You know, I actually got an email wondering how I am doing this and revising my stories and updating the one on my site?! hehe Anyhoo, incase you will be wondering as this part goes on, I am going on what little I know of the "unsanitized" Yu-Gi-Oh (like most the stories here. It took me a while to figure out what they were talking about, now I'm going out of my skull trying to find "unsanitized" Yu-Gi-Oh!) AND of course in typical Athene-Chan style, I have no title for this part either ;p
btw, ARIGATOU for the reviews =)
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"That was fast!" Sam couldn't get over the speed in which the teachers had graded the mid-terms.
"Computers now-a-days. Remember back in our days teachers had to do all this by hand."
"You know, if it weren't for the fact I'm in the body of a healthy fourteen year old, that comment would have hurt."
"Zing! Anyway, I talked to Yugi and no one, not even Mai has met dear ol' dad."
"Geez Al, would you take her home?" Al looked away, rubbed the back of his neck and cleared his throat. "I forget sometimes who I'm talking to." Sam smiled and looked over the results of his, Yugi's, tests as the hologram continued.
"I ran what little we've got so far from Yugi and company through Ziggy..."
"A B? I've never gotten a B... have I?"
"No Sam, and you're supposed to be Yugi, not you... stay focused!"
"Sorry. You ran things through Ziggy and..."
"Good news and bad news, of course, but good news is there is a reason Yami stuck around!"
"You mean he shouldn't have?"
"Like he said, he's a big part of Yugi, so he should have leaped too."
"This is incredible!"
This is wonderful Sam! But, the... well, what's the bad news?
"Yea, Al the bad news?" he had to choke the words out. He didn't like the look on Al's face. His friend began to fidget and stall. "Al! Please! Like a band aid! Quick..."
"Can you take the puzzle off a minute, please?"
Go ahead, I understand. was what Yami said. What Sam heard was 'I don't want to hear this either.' He took it off and gave it a few seconds for the spirit's presence to pass.
"Ok, what's so bad you don't want Yami hearing?"
"Oh, man Sam. Getting Joey and his mother to speak truely will be a test..."
"I know, so..."
"Sooo...here's the thing, it's not just about getting them to speak, it's convincing the kid to speak to her to...", he stopped again and tried to find the words. He liked the kid, so as Sam had told him 'like a band aid', "... save his life." he let a huge sigh as if a ten ton weight had been lifted.
"Save his life? Wha... how?"
"We don't know. We have the whole no one has met daddy thing. There may be something there..."
"The fact he didn't want to talk about him... dad's not such a nice guy, huh?"
"That's my guess, Sam." Both fell silent. Neither wanting to share the scenarios going on in their minds. Sam put the puzzle back on, then looked deep in thought. Al could only guess he was breaking the news to Yami. His own problem was how to, if to, break it to Yugi. He began to rock back and forth on his heels, impatient with his own thoughts, then noticed the subject of their conversation attempting another sneak attack on his little friend.
"Hey, Sam, behind you! Don't look! Just play along." Al was going to have a little fun of his own. As the boy got closer, Al waited, then signaled for Sam to jump. At just the right moment, Sam jumped up, spooking the would be attacker back right through the doors and flat on his back into the hall. Sam ran in to find Joey on his back, grabbing his chest.
"Ya got me, pal! Good one!" he took Sam's hand to sit up. "So, how'd ya do?" Sam was ready to answer, then Joey interrupted. "Ya did great, right? All that studyin' ya did there's no reason you wouldn't." Sam tried to determine if the tone of the question/comment was congradulatory, or jealousy. He didn't ask, but to his surprise, Joey offered anyway, "I did all right I guess."
"You guess? You studied hard too. Even Tristan said..."
"Yea, sure, Yug. I'll catch ya later, huh?"
"Sure..." He watch the boy slowly make his way out the front doors.
"He seems a little down, doesn't he?" Sam turned to be greeted by a cheerful smile from a boy with rather long hair and huge dark eyes that seemed to be focused right past Sam's position. "Forgive me, but those aren't colors one would find in nature, now are they?" he said as he continued smiling.
"What?! You..." Al looked up down and all around. No one with odd colors but himself. "You can see... uh oh!"
"Oh boy." was all Sam could manage. He only hoped the boy couldn't tell Yugi was gone. He tried to play along until he and Al noticed the cheerfulness suddenly fade, then Sam felt Yami take over. Al decided this wasn't going to be pretty, but like watching a bad accident he couldn't look away.
"So old friend, who's your new friend?"
"What do you want, 'thief'?"
"Nothing... oh, just your puzzle, but there is a time and place for that. So are you going introduce us?" His eyes were evil, his smile was evil, his voice was evil. Yami could feel Sam getting nervous.
Don't worry, Sam. This may be why I had to stay.
The evil boy walked to Al, looking him up and down. "For once I agree with the little twerp! These colors are hideous!" He tried to touch the lapel and watch as his hand went straight through then quickly pulled it back. "WHAT IS THIS?!" he decided he wanted no more and gave control back to the young boy. Yami followed suit and gave Sam control.
"So, Yugi, who's your friend?" the cheerfulness had returned as if nothing had happened.
"What's going on 'Yugi'?" Al asked through his teeth.
Yami, who is this?
I'm sorry Sam, this is Bakura. He has a Millennium item, but no control.
He acts like he doesn't know...
He does. There's a great amount of fear there. I suggest you leave it be. This is my department. Sam wasn't about to argue, and introduced Al as if he were there.
"Nice to meet you Al! So what do you suppose has gotten into Joey?"
"Didn't do as well as he hoped, I guess. Oh, speaking of that, Al follow him..."
"But, Sa... Yugi, you know that it takes a lot out of Zi... you know what to do that and getting back to you will be slowed down..."
"Just go!" he snapped.
"Right, just don't say I didn't warn you!" then he vanished. Sam tried to explain to Bakura what had happened. The angel like expression didn't change. It was like he was in shock.
"Bakura?"
"Yes, Yugi?" his expression still wasn't changing and his voice was monotone.
"Just do me a favor and don't say anything to anyone, ok?" the boy shook it off and snapped back.
"Sure Yugi. No one would believe me anyway! I have to go! I'm anxious to show my mom my grades! See you around!"
Wow, Yami. That poor kid.
I know. Unfortunatly it's his destiny to have the item. Tristan threw it away once, but it found it's way back.
He's not going to try and take you is he?
No. He has to play me for it, and like he said there's a time and place for it.
Not now, not here thank goodness!
We should be getting home. Yugi promised his grandfather he would help him in the store today.
Well, let's keep that promise! I just hope Al will be ok.
~~~~*~~~~
Al had done what Sam had asked and followed Joey home. He could tell Ziggy wasn't liking the strain of connecting to someone other than Sam.
"Gooshi! Keep him steady!" Wow, Sam I hope you're right about this. He took a look around the house, "Nice place, kid." he went into the living room where his charge had flopped on the couch and grabbed a new reading assignment.
"Geez! Back one day from mids and homework all ready!" he mummbled. He flipped through the book and wrinkled his nose. Al took a peek.
"Say, Shakespeare is... cool." he tried to comfort as if the boy could hear him. He watched him flip through the book. Not reading, just scanning. Suddenly he slapped the book shut, stood and threw it across the room.
"This SUCKS!"
"Whoa, kid! Take it easy!" Thoughts of more evil Yami began running through his mind, but then, if he did have one of those things, he could see him. Al relaxed again and followed Joey into the kitchen where a note had been waiting on the table.
"What...?" Joey picked it up to read it. Al could only make out a few mumbled words as the boy read, " 'Don't wait up.'!? No problem!" he crushed the note then slam dunked it into the trash before Al could read it himself.
"He cares enough to leave a note. That's a good sign." Al thought aloud. The only thing Al couldn't get passed was Joey's attitude. It almost seemed to take a darker turn than the Bakura kid's. He followed Joey back into the living room where the boy collapsed back onto the couch. He began to reach into his bookbag when the slamming of a car door startled him. He quickly shoved everything back into his bookbag, ran to get the book he had thrown, made it back in time to shove the bag under the couch as far back as it would go then make like he had been reading the whole time.
Al looked out the window. It was an older, fairly attractive, clean cut man, with an even more attractive young lady waiting in the car. Must be daddy and... no clue but what a hottie! Ah, to learn the secrets of the Wheeler men...
As the door opened, Joey appeared to try and disappear into the couch with help from the book. It didn't work. The man walked over, grabbed the book and looked it over.
"MacBeth, huh?"
"Yes, sir.
"How did your mid terms go?"
"Don't know. Didn't get 'em back yet."
Al had to do a double take. The kid lied straight faced with out missing a beat. He looked for the stern man's reaction. He simply handed Joey his book and went about his business.
"I thought you were ganna be late tonight." Joey's dark attitude had taken a complete turn around with just the sound of the car doors. He was suddenly meek and child like.
"Laurna forgot her purse. We just came back for it. Leaving now. You weren't planning any fast parties were you?"
"Course not, sir!" was the overly defensive response.
"Just kidding! You are so uptight sometimes." he walked back passed the couch and ruffled his son's hair. Al was confused. The man was so stern and frightening when it came to school talk then all of the sudden... he gave up. He watched as the man started to leave, but just before shutting the door he peeked back in, "Say, Joseph!"
"Yes, sir?"
"You need a haircut. There's money in the jar in the kitchen, just enough I think. After your homework I want you to go. Got it?"
Al watched for Joey's reaction. He was scowling behind the book. His father was still waiting for an answer.
"You hear me, young man?!"
"Yes sir!"
"Good." he finally shut the door and left for the evening. Joey was still scowling, his face bright red.
"Geez, kid, let it out before ya burst!" Al warned. Finally the boy snapped. He threw the book at the front door full force.
"I GOT IT, YA JERK!" he screamed, then to Al's shock added, "AND WHO'S LAURNA?!" It seemed to Al the way Joey's father casually mentioned this woman, Joey knew of her. Still, he wasn't sure of what to make of this. He didn't seem like a jerk, a hard case maybe; someone overly concerned for his kid's education and appearance. He watched Joey stomp toward the window, making sure his father was gone. Once assured, he went to the kitchen, grabbed the money and his keys and left.
"Gooshi, Ziggy! You know what to do!" he cried out. "We can only hope he's going to see Sam."
~~~~*~~~~
Al couldn't have asked for any other wish to come true. Joey went straight to the game shop where Sam had been helping Yugi's grandfather. Thank goodness! Maybe Ziggy will chill now!
"Hey, Yug! Your grandpa around?"
"Sure, he's in the back. Go ahead on in."
"Thanks, buddy." Sam and Al watched to make sure Joey had gone all the way back before Al was able to share anything.
"If anything, Sam, his dad is just a hard case. To me it's like the kid has a problem with authority and probably just needs an attitude adjustment. So as far as saving lives, I would worry more about his dad's than his."
"Are you serious? I don't see Joey being a murderer Al! But then what's with the saving a life business? Are we sure it's his life?"
Maybe it has something to do with the other 'not-so-friendly' "Yami"? the spirit offered.
I hope not, but that would explain why you're still here.
"Sam, ya still with me?" Al was having a hard time telling if he was communicating with Yami or just deep in thought.
"Yea, Yami thinks it may have something to do with... you aren't going to like this... other "Yami"."
"You're right I don't like it."
"I still want to keep an eye out on his dad though. What exactly happened?"
"Well, he get's home, his attitude is off the charts, then his father comes in and he's..." Al had to think about this, why if the guy is just a "hard-case" would he be affraid? "... all of the sudden it was like he just shut down. 'Yes, sir', 'No, sir' stuff. Like he was affraid of setting off a fuse."
"Al, he's terrified of the man! Now that we know it's possible I want you to keep an eye on him. And pay attention to his address. No one seems to know it..."
"Who ya talkin' to, Yug?" Joey and grandpa had come out from the back, Sam hadn't even noticed.
"No one, really. Just thinking out loud." he tried to keep a smile, but knowing, or thinking the worse about what this boy may be going through was like a needle through bone. "What ya got there, Joey?"
"Ah! He wanted to surprise Mai, didn't ya, Joseph!" the old man nudged and winked. Joey just blushed. "He got her a card to go in her Harpie Lady deck."
"Really, she'd lo..."
"Sam, that money was for him to get a haircut!"
"Yea, been savin' for it. I remember her sayin' somethin' about it so..." he continued to blush, then started backing out the door. "Gotta run! Thanks gramps!"
" 'Been saving for it' my keister! Sam he took that money!"
"Anytime, Joseph!"
"Sam, this isn't going to go over to well..."
"Grandpa, you mind if I take off early?"
"Course not! Thanks for the help!" the man was a little overly cheerful for Al. A sharp contrast from what Joey was dealing with, that was for sure. He noticed Sam trying to casually motion for him to follow.
~~~~*~~~~
Yugi's little legs stood no chance at catching up to Joey. The kid's legs were long and carried him a great distance at a greater speed.
"Damn! Al is it possible to look up Mai's address?"
"Why not ask Tristan?" Al pointed across the street to the boy climbing down from his motorcycle.
"Al I could kiss you!"
"Thankfully you can't!"
"Tristan! Got a minute?" Sam called out.
"Hey Yugi! Sure, what's up?"
"Did you see Joey?"
"Yea, he's heading for Mai's. Why?"
"I really need to talk to him..."
"Ha! Yea, Yug! You're ganna bug him and Mai." Tristan winked, Al flinched. "Look, he's not going to be long. She's grounded, he'd have to be outta there before her parents get home anyway."
"Good... well not good, just..." Sam thought about it. The way Tristan made it seem, Mai would have to see something- this was not easy for him to comprehend, but teenagers will be teenagers- he thought of how he could bring up the subject to Mai with out frightnening, or insulting, her. "Thanks Tristan! Gotta run!"
"Sure, Yug, see ya!" Man he's been acting funny lately!
~~~~*~~~~
"You're going to ask Mai if she has "seen" anything? Sam!"
"How else do you expect us to know for sure if he's getting beat up?!"
"Don't you think she would have said something?"
"No, Al, I don't. Especially if he may have asked her not to if anything was said between them."
You think Mai would cover something so serious, Sam?
Like I said, if anything was shared between them, as typical teenagers go, it's going to stay between them. "That is if anything was said. Al, you said Yugi told you Joey talks a big game, but has never actually seen it happen?"
"Except for the bouts between him and Tristan."
"It's possible that's all Mai thinks it is too. Go back to Joey's. Keep an eye out."
"Sure thing Sam. Oh, but it's like I told you; Ziggy doesn't like this! It's going to get harder and harder to reach you..."
"GO!"
"Yea, yea..."
He's a stubborn man, is he not?
"Yes, he is, Yami. But you can't fault him for caring. I can tell he's warming up to you and he likes this kid. I'll bet anything it's cuz he reminds him of himself as a kid." Sam decided to call it a day. With Al keeping an eye on Joey, he was able to relax more. "What do you say we head back to the game shop. You and "gramps" can show me more of this game."
Sure, Sam. You have been catching on fast!
Well, I did play it before... twenty or so years ago!
tbc...
