Chapter 3

The idea

The weeks went by and each day I drove to school on my motorcycle, could you believe it MY Motorcycle, and my parents could not sell it for once. I realized that the bike was custom made to look like my dad's and my favorite duel monsters card, the Red Eyes black dragon. Ironic if you ask I about it, since my dad and I did have a lot in common, however I just did not duel at the same age he was, it just was not my thing. However, compaction that is something I could do with my eyes closed, and hands tied, and it was a way I could save my brother just, how to do it?

I sat with my lunch as slowly at it while Kate was going through her deck for the upcoming tournament. She was being very careful that no one saw her deck as she prepared it however; Kisty was not more then five feet away at the next table. Oh, man that girl could make me sweat so much, her long blue hair, those purple mixed with deep blue eyes, and that white skin made any man got nuts however it did it to me every time I saw her look at me.

"You know I just got an idea, why hasn't your dad gone to Seto Kaiba?" asked Chris eating his chicken and rice. I turned my head, "WHAT, no way Seto Kaiba would give my family money, remember knuckle head, he hates my dad?" I asked pointing out the obvious already.

"Dude asked Kisty Kaiba out on a date," said Ryan, in a low whisper. I shook my head, "NO, dude she isn't even my type," I said trying to hide the already pink color that I knew were going into my cheeks. "Then why are you blushing so much, Joe, or are you actually scared of a Kaiba?" asked Kate as she ordered her monster. "If anyone at this table is afraid of a Kaiba that would be you Kate," I snapped back. "Am not," she spat back. "Then why in the name of good duel monsters are you hiding them under you school books practically throwing yourself on to them to keep her from seeing them.

"SHHH, I don't want her to know my strategy, I know that people in the school will know what I am doing," she shushed me. I raised an eyebrow, "Kate," I said wiggling my bike keys in front of her, "Tell the truth." Kate narrowed her eyebrows, "Dam you JOE," she said, "Fine I am afraid of her, just a little, ok, I don't want my strategy to be taken away or know that's why her dad lost to mine, he saw the strategy to used even before he knew his opponent. So quit teasing me with a ride home today," she snapped going back to her work.

"Joe, why don't you just go over there and talk to the woman, I am sure she's nothing like her dad," said Ryou. "I had her for English class, and actually if at all she is quite intelligent, and very unique," finished Ryou as he ate his shrimp. "Even if I did ask her out, what does that have to do with her dad," I said.

"The man is rich, so if you get in good with his daughter you can sneak your way into his wallet and get the money you need for your brother," said Ryan looking over at Kisty. I looked over at Kisty, she heard Ryan at least I think she did, "That girl is a huge piggy bank waiting to be broken in to."

"I would never go out with her, in a million years, just for the fact she is related to Kaiba," I said not realizing my words at that moment. Just then, I heard a book slap shut and turning in time to see Kisty walk by shooting daggers at my Cousin for what he said. I wished I was dead when her eyes got to me, her eyes said it all and dam, was I the new reason they were filled with tears.

Ryan and Chris gave each other high fives for upsetting the new girl, and for me well I actually felt sorry for her. I never really saw her with anyone, nor did she say after school for some time. Kate was too busy making her deck to hear Ryan, and me but she did hear my next comment, "That was low Ryan, you shouldn't have said about the money," I said getting up and leaving.

Outside

Kisty stood against a large tree with a book in her hand, I knew I had kind of screw up any shot now but my cousin made a mistake and I actually like her, in a weird way. As I got closer, I heard a sob and a sigh then saw that Kisty was just leaning against the tree. "Hey umm, Kisty," I said sounding like nothing happened.

"What do you want, come to pick on me because, I am a Kaiba?" she snapped. I shook my head, "not really, I just came to apologize, I was kidding what I said in there," trying to be nice. Kisty turned; I could see circles under her eyes and small amount of black under her eyes. "Look, I know how to take criticisms. I know my dad is not Mr. Popularity around here, why he moved me here to Domino is beyond me," she said.

I rather scratched my head, "Umm, well I have to go, sorry about what I said you know," shrugging my shoulders. Kisty looked at me, "You don't have to say anything Joe, look, just let me be alone," she said turning away from me. I sighed, "Ok, umm at least let me make it up to you?" I asked.

Kisty shook her head, "Sorry Joe but I don't date the son of a dog and third rate duelist," she said walking away. I dropped my head, "Darn it Ryan I am going to kill you," I muttered. Ryan, Chris and Ryou came out of the school be hind me, "Dude did you ask her?" asked Ryan. My cousin realized my answer when he received a punch in the jaw from me, "Does that answer your question?" I said and walked over to my bike to get out of school.

"Joe, where are you going?" asked Kate, now running out of the school. "Anywhere but here," I said and drove off. Kate frowned and turned to Ryan and Chris, "You jerk…" was the last thing I heard her say.

I rode home fast and quick letting the speed take me, before I knew it I was at home. I parked my bike in the driveway behind the van, feeling something was not right and it was a good thing because as soon as I came up towards the porch an ambulance dove up. My mother ran past me to get the men to my brother, I thought about my bike, my parents couldn't afford to keep it however I need to do something with it to help Josh.

When my brother was being stabilized, my mother looked over at me, "Your home early," she said. I nodded, "I didn't feel like staying at school, my head is killing me," I said. My mother nodded, "Well, Joe, if you want you can rest in your room until I get back with Josh, he had a spell, and I am taking him to the hospital, once the medics stabilize him," she said. I nodded and went into the house, not wanting to see my brother who was out cold and barely breathing kind of, as he was when I was 10.

I lay in my bed and took an uneasy rest; I was awoken by the phone ringing next to my bed. "Hello," I said in a tired voice. "Is this Joey Jr?" asked a sound coded voice. "Yes, who is this?" I asked sitting up. "Listen, if you want to help your brother I suggest you get down to the hospital now," said the voice then it hung up. I got out of bed and down the stairs hopped on my bike and then drove to the hospital, it was until day light however, sunset was a few moments away.

When I got to the hospital I saw my dad and mom in the waiting room, I ran in to ask them if something had happened. My dad with his long shabby blonde hair sighed, "Joe, you might want to sit down," he said. I sat down across from my dad, "What's wrong?" I asked. My mother who was rubbing my father has back looked at me, "Joe, Josh is dying," she said.

I nodded my head, "They said he is going to die but not for some time," I said. My parents shook their heads, "We found a match to your brother the problem is that…" my mom trailed off. "The problem is that Kaiba won't help," my dad spat. I stood back a bit, "Kaiba what does he have to do with this?" I asked. My mom looked at my dad, "A member of his family has been matched for Josh's kidney," she said. I lowered my head, "And how much do the Kaibas want for the kidney," I asked.

My dad sat back in his chair, "More then we could dream of, Kaiba wants money for Josh's replacement Kidney, it's a member of his family so he has final say," he spoke in a calm yet disturbing tone. "How much, does he want?" I asked. My mother bit her lower lip, "2,000,000 in cash up front no exceptions," she said. I rolled my eyes, 'Dam it' I thought, 2,000,000, there was no way my parents could make that kind of money in time to save Josh.

I punched the nearest wall, next to me, no wanting worry about he damage I just done. All hope was lost for my brother now, as I put my head on the wall. The doctor came in, "Wheeler family?" he called out. I lifted my head and my parents stood up, "Well, I take it you're the parents and you must be that awesome brother that Josh keeps talking about," said the doctor. We all nodded, "Well, Josh had a spell, however he is fine, but sadly his body needs to stay on the artificial kidney from now on until the transplant, which means…" before the man could finish my dad spoke up. "How much time?" he asked.

The doctor sighed, "A week no more then that without the kidney that matches Josh, he will die," said the doctor. I nodded with my parents, "Can we see him?" asked my mom. The doctor nodded and showed us the way, I hated hospitals, so depressing, nothing-happy here except miracles and technically the place was out of them.

Slowly my parents walked in to check on my brother, I decided to wait out side until around 10:00pm, my mom and dad walked out of the room to tell me that Josh wanted to see me, not with them but just me, and to stay with him. While our parents went home, I agreed since my bike was outside in the lot, and would head home once the sun rose or Mom would come and get me.

I opened the door to my brother's room, I could hear Josh's heart machine beeping with his pulse. I could hear the sound of the kidney machine with a low hum sound. The room was dark however, Josh got his own private room to sleep in, and I pulled up a chair next to Josh. "Hey, Big bro, wondering when you were going to show up," he said sounding happy yet tired from all the medications they had pumped into him. "I saw you being taken to the hospital, how are you feeling?" I asked.

Josh smiled, "I feel like Rocky's poop, for one, and my side hurts," he said. I smiled at him, "Well your strong you can take it," I said. "Joey, am I dying?" he asked me, of all people he could have asked, he asked me this question, 'why' was ringing in my head then however an explanation came out. "Well Josh, yes you are dying, they found a match for your transplant however, umm, and we can't afford it. Our parents are doing all they can to help you," I said.

I saw my brother smirk, "I know, Joey, I just wanted to get the honest answer from you," he said. I smiled and took my brother's hand, "You get some sleep I will stay until sunrise, ok," I said. Josh nodded and closed his eyes; I figured it would be ok to rest my head on the mattress.

I awoke in the middle of the night, feeling the wind blow from the hallway, I sat up and looked at the door, and it was cracked open. I got up to shut it when I saw something move outside my door, then I opened the door to fine a not a soul in the hallway. I shut the door and walked over to my brother who was still asleep.

"Josh, I hate to see you like this, I mean I used to hate you, but umm, this just isn't fair especially not to you," I said trying to keep my tears from falling. "Josh you shouldn't have to be in pain you should be at home in your bed sleeping with your duel monster cards, and be a normal guy." I sat stood at the foot of Josh's bed, "I will fine a way to get the money Josh, and I want you to have a future. I want to run around with you at the park, as we did when you were not sick. I want to do all the big brother things that I imagined when I was six and mom held you over my crib. I want you to live Josh do you hear me, I want you to live, I will get the money I don't know how but I will get it."

Just then, I felt a draft by the door, and heard a piece of paper slip under it. I walked over a picked it up it was a note. I walked out in the lit hallway and read the note.

Underground race, grand prize 2,000,000, entry fee of 2G's or best offer, bring this flyer to Domino mountain road at 6pm on Friday, come alone and prepare to race.

I could not believe it 2,000,000 grand prize that is enough to help Josh; I took the note and went back into the room. "Josh, hang in there, I am going to win that race to get your kidney, and save your life," he said, "even if it kills me."