Brood: Woo! Chapter 3! Feel the spiffyness of it all! *Dances*

Zutsokaki: You can't dance at all, you do know that, right?

Brood: Grrrrrsss* You are really trying to make me happy, right?

Zutsokaki: You know what would make me happy? Is if I could go home…

Brood: *Cuts him off by smacking him in the head with a pole* Thanks Peacenikky for that wonderful idea!

Zutsokaki: I….like…..moose…..*Falls over




CHAPTER 3



Joey walked around a ship corridor, heading for the hall. When Yugi didn't get up this morning, he decided not to wake him, and headed for the dining hall himself. As he rounded a corner and entered the door, he immediately spotted Anzu and Honda at a table close by. They were already eating so he looked over at them and motioned towards the breakfast line, and they nodded. He walked over and got in line.

After he had gotten his food, he headed back to the table. He was only about a couple of tables away when someone accidentally shoved by him by the shoulder, nearly knocking his tray out of his hands and sending him stumbling just a little bit.

"Hey buddy! You just watch where you're going!"

The person who shoved him turned around and smiled. "I'm so sorry Joey."

"Bakura! It's you! Hey, uh….how've ya been?"

"Oh, I have been just fine, thank you. Um….where is Yugi?"

"Don't worry about him, he just felt like sleeping some more. He will most likely be here soon. Why don't you come and sit with us? Honda and Anzu are there also!"

"They were sent invitations? They must have become great duelists! And sure, I will sit with you all!"

Joey and the young white-haired boy went to sit down with Anzu and Honda, who were pleased to see him. They chatted and spoke of what they had been up too as they waited for Yugi.


Seto Kaiba glanced around the hall with distaste. He was in the right place to look over the competition, since everyone was eating, and most of them didn't even seem worthy to spit on the same patch of dirt as him.

/None of them could even withstand my almighty Blue Eyes White Dragon for a moment. Another competition in the bag for the great Seto Kaiba….I only have to worry about that Yugi Motou…./

He frowned and almost started growling, but he stopped and touched the card pendant around his neck for comfort.

/So sorry for leaving you at home Mokuba, but as you well know, I can take care of myself quite well now…./

He stood up and left the hall, deciding to get his map of the ship and see what there was to do. As he flipped through the pamphlet, he went over the activities.

/Chess mini tournament, only 100 sign-ups allowed….boring, I'd win too easily….hmm….Card Room….heh….maybe I can get some new cards by betting and beating them at Poker./

He left his room and headed for the Card Room, two decks down and in another large room, where there were many casino-style card tables and many people sitting and playing lots of different types of card games.

Seto sat down at a table where a Poker game was being played and asked to be dealt in. He was given a hand and then looked up at the dealer, who was Vietnamese and had and interpreter beside him.

"Tell your friend that I wish to make this game more interesting. I see no bets on the table, so I suggest that we bet some Duel Monster's cards. I have some very nice ones on me right at this moment."

He waited as the slightly surprised interpreter spoke to her employer in rapid Vietnamese. The other duelist kept his eyes on Kaiba the whole time the interpreter spoke, and when she was done explaining, he took out his electric ID and pointed it at Kaiba, pressing a button on it. He examined the stats, his eyes widening, then nodded and pulled a box out of his pocket.

Kaiba took out his ID and did the same.

/Saymao Dinh. Age: 17 Sex: Male Noteworthy DM Accomplishments: Vietnamese Regional Champion, Vietnamese National Semi-finalist…………hmmmmm….not bad. I'll bet he has some really nice cards…./

All of the other players at the table watched them, and a couple left, not wanting to risk any of their cards, or just didn't have any at the moment. The six that were left set their game faces and pulled out their cards.

"Alright friends, lets play. Game is Five Card Draw." He knew that the foreigners at least knew what "play" and Five Card Draw were, without interpretation. Kaiba smirked lightly and looked over his cards. He picked a few DM cards out of his box and put them on his lap. Then he looked over his hand again and pulled two cards out, discarding them and drawing one new one. Then he waited until three of the other players took some of their new cards, and grabbed his second. He waited again until everyone else was done.

Saymao looked around and pulled two cards out of his box and placing them on the table. They were Remove Trap and Doma the Angel of Silence.

/Hmm..not bad Saymao. I could use a nice Remove Trap. I thank you./

At this slightly daring move, two of them folded and got up from the table. The other four put down some fairly common, yet very nice cards. Kaiba took another look at his cards, then decided on a bluff to get the others away from the table. He placed the Hane-Hane and the Reaper of the Cards on the table, both of them fairly valuable. It did as he expected and the other four glanced at each other and left. Only him and Saymao were left at the table. Saymao smirked and put down a Celtic Warrior. Kaiba looked at his hand again, smirked back and placed down a wonderful bluff….one of his Mystical Elves and his Polymerization card.

Saymao's eyes widened in surprise. He looked at Kaiba's stone face and folded, sighing heavily. No way Kaiba would put down such valuable cards if he didn't have the confidence in his hand.

Kaiba smiled darkly and put down his hand. He had a pair of sevens. He nodded in acknowledgement and gathered up his new cards, walking away and leaving a very surprised person behind. He stopped at another table and sat down there.

"Deal me in."

The dealer of that table peeked out from behind her light green hair.

" 'Ello! And vut is your name?" She smiled at him.

"I am Seto Kaiba. Would you like to make a little wager on the game?"

"I am Amoura Letazaut! And….but of course….a little wager does sound exziting…."

An hour later, Amoura and Seto were playing alone now, and in a deadlock. Seto had such good hands that he hadn't needed a bluff yet, but obviously she had really good hands as well. They both had some of each other's cards, but gladly none of them were that important. Yet, he was still very frustrated at this, since he didn't lose often. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time he lost any kind of normal card game. He drew a card and glanced over at his hand again. She drew a card and then took another card out of her Duel Monster's box. She looked over at him.

"Are you ready to place ze bet?"

"Of course."

She placed a Metal Dragon on the table. Seto's eyes widened slightly, trying not to lose his game face.

/A Metal Dragon! Could she be doing the same thing I did earlier? Could she be bluffing? Maybe I need a slightly better bluff than that....but there is only one card I have that would daunt her..../

He didn't want to have to do it. He really didn't feel like risking it. But all of her winning was really burning him, and making him think a little irrationaly. He hoped it wasn't an omen to how he would do in the tournament. He just HAD to win. So, he did it with a heavy hand.

He put one of his Blue Eyes White Dragons on the table.

Amoura's eyes looked ready to pop at the sight, but she just looked up at him again.

/Come on girl....fold already....do it!/

"Shall ve show our 'ands now, Monsieur Kaiba?"

/WHAT!!!!!!/

He kept his face the way it was and nodded. They put their hands on the table. Seto had a flush of the eight through queen of hearts. She had a royal flush in clubs. Seto looked at his Blue Eyes and nearly tossed the table over in a rage of anger.

/HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SO STUPID!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!! WHAT WILL I DO WITHOUT MY THIRD BLUE EYES??????!!!!!/

Amoura stood from the table and gathered up all of the cards. "I cannot believe zat you betted a prized Blue Eyes on zis game."

Seto Kaiba looked up at her and saw her looking the card over. /My Blue Eyes! No......./

"You do know zat it is ze dream of every Duel Monster's player to own zis card...."

Kaiba kept his eyes on the card as she spoke.

"But now I can say that....I was ze proud owner of ze famous Blue Eyes for even just a moment. 'Ere, you take it back. I zee your pain. It is to precious." She placed it back on the table and turned to walk out of the room.

Seto stood there, not believing a thing he had just heard. But there it was on the table....his Blue Eyes White Dragon. He just stared at it for a second, then, just in case it was a dream, snatched it up off of the table. Then he remembered Amoura. He took out his ID and scanned her just the second she stepped out of the room. He just barely got her stats.

/Amoura Letazaut. Age: 15 Sex: Female Noteworthy DM Accomplishments: French Regional Semi-Finalist French National Finalist....Wow, she is good./

Seto Kaiba was completely in awe of the deed this girl had done. She had possession of the Blue Eyes White Dragon, and she willingly gave it back. He was very glad he had not put down the God of Obelisk. She might have not given it back. But then again, he wouldn't have done that for the world. It would have been all to foolish. He decided not to let anyone, especially that Yugi and his friends know of this event. He then calmly dusted off his jacket, put his Blue Eyes away, and walked over to another table.

"Deal me in, please."


Yugi sat out on his open deck part of the room, his face out to the ocean, the breeze playing with his spikey hair. He was thinking about the tournament of course, but there were other things on his mind. Suddenly his puzzle glowed and Yami came out. He stood before Yugi and looked down on him.

"Do you mind if I sit with you? You look a little to thoughtful to be alone."

"No Yami, I don't mind. Sit down."

"What is on your mind Yugi? Is it anything I said yesterday?"

"No, not really. I just can't stop thinking that there is something different about her than the other duelists!"

"So it was something I said yesterday, Yugi."

"Ok....so it might have been. But didn't you sense anything? Anything at all Yami?"

"To tell you the truth, I did feel something. It's like she is different somehow from the others. But we will find out what it is." Yami picked up the pamphlet by Yugi's mini table. "Hmm...there is a short seminar in about ten minutes to teach the basics on that ID we got. Maybe you should go."

Yugi looked over at him. "Yeah, I really should. Where is it?"

"Um....it is in the assembly hall." Yami read some more of the pamplet carefully. "There is also a movie showing in the entertainment deck, and a play tonight and tomorrow night in the assembly hall stage."

"Wow. They sure make sure we aren't bored. What's the play and movie?"

"The movie is actually "Gone With the Wind."

Yugi rolled his eyes. "Boring. Anzu would like it though. And they play?"

Yami read again. "It is called "Rumors." It's by Neil Simon. It is supposed to be about someone making up too many untrue things and it comes back to them in the end."

"Well Yami, I probably won't go to any of those. Unless...."

"You could ask Anzu?"

"You know me all too well Yami. Come on, I need to go to that seminar."

Yami nodded and started to glow. He went back inside of the puzzle, and Yugi got up from the chair and stepped back into his room. He grabbed his jacket and went out into the hall. He noticed that the hall was filled with people going to the short class. When he finally made it to the auditorium, he heard his name.

"YUGI!!!!! OVER HERE!!!!!"

He immediatly looked in the direction of the voice. It was Honda, and he was standing up in the middle of Anzu, Joey, and Bakura. Yugi fought his way over and sat down.

"Hey everyone. How are you Bakura?"

"Very good, Yugi. We were wondering if you would ever get out of bed!"

"Uh yeah, I slept really soundly last night." They looked around the auditorium and saw that is was two-storied and very roomy. The stage was really big, just the thing for a main-stage play.

Suddenly, a pair of bracleted arms caught Yugi and Joey around the shoulders.

"Yugi! Joey! I never thought all of you were here! It is so nice to see you all again!"

Joey and Yugi started at the voice and both of them turned around.

"Uh..how are you, Mai?"

"Very nice, Joey, and thank you for asking little old me...." Mai looked at them both innocently and sat down in her chair behind them.

"Hey Mai!" Anzu said nicely. "Are you in one of the champion's rooms also?"

"Actually, yes I am. It is mainly for Duelist Kingdom, but I have had other tournaments. I am in room 18. Hey, were you two invited to this tournament?" She motioned to Honda and Anzu.

"Yeah, isn't it great!" Honda smiled and pulled out his deck. "I can't wait to try this baby out! I really wanna duel!"

"Do you think you'll last....and especially you, Anzu." Mai glanced at Anzu, her eyes twinkling. Anzu's eyes flashed.

"I do think I will be fine, Mai. I don't have all of the same cards I used to. I happened to beef my deck up before we all left!" She looked slighty mad, but really proud.

"Well, I suppose you will do much better than you did against me....even if it was a victory for you, it was slow at best...." Mai looked at Yugi and winked.

Anzu was about to retaliate when the lights went out and the stage lit up. A man in a black suit walked out onto stage and raised his hands to stop the chatter that had started up after the lights went out. About ten interpreters came out also.

"Will you all please take out your ID's. We are now going to have a very short lesson on how to use them. Everyone took out their ID's and looked at them. A few people knew the basic duelist scanning feature and had played with it a little.

"Now use the arrow buttons on the ID to highlight "Scanner" on the Main Menu. When it is highlighted, point it at someone close to you and hit the "Enter" button."

Everyone in the auditorium pointed their ID's at someone and hit "Enter," as they were told. Most of the people really enjoyed this and scanned a couple of other people, smiling at this.

"Now, on the Main Menu again, highlight "Map" and hit "Enter" again. A map of Crawford Sea's Island is shown on it. You all should know that this tournament is going to be like Duelist Kingdom in many ways. But this island is about three times larger with about fifty holographic dueling stations."

Everyone took their eyes off of their ID's and looked at the man on the stage. Yugi's eyes went wide. Really wide.

/Three times as large????!!!! I can't believe it! This will take forever!/

"Now everyone, please turn your attention to the ID scanner again, I forgot to mention that when you scan someone, there is an option tab that can allow you to add information to your duelist ID about the person you just scanned. If you would look at the bottom of your ID, you will see a small pull out tray with a small keyboard on it, where you can input information. And then please look................"

For the next ten minutes, they got information on the ID's that they most likely could have figured out themselves, but they listened anyway. When he was done, he left the stage and someone else stepped out. He was another security man.

"Hello everyone, I would just like to take this chance to remind you to check your pamphlets for the activities for the rest of this trip. Thank you and have a great day." He left the stage followed by the interpreters. Everyone in the hall stood up and prepared to leave. Leaving was going to prove more strenuous than getting in.

Yugi and his friends stood and made their way towards a door. This door was farther away from the stairs leading to their rooms, and Honda voiced this concern.

"Well," Mai said, looking at her watch. "It is nearly fifteen minutes before lunch. Why don't we just go to the hall or the Games room? They are both in this direction anyway."

"Hey, that's not a bad idea Mai," Yugi said happily. "I had no idea that this place had a game room!"

"And have you people looked at the activities for tomorrow night?" Mai pulled out her pamphlet. "Since we arrive early the next morning, there is going to be one big party in the hall. Obviously after dinner tomorrow they plan on kicking everyone out quickly to set the place up. The room is certainly big enough."

"A big party?" Joey and Honda scratched their heads. Joey spoke again. "As in a big dance? As in dates? As in....girls?"

Honda and Joey looked at eachother and looked in Anzu's direction. Honda got to her first. "So Anzu, will you do us the honor of accompanying us so we won't look like dateless dorks?"

"Just to make you guys look better? Uhh....no." Anzu smiled at them. Mai nearly blew.

"Oh, and I am not a presentable date!? I can't believe you boys!"

"Don't worry Mai," Joey joked. "We'll save you a dance with us studs."

"You! You think I'd waste my time on you!"

"HA! I GOTCHA!"

"How?"

"First you get mad when we didn't ask you, then you got mad when we did! You just can't seem to make up your mind, Mai!" Joey started to laugh. He was rewarded with a purse over the head. "OW!" He rubbed his head and grumbled a little.

When they got to the Games room, Anzu headed for the Pinball Machines, and Joey with Honda went for the fighting games. Yugi sat at a racing game, and Mai sat beside him, catching a glance at Joey, laughing and beating Honda badly at the game.

"They are so immature, don't they know that they are too old for games like that?"

"Aww, leave them alone Mai. Hey, pick a track."


The small figure crept quietly from behind box to box, carefully avoiding the guards and making his way around the cargo deck. It seemed as if a tiny shadow crept around. Silently it darted around a guard and moved closer to the stairs.

/You think I would let you leave me behind?! There is no way I would miss any of this at all! You can't just keep me away! I am here with you, and you can't stop it!/







Brood: Hey, I am done with Chapter 3! Yay!

Zutsokaki: Thank God................

Brood: How come your awake?

Zutsokaki: I'm a fast healer.

Brood: ..........whatever..........anyway, next chapter, the big party, and the arrival on the island! YAY!!!!! Hey, thank you for the few reviews I have gotten so far, I really appreciate them!

Zutsokaki: You know, I don't think this is that good anyway, so why are you getting good reviews?

Brood: *stuffs him in a tiny closet*