~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DISCLAIMER: NO OWN YU-GI-OH!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Value of a Card

Chapter Two
At lunch, Joey waited alone behind the old art building, anxiously glancing at his watch every fifteen seconds. "Come on you twos! You said you'd be here!" What Joey didn't know was that Yugi and Tristen had gotten into a little bit of trouble by the Home Room Teacher, Mrs. Korboltisnitch. The two were blamed for disrupting her class while they chattered about Duel Monsters on their way to lunch. As punishment, the two were sent outside to dust the chalkboard erasers for the entire Domino High School. Joey sighed heavily feeling ditched. "Thanks a lot you twos!" He gruffly muttered as Gary Bishoun made his way towards him.

"Well, well!" Gary sneered at Joey, smiling slightly. "Didn't think you had the guts to show up Wheeler!"

Joey just smirked, replying. "I'm here ain't I? Now are we gonna duel or not?"

"We are, or we will but first I believe I better point out the little wager that needs to be put into play."

Joey looked at Gary puzzled. "Wager?"

Gary chuckled slightly. "Oh yes. I guess I forgot to tell you. Each of us must put one card up for the wager. And to make it fair, the card each of us will choose will be the first card each of us draws. The one who wins this duel, wins the other duelist's card."

Joey relunctently shook his head. "I can't do that!"

Snickering, Gary replied in a baby-tone voice. "What wong? Id da little baby cared?"

Joey bunched up his fist trying to remain calm as Gary and his friends began to laugh and make baby noises. He kept reminding himself that he couldn't do it cause this was Yugi's deck.

"Thats the rules baby Joey!" Gary snickered deviously. "Guess you really are chicken." Gary, along with his friends, began dancing around Joey, clucking and pecking at him acting like a bunch of wild, crazed chickens.

Joey's temper had finally reached the boiling point. Without realizing what he had done, he shout out. "ENOUGH! ALRIGHT!! I'LL DO IT!" Gasping back, Joey brought his hand to his mouth suddenly realizing what he had just said. "No! No! I.....I....didn't mean to....."

"That's just too bad Joey Joe Joe. Your tough out of luck. Everyone here heard you. Isn't that right guys?" Each of Gary's friends, snickered, nodding their heads.

Finally, Joey's shoulders slumped in defeat. "O'right Bishoun. You's win. We'll play by your rules." Sighing heavily, Joey began to shuffle his deck, thinking. ^"Man! Yug is gonna have a fit when he finds out about this! If I lose this battle....NO! I can't think that way! I can win dis duel! I hafta! Yeah! I'll get a new card and Yugi will never hafta know about any of dis!"^ Grinning, idiotically, Joey looked over at Gary. "Ready when you are Bishoun!"

"Good then. I'll draw first." With out a care, Gary quickly swipped the first card from the top of his deck. He studied his card for a few seconds before laying it in the middle of the table. "I wager Ushi Oni! Alright Wheeler! Your turn!"

Very slowly, Joey reached over to the top of his deck feeling the sweat trinkle down the back of his kneck as his hand , then his fingers layed on top of the first card, slowly sliding the card towards him. Even more so slowly, he flipped the card over to face him. "no!" He whispered to himself starring at the card. "I's can't use dis card! No way man! Yug would have a fit even if I did win!"

As he began to replace the card back into the deck, Gary called out in alarm. "Hey! What are you doing?!? No fair cheating Wheeler! Put that card in the wager pile.

Joey looked to Gary with pleading eyes. "Gary please! Let me deal another card. That....that was just a practice round."

Gary firmly shook his head no. "Sorry baby Joey but there are no practice rounds. The card you pull is the card for wager. Now put it in middle or else!"

Joey sighed heavily placing the card on top of Gary's Ushi Oni feeling like he's about to betray his best friend. Which was exactly what he was doing. Taking a quick glance at the card, Gary chuckled. "Ah! The Dark Magician! That little card will be a fine addition to my deck! Why don't you give me the card now Wheeler and save yourself the humiliation?" Joey snorted at Gary giving him his reply. "Alright then Wheeler. It's your funeral. Are you ready?" "Let's Duel Bishoun!"

The duel begin. It is a heated battle between both players. Each shows his own skill in the game. Joey seems to have the upper hand as his monsters dominate the field. His ego begins to overfill as he chuckles believing that soon he would be victorious.

"Sure you don't want to stop now Gary? I can save you the humiliation!" Gary gritted his teeth, glaring at Joey. "Just draw your card Wheeler! If I'm lucky enough. Perhaps you'll activate my Trap Card I have on the field!"

Astonished, Joey glanced down at the field. "A trap card? Oh boy! Well here's to hoping!" Clutching his eyes shut and crossing his fingers, Joey drew a card. Turning the card to him, Joey opened his eyes ever so slightly glancing at the card. His eyes popped open, mouth grinning as he saw the card he had pulled. "Oh yeah! This baby is gonna bring me the victory! Summoned Skull! Attack! So sorry Gary, but you loose!"

Instead of hearing the sounds of agonizing defeat from Gary, Joey heard the sound of a mechanical laughter. "Oh no dear Wheeler! For it is game over for you! Because you have activated my trap card, Trap Hole! Guess your Summoned Skull should of watched where it was going!" Joey starred on in disbelief as his Summoned Skull was desroyed. "And now it is my turn Wheeler. So sorry it has to end this way, but my last move will be played with a magic card. I activate Ookazi!"

Joey felt the room spinning as Gary's magic card took away his remaining life points. He stood there, staring, stunned as the cards from his hand, slowly fell to the floor. "I...I...I...I..lost!"

"Yep too bad! Well thanks for the Dark Magician! I told you it would look great in my deck!" Breathing heavily Joey looked up at Gary. "Gary! I want a re-match!"

Gary shook his head no, gathering up his cards. "Nope sorry no can do. Besides, lunch is almost over."

"Then give me back that Dark Magician!"

"No way Wheeler! I won it fair and square!"

"But it wasn't even my card! This isn't even my deck! A friend let me borrow his! Bishoun! I'll give you any card that you want in exchange for that Dark Magician!"

Stunned, Gary looked over at Joey. "Not your deck?!? You borrowed a friends deck to duel and then wager one of their own cards! You are a moron Wheeler! Well it's you friends tough luck because I'm not giving back the Dark Magician. Have fun explaining to them why that card is missing from their deck!"

With that, Gary left Joey there stammering as he walked off gwaffing.

The bell rang, ending lunch period. Joey staggered off to his next class in a hazy daze. For the remaining of the day, he took no awareness to what was hapening around him.

At the end of the day, while he was putting his books in his locker, Yugi walked up next to him. "Hey there Joey! I've been looking all over for you!"

Joey just glanced over and grunted a hello. "So did you win your duel Joey? Sorry Tristen and I couldn't be there but we got stuck dusting chalkboard erasers for the entire lunch period."

Sighing heavily, Joey slowly closed his locker door and turned to Yugi. "No. I lost." Yugi simply shrugged smiling. "Well I'm sure you gave it your best. Sorry you lost. Can I have my deck back now please?"

Without thinking, Joey handed Yugi his deck. As Yugi took them, Joey tried to explain what had happened. "Uh....Yug...I have something to tell ya."

Yugi looked up after putting his deck in his bookbag. "What is it Joey?"

"Well ya see," he stammered, swallowing hard. "I did more then lose."

Puzzled, Yugi frowned. "What do you mean you did more then lose Joey?" "Well....It's kind of like this Yugi."

Just as Joey was about to explain how he lost Yugi's favorite card, Mrs. Korboltosnitch comes waltzing up behind them. "Yugi Motou! May I have a word with you?" She asked in a raspy voice.

Yugi looked from Mrs. Korboltosnitch to Joey. "Okay Mrs. Korboltosnitch."

"Alright Mr. Motou this way please to my classroom. You have a lot of explaining to do young man!"

Yugi looked up at the old Balgarian woman in fear. "Am I in trouble Mrs. Korboltosnitch?"

Without replying, Mrs. Korboltosnitch pointed down the hallway to her class room. With his head hung low, Yugi slowly marched towards Mrs. Korboltosnitch's room. As he passed Joey, he whispered. "You can tell me about it later at my grandpa's shop, ok Joey." Joey just nodded as he watch Yugi and Mrs. Korboltosnitch walk away from him.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Joey leaned up against his locker. "Grandpa!" He shouted outloud to himself. Several passing students snickered and whispered to themselves as the heard Joey. Joey just blushed and smiled thinking. ^"Of course! Why didn't I think of dis before? I'll just go to Yugi's grandpa and buy a Dark Magician from him. Yugi might still be disappointed in me for loosing that card but he'll be pleased to get a brand new one!"

"Hey Joey! Earth to Joey!" Tristen called out, knocking on top of his head. "Is anyone home?"

Shaking his head, Joey snapped out of his daze and noticed Tristen and Téa staring at him. "Huh! Tristen? Téa?"

"Hi there Joey!" Téa replied happily looking around. "Have you seen Yugi?"

"Yeah." Joey replied nodding. "I think he's in trouble with Mrs. Korboltosnitch. She came here and asked to talk to him."

"Joey. That doesn't mean he's in trouble." "But Téa, teach said "You have got a lot of explaining to do young man!"

Tristen nodded to himself, replying. "Oh yeah. He's in trouble. And if it's by Mrs. Korboltosnitch he must of done something major!"

"But guys!" Téa protested. "This is Yugi we're talking about!"

"Uh, do you think we should go and find out what's going on?" Tristen asked.

Téa shook her head, sighing. "No. We just might make it worse for him. Let's just head over to Grandpa's Shop. Yugi knows we'll be there." The three friends agreed and walked together out of Domino High School and up the street to Grandpa's Shop.

On the way to Grandpa's Shop, Tristen asked. "Oh hey Joey! How did your duel go?"

Téa looked over with interest. "Duel? You had a duel today Joey? When?"

"Lunch" Joey replied quietly hoping that they would just drop the subject.

"Lunch! And you didn't tell me! I would've been there to support you Joey! To cheer you on."

"Sorry Téa. I didn't think-"

Tristen chuckled to himself. "Well that's nothing new. Don't worry about it to much Téa. Yugi and I weren't there either. We had to spend our lunch period dusting chalkboard erasers for Mrs. Korboltosnitch.

So Joey, how did your duel go. I bet you kicked butt with using Yugi's deck and all."

Téa gasped, starring at Joey. "You used Yugi's deck! Joey!"

"Hey! I forgots mine at home and asked to borrows Yugi's deck during my duel against Gary Bishoun. He agreed and let me borrow it because he trust me cause I'm his friend!" He replied a little ticked off. Then quietly he added. "But he shouldn't of trust me with his deck."

Tristen and Téa looked at each other frowning. "Why do you say that Joey?" Téa asked concerened.

"Because I lost the duel."

Laughing, Tristen replied. "Is that's whats wrong? It's no big deal Joey!"

"Yeah Joey. Tristen is right. You can't win every duel. Especially if your not using your own deck."

"But I did more then lose the duel! I lost one of Yugi's cards."

By this time, the three had arrived at Grandpa's Shop. Téa and Tristen starred at Joey in disbelief. "You lost one of Yugi's cards!? Joey! How could you be so irrisponsible!" Tristen asked a bit upset.

"What card did you lose?" Téa asked as she opened the door to the shop, walking in. Joey followed in right behind her. "Well um....It's...."

"Why hello! And welcome!" Yugi's grandfather, Sugoroku called out happily. "School out already?"

"Hello!" The three friends replied in unison.

"Yugi. Would you give me a hand with this new shipment that just came in?"

"Oh, sir," Téa replied, "Yugi isn't here. He had to stay after school today."

"Hmmmm" came Sugoroku's reply. "Well would one of you three please assist an old man to carrying a few boxes from the stock room to the front of the shop?"

"We'd be glad to!" Tristen replied as Téa and Joey nodded a yes.

When the three had finished bringing up the boxes, Sugoroku treated each of them to a cold glass of lemonade. Each drank theirs thankfully. "So Joey. You never did tell us which of Yugi's cards you lost."

"Joesph!" Sugoroku called out in alarm. "You lost one of Yugi's cards! Does he know about this?"

"Well, no not yet. I didn't get the chance to tell him, but I'm gonna buy him the same one right now!"

"What card is it?" Sugoroku asked.

"Its...."

Just as he was about to tell them, Yugi comes bursting through the door, panting, eyes wild. "Joey! Do you still have my Dark Magician?!? I can't find it! It's not in my deck! Please tell me you have it!"

Everyone gasped as Joey responded. "That's the card I lost."

Yugi's face fell as he looked up at Joey. "You....you lost my Dark Magician? How?"

Joey proceeded in telling everyone about the duel and the wager and how he lost the card.

Angrily, Tristen grabbed a hold of his shirt. "You moron Joey! Using one of Yugi's own cards for a stupid bet!?!" He balled up his fist, ready to punch Joey in the gut.

"I thought I would win!"

"That still gave you no right to do that Joey!" Téa responded angrily.

"I said I'd buy Yug another one!" Joey turned to Yugi who had gone deadly silent, starring stoned-face at the floor. "Yug, I'm really sorry man! I'll buy you another, new Dark Magician right now!"

"How could you?" Yugi asked almost above a whisper feeling his world crumbling.

"I said I was sorry Yugi! I never meant for that to happen. But hey! Look on the bright side! At least you'll get a new Dark Magician!"

Yugi looked up at Joey, frowning, hot tears swelling up in his eyes. "I don't want another Dark Magician! Grandpa, I'll be in my room." With that, Yugi hurried away from everyone and made his way to his room, shutting the door behind him.

In his room, Yugi sat on his bed bringing his knees to his chest and rested his head on his knees. He felt like crying, screaming out in rage, but something was stopping him. He just couldn't bring himself to do that. The ancient spirit, Yami could feel the dramatic change in Yugi and called out to him in alarm.

"Aibou!" Yugi sniffled, hearing Yami. He nodded to himself and closed his eyes, traveling deep within his subconscience mind where Yami dwelled. ^"He'll know what to do."^ Yugi thought as he arrived next to Yami.

Yami looked down at Yugi in concern as he saw the tears in his eyes. "What happened?" Yugi looked up at the ancient spirit, sob-gasp wiping away the tears from his eyes. "Well.....Joey...he....he lost one of my cards."

"Aibou!" Yami told him. "That is no reason to be upset! You can always replace a card."

Yugi shook his head. "I can't replace this card!"

"What card did Joey lose?" "Dark Magician"

"Then you can replace it. I know your grandfather carries more then one copy of that card."

Yugi shook his head stubbornly. "You don't understand! I can't replace that card!" Again the tears swelled up into Yugi's eyes and this time, he let them fall down his cheeks. "I promised them I would always keep that card with me! That I would never lose it! I PROMISED!!!!!"

Yami starred down at Yugi in shock. "Who....who did you promise?"

Yugi couldn't or wouldn't respond as he stood there letting his tears fall to the floor, muttering to himself over and over again. "I promised! I promised!..."

Yami sighed heavily, frowning, thinking deeply. "Alright. Stay here little one." Yami left and traveled back to the conscience world. He stood up from the bed and made his way out of the bedroom. Sneaking to the top of the stairs, Yami peered down into the livingroom where Tristen, Joey, Téa, andSugorokusat and listened closely, unnoticed.

"I still can't believe you would do such a thing Joey!" Téa told him, disappointed.

"How many times to I hafta say I'm sorry?!? Look! I'm gonna buy the same card from Grandpa." Joey turned to Grandpa hopefully. "You do have that card, don't you Grandpa?" Sugoroku nodded his head. Joey leaped with joy as he reached into his backpocket for his wallet. "I knows Yug said he doesn't want another one, but when he sees a spanking new Dark Magician, he'll change his mind. So Grandpa, how much is a Dark Magician?"

Sugoroku shook his head refusing the money Joey was trying to give him. "I'm sorry Joesph but I can not sell you a Dark Magician."

Joey's face fell. "But....why not?" he asked.

"Yeah Grandpa," Tristen asked. "What's so important about the Dark Magician. It's not like it's a rare card."

"It is a rare card." Sugoroku replied. "At least to Yugi it is."

"But Grandpa," Téa asked, "why?" Sugoroku sighed looking around at the three faces. "It's probally best I start from the beginning. Everyone get comfortable alright." When everyone found a comfortable spot, Sugoroku began the story.

"It was eight years ago exactly. Yugi was six or seven. He lived with his parents a block away from here, where I lived. Mind you back then this was not a card shop but a mere house being built on to become a card shop. Yugi and his parents would always walk down here everyday and visit me. Yugi was always excited to come and visit. He was so full of energy. He still is now. Despite his height, he would never let anything bring him down. One evening, his parents brought him over to spend the weekend while they went on a business trip. Yugi had gotten the flu and wasn't feeling very cheerful that night. He kept begging his mother and father to stay home with him and not leave. But they couldn't, even though I could tell that they desperately wanted to. After speaking with Yugi, his father gave him that Dark Magician and told him,

"Here son, this is yours. Promise me you'll always keep it safe. And no matter where your mother and I are, all you have to do is look at that card, and you'll know that we'll be thinking of you."

Yugi promised as his parents left, climbing into their car. Yugi rushed outside to watch them leave. It was something he had always done whenever he spent the night over. I went outside as well and together we watched them drive away. They had just pasted the stop sign when a semi-truck hit them dead on. The two vehicles dragged for a couple of feet before hitting a telephone pole. His parents never had a chance as the car burst into flames. I was in a state of shock before I realized Yugi was running towards the car. I took chase after him and tackled him to the floor. He kicked and screamed in rage, bitting and clawing trying to get free. But I held on tightly to him, hugging him in comfort as we watch on in shock. Not once did Yugi cry. Not even at the funeral. He just stood there, like a statue. I've tried to get him to release his pain and anger over that. But he wouldn't. He told me once.

"I can't Grandpa because I have the Dark Magician and as long as I have it, I know my mom and dad are thinking about me and want me to be strong for them. As long as I have this card, they're still alive to me, here in my heart."

That is why the Dark Magician is so important to Yugi. It is all he has left to remind him of his parents. The damn state took everything else and sold it to an auction. They even wanted to send Yugi to an orphanage, but I would never hear of such a thing and adopted him."

Sugoroku looked over at the three faces who were now sobbing from the story. "Poor Yugi!" Tristen cried out, wiping his eyes.

"I had no idea!" "To have to go through such pain at an early age." Téa replied in shock.

"Now I feel ten times as worse then before!" Joey told them as he stood up and made his way to the door.

"Hey Joey! Where do you think you're going?" Tristen asked.

Joey turned to his friends, face full of determination. "I'm going to get Yugi his card back. I'll find Gary Bishoun and demand he gives it back. I don't care if I have to give up my entire deck for that card! I'm going to get it back for Yugi!"

Téa and Tristen stood up, determined looks on their faces as well. "We'll help you!"

"Yeah! Together we'll find the card Yugi's parents gave him." Tristen, Téa, and Joey quickly left.

Sugoroku watched before turning his attention to the staircase. "You can come down now."

Yami gasped, feeling like he should kick himself for being caught, but he smiled as he thought. ^"This is Grandpa after all."^ He slowly made his way downstairs. "I heard it all. He never told me what had happened to his parents."

"Do you blame him for not telling?" Sugorokuasked.

Yami shook his head. "No I can't. I only wish there was some way I could help him to ease his pain. I can't stand knowing that Yugi is hurt and there's nothing I can do about it! I swore I would always protect him from all harm!"

"We all wish we can protect the ones we care about from all harm but that just isn't possible. There are some things even you can not do. But there are things you can do."

Yami looked down at Sugoroku. "How?"

"Comfort him. Lend him a shoulder to cry on to. Let him release the pain he's been holding for so long."

Yami nodded, heading back upstairs. "But do not tell him that the others are in search for the card. I do not want to get his hopes up, then come crashing down if they can not find that card." Sugoroku called up after him. Yami nodded his response as he returned to the bedroom. Alone, he traveled back into Yugi's subconscience mind. There he found Yugi rummaging through some of his old memories.

Yugi looked up at Yami, half smiling. "I almost forgot about some of this."

Yami knelt down beside Yugi, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I know what happened and I am sorry."

Yugi bit his lip trying to stop himself from crying again.

Yami saw this. "It's alright to cry. Let go of your pain Yugi. Let it all go."

Unable to hold it in any longer, Yugi wrapped his arms around Yami's waist and cried into his shirt. In between sobs, Yugi told Yami angrily. "I felt so helpless! I couldn't do any thing! I....I just watched as they burned! I feel like it's my fault!"

Yami held onto Yugi, stroking his head, comforting him. "Shhhhhh. It wasn't your fault. It never was. It'll be alright. Let it go. Let it all go." Yugi cried long and hard while Yami held onto him refusing to let him go. He almost felt like crying himself, but knew he had to be strong, for Yugi's sake.