Chapter 10
Joey POV
"Go Roulette Spider! Spin now!" Everyone watched in anticipation as Joey's Roulette Spider spun Jinzo around and around. If it lands on one of Espa Roba's monsters, he will lose. The same for Joey.
"JINZO! STOP!" Espa Roba cried. Jinzo slowly stopped spinning and eventually pointed to Espa Roba's Reflect Bounder.
"Jinzo's pointing to my reflect bounder, and if it attacks, they're both doomed!" Jinzo begun his attack. "Don't reflect! You'll send his attack right back " His attack still went on. "No! You Can't! If Jinzo attacks, they'll both be gone!" Jinzo attacked. "Ugh."
Joey stood smirking across the field. "Too bad Roba. Looks like both ya monsters are destroyed, and your history!"
"No! I had it won. I… You couldn't beat me."
"What do ya think just happened? Let me do the math for ya, ya psychic sneak. Jinzo started with 3200 attack points, subtract Reflect Bounder's 1700, and you lose 1500 Life points!" Espa Roba's life points dropped from 1400 to 0. "And this duel is ova!"
Tea and Grandpa cheered loudly on the sidelines. Joey walked up to Espa Roba. "It was a tough duel. Now fork ova ya Jinzo, and your locator card."
Espa Roba had angry tears in his eyes. "No! I Can't! Please don't make me! You just don't understand!"
"Whatta ya freaking out about? Just stand up and face defeat. Besides, you know da Battle City rules, I get ta keep your rarest card. Everyone loses once in a while, heh, even Joey Wheeler blew a few duels in his day."
"But it's not that simple!" Espa Roba wailed. "People count on me to win, Wheeler!"
"We all have our own reasons for dueling."
"Stop! You just don't get it do you! Losing is not an option. I have to win at all costs. I'm not dueling for myself, I'm dueling for my brothers!"
"Brothers?" Espa Roba continued to explain why he dueled for his brothers. Joey provided comfort by offering his hand in friendship, but Espa Roba swatted it away.
"Come on big bro. You didn't disappoint us. You fought an awesome duel, and you did it without cheating." Joey looked like he just saw a ghost as he stared at the talking earpiece that flew off of Espa Roba. Espa Roba's brothers appeared and they had a family hug in appreciation for Espa's efforts.
"So I guess these are da cosmic forces you were talking to. Now all I need is his rare Jinzo card to finish this happy ending." Espa handed Joey his locater card and Jinzo card, and apologized for cheating. They then went off their separate ways.
My first duel of the tournament, and not a bad job if I do say so myself. There'll be tough times ahead, but I know I'm not in this alone.
Yami POV
"Well done Joey!" Yami had been watching Joey's duel from a nearby balcony. He was truly happy that his best friend won his first tournament duel. For the hour that the duel lasted, Yami was able to block out everything, but the second it ended, reality came back, and he thought about the events that happened yesterday. How he saw Lindsey with Kaiba, and the rush of people that came to him when he fell to his knees. It was a real life nightmare.
How did this happen? Lindsey and Kaiba. I should've known. So is this it? Is this where we end?
He walked off the balcony down to Battle City below. Though he was grieving, he still had a tournament to win. He went in search of his second opponent.
Lindsey POV
"I know you won. But you can't change the rules, it's not fair!" The boy was pleading to the man who had just defeated him in a duel.
"That's loser talk chump. This card is worthless." The older man demanded.
"But the rules say you only get my one rarest card if you win."
"Yea well I'm making my own rules. Now give me the two rarest cards in your deck, and make it fast!"
"Two cards? Come on." The older man grabbed the boy by the collar.
"Give 'em up!" A loud whistle noise the pierced through the air.
"Dueling foul!" Mokuba exclaimed.
The man looked at Mokuba. "Huh? Hey, beat it junior."
"Junior? You're talking to the official commissioner for the Battle City Tournament. I will settle any, and all dueling disputes, and when it comes to the rules, what I say goes. Do I make myself clear?"
"I'll keep that in mind, now get lost!" The man yelled.
"If you want to stay in this tournament, you're gonna have to do what I say!" Mokuba warned.
"Or what?"
"Or you'll have to deal with me." A husky voice said.
The man turned around. "What did you say?" A small giggle escaped a girls mouth.
"Hey Bro! Hey Lindsey!" Mokuba was elated.
"S-Seto Kaiba and Lindsey Walsh!"
"When you speak to my brother that way, you dishonor me and the Battle City tournament." Seto's face was solid and his voice like ice.
"And besides, Seto has very little patience for bullies." Lindsey had more emotion in her voice, but she spoke in a taunting way.
"What's your problem?" The guy stupidly asked. Seto knelt down and opened his briefcase to the man. He looked awe struck.
"It's time you learn some respect. I challenge you to a duel here and now, with one condition. You must use these rare cards to boost the dueling power of your pathetic deck."
The man laughed. "You're sure about this?"
"Mokuba, come here." Lindsey gestured for Mokuba to walk over and she hugged him close as the duel started.
"With all these rare cards and my skill, there's no way I'll lose. Watch out Kaiba." Lindsey let out a small laugh. "You're setting yourself up for a fall."
Seto smirked. And the man got angry. "I just need to play one card, to teach you a lesson you wont forget."
"Seto, no. Not even this guy is worth it." Lindsey calmly retorted as she hugged Mokuba tighter. Seto ignored her.
"I summon Obelisk the Tormentor! Attack now!" Seto commanded, and the man cried out on impact. The duel was over in one turn. Seto walked over to Lindsey and Mokuba. "No one messes with my little brother."
"You didn't have to use that card, Seto. You know I don't like it." Lindsey finally released Mokuba as he started to slowly walk away so he could hear their conversation.
"I couldn't resist." He smirked and Lindsey gave him a death glare. He kissed her forehead and pulled her into a hug, but she didn't hug him back. "All right, sorry. I wont use it again…at least not in front of you."
She sighed, and wrapped her arms around him. "Good enough…. Can we go walk around now?"
"Fine." They broke apart and hand in hand, caught up to Mokuba.
What am I doing? It feels right to be here with Seto, but it also feels wrong… I wonder where Yami is…. Not that I care. He means nothing. Yes. Nothing. I hope Seto can't hear my thoughts…. She snuck a quick glance at him. Emotionless. As usual.
Together, the three of them walked through Battle City, unaware of the events that were about to unfold.
Tristan POV
"Okay Serenity, see you later." Tristan, despite Joey's acceptance of it, had been staying with his sister Serenity in Domino City Hospital until she was clear for release. Serenity had undergone a surgery on her eyes so she would be able to see clearly again. Serenity was a small girl. She had long auburn hair and fair skin, with bandages covering her eyes.
"Hmm?" Serenity questioned.
"I'm gonna go down and see how Yugi and Joey are doing. Bye." He turned to leave until Serenity interrupted him.
"Um… Tristan, will you promise me something?"
"Sure."
"Will you take me downtown to the Battle City tournament on the day that I get my bandages removed?"
"To Battle City?" He questioned.
"Yeah. It's really important to me that the first sight I see is my brother Joey dueling."
"It would be my honor!" Tristan said proudly. Serenity smiled. "Catch ya later!" and he left.
Yami POV
Yami had been wandering through Battle City. He was currently thinking about Joey's Red Eyes and how grateful he was to have it. He was also contemplating about where Merik and his rare hunters would strike next. He was cut off from his train of thought by a creepy laugh nearby. Yami looked up to see a black and red clown.
"Who are you?" He asked. The clown laughed.
"Hello Yugi. We've been looking for you."
"Who's we?"
"You'll find out if you walk that way." He pointed towards a large tent. "53 steps forward and into that tent. My master is waiting for you inside. It's in your best interest to go." He laughed, then disappeared.
Most people would run if a creepy clown told them to go in a random tent, so naturally, Yami walked forward into the tent, and for some reason while he was walking, he could not hear Tea and Grandpa yelling his name.
Yami entered the tent. It was dark. "Hmm? There is no one here." The lights turned on and the clown guy laughed. Yami read a sign that said Magic Show. He appeared out of a big magic box and gestured for Yami to follow.
"Enter here Yugi. My master's waiting." Yugi followed the clown. Tea and Grandpa watched as Yami entered the box and disappeared into thin air.
Lindsey POV
"That's Weird. Seto!" Mokuba gasped and stopped walking. Seto and Lindsey stopped to look back at him questioningly. "The tracking surveillance system just lost track of Yugi Muto! He's disappeared!"
"He's disappeared? Impossible. Make sure the satellite link is working. Now." Mokuba nodded. Lindsey stared forward blank faced.
Oh no. Seto's technology is top of the line. If Yugi's signal is lost, it means he's in some sort of trouble. He may not want to see me…heck no one wants to see me… but he needs help. Think Lindsey. Who's the one person who is always with him, and would know where he is at all times…OH! Duh! Tea! Now to get away from Seto….
She tugged on Seto's trench. He looked down at her with a weird look and irritably asked, "What are you doing?"
"Uh… just going to tell you that I'm gonna head back to my apartment. Nothing is really going on right now anyway, so…. Yea…." She gave a nervous smile and he raised a brow. "I'll call you later….. for dinner…. And stuff." She nervously smiled again. Mokuba was giving her a knowing look.
Seto was blank faced with no expression or emotion. After what felt like eternity he finally said, "fine. If you leave your apartment, I want to know. Got it?"
He's pissed. He totally knows I'm lying…. But I know him better….
"Yea sure. No prob." She gave him a quick hug. "See you soon!" She walked towards her apartment. While walking, she dialed Yugi's phone. It went straight to voicemail without ringing.
Dammit!
She hoped she wouldn't have to, but she then dialed Tea's number. She picked up on the first ring. "What?" Tea snapped.
"We're aware Yugi is missing. Where was he last seen?"
"We're? What do you mean?"
"Seto, Mokuba and Myself."
"You're back in Domino!?" Tea exclaimed.
"Yes Tea. I don't have time for this. Where did you last see him?"
She scoffed. "Why do you care?"
Lindsey sighed. "Look, you're wasting my time. The faster you tell me, the faster he's found."
There was a long pause. "He was last seen walking into a large circus tent. He disappeared inside a magical box thing."
"Tea! The truth would help a lot faster!"
"That is the truth! It's on the lower east side of Domino. Grandpa Muto and I saw it happen with our own eyes."
"Fine. I trust you. Thank you, Tea."
"Humph." She hung up the phone. Lindsey arrived at her apartment as soon as the call ended and rode up to the top floor in the elevator. She arrived and finally stood in front of her front door. She was unlocking it when she heard the door from across the hall swing open.
"Lindsey?" She froze at the sound of the familiar voice. Slowly, she turned around.
"Hey Mai." Her voice was shaky.
"You're back in Domino." It wasn't a question. Lindsey just nodded. An awkward silence formed between them. It was broken by Mai. "Well, I'm gonna get back to the tournament. I only need three more locater cards to get to the finals, so chao." Mai started to walk away.
"Good luck. You'll do great." Mai didn't respond. As soon as the elevator doors closed, Lindsey unlocked her apartment, and entered. She flipped on the TV and sat down.
And now we play the waiting game….
Right on cue, 25 minutes later, the door to her apartment swung open. Lindsey smiled. "Hey Seto. What brings you around? Also, how did you get in? The door was locked." He looked like he had just been slapped across the face.
So predictable. How did I know he would check my apartment to see If I was here… also, how did he get a spare key?
"Do you really think I wouldn't have a spare key to your apartment?" Lindsey just shrugged. "and I was around and thought I'd stop by and say hi."
Bull-shit! It would be more convincing if you weren't acting so nice.
"Oh ok. Hi." She waved at him. She then got up and walked towards him. Lindsey grabbed him by the collar, briefly kissed him, then shoved him out the door. "Bye!" she said, as she slammed the door on his face.
Now we wait five minutes and get on with my original plan.
When five minutes was up, Lindsey gathered her things, and went in search of the tent.
Yami POV
The door to the box swung open, and Yami stepped out. He wondered where he was. A computer flashed in front of him.
"Hacking into Battle City database. Dueling profile for Yugi Muto. Dueling level, five stars. Rarest card, Dark Magician." The computer showed Yugi's Dark Magician on the screen, and he watched as it turned from purple to red, then the screen went up in flames, and the red Dark Magician projected out and told Yami he was not worthy of the Dark Magician.
Yami smirked. "Alright, enough of these tricks." The same creepy laugh from the clown emerged from the shadows, only it wasn't a clown. It was a man in a red suit and a mask.
"Welcome Yugi Muto. I am the illusionist known as Arcana, and soon your favorite card will be dueling for me! Only a true master of illusion deserves to hold a Dark Magician. You will never understand its full potential."
"That is enough, Arcana!" Yami growled.
"Sorry Yugi. I know it must be hard to think of your favorite card in another duelists deck. Well, I challenge you to a duel! The winner will take the losers Dark Magician."
"And I accept. You must know that when a duelist chooses his deck, he chooses from many different types of cards. But sometimes a card can choose a duelist. The two are connected, and the duelist can tap into the cards true power, because each is bound by the heart of the cards, and the Dark Magician has chosen me!" He shuffled through his deck, and took out his magician, and held it up. "He has never let me down, and I place my complete trust in my Dark Magician."
"So it's true. The great Yugi Muto never backs down from a challenge. Very impressive. But this room is a little cramped. Don't ya think? Fortunately, I know of a special duel ring close by. Follow me." The walked down a flight of stairs into a circle dueling ring. They walked to the center and shuffled their decks. Yami didn't trust Arcana, so he cut his deck for him.
They were transported back to their positions, and their feet were shackled. A blue glowing disk emerged. A dark energy disk to be exact. The more life points you lose, the closer the disk gets to you. If it touches you, you go straight to the shadow realm. The only way to escape the shackles, is to win.
"You've met your match, so get ready. "It's time for us to duel Arcana!"
"The spotlights on us. Showtime!"
"Then draw." Yami was eager to get this duel going.
"As you wish." Arcana drew and he got his Dark Magician first turn, by fixing his deck. Yami started off the duel by placing a card facedown, and playing Alpha the Magnet Warrior. Arcana summoned a monster as well.
On Yami's next turn, he played card destruction, forcing both players to discard their hand, forcing Arcana to send his Dark Magician away. Before Yami ended his turn, he played Brain control and took control of Arcana's monster. He sacrificed it along with his own, to summon his own Dark Magician, and attacked Arcana directly. His life points dropped from 4000 to 1500. The dark energy disk moved closer, but Arcana had plenty of tricks for this duel, he was only just beginning.
Tea POV
Tea and Grandpa Muto were walking though Battle City, unaware of what had just happened. How could Yugi just vanish?
"I just don't understand what happened to Yugi." Tea said.
"Hmm. He must have fallen into a trap door." Grandpa thought.
"Yeah, but what I am worried about is where that trap door may have led him. We just gotta find him!"
"Yes, and we'll check every square inch of Battle City until we do!"
Tea and Grandpa continued to walk, but they were silent. Eyes scanning forward, Tea noticed a blur of brown hair whirring through the crowd like lightning.
"Is that…?" Grandpa looked at Tea questioningly. She kept staring at the blur. "Ah! It is!" She plunged into the crowd of City goers to grab hold of the blur. She grasped the blurs forearm. "Lindsey!"
"Ow! What the hell Tea?!" She yanked her arm out of Tea's grasp. Grandpa had caught up to them and stood next to Tea.
"Where are you going?"
"To the tent you said Yugi disappeared in…. shouldn't you be there?"
"No. He disappeared there, but we think he may be somewhere else in the city. We wont stop searching till we find him."
"Good point. Well, wherever he is, it's somewhere that the duel disk signal can't reach. It would be more beneficial to split up." Tea nodded in agreement. "Good luck." She started to turn away until Tea grabbed her arm again.
"Hold on."
"Ow!" She yanked her arm free. "Stop doing that! Now, what?"
"You up and leave out of no where, and then you come back and expect us to just accept you back without question? You hurt all of us!"
"Except you. But to answer your question, no. I don't expect to walk back into your lives…and I don't plan to. So if you've prepared a friendship speech, save it. I'm just here to help Yugi, then I'll leave you all alone. For good. You'll finally get what you've always wanted Tea." They locked fierce eye contact and neither spoke for several moments. Grandpa had a confused look on his face. The eye contact was broke, not by words, but by Lindsey turning away, leaving Tea and Grandpa in the crowd.
Hours had passed and Tea and Grandpa were now frantically running around Domino looking for Yugi.
"Yugi!" Tea called. They had no luck at all.
"We've been everywhere and there is no trace of him anywhere!" said Grandpa.
"We've just gotta keep looking for him!" At that moment, Mokuba came running up to him.
"Hey guys! Seto found Yugi! I'm heading there now!"
"What timing. You lead the way, we'll follow."
"We have to hurry!" The three of them ran to Yugi's location.
Yami POV
I've got to protect my life points.
Yugi had only 1500 life points left, and things were not looking good for him.
Arcana had his dark magician on the field. Yugi had a big shield Gardna, and his Dark Magician, but it was unusable at the moment. Arcana had just played a magic card that drained the soul of one of his monsters, causing a direct attack on Yami, lowering his life points down to 700. The dark energy disk moved closer.
One more hit, and my life points will go down to zero.
Arcana drained the soul of his own Dark Magician next, but because of his lack of knowledge, it drained Yugi's Dark Magician's soul as well. Because of this action, it canceled out the attack, and Yugi was safe another turn.
Turns out, Arcana had been working for Merik. Arcana had a love named Catherine. When Arcana was in an accident, Catherine left, leaving Arcana heartbroken. Merik had promised him if he beat Yugi in a duel, he would reunite him with Catherine. What Arcana failed to realize, is that it was a lie.
"But wait! I was told you only had one Dark Magician in your deck!" Arcana cried. Yugi had turned the duel in his favor and was about to summon his second Dark Magician.
"Well, you're partially right but mostly misinformed." Yami had a smirk on his face.
"Stop speaking in riddles!"
"The card that I hold in my hand is a different variety of Dark Magician, Arcana, and it is even more powerful than yours is!"
"You lie! I would know if another Dark Magician card existed. It can't be!" Arcana had a mixed emotion of shock and fear in his voice and on his face.
"It is! Say hello to Dark Magician girl!" Out from Arcana's dark curtain came the Dark Magician Girl.
Dark Magician Girl absorbed the power of every Dark Magician in the card graveyard, giving her an extra 600 attack points. More than enough to defeat Arcana's second Dark Magician and plunge his life points down to zero.
Lindsey POV
I don't know how much I can keep running. Searching. I feel as if I have searched this entire city. Maybe I should just give up. He's not my problem anyway… wow. How could I say that… I…
"Lindsey?" Lindsey whirled around to the noise behind her. She saw a tall tan guy with brown pointed hair standing beside a motorcycle.
WHO gave him a motorcycle! "Tristan? You have a motorcycle license?"
"Yea. Got it on my sixteenth birthday before you got here. Anyway, what's going on? I thought you moved back to New York?"
"Uh…" Ring…Ring… Lindsey's phone had rang. The caller ID said Mokuba. Lindsey answered. "Talk Moki…..yea…. Got it." She snapped the phone shut. "Tristan I need you to take me somewhere. I'll explain later."
He looked confused. "Um.. Alright. Hop on."
"Seto said Yugi is in here!" Mokuba, Tea and Grandpa had ran to the location Seto tracked Yugi's duel disk to. Tristan and Lindsey had pulled up the same time they had arrived.
"Hey! Is everything alright guys?" Tristan removed his helmet as he asked what was up.
"No Tristan. Yugi has been missing for hours!" Tea exclaimed.
"He's missing?" He looked at Lindsey with his brow raised.
She shrugged. "I told you I'd explain later. You know, once I actually figured out what was happening." She nervously smiled and Tristan snorted.
"He walked into a tent and disappeared." Tea continued.
"And my brother traced him to the basement of this building."
"He must be trapped!"
Tristan smirked. "Well, then we gotta bust in there and rescue him. So lets do it!"
All five of them ran into the building. Grandpa shouted Yugi's name as they descended into the basement. They had reached a door. "Hey guys. Listen." They stopped to listen for a second. Tea asked, "What's that humming?"
Whatever it is cannot be good….
Tristan was banging on the door that was locked. "Hey Yugi! Is that you in there?"
"Yugi! We'll get you out of there!" Grandpa was frantic and worried.
After pounding the door, Tristan eventually just rammed it and it flew open. "Yugi! You okay?
"We're here!" Tea yelped.
"Hi guys!" Yugi's eyes stopped on Lindsey and grew solemn. Lindsey knew he felt what Yami was feeling.
"You're okay!" Tea exclaimed.
"Yea I guess I am. Heh." Yugi gave a nervous smile.
"Well don't just sit there! Lets get out of here." Tristan started to leave. Tea stopped him.
"Wait, what about that guy?" She pointed to Arcana. Lindsey looked at Mokuba.
"Mokuba. Call a medical team and get him to the hospital." Her eyes turned to Yugi. "I'm glad you're okay. Good luck with the rest of the tournament." She left the building without another word.
She had walked a few blocks away from the building and found herself in a crowd of duelists. Many had stopped her to ask for autographs and pictures.
"Excuse me miss, may I hava picture?" Lindsey knew that Brooklyn accent all to well. She looked over her shoulder.
"Hi Joey. And are you serious or taunting me for being an inconsiderate ass to all of you."
"Neither. In a way, I've gotten used ta ya doing stupid shit. So I just figured it would run its course and ya would come back and apologize. I'm friends with Tea, and I have a sister. Girl issues don't surprise me."
"So, you don't hate me?"
"With the exception of Tea, none of us do. We were sad when ya left, but then we realized, you would come back. We just didn't expect it ta be this soon. Why are ya back so fast anyway?"
"Seto brought me back. And Yami might hate me…" She became really small.
"Why do ya say that?"
"Uh… he kinda saw me and Seto holding hands…because we're kind of a thing now…." Lindsey gave a nervous smile.
"Okay. Now I'm mad. ARE YOU INSANE!?" Anger spread on is face and he tensed up.
"Yes! No. I don't know! It feels right and wrong at the same time. More wrong than right."
He relaxed a little. "Here's my theory. Deep inside you know ya love Yami more. It feels right to be wit Kaiba because you're making him happy therefore you feel you're making da right decision, but when it comes down ta thinking about your own happiness, ya come to the conclusion that it can only be fulfilled if you're with Yami but ya keep denying it cause you're tryin' ta be fair ta Kaiba." Lindsey's jaw dropped, and she said nothing. "Whatta ya starin' at?"
"You. Not only are you completely right, but you might be a genius... That never leaves this conversation."
"No. Ya called me a genius. Ima tell everyone!" Lindsey laughed.
"Joey, can I ask you something?" He nodded. "Can I hug you?" He smirked and pulled her into a crushing hug. It was a little painful, but Lindsey didn't mind at all. They pulled apart. "I got something I have to take care of. Text me later." He nodded and she ran off.
"Seto? Say something?" He stared straight forward with a cold icy stone look on his face. His whole body was tense as he sat in his office desk chair. Lindsey stood in front of his desk looking down at him. He didn't move a single inch. "Seto?"
"Out."
"What?"
"Get. Out. Now." Lindsey was taken aback. She didn't move. "NOW!" Seto roared with rage.
"No." He was stunned.
"What did you just say?"
"I said no. I am not going to get out. I am going to stay here and you're going to talk to me like a mature adult!"
"You're 15 Lindsey! Don't play that bullshit!"
"At least I'm trying to be the bigger person." He stood up then, towering over her.
"You want to talk? Fine. If you don't want to be with me then leave, and don't come back. I've put up with you all these years because I love you, but if you don't feel the same, then just go. It's best for both of us if we just forget and move on! So go!"
"Seto…"
"No. I'm not about to just stand idly by while you're happy with someone else. Go."
"I'm so sorry…." Tears began to well up in her eyes.
"Save it." Seto snapped. "Now go before I have security escort you out."
She nodded. "okay."
Lindsey returned home around 10 that night. She threw her keys on her kitchen counter and sighed in relief. That was easier than I thought. It might be a long while before Seto talks to me again, but it's better to do this now rather than later when I know I wont feel the same.
Lindsey paced around the apartment. She decided to change into yoga pants and a large sweatshirt that had Domino across the front in teal letters. She settled on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa until someone knocked the door. "Dammit." She got up and opened the door. Mai stood there with a bag of food and held a bunch of Disney movies in hand.
"Joey filled me in on what might be going on." A single tear rolled down Lindsey's cheek.
"I'm sorry, and I love you."
"I know. Now let me in! I look like shit!" Lindsey scanned Mai. She was in sweat pants and a t-shirt. Her hair was in a giant messy bun. Lindsey opened the door and waved Mai in.
Thus began a much needed girls night with a friend Lindsey felt incredibly blessed to have in her life.