Umi

x

Notes: The story is now complete. Please don't be annoyed by the rushed pace. I need to get this finished so the plotline makes sense for "Atakku". Consider this a lengthy filler story for the gaps in "Sakakku" and "Atakku". Also, the end of this deals with things I haven't posted yet in "Sakakku" but that will come in future chapters. (written when on chapter 32)

x

x

x

Chapter 4

xXx

"It feels, somehow, like I'm coming home."

Aura glanced over at Mako. He hadn't spoken all day, except for that out-of-the-blue comment. They'd been traveling for nearly a month, caught a ride on a trading ship, and landed in Domino, Japan.

"I never spent that much time here," he continued, shifting his eyes constantly between the sea and the land. "But it feels like I'm returning after a long time away."

"Who do you know in this city?" she asked quietly.

Mako paused to give it some thought. "Most of them are probably gone," he mumbled. "Joey and Téa were prisoners, last I heard. Their friends are probably in hiding. And I don't know what happened to Yugi."

"Do they have family here?" Aura questioned.

Mako seemed startled. "I never thought about that…" he said slowly. "I'd bet that their families are still around. But I wouldn't go see them. They wouldn't know me. Except…" He fell silent again. Aura had become accustomed to his peculiar mannerisms quickly, and she waited patiently for him to gather his thoughts.

"Do you mind?" he asked suddenly. "If we visit someone?"

"Of course not," she told him, bracing herself as the ship slid slowly into the dock. "Who do you have in mind?"

Mako turned to face the sea. "I wonder how Yugi's grandfather is doing…"

xXx

Solomon Moto began every day by going outside and sweeping the front stoop. He'd done it each day, no matter what the weather, for the Game Shop; even when that had been torn down, he stuck to his routine. Now he lived in a small hut a few miles inland of where the Turtle Game Shop had once stood. Emerging early on morning, broom in hand, he began humming a quiet but cheerful tune.

Two figures were walking down the dusty lane. The girl was unfamiliar to him, and looking around with avid curiosity. Her companion, on the other hand, was walking steadily, his gaze fixed on Solomon.

Solomon raised a hand cheerfully, masking his confusion. It was only when the boy got closer that he recognized him.

"Why, Mako Tsunami!" he said, clapping the duelist on the back with delight. "How have you been all this time? I haven't seen you in nearly a year!"

Mako smiled and dipped his head, but his eyes were dark and clouded. He hesitated, then seemed to make an important decision. "Mister Moto," he said, leaning down and lowering his voice. "I should have found you ages ago. I never got to tell you. Yugi… he didn't drown. He's still alive, as far as I know."

Grandpa pulled back and blinked. "Well, of course I know that!"

"You- what?" Mako asked, taken aback.

"They couldn't kill Yugi," Grandpa said dismissively, waving his hand and resuming his sweeping. "If I know my grandson, he's probably in hiding right now, trying to figure out a way to fight back. I just hope he's careful about it," he added thoughtfully.

Mako stood still, staring in obvious surprise at this man. Talk about faith.

xXx

"Well, of course you'll be welcome!" Grandpa said, waving his hands. "Come along, come along!"

"But I don't even know these people!" Mako protested.

"So? That doesn't matter!"

Aura was sitting on a small stool in the corner, leaning against a wall and munching on an apple. She was watching the display between the two men with guarded amusement. Solomon Moto was an interesting character, to say the least. He'd invited her and Mako inside, then promptly invited them along with him to visit an old friend of his. Professor Hawkins, she believed he'd called him.

"Why is it you want me to come along?" Mako asked again.

"To catch up on old times, my dear boy!" Grandpa said cheerfully. "Besides, you and your friend look lonely. Do you have anywhere to go?"

"No, but-"

"Do you have anyone to see?"

"No, but-"

"Do you have any specific plans in mind?"

"No, but-"

"Then it's settled!"

xXx

Professor Hawkins set mugs of herbal tea on the rough wooden table and pushed them around. His granddaughter, Rebecca, slowly picked one up, looking troubled. "Are you going to finally tell them, Grandpa?" she asked.

"Finally tell us what?" Solomon asked, his interest immediately piqued. "Are you holding out on me, Arthur? We've been here at least two hours. Is there any important news you should tell me?"

Arthur Hawkins chucked, grinning at Mako and Aura. "You haven't changed a bit, Solomon," he said fondly. "As for the news… Rebecca, perhaps you should tell them."

"Okay, I will," she declared, pushing away her mug and pulling out a card. She handed it to Solomon. He looked at it curiously, but shrugged. "The card is blank."

"That's the Ties of Friendship card Yugi gave me," she said bluntly. If she was hoping for a bigger reaction, she didn't get it; Solomon merely looked perplexed. Mako was the one who stiffened and sat upright in his chair.

"I woke up one morning and happened to look at the card. The girl in the painting was gone."

xXx

"You'll take really good care of it?" Rebecca insisted.

"Of course," Mako assured.

She bit her lip. "It's not that I don't trust you… but that card is really important."

"I know," Mako said, tucking the blank Ties of Friendship card into his pocket carefully. "I'll deliver it safely to Yugi- if I can find him. I promise."

"If he knows what happened, ask him to tell me," Rebecca said, twirling a lock of her hair nervously. "He can write, if it's safe. But tell him… tell him to keep the card. And give it to someone who needs it."

Mako smiled slightly. "I promise."

And once again, he and Aura set off on another journey. This time, they were headed to Egypt; possibly to Akuma. Their mission- to find Yugi. Not only to give him the card, and see if he knew what had happened, but to help him if at all possible.

It was the ninth day after they arrived in Egypt that the ground started quaking. Aura stopped in her tracks and looked around, wide-eyed. Mako's sharp eyes zeroed in on the horizon, and a second later a ball of light appeared in the sky.

"What is that?" Aura breathed.

He had no answer for her. But he had a theory. He was willing to bet it had something to do with Yugi.

And Mako knew it was more important now than ever to find him.

x

x

FIN