I'm back again with another chapter! And I'd like to thank black-sage13 for adding this story to his/her fav stories list!
DISCLAIMER: You know the deal, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh and blah blah blah. Nor do I own Duel Monsters, Death Note, or Nickelback.
Chapter 9
Duel Monsters!
Finally! The day the gang and I found out about Duel Monsters hitting Japan. Course, once I read it in a gaming magazine, I high-tailed it to the Kame Game shop to special order some packs in English.
This was also the second time I faced off against X and his attempts to get me to join his Arcadia Organization.
000
"Holy crap!" Jonouchi exclaimed. "You've already got a crapload of good cards!"
"Well, she is from America." Yugi said. "But didn't you also say that your family couldn't afford much?"
Selena nodded. "Most of these I've won in duels and tournaments or bought them separately." She replied. "I've been going nuts waiting for Duel Monsters to be released in Japan."
"Speaking of cards, I got that order of yours in." Mr. Mutou said. He pulled a package up from behind the counter.
"Thanks!" Selena replied. She opened the small package (already paid for, of course) to reveal seven to twelve booster packs, all in English.
"How can you read that?" Jonouchi asked.
"It's my first language, genius." Selena replied. "Why else do you think I'm always sleep-deprived? I have to translate all my homework before and after I do it."
"That can't be too hard, can it?" Jonouchi asked. Anzu whacked him over the head.
"You're only saying that because you're on the brink of failing English." She said.
"Ow. Whatever," Jonouchi said. He turned back to the cards. "I'll buy some. Got any packs with good cards in them?"
"You won't know that until you open them." Mr. Mutou replied, handing Jonouchi a couple of packs. The door opened, admitting another one of their classmates—Seto Kaiba.
"So this game shop is your family's, Yugi?" He asked. He looked innocent enough, but something about Kaiba just didn't…feel right to Selena.
"You're Kaiba from our class, right?" Yugi asked. Kaiba nodded. At that same moment, Karin—Yugi's wheelchair-bound little sister—wheeled herself up from the back.
"I got those boxes you were asking for, Grandpa." She said. "Oh, no. Yugi, please don't tell me we're going to have another round of boys being boys." Karin sighed as she saw the additional boy.
"If it isn't the resident cripple!" Jonouchi said with a grin.
"I'm not a cripple!" Karin retorted with a punch to Jonouchi's arm.
"Jonouchi, I'd can it if I were you. None of us need another three-ring-circus like the one you started lat night." Selena sighed, sensing trouble.
"I take it you all play Duel Monsters?" Kaiba asked.
"Yeah! We were going to play at school tomorrow." Yugi replied. "Do you want to join our group?"
Kaiba smirked. "Join your group? Please," he replied. "I've got better things to do. I'm good enough to compete at the national level—none of you would be a challenge."
Selena bit the inside of her lip to hold back a remark that she was currently one of the US champs. And she was heading for a championship in Japan as well—or at least, that's what she hoped.
Then Kaiba spotted Mr. Mutou's Blue-Eyes White Dragon card. "You've got to be kidding me!" He gasped. "Where did you get that card?"
"It was given to me by a friend of mine." Mr. Mutou replied. "And you're thinking of buying it, I'm not selling."
"Not selling, huh?" Kaiba muttered. He swung his briefcase onto the counter and opened it. "Then I'll trade you all of these rare cards!"
"Cripes! An entire briefcase full of cards!" Jonouchi exclaimed. Selena couldn't help but be impressed. Most—no, all of my rare cards are in my deck. She thought.
"Sorry, but no." Mr. Mutou replied. "Even if this was a common card, I wouldn't trade anything for it. Like I said before, this card was a give from a friend of mine, making it particularly special. That is why I'm not going to part with this card."
Kaiba stared for a moment, and then snapped the briefcase shut and left the shop. "Have it your way." He said. The door sung shut behind him.
Karin whistled after a few seconds. "Wow. Exactly how rare is that card, Grandpa?"
"Well, if you have to know…" Mr. Mutou began.
"Please, Grandpa?" Yugi joined in.
"Even I want to know the Blue-Eyes' rarity now." Selena said.
"All right," Mr. Mutou laughed. "Apart from mine, there are three other Blue-Eyes cards. However," at this he held up a finger and smile spread across the old man's face, "there is a rumor that when production stopped, there were five Blue-Eyes White Dragon cards instead of four. Meaning that there's still one left in circulation." He dropped the finger and shrugged. "But it's only a rumor, and even if there was a fifth Blue-Eyes, then there's a good chance it'll never be found."
"Whoa," Yugi said. "A fifth Blue-Eyes. I know it's just a rumor, but it's still impressive. And your friend gave you a card that rare?"
Mr. Mutou nodded. "But I wouldn't advise any of you to go chasing a rumor."
Selena checked her watch. "Don't have to worry about that with me. I've got too much on my plate already." She said, picking up the package and stowing it in her bag. "I've got to get home. I'll see you guys at school tomorrow!"
000
Selena stretched as she watched Yugi and Jonouchi dueling. It was shortly after the end-of-day bell, and she was sticking around to watch her friends Duel. "Jonouchi, if you're sick of losing you could always Duel me. I promise I'll go easy." She said as Jonouchi suffered yet another loss.
"No way! You'd clobber me as bad as you do with checkers, I'll bet!" Jonouchi replied hotly. "Besides, I'd better beat it or my pops will kill me. See you tomorrow!"
"Later," Yugi said. "I'd better leave too. Grandpa's probably going to need help at the shop now that Duel Monsters is becoming so popular."
"Guess I'd better scat also, now that the entertainment's gone." Selena laughed. "I might stop by later for some help with my homework. The translations are starting to kill me."
"All right, I'll see you later then." Yugi said. "Bye!"
"Bye!" Selena replied, waving. She left for her apartment, playing Nickelback on her MP3 player. She hadn't gotten far before someone tapped her on the shoulder.
"What—" she started. Selena's face hardened when she recognized the yellow trench coat. "Hello, X." She said icily.
"I'm touched!" X said with his grin. "You remembered me, how sweet!"
"It's hard to forget someone who needs a life more than me." Selena replied coldly. "That, and you remind me of Light Yagami."
"I have who idea who you're talking about, but I'll take it as a compliment." X said. "I was only here to challenge you."
"To what?" Selena asked.
"A Duel, if you know the rules." X said. "And my offer still stands, Miss Kuro."
"I gave you my answer the first time we met: no." Selena replied. "As for the Duel, you're making a mistake in challenging me. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get home and get my homework done."
"Afraid?" X asked.
"No," Selena replied as she turned to leave. "You'd be annihilated."
"Really?" X asked as Selena started away. "I think that you're all talk, Miss Kuro. You're bluffing, playing up you skill and giving yourself too much credit. The skill you think you have is far stronger than what you really possess."
Selena stopped at looked back at him. "What?" She asked, the ice creeping back into her voice.
"Your tactic." X replied. "I've revealed your bluff."
Selena turned to face him. "It's not a bluff. I will tear you apart in a Duel." She said coldly. "Where is it? Where do you want to face off?"
X smiled. Selena had accepted his challenge after all. "There's an old go salon* downtown. Nobody ever goes there anymore; it's out of business." He explained. He took a paper airplane out of his pocket and threw it at Selena, who caught it. "That's the address. See you there."
Selena unfolded the airplane and read off the address. "901 S. Hisachi," she muttered. "That's in the old district downtown." X, I will annihilate you.
000
She was at the old go salon in minutes. All these tables make this the perfect spot for a game of Duel Monsters, she thought.
"Pick a table," X said. "You're the guest, after all."
Selena chose a seat close to a window and facing the door. X was bound of have come with goons after their last encounter, and she didn't want to me caught by surprise when the came through the door.
X sat down across from Selena and took out a magazine. "I'll give you a few extra minutes to prepare your Deck," he said. "Mine's already been modified for this duel."
"Okay," Selena said. She turned away from him. That reminds me; I've still got those packs to open… she reached into an inside pocket of her blazer and pulled out a couple packs. As silently as possible, she tore them open and went through the cards.
Nobleman of Crossout I can use. And Different Dimension Capsule. Hm, that guy may come in handy… Selena thought as she switched out cards. When she was sifting through her second pack, she stopped breathing for a few seconds. The rumor Mr. Mutou had told them was true.
There was a fifth Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
And it was right in the palm of Selena Kuro's hand.
No fucking way, Selena thought. I found the fifth Blue-Eyes! Shit… she placed the card on the top of her deck. Too crazy.
"Done," She said, turning back to X and shuffling her Deck. Selena placed it on the table. "Let's Duel."
X pulled his opening hand. "I should warn you; this Duel won't be what you're used to." He said. "It will be a psychic duel."
"What's that?" Selena asked as she drew her opening hand.
"You'll see," X replied. "Ladies first, as they say."
X: 2000
Selena: 2000
Selena drew her sixth card. "I'll save these two for later." She said, laying two face-down cards. "And I'll summon Rapid-Fire Magician (ATK: 1600/DEF: 1200) in Attack Mode." She placed the card on the table, and a young man with gray hair, violet wizard's hat, trousers, boots, coat and carrying two staffs materialized on the Field. "What the hell!"
"I told you—we're playing a psychic duel. By using my abilities I'm bringing the cards to life." X explained. "Of course, that means that you pay a penalty when you lose."
"What kind of penalty?" Selena asked.
"Oh, you'll find out." X replied. He drew his card and grinned. "I play my Desrook Archfiend (ATK: 1100/DEF: 1800) in Defense Mode!" A fiend that was composed of a skull-like head with four tentacles, each ending in a claw, with burning red eyes materialized. "I also place a face-down and end my turn."
Selena drew. And smiled. "A little thing you should know is that I've won the American championships the past two years." She said. "And you're about to find out why.
000
Why? The "why" is for another day. But I can tell you this much; X left me alone for a while after this duel. But as for my card…well, you can imagine what I was thinking when I discovered the fabled fifth Blue-Eyes was not only real, but I now owned it! And if any of you guys thing I'm selling it, then you're crazy!
Cards used
Desrook Archfiend
ATK: 1100/DEF: 1800
Attribute: LIGHT
Type: Fiend
The controller of this card pays 500 Life Points during each of his/her Standby Phases (this is not optional). When this card is specifically designated as a target of the effect of a card controlled by your opponent, when resolving the effect, roll a six-sided die. If the result is 3, negate the effect and destroy the opponent's card. When a "Terrorking Archfiend" on your side of the field is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, you can send this card from you hand to the Graveyard to Special Summon the "Terrorking Archfiend".
000
Rapid-Fire Magician
ATK: 1600/DEF: 1200
Attribute: DARK
Type: Spellcaster
While this card is face-up on the field, inflict 400 points of damage to your opponent's Life Points each time you activate 1 Normal Spell Card.
Just as a heads-up, I'm modifying the effects slightly for the first edition of Duel Monsters that shows up in the manga, where the players start out with 2000 Life Points instead of 4000. Don't worry; when I get to Battle City and beyond, I'll go back to the original effects.
See you next time!
~Hikari Hellion
Chapter 9
