Disclaimer: see chapter one

Chapter 9: Propositions

Yusuke was lying on the floor in Yugi's room, looking at the Winged Kuriboh card that Yugi gave him earlier and putting it in his deck.

"Coo, coo, coo!" came a sound that broke Yusuke of his thoughts, as he sat and looked around, "Okay, I thought that I quit the ghost hunting gig, so why is it that I'm hearing sounds."

Just then, Winged Kuriboh popped out of Yusuke's deck and brushed itself onto Yusuke's face. The black haired ex-detective slightly pushed it away, "Coo, coo, coo!" Winged Kuriboh cooed

Yusuke raised an eyebrow, "Right, I can understand him, but why me?" he asked

"Yusuke!"

Just then, Winged Kuriboh got into Yusuke's deck as Kari came into the room, "Hey sis, what's up?" Yusuke asked

"I was going to ask you, why are you lying on the floor, but that's not important," Kari said, "Do you want to go to KaibaCorp to get your application to Duel Academy?"

Yusuke nodded in reply as he got up from the ground and followed his sister from the bedroom and towards downstairs.

"We're going out, Gramps!" Kari called out as she and Yusuke left though the door

"Hey guys, wait up!" Keiko called out as she was running towards the Urameshi siblings.

As they were walking in the streets, something got Keiko's attention as they pasted a playground, "Hey guys look," she said, pointing at the playground

The Urameshi siblings glazed at the brunette's finger and followed it, "It's the playground," Kari said

"This place sure brings back memories," Yusuke added, "Like the time that I met you guys," Keiko said

Flashback

"Kaiba!" the sixteen year old Joey Wheeler yelled, at a brown haired teenager walking away from him, while ignoring the loud mouthed teen, "Come back here, rich boy! I want a rematch!"

Kaiba huffed, "Wheeler, I've beaten you many times then I can count," he said, as he was walking, "I think I've wasted enough of my time with you."

"Okay, that's it!" Joey lunged at Kaiba, but Bakura, Mai, Tristan and Yugi held him back, "Lemme go guys, Kaiba's askin' for an ass-kickin', big time!"

"Uh! Joey," Mai started, in annoyance, "Let me remind you that you're in a presence of CHILDREN!" she said, pointing at a four-year-old Yusuke and Kari, who were staring at the situation with confusion.

Joey realized what he was doing and calmed down, "Sorry dat you guys had to see dat," Joey said, scratching the back of his head nervously

"Hey guys,"

The gang looked at Tea, who was walking towards them, with a four-year-girl with brown hair tied to a pigtail, wearing a white shirt and a light blue skirt, "Hey Tea," Mai greeted, "So, who's the kid?" she pointed at the four-year-old.

"Oh yeah, guys this is Keiko Yukimura, my assigned little sister at the Big Brothers and Sisters program," Tea replied, "Keiko, say hi"

The little girl nodded and looked at the gang, "Hi!" she said

"Hiya Keiko," Mai said, with a wink and her trademark smirk, "The name's Mai."

"Tristan!"

"Bakura!"

"Da names Joey Wheeler," Joey boasted

"Yugi," Yugi then felt a tug behind him and looked to see Yusuke, hiding behind, "What's wrong, Yusuke?" he asked softy

Yusuke looked at Yugi, nervously, "I got a weird feeling about that girl," he said

Yugi knew exactly what Yusuke could be feeling, "Don't worry about it, Yusuke, I'm sure she won't harm you." He said

When Keiko noticed someone, about her height behind Yugi, she walked over to see a nervous Yusuke behind him, "Hi!" she said, with a smile

"Hello!" Yusuke said, in hasty voice, "My n-name is Yusuke!"

"Nice to meet you, Yusuke!" Keiko said, grabbing Yusuke's hand, "I'm Keiko!"

End Flashback

"How can I forget?" Kari said, "That was the first time that Yusuke froze like that!" she said, teasing her little brother, "Hey, knock it off!" Yusuke yelled in annoyance

Then, the three teens arrived at KaibaCorp and went inside the building. The three walked over to the check-in stand, "Excuse me, ma'am," Yusuke started, "Where can I get an applicant for Duel Academy?"

The lady looked at Yusuke and smiled, "You can start the process here, sir," she said, "What's your name?"

"Yusuke, Yusuke Urameshi."

The lady typed Yusuke's name in the computer, "Excuse Mr. Urameshi, I pulled out your pervious school records and there are so many failing marks so……" the phone rang, "Just a minute, sir." The lady picked up the phone, "Hello!" she said

The three teens looked at the lady, as she talked on the phone, "Are you sure that would be wise, sir?" she asked, "Because he has so many failing marks, so……" she nodded, "Yes, sir, alright," she hung up the phone and looked at Yusuke sternly, "Mr. Urameshi, it appears that Mr. Kaiba wants to see you in his office, alone."

This was a huge surprise, "Hey Yusuke, why do you think Kaiba wants to see you?" Keiko asked

Yusuke shrugged, "No clue," he replied as he headed for the elevator.

A few minutes later, Yusuke got out of the elevator and walked towards a big door that read, "Seto Kaiba, CEO President", Yusuke pushed the door open to reveal a young man in his mid-twenties, sitting behind his big desk, with his hands clasped together to his face. This man had brown hair and blue eyes and was wearing a white business suit, "Yusuke Urameshi, it's been a while, please come in."

Yusuke swallowed nervously as he entered into the office and towards the desk, "So, what do you need to see me for, Kaiba?" Yusuke asked

"Well, what I heard from my secretary is that you want to apply to my dueling school, is that true?" Kaiba asked

Yusuke nodded in reply, "That's right," he said

"My school is one of the most prestigious dueling schools on the planet, Yusuke," Kaiba said, with a frown, "Tell why would I let some street punk get enrolled, when he has a bad record from his pervious school?"

Yusuke gulped, "Well, it be the next King of Games, like Yugi is" he replied

Kaiba hummed, "I see," he said and smirked, "Okay Yusuke, normally, someone with your school record, wouldn't be allowed anywhere near my school, however, I've talked with your father about this..."

"What!" Yusuke exclaimed in surprise, "My father hasn't been heard from since I was born!"

Kaiba hummed, "Don't be hostile, Yusuke," he said, "I'm only referring to your ancestral father, does the name Toushin Raizen ring a bell?"

Yusuke's eyes widened that this, "No way," he said, "Your kidding, you actually talked to him."

"That's right," Kaiba replied, "He sounded like a reasonable man and well, Yusuke. Now, let's get to the point about your enrollment to my school. Your ancestral father said that since you're in this realm, you might as well get some education, which is why I'm willing to help the King of Game's cousin to get into my school."

Yusuke could feel gladness to this, "You are?"

Kaiba nodded, "However, there is a catch."

"That's right, you want me to study hard and do the best I could in Duel Academy, right?" Yusuke asked

"That's only part of it, Yusuke," Kaiba said, "Like the other applicants, you'll have to pass the written and dueling exam before you could be a student in my school and you'll have to start at Slifer Red, because of your marks from Sarayashiki Junior High. Plus, I want you to be my personal apprentice, during your summer vacation."

"What!" Yusuke exclaims in outrage, "Me, be your apprentice!"

Kaiba shrugged, "That's my offer," he said, "The choice, however, belongs to you."

Yusuke thought about it, as much as he hated studying and attending classes, he needed a hobby to past the time and plus there aren't many duelists in his hometown, "My decision is that you've got yourself an apprentice, Kaiba."

"That's Mr. Kaiba to you, apprentice," Kaiba said, in a stern voice, "First, I need to see your dueling skills, in two months and then we'll work it from there."