Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 088 The Lurking Duelists

You mean there are lurking duelists that WEREN'T hired by a Pegasus that is sending extremely mixed signals as to what it is he ultimately wants, right? Because if this turns out to be another of those superfluous assholes running around trying to trip up Yami inexplicably, I'm going to have an aneurysm. This story doesn't need any more encounters with opponents that are neither interesting nor serve any important point of the plot.

This title page is giving me hope, though. After Keith's nasty trash talk to Pegasus about him being a pedophile, there's no way he would hire Keith as one of his superfluous assholes.

I do find it a little overly convenient that we were JUST introduced to Keith last chapter...

Anyway, we begin the chapter probably just a few minutes after we left off, with Kaiba walking up the steps to Pegasus's castle. He's looking kind of casual with his hand in one of his pockets, but he's also glaring pretty hard at the castle. At the top of the stairs, Vlad the Hair Impaler looks like he's standing guard at the door with a guy wearing a terrible mullet. Joe Dirt in a Suit asks if Vlad heard that they lost contact with the helicopter pilot, and Vlad seems surprised by this news. He asks if the helicopter crashed into the ocean, but Joe Dirt in a Suit says that the radio is still transmitting, it's just that no one is answering. Vlad the Hair Impaler mutters his disbelief, and confesses that with that mention, he thought he heard a chopper flying earlier.

Those faces... I just... give me a moment.

The door actually opens and a shadowed figure comes out to meet Kaiba. It's the Secret Service Servant that has been real tight with Pegasus this whole time, clapping sardonically, as he tells Kaiba it's such a surprise to see him, since they didn't expect him this late. Kaiba smirks and apologizes for not being murdered by their spies first. Secret Service Servant politely invites Kaiba into the courtyard beyond the doors.

Once inside, SSS makes conversation of the fact that this is the second time Kaiba has been to the island, the first being when he came to the completion party for the duel booth project. Kaiba shuts down the chatter, demanding to know where Mokuba is since he knows they have him. At first, SSS pretends not to recall the name, and then conveniently recalls Mokuba is Seto's little brother. SSS denies any kidnapping taking place, asking why they would do such a thing, and claiming he hasn't seen Mokuba around at all.

Kaiba shouts that SSS is a waste of time and that he wants to talk to Pegasus while SSS pushes his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose. He then looks down at his watch and says that it's impossible to see Pegasus right now because it's 3 am and Pegasus is sleeping. Grinning, SSS offers to put Kaiba up in a room for the night until he can speak with Pegasus in the morning, but Kaiba is having none of that shit.

Man, this guy is GOOD. Doesn't stop smiling for ANYTHING. I've had customer service reps shout at me for less; someone give this dude an award.

SSS says that Pegasus is beyond the next gate, if Kaiba can manage to open it. Kaiba lets go of SSS's collar to look at said gate, the lock on it containing 10 star-shaped holes. Kaiba is flabbergasted at this, though he should have guessed given how he saw Jonouchi's glove with the chips in it. SSS explains that the locking mechanism requires the 10 star chips the lucky few duelists will collect in the tournament, and with a sadistic grin, says that he and Kaiba are no exceptions.

Don't lie, you piece of shit. I saw you hanging out with Pegasus in his dining room. Kaiba, however, did not, so he grits his teeth at what he assumes is the truth. SSS once again offers him a room in the annex. Another wide shot on the castle ends this little encounter.

Jonouchi's deck sits in front of him in a sea of black, but he seems optimistic when he thinks that this time he'll be able to draw the card he needs. Unfortunately, he curses when it turns out to be another shitty one. Suddenly, Kaiba and the Blue Eyes White Dragon appear before him, and he recoils in horror. Kaiba points and shouts that it suits Jonouchi to crawl, he's a worthless dog, after this he'll be too afraid to duel ever again, and that he's a loser. Jonouchi's dream ends with a gasp as he snaps open his eyes and shoots into a sitting position.

He growls, still pissed off that Kaiba had the gall to say he would be afraid to duel, nightmare or real life. He glances to the side, seeing Yuugi and Honda passed out next to him. He smiles at Yuugi's sleeping face, wondering why he would ever be afraid when a little guy like Yuugi can keep facing tough opponent after tough opponent. He says out loud that he can do it too and he's not going to lose. Then he stands and faces the rising sun, encouraging his groggy friends to get a move on, because it's morning!

Jonouchi points as he monologues how its the last day of the tournament and they should go win duels and star chips, and then bust all up in Pegasus's castle like BOSSES. Yuugi mutters about SOMEONE being excited, and Honda yawns that he's still sleepy, rubbing his eyes. Bakura looks plenty awake when he wonders out loud if Kaiba ever made it to that castle he's staring at in the distance. Yuugi thinks Kaiba's name, but nothing in conjunction with it, until Anzu walks up carrying a pack in her arms, happy they're all awake. Yuugi bids her good morning, and she in return.

Jonouchi asks where "Miss Shiruani" is, and I wonder WHO that is until I realize he must be referring to Mai. I thought her family name was Kujaku...? Whatever it is, Anzu knows who he's talking about and claims Mai was gone by the time she woke up, but left the tent and enough food for the rest of them, and Anzu mutters that it's kind of heavy. Yuugi deduces that Mai went on alone, and a winking Anzu holds out a piece of paper to Yuugi before she forgets, an IOU Mai left for him. Yuugi reads the note adorned with a lipstick kiss mark at the end of it, sweatdropping hardcore.

Get on it, boys!

As they walk along, Bakura wonders how many duelists are left on the island. Yuugi says that 12 were gone that first day, and since a bunch were offed by the superfluous assholes during the night, he reckons there are about half gone by now. Honda puts a hand on Jonouchi's shoulder and assures them that they still have a whole day left, so the important thing is to make sure Jonouchi is careful who he duels so he can get 6 more chips. Yuugi warns Honda that they can't wait around, though, because it's over if enough people get ten chips before them, considering that information the superfluous asshole dropped him about only four finalists being allowed in the castle.

He also reasons that all the people who made it through the first day have to be strong. Jonouchi looks ill at this logic, and Honda tells Yuugi to stop scaring him, earning him a shout about Jonouchi not being scared as well as some face-pinching and general horseplay that slurs Honda's reply that Jonouchi is TOO scared. Anzu tells them to stop fighting, and Jonouchi complies easily, claiming that he'll take down anything and everyone who stands in his way. Yuugi is impressed with Jonouchi's spirit and tells him not to worry.

A couple of shadowed figures peer down at them from a rock ledge with binoculars.

Keith's got them under his thumb, huh? He's sitting on a rock in front of another guy, telling this guy the story of how he won a duel with a card that he shows him. This guy is super impressed, but before he can offer to lick Keith's balls and stroke his ego some more, the two guys from the rock ledge come running up shouting for Keith. Keith asks them if they found any targets and they admit there were two, but the guy with the hollow cheeks suggests they leave them alone because they might not be able to win against them. Frankenstein's Monster blurts that one of the targets is Yuugi.

Keith says he's never heard of Yuugi before, and Frankenstein's Monster fills him in that Yuugi is the kid who beat Kaiba, and a shoo in for the finals. Keith don't give a fuck, because whoever this Yuugi kid is, it doesn't change the fact that the he and his three buddies are getting into the castle, and that's just how it's going to be. Hollow Cheeks stutters out an affirmative, and the guy who was captivated by story-time earlier says that they teamed up for that very reason, after all. He gushes about how lucky it is that they met Keith, because with a real DM pro like him, they'll storm that castle. Keith continues to advise them to keep listening to him and they'll go far.

I can't WAIT to hear how that works out for everyone.

The Three Stooges raise their fists in a cheer about how they have nothing to worry about with America's #1 pro Bandit Keith on their side. Bandit Keith himself twists to look at that castle behind him, thinking at that fucking pansy Pegasus to wait, because he's not going to let the fact that he was humiliated on national TV go. He'll beat Pegasus if it's the last thing he does, planning to let his stooges win his chips for him without soiling his own hands.

Your hands get dirty really easily if they can get soiled by playing a card game, dude.

Frankenstein's Monster suggests that the guy with Yuugi looks like an amateur. Technically, no one in this tournament is an amateur, considering they're all playing for that prize. Keith decides that this "amateur" guy should be their target if that's the case, and they have to separate him from the others. Frankenstein's Monster says it will be pretty difficult, considering those kids are always together. Keith curses at them, asking what they're worried about when all they have to do is push him down the hole. Hollow Cheeks sounds confused about this hole, so Keith explains that he found a secret entrance to the caves below the island with a secret duel box in them like a hidden stage in a video game.

The Three Stooges are shocked by this revelation, and Keith begins to tell them the tale about how United States troops were stationed on the island during the war. Which war this was is unclear, but I'm guessing Vietnam? Maybe? *Shrug* Anyway, Keith claims a lot of the troops were buried on this island, and that this is the extremely disrespectful base for Pegasus's hidden graveyard field that the Stooges have never heard about. Hollow Cheeks and Frankenstein's Monster stare in disbelief.

Keith points to Hollow Cheeks and asks him if he doesn't have a zombie-based deck and Hollow Cheeks haltingly confirms this. Keith declares that Hollow Cheeks will be the one to play in the graveyard, to which order Hollow Cheeks eagerly agrees, because they don't call him "Ghost" Kozuka for nothing! Oh good, they call you something. I was afraid I would just have to keep referring to you as Hollow Cheeks.

Keith holds out his hand to check Kozuka's deck, just in case, and Kozuka hands the cards over. Upon reviewing them, Keith decides that his deck isn't going to cut it for shit.

Reminds me of those shady street merchants in cities wearing overcoats to hide their equally shady merchandise.

Kozuka is impressed with how many pre-prepared decks Keith has and how ready he is for everything, going through the deck Keith gave him and murmuring about how he has a certain cool card. Frankenstein's Monster thinks it's because of those prepared decks that they've been winning as much as they have. Story Time points out the fact that they're only supposed to have 40-card decks, but Keith cuts him off with a flippant command to forget that stupid rule. Technically, he's not even supposed to be in this tournament himself, but he disregarded that when he heard about it, not being able to keep himself away. He thinks that if he just collects ten chips and gets into the castle, no one will complain about how he got here, allowing him to beat Pegasus and win the prize.

He and The Three Stooges finally finish planning and declare that they're getting to it, with someone among them sounding a little less than enthusiastic, though.

Back with Yuugi and pals, Jonouchi is looking around wondering where the other duelists are, and Bakura says he hasn't seen any for a while. While they walk along, Kozuka and Frankenstein's Monster lurk in the bushes watching and pointing at them again. Jonouchi gets a contemplative look and looks down, just before he calls a time-out so that he can run to take a leak. The Three Stooges are STOKED because their chance has arrived.

Jonouchi waters a tree until his bladder is empty and he's satisfied. Unfortunately, his detour isn't going to end there.

Jonouchi is dragged away with a shout that the Stooges have him now. They take him into a cave entrance, all the way down a tunnel, and into an alcove where Keith is waiting in front of a duel booth. I'm surprised Jonouchi wasn't able to put up more of a fight. Has he gone a little soft after dedicating himself to card games?

Keith tells his Stooges they did a good job and to throw him in the box, which they translate into setting his struggling butt into one of the chairs, holding his arms and sarcastically saying they've been saving a seat for him. Kozuka takes the opposite chair while Jonouchi asks them who they hell they are. Then Jonouchi glances off to the side and sees a pile of skulls holding up a single burning candle with the melted wax adhering it to the top skull. Jonouchi screams bloody murder.

Back where Jonouchi left Yuugi and his other friends, Yuugi asks what's taking Jonouchi so long. Much to Anzu's disgust, Honda suggests it's "number two", which isn't looking to be too far off from the truth, actually.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? It was interesting seeing Jonouchi trying to counter his nightmare with some positivity, busting out an enthusiastic attitude to drive away those dark thoughts. But you can see that Kaiba's cruel comments DID get to him, and are probably going to be the newest obstacle that Jonouchi has to overcome in this upcoming duel.

In addition to Jonouchi always having a problem with creepy occult stuff, the theme of the duel is significant in that it represents the raw fear that Jonouchi has to face now. He can't just whistle a happy tune and make it go away. He has to look at it head on and push through it. Kaiba's narrow notions of winners and losers may have wormed their way into Jonouchi's mind, but he has to find a way to get them out and do this his own way, rather than just ignoring them and hoping they leave on their own.

I'm also kind of curious as to how Keith managed to find out about this tournament? It should have only been open to those who had an invitation, and those who got invitations were all in Japan. Was he also in Japan hanging with Japanese duelist buddies at the time?

Just a random question, because it probably doesn't matter.