Chapter 11: Kaiba's Move

"Wait, so why are you guys coming with us today, too?"

Jounouchi: "You know you're happy that we are."

"As if..."

That day too, Jounouchi, Anzu, and Honda were going to the game shop with the twins.

Yugi: "Jounouchi insisted on having grandpa teach him Duel Monsters."

Jounouchi: "Yeah, I need to learn how to build a proper deck. I mean, even Anzu beat me!"

"Well, Anzu has the basics down. You don't."

Jounouchi: "Hey! I have the basics down! I'm not just some beginner!"

"You haven't used a single trap or spell card in all the games I've seen you play..."

Anzu: "True."

Jounouchi: "Stop teasing me!"

Yugi: "We're here guys."

Yugi opened the door to the game shop, while greeting his grandfather as usual, but, this time, he didn't get a reply.

"Yugi, is grandpa there?"

Akia went in the shop and looked around.

Yugi: "Maybe he's out?"

"That's odd. He's always saying that he should never leave the shop unsupervised."

Jounouchi: "Bathroom break?"

"Could be."

Suddenly, the phone started ringing. Everyone looked in the direction from where the sound was coming from. It was the shop phone. Akia thought it was probably some unsatisfied customer who wanted to complain. Maybe it was someone who wanted to pre-order some new game. Either way, she didn't feel like replying to it.

"Go get it Yugi."

Yugi: "I knew you'd say that..."

After rushing to the phone, Yugi picked it up.

Yugi: "Hello, Game Shop."

As the conversation went on, Yugi's face grew more serious, and worried. Akia, who followed him to the phone, saw how his facial expression changed. She started to feel a little restless as well because of her brother's behaviour.

Yugi: "What do you mean? Kaiba-kun!"

"Kaiba?"

Yugi: "He hung up... He has grandpa..."

"What?"

Yugi: "We have to hurry!"

Everyone followed Yugi, without asking any more questions, considering the need to hurry to get to the twins' grandfather.

'The hell is Kaiba thinking? Did he actually kidnap grandpa? Is this all because of that damn card? Man that rich boy needs someone to knock some sense into him... He pisses me off so much...'

When they arrived at Kaiba Corps, they rushed in and found Sugoroku lying on the ground, in visible pain.

Yugi: "Grandpa!"

"What happened to you?!"

The twins both rushed to his side.

Sugoroku: "Yugi... Akia... I'm sorry... I tried to show the boy the heart of the cards, but..."

Sugoroku couldn't finish his sentence, and groaned in pain.

"Grandpa!"

A mocking chuckle came from the door behind Sugoroku.

Kaiba: "Well, you took your time getting here."

Jounouchi: "Bastard, what did you do to Gramps?"

Kaiba: "All we did was duel. The bet was the other's most precious card."

"Cut the crap, rich boy. There must've been something more that brought grandpa to this state."

Kaiba looked at Akia with a little resentment in his eyes. It was soon replaced with a cocky smile.

Kaiba: "Well, you're not as dumb as you look. Indeed, I think he may have been a bit shocked by my Virtual Simulator."

Anzu pointed at him accusingly.

Anzu: "You must've pulled some cheap tricks!"

Kaiba: "I don't do that. Here, I'll prove it with the card I won."

Kaiba pulled out the Blue Eyes White Dragon card that belonged to Sugoroku. Then, he tore it in half. Everyone gasped in surprise that turned immediately into horror.

Yugi: "That's my grandpa's most cherished card!"

Kaiba: "Only three of the same card are allowed in one deck. Since I already have three of them, this one is useless. This way it will never be used against me."

Sugoroku: "M... My Blue Eyes..."

Sugoroku groaned in pain once more.

Yugi: "How could you do such a thing?!"

"You bastard..."

Akia started shaking with rage. Before anyone could stop her, she got in front of Kaiba. She stared at him with eyes full of resentment. He shot her the same look back, and grinned.

Kaiba: "What do you hope to do? It's not like you'll have the guts to even lay a finger on...!"

Before he could finish his sentence, he felt a sting on his left cheek, and his head was involuntarily jerked to the right. When he fully realised that Akia had slapped him, he rose his right arm to retaliate. Jounouchi, who saw everything unfold, realized what Kaiba was about to do. Akia closed her eyes, bracing for impact. However it never came. Instead, she felt arms wrap around me and pull her into a tight hug. She opened her eyes to find her face stuck to a manly chest.

Jounouchi had planned to take the hit instead of Akia. He hugged her, shielding her from Seto's menacing arm. Instead of being hit, he felt Kaiba's foot kicking him, which caused him to lose balance. He instinctively put a hand behind Akia's head, shielding it from the fall. Jounouchi managed to stop their fall by landing on his knees.

Jounouchi: "HEY! KAIBA! Hitting a girl would've been a new low!"

Jounouchi got up and helped Akia up. She felt very confused by the events. Jounouchi protected her?

Kaiba: "Girl? If I ever considered her a girl, then maybe I wouldn't have attempted to hit her."

"Shut it, rich boy!"

A groan from Sugoroku stopped her from arguing more with Seto.

Sugoroku: "Yugi, take these cards... Win against him, with these cards..."

Yugi: "But, I can't just leave you here, grandpa!"

Kaiba: "Interesting. You want revenge for your grandfather? I'll take you on."

Jounouchi: "Yugi... If there's anyone that can teach that guy a lesson, it's you. We'll take care of grandpa from here."

Yugi: "Jounouchi-kun..."

Honda: "You can fight him Yugi!"

Anzu: "Teach him the heart of the cards, like what grandpa told you."

"I would've taken him on myself, but I wouldn't have taught him anything, so it's up to you, bro."

Yugi: "You were never good at teaching..."

Yugi turned back to Sugoroku and took his deck.

Yugi: "I understand grandpa."

Anzu: "Now put your hands out, everyone."

Anzu took out a black marker and drew a smiley face on their hands, combined together.

Anzu: "Look, this is proof of our friendship!"

Jounouchi: "...What's this?"

Akia smiled at his aloof expression.

Anzu: "The marker ink will soon disappear, but our hearts and friendship will never disappear!"

"That's deep."

Yugi: "You're right, Anzu-chan."

Anzu, Honda, Jounouchi, and Akia went out to the ambulance that had arrived for Sugoroku.

Anzu: "Akia, Jounouchi, you two should go support Yugi. Honda and I will take care of grandpa."

Jounouchi: "Got it."

"Take care of him, Anzu."

Akia and Jounouchi rushed back to where Yugi and Kaiba were. When they entered the arena, they saw monsters battling.

Jounouchi: "What the...!"

"This must be his Virtual Simulator... It's incredible..."

Yugi was attacking with his dragon. A young boy entered the arena, yelling 'big brother'.

'So the rich boy has a kid brother, huh.'

The game went on as Kaiba destroyed many of Yugi's monsters with his powered up clown. During the duel, Akia started noticing how Yugi looked a bit different... He looked sharper, less innocent than her twin brother. Was it even the same person? The air around him was so different...

The duel went on until Kaiba summoned his Blue Eyes White Dragon. Not only one, but two of them were now on Kaiba's side if the field. Yugi held them off with Sealing Swords of Light. He also summoned the Black Magician which managed to defeat Kaiba's Judge Man. The life Points were now 1000/900, with Kaiba leading. Somehow, Kaiba was able to draw his third Blue Eyes, which he summoned. He then attacked the Black Magician, bringing Yugi's life points down to 400.

"Yugi..."

This was bad, and Akia felt it. What chances did he have of winning? It was almost none! She even saw how Yugi was hesitating to draw his next card. Then, all of a sudden, a look of determination filled his eyes, and he drew the next card with newly found confidence.

Kaiba: "Did you find despair by reaching your hand out?"

Yugi: "You're wrong! I just found hope! The card I just drew..."

Yugi showed his card to Kaiba.

Yugi: "Is the Sealed One, Exodia!"

"Exodia!"

Akia had heard of it from her grandpa. She thought it was some kind of legendary card that no one had ever summoned!

Kaiba: "What?!"

Exodia's form started to materialize as Kaiba stared in horror.

Kaiba: "Impossible! Exodia?! Did you just create a miracle?!"

Yugi attacked with Exodia, defeating all three of his Blue Eyes White Dragons, and bringing Kaiba's life points down to 0.

"Yugi won! That was incredible! I never thought I'd live to see Exodia!"

Jounouchi: "He did it!"

Yugi: "No matter how strong the card is, it's useless if you can't connect your heart with that card. When you do connect, miracles happen!"

Kaiba: "I-Impossible...! How could I lose?!"

Yugi: "Kaiba, your heart is being driven by evil!"

The eye of Anubis appeared on Yugi's forehead. Akia recognized it, and realized that, as she thought, it wasn't Yugi that was standing up there. She felt that it was something like the spirit of the ring, which took over Bakura, but this spirit didn't seem as evil. Yugi, or more like the spirit of the puzzle, extended his hand in Kaiba's direction.

Yugi: "Mind Crush!"

Kaiba let out a pained scream and fell to his knees.

Yugi: "I've just destroyed the evil within your heart."

Yugi then came back down from the platform, joining Akia and Jounouchi. Yugi and Akia went to the hospital to bring back their grandpa home and Jounouchi headed home as well.

The next day, Akia was pondering the prior events, wide awake in her bed.

'Man... Yesterday was a pretty eventful day... And Yugi... He's got one of these spirits, too. Wait, does that mean I have one too, since I have a millennium item? But it hasn't manifested itself, so I probably don't. Either that, or it's a lazy one.'

Yugi: "Akia! Wake up! You'll be late for school!"

"Yeah, yeah... I'm awake..."

When they arrived at school, they found Jounouchi duelling Anzu.

'I guess he wants his revenge on how badly she beat him yesterday...'

Bakura: "Good Morning, Akia-chan!"

"Bakura! Man, it feels like it's been forever since I last saw you..."

Bakura: "What do you mean? We just saw each other yesterday at school."

"Lots of things happened since then..."

Anzu: "And I win again!"

Jounouchi: "What?! Yugi, what am I doing wrong?"

Yugi: "Teacher's here, I'll check your deck after."

Jounouchi: "Alright..."

Akia, as usual, dozed off during the lesson. She felt someone poke her arm. She slowly opened her eyes and found Bakura sitting on the chair in front of her, facing her.

"Is the lesson over...?"

Bakura: "Yup, you slept right through it."

Akia got up and stretched a little before plopping back down on her seat. She looked around and noticed how Yugi and Jounouchi were missing.

"Where are Jounouchi and Yugi?"

Bakura: "Oh, they went outside for some fresh air."

"Hm... I bet Yugi is giving him some Duel Monsters advice. Hey Bakura, did you make a deck?"

Bakura: "It's not completed, but I'm in the process of making one."

"When you do finish it, I want to be the first one to test it!"

Bakura: "Of course, Akia-chan."

"By the way, Bakura, did the spirit of the ring appear again?"

Bakura: "Actually... He did..."

"So I guess my millennium scale didn't work on him..."

Bakura: "Akia-chan, do you have any idea why he would be after you?"

"Not really... I'm kind of curious about that. Why don't you ask him?"

Bakura: "The thing is, it seems like he doesn't know why either."

"Well that complicates things..."

There was a moment of silence where they both ran through the many questions popping up in their minds.

"Oh hey, do you want to come over today? You never got to see our game shop. Maybe you'll find some good cards there."

Bakura: "Sure, I'll come."

"Great! Let's do that then."

Akia felt another poke on her arms. She fell asleep again during her class. Bakura was trying to wake her up. She opened her eyes, and stared at Bakura with blank eyes.

"Good morning..."

Bakura chuckled at her comment.

Bakura: "Morning? The day is over, Akia-chan."

Akia rubbed her eyes, got up, and stretched. They both started leaving the school.

"Well... let's go get some ice cream."

Bakura: "Ice cream?"

"Yeah, it helps chase away my sleepiness."

Bakura: "It'll be my treat then."

"You sure?"

Bakura: "Yup."

"Then go right ahead!"

Bakura: "Haha, you're an odd one."

"Odd? Who wouldn't jump at the opportunity to get free ice cream?"

Bakura: "If you put it that way..."

They both went to the local ice cream stand. As soon as Akia got her soft vanilla ice cream cone, she almost instantly gobbled it down.

"Man, that was good! Thanks again for the treat, Bakura."

Bakura: "No problem, Akia-chan. And you can call me Ryou if you want..."

"Alright, Ryou."

'It sounds nice... Saying his first name...'

Bakura blushed a little, but Akia was way too absorbed in her thoughts to notice it. Eventually they arrived at the game shop, only to find it was closed.

"Did grandpa get kidnapped again..."

Akia said it sarcastically, but she had a little fear in her heart that that might actually be the case. She took out her key and opened the door. Then again, if he was kidnapped, he wouldn't have locked the door.

Bakura: "Kidnapped?"

"Long story... Grandpa? You there?"

There was no answer. Akia went to the back door, and Bakura followed. She opened it to find her grandfather talking seriously to a kneeling Jounouchi.

"Grandpa? Jounouchi?"

Sugoroku's serious expression softened to a welcoming one.

Sugoroku: "Oh, welcome back, Akia! Is that your boyfriend?"

"Is that the only thing you think about... Anyway, why's Jounouchi here?"

Jounouchi: "Ah, Akia! Don't interrupt my training!"

Sugoroku: "As he said, I'm training him."

"Duel Monsters...?"

Jounouchi: "You guessed it! Now go have fun with your boyfriend elsewhere."

Sugoroku: "So he is your boyfriend!"

"No, he isn't! Let's go, Ryou."

She dragged Ryou upstairs.

"Sorry about that..."

Bakura: "I-It's fine..."

Bakura felt a little disappointed by how strongly Akia denied that they had a relationship. He knew she was only saying the truth, but it still hurt him a little.

"Yugi! You there?"

Akia had stopped in front of her brother's room.

Yugi: "Ah, Akia. Welcome back."

Yugi got up from his desk and opened the door. He was a little surprised to see Bakura there.

Yugi: "Bakura-kun? You brought him along?"

"Yup! He never saw how our game shop looked, and I thought he might find something that interested him."

Yugi: "Yeah? Well, that's too bad, because today grandpa is busy with Jounouchi... But you should definitely come back again when grandpa isn't wrapped up in other stuff."

Bakura: "Alright, then."

"Hey, Ryou. Come with me, I'll show you how my room looks like."

Yugi: "You know Akia, your laid back attitude around Bakura-kun is kind of why everyone thinks you guys are together... You act way too casual around each other. A normal girl wouldn't bring a guy who isn't her boyfriend into her room..."

"Well, I'm not normal, then! Let's go Ryou."

Akia took Bakura's hand and dragged him to her room. He blushed at the sudden contact. When they got to Akia's room, Bakura sat down on the floor, seiza style. He noticed the Ancient Egyptian history books that Akia told him about. Other than that, it was a very nicely decorated room with a lot of idol posters. He noted down in his mind that Akia was a big fan of boy bands.

"Ryou, you don't have to sit in that uncomfortable position. Relax!"

How could he relax when he was alone in the room of the girl he liked, with the girl he liked? He remembered when she was alone with him in his room. At that time, his feelings for her weren't as strong. Now, he just wanted to be around her all the time. He liked her a lot. However, it didn't seem like she shared the same feelings.

"Hey, Ryou? Are you listening?"

Bakura: "Huh? Yeah!"

He wasn't listening... He was way too wrapped up in his thoughts. Akia had been rambling for a while, until she realized that he wasn't even aware of what she was saying.

Bakura: "Akia... I have something to say..."

He couldn't take it anymore, he wanted to tell her about his feelings.

"Hm? Tell me then."

Bakura: "I... Akia, I..."

Just as he was about to say it, Akia's room door opened.

"Ah, Jounouchi! How was your training?"

Jounouchi: "Man, gramps is a pretty strict teacher... Anyway, I came here to tell you that I'll be leaving for now. But, don't worry, you won't have time to miss me, because I'll be coming everyday here until I learn properly!"

"Man... It'll be noisy everyday... Ryou, you had something to say? Sorry this idiot interrupted you."

Jounouchi: "Idiot?"

Bakura: "Oh, it's fine. I'll tell you some other time."

"You sure...?"

Bakura: "Yeah, I guess I'll be going too. It's getting pretty late."

"Alright, see you tomorrow at school, Ryou."

Bakura waved and followed Jounouchi out. He was finally going to confess his feelings, but he got interrupted. He doubted he would be able to muster up the courage to try and say it again anytime soon, but he would tell Akia how he felt someday.