Time's Blood
Chapter 2
By: Lazeralk
Standard disclaimers apply. *.* = Yugi's thoughts ^.^ = Yami Yugi's thoughts
*
Yugi awoke abruptly, wide awake and having the strangest feeling that he was being watched. His Millenium Puzzle/Eye had become rather heavy due to the addition of the Eye, and rested on the table to his right. He'd fallen asleep at his desk, attempting to do his homework, and the Puzzle/Eye hanging from his neck had begun to hurt. Naturally, after apologizing to Yami, he'd taken it off and set it aside.
He looked around his bedroom, halfheartedly hoping to catch a glimpse of whoever was spying on him. No such luck, as his visual sweep of the room revealed nothing. Frowning, he turned his attention back to his studies, only to find a plain white envelope sitting before him instead of his history notes.
*Uh oh.I better get Yami first, he'll want to see this first hand. * He thought, reaching for the Puzzle/Eye, at which point he'd decided to refer to as the Puzzle unless he specifically referred to the Eye, he put it on and called mentally for Yami.
^What's up? ^
*Something weird. I fell asleep at my desk and when I woke up.well take a look. * He replied, allowing Yami to take over. By now he was fairly use to the slight tingling feeling he got whenever that happened.
Yami Yugi peered curiously at the envelope for a moment before picking it up and studding it closely.
*Do you have the feeling we're being watched? *
^Actually, now that you mention it, I do. ^
The two of them had agreed to communicate mentally regardless of the situation and at all times. There was no sense in risking having Grandpa over hear and have him hauled off to a mental asylum if they didn't.
*Are you going to open it? *
^Yeah, yeah.^
Yami Yugi promptly flipped it and carefully tore the edge open. He extracted a folded piece of paper and opened it to find a duel monster card and a short, curt message.
"Dear Mr. Yugi Mouto,
Please meet me at the Star Wind Café 6:00 tomorrow evening."
The card was More Than You Asked For, the very same card he'd found missing from his deck upon his return home from the Duelist Kingdom.
*Should we go? *
^I don't see why not. We might even figure out who put the sticky notes on your cards. ^
*That's true, but who could it be? *
^It's not one of your friends, or Kaiba for that matter. ^
*Why not Kaiba? He might want to talk to me, and he thinks it beneath him to just call like any of the others would have done. Maybe he wants to thank me for saving him and Mokuba. *
^ I highly doubt that. Kaiba doesn't thank anyone for anything and he certainly doesn't say 'please'. Besides, if it were him, wouldn't you think he'd have just given the letter to your grandfather and asked him to deliver it? ^
*I guess so.well then who? *
^I don't know, and neither will you if we don't go. ^
*.Okay. We'll go, but we take my friends. The letter doesn't say we have to come alone. *
^Fine by me, besides Teya is kinda cute. ^
*Don't even think about it. *
^Why not? It's not as if you have a chance. ^
*I have a better chance than you. *
^How so? ^
*She doesn't even know you exist. *
^That can be fixed. ^
*It can, but it won't. *
^Why not? ^
*Because I don't want to spend the rest of my life in a mental institution. *
^Whatever. Get going. ^
*Huh? *
^Call your friends and tell them what's up. ^
*Oh, right, I'll do that. *
With that, Yugi shifted back to himself and, completely ditching his homework, ran for the phone.
*
Teya had been watching Yugi all day, and something was definitely wrong with him. He'd stare off into space as if he were thinking very hard and his face would change like he was talking to someone. He even nearly burst out laughing once. When he'd called her last night and asked if she wanted to go with him, Joey and Tristan to the Star Wind Café, she'd been a little suspicious of his motives.
The Star Wind Café was not a café at all but a frequently deserted bar. They served sodas though, as the small arcade in the back attracted children during the day hours. They went there sometimes when the game shop was full and there was nowhere else to play duel monsters. Then they'd all get on the four way racing games, which Tristan always won.
The place was perfectly fine during the day but at night.things tended to roughen up.
They were walking there now, and she'd made sure to stick close to the youngest member of their group.
Yugi was casting glances all around him as they made their way through the streets to the café. The curiosity had been eating at him all day and he found himself quickening his pace several times.
"Hey Yugi, why are we goin' to the Star Wind anyway?" asked Joey.
"To meet someone." He answered absently.
"Meet someone? Who?"
"I don't know. I got a letter yesterday asking me to meet them at the Star Wind at six. I thought it was kinda suspicious, so I thought we all better go."
"Good thinking Yugi. It's better if we're all together, incase there's trouble." Said Teya.
Yugi smiled at her.
"Exactly."
*Trouble? *
^Don't worry. I'm better with a weapon, but I can handle hand to hand if absolutely necessary. ^
*Oh that's real encouraging. But what am I gonna do? *
^Let me take over. ^
*Now? *
^No. If we run into trouble. ^
*But won't they see? You're a lot taller than I am. *
^And better looking. ^
*Shut up. I'm twelve, I'm not suppose to be good looking yet. *
^True, but at lease you know what you'll look like when you're older. ^
*Yeah, I guess so. We're here. *
They had indeed arrived at the café, a dirty building in ill repair on the not so nice side of town.
They pushed open the doors and were a little surprised to see that the place had been cleaned up considerably on the inside and was completely empty.
Empty as in barren, devoid of life. No drunks, no waitresses, no bar tender, no one. On the table closest to the door was another plain, unmarked white envelope. Yugi snatched it up quickly and tore it open.
"Dear Mr. Yugi Mouto,
I am terribly sorry for any inconvenience, but I had sought to speak with you alone. Please forgive me, and meet me in front of the Kaiba Corp. building tomorrow at noon."
Yugi sighed and handed the letter over to his friends who looked it over and scowled.
"I don't like this Yugi. I don't like this at all." Said Teya.
"This is really creepy man, I don't think you should go." Agreed Tristan.
"Me neither Yugi. This is just too weird." Added Joey.
"Well."
^We're going. ^
*We are? *
^Yes. I want to know who's pulling the strings. ^
"I dunno guys, nothing bad has happened so far right? Maybe is a personal matter. Who knows? But I have a feeling that I really should go and get this over with."
^Bravo. ^
*Like you helped any. *
"Still Yugi, it might not be safe."
"I can take care of myself."
^Right. Sure you can squirt. ^
*Yami. Shut UP! *
The four friends turned around, each departing with another warning for Yugi not to go, Tea's the most adamant, and went their separate ways on home.
Joey and Tristan exchanged a look as Yugi walked off; the letter tightly clutched in his hand and a look of determination on his face, and silently agreed to follow him from a distance.
Teya was having similar thoughts and called up Tristan and Joey as soon as she got home to present the idea. They didn't like spying on Yugi, but they were also very worried about the mysterious new turn of events.
"First Pegasus and now this. Yugi almost got in over his head last time and I just know somethin's up." Said Joey seriously.
"Yeah, trouble seems to follow him around and if we're not careful, we might just loose him." Added a worried Teya.
"Then it's settled, we all follow him tomorrow." Said Tristan gravely.
The talked long into the night about their plans of pursuit, where they'd meet, at what time, how far behind they'd follow, and they all agreed that if nothing happened, they wouldn't breath a word of it to Yugi.
*
*Do you think we'll need to bring anything? * asked Yugi as he pocketed his deck and straightened his coat.
^I don't see why we would. ^
*Well, we might be going somewhere after we meet up with this person and we might need other stuff. *
^Like what? ^
*Dunno. It's just a feeling I have. Like I'm forgetting something. *
^Then take whatever you want. ^
*Hmmm.I think I will. *
With that Yugi stuffed his pockets full of odd items he might need. He took a fresh book of matches, a small flashlight, a mini siren Joey had given him as a prank gift a few birthdays ago, and his hair spray.
Frowning, he pulled out his bag and began to stuff it with a change of clothes and some snacks. Fishing in one of the outer pockets of the bag, he pulled out a necklace. The silver chain was slightly graying and the charm it held was difficult to open. Yugi stared at it for a long time before prying it open to reveal small photographs of his mother and father. Yugi just looked at, letting his eyes travel over the familiar pictures. He'd never actually met his parents, as his mother had died in childbirth and his father a short time later. He'd lived with his grandfather for as long as he could remember, and he'd looked at the locket several times.
He snapped the locket shut and reverently hung the chain around his neck. He fingered the charm for a moment longer before he stuffed it down his shirt, the large metal piece resting over his heart.
The feeling that he was forgetting something vanished and he informed Yami that he was ready to go.
^All right then, let's go. ^
Yugi nodded, pulled the bag onto his shoulders and glanced at the clock. 11:30. He should leave now. He took one last look around the room, making sure there wasn't anything else he needed to bring with him and nodded when he didn't see anything.
"Grandpa! I'm going out for the day!" he called as he reached the door.
"Ok Yugi! Have fun!" came the muffled voice of his grandfather from the back room.
He pushed open the door and headed out, the anticipation growing in him as he traced the familiar route to Kaiba Corp's main office. He walked past it every day in order to get to school. He lost himself in his thoughts, and Yami's annoying snide comments, and let his feet do the walking.
*
End Chapter 2
Chapter 2
By: Lazeralk
Standard disclaimers apply. *.* = Yugi's thoughts ^.^ = Yami Yugi's thoughts
*
Yugi awoke abruptly, wide awake and having the strangest feeling that he was being watched. His Millenium Puzzle/Eye had become rather heavy due to the addition of the Eye, and rested on the table to his right. He'd fallen asleep at his desk, attempting to do his homework, and the Puzzle/Eye hanging from his neck had begun to hurt. Naturally, after apologizing to Yami, he'd taken it off and set it aside.
He looked around his bedroom, halfheartedly hoping to catch a glimpse of whoever was spying on him. No such luck, as his visual sweep of the room revealed nothing. Frowning, he turned his attention back to his studies, only to find a plain white envelope sitting before him instead of his history notes.
*Uh oh.I better get Yami first, he'll want to see this first hand. * He thought, reaching for the Puzzle/Eye, at which point he'd decided to refer to as the Puzzle unless he specifically referred to the Eye, he put it on and called mentally for Yami.
^What's up? ^
*Something weird. I fell asleep at my desk and when I woke up.well take a look. * He replied, allowing Yami to take over. By now he was fairly use to the slight tingling feeling he got whenever that happened.
Yami Yugi peered curiously at the envelope for a moment before picking it up and studding it closely.
*Do you have the feeling we're being watched? *
^Actually, now that you mention it, I do. ^
The two of them had agreed to communicate mentally regardless of the situation and at all times. There was no sense in risking having Grandpa over hear and have him hauled off to a mental asylum if they didn't.
*Are you going to open it? *
^Yeah, yeah.^
Yami Yugi promptly flipped it and carefully tore the edge open. He extracted a folded piece of paper and opened it to find a duel monster card and a short, curt message.
"Dear Mr. Yugi Mouto,
Please meet me at the Star Wind Café 6:00 tomorrow evening."
The card was More Than You Asked For, the very same card he'd found missing from his deck upon his return home from the Duelist Kingdom.
*Should we go? *
^I don't see why not. We might even figure out who put the sticky notes on your cards. ^
*That's true, but who could it be? *
^It's not one of your friends, or Kaiba for that matter. ^
*Why not Kaiba? He might want to talk to me, and he thinks it beneath him to just call like any of the others would have done. Maybe he wants to thank me for saving him and Mokuba. *
^ I highly doubt that. Kaiba doesn't thank anyone for anything and he certainly doesn't say 'please'. Besides, if it were him, wouldn't you think he'd have just given the letter to your grandfather and asked him to deliver it? ^
*I guess so.well then who? *
^I don't know, and neither will you if we don't go. ^
*.Okay. We'll go, but we take my friends. The letter doesn't say we have to come alone. *
^Fine by me, besides Teya is kinda cute. ^
*Don't even think about it. *
^Why not? It's not as if you have a chance. ^
*I have a better chance than you. *
^How so? ^
*She doesn't even know you exist. *
^That can be fixed. ^
*It can, but it won't. *
^Why not? ^
*Because I don't want to spend the rest of my life in a mental institution. *
^Whatever. Get going. ^
*Huh? *
^Call your friends and tell them what's up. ^
*Oh, right, I'll do that. *
With that, Yugi shifted back to himself and, completely ditching his homework, ran for the phone.
*
Teya had been watching Yugi all day, and something was definitely wrong with him. He'd stare off into space as if he were thinking very hard and his face would change like he was talking to someone. He even nearly burst out laughing once. When he'd called her last night and asked if she wanted to go with him, Joey and Tristan to the Star Wind Café, she'd been a little suspicious of his motives.
The Star Wind Café was not a café at all but a frequently deserted bar. They served sodas though, as the small arcade in the back attracted children during the day hours. They went there sometimes when the game shop was full and there was nowhere else to play duel monsters. Then they'd all get on the four way racing games, which Tristan always won.
The place was perfectly fine during the day but at night.things tended to roughen up.
They were walking there now, and she'd made sure to stick close to the youngest member of their group.
Yugi was casting glances all around him as they made their way through the streets to the café. The curiosity had been eating at him all day and he found himself quickening his pace several times.
"Hey Yugi, why are we goin' to the Star Wind anyway?" asked Joey.
"To meet someone." He answered absently.
"Meet someone? Who?"
"I don't know. I got a letter yesterday asking me to meet them at the Star Wind at six. I thought it was kinda suspicious, so I thought we all better go."
"Good thinking Yugi. It's better if we're all together, incase there's trouble." Said Teya.
Yugi smiled at her.
"Exactly."
*Trouble? *
^Don't worry. I'm better with a weapon, but I can handle hand to hand if absolutely necessary. ^
*Oh that's real encouraging. But what am I gonna do? *
^Let me take over. ^
*Now? *
^No. If we run into trouble. ^
*But won't they see? You're a lot taller than I am. *
^And better looking. ^
*Shut up. I'm twelve, I'm not suppose to be good looking yet. *
^True, but at lease you know what you'll look like when you're older. ^
*Yeah, I guess so. We're here. *
They had indeed arrived at the café, a dirty building in ill repair on the not so nice side of town.
They pushed open the doors and were a little surprised to see that the place had been cleaned up considerably on the inside and was completely empty.
Empty as in barren, devoid of life. No drunks, no waitresses, no bar tender, no one. On the table closest to the door was another plain, unmarked white envelope. Yugi snatched it up quickly and tore it open.
"Dear Mr. Yugi Mouto,
I am terribly sorry for any inconvenience, but I had sought to speak with you alone. Please forgive me, and meet me in front of the Kaiba Corp. building tomorrow at noon."
Yugi sighed and handed the letter over to his friends who looked it over and scowled.
"I don't like this Yugi. I don't like this at all." Said Teya.
"This is really creepy man, I don't think you should go." Agreed Tristan.
"Me neither Yugi. This is just too weird." Added Joey.
"Well."
^We're going. ^
*We are? *
^Yes. I want to know who's pulling the strings. ^
"I dunno guys, nothing bad has happened so far right? Maybe is a personal matter. Who knows? But I have a feeling that I really should go and get this over with."
^Bravo. ^
*Like you helped any. *
"Still Yugi, it might not be safe."
"I can take care of myself."
^Right. Sure you can squirt. ^
*Yami. Shut UP! *
The four friends turned around, each departing with another warning for Yugi not to go, Tea's the most adamant, and went their separate ways on home.
Joey and Tristan exchanged a look as Yugi walked off; the letter tightly clutched in his hand and a look of determination on his face, and silently agreed to follow him from a distance.
Teya was having similar thoughts and called up Tristan and Joey as soon as she got home to present the idea. They didn't like spying on Yugi, but they were also very worried about the mysterious new turn of events.
"First Pegasus and now this. Yugi almost got in over his head last time and I just know somethin's up." Said Joey seriously.
"Yeah, trouble seems to follow him around and if we're not careful, we might just loose him." Added a worried Teya.
"Then it's settled, we all follow him tomorrow." Said Tristan gravely.
The talked long into the night about their plans of pursuit, where they'd meet, at what time, how far behind they'd follow, and they all agreed that if nothing happened, they wouldn't breath a word of it to Yugi.
*
*Do you think we'll need to bring anything? * asked Yugi as he pocketed his deck and straightened his coat.
^I don't see why we would. ^
*Well, we might be going somewhere after we meet up with this person and we might need other stuff. *
^Like what? ^
*Dunno. It's just a feeling I have. Like I'm forgetting something. *
^Then take whatever you want. ^
*Hmmm.I think I will. *
With that Yugi stuffed his pockets full of odd items he might need. He took a fresh book of matches, a small flashlight, a mini siren Joey had given him as a prank gift a few birthdays ago, and his hair spray.
Frowning, he pulled out his bag and began to stuff it with a change of clothes and some snacks. Fishing in one of the outer pockets of the bag, he pulled out a necklace. The silver chain was slightly graying and the charm it held was difficult to open. Yugi stared at it for a long time before prying it open to reveal small photographs of his mother and father. Yugi just looked at, letting his eyes travel over the familiar pictures. He'd never actually met his parents, as his mother had died in childbirth and his father a short time later. He'd lived with his grandfather for as long as he could remember, and he'd looked at the locket several times.
He snapped the locket shut and reverently hung the chain around his neck. He fingered the charm for a moment longer before he stuffed it down his shirt, the large metal piece resting over his heart.
The feeling that he was forgetting something vanished and he informed Yami that he was ready to go.
^All right then, let's go. ^
Yugi nodded, pulled the bag onto his shoulders and glanced at the clock. 11:30. He should leave now. He took one last look around the room, making sure there wasn't anything else he needed to bring with him and nodded when he didn't see anything.
"Grandpa! I'm going out for the day!" he called as he reached the door.
"Ok Yugi! Have fun!" came the muffled voice of his grandfather from the back room.
He pushed open the door and headed out, the anticipation growing in him as he traced the familiar route to Kaiba Corp's main office. He walked past it every day in order to get to school. He lost himself in his thoughts, and Yami's annoying snide comments, and let his feet do the walking.
*
End Chapter 2