It was dark the only light was the flickering lights next to Kaiba. The moon was only a slither in the sky. I turned towards the loud snores. Joey and Tristan were lying on top of each other mouths wide open. I smirked looking at my other friends. Everyone was asleep. Everyone, but me and Kaiba...
I turned and closed my eyes. I didn't want to talk to Kaiba. If I just tried to sleep we'd be home in no time. Grandpa would be out of hospital and everything would go back to normal.
The man with the turban and rings burned into my mind.
"You have already located the Pharaoh just as the prophecy said!"
Or was this just the beginning. I turned so I could look at Yugi. I smiled as his sleeping face. He turned the puzzle shone the light back in my face. I stared at it. We had so much to learn about that thing, and the Spirit inside…
What if it was all real? What if the last few nights dreams weren't just dreams. I remember the boy in my dreams. The warm sand. The hot sun...
I was laughing a large bunch of flowers in my arms. I ran towards a teenage boy with long brown hair. He was me coming and smiled crouching down to my level as I finally reached him.
"I picked these for you!" I said pushing them in his face, he just smiled at me.
"Thank you, Mana," he said. Laughing I jumped into his open arms, snuggling close to him.
"Look I can see Domino City!" a voice yelled.
"Yep looks like we're home," said another.
"Shh you two! You'll wake everyone." Said a female voice.
"Yeah cause the choppa won't do it," said the second voice.
"We're landing any minute anyway." Said a colder voice. Tristan. Joey. Téa. Kaiba. I opened my eyes to an orange world. My friends smiling out the window; my eyes locked onto the puzzle. I felt cold without the warm of that teenager. Who was he?
Kaiba brought down the helicopter at his tower. We thanked him and rushed to the hospital. Rushing to the floor he was on, before we could even see a nurse we saw him standing on his own at the end of the hall way.
"What's the matter you two? You're not surprised to see me up and about are you?" he smiled at us.
"Grandpa!" we both gasped.
"Hey Grandpa!" Yugi laughed as we rushed to him, hugging him with all out might.
"You're ok!" I cried.
"Of course I am," he said softly.
"I missed you," Yugi said.
"Me too. Ready to go home!" I asked him. He winked at me…
"So you saved me and became champion of the Duellist Kingdom, Yugi." Grandpa said after we explained the last three days.
"Well I didn't do it alone, Grandpa. Everyone helped." Yugi said smiling at all of us.
"That's right everyone pithed in," Joey said. "But he couldn't have done it without me."
"Well then, you've obviously improved since I last saw you duel." Grandpa said.
"Er, not that much," Tristan said.
"A little," Téa said, we all laughed at his face. I could feel the taxi come to a halt.
"Grandpa maybe you should go and lie down you did just get out of the hospital." Yugi said anxiously.
"Don't be silly," he said stretching his arms forward. "My mind was trapped in the shadow realm there is nothing wrong with me now. I'll go makes some snacks and hot chocolate. You kids can stay as long as you like." He added to Joey, Tristan and Téa. "Now," he said. "We just have one more piece of business to attend to, Mana could you stay in the taxi. I have a house guest who needs removing.
I nodded biting my lip. Yugi squeezed my hand.
Grandpa and Yugi headed into the shop entrance. I stayed with the guys. Not even ten minutes later we saw her leave with her case. She looked at the car, and then clip clopped to the blue car by the front of the shop got in and drove off. Yugi came out from the shop gesturing us all in...
"You ok Mana?" Yugi asked in the kitchen as we made snacks for everyone.
"I'm fine. I just haven't had the best sleep in the last few days." I muttered.
"Why?" he asked.
"Been having weird dreams." I mumbled staring at the bobbling marshmallow.
"What sort of dreams?"
My head snapped up.
"Spill. What do you know about this Yugi Muto."
"What –?"
"Don't even try. Tell me right now."
He gulped.
"In the Shadow Game - with evil Bakura. Well there were bits you were forced to forget." He stammered.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you started saying things about ancient Egypt. And er – the spirit of the ring. He um…"
"He what?"
"He wiped your memories of the fact we were talking about how you lived the same time as the Spirit in the Puzzle… He said you would start dreaming memories."
"So I'm not going crazy."
"Nope," he said sheepishly.
"So the Spirit really is a Prince,"
"Yep, he says hi by the way."
"Can he hear everything?"
"No not everything. I mean he could if he wanted to but… he goes into the puzzle to think."
"Thanks Yugi," I smiled.
"He can also kind of stand next to me. You know like a transparent figure."
"Can you when you switch?"
Yugi nodded.
"Come on let's get this chocolate to Joey before he claims he's being starved." I said grabbing a few of the mugs. Yugi smiled and took the others…
"I'll take it put it on my tab Gramps."
"Your tabs past due Joey." Grandpa said.
"Then put it on Tristan's."
I laughed.
"Hey," Tristan protested.
The door opened, we turned to see Mokuba, completely soaked. Lighting struck behind him.
"Please, please help me." he croaked. I ran to him, putting my arm around his shoulders and guiding him inside.
"Mokuba," Yugi gasped.
"Yugi get him a blanket, and some of your clothes. Grandpa could we have another round of hot chocolates." I asked.
Both nodded and went to do their respective jobs.
"Mokuba follow Yugi upstairs he'll get you some dry clothes then we'll talk ok," I said. He nodded.
"Thanks Mana,"
Mokuba came down stairs in one of Yugi's old shirts and some trousers that were a little too long. As soon as he walked back into the sofa Grandpa handed out the hot chocolates. Once he was warm, comfortable Mokuba began to tell us what happened.
"So you're saying the only way Kaiba can escape is by winning the game." Yugi said, after Mokuba had finished.
"But if those creeps reprogrammed the entire adventure," Téa said leaning her arms on the sofa behind me, "just to keep Kaiba trapped there how is that possible?"
"I don't know, but I thought you could help." he said.
"Calm down, Mokuba. We will. We will." Grandpa said.
"Will you two stop hovering," I snapped at Joey and Tristan. "Sit on the floor or something."
They did.
"Now tell us some more about this virtual pod your brother was designing." Grandpa continued.
"I don't know much," Mokuba admitted. "I was pretty young when he started it. I remember him spending endless hours working on prototypes trying to make it perfect."
"Prototypes," Joey said. "So there are other ones?"
"Hnhm, in his lab. It was my brothers dream to create a world ultimate virtual adventure land, but those corporate jerks have turned it into a nightmare." I saw his eyes get watery so I pulled him into another hug.
"Lousy suits," Joey said crossing his arms. "We'll show them like we did Pegasus."
"That's right," Yugi said standing up, and raising his fist like he did when he was passionate about something. "We'll use those pod prototypes, go to that virual world and rescue Kaiba."
"Thanks guys," Mokuba smiled. I squeezed his shoulder.
"Ok lets go!" I said grabbing our oddly big collection of umbrella and started to hand them out. Hmm maybe we should get rid of some of these.
"We'll be back soon, Grandpa." Yugi called back, as we ran outside.
"You be careful."
"We will," Yugi called.
"Wait up you guys you don't know the way!" Mokuba yelled trying to get to the front…
"This is my brother's personal lab." He said when we got there. "He doesn't like anyone messing around in here, but I used to sneak in all the time." He put down the umbrella and climbed over the metal gate, opening the door on the other side.
"This way," we ran through the little court yard with a statue of the blue eyes at the centre. "This is where Seto keeps his most secret stuff." We dove under the no entry sign and Mokuba took us to a room with sliding doors.
"There they are," he said, turning the lights on. Wow, and these were prototypes. Was Kaiba a perfectionist or what.
"These are the prototypes," Joey voiced my thought. "Wow,"
Mokuba ran behind a little orange stand thing. "Let's see here, yep just like the model my brothers in."
"Only three pods," Joey pointed out the obvious. "Guess someone's staying here, I say Tristan."
Tristan grabbed him into a headlock.
"And I say you."
"Well I'm going." Mokuba said.
"Mokuba you're the only one who knows how to work these things you're staying here." Yugi said.
"Yeah, but I also know the most about the adventure land that we are about to go into." He pointed out.
"Good point."
"So then get in," Joey said.
"But –"
"Mana relax, jeez Yugi and I will be with him."
"Who said I wasn't going?" I frowned.
"Me, it's too dangerous." Yugi said.
"Oh so you and Mokuba can go, but it's too dangerous for me." I snapped at him.
"Grandpa needs one of us to return."
"Well then I'll go. He'd rather his real Grandkid came –"
"You are his real Grandchild," Yugi said fiercely.
"Yeah, don't like Kaiba get in yer head like that Mana," Joey said.
"Huh," Mokuba looked puzzled.
"Your brother has it out for, Mana. It's cruel and unfair what he says to her." Tristan said. I watched carefully as Mokuba clutched his Duel Monsters necklace.
"I'm not saying he's right, but I know why. I'm sorry Mana," he said.
"Why?" Téa asked him.
"I can't Seto promised me to never tell anyone. I am sorry, it's not your fault." He said his big eyes looking at me.
"Its fine Mokuba don't worry about it all right."
"Take care of my beautiful bod, pal." Joey said to Tristan.
"Be careful," Téa said.
"We'll be fine Téa." Joey waved her off.
"Yeah, don't you guys worry. We'll have Kaiba rescued in no time," Yugi said getting in.
"Tristan, let her rip." Joey said.
"Right, here we go." The pods closed and these weird things move onto their heads. There was a bright light.
"Looks like it worked," Tristan said.
"Yeah, I guess," Téa said peeking into Yugi's pod through the glass.
"They'll be fine, they have each other and they have their cards." I said trying not to let my worry show.
We all flicked through our phones playing games trying not to think about the fact they weren't back yet.
"They've been gone a long time I hope they're ok." Téa said. I checked the time 22:14 they'd been gone for almost an hour.
"Don't you worry, I once saw Joey play a video game for 3 days straight without blinking or nothing." Tristan said.
"Figures," Téa sighed.
"Huh guys I know what will make all this waiting go by faster," he said. "A game and it's called guess my facial hair."
"What facial hair?" I laughed.
"I'll pass," Téa said.
"How about a real game," I asked. "Like…"
I could hear voices. I walked to the door peaking to see if my heavy stomach was an overreaction. It wasn't.
Kemo and another 10 suits were searching. I shut it pressing my back against the door.
"Like don't let the bad guys through this door," I said. "Lock it and gets some stuff inbetween us and them."
"Good idea," Tristan said starting to push on of the controls that we were not using towards the door. Téa started to help him, once it was in place I pushed on of the tables in the corner as Téa grabbed some of the boxes next to another door. Just as we took a short breather with a lot of stuff between us, I could hear them trying to open the door. We all stared to see if the stuff would hold.
"Ready or not here we come," one cried, they started to try to break down the door. The stuff rattled slightly. So we pushed against all them.
"You only get to kidnap one of us per life time. You already got me Kemo, so piss off." I cried.
Someone hit there fist against the door. I was gunna guess that was Kemo.
"Come on guys keep pushing!" I said grunting as the door creaked.
"I see an opening," one cried, a hand forced through the small gap in the door.
"No you don't," Téa said as I slammed the door on his hand.
"We're getting in there you little thumb-suckers. Just you wait."
"No way our friends are on a rescue mission and you're not yanking them out." Tristan yelled.
"Yeah go fix your stupid hair the spike is dropping," I snapped. I felt a funny tingle, I turned to look at Yugi. He had changed into the Prince… Looks like they were wrapping up the rescue mission...
They broke through, as they began to storm into the room, Tristan grabbed a pole. I copied. Téa spread her arms out in front of the pods. Just as I was about to swing at Kemo they opened.
"Huh what?" Kemo yelled.
"Hey Joey," Tristan said as Joey sat up, Yugi and Mokuba soon followed.
"Yugi, Joey you're all back!" Téa said.
"And so Kaiba, he's probably getting out of his pod right now." Yugi said.
"No he can't be," Kemo said.
"And without you guys to guard your bosses I'd say he's about to kick some butt," Mokuba yelled. Huh, it was funny to watch 11 grown men pale at the same time. They turned out of the door the just broke down and sprinted towards the exit.
"We did it!" ? who said?
"Bunch of whips." Tristan, we heard a yawn.
"It's Mai!" Mokuba said, she was here all along.
"Mai?" I asked, when did she get here? She walked around the corner stretching.
"In the flesh, is everything cool?"
"It sure looks that way." Yugi smiled at her.
"Because of you," Mokuba said. "All of you so thanks,"
"Argh stop now and get out of here already, your brother probably can't wait to see you." Joey said.
"Ok thanks again you guys," he ran off. "Bye."
"Bye Mokuba," we called after him.
"Yeah, bye. Now where's the John? I had like 7 sodas before we got in those pods," Joey said making us all laugh. Maybe things would start relaxing till school started up again. Joey, Téa and Tristan went home leaving Grandpa, Yugi and I to catch up and relax. It didn't take long before Yugi and I headed up to bed. I mean we'd had a hell of a few days. Pulling the curtain across and slipping into my pyjamas I let sleep find me.
It was dark, and it had been quiet for a long time. All I could smell was smoke. Where was Mummy and Daddy. I began to cry. Everything hurt.
I could hear men yelling, horses neighing.
"Help!" I cried. "Help I'm stuck!" I yelled over and over again.
A shot of light beamed through the wood above me.
"I found someone!" I boys voice cried. Pulling more wood away from me. I could see a boy with spiky hair and amethyst eyes. He looked at me in concern.
"It's all right. I'll get you out." he said pulling another piece of wood.
"Mana are you alright?" Yugi said anxiously. "You were yelling in a weird language,"
"I'm fine," I gasped. "Ancient Egyptian I imagine, I was taken into the palace as Yami found me after a big village fire I was the only one who survived." I said looking down. I knew that was what happened.
"I'm ok Yug, go back to sleep." I smiled.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
Mokuba's POV
We got back to our apartment Seto was sitting writing out some papers. I couldn't stop thinking about what they said. Seto was being saying mean things to Mana. It wasn't her fault.
"Seto," I called up before I knew what I was doing. His head snapped up at me.
"What is it Mokuba?"
"When we were going to save you, Joey said –"
"What could Wheeler have possibly said that is worth mentioning Mokuba," he sneered. I scowled at him.
"He said you are awful to Mana, that you say things to her." I said. Seto looked back at his work.
"I am not discussing this with you Mokuba," he snapped.
"You shouldn't take it out on her. It wasn't her fault. I mean, I know she looks like her but –"
"Enough Mokuba!" Seto snarled.
I knew Seto wasn't going to say anything else. I sighed and got up making my way to my room. Seto didn't like to think about her. I tried too all the time. I couldn't really remember anything about her. I couldn't remember her voice. The only memory I had was of the three of us playing in a sandbox in a back garden. I'm guessing it was our parents back garden and Seto saying he would always be there for us both... I knew he blamed himself for what happened to our sister.
Sorry guys my life has sucked a bit recently so I haven't really been able to write all that much. Try and be more frequent now. Sorry again. I changed the order round cause I couldn't imagine Kaiba waiting till the night time to fire the big 5 so I thought that bit first then Rebecca the next day.