I don't own Yugioh.

Chapter 26

"Finally!  Made it to Brazil!" Jou took a deep breath as they got off the plane and into the tropical heat.

Seto shouldered his bag, "Move along, Jou.  No telling who'll pop up here."

Jou pouted, "You ruin all my fun, ya know that?"

Seto flashed a grin, "Maybe…"  He started to walk ahead.

Jou shook his head and followed.

"Where would Yug and the others be?" Jou suddenly asked as they walked through a town.

"I don't know," Seto shook his head, "Brazil is a big country.  The Rainforest is just past this town, but we shouldn't be heading in yet."

"Then, if the Rainforest is right there, then Yug and the others will come to this town."

Seto nodded, "That's what I'm counting on.  I'm surprised that whatever force we're up against let us come this far.  We aren't he most informed two."

Jou sighed, "Outta everyone, I'd say I'm useless…"

"Nobody's useless," Seto shook his head, "You needn't worry about that.  I felt the same way.  All I could do was pilot the plane.  I couldn't fight with Yugi, and I couldn't take the initiative to go after them because all the information I have on them is what I've learned from Yugi, Yami, and whatever's happened on this fucked up trip."

Jou sighed, "I suppose that's a good word to describe it.  Still…I'd like ta be able to help out."

"If it were just as simple as Duel Monsters," Seto stated, "I'm sure both of us could be of use.  You have a deck, don't you?"

"Yea," Jou nodded, "You play?"

"I have just about every card there is," Seto responded, "So far.  There are more boosters in the making."

"Wow," Jou whistled, "I still ain't gonna ever look at Duel Monsters the same way again."

"I doubt any of us will," Seto stated.

Jou pulled his deck out, "But I agree with ya.  If it were only dueling, then I'd be able to help.  Not be some damn cheerleader on the sidelines."

Seto had to laugh at the analogy, "I must agree with you there.  I have a deck, too."

Jou grew serious, "Lately…I've been wonder'n if the cards are more then cards.  If it ain't just Yugi's deck."

"What do you mean?" Seto was surprised to hear it coming from Jou.

Jou looked through his cards, "I don't know exactly what's go'n on anymore…and the entire situation is so confus'n that I've lost track of reality and illusion.  Ya know?  I can't tell what's real anymore.  It makes me think.  What if these cards were, at one point, actual creatures.  And what if the magic and trap cards were actual spells used sometime in the past…or even in another world where the cards are alive?"

Seto was silent.  He had similar thoughts after the events of the past couple of weeks.

Jou shook his head, "Anzu says that the Silver Fang saved us when Yugi defeated Warumono.  And I won't forget the realism of the monsters when Yugi played Tejina in the Shadow Realm.  And that brings up another question…what is the Shadow Realm?  I first saw it used in a Shadow Game…but Yami had me an' Yug leave the area.  It was a while ago.  It feels like forever ago that it happened."

Seto looked at him in interest, "And?  What happened?"

"I remember it," Jou stated as they sat down on a hill overlooking the Rainforest a few miles from the town, "Even thought it was so long ago.  It feels like yesterday.  Even at the time, I had a feel'n that there was some'n up.  It was when I first met Yug, really.  We'd known each other, but not as friends.  I had stolen the wallet of a kid named Ushiro…can't remember his last name.  He proceeded to beat the shit outta me for do'n it.  Then, Yug came by and said that it was his idea for me to steal the wallet.  At the time, I don't even think Yug had gotten over his stammer'n thing.  Ushiro was about to pound the both of us inta oblivion, when Yami suddenly popped right outta the puzzle Yug had around his neck.  Man, was I shocked!  He started talk'n weird to Ushiro, say'n some'n about a game.  It had the weirdest rules.  But before it started, he told me and Yug to leave.  Yugi didn't argue, so I figured that I shouldn't, either.  I dunno what happened to that guy…Yami never did tell us.  And we never asked.  I never saw him 'round school again."

Seto looked out at the huge forest, thinking over what he was told.

Jou lay back in the grass, lacing his hands behind his head, "I've heard so much of the 'Shadow Games' and the 'Shadow Realm'…Yami even says that the place where Tejina took us all was an area of the Shadow Realm.  But I still don't know what it is.  And why are we jes' hearing about it now?"

Seto mused, "Hmm…that's a good question, Jou.  I wish I knew the answer.  Maybe we'll get some when we find Yugi's grandpa."

"I suppose you're right," Jou sighed, "I just wish I knew more.  Sometimes, I feel like…if I knew more, then I could help out more, ya know?  Not just sit on the sides and be useless."

Seto was quiet.

"Even when the old man was beat'n me," Jou shook his head, "I felt like I could do some'n.  But I never got the guts ta do it.  Then, I found out about my sister's condition, and I couldn't just stand by and do noth'n.  I had ta get the money to pay for her operation somehow.  So she wouldn't go blind."

"It'll take you forever to save up for that sort of operation," Seto said bluntly.

Jou sighed, sitting up and bowing his head.  Tears sprung to his eyes and ran down his face.  "I know.  But…what else can I do?  I mean, I'm her big brother.  I'm supposed ta be there for her.  I know I'll never be able to save enough money in time before she goes blind permanently.  That's why I was steal'n from Ushiro…from anyone.  But then when I talked ta Yug…he made me realize that she wouldn't wanna have the operation done and get her vision back that way.  Not with stolen money."

Seto looked at him, "I can lend you the money.  You'd have to pay it back by working, but I can definitely give you a loan so that your sister doesn't go blind before you work enough to get the money."

"Really?" Jou looked up, his eyes wide and his jaw dropped open, "You'd do that for me an' my sister, Seto?"

Seto looked away uncomfortably, "Why not?"

Jou hugged the older boy, "Thank you, thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!"

Seto blinked for a moment, then slowly embraced Jou back.

They pulled apart after a while.

"Well, let's get going," Seto stood up, "It's getting dark.  We should find a hotel to stay in for now.  Tomorrow, we can come back out to watch and wait for Yugi and the others."

Jou nodded.  He started to stand up and walk, when something grabbed his ankle, and he fell over, his breath leaving him.  Shaking it off as tripping, he stood up again, but the grip remained constant.  He looked down and saw that there was a rotting hand holding onto his leg.  He started to scream when a hand clamped over his mouth.  He struggled, and bit the kidnapper's hand.

The kidnapper yelped and backed off.

Jou grabbed the guy "TEME!"  He punched the guy in the face.

Seto turned around when he heard the shout, and saw a layer of mist covering the area where he had just been.  He rushed into it.  "Jou!?"

Jou winced as he got hit back again and again.  Whatever he was fighting had too much power and stamina.  It was beating him black and blue.  He coughed blood as the fist came into his gut, and Jou sunk to the ground, doubling over and moaning.  He continued to cough, tears running out of the corners of his eyes as he struggled for breath.

The thing was about to finish him, when a rock hit it in the eye.  It roared.

Seto ran up and bent next to Jou, "Jou!?  Are you alright?!"

Jou coughed again, and some specks of blood came out with it.

Seto looked on in concern, then remembered the attacker.  Suddenly, there was a lurch, and the ground opened up, swallowing Jou and Seto and plunging them into darkness…

Seto shook his head, clearing the dizziness.  Things spun, and he felt where he had hit his head.  There was a nice gash by his temple.  He figured he was lucky to be alive.  He pain stabbed into his head, but he looked around. 

It was dark and musty.  He noticed bars like a prison, and dirty stones covering the floor, wall, and ceiling.  The only light was a small candle burning at the end of the hallway past the cage.  Seto's eyes slowly adjusted to the dark, and he noticed that his pack was gone.  A moan next to him brought his attention back to the cell.

"Jou…," Seto whispered, then gently propped the boy up, "Are you alright?"

Jou winced, then grinned weakly, sitting up slowly, "I've seen better days…but yea."  He coughed again, but it was a dry cough.

Seto rubbed his back.

"How…bout you?" Jou rasped, "You okay?"

"Just a few scratches," Seto assured him, "It's nothing."

Suddenly, an old voice spoke up from the other end of the prison cell.

"Is someone there…?"

Seto and Jou looked out at the opposite side.

"Yea," Seto spoke up, "Who're you?"

"It's unusual to have visitors," the old voice responded, "I thought they wouldn't bother.  You boys must have something to do with all of this chaos."

"Who are you, jiji?!" Seto clenched his hand into a fist, then softly moaned as a wave of dizziness hit him.

Jou steadied him.

The old man limped over and sat down near them.  He was short and a bit pudgy, with bloodied overalls and a white shirt that was also bloodied.  He had a lot of marks on him, signs that he was tortured or whipped.  His gray hair stuck out on his head, and brown eyes peered out from under the bangs.

"Who am I?" the old man blinked, then smiled a bit, "I am Sugoroku Motou."

"Motou…?" Seto's eyes went wide.  That's what Warumono said that Yugi's last name was!  Then this guy is…!  "You…you're Yugi's grandfather…!"

Jou blinked, then looked at Sugoroku, "Are yas?  Are yas really Yug's grandpa?!"

Sugoroku blinked, "Yes…how do you know my grandson?"

"Heh-hey!" Jou cheered, "We found him!"

"Yea, but we don't know where 'here' is," Seto sighed, leaning against the wall, "And even if we did, that wouldn't help Yugi, Yami, and Anzu find us.  We're as good as dead here."

Sugoroku looked alarmed, "Yugi's coming here?!  How…why!?"

"He got your letter," Seto stated, "Insisted that we go help.  We figured out that this was the 'best' Rainforest.  We got separated in an accident, but I'm sure he's on his way here right now.  Probably with Yami and Anzu."

"He can't…," Sugoroku whispered in fear, "He can't…it's too dangerous!"

"Dangerous?" Jou blinked, "How so?"

"There are creatures here…powerful ones.  Sorcerers and Shadow Duelers.  They call upon the Shadow Realm for power…it's a…," Sugoroku started.

"We know what it is," Seto responded, "Look, Yugi's already fought against the Shadow Realm, and its demons.  Twice.  And he beat them both times."

"Yea!" Jou nodded, "Some losers…the…Bakemono brothers or some'n like that…"

"Warumono and Tejina Bakemono," Seto crossed his arms, "Both defeated…"

"What do they want with Yugi?" Jou blinked, "What'd he ever do ta them?"

"He's part of a race of people who sealed the Shadow Realm into another dimension, and because our race stands in their way, those of the Shadow Realm hunted us down and exterminated us.  Yugi's father tried to save him, but lost him.  I found him.  I didn't know it was him at first.  I hadn't seen much of him when he was a baby.  And I was on Earth."

"Are you saying Yugi's not from Earth?" Seto blinked.

Sugoroku shook his head, "No.  He's from a planet parallel to this one.  It's called Gaia."

Seto and Jou exchanged looks, then nodded at the old man to continue.

"Gaia was a peaceful planet," Sugoroku stated, "The monsters you find in Duel Monsters were used there, calling upon them by holy magic.  But not everyone could do this.  And, it took a lot of magical power to be able to summon a monster, let alone get it to obey the person's command.  Therefore, we called the class of people who could 'Holy Spellcasters'.  The monsters were used to help with construction, or were pets for some.  Kuribo was a popular pet.  However, something allowed the Shadow Realm to break the seal that kept it tucked away, and it started to spread its chaos.  First on Gaia, then it moved to Earth.  I had left Gaia years ago…I think it was about nine or ten years ago to keep tabs on the Shadow Realm from Earth.  I don't know what happened in the attack on Gaia, or if anyone's still alive.  The portal has been sealed off, and the only one who can open it is a Holy Spellcaster."

Jou and Seto listened.

"Is that what they want?" Seto raised an eyebrow.

Sugoroku sighed and nodded, "Yes.  I have powers, but not nearly as great as a Holy Spellcaster.  I seemed to have lost much of my powers here on Earth, and can not and will not open the gateway to Gaia for them.  There is someone who can.  And that someone…is my true grandson.  You call him 'Yugi'…but his real name is Tenko."

"So that's why they want Yug!" Jou gasped.

"But wait a minute…the guys we bumped into wants Yugi dead," Seto interrupted.

"Who?" Sugoroku blinked.

"The Bakemono brothers, and someone's lead'n them," Jou stated.

Sugoroku shook his head, "They have no relation to what these members of the Shadow Realm want.  Those ones just want to wipe out anyone who was on Gaia.  In a way, being held prisoner by the other faction from the Shadow Realm has kept me alive.  No way I'd be able to fend off the Bakemono brothers.  They're three notorious megalomaniacs who were sent to the Shadow Realm to repent for their evil deeds.  Everyone on Gaia knows about them.  So does anyone with the Dark power."

"So there's one faction that wants Yugi and everyone from Gaia killed," Seto crossed his arms, "…and the other one that wants to get to Gaia?"

Sugoroku nodded, "I don't know why they want to go there.  But it isn't for any good.  That's for sure."

Seto sighed, "Hmm…this is definitely becoming quite the predicament…"

TO BE CONTINUED…

Japanese – English

Teme – (You) Bastard

Jiji – Gramps/old man