Chapter 21!
Bentstua: I know it doesn't make sense now, but I hope it does once this Chapter is over. I know Yusei not giving credit is bad, but Yami and Jaden are considered to be two of the best duelists ever. So, I guess the state of shock is what might have caused him to doubt Akiza's skills. I'm also glad that you're enjoying the story.
A/N: I hope this Chapter helps explain the ending of last Chapter and I hope people are still enjoying the story.
The main group went to a hamburger shop and all order burgers. As they sat at a table to eat, they were all upset. "What did he mean by it was duelists only?" Luna asked. Yusei and Akiza thought about it. "Maybe they just want time to themselves," Akiza concluded, "After all, they are at a pretty important event." Yusei nodded. "That does make sense, but why push us aside?" Yusei asked, "It's not like we were distracting them the whole duel. We weren't bothering them or embarrassing them." Leo frowned as he took his last bite of burger. "Or maybe they've both just turned into Jack," he added, "Cocky and arrogant." Jack frowned. "I'm not cocky and arrogant!" he shouted.
Back inside the "duelist only" room, Yami and Jaden sat with Mark, talking over dueling strategies. Yami and Jaden had gotten all their training and information from Yusei and company. However, it had been so long since they actually talked about different strategies and such. Jaden and Yami had been pretty much left alone during the past week when it came to their decks, as Jack insisted that, "You made it this far, so why change now?" he beckoned.
However, Mark had told them about all kinds of different strategies, cards, and combos. On top of that, he told them about dueling here at the districts. "You've got to start having a personality, besides just the dueling," he informed them. Jaden and Yami were confused. "What do you mean?" Yami asked. Mark smiled. "Look, my buddy Brian made it through to the pros and not because he was the best with his deck. He had a style and flare that advertisers loved. Once you guys go to state, there are going to be scouts and advertisers around. If you're good enough to get to nationals, the scouts and advertisers are begging for almost every duelist to join their league or advertise their products." Yami and Jaden were intrigued. Yusei had never told them this information before and it made them want to win even more.
On top of that, they didn't really know how to act as pro duelists. They had seen Jack acting all self-centered and cocky like. However, that was not their style. On top of that, Yusei had no plans of going pro. So, he didn't really have all the ins and outs of pro dueling. Not to mention the fact that neither one of them had experience with advertisers. They really had no idea on how to appeal to them or get them to notice them outside of the dueling arena. If they didn't qualify on placing, then how would they reach their goal in advertising? Still, even though Yami and Jaden were taking this all in, they still wanted to look and feel good about it. When the lunch break was over, they all headed back outside, with the crowd waiting for them, for the next round.
When they did, the gang went up to them, looking upset. "Hey Yami! Why did you brush us off?" Leo asked, speaking for all of them. Yami smiled. "Sorry," he apologized, "But we were just talking to the other duelists about strategy and what it's like to be a professional." Jack blew a raspberry. "Phh! If you wanted that information, then let me be the one who tells you all about it." Yusei turned to Jack. "Yeah, but they're in the standing duel league. You can see more advertising on their clothes and stuff like that than you do for a Turbo Duel Jack." Akiza nodded. "Yeah. Besides, maybe these guys know some stuff that we don't," she added.
"Right," Jaden replied, "Anyways, we'd better go duel." Leo waved. "Good luck!" he shouted. The guys waved back and suddenly everything made sense. On this round, there was a loser and winner's bracket. Yami and Jaden were obviously in the latter. After getting two victories again, Yami and Jaden moved to the round of 16. After the duel, it was much more of the usual after duel celebration, with high fives all around from the two winners. Everyone smiled and it seemed like things were going well.
"Yami! Jaden! Can I talk to you guys?" Mark shouted. Yami and Jaden waved to him as they ran away from their friends. When they got up to him, Mark pointed to a guy in a suit. "You see that?" Mark asked, "That's one of the sponsors. He's here to evaluate who might be good enough to earn a contract from them. Then, if the people they target go far enough, they'll tell other sponsors and higher ups about them." Yami and Jaden had never noticed the man before and looked away, when he looked in their direction.
When the round of 16 started, the loser bracket went first and then the winners. When it was Yami and Jaden's turn, there were a lot less duelists out on the field. "Hey! Lets get closer!" Leo cried. Luna took his wrist. "No Leo," she reminded him pointing to the yellow tape, "We'll go when they say it's okay." Leo huffed and folded his arms. As they watched Yami duel, both the gang and Yami noticed the man with a suit coming over. He stopped in front of them and started watching the duel.
'Oh man!' Yami thought, 'That's the guy that Mark told me about. I have to impress him.'
Normally, Yami was in the opposite position. Back in his time, he was already considered the top duelist. Yet here, he was just another duelist (besides Jaden and Yusei's eyes at least). So, as easy as it was for Yami to duel back in his time with Yugi, it was much tougher for him to do here. He was a regular average joe and his skills weren't seen by others as being super great yet. As the man watched, Yami found himself making a mistake, costing him life points. "You can do this Yami!" Crow shouted. Yami looked over at the man and he soon walked away.
Suddenly, as the man was out of sight and looking at another duel, Yami felt his usual self come back. He made some great moves and ended up with a big lead. Yet, even as the duel ended, again in his victory, Yami was baffled, even as he shook congratulatory hands with his opponent. Why had he screwed up so badly? That one move could have lead to another and then another. Was...was Yami nervous?
On the other field, Jaden was having an easier time. Again, the sponsor came up and started watching. Jaden suddenly found himself looking at him more than the field. In fact, he had a huge opening, when it came to having a trap card on the field. Instead, he missed it, as he found sweat on his neck starting to occur. After his opponent attacked, Jaden watched as the man went away. "I've got to focus," Jaden said as he whispered to himself. He watched as Yusei and the gang ran over to catch the match. He saw Yusei with his arms around Akiza and they shared a big kiss on the lips. Akiza smiled as she gave Yusei an extra peck on the cheek, that made him wiggle in embarrassment.
Suddenly, seeing that made Jaden feel confident again. It's almost as if he had another purpose or reason to keep going. Suddenly, all of the confidence and focus came back to him. He quickly sprang the other trap he had on the field and he suddenly had the disadvantage from not playing the other wiped clean. He made a couple silky smooth moves and got the victory. As everyone cheered, Yami and Jaden talked about the match, as they waited for a couple of the others to finish. "Man, it was like...when that guy came, I got nervous," Jaden admitted.
"Me too," Yami noted, "But...when he went away, I suddenly wasn't nervous anymore." Jaden nodded. "Yeah. And seeing Yusei and Akiza suddenly made it feel like I had something to look to." Yami nodded. "But didn't you have that before?" he asked. Jaden shrugged. "I guess...,but I've never been this nervous before. The other duels weren't that stressful. At the same time, I'm considered really good at Duel Academy, so I trust my skills more." Yami agreed. "Yeah, but we can do it. We're some the best duelists of all time." Jaden laughed. "Yeah. I guess you're right."
Now that they were at the top 8, everyone was allowed to come closer for the duels. Leo was happy, because now he could actually see both duels at once. As they watched, the man with the suit was over and looking intensely at all four matches. Yami and Jaden, for some reason, couldn't keep their eyes off of him. Still, they kept looking back at their section of fans. Each time, they looked at Yusei and Akiza standing side-by-side, they felt the whole reason they came to this time period bop them right in the nose. They then got focused and channeled their energy into their duel.
Their opponents, however, were tough, just as they should be this late in the contest. The matches were all very tight and their aces weren't there to help. However, both of them got out their second best monsters and used that to edge by in the end. Their cheering group didn't want to rub it in the other competitors faces that their guy won. Leo had to be told to quiet down, especially since Yami's opponent had their family right next to them. When Yami and Jaden did come over, they spotted the man in the suit talking with the other two semifinalists, including Mark.
"Oh man, what if he comes over here," Jaden said they all watched. Sure enough, the man waved to them and came over. "Hey! My name's Scottie and I work for a pro league sponsor. If you make the top three, I'll be sure to tell some of my 'connections' about you. No pressure." As the man walked away, Crow was grinning. "So, you might be heard by his 'connections,'" Crow said slyly, "Maybe he'll also tell you how to land some dates." Jack put his hand on Crow's head and pushed down hard. "He's not going to get them dates. Besides, that's the least of our worries right now," Jack replied and made a fist, "Now. I've dealt with sponsorships before. My best advice is: don't go towards the first offer, unless they give you a deal that you can't refuse."
"Why not?" Jaden asked, but he was interrupted by the announcer, "Okay. It's time for the semifinals of the winner and losers brackets. Duelists, grab your decks and head to scorer's table to find out your placing." Jaden and Yami waved and followed the announcer's instructions. As they walked, Yami and Jaden talked some more about the sponsor. "Look, the best thing is to not worry about him." Jaden reminded Yami, "Just focus on our duels and that's it. Try to tune everything else out." Yami nodded and looked back. "Yeah, except for..." he paused as he eyed the couple they were both here for. Jaden agreed. "Yeah, but also who our decks are for," he noted. Yami smiled. "Right," he added.
When they got to the scorer's table, they were both relieved that they didn't face each other. However, Yami would have to face Mark in the semi-finals. Still, he didn't mind, as it would be cool to have a challenge that involved someone he knew. When Jaden and Yami got to the their assigned places, both of them were standing on duel fields next to one another and they were both facing the same way. This was the first time that they could actually pay attention to what the other was doing, as they were always a good distance away from the other. Still, even though they could see the other attack and be attacked, neither one encouraged the other.
"Why aren't they encouraging the other?" Yusei wondered, as it was clear as day when Jaden took an attack. "Maybe they're just really focused on their duel," Akiza noted. Yusei nodded. "Yeah, but...you think they could at least encourage one another," he fired back. Akiza, instead of answering back, took a moment to calm down. "Yeah, but Yusei..." she started as she squeezed his hand, "Every duel can't be like the ones we had where you encouraged and talked to me." Yusei smiled. As Yami laid out multiple attacks, the crowd roared and cheered, but Yusei and Akiza were oblivious to it all. "Yeah, but still, I love encouraging you and letting you know I'm behind you Akiza," he spoke and then leaned in for a kiss on the cheek, "I'm still sorry about not rooting for you during your battle with Yami and Jaden." Akiza smiled. "Yes, but I forgive you," she confessed. They both finally turned and saw that both Yami and Jaden won and had big smiles on their faces. "Don't worry," Yusei whispered, "I'm positive you could wipe the floor with all of the duelists here and would win this tournament with ease." Akiza giggled and they kissed squarely on the lips. As Yami and Jaden looked at their friends, the first image they both saw was Yusei and Akiza kissing, which never got old.
Still, even though they were both assured having the inside track on the sponsorship, it became hard to figure out what the benefit was going to be of winning. Yami and Jaden hadn't really been paying attention during the beginning, which was now hours ago. However, they were happy when the announcer went over it, just before their battle began.
"All right. It's time for our championship match! The winner will get automatic entry into the state tournament and will also get to be ranked, which can make their goal of advancing to nationals much easier. On top of that, the winner receives $1,000 cash and will get to take home this beautiful trophy. Second and third place will also get entry into the state tournament, but will not receive a ranking. they also get $500 and $250 respectfully, along with 2nd and 3rd place trophies."
So that was it. An easier track for the state tournament. Plus more money, which was also a plus. Both duelists had faced off before, so it was no surprised that they knew each other's deck very well. For the gang, they didn't know what to do, with both players in the finals. "Lets just stay in the middle," Yusei coached them, "And lets try not to cheer too loudly for either one. After all, we don't want to play favorites. They're both winners today anyways." Everyone nodded and huddled along the middle line, separating the two dueling fields.
It was a very back and forth battle, with lots of "ooh's" and "aww's." Still, Still, Jaden spotted a likely error on Yami's part and used it to take the lead. He maintained it all the way until the end. Still, even though he lost, Yami appeared to be okay with the loss. After the award ceremony was over, they all took pictures and talked about the win. "Should we go eat?" Leo asked as his tummy growled. Jaden sighed. "Actually Leo, I'd rather go home and take a nap. All this dueling has worn me out." Everyone laughed and decided that they would just order pizza for dinner to celebrate.
Still, after everyone came back home, Jaden still thought about what had happened earlier. When he had gotten "scared" and "nervous" during his duel. Even as he sat down, holding his golden trophy, he continued to be lost in why, and how he was scared by all of it. He must have been thinking about it too long, as he suddenly saw a hand wave in front of him. "Hey champ! You listening?" Jack questioned. Jaden finally snapped out of it. "Oh. Yeah. I'm fine," he replied. Crow looked at him. "You don't look fine," he remarked, "Is something wrong?" Jaden sighed and decided that it was best to tell everyone about him getting nervous.
"Well...it's just that...I got...n...nervous," Jaden finally admitted. It was even hard for him to say the word out loud. Everyone else looked at him, a bit lost. "What do you mean?" Yami asked, "Everybody gets nervous." Jaden nodded. "Yeah, but...when I saw that guy, the guy from the sponsorship, I kind of..." he thought about the right words to say, "Just lost my focus." Yami shrugged. "Yeah, but that's what you duel for when you try to go pro," he replied, "Sponsors and scouts watch the duels. It's just the way it is." Jaden nodded. "Well yeah. I know that, but I just wish I could get over my nerves," he admitted. Yami smiled.
"Don't worry Jaden. You must have something that made you not so nervous. I mean, you won the whole tournament," he noted. Jaden nodded. "Well...yeah," he replied, "I know it sounds cheesy, but..." He turned to the couple that he was trying to help. "Yusei and Akiza were the two that really made me change my mindset." Jack rolled his eyes and hid them with hand. "Come on! Yusei and Akiza are not some kind of drug!" he shouted, "Why does everyone look up to them? They're not saints or anything and they're not perfect! I'm so sick of this!" Jack stormed off and went upstairs.
Everyone else was a bit kinder to the situation and responded back a little nicer. "Well, what did seeing Yusei and Akiza do for you?" Crow wondered. "Well..." Jaden started and looked firmly at the couple, "Just seeing them happy. I mean, I've known that Yusei liked Akiza from one of the first days that I met him, but I never knew that it could make me have a bigger drive or make me focus more." Yusei smiled. "Actually, it makes sense in a way," he went on for Jaden, "It's like if you were trying to study really hard for a test or work on a paper. If you weren't going to get a grade on it, then what do you care on how good it is? But if you really needed a good grade, then you would try really hard for it. For a duel, you see it as having a purpose. When you duel for fun, there's not as much pressure if you win or lose. But when you look at Akiza and me and really want us to be happy, then wining will make us happy. So, you try harder to win." Everyone thought that made a lot of sense.
"Okay, but how can we make it so that Jaden feels pressure, but also Akiza and Yusei's pride and joy on the line?" Yami questioned all of them. Crow smiled. "I've got it!" he replied, "But it has to wait until tomorrow." Everyone looked at him and asked him what it was. Crow insisted, "My lips are sealed," he answered to them. Crow instructed them to come back tomorrow and everyone did. However, when everyone got there, Crow was not.
"Where's Crow?" Leo shouted, "And where's this big plan of his?" Just as Leo was about to boil over, Crow came in. "Hey you guys! Sorry I'm late. I had to get some supplies," he said as he carried a small container of stuff. Everyone looked at it as it read, "Birthday supplies," on it. Everyone turned to him and watched as he came down the ramp. "What's all this?" Luna asked, "Is it someone's Birthday?" Crow shook his head. "Nope," he answered back and took something out of the box. It was a golden color piece of construction paper. "How'd this fit into your Runner?" Yusei asked. "Simple, Martha and I found a box that fit in my secret compartment," Crow replied. "Wait, so you went to Martha's?" Yusei asked. Instead of getting a reply, Yusei had the yellow piece of paper put on his head. It read, "King," on it and, "Happy Birthday."
"It's not Yusei's Birthday," Leo scolded Crow, "His Birthday's not until November." Crow smiled. "Yeah. I know. Here..." he added as he grabbed something else from the box, "Put this on." It was a long cape. Yami, having experience with them, helped Yusei put it on. "All right. I have a crown and a cape," Yusei sad as he looked at himself. "Not to mention this," Crow stated with another object in his hand. Yusei took it and it looked like a long stick with a jewel on the end of it. "Okay. What is all this for?" Akiza asked. Crow went back to the box and got out a crown for Akiza that said both, "Happy Birthday," and, "Queen," on it. "Akiza's Birthday is also in November," Leo noted, "Crow, you can't remember people's Birthdays."
"I know they're November Birthdays," Crow replied, "But one last thing should do it." He gave Akiza a cape and Yami helped her put it on. Yusei and Akiza looked at one another. "All right. We're done," Crow announced. Everyone looked stunned at the couple, as they sat in their chairs. "What's the deal Crow?" Yusei asked, "We're a king and queen." Crow nodded. "Exactly and this how we're going to help Jaden out," Crow stated, "He wants to see you guys happy when he duels. So, if there's a risk of you guys not being happy, then he'll fight even harder." Akiza tilted her head. "Yeah. We know that," she figured out, "So how does this help Jaden if we're dressed up like a King and Queen?"
"Because, Jaden's going to duel and I'm..." He pulled out out something as he finished his sentence, "Am going to be the sponser's agent." He showed them a suit that Martha had in the box. "All right," Jaden rebutted, "But will I really be able to believe you?" Crow smiled. "Well...why don't we find out?" Crow challenged. They went outside. "But Yusei, you need to bring your chairs out. You're going to be sitting in the middle of the dueling area," Crow instructed them. Akiza helped Yusei bring the chairs outside. Yami offered to duel him and Yusei and Akiza sat at the middle line of the dueling area. As Crow changed into his suit, he came outside, and put the finishing touches on. He grabbed a clipboard and adjusted his tie.
"All right Jaden," he announced as he put on sunglasses, "You need to impress me and win this duel. On top of that..." He went over to Yusei and Akiza. "You must win or the king and queen here cannot be married," he instructed them. "Married?" Yusei and Akiza shouted together. Crow nodded. "That's right," he replied. Yusei and Akiza's faces were beet red. "But aren't a queen and king already married?" Akiza questioned. "Just play along," Crow replied firmly.
Yusei tried his best to act it out. "Oh my beautiful girlfriend. I proclaim you as my wife. Yet, the kingdom needs an official ceremony to make it official." Akiza smiled and leaned on him. "Yes Yusei. If we were married, I wouldn't have to worry about certain perverts staring at my bosom twenty four hours a day," Akiza shouted as she gave a mean stare at Crow. Crow grinned through his sunglasses and was able to hide the fact that he was staring at Akiza's generous amount of cleavage. Crow then turned back to the duel and looked serious. "Okay! Now duel!" he shouted.
As the duel got started, Jaden looked over at Yusei and Akiza. Even though they did look silly, it stressed the point. He was here to help Yusei and Akiza become married. Of course, winning duels, and going pro was cool too. Still, he wanted to make sure that Yusei and Akiza tied the knot. That way, he could return to his time peacefully and happily. Yami got an earlier attack and Crow elbowed Yusei and Akiza to react. "Oh no! How will we ever wind up getting married?" Yusei said in a forced dramatic tone. "And how will these two ever lose their virginity?" Crow added as the couple glared at him.
Finally, Jaden was able to get an attack. Again, Yusei and Akiza were over dramatic. "Hooray! If this keeps up, we'll have our wedding day!" Akiza cheered. After Yami launched a few attacks, Jaden looked over, and saw Crow shaking his head as he wrote on the clipboard. Jaden gritted his teeth and looked across at his opponent's field. He then looked as Yusei and Akiza huddled together. It, somehow, started feeling like the duel before. The duel where looking at Yusei and Akiza drove him more.
Yami, his opponent, looked at him as well. He saw a fire in Jaden and could see that he was suddenly more focused. He saw that during their duel before and, as much as he didn't like to say it, when someone on a dueling field was driven, nothing could stop them. It was like when Yugi was driven to help his grandpa and defeat evil. Jaden quickly played a trap and then tried to attack. Yami tried to block it, but still took damage. When Jaden finished his turn, the score was tied.
"All right," Crow said, "That's some of what I want to see. He wrote something on his clip board." Yusei put his hand in the air. "Go Jaden!" he shouted. "Yeah!" Akiza added, "Win so we can get married!" She then gave Yusei a big kiss on the cheek, much to his surprised. He soon smiled at her and they shared a kiss on the lips. Akiza then gently pushed Yusei back and was about to climb into his lap. "Whoa! Whoa! Lets keep this PG," Crow said, "Now you guys are acting too well." Akiza looked over her shoulder. "We're not acting," she replied. Crow frowned. "Just stay in character," he replied, "You can do this when everyone falls asleep."
Back at the duel, Jaden saw how badly they wanted to be together and it was go time. He jumped on Yami and soon was able to attack at will. Finally, Yami's life points went down to zero. "I did it!" Jaden shouted. Crow nodded twice. "Very nice," he commented. Akiza hugged Yusei. "Yay! Now we can become King and Queen!" she shouted. Yusei blushed as Akiza pressed her chest into his. "Yeah," he replied, having to remind himself it was all an act.
As everyone came around Jaden, they all smiled, and high fived him. "That was great sir. I think you should be one of our spokesmen," Crow tried to say professionally. Jaden smiled. "All right! What am I sponsoring?" Crow smiled and flipped his clipboard. "I. M. A. Wiener," Jaden read. He smiled. "All right! I. M. A. Wiener!" Jaden shouted. Everyone else laughed as Jaden looked lost. "What? What's so funny?" he asked. Everyone else laughed.
"Wait! We still got to do one more thing!" Crow shouted. Everyone looked at him as he raced towards the box again. When he came back with some more stuff, Yusei and Akiza frowned. "This is not going to be good," Yusei whispered and Akiza nodded. "Why am I suddenly not so happy?" she questioned.
Later, Yusei and Akiza stood in the living room, with their King and Queen hats. Everyone stood around them, as Crow stood in front of them, with his nice clothes on. "Yusei, do you take Akiza to be your Queen?" he asked. Yusei rolled his eyes. "Yes," he replied a bit annoyed. Crow turned to Akiza. "Do you take Yusei to be King?" Akiza rolled her eyes as well. "Yes," she replied. Crow smiled as he closed his holy book. "I pronounce you King and Queen. Now go have private time for yourself and then lose your virginity," Crow declared. Yusei and Akiza rolled their eyes as this was so embarrassing. Jack came over and took a picture of them in their outfits and standing in front of Crow. Luna came over and dumped a basket full of fake flowers on them. As they got caught in their hair, Akiza and Yusei tried to wipe them off. Worst yet, Crow got the computer, and played some wedding music as they walked down the fake "aisle."
As they walked, red and embarrassed, everyone else laughed at them.
A/N: I apologize for the long wait. I hope you enjoyed the Chapter!