-1The Beauty and the Duelist

Chapter Three: Find that Duelist!

Together trio set out from the store in search of the ever elusive Seto Kaiba. Joey and Yugi look at each other as they walk, while Mia appears to be searching for him in rather unusual places like dark allies and inside dumpsters. The two friends seems to share the same thoughts about this recent event involving Kaiba. They both find if hard to believe with their history with the aloof Kaiba that he would give money to a stranger like that. However, they could not deny that Mia's description of the man matched the standoffish duelist.

"Hey Yug," Joey whispers a suggestion, "do you think that maybe the person she saw was an imposter?"

"I don't know," Yugi whispers back, "I don't think even an imposter would be so generous with his money."

"Yah, I guess you're right. Hey, you don't suppose it was his good twin?"

The spiky haired duelist laughs at Joey's joke. The thought of Seto having a twin and being the evil twin is hilarious to him.

"Maybe so, but I suppose we'll find out."

"Oh, it's so crowded here," Mia complains, "I don't see him anywhere around here. How about you two? Any luck?"

"No sign of him," Joey answers then mutters to himself, "which is probably a good thing."

"Don't worry Mia, I'm sure we'll find him," Yugi comforts.

The young waitress turns to Yugi, who seems to have grown a little taller, and smiles brightly at him.

"You're right Yugi. I'm sure we'll find Mister Kaiba. We can't give up. I have to keep looking. If either of you get too tired, you can just go back home. I'll try to keep looking. I mustn't give up before finding him."

"There's no need to worry about us. We won't stop unless you stop. If you get tired, we can always stop and meet up to look for him later."

"Ya know Yug," Joey comments in a hushed voice so that only Yugi can hear him, "if she wasn't so quirky and a little obsessed about finding Kaiba, I think I might be jealous of you.

Yugi, who seems to have return to petite status, smiles innocently at his best buddy.

"MISTER KAIBA, OH MISTER KAIBA, WHERE OH WHERE ARE YOU?!"

The quirky waitress's calling out causes much embarrassment on behalf Joey and Yugi.

"HEY MIA," Joey protests, "that's not exactly a name you should be calling out like that."

Mia blinks then blushes realizing the embarrassment she's causing.

"Sorry...I guess I was being a little too loud."

"Well actually Mia," Yugi suggests almost apprehensively, "we sort of know where he lives. Maybe it would be easier to show you where."

"Hey Yug, why didn't ya think of that sooner," Joey wonders.

"Well, he had passed by only recently, so I doubt he'd be there. However, it's a lot easier than simply wandering around aimlessly I suppose."

"Is that really alright," Mia questions, "maybe since you're such good friends it might be better if you return it."

"Well," Yugi admits, "that's kind of stretching it."

"Overstretching it and then some. Kaiba doesn't have any friends, and he and Yugi would be the farthest from being such," Joey adds.

"Oh yah, that's right. Yugi, you're the world's best duelist and Mister Kaiba's also a famous duelist too. So does that mean you're rivals," Mia wonders.

Yugi nods.

Meanwhile, strolling down the sidewalk on the other side of the street is the younger Kaiba brother, Mokuba. Mokuba happens to glance across the street and his eyes seem to glimpse upon a beautiful young brunette who appears to sparkle and radiate before his eyes.

"Wow, that girl over there with Yugi is pretty cute," Mokuba comments to himself gazing at her while he walks, "wait, with Yugi? Is she his girlfriend or something?"

"Hey Yug, stop me if I'm wrong, but isn't that Mokuba staring at us across the street," Joey Wheeler wonders.

Yugi and Mia turn their gaze across the street. Yugi immediately notices Mokuba across the street whereas Mia remains completely oblivious.

"You're right Joey, that IS Mokuba," Yugi notes.

"One of your friends," Mia wonders still unsure as to who or what they're looking at.

"Of course you wouldn't know who Mokuba is either," Joey mutters to himself.

"Hey Mokuba," Yugi calls out waving at the young Kaiba brother.

"Huh? Is that Yugi waving me over," Mokuba wonders, "What does he want?"

Curious, Mokuba dashes across the street.

"Lalalala. Don't mind me. Third wheel and all," Mia remarks mostly to herself, feeling out of place and neglected.

"What'dya want Yugi," Mokuba asks skeptically.

"Hello Mokuba, this young lady is Mia Chibara. I was wondering if you could help her out with something," Yugi requests.

Mia's eyes water as she gives Yugi a sad 'Are You Giving Up/Ditching Me' look.

"Of course! Absolutely, anything," Mokuba quickly agrees giving in to the insanity that seems to infect almost every guy who runs into Mia.

Secretly, Mia pouts hurt by what appears to her as her new found friends abandoning her and dropping her off on someone else. Her sorrowful appearance only endears Mokuba to her unknown plight.

"So, what is it that I can help you with?"

"Oh uh...no...that's...it's not...necessary. I...I can do it myself. It's...okay. Thank you," Mia stutters.

"Oh, Mia allow me to introduce Mokuba to you. He's Seto Kaiba's younger brother," Yugi finally introduces.

"Oh, uh, I...I'm terribly sorry," Mia bows down before the younger Kaiba brother and apologizes profusely.

"Uh, what's wrong with her?"

"Well ya see Mokuba, Mia here's lookin' all around for your older brother," Joey blurts.

Mia twitches slightly as her face flushes. Never did she imagine the trouble she would have to go through to return a hundred dollar bill.

"Uh...well," Mokuba stutters, not entirely sure if that's something he should help her with.

"I'm sorry, if it's really a bother," Mia trails off then presents the money Seto had given her, "then perhaps you could return this to him?"

"Huh? Return this," Mokuba asks perplexed.

"He gave this to me earlier."

"Really? That doesn't sound like my brother."

"Her description matches that of your brother. Mokuba, by any chance can you tell us which color coat he wore today," Yuki remarks.

"He wore his white one. Why do you ask," Mokuba replies.

"Well, that's that. It must have been Kaiba," Joey remarks.

"I'm really sorry...I don't mean to be such a bother. All I had hoped to do today was purchase my first Duel Monsters deck, but then I lost some of my money, then someone gave me some money, and then I realized that it was way too much. I'm so sorry for being a bother."

"Oh no, please, don't worry about it Ms Chibara. I'll help you out," Mokuba informs.

"Thank you very much, I'm really sorry for causing so much trouble," Mia apologizes.

"Yugi, I'll take her from here, alright?"

"Sure, please take good care of her."

"I will," Mokuba speaks then turns to Mia, "I don't know where Seto's at now, so let's wait for him at home."

The gang say their farewells and part ways. Mia goes off with Mokuba allowing Joey to take a much needed sigh of relief.

"Is something wrong, Joey?"

"Oh, nothin' Yug. I'm just glad she's being taken care of. She may be really cute, but I think she's a bit too much for me," Joey replies.

"Oh, so you'll stick with Mai then," his friend teases.

"Well..."

Yugi laughs and the two best friends make their way back to Grandpa's store before any rumors of them hanging out with a very attractive young waitress start circulating in the streets. The last thing either of them need is to be harassed by any jealous young females.