Chapter Four- New Friends

Jack awoke the following morning, looking forward to it. He had decided that he was going to build new memories based off the one thing he knew about himself. He wanted to lose that lost look in his eyes and face.

"Good morning," spoke Yusei via telepathy and Jack looked over as his match sat up and rose from his bed by floating into the water.

"Good morning," he replied and copied the motion of getting up. "I'm excited about today."

"I believe it. I'm excited for you to meet my friends. As it so happens, I was going to see them today. We were going to talk combos and strategies." The two swam out of the room and headed for breakfast.

"Yusei. How did the fish that led me here talk?"

"We could always talk to sea life. It's a natural merperson trait."

Jack rubbed the back of his neck. "I can't believe I forgot that. One would think I wouldn't."

"That is true." They entered and greeted Goodwin with bows and nods before sitting.

"So, what exactly will you do with your friends, Yusei?" he asked as everyone filled their plates.

"Introduce Jack, for starters and explain that he's my future husband and his lost memories and voice. After that, we would talk duel strategies and tactics."

"Yusei," Jack signed. "I think strategies are best demonstrated through dueling."

Yusei saw a hinting look in Jack's eyes and smiled. "I see. You want to duel me."

"Yes," he signed. "And in front of your friends. I...feel a duel is more intense with an audience."

"Agreed," Yusei said before starting on his food.

Yusei was soon leading Jack to his and his friends' meeting place with two duel disks in a collapsible pouch and his deck in a box in his hand. He was sure that Jack and his friends would get along, despite the communication obstacle. And of course, I can translate his signs.

"Yusei!" a voice called as the pair entered the small area that was an expanse of smooth sand with rocky seats around the perimeter. Two teens and two kids were gathered in the center.

"Hi, Crow," Yusei greeted the one who had called who had spiked orange hair and an orange and black tail. "Akiza. Leo. Luna." He nodded to an auburn-haired girl with a ruby red tail and the kids with identical aqua-colored hair and tails. The merboy was familiar to Jack and realized that he was the one he saw on the way to the manor.

Recognition struck the boy also and said, "I know you. You were following a fish to the governor's manor."

Yusei smiled as went to Jack's side and put a hand on his shoulder. "This is Jack…my destined match."

"Really?" Akiza said. "That's very rare. I've read that destined matches can speak to each other telepathically."

"That's true and good as Jack's lost his voice and his memories."

"No," Luna said in soft horror. "That's awful."

"We did learn a couple of things. Jack knows sign language and that he's a duelist," Yusei said. He saw interest in his friends' eyes and added, "Jack told me he wants to duel me in front of you."

"I don't know, Jack," Leo said. "Yusei's pretty strong."

"Compared to you, of course he is," Luna pointed out.

Jack grinned and his hands flew. "He says he's got a strong monster," Yusei translated. "I saw it myself yesterday."

"Sounds like something I want to see," Crow said before taking a seat with the others following suite. Jack accepted a disk from Yusei and found that he knew how to use it. I must have used one to duel, he thought as he put it on and placed his deck in place and activated the disk. "Duel!" both said telepathically while Yusei along said it out loud.

Several turns later, Yusei found himself in trouble. Jack's dragon had been summoned quickly and was dominating the field. Yusei was impressed with how quickly Jack brought out his dragon and surmised that Red Dragon had be Jack's ace monster. But at least I got to summon my dragon before it got destroyed, he thought as Jack drew a card to start his turn. A few gestures and Yusei's life points hit zero. Unlike humans who go to one knee upon losing, merpeople drift to one side. That's what Yusei did and a flick of his fins stopped him. He smiled as Crow and the twins gathered around Jack to congratulate him and comment on his cards while Akiza went to Yusei.

"I think you just lost your top dueling title in this village," she said.

"I'm not too bothered by that. Besides, I'm not familiar with Jack's deck. Give me some time and I'll have it figured out."

Akiza looked at the others. "You know, you're lucky to be matched to such a handsome guy. I really like his tail."

"I know." Yusei gazed at the tail. It was as white as sea foam with a wide blue stripe down the front and back of it. "But, I really like his eyes. Such a nice shade of purple but it has the lost look of a child that doesn't suit him."

"He's lost his memory of who he is, Yusei. He's working on making new ones. Maybe being a top duelist is what he needs to be. I bet duelists from all over the sea would come here to challenge him."

"Yeah. I think you're right."

"Yusei! Help!" Yusei startled at Jack's loud and sudden call.

"Yusei?" Akiza inquired, seeing his reaction.

"Jack just spoke to me. I got our link yesterday and it was working out as I could tell Jack was going to talk just by looking at him. But just now, I wasn't looking and…it was louder than it was yesterday. He needs my help. Excuse me." He swam over to the group.

"Yusei," Crow said. "I asked Jack a rather complicated question about two strategies in my deck. I…forgot he can't talk."

Yusei smiled, now understanding the problem. "Well, ask again and I'll translate for Jack." He had a suspicion about Crow's strategies and had already given his opinion about them. Naturally, Crow wanted a new opinion and he would be happy to translate Jack's signs.

"Jack, you startled me when you called earlier," Yusei said as they swam through a store later.

"Oh. I guess I was too loud, huh?"

"A little, but it's okay. This link is still new to us."

"True. I do like your friends, especially the twins."

"I thought you would and they're your friends now as well."

"You're right. Yusei, I hope this is a good sign, but I feel as if I was a professional duelist. Dueling you with the others watching felt familiar as well as the moves I made."

"That is a good sign and Akiza had suggested you be the village's top duelist. Others would come from all around to challenge you."

"Top duelist? Wouldn't I need to beat the best?"

"You did. It was me. Trust me, though. Being governor would not leave much time to be the top duelist. I'd rather have it go to someone who would have time."

"All right, then. I'm the top duelist now."