A/N:

I have the first chapter up on Ao3! However, since I've posted here faster, I'm just going to stay :3

This chapter is a bit shorter than the previous two, but I feel it contains everything I want it to. There's a lot of lore here as well, so keep a lookout. If you think anything needs to be expanded on, please let me know! I'll do my best to respond to your reviews. Speaking of questions, y'all can find me on Tumblr anotherlongtimetraveler. I used to be ashseadreamer over there, but my old account got deleted... I hope that doesn't happen again :(

Anyhow, I hope y'all enjoy!

(10/29/24)


Heat radiates from the ground in waves. She blinks against the blinding sunlight, squinting as she takes in her surroundings. Sand stretches endlessly in every direction, a desolate, golden expanse with no landmarks in sight. The air is dry and still, with no hint of breeze to offer any relief.

She pushes herself up from the sand, brushing the coarse grains from her hands. Confusion claws at her—how did she get here? Her head feels heavy, buzzing with a dull ache. She spins around, searching for any sign of life or familiarity, but all she sees is the horizon blurring into the sky. The sun hangs like a molten disc overhead, casting deep shadows across the rippling dunes.

Then, she spots it in the distance—a dark shape cutting through the uniform landscape. A monolith, impossibly tall, juts out of the desert like a jagged tooth. As she squints against the sunlight, details sharpen into view. It's a towering stone sculpture of a Blue-Eyes White Dragon, its carved wings folded inward, its eyes glaring fiercely down at the ground below.

She's drawn to it. Her pulse quickens, her feet moving of their own accord toward the monolith, each step sinking into the shifting sand. As she draws closer, she notices two figures kneeling at the base of the dragon's statue. One figure is slumped forward, motionless, their body partially buried in the sand. The other is hunched over them, their shoulders trembling as if in grief, hands clutching the edge of the fallen figure's dress.

Miko slows her approach, a cold prickle running down her spine. She wants to call out, to ask who they are, but her voice catches in her throat. The air feels thicker and heavier with an unspoken sorrow. She takes another step, and the sand shifts beneath her feet with a soft hiss, her shadow stretching long and thin across the dunes.

Before she can get close enough to see their faces, a sudden gust of wind kicks up, swirling the sand around her in a choking cloud. Miko throws up an arm, shielding her eyes, but it's too late. The world around her blurs and shudders, the figures dissolving into a storm of dust and heat.

Miko jerks awake, still sitting beside her grandfather as he lays on the ground. Her breath hitches, a painful lump forming in her throat as she stares at the torn remains of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon card scattered across the floor. Her grandfather's pride, his most treasured possession, destroyed with a casual flick of Kaiba's wrist. But it's not just the card—it's everything that it has ever represented. It's the years of collecting, the stories her grandfather would tell her and Yugi about his adventures, the way his face would light up every time he held it.

The image of the monolith and the kneeling figures lingers in Miko's mind, a shadow that clings to her even as reality sharpens around her. Her breaths come quick and shallow, the phantom heat of the desert replaced by the cold, sterile air of the corporate building. Her grandfather's labored breathing fills her ears, and she forces herself to focus on him, pushing the surreal vision out of her mind.

She can feel her hands shaking, nails digging into her palms so hard it stings, but she barely notices the pain. It's the only thing keeping her grounded, keeping her from losing herself to the surge of anger and heartbreak that threatens to consume her.

Yugi's voice cuts through the haze, strained and desperate. "How could you do this?" He demands, his usual kindness replaced by a rare edge of anger.

Kaiba shrugs, his smirk still in place as if he's enjoying every second of their misery. "Sentimentality has no place in a duel," he replies coldly. "You should learn that, Yugi, if you ever want to be more than just an amateur."

His words make her stomach twist with a mix of rage and helplessness. She never thought she could hate anyone until this moment.

"Yugi," Their grandfather breathes.

"Yu-Yugi!" Miko's voice cracks, desperate and raw as she leans closer to their grandfather, hands still trembling. The sight of him lying there, his breath coming in shallow gasps, drives a spike of fear through her. Yugi drops to his knees beside them, his expression shifting from fury to anguish as he takes in their grandfather's state.

"Take this." The old man says, handing Yugi his deck. "I built this deck. I put my soul in these cards. And I taught you everything I know, Yugi. Take them. Take my cards and teach him respect. Teach Kaiba respect for the heart of the cards, Yugi. Teach him that there's more to a duel than power and strategy."

"But Grandpa, you're in no condition—" Yugi starts, his voice filled with worry.

"That sounds like an excuse." Kaiba cuts in, "Your friends can care for your grandfather while you and I duel… unless you're afraid?"

Their grandfather shakes his head, a stubborn determination flashing in his eyes as he shifts slightly, wincing, and reaches into his pocket, fumbling for something. His fingers pull out a small bundle, wrapped in cloth. With a trembling hand, he presses it into Yugi's. "Take my deck, Yugi… My faith… is in you."

Miko swallows hard as she watches Yugi accept the deck.

Yugi's expression wavers between determination and uncertainty as he looks down at the deck, then back at their grandfather.

"I won't let you down, Grandpa," he says, his voice steadier now.

He stands, clutching the deck tightly, his back straightening as he faces Kaiba again.

Kaiba's smirk doesn't falter, but his eyes narrow slightly, a spark of curiosity there. "So, you'll accept my challenge, after all, Yugi? Good. I expect more from you than I did from him." His gaze flicks dismissively to their grandfather.

Miko feels a surge of anger at the callousness in Kaiba's voice. If it weren't for their grandfather's weakened state, she'd fight the other teenager with her bare hands! But she swallows it down, focusing instead on what they need to do.

"Joey, help me get Grandpa up," she orders, forcing strength into her tone. Her voice cuts through the tension, and Joey snaps into action, quickly slipping an arm around their grandfather's shoulders.

"Got it, Miko," Joey mutters, his usual lightheartedness missing.

Anzu hurries over, concern knitting her brow as she takes in the scene. "We need to get him to the hospital."

Miko nods, and as they start to move toward the elevator, she throws one last look over her shoulder at Yugi. He stands alone now, clutching their grandfather's deck, his jaw set with determination. There's a fierce light in his eyes that she hasn't seen in a long time—one that tells her he's ready to fight, no matter the odds.

"Be careful, Yugi," she murmurs, too softly for him to hear. Then she turns away, focusing on helping Joey guide their grandfather toward the exit, her heart pounding in her chest.

She doesn't know how the duel will play out or what will happen next, but as the elevator doors start to close behind them, she turns to Joey.

"You should stay, Joey." She says.

"Huh? Why?" He blinks at her, incredulous.

"Tristan, Anzu and I can get Grandpa to the hospital," she replies, frowning. "Besides, you're Yugi's best friend. You should stay and support him."

Joey's brows furrow, and for a moment, he hesitates, glancing between Miko and Yugi, who stands facing down Kaiba. The determination in his expression wavers as he looks back at Miko, then at their grandfather, whose breaths remain labored and uneven. "But what about you guys? I can't just—"

"Joey, please," Miko interrupts, her voice firm but tinged with urgency. "Yugi needs someone there with him. Someone who's got his back, who believes in him. And right now, that's you." Her eyes bore into his, pleading but unwavering. "I'll take care of Grandpa. We'll get him to the hospital, and I'll let you know as soon as we get there."

Joey clenches his jaw, struggling with the decision, but Miko's words strike a chord. He glances at Yugi again, and the resolve in his face is enough to make up his mind. Joey nods sharply, determination returning to his features. "Alright. I'll stay with him. But you'd better keep me updated, Miko, you hear?"

Miko manages a tight, grateful smile. "I will. Just… make sure Yugi doesn't do anything reckless, okay?"

Joey smirks, a hint of his usual bravado returning despite the tension in the air. "When has Yuug ever been reckless?"

Miko smiles briefly.

"Go take care of the old man. Yugi and I can handle things here."

Miko nods once more, then turns back to Anzu and Tristan. The male brunet already moving to take Joey's place while the other holds the door open. She takes one last look at her brother, locking eyes with him for a brief second. She hopes he can see the unspoken thought in her mind: You better win. Then, she steels herself and steps into the elevator with their grandfather, her heart pounding as the doors slide shut.

Miko sits rigid in one of the hospital's hard plastic chairs, her fingers pressed together so tightly they ache. It's been nearly an hour since the doctors wheeled her grandfather away, and she hasn't heard anything since. Anzu sits beside her, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder, while Tristan stands nearby, arms crossed, glancing at her with concern every few moments.

ut the quiet sympathy from her friends barely reaches her; Miko's mind is elsewhere, tangled in the strange vision that keeps flashing through her thoughts.

The desert—the scorching sun and endless sand, the towering Blue-Eyes White Dragon carved in stone. The kneeling figures at its base, one motionless, the other clinging to them in silent agony. Each time the memory surfaces, a chill runs down her spine. What could it mean? Why did it feel so real, like a warning etched directly into her mind?

She stares at her trembling hands, remembering the feeling of sand slipping through her fingers, the heat pressing down as if she were there. Her stomach twists with unease. It wasn't just a random nightmare—it felt like something more, like a shadow cast over everything. Her grandfather's collapse, Kaiba's ruthlessness, the shreds of the Blue-Eyes card scattered across the floor… all of it seems to echo through her mind.

And then, there's Yugi. The thought of her brother, standing alone in that cold arena with only Joey for support, sends a sharp pang through her chest. She pictures him facing Kaiba, his small frame set with defiance, clutching their grandfather's deck like a lifeline. She knows he'll give everything he has to honor their grandfather, to fight for what he believes in, but she can't shake the gnawing worry that clings to her like sand caught under her skin.

Anzu's voice pulls her back. "Miko," she murmurs gently, "you should take a breath. It's going to be okay."

The nearly albino girl glances at her friend. At seeing the other girl's worry, she presses her lips into a straight line and nods. Then, she takes a deep breath in through her nose and releases it slowly.

"Yugi isn't alone." She says, confident. "He knows that all of us believe in him and are rooting him on. No matter how tough it gets, we'll always be there for him."

"Even when we're several miles away!" Tristan says enthusiastically.

Anzu waves him away. "What I mean is: Yugi is strong. He has your grandfather's spirit with him, and he's got Joey by his side. They'll face Kaiba together. You know how determined Yugi can be when it counts. He won't let any of us down."

Miko tries to muster a smile at Anzu's words, but the heaviness in her heart remains. "I know, but what if it's not enough? That Kaiba-gut is the most ruthless person we've ever had the displeasure of meeting."

Tristan steps forward, arms uncrossing as he leans against the wall, trying to project an air of confidence. "You know, sometimes it's the unexpected that turns the tide in a duel. Yugi has his strategies and his cards, but he also has heart. Kaiba might be good, but he underestimates that."

Miko looks at Tristan, appreciation flickering in her chest despite the tension that holds her tight. "I hope you're right."

Anzu squeezes Miko's shoulder, her grip is reassuring. "Yugi is stronger than you or he even realizes."

Miko nods slowly, her heart still heavy, but the small flicker of hope ignites in her chest. "I just wish I could be there to see it. To help him."

Anzu gives her shoulder a gentle squeeze, her voice filled with warmth. "You are helping him. Supporting him from here is just as important. He'll feel your belief in him."

Miko swallows hard, trying to absorb their encouragement, but the gnawing fear twists in her gut. She nods slowly, her lips quirking into a small smile, despite the anxiety clinging to her like a heavy cloak. "Thanks."

Before Miko can respond, a nurse glides into the waiting area, her scrubs a soft blue against the stark white walls of the hospital. She carries a clipboard and wears a reassuring smile, but Miko feels a wave of anxiety wash over her. "Ms. Mutou, you can see your grandfather now," she says, her tone soothing. "Please follow me."

The relief that washes over Miko is immediate, momentarily pushing aside the dread that has coiled within her since they arrived. She nods, her heart racing as she pushes herself up from the chair.

Miko's breath catches in her throat as she rises from the chair, the hard plastic creaking beneath her. Anzu stands beside her, a steadying presence, while Tristan follows closely behind, keeping his arms at his sides. The nurse leads them through sterile hallways, the smell of antiseptic mingling with the faint scent of flowers from a nearby arrangement. The fluorescent lights overhead cast a harsh glare, making the walls seem empty and soulless.

The nurse pauses before a door, knocks, and opens it, allowing Miko to step inside. The hospital room is small and utilitarian, a stark contrast to the warmth of their home. Monitors beep rhythmically, displaying lines that rise and fall like waves, and a single bed dominates the space, dressed in crisp white sheets.

Her grandfather lies there, eyes closed, the lines of worry etched into his brow contrasting with the softness of the pillow beneath him. A small IV drips steadily into his arm.

As if sensing her presence, he opens his eyes slowly. They're clouded but filled with a flicker of recognition. "Miko…" he whispers, his voice a raspy echo.

"Grandpa!" Miko rushes to his side, gripping his hand tightly, her heart swelling with relief. "I'm here."

He chuckles. "Yugi won."

"W-what—Grandpa," Miko stumbles over her words, "How do you know?"

A faint smile breaks through the fatigue on her grandfather's face. "He learned the heart of the cards."

Miko feels the warmth of his words, a flicker of hope igniting inside her again. She squeezes his hand tighter, "And you're going to be okay. The doctors are taking care of you. You'll be up and around before we know it."

"Oh, I knew that too. That dueling arena certainly was something." He smiles at her, "You shouldn't worry so much, Miko. I'm stronger than I look and Yugi always had a knack for turning the tide. Just like you."

Miko blinks, startled, her breath catching as she stares at her grandfather. Did he just say... the dueling arena? The chill of her earlier vision creeps back into her mind, mingling with a surge of relief at seeing him awake and speaking. She shakes her head, chalking it up to his sense of humor, a wry smile tugging at her lips despite herself.

His hand squeezes hers gently, his touch faint but reassuring. "You all need to trust yourselves, my dear. There's a strength in you and Yugi that you may not fully see, but it's there. I've always believed in it."

"I understand," she says softly.

He nods, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "Good. That's all I need to know."