Hey everyone,
Wow, there may be only a few votes so far, but I guess I really did better with that couple than I did with the others. Either that or you all just share the same like for the same pair, which I cannot argue, even though it really isn't my favorite couple of the three. Oh well, I'm just glad that my title can come true.
Have fun,

Venquine1990

Chapter 20
And The Winner Is …

End Of The Show
Mokuba's POV

"This Talent show was amazing!" I happily tell my brother, who – on the asking of both me and Joey – had decided to join us and the man makes me groan inwardly as he grumbles: "There are definitely a lot of potential talents for future careers shown this night." Yet the fact that he didn't talk further about business makes me feel confident.
Over the last few weeks Joey has slowly but surely helped my brother find a much better way to divide his life between his own health, his happiness and his career and he had even appointed himself the new assistant and deputy CEO of Kaiba Corp before going into a furiously heated discussion with all of the staff.
None of them had, at first, taken the blonde seriously and Rowan and Fuguta had been required to gather and collect at least a quarter of the staff, who had been unwilling to come at the orders of someone they did not recognize as their superior. However, Joey had proven to be headstrong and uncaring for this.

He had even gone further than that and had laid into practically all those high in the ranks of the company for not showing enough compassion and worry for their overworked boss or for waiting until it was almost too late for the man to recover from his own insistent working schedule and the whole staff had felt Joey's ire.
It had this speech that had both earned Joey the respect of those high in power in the company as well as get Seto to stop calling him dog and puppy all the time and call him by his actual name, though I can tell that whenever Seto will feel as if things aren't going as planned, he will probably go back to the former references.
Joey had then used the large TV and computer screen in the conference room to call on Seto and had worked together with the staff to make a schedule for Seto that could make sure he could still feel in charge of Kaibacorp, but not feel the constant need to work there from Monday morning to Sunday evening ever week.

My brother had definitely been hard-headed when this discussion had come about, yet I had known of Joey's plan to contact my brother and had made sure that the health specialists that was treating Seto was also present and together with some of my own begging and pleading had my big brother given in to our requests and demands.
A schedule had been set up and the day after Seto had started working from his bedroom, yet he had agreed to not work for hours on end right the first day. On the other hand, my brother had been a bit grumpy and slightly agitated with himself when the timer went off and he had to close the computer, saying he hadn't been done yet.
Joey and I had looked at each other and we had told him he could finish one more report, proving him we cared for his health, but that we were also willing to compromise with his desire to get work done and a small smile of gratitude had adorned my brother's face before he refocused himself on his most important report of the day.

This had been going on since about the third day after Seto collapsed and by now a mayor change has come to my brother as he had told his writing staff he would be a home-worker, telling them that he felt he could do more for the company if he was in an environment he felt more comfortable at, but that he would still attend meetings.
The staff had definitely been shocked to hear this coming from my brother's mouth, yet Seto had proven himself to be an incredible boss and worker as he had already worked up several hundreds of copies of a contract that would allow his employees to do the same, granted they vowed through the contract to keep up their strong pace of work.
Only employees had taken my brother up on his offer, yet the results were nothing short of staggering as these employees had also gotten the chance to become more social now that they worked at home and through their social networks they had come up with several ideas for new products; some of them doable others best left as dreams.

Then I shake my head as someone, after a good few minutes of us all looking at an empty stage with closed curtain – which was due to the last few acts getting the chance to change back to their regular cloths – walks up on stage and takes a microphone as he says: "Thank you all for waiting. Now it is time to vote for the winner."
This in itself had been something that had really excited me and made people like Imay feel really good about their chances and possible consequences, especially because of that stupid bet Marik had been tricked into and the former spirit had told us: "Because the audience votes, those bullies can't declare favoritism to the staff."

And this had pleased us all, yet at the same time I feel a little hesitant to actually cast my vote as I listen: "As I speak, my students and staff are walking down your paths, handing out I-pads that have been developed by KaibaCorp for this very event as they only have one feature on them allowing you to cast your vote.
To make matters even better will you be able to vote 3 times, one for First place, one for second and one for third. You will be able to cast your vote by pressing how many stars you give each of the contestants. Or, if you only found certain acts good, you can just give full stars to those select few. Accept your devices and vote please."
This last part makes me feel a little worried as I have no doubt that most of the visitors will follow up with that part of the man's speech, yet when Joey, who had gone to sit on my left with Seto on my right, hands me my device, do I instantly scroll down to where Yugi, Ryou, Marik and their Yami's are listed.

Reaching this bit, I bite my lip as I go over the three acts and think: "Damnit, I don't want to hurt any of them or make the others think I like them more than the others. Which one do I pick?" But then I feel a hand on my left shoulder and see Joey smile at me as he asks: "We're friends, right?" Instantly calming me down.
I smile at the confident blonde and nod before taking a second look at my decide, going over my memories of the songs while feeling a lot more at ease and then think: "All three of them played in one of my absolute favorite songs? I guess the real question is; who of them made me love their song more than before the show?"
And this question makes me happily give Ryou and Bakura 5 stars, Yugi and Imay 4 ½ stars and Marik and Malik 4 stars before I close off the device and pull the can of soda I had bought before the show out of the pocket that is situated in the back of the seat in front of me and then put the device in there instead.
The pocket has a bit of metal that has lights showing through it in the bottom of the pocket and when I put the IPad in, do I see the lights light up one by one from left to right before the device turns on for a minute and I see a loading bar appear at the top part of the screen before the device and the lights at the pocket bottom turn off.

Amazed at this little bit of technology, which I know was also distributed to the school by Kaibacorp, do I then look at Joey, who smiles and says: "I did Yugi first, Marik second and Ryou third. You?" And I answer: "I did Ryou, Yugi, Marik." And then we both turn to Seto who calmly answers: "Moto, Bakura, Ishtar."
And while Joey is shocked that Seto would want Yugi to win, do I easily get why my brother made this choice as Yugi had often helped him with problems with his company, while Bakura never really did anything against him and he must still, slightly hold a grudge against Malik for the trouble he caused at Battle City Tournament.

Then the lights all around the room turn dim and spotlights get set onto the center part of the stage, where the school principal is standing an the woman smiles as she says: "Alright, the votes have been counted by the computer – which was provided to us Not by KaibaCorp, but by a Chinese company – and now it's announcement time."
And while I know that Seto had definitely not been happy when he heard he had to share the technology of his IPads with another country, had my brother accepted the terms due to his known connections three contestants and my brother had relented to the notion that the computer could make him be called to be biased.
And if there is one thing my brother hates, it's having the reputation of being biased about anything, meaning he had accepted for the computer to be distributed by another company to ensure that there would be less of a chance for others to call either him, the winners or the school out for cheaters or those who have favorites.

I then focus back on the principal, who by now has been joined by all 45 student contestants, who are all standing in either the group they were performing with or the people they are friends with – such as our own friends – and who appeared as the curtains were drawn and while I wave at Yugi and the others does the woman say:
"I would like you all to know that, due to the incredible amount of votes, the computer has given us a top 5 instead of the expected top 3. Therefore, we have decided to give the numbers 4 and 5 a prize of their own choice, granted it can be afforded by either the staff, the school budget or – if the winners so desire – the cafeteria."

This alone excites me and I move myself a little bit further up my seat as I lean forward and the woman says: "In fifth place – Eleanor Rosaria and Eline Cresten with their acrobatics!" And the two girls who are in their final year and who have been competing each year happily cheer as they take a bit of paper from their principal.
"Can we have the cafeteria to practice our skills for the grand Gymnastic Finale next month?" Eline then asks and the principal asks: "When would you like to use it?" To which Eleanor answers: "In the weekends, can we?" And when the principal nods, do the girls squeal as they happily take their position back with the others.

"Fair price and good choice for their futures." Seto comments and I nod, while I can tell that Joey feels a little confused as to why anyone would want to come to school in the weekends and then the principal says: "In fourth place – Marik and Malik Ishtar and Duke Devlin with their song Forget About Love."
And while Malik looks shocked before snapping his fingers in frustration, do he, Duke and Marik move over to the principal, yet before he can reach her, do I already worry while cheering for them as he suddenly sports a very devilish grin that makes me wonder what on earth he could have planned and when they reach the principal, does he say:

"I want the teachers to meet with my Marik before class each day and tell him what his homework is for at least the next fortnight." And while this shocks the entire cheering audience silent, does Marik snap out of his shock the first and say: "On the condition that I remain in school at the study hall until my friends are done with their days."
And while his Yami is obviously against this, does he not comment and I know this is because he know that Ryou, Yugi and Marik take great pride in their perfect presentation record and the Yami grumbles an acceptance before the principal does the same and writes the conditions down on their piece of paper.
"Go figure that Yami would want more time with his boyfriend. Still, at least he kept the boy's own desires and needs in mind. I guess he's changing after all." And while I can clearly tell that Seto doesn't fully believe himself, do I still cheer along with everyone else as they watch Marik and Malik rejoin the others.

Then the principal turns to Duke, who is no longer dressed as Iago and is instead wearing his version of a business suit and the black-haired owner of Dungeon Dice Monsters shrugs as he says: "Allow me to show off any new products for my Dungeon Dice Monsters in the cafeteria at least once and I'm good."
The woman nods, while Joey and I look at Seto, who seems contemplative, but then shrugs and I smile at my blonde friend as we both know that the reason Seto doesn't really care is because he believes he doesn't need such a publicity stunt and that he has his own form of those to keep his company going well before we return our focus.

The principal then recovers from her own astonishment and continues as she says: "In Third place –." And here I get nervous as I just know that those three bastards will take advantage of the situation and their so-called bet if they were to make third place instead of Marik, but before I can truly start to worry, does the principal say:
"Jason Cole and Sam Winselldorf with their incredible acoustics on the piano and violin!" And with relief rushing through my body for now do I almost jump out of my seat – like I did with Marik and Malik – as I cheer for the two boys, who are actually only juniors and made this their first ever appearance on stage.
The two boys are shocked to the ground and need the two girls standing next to them, who are giggling at how cute they must think the two third place runners, into moving over to their principal, who happily hands them three large bags of sweets that had been handpicked by the cafeteria staff before the show.
The boys also accept a trophy, the giving of this bit of bronze metal making them realize what they just accomplish and while large grins of amazed glee grow on their faces do they take each other's hands as they bow to both us and those who are on stage with them and cheering for them before returning to their spots.
"That bit of opera with a mix of jazz was definitely worth third place. It was probably the way that they showed different kinds of scenes in their background as they played that made many people pick them over the Ishtars and Devlin." Seto mutters and while Joey says: "Still, bit of a bummer for them." Do I agree with both.

Then the principal raises her hands as the crowds are still cheering and when they quiet, does she says: "Now. This is it! The computer counted a total of 24.000 stars and these two – the runner ups – were just 14 stars under the actual winners. Please give it up for – Yugi and Imay Moto with their song I See The Light!"
And while Joey's mouth dropped when he heard how many stars had been divided between all of the contestants does he almost make me deaf to one ear as he yells at the top of his lungs when he hears the names of his two best friends and even Seto shows a bit of a proud smile as he stays seated while clapping strongly.
I myself have jumped onto my seat to cheer for the two and while it's easy to see that Imay has some trouble accepting second place, do he and Yugi still have happy smiles on their faces as they approach the principal, yet when they get handed a voucher and a trophy, does the tentative smile suddenly broaden quite a bit.
This confuses me, but then May says: "Oh right, the runner up gets a voucher for the most exclusive restaurant in all of Domino city with the arrangement to have the whole restaurant to themselves for the night itself." And instantly the large smile on Imay's face – as well as the tentative blush on Yugi's – make a whole lot more sense.

The two then happily take the prize and voucher from the principal and return to the others, Imay's arm firmly wrapped around Yugi's torso as he seems to be whispering plans for said night into the Dueling Champion's ear and while the audience is almost besides themselves for this cute couple, does the principal regain silence.
She, by now, has a smile the size of the stage itself on her face and says: "And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, the duo that has won with only 14 of the 24.000 stars more than the runner up. A duo that, I believe, has won not just due to their incredible performance, but because of how well they worked together with their backstage singers."
And instantly I feel my heart leap into my throat as I can already tell who won and think: "Yes, thank goodness." On the same time that the principal shouts: "The winners are RYOU AND BAKURA WITH HELP OF TÉA GARDNER AND SERENITY WHEELER WITH THEIR SONG I WON'T SAY I'M IN LOVE!"
And with that does the roof almost collapse under the thunderous applause of the audience, Imay again getting a bit of a frown on his face due to the victorious smirk Bakura sends him, yet Ryou notices this and actually stabs his Yami in the side with his elbow before taking the grunting Yami by the arm to receive their awards.

"What did #1 get again?" Joey asks and May answers: "A money prize of 15.000 Dollars as well as a guaranteed position at any secondary education of the winner's desire. Looks like Téa will be able to get her Dancing University in New York after all." And while Joey seems shocked, do I feel a little mixed at hearing this.
For one because I am very happy for Téa for getting this chance, yet I also feel sad as she was one of the first of the gang to befriend me. However I also feel amused at Bakura as the Yami's have voiced their displeasure of the Hikari's going to school on numerous occasions and finally pride at the whole group and their victory.

And just then does the one thing happen that makes the entire event even more enjoyable as Arthur, Anamia and Claire angrily dash forward, past the group receiving their award and the documents that will ensure their enrollment in the schools of their choice and the two girls glare at the principal as Arthur speaks and says:
"Ma'am, you are nothing but a cheat and a liar. You say that the IPads and the decisive computer were not biased or anything and yet the three groups that are closest to KaibaCorp –." But then suddenly Serenity snaps: "Wrong." Shocking Arthur mid sentence and making all of us look at her as she angrily spats back:

"If the computer had, in any way or form, been biased, then Yugi would have won as Seto would have considered it a public disgrace if his most famous rival didn't win an event like this. Plus, Ryou himself never did anything but play a victim role in the Battle City tournament, so his victory proves that Seto Kaiba is neutral to this show.
Next to that is there the fact that I myself never had any direct contact or relation with Kaiba, his company or events as I was never anything more than a member of the audience and the same can be said for Téa. Yes, Bakura did cause some problems for Kaibacorp at the Tournament, but compared to other events, his are insignificant.
Put all that together and you have an iron-clad bit of evidence that Kaibacorp is in no way responsible for my friends and I beating you. However, I have one last decisive bit of evidence to prove this." And by now I wonder what the girl could be on about, but then hear Joey whisper: "You tell them, Sis." Making me turn to him.

The blonde has a victorious smirk on his face, not unlike the self-confident smile that currently adorns Serenity's face, staying there even when Anamia huffs and asks: "And what would that decisive evidence be?" To which Serenity turns to our seats in the audience and asks: "Mokuba, did the school ask for help from Kaibacorp?"
And while I wonder where the girl is going, do I nod and say: "Yes, Kaibacorp provided Roland and Fugata to provide security to the doors leading outside of the room, but promised the principal through a contract not to send anymore and that Seto and I would come as students, not business men." And Seto nods to confirm this.
By now the three bullies look a little worried and Serenity asks: "Would you and your brother mind proving that by, say, calling them here so we can see their positions at the current moment?" At this I shrug and after Seto makes a quick call on his cell-phone, do the brunette and green haired man appear from the doorways.

Serenity smiles at them and then turns to the three bullies as she says: "And there you have it. The only roles Kaibacorp played in this Talent Show was providing security at the doors and IPads to chose the winners. So sorry, but Ryou, Bakura, Téa and I won fair and square and now – we would like accept our prices, thank you."
And while the three bullies grumble under their breaths as they walk away, does the principal then prove that she doesn't like being called a liar as she says: "Not to mention, you three ended up in 19th spot thanks to earning no more than 154 votes." And while this shocks the three, do they then sulk back to their spot.

I, in the mean time, feel like laughing my hair off my head at how low the three scored, which wasn't really surprising as they just leaned against badly designed pillars while singing a song about how incredibly popular they were, making a lot of those who actually pitied them shake their heads at their own arrogance as they performed.
Then the principal adjusts her outfit and shouts: "Now please – GIVE IT UP FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOL'S INCREDIBLE TALENT!" And as the lights happily flash over all of the groups of contestants, do we all give a huge round of applause and cheers for the happy smiling groups that bow to us while on stage.

Half an hour later
Moto Residence

"That thing with the security was really brilliant, Serenity." Yugi says over a large mug of hot chocolate, which together with the marshmallows and whipped cream is yet another something that none of the Yami's had ever tasted before and that had made Bakura almost spill the whole thing over himself in his eagerness at the taste.
The girl smiles and says: "Thanks, Yugi, but it was really Joey's idea. It was one of the things he took care of while in the meetings with the executives of Kaibacorp a few weeks ago." This makes most of the group who had congregated at the Moto Game Shop turn to the blonde, who has a chocolate drink moustache and the boy says:
"What, those idiots were foolish enough to draw up that fake contract about the Yami's switching relationships and that was what inspired me. That and Kaiba over here needed something to tone down his business side so he could go and just enjoy a good show – well, good depending on who was on stage, that is."

And while I cringe, do I have to agree that there were a few acts that had been downright awful and then Téa says: "That reminds me. The principal said that those three bastards got in the 19th spot, but I remember that there were 27 acts. Does that mean that there were actually another 8 semi-prizes?" But Seto shakes his head and says:
"The principal was definitely determined to get as many acts as possible, but the staff agreed to have the computer only make a top 20.""So those three only got second to last?" Bakura then asks, a few drops of chocolate still dripping from his hair and Yugi mutters: "I wonder who could have done worse than they did."

Some of the others nod, yet others shrug and Imay says: "I'm more curious to know just how many stars we actually earned." And to this does Joey actually pull out an IPad of his own, shocking the others and he asks: "What, I got one for my help in the whole preparation event." The others nod and he says:
"Ah, here it is. Marik and Malik got 1782 stars, Yugi and Imay got 1886 stars and Bakura and Ryou got a full 1900 stars. Eline and Eleanor got 1632 stars and Jason and Sam got 1821 stars." To this Yugi whistles and says: "Wow, it was a close call for all five acts." To this Joey nods and says: "Yeah, but the girls won by a landslide.
"How's that?" Téa asks and Joey says: "They got their spot with 1632 stars, yet the runner up after them got only 1411 stars. All the others got a score between 0 and 1032, which really isn't that bad, considering there were another 13 spots left, the three bullies not accounted." To this we all nod and then Serenity asks:

"So Yugi, you and Imay must be really excited to have a chance to have Restaurant Á Cherice all to yourselves sometime soon, right?" To which the boy turns red, while Imay smiles and Joey says: "Oh yeah, say pall, did that voucher have a set date or can you just make a reservation yourself, huh?" To which the boy answers:
"It's in a fortnight from now. The voucher also says we can call ahead of time in case there are certain seats, music or meals we would like to have them reserve for us." And while some of the girls whistle, do I then see Yugi turn an even worse shade of red while Imay's eyes convey that he just send a mental message his way.
The two remain quiet for a while, even while Téa and May ask them several other questions, yet the more they talk silently between each other, the redder Yugi;s face becomes and then May suddenly slams her hand on the table, shocking us all as she asks: "Okay, what is going on here? Why the tomato face, Yugi?"

And the shy boy that Yugi had been all those years ago, before he became confident under Imay's care and guidance seems to have returned to the boy as he mutters something I can only barely hear and have a lot of trouble understanding before May crosses her arms over her chest and asks: "Sorry, what was that? I couldn't hear you."
And Yugi mutters just above his own breath: "Yami is trying to convince me to go cross-dressed." Making the arrogant look May had before turn slack with shock while the rest of us turn our shocked eyes at the Yami, who shrugs and says: "What? He promised it would be used for special occasions and this will be our first actual date.
Special enough in my eyes." And while Yugi turns almost even more red than before, can I not argue the ancient Yami's logic before Ryou changes the whole thing around as he asks: "But will Yugi feel comfortable wearing such a thing when traveling there? The restaurant is pretty famous, you know, and the street often very crowded.
I know he showed himself like this for the Talent Show, but that was because the act required it of him. Plus, he got the chance to change back to usual cloths once the act was over. If you were to go on a date, he would either have the promise of the restaurant staff that he could change there or have to risk being seen in public.

And sorry, Imay, but not everyone in Domino thinks as high of Yugi as the Duel Monster World Champion as our gang does. And even if they do, he is and remains a famous figure, so there are sure to be paparazzi and gossip columnist writers all around, who would love nothing more than to use such a concept to ruin his image.
Especially if you take into account that most of the gossip magazines are owned by Claire and her family." The boy ends his little explanation and by now Imay seems to feel pretty bad about having tried to convince his Hikari to do this and he says: "Touché, Ryou, I guess I didn't take those matters into account."
He then turns to Yugi and pulls the boy close as he softly mutters: "I'm sorry, Hikari, I should have been more understanding of why such an idea would embarrass you. Can you forgive your guilty Yami?" And the smile and kiss that Yugi shares with him say it all, making Imay happily wrap his arms around the boy in return.

All of us smile at the happy couple and when they are done, does Yugi turn to his grandfather and ask: "Grandpa, what Ryou said is true, but he also gave me an idea. Could you call the restaurant for me?" The older man nods and Yugi kisses Imay again and whispers he will be right back before leaving us all in the living room.
Five minutes later he walks back in and gives Imay another kiss before he says: "There done. And I have a task for you, my lovely Pharaoh." The nickname had became one Yugi used often and while Imay had at first felt a little uncomfortable, had he happily accept it as Yugi told him it was referring to him being royal to Yugi's heart.
The Yami happily smiles at his beloved boyfriend and asks: "And what is that, my dashing Hikari?" And the answer the timid boy gives us shows that Ryou really did give Yugi an idea and that what happened at the Talent Show is not a one time event. "Tomorrow, you get to deliver a new set of outfits to the restaurant, Yami.
The chief of the restaurant promised to keep it in his personal safe and we get to use his office to change once we get there for our date. Plus, he promised us the most reclusive, yet romantic seats at the restaurant. No chances for paparazzi, yet the perfect chance for you and me to be together in a very special way for our first date."
This statement shocks us all, yet Imay is the first to react as he practically pulls Yugi onto his own seat and kisses the boy so passionately, the timid Hikari lets out a yelp, followed by a loving moan before Imay parts again and whispers: "Cross-dressed or not, you are my sweetest of lights and I can't believe I am this lucky to have you."Making his Hikari smile.

Wow, what an ending!
Okay, that whole star system was a little hard, but I do love having chosen Mokuba as the POV of this chapter as it allowed me to fall back on the whole Kaiba thing. And for those wondering, Joey definitely has a lot of intelligence, he just often doesn't like using it. He just did so here, because of his sense of guilt to Kaiba.
Also, I know Kaiba himself might sound a little OC, but I need him and his decision to work at home as I need incentive for him and Joey to grow closer and that will definitely start happening very soon. However, next chapter will be another time jump and will have my main Yami and Hikari on their first date.
Excited yet,

Venquine1990
PS. Don't worry, I assure you that the three bullies aren't out of the picture just yet. Just read the top AN of last chapter and you'll see what I mean.
PPS. If Yami's And Hikari's is your absolute favorite, please vote on it in my new poll. Thanks in advance.