Can I?
By: Xhibit B
Chapter Four - The Tournament (Part Three)
.i do not own yu-gi-oh!.
"I swear one of these days I'm going to punch that woman in the throat," Mana huffed once they walked away from Vivian, her arms folded across her chest. Her pout was earning her muffled laughs from everyone that walked with them. "She is consistently trying me. Has been trying me for the last twenty years. I don't know why she can't get it through her head that Atem is a married man with a child and he's not going any damn where. He has made it very clear before this that he is not interested in her, but she still continues to try. If she comes near you again, I'm not kidding. I will punch her in the throat."
"I believe you Mana, I don't doubt that you would actually punch her," Atem laughed uneasily, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I think we should leave everything to Hiba. She is going to be dueling her in the next round. And with their bet going on, and the promise of you sending her to the ER, I'm pretty sure that she's going to get the picture and she'll be leaving us alone very soon."
"She'd better or I swear," Mana said shaking her fist. "I'd better call my brother just in case I need him to represent me in a court of law for kicking her ass though. Mahad would be able to get me off easy. I'll make it look like it was self-defense and they'll let me off with a warning."
"Don't worry Momma, I'll take care of this. We don't need to call Uncle Mahad... although I really wish he, Aunt Ishizu and Isis would have been able to make my tournament this weekend; as well as Gramps and Grams," Hiba said winking at her mother as they entered the café that was set up inside the stadium. "Maybe next time if they can take the time off."
"Actually, your uncle will be here tomorrow for the second part of the tournament," Atem pointed out, making Hiba beam with glee. "So will your Aunt Ishizu and Isis. Mahad text your mother earlier and asked her for the address for the tournament and said that he and the family will be here tomorrow."
"Yeah Mrs. Sennen, I'm pretty sure with Hiba on the case, Ms. Wong won't be bothering you or your husband ever again unless she's really that dense and wants a beating," Hiyori laughed, changing the subject back to what they'd been talking about prior before she turned to Hiba. The look on her face almost made her mother laugh. "You'd better not show that woman any mercy, I mean it."
"You sound a lot like Uncle Seto, Hiyori," Hiba laughed; completely missing how Seto turned to look at the two girls before turning away again with a shake of his head. "But I definitely will not be showing her any mercy. She's being entirely disrespectful to my parents and their relationship and I'm not going to let that continue to happen. If someone makes it clear that they are not interested and it's totally obvious that they are in a committed relationship and have been for the last oh I don't know, twenty something years… you need to leave it alone. Especially when dealing with someone like my Mom… she's sweet and caring but if you get on her bad side, she'll kick your butt with no hesitation."
"Kinda like you did to Hizuki Ushio when she took your dueling deck and destroyed some of your cards?" Hiyori snickered, her amethyst eyes cutting to look at her brother who grumbled and looked away from his sister. "She stopped messing with you after that."
"That was four years ago," Hiba defended, rolling her crimson eyes at her best friend. "She shouldn't have taken my deck and destroyed it the way that she did. I had been building it up for a while at that point and for her to just destroy it was wrong on so many levels. I never found some of those cards that she destroyed again after that. I'm still salty about it."
"You are your mother's child," Atem chuckled, shaking his head.
"I know," Hiba said smiling at her father adorably. "You tell me that all the time, Dad."
"Because it's true," Atem commented with a shrug. "The Shen genes are just as strong as the Sennen genes. But I think you got a double dose. Your uncle was that way too when we were younger as well. Always willing to fight on the little man's behalf or if you just pissed him off enough."
"I seem to recall that you were right there along with me, Atem," Yami pointed out, he could see the embarrassed flush that crossed his brother's nose. "You were a hothead too in your younger years, old man. Don't try to make it seem like it was just me."
There was a chuckle from everyone as they made their way into the restaurant, the hostess leading them deep into the dining area where there was a large booth set up. It fit most of them, the others being provided with chairs so that they were all surrounding the large, round table. Yami had slid in after Hikari and Hiba before he was joined on his other side by Yūgi, the twins and her grandfather. The Kaiba family as well as Atem and Mana took the chairs that had been provided for them by the wait staff who left them be with the promise to return in a few minutes to take their orders after handing out menus.
Yami turned to glance at Hiyori, who was seated right beside her mother, and grinned. "You did amazingly well today, Hiyori. I haven't seen dueling like that in years, honestly since before your mother retired. The way that you outsmarted Marc Devlin was extraordinary. You've been taught well."
Hiyori's nosed coloured a bright red, her amethyst eyes glancing down at the forgotten menu that she had been previously scanning before Hiba's uncle had mentioned her success. Little did they know, she was scared out of her mind the entire time she'd been out there. "Thank you, Mr. Sennen. My Momma and Grandpa did teach me well. Plus, I watched a lot of her old footage and found some killer moves that I could utilize with my own deck."
"Well, in any case, you did an amazing job," Yami praised before he turned to his niece. "And you did too, Hiba. You were both underestimated and taught those boys why it was a bad idea to be so cocky just because you're girls. You both were taught by the best. They should have known better."
"I have to agree with my brother," Atem mused, his arm resting over the other; fingers gently drumming against the table top, "You showed great skill today. It's hard to guess that you were even as nervous as you claimed yourself to be earlier this afternoon at lunch. And Hiba, you did a great job taking on that boy. I don't understand some of these duelists. It's very unwise to make light of anyone you face. You never know what they are capable of. Especially when they've been trained by the Queen of Games herself like Yami said."
Yūgi had the decency to blush at the compliment that was disguised under his words.
"Did you ever have to deal with things like that, Ms. Yūgi," Hikari asked, glancing across her father over at the woman who nodded. "But you're the Queen of Games. They should have known better than to underestimate you! You beat Pegasus of all people, and he made the game!"
"Yes, well, unfortunately there are those that think they can take on anyone and win no matter what your title is in the dueling world or who you've defeated in the past," the amethyst eyed former duelist stated softly. There was a small smile that crossed her features, her head tilted to the side slightly. "And that's why they learn the hard way that everyone can't be beaten so easily."
"Yeah, someone we all know, and love, would know a little something about that," Joey snickered, elbowing her husband as she winked at him. Seto scoffed at his wife, arms folded across his chest. "That's why he got beat by Yūg in the first place."
"You really aren't going to let me live this down, are you," Seto grumbled, arms crossed over his chest.
"Not on your life," Joey hummed with a smile.
Idle chatter continued to ensue around the table, everyone laughing at embarrassing stories that were shared about the adult's younger years. Hiba had almost "accidentally" let it slip that her Uncle Yami had been hopelessly in love with her mentor for years before Yami had reached around his daughter and pinched her, distracting her from her thought that she never finished. Thankfully no one had questioned what she was about to say as the conversation had moved on to another topic almost immediately by the elder of the Sennen brothers. Yami had been grateful for that.
Yami and the others had been in the middle of listening to the story about the mind games Yūgi had played on the eliminator, as told by Joey, when a group of young dueling enthusiasts came rushing to their table. It was clear that the tri-colour haired woman was embarrassed when they bombarded her with questions; tripping over her words from time to time as she tried to answer.
"How come you don't duel anymore," one had asked her.
"Well, seventeen years ago, when I announced my retirement, it was because I was pregnant with my children," Yūgi said, gesturing to the twins who in turn waved. "They needed their mother full time so, it was time for me to put the dueling deck down and focus on my family."
"Do you ever miss the excitement of the tournaments," another asked, irking a brow.
At this, Yūgi beamed, "I always miss the excitement and the chance to meet so many amazing new people everywhere I went."
"Do you mind taking a photo with us, Queen of Games," a short, brown and black-haired girl asked.
Yūgi could see the hopeful look in her eyes as she held her camera to her chest and she smiled, nodding her head yes. Yuki and Hiyori quickly moved out of the way so that she was able to get out of the booth, the younger Mutou twin taking the camera as the enthusiasts circled around the short, tri-colour haired woman; bright smiles on all of their faces. She snapped several photos for them before handing over the camera again as Yūgi resumed her seat between her children and Hikari.
The group bid Yūgi and the others farewell before going off to find other duelists to take pictures with, completely ignoring Seto who scoffed. Joey laughed, patting her husband's shoulder sympathetically. Yami chuckled as he looked over at the still flustered woman, "They really do love you."
"You would think by now I'd be used to all of this attention," Yūgi murmured. "Yet it's still so embarrassing when I get mobbed like that. I hate to be so easily flustered."
"But then again you have been out of the spotlight for seventeen years," Atem pointed out. "It's no surprise that you were anxious throughout that whole encounter."
"Mr. Sennen does have a point there, my girl," Sugoroku pointed out.
"Please Mr. Mutou, call me Atem," Atem assured him. "It's quite alright, we don't have to be so formal."
"Then please, call me Sugoroku," Sugoroku insisted. "It would only seem fair that you call me by my given name, considering you would prefer I use yours when addressing you."
"Fair enough," Atem conceded, "If you don't mind, then I will."
.cani.
"Hiba Sennen and Vivian Wong, report to the main arena," Crockett announced.
"That's my queue, wish me luck," Hiba said, grinning at her bet friend, her hands grasping the other's. "I gotta win this so this woman gets off my dad's back. I've watched her disrespect my Mom for years. It's about time that someone put her in her place."
"Don't hold back on that floozy, Hiba," Hiyori demanded, her hands grasping hold of Hiba's a bit tighter. There was a frown that marred her features, amethyst eyes filled with intense emotion. "Think about what she's put your mother and father through. Make her pay."
Hiba nodded, her friend releasing her hand as she turned to make her way towards the stage. Hiyori grinned as she watched her best friend, her arms coming to rest across her chest. Hiba was definitely going to let that woman have it for disrespecting her parents. And she couldn't wait to see how everything was going to play out. She'd promised not to show Vivian any mercy. And a promise was something that Hiba never broke. No matter what it took.
She watched with pride as the match began, the confidence Hiba exuded evident.
Up in the stands, Yūgi watched with similar pride. It was about time that someone teach that woman a lesson in manners. No one wanted to continue to be harassed when it was evident that they held no regard in the way you felt towards them.
"Hib's about to mop the floor with that woman," Yami chuckled, his leg coming to cross over the other; arms folded over his chest. "This is going to be a match for the history books."
"You said it," Joey laughed before cupping her hands around her mouth. "Alright Hiba, kick that woman's ass for your parents! Show her who's boss around here and why she should have just stayed away."
"Again, I'm going to point out, for the second time, that she cannot hear you," Seto grunted, earning a glare from his wife. He'd promptly shut his mouth right after.
Yuki laughed, "Uncle Seto never learns."
"No, he doesn't," Joey agreed before their attention was turned back to the match in front of them.
.cani.
"You know, there's no shame in giving up, Viv," Hiba taunted, a smile on her lips as her elbow rest in the palm of her hand. She'd worn the Chinese woman's life points down to practically nothing. One more good move and the match would be over. "Save yourself the effort, not to mention the embarrassment that will follow after this, and just place your hand over your deck and surrender. We won't think bad of you for it. You're clearly out classed."
"You don't know what you're talking about, brat," Vivian snarled, pulling another card from her deck. It was placed on the dueling platform, the hologram appearing centre ring. "Now, attack her winged dragon and let's end this! I want to get to my Atem as soon as possible so that he can congratulate me on a job well done beating her."
"I don't think so," Hiba quipped. The face down card she'd placed earlier was flipped, revealing the deflect attack trap card. "You're not destroying my Winged Dragon. Not today. But you will destroy yourself thanks to my trap card."
"Wha– oh no! That was my best card," Vivian whined, slumping forward on the podium. She was going to lose at this rate. And if she did, she would never get to be with her Atem. That realization made her straighten up again, determination burning in her gaze. "You may have outsmarted me right there for just a second, but I'm going to win this duel. And there's nothing that you can do to stop me." She pulled a card from her hand placed it face down on the field. "I place this card face down and end my turn."
Hiba shrugged, unphased by Vivian's little speech. There was absolutely no way she was letting this woman win. Her mother's freedom was riding on her victory in the match. She knew that if she didn't win this match the woman would keep bothering her father and her mother would eventually snap and break her in half. The last thing she wanted was to have to talk to her mother through a glass window for the rest of her life.
"There's no way you're coming out of this the winner, crazy woman," Hiba taunted. "You're going to lose. And you're going to uphold your promise to leave my parents alone once I reduce your life points to nothing. Otherwise… well, you know the alternative."
"Don't be so cocky, brat," Vivian growled. "There's no certainty that you will beat me. I'm one of the best duelists to ever pick up a dueling deck. You don't have a chance."
"In case you missed it, I was trained by the Queen of Games herself," Hiba pointed out. "I duel her daughter on a constant basis. And Hiyori is a tougher opponent than you'll ever be. Sure, you might have gotten in a few good shots and worn my life points down some. But let's be honest here, you have no chance."
"What you-," Vivian started before she was cut off.
"Now, I sacrifice my Winged Dragon to bring forth Summoned Skull," Hiba called out. The hologram appeared, prepared to attack. "Summoned Skull attack her life points directly!"
The hologram sprang forth, attacking the Chinese duelist directly; reducing her life points to nothing in a flash. There were cheers all around as the projections disappeared, Hiba grinning smugly at the woman who wailed about having lost to a child.
In the stands two very proud parents cheered while their friends and family around them snickered in amusement. They'd known all along that Hiba would win. It was a just a matter of when it would happen that they were waiting for. Joey shook her head as she leaned over to whisper to Yūgi. "That's what she gets for messing with the protégé of the Queen of Games herself. I'm looking forward to Hiyori's next match. She dusted the floor with Devlin. Let's see how she does going up next."
"I'm sure Hiyori is going to do just fine," Yūgi laughed as they watched Hiba disappear behind the doorway that led to the waiting area for the duelists.
.cani.
The matches continued with much excitement. Hiyori was quickly becoming a fan favourite among the duelists that remained, having easily outsmarted her opponent and beat him as if she hadn't even been trying. Once the final four duelists remaining had been determined, Pegasus had returned to announce that the tournament would pick up once more the next day at noon. Hiyori would be facing off with Jahiko, another exceptional duelist that had shown great skill in his matches that he'd participated in beforehand. Hiyori was actually quite looking forward to what he would have in store for her the next day. That left Hiba to face Leon, another regional champ and a hit with all the female dueling enthusiasts. Hiba had faced him several times before in various other tournaments and had come out the victor in all of them. She wasn't the least bit worried about what he would have in mind for their duel the next day.
Once released, the girls ambled to find their families and friends who were waiting for them just outside the stadium. The moment that they stepped out, Hiyori found herself scooped off her feet by her brother who was squeezing her half to death. Hiba had also been captured, only difference, it was her parents that held her in a vice grip; peppering her face with kisses and singing her praises.
"You can put me down now, Yuki, this is so embarrassing," Hiyori huffed; a blush colouring the bridge of her nose as she tried to push her brother away and free herself from his grip. He wouldn't relent however, squeezing her tighter and peppering her face with butterfly kisses. "You are such a pain in the butt, I swear. Mom! Tell him to let me go."
"Alright Yuki, that's enough," Yūgi laughed, her fist resting against her hip as she watched her children. Yuki finally placed his sister back on her feet, who in turn jabbed him with her elbow before ducking out of his reach and running behind the tri-colour haired mother. She laughed again, those two were too much sometimes. "It's about time we get going back to the hotel. You girls have had a long day and I'm sure you both could use some rest. You're in for another long day tomorrow."
"Thankfully it won't take anywhere near as long tomorrow to get through the rounds as it did today," Joey said, exasperated. "There's only four o' ya dueling. You two going against those boys should be entertaining. But what I'm really looking forward to, is the two of you facing off together. That's going to be one hell of a show for the audience."
"Aren't you jumping the gun a bit, Joey," Seto asked; his brow irked at his wife. While he was sure that both girls would do just fine in their first matches, there was always the chance that one of them could lose before they even made it to the ring with one another. "We don't know what tomorrow holds."
"Yeah right," Bakura pipped in. "These girls are going to clean those two boys' clocks then go on to face each other in the final round. One is the protégé of Yūgi there. The other is her literal flesh and blood. There's no way those other two kids are getting past them."
"I have to agree with Bakura," Yami said stuffing his free hand in his jeans pocket as he shifted the sleepy Hikari on his other side. "These two are obviously better than anyone expected at the game. They've taken on top duelists from around the world and so far, have dominated in this tournament. Leon and Jahiko honestly do not stand a chance."
"Yami is right, but at the same time, so is Seto," Atem spoke up. "We can't jump the gun this soon. While it would be a pleasure seeing these two in the final round, we do have to keep in mind that anything can happen. Like them not getting enough sleep. It's already a quarter past nine, we should head back to the hotel, maybe grab a quick bite to eat on the way and get some rest. It's been a long day for everyone."
"I, for one, am on board with what Mr. Sennen said, so let's move people," Hiyori said placing her hands on her mother's shoulders and stirring her towards their SUV. "I need a shower, something to eat and a bed. Dueling in front of crowds is exhausting."
Everyone laughed at the tri-colour haired teen as they followed suit, everyone headed to their designated vehicles before leaving the stadium. The next day was definitely going to be a long one. But Hiyori was looking forward to it. She couldn't wait to see how everything would play out. But for now, she'd finally text Marc and see how he'd enjoyed the rest of the tournament.