Chapter Fifteen
"Load the cannons and prepare for attack!" Marik shouts to the awaiting crew.
Tristan: "What do you mean, load the cannons!"
Tea: "Yeah! Aren't we just following them?"
Marik: They're not going to Aaru, for some reason they're making another stop at Bairiki, it's several miles ahead. I want to attack before they get there.
Yugi: Can't we just lay low and wait for them to set sail again?
Marik: Do you think my sister will be safe till then?
Yugi couldn't answer, it isn't like he could promise Marik that his sister will be safe.
Yugi: But wouldn't it be better if we did wait?
Marik looked furiously at Yugi which prompted Kaiba to stand protectively closer to him. Joey flashed him a short glance and tried to concentrate on the impending danger instead of his seemingly never-ending hurt feelings.
Kaiba: So far that freak holds all the cards. He has the stones and Marik's sister, what do we have that would keep her safe?
Marik: That's right, we have nothing. We must attack now.
"Yugi, I'm afraid they're both right. It has to be now."
Yugi: But Pharaoh! What about the stones? If anything happened to them, we will never be able to unlock your past!
"Yugi, I understand how you feel but right now saving Isis should be our number one priority"
Yugi: You're right.
Marik: We're catching up fast although it will take a while. I want us to move faster! I want a first direct hit to their ship, no warning shots!
Tristan: How long will it take to reach them?
Marik: Hopefully less than another day.
The crew disburses to their regular duties. Tristan so far has been hanging out and helping one of the crewmen. Kaiba leads Yugi back to their unfinished chess game. Tea drags the glaring Joey to the side.
Joey: Look at them, talking and hanging out like their buddies.
Tea: Well they have been spending a lot of time together lately. But that could be because his best bud is ignoring him.
Joey looked shocked and offended.
Joey: I'm not ignoring him!
Tea: Joey you jumped the balcony to the first level of the ship when you saw him.
Joey: A bug was on me!
Tea: Sure.
"Checkmate" Kaiba said beaming like a kid in a candy store.
Yugi: Shit this is the sixth time you beat me! No, we play again!
Kaiba sat back in his seat and crossed his arms.
Kaiba: So, I finally found a game you can't win, Yugi.
Yugi: No! I can, but I'm just a little tired that's all! I beat you plenty of times before!
Kaiba: Yeah and I was also recovering at that time too, now I'm completely healed. I beat Gozoburo when he was a chess champion and I was only a kid. There is no way you can beat me now.
Yugi: You just love this don't you!
Kaiba: Yes, but I love watching you squirm in defeat even more.
Yugi: Do you get off on beating me?
Kaiba sat and thought about that for a second. 'Actually that's one activity I wouldn't mind doing with you, little one' Kaiba thought to himself almost arousing himself.
Kaiba: I do. So will we play again?
Yugi: Yes!
'Usually Yugi would take on a whole new personality and become stronger and more fierce losing all innocense. But this time he was young and pouty and Kaiba found it less intense and more exhilarating. Yugi was losing so bad to him he stopped gloating days ago . . . sort of.
"Yugi, why don't you let me play, I've watched his strategy and I think I can beat him."
Yugi: No, Pharaoh I appreciate your help but I want to take on Kaiba on my own. It's important to me.
"Why? Do you have something to prove?"
Yugi: Yes, to myself. The more I spend with Kaiba the more I like him. I doubt he will ever like me but when I beat him I want it to be me. As myself, I want him to look at me and know that I defeated him and not us together.
"But he doesn't know about me."
Yugi: I know, but if he will be a real friend after this he will have to know. Sometimes I think that the only reason he even speaks to me is because we defeat him all the time and sometimes I think your relationship with him is special because of it. I don't feel that but I want to, so if I beat him alone I will feel that way too.
"Okay Yugi, I understand. I never knew you felt that way and I underestimated your growing feelings for Kaiba. I'll be rooting for you."
Yugi: Thanks.
Kaiba: Are you done drifting into La la land again? Make your move so I can hurry up and beat you.
"All I can be is a good friend to Yugi and nothing more, look at him with his googly eyes and it's all for him!" Joey huffed and walked way.
The game between Yugi and Kaiba lasted for hours, mostly due to Yugi taking way too long to make a move. Unfortunately for him Kaiba was once again in the lead.
Marik approaches.
Marik: Sorry to interrupt your game but I think it would be better if you guys retired soon. We have a long day ahead of us.
Yugi: Sure Marik no problem.
Kaiba: Of course it's no problem when you're losing, face it Yugi, you just want this game over cause you have no chance of winning.
Yugi slides all the pieces off the board into the box and puts the board away.
Yugi: We should listen to Marik and turn in.
Kaiba just smirks.
As they made their way to the low deck Yugi headed right for his room. Kaiba stopped short of his own room and noticed that Yugi wasn't behind him.
Kaiba: Yugi? Why are you going in that room?
Yugi: Well I thought you were maybe tired of me sleeping in your room.
Kaiba: When I'm tired you will know.
Yugi smiles.
Joey and Tea just reach the bottom of the stairs when they notice Yugi and Kaiba. Before Yugi could take a step toward Kaiba's room Tea shouts out and push Joey ahead.
Yugi: Oh! Hi Tea!
Tea: Yugi, Joey wants to talk to you it's very important.
Joey couldn't believe what she was saying his hair was practically standing on end.
Joey: What! No! I–
Tea: It's personal!
She gives Kaiba a glaring look.
Tea: Very personal, Yugi.
Yugi: Uh ok. We can talk in my room, Joey.
Joey turns around and with a shocked expression looked at Tea who urged him inside.
Joey: Uh yeah Yugi I guess we should talk.
Kaiba stares daggers at both Joey and Tea. 'That stupid bitch and filthy mutt. Why doesn't he be man enough to speak for himself.'
Yugi: I hope you don't mind Kaiba but I'll stay in my room tonight.
Kaiba: Whatever.
With an expressionless attitude Kaiba goes into his room and shut the door.
When Joey and Yugi entered his room, Yugi plopped down onto his soft bed prepared to listen to his best friend.
Joey: So Yug, This has been a strange trip huh?
Yugi: Joey why have you been avoiding me?
'Damn, he sure didn't waste time! When did he become direct?' Joey thought as he was stopped dead in his track of useless banter.
Joey: Well a lot of things have been going on lately . . .