YUGI OH- The Receptionist
Chapter 1: The Internship
"This card will be your destruction," the young teen duelist smirked. Her opponent flinched, uncertain. "I play the magic card, Raigeki!" With a thump she placed the magic card on the table.
The young boy across from her gasped as his cards disappeared from his side of the field. "My cards!" he whimpered.
"And now, I will finish off your life-points! Dark Magician girl, attack his life-points directly!" the young girl beamed. Her blonde magician floated towards her opponent and whacked him with her staff. The kid bounced back, slightly aching from the duel.
"AND OUR NEW INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION, KIARA MOSES!" the announcer boomed overhead. The crowd around them was making a lot of noise, cheering and woops.
Kiara stepped down from her duelist tower and walked over to shake her opponent's hand. As she finished congratulating her opponent on the good duel, she turned to the announcer who was approaching her with her trophy. She gave one last wave with her trophy before security ushered her off and down into the tunnel.
"Congratulations." someone cooed from the tunnel shadows. "That was quite an impressive duel."
The teen blinked, her breath catching as the figure revealed itself. He was tall with long silver hair and a tidy red suit. "Maximillion Pegasus, it's an honor sir." Kiara bowed quickly, trying to keep a grip on her trophy.
"The pleasure is mine." he smiled politely, "Kiara Moses, you have made quite a reputation for yourself. American Champion and now Intercontinental… at only fifteen. Amazing."
"Well, thank you sir." she blushed slightly. Kiara had worked hard to make an early career in duel monsters. Such praise from the creator of the game was unbelievable. Pegasus smirked.
"You know, one of the prizes for this tournament was an internship with me." he continued. Kiara's eyes widened. "Would you be interested in interning with me at Industrial Illusions?"
Kiara felt like her jaw hit the floor, "I- I would love too sir." she gasped. After a minute the logical part of her brain kicked in, "B-But I have to talk to my Mama first. If that is ok." she added quickly.
Pegasus chuckled, "Of course. Here is my card, give me a call when you decide for certain." he handed her a silver card that shimmered in the stadium lights. With that, he turned and she was alone again. Her heart raced as her brain tried to process what just happened.
Despite the plane ride only being two hours, Kiara felt like she was just going to lose her mind. She closed her eyes and tried to take a nap. It worked. After a few moments, she felt herself drifting off into sleep. Kisara...the words jolted her back awake. The teen looked around at the other passengers. Most were dozing, some were reading. Kisara, come back to me. The words echoed again.
Take a deep breath, it is just a bad dream. She told herself. She breathed for a few moments, calming herself back down. The teen nestled back into her seat, looking out the window at the clouds below. Kiara looked down at the trophy by her feet, smiling with pride.
The taxi cab rumbled up the unpaved driveway. Dust and dirt kicked up behind it in clouds. Kiara peered out the window at the acres of land and the little ol' farm-house situated in the center of it all. Home. she thought pleasantly.
Sun beat down as she stepped out of the cab, pulling her bags from the trunk. The warmth soothed her as she sent the cab off back down the driveway. "Is that my little Kiki?" a voice cracked behind her.
The teen turned to greet the little old African American lady tottling down the porch towards her. "Mama Moses!" Kiara beamed, running up and taking her care-giver in her arms. The little old lady laughed, hugging her daughter back affectionately.
"How did the tournament go?" Mama Moses inquired, straightening her glasses.
Kiara padded back to her luggage and dug through her backpack until she could pull her trophy out. It shimmered in the sunlight. "My my… you won!" her mother beamed, turning the trophy over in her hands. Kiara handed her mother the envelope filled with the prize money.
"Here, this is for you." she told the old woman.
Mama Moses didn't even open the envelope, "Baby, I cannot take this. You won this."
Kiara smiled, "I know but it can help with expenses around here." she pursued.
Her mother shook her head, "No baby, that is not for you to worry over. You are just a child."
Her daughter sighed, but refused to take the envelope back. Her mother tucked it in her blouse, figuring it easier not to argue further. "Come now, I am sure you are hungry. I want to hear all about it." the old woman ushered the teen into the house.
"An internship? My dear, you are too young for all that. What about your schooling?" her mother protested as Kiara explained the offer Pegasus had made to her.
Her daughter rolled her eyes, "No one likes me in school anyway. Maybe this could be a fresh start! I can make friends, get schooled online or something! Please Mama! This could be a life changer! I looked up the tournament details more and it is a paid internship!"
"I am not going to compromise on your education darling." her mother argued, "That is the most important thing in the world. It will allow you to make something of yourself."
"If Mr. Pegasus agrees to a private education while I am there, will you agree?" Kiara begged, "Please?"
The older woman saw the hope and excitement on her charge's face. Mulling it over, she sighed, "Fine, but I want to talk to him first, do you hear me?"
"YES! Thank you Mama!" Kiara squealed, bouncing up, kissing her mother on the cheek before running out the door to go call Pegasus.
Her mother laughed, shaking her head, "Kids…"
Kiara was out tending to the horses when the black SUV came roaring up the driveway. Three days ago, she had called her new boss to inform him of her decision. With her mother's concerns, he agreed to come out and talk to her in person. Kiara quickly finished up her chores and went running to greet the SUV.
"Welcome to my home sir." Kiara curtsied as one of the hench-man opened the door, letting Pegasus out.
"The pleasure is all mine. I am just glad you agreed to my offer my dear." he smiled politely. He looked around, taking in the rural scenery. "What a quaint little place."
The front door clanked open as Mama Moses came shuffling out. "Welcome, Mister Pegasus. Thank you for coming all the way out here." she smiled softly, making her way down to greet them.
"It reminds me of my youth." Pegasus answered, "I grew up in America too." he informed them pleasantly. Kiara watched, surprised. She had known about all the top duelists in the world, her dueling idol being one of Pegasus' associates, Seto Kaiba.
"Please, do come in. Can I get you or your men there some coffee?" her mother offered.
"Water will be fine, thank you." Pegasus answered, following her inside.
Kiara took bottles out to the driver and the other men lingering by the SUV. They didn't talk much. The teen tried starting up a conversation but didn't get far. Defeated, she retreated back to the house where she heard her mother laughing. As she walked in, she noticed her mother convulsed by the counter and Pegasus chuckling at some joke he just told.
"Ah, Kiara, your mother here has just agreed to you coming to intern with me at my private island." Pegasus informed the teen. "I promise you will receive the best private education money can provide."
Kiara beamed, excitement brewing up inside. "Oh my goodness, thank you!" she squealed.
Pegasus stayed another few hours, charming her mother and convincing her he was beyond trustworthy. Kiara tried to stay away, not wanting to seem desperate or overzealous. As the sun began to set, Kiara walked her new boss back out to his SUV. "I will send a plane for you in a week. Then, we may begin." he told her, climbing into the car.
"Sir," Kiara muttered, her heart racing, "If I may ask without seeming impolite or ungrateful, why are you doing all this? I mean the tournament promised an internship, not all this extra."
Pegasus winked at her, "My dear, you will come to learn that sometimes, there is more to the events that go on. It was no coincidence you won the tournament. You did win by your own talents, but… it was fated that we would meet."
"Fated?" she breathed.
Pegasus nodded, "You will understand in due time."
With that, he shut the door and the SUV drove off back down the driveway. Kiara watched the headlights disappear into the night, confused more now than she had ever been. Fated? What does he mean? she thought anxiously.
The next week couldn't go by fast enough. Kiara spent her days whipping around the house doing her chores and trying to figure out what she wanted to take with her. The contract Pegasus sent did not specify a time frame for the internship, just that it would start when she landed on his private island known as Duelist Kingdom. She signed it anxiously and sent it back, not wanting any delays.
"Kiara, you must take a breath." her mother would warn her every once in a while.
Kiara spent a lot of time at the local card store. She traded and bought as many cards as she could in order to build what she considered the absolutely perfect deck. Everything has to be perfect. She kept telling herself. Finally, the day came where it was time for her to depart.
"You be on your best behavior, do you hear?" Mama Moses wagged her finger at her daughter.
"I will. I promise." she kissed her mother goodbye before bouncing out the door to the waiting car outside.
"Good afternoon my lady, my name is Crocket. I work for Master Pegasus, I will be your guardian on this trip. Please, allow me to load your luggage." The bowl cut gentleman with glasses introduced himself.
Kiara nodded, helping too. As she sat in the back seat, she looked around, taking it all in. This is going to be the beginning of the rest of my life.