SSOTD: While I have my free time, I read some fantastic stories on this site and I also search for a great college. As a Junior in High School, I really should start worrying about finding one that I would like to attend. I originally thought of UNA but that doesn't offer what I want to major in, as far as I know. So its back to the hunt for me. xc

... The hunt scares me...

Chapter 6: Preparation.

Setting out a bowl of dip beside some chips, Sango scanned over the den one last time before scurrying away to help Kagome pack. It was the last day before they needed to leave for the boat that would be taking them to Duelist Kingdom. When she entered the room that belonged to Kagome, she saw her scanning through the many Duel Monster cards that she possessed.

"What cards do you think I should take?"

Sango gave a smile, "There are still many hours to come before we must leave and the others will be here soon."

Kagome mumbled under her breath but nodded. Sango and herself had invited everyone over and they all, except for Ryou, had accepted the invitation happily. Kagome's frown deepened at that thought, Ryou had been the one she had wanted to hang out with but he had said that he had other things he needed to do. She couldn't be mad, but she sure as hell could be annoyed.

A knocking at the door, followed by a yell from Joey and Tristan, cut her out of her musing while Sango responded with her own yell before she went to answer the door and let their guests in. Kagome gave a sigh before going back to looking through her cards, setting her Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl into the deck she would be taking to Duelist Kingdom. She then added her Beautiful Headhuntress, Priestess of High Prophecy, Blast Magician, Blizzard Princess, Breaker The Magical Warrior, Magician of Black Chaos, and Shadow Priestess of Ohm. She'd have to go through and add some more monster cards later, along with some trap and spell cards.

She heard Téa scold Joey for his rudeness and Kagome gave a giggle. By the way it sounded, Joey had no problem helping himself to the food Sango had set out.

She heard a knock at her door and looked up to see Tristan standing in her doorway. He gave her a grin before asking if he could come in. Kagome shrugged and folded her legs under herself as he came and sat on her bed, looking at some of the cards she had.

"You weren't kidding, you do have quite a bit of cards." His voice held the same surprise that his eyes did as he scanned her walls. Every part of her walls were covered in glass casing that held hundreds of cards. If he truly had to guess, he would have to say that she had one of every card that existed. She was quite the collector, it seemed.

"Are there any cards that you don't have?" He was expecting her to say no and he was shocked when she stood up and began to list some cards that she had yet to acquire.

"I do not have all five pieces of Exodia, I do not have a Blue Eyes White Dragon, there are the three Egyptian God cards I have yet to come across, I don't have Toon World, the list goes on and on."

Tristan nodded before he stood and began to walk along the glass casing while Kagome went back to customizing her deck. She stood after a moment and walked over to the glass case Tristan was in front of, opening it before taking two cards. The cards were Penalty Game!, and Yami.

She then walked over to the other side of her room and opened another glass case, taking three cards from it. Those cards were A Feint Plan, Magician Trick Mirror, and Black Magic Ritual.

Adding those five to her deck, Kagome heard Sango leading the others into her room.

Joey had no problem voicing his amazement at the amount of cards whereas Yugi and Téa were a bit more professional about it.

"Joey, please refrain from breaking the glass." Kagome called out in mild aggravation once the blond boy collided with a glass shelf after Tristan had shoved him. "You as well Tristan. I would hate to kick you both out of the place."

They both looked up before wandering back to sit beside her on her bed.

"You really have a lot of cards." Téa commented, "Its quite an impressing collection."

Kagome looked up briefly and gave her a smile, "I guess, I a bit of a collector."

Sango leaned closer to her, "That means she's obsessed."

Kagome looked up, her eyes narrowing on Sango. "Okay, maybe I'm a little obsessed but, its fun and something to keep off the streets and away from gangs!"

Joey nodded, "At least she's being rational!"

"And honest." Yugi offered the smaller girl his assistance. Kagome looked to need it when it came to her sister sometimes.

She, in turn, huffed and crossed her arms. "Sango-chan just doesn't understand the happiness a card game can bring."

Laughter bloomed through the room at Kagome's rather blunt statement before she was pulled up by Sango.

"You can build your deck later, let's have a video game tournament!"

She rolled her eyes before complying to the taller girl's decision. "You guys up for it?"

A chorus of "yeah" game from the group, mainly from the three males, before they walked into the den.

Even if the one she wanted to talk to the most wasn't here, Kagome still let herself have some fun. She beat most of the guys before deciding to go easy on Téa.

After they gave up on video games, they sat about talking about nothing, the tournament approaching, everything, and then nothing again. By the end of the night, Kagome decided, that no matter what happened, she would help Yugi get his grandfather's soul back.

Let her own soul be dammed if she didn't.

SSOTD: A little short but the next chapter will be longer.

I was running out of things to put in this chapter... soo... I'll see you all next time.