"Awesome dueling!" Leo congratulated when the two made it back inside. He held his hand up and both girls high fived him.
"I'm sorry you lost," Luna mentioned tentatively, approaching Fish.
"Yes well, I let technicalities get in the way," Fish sniffed indignantly at Luna's words of comfort as if it was the most dishonorable defeat she could have had. "I can't believe I let myself lose to someone like her!"
At that moment, Yusei chose to join them. Fish immediately turned a chilling glare on him. "I may have lost, but that doesn't mean you're off the hook, Yusei. We'll duel some other time, and I won't lose!" Without a second glance, Fish stomped away...then turned back around to sit on the couch.
"Uh, what just happened?" Leo asked.
"No clue," Yusei remarked, annoyed.
"She just likes to be dramatic," Lise said.
"Um, I'd like your attention please!" the MC's voice boomed throughout the stadium. "The next and final match before the finale is going to be delayed due to a damaged track. We appreciate your patience as we fix the stadium. We expect everything to be finished in roughly two hours. Thank you!"
"Well, since we have time to kill, let's go see the city," Fish suggested. "You haven't seen the city in ten years, Lise, and Yusei only showed you the shitty parts. We should see MY favorite places!"
"Ours too!" Leo added, just for good measure.
Yusei shrugged. "Couldn't hurt, I guess. Since we're both in the finals, it doesn't matter if we're late."
"Good point."
"Great!" Without another word, Fish grabbed Lise and dragged her outside the stadium doors. She scanned the area with a silly/serious expression. "This way," she decided after a second.
"Fish is weird," Luna said quietly, following Fish's lead.
"First stop; Odds and Ends!" Fish escorted the group into a small shop filled with mountains of random items. "I like this place cuz' you never know what you'll find! Oh, and it's fun to get lost in all the piles of stuff."
"Speak for yourself!" Lise joked. "I'll get lost in two seconds."
"It'll be a new record," Yusei teased.
"Wow," Luna breathed, and walks off to explore one of the shop's corners.
"Wait for me!" Leo cried, scurrying after his sister.
Lise smiled and yawned, selecting a separate pathway and observing the knick knacks everywhere. Yusei tagged along behind her, his hands in his pockets.
"They've got everything," Lise observed. She crossed to a small coffee table littered with small tourist type trinkets. She suddenly burst into a fit of laughter. "They have US President condoms! Oh my God!"
"And a large assortment of weird hats," Yusei smiled widely and placed a top hat on Lise's head.
Lise threw a paperboy hat on Yusei. "It suits you."
"And, hey, for once my hair's flat. Uh Lise?"
"Over here!"
Yusei turned around and found Lise in front of a large rack of stuffed animals. She was hugging the biggest one, a pink octopus, to her chest. "It's so cute and squishy!"
"Is it soft?"
"Uhm-hmmm," Lise squished the octopus into her cheek and then Yusei's.
"Yep, fluffy as hell."
"Lise!" Fish barged in, interrupting Lise and Yusei's laughter. "I've found something you might like!" She raced off without checking that she was indeed being followed.
"Shit, she's gone," Lise grumbled, putting the stuffed octopus back. "Wish me luck."
"I'll come with, make sure you don't get lost," Yusei chuckled. He collected their hats and replaced them.
"Thanks, but this thing better be worth it," Lise grumbled.
Yusei lead the way through the stacks of stuff and Lise kept an eye out for Fish. They finally zeroed in on her when she thought to put up a hand above the piles of junk.
"There you are!" Fish huffed when they finally found her. "Oh, and look, you brought Crabhair. Oh well. So you know how you're always tying your bangs back, Lise?"
"Yeah."
"Is it annoying?"
"Do you even have to ask?"
Cheerfully, Fish presented an array of headbands. "So? Good idea, right? And, bonus, no hair tie!"
"Great idea!"
Fish's grin brightened delightedly. "Okay, so I thought we could start with the blue one since it'd go with your eyes best and compliments your orange." She kept talking and handing Lise headband after headband.
"That one," Yusei spoke up firmly.
"The black one?" Fish glared daggers that Yusei chose to ignore. "But that's boring! Besides, I don't want you giving us fashion advice. You look like you're trying to pull of the coattails of doom with a short-ass coat!"
"Black does go with everything, but I dunno," Lise frowned thoughtfully. The headband was simple, with a tiny clasp on the left for a splash of colored accessory. "It kinda looks like it's missing a piece."
"I like it," Yusei said, shrugging.
"Then you get it!" Fish huffed.
"All right, all right, cut it out before we're kicked out of the store," Lise said. She took the headband from Fish. "Look, I'll get the blue one and the black one, okay?"
"Let me do it!" Fish said. "I bet I can get a discount on the black one, since it's broken. Oh, this is gonna be fun!" Rubbing her hands together sinisterly, Fish disappeared among the stacks.
Yusei rose from his chair and set off when Lise joined him. "She's a weird one, but she does like her pseudo-baby."
Lise palm-heel struck the side of his head, slightly offended but also teasingly. "Don't you dare start calling me that."
"What? Psuedo-baby?"
Leo suddenly came barreling past them with Luna right on his heels.
"Leo isn't sharing!" Luna whined.
"Because I found it, and NOT you!" Leo paused and Luna took her chance to snatch her brother's discovery. "What're you two doing?"
"Nothing!"
"Knowing you two, it's never nothing," Fish returned and handed Lise her new headbands. "By the way, we're leaving."
"Aw," Leo and Luna whined, the latter putting back her toy.
Lise shook her blond hair loose and slipped the headband back on. Only Fish noticed Yusei's face turning a darker shade of pink.
"I'm hungry!" Leo whined.
"You're ALWAYS hungry!" Luna pointed out.
Fish pointed to a small shop down the street. "We can eat there."
"Ew Leo, quit drooling!" Luna shrieked, stepping away from her brother as Fish rolled her eyes and purposefully entered the shop.
"I remember this place! My mom took us here once!" Lise smiled brightly, which contrasted greatly with the dark toned room.
"Exactly," Fish said with a wink. "I'll pay so get whatever you want. Except for you," she pointed at Yusei.
"Why me?"
"Because I don't like you. Why should I do anything nice for you?"
Yusei rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I'm not hungry anyway."
Luna shook her head. "No, it's fine. We'll pay."
Leo shot his sister a look. "We will?"
"Of course! Mom and Dad are rich, so why shouldn't we pay?"
"I just want bubble tea, then. Strawberry," Lise said, scouting out a table.
"Kay!"
A bit moody, Yusei found a booth that would fit the five of them. He stared without really caring at nothing in particular. Lise joined him a few seconds later, taking the seat across from him.
"Want a fortune cookie?"
"Huh?" The dark-haired boy turned to face Lise and the cookie she was offering. Her smile was wider than earlier. "Um, sure, but don't you have to pay for these?"
"Nope. They're free. Don't tell Fish or she'll eat ALL of them," Lise laughed and removed her fortune without breaking the cookie.
"Aren't you supposed to break the cookie first?" Yusei asked, looking at his doubtfully.
"They say if you can get your fortune out without breaking the cookie the fortune will come true! At least, that's what my mom told me."
Fish and the twins slid into the seats beside Lise and Yusei.
"Okay, here's your bubble tea," Fish said, plunking the drink down on the table.
"Thanks," Lise grinned and started sucking down strawberry flavoring and tapioca bubbles. "So good!"
"I tried one of those before," Leo said distastefully. "It was gross."
"To each their own," Lise shrugged.
"What's your fortune?"
Lise glanced at the small sheet of paper. "'You will be pleasantly surprised in the near future.'"
"Lame."
"Leo, be nice!"
"Sorry, what about Yusei?"
"'Satisfaction can come in unsuspecting places.' Not so bad."
Fish choked on her soda, trying not to laugh.
"So, Fish, where are you living now?" Lise asked. "Not with your parents, I hope."
"Nah, I ran away from home when I was ten. Best decision I ever made." Fish expertly scooped up rice with her chopsticks. "I located my grandparents and stayed with them. They live on the outskirts of the city, by the way. We should visit sometime!"
Luna and Leo exchanged a glance, and the latter asked, "So what's the deal with your parents?"
"Leo! You don't just ask people that!"
"Don't worry about it. I never liked my parents anyway, the damn drunkards. My grandparents are pretty cool, though. No idea how they managed to raise such an awful kid."
"What about your parents Lise?" Luna asked kindly.
Instantly, her expression fell. "Um, both of my parents are dead…"
"Same," Yusei added.
"No one asked you, Yusei," Fish said.
"Sorry," Luna apologized, looking a little guilty.
"You didn't know. It isn't a big deal," Yusei said passively.
Lise bit her straw. I don't think he means what he said…His voice sounded nonchalant but his eyes are hard…
"Can I try that?" Yusei quickly changed subject.
"The bubble tea?"
"Yeah."
Lise smiled again, and pushed her drink over. "Sure, have a sip while I go to the bathroom. Be right back!" She slid out of the booth and walked to the bathrooms.
"This is good," Yusei remarked when he tried the tea. He thoughtfully stared at the ceiling, draining the cup's contents little by little.
The second the bathroom door locked Fish had a mischievous and conniving smile on her face. The twins caught on before Yusei.
"You sure are drinking that pretty fast," she commented innocently.
"Yeah?"
"Mooching off of other people's food, is that a hobby of yours? Or do you just like using straws used by pretty girls?"
Yusei froze and lowered the cup as Fish laughed.
"What…what're you talking about?" Yusei's voice had a nervous edge to it.
"I mean that she drank out of the cup, and you drank out of the cup. That's indirect kissing. I wonder…What'll you do when she comes back and finishes off her tea?"
Luna's eyes glittered. "Do you like-like Lise?"
Yusei sighed and put his head in his hands. "I don't know…"
"Ya don't know! Whattaya mean ya don't know?" Fish exploded. Her unfriendly attitude had returned. Obviously they were all ignoring Leo.
"What doesn't he know?"
Everyone froze. Confused, Lise sat back in her seat. "Um, did I miss something?"
"You could say that," Fish replied. She watched Yusei closely. He in turn watched Lise put the straw back to her lips and empty her cup. His face had gone from pink to red.
Trying to lighten the mood, Leo piped up. "I can't wait to see Lise and Yusei duel! It's gonna be SO cool!"
Yusei latched onto the next subject change like a drowning man that had found a life preserver. "I'm looking forward to it, too."
"Yeah!" Lise blurted. "This time I can finally beat you!"
"Come on, this isn't like when we were kids."
"I know, back then we dueled when I wanted an easy win," Lise's lips pulled into a sly grin of her own.
"Is that why you lost so many times?" Yusei fired back with a scowl.
"I seem to recall our record holds in my favor," Lise smirked widely.
"You wanna go?" Yusei leaned forward, catching on, and playing along.
Lise raised an eyebrow. "Do you wanna go?"
"I think I can take you."
"Not in a straight up brawl."
"Oh, so our fighting and dueling records still stand."
"Oh shut up and quit flirting!" Fish stood up and knocked their heads together. "Or I'll have to kick both your asses myself!"
"Ow!"
Luna laughed and shook her head. "We should probably head back now."
Frowning, Fish consulted her phone. "Yikes! She's right! We gotta go! The match starts in five minutes!"
All at once, the five of them raced for the doors and into the street. They dodged pedestrians and cars and just barely made it back to the stadium in time.
"See you guys later!" Lise called and followed Yusei to get ready for their duel. "Just so you know," she told him when she caught up. "I want you to win and get Stardust back for keeps, but don't think I'll make it easy for you."
Yusei's smile matched Lise's. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
"Attention Ladies and Gentlemen, quick repairs have been made and finished so we shall proceed with the final round of the Fortune Cup! Whoever wins this will go on to duel our one and only champion, Jack Atlas!"
Lise inhaled and exhaled deeply. "Here we go again."
"Ready?"
"As I'll ever be," Lise answered.
"Then let's do this. Ladies first." Smirking, Yusei motioned for Lise to go ahead.
She rolled her eyes and palm-heel struck the side of his head. "Dork…"
"And now the flame manipulator, the firebird, the phoenix, it's Ms. Elizabeth Kururugi!" the MC announced.
"That's my cue!" Lise said, and grinned. She pretended to salute Yusei and her platform rose up to the duel field.
As soon as she disappeared, Yusei sighed. He pulled out his deck. Stardust Dragon… Will I have to use you?
"Next up, Ms. Kururugi's opponent! He's the little duelist that could, the nobody trying to be somebody, the Satellite's shooting star: Yusei Fudo!"
In a burst of smoke, Yusei rose onto the field and joined Lise. She smiled at him, and put on a determined game face.
Suddenly the MC's mike made a squealing malfunction noise. It ripped through the stadium, and several fans put their hands on their ears to block the sound. A few adjustment sounds blared and then a different person spoke.
"Hello, confused audience members!"
"Oh. My. God," Lise breathed, obviously horrified.
Yusei was equally surprised and shocked. "She didn't. She wouldn't."
"I'm filling in for the normal MC because he's currently taking a break and is not tied to a chair with duct tape in the far corner whatsoever. Please welcome your new host: me, Fish Ukara!"
Lise and Yusei face-palmed. "She did," Lise said.
Fish continued, glee evident in her voice. Lise could just picture her friend bouncing around in the announcer's booth.
"Now, let's start over. Yusei Crabhair will be dueling one of my best friends, Lise Kururugi!" Fish declared, enunciating Lise's name into the mike.
Yusei's face screwed up into a look of irritation. Lise giggled.
"Duelists, get ready! Start dueling…NOW!"
"If you don't mind, ladies first!" Lise declared, drawing a card. "I summon out my Flame Alchemist to the field! Then I set two cards facedown and end my turn! Your move, Yusei!"
(Flame Alchemist: Atk: 1500 Def: 900)
"With pleasure!" Yusei drew and examined his hand. Let's see…"I summon out Quick Draw Synchron in attack mode by sending Quillbolt Hedgehog to the graveyard!"
"Starting things out with a classic?"
"Yep, but I'm not finished! I use Quillbolt's ability to summon him from the graveyard! Now he tunes with Quick Draw to Synchro Summon Nitro Warrior!"
(Nitro Warrior: Atk: 2800 Def: 1800)
"Impressive," Lise admitted, grinning.
"Now, Nitro Warrio, attack Lise's Alchemist with Dynamite Crunch!"
Lise grinned. "I activate my trap, Raigeki Break! By sending a card in my hand to the grave, this trap can destroy any card on your field, and I pick your Nitro Warrior! Say goodbye!" Lise quipped as Nitro Warrior erupted into golden chips.
Yusei scowled and sent his monster to the graveyard. As always, she's at the top of her game. "I lay down two facedowns and end my turn!"
"Here I go!" Lise cried, and drew her next card. Okay, not bad, this is good! Yusei may not have any monsters, but those face down cards are a different story. How about-
Lise!
What the? Yusei?
Yeah. Um hi.
Really? "Um hi?" You can't just waltz in here during a duel!
I know and I'm sorry, but I figured it's easier to talk to you this way.
What could possibly be so important that you need to talk about it right now?! I'm trying to kick your ass in a duel!