First difficulties

Chapter 2: First Difficulties

"So ... are you doing with Yugi?" Bakura looked uncertain, looking expectantly at the smaller duelist.

"I don't know ... I think so," Yugi replied, but continued to look at the carpet under his feet.

"But of course you go along with it! You have to defend your title! Well, I'll definitely be there!" Joey was definitely more optimistic.

"But be careful not to embarrass yourself, Joey," Tea noted and grinned.

"What do you mean by that ?! I'm a top duel! I can't be embarrassed!" He jumped up and raised his fist.

Tea just laughed. "Sure, I don't doubt that at all ..."

"So are you both with us?" asked Bakura again.

Yugi nodded. "And what about you? Why do you ask?"

"Well, I don't know ... when you consider that I actually didn't want to take part in the Battle City tournament ... and what happened next ..." He looked down at the Millennium Ring, which was now hanging peacefully around his neck and actually for a rather cheesy one Piece of jewelry could be kept."I see ... well, you can sleep on it again, Ryo," said Tea.

He just nodded and now looked up as Tristan rose.

"All right, folks. I have to go now. It's getting late. Where is the tournament supposed to take place? I mean, we have to pack our bags too."

"It says here on an island ... The duelists will be brought there by ship. And that will leave the day after tomorrow, so Monday ... But, Tristan, only duelers are allowed to enter the island" Bakura looked from Tristan to Tea and back again.

"Oh, that won't stop us!" replied Tea. "We shouldn't actually be in the 'Kingdom of Duelists' either, and at first we weren't allowed on the Battle Ship either. We're getting there somehow. Right, Tristan?"

He replied with a grin and a raised thumb.

"It says here, you need a bracelet like this to get on a ship" Bakura demonstratively held up a white ribbon. "And the security precautions are certainly high and ...""Oh nonsense! We can do it easily!" Tristan called in between.

"Ready, Yugi ?!" called Joey when he spotted Yugi.

"Hey Joey! So on time?" answered the smaller one with a grin.

"Sure, I don't want to miss my tournament win," he replied.

Yugi looked around questioningly. "Where are the others?"

"Oh, they're going to find a way onto one of the ships. And Bakura followed them to prevent them from getting into trouble."

"So he's not taking part?"

Joey just shook his head negatively.

"And there are several ships? Do quite a few duelists have to take part. Have they all received invitations?"

"No, you can register up there. So this time everyone can take part. And apart from Rex Raptor I haven't seen any acquaintances either. Only strange duelists, but they all looked pretty weak" grinned Joey.

"We should try to get seats on one of the ships. Do you have your bracelet with you?" Yugi asked, holding up his own.Joey responded by tying a red ribbon to his arm that he had taken out of his pocket earlier.

So they both went towards the next ship. It was bright red and only one of ten that looked completely out of place in their bright colors, because they stood out clearly against the gray water and the dark, clouded sky. A rather grim looking Mann cabinet checked the duelists.

"Bracelet?" he asked gruffly.

Yugi and Joey stretched out their arms and were about to walk past him when the man grabbed the smaller duelist by the arm and pulled back.

"Black. Dock 3."

“What?” Yugi was clearly confused.

"Black bracelet. Black ship. Over there." He pointed with his arm to the right side of the harbor. A pitch-black ship was anchored there, barely filled.

"Oh, well then, Joey, see you on the island!" Yugi waved disappointed as he left the jetty.

"But not so soon, little one ..." whispered the man who was just letting another duelist with a red bracelet through."And what do we do now? We'll never get past him unseen!" Tristan sighed. They had checked all the ships and each was guarded by at least three men whom no one would volunteer to mess with.

"That's what I said. Then Yugi and Joey just have to get by without your help. They can do it like that!" noted Bakura.

"Well, then we won't get on the ship 'unseen'!" said Tea with a smile on her face.

"Oh, and how then?" Tristan asked skeptically.

"We register and take part in the tournament as duelists!"

"What color?" asked the woman at the registration desk in an unfriendly manner.

"I beg your pardon?" Tea looked around at the two boys for help. But they just shrugged their shoulders.

"What color should your bracelets be? I don't have many anymore. Only turquoise, black, white, pink and violet. And only a few of them. The ribbons decide which ship you are allowed on and thus where on the island you land. Make up your mind quickly.A line is forming behind you and I want to go home today "

"Um, Tristan, do you know what color Yugi's or Joey's bracelets are?" Tea asked uncertainly.

"Joey has a red one, but I haven't seen Yugi today," he replied.

"You take two white ones!" Bakura intervened and took the bracelets.

"Why do you know?" Tristan asked when he and Tea were pulled away by the arm.

"Because I also have a white one and so at least we stay together," replied the white-haired man.

"Oh ... good," said Tea. "Then we should get our ship!"

"So far everything is going according to plan! The ships are almost all manned and everyone who has been invited has arrived!"

"Very good, then we're ready to go ... Are our targets on board?"

"Yes. It has been ensured that they will not be hindered."

"Good, then the ships can cast off. No other problems?"

"A duelist gave us quite a problem. She really wanted to see Yugi Muto.We had to use force. She is still on one of the ships. What should we do with the duelists who are not yet a board? "

"Leave her behind."

"Good as you like."

"And one more thing. Fly back to the island in the helicopter and prepare for arrival."

"I will. See you later!"

When she was gone, he turned around with a smile and watched the ships swaying slightly to and fro in the harbor basin. He smiled as the sky lit up and the sun replaced the clouds.

"Let the tournament begin!"