Yugi, still in his pyjamas, yawned and rubbed his eyes groggily as he walked to the phone. His mother handed him the phone with a concerned look on her face.

"Hello," he grumbled. On the other end of the line, an older woman was talking frantically.

"Hello, is this Yugi Muto?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"I'm sorry to call you so early, but this is Monica Wheeler, Joseph's mother."

He blinked silently in confusion for a moment, wondering why she would be calling him out of all people. She said urgently, "I need to know if you have any idea where he might be."

Yugi asked, "He's not at the hospital?"

"No," she said, "Serenity has locked herself in her room and completely refuses to even let me or the doctors in to do her operation until he gets here. I don't know what to do and we cannot afford to wait much longer."

"That's terrible! Hang in there, Mrs. Wheeler. Our friends and I will find him."

"Thank you, Yugi. Please hurry."

He handed the phone back to his mom, who said, placing the phone back on its dock, "Didn't you say Joey went straight to the hospital after you guys registered for the tournament? That's not like Joey at all."

Yugi said, "I know. I have to get Tristan and Téa. We'll find him!" He turned and ran upstairs, switching into his black tank top and blue pants and jacket, throwing his Millennium Puzzle over his head. As he sat at the front door, pulling on his street shoes, he could hear his mom and grandfather talking in hushed, concerned voices out in the kitchen, but he didn't have time to worry about their conversation. He grabbed his backpack and cell phone, sprinting out the door and around the corner, dialling his friends' numbers one by one.

Emiko sat up in her bed, stretching and scrunching her shoulders before she was startled by a loud ringing from her phone.

"Hey, Yuge," she said hoarsely, "What's–"

He cut her off, "Em! Joey's gone missing and we need help finding him!"

"What?!"

"He was supposed to go to the hospital last night, but his mom called me this morning and said he never made it! Please come help us find him!"

"I'm on my way," she said, stumbling hastily out of bed and to her closet. She threw on a casual mint-coloured, button-down shirt and a pair of black denim shorts, grabbing her backpack and throwing her shoes on before running outside to her bike. She hopped on and rode as quickly as she possibly could down into the busy morning traffic.

Thirty minutes later, the group had searched all of his usual hangout spots in the area, but had no luck. There was still no sign of Joey anywhere. Téa jogged to catch up to Yugi and shouted, "Nothing!" He sighed. Tristan skidded to a halt on his brand new motorcycle, taking his helmet off and jumping off.

Yugi said, "This just isn't like him. I'm really worried."

As the trio talked together, Emiko called to them, speeding towards them on her bike, "Anything yet?" Téa shook her head.

"Nope. Where on Earth could he be?"

Emiko propped herself up on her right foot and pulled out her phone.

"I don't know," she said, "I'd ask Seto, but he doesn't exactly think of Joey in a good light, so he probably wouldn't help us, no matter how much we beg."

Tristan said, "Wait. Why don't the two of us search downtown on our bikes, Em?" Emiko nodded and Tristan added, "I'll take the north side, you take the south. You two, keep looking around this side."

Yugi said, "Joey was supposed to get there at about 9:00 last night, so whatever happened to him must have happened not too long after we split up."

Emiko and Tristan both nodded, adjusting their positions. Emiko turned and pedalled away while Tristan revved the engine on his motorcycle for a moment before turning and driving the other way. Téa and Yugi ran down the middle alley leading towards downtown Domino. As the sun rose higher and higher into the sky, Téa, Yugi, Tristan, and Emiko searched every street, alley, dead end, and couldesac with no sign of their friend. As Emiko rejoined Yugi and Téa, she sighed heavily.

"Sorry, guys," she said, breathing heavily, "I searched the entire south side of the city…I don't know where in the world he could be."

Téa shook her head and said, "I couldn't find him, either–" She jumped, hearing her phone ringing in her pocket. She opened it and held it up to her ear.

"Tristan! Did you–"

"Hey," Tristan said, cutting her off, "I found him! I'm taking him to the hospital now! He's a bit beat-up, but he's alright!"

"Alright! That's great news! I'll let Yugi and Em know!"

At the hospital, Monica pounded on the door repeatedly, begging Serenity to let her in.

"Serenity, please! Open the door and stop this tantrum right now!"

"No! I won't do it! I won't! I won't!"

The head surgeon, standing behind Monica, looked down at his watch and sighed, "Look, ma'am, I have other patients to attend to. I don't have time for this."

"I-I know," she said, "I'm sorry. Just give me a little more time to–"

"Hang on, doc!"

Joey jogged down the hallway, holding onto his right arm as he approached Serenity's room. Monica turned to him, speechless. Joey was covered in dust and dirt, his face bruised and his clothes torn in a few spots, but he was there.

"Let me take care of this. Please."

He walked up to the door and knocked. No answer. Joey said gently, "Hey, Serenity! It's me! Joey!" Still no answer.

"Listen," he said, "I know you're upset. You have every right to be, but you gotta open this door so we can talk."

"No," Serenity cried, "I'm not opening this door! You said you'd be here last night, Joey! I was so worried about you!" He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead on the door. She sobbed loudly, "I need you to help me get through this surgery!"

Joey said softly, "Look, I'm sorry, Serenity. I really am. I know I let you down, sis. Please, just let me explain. I was on my way here last night, just like I promised, but some creeps downtown cornered me and wouldn't let me leave. I got beat up and I lost the fight, but I just couldn't stop thinking about gettin' here." He felt his eyes stinging and a knot forming in his throat.

"I managed to let down the person who matters most to me. I screwed up. I-I must be the worst big brother in the history of the entire world!"

He reached up and wiped his eyes on his tattered sleeve.

"I promise you, I would never do anything to hurt you. Not on purpose. You are more than just my little sister. You're my friend."

The door clicked and opened. Joey smiled tearfully. Serenity stood in the doorway in her light pink pyjamas, her long brown hair lightly tangled and hanging over her shoulders and down her back. Her cheeks were wet with tears and her eyes were red and puffy from crying. She sniffled and threw her arms around Joey, sobbing into his chest. He held her tightly and said softly, "There ya go. That's it."

Monica reached over and took Serenity's shoulders. Serenity turned and hugged her mom. Joey turned and said awkwardly, "It's…er…it's good to see you, mom."

She looked up and said, "It's good to see you, too, Joseph. Thank you, son." He smiled and nodded, but he was caught off-guard when she reached up and put her hand on the back of his head, pulling him closer.

He hugged her back for a moment, then said, pulling away, "Thanks."

Later that day, as the sun sank lower into the sky, Yugi picked up the phone.

"I got it, grandpa! Kame Game, Yugi Muto speaking."

"Hey, Yuge! It's Joey! Serenity's operation was a success!"

Yugi grinned and said, "Hey, congratulations! That's fantastic to hear!"

Joey exclaimed, "Yeah! She's asleep in the recovery room right now. Mom's with her, so I figured I'd give you and the others a call and update you guys."

"Oh, yeah," Yugi said, "How did your reunion with your mom go? Tristan told me about the situation with you guys."

"It went…surprisingly well. We talked a bit and we're on good terms, long story short."

"That's good to hear, Joey. By the way, what happened last night? Why did Tristan find you passed out in an alley?"

Joey lowered his voice.

"Oh, yeah. Three guys in robes cornered me last night," he said in a serious tone, "Called themselves 'Rare Hunters'. They wouldn't let me leave until I duelled them. They forced me into it and they wanted to use Battle City's new rules. I lost my Red-Eyes." Yugi gasped. Joey continued, "The first thing I gotta do when this tournament starts is win that Red-Eyes back."

Yugi said, "Well, I'll be there to help you do just that."

"I know you will, Yuge. Look, I gotta call the others and get back to Serenity, but I'll stop by your place on my way home."

"You got it! See you later!"

Yugi hung up the phone and folded his arms. He thought, "I don't know who took Joey's Red-Eyes, but I have a feeling they're more dangerous than he thinks."