It's been 3 months since coming into Yu-Gi-Oh and I've gotten closer to Seto. Our relationship is more like me following him and he puts up with me.

•••••

I had my arms around hooked Seto's neck while looking over his shoulder to also read his book.

•••••••

"Hey, joey. Earth to joey, are you in there it's your turn" Yugi said as said blonde was looking at his cards trying to think of what to do next. At the moment, Yugi was teaching Joey how to play duel monsters and he's almost getting the hang of it.

"Aww, he's so cute when he's thinking" Tristan teased while throwing his arm around Joey.

Clearly irritated at Tristan, Joey kept calm and pushed him off.

"Buzz off, Yugi is teaching me how to play duel monsters" replied joey as he showed Tristan his cards.

Looking confused Tristan put his finger under his lip "drooling monsters"

"No, you idiot, Duel monsters" joey than shoves Tristan away to focus on the game.

Téa spoke up "they been at it for hours, Joey is getting the hang of it but Yugi is practically an expert"

Joey plays Kagemusha of the Blue Flame, Téa explains to Tristan that each monster has an ATK number and a DEF number and the first Duelist to eliminate their opponent's Life Points wins the Duel.

Joey's pleased with his move and boasted "pretty good move huh" Although Yugi agrees "yeah it was a good move but" he plays Blackland Fire Dragon, which is powerful enough to defeat Joey "not good enough".

Tristan teases Joey's skill, but Yugi assures Joey that he played alright. Yugi just has better cards, he tells them, which is because his grandfather owns a game shop, where he gets all his good cards. Joey gets fired up to visit the shop and Yugi talks about a super rare card his grandfather has.

A few tables across, Seto Kaiba and I were reading a book called "Also Sprach Zarathustra". We overhear Yugi's conversation and I sighed before looking down at seto.

"... Seto?" I called

He merely nodded and looked back towards the book.

'Rare card, I wonder if it's the one I been searching for" he wonders.

I can't truly stop seto, but this event must happen or Yugi will never be king of games. Unhooking my arms from Seto's neck I sat back down in my seat.

Slightly surprised he looked over at me "you done with reading?" I nodded and rested my head on my desk dozing off.

I woke up with a nudge on my leg, drowsy I lifted my head and rubbed my eyes "huh?" Looking over at seto I saw him taking notes.

"Wake up" was all he said. Smiling I looked up at the board and started writing down the notes and assignment.

Sometime later seto stood up and left the classroom early saying something about his company. Before leaving he turned back towards me and told me to come along.

When first arriving here people found it strange that I followed seto everywhere but eventually people got used to it, even seto himself. He opened up to me, even if it was a little. Random girls in the hallway would snicker and smile at me saying 'so lucky' and stuff like that. I really don't know what they mean and I don't want to know.

Nodding I stood up and packed my things. Throwing my backpack over my shoulders I ran after seto who already left the classroom.

The one that was most shocked by this was Yugi and his friends, they never saw seto open up to anyone.

Catching up with the brown hair CEO I looked over at him. "What are you planning seto," I asked knowing exactly what he's gonna do.

"You'll see, just help me fill my briefcase with rare cards" we got outside of the school building to see a limousine waiting for us.

The driver opened the door for us and I climbed in first. Seto then climbed in for the driver to close the door.

On the drive, seto turned towards me eyeing my key. I was reading over the notes unaware of his hand closing in. Finally grabbing my key he looked at it.

"What an odd pendant" was all he said until I slapped his hand away. His eyes widened before giving me a cold dark glare.

I glared back at him gripping my key.

"Don't touch it, it was a parting gift my older brother gave to me before he went off to war"

Seto didn't say a word but his eyes softened up and looked away.

Feeling bad I sighed 'he's basically my best friend, I gotta trust him more'

"Sorry for slapping your hand-" I couldn't say anything because seto spoke up.

"No, I was at fault I should have known it was important to you" looking at me he preceded to say "how long ago was he deployed"

I looked down at my lap "its almost been 3 years, for all I know...hes dead" tears rolled down my cheek and onto my hand. I suddenly felt a hand on my head. My eyes looked up towards seto to see his attended arm and him reading a book. Smiling I wiped the tears away stayed silent.

Getting to his office both seto and I filled up his briefcase with rare powerful cards.

"Alright, let's go to that game shop" I cheered as seto still had his usual frown. With that, we were off.

After school, Yugi and his friends, Joey, Tristan, and Téa arrive at his grandfather's shop. He asks his grandfather if he could show them his rare card. Solomon thinks about it, laughs and says "how can I refuse?". He produces a decorative box and tells them that they are in for a treat and he does not usually take this card out.

He holds up the "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" card, telling them it is so rare and powerful that he never lets it leave his hands. The kids are impressed apart from Tristan, who grabs the card from Solomon's hand, remarking that he does not see anything special about it. Solomon snatches it back, insisting that the card is priceless; there are only four of them in the world.

Just as Joey was about to trade some cards for better ones both seto and I come through the door in a dramatic fashion. Seto has open the door while I stood behind him holding the briefcase. With the late afternoon sun shines through the door making it hard to see us.

Yugi's grandfather spoke up first "may I help you two" he kindly questioned

Seto merely smirked "If you cannot, it wouldn't surprise me"

Everyone is surprised to see us...well mainly seto here, he does have a big company to run.

Seto quickly cut to the chase "I'm here to see the card" I just kept quiet for now.

Joey is glad to hear that Kaiba plays Duel Monsters too and suggests that they could all Duel together.

Kaiba just mocks the idea, saying he would have more of a challenge playing solitaire; this is when I spoke up.

"Joey, I don't know if you know but Seto is the number 1 ranked Duelist in the country and the favorite to win the Duel Monsters World Championship" I informed him.

I could tell by Joey's face that he was in fact intimidated and he suggests they settle this with fists instead of cards. That's when Yugi steps in between them and tries to calm Joey down.

"Whoa now joey, calm down"

"But Yugi, Kiaba is asking for it"

Seto smirked as I nudge him. Looking down I me, I then made a head motion towards the counter. That's when seto eyes lock onto the blue eyes white dragon card and rush over to it while pushing Yugi aside.

'This is it, the card I been searching for. What is it doing in a dump like this' seto thought.

Solomon then takes the card away and asks if there is anything else he can help him with. Kaiba glares and snapped his fingers, which I proceed to place the briefcase on the counter and opened it, showing it is full of Duel Monsters cards. Seto then spoke up and offers to trade all of them for the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. To everyone's surprise, even my own, Solomon declines the offer and puts the box with the card away.

Seto then attempts to buy the card, asking Solomon to name his price, he can pay anything that he asks. Solomon refuses and explains that he does not want to give it away because it was given to him by a dear friend, so he treasures the card.

With a glare and a frown, seto closed the briefcase and pulled it off the counter. He then turn-around to leave the game shop while grabbing me by the wrist and dragged me away too. Seto then realizing it is useless trying to get it peacefully.

As we leave in Seto's limousine, I can tell that he is sickened by Solomon's attitude about the Heart of the Cards. He believes the cards are all about power and one way or another, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon card will be his.

I looked over at Seto as the limousine stopped in front of an apartment complex.

"Seto I don't like that look in your eyes...what are you planning," I asked

"Don't worry about it, just get out and go home I have something to do?" he said with coldness in his voice.

"Alright, just...dont do anything stupid" I climbed out of the limousine and walked up to the stairs towards my apartment that I'm renting ever since I came to this world. Before going inside I turned around to still see the limousine still there. Sighing I went inside, as I closed the door I heard the engine start up again and drove off.

"He's gonna kidnap that old man" shaking my head I went to make dinner.

At the KaibaCorp building, Kaiba tells his employees that he wants them to pick up something at the game shop.

The next morning, Hobson and two other goons arrive at the game shop. Hobson was the first to say something "our master, Seto Kaiba, challenges you to a Duel"

He asks "And if he was to decline?"

Hobson says they must insist. Solomon than thought "Kaiba does not understand, but I will teach him a lesson about the Heart of the Cards' and willing left with the goons after assembling his deck.

••••••

I nervously sat at my desk, Seto wasn't here. I know why it's only a matter of time. I was visibly pale and was sweating. I left sick to my stomach...he kidnapped him and dueled him to exhaustion. In the anime, it wasn't bad but now...that's scary.

"Hey are you alright, you look sick" I jumped in surprise and looked up to see joey.

"Oh, yeah I'm fine...its just...seto isn't here" I nervously smiled

"Forget about that jerk, I don't know how you can put up with that rich bastard" joey scoffed

I sighed, I rather avoid commenting on that statement.

"You wanna have a duel" I suggested while holding my deck. Joey eagerly agreed and told Yugi to join in.

I gotta get my mind off of it for a bit. Joey was easy to beat, but I knew that he soon will get better and Yugi, he was sort of a challenge but I won at the end. It helps that you don't have to sacrifice monsters yet.

It was already time to leave school and Joey invited me to come with him and his friends to the game shop. I nodded and agreed to come along.

We all arrive at the game shop only to find out that Yugi's grandfather missing. Just then the phone suddenly rings and Yugi answers

"Hello, GameShop"

Seto was on the other side of the line

"Ah Yugi, perfect I just wanted to tell you that your grandfather is not feeling well and needs to be picking up".

"Kaiba what have you done to my grandpa" seto then hangs up "Kaiba...KAIBA!!!"

We all make their way to KaibaCorp, running to the elevator we hit the top floor. With the ding of the elevator door opening, we find Solomon seriously injured. Solomon weakly spoke to Yugi saying that he failed; he had tried to teach Kaiba a lesson about the Heart of the Cards but he lost.

My heart ached at the sight, 'what exactly did seto do. How bad was the duel' i thought

Just then Seto appears in the room and says that he defeated Solomon in a Duel, with each of them putting up their most valuable card as the prize. He guesses that playing against a champion like himself was too much stimulation for Yugi's grandfather. Téa then accuses Kaiba of cheating, and he should be ashamed of himself.

Seto then holds up the "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" then tears it in two and Yugi protests that it was his grandfather's most "treasured card". Kaiba says that since a Deck can only hold three copies of each card, the fourth could become an enemy he did not want anyone to use it against him.

I found that somewhat reasonable but seto knew that Solomon would never use the card or even take it out of the box but I guess he's not taking any changes.

Solomon than hands Yugi his Deck, saying that he put his soul in these cards and taught Yugi everything he knows. He instructs Yugi to take them and teach Kaiba respect for the Heart of the Cards. Yugi insists that he needs to take him to a doctor but Kaiba remarks that it sounds like an excuse. Yugi's friends offer to take Grandpa to the hospital, while Yugi faces Kaiba.

I glared at seto and walked up to him "I can't believe you seto" I kept scolding him about his behavior but he merely brushed it aside.

As for Yugi, he is unsure, but the others offer support. Joey says "I used to love fighting, but it was you who changed me, Yugi. You can do it, and that he's the best Duelist he has ever seen and he has the Millennium Puzzle". He knows Yugi can do it.

Just before Yugi leaves, Téa uses a marker to draw a smiley face symbol of friendship on everyone's hands. She says that even though the ink will wash away, they will always remember the circle of their friendship and that when Yugi's Dueling, he will know that he is not alone. They will all be right there with him

As Téa, Tristan and Joey take Solomon to the ambulance, Téa suggests that Joey stay behind to support Yugi.

Seto, Yugi, and I walk to the dueling area where the soon to be rivals shall have their first duel, and this is the start to Yugi's journey of becoming the king of games. Regardless or not I'm still gonna cheer for seto, knowing full on well that he will lose.

Kaiba takes Yugi to a virtual stadium, where seto and I have most of our duels. Kaiba then explains that he designed the stadium himself and he thinks Yugi will agree that it will add a bit more life to the game. I merely nodded, seeing monsters come to life is a sight to see. Seto says they'll play using the Kaiba Special Rules.

Yugi was confused and ask what was the special rules.

I sighed and explained to Yugi that they each begin with 2000 Life Points and the first player to hit 0 loses.

Yugi nodded and got into place, along with seto, Yugi activates the Millennium Puzzle and changes into Yami Yugi. Kaiba is slightly startled by Yugi's change in attitude and so am i. Yugi says "Now Kaiba, it's time to Duel".

Kaiba goes first and Summons "Hitotsu-Me Giant". A hologram of the monster emerges onto the field. Yugi is surprised to see the monster come to life. Kaiba explains that it is his virtual simulator; it creates life-like holograms of every Duel Monster. Yugi realizes that this is how Kaiba beat Solomon.

Yugi starts his turn and Summons "Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress". At this point, Joey arrives at the Duel and is shocked by the presence of the monsters. The two monsters get ready to battle and Yugi commands "Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress" to use its "Fireball" attack. "Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress" launches a fireball at "Hitotsu-Me Giant", destroying it and lowering Kaiba's Life Points to 1800.

Mokuba Kaiba rushes into the room, asking his brother if he is okay, I reassured Mokuba that seto was alright while Joey celebrates on Yugi taking out 1 of Kaiba's monsters.

Kaiba says that he should have started with a handicap and that it was well played... for a beginner. He asks how Yugi will stand against this and Summons "Saggi the Dark Clown" in Attack Position.

Yugi is puzzled, as the monster has only 600 ATK but Kaiba combines it with the Spell Card "Negative Energy Generator", tripling its ATK.

"Saggi's" ATK goes up to 1800. Kaiba orders Saggi The Dark Clown to attack "Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress" with "Dark Light". "Saggi" launches a ball of energy at its target and destroys it. Yugi's Life Points drop to 1600.

Yugi thinks Kaiba's good, he knows every aspect of this game, but his Grandpa put all his gaming knowledge and his heart into this Deck so he must believe it holds some secret strategy. He draws "Right Leg of the Forbidden One". Yugi thinks the card is useless as it cannot defeat "Saggi" so he Sets a monster card in Defense Position to protect his Life Points.

Kaiba starts his turn and uses Saggi to attack and destroy Yugi's face-down monster which turns out to be "Sangan".

Joey tells Yugi to hang in there as Kaiba continues to destroy more of his monsters, including "Battle Steer" and "Torike".

Kaiba says he can practically hear Yugi's grandpa's dying breath coming from those cards and that Yugi's not doing any better than Solomon did; his Deck is just as weak and feeble as his grandfather.