Chapter Ten-Espa Finds Courage in Jinzo

Espa stared at the board in disbelief. "Me and Rex? This is bizarre!" He'd hoped to go against Joey. At least then he knew he'd have a chance. Now he was certain he would lose.

"C'mon Roba. You can take him." Weevil assured. He was staring at his own pairing. He was to go against the new duelist, Cedric Wilson.

"No, Weevil. If I hadn't been cheating before, Rex would've killed me."

The insect duelist pushed his glasses up on his nose, and studied Espa. "You're really not yourself, Roba. I didn't get to duel you myself, but there was a large commotion about you even before Kaiba's silly tournament. You were a world class duelist."
"No! I was a cheater, Weevil. That's what I was." Espa moaned in despair.

"Snap out of it! You're the one who told me we had to win to save our brothers, sisters and cousins! We need you, Roba! You're the only sensible of us here!" It was Rex who was scowling down at him. "Now,I'm not sayin' I'm gonna go easy on you, but I will play fair, and so will you. Stop dwelling on the past. It won't get your little brothers back!"

Espa nodded, slowly. "Thanks you guys. I needed that."

Weevil laughed a little. "Yes, I guess we're all on edge lately. This is the first time most of us have been in the same vicinity of each other since Battle City. I think they did it on purpose, but we've gotta stand up to them. We're not enemies anymore. Whoever set this up is the enemy. If we just pretend it's for fun, it won't be so hard. Roba, have you heard from your siblings today?"

"Not yet. I'm sure I'll hear something soon." Espa was trying to convince himself more than them. It was already eleven thirty. Why hadn't he heard from them yet?

"All duelists participating in next two duels please report to the outdoor arena." The loudspeaker said suddenly.

"Rex, best of luck to you." Espa said in a monotone, as he pulled his deck out. He headed off with his opponent.

"Espa! Hey,Roba! Wait!" Joey came running towards them.

"What is it, Joey?" Espa stared at his friend in concern, thinking something was wrong.

"You can't duel without Jinzo." He held out Espa's favorite card. "It's yours."

Espa stared at the card, then Joey, before shaking his head. "I can't take it, Wheeler. You earned that card dueling fair. Besides, I won't have a chance to play it."

"Well then," Joey took Espa's deck, and placed Jinzo in the middle of it, shuffling it. "keep it in here for good luck. Jinzo nearly destroyed me before. Maybe it'll help you against Rex now." The Brooklyn duelist handed Espa his deck back, and then turned, walking away to the spectator area.

Espa watched his friend in disbelief, then looked down at his deck with a smile. Maybe Wheeler's on to something. Besides, I promised my brothers I would be the one to get them out. I have to make that happen! He followed Rex to the dueling field now.

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"This is useless! We've been in this corridor four times already, Christien!" Jon exploded later that morning. The little kids were getting whiny, and irritable. He'd long since run out of animal crackers, and the older kids were hungry and irritable too.

"I'm sorry! I don't know what to do!" Christien shot back, picking Andy up. "We're going to die here, you know!"

"D-don't say that!" Randi pleaded, holding on to her sisters' hands tightly. "We've gotta be strong! Like our brothers."

Monica was clinging tightly to Kenny. "I wants Wex…."

The older girl picked her up carefully, and patted her back. "I miss my brother too….." Kenny looked at the Robas. "So, what are we gonna do, just give up here?!"

"We can't! Little Espa is still in here somewhere!" Jonathan moaned. "We Robas have to be together. We're lost if one is gone. It's been that way for years and years."

"Well, what do we do then?" Randi asked quietly. We certainly can't stay here. It will get us nowhere."

"She's right." Kenny agreed. "What would our brothers do?"

Christien frowned, rubbing Andrew's back. "Espa would arrange some sort of elaborate plan. But we don't have much to go on…"

Kenny looked around. "Maybe you could ask your brother for help with that head-set thingie you have going."

"She's right." Jonathan turned on his microphone to do so. "What the…." He looked over at Chris in alarm. "Espa's is turned off!"

"What?!" Christien was instantly worried. "Maybe he got in trouble for having it in a duel or something…"

"But we have to be able to talk to him!" Jon replied.

"Let's just get out of here, you guys." Kenny looked around. Wait….where's Lacey?!"

"No! Not another one!" Jon looked around frantically.

"Lacey!!"

"She's right here." A new voice spoke up calmly.

The children turned to stare up at the newcomer.

"Seto Kaiba?! How did you get past the guards?!" Jonathan demanded. "Where's our brother?"

"He is dueling. How I got past the guards is my secret." He held Joey's cousin out to Jon. He surveyed the faces of the kids. They were tired, and hungry. "You all need to rest, before continuing. I will keep watch." He turned from them, to stand guard.

"Seto..um….we're sorry about Mokuba…" Jon began.

"Don't be. We will find him. Rest now." The CEO nodded, his back to the children.

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"Seto Kaiba has made it into the maze. If he can do it, so can we. Whether they know it or not ,they will need us before long." Ishizu told Marik, as they walked towards the house of mirrors that afternoon.

"Of course. I cannot stand the thought of innocent children being hurt." Marik frowned. "They all seemed so determined to fight, but they do not know the real danger of doing so."

"It is their family ties, Brother. Like us, they feel they must fight for each other." Ishizu looked around. "I hope Rishid was able to find what we needed. For the distraction we must cause, the children must be well equipped."

"Right." The Egyptian boy frowned. "Do you think Seto will accept our help,Sister?"

"If he wants his brother back sooner rather than later, I don't see why not." The woman glanced around again. "Where is Rishid?"

"I'm here. I'm sorry for the delay." The tall man came up to them, holding a bag.

"It is alright. I was just hoping you hadn't gotten yourself into trouble."

"Nothing of the kind. Are we sure of what we have to do now?" Rishid asked cautiously.

"Yes. Seto Kaiba has already made it into the maze. He will be a big help in keeping the young ones calm. " Marik filled his older brother in on the latest development. "Espa Roba and Rex Raptor are to duel next, which means the rest of the Robas, and little Monica, are in danger."

"Then we should waste no more time. Let us go." Rishid let Ishizu lead the rest of the way to the House of Mirrors. They had no time to spare.