Chapter Eight
Suspicion on the Rise
The next day Roux woke up at ten o'clock and remembered that she had agreed to go with Joey to Yugi's grandfather's shop to get some more cards for her deck. She smiled when she remembered and quickly she showered and got dressed, and by the time 11:00 came around, Roux was downstairs waiting for Joey.
Joey appeared almost exactly on time, and he had a boundless energy he seemed eager to test out. He jumped when he spotted her in the lobby and waved. "Hey! Are you ready to go?" he asked her.
Roux nodded. "Yup." She said, and they left the hotel shortly and began to walk down the street. "I think you'll like Yugi's grandpa. He's pretty cool, he knows basically everything you need to know about duel monsters and all about the cards and everything." Joey went on as they walked hand in hand down the street.
Roux nodded. She thought for a moment about Yugi, about how intensely he was watching her throughout the evening last night. She guessed he thought she was a fool, trying to prove a model could take part in the tournament. It wouldn't surprise Roux in the least if, from what she had heard of Yugi's dueling skills, he thought she was an amateur, and she believed in front of a camera, not on the playing field. And she had seen the way he looked through her cards. He probably didn't even think she would make it too far into the tournament with the cards she had.
Joey hadn't said anything about it to her at all. Roux wouldn't be surprised if this smiling, friendly boy that she had known since she was little thought that she was in way over her head. He had been, after all, dueling for the better part of his life. He probably knew a few things about the skills one needed to play Duel Monsters.
Roux looked at the graying sidewalk and at her feet as they walked. Suddenly she was beginning to doubt that any of them thought she could do this. They had been nice and everything, but did they really believe a fashion model could compete in a worldwide tournament?
"Here it is." Joey said, pointing up at the store with the sign that read "Moto Card Shop". Before Roux could say anything to Joey, he pulled her in, and the shop was empty. Joey looked around. His eyes proved him to be confused. "Hmm.they should be here." He said, as though he were talking to the walls. "Hello?" Joey called out.
Roux stood and took time to look at the decks of cards on the shelves before her eyes. There were some that were organized by category, and some that were mixed. Roux hadn't really been in a card shop before. She always thought it was a typical nerd shop. Therefor she had tried her best to stay away from them.
She turned her eyes towards Joey just in time to see Yugi come through the door behind the counter, and he grinned when he saw them both. "Hi Joey, hi Roux." He said cheerfully, his bright amethyst eyes darted between them both.
"Hey Yug, we're here to get Roux some new cards, remember I told ya last night?" Joey asked, resting his fists on the counter, taking time to look at some of the new arrival merchandise they had put in the display case.
"Right, I remember." Yugi said, nodding, and then he looked over his shoulder. "Grandpa! Customers!" he called out.
Roux approached the counter and looked at Joey, who was still eyeing the display case. She rested a hand on his shoulder, and then looked over at Yugi. "So how are you Yugi?" she asked pleasantly, tilting her head slightly to the side.
Yugi looked at her and his eyes went wider, and he seemed stunned for words as the apples of his cheeks went a soft rosy colour. "Um.I'm great, how are you Roux?" he asked nervously.
Roux smiled happily and shrugged softly. "I'm doing okay." She said, and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
The millennium stone flashed before Yugi's eye again.
~ Yugi! ~
~ Yes Yami? ~
~ You'll have the chance to ask Roux about her ring today! Make sure you don't miss it! ~
~ Right! But how will I know when the time will be right, Yami? ~
~ You'll know. ~
Yugi nodded to himself, and then in a short moment, a stout little man appeared from behind the door that Yugi had emerged from. The little man, with graying facial hair, deep eyes and a friendly face, gave Joey a little wave. "Hello Joey!" he said to Joey, who was still looking at the display case. It was obvious that this man was Yugi's grandfather, and it was also obvious that when he saw Roux he was surprised. "Oh, pardon me, I didn't know you were bringing someone."
"Grandpa this is Roux, I told you about her last night." Yugi said to his grandfather. "Remember, Joey's childhood friend who's a model is Osaka?"
Yugi's grandpa took a moment to clue in, and then he blinked and let out a deep laugh. "Ah yes, I remember now, Roux Matuko. Of course." He held out his hand to Roux. "It's nice to meet you, Miss. Matuko. I'm Mr. Moto." They shook hands, and then Yugi's grandfather motioned to Yugi. "Yugi tells me you've come in from Osaka to compete in the Battle City Tournament."
Roux nodded. "Yes that's correct."
"Wow, that must be exciting, eh?" Mr. Moto asked, grinning. "I'll bet you think Domino City is such a small place, compared to a city as large as Osaka?" he put his hands on his hips.
Roux smiled. "Domino is a big city, but it's a nice change of pace from the busy streets of Osaka, I can say that much." She replied.
Mr. Moto laughed. "I'll bet you walk right down those streets and those handsome young men just swarm over you!" he laughed.
Roux hadn't expected something like that, and the apples of her cheeks went bright red. Yugi rolled his eyes and nudged his grandfather, who gave Yugi an innocent look.
Yugi's grandfather's statement brought Joey right back to attention. He looked up in desperate question. "Say wha? Not while I'm with her, I'll tell ya that much!" Joey said, wrapping his arm around Roux's shoulder. "I'll kill any guy who even looks at ya!" he said to Roux and gave her a soft wink, and then suddenly he lost he balance and fell onto the floor.
Roux let out a small laughed and helped Joey up to his feet. Yugi shook his head with sympathy in his eyes. Joey couldn't protect anyone from Gumby Yugi said to himself, and almost laughed himself but didn't dare to. He had confidence in his best friend, and he trusted his loyalty to his friends and family.
"Yeah, well.Roux here needs some new cards, Mr. Moto." Joey said, rubbing his jawbone with a distasteful look on his face.
"Well that's what I've got." Yugi's grandpa said cheerfully, and he showed Roux around the shop and showed the different card packs that he sold, and he helped her pick out a deck with some newer cards. Roux went through them and was glad to see they were mostly dark cards with some magic cards, and they would be a great addition to her deck. She thanked them kindly for helping her out after she paid for the cards.
"Now whadda ya say we get some lunch, eh?" Joey asked with his arm around Roux. "I'm starved, and shopping for cards makes a guy hungry!" he patted his stomach, which let out a mighty growl. "You coming with, Yugi?" Joey asked Yugi. "You can come too if you want, Mr. Moto." Joey said to Yugi's grandfather.
Roux smiled. She doubted an old man would want to spend time with a bunch of teenagers.
"No thank you, I've got to run the shop, and I'm expecting some new card disks to come in this afternoon." Mr. Moto said, and disappeared behind the door behind the counter.
"You coming with us Yug?" Joey asked, after his grandfather had left the room.
"Sure thing, Joey." Yugi said, and grabbed his jacket from the back, and ran to join them as they walked out the door and began to walk down the street. They were talking and laughing as they walked, and they stopped at a café to get some lunch.
"Wow, you've got some great cards now!" Yugi said as he flipped through Roux's deck when they sat down at a booth in the café. Yugi looked rather impressed, and Roux was glad to see it. He set them down and gave her a very encouraging smile. "I'm sure you'll be unbeatable now!"
Roux smiled at him. "Thanks Yugi." She said, and tucked her cards away. Maybe he didn't think she was a fool. Perhaps not anymore. This was encouraging to her in a great way.
They ordered their food shortly. Joey ordered a plate of sandwiches, Roux ordered a salad and Yugi ordered some fish and chips. As they sat and waited for their food to arrive, they began to talk cheerfully, and that was when Roux first noticed the odd triangular puzzle that hung around Yugi's neck.
She studied it for a moment in confusion, wondering where she recognized the design. Then it hit her mind, and she looked down at the ring on her finger. They both had the same design on them. Roux blinked and wondered if it was a coincidence, or if perhaps there was something about it.
"I'll be right back, you guys. I gotta make a call." Joey said, excusing himself from the table, and then disappearing towards the back of the room.
Roux and Yugi were left alone, and they both seemed very uneasy. They smiled at each other, and again the awkward silence. Roux pretended to be busy by picking at her fingernails. Again Yugi saw the ring, and he knew this was the time to ask her about it. He took in a deep breath.
"Um.Roux?" Yugi asked very nervously, swallowing.
She looked at him hopefully. "Yes Yugi?"
Yugi bit his lip and he gathered his courage. "Um, I wanted to ask about your ring."
Roux was taken aback. Yugi must have noticed it too. She swallowed and tried not to seem too baffled. "Okay." she said nervously and looked down at the ring on her finger. "What about it?"
"It's." Yugi wondered how on earth he would start a conversation like that. He didn't want this girl to think he was some sort of idiot or moron. But then again could it have been more than a coincidence? Yugi didn't think so, and he knew that Yami didn't think so either. "It's really.beautiful." Yugi choked out. "Where did you get it?"
Roux let out a sigh of relief. "Well, it was my wedding ring." She said softly as she looked down at it with a soft smile. "My ex-husband bought it for me in Egypt and he gave it to me for a wedding ring." She looked up at Yugi, and saw his eyes studying her intently.
"Aren't you divorced now though?" Yugi asked, blinking and giving her a wide-eyed look.
Roux nodded. "Yeah, but for some reason the ring just won't come off." She said, and Yugi watched as she tried to force it off her finger, and after a few tries she sighed and gave up. "After my divorce was in action it just wouldn't come off. I've tried everything, cutting it, greasing it.everything." She sighed, and shaking her head she looked down at it, as though it were a baby. "It's a mystery."
Yugi nodded. She hadn't mentioned anything about knowing it was a millennium item. Shadi would have come to her for sure if it was intended for her, but since she didn't say anything about it, and she certainly didn't seem too positive about the history or the way it won't come off.
~ The ring is still bound to her ex-husband, Yugi. ~ came Yami's voice from inside him, startling Yugi.
~ But how could it be? She's wearing it and it won't come off.~
~ He was the one who bought it, he has the acclaimed ownership of the ring. And until he passes away the ring will be his. Shadi will only come, when the ring is rightfully hers, and the Eye's powers can be wielded to her. ~
Yugi nodded to himself. He thought that was a reasonable explanation, and when he looked back up, Joey had joined them again, and he was talking to Roux about how the bathroom was decorated. They both laughed, and Yugi noticed how cute they seemed together.
They all began to talk about the tournament, but Roux could barely focus between the conversation going on between her friends, and the one going on in her mind. She knew that Yugi had meant to ask about her ring for a bigger purpose than asking where it had come from. He knew it matched the design on his puzzle, and he was curious about it. But why didn't he ask her about it?
"Uh oh." Joey said suddenly with a groan, breaking Roux's thinking patterns, and startling her back to attention. She looked at Joey who was pointing at the door with his thumb. "Look who's just arrived."
Yugi looked over and smiled as Duke approached the table.
"Hey guys!" he said excitedly, and then when his blazing green eyes set upon Roux he grinned mischievously. "Hey Roux." he crooned.
Roux blushed and Joey rolled his eyes. "Hello Duke, you gonna sit down?"
"Why thank you, I think I shall!" Duke said, and sat down beside Yugi. "Whatcha guys doing?"
Joey shrugged. "We were just talking about stuff." he informed him coolly. "The tournament and stuff like that."
"I see." Duke said, and then grinned over at Roux. "So Roux, did you get your new cards?" he gave her a flirtatious wink. "I'll bet when you went Joey spent a few days looking over the stuff in the display case, eh? Am I right?" he laughed to himself.
Joey scowled. "Hey! Shuddup about that already, eh Duke?" he folded his arms and pouted. "I just like to see the new stuff that comes in. That's all."
They all laughed and soon the food arrived. They all dug in hungrily and didn't really speak to each other until the meal in front of them was practically gone.
"Tea was talking about having one of dem movie nights tonight," Joey said, and made a face as if to show he really wasn't interested. "She'll probably bring in a bunch of romantic gushy stuff just to sweeten the evening."
Duke chuckled and crossed his arms over his chest. "I know what would sweeten my evening." He turned his eyes to Roux and gave her a flirty wink.
Joey clenched his hand to a fist. "Zip it, Devlin! Or you'll get it in the nose!"
Yugi rolled his eyes and looked at Roux across the table. "What do you say, Roux? Would you like to come to Tea's movie party?"
Roux smiled and she nodded. "Yeah, that sounds like fun."
"Great." Yugi said and grinned. "I know Tea will be happy to see you!"
~ There's one more person who would like to meet Roux, Yugi. ~ came Yami's voice.
Yugi smiled to himself. ~ Don't worry, Yami. You will! ~
Suspicion on the Rise
The next day Roux woke up at ten o'clock and remembered that she had agreed to go with Joey to Yugi's grandfather's shop to get some more cards for her deck. She smiled when she remembered and quickly she showered and got dressed, and by the time 11:00 came around, Roux was downstairs waiting for Joey.
Joey appeared almost exactly on time, and he had a boundless energy he seemed eager to test out. He jumped when he spotted her in the lobby and waved. "Hey! Are you ready to go?" he asked her.
Roux nodded. "Yup." She said, and they left the hotel shortly and began to walk down the street. "I think you'll like Yugi's grandpa. He's pretty cool, he knows basically everything you need to know about duel monsters and all about the cards and everything." Joey went on as they walked hand in hand down the street.
Roux nodded. She thought for a moment about Yugi, about how intensely he was watching her throughout the evening last night. She guessed he thought she was a fool, trying to prove a model could take part in the tournament. It wouldn't surprise Roux in the least if, from what she had heard of Yugi's dueling skills, he thought she was an amateur, and she believed in front of a camera, not on the playing field. And she had seen the way he looked through her cards. He probably didn't even think she would make it too far into the tournament with the cards she had.
Joey hadn't said anything about it to her at all. Roux wouldn't be surprised if this smiling, friendly boy that she had known since she was little thought that she was in way over her head. He had been, after all, dueling for the better part of his life. He probably knew a few things about the skills one needed to play Duel Monsters.
Roux looked at the graying sidewalk and at her feet as they walked. Suddenly she was beginning to doubt that any of them thought she could do this. They had been nice and everything, but did they really believe a fashion model could compete in a worldwide tournament?
"Here it is." Joey said, pointing up at the store with the sign that read "Moto Card Shop". Before Roux could say anything to Joey, he pulled her in, and the shop was empty. Joey looked around. His eyes proved him to be confused. "Hmm.they should be here." He said, as though he were talking to the walls. "Hello?" Joey called out.
Roux stood and took time to look at the decks of cards on the shelves before her eyes. There were some that were organized by category, and some that were mixed. Roux hadn't really been in a card shop before. She always thought it was a typical nerd shop. Therefor she had tried her best to stay away from them.
She turned her eyes towards Joey just in time to see Yugi come through the door behind the counter, and he grinned when he saw them both. "Hi Joey, hi Roux." He said cheerfully, his bright amethyst eyes darted between them both.
"Hey Yug, we're here to get Roux some new cards, remember I told ya last night?" Joey asked, resting his fists on the counter, taking time to look at some of the new arrival merchandise they had put in the display case.
"Right, I remember." Yugi said, nodding, and then he looked over his shoulder. "Grandpa! Customers!" he called out.
Roux approached the counter and looked at Joey, who was still eyeing the display case. She rested a hand on his shoulder, and then looked over at Yugi. "So how are you Yugi?" she asked pleasantly, tilting her head slightly to the side.
Yugi looked at her and his eyes went wider, and he seemed stunned for words as the apples of his cheeks went a soft rosy colour. "Um.I'm great, how are you Roux?" he asked nervously.
Roux smiled happily and shrugged softly. "I'm doing okay." She said, and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
The millennium stone flashed before Yugi's eye again.
~ Yugi! ~
~ Yes Yami? ~
~ You'll have the chance to ask Roux about her ring today! Make sure you don't miss it! ~
~ Right! But how will I know when the time will be right, Yami? ~
~ You'll know. ~
Yugi nodded to himself, and then in a short moment, a stout little man appeared from behind the door that Yugi had emerged from. The little man, with graying facial hair, deep eyes and a friendly face, gave Joey a little wave. "Hello Joey!" he said to Joey, who was still looking at the display case. It was obvious that this man was Yugi's grandfather, and it was also obvious that when he saw Roux he was surprised. "Oh, pardon me, I didn't know you were bringing someone."
"Grandpa this is Roux, I told you about her last night." Yugi said to his grandfather. "Remember, Joey's childhood friend who's a model is Osaka?"
Yugi's grandpa took a moment to clue in, and then he blinked and let out a deep laugh. "Ah yes, I remember now, Roux Matuko. Of course." He held out his hand to Roux. "It's nice to meet you, Miss. Matuko. I'm Mr. Moto." They shook hands, and then Yugi's grandfather motioned to Yugi. "Yugi tells me you've come in from Osaka to compete in the Battle City Tournament."
Roux nodded. "Yes that's correct."
"Wow, that must be exciting, eh?" Mr. Moto asked, grinning. "I'll bet you think Domino City is such a small place, compared to a city as large as Osaka?" he put his hands on his hips.
Roux smiled. "Domino is a big city, but it's a nice change of pace from the busy streets of Osaka, I can say that much." She replied.
Mr. Moto laughed. "I'll bet you walk right down those streets and those handsome young men just swarm over you!" he laughed.
Roux hadn't expected something like that, and the apples of her cheeks went bright red. Yugi rolled his eyes and nudged his grandfather, who gave Yugi an innocent look.
Yugi's grandfather's statement brought Joey right back to attention. He looked up in desperate question. "Say wha? Not while I'm with her, I'll tell ya that much!" Joey said, wrapping his arm around Roux's shoulder. "I'll kill any guy who even looks at ya!" he said to Roux and gave her a soft wink, and then suddenly he lost he balance and fell onto the floor.
Roux let out a small laughed and helped Joey up to his feet. Yugi shook his head with sympathy in his eyes. Joey couldn't protect anyone from Gumby Yugi said to himself, and almost laughed himself but didn't dare to. He had confidence in his best friend, and he trusted his loyalty to his friends and family.
"Yeah, well.Roux here needs some new cards, Mr. Moto." Joey said, rubbing his jawbone with a distasteful look on his face.
"Well that's what I've got." Yugi's grandpa said cheerfully, and he showed Roux around the shop and showed the different card packs that he sold, and he helped her pick out a deck with some newer cards. Roux went through them and was glad to see they were mostly dark cards with some magic cards, and they would be a great addition to her deck. She thanked them kindly for helping her out after she paid for the cards.
"Now whadda ya say we get some lunch, eh?" Joey asked with his arm around Roux. "I'm starved, and shopping for cards makes a guy hungry!" he patted his stomach, which let out a mighty growl. "You coming with, Yugi?" Joey asked Yugi. "You can come too if you want, Mr. Moto." Joey said to Yugi's grandfather.
Roux smiled. She doubted an old man would want to spend time with a bunch of teenagers.
"No thank you, I've got to run the shop, and I'm expecting some new card disks to come in this afternoon." Mr. Moto said, and disappeared behind the door behind the counter.
"You coming with us Yug?" Joey asked, after his grandfather had left the room.
"Sure thing, Joey." Yugi said, and grabbed his jacket from the back, and ran to join them as they walked out the door and began to walk down the street. They were talking and laughing as they walked, and they stopped at a café to get some lunch.
"Wow, you've got some great cards now!" Yugi said as he flipped through Roux's deck when they sat down at a booth in the café. Yugi looked rather impressed, and Roux was glad to see it. He set them down and gave her a very encouraging smile. "I'm sure you'll be unbeatable now!"
Roux smiled at him. "Thanks Yugi." She said, and tucked her cards away. Maybe he didn't think she was a fool. Perhaps not anymore. This was encouraging to her in a great way.
They ordered their food shortly. Joey ordered a plate of sandwiches, Roux ordered a salad and Yugi ordered some fish and chips. As they sat and waited for their food to arrive, they began to talk cheerfully, and that was when Roux first noticed the odd triangular puzzle that hung around Yugi's neck.
She studied it for a moment in confusion, wondering where she recognized the design. Then it hit her mind, and she looked down at the ring on her finger. They both had the same design on them. Roux blinked and wondered if it was a coincidence, or if perhaps there was something about it.
"I'll be right back, you guys. I gotta make a call." Joey said, excusing himself from the table, and then disappearing towards the back of the room.
Roux and Yugi were left alone, and they both seemed very uneasy. They smiled at each other, and again the awkward silence. Roux pretended to be busy by picking at her fingernails. Again Yugi saw the ring, and he knew this was the time to ask her about it. He took in a deep breath.
"Um.Roux?" Yugi asked very nervously, swallowing.
She looked at him hopefully. "Yes Yugi?"
Yugi bit his lip and he gathered his courage. "Um, I wanted to ask about your ring."
Roux was taken aback. Yugi must have noticed it too. She swallowed and tried not to seem too baffled. "Okay." she said nervously and looked down at the ring on her finger. "What about it?"
"It's." Yugi wondered how on earth he would start a conversation like that. He didn't want this girl to think he was some sort of idiot or moron. But then again could it have been more than a coincidence? Yugi didn't think so, and he knew that Yami didn't think so either. "It's really.beautiful." Yugi choked out. "Where did you get it?"
Roux let out a sigh of relief. "Well, it was my wedding ring." She said softly as she looked down at it with a soft smile. "My ex-husband bought it for me in Egypt and he gave it to me for a wedding ring." She looked up at Yugi, and saw his eyes studying her intently.
"Aren't you divorced now though?" Yugi asked, blinking and giving her a wide-eyed look.
Roux nodded. "Yeah, but for some reason the ring just won't come off." She said, and Yugi watched as she tried to force it off her finger, and after a few tries she sighed and gave up. "After my divorce was in action it just wouldn't come off. I've tried everything, cutting it, greasing it.everything." She sighed, and shaking her head she looked down at it, as though it were a baby. "It's a mystery."
Yugi nodded. She hadn't mentioned anything about knowing it was a millennium item. Shadi would have come to her for sure if it was intended for her, but since she didn't say anything about it, and she certainly didn't seem too positive about the history or the way it won't come off.
~ The ring is still bound to her ex-husband, Yugi. ~ came Yami's voice from inside him, startling Yugi.
~ But how could it be? She's wearing it and it won't come off.~
~ He was the one who bought it, he has the acclaimed ownership of the ring. And until he passes away the ring will be his. Shadi will only come, when the ring is rightfully hers, and the Eye's powers can be wielded to her. ~
Yugi nodded to himself. He thought that was a reasonable explanation, and when he looked back up, Joey had joined them again, and he was talking to Roux about how the bathroom was decorated. They both laughed, and Yugi noticed how cute they seemed together.
They all began to talk about the tournament, but Roux could barely focus between the conversation going on between her friends, and the one going on in her mind. She knew that Yugi had meant to ask about her ring for a bigger purpose than asking where it had come from. He knew it matched the design on his puzzle, and he was curious about it. But why didn't he ask her about it?
"Uh oh." Joey said suddenly with a groan, breaking Roux's thinking patterns, and startling her back to attention. She looked at Joey who was pointing at the door with his thumb. "Look who's just arrived."
Yugi looked over and smiled as Duke approached the table.
"Hey guys!" he said excitedly, and then when his blazing green eyes set upon Roux he grinned mischievously. "Hey Roux." he crooned.
Roux blushed and Joey rolled his eyes. "Hello Duke, you gonna sit down?"
"Why thank you, I think I shall!" Duke said, and sat down beside Yugi. "Whatcha guys doing?"
Joey shrugged. "We were just talking about stuff." he informed him coolly. "The tournament and stuff like that."
"I see." Duke said, and then grinned over at Roux. "So Roux, did you get your new cards?" he gave her a flirtatious wink. "I'll bet when you went Joey spent a few days looking over the stuff in the display case, eh? Am I right?" he laughed to himself.
Joey scowled. "Hey! Shuddup about that already, eh Duke?" he folded his arms and pouted. "I just like to see the new stuff that comes in. That's all."
They all laughed and soon the food arrived. They all dug in hungrily and didn't really speak to each other until the meal in front of them was practically gone.
"Tea was talking about having one of dem movie nights tonight," Joey said, and made a face as if to show he really wasn't interested. "She'll probably bring in a bunch of romantic gushy stuff just to sweeten the evening."
Duke chuckled and crossed his arms over his chest. "I know what would sweeten my evening." He turned his eyes to Roux and gave her a flirty wink.
Joey clenched his hand to a fist. "Zip it, Devlin! Or you'll get it in the nose!"
Yugi rolled his eyes and looked at Roux across the table. "What do you say, Roux? Would you like to come to Tea's movie party?"
Roux smiled and she nodded. "Yeah, that sounds like fun."
"Great." Yugi said and grinned. "I know Tea will be happy to see you!"
~ There's one more person who would like to meet Roux, Yugi. ~ came Yami's voice.
Yugi smiled to himself. ~ Don't worry, Yami. You will! ~