Sorry it's been a while, guys. I could give you a list of excuses, but the main one has been general laziness. I'll try to do better. This chapter isn't as long as the last one, but how that one ended up being so long continues to baffle me.
Moving on, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! If I did, we'd see more of the characters' parents.
Chapter Sixteen: Day Off
It was after ten when Kisara was dropped off at the Gardners'.
"So how'd it go?" Tea asked as she walked in.
"How'd what go?" Kisara eyed the brunette with a look of suspicion.
"You and Kaiba," Tea pressed. "I know Mokuba wanted you two to hang out."
"I spent most of the night in jail," Kisara sighed and started up the stairs to her room.
"What? What happened?"
"We played Monopoly," Kisara rolled her eyes. "If there's a game I am guaranteed to lose, it's that. I never seem to be out of jail for more than a turn or two. By the time I do get out, all the property has been bought."
"So why play it then?" Tea asked.
"Mokuba likes it," Kisara told her. "Even now, I can't really say no to him."
"He does seem to have that effect on you," Tea said. "By the way, anything you want to do tomorrow?"
"What do normal people do?" the white-haired girl asked. "After the week we've had, that's what I want to do."
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She huddled in the cage, knees pulled up to her chest. Her rough tunic itched, but she was afraid to move, afraid to draw the attention of the men who threw her in there. She heard them snickering and bragging about the money she would bring them when she was sold.
A rattle on the cage door startled her. She looked up to see a boy working at the lock on the door. His face was shrouded in shadow, but she could make out brown hair. "What are you doing?" she asked.
He pressed a finger to his mouth signaling her to be quiet. "Saving you," he whispered. The lock popped open, and the door swung open. "Come on." He reached out a tanned hand to help her out.
They crept to where a lone horse stood. The boy grabbed the reins when the men noticed them. They yelled, grabbing their swords as they chased her and the boy. The boy swung up onto the horse and pulled her up behind him. He flicked the reins, and the horse took off running, increasing the distance between them and her captors. She wrapped her arms around his torso, hanging with all her might. She closed her eyes as horse moved into a full gallop.
"Anyone there?" the boy asked.
Still holding him tightly, she looked over her shoulder. The road behind them was clear. "N-no," she said. "They're gone."
"Then my job's done," he passed the reins to her and jumped off the horse. "Take this horse to the next town. Trust me, the people there will be able to help you. Ride through the night if you must. Find your way home!"
"But what about you?" she asked, clutching the reins as tightly as she could.
"Just go!" the boy slapped the rear of the mare, spurring her forward.
"Who are you?" she called as the boy shrank behind her.
"Kisara!"
The boy said something, but she couldn't hear what he said. She brushed her hair out of her face. Maybe she could see his face before he was gone. He shouted again, but she still couldn't hear him.
"Kisara!" Someone shook her. "Kisara wake up."
She groaned and rolled away from the person, pulling her covers over her head. Maybe if she ignored the person, they'd just go away. She just wanted to stay curled up. Maybe she could see the boy's face. "Kisara, get up!" The covers were ripped from her, and cold rushed through her body."
"What?" she sat up and glared at the culprit: a smirking Tea.
"Come on!" Tea pulled her up. "We're going to the mall!"
Kisara glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It read 8:45. "I missed something." She rubbed the remaining sleep from her eyes. "When did we decide we were going to the mall?"
"You said you wanted to do something normal," Tea told her. "What more normal thing is there than shopping?"
"But I don't need anything," Kisara protested.
"Yes, you do," the brunette countered. "You can fit all your clothes in one bag. You need more than that."
"I've gone this long with only that much," the white-haired girl said. "Besides, being able to fit everything I own in one bag is handy. Makes it easier to keep what I really want when I get tossed out."
"That's not going happen," Tea looked her square in the face before hugging her. "Look, I can't imagine what that was like. I can't imagine how lonely you must have been. But you don't have to worry about anymore. We may get on each other's nerves at some point, but you will never be unwelcome here." She pulled away and held up her hand, showing where the ink had once been. "We're friends, and that's not going to change."
Kisara held up her own hand. "I know. I'm just used to not having more than I need."
"Well we're going to change that," Tea declared. "Now get ready. Mom wants to be ready in an hour. She's even got French toast waiting for us done there. Our first stop will be the phone store."
"I can't accept that," Kisara said, realizing why they'd go there. "It's too much."
"Kisara," Tea rolled her eyes. "Mom and Dad are firm believers in having a cell phone in case of an emergency. It's not like it'll be one you can do everything on. But you could use it to call Kaiba if you really wanted."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Kisara glared at her.
"He totally likes you," Tea said. "Every other girl who's talked to him has received the cold shoulder. He's actually smiled at you. And he even has that French nickname for you!"
"Tea, that mean 'my best friend,' and we were doing that when we were eight," Kisara rolled her eyes. "What Seto, Mokuba, and I had when we were kids was wonderful. But we've changed from then. I've had my lovely family moments, and I can't begin to imagine what things were like for Seto and Mokuba under Gozaburo."
"Who's Gozaburo?"
"According to my mom, a monster," Kisara answered. "I believe he's the reason Seto is as detached from other people as he is. Anyway, there's nothing between me and Seto."
"Sure there isn't," Tea didn't look convinced.
Okay, time to turn the tables. "I'll tell you what. I'll burn an entire month's worth of minutes talking to Seto if you go on a date with Yugi," Kisara grinned.
"What?" Tea's face turned red.
"He totally likes you," Kisara used Tea's words against her.
"Not like that!" Tea protested, her face turning pink.
"My deal still stands," Kisara smirked and headed down the stairs for Yumi's French toast.
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As they left the phone store, Kisara smiled to herself as she programmed her few contacts into her new phone. "I'll see you girls later," Yumi said to them. "Call and let me know when you're ready to be picked up."
"Yes, Mom," Tea rolled her eyes. Yumi waved good-bye and headed towards the mall exit.
"Done," Kisara programmed the last number into her phone. "Give me a minute; I'm going to call Seto so he has my new number."
"Oooh," Tea grinned.
"Tea," Kisara shot her a warning glare before dialing Seto's number.
"Who is this, and how did you get this number?" Seto barked.
"Wow, Seto, did you forget you gave it to me last night?" Kisara countered.
"Kisara?"
"Yep," she said. "I just got a new phone. I figured calling you would be the easiest way for you get my number. It's only fair since I have yours."
"Yeah, yeah," Kisara could picture Seto rolling his eyes as he spoke.
"Busy day?" she asked.
"Every day is busy," he answered. "On top of running the company, I have to undo the damage the board of directors did, and I have to finish fixing my pod."
"Don't forget to spend time with Mokuba," Kisara told him. "I'm sure he's already strategizing how to get the Boardwalk for next time."
"So you're willing to go back to jail?" he said.
"Shut up," Kisara rolled her eyes at him. "You know I'd do better if you two didn't gang up on me."
"We didn't even have to try," he pointed out. "We had most of the property before you even made it to Go."
"Whatever," Kisara sighed. "I'll let you get back to work. Bye, Seto."
"Bye," he hung up.
"So where are we off to first?" Kisara turned to Tea.
"I know just the place," Tea grinned.
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"So where to now?" Kisara gripped two large shopping bags in each hand. Tea's arms were equally full. Browsing the stores, Kisara had picked out a few more jeans, shoes, shirts, and, with Tea's pushing, some skirts and dresses. The last item they'd purchased was a white jacket that matched her hair.
"Want to get food?" Tea suggested.
"Sure."
"Yuge, how do you keep winning?" a voice called from the arcade they passed.
"Was that Joey?" Tea asked.
Kisara stuck her head in the room and spotted familiar tri-color, blond, and brown hair surrounding one of the games. "Yep," she said. "Looks like all the guys are here."
"Hey, Kisara! Tea!" Joey turned and noticed them. "What're you up to?"
"Shopping," Tea held up her bags as proof of their adventures. "Is Yugi beating all the high scores again?"
"Yeah, and they're all his own," Tristan said. "I'm surprised Joey hasn't broken anything with all the defeats he's been dealt."
"I haven't seen you do any better, Tristan," the blond glared at him.
"That's why I don't play against Yugi," the brunet countered.
Kisara chuckled and looked to the shortest member of the group. He stood up from the driving game, and she was surprised to see Yami was the one playing. He caught her glance, and the Millennium Puzzle flashed, signaling Yugi taking control. Kisara raised an eyebrow at him; Yugi shrugged. Apparently Yami felt like being anti-social.
"So what exactly is this game?" Kisara tried to read the instructions on the game.
"Racing game," Joey answered. "Two people race against computer players and each other."
"Interesting," Kisara fished some money out of her hoodie pocket. "I'll give it a try if someone wants to play."
"I'll take you on," Joey grinned. "No offense, but I think I got this one since you haven't played before."
"You thought the same thing the first day I went to Yugi's," Kisara countered. "I may not an expert like you or Yugi, but I'm a quick study." She sat in the driver's seat and inserted the money, and the vehicle selection menu popped up on both displays.
Yugi and Tristan explained the benefits and risks with each stat and what each part did. When she finally finished, she had a small dark blue car against Joey's bright red truck accented with flames. Joey chose a desert terrain, and Kisara's foot hovered over the gas pedal.
The signal counted down, and the players slammed on their gas pedals, accelerating their cars as fast as possible. Kisara's card skidded roughly through the first few turns, but she was able to compensate and catch up to Joey. He slammed into her, knocking her car back, and sped forward. Scowling, she hit the gas again only to slam into an obstacle in the middle of the road. All the other cars passed as she got her car righted and back on track.
They completed the first lap as Kisara passed some of the other racers, and only a few cars remained in front of Joey. He charged forward, using his truck's size to shove them aside. One of them sent her skidding; Kisara turned the wheel hard to keep from hitting another obstacle or going over the edge. She hit the gas again, slowly gaining on the red truck as they cleared the second lap. Now that she knew where the obstacles were, Kisara could avoid them. She stayed neck and neck with Joey as they inched closer to the finish line. When Kisara could see the checkered flag, Joey slammed into her again, knocking her back and speeding across the finish line. Two more cars passed her before she could regain her speed and cross herself.
"All right!" Joey cheered. "My losing streak is over!"
"Congratulations," Tristan pulled the blond into a headlock. "You beat someone who's never played the game before by knocking her off the course."
"I probably should have put more in durability instead of just speed," Kisara conceded. "But it was fun. Good game, Joey."
"You did fine," Yugi said. "The build was fine; Joey just likes to have an extra big car to run over everyone else."
"Hey, if it works, it works," Joey said. "But I'm hungry. Who wants to go to Burger World?"
"I'm up for it," Kisara answered.
"So am I," Tea agreed. She passed her bags to Tristan and Yugi. "Here, take these."
"Why do we have to carry them?" Tristan protested.
"Because my arms are tired and you don't have anything to carry," Tea told him.
"Fine," Tristan relented.
Joey grabbed Kisara's bags, and the five teens headed to the mall's food court. On the way, they passed a child gleefully riding a mechanical horse. Kisara's mind flashed to the dream she had, remember the feeling of the mare galloping away, taking her to freedom. She wished she could have seen the boy's face, or at least heard what he was trying to tell her.
"Hey, you okay?" Joey asked. The others had turned to see she wasn't following them.
"Yeah, sorry," Kisara shook away the dream. "I just got a little distracted."
"We'll come on," Joey motioned with his head. "I'm starving."
"Right behind you, Joey."
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After Joey and Tristan inhaled three burgers each along with half of everyone's fries, the group wandered the mall until they circled back to the arcade. Having not actually been before, the guys wasted no time in showing her the different games. She smiled to herself when Yugi beat another of the high scores and entered his name in the four-digit spot.
The driving game held Kisara's biggest improvement; she couldn't beat Yugi or Joey, but she did manage to clear a course fast enough to make the top twenty. Smirking as Yami entered Yugi's name again, Kisara punched BEWD into her name slot.
"BEWD?" Joey asked.
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon," she answered. "I can't fit my name in the slot, and so I just went with that.
"Want to try the fighting game again?" Yugi suggested. "You seemed to be getting the hang of it."
"Yeah, you beat Tea," Joey laughed.
"Shut up, Joey!" the brunette yelled at him. "Forgive me for not being good at those games. Actually…" She looked to a dancing game in the middle of the place. "I challenge you to that one."
"What the heck kind of game is that?" Joey raised an eyebrow at it.
"My kind of game," Tea smirked.
Tea and Joey each took a station and inserted a coin into the mission. Music blared out of the speakers, and the display counted down the start. Arrows climbed the screen and passed through the markers at the top. Tea breezed through hitting the rhythm of the game, stepping on the correct arrows without missing a beat. Joey missed several beats, almost wiping out multiple times, and his score struggled to keep him in the game let alone catch Tea. When the song ended, Tea had the new high score, and Joey fell on his back, panting. "You lose, and I rock!" Tea cheered her victory.
"You okay, Joey?" Kisara offered him a hand up.
"Yeah, my pride's hurt more than anything else," he took her hand and got to his feet.
"That's what you get for dancing against Tea," Tristan laughed. "I know I'm not taking her on in that. I'll stick to the fighting game."
"Anyone else want to try?" Tea looked to each of them.
"Sorry, Tea," Kisara shook her head. "I dance with two left feet."
"Want to try another game?" Tristan offered.
Kisara checked her wallet and shook her head. "No, I shouldn't. I've already spent more money today than I was planning to."
"Should we get going then?" Tea asked.
"No, you can stay," Kisara said. "If you don't mind taking the bags, there's one more place I need to visit."
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After convincing her friends she didn't need them to accompany her, Kisara stopped at the flower shop on the way to the cemetery. There she picked out two bouquets of white carnations, each tied with a pale blue ribbon. She'd been avoiding this, but she couldn't put it off any longer.
After passing row after row of tombstones, she came to the secluded corner she was looking for. She expected her parents' graves to be overgrown to an extent since there was no one to visit them in years, but both had been carefully maintained. Both built-in flower vases were occupied with bouquets that couldn't have been much more than a week or two old. The people maintaining the cemetery must put flowers at all the graves.
Kisara replaced the dead bouquets with the carnations she bought, offering silent thanks to whoever had placed them. "Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad," she said, kneeling in front of the graves of Daniel and Satine White. "I know it's been a while. Kind of hard to come visit when I don't live in town. Not that I'm blaming you for that. I have made some great friends since I got back. To start, Mom, do you remember Seto and Mokuba? Yeah, Seto's in my class at the high school. He's not the most social, and he's a little bit harsh to some of my other friends, namely Joey, but I know deep down he's still the nice boy I used to play with. Mokuba's gotten taller, and now he's the one defending Seto almost as much as Seto defended him back then. You should have seen the scrape we got into yesterday at KaibaCorp.
"Don't worry; they aren't my only friends. I made a whole group of friends on my first day. It helps when they're so open. Let's see… well to start, there's Joey. He's a bit loud and dense sometimes, but he has a heart of gold. We entered a card game tournament, and his only goal was to help our friend Yugi and win the prize money for his sister. I hope to meet her after she gets her operation. I know Joey's looking forward to seeing her again.
"Also speaking of Yugi, you wouldn't believe how good at games he is. Actually, that would be the second thing you wouldn't believe about him. The first would be his hair. I know my hair was always a little unusual, but at least it's only one color. Yugi's is three and it sticks up in these crazy spikes. And it's completely natural. I've also learned more about games from him than I thought was possible. Did you dinosaurs are weak against fire in Duel Monsters? I didn't either until Yugi told me.
"Anyway, then there's Tristan. He's not too much of a gamer, but he's a lot of fun. He's always teasing Joey, and I've picked up multiple quips from him. I wish I would have known him in middle school when the other kids were picking on me. He's also really brave. He did something I'm still scared to think about just to help Mokuba. If he thinks there's a chance he can make a difference, he'll take it.
"Now before you worry about me hanging out with all these boys, there is another girl in our group. Her name is Tea, and I'm living with her now. Lee kicked me out, and she refused to let me deal with it on my own. She's so sweet, and she hopes to study ballet in New York. She's also convinced Seto likes me and we should go out, but I know that's not the case. I can at least push her back with Yugi since I'm sure she has a crush on him, and I know he feels the same.
"There is one more friend I have, but there's not much I can tell you. Yami's a bit of an enigma. Yugi's the only other one who's spoken to him. He's a nice guy. We just don't know much about him. I'm sure that will change eventually, but he is at least worth mentioning. I do know he'd do anything in his power to help us.
"I still miss you. I wish you both were still here and could see me now. It's been a rough road, but I am happy. That college fund you left me is still intact. I can't really say how important that's going to be for me; given the opportunity, I would have already used it so I could live on my own. But maybe someday. No matter what happens, I promise to make you proud."
Kisara brushed at the tears escaping her eyes. Even after all this time, the loss of her parents was still a hole she could never truly fill. She'd buried the pain, knowing that her tears wouldn't get her any sympathy from her guardians. She had to be alone if she wanted to cry, knowing no one would comfort a little girl who'd lost her family.
"Oh, Miss White."
Kisara jumped at the voice behind her. She turned to see the green-haired security guard who had driven them to Kaiba Mansion the previous night. Based on his attire, he was off duty, and he carried two bouquets of flowers. Without his sunglasses, Kisara could see his entire expression. He obviously wasn't expecting her to be there.
She stood up to greet him. "It's all right Mr.…?" What was his name again?
"Isono," he said. "My name is Roland Isono, but it's all right if you call me Roland."
"Okay, Roland," Kisara nodded. "May I ask why you're here? Or did Seto send you?"
"Mister Kaiba doesn't know I come here," Roland answered. "I guess could say I feel compelled to come."
"What do you…?" Kisara looked to the dead bouquets she was going to dispose on her way out. They looked similar to the fresh flowers in the guard's hands. "Were you the one bringing flowers?"
The guard nodded. "I knew your mother only briefly, but she made an impression on me. She was one of the senior housekeepers when I started working for Gozaburo Kaiba. I was barely nineteen, and I couldn't believe I'd managed to get a detail at Kaiba Mansion." Roland cracked a small smile. "In my youthful excitement at my new job, I had fantasized stopping some thug from getting in and proving myself to my new boss. I was so busy dreaming up that fantasy, I wasn't paying attention to where in the mansion I was heading.
"When I realized I was lost and on the verge of being late for my shift, my fantasies turned to a dread of being fired. There was no one around, no one I could ask for directions, even if I could have swallowed my pride. I thought I was done for when I heard someone yelling.
"Even though the door was closed, I could clearly hear what the two people were saying. I knew one of the voices was Gozaburo Kaiba, which kept me from stepping into the room. I was far too afraid to get on his bad side. I did want to keep my job, and I had to wonder who would dare to say he was wrong."
"There was an employee who stood up to him?" Kisara asked. Even as nothing but a memory, Gozaburo Kaiba was a terrifying man.
"Your mother did," Roland answered. "She was the one arguing with him. Satine was yelling at him for how he was treating the boys. I knew I shouldn't have eavesdropped, but I was hopelessly lost, and I froze in place. A few minutes later, Satine stormed out. Then she noticed me, and it only took her a minute to realize my predicament.
"Satine escorted me to my post, and on the way she asked how much I had overhead. There was no point in lying, and she told me not to repeat what I'd overheard. I didn't understand why; I barely understood what was happening at the time."
"I know Gozaburo was hard on Seto," Kisara said. "But I don't know exactly what happened. All I do know is that Seto did everything he could to keep Mokuba off Gozaburo's radar."
"He did," Roland confirmed. "I didn't know it at the time, and Satine told me if I really wanted to know what Gozaburo was like, I should look in on the boys. I did after my shift that day. That's when I decided I would serve them over Gozaburo."
"How come I never saw you?" Kisara looked the guard in the eye.
"I didn't even know you were there," Roland admitted. "I never saw you at the mansion, and Mister Kaiba never mentioned you until after Satine was let go."
"Mom always said we'd be in trouble if I was found," Kisara said. "I was terrified when Seto and Mokuba first found me. Do you know why Mom was fired?"
"I don't," Roland shook his head. "Part of me wonders if it has to do with the conversation I overheard. But there's one thing that still doesn't make sense."
"What is that?"
"Satine told Gozaburo it wasn't right for him to treat Mr. Kaiba like that and completely ignore him—that the boys needed love and support, not the torture he was giving them," Roland answered. "I assume she meant Mr. Mokuba, but knowing what I know about Gozaburo, I can't help but think it was a good thing Mister Mokuba was ignored."
"So what did she mean?" Kisara asked. Why would her mother want Gozaburo to pay attention to Mokuba?
"That's what I'd like to know," Roland said. "I never got the opportunity to ask. A few weeks after that, Satine was let go. Then Mr. Kaiba and Mr. Mokuba told me about you and asked me go see you."
"They did?" Based on the way Seto treated her when she returned to Domino, Kisara had assumed the boys moved on from her. It wasn't until Duelist Kingdom that she realized they really didn't know what happened.
"Yes, they missed you greatly," Roland told her. "I obliged and found the address for your apartment in the employee records. On my day off, I went there. You and your mother had just arrived home from somewhere, and I saw Satine send you inside before coming over to me. I told her they missed you, and I asked why she had been let go. She said I didn't need to know and I had to protect Mr. Kaiba and Mr. Mokuba. She told me not to tell anyone about our conversation and to say I couldn't find you. She said it would be best if they didn't know. And she demanded I never speak to her again. She looked so scared then, any other questions I had slipped away.
"A few weeks later, I read her obituary in the paper. Keeping my promise to her, I said nothing to Mr. Kaiba and Mr. Mokuba. I attended the funeral from a distance, and after everyone else had left, I paid my respects alone." He clenched his fist. "Part of me wonders if there was something I could have done. If I had helped her get her job back, she wouldn't have been there."
"I think she'd be glad to know you cared so much," Kisara took a breath to process everything Roland was telling her. "But I have to know, with everything that's happened in the last couple of weeks, is there anything else Seto doesn't know about?"
"I swear on my honor that my promise to Satine is the only secret I have from Mr. Kaiba," Roland said. "Satine wished for him not to know, and she is the only reason I kept it. Sometimes when I thought of breaking it, especially when Mr. Kaiba would push more for information about you or Gozaburo was especially cruel to him, I would come here. I almost felt like I was trying to get permission to tell him the truth, even though by that point I had lost track of you too. After the first couple of times I came, it was apparent I was the only visitor, so I made a point to come more often and keep the spot looking nice."
"I don't know what to say," Kisara blinked away tears as she processed everything the guard told her. Her mother confronted Gozaburo on behalf of Seto. She wasn't the reason for Satine losing her job. Her parents' graves hadn't been completely abandoned in the years she was away. "Thank you."
"I have done nothing to warrant your thanks," Roland looked away. "I could not stop Gozaburo from hurting Mr. Kaiba, and my conversations with your mother did not change her fate."
"But you were there for them when probably no one else was," Kisara insisted. "And… part of me has always been afraid that I was the reason Mom was fired—that Gozaburo found out about me."
"That was not it," Roland told her. "As far I know, Gozaburo never even knew you existed. I think that is why she wanted me to say I didn't know anything. She did not want him to find out."
"And that's why I'm thanking you," Kisara said. "You're given me some closure on what happened. Yes, I have more questions too, but I don't have to blame myself anymore." She rubbed her eyes with her sleeve. "So thank you."
"You're welcome," Roland looked to the bouquets in his hand. "I'll take care of these." He grabbed the dead bunches on the ground and began walking away.
"No, don't waste them," Kisara called him back. "I'm sure there are other graves that could use the kindness."
"Very well."
They found two other dust-covered markers and placed the bouquets. I don't know who you were, but I hope you are at peace. Kisara offered a small prayer at each recipient while Roland wiped the dirt from the stones. Their work completed, the duo parted ways. Roland got into a car just outside the cemetery, and Kisara returned to her parents' graves.
"What do you think, Mom?" she knelt down again. "He kept his promise all these years, long after Gozaburo was gone." Roland's question still nagged at her. "I wish you would have said something. Maybe someone else could have been in charge, and maybe Seto and Mokuba could have been spared. But I suppose there's no point in dwelling on it now. I love you. I'll see you later." She stood up and walked away.
Her friends were waiting for her at the cemetery's entrance. "What are you guys doing here?"
"We weren't sure what you were up to," Joey admitted. "We wanted to make sure you weren't pulling a fast one on us."
Tea elbowed him. "What he means is we didn't want you to shut us out if something was bothering you. So we followed you"
"Once we saw where you headed, we decided to give you your space," Yugi said. "We didn't mean to intrude."
"Guys…" Kisara sighed. "Come on." She led them back to her parents' graves. "Mom, Dad, remember those friends I was telling you about? Here they are. This one is..."
Thanks for reading! I know it's more a chapter of feels than anything else, but I wanted to give the characters a little down time. Fun fact, the racing game was partially inspired by Mario Kart and what I remember various games like that I've seen at arcades. The arcade itself was inspired by Duel 25 of the original manga where Yugi and Joey go to one and end up in a scrape of their own.
Next time, look forward to a major character debut. I'll see you guys then.