"I'm glad they let you on the boat Joey," Yugi said.
"Only cause Mana sacrificed one of her star chips for me. But if any of the other plays find out we have one star chips each, they could really try and take advantage of us."
"Then be quiet about it," I said making Yugi's laugh.
"Well what do we have here?" a woman said walking towards us as we all turned. Joey's jaw dropped. "So you're the Yugi kid everyone's talking about?" she said.
Joey just continued to drool. Idiot, I thought. Sure she was beautiful, but she seemed like she had an attitude. "But I am amazed that a squirt like you could beat Kaiba. Your famous you know."
I looked at my brother to see he was wearing the same expression! Boys! I groaned internally.
"Thanks very much I think," Yugi said blushing.
"Hey miss, I'm really good friends with the famous –" I elbowed Joey in the gut before he could finish his sentence.
"Mana!" he groaned.
"Look you're a champ or a chump, cut this guy lose he's fashion challenged and deserves to be crushed in the games."
"Who are you?" I said trying to keep my voice polite and my anger at bay.
"The names Mai," she said as she walked away.
"Ok stop drooling we should go and find our rooms." I said grabbing both their arms and dragging them away.
"What! "Look at the rooms!" Joey said. "There tiny!"
"You're lucky to even be here! Don't cause a problem, let's go for a walk. You coming Yugi?"
"Sure," he said.
"You coming or do I have to ask you to behave yourself in here," I said smirking. He ruffled my hair playfully. "Joey!"
"What you gunna do about it Mana," he said teasing.
"Yugi help me!" I grunted trying to escape Joey's grasp.
"Come one Joey let's see if we can find some food." Yugi said. Joey let go off me immediately causing me to topple to the floor. Both laughed at me as I got back up, scowling at them both we left.
We found the main area where lots of people were trading cards with each other.
"Hey aren't you that kid Yugi," a voice called, we turned, I was shocked to see it was Weevil Underwood who had called.
"Weevil and Rex the dino duellist." Joey said.
"You're cute," Rex said to me making me blush, but not out of flattery. Great one of those people, I thought.
"Congratulation on winning the regionals Weevil." Yugi said diverting the conversation, I squeezed his arm gratefully. "It was nothing," he said.
"Yeah I was going easy on him," Rex said. "Next time."
"To tell you the truth." Weevil said. "Winning the last championship didn't feel like much of an achievement. I guess I can't really call myself champion until I defeat the duelist who beat Kaiba. But I'm sure I'll end up battling you in the tornament, Yugi. Frankly, I look forward to it." His voice became more sinister at the end, I didn't like this guy.
"I look forward to it too." Yugi said.
"I'm looking forward to some dino demolition." Rex said.
"Let me tell you a little secret, it is something none of the other duellists know about the games yet."
"Isn't that cheating?" Yugi said nervously.
"The other duellist will find out soon enough. New rules on the island require more strategy." Weevil said.
"Ah, rules are for wimps. In duelling you yourself. It's one or the other." Rex said. Wow, his brain was size of dinosaurs.
"But you need other cards – " Joey started to say.
"Who asked you." Rex said walking away.
"Ignore him," said Weevil. "Let's talk about the championship. Check out those champs. They're already trading over there. Players are swapping cards and tinkering they're decks ready for the tournament. It's also a good chance to get a feel for your opponents cards."
Joey ran forward. "Who wants to trade," he said. I rolled my eyes bless him.
"Looks like Joey's trading," Yugi said.
"Come all this way and your still trying to improve your deck, you've got to be pretty desperate. I'll catch you on the flipside, Yugi." He said walking away.
"Everyone is in here or their rooms you want to look at the water," I said. Yugi laughed.
"You and your swimming," he chuckled I stuck my tongue out.
"Shut up," I pouted. "It's ancient Egypt's fault, remember that book I read about the Nile."
"Oh yeah you used to think if you swam you would be able to talk to those in the afterlife,"
We both laughed as we reached the sides, I watched as the waves crashed against the side. I wondered if my parents were still around, I couldn't remember anything earlier than living with Grandpa and Yugi.
"You ok, Mana, you zoned out."
"Did I ever tell you why I wanted to talk to those in the afterlife."
"No but I remember you always drawing the Egyptian Gods."
"It was to see if my parents were there or not. You know to see why I ended up with you guys," I said looking down.
"You never told us that," he said shocked.
"Yeah, well I overheard Grandpa telling a costumer that it was a cute phase I was going through as I came into the shop dresses as the rivers Goddess Nephthys."
"Mana I –"
"Hey I got some good trades in," Joey said we both jumped.
"Let us see!" I said excitedly quickly paying attention to Joey forcing Yugi to do the same as, he showed us his new cards.
"Cool, you've got salamandra, kuni with chai, baby dragon and shield and sword." Yugi said. "With these new magic cards combined with your monsters you'll have a really strong deck."
"Great, I'm ready to win every duel I play." Joey said.
"I think you're going to find it a little more difficult than that Joey," I laughed.
"Here," Yugi said, opening his puzzle/duel card box and taking out a card. "Add this to your deck. Mana gave you a star chip so I am going to help you keep it. This can be useful in a tight spot." He said handing him the card.
"Thanks Yugi," he said smiling.
"Ah we meet again," came a horribly familiar voice.
"Weevil," Yugi said.
"So did you trade any cards Yugi?" he said ignoring Joey and I.
"No I am going to use the cards I brought along with me."
"I figured as much. You used exsodia cards in your duel with Kaiba. Those are the strongest card of them all. Could I possibly see those legendary cards." Weevil asked.
"I don't see why not as long as you're careful with them." Yugi said pulling them out. I saw the look in Weevil's eye. I didn't trust him.
"Remember you look with your eyes not your hands," I said trying to joke.
"Relax Mana," Yugi said smiling at me. "Here," he said handing them to Weevil.
"So these are the cards to summon Exsodia. For a long time I have been trying to come up with a strategy to finally beat these cards. But I couldn't come up with anything. Until just this moment." I jumped forward knowing what he was about to do.
"No!" we all cried as he threw them over the side of the boat, I grabbed two as the rest fell into the ocean.
"Say goodbye to Exsodia!" Weevil cackled as he walked off laughing. "Now no one can challenge me!"
"Why you… Joey growled.
"My cards," Yugi said. "Grandpa gave me those,"
"I'll get um!" Joey said before diving into the water. That moron! This would be hard for me never mind him.
"Put these away and find a ladder I'll get doofus," I said as I dove over the side. I felt my body hit the water.
Cold! Cold! Cold!
"Joey!" I yelled trying to see him over the waves, the water flowing away from the boat made it harder not to stray too far away. I looked further out to try and find Joey I wasn't getting back on the boat without him. I knew I had to hurry I was struggling so he wouldn't last long. The light from the boat allowed me to see blonde hair about 10 metres away from me, I also saw a card I quickly grabbed it and shoved it in my bra. Kicking harder to stay up and get to Joey.
"Joey go back to the boat I'll find the rest!" I yelled over the crashing of the waves on the boat of course this send another wave pushing as further away.
"Hey I got one!" I heard him yell.
"Good pass it here and go back!" I yelled snatching it from him.
"Mana! What are you doing? It's too dangerous!"
"One more and I'll go, Joey you go back now!" I cried.
"No you go!" he yelled.
"Joey I have the training to last out here you don't, swim back to the boat right now before I drag you there losing that stupid card forever!" I yelled at him.
"Get back to the ship both of you!" I heard Yugi yell from the balcony we had just been on, I say Joey's head dip under the water.
"Joey! Boat! Now!" I yelled kicking harder as a wave attempted to put us under it.
"I can't punk out now. Serenity needs me." he said as he grabbed the final one.
"Right lets –"
Before I could finish my sentence a large wave crashed over the both of us submersing us under the water. I could faintly hear another splash from under the silent underwater. I groaned internally Yugi… I saw Joey and kicked us both back to the surface when we got there Joey went to sink again. He was knocked out cold.
Great.
"Yugi get our arse back on that boat, please tell me you found a ladder!" I screamed over the water.
"Yugi! Mana! Joey!" I heard Téa's voice yell, but Téa wasn't here… was she I looked up to see her and Tristan throw a ladder over board. I nodded for Yugi to swim back and began to swim back myself, Yugi swam luckily he was much closer than we were and by the time we were half way he was clutching the ladder. When I got there I hook Joey's arm around the ladder.
"Hold on with one arm and hold Joey with the other," I told him. "Don't let go of either. Do you understand?" Yugi nodded.
"If he falls yell for me and I'll get him! TRISTAN HELP! JOEY'S KNOCKED OUT!" I screamed loudly, as I saw his large coat and kicked off the side of the boat to get the extra push to go back to where I was without too much strain. I was already exhausted. Suddenly I saw a bright glow of light in the shape of a duelling card, exsodia's head right in front of me. I grabbed it and pushed back up to the surface as I stuffed the card with the other two. As I looked back at the boat I was Joey being lifted back over the side and Yugi hopping over too. I began to swim back to the ladder quickly as I saw Tristan lowering himself back down to come and get me.
"I'm here!" I yelled as I swam towards him. "Get back on the boat you moron I'm almost there!" Tristan hovered on the middle of the ladder watching me as I swam the last fifteen metres against the current to get back to the boat, I laughed in relief and sagged as my hand grabbed the ladder I began to climb. Much to the protest of my legs. As Tristan helped me back over the other side I saw Joey coughing up water, as Téa thumped his back.
"I'm glad you guys showed up. Really glad." Yugi said panting as I lay flat on my back watching my chest rise up and down dramatically. Miss, would be so proud when she heard what I had just swam.
"We're a team,' Téa said.
"I have the three cards here, please tell me that you put the other two away," I said, Yugi nodded, I handed him the other cards.
"I'm useless I didn't get them." Joey said.
"Hey you got two out of three," I said. "Joey I was struggling and you see how hard I have to swim to compete. Don't be so hard on yourself."
"I can't even save my sister Serenity, "he continued miserably.
"Serenity?" Yugi asked.
"Really you have a sister Joey," Téa said.
"Our parents divorced years ago. Mom took Serenity with her. They live in Ohio. My sister had really bad eyes from when she was born, eventually she'll go blind."
"I'm sorry Joey," I said sincerely.
"Thanks Mana, but she sent me a message, the doctors told her the time has come and soon her eyes will be impossible to repair even with surgery. There are specialists who could perform an operation now before it's too late. They could save her eyesight, but it'll cost two and a half million."
"Joey when one of us three win the price money it will go to Serenity, oh on one condition."
"Huh?"
"When she has recovered, me Téa and Serenity go on a shopping spree with the rest." I said grinning.
"I agree to those terms," Téa said grinning wider than I was.
"We will beat Pegasus, save our Grandpa and save your sister's eyesight." Yugi said.
"Piece of cake," I beamed.
"Look the island," Tristan said.
"That's duellist kingdom," Yugi said.
"Man this looks like a big place finding your Grandpa isn't going to be easy," Joey said.
"Well, we'll have to start somewhere," Yugi said.
"I'll help you guys get in, I don't have to get ten chips," I said.
"What why?" everyone said confused.
"I like for the fun besides Yug is the better of the two of us."
"I don't think that's true,"
"You're the one everyone wants to duel." I said. "And besides if I did make it to Pegasus you're more likely to win and figure out how to win, without your millennium item us lot don't stand a chance,"
"But – "
"Yugi you have to have confidence in your ability." I said hugging him. "If it wasn't for you and Grandpa I wouldn't have any confidence, you're the best brother anyone could ever ask for, and your one of the braves and smartest people I know."
"Thanks Mana."
"Don't mention it just remember that it's the truth." I said winking at him.
We all watched as the shore of duellist kingdom came closer and closer…