6.A Challenge


Mr. Todd and Ms. Lovett walked slowly talking, they were heading to the Towns Market to pick up a few supplies and for Yami to see a new big shot duelist that is more worried about money and ripping people off rather than enjoying challenge without profit. The small area was packed with people, foods, supplies, and what else have you. It was a bustling business center for this part of London. They slowly approach a large wooden stage with people with gather around it.

"He's here every Thursday. Italian. All the rage he is." Mai whispered to Sweeney. "Best Duelist in London, they say." They stop a few yards from the stage, Sweeney looks angrily at it. Then turns his head to the left noticing Ryou Beadle walking amongst the crowd. Observing the liveliness of the people. Ms. Lovett looks at with only with her eyes. Todd reaches down under his coat and onto his belt, he snaps off the lock to a small square box, he starts to pull out one of his cards. He has a deadly look upon his face, he takes a quick step towards Ryou but is stopped. "Hang on." Says Mai. Sweeney takes a step back and stands next to her. He has a look a defeat on his face, that of a dog being pulled back on its chain when it wants to play, would have. He slides the card back and buckles the clasp quickly, concealing them once again. Ryou stops and talks ,only a few feet away from Yami, to a small group of pretty women, who giggle at what he says to them. All of a sudden there is a rhythmic beating of drum, as to obtain the peoples attention. A boy, around the same age or older than Anthony, walks out onto the wooden stage. He has tattered clothing and blonde puffy hair. He bangs the drum some more.

"Ladies and gentleman

May I have your attention, pleassssse?

Do you awake every morning,

In shame and despair,

To realize your dueling experience

Was not at all fair?

What are you to do there?

Well, ladies and gentleman,

From now on you can waken at ease,

You need never again,

Have a worry or care,

I will show you a miracle marvelous rare.

Gentleman, you are about to see something what arose from the dead!

On the top of my head!" The young man throws off his hat, spilling many medals and ribbons won from dueling tournaments. The crowd laughs at this sudden surprise. Except for Mr. Todd and lady Lovett don't look the least bit amused.

"T'was Kiaba's Miracle Elixir,

That's what did the trick, sir

True, sir, true. He grabs and hands out bottles to the crowd.

Was it quick, sir? Did it in a tick, sir?

Just like an elixir ought to do, how about a bottle, mister?

Only costs a penny, guaranteed. He opens a bottle and pours a tiny amount onto the a mans head.

Does Kiaba's stimulate the brain, sir?

You can have my oath, sir. 'Tis unique. The man rubs his head for a second, smells his hand and makes a sour nasty face.

Rub a minute

Stimulating, isn't it?

Soon you'll be master duelist in one week!

Pardon me, ma'am what's that awful stench? (Todd)

Are we standing in an open trench? (Mai)

Must be standing near an open trench! (Todd)

Buy Kiaba's Miracle Elixir, if you are not quick,

sir, you will lose!

Try Kiaba's, When play so quick, sir

You can have your pick, sir

Of the girls!

Want to buy a bottle, missus?

What is this? (Todd)

What is this? (Mai)

Smells like piss. (Todd)

Smells like…eh. (Mai)

Looks like piss! (Todd)

Wouldn't touch it if I was you, dear! (Mai)

This is piss, piss with ink. (Todd)

Let Kiaba's activate your dueling, sir!

Keeps it off your boots, sir, eats right through. (Todd)

Yes, get Kaiba's, use a bottle of it, Ladies seem to love it.

Flies do, too! (Mai) The crowd burst into laughter, many people take the bottles they were given and either puts them back onto the stage or throws them away. Suddenly a tall skinny man burst out from behind the curtain, center stage. He is in fine blue silky clothes, with a smooth yellow velvet cape and top hat. His apparel is of the ut-most fanciest well, dressed rich styles. He has brown hair and a small comb shaped mustache. His expression is not of a happy one.

Iiiiii, am a Se-to a Kia-ba! The king of the duelists, the duelist of kings!

E buon giorno, good day!

I blow you a kiss! He puckers his lips and blows a kiss to the crowd. The man talks in a heavily weighted Italian accent. He takes of his had violently.

And Iiiii!! The so famous a Kiaba,

I wish-a to know-a,

Who has-a the nerve-a to saaayyyy…

My elixir is piss!…Who says this?! His eyes squint upon the crowd, waiting for someone to fess up. Mr. Todd looks up and responds. "I do." The people all turn their heads and stare at the one man. Mr. Kiaba has the sternest of looks on his face.

"I am Mr. Sweeney Todd of Fleet Street." He approaches the platform leaving Ms. Lovett behind. "I have opened a bottle of Kiaba's elixir. And I say to you that it is nothing but an arrant fraud, concocted from piss and ink. It will, in no way, magically help you to become a better duelist. That takes months of hard training and putting your heart into your cards and cannot be obtained through any elixir. Furthermore, Signor, I have dueled no kings, yet I wager I can beat you in duel, faster than any street mountebank." Todd pulls out his silver lined cards and holds them in the air for all their majesty to be seen. "Do you see these cards?" He turns once for all of the crowd to see. Then looks back at Kiaba. "I lay them against 5 pound." Sweeney boasts joyfully. "You are no match, sir. Either accept my challenge, or reveal yourself as a sham." Says Mr. Todd quietly but evilly. A large malicious smile grows on Kiaba's face.

"You hear this foolish man?" He snarls. "Now, please, you will see how he will-a regret-a his-a folly." He twirls off his cape in what was supposed to be a dramatic fashion but gets stuck on his hand for a moment. "Jo-ey!" He screams, tapping his cane on the wood twice very hard. The boy runs up to his master. Grabbing all of his fancy items and running them through the curtain. Returning with a wooden table, with two stools.

"Will Ryou Beadle be the judge?" Sweeney asks.

"Glad, as always, to oblige my friends and neighbors." He says in a nasty upper crusted tone.

"Could of just said a simple (Yes)." Sweeney says quietly to himself.

The two men sit down at a table, placeing there cards aside and Ryou mixes them multiple times. "Ready?" Ryou asks.

"Ready!" (Kiaba)

"Ready." (Todd)

"The one who doesn't lose all their life points is the winner!" Ryou announces, then blows a high pitched old whistle. They both draw 7 cards, Sweeney from his deck on the table, and Kiaba from Joey's hand. Pulling each card hard and quick across Joey's fingers as to leave paper cuts. Joey makes small sounds of pain after every card. Kiaba smiles evilly.

"Now, signorini, signori,

We shuffle-a the cards,

But first-a,

You gather around, signorini, signori,

You looking a man who have had-a the glory to duel-a the Pope!

Mr. Sweeney, whoever,

I beg-a you pardon,

You'll probably say it was only a cardinal,

Nope! It was-a the Pope!" Joey unfurls a drawn picture of the Pope saying, "Thanks for the challenging card game!" The crowd laughs at this. Kiaba is place and switching cards and making lots of actions for his turn. Sweeney just sits there staring at the cards in the far right of his hand. Nonchalantly lining up his cards so they are all at even height in his hand.

"To play-a the game,

To handle the stares,

Requires the grace,

Requires the flair,

For if-a you slip,

Your game-a will trip,

A bit-a to far-a beyond-a repair.

To duel-a whole game,

Or even a part,

Without it-a smart,

Require the heart,

Not just-a the flash,

It take-a panache,

It take-a the passion for the art." Kiaba looks at Sweeney in a triumphal manner. He was finished putting down his cards he wants and draws new ones. Todd simply puts down two cards. Both face down. One as creature, the other for magic. Kiaba chuckles slightly and turns to face the crowd. With the move he just played there was no way he could lose.

"To play-a the game,

Requires some thought,

This is from early infancy,

That the talent was given to me, by Godddd." Kiaba makes a quick sloppy cross on his chest. He flips over 3 cards and adds combines them together. Making them attack Sweeney.

"It take-a the skill,

It take-a the brains,

It take-a the will,

To take-a the paiiinnsss!!

It take-a the pace,

It take-a the GRAAACCCCEEEE!! (High pitched note!)

At that moment Sweeney flips over his two cards while Kiaba is singing still. "The winner, is Todd!" Announces Ryou. Kiaba is mortified! He looks at the cards. Kiaba's attack triggered a trap card that destroys all his cards on the field and half his points, then let Sweeney attack his nothingness with the second card. The Dark Magician. Which ended the game. The crowd goes ballistic! Ms. Lovett just stands there and claps happily and innocently. Sweeney stands there with no expression. Then turns to Kiaba and gives a wicked little smile, rubbing it in his face silently. (Haha, I have beaten you! Loser!)

"Sir, I bow to a skill far greater than my own." Kiaba humbly says.

"The 5 pound?" Asks Sweeney, holding out an open hand. Seto reluctantly puts the money in his hand. "May the good Lord smile on you." Says Kiaba creepily, "Until we meet again." This time his accent has dissipated. He turns furiously. "Come boy, come!" He slaps Joey across the face, then kicks him in the rear into the curtain. Making him invisible from the crowd.

"Suppose its just me gentle heart, but I do hate to see a boy treated like that." Says Ms. Lovett sadly as Sweeney approaches her.

"Congratulations Mr. Todd!" A citizen from the crowd compliments. "May I ask you, sir, do you have your own establishment? In which you maybe can teach me how to duel like that? Or at least sell me some supplies for it?" Asks the man.

"He certainly does." Mai replies, putting Mr. T's jacket on him. "Sweeney Todd's Card Game Shop, above my Meat Pie Emporium in Fleet Street. Sweeney walks off to Ryou.

"I thank you, sir. You are a paragon of integrity." Says Sweeney with a sense of falseness in his voice.

"Well, I try to do my best for my friends and neighbors." The nasty little man boastfully. "Your establishment is in Fleet Street, you say?

"Yes, sir."

"Then, Mr. Todd, you shall surely see me there before the week is out." He grins nastily.

"You will be welcomed, Ryou Beadle. And I can guarantee to give you, without a penny's charge, the closest shave you will ever know." Sweeney grins devilishly. Eye's plotting.

"Come on, love." Ms. Lovett taps Sweeney on the stomach and directs him back towards home. They head off through the streets filled with people.


Sin- Wow I'm tired, its like 2:10 right now. So ya, leave a review. Im going to bed now, and my chair is hurting my back. GoodNight everyone! Love to all whom enjoys my stories! New one should be up soon.