this without your help. Everyone's help." Pegasus stood up, applauding smugly.
"Well done, Yugi," he chuckled, "That was a superb duel. You certainly know how to put on a good show." He smirked, still clapping.
Tristan sneered, "What a creep." Emiko's eyes narrowed and she bit her lip.
"Enjoy this while you can," Yugi thought, glaring at him, "The only reason I'm here is to rescue my grandpa and Emiko's brothers and once I beat you to get them back, you won't have anything to chuckle about." Pegasus sat back down in his chair and said, turning to Croquet, "Proceed." Croquet nodded and announced, "The third match of these playoffs will begin shortly. The victor of the first round, Bandit Keith, will battle Joey Wheeler. Now, prepare your decks."
Joey's eyes widened and he said, sweat starting to form on his forehead, "Wait. Me? Now? Boy, that went awfully quick!" Bakura said calmly, "Joey, you're going to do fine." Téa said, "Yeah, don't worry." Emiko said, "We believe in you, Joey." He chuckled and said, walking out, "Thanks, guys. I guess I'm a little tense, huh?" Tristan grabbed him around the shoulders, stopping him in his tracks, "Yeah, you've got a good reason to be tense. Look who you're up against: Bandit Keith, the intercontinental champion! I mean, the guy makes his living out of winning prize money from tournaments just like these! Come on, even Em couldn't beat him!" Emiko sighed. Téa said, "He's tough, but I'm sure you'll be fine!"
Below, Yugi walked through the double doors. As the tall door shut behind him, he let out a sigh. He thought, "One round done." Joey said, walking around the corner, "Yugi." Yugi smiled and said, "Hey, Joey." Joey's eyes were serious and determined. He stood strongly in front of Yugi, who asked, "What's up? Are you...okay?" Joey said, "Yugi, if I win this, then we're next. You duelling against me. What do you think about that?" Yugi smiled and said calmly, "I think we can look forward to an honourably-fought match." Joey nodded, smiling.
"Nice call. You give it your best and I'll give it mine," Joey said confidently, "and we'll stay best friends no matter what happens...right?" Yugi said, "Right. It's a deal." Joey threw open the doors, walking out onto the arena floor, and Yugi walked up the stairs to the balcony. He was greeted by Emiko, who said, "Hey, great duel, Yugi." He smiled, thanking her and joining the others. They all watched as Joey strutted onto the duelling platform confidently, stepping up onto the blue platform. Emiko sighed and thought, "Alright, Joey. He's a tough one. You've got to win this. For your sister." Tristan and Téa cheered aloud.
Joey looked up at them, beaming. He gave them a confident fist-pump and looked across the way at the red side, which was empty. Joey asked, "Hey, hold on! Where's Keith?" He looked around until he spotted Keith, lounging lazily across a nearby sofa near the duelling platform. Keith yawned and said, looking at his watch, "What time is it?" Joey snapped, "Hey! What are you doing?! Get over here, Keith!" Bandit Keith snickered and said, "Chill out. The pummelling will begin just as soon as I'm good and ready, so don't worry your pretty little head, Blondie. After my duel against your little girlfriend, I'm pretty beat." Joey growled, "Stall as long as you want, Keith, but you're gonna have to duel me sooner or later." Croquet said, "Tournament verification cards, gentlemen." Keith pulled his Glory of the King's Hand card out of his pocket and said mockingly, "Got mine. Hey, dweeb, show the man your card." Joey reached into his pocket and said, "Sure thing. I got it right here." His face went pale as he felt around in his empty pocket. Croquet said in a slightly irritated tone, "Tournament verification ca-" Joey snapped, fumbling through all of the pockets in his coat, "I know! Hold on a sec. I-I know it's in here somewhere!"
Téa leaned over the balcony and said, "No way, Joey lost his entry card?" Bakura shook his head and said, "Come now, he couldn't be that absentminded." Tristan groaned, "Oh, yes, he could!" Emiko pinched the bridge of her nose in disappointment and groaned.
Bandit Keith sneered, "Aw, too bad. I guess I won't have to get off of this couch after all, huh, Joey?" Joey said, "Well, don't get too comfortable, 'cause once I find that card-" Croquet interrupted, "If. If you find the card within the set time paramiters the regulations allow." Joey asked, shaking, "Wait, you mean...there's a time limit?" Téa said from above, "Retrace your steps! Are you sure you put it in your coat pocket last night?" Joey thought for a moment. He said, "Well, I guess that it could've fallen out in the room." He turned and said, "I'm gonna head back there and check it out." Croquet said, "Your match will begin at eleven o'clock sharp. You have five minutes to find your tournament entry card and return to the arena. No exceptions. If you haven't returned with your entry card by eleven o'clock, you'll be disqualified."
Téa shouted, "Hey, that's not fair! That's barely enough time for Joey to get back to the room!" Croquet drawled, "These are the rules and they will be enforced." Keith just laughed aloud at Joey's misfortune.
Joey sprinted through the halls at top speed until he made it back to his room. He opened drawers, pulled his blankets and sheets off the bed, and basically ransacked his own room, but still couldn't find it. He looked under the bed and under the nightstand. Nothing. He grumbled, his breathing ragged and his heart pounding, "Where is it!? If I can't find that card, then I'll have to forfiet the match to Keith!" He went through the bathroom, pulling the drawers out and looking in every crack of the room before running out to at least make it back.
Meanwhile, Yugi looked down at his Glory of the King's Opposite Hand card and thought, "I'd give Joey this other card, but then I wouldn't be able to duel Pegasus and save my grandpa." Emiko looked down and said, "Hang on." She pulled her backpack off her shoulders and dug through her pockets. She finally pulled out both of her entry cards. Tristan said, "Em, what are you doing?" Emiko explained, "I don't need my cards anymore. I'm out of the tournament. Hold on, I'll be right back!" Below, Keith groaned, "Come on, can't we just disqualify that punk right now? We all know he ain't coming back!" Téa shouted, "No! You're wrong! He'll be here!"
"Oh, yeah," Keith snickered, "Think about it. Your little friend's been scared to death of me ever since we had our run-in back at that cave!" He chuckled and continued, "You know, I bet he's not even looking for that Glory card. I'll bet he's looking for a place to hide. Pretty spineless, I'd say." Yugi said, "You're wrong." Keith glared over his sunglasses. Yugi said, "Joey's never backed down from a duel before and he's not going to start to now. You'll see. He'll be back."
Emiko stood up, leaving her bag laying on the ground, and she ran out, hoping to catch Joey in the halls. She had no idea that he'd already made it back to the duelling arena doors as she rushed back to the rooms.
Joey stumbled back into the hallway in front of the double-doors leading into the arena, tears stinging his eyes and sweat dripping down his face and back. He huffed, exhausted already from the run. He thought, "I searched everywhere I could think. Still no card." He fell to his knees, still panting heavily. He thought, "I can't believe it. After lasting all this time. After beating duelists with twice my experience. After getting past all of Pegasus' traps, I'm gonna get disqualified because of this? For losing one lousy card?" He growled and fell forward, hitting his fist on the ground in frustration as the tears started to fall. He sobbed lightly, "S-sorry, Serenity..."
"Get up off the floor, Joey," Mai said, standing behind him with her hands on her hips. She wore a stern expression and said, "Get up and quit your crying already. You look like a big baby." Joey turned away, rubbing his eyes on his sleeves and steadying his voice as he said, "Who's crying? I-I got something in my eye." He rubbed harder and said, "Stupid thing won't come out." She stepped forward and said, handing him a neatly-folded, white handkerchief, "Here. Just don't go blowing your nose in it." She turned and said, "You know, every time I think I've got you figured out, you surprise me, Joey." He looked up. She explained, "Téa told me about your little sister and how you're duelling to win the prize money for her. Sounded like a bad soap opera to me, but then, who doesn't love a bad soap opera?" She walked out, but not before turning back and adding with a wink, "Anyway, see you around, hun." Joey stood up, stunned by her kind gesture, and unfolded the handkerchief to reveal the Glory of the King's Hand card. He ran to catch up and shouted, "Wait, Mai!" She said, "Take it. I don't need it anymore." He asked, dumbfounded, "So, does this mean we're friends, now?" Mai said sharply, "Don't you have a duel to run off to?"
"Right," Joey said, turning to run through the double-doors exactly on time. Mai said, giggling, "Dork. Of course we're friends."
Téa, now holding Emiko's backpack, Yugi, Tristan, and Bakura all cheered as Joey came in through the doors, presenting the Glory of the King's hand card to Croquet victoriously. Keith looked surprised, but he quickly regained his composure. Tristan said, "Man, I'm already beat." Joey said, "Alright, Keith, naptime is over." Keith said, gritting his teeth together, "Fine. You know, a part of me wanted you to show up." Joey said, "Bring it on." Croquet said, "The third round of these playoffs will now commence. Joey Wheeler. Bandit Keith. Prepare to duel."
Emiko walked through the halls back towards the duelling platforms, catching her breath. She turned a corner and saw Mai walking towards her. She asked the tall blonde, "Mai? You're leaving already?" Mai nodded and said, "Yeah, there's nothing left for me here." Emiko smiled, but then looked down at the cards in her hand. Mai said, smiling genuinely, "Don't worry about Joey. He found what he needed. Now, go cheer him on." Emiko nodded and said, "Thank you, Mai." Mai gave her a thumbs-up and said, "No problem, kiddo." Emiko ran past her and back to the observation deck. She walked out to see the duel beginning between Joey and Bandit Keith. She took her backpack back from Téa and put the cards away before repositioning it on her shoulders.
Below, Joey and Keith drew their cards, the stage was set, and both duelists shouted, "Duel!"