(A/N: Hope Vs Satan. I bet you never thought we'd be experiencing this so soon. Well, there is a method to my madness. Let's see how this goes)
Makoto looked at his opening hand. Under normal circumstances, it would be pretty great, but currently…
"Big bro, can you promise not to direct attack me during the duel?"
Putting on his game face, Makoto pulled a card from his hand. Don't worry, Monaca, I'm not going to break my promise. "I summon Hunter Dragon in attack mode!" Makoto declared. A long, lanky gray dragon with orange horns appeared on Makoto's side of the field. It had 1,700 attack points and 100 defense points.
"I'll set one card face-down on the field and end my turn," Makoto stated.
Monaca pulled the top card of her deck to her hand. "Let's see, what should I do? Hmmm. Oh, I think I should dooooo…this!" Monaca set a monster card face-down in defense mode. With that cutesy voice of hers, she said, "Then I'll just play one other card face-down. Your turn, big bro."
"She didn't attack?" Téa inquired aloud to her friends.
"She must be up to something," Tristan stated.
"Hmmm," Bakura said, putting his thumb and forefinger alongside his chin.
"What is it, Bakura?" Téa asked him.
"Something about this duel…seems a bit off, that's all," he said.
"Off?" Téa asked.
"Oh, no. Don't mind me. Pretend I said nothing," Bakura said, trying to brush everything aside.
From within, the Spirit of the Ring made its thoughts aloud to no one but himself. "So, this is that little brat Enoshima was going on about. Let's see just what kind of trouble she can cause. I'm most curious."
Turn two began and Makoto drew the top card of his deck to his hand. "I summon to the field Maiden of Macabre, in attack mode!"
A kabuki-wearing, pale skinned spellcaster carrying an enormous scythe emerged in a burst of light as its hologram rendered. She had 1,700 attack points and 0 defense points.
"And that's not all," Makoto said, eagerly pulling a card from his hand. "As long as I control a spellcaster monster, I can special summon this monster! Go, Ranryu!"
Another dragon appeared, this one looking more like a furry serpent with wings and horns. It had 1,500 attack points and 200 defense points.
"Nice play, Makoto! Way to build the field!" Tristan cheered.
"Yeah! All right, Makoto! Woohoo!" Komaru added.
"Do your best!" Mukuro cheered awkwardly.
"You can do it, Makoto!" Sayaka cheered much more normally.
Not to be outdone, Mukuro added. "I believe in you!"
"I believe in you more!"
"I—"
Before Mukuro could get her next cheer in, Homura grabbed both teenagers by the back of the neck. "All right, that's enough," she said. "It's only the second turn."
Still, Makoto was caught up in all the cheering and ready to make his big play. "And now, I attack!" he declared.
"Stop right there!" Monaca shouted abruptly. She smiled, giggling. "You activated my trap card: A feint plan!" This trap card stops you from attacking face-down monsters and since all my monsters are face-down, that means you can't attack at all," Monaca explained before throwing her hands in the air and proclaiming. "Yay! Hooray for Monaca!"
Makoto laughed nervously. Seeing Monaca enjoying herself made him smile. He was happy to have her as an opponent, better than all the nail-biting tension that came with the Battle City finals.
"Guess I'll just play a card face-down," Makoto said, shoving the card into the reader. "Your turn, Monaca."
Monaca nodded and drew the top card of her deck. She looked at her hand. "I think I'll start by revealing my face-down monster. Give a big warm welcome to Ghostrick Mummy!" A chibi-like mummy turned face up with its big arms wobbling about and a goofy smile on its face. It had 1,500 attack points and 0 defense points.
"And since Ghostrick Mummy is face-up, I can summon two more Ghostrick monsters for no cost at all! Hooray! So say hello to Ghostrick Ghoul and Ghostrick Skeleton!" Monaca declared.
The ghoulish small humanoid and a cute version of The Reaper took to the field.
Ghostrick Ghoul had 1100 attack points and 1200 defense points and Ghostrick Skeleton had 1200 attack points and 1100 defense points.
"And next, I activate Ghostrick Ghoul's special ability to give it all of the attack points of all of my monsters until the end of this turn. Of course, only he can attack."
Uh oh, Makoto thought.
"Okay, Ghostrick Ghoul, attack Maiden of Macabre. Slice and dice!"
Ghostrick Ghoul bent over backwards as it absorbed energy from Mummy and Skeleton, increasing its attack power to a massive 3,800. Then it pounced from its position and shredded its claws all across Maiden of Macabre, destroying her and reducing Makoto's life points significantly. In one move, Monaca had dropped him to 1,900 life points.
"Next, all of my monsters flip back into face-down position," Monaca said as her monsters hid themselves face-down. "And just to make things even harder, I activate a continuous spell! The Dark Door!" The card artwork showed a ghoulish monster standing in front of a doorway with an eerie green light beyond it. "Now, only one monster can attack each turn. Monaca's plan is flawless! She'll destroy big bro's monsters one by one and win! Hooray! My turn is over now, but it won't be for long."
"It's a good strategy Monaca," Makoto said kindly. "I can see why you made it into the tournament." He drew the top card of his deck and let fly a confident smirk. "Unfortunately, it's got a big flaw." He then pointed at her continuous spell. "And I'm about to show you it! Here's my answer!" Makoto slid a card into the spell reader. "Go, Mystic Space Typhoon!"
Monaca did not look happy. Far from it.
"And I'll use it to destroy the Dark Door!"
The gale force winds smashed into Monaca's spell card, destroying the hologram.
"Too bad my life points are safe. It's a nice try though."
"Sorry, but you've got that wrong!" Makoto declared. "I activate my face-down card, Dragon's Rage!" Makoto revealed his face-down card, a dragon-type monster smashing through a solid rock wall. "This trap card allows any dragon-type monster to inflict piercing battle damage to any monster it attacks. And that's not all, I'm also summoning another monster: good old Blackland Fire Dragon!"
The easily recognizable green dragon stormed the field with its somewhat impressive 1,500 attack points and 800 defense points.
"And I know exactly which monsters are which on your field even if they're face-down. Hunter Dragon, attack Ghostrick Mummy!"
"Hunter dragon rushed towards the face-down Ghostrick Mummy and tore through it, reducing Monaca's life points to 2,300. It was the equivalent of a direct attack given Mummy had 0 defense points.
"Next, Ranryu attacks Ghostrick Skeleton!"
Ranryu's windy breath blew away Monaca's monster as she lost 400 more life points, bringing her down to 1,900 life points, even with Makoto.
The wind blew against Monaca causing her to flinch.
"Ah! Monaca, are you okay?" Makoto asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," she said, covering her shoulders with her arms. "I'm a little chilly from the wind, but other than that, I'm okay. My wheelchair's pretty sturdy." She then smiled unsettlingly. "Unfortunately, by flipping Ghostrick Skeleton face up, you activated his special ability, and so now you have to take the top card of your deck and banish it from the game."
"Ah, all right." Makoto said, pulling the top card off his deck. One card. That's not so bad.
It may be only one card now, but pretty soon it will be your whole deck, Monaca thought with twisted glee.
Makoto put the card in his pocket, the standard area for banished cards in tournament play with duel disks.
"Well, I'm not done yet," Makoto said. "All right, Blackland Fire Dragon, use your Flame Gale and inflict more damage!"
Blackland Fire Dragon's attack roasted Ghostrick Ghoul and dropped Monaca's life points down to 1,600.
"Man, that's a lot of life points to be lost so early on in the game," Mondo commented.
"In competitive play, early loss of life points don't normally matter."
Everyone looked at Taka.
"Oh my," Homura said with a mocking smile, fingers over her lips, trying not to bust a gut laughing. "Has someone been studying a children's card game?"
"We all agreed to come to this spectator sport to cheer our classmates on. I, for one, intended to brush up on basic game knowledge so I could follow the tournament more easily! That way, when I comment and write an essay on it later, I can sound informed and intelligent!"
"Ah. There it is. Same old Taka," Homura remarked. And here I thought he was turning over a new leaf.
"Whatdya mean life points don't matter?" Mondo asked, giving him stink eye. "If you're out of life points, you lose."
"Correct and incorrect!" Taka shouted back, "In a truly competitive duel, it's not until you're below 1,000 life points that the game becomes truly competitive. Players may often use their life points in order to strategically gain an advantage."
"What load of garbage are you spouting?" Mondo asked, cracking his knuckles. "You tryin' ta confuse me? Is that it? Everyone knows that the person with less life points is losing."
"Perhaps when Duel Monsters was first conceived, but the history and strategy of the game has shifted in recent years."
"I'll shift my fist through your face if you don't start yapping!"
"NO! FIGHTING!" Homura said, bopping the backs of her fists into their foreheads.
"Yes, sensei," Mondo said, backing off.
Taka bowed. "A thousand apologies, sensei."
Man, who knew people took this game so seriously, Hina thought, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Back on the battlefield, Makoto was wrapping up his turn. "My turn is over. It's your move, Monaca."
"I'll admit, I didn't see Dragon's Rage coming. Not a bad strategy. Unfortunately, much like with my Dark Door, you won't be keeping it for long. I activate Remove Trap, ridding it from the field!"
"Ah!" Makoto exclaimed, watching one of his best trap cards crumble into nothing.
"And now that your offense has been shattered, it's time to bulk up my defense. I'll set a monster face-down onto the field," Monaca stated. "And then I'll empty my hand by playing one more card face-down." She now had one more spell/trap card on the field to keep Makoto guessing. "Your turn, big bro."
"Easy! All he's gotta do is summon a big monster while keeping Hunter Dragon on the field, and it's game over," Tristan declared.
"Maybe that's what Monaca wants him to think," Bakura speculated.
"Don't get psyched out, Makoto!" Komaru declared. "You got this!"
"Right," Makoto nodded. He drew the top card of his deck. This should do it!
"I sacrifice Ranryu in order to summon Genesis Dragon!"
A big, scary red dragon with 2,200 attack points appeared on the battlefield.
Monaca started giggling. "Got you."
"Huh?" Makoto gasped.
"I activate Void Trap Hole!" Monaca declared, revealing her trap card. "This special trap card negates the effects of any monster summoned with 2,000 or more attack points and destroys it!"
Shocked faces went all around the audience.
"Looks like Bakura was right," Serenity said.
"Aw, man!" Tristan exclaimed, bunching his hands up over his face.
"It's okay, Tristan. You'll be right next time," Miho said, giving him a happy smile.
"Miho, you are my true light in a sea of darkness!" Tristan said, holding up her hands. "What would I ever do without you?"
Miho laughed. "Oh, Tristan. You're so wonderful."
"Ugh, give me a break," Téa commented, unnerved by the mushiness.
Abruptly, Monaca's trap card sucked in Makoto's monster and then the trap hole shattered like a glass mirror, ridding the monster from the field.
"Well now, guess I just got rid of your best monster so far. Let's see how that works out for you. It's still your turn," Monaca said.
"Hey, is it just me, or is something off about Monaca?" Yugi asked Yami.
Yami nodded. "Indeed, I sense a darkness stirring within her. It's nothing like we've seen before, but not because it's stronger. No, her heart is encased in turmoil and despair. It seems to be seeping out during this duel."
"Then it's a good thing Makoto's facing her." Yugi said and then looked at Makoto. "If anyone can help someone suffering, it's Makoto."
"Hunter Dragon, attack Monaca's face-down monster!" Makoto was throwing caution to the wind. Shy of a random Man-Eater bug, he still had 1,900 life points left and was far from out of options to fight with. He could risk face checking Monaca's monster.
Unfortunately, that decision was about to come at the expense of some life points. As Makoto's Hunter Dragon raced towards Monaca's monster, out popped a big, fluffy yeti as it used both its hands to grab the lanky frame of Hunter Dragon. It halted the monster, despite its attempts to ram through the beast.
"Nice try, but I told you I was bulking up my defense and Ghostrick Yeti's 2,000 defense points were just the shield I needed."
Monaca's monster then gut checked Hunter Dragon, knocking it back towards Makoto's side of the field.
Hunter Dragon was otherwise fine as it shook off the disorientation. However, Makoto's life points ticked down to 1,600, even with Monaca's.
Man, she got me good, Makoto thought, staring awestruck.
"Teehee," Monaca giggled, breaking out into admittedly creepy grin. "Not bad, right?"
"Yeah, not bad at all," Makoto said, smiling. "You're really good, Monaca."
Monaca pouted both inwardly and outwardly. Where was the despair, the whiny voice, the complaint that he was getting shown up by a little kid? He was too…nice. It grossed her out. Oh well, she thought, taking a breath. All in good time. I'll crush him soon enough. "Is that all you're doing this turn, big bro?"
"Uh, yeah, I think so," Makoto said and looked back at his hand. He had two cards left in his hand. "Yeah, I'm good. Your move," he said.
"You'd better not come to regret that," Monaca chuckled. She drew the top card of her deck. "I think I'll leave Ghostrick Yeti face-up," Monaca said. "And then I'll place a new monster face-down onto the field. Your move, big bro. Make it count."
I'm not sure what Monaca's up to, but I'm gonna be in trouble if I don't get rid of her Yeti, Makoto thought. Monaca doesn't have any way of defending her monsters this turn, so I guess if I just play a big enough monster, I can gain an advantage. He looked at the three cards in his hand. Hopefully something in it had enough attack points to destroy Monaca's Yeti. His eyes landed on one. I got it!
"I sacrifice both of my monsters in order to summon Fog King!"
A suit of armor haunted by some kind of malicious fog and carrying a sword emerged on Makoto's side of the field. It had 0 attack and 0 defense points. "Don't let his stats fool you, Fog King has a special ability, he automatically gains the attack points of the monsters I used to summon him."
Fog King's attack points surged to 3,200.
"That's more than enough attack points to destroy Ghostrick Yeti! Go Fog King! Attack with Mystic Blade Strike!"
Fog King struck down Monaca's monster, destroying it, but since it was in defense mode, no harm came to her life points.
"I'm ending my turn for now. Good luck, Monaca."
"I don't need luck," Monaca said with a smile. "You played right into my hands, big bro." She drew the top card of her deck. "I summon to the field Ghostrick Jiangshi!" A chinese zombie-like monster appeared on Monaca's side of the field with 400 attack points and 1,800 defense points.
"And next, I'll flip my second Ghostrick Skeleton face-up, forcing you now to remove the top two cards from your deck since I control two Ghostricks."
Makoto removed the top two cards from his deck, showing them to Yami and placing them into his pocket with Des Voltsgalph.
"Next, I flip both of my monsters face-down again," Monaca said with a giggle. "It's your turn, big bro."
It's okay, Makoto thought. I've got this. He drew the top card of his deck. "I summon to the field Neo the Magic Swordsman!" The longhaired, blond spellcaster emerged, swinging his magic sword about as he stood next to Fog King."
"With two monsters at my side, I can rip through your defenses and leave you wide open!" Makoto declared. "Fog King! Neo the Magic Swordsman, destroy Monaca's monsters!"
Monaca smiled as her monsters were slashed apart.
"Since you attacked Ghostrick Skeleton, you've got to put another card from the top of your deck in the banishment zone," she reminded Makoto.
"I know," Makoto said and did so.
"And thanks to you flipping Jiangshi face up, I get to activate its special ability as well. I can add any Ghostrick monster from my deck directly to my hand as long as it's level 1 since I controlled one Ghostrick monster when you attacked. And I choose Ghostrick Lantern!" Monaca put the monster in her hand.
"What's that card do?" Makoto asked.
Monaca giggled. "You'll find out soon enough. So, are you doing anything else?"
Makoto shook his head. "No, I'm good. Your move, Monaca."
"Thank you." Monaca smiled at the card she drew. "Yay! I drew Pot of Greed! Now I can draw two new cards!" She put the cards in her hand. "And I think I'll set a monster face-down and activate Swords of Revealing Light! Now you can't attack me for three turns!"
The swords rained down on Makoto's side of the field, trapping Makoto's monsters.
"And next, I'll set another monster card face-down," Monaca stated.
"Man, that Ghostrick deck is something else," Téa commented.
"Yeah, you wouldn't expect a bunch of cutesy monsters to go up against Makoto's dragons and wizards," Tristan added.
"I think that's part of the advantage of the cards," Bakura said. "They might look cute and friendly, but they're keeping Makoto on his toes."
Standing next to the group now, Komaru said, "Ha! She's only delaying the inevitable! Makoto's gonna crush her!"
"I sure wish I had your confidence, Komaru," Téa said.
Makoto drew the top card of his deck. I might not be able to attack, but that doesn't mean I can't build up my field, he thought. "I summon the Illusionary Gentleman in attack mode!" Makoto declared. A strange looking spellcaster monster garbed in orange with 1,500 attack points and 1,600 defense points appeared on his side of the field. "I…end my turn."
"My turn!" Monaca declared sweetly and drew the top card of her deck. "I summon to the field Ghostrick Witch!" A cute witch popped out in a puff of pink smoke with 1,200 attack points and 200 defense points. "And next, I activate her special ability, I can take any one of your monsters and turn them into face-down defense position. And I think I'll choose your Fog King!"
"Ah!" Makoto gasped.
"Teehee, you know why, right? Once Fog King is no longer face-up, it doesn't gain the effects of its special ability."
"What? Is that true?" Komaru asked Yugi's friends.
Bakura nodded solemnly.
Komaru gulped.
With the magic spell of Ghostrick Witch, Monaca flipped Makoto's monster face-down into defense position.
"Next, I activate the power of all Ghostricks and flip my witch face-down. Next, I'll flip my old monster face-up. Say hello to Ghostrick Warwolf!"
With a mighty howl, a big-headed furry beast emerged on Monaca's side of the field. It had 1,400 attack points and 1,500 defense points. "And Ghostrick Warwolf comes with a special ability. For each set card on the field, he inflicts 100 points of damage directly to your life points. And between my face-down witch and your face-down Fog King, that's two. So you lose 200 life points."
Ghostrick Warwolf Howled and the sonic blast slammed across the field into Makoto, dropping his life points down to 1,400.
"Next, I'll put Ghostrick Warwolf back into defense mode. It's your move, big bro."
Makoto looked apprehensive as he went for the top card of his deck.
Yes, that's the face you should be making. Backed into a corner, you'll get more and more frustrated just like all the others.
Makoto looked at the card in his hand. With Swords of Revealing Light in play, he couldn't attack for a while and Monaca's Warwolf was quickly spelling trouble for him.
I can't risk playing anything face-down, Makoto thought. I have to keep my life points safe and hold out until the effect of Swords of Revealing Light ends. "I end my turn," he said.
"Of course you do," Monaca said. "My turn!" She drew the top card of her deck. "And I set another monster face-down onto the field." The sideways hologram appeared on Monaca's side of the field. "And then I flip Ghostrick Witch face-up onto the field."
Monaca's Ghostrick Witch yawned and stretched like it had just woken up from a nap. "And then I'll activate her special ability and flip your Neo the Magic Swordsman face-down into defense position."
A puff of pink smoke was emitted from Ghostrick Witch and swirled around Neo. When it cleared, he was back in his concealed position, just an anonymous face-down monster.
"Next, I flip Ghostrick Warwolf face-up again. And since now there are 4 set cards on the field, thanks to your still face-down Fog King, you take 400 points of damage."
Ghostrick Warwolf blasted Makoto with a sonic howl, reducing his life points yet again, bringing him down to his last 1,000.
"Yeah, so you were saying about the last 1,000 life points!" Mondo shouted at Taka.
"I…well…" Taka stuttered.
"Mr. Naegi still has a chance to turn this around," Hifumi stated. "I have faced him in battle before. He is not to be underestimated even when his back is to the wall."
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot you played," Mondo stated.
"Yes, so speaking as a player with more experience points than any of you standing here…" Hifumi began only to trail off.
"Yeah, go on," Hina encouraged, looking worried.
"I have absolutely no idea what's about to happen next," Hifumi proclaimed.
Hina, Mondo, Taka and Sayaka all lost their footing at Hifumi's sheer cheerful audacity.
"Oh come on!" Hina proclaimed indignantly.
Hifumi adjusted his glasses. "Having said that, I do still believe in Mr. Naegi. And so should all of you."
"Course I believe in 'em. That's why I'm yellin' goddamit!" Mondo shouted. "Yo! Makoto! Don't get beat by a kid, you hear me!"
Makoto could only give Mondo a firm nod, but as he looked at the field, what was he really supposed to do.
"Since it's going to give me trouble, I think I'll have Ghostrick Warwolf rip apart your face-down Neo with its powerful claws!"
Warwolf launched forward and shredded the face-down card, destroying Neo and sending it to the graveyard.
"I suppose it's your turn again, big bro," Monaca said.
Makoto nodded. Okay, I just have to survive Monaca's next turn and I can attack on the turn after that. He looked at the field. She has three monsters on the field and all of them are going to be face-down next turn. And her Ghostrick Witch can put any of my monsters in defense mode. His brain hatched onto an idea. I got it! What if it could survive Ghostrick Warwolf regardless of its position? Like Illusionary Gentleman! Okay, no need to panic. Luck, don't fail me now! I believe in the Heart of the Cards! Here I go! Makoto ripped the top card from his deck to his hand and stared at it fiercely. This should do it!
"I summon to the field Lancer Dragonute!" Makoto declared.
An all green dragon carrying a hefty lance appeared on Makoto's side of the field. It had 1,500 attack points and 1,800 defense points.
"Not only can Lancer Dragonute inflict piercing battle damage when it attacks, but regardless of what position its in, it's too powerful to be defeated by your Ghostrick Warwolf, so your strategy ends here! And on my next turn, I'm free to attack, so try and defeat me, Monaca, cause if you don't, I know I'm going to win the duel!" Makoto declared.
"We'll see about that," Monaca said calmly. "I draw." She grinned and laughed a bit more creepily than intended. "Well, big bro, I guess your little sister will have to be my big sis for a day after all."
"Huh?" Makoto questioned.
"I just drew a card and, once I play it, you'll have no choice but to surrender. But first, let's get the formalities out of the way, shall we? First, I flip Ghostrick Witch face-up and activate her special ability. And I'll use it to flip Illusionary Gentleman face down because why not? It's not like it matters which monster I conceal. Next, I flip up Ghostrick Skeleton! And since I have two Ghostrick monsters face-up, you have to remove two more cards from your deck."
Makoto did so apprehensively. It didn't matter what they were for the moment, he was more concerned by what Monaca implied, that she had already won the duel.
"And next, I'll flip both of my monsters face-down in order to switch Ghostrick Warwolf in attack mode. And since there are four set cards on the field, you take 400 more points of damage!"
Ghostrick Warwolf's sonic blast slammed into Makoto and dropped his life points down to 600.
"Since Ghostrick Warwolf performed his party trick, he can take a break like a good doggie," Monaca said and then she chuckled and stared at Makoto inquisitively. "Can you feel it yet? The despair of your inevitable defeat? Hmm?" Monaca asked. "If not, I have the card that will seal. Your. Fate. I activate a field spell: Ghostrick Mansion!"
A quaint little mansion with flashing yellow lights in the windows erected like an inflatable bounce castle behind Monaca.
"Ghostrick Mansion prevents any player from attacking face-down monsters. Oh, but if that player's opponent only controls face-down monsters. That player may attack…" she chuckled as she uttered the word, "Directly."
Makoto shuddered and his blood ran cold.
"What's the matter, big bro? It's just an itsy bwitsy direct attack. Heck, you have juuuuust enough attack points to wipe me out. And it's not like I don't have the means to defend myself." She showed him Ghostrick Lantern in her hand. "I can summon this on your turn if you attack me or one of my monsters. So, go ahead," she said, staring holes into Makoto's soul, "Make my day."
Makoto stood there, frozen for a moment, heart going a mile a minute. No…did Monaca…no, I can't believe that! I won't believe that! She seems so nice. Why would she…manipulate me like that?
"Makoto, what's wrong?" Komaru asked, seeing the expression on her face.
"You want to tell them, or should I?" Monaca asked innocently.
"N-nothing's wrong, Komaru!" Makoto exclaimed. "I draw!" He looked at the field.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Monaca asked. "Attack me."
"I…"
"Hmm? Not going to attack? Don't you want to win?"
"Why's she taunting him like that?" Tristan asked, confused.
Monaca grinned ear to ear. That's it, squirm! Struggle! You want to win so badly, you'll have no choice to attack me directly! In my defeat, I'll win anyway! I'll ruin you and drag you through the mud for hurting me! I'll put on the biggest dramatic spectacle and make everyone hate you for crushing a little cripple girl with her own wheelchair!
Makoto thought long and hard about his next course of action. Sure, he wanted to win, but he made a promise.
"Mokuba, what's the hold up?" Kaiba asked through Mokuba's communicator since he couldn't hear the duelists that well all the way up in his suite. "It's obvious what has to happen. All Naegi has to do is attack and he wins the duel."
"I don't know," Mokuba told his big brother.
"Shall I tell them?" Monaca asked again. "Shall I tell them the promise you made to me, big bro?"
"Promise?" Now even Yami was intrigued. "Makoto, what is she talking about?"
Makoto took a deep breath. "I made a promise to Monaca before the duel started. I told her that, no matter what, even if it was to win, I wouldn't attack her directly."
Yugi and Yami, their friends, Komaru, and Makoto's classmates all looked shocked.
"What kind of stupid promise is that, you idiot!" Leon shouted from the stands. "Take her down!"
"Are you for real?" Mondo asked him. "What kind of jackass beats up on a poor kid in a wheelchair." He clenched a fist, "Especially if they're a girl!"
"This is no time to be debating ethics," Hifumi declared. "…right?"
Mukuro sighed inwardly. Junko, she thought. This had her sister's teachings and/or handiwork written all over it.
"You get all that Seto?" Mokuba asked him.
"Oh I heard it," Kaiba said, glaring. He pushed a button to activate the speaker system. "Naegi!" he shouted. "I don't know what kind of stunt your pulling, but in my tournament, we don't coddle to our opponents." Very gravely and with a condescending glare, he growled, "Finish her off."
"I…" Makoto definitely didn't want to disappoint Kaiba. He definitely didn't want to lose. However… "But…I made a promise."
"This is a battlefield!" Kaiba snapped. "Attack her and end this!"
"Kaiba!" Yami shouted, rising from his seat, pivoting to stare up at his rival.
"Oh, spare me your speeches, Yugi," Kaiba said to him irritably. "This isn't the time. Towa isn't one of your hocus pocus fairy tale enemies, she's a girl in a wheelchair. That's all. Naegi, I'm not going to ask you again. Finish her off."
Yami looked at Makoto in a panic. "Makoto, wait. I don't know why you made this promise, but it doesn't change the fact that you made it. If you broke it—"
"I…I know…" Makoto responded, weighing that against everything else.
"Naegi!" Kaiba shouted, growing more and more impatient.
"Makoto!" Yami shouted, growing more and more concerned.
"I…" Makoto put his hands on top of his head and bunched his hair up with his fingers, sweating profusely.
And there we go, caught between the praise of the people you respect the most, there's no way to maintain the respect they both have for you, is there? Monca thought, inwardly. Ahhhh, big sis is going to be so proud of me. This despair will be so…amazing!
"Makoto…" Komaru said softly with great concern, bunching her fists by her chest. She'd never seen her brother in so much emotional pain.
Mukuro and Sayaka both wanted to say something encouraging, but, under the circumstances, neither one could think of the right words to form.
It seemed that this was something Makoto would have to figure out all on his own.
"Makoto…" Even Mokuba was growing concerned.
"Mokuba," Kaiba's voice echoed in Mokuba's ear.
"Yeah, Seto?"
"Set the timer. If Naegi doesn't make a move in three minutes, he defaults out by inaction. Got it."
"R-right," Mokuba stuttered. Man, his big brother really showed no mercy even under these circumstances. "Makoto, three minutes per tournament rules."
"I…" Makoto sweated even more, putting his hand over his chest, looking nervous. He had to make a decision and he had to make it now.
Monaca's heart beat rapidly in anticipation. Soon, Makoto Naegi would crack like an egg under all the pressure.
With delight, she heard him growl.
"Arrrrrrghhhhh!" Makoto clutched at his chest and then spoke a full sentence. "I'm really sorry, Kaiba! But I can't do it! I made a promise and I'm going to keep it!"
"WHAT?!" Kaiba roared, infuriated.
Makoto, Yami was never more pleased with his classmate.
Mukuro stared in stunned silence at Makoto's actions. Was he really just giving up?
Sayaka smiled though, she was happy to see Makoto sticking to his principles.
"I'm sorry Kaiba, but I'm not going to attack directly. I made a promise. However…" Makoto took his hand off his chest and made a fist with it. "I'm not giving up! I'm going to find a way to win this duel without landing a single direct attack!"
Kaiba's gaze narrowed. "Hmmmm…" The idea sounds ridiculous, but if anyone can pull it off, it'd be Naegi. "All right, fine. But no more wasting time," Kaiba replied, his glare not leaving his face. "And if I find out you made another ridiculous promise like this in the next round, you're automatically disqualified!"
"R-right," Makoto stuttered sweating. He then cleared his throat and put his game face on.
Monaca, however, was utterly stunned silent. Why won't he attack me directly? Why didn't he break his promise? She looked angry and frustrated. Why didn't he fall into despair like Big sis said he would?!
"All right!" Makoto declared. "Here goes! I draw!" He pulled the top card of his deck to his hand. "I activate Dragon's Gunfire! This spell card can let me inflict 800 points of damage directly to your life points as long as I control a dragon type monster!" Makoto declared.
"Eeeek!" Monaca squealed as the fireball launched at her and smacked her in the face. She coughed, but her life points only went down to 1,200 not 800.
"Monaca, are you okay?"
Why is THAT his first concern? She shouted indignantly inwardly. She forced a sweet smile. "yes, I'm fine. I only lose half the life points I would to anything other than battle damage as long as Ghostrick Mansion is on the field. It was a good try though, big bro."
Makoto nodded. "Then…I guess I'm switching Illusionary Gentleman back to attack position and ending my turn."
"And you'll lose," Monaca cackled. "I draw." She put the top card of her deck in her hand. "First is Ghostrick Witch."
Makoto's Illusionary Gentleman was forced face-down.
"Next is Ghostrick Skeleton."
Makoto was forced to remove the top two cards of his deck from the game.
"Next, both monsters flip face-down and now I flip Ghostrick Warwolf face-up."
The sonic howl blasted into Makoto, bringing him down to only 200 life points.
"Better do something fast Big bro," Monaca giggled as she had Ghostrick Warwolf flip back face-down. "Or I win the duel next turn."
She's right, Makoto thought. But I'm not giving up. I still believe…in the heart of my cards!
Makoto faithfully pulled the top card of his deck to his hand. Ah! I forgot about this card!
"I activate Magical Dimension!" Makoto declared. "Now, since I control Illusionary Gentleman, by sacrificing my Lancer Dragonute, I can destroy any monster on the field, even if it's face-down and I choose Ghostrick Warwolf!"
"What? No! You can't! That's cheating!" Monaca started to get really flustered.
"H-hey, come on now. I'm just playing the game," Makoto said, nervously.
Monaca pouted and whined. She was not happy about this.
"Ah, right then. Illusionary Gentleman, use the soul of Lancer Dragonute and the power of Magical Dimension and destroy Ghostrick Warwolf!" Makoto declared.
With the power of his monsters, Makoto destroyed Monaca's monster, ridding it from the field.
Monaca started cackling. "You really think that will save you. You're an idiot! I own multiple copies of all my Ghostricks in my deck! All I have to do is draw another Ghostrick Warwolf and you're done!"
"Monaca…c-come on…it's just a game," Makoto said, concerned at seeing her get so upset.
"I don't care if it's just a game," Monaca shouted. "I'm going to beat you, do you hear me? I draw!"
She did not draw Ghostrick Warwolf. She whined in frustration. "At least I can make you remove two cards from the top of your deck, that'll teach you!"
With Witch and Skeleton, she did precisely that.
I need to think up a new strategy and fast, Makoto said, looking at his thinning deck. A lot of my good cards have been removed by Monaca's Skeleton. If I could just attack even once, I could…
Monaca smirked rather wickedly. "You could win?"
Makoto stared at her.
"That's what you're thinking, right? If you could just attack once teensy weensy time, you'd win? Well, you're not going to attack! Monaca, won't let you! And you're not going to win this duel either, not unless you break your promise! You will break your promise!" Monaca practically shrieked.
"NO! That's wrong!" Makoto shouted.
Monaca felt as if Makoto's words fired a bullet and shot her last statement out of the air, forcing her to lean back into her wheelchair.
"I will win, and I'll do it while keeping my promise to you, Monaca! I won't break it!"
"But WHY?!"
"Because!" Makoto shouted, only to smile. "That's just the type of person I am."
"Eh?" Monaca looked at him confused.
"I'm not going to hurt you, Monaca. I don't know if you lied to me just so you could spur this trap on me, but in case you really could get hurt, I'm not going to take that risk. That's just not in me."
"But…"
"No buts," Makoto said with nothing, but kindness in his voice. "Just watch me. I know exactly what I need to win this duel on this turn." He drew the top card of his deck. "I play Card of Sanctity! Now we both have to draw until we're holding six cards!"
"Sure, fine, thin your deck. What could you possibly draw that will end the duel this turn?"
"You wanna know?" Makoto asked. "Here's my answer!"
Monaca felt another powerful jolt go through her body, like a bullet shattering a pane of glass.
"First, I sacrifice my face-down Fog King to summon Des Voltsgalph!"
A big, red and silver dragon appeared on Makoto's side of the field with 2,200 attack points and 1,700 defense points.
"And that's not all, I activate this magic card too: Stamping Destruction! Now, I can target any spell on the field and destroy it, and then inflict 500 points of damage to my opponent!"
"No! Not my mansion!" Monaca exclaimed.
"Go! Des Voltsgalph!" Makoto shouted. "Bring down Ghostrick Mansion!"
Des Voltsgalph took flight and slammed down onto Monaca's beautiful mansion, shattering it and reducing her life points to only 700.
"And I'm not done yet!" Makoto declared. "Next, I activate the equip spell Fairy Meteor Crush and attach it to Illusionary Gentleman! This allows its attacks to deal damage even when my opponent has a monster in defense mode! Illusionary Gentleman, attack!" Makoto shouted.
"N-not so fast! Don't forget, I'm still holding Ghostrick Lantern! I can special summon it and negate your attack! So there!" Monaca declared as her Pumpkin wearing ghoulish fiend appeared on the field and Illusionary Gentleman's attack was stopped instantly. "There, I beat your stupid little trick, so there!"
"Well, you stopped Illusionary Gentleman, but that was never my plan."
"Wh-what are you talking about?"
"I had to put your life points in danger so I used piercing battle damage as a cover for my real strategy."
"What real strategy?"
"You'll see in a moment once Des Volstgalph crushes your Ghostrick Witch!"
"Eeeeek!"
A gigantic fireball blasted Monaca's monster, destroying it.
"And now, since Des Voltsgalph destroyed a monster by battle, it inflicts 500 points of damage to you!" Makoto declared.
The light of hope faded from Monaca's eyes, not that there was much there to start with. "…what?"
"Go! Des Voltsgalph! Unleash your fireball special ability!"
Monaca was hit with a small fireball launched from the mighty dragon, bringing her life points down to 200. Her heart beat rapidly for a bit, but then…she laughed and her laughter got louder and more crazed as it continued.
"That's it? You said you would finish me this turn, but you only got Monaca down to 200 life points! You fool! You fail at math!" She started to laugh like she'd gone insane.
"Monaca, I'm not done," Makoto said calmly.
Monaca shut up immediately and then she asked with a glare. "What?"
"I had six cards in my hand after playing Card of Sanctity. And I've still got three more," Makoto said and pulled one from his hand. "But I only need one."
"You can't!"
"I can and I will! I'm going to win with zero direct attacks!" Makoto exclaimed.
"Break through the confusion and find a solution!" Komaru chanted.
"Never say never!" the siblings shouted together.
"I activate Magical Blast!" Makoto shouted. "This magic card lets me inflict damage to my opponent equal to 200 times the number of spellcasters I control. And I still control Illusionary Gentleman!"
"NOOOOOOO!" Monaca shouted.
"I'm sorry, Monaca, but this is a tournament. I promised I wouldn't declare a direct attack, but I never promised I wouldn't try to win!" Makoto shouted as the blast rocketed towards Monaca. With no cards in hand and no face-down cards to defend herself with, she could do nothing, but eat the burn damage, ripping away the last of her life points.
Monaca screamed as her wheelchair skid back from the impact of the blast towards the edge of the arena. Her life points hit zero. However, more urgent matters were unfolding. She wasn't going to get toppled by her own wheelchair, but at this point she might fall backwards out of it.
But it didn't happen.
Before Monaca realized what was happening, Makoto had raced across the arena and grabbed her wheelchair by the rims of the wheels.
"Whew," he breathed, heart racing. He had almost been too late. "You okay?" He asked her with a gentle smile.
"Eh?" Monaca could barely believe her eyes. She could barely believe her ears. "Aren't you…going to make fun of me?"
"Huh?" Now it was Makoto's turn to be confused.
"I'm not even in middle school! Go on! Tell me how a little kid has no place in an adult's tournament! Mock me! Tell me I'm dumb! Do it! DO IT! I dare you! I double dare you! I quadruple super-duper-ultra dare you!"
Makoto did not do this at all. All he did was gently place his hand on top of Monaca's head and pat it, hand gliding across her scalp back and forth.
"Huh?" Monaca squeaked.
"That was a great duel, Monaca," Makoto said with a smile. "I can see why you made it past the preliminaries. You're a good duelist."
Monaca didn't know why, but she was crying. "That's not fair. You don't get to…say that. You won." She hiccupped. "You're supposed to…be mean." Clenching her eyes shut, Monaca turned the path of her chair and rolled it away as fast as she could, spinning the wheels, tears falling at an alarming rate, teeth biting her lower lip.
"Ah! Monaca! Wait!" Makoto called after her.
"Makoto!" Komaru ran up to her big brother and gave him a big hug, nearly knocking the poor kid over. "You were so awesome!" she exclaimed, pulling back to an arm's length.
"Ah, well…" Makoto said, scratching his cheek, feeling embarrassed. He scanned the crowd for Monaca, but he'd lost sight of her. Monaca, he thought.
"Makoto, what's the matter?" Komaru asked him. "You won, be happy. And you kept your promise to Monaca."
Makoto wasn't going to brush things off like they didn't matter. He told Komaru the truth. "Monaca just sped off. I think she was crying," Makoto said.
"Okay, but she's just a kid," Komaru said. "I'm sure she'll be fine after a little ice cream. I know that would cheer me up. Nobody likes to lose."
"Yeah, I suppose you have a point. Still…"
"Hey, no sense in worrying about it now," Komaru said, waggling her finger at his nose. "Chin up and get ready for the next round. I'll be cheering you on just like I did this time. I'm always in your corner, Makoto. Always."
Makoto smiled, nodding. "Yeah. Thanks, Komaru."
With that, he headed off back to the break room.
Kaiba watched him walk away, staring at the back of his head as he did so. Naegi, sometimes, I just don't get you, he thought. But you won, and that's what matters. He looked at the brackets. Brace yourself though, he said, looking at the second-round matchup due between Makoto and Nagito. You're going to be in for the duel of your life.
Having exited the Kaiba dome entirely, Monaca rested on the corner of the street, wiping her eyes, sniveling.
"Lost, huh?" Junko asked, approaching.
"He kept his promise," Monaca sniffed. "No matter what I did, he didn't sink into despair!"
Junko massaged her protégé's shoulders. "Oh, there, there, Monaca. Don't you worry. By the time I'm done with this tournament, there will be plenty of despair to go around."
"But I let you down, big sis," Monaca complained.
"Eh, I'm used to disappointments from family members, so it's fine," Junko commented.
This, unfortunately, only twisted the knife for Monaca, but she said nothing.
Junko rubbed her head, but her touch was rougher and more reckless than Makoto's. "But you did good, Monaca." Junko put her finger and thumb around her chin. Makoto Naegi, hmm? First he somehow worms his way into big sis' heart, now this. What's the deal with that guy?
Junko's phone suddenly buzzed. It was Mukuro texting her to let her know the next match was being announced soon.
"Need me to call you a ride?" Junko asked.
Monaca shook her head. "No, I'll find a spot in the handicap special seating on the ground level. Thanks for looking out for me, big sis."
"Of course, Monaca," Junko said, ruffling her head more, anything for you.
Junko then walked back into the break room from outside the dome just in time to hear the announcement of the next match.
"Byakuya Togami and Apdnarg Utom, please report to the arena now!" she heard Kaiba announce.
Togami and Yugi's grandpa, hmm? Junko thought. This ought to be interesting.
She was not fooled by a simple bandana. The man wore the same overalls for as long as she'd known him. No backwards name was going to fool this fashionista.
And neither, apparently, would it fool Byakuya.
"Take that ridiculous thing off your face this instant," Byakuya said as the two stared each other down in the arena, Byakuya to Yugi's left, "Apdnarg" to Yugi's right.
"Hmm?" Apdnarg replied.
"I don't know what you're trying to pull old man, but I don't intend to duel you while you're pretending to be some mysterious masked man. That might work on a dolt like Joey Wheeler, but not on me!"
"What's he talking about?" Tristan asked.
Byakuya pushed up his glasses and massaged his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. "Of course you'd be that idiotic."
"Byakuya knows that old geezer?" Mondo inquired.
"Apdnarg" knowing when the gig was up, decided to take off the bandana and properly wrap it around his head. "Well if you're going to be like that."
"Grandpa?!" Yugi exclaimed, taken off guard.
"Heh," Yami smirked, having known the whole time.
"Fitting that we should meet here like this. I plan to show you just how far I've come learning the heart of the cards, old man," Byakuya said, pointing a rude finger at the only person he could ever loosely call a mentor.
"Still with that stone cold personality I see," Solomon replied. "If you're expecting this to be easy, you've got another thing coming. I was an expert duelist myself back in the day."
"So you've told me before. And, I will admit," Byakuya said with both a condescending tone and posture, "After learning what you had to teach me, I have noticed a considerable improvement in my dueling abilities, but they're still falling short of perfection."
"Well then, perhaps you might learn the answer when I have you kicked out of this tournament," Yugi's grandpa said with a smirk.
"Oh, is that so? Sorry, but I don't plan to lose. I am Byakuya Togami after all."
"Then why don't we stop talking and start dueling," Solomon stated.
"Indeed."
The randomizer flipped between Byakuya and Solomon as the two armed their decks, released their duel disks' hologram projectors and fired up the disks to begin their duel. By the time their life points were set to 4,000 one of them had been chosen to go first. This time it seemed fate was kind to the elderly as Solomon was gifted the first move.
"Oho? Me first, hmm?"
"Don't have a heart attack in all the excitement," Byakuya retorted, smirking, meaning that as a sick joke.
"It takes a lot more than going first to put me in the hospital. Let me show you everything I know about dueling first hand this time, Byakuya Togami."
"I relish the challenge. Bring it," Byakuya requested calmly.
The two locked competitive gazes.
"Let's duel!" Both men declared.
The 13th match of the first round of the Kaiba Corp Grand Prix was about to begin.
(A/N: Victory for hope boy #2! As if I would let Makoto flub that or break his promise. Makoto is a good boi! I'm eager to see the reviews for this chapter, especially regarding comments made towards Monaca. They should be interesting. I'm also eager to see what y'all think of the next match. Was it about as predictable as the sun rising in the morning? Yes. Do I care? No. It's good storytelling.
I'm very eager to get this round done before the end of November. There's a duel in particular I want to get to. I might take a break after the push before Hajime vs Sonia, but we'll see what happens.
But, until next time, as always, from all of me, to all of you, let your hearts stay human and your wrath draconic. Ja ne!)