I watched in amusement as Joey lost to Yugi.
"Aw man I lost again," Joey groaned. I chuckled pulling my blue bow lightly bigger as it had sagged slightly.
"Sorry Joey," Yugi said, putting his cards away.
"Joey maybe you should do some trading at the shop," I suggested, leaning against the table they had just been playing on. Yugi smiled at me, I grinned back, I was so glad that Yugi was my brother, the Muto's were the best family anyone could ask for, I had lived with them since I was seven years old, I can't remember how I got there, but I remember learning Grandpa treating me like his own and learning the wonderful game that was duel monsters.
"We'll all go," Téa said.
"Grandpa, hasn't seen you in a while," Yugi said, looking up.
"Grandpa's lucky,' I teased, nudging Joey.
"Mana," he said, getting up and putting me in a head lock.
"Joey you can't do that I'm a girl!" I complained. "Argh Joey!" I groaned trying to wriggle away as he ruffled my hair. Everyone burst out laughing, the bell went and the class used to Joey's behaviour shook their heads and left our little group to it. Yugi put his bag on his shoulder and stood up, his spiky hair giving the impression he was only the same height as me but really he was only shoulder length to Joey whereas I reached his jaw line. When I wasn't in a head lock that is.
"If you let me go I'll convince Grandpa to show you his rarest card, it's awesome." I said trying to bargain.
"Rare card?" Joey said letting go of me, I grumbled pulling my blue skirt down. I hated the uniform it made me look frumpy Téa however looked amazing I pouted at the injustice.
At the end of the day we all headed to the shop it didn't take long it was only a five minute walk soon I heard the familiar bell of the opening door.
"Hello, how can I – ah my darling grandchildren and you have brought your friends are they staying for dinner?"
"Sure what are we eatin'" Joey said before Téa nudged him hard in the stomach.
"We wouldn't want to impose on you Mr Muto," she said.
"Nonsense, I've seen you all grow up it will be interesting to see if your table manners have improved."
"Wow you really haven't seen them in a while huh gramps. These two and table manners," I said hiding behind Yugi for cover.
"Hey!" Tristan and Joey said, we all laughed at them. Yugi turned to look at Grandpa.
"Grandpa, can you show our friends your super rare card." Yugi said.
"My special card," he said.
"Please, please, pretty please." I said pouting and praying towards him. Yugi and Joey copied me much to everyone else's amusement. Grandpa laughed.
"How can I refuse those faces," he said lifting the locked box in the secret compartment of the desk. He lifted the card.
"Blue eyes," I whispered in awe, that monster would be in my deck if he would let me have it. The door banged over open, Seto Kaiba walked through the door.
"Hello can I help you," Grandpa said.
"If you can't I wouldn't surprise me," he sneered. "I want to see this rare card."
"Cool Seto," I said trying to ignore his earlier rudeness. "Maybe we should duel sometime,"
"Yeah," Joey said.
"Please me duel you," he sneered at Joey. "I'd have more of a challenge playing solitaire."
"Just because you're the most highly ranked duellist doesn't mean that you can be a jerk about it," I snapped.
"It can't be," he said ignoring me pushing me into Joey and Tristan.
"Hey!" I snapped.
"The blue eyes white dragon in a dump like this!"
"Enough window shopping," Grandpa said. Kaiba snarled and lifted his brief case slamming it on the counter.
"Listen here old man," he said, no need for that, I thought angrily. "Give me your blue eyes white dragon card and I'll give you all of these." He spun the case around showing Grandpa the content, his eyes went wide, we all leaned over to see and gasped.
"Ah nice," Grandpa said. "But no thanks," the other looked shocked but Grandpa had told me and Yugi the story of how he got that card so it didn't surprise me.
"Fine if you won't trade then maybe you'll sell. Name your price; I can give you anything you ask."
"You deaf, he said he doesn't want your cards or your money!" I said.
Kaiba turned to me. "The Muto wanna be." He sneered. "Just because you leech onto this family doesn't mean you're really his brother or his Granddaughter you're only fooling yourself."
I'd rather he slapped me. "You're adopted too," I hissed, my eyes burning.
"I would like you to leave my shop," Grandpa growled pulling me around the counter, everyone was glaring at him. Téa was keeping Joey and Tristan back.
"Get out Kaiba!" Yugi yelled. Kaiba smirked then stormed out.
"Senile old fool," he muttered as he left.
"You ok Mana?" Yugi said anxiously.
"I'm fine, it was just a shock that's all. I am going upstairs." I said running up to my room I could feel the tears burning in my eyes before I made it to the first stair…
When we tried to ignore Kaiba the next day at school he was smirking throughout, I didn't like it. When we all headed to the game shop the bell rang but no Grandpa.
"Grandpa you here?" Yugi yelled, this didn't make sense, he hadn't even locked up. The phone rang and Yugi ran to answer it. "Hello, game shop," he said, but his smiled suddenly drop. "Kaiba!" he exclaimed, there was a pause. "Kaiba what have you done Kaiba!" he yelled into the phone before turning to us. "He has grandpa,"
"Well then let's go," Joey said, I began to run towards Kaiba corp, the others on my heals. We finally got to the tall building and we reached the top floor.
"Grandpa!" Yugi and I yelled as we ran over to where he was laying on the floor.
"Grandpa, are you ok?" Yugi said leaning in front of him while I laid my hand on his back.
"I tried to teach that boy a lesson about the heart of the cards, but I failed." He groaned.
"Grandpa," Yugi and I gasped.
"How's the old man doing?" I heard a horribly familiar voice.
"Kaiba you sleeze!" Joey yelled. "What have you done to him?"
"We had a duel that's all," Kaiba said. "Each of us putting up their most valuable card at the price, but I guess playing against a champion like me was much stimulation for the old fool."
"Kaiba you should be ashamed of yourself," Téa shouted at him.
"It was fair and look at the sweet prize I won." He showed us the blue eyes white dragon then ripped it in half. We all gasped in horror.
"Grandpa's most treasured card," Yugi said.
"You jerk," I yelled getting up to go and punch him, but Yugi grabbed me keeping me by his side. Grandpa sunk further to the floor. I saw the tears in Yugi's eyes through my own blurry ones.
Grandpa held out his duel deck.
"Huh? Grandpa," Yugi said holding his shoulder. I felt the tears in my eyes fall.
"I built this deck, I put my soul in these cards, and I taught you both everything of you everything I know. Take them. Take my cards and teach him respect." He said. "Teach him respect for the heart of the cards, Yugi,"
"But we need to get you to a hospital," Yugi said anxiously.
"Sounds like an excuse. Your friends and wannabe sister can take care of your Grandfather. While you and I duel,"
"You want to join him in the hospital." I snapped; I felt Joey's hand on my shoulder comforting and warning me.
"Take him, Yugi," Joey said. "We'll take care of your Grandpa while you take care of this jerk. Teach that rich spoilt brat a lesson about the heart of the cards."
"For your Grandpa," Téa joined in, as she helped me lift Grandpa into a more comfortable position.
"Your one of the best players I have ever seen." Tristan said.
"Kick his ass," I said, glaring at Kaiba.
"OK I'll do it," he said taking Grandpa's cards.
"I know you will my boy," Grandpa said.
"Yugi give me your hand," Téa said, he did so she took out a marker and wrote MTTJY linking the letters together in the circle. "It's a symbol of our friendship, we are all connected even when we aren't with you physically, and we are always in our hearts."
Tristan lifted Grandpa onto his back as we ran down the hall to the lifts.
"You'll be ok Grandpa, I just know it," I whispered.
"Joey why don't you go and cheer Yugi on, me Mana and Tristan will take care of Mr Muto." Téa said.
"Right," Joey said running back inside.
We went into the back of the ambulance; I hoped Grandpa would be ok. As soon as the ambulance stopped the paramedics rushed him through the hospital I stayed close to his side until they went into a room.
"Wait here until you are called." The doctor said before slipping into the room.
"He'll be ok Mana," Téa said putting her arm around me.
"Yeah, don't worry Mana; he'll be as good as no in no time." Tristan said, I smiled.
"Thanks guys." I whispered, as I looked back at my Grandfathers sleeping face, through the window
I called Yugi later after they told me Grandpa had to stay in overnight, he told me that he had won the match against Kaiba, I could hear Joey cheering in the background.
"What happened?" Tristan said, I grinned and gave a thumbs up, the two cheered at Yugi's success.
"I am afraid visiting hours are closed," the doctor came in to tell us, we all got up, I left a note for Grandpa encase he woke up, before going with Téa and Tristan to book a taxi home.
The next morning he was released from hospital, the doctors told him to take it easy so I called the school and told them I was ill so I could take care of the shop today while Grandpa rested. We had a few costumers but mostly it was just sorting out stock and keeping the place tidy. About 3 o'clock Grandpa came back down stairs.
"You are meant to be resting," I scolded him.
"Can't an old man stretch his legs?" He said his eyes twinkling, I sighed.
"Fine, sit behind the counter," I said. "The doctor said you shouldn't be on your feet to long." As I said this the door opened and Yugi and Joey appeared.
"Hey guys,"
"Hi Mana, Grandpa you ready for a new student?" Yugi said, Grandpa looked at Joey with a small frown on his face.
"Duel monsters is a very complex game of course only if you are willing to spend endless days and sleepless nights filled with rigorous training." Grandpa said and I look at Joey in sympathy remembering when Gramps taught me.
"Piece of cake," Joey said smiling.
"With that attitude, it may not be worth teaching you," Grandpa said, making Joey's face drop.
"Aargh!" Joey panicked.
"Hey relax, Joey," I said, "I'll teach you sure I am not the expert but maybe Grandpa's too old for students now," I said laying the trap, come on Grandpa take the bait. "No offense, but maybe I should teach him,"
"Hold on young lady," Grandpa said making me smile, hook, line and sinker. "I never said I wouldn't. I will agree only if you work hard."
"I will I promise," Joey said eagerly.
"Very well," Grandpa said.
"See Joey number one lesson," I said grinning. "Duel monsters is a lot like life, for example the trap I just set for Grandpa," I said winking as he clicked.
"Bed with no supper," he teased with a chortle, Yugi laughed too.
"Now I am going to leave before Joey regrets my trickery, I need to get ready for swimming anyway," I said shooting Joey a sympathetic look. Poor kid, he had no idea what he had just signed up for?
Hello second chapter is up! Dedicated to Aqua girl 007 my first reviewer!