Chapter 91: A Strange Boy Appears
Kujaku Mai went to look for Yugi and the others under Hayato's guidance, while Hayato and Bakura followed the Staff, leaving the Forest and heading towards the Castle.
"Hayato-kun, why are we going towards the Castle?" Bakura asked, somewhat puzzled, as they walked. "Didn't you say before that you planned to compete with other Duelists?"
Hayato held a Lollipop in his mouth. "Then let me ask you, where do you think is the most convenient place to find powerful Duelists? Where the strong appear? Rest areas? Neither."
"The most convenient location to find powerful Duelists is Pegasus Castle, the final destination," Hayato said with a "friendly" smile. "When they've finally gathered ten Star Chips after much effort and traveled a great distance to reach Pegasus Castle, someone suddenly jumps out of the grass and Duels them."
"Don't you think that's super interesting?"
"I just feel, Hayato-kun, that you have a really twisted sense of humor," Bakura said with a wry smile.
Just as Hayato was plotting how to quickly Duel and earn points, as the group passed a patch of grass, Hayato's peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a dark figure flashing through the woods.
The Staff didn't pay much attention, after all, there were all sorts of Duelists on This Island, and maybe some Duelists just liked to hide in the Forest. But Hayato seemed very concerned. "Who's there!?"
There was no response from the woods.
"Hayato-kun, could it be..." Bakura, who was afraid of ghosts, subconsciously hid behind Hayato, even though he himself used the most Shady Cards.
"Maybe it's a small animal like a rabbit or a squirrel, Mr. Hayato," the Staff said, stopping his steps as he saw Hayato was very interested in the grass.
Seeing that there had been no movement in the woods for a long time, Hayato thought for a moment, then turned to the Staff and said, "It might really be some small animal, but I'm still quite interested in it. How about you go ahead and be busy? I know the way to the Castle."
The Staff didn't stand on ceremony. After all, Pegasus Castle was built so high that it could basically be seen from anywhere on the Island. Not everyone got lost on the Island like Judai. Since Hayato didn't need him to lead the way, he was glad for the ease; he still had work to do.
Watching the Staff gradually walk away until he disappeared from sight, Hayato looked at the bushes beside him and said, "Come out, the person is gone."
There was no response.
"If you don't come out, I'll call him back, okay?"
In the woods, there was still only the sound of Hayato and Bakura's breathing, and the sound of the Wind blowing through the leaves.
Hayato raised an eyebrow. "You're forcing me to use my ultimate move."
Turning around, he opened his mouth and started yelling, "Kaiba Seto that guy lost to Yugi, he's such a Useless Card, how could he lose with three Blue-Eyes White Dragon, what a coward—"
"You're the coward! That Yugi guy just got lucky!" A child suddenly darted out from the bushes. His clothes were torn and even hooked with many leaves and branches. This kid, whose height wasn't much different from Yugi's, glared at Hayato, who had stopped yelling, with a look of defiance. "My brother isn't a coward!"
"I didn't say that, you did." Seeing that the person hiding in the woods had finally appeared, Hayato slightly bent his knees, leaning down to look at the child at eye level. "You finally decided to come out, huh? Speaking of which, it's been a while, Gomamon."
"My name is Keipei! Mokuba Kaiba! What kind of name is something like a puppy's!" The kid who was in a sorry state—Mokuba Kaiba—protested his name to Hayato indignantly. "And who said it's been a while? I've only met you once!"
"Ah, the first time is unfamiliar, the second time is familiar. The last time we met was during Kaiba's Duel with Yugi, right? This is the second time, so we can barely be considered acquaintances, Gon?"
"It's Keipei!"
"Okay, Takuya."
"The name's even weirder now."
After teasing Keipei in a way that would infuriate (someone like) Kugimiya Rie for a while, Hayato finally stood up straight and said seriously, "Alright, alright, let's stop messing around and talk about the main business."
Ignoring Keipei's look that clearly said, "Aren't you the one messing around, you bastard?", Hayato looked at Keipei. "I see you don't have a Duelist Glove on your hand, which means you probably weren't invited by Pegasus to participate in the Match, Keipei-san?"
"Let me guess, were you sent to Duelist Kingdom as the representative of KaibaCorp without Seto, planning to cooperate with Pegasus?" Hayato paused. "Then you discovered that your Subordinates felt they had a chance to usurp power because Seto wasn't there and planned to sell you out, so you escaped from Pegasus?"
"Tch, you guessed everything right, you guy," Keipei said, puffing out his cheeks. "Ultimately, it's all Yugi Mutou's fault. If he hadn't defeated my brother, my brother wouldn't have become so dispirited, not even having the Heart to handle company affairs, and even disappeared."
Hayato looked at the dejected Keipei. At this moment, he looked so weak and in need of protection. Although his height was similar to Yugi's, he was still just a child, and he had lost the older brother he had always relied on.
"Although I sympathize with you, I don't think Yugi did anything wrong," Hayato said, shrugging nonchalantly, ignoring Keipei's suddenly fierce gaze. "That Seto guy wouldn't face his own mistakes unless someone defeated him. Yugi actually woke him up."
"Moreover, how competitive that Seto guy is, I believe you, as his younger brother, know better than anyone, right? If Yugi had decided to Go Easy in his Duel against him, I think that would have been the biggest insult to him."
'Not counting that cliff incident,' Hayato silently added in his Heart.
The sky gradually darkened. Roughly ten hours had passed since Duelist Kingdom opened. It was now seven in the evening, and even though Duelist Kingdom Island was quite close to the west, the sun was gradually sinking below the horizon at this time.
"Alright, don't think about it too much. To get KaibaCorp, I believe Pegasus's people will keep chasing you. Why don't you stay with us for a while?" Hayato extended his hand towards Keipei. "Please take care of me, Naruto."
"I'm Keipei!"
Keipei excitedly slapped Hayato's outstretched palm. Seeing Hayato shaking his hand in pain, Keipei couldn't help but smile proudly. "Since you're asking so sincerely, then Mr. Keipei will stay by your side for this period."
"Lambo, you're really troublesome."
"It's Keipei! Keipei, Keipei, Keipei!"
"Ah, want a Lollipop? I have extras, blueberry and orange-strawberry flavors."
"Don't think you can just brush it off like that! I want chocolate."
(End of Chapter)