Chapter Seven- A New Tournament

Yugi tossed and turned under the covers of his bed. "No, no what are you, no, no..."

Yugi stood in a dark void, all alone. "Hello, is anybody here? Joey? Tea? Kaiba?" Yugi spun around at each name, more and more worried. "Guys? Anybody?" Panic dripped from his voice. Then, a shadowy figure stepped in front of Yugi. The shadow spoke but Yugi either couldn't understand or couldn't hear it. It reached out for him as though about to engulf him, "No! Stay away from me! No! No!!!"

"No, no...stay...away, no, NO!" Yugi shot out of bed, his whole body covered in sweat and shaking in fear. He remembered how he started having this dream ever since the end of Battle City. The dark shadow had never gotten that close though. It scared him. That was the reason, well one of the many, that he didn't want to go to the party. He had been worried he'd have another dream and would scream out unconsciously. He didn't want his friends to ask about it. It would only worry them more, or worse, put Joey on his case again about 'dueling'.

Yeah, that's it. I should just forget about all this and do something productive. Growl. I am a little hungry. Thinking of food reminded him of Marik and the orange juice and he chuckled. He could always think of that to make him forget.

Yugi got out of bed and went into his bathroom to freshen up before going downstairs. When he got to the kitchen he found an old bagel, three waffles and a new box of cereal. The pint-sized boy chose the cereal and settled on the table before turning on the news.

"...and in local news, a middle school kid apparently discovered a comet. The said-comet is right on course to earth and will strike in 4½ days, thereby causing the world to go into the next iceage. Don't forget shoppers! Next week is the Walgreen's half-off sale, where everything is..."

"Ah, Yugi! I thought I heard you come down!" Solomon Motou appeared at the front of the kitchen door. "You fell asleep almost three hours ago! How are you feeling?" Yugi's grandfather had been asking him how he was feeling since... well, since Yugi got rid of the puzzle and Yami.

"'Lo, grandpa." Yugi talked to his cereal.

Grandpa smiled, "That's my grandson! Oh and you got a letter!" He revealed the letter, which had signs of being hastily crammed back together.

Yugi frowned, "Have you been reading my mail, again?" he looked cross.

The elderly man chuckled with his hand behind his head, "Oh, come on Yugi. I'm a nosy old man, I have to know everyone's business, it's like my job." He sheepishly handed over the letter. "It's from the local supermarket," he began to explain, "They're holding a duel monster's tournament. Amatuer level of course. But they asked if you would at least come, you know, as a little treat to the duelists who are competing."

Yugi glanced at the letter, "I don't have to duel?"

"Nope, you just have to be there! And they said something about presenting the trophy to the winner or something too!"

Yugi again thought, "I'll think about it."

"Ok," the old man left the room.

Yugi left as well. After all he had homework to do. He decided on English Literature first.

'...It was all cold trickery, it was all calculated, it was all enmity... the deadly rivalry was on both sides after all...' -excerpt from A Separate Peace

Sounds like Kaiba and me. At least on his side, I really don't care anymore.

'...It was surprising how well we got along in these weeks. Sometimes I found it hard to remember his treachery, sometimes I discovered myself thoughtlessly slipping back into affection for him again...' -from A Separate Peace

That one's like Marik. Why just yesterday I felt like I wanted to kill him and this morning we had such a 'lovely' conversation.

'...I fell without realizing it into the private explanation of the world... what decieved me was my own happiness; for peace is indivisible, and the surrounding world confusion found no reflection inside me...' -from A Separate Peace

Is that one like... me?

"I fell without realizing it... my own happiness decieved me... the world showed no reflection inside me... I... fell...zzz..." and with that Yugi fell back into a deep slumber.

Yugi was again wandering in the dark realm. He called out, "Joey? Tea? Anybody?" Frightened, he curled into a ball, shaking. Why? Why won't anyone help me?

Stealthily a dark shadow approached the tiny boy. It reached out, "Yugi..." The voice was so familiar but Yugi was too scared to find out.

With all the strength he had he got up and began to run, as fast and as far as his feet could carry him. He looked over his shoulder and to his surprise the shadow became a blazing fire. The flames grew higher and spread more until there was no escape. "Someone please help me!"

Ring

For the second time that day, Yugi bolted out of his sleep in a cold sweat. What's going on? That dream... it's worse. Yugi shed a few tears remembering the fear he felt in that dream. A fire always scared him. He recalled the fire at the warehouse where he dueled Bandit Keith.

Ring

Yeah, back when I was deluded that Yami was a good thing to hang onto. Even with his cynical side talking, the tri-haired boy remembered the determination to save Yami and the puzzle, his treasure. Had he forgotten something important?

Ring

No of course not. I'm just reminicing on a past that led me nowhere.

Rrrriiiiinnnnngggggg

Yugi snapped back to reality. The phone. He had better answer it. "Hello. Motou residence."

Joey's extra caffeinated voice came through, "Hey, Yuge!! Whatcha doin'?!"

The young ex-duelist yawned, "Ugh, sleeping."

"Have you done your Algebra yet?!"

"Haven't touched it."

"Are you going to do it?!"

"How much caffeine have you had?" Yugi inquired.

Joey, though, didn't hear. "Great!! 'Cuz I don' get it eitha'!! Mind if I come over?! We can be study buddies!!"

"Well..."

The blonde obviously wasn't waiting for permission, just for signs of life, "GREAT!!! I'll be there in a sec'!!"

After five minutes had past, Yugi heard the doorbell ring. This had better not be a clever scheme to get me dueling again. A bright smile appeared on his face. What am I thinking? This is Joey. It can't be clever. He opened the door.

"Hey, Yuge." The hyperness in the blonde's voice was all but extinct. "What do ya say we study righ' here? I'm feelin' wiped out."

"You know you shouldn't use up all your energy at once with a Coke, Joey-kun." The shorter boy shook his head as he closed the door. "And sure we can work here. I really don't feel like moving either."

Yugi and Joey settled in the living room of Yugi's house. For the next half hour of so exchanging views on their dislikes of mathematics. At that time when Mr. Motou walked in to see how they were doing the teens realised they had gotten nothing done.

"Hey, gramps? We're going to go have a snack, 'kay?"

Grandpa waved his hand for them to go ahead as he was trying to finish a crossword puzzle. "Let's go."

The boys marched into the kitchen to get a soda and chips. Yugi was thinking to himself again. This has actually gone great for getting nothing done. I hope the rest of the day goes as well. However the boys did not notice they were yet again being followed around, but this next encounter would not be as fortunate as the last.