Same City Kaiba and Shizuka are in.
Hitomi was sorting out the cash she just got from her last customer. Living on the edge of the strange energy ball town had been bad for business, until it busted open this morning. Now, people seemed a little more willing to walk around, making her shop get some business again. Duel Monster cards was a lucrative business. There was no telling how much something would be from one day to the next, she always kept her eyes on the updates so she'd never get paid too little for a high priced card.
She kept cards of all makes and models, from the cute ones that weren't actually for legal matches, commonly known as glitter cards. To basic, simple cards that medium range players liked, to some extravagant ones. She couldn't afford all the greatest cards for the business, but she made sure to have a few great ones to make sure that store kept swinging open for professional players too.
"I want to know your rank, experience, and the strongest cards this store carries."
A voice rose in front of her. It wasn't the first time she heard a command like that from players. She wouldn't say anything about the rude tone because they were often the ones that would buy the most from her. This guy though? He had his twin next beside him. They both had interesting hair, but they dressed different. Nothing like the professional players that had the money.
There were more beside them too, but they didn't look like they had much money either.
Hitomi almost wanted to tell them off, except for their eyes. Their eyes each stared at her with a different story. Scary. Serious. It was like looking at someone who suffered through a war or something. Or maybe going to one? "I don't play the game, I just carry the cards. The right side of the story is magic, and the left side is attack. Miscellaneous between."
They didn't answer right away.
"My name is Yuugi Mutoh," one of them said, "and I don't have time to browse through the store. This is supposed to be one of the top places to buy cards, are you really that inefficient?" That's when he dragged out his wallet. "Money isn't an object. We want the best cards that you have."
"And hurry," his twin remarked.
Money isn't an object? "Some of these cards are hundreds of dollars."
"Some of them should be thousands," Yuugi Mutoh corrected her. He brought out his card. She looked at it and realized it was not the typical credit card she was expecting.
Yep, he was good for it. She brought out a list from behind her. She kept it laminated, and only gave it to those who could afford to look for it. "These are the most expensive cards, meaning rare. They are labeled. The squares between are the shelves that have nothing of value on them. Everyone wants something different, so look at the list. If you want to see the back of the card to find out more about them, I can hit a lever from the back to let you see."
Her store was set up the same way many card stores ran. The front was exposed like shining jewelry, but if customers wanted to see the card, she had gadgets from the back where they could see the effects. It was not a service she offered to everyone all the time, but a limitless credit card called for assistance.
While they started to look, she went ahead and typed in the name Yuugi Mutoh. He had never been in her store before, but the way he acted, he must be in the playing circuit.
Whoah. Whoah, was he ever in the playing circuit. Not now, not for years, but he won incredibly early tournaments that made his name in the history of duel cards. Oh, and he also created the sphere game? How did I miss that, it's like Duel Monsters in space! Incredible. Yeah, no wonder he had the money to back up his claim.
She followed Yuugi Mutoh and his friends from the back, also looking up information for each card they seemed interested in. Any hidden effects, games they were won with, any kind of history that would help them. It was easy to access through her Duel History Membership.
Some people came in and browsed slightly, then left. She only left a few moments to see how her other customers were doing, otherwise she was assisting them from the back. Reading from Yuugi Mutoh's background, she immediately pointed him to the area with the rare Dark Magician card.
"Is that helpful?" The taller friend of Mutoh's spoke to him. He sat down a couple of babies in their carriers. "Atem's already got me. I guess that could be for your deck."
"Yeah, it would feel better I guess," Yuugi Mutoh agreed.
They took it and the Dark Magician Girl card.
"Where are your occult card collections?" A white-haired and tsundere looking man asked her. "It's my specialty."
Occult are more in the middle of the store," Hitomi answered.
"Just be careful, getting something that spells out Death is a waste in this game," The tallest blonde-haired man warned him.
They wanted another one called Obnoxious Celtic Guardian she'd never sold before. She didn't have it. They half thought about one called Kuriboh, sort of arguing back and forth. Neither one stayed on the side of 'for and against', they seemed to switch sides partway through. When she found the card, it was a minor joke of a card, barely worth anything. Some players.
Whatever, she wasn't playing the game, only selling the cards. I should treat myself tonight after such a great day.
More people came in here and there, with a couple of them actually watching them all buy cards, complaining about how lucky they were, and how they could have that kind of money to actually use on cards.
Yeah, Hitomi would never diss the dueling card hobby. It was her livelihood. She looked up more on Yuugi Mutoh's fame. Hey, this guy owns his own gameshop too.
Yuugi Mutoh was rich, a game shop owner like her, famous for the history of the game, an incredible inventor and single? "So, are you getting back into the game itself, or getting back into selling the cards like I do?" She winked. "I've been doing this for some time, selling exclusively the cards in the store is a great idea. I'd be happy to share tips with how to do it now."
Not a look. Not a sound. He barely recognized her presence. "Turn that card."
Not even a please now. She went over toward the glass and used her little turn button to flip the card around.
"What do you think, Atem?" Yuugi Mutoh asked his twin brother. "It's strong."
"It is strong. Strength is important. If it can be used with a magic card, it can be extremely strong," his brother Atem answered.
"That's a newer card," she said. Alright! The more I speak, the better I can get to know him. "It's risky though because it's real strong. They have banned excessively powered cards like Pot of Greed." Hey, she couldn't play, but she still knew her business. "If you buy it and it becomes banned, there isn't a refund. That's why it's only like 103,000 yen."
Still, he didn't seem too interested in any extra conversation. Well, not with her anyway.
"It is risky, but it's worth the buy," the taller blonde-haired said to Yuugi Mutoh. "It's cheaper than it should be because of the risk."
I literally just said that.
"Good point, Jounouchi. If something is banned down here, will it still count in the Gods Game?" Yuugi Mutoh asked his brother Atem.
Hitomi sighed. She looked at her computer again. Huh. This doesn't mention Yuugi Mutoh had a twin brother? There was no information on it. Strange, his brother seemed to even be as eager into looking for the right cards as he had been. What the heck is a Gods Game? New terminology I do not know? She started to look into it. Maybe it was a new kind of professional game that would be trending soon.
"You're right, it's risky." Yuugi Mutoh finished talking to his brother and moved on, leaving the other card behind. "We need a total of 40 of the safest cards. I prefer not to cut though, unless we have to."
A game without wanting to cut? What on Earth is this game they want to play? Yuugi Mutoh was spending a lot in her store too. Someone like him should have gone into Ultimate Cards in Tokyo, instead of picking her shop. Why did he pick her shop with all his friends? Risky. She could tell him after he bought cards from there that there would be a much bigger selection at Ultimate Cards in Tokyo. He might appreciate it and finally crack a smile.
So far, he and his brother both seemed unable to smile. Too concerned about business. Then again, if he knew about it already? He might be offended to be told where to shop. Okay, think about it before he leaves.
"Nothing compares to my Red Eyes around here," the taller blonde-haired man said to Yuugi Mutoh. "We really should head to Ultimate Cards."
Damn. Guess I can't offer that anymore. Hitomi stayed quiet and just did her best to assist. As long as they each got a few decent cards, it would be worth it.
"Your occult cards are absolutely for chumps," the white-haired man complained. "I couldn't win a single duel with any of these. This is a duel of a life-time. It involves lives. We need the best cards."
"There are more shops," Yuugi Mutoh said to the white-haired man. "Don't worry. The most important thing today is getting the best cards we could today. There's no telling what could happen in the future, and I want at least some cards as soon as possible."
"We didn't sneak around everything in Domino City for nothing," the taller, blonde-haired man said.
Domino City? The place next to her town that was saved this morning? These men should have been in a hospital or something, the news said everyone left in Domino City was being checked for all kinds of things. Money says their fine. They are shopping. I won't squeal.
They weren't quick to pick up or put down what they wanted. The amount they were putting out though? She would have to restock her store again for rare cards because they were taking more than just a few she could get at the end of the year.
Not to mention, although they never smiled, they did notice her computer searching. Thinking it would get her some points with the single rich famous guy, she gladly obliged to help.
Now? Hitomi wasn't so thrilled to be obliging. Her membership was making it's money hard today. They wanted every hidden ability, the best cards that she had, history of infamous duels that had been played in the last ten years, etc.! Not a single thank you from either one, nothing. Fine, don't pay attention to me as a woman, but I'm still a human being over here.
They had been there for hours. Sometimes talking to each other, but mostly not. Yet, they were definitely freaky twins. It was like they were connecting telepathically or something. Yuugi Mutoh would point to a card they went over, stare at his brother for a little while, and then go to another card. His brother Atem was doing the same thing.
That's why they never went to Ultimate Cards. Hitomi figured it out. They are casing out my entire stock, finding each and every thing about any potential card. They couldn't do that there. They also had the benefit of her helping them consistently. They better buy at least ten cards from me or I am going to-
"We are going to need you to get us eighty cards," Yuugi Mutoh answered.
Eighty? She smiled as politely as she could. "Of course, Gentlemen. Would you like a wide professional holster as well or just card protectors for each one?"
"Two holsters, no card protectors," Yuugi Mutoh said.
No card protectors at all? He probably had his own. "Which side of the store do you want to start on?"
"The right will be fine." Then she watched Yuugi Mutoh stroll over to one of the baby carriers. "Are you okay so far, Hikaru?"
"Yuugi. You need to pick him up," his twin brother said to him.
"He cries, Atem." Yuugi Mutoh moved back further. "He can feel what I'm feeling about Anzu."
The man Yuugi Mutoh, who had been so serious. Only paying attention to cards with no other interest in even the most basic politeness. He trembled. This person. He's in some serious emotional pain.
Yuugi Mutoh's twin came and laid his arm on his brother. "Masika will come back to us, separately again. We will not let either evil win. The rivers will run red with their . . ." He stopped.
"Hey?" The tall blonde-haired called to Yuugi Mutoh's twin. "That wild side of you, Atem? Make sure it fully comes out during the game. We don't need calm and nice in this god's game."
"Jounouchi," Yuugi Mutoh warned him. "Atem doesn't need help to increase that right now. We need cool heads for this game." He backed away from the baby.
Well? Rich. Game shop owner. Unfortunately? Not free to grab. Whoever that Anzu or Masika had been, they were entrenched within his heart. Damn.