Original Yu-Gi-Oh Series
Parallel
Chapter 014
Originally Written: Friday, April 8, 2022 954AM to 1123AM
. . . . .
There were supposed to be six finalists left in the tournament, and Bandit Keith was somehow one of them. As far as Pegasus was concerned, he declared most of them the top duelists in the world.
A tiny girl with pigtails and freckles named Rebecca Hawkins. She was seriously only there to get Pegasus' autograph. "I already had the invitation, but I had to get A's in all my schoolwork for a month before my grandpa let me come!"
Mai, Joey and Mako Tsunami were there for the money. Mako was excited to be there, but also looked like he had no clue how he made it there. Bandit Keith snuck in for revenge against Pegasus humiliating him. And Yugi to save Solomon of course. If he wasn't worse than Ushio, Yugi truly would have debated teaming up with Keith to get back at Pegasus, something the voice scolded him for even considering.
Bakura explained it was most likely due to his own disqualification. That got Rebecca and Mako nagging him about how he of all people managed that, when Pegasus personally hired him on as an eliminator, and he was in the top ten. Bakura deflected by saying no eliminator did a good job of getting rid of Bandit Keith. But that didn't lessen their questions.
"It could also be due to the exception that Pegasus gave Seto." Tristan finally interrupted to get them to shut up.
Pegasus took one look at Keith and ordered his men to throw him out. Joey saved him by declaring that he wanted to duel him for fun. Pegasus laughed, and decided that he liked "Jumping Joseph Wheeler". Predictably, Keith decided he did not. He was after Pegasus, not some nobody who never dueled before in his life.
Mai dueled Mako, which was a fun if not strange matchup that she won. Rebecca took on Yugi, which was unfortunate for her, because Yugi was not in a good mood. Partway through the duel, Voice took over, and pushed Yugi to the back of his mind with a stern 'She is eight and you are making her cry. Allow me to duel.'
After the voice pushed him back in control, he was back on the balcony to watch the remaining duels. Joey and Tristan laughed and jostled him. Tea looked confused and slightly upset. Mai was still speaking to Mako, discussing their duel. Mitsura and Mokuba were still gone. And he had an eight year old standing next to him, who seemed to be crushing on him.
'What did you tell her, Voice!?'
'I only explained that we felt we reached the finals as a fluke. As such, we were feeling a bit...stressed. Unfortunately, this led her to also believe we were eight years old as well.'
'I'm never letting you control me again.' Yugi looked at her, trying not to scowl.
Rebecca smiled at him. She held a teddy bear in her arms. When did she get time to get it? She wasn't holding it before.
'But she encouraged us, and said she was impressed with how we dueled, and then we won.' Voice whined. He still managed to sound more regal than Yugi ever did.
Joey tore into Bandit Keith as promised, with a grin. Bakura thanked him with a nod from his place next to Seto and Mokuba. Enraged, Bandit Keith pulled a gun on Pegasus, and promptly got arrested.
Pegasus then declared that because Yugi was such a good sport, he would duel the winner between Joey and Mai. Yugi swallowed thickly, and wondered how he got this far to begin with. Why did anyone think he was being a good sport?
Joey won by the skin of his teeth, but a win was a win. Yugi stepped down to the dueling platform.
"Nah Yug'." Joey shook his head after Yugi stepped up. "Let's play when you're actually having fun. It'll be a real duel then!" He grinned and held up a fist. "Okay?"
Yugi blinked at him. It took a few moments for him to register what Joey said. The Voice nudged him. "Y-you're a real friend Joey." Yugi whispered just loud enough for him to hear.
Joey's grin nearly blinded him.