Yugi and Joey sat on the deck with Tea and Tristan. Both were tired and gasping for breath; Tea and Tristan looking worried.

"That was close." Yugi gasped. "I'm sure glad you two guys showed up. Really glad."

"We're a team. We all stick together." Tea said, kneeling down beside Yugi.

"We'll always watch your back." Tristan nodded.

"Thanks a lot, you guys." Yugi said, just about gathering back his energy.

Joey heard the far-off conversation somewhere around him. He felt so weak and useless...just like the day when Serenity left..."I'm sorry, Yugi. I failed. I only found two of your cards." Joey mumbled, holding the two cards in his hand.

"It's okay, Joey." Yugi said, reassuringly.

"It's not okay." Joey said, turning his gaze back to the floor again. "It's always this way with me. I'm never able to help anybody. Not even my own sister, Serenity." Joey tried to fight back the thought of her, as he also tried to fight back tears.

"Serenity?" said Yugi, questioningly.

"Really? You have a sister, Joey?" Tea asked, gently.

"Our parents divorced years ago, when we were kids." Joey said, closing his eyes. This was the first time he had shared this story with anyone. It was the deepest secret he had, that he didn't want to tell anybody...but he felt like he had to tell Yugi, Tea and Tristan. "She lives far away. With my mother. My sister's had really bad eyes since she was born. Eventually, she'll go blind."

"I'm sorry." Yugi breathed, wondering why Joey had never mentioned this before now.

"Thanks, Yug. She sent me a message." Joey thought about the videotape that was still sitting at home; locked away so his dad wouldn't find it. And yet again, a flow of more painful memories ran through Joey's mind. "The doctors have told her that the time has come. Soon her eyes will be impossible to repair...even with surgery. But there are specialists who could perform the operation before it's too late. They could save her eyesight. But...there's no way I can pay for the operation. I have to win, for her! Winning in the Duelist Kingdom, and getting the prize money...is the only way I can help Serenity." Joey finished, his eyes shining with tears.