MP: Hello again readers. Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've been busy. Plus, there were a few technical problems. Anyway, this chapter is more or less one of those fluffy chappies. But it has some important information near the end. I'm trying to add a more realistic and tragic view to my story. Anyway, here's chapter 6. Enjoy.
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Friendship Beyond the Grave
Chapter 6
Yugi awoke the next day. The room was still quite dark. He looked through the window to see a gray sky. It was raining, and the sun was blocked out by gray clouds. Yugi sighed. The weather was perfect for today. Today, he had to attend Joey's funeral. He walked to his closet and pulled out any black cloths he could find. He actually found a sort of tuxedo. He must have forgotten about it after using it. It was a bit faded, so it didn't look like it was meant for celebrating. He decided to wear it. The tradition for a funeral was to wear formal, black cloths. This would do for now.
Yugi had to get ready in a hurry. His grandfather was going to leave for the cemetery, where they were holding the funeral, at about noon. Right now it was about 11:30am. Still, as quick as he was, he was being a little more sluggish than usual. He heard his grandpa honk the horn, signaling it was time to leave. He grabbed an umbrella and headed out the door. As he went, Yami popped up.
Aibou..are you alright? he asked.
I've been better... was Yugi's reply.
If you want, I could take over for awhile.
No Yami. Thanks for the offer, but I've gotta do this myself. I've gotta face my fears, and except reality.
Yami was silent. Yugi walked out to the car and hopped in. Though he didn't know it, Joey got in as well. He had woken up just as Yugi shut the door to the house. Now they were on their way.
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There was a loud bang. Joey awoke with a start. He saw Yugi walking away from the house, to a car. He was dressed in a faded black tuxedo, and held a black umbrella. Joey wondered why Yugi was dressed like that. He didn't remember any weddings or anything. And Yugi looked really depressed. What could be happening?
Joey hopped into the car and sat next to Yugi. It was a miracle that Yami didn't sense him. He must have been very deep in thought. Joey watched the surroundings fly past as the car speed off. While the car drove by certain areas, Joey went through memories of the good old days with the gang. Like when he, Yugi, and Tristan were cheering for Tea in a local dance competition...
"Go Tea!" Yugi cheered. Tea was on stage, and she was dancing her heart out. It was the finals at Domino's local dance competition. "Yeah Tea!" Joey cheered as well. "Come on Tea!" Tristan cheered too. Finally, the music stopped. Yugi, Joey, and Tristan clapped and cheered. A winner was annoced. It was Tea Gardener. The crowd shouted and cheered. Yugi even managed to whistle.
Or the time he and Tristan fought off some street punks who tried to rob them. Yugi and Tea were there too...
"Alright folks, just hand over all yer money, and no one'll get hurt....much." threaten one of the punks. They advanced on the four. Joey and Tristan stepped in front of Tea and Yugi. "We ain't givin' you nothin' pal!" Joey shouted. "Yeah, so you better get outta here while you can." remarked Tristan. The punks laughed. "Is that a threat?" "Oooh, I'm so scared." they joked. Joey looked back at Yugi and Tea. "You guys get outta here, Tristan and I can handle these morons." he whispered. "But Joey!" Yugi tried to protest. "Just go!" the blonde demanded. Tea dragged Yugi out. "Alright, don't say we didn't warn you." Tristan said. He threw a fist, hitting one guy's jaw. He fell back, and winced in pain. Joey kicked one guy in the stomach. The two continued beating up the thugs, avoiding most attacks. After a while, the group ran away. Joey and Tristan had managed to get off with only a few scratches. They sat down and panted. "Well...that takes care of them..." Tristan said. "Yep...they weren't so tough." Joey added. They got up, and walked off to find Yugi and Tea.
And the time he and Yugi were being chased by that mob of crazy duelists, because they wanted Yugi's god cards...
"Run Yuge! Joey shouted. "I'm running!" Yugi responded. Yugi and Joey were running for their lives. They were being chased by a mob of duelists who wanted Yugi's Egyptian God Cards. Who didn't these days? Shouts were heard from behind them. They rounded a corner. Only two blocks from Yugi's house. "Keep running Yugi, we're almost there!" Joey urged. "I'm trying!" Yugi said. Yugi's house came into view. They reached the door. Yugi fumbled with the keys. "Hurry Yuge they're gaining on us!" Joey shouted. Yugi finally got the door open. The two ran into the house and shut the door. They locked it and ran to Yugi's room. They slammed the door and pretty much collapsed on the floor. They panted, "Finally..." Yugi said. Joey simply lie there.
Joey chuckled at the memories. Such good times. Good times.
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The car halted. They had stopped in front of the cemetery. Yugi sighed. It was finally time. He opened the door and stepped out. The rain was still falling. He opened his umbrella, and waited for his grandpa to get out. He was wearing an all black tuxedo too. Yugi made his way to the funeral. He saw a crowd of people, gathered around a coffin. Most were sitting in chairs. Sobs could be heard from the distance. Yugi walked over, getting a few looks and catching a few whispers along the way. But the entire time, he just kept his head down. Not wanting to see the sorrowful faces of Joey's friends and family.
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The car stopped and Joey's focus on the outside was broken. He looked at Yugi, who was getting out of the car. Mr. Mutou was exiting as well. Joey got out of the car to see why they stopped. He was surprised to find they were outside a cemetery. Yugi was walking in. Joey followed. Why was Yugi going into the cemetery? Joey obviously wasn't that quick to catch on. He saw that they were coming up on a crowd of people. Yugi wandered in. Joey almost lost him in the crowd of black. If it weren't for that hair of his, he never would have noticed him. Joey went through the crowd. He saw many familiar faces. Tristan, Tea, Serenity, his mom, wait, why were his friends and family here? He looked at the coffin in the middle. He glanced at the name on the side to see just who this guy was. His eyes widened. The name read Joseph Wheeler.
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Yugi took a seat. He sat in between Tea and Tristan. Serenity was sitting next to Tristan. On her other side was her and Joey's mother. Others were difficult to see in the crowd. Yugi stared at the wet grass. A preacher called out to the crowd. He asked everyone to take a seat and quiet down. "Family and friends, we are gathered here today to bid farewell to a wonderful young man." he began. Yugi looked around the crowd, and saw the people's faces. There were the obvious guests. Tristan, Tea, Serenity, and Mrs. Wheeler. Then there were some that he hadn't seen in awhile. Mai, Duke, Mako, and other kids from school. Then there were some he never expected to see at Joey's funeral. Such as the Ishtars, Espa Roba and his brothers, and the most surprising of all were the Kaiba brothers!
Yugi started to wonder why he didn't see Joey's dad. Then again, he might have but not recognized him. Come to think of it, he'd never even seen Joey's dad. He made a mental note of asking Mrs. Wheeler about that another time. "And now, I believe a Mr. Yugi Mutou, was going to say a few words for us." said the preacher, looking at the spiky haired boy. Yugi gulped quietly, a little nervous. He stood up and went by the coffin, in front of the crowd. He took a breath and tried to speak.
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Joey stared for a long time. It was his funeral. How could he have forgotten? But if they buried his body, how was he suppose to get it back!? He heard the preacher call out to the crowd. He would have to think about that later. He sat on the wet ground. He was beginning to get board of all the talking the preacher was doing. Suddenly, Yugi's name was called. The boy stood up and was about to speak. He took a deep breath, and began.
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Yugi started. "Well, Joseph Wheeler, or 'Joey' was what I called him, was a-uh, a great guy. I considered him my best friend. He was always there for me, and he was always looking out for me. I-It's easy to say that...he made a great impact in all our lives." Yugi looked around at the crowd. Tea gave a sad, but encouraging smile. Yugi placed a hand on the coffin. "Joey...he was a wonderful guy. He..he didn't deserve this...." Yugi started to tear up. "He, was the best friend I've ever had. He was also a great brother, and the greatest guy I ever met. It's hard to say goodbye to him, after all this time. But, even though he's gone....I know his family and friends will keep his spirit and memory alive....thank you." Yugi whipped away a tear as he finished. The crowd of people clapped, to show it was a job well done. Yugi looked at the coffin one more time, and returned to his seat. His friends gave him soft smiles. They were proud of him.
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Joey stared at Yugi. He was nearly crying. 'dat...was the most beautiful speech I've eva heard..' he thought. Yugi sat back down. Joey looked at him sympathetically. Tea and Tristan were smiling at him. But none of them felt like smiling right now. Yugi didn't move his eyes from the ground after he sat down. It sounded like the preacher was finishing up. "Please rise for the lowering of the coffin." he asked. Joey stood up respectfully. Though he didn't need to, he did anyway.
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Yugi watched the coffin being lowered into the ground. Beads of rain dotted it everywhere. It was like the skies themselves were crying. Yugi lowered his head to the ground. His eyes were shadowed over in sadness. Silent tears streamed down his face. He looked up for a moment to see the diggers piling dirt into the hole. The preacher said a few more words, and then began to leave. Everyone else around him seemed to be going too. Soon only Yugi, his grandpa, Tea, Tristan, and the remaining Wheeler family, or at least the known remaining, were the only one's left. Well, besides Yami and Joey.
Tea walked over to Yugi. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Yugi...are you...ok?" she asked. 'What a stupid question. Of course I'm not ok! My best friend died! How the heck would I be ok!?' Yugi thought. "I'm fine Tea..." was his response. "Yugi, I know you and Joey were really close. Is there...anything I can do to make you cheer up?" Tea asked. Yugi didn't respond. Tea sighed and took her hand off his shoulder. "Well, I'd better get going. See you around Yugi." With that, she walked off. Yugi looked over at Tristan, Serenity, and Mrs. Wheeler. He could tell Mrs. Wheeler was trying to hold back her tears. So was Tristan. But Serenity just cried into Tristan's chest. Serenity must have felt worse than anyone. She barely got any time with her brother. At least Yugi got about three years.
Eventually, Tristan, Serenity, and Mrs. Wheeler left. Yugi's grandpa had gone to pull the car up. There was a paved drive area in the cemetary. Yugi stood there in the rain. He stared at the damp earth. Evertything was quiet, until Yami spoke up.
Yugi....are you.. he started.
I've been better... Yugi replied.
I'm so sorry you have to go through this. And I'm sorry Joey had to go through what he did.
Thanks. I just wish that we could do something more. Avenging him is great and all...but, I just...I just want Joey back.
Yugi and Yami's conversation was interrupted by a honk. Yugi turned to see his grandpa, in the car, signaling that it was time to leave. Yugi nodded. He stuck his hand in his pocket. Slowly, he pulled something out. He walked over to Joey's tombstone and read it in his mind. Joseph "Joey" Wheeler
1986-2004
Beloved Son, Brother, and Friend
Yugi placed the item from his pocket on the ground. He propped it up against the stone. It sat in the rain, resistant because of its plastic protective sleeve. Yugi walked away. He opened the door to the car. He put his foot in, and took one last look at the tombstone. He got in and shut the door. The car drove off. Yugi stared out the window. The reality of the situation suddenly hit him. Joey was gone. Yugi would never see him again. The car exited the cemetery. And no one was left at the gravesite. All that was left, was the object Yugi had left. The rain beat down on it. On Joey's Red Eyes Black Dragon card.
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Elsewhere in Domino, trouble was brewing. A man in a dark cloak stood under the shade of a large tree in Domino Park. He was holding something golden. The Millenium Cage. Three other figures came up. "You wanted us Kutana?" asked one voice. It was none other than the group that had murdered Joey Wheeler. There was Kutana, Yutamu, Juro, and Nattero.
"Gentlemen, it's time to discuss our plan to steel the Millenium Puzzle." Kutana said sternly. The group nodded. "So, anybody got any ideas?" asked Juro. "How about a kidnapping? Then ask for the puzzle for a ransom?" suggested Nattero. "No, too risky. Besides, it'll take too long. And we want to make this as quick as possible." said Kutana. "How about we sneak in his house and steal it?" said Juro. "No, that'll never work. Security systems might make for a hassle. And the Pharoh might get in our way." rejected Kutana. "I've got it. We lure that Yugi kid to the park somehow, and jump him. We can take the puzzle, and kill him on the spot. Then we can dump the body in the river or something." said Yutamu. Kutana thought for a minute. "Hm, I suppose it'll do."
"When shall we meet?" asked Nattero. Kutana closed his eyes and thought again. "How about...Friday at 8:30PM? We'll have half an hour to prepare. Plus it'll be dark out." he suggested. The group nodded. Yutamu, Juro, and Nattero walked off, as if nothing had happened. Kutana stood, stroking the cage. It had begun.
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MP: Okay, there it is. I hope it's okay. There'll be more information in the next few chapters. I got a request, in the reviews, to make this story more tragic and surprising. The idea of having Joey take the form of a phoenix or witch came up. I...can't garentee that....but I do promise a surprise ending to chapter 9. So, that being said, continue to read and review!!
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Preview for Chapter 7
Aibou... Yami called.
Yugi snapped out of his trance of depression.
Yes Yami? he asked, wiping his eyes.
Now that we know about Kutana, we must find him.
But how? We don't have anything the police could use to track him. And without something like that, I'm afraid they don't have the right technology to find him.
Then we have to find someone with better technology than the police.
But, who has better technology than the authorities?
Yami was silent, but gave Yugi a look. It told him that whoever this was, he wouldn't be too thrilled to ask for their help.
Yugi looked at the pharoh. He tried to think about this for a moment. Finally, it came to him.
Oh no....you don't mean? Him...
Yami called. he asked, wiping his eyes.