A/N: Nearly there...
"And I play.....hey! Joey! You're awake!" Yugi exclaimed, and the hand that originally held his chosen card now went to hug his bemused pet. Stupid mutt. I didn't even have to lay a hand on him. But I have to admit, more than 50% of my thoughts had been spent on him for the past day or so. What kind of person feels so guilty they attempt to end their own life when a friend goes missing? Granted, it was a pathetic and useless attempt, but still, surely there are some sane explanations for his behaviour? He must care about Tristan, a lot. I felt a short stab of pain within me, as I realised that I didn't have a single friend who would die for me without question.
"How're you feeling Joey? Did you sleep well? The doctor said you might be disoriented at first." Joey shook his head, and then growled as he tried to move his left lower arm.
So Joey does have a brain, if the saying 'no pain, no brain' was anything to go by.
"Wow! Take it easy! You've lost a lot of blood. It was lucky your father's blood type matched very closely, and he was willing to donate. Leave the drip in, you need it." Yugi informed him.
"My father? You kiddin me?" Joey gaped, gazing down on his completely bandaged arm. I sniggered as I remembered the state it was in when his father had brought him into the hospital, half scared out of his mind and less intoxicated than usual. Like me, his family has an unhealthy attraction to hospitals. I always seem to end up in one, for one reason or another.
Stupid puppy. Just because he didn't possess enough brain cells to know which veins to slash didn't mean he had to go all out and slash them all. How could anybody be so dense? But, why do I go out of my way to insult him? He isn't even worth my time, and yet, I have never walked away willingly when he called me.
"Wait!!!! Tristan! Have they found him?" He grabbed Yugi's shirt collar, suddenly regaining his memories.
"Calm down Joey! No sign of Tristan yet, but no news has to be good news." Yugi tried.
"It was all my fault man! If I hadn't lost control o'myself...."
"It's ok. I received a phone call two days ago, from someone anonymous, telling me that Tristan fell down a manhole."
"Did ya find anythin?" Joey nearly pulled Yugi on top of him in his excitement.
"Hm...nothing except a half eaten packet of M & M's....which...which...means he must have gotten out!" Yugi stuttered whilst trying to counter the death grip Joey was exercising.
"Phew. He's probably went hidin cos he figured I'd still be mad at him. Serves him right for goin on a date with my sis!" Joey plonked himself back onto his gigantic pillow, relief washing away guilt and pain.
"It was just one date Joey. You didn't have to get so mad. And, you didn't have to commit suicide just because Tristan went missing." Yugi lectured, "We were so worried about you."
Joey simply grinned, spirit already sky high, "Oh I'm too tired to think at the mo. How's Téa and Gramps? Oh and Bakura?"
"Well, Téa has a session with a plastic surgery advisor, Grandpa's still being treated, but he's out of the danger zone. Bakura's still in intensive care, but I'm sure he'll recover soon." Yugi answered.
Téa? Plastic surgery? I slashed her face too deep for that. White scars will always be visible no matter how much makeup she wears. A veil would do the job, but ballet dancers do not normally have such attire. As for that old fool, his life span is just about spent. No more bouncing around like an overblown football for him. But Bakura, I do feel guilty about. He saved me after all, plus when I was laid down in this hospital he was the first to visit. Well, we had something in common after all, during the Battle City tournament. I just hope the doctors here are not as ineffective as they look. Of course, money is no objective.
"Great. But this is one whole mess Yuge! And talking of mess, you're a-gigantic-sorry-looking one! Did something happen to ya? Did the guy who attacked Téa and Gramps and Bakura go after you too?!!!"
"Joey calm down!!! You'll never recover by screaming at me. The doctor said..."
"Yeah yeah. Give me a break." "But he said..." "Don't lecture...." "Joey! Your...."
After several minutes of being ignored, I got sick of listening to the squabbling, and decided it was time Joey and Yugi acknowledged my existence, "This is all very entertaining and all, but Yugi, I seem to remember that you were just losing to me in a duel. Let's finish this, I have an appointment in half an hour." That stopped both of them in mid-sentence. Yugi hesitated, thoughts lingering upon Joey's condition.
"Of course, do feel free to forfeit the duel at any time."
That brought his interest back immediately, "Nope. I don't intend to surrender."
"Good. I once said that I wish to defeat you when you are fighting your hardest, and I still say it now. It's still your turn."
"I summon the...!"
"Hold it right there! I activate Torrential Tribute [10]!" I smirked at the shock on his face for falling for yet another trap. This duel is turning out to be quite the show, and now I even have an attentive audience to admire my skills.
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[10] Torrential Tribute- You can activate this card when a monster is Summoned (including Flip and Special Summon)l. Destroy all monsters on the field.
