When the party finally ended it was about 12:00, so everyone went to bed without a complaint. I was awakened by the sound of knocking on my door.
"Time to get up and get moving! You're expected in the Kaiba Dome in one hour!" called Mokuba's voice through the door.
"I'm up, I'm up." I called back "I'll be right out." With that I got up and proceeded to get ready. When I was done I opened my door to find the gang, minus Joey, standing outside my door.
"What was I the last one up or something?" I asked "Wait, where's Joey?"
"Joey is already out in the dome." replied Yugi.
"Ok, let's go." I grumbled "We can't let Joey have all the fun." Once we reached the stadium we saw Joey waving at us excitedly from the stage.
"See you guys later." called Yugi as he walked over to the stands followed by Tristan and Kristen. I nodded and hurried on stage with the rest of my friends. Then Mokuba came up and began to draw for the first two duels.
"First will be Joey Wheeler vs. the mystery duelist, Apnarg Otom!" he called "And second Leon Wilson will face Dr. Richard Goat! But before we start the tournament let's get a few words from the person everyone wants to here from, Yugi Moto!" Yugi looked around confused as the crowd chants his name. I can't hear what he said through all the noise, but Tristan pushed Yugi off the stands, towards the stage. Yugi tries to wave from down there but Mokuba calls him on stage, and he walks up looking embarrassed. Once on stage he turns around and wave, just as Seto comes swooping down from his copter, on a jet pack! He then stand up telling everyone that this won't be a show but the ultimate test of survival, and from that moment on Kaiba Land was a battle field!
Once Kaiba left I saw Joey run off, and thought he was heading to his duel, but ten minutes later Mokuba come running up asking if we knew where Joey was.
"I thought he had already gone to his duel." I said.
"No, Apnarg Otom is still waiting." replied Mokuba. Suddenly Joey comes up with a hot dog in his hand!
"Why aren't your dueling station?" I cried "Anyone who's late is disqualified!"
"I've still got ten minutes." replied Joey evenly.
"But Amazon Adventure is fifteen square miles of virtual jungle!" cried Mokuba "I guess I'm…" but before he could finish Joey ran off in a panic, dropping a half finished hotdog on the ground!
"You can tell he was scared or he wouldn't have left his hotdog." I laughed, looking at Mokuba. Mokuba sighed as Yugi and Tristan ran off to try to catch up with Joey.
"Whatever." he said "Do you girls want to take the easier rout to the dueling station?"
"Yeah, thanks!" replied Kristen. Mokuba then led us to a secret tunnel under the stage.
"Let's go see if he makes it in time." I laughed.
"It will take a miracle to get there in time that way." replied Mokuba.
"Hey, miracles happen all the time" said Sarah "We just never notice them."
"Yeah, you never know." agreed Emily. When we reached the dueling platform there was still three minutes left on the clock. We stood there and waited, and ten seconds before the bell, Joey came crashing in!
"Hey how'd you guys get here before me?" cried Joey, but before we could explain he began yelling insults at his opponent. I sighed as Yugi and Tristan came tumbling in, gasping for breath. I cover my mouth, trying to hold back my laughter, but it spilled out and I was soon sitting on the ground laughing loudly, while Tristan and Yugi looked confused.
"How'd you get here before us?" asked Yugi.
"Secret tunnel" replied Megan. Tristan looked about ready to protest but Yugi stopped him with a shake of his head, it won't undo what is already done." he said. Tristan stopped and nodded.
"I guess you're right." he mumbled.
"Now that's done with, let's duel!" called Joey as he took back his deck that he must have given Apnarg Otom while we were talking. I watched as the duel started, but my eyes were soon drawn to the technique that Apnarg Otom used on Joey, more than the actual duel, it was amazing. Apnarg Otom was obviously a skilled duelist; he had planned the whole duel out before it happened! He used his Ancient Gate, Ancient Giant, and Ancient Tome to summon hid ancient Dragon! It was an amazing strategy I don't know how Joey beat him but he did. Maybe it was just luck or maybe really has skill hidden somewhere in him. But the best part was when Apnarg Otom removed his mask, revealing himself to be Grandpa, and Joey freaked, it was so funny!
"That was a pretty good disguise." I said "It had me fooled."
"It did? I had it figured out way before the duel actually started." said Yugi surprised.
"I guess I was paying more attention to how he dueled then who he was." I laughed.
"But why Apnarg Otom?" asked Joey.
"Because it's Grandpa Moto, spelled backwards." replied Grandpa evenly.
"Ooooh…" everyone said, including me.
"I don't get it." complained Joey.
"Ok, we've got to get back in time for the next match." said Mokuba.
"Ok, but can we please take the tunnel?" wined Joey,
"Fine, but just this once," sighed Mokuba "follow me." with that he led us all to the tunnel that was hidden beneath some virtual tree roots. When we reached the main part of the park, the next duel was being announced.
"The first contestant in this duel is Rebecca Hawkins!" called Roland.
"Oh great." I sighed, then quieter "I'm voting for her opponent" Yugi looked at me, confused, he had obviously heard me. We then headed to the watching platform only to find that her opponent was none other than Vivian Wong!"
"Never mind!" I cried "I am not voting for that pompous brat! Go Rebecca!" Rebecca looked up at my call and spotting, Yugi she waved.
"Yugi!" cries Vivian "My little dumpling has come to root for me!" I looked over to see Yugi looking embarrassed at being called her "little dumpling".
"He's here to cheer me on!" cried Rebecca, steaming.
"Yugi, you're my hero!" cried Joey, grabbing his shirt.
"Yeah, how do you do it?" agreed Tristan.
"Maybe it's my natural charm?" suggested Yugi, uncertainty.
"That plus his pure innocence, his devotedness to his friends, his dueling skills, and the fact that he is very, very cute." I said absently. I started and looked at my friends who were looking at me strangely.
"Did I say that out loud?" I cried embarrasses.
"Yeah, pretty much." confirmed Emily "I knew it!" At this I ran out of the room, avoiding Yugi's eyes. I ran straight to my room, shut the door, and would not come out. About two hours later I heard a knocking on my door.
"Who is it?" I called sullenly.
"It's me." called Yugi's voice from outside the door.
"Yugi?" I called my voice both startled and nerves "Come in if you want. The doors not locked." Yugi walked in
"Are you ok?" he asked worriedly "You ran off and missed seeing Rebecca beat Vivian and Joey losing to Zigfried, and not to mention me beating Vivian, even though it was an unplanned duel."
"I'm fine; I just needed to be alone." I said, forcing a smile "But one question. Is Pharaoh with you?"
"No but listen about what happened at Rebecca's duel, why didn't you just tell me?" he asked, looking straight into my eyes.
"I guess I was afraid to. Do you know that is one of the only things that can make me embarrassed?" I said laughing halfheartedly "Did Rebecca hear?"
"Yeah, so what?" said Yugi confused.
"You can't tell? She has a major crush on you." I said surprised.
"Oh, that. Yeah I knew." sighed Yugi.
"And what'd she say?" I probed.
"She didn't say anything." replied Yugi.
"That's strange." I said confused. Yugi nodded.
"The truth is I've never really was into the whole dating thing." admitted Yugi.
"I understand." I replied looking down.
"You didn't let me finish." he said, lifting my head back up so I was looking him in the eyes again "I was never into it, until I met you."
"Really?" I whispered
"Really." nodded Yugi.
"Really, really?" I asked.
"Really, really." replied Yugi.
"Really, truly?" I asked.
"Tanya!" said Yugi in a play warning voice.
"Sorry." I said blushing.
"In fact, here." he said taking off his puzzle and holding it out towards me.
"No Yugi, I can't." I said pushing it back to him.
"You can and you will." he insisted, while hanging it around my neck. I was surprised by how heavy the thing was it pulled me down almost immediately. Yugi laughed.
"Here." he said while gently pushing the puzzle.
"What are you doing?" I asked confused.
"You'll see." Yugi laughed, and almost immediately I did, the puzzle began fusing with my bible necklace that I always wore.
"How'd you do that?" I asked in aw.
"I figured out how to do that year's ago." replied Yugi laughing at my startled excretion.
"But what are you saying?" I asked, eyes intent.
"I'm saying that it's about time I tried this dating thing out. Don't you agree?" He said evenly "And I would like to try it with you."
"Really?" I asked eyes exited
"Now don't start that again." laughed Yugi. I smiled sheepishly
"Sorry." I said.
"But one question." said Yugi eyes suddenly worried.
"What?" I inquired.
"Do the others have to know?" asked Yugi, blushing.
"Not if you don't want them to!" I laughed, giddy about the fact that he felt the same way I did on that "But won't they notice your puzzle is missing?"
"Leave that to me." replied Yugi "I'll think of something." I smiled.
"Ok," I said "I'll tell you if I have any ideas." Suddenly we heard a knocking sound at my door.
"Who is it?" I called
"It's Emily!" replied the voice.
"One moment!" I called back, and then I turned and pointed at the window.
"Through there!" I whispered urgently "Quickly!" Yugi nodded and quickly climbed out the window and ran off to his room.
"Ok, come in!" I called to Emily.
"Yes?" I asked as she walked in.
"I was worried about you. I hadn't seen you since before Rebecca's duel." said Emily "Was it really that embarrassing?"
"It was then, but I'm over it now." I replied, my mind wandering back to Yugi's visit.
"That's fast!" said Emily surprised "You sure?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." I replied "Never been better."
"Well you'd better hurry up and get out there or you'll miss your own duel." said Emily looking unsure.
"What, when is it?" I cried.
"In ten minutes, it's in crater canon." replied Emily.
"Ok, let's get going!" I cried as I ran out the door.
"Wait up!" called Emily as she ran after me. Once I had reached the dueling platform I turned and looked at Emily who was trying to catch her breath.
"Where is everyone?" I asked confused.
"I said you had ten minutes, and you got here in one. No ones here yet." she replied "You ran right past them on your way here."
"Oh…" I replied embarrassed "I forget how fast I can run sometimes." We looked back as the other caught up with us.
"How'd you run that fast?" cried Tristan once he regained his voice.
"It runs in the family." I replied evenly. Then catching Yugi's glance I nodded and looked around.
"Where's my opponent?" I asked.
"Here I am." came the cool reply from behind me. I turned to find Zigfried looking at me coldly.
"So you're my opponent?" asked Zigfried "I was expecting more than a weak little girl." I merely smiled, shrugging, and walked onto the dueling platform, ignoring Joey's flow of insults that were streaming at Zigfried.
"Joey will you just be quiet for once!" cried Tristan exasperated. Joey looked down and fell silent.
"That's better." said Tristan, ignoring Joey's annoyed glance.
"Let's get started." I said handing him my deck and taking his in return. Once I had shuffled his deck I returned it to him and took back my deck.
The duel went by quickly but he beat me in the end. My friends were worried about how I would handle my lose, you could tell by their faces, but I just smiled
"Good duel; maybe we could have a rematch sometime?" I said holding out my hand.
"Not likely." replied Zigfried coldly before turning around and heading back towards the main part of the park.
"Well someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." I said as I watched him walk off, then turning to my friends "He's not very nice, is he?" the others shook their heads and we headed off after Zigfried.
"Oh, well." said Mokuba "You played a good match."
"Thank you Mokuba." I said looking at him "You are very kind." Mokuba smiled and lead us back to the main part of the park. Once we reached the main park we saw Rebecca getting ready for her next duel.
"Go get 'em, Rebecca!" I called out to her. She looked back at me surprised. I was equally surprised by reaction and blushed. I smiled sheepishly at Rebecca and gave her a thumbs up. She returned the gesture and ran inside to her duel. I then followed the gang into the stands to watch her duel Leon. The duel was amazing and Rebecca played well, but in the end she lost.
"Yugi!" cried Rebecca as she ran up to us "I lost." she then hugged him tightly. I saw the others give me a glance to see if I would do anything about it.
But all I said was "its ok Rebecca. It was just a duel; it's not the end of the world, so buck up." With this I put a gentle and on her shoulder and began to walk off.
"Where are you going?" called Sarah as I walked off.
"Well, the next duel isn't until tomorrow, so I'm going to find my parents." I replied without stopping.
"Ok, I'll come too. I haven't seen my parents either and they're probably with yours." called Sarah as she ran to catch up.
"Sure, whatever floats your boat." I said.
"I'm coming to!" cried Emily as she ran after us.
"Wait for me!" called Kristin
"Me too!" agreed Megan.
"Hey don't leave us behind!" yelled Tristan as he and the rest of the gang ran after us. I looked back at the crowd that was now following me.
"Will you guys ever let me go anywhere alone?" I laughed.
"Nope, that's not possible Tanya" laughed Yugi in reply.
"And why not?" I asked mockingly.
"Because anywhere you go we'll be right there behind you." laughed Tristan.
"Well, I guess I can live with that if I have to." I replied, eyes laughing as I continued on my way "My parents are probably over in their room, since the dueling is done for the day." We headed over to the mine and Sarah's parent's hotel and went inside.
"Hey mom, are you in there?" called Sarah when we reached her parent's room "Mom." No one answered so we moved on to my parent's room.
"Mom, Dad!" I called "Are you in there?"
"Tanya!" called my mom as she opened the door "We were wondering when you'd come visit us. Come in, Sarah's parents are here too." I looked back at the rest of the gang that were standing behind me.
"Um... mom, I don't think there is going to be enough room." I said pointing behind me "The whole gang is here."
"Oh…my…I suppose we could all go to the park and talk there." said my mom uncertainty, then turning back to the people in the room "Who wants to go the park?" I heard murmurs from the room.
"Come on, guys." I called "Please." I heard the sound of people getting up, and smiled.
"We are going to the park." I said to my friends "Everyone turn around." We all turned and made our way to the door. Once out, we all spread out and started walking to the park. Once there we fanned out even more and each of us started our own conversations. My mom was quick to ask as may questions as she could, about how I did, and if I was ok with losing, and many others, to be truthful it was quite annoying.