Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh!
Chapter 12: Stormy Seas"Hey, is it just me, or is it gettin' darker out?" asked Joey.
"I don't think it's you, man," said Tristan, casting a worried glance up at the steadily-darkening sky.
"By the looks of those clouds," frowned Yugi as he also looked up, "a storm is brewing. A big one."
A loud clap of thunder seemed to confirm his words as a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky.
Yami, what should we do? asked Yugi.
We need to raise the sails; this will keep us from being blown around too much by the wind, and minimizes the potential damage to the sails themselves, answered Yami.
"Okay, we should raise the sails first, before the wind gets too strong," said Yugi to his friends. "And some of us should carry the food and the cooler into the cabin."
"Good idea, Yugi," said Tea. "We'd better get started before it hits."
"Joey, I'm scared," admitted Serenity.
"Don't worry, Serenity," replied Joey, putting his arm around his sister. "Everything's gonna be fine."
Serenity smiled at her big brother. She knew that nothing could go wrong with him around. Seto turned away from the scene in order to keep from thinking about how he and Joey might actually have something in common.
Seto and Tea were given the task of carrying everything into the cabin. They were to hand it to Mokuba and Serenity, who would then stow it in a safe place. Meanwhile, Joey and Tristan were working on the sails, and Yami used his shadow powers to steer the boat from within Yugi's mind, so that Yugi could help with the sails.
Joey was having trouble with his sail, so Tristan was helping him. At the same time, Yugi's sail also got stuck. The sky shook with thunder as the rain started coming down in sheets.
"Hey Joey!" called Yugi. "My sail's stuck! Can you give me a hand?"
"Ok, Yug!" Joey answered. "Tristan and I'll help as soon as we get this one up."
Guess I'll just have to hang on until then, thought Yugi.
Yugi, would you like to switch? asked Yami. I can take over now.
We can't. Not without a lapse in concentration. And if we try to switch, I'll drop the sail.
You're right, it's far too risky. But what are you going to do?
Don't worry, I can hold it.
But the rain-slicked rope was slipping from his hand. If Yugi dropped the rope now, the sail would fall on him.
"Joey!" yelled Yugi. "I need you now! I can't hold the rope much longer!"
But Joey could no longer hear him over the roar of the wind. In fact, no one was close enough to hear Yugi's call for help. Nobody, except for one.
Seto had been carrying the last of the cheese puffs to the cabin. He looked up just in time to see the rope slip from Yugi's grasp. The sound of the falling sail finally attracted Joey's attention, but he and the others were too far away to stop it, and there was not enough time for Yugi and Yami to switch. Yugi was frozen in place, and as the sail came crashing down, all he could manage was one last scream.
Hahahaha! Feel the power of cliffhangers! Updates coming soon!