Ok, sorry for those who read the frist version of this chapter. i was looking it over and found several mistakes i couldn't ignor. i probly still have others but the two that were bugging me are now gone.
Please tell me how this was, i do love reading reviews. thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far.
anyway, Pre- Duelist Kingdom, here it goes.
Chapter 6
The hospital waiting room was deserted early hours of Thursday morning except for a small group of teens. Airi, Yugi, Tristan, Joey, and Tea all waited around silently for the doctor to come and tell them Grandpa's condition. Joey and Tristan were pacing back and for, unable to sit still. Tea was sitting next to Yugi, hand on his shoulder. Yugi was leaning again Airi, holding onto her arm, staring at the floor. He hadn't said a word since they had arrived. What could he say? If he hadn't just experienced what he had, he would believe any of it.
Airi hadn't said anything since she had checked Grandpa's soulless body into the hospital. The resent events were replaying in her mind over and over like a hideous merry-go-round. She had come home from babysitting to see a strange gold light coming from the upstairs windows. Rushing upstairs she had found Grandpa's body slumped lifeless on the floor, Joey, Tristan, and Tea looking around confused, and Yugi kneeling in front of the TV set, shaking it and yelling "GRANDPA!" over and over. Airi frowned. Now that she thought of it there had also been what looked like a silhouette standing behind Yugi, which had looked a lot like him. Airi shook herself. In her panic she had probably gone cross eyes for a moment.
After what seemed like eternity the doctor came out. He reported that even though Grandpa condition seemed to be fine, health wise he was in perfect shape, he was in a coma and nothing but time would determine the outcome.
"His soul is gone, nimrod. Of course he wont wake up." Joey muttered as the doc walked away. But of course no one would believe that. All decided that there was nothing they could do that night and the best thing was to get some sleep, if they could.
The Muto's entered the dark house, still not saying anything. Yugi went straight to his room while Airi locked up the house.
Yugi sat on his bed, staring blankly at his puzzle. What did Pegasus want with him? He wasn't anyone great. He wasn't a champion by any standards. But Pegasus had gone to great lengths to make sure he would participate in this tournament of his. Well, he was going to accept and beat Pegasus at his own game, what ever that was.
"May I come in?" Airi stood in the door way.
"Sure."
She sat next to him on the bed. Neither spoke.
"It's my fault." Yugi finally said. "I took too long playing my final move. If I'd been faster, I could have won and Grandpa would still be here."
"This isn't your fault. Pegasus did this, not you." she clenched her fist. "You shouldn't have had to face that alone. I should have been here."
Next thing Airi knew, Yugi was hugging her tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Yugi?"
"It could have been you instead or he could have taken both of you." Yugi choked out. He had already lost his parents and now grandpa. He couldn't imagine losing her too.
"Shh." Airi rubbed his back, trying to calm him."I'm here, Yugi. I'm right here. Its going to be ok."
They sat there, holding on to each other. They hadn't felt this alone since they were orphaned. It was worse this time, though. Grandpa had been with them then, but now he was gone.
The Spirit detached himself, standing behind the siblings. He stood there, feeling like an intruder. He should do something. He reached out his hand, but stopped, his fingers a inch from Airi's shoulder. 'What could I say?' He faded back into his puzzle.
The invitation to Duelist Kingdom arrived that afternoon. It instructed Yugi to be on a boat leaving Domino Pier that Friday night.
Friday afternoon found Airi in the game shop. She was staring at the account book. Grandpa hadn't tallied the receipts Wednesday, saying he would do it after the match. Airi sighed, closing the book. She didn't feel like doing them either. She glanced up at the clock. Yugi would need to be a the dock in a hour and a half. He was upstairs preparing his deck. Airi flipped idly though the magazine on the counter. Her brothers first Duel Monsters Tournament should be something to look forward to but it felt more like he was being called to war.
The sound of the door opening made her look up.
"oh, hey Joey."
"Hey, sorry to butt in like this." Joey cracked half a smile. "Your probably sick of seeing me." During weekend Grandpa had trained Joey non stop. The younger Muto's would go to bed with Master and student still in the back room reviewing and reviewing. Joey for his credit had put his all into the training. Telling his dad he would be spending the nights at a friends he hadn't left the shop for the whole weekend. Grandpa had seemed impressed by Joey's dedication, but that didn't mean he made the lessons any easier. Grandpa finally let him go home Sunday night, so he could change his uniform for a new school day. Monday and Tuesday Joey had come home with Yugi after school and would train until past dinner time.
"I have become used to seeing you around here." Airi admitted, putting the account book away.
"How are you and Yugi holding up?"
"I'm doing alright, I guess. Yugi . . ." she thought for a moment. "Considering what he went through he is doing ok. I think his determination to help Grandpa is helping to keep him from moping."
"That's Yuge." Joey said, proudly. "He'll show that Pegasus what happens when he messes with us."
"us?"
"What happens to Gramps matters to me, Tristan, Tea. Did ya forget how upset we were after Kaiba dueled him. If Pegasus messes with him, he mess with us."
"Thank you Joey." she smiled, gratefully. "I just wish I could go with Yugi."
"Can't you smuggle yourself in or something?"
"I'm not the best at sneaking. Even if I was, Yugi wouldn't want me to go."
"Why not? He needs your support."
"He doesn't want me anywhere near Pegasus." Airi said. "Besides, someone needs to be here for the shop and. . . be here for grandpa. I just hate the idea of Yugi being alone."
"You'd do anything for Yugi, wouldn't you?"
"Yes I would." Airi stared blankly at the poster of Dragon-Type monsters Grandpa had put up last week. "I would steal the invitation, chop off my hair, put on a hat, and get on that boat myself." she looked back at Joey, smiling sadly. "But Pegasus challenged Yugi, not me. Even if I wanted to, I can't fight his battles for him."
"I know what ya mean." Joey looked down at the floor. "I've got a little sis, and I would feel the same way."
"Well you came to see Yugi and I'm taking up all your time."
"No, actually I have some place I have be. I just dropped in to see how things were going."
"You're going to see Yugi off at the dock, right?"
"I'll be there." he did a thumbs up.
Joey took his leave. Airi didn't know it, but Joey had come to talk to her. He had a crazy plan forming in his head. He had to talk to someone who was also an older sibling to convince himself he wasn't crazy for trying. Not that it mattered much. He would do it even if he people thought he was crazy.
Yugi had just finished putting his deck together.
"Well, this is it, my first tournament." he said out loud. "I hope my deck will be strong enough to get me through. I can't afford to lose.
The Spirit nodded in agreement, even though Yugi still didn't recognize his presence. He felt partiality responsible for what had happened. From what that Pegasus guy had said on the video his puzzle was one of the reasons all this was happening. Now his hikari was being forced to duel in a tournament for his grandfathers soul. Well, he was going make sure they won, no matter what.
"Hey," Airi came in. "I made you some sandwiches for the trip over." Airi said, handing them to him. "they didn't say anything about food on that boat."
"Thanks, Yugi said brightly, placing the sandwiches in his back pack.
"Hope I wasn't interrupting your preparation."
"Nope, just finished my deck." Yugi patted the top of his card box. It was really the box which had held the millennium puzzle pieces, but now that the puzzle was now constantly around Yugi's neck it now was where he kept his cards.
"Mind if I see it?" Airi flipped through the cards. She frowned slightly. "Yugi, this is Grandpa's deck."
"Not completely. The deck its self is his, but I have a few of my own cards in there." Yugi smiled. "I figured that since I was in this tournament for grandpa, I should use his cards to get him back. This way I will have him with me when I duel."
"I'm sure he would be honored to know your using his cards." Airi said, then she snapped her fingers. "How could I forget! Hold on one second." she disappeared, coming back a moment later holding a card. She held it out to Yugi. "This is for you."
Yugi took the card. Looking down at it, his eyes widened.
"Your Mystical Elf?" he looked back up at her. "But she's your favorite."
"She is, so you better take good care of her."
"But why are you giving this to me?"
"It's a family tradition. For the first tournament, the experienced duelists in the family put one of their cards in the beginners deck, so that they will be there for them. It puts more heart in the cards." her eyes turned sad. "Gramps should have been the one to give you the cards. Sorry your stuck with me."
Yugi smiled broadly.
"This is perfect, Airi. Now I have the combined support of your card and Grandpa's deck. Don't worry, I will take good care of your card." he opened the lid of his box and placed it carefully on top of the others. He turned back and gave her a big hug. "Now I don't feel so alone."
"Your never alone, Yugi." she said, hugging him tightly. "Even if I can't watch you, I'll be routing for you with all my heart."
Yugi had his backpack on his lap as they drove to the dock, gripping it more tightly then needed.
"I wonder if any of the gang is going to see me off. Tristan and Tea said they might be busy."
"Joey said he would be there." Airi said. "Yugi, is there something going on with Joey? He came in to the shop earlier and looked a little distracted."
"He's probably thinking about Serenity."
"Who?"
"His little sister. She lives in another town with his mom. Serenity is going blind."
"Oh. Is there something they can do?"
"Joey said there is an operation that could help her, but it's expensive."
They sat silently, waiting for the light to change.
"Do you think I could use the prize money to pay for the operation?" Yugi said."I know I could use it for savings, but Joey said Serenity doesn't have much time left."
"First you need to win. But I think it would be a wonderful thing to do. But are you sure Joey would take it? He doesn't seem the type who would take things on charity."
"Not sure. But if he acts thick headed about it, I'm going to just go ahead a pay for it without telling him."
"Again, wait till you win." Airi chuckled.
The crowd on the dock was massive. Every kind of duelist from professional to amateur was there. Yugi felt shy around all these people, but didn't let it show.
"Just in time, looks like they are checking people in." Airi said, pointing to a table were some imposing looking men were sitting. Yugi quickly went over to the table to sign in.
Airi stayed back. She knew in a crowd this big, someone from the old days was sure to be here. The last thing she needed was Weevil or Mai to see her. She could handle Mai, unless Mai told Airi she was stupid to break up with the richest guy in the dueling world. Weevil would just be horrid, still hating her for cleaning his clock in tournaments. Besides the last thing she wanted was people using her skills and a standard to measure Yugi's. Hopefully in a group this big, and the fact that her hair was long now, she wouldn't stand out. She looked around the dock. Some large crates were being loaded onto the ship. She blinked. For a second there she had thought she had seen two figures duck behind one of the crates. Maybe she should get her eyes checked.
"Well that was easy." Yugi said coming back, holding up a boarding pass. "Just show the star chips and everything is good."
"Are they boarding then?"
"In a few minuets."
Suddenly a commotion came from the gang plank.
"What is it?" Yugi ask, hating being short.
Airi got on her tiptoes. "It looks like someone is trying to get on with out a boarding pass." her eyes widened. "It's Joey!"
"What?"
The commotion was coming closer and Yugi could now see Joey struggling and yelling as the security dragged him away.
"He must be trying to sneak into the competition for the prize money." Yugi said. Why else would Joey be doing something so stupid.
"Not very good at sneaking, is he?" Airi commented.
"Let go of me, you monkey!" Joey was shouting. "You've got to let me on!"
"No pass, no admission punk." the bigger guard said.
"If only I had some extra star chips." Yugi said.
"That's all they need to see for the pass, right?" Airi said
"Yeah."
"Quick, give me yours."
Yugi handed her the two small stars. Airi took off towards the struggling group, Yugi right behind her.
"There you are, Joey. Will you ever learn not to leave your things at my place." she said, coming up to them.
"Airi?" Joey stopped yelling, staring at her.
"And who are you supposed to be, girly?" the big security guy said.
"His girlfriend, of course." she said, tossing her hair.
"What?" Yugi stared at her.
"My what?" Joey's eyes were bugging out of his head.
"Here." Airi showed the star chips to the guard. "He left them at my place when he came to say good bye. He is always forgetting things." she tut tutted at Joey.
"Yeah, now I remember." Joey said catching on. "These are mine."
The security guard looked from Airi to Joey.
"Don't know what you see in him miss. Alright, here is your boarding pass." he said, handing the pass to Joey. "Lucky your Girlfriend was here for you, punk." the two guards walked off.
"That was great." Yugi said, grinning at Airi as she gave him back his star chips.
"My Girlfriend?" Joey said.
"If either one of you repeat this to anyone, you'll disappear off the face of the earth." Airi said, giving Joey a look which made his gulp. The group started to walk closer to the loading gang plank, but still apart from the other duelists.
"Look, I appreciate what you did for me." Joey said, "But it will be for nothing. If they needed to see the star chips at the beginning then they must be really important. When they find out I don't have them I'll be out of the tournament."
"But you do have star chips, Joey." Yugi said.
"Those are yours Yuge."
"Not this one." Yugi took Joey's hand and put one of his star chips into Joey's hand and closed his fingers around it. "This one is yours."
"But Yugi . . ."
"Your sister needs the money." Yugi said firmly.
"But I just started getting the hang of the game, what chance do I have?"
"You had the guts to try to sneak onto a boat." Airi glared at him.. "don't tell me your going to back down now." Seeing his scared expression, she softened. "Joey, you have what most of these duelist don't."
"What?"
"A reason." Yugi said. Airi nodded.
"Most of these duelists are in here just for the prize." she said. "But you have a reason to take a risk."
"Just trust yourself Joey." Yugi said. "You can do this."
"Thanks guys."
A whistle blew and people started to get onto the boat.
"Well this is it then." Joey said, his old confidence coming back. "take care of yourself Airi and thanks again."
"No problem."
Airi turned to look at her brother. Now that it was time, it was hard to know what to say.
"Don't worry about me. I'm going to win and get grandpa back." Yugi said, hoping he sounded confident.
"I know." Airi said, masking how worried she felt. Yugi was great duelist, one of the best she had ever dueled. He had purpose and he trusted his cards. But that wasn't what was worrying her. From what she had heard of Pegasus, from Seto and from what had happened, he did what ever it took to get what he wanted. 'I still wish I could go instead of you.' she thought.
Yugi put his hand on her shoulder, not knowing what to say that would ease her mind.
The Spirit, sensing her worry, reached out through Yugi's hand and also touched her shoulder.
'No harm will come to him, I promise.' he said.
Airi couldn't hear The Spirit, but she felt the comfort. She smiled at Yugi, placing her hand over his.
"We better get moving." Joey said.
"Take care, both of you." she said.
"Don't ya worry. Pegasus wont know what him him."
The second whistle blew. Yugi and Airi quickly hugged.
"Be careful." Airi whispered. "I love you."
"I love you, too, sis."
Both Duelists got on the boat. As the boat pulled away they waved to her from the railing. Airi kept smiling until they were out of sight. It wasn't until she was sitting behind the the wheel of the motionless car did she allowed the tears to fall.
I know people wanted me to write all of duelist kingdom, but Yugi needs to discover Yami on his own and putting Airi in it would make things complicated. this chapter was a pain to write, don't know why. if this was hard i'm dreading the really dramatic episodes coming up.
Please Review! they are my reason for living, ok not really, they just make writing even more worth it.
next part should be soon. hope you keep reading.
