Chapter Eleven- A Sense of Duty

Joey-

I blinked a few times to see my best friend running towards me. Hang on, Yuge? Wat's he doin' 'ere? I was just at Kaiba's fer a duel. The scene changed to Kaiba's front lawn, and Yugi became a duel monster raging towards me. Ahh! What's goin' on!

Normal-

Joey tossed and turned on the couch he was on, until he uncerimoniously fell off. "Ouch! Ah, man, where am I?" He looked around his surroundings to see that the room that he'd just woken up in was the same room he'd woken up in that same morning. "Wha'?" The blonde stood up to get a better view and saw he was right. He had woken up to see the room at Kaiba's mansion that the party was held at.

He saw he was on the same couch where he'd sat the other night after Yugi yelled at him. It was here he had sat to watch Duke and Tristan fight over... well, whatever they decided they needed to fight over. He couldn't help but remember that they had always fought back in Battle City over none other than his own sister. I'm guessing they'd still be trying to win her affection if ma hadn't decided to go to America and bring sis wit' her. At first he'd wanted to stop them, after all it was his sister and he was very protective of her. But when he saw how much Tristan fought for her, he decided to let her be. A guy's gotta have some dreams, that why I neva quit during the tournaments.

Joey looked over at the once-refreshment/once-duel table. Even though I hate Yugi not being himself, I can't help but think that this experience is bringin' out da best in Ryou. He'd've neva fought Bakura if he knew that Yugi was gonna fight him if he didn't. I think being the only hope for some of da most important people has really given 'im the confidence 'dat he has the heart ta take on his own demons.

Joey walked over to the table to see the cards from the duel were still layed out. Obviously, Kaiba had yet to clean in here. The blonde picked through the cards to see what strategies had been used and got another shock, "Dese are Yuge's cards?" I guess if both Bakuras were dueling each other one would end up 'deckless'. "Betta get dese back, fer Yuge." Joey scooped Yugi's cards into a pile, then did the same for Bakura's.

For the first time he was there, he noticed that he had company. It's dat Umi chick. Wonder if the guy's here too. Joey wandered over to the couch that last night Ishizu and Tea had sat talking. Umi looked at peace when she slept. "Ya couldn't tell she was sucha brat, if ya saw her like dis," whispered Joey.

Umi's face scrunched up, "I can hear you, ya know!"

Joey looked like he did when Mai screeched at him. "Hehe, really?"

The teenage girl sat up, "Yes, and I'd like it if you didn't insult me, at least not when I'm sleeping. After all, I can't insult you back if I'm sleeping-"

"Unless you sleep-talk," joked Joey.

Umi angered, "I don't sleep-talk!" She jumped up from her sleeping position on the couch to a fighting stance to kick Joey's rear end.

"Get back here, jerkass!"

Umi's kick missed Joey's gut.

"Ha, so do you sleep-fight too?"

Joey narrowly dogged his attacker's headbutt.

"I don't sleep-anything!"

Wham!

Umi's hard right hit her target.

Joey held his head, "Jeez, I was only kidding. Boy what a shot," he rubbed his wounded face to soothe it, "The only other person I know who can hit like that is Mai Valentine, now I really gotta watch what I say, around botha you." He stood up, and held out his hand, "Truce? I won't tease you, if you don't hit me."

Umi hit away his hand, "No way, you're with our enemies, and I have strict 'no-truces-with-enemies' thing goin' on."

"I don't see what you're talking about with the 'our'. Your pal ain't here."

The girl's face fell, "I know that."

Joey put his hand on Umi's shoulder, "Look, I know you don' trust me, but I'd like to know what's goin' on. What's wit your friend and his freakishly scary double personality disorder thingy?"

Umi's anger returned, "I'm not telling you! Not with the way you talk about Anny!"

Click.

Both turned around to see the door opening to reveal the Ishtars and Mokuba.

"Hey you're awake!" chirped Mokuba, "That didn't take too long, only about an hour."

"What do you mean, an hour?" Joey asked. I was out that long after the duel? Guess it's been worse. "You mean an hour since-"

"-my brother brought you in." finished the younger Kaiba brother, "Yeah, you both looked really pale and limp. It was kinda scary. But Seto said that you both still had a pulse and normal temperature, so you weren't dead or anything."

"Oh, that's nice," Umi said sarcastically, "Where is your dear brother, anyhow?"

Mokuba looked worried, "Well, he left about a half an hour ago."

Flashback-

"Seto, where are you going?" Mokuba said, noticing his big brother in a warm jacket and halfway out the door.

Kaiba turned back with the expression that he was still thinking and not all there, "Out. The other creep who challenged me is still out there."

His brother nodded, "I know. I thought that'd be enough reason to stay in here."

Seto shook his head, "No. For some reason I feel that this guy is like how Marik was during my tournament, that he's out to hurt every person he can, and I can't help but think I'm somewhat responsible to take care of him. After all, Yugi isn't dueling now, so he won't want to stop him. Plus, I want to duel him."

"Why?"

"Because," Kaiba began, "He had wanted to duel me before, and he never got the chance to do it on his own. Besides, he disrespected my Blue-Eyes when he destroyed it with his own so disgracefully. He needs to pay." With that, he left to go out into the soggy evening of Domino.

End Flashback-

"What!" Joey was outraged, "He went ta pick anotha fight wit dat Ananias creep! Dat jerk! Goin' behind my back!"

Umi was also worried, "He shouldn't be out there!"

"Glad we agree on something," Joey mumbled.

Umi shook her head, "No! Anny came here to fight Kaiba to begin with! Now that he's, well, kind of losing it, I doubt he'll be thinking straight enough to not kill Kaiba!"

Mokuba was the first to speak, "What are you talking about? Why's Ananias after my brother?"

Umi turned her head downcast, "Well... when Anny was a kid, his father was the owner of a well-off electronics company. His dad was really close to him, they'd always go on outings, and always talk about stuff. When he turned fourteen, his dad promised him the company. Anny was thrilled because he had grown up around his dad's business, and it was how he wanted to raise his own children, if he had any."

Joey spoke, "But..."

"During that same year, Kaiba Corporation had a new owner, Seto Kaiba. He hated his stepfather's need for war and so, he destroyed the old company and created a company as he saw fit. He made all sorts of things: virtual stimulator, the duel disks; he founded the Battle City tournament. This change in events put every other company in the Kaiba Corporation's shadow. Anny's father ended up commiting suicide because his business hit rock bottom. Anny's been devestated since then, and has wanted revenge against Kaiba ever since then."

Joey crossed his arms, "Sounds like Marik, when he was so pissed at Yami because he thought the reason his family suffered for years and years was because they had to wait for the pharaoh."

Marik nodded, "Which I still think is true."

Sweatdrop.

Ishizu gasped, "I just had a horrible thought! What if Ananias turned out just like Yami Marik was and really did go on a rampage of evil!"

The blonde shrugged, "Den Kaiba's pretty much toast."

"Well then, let's go!" Mokuba cried.

Joey turned to start out the door but paused, "Ah man, I should really call Yuge. I mean it's been an hour or two, and I did just leave him abruptly."

Mokuba pointed, "The phone's right there on the table. We can go ahead if you want and start looking for my brother."

"A'righ." Joey went for the phone while the others exited the room to find Kaiba. Hope he's not too worried, or anything. "Hello?"

"Joey! Is that you!" Yugi was in hysterics.

"Yeah, it's me. Look, I just wanted ya to know I'm over at Kaiba's right now."

"Joey, forget about Kaiba! I've got a really bad feeling, and I'd feel better if I knew my friends were safe and sound at their homes!"

Joey tried to calm his best friend down, "Yuge listen. Kaiba's out in the city somewhere, 'cuz he wants to challenge Ananias."

"So what's the problem? I thought that was all you wanted." "Yeah, well. See we already dueled him."

"What!" Yugi was confused. "It's kind of a long story, but basically we found out that Ananias is really mad at Kaiba for ruining his dad's business, and now wants revenge, and I think I just confused you more."

"No, I think I get it. Maybe..."

"Maybe?" Joey said with hope.

"I'll help. Let's meet at the park."

"Why dere?"

"That was where he originally asked to challenge Kaiba, so it seems like the first place to go."

"Oh, okay. I'll see you there."

Click.

Joey sped out of the room, to find Kaiba. Even I'll miss Kaiba if Anny kills him. Ah, who am I kidding? No I won't. But he shouldn't just get killed anyway.

-Yugi-

I hung up the phone, my hand shaking. This is just what I've been worried about. Hopefully Kaiba can beat him and I can just be on the sidelines.

I almost went out my bedroom door before feeling my heart ache. What was that? I looked on my desk to see the box with the millenium puzzle in it. I-I don't know why, but I feel like I should bring it. Not because of luck, but because I'll need it.

Why should you bring it?

I've known not to ignore little iching hunches, answered Yugi, that's why.

Before his newly grown cynical side could stop him he grabbed the box with the puzzle pieces in it, stuffed it in his bag, and ran out of his room.

This doesn't mean that I miss Yami though.