Winning Without Gods (A Yu-Gi-Oh Fanfiction)DONE!

Chapter 39: By Definition It Would Count

"Jounouchi, it's okay," Yuugi encouraged him. "Kaiba has been taking good care of her. They will be fine."

"They went to a separate hotel to pop the bubble without anyone else." Bakura didn't help at all. "I am sure it was all innocent."

"Stop playing, Bakura." Yuugi wasn't in the mood as he tried to catch another person in uniform come out. "Sir, please, we only want to purchase-"

Gone. Nobody wanted to talk to any of them. They were too eager after the bubble finally popped. Probably a lot like Domino City, nobody wanted to stay behind to do their job. Even the owner couldn't be found.

"Face the truth. We are only getting the cards that we bought. Nobody won." Bakura smirked. "Except Kaiba."

"Knock it off, Bakura," Atem warned him. "No one is in the mood for your shenanigans."

"Oh, you are simply upset that the third day is practically over. Only two left." Bakura looked toward Jounouchi. "If only it hadn't taken four hours to gather energy to pop that bubble. I am sure Kaiba gave it his all."

Jounouchi didn't say anything. That was smart. Bakura was only doing that to distract himself too. Yuugi knew that 'Ryder' had made an impression over him over the years.

She was probably the only thing he cared about, and she was . . . thinking about that only makes me miss Anzu even more. Concentrate! I promised her I would concentrate.

Yuugi watched as Kaiba showed up with Shizuka in their vehicle. "Everyone was too excited to leave. No one will sell us cards."

"Oh quit. Stop crying over the outcome," Kaiba said. "I doubt anybody is going to want to stay anymore. I'd say if the owner was money hungry, we might get a blip." Kaiba held a phone, dialed a number, and waited. "This is Seto Kaiba. I need to buy a decent amount of cards from your store. No, I don't want to wait. I have money burning for cards. What do you mean you can't?"

Yep. Even Kaiba is getting turned down, Other Me. He had a direct phone to the owner too it sounds like.

It makes sense, Yuugi. Kaiba immersed himself in cards. He would have connections. Even for him though, I don't think it will matter. "We should fight with the cards we have and practice. We know day three will be about getting the members of our teams to certain places. There is no telling how much more time we will have to practice."

"Four hours. Sun is already going down," Jounouchi said to Shizuka. "It took four hours to summon the dragon? Are you sure you should be playing that game then?"

"I'll be ready before the game starts," Shizuka told him. "That's the difference. I have to recharge, Katsuya." She smiled at him. "I promise, it will be okay. I will do my best to protect Honda."

"Okay." Jounouchi's fire had really died down. "You'd tell me if something was wrong though, right? Just keep in mind. No matter how old you are, I'm still your big brother. Forever and always."

"Right."

"So?" Jounouchi came up closer to her, shifting Mana. "Mana sure is sweet, huh?" He was trying to lead her into a better frame of mind. "I care about her. It don't matter who she is or what she'll do in the future. I love her no matter what. I care about all my friends like that. My family too."

Yuugi watched Jounouchi. He was trying to ease the truth out of her. Since he wasn't bothering Kaiba, no one could get real upset about it.

"Yuugi." Atem held Hikaru out toward him. "Your son keeps crying. I know you miss Anzu." He paused a moment. "I don't care that he feels sadness, you need to pick him up and comfort him. If you don't, he will believe he lost his father and mother. That will only lead to more sadness."