Kaiba and Mokuba did bring Yugi home. And along with Joey, Tristan, and Bakura, began to piece together what happened. Solomon bandaged Yugi's head and then Joey and Tristan hauled him up to bed. While they did that, Solomon turned to the Kaiba Brothers. "Kaiba, Mokuba, thank you for bringing my grandson home."
"I can't believe Tea's missing," Mokuba said. "Someone should call the police."
"It probably wouldn't do any good. We don't know where that apache took her," Bakura pointed out. "We would just be sending them on a wild goose chase."
"Come on, Mokuba," Kaiba said forcefully. "We're leaving."
"Huh?"
"I did my good Samaritan act now I'm going home. Let the Dork Squad figure out what happened to Yugi's little girlfriend. They don't even know who kidnapped her."
"It was Edric Masters," said Yugi's voice. Yugi stumbled down the stairs into the store. His head was bandaged and he wasn't even wearing the Millennium Puzzle. Joey and Tristan were right behind him, urging him to get back into bed.
Kaiba turned around. "Did you say Edric Masters, as in the head of Gamma Technologies?"
"That's how he introduced himself," Yugi confirmed. His voice was weak, even weaker than it usually is. "He overpowered me in a duel and kidnapped Tea after he won."
Kaiba grunted. "So you actually lost one. Well I can't say I'm sorry to hear that. I've been feeling the pain of losing for years. And before you say it, I know what it feels like to lose a loved one after a duel."
Bakura's Millennium Ring began to glow and a ghostly voice said, "You're such a pathetic mortal, Yugi. You had the boundless powers of the Millennium Puzzle at your disposal and you couldn't even save one girl. Such a feeble action, you don't deserve the Millennium Puzzle."
"Zip it, ya' overgrown coaster or I'll smash ya' in two," Joey threatened.
"Fool, I won't even feel it."
But to everyone's surprise, Yugi said, "No, Joey, the spirit of Bakura's ring is right. I saved the world, I been to other dimensions, had my life threatened more times than I could care to remember. Yet when it came crunch time, I couldn't save the one person I cared about." Yugi took out his deck and stared at it. "I don't deserve to be a Duelist."
"Just because you lost one duel? I thought you were made of sterner stuff, Yugi," Kaiba spat.
"This isn't about losing one duel, Kaiba," Yugi said, his eyes overflowing with tears. "This is about not being able to save one of my friends! You said it yourself; you know what it's like to lose a loved one. Don't you remember the helplessness you felt? Don't you remember the despair? Well that's what I feel right now. I was humiliated and then had Tea kidnapped right in front of me. A lost like that... I can't deal with." He laid his dueling deck on the counter. "The Inferno Tempest card... it affects all the monsters in the duelist's deck as well as their graveyard. I sent my monsters into battle carelessly without even thinking of what Edric's face-down cards were capable of. And in return for my recklessness; I had them obliterated from the duel without even playing them. I should've realized there was a trap but I didn't. I failed everyone. I failed Tea, I failed my cards, and most of all, I failed myself." He walked out of the Game Shop.
"Boy, I haven't seen Yug this beat since... heck, I've NEVER seen Yug this beat," Joey commented.
"I guess Tea really meant that much to him," Tristan said.
"Yugi has lost his faith in his cards, and in himself," Solomon said. He paused in thought then turned to Kaiba. "Kaiba, you and Yugi have been rivals since literally the very beginning. I think that if anyone can restore his faith in the heart of the cards, you can."
"Oh please, I'm a Duelist, not a preacher."
"Precisely and that's why I want you to duel my grandson. Duel Yugi; so he can re-discover the faith inside him and rescue Tea."
"What do you think, Seto?" Mokuba asked. "You've been aching for a rematch. And when you get right down to it, it's no skin off your back what the outcome is."
Kaiba paused. It was true that he wanted to have a rematch with Yugi ever since Battle City. Perhaps...
"Hey Mr. Moto, I think I know a way to perk Yugi up." Joey whispered something in the old man's ear.
"Joey, that's brilliant!"
"Uh-oh, Joey saying something brilliant, guess what just froze over," Tristan quipped.
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The next day, Yugi took a walk through Domino Park. He stopped underneath a tree and lay down. He yawned widely. He was having nightmares all night, nightmares about Edric hurting Tea or worst. He sickened himself and even had to cover his mouth to keep from vomiting up breakfast.
"Yugi, I'm worried about you," Yami said appearing in spirit form sitting besides his young counterpart. "You're not going to give up on Tea, are you? She's counting on you... on us to rescue her."
"Even if we were to make a rescue attempt, we don't know where to find Edric. He could be anywhere from China to California. And even if we could find him, how would we rescue her? Edric's technology isn't restricted to his cards. The way he destroyed my Winged Dragon with those lasers is proof of that."
"Challenge him to a rematch! Demand the right to duel for Tea's safety. I guarantee you'll win."
"But Yami, I lost more than just a duel. I lost my faith; I lost the heart of the cards. I'm not upset that I lost the duel, it was bound to happen sooner or later, but Edric all but killed me when all I wanted to do was rescue Tea. He... he's just like all the bullies I've ever encountered, always kicking on anybody to get what they want. Then kicking them again for good measure and again just for the heck of it."
"I understand now, Yugi. What happened to you yesterday is like what happened to you in the past, when you were picked on by others. Yugi, I know you're stronger than anyone believes, even you. The heart of the cards comes from your heart. Search your heart, Yugi, and you'll find that you haven't lost anything inside you."
Suddenly a shadow covered him. Yugi looked up and scrunched his eyes. The shadow looked like Kaiba.
"Yugi." Yup, it was Kaiba.
"Kaiba? What is it?"
Kaiba was dressed in his silver coat over black shirt and pants. He turned around. "Follow me, there's something I need to show you."
"Okay." Yugi followed Kaiba to the new Duel Dome. The main arena was set up like a coliseum. Mokuba was in the control room but he came out.
"Prepare yourself, Yugi, because we are going to duel!"
"Kaiba, now is NOT the time to be starting up this old game."
"I'm not giving you much of a choice, Yugi. If you truly lost your faith in the cards, maybe you've been relying too much on them. The only way to know for sure is to duel a strong opponent. And I'm just the Duelist to show you that."
This is just like how Edric challenged me.
"Yugi, take him up on his challenge," Yami advised. "Knowing Kaiba, he already locked the doors and I doubt that any of us is going anywhere until this duel happens."
Yugi sighed furiously. "Even if I did agree to a duel, I don't have a Duel Disk or my deck."
Mokuba came out holding two duel disks. He gave one to his brother and handed the other to Yugi. "Joey brought it by a few minutes ago."
Joey's involved in this? What's going on? I thought Joey and Kaiba hated each other's guts.
"I set my Duel Disk so that it displayed 8000 life points just like Masters. And don't worry, I deactivated that little torture trap that Edric programmed into your Duel Disk. Despite what you may think, I am not a fan of torturing anybody, not even my enemies."
"Why are you doing this, Kaiba?" Yugi asked.
"Being the number one Duelist that I am, I can tell who's meant to be a Duelist and who isn't. This duel will decide whether or not you are worthy to call yourself the King of Games. Or if you should step down from your throne and choose me as a successor."
Yami got ready to fuse with Yugi but for some reason, he couldn't connect. It was Yugi's soul, he was actually repelling him. Yami further decided that Yugi needed to go through this Duel by himself. Who knows, it might actually help him.
"Let's duel!" They both cried.
(Y: 8000)
(K: 8000)
"You go first." It was an order.
Yugi nodded and looked at his hand: Dion Keto, the Cure Master, Alpha the Magnet Warrior, Big Shield Gardna, Electric Lizard, and Red Medicine. Yugi drew Lady of Faith. "I summon Lady of Faith in attack mode!" A blue-haired woman in colorful robes appeared.
Name: Lady of Faith
Level: 3
Type: Spellcaster
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1100
DEF: 800
Kaiba drew his sixth card. "This will be too easy. First, I activate the spell card Dark Hole!" The ground underneath the Lady of Faith gave away and she fell into darkness, screaming all the way as the hole closed up. "It's kind of ironic that you lost your faith in your cards as quickly as you lost that Lady of Faith monster card of yours. Perhaps your so-called heart-of-the-cards is just a joke.
"How dare he insult the heart of the cards," Yami said. "Yugi, let's show him!" But Yugi was oblivious to Yami's shouts.
Joey and Tristan were watching it from the stands behind Yugi.
"I hope Kaiba doesn't blow this, Yugi really needs to start believing in himself if he's going to rescue Tea."
"I just hope this plan of yours works, Joey."
"Hey, whenever had a plan of mine didn't work?" Tristan started counting on his fingers. "Don't answer that," Joey amended.
Kaiba said, "I play Lord of Dragons in attack mode!" A human wearing dragon scale armor appeared.
Name: Lord of Dragons (Lord of D.)
Level: 4
Type: Spellcaster/Effect
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 1200
DEF: 1100
Yugi gasped. Kaiba noticed it.
"So you probably guessed what I'm trying to do. And I can do it too. I activate the Flute of Summoning Dragon which I can use to special summon two Blue-Eyes White Dragons!" The Lord of Dragons blew on the dragon-shape horn and Kaiba's trademark monsters appeared on either side of it.
Name: Blue-Eyes White Dragon
Level: 8
Type: Dragon
Attribute: Light
ATK: 3000
DEF: 2500
"All monsters attack his life points directly! First, Lord of Dragons! Attack with Ryu Fist!" Energy swirled around the Lord of Dragons' arm and he punched Yugi. "Now, Blue-Eyes White Dragons, attack with White Lightning!" Yugi's field of vision was consumed in white light.
(Y: 800)
(K: 8000)
"Aww man, Kaiba's ego is going to make my great plan go straight down the toilet!" Joey cried.
"Won't be the first time," Tristan threw in.
"You're not helping."
"Look at the King of Games," Kaiba scoffed. "Only my opening move and you're already one attack away from being defeated! Maybe you're right, Yugi, maybe you don't deserve to be a Duelist."
"So, why don't you finish me?" Yugi asked.
"I prefer to prolong your suffering."
"I thought you said you didn't like torture?"
"Are you feeling any physical pain?"
"No."
"Then it's not torture, is it?"
This is just like how Edric and I dueled. What do I do? If I couldn't defeat Edric, how can I defeat Kaiba?
"Yugi, I'm smart enough to know not to kick a person when he's down, so I'll give you one more chance." He set his last card face-down. "Right now, I have no cards in my hand. But when I have 5 cards in my hand, I'll activate my face-down spell card and you'll be destroyed."
5 turns, that doesn't give me much time. My best bet is to try to defeat his Lord of Dragons first, then I can use spell and trap cards to take out his Blue-Eyes White Dragons.
"I end my turn. Now, Yugi, it's your turn."
Yugi drew a card but as he looked at it, a thought occurred to him. Wait, before I can defeat his Lord of Dragons, I need to bring my life points out of the red zone. Fortunately, I have three cards that can help. "I play Dian Keto the Cure Master, along with Red and Blue Medicine to increase my life points by a total of 1900!"
(Y: 2700)
(K: 8000)
"A desperate move, Yugi, but then again, you're a desperate person."
"Don't push me, Kaiba, I'm not in the mood for your wise cracks."
"At least Yugi's out of the dog house," Tristan said.
"Yes, but it'll take more than raising his life points to win this duel," Bakura said.
"Hey, Bakura, did you plant the cards."
"Sure did. Although they are fairly common cards, I think Yugi will find them extra special."
"I set one card face-down in defense mode and end my turn."
"Very well then, looks like it's my turn." Kaiba drew his card. "I switch both of my Dragons into defense mode!" The Dragons laid their heads on the ground. "Now, Lord of Dragons, attack Yugi's face-down card!" The card turned out to be the Electric Lizard.
Name: Electric Lizard
Level: 3
Type: Thunder/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 850
DEF: 800
"Too bad, by attacking my Electric Lizard, your Lord of Dragons can't attack during his next turn."
"It's no big lost," Kaiba said. "I still have four turns left before I finish you off for good."
"We'll see," Yugi muttered as he looked at his hand. He still had Alpha, the Magnet Warrior, Big Shield Gardna, and Trap Hole. And he just drew Pot of Greed. "I play Pot of Greed." Yugi drew two cards: Dark Magician and Spellcaster Summons. Spellcaster Summons gave Yugi the ability to summon any low-level Spellcaster from his deck but at the cost of 1000 life points and right now, losing life points is the last thing he needs to do. I can't do this, Yugi thought. I can't, it doesn't matter what I do, Kaiba's won.
"Yugi, don't give up," Yami said. "It's not over yet. You have 2700 life points left; you can afford to lose 1000, especially if it means summoning another monster."
"I end my turn," Yugi said.
"Gee, Joey, looks like Yugi's not getting his confidence back," Tristan said.
"Let's not throw in the towel just yet, Tristan," Bakura recommended. "After all, Yugi hasn't drawn the cards yet."
Kaiba drew a card and announced, "Three more turns left, Yugi. A smart Duelist would've probably realized when he was beat and given up."
Yugi drew a card. It was Malevolent Nuzzler, but Yugi did not have any monsters to equip it. "I choose to end my turn without playing a card.
Kaiba drew a card. "Lord of Dragons, attack his life points directly!"
(Y: 1500)
(K: 8000)
"I think it's time for you to get a taste of your own medicine. You're always preaching about how you won by believing in the heart of the cards. Where's your belief now, Yugi? Where is this heart of the cards you believe in so much? Do you even know what it is?"
I don't know, Kaiba, Yugi wanted to say. How can I believe in my cards when I can't even believe in myself?
"Your cards believe in you."
Yugi jumped as a new voice echoed through your mind. It wasn't Yami or any voice that he recognized. He looked down at his hand. The Dark Magician looked like it was staring right at him.
"You must believe in your cards because your cards believe in you." This time, it was a different voice, a female one. Yugi looked down at his deck.
"My cards... believe in me?" Yugi muttered.
"What was that, Yugi? Was that a forfeit?" Kaiba joked.
My cards still believe in me even though I don't believe in myself. Is that... is that what the heart of the cards is, you and your cards believing in each other, just like how friends believe in each other? Well if my cards haven't given up on me, then I can't give up on me either!
"So what do you say, Yugi, a forfeit? I won't think any less of you than I already do."
"No, Kaiba, I'm not giving up," Yugi said. He drew a card and looked at it.
He gasped. This... this is one of the cards Tea used in her duel against Mai! He remembered what he once told Tea about comparing yourself to your favorite card: It's like putting a little bit of yourself into each card.
I see, Yugi realized. When someone gives you their favorite card, they're not just giving you a card they like, it's like they're giving you a piece of their soul! This card is Tea's, so even though she's not here, it's like a piece of her is with me. Tea never gave up on me even when the going got tough and I'm not going to let her down now.
"Yugi, I'm waiting!" Kaiba said.
"I place one card face-down and end my turn."
"You idiot, you didn't even play a monster! Yugi, my patience with you is finally done. If you believe yourself to be a loser, then I'll make you a loser! I switch my Blue-Eyes White Dragons into attack mode!"
"Kaiba, you're not supposed to win."
"So much for your grandiose plan," Tristan shrugged.
"Yugi, I sincerely hope you learn from this duel. I've learned from every lost you gave me and I use them to grow stronger. Hopefully, you will do the same. Blue-Eyes, attack with White Lightning!" Energy began forming in the dragon's mouth. Yugi looked at the hologram of the face-down card. In his mind, he could see Tea. Her eyes, her face, her smile, her laugh, it was like he could feel her essence coming from that card.
The Blue-Eyes launched its attack.
"Activate trap card!" Yugi cried just before the attack struck.
Joey, Tristan, and Bakura watched in horror as Yugi was struck dead-on.
Kaiba let out a triumphant laugh. "I did it, I did it! I finally defeated the great Yugi Moto! Now I am once again the number one Duelist in the... huh?" The energy that engulfed Yugi was expanding. Suddenly it burst outward. There, standing in the center of a circle of three robed priest-like figures was Yugi Moto, or rather, Yami-Yugi. In front of him was the trap card he activated just before the attack struck: Waboku.
"Yugi deflected the attack!" Bakura cried.
"Yes, I knew he could do it!" Tristan shouted.
"See, I told 'ya," Joey said smugly. "Yugi just needed a reminder that even though his friends aren't there physically, they'll always be there for you when you're in a jam. Waboku was the card Tea used to turn around her duel with Mai so when Yugi saw it, he remembered that even though he lost, she still cared about him. And from the looks of it, that restarted his belief in the heart of the cards, and in his own heart."
"Joey, I hate to admit it, but that plan of yours was awesome."
"Hey, I may not look like it, but I'm a well of awesome plans."
"Yeah, well, maybe you should dry up while you're ahead."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh never mind, it was a good plan though."
"Yeah, it was."
Kaiba was speechless. "What... but how... where did..."
"I should thank you, Kaiba, you reminded me that whether I win or lose, there are always people who care about me and willing to help me out. This card is Waboku. And it can neutralize the damage by all of my opponent's monsters for this turn which means that your other Blue-Eyes and your Lord of Dragons are powerless this time around."
Kaiba scowled. "Don't think this isn't over, I still have enough fire power to beat you, Yugi!"
"Perhaps, then again, perhaps not," Yami-Yugi said as the priests disappeared. "Dueling Edric showed me that one card can make all the difference in a duel." Yami-Yugi closed his eyes and drew a card. "And this card just might make a difference. I play Spellcaster Summons. For a cost of 1000 life points, I can summon any low-level spellcaster monster from my deck!
(Y: 500)
(K: 8000)
"And the spellcaster I choose is... Maha Vailo!" From Yami-Yugi's deck came a man wearing blue robes with two blade-shape wings on his back.
Name: Maha Vailo
Level: 4
Type: Spellcaster/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1550
DEF: 1400
"Tea once told me that I remind her of this monster because it has a hidden special ability. And you're about to experience it first hand, for I equip him with the Axe of Despair which raises his attack points by 1000!"
(MV: 1550---2550)
"Now, Maha Vailo's secret ability kicks in. For every spell card equipped to him, he gains 500 extra attack points!"
(MV: 2550---3050)
"Maha Vailo, your target is Kaiba's Blue-Eyes White Dragon! Golden Axe Slash!" Maha Vailo swung his axe and sliced the giant dragon in two.
(Y: 500)
(K: 7950)
"And I end my turn."
I don't believe this! Yugi was able to defeat my mighty Blue-Eyes White Dragon with just a little Maha Vailo card! I have to protect my life points from another attack! "I switch my surviving Blue-Eyes and my Lord of Dragons into defense mode," Kaiba said.
"Now who's making the desperate moves?" Yami-Yugi asked. He drew a card and smiled as he looked at his hand. "I think I'll use another equip spell card and this one's really good. I equip Maha Vailo with Malevolent Nuzzler!" Gray smoke swirled around Yami-Yugi's monster and he breathed it in.
(MV: 3050---3750)
"And Maha Vailo's special ability brings its attack points up another 500!"
(MV: 3750---4250)
"But that's not all; I also play Stop Defense on your Lord of Dragons." The Lord of Dragons stood up to face Maha Vailo. "Maha Vailo, attack Kaiba's Lord of Dragons now!" Maha Vailo swung his golden axe again and caused little eruption to appear all the way to the Lord of Dragons where a huge explosion engulfed the monster.
(Y: 500)
(K: 4900)
"Without your Lord of Dragons, your Blue-Eyes are susceptible to spell and trap cards again."
Kaiba stared at the face-down card he had. He knew he could end it by just activating it. He looked at his remaining Blue-Eyes. There seemed to be a intelligence in the creature's eyes, a intelligence and gentleness that Kaiba never thought a hologram could do. Kaiba looked down at his deck again and gently laid his palm on top of it. "I forfeit, Yugi."
Yami-Yugi was surprised, Kaiba never forfeits. He prefers to go down fighting like Yami-Yugi himself does. Finally, Yami-Yugi stood down. "I accept your forfeit."
"Yes!" Yami and Yugi separated and Yugi turned to look at his friends who ran down the stairs. "Congratulations, Yug, you won the duel."
"I did more than just that, I gained my confidence back. It was like gaining my heart back." Yugi turned to Kaiba. "Thanks, Kaiba, I owe you big time."
"This little melodrama doesn't count as a real duel. When we duel for real, I won't be pulling any punches. I expect you to do the same."
"I understand," Yugi said. Deep down, he still wondered who those voices who called out to him were. On a whim, he lifted up the top card in his deck. It was the Dark Magician Girl. "Kaiba, just one question: what was the card that you were going to use against me when you got five cards?"
Kaiba took out the card and threw it to Yugi. "Take a look for yourself," he said.
Yugi looked at the card. It was a spell card called Ookazi. Once activated, it deals 800 points of direct damage to the opponent's life points. "Kaiba, if you used this card in your initial turn, you would've won the duel in one turn."
"Have you forgotten already? I said that this doesn't count as a real duel."
"Hey, I won't say anything," Yugi said. "Right, guys?" The others nodded.
"So Yug, are ya' ready to rescue Tea?"
"Now I am," Yugi said. "Let's do this!" The others (except Kaiba) threw their hands together. "Rescuing Tea will mean nothing if we can't find her."
"Leave that to me," Kaiba volunteered. "I'll hack into Gamma Technology's mainframe and find out where Masters lives. With his ego, he would like to keep his trophies close."
"Thanks, Kaiba."
"Don't think I'm doing this out of kindness, I'm only doing it to get back at Masters for trying to take over my company."
"That's all right, I appreciate the help nonetheless."
"In the mean time, the rest of us can train you so you'll be ready to beat that maniac Masters."
"Thanks, guys. Okay, let's do it!" Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and Bakura threw their hands up in a cheer.
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And so, for the next three days, everyone prepared for the eventual conflict with Masters. Kaiba, for all his egoism and attitude, was true to his word and found out where Masters lived in no time. In the mean time, Yugi trained by having practice duels with Joey and Kaiba, when he wasn't busy.
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Tea struggled to remain conscious. It felt like she has been cooped up here forever. Once in a while, one of Edric's robot servants came down to give her a drink of water and an apple. At first, she refused it, but the last time, hunger forced her to accept his mock kindness.
What's Edric waiting for? Tea wondered. Why is he keeping me down here? If he's going to do something to me, why doesn't he just do it? Tea's eyes felt red. She had used up all her tears long ago. Yugi, what happened to you? Did you really die in that crash? No, I refuse to believe it; I refuse to believe you're dead. You'll come, I know you will. I know it, I just... but as much as Tea tried to hope, she started to wonder if perhaps, Yugi had forgotten about her. Perhaps Edric was right. Perhaps Yugi really didn't care about her.