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'Quatervois' | CH.1 | (2/3)
(Noun) (Origin: French)
"A crossroads; a critical decision or important turning point of one's life."
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CH.1 - P.2: Dark Intentions, Bright Ambitions
The afternoon's light was beginning to wane, the sky turning into a soft orange as the sun set onto the horizon. Teà thought those colours looked gorgeous. From the rolling clouds being painted by the sun's light to become a pale yellow-orange shade. Dynamic and complex shadows sprawling across them. The buildings in the distance turned to black silhouettes framing the sun as it touched the horizon.
She had to take out her camera from her school bag and capture a few pictures of the Domino City's skyline.
Teà smiled softly as she reviewed her freshly taken photo. It was good, In her opinion, she just wished she had someone to show these too. But at the moment she would have to wait. It wasn't as if she could send it as easily as someone could with a phone call. She let out a exaggerated sigh. "Oh woe is i who suffers under the many inconveniences of living in 1996. hopefully that changes soon." She rolled her eyes, putting away her camera and taking out her phone.
Another silent moment passed and she was forced to let out yet another sigh to convey her heavy, heavy feelings of 'afternoon slowness' as she waited for her bus to arrive. Her bus was late. How grand. She smiled trying to keep up her usual happy mood, though it was quite difficult. She felt unusually apathetic this evening. But who would blame her for that.
She had to wait here with a bunch of other students she couldn't for the life of her recognise. Tristan had walked home and everyone else had other plans. So she was alone, practically torture for a social butterfly like herself. Not like their schedules mattered, they likely wouldn't study with her either way. Well? Maybe Yugi would?
Joey might hang out if someone else joins and Tristan seems like he wants to start taking his studies seriously too.
Maybe she should ask Bakura. Wait, no, even if he says yes she'd be the ire of every other girl in her class for even daring to attempting to do such a thing. He might even say no if he suspects she's just using it as an excuse to flirt with him, which hopefully he knows that she doesn't see him like that. They're just friends. But who knows what kind of paranoia being the apple of every girl's eye would do to him.
Ultimately the very simple answer was that Bakura was not someone she was going to ask to study with her.
if Teà was being completely honest right now, she felt alone here. This bus stop wasn't empty empty, but it was devoid of any of her friends.
Not that she didn't think it was impossible to just go up to someone and introduce herself. Light conversation can be more emotionally filling than people give it credit for. She considered herself a very extroverted person.
It was just that for the last few weeks it had been difficult to tell most of her other classmates apart, she could tell who were her friends as well as those she often spoke to apart from each other.
It's just been like that for some reason and she didn't know why, it drove her up the wall.
Their names never stuck with her and they almost seemed faceless from the corner of her eye, but only when they were in the corner of her eye. She made double sure to check the first time she noticed. She'd accidentally startled them and she then went to immediately apologise for doing so. It was headache inducing to think about this absent minded tendency and no one else seemed to notice, so she just keeps these weird little quirks to herself.
It wasn't worth fussing over.
It was infuriating, it really was, but honestly it was probably just a sign that she really needed to sleep more. If this was going to keep happening due to her working late nights, she might just stop taking those types of jobs.
Teà had to admit she should've seen this coming with all of these late shifts and constant schoolwork. This was bound to start getting to her eventually.
She glances over her shoulder and focuses onto some random student's face. They noticed and gave a soft grin back.
It was just the stress of the last few weeks Teà rationalises. She waves back before focusing back down on the phone in her hands. She felt tired and this slow afternoon just made that feeling worse
Teà wanted to sleep instead of study, but she had to try and get good grades, so she'd study still. No matter what weird things it's causing her to see. She also has to find another job again with her last one firing her. She shrugged, at least she could sleep better, even if only for a little bit.
the energy of the scattered crowd around the bus stop started picking up all of a sudden, catching the brown haired girl's attention. Teà looks up to see her bus turn around the corner and approach her stop.
"Finally" She smiled. Teà started towards the splendid sky again. it was such a beautiful orange.
"Joey.. why?" Yugi sobbed emotionally.
"Sorry Yuge, this is what you brought upon yourself. it was always going to be me." Joey quipped darkly before pulling the trigger on his dear friend.
Yugi's character in the game fell over from the shot and started to scatter into pixelated dust in the digital aether, but before it could fully disintegrate, zombie hands ripped themselves out of the surrounding graves and pulled the character down. as this was happening Yugi goes through the motions of a extremely dramatic death.
Joey started to break down with laughter at the sight of his friend over-explaining their extremely long and detailed will.
The announcer immediately declared Joey the winner of the match accompanied by a loud chorus of trumpeting fanfare. "Hell yeah!" The blonde student cheered as he finally won a game against his pal this evening.
"Way to go Joey!" Yugi laughed as he picked himself off the ground and deposited the toy gun into the 'shooting zombie super murder game 2' game's holster. Mouthful of a title, though not the worst one he's seen in this arcade. The arcade the two were playing in, despite not currently being the store's rush hour was still quite packed to the brim with teenagers and and children. Unintelligible voices and flashy sound effects played out around them in a constant drone of white noise.
"Yeah, still didn't get the high score I don't think." Said Joey as he composed himself enough to look as said scores began to be listed out on the screen.
"Not even on the board, wow i thought you did very well." Yugi commented. He thought his friend had done extremely well actually. "The top 5 is completely dominated by the same person. Someone called K."
"Wait a sec?" Joey squinted at the name on the board. He knew that K was a legend, he had a high score on almost every machine in this arcade, after all. But after what happened earlier today, Joey couldn't help but consider the possibility. "You don't think the 'K' stands for Kaiba do you?" The blonde asked his tri-toned haired friend.
"What?" Yugi squeaks out. "Are you really sure about that?"
Joey bites his lip as his shorter friend tilted their head slightly to the side. "I can't imagine him doing that Joey. This 'K' person, whoever he is has like every high score in this place. Even the Basketball Hoops! Not just here but in like every arcade in the area. That'd take so long to get good at every game. He seems to be studying all the time when i see him. When would he find the time?"
The tall blonde paused for a second, then burst out in laughter as the pair moved away from the shooting game, Yugi quickly tagging behind him. "You're probably right, but it'd be hilarious if it was true." Joey gave a wry smile at the thought.
"Mhm." their shorter friend nodded back. Trying to stifle a laugh at the absurd idea. "But that can't be right. Right?"
"Well I didn't know he played Duel Monsters until today so who knows what he does in his free time." Joey shrugged. "Whatever."
"Still crazy though right?"
"Right... Yea." Joey answered. "I've just been thinking too much about that jerk. first time i hear him actually speak up and he just insults us! Then he tries to push Shougo for his new card. What a prick." the blonde groaned as he pictured Kaiba's smug grin when he was just about the deck 'im.
"Yep.." Yugi couldn't help but agree on some level. "He's very intimidating and..." He stated before trailing off, unsure of what to say about it.
"Hm?" Joey hummed back as he noticed his pal's sudden discomfort. He then decides to steer the topic away from Kaiba immediately to lighten the mood. "Hey? Another thing i was meaning to ask earlier, what's the story with that kid. Shougo?" Said Joey, hoping he had actually gotten the name right.
"Oh?" Yugi perked up. "We used to play games on the bus sometimes. Mostly Duel Monsters. Despite the fact we didn't talk all that much, i'd say we were friends. though we only talked on the bus and never at school." The smaller student tapped their fingers together shyly as they went on about Shougo and himself.
"And ya stopped talking to each other for some reason?" Joey asked. "I don't get it, seemed like you got along really well together."
"Well.." Yugi played with the thread tying their their golden puzzle in a fidgeting motion.
"Ah!" Joey startled as he held his arms out and waved them in a calming motion. "You don't have to tell me if ya don't wanna." he quickly tried to not make his friend feel awkward yet again.
"Umm.. it was around the time we started becoming friends." Yugi finished.
"Oh.. OH!" Joey mouths out a swear as the answer stared him in the face, his eyes went wide. As the ex-bully suddenly realised why Shougo had seemed so nervous around him when they had first arrived. Why they kept getting side glances from Shougo, Why Shougo tried not to make eye contact at him when he was looking back.
He'd been so used to those things, he hadn't thought it was that weird when Yugi's friend did those things as well.
Joey clenched his teeth. damn he seriously wasn't good at this delicate stuff. Now that it was obvious. Shougo was probably scared of him. Probably because of how he used to treat people.
Did he ever beat him up? Or play an exceptionally cruel joke? Joey freaked a little at the question that had suddenly popped up in his head, he couldn't be sure he never really bothered to remember the faces of his victims most of the time.
"Oh shit.." The blonde muttered dejectedly. "That makes too much sense, eh..sorry 'bout dat Yuge."
"It's in the past." Yugi quickly replied to dispel his friend's worry. "You're my friend Joey. Now we're both friends with Shouto, everything is better than ever now. Maybe he'll play more games with us after school?" Yugi wondered aloud cheerfully, changing the somber tune of the conversation almost immediately.
He'd meant to try to cheer Joey up, but the ideas of playing games with Shougo again actually lifted his own spirits. He was genuinely smiling at the idea.
Joey noticed the change in topics. He thought about it and yea, Shougo actually seemed to warm up to him slightly by the end of the duel. Yugi was right, at least somewhat. Things were better now, now Joey just had to make sure to not screw it up. The blonde teen looked up and smiled. "Sure, sound like good fun. I've gotta come up with a way to beat that 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon' of 'is"
The blonde raised his fist with a burning passion. The light of the room seemed to spark in his eyes. "in-fact i need to get some more practice in, wanna play a game here?"
The Tri-tone haired student softly smiled back. "Sure Joey." His smiled quickly fell as he looked around for someplace the sit, only finding filled out tables and crowded corridors of arcade machines. Perhaps this wasn't a good place to Duel. "Actually maybe we shouldn't do it here."
Joey similarly looked around for a place to crash only to fail as well. "Think you're right Yuge, this place hasn't gotten any emptier than from before."
"Hey!" Yugi started. "Let's head to my Grandpa's Game Shop. He always has these cool cards, you'll love them. Maybe he could give you a pointer or two as well? he is an expert after all."
"Sounds good, lemme get a drink first. I'd hate to have to have ta raid your fridge." After Joey acquired a soda can for his pal and himself the pair of friends left for their new destination.
Shougo strolled across the street, almost being run over by a black car in the process. Shougo flinched as the driver of said car shouted something at him. Which wasn't fair at all considering it was a red light and he was supposed to be walking right now.
Already up to a great start and he hadn't even managed to enter the place yet.
He managed to finally land on the over side of the street alive and entered the place he usually hung out at. 'The Duel Parlour' a place where you could rent a glass room with a table in it, in order to duel with friends. you could order drinks and a small selection of food.
It was a fun place to hang out with friends... and the green haired boy had decided to show up to it by himself.
the green haired student sighed to himself, gripping his deck box in hand before wandering deeper into the building looking for a specific group of kids his age. it wasn't long before he spotted them.
They were duelling each other, a very surprising and unexpected turn of events clearly. at least in Shougo's opinion, he hadn't expected it to go so perfectly.
He took a deep breath, paused for a moment and released it. He Steeled his will and then one of his friends turned vaguely towards his direction, so Shougo not all being prepared to be seen panicked, diving for the nearest piece of cover. a potted plant. His heart was running a mile a minute now.
The boy soon turned away and Shougo let out a breath of air he didn't know he'd been holding until now.
His mind and heart kept throttling, running a mile a minute. He couldn't do this. He couldn't do this. Seriously, this was the worst he'd felt in a while.
He left. Well.. it was more like Shougo ran out of the parlour. He stopped once he had crossed the street away from the Parlour, his breath panting from the overexertion. He couldn't stop himself. The green haired student couldn't confront them. their heart would explode if he does.
Shougo gritted his teeth and took off again running down the street away from the parlour. away from his friends.
At some point he didn't feel like he could run anymore and he slowed down to a complete stop, taking deep heaving breaths from the sudden exercise.
He must've been booking it for the last few blocks, he wasn't keeping track. The green haired boy just wanted to leave. Go home.
The student began to wander along the sidewalk, barely paying attention as he auto-piloted towards his home. a left turn here, a right turn there, down this street.
He just left a venue made for relaxation, stressed. One where you could sit down at a rented table and get a drink with friends (Non-alcoholic, it was a teenager focused place after all.) and he hadn't done any of that, he had ran away due to his own anxiety. "Why am i so pathetic." They berated themselves.
The dejected student rose their deck case that they'd been holding onto up and opened it, unsurprisingly revealing his dragon deck. Face-up on the top of it, almost as it was staring at him was his favourite card. 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon'.
Didn't that shop keeper say it was supposed to give him courage? Bravery?
Shougo didn't feel brave. Not now.
He couldn't even bring himself to talk to some of his friends at that store. His heart crumpled at the mere terrified thought of actually trying to talk to them again. Shougo couldn't help himself but grip the sides of his head and let out a groan in anguish. He hated this very feeling.
Why? How come couldn't he do something so plainly simple. He couldn't talk to Yugi and his friends, why was this so difficult then?
The green haired boy finally lowered their hands again and let out another deep breath of air towards the orange filled sky.
Of course it would be different, Yugi was something of a passerby to him, albeit one he met quite often, enjoyed the company of, and was quite comfortable around him. Did that make them friends? Yugi probably considered him a friend, that was obvious. the teen was too nice.
It was a surprising revelation for Shougo that Yugi cared about him and wanted to make sure he was okay, even though he was the one who was supposed to apologise today for leaving him to the 'wolves' the last few weeks.
The guilt had weighed on him whenever he spotted Yugi always accompanied and seemed unable to get away from 'them', but no, instead it just turned out Yugi had actually managed to make friends with those infamous bullies.
...Somehow.
It was surprising considering Joey and Tristan's reputation.
If Yugi could make friends out of bullies, why couldn't he even try to rekindle a friendship with his own (once) close friends.
Shougo plucked out his 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon' card from his deck and held it up before his face. "What do you think? Am i ever going to be strong enough?"
Unsurprisingly the card did not answer. He didn't blame it. It was made of cardboard after all.
The card's Red eyes seemed to gleam in the light. "You know.. i only decided to actually confront Yugi because you had found me." Shougo stared at the card and the card seemed to stare back.
"But I don't feel courageous enough.. i feel the complete opposite at the moment honestly, i feel like i'm going to cry just thinking about it. How can i go up to them?" He didn't need his card to answer. It was just a card after all. he already knew what it'd probably say if it could talk.
Shougo let out a sigh for the thousandth time in the last few minutes. Then he stopped walking and turned around. resolving to head back to the parlour.
Then he stopped before he could even take another step. Shougo stopped because he spotted a non descript black car, slowly prowling a ways away, down the street, slowly towards him it seemed like.
It was the same one as before, some part of the young student could tell and the car seemed to be trailing him.
Shougo assumed that wasn't a good thing. He shuddered as the terrible possibilities played out in his mind like a vivid daydream. Answering his intitial question of what it wanted from him with frightening images. He shook his head. "No, I'm just assuming the worst again like i always do, i'm just being paranoid." He muttered to himself as he turned back to the direction he was walking before and started down the street again with a quickened pace.
He'd just walk away, just to be safe, you never know what could go on in Domino City.
He tucked 'Red-Eyes' away in his deck box. He noticed he was gripping the deck box tightly, almost unconsciously. He was clearly stressed.
Shougo kept walking, hoping it was literally just his imagination and he wasn't being stalked currently. As they turned down another street, Shougo went to glance over their shoulders. Checking if he was still being followed. His fears were becoming reality as the car was indeed slowly following him.
The vehicle pulled over to the side of the road suddenly, Shougo didn't stop, but he did keep looking over his shoulder as the car's door opened. He saw as a imposing man stepped out. He was big, tall and dressed in a large black suit, tie and wore sunglasses that completely made it impossible to see his eyes with how dark they were. Their Dark brown hair styled into a sharp pompadour pointing face-ward.
The suited man turns and even if he couldn't see them he could feel the man's eyes lock with Shougo's from behind his glasses. The young student instantly books it, dashing away as fast as they could.
Shougo is panicking, suddenly and extremely aware of how empty the street around him was.
He's not fast enough. He knows this. he can hear the loud heavy steps of someone behind them growing louder and louder.
The suited man was almost upon him. It was only a matter of time before he was caught Shougo internally despaired. Against better judgement he looks behind him to see the man right there behind him, reaching out with an arm. The green haired student ducks into a sharp left into an alleyway to avoid the suited man's reach and get distance between them with his sudden unexpected movement.
It works for a moment, he manages to run about halfway through the alley before he feels the sharp pull of someone grabbing the back of his shirt's collar and hoist him backwards and off his feet. He was slammed into the wall.
The impact causes any air in Shougo's lungs to escape as he drops down, falling down to the floor reeling from the pain and dropping the deck box he was holding.
Shougo's attacker glances at the deck box and goes for it. Reaching for it with one of his large hands. The green haired student notices the stranger reach for his cards.
And something just clicks on.
"NO!" Shougo practically screeches out as a new rush takes over them, drowning out the pain he feels. It doesn't matter he must protect his box. He dives for the deck box hiding it beneath his body and scratching away at the stranger's reaching hand.
The suited man grunts with mild annoyance. "Get out of the way kid, i just want the cards." He orders as he kicks Shougo directly in the stomach. Trying to move him off the box. Shougo yelps in pain, but only curled up further into a ball. He has to protect this deck. He was to protect his cards.
"NO! You can't take them! They're all I have! I need them." Shougo reaches both his hands down and clasped them around his box, he wasn't letting go.
"They're just pieces of cardboard you brat." The pompadour man began to stomp onto the kid, not holding back as he tried to forcibly make the student let go of the box.
"NO! You're wrong, they mean more to me than just that!"
As the first minute of the beating passed, he didn't release his grasp as he clammed up even more on the floor. The bruises hurt, But he needed to hold on. He couldn't be brave without that card. He needs it. Why was this person trying to take it from him!?
As the second minute passed Shougo was repeatedly picked up and slammed into the wall of the alleyway, he didn't let go as the pompadour man attempted and failed to pull the box out of his grasp. Out of rage he's kicked onto the ground again. the green hair refused to let go of the deck, he grips it harder until his fingers go white. He can't let go, he needs it.
The third minute takes it's heavy toll. Shougo couldn't feel his arms anymore, he's sure he heard something snap under his skin. a rib? It was hard to tell which exact pain was caused by which injury. Nevertheless he held tightly onto the box and 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon' especially. without him he couldn't be brave, he couldn't talk to anyone. he needs it more than anything else.
The fourth minute is a blue. One of Shougo's eyes had swollen shut. tears still manage to escape it. He doesn't think he'd be able to stop this person from just tearing it from his hands anymore. Yet the attacker doesn't seem to notice and continues to wail on him. Shougo refuses to give into the sweet call of unconsciousness. He needs that Card, his needs all his card. Without them he'd have no one who cared about him. Someone like Yugi. He'd be alone again.
That was all the reason Shougo needed to keep holding tight onto the box.
As the fifth minute began, the beating had stopped.
Some part of Shougo was glad beyond all else that it had stopped. Half-delirious Shougo looks up to see what had made it stop. The Pompadour man had turned to look behind to see a two silhouettes of people standing at the end of the alleyway.
The green haired student wips at his tears to clear his vision enough to make them out. Has someone finally found them? Could they help? His heart drops as he makes out who it was.
Another man with a suit and glasses combo. instead of a pompadour his hair was short and well kept, he also had a moustache on his upper lip. besides him stood a brown haired boy with sharp blue eyes in a domino high uniform. His arms were crossed and a finger was impatiently tapping away.
"K-Kaiba!" Shougo struggled to say.
"Seto Kaiba Sir!" The Pompadour man bowed instantly before approaching the teen. He offered Kaiba a deck box in his hands, causing Shougo to mentally stumble over himself. The green haired teen looked around for his deck box around him, only to realise he didn't have it anymore.
He realised that he probably didn't notice it be taken from him due to all the pain. Shougo winced at that.
Kaiba took the box and flipped the lip open. He plucked out the 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon's' card out from the top and immediately pocketed it. He then glanced through the other cards briefly before scoffing. Kaiba dropped the rest of the deck and let it scatter across the dirt carelessly.
"What trash, Red-Eyes really was your only decent card. You have no right to even own such a card if this is what you're running with it." Kaiba spat as he stomped his foot forwards, grinding his shoe on whatever he just so happened to step on.
"N-n-no.." Shougo weakly protested. "My C-cards, Red-Eyes."
The sharp eyed boy nonchalantly took out his flip phone and checked the time. He grinned darkly and sent a malicious stare towards Shougo. "I have time to kill before my showcase. Why don't you continue?"
"What?" The pompadour suit Kaiba had referred to stammered at the order.
"He still needs to be taught a lesson don't you think? Kick that whelp a few more times for me. Come on, you made it look like so much fun."
"Ah-" The Pompadour suit grunted in disbelief. Acknowledging the words, hesitating for a second before turning and marching over to Shougo's side. "Whatever you order Kaiba sir."
The green haired student stumbled backwards, trying to push themselves up to their feet to run away. they couldn't it hurt far to move. Shougo couldn't get away fast enough. "Help!" He cried out.
"EY!" What'cha think you're doing!" A new, voice called out from the other end of the alley. It's tone filled with outrage.
All present looked up at the voice. Shougo almost screamed out in happiness as he find who had arrived. "Yugi! Joey!"
"Shougo! What's happened to you! Are you alright!" Yugi called out at Shougo, deeply concerned with the sight of his severely injured friend. The pair ran up besides Shougo and put themselves between him, Kaiba and his suits.
What da heck did you do Rich Boy." Joey demanded from the figure across the alley.
The accused gave a sigh of great indifference then a noncommittal shrug to the blonde's question. "I was just finishing up some business, Though that whelp had been giving me more trouble than i expected for a trained professional. Clealry someone doesn't want to keep their job." Kaiba gave a fierce glare at the Pompadour suit who'd stopped approaching Shougo.
"What is wrong with you." Joey shouts back, balling his hands from the anger and threateningly raising them.
"You're one to talk." Kaiba snapped his fingers. "I'll be going now, you've ruined my mood and i have what I needed. you're just wasting my time now." with that Kaiba turned and left the alleyway flanked by his henchmen.
"Don't just walk away you jerk! Come back here! I'll show you what happens when you hurt my friend1" the blonde spat out, but the Sharp eyed boy didn't seem to hear it or just chose to ignore it. That only went to fuel Joey's anger beyond boiling point.
Joey dashed forward fist raised to attack Kaiba. The victim of of Joey's rage didn't move to defend himself, or even turn back, instead the two henchmen that flanked Kaiba moved to action, catching the punch in one of their hands before shoving the teen backwards onto his backside.
"Let that be a warning to you!" The pompadour suit warned.
"Screw that!" Joey stepped back up, but before he could throw another punch a voice cried out to him from behind Joey.
"Joey! It's not worth it, help me with Shougo! Please!" Yugi pleaded. The blonde turned back towards Yugi, then back towards Kaiba. He gritted his teeth, before shaking his head and running back towards his friends.
Soon the alleyway was empty except for Yugi, Joey and Shougo. The blonde student and the student with the golden puzzle stood over their other friend. "Should we call you an ambulance? Shougo!"
Shougo lifts his head just enough to look at Yugi. "I think so, but.." He cried out. Tears falling off his head. "He took my Red-Eyes."
"That doesn't matter!" Joey snaps. "I'll carry you to the hospital if i have to! Come on, do you have a phone Yugi? Mine was smashed a while back."
"It does matter.." Shougo protested. "Without it.. how am i supposed to be strong. How am i supposed to do anything right?" Shougo curled up further into a ball on the ground. "How is anything supposed to ever turn out right. How! How! How!"
"Shougo, you're strong on your own. Come on, let's get you to the hospital for now and then we'll worry about it." Yugi tried to bargain with the tearful student.
"NO! Not W-without Red-Eyes.. without Red-Eyes h-how am i supposed to face any of you. How am i supposed to be better?" Shougo choked on his words as his guilt caught in the back of his throat like bile. He jumped straight up and tried to move, he winced at the immediate shock of pain that coursed through him. The severe pain that kept pulsing disgustingly throughout him.
He started to fall forward, but before he could hit the ground Joey reached out and stopped him, before carefully lowering him back down.
"We'll do something about it, we just want to make sure you're safe first." Joey put a hand out to stop Shougo as the teenager tried to lift himself up again.
"Y-yea, okay.. fine." The green haired boy weakly answers, not finding the strength within him to retaliate any longer. "I-i'm so sorry guys for being such a problem." Shougo slowly started to descend into a mess of tears and incoherent babbling. Yugi handed Joey his phone before going back to try to calm his friend down. Joey started to dial on the phone and call for an ambulance. As the phone rang, before it connected to the other side he turned to Shougo.
"You're not a problem, mate." The blonde stated adamantly. He couldn't talk to Shougo anymore as the call finally connected to the other side.
"Damn it" Joey shout as he punched the wall, accidentally causing the other people in the hospital lobby to look over at him with blatant concern. "We can't just sit here and do nothing."
"Joey you need to stay calm. what can we even do?" Yugi asked from where he was sitting nearby.
"We have to get that card back now!" Joey insisted instantly.
Yugi frowned. "I don't know about that. We could ask, but I don't think Kaiba would give it back."
"Then we just steal it." His spiky blonde haired friend countered.
"Joey that's illegal! Even if we did you saw what he did to Shougo.. We might get hurt." Yugi points out before pausing. "Even still, i also want to help get Shougo's card back anyways."
"Mhm." Joey nodded. "You saw how distraught Shougo was.. I don't exactly understand what he sees in that card, but i know Kaiba shouldn't just take it." Joey paced back and forth in front of Yugi as he spoke. "I know i could just wait by his bed side and just pray for him to get better or something, but i just can't sit here. I need to do something Yuge! Something! Anything!"
"This is crazy." Yugi sighed as he raised up both of his hands and clenched them tightly as he threw them forward. His friends fierce determination was one of his good points, Yugi knew this and he wasn't going to stop him. "I won't let you do this alone you know.. If you're gonna get back Shouto's card you'll need help. I'm coming with!"
Joey fist bumped Yugi's fists. "Hell yeah! We'll teach Kaiba a lesson."
"Alright, let's find Kaiba and get our friend's card back." Yugi agreed.
"Wherever the heck he is!" Joey added.
"He's probably at his company building." Yugi mentioned.
"His what!" Joey did not know Kaiba owned a building.
"Wait! This is where Kaiba lives!" Joey gasped in disbelief as he looked up at possibly the tallest skyscraper in the entirety of Domino City. A large 'KC' plastered in bold letters on the front of the building. Just outside of it stood a white statue of some kind of grand dragon made of white marble posed mid-roaring outwards at the street before the entrance.
"I think so?" Yugi replied unsure of himself. "I know this is definitely his business that he owns. Though, you wouldn't sleep where you work right?"
"I knew he was well off, but still. didn't know he was this rich." Joey mentioned as Yugi and him approached the front doors of the building.
The walk up to the building had mostly been quiet until now, like a heavy feeling had fallen over them that demanded they be completely serious throughout this mission.
Yugi gulped and started to feel especially small as he looked up the taller than tall building.
"Alright now, what's the plan here Yuge" Joey asked expectantly rubbing both his hands together as he turned to the tri-tone haired boy.
Yugi did a double take as he stared back at his friend. "Plan!? Joey you're the one who wanted to do this." Yugi replied with surprise. Any remaining confidence he had quickly extinguished. "I don't know what to do. What are we doing here!"
"No, wait i got this." Joey continued, ignoring Yugi's dismay towards him. "iIam no longer Joey Wheeler, i am now Katsuya Jonouchi. We'll use secret identities to get past the front desk. We'll locate where Kaiba is and find out where his cards are, then we'll break in and take back Red-Eyes!" The blonde suggested with a wide smile. "That rich boi won't know what's coming!"
"Fake names! um.. I can't think of anything good. Muto Yugi?" The small boy suggested.
"Yuge that's just your name but your last name first." Joey deadpanned.
"Then I don't know, let's just go get that card quickly and leave just as quickly. that's my plan so far. what do you think?" Yugi weakly smiled as he quickly improvised something that sounded vaguely like a plan.
"Nope, yours is better." Yugi shook his head.
"Yours sounds like it'd work too." Joey put a hand on his chin nodding thoughtfully.
"Nope, you put more detail, let's follow your plan! Okay?" let's do this Joey." Yugi quietly pumped his fist up. "I'm just worried everything will go wrong is all."
"It's Jonouchi." Joey corrected. "And you don't have to worry about me. I can handle myself well enough in a fight."
"That's not the only thing I'm.. actually it doesn't matter let's do this." Yugi quickly finished as the automatic front doors the two had been approaching this entire time opened to let them inside. they entered without any hesitation. a gust of air conditioned cold sterile air pushed past them. It almost made the two student shiver as they breathed it in.
As they entered they were greeted by a guy at the front desk dressed in a suit. "Hello and welcome to Kaibacorp, what is the purpose of your arrival.
Joey resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Did that jerk seriously name his company after himself like a bloody narcissist. "Hey we're here to meet.. uh, Kaiba." He answered.
The man glanced down at his computer beside him reading something the pair of students couldn't read. there was a moment of silence that seem to stretch on eternally. Joey scratched at his cheek, fidgeting from the stress of waiting for the receptionist's response.
"Ah! Are you here for the HDM: Holographic Duel Monsters Showcase Seto Kaiba will be announcing?" The receptionist finally replied.
Yugi and Joey shared a glance and nodded a silent agreement between each other before turning back to the receptionist. "Yeah, nailed it right on the head." Joey answered, Yugi nodded in affirmation from behind him.
The receptionist happily nodded back. "Understood, here is your ID cards to let you use the elevator, they'll only bring you to the floor you're headed to so don't worry about getting lost, furthermore on the back of it you'll find a map of the floor the showcase is being held at, specificlly which room it's actually in. Don't worry if you get lost just follow the red arrrows painted on the walls, they'll lead to an elevator or set of stairs."
"Thank you!" Yugi bowed in thanks as he took both of the ID cards. "That was very informative."
"No problem, have a nice day now." The receptionist said with a practiced smile. "Kaibacorp prides itself with good staff assistance."
"Yeah, thank ya." Joey added, already starting to walk past the desk.
Joey and Yugi began to walk away and head inside of an elevator that had just opened as they apprached. Scientists exited it, leaving it empty. They entered it and once the doors closed the two students shared another look.
"To the Showcase?" Asked Joey.
"To the Showcase i guess." Yugi agreed as as they tapped their card against a marked space beneath the elevator's control panel. The elevator beeped and a calming female voice began to explaining. "Heading to floor 10."
The elevator opened on the floor they were supposed to get off on, following the directions on the map the pair quickly managed to find the correct room without too much deviation.
They entered through a pair of double doors into a wide open metallic room that had almost nothing inside of it, except for a slightly raised platform on the far side of the room, it looked like a kind of stage to Yugi. Closer to the center of the room was a crowd of suited business men and many younger looking children watching something that the blonde and Tri-tone haired teens couldn't see due to everyone in the room crowding around what ever it was.
"You don't think Kaiba's in the middle do you?" Yugi noted.
"Probably. He seems like he'd like being the center of attention." Joey growled, the pair of students began to carve and push their way through the crowd until they were at the front of it. The crowd had been pressed up to a box shaped, metal framed glass chamber, about the size of a small room. Inside the box was a small table placed in the center of the small room with a play mat showing the basic outline of the field in a Duel Monsters game painted into the table.
At each side of the field two people sat across from each other in chairs, one was Kaiba shuffling a deck of cards in his hand, staring back at their opponent with an almost bored expression.
Across from the sharp eyed boy sat an adult woman. She had long, thick and wavy blonde hair that went down to their lower back, they wore a short-sleeved purple coat with a high collar over a white tube top that bared her midriff, a dark purple skirt with a deck holder strapped around her waist, black socks and purple high heeled shoes.
She was currently gritting her teeth, visibly annoyed as she pulled out a few cards from the deck of cards in her hand and swapped them some other cards a small pile of cards to her side. "She's using a side deck?" Yugi asked. "This must be an official match or something?"
"A side deck?" Joey echoed.
"A deck you can swap card with in between duels in a best of three games format. She he must be changing cards to better face Kaiba's deck."
The woman finished swapping cards around and set it down onto the table after a quick shuffle.
"I think we're done now, Roland announce the second game." Kaiba ordered as he carefully placed his deck down on the deck zone of the playmat. Kaiba and the woman duelist then cut eachothers decks before giving them back to their original owner.
A man in a suit, sunglasses and a moustache that stood outside the metal box bowed profusely. "Understood Mister Kaiba sir." He turned around and addressed the crowd. "Ladies and Gentleman, The second of our best of 3 match held between sir Kaiba and Miss Valentine will now commence, be prepared for another spectacular match using the prototype of the Holographic Duel Master room."
"Isn't that a different kind of game." Yugi joked.
The crowd cheered, excited to see another game. Yugi and Joey looked around surprised at the sudden burst of estatic energy coming from the crowd. "What did we miss?" Asked Joey.
"Did you only just arrive?" A older, more mature looking teenager besides the two students asked curiously.
"Uh, yeah." Yugi muttered. The mature teen was dressed in a well fitting red suit with frills along the sleeve cuffs, had rose pink hair that went down to his upper back. and spoke to them with a thick accent that was most certainly foreign. In one hand he held a suitcase to his side.
"That girl, Mai Valentine was invited to duel against Kaiba, however despite the hard fight she put up, ultimately she lost the first round. It seems even her skills aren't enough to topple the national champion." The red suited teen explained as he shook his head, not looking away from chamber as he spoke to the blonde and tri-toned boy. "She has my sympathy for facing such a impassible foe."
"Really! Kaiba's the champion!" Joey blurted out as he recoiled in shock.
"Ja." The older teen answered simply, raising an eyebrow at Joey.
Mai Valentine scoffs loud enough that it managed to capture both the teenager's attentions. "You're going first thing time." Mai coldly ordered her opponent.
"Did you foresee that as a good move?" Kaiba smiles wryly as he mocks her. Mai creased her nose at the remark, earning a single chuckle from Kaiba before he draws his opening cards.
Mai drew her opening hand wordlessly, but clearly angry with the other duelist
"Whatever." Kaiba calmly shrugged.
"Seems like Kaiba's managed to piss her off as well, must be a natural talent of his." Joey rolled his eyes at the display between duelists.
The mature teen smiled at the words flung. "I couldn't agree more."
[Turn 1]
Mai (Idle: 0) (2000 LP) Hand: 5
Back-Line: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Front-Line: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Mid-Line: C2, C3, C4
Front-Line: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Back-Line: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Seto (Idle: 0) (2000 LP) Hand: 5
Terrain Breakdown
Mai's Field
Front/Back-Line: 10/10 'Mountain'
Seto's Field
Front-Line: 3/5 (C2,C3,C4) 'Mountain' - 2/5 (C1,C5) 'Neutral'
Back-Line: 5/5 'Neutral'
"DUEL!" Kaiba and Mai called out, the miniature arena they were seated in suddenly glowed with light, bouncing off the glass and revealing an unexpected shape in the glass.
The light briefly caught the outline of something all throughout the glass of the small room. The outline resembled the shapes you'd see on a circuit board. "Is there computer code in the glass?" Yugi rambled out loud.
Kaiba immediately started his turn by slamming down a card onto his back-row. "Appear 'Ryu-Kishin' in attack mode, reveal yourself to our enemies." Where he summoned the card a small cloud of shadowy dark smoke pooled outwards as pink skinned demon floated upwards out of the smoke.
It's arms crossed before it as it stared forward with indifference.
Joey couldn't help but let his jaw drop. "Real monsters!"
"Yes, this is the so called newest evolution to duel monsters." The mature teen spoke through gritted teeth. Yugi looked up at them raising an eyebrow.
The way they had said it, made it seem like he had some backstory there. Yugi turned back to the game, choosing to focus on it instead. "It looks really good." He commented. "Though it's a bit too still."
"you think so?!" Joey questioned. Now that he looked at the hologram with more scrutiny, it was clear that it was just standing there, completely static. it sort of broke the illusion.
"It's only a beta, but still it's a great first attempt. the crowd seems to like it at the very least." The teen in the red suit growled. He held tighter onto a suitcase as he started to shake slightly more. Yugi noticed the barely contained rage the mature teen must've been containing.
The crowd around them was growing louder as they stared at the impressive monster on the field. A score card appeared by the Monster's side, revealing a set of numbers that could quickly be deduced to be the monster's attack and defence. The numbers representing it's attack points were bolded probably used to show which position the monster was currently placed in as well. (1000/500)
"Next i'll set a card down." Kaiba casually plucked a card from his hand with two fingers and set it face-down besides his pink gargoyle-like fiend in the back-row.
The sharp eyed boy then crossed his arms again and grinned slightly. "That's all for my move, now can you show me why they call you the new up and coming star of the Duel Monster's national circuit?"
Mai frowned at the thinly veiled insult. Now glaring daggers at the boy across the table.
"Is Kaiba always this insufferable." Joey mumbled to himself. The crowd continued to cheer despite Kaiba's words. Maybe they just considered it trash talk, but it still annoyed Joey to listen to it.
[Turn 2]
Mai (Idle: 0) (2000 LP) Hand: 5 (7)
Back-Line: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Front-Line: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Mid-Line: C2, C3, C4
Front-Line: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Back-Line: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Seto (Idle: 1) (2000 LP) Hand: 3
Mai's Field
None
Seto's Field
Ryu-Kishin (BL-C5) (1000/500)
1 (FDA) Set Card (BL-C4)
"He didn't use his 'Mountains', i wonder why? It only makes sense to use the terrain to boost his monsters?" Yugi asked aloud.
"Demons can get a boost from 'Mountains?' too?" Joey asked, genuinely confused at the idea. What do fiend's have to do with 'Mountains' that they would get a boost from it?
"No they don't. Not Fiends anyway. 'Mountain' only boosts the power of Dragons, Reptiles, Thunder and Winged-Beast Monsters, while weakening Beast-Warrior, Insects and even Warrior Monsters. The only reason i can think of using so much neutral terrain is that Kaiba uses a bunch of monsters with very incompatible monster types?" Yugi reasoned.
"But why would he use a bunch of incompatible types if that is the case, or just play an extremely complex variety field? Is that what you're thinking?" The mature teenager assumed.
"Mhm?" Yugi nodded.
"It's my move!" Mai shouted dramatically as she drew, beginning her turn. "Here comes a repeat from last time! Say hello again to 'Harpie lady'. Hope you like her, cause this won't be the last time you'll be seeing her either." The monster slowly floated up in burst of green wind and feathers. It resembled a woman if it wasn't for the oversized feathered wings it had instead of arms with yellow talons on the end and on their feet. Dressed in purple spandex, bluish pale skin and a head of long red hair.
A scorecard materialised besides the monster of myth just as it began to screech out a cry. feeling the power of the 'Mountains' fill it. (1300/1400 = 1690/1820)
"A repeat from last time? Planning to lose just like last time too? Mai, i was wishing to find a challenge to fully show off the specs of my new invention." Kaiba continued to mock her.
"Did Kaiba seriously make this machine by himself?" Yugi whispered in astonishment to Joey. The blonde nodded back. Yes that did sound ridiculous, but that just means it was probably true.
"We'll see who is laughing after i activate this!" Mai shot back as she placed a Spell onto the table. "Witness the strength of 'Elegant Egotist'. Which let's me Special Summon either another 'Harpie Lady' or my 'Harpie Lady Sisters' straight from my deck. Guess who I'm choosing." The blonde woman picked up her deck before he could possibly answer and fished out a level 6, brown bordered monster card from it and slammed it onto the table.
A sudden tornado force of wind blew forth, approximately three times as strong as when 'Harpie Lady' was summoned. Soon after a trio of Harpies leapt from the card and posed dramatically onto the field. Each Harpie rocking a unique shock of differently coloured and styled hair. (1950/2100 = 2730/2940)
"When the sisters are summoned their effect immediately triggers; letting me target 1 other monster i control and either give it attack or defence equal to either the sister's original attack or defence." Mai taps onto her other 'Harpie Lady' with a confident smile. "Meaning this girl here will become strong enough to end you in one hit." (1690 = 3640)
"Interesting?" Kaiba mused. "Going for the kill this early?"
"I'm not finished just yet rich kid, i'll use this to protect my 'Harpie Lady' monsters, that's right! I'm activating 'Cyber Shield' and attaching it to 'Harpie Lady' increasing it's and all my other 'Harpie Lady' Monsters by 500 points." Kaiba's mouth was a neutral line as he stared down at the newly placed Equip Spell. (3640/1820 = 4140/2320), (2730 = 3230)
"My shield additionally makes it so you can't target any of my monsters for attacks except the Equipped Harpie." Mai added. "It seems this won't be a repeat of last time. Battle!" She laughed out loud.
"It's at this time i activate my set Trap Card. The legendary 'Crush Card Virus' infects your monsters." The sharp blue eyed boy flipped their set card to reveal a Trap dipicting A rustic red-pink virus cells.
Mai froze her laughter as he learned forward in shock and wide eyes. Yugi winced from the side lines.
"Crush Card tributes a Dark Monster i control with 1000 or less attack that is adjacent to it. So in exchange for my 'Ryu-Kishin' i get to send all Monsters on the Field and in your Hand with 1500 or more attack points straight to the graveyard." Kaiba explains, letting himself reveal a smirk. Kaiba's fiend shattered into golden dust, quickly followed by both of Mai's monsters who shrieked in agony as they were forcibly removed from the field.
"Sends..." Mai hated that wording with a passion. "Equip spells only protect from Destruction effects." She grits her teeth before reluctantly removing her monsters from the field.
"Next i get to check your hand for any monsters with 1500 or more attack as well." Kaiba continued. "So, let's see the kind of trash you're using."
"I don't have any." She revealed her hand filled with Equip Spells such as 'Follow Wind', 'Cyber Shield' and a single adequately weak little 'Droll Bird'. "There happy." She spoke with a slightly defeated tone. "I end my turn." Mai finished, unable to amount any sort of defence after that devastating hit to her cards.
"Hmph" Kaiba rolled his eyes as he reached to his deck to start his turn.
[Turn 3]
Mai (Idle: 1) (2000 LP) Hand: 4
Back-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Front-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Mid-Line: C2, C3, C4
Front-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Back-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Seto (Idle: 1) (2000 LP) Hand: 3 (5)
Mai's Field
None
Seto's Field
None
"I can't believe Kaiba completely wiped out Mai's entire field with just one card." Yugi awed at the scene before him. "Now Mai isn't able to protect herself from attacks. If he's that good then.. well i'm not going to plan to duel him for Red-Eyes anymore."
"Fair enough." Joey nodded as he placed his hands on the glass box.
"Looks like this game will be another quick one. Ending just as quickly as our first one." Kaiba stated as they drew 2 cards to their hand nonchalantly, completely sure of himself. "I'll Normal Summon the 'Hitotsu-Me Giant' in attack mode." Kaiba then placed the card onto the field and smiled as his blue-green cyclopian giant rose up from the card, raising both it's arms as it it was about to lunge at Mai. (1200/1000)
"My giant's [Herald] Trait letting me immediately perform another normal summon as long as that new monster is the same type as my giant. So i'll tribute my giant for the Beast-Warrior 'Rude Kaiser' in attack mode." The giant erupted into gold dust as Kaiba removed it from the field and replaced it with a armoured bipedal alligator with bladed gauntlets on it's arms that it brandished towards Kaiba's enemy. (1800/1600)
"You have the weirdest monsters." Mai commented.
Kaiba shrugged indifferently. "Now my 'Rude Kaiser' will attack you directly." he commanded his monster. The Beast-Warrior leapt forward and performed an animation that looked like it just missed Mai, cutting at the air a few inches in front of her.
"I'll discard my 'Droll Bird' to activate it's [Sacrifice] Trait and lower the damage by 1100 points." Mai interrupted. A scorecard still appeared besides Mai keeping track of her life points as it started to deplete, it began to drop downwards. (2000 = 1300) (Hand: 4 = 3)
"Dammit" muttered Mai. "You're making this difficult."
"You can activate Traits from the hand Yugi?" Asked Joey. Yugi shook his head.
"No that's unique to [Sacrifice]. But i think i've finally realised why Kaiba isn't using terrain to it's fullest." Yugi grabbed the blondes attention, as well as the attention of the teen in the red suit.
"What'd you figure out Yuge?" Asked Joey.
"Kaiba's holding back... He could've definitely won by now but he's elongating it for the crowd or maybe for his own satisfaction." Yugi explained. "All the way disrespecting his opponent."
"That bastard." Joey growled.
"Next i'll set 3 cards face-down behind my Kaiser and end my turn." Kaiba finished and passed the turn to the challenger. Not even bothering to use his free extra normal summon during his Main Phase 2 Yugi noticed. He wasn't playing sensibly at all for someone who was apparently a professional duelist.
[Turn 4]
Mai (Idle: 1) (1300 LP) Hand: 3 (5)
Back-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Front-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Mid-Line: C2, C3, C4
Front-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Back-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Seto (Idle: 1) (2000 LP) Hand: 1
Mai's Field
None
Seto's Field
Rude Kaiser (FL-C1) (1800/1600)
3 (FDA) Set Cards (BL-C2,C3,C4)
"Don't forget to reveal your cards when you draw them, Crush Card Virus's effects linger for multiple turns." Kaiba revealed.
Mai picked up her cards and checked them, only to glower as she revealed them to the duelist across from her as per the effect of 'Crush Card Virus'. "Since That trap of yours lingers for three entire turns, you get a free look at what I draw, that's fair." Mai sarcastically notes. She showed Kaiba two monsters a powerful looking teal parrot and another 'Harpie Lady', though this one had a different haircut than the previous one on it's artwork.
"I'm glad you agree." Kaiba grinned before pointing to the card on his left. "Get rid of that 'Faith Bird'. It has 1500 attack points, but you can keep that weak 'Harpie Lady' however." Ordered Kaiba, Mai complied, discarding her bird and keeping the mythical monster in her hand.
But not for long.
"I'll Normal Summon my new 'Harpie Lady' to the Field, gaining the terrain bonus yet again." Another gust of wind burst forward and a new 'Harpie Lady' appeared. despite it's spiky blue hairstyle it was mechanically the same card as the one before it. (1300/1400 = 1690/1820)
"Your virus only sweeps over the field and hand once, so as long as the monsters i draw have less than 1500 attack points while in my hand then i'll be fine." Mai explained as she leaned back into her seat and crossed her arms confidently.
"You must like that card.. you keep trying to get out another one again and again, even though it's so weak. Why spend 2 or 3 cards just trying to make a single monster have a half-decent attack power." Kaiba commented tapping on the table waiting for Mai to finish her turn.
Mai didn't answer the sharp eyed boy and reached for another card in hand. "Moving on, First i'll activate the Equip Spell 'Follow Wind' to increase the power of my Wind Monster." A pink ribbon appeared and fashioned itself like a scarf around the 'Harpie Lady's' body. (1690/1820 = 1990/2120)
"Let's enter the battle phase." Mai continued. "It's time i teach your monster who really is at the top of the food chain."
"I'll activate my set 'Trap Hole' letting me destroy all monsters that were normal summoned this turn with 1000 or more attack." The sharp eyed boy interrupted. "It seems you weren't weak enough to escape my trap." Kaiba mocked.
"I don't think so." Mai declared. "I'll chain and activate my Equip Spell 'Cyber Shield' from my hand. so now when i sacrifice 'Follow Wind' to protect my monster, it won't be weaker than 'Rude Kaiser' anymore." Mai explained as she slammed the second copy of her previous Equip spell on the field. (1990/2120 = 1690/1820), (1690/1820 = 2190/2320)
The mythical bird woman slashed her claws over the other monster who exploded into a burst of golden dust before completely disappearing. a scorecard besides Kaiba appeared and updated, showing as he took 390 damage. (2000 = 1610)
"There, i'll end my battle phase now." Mai eagerly declared, determined to defeat the arrogant rich kid.
"My Harpie's [Pack Tactics] Trait triggers now summoning a pack token with the same power as my Harpie." Another 'Harpie lady' emerged from a bright light on the table, this one completely identical to the first one, with it's shock of spiky blue hair. (2190/2320)
"But this is only the start." Mai started to mock back. "It's time for you to be afraid, when i'm finished with you you'll be crying back home to mommy."
Kaiba's reflected back a neutral expression at the weak insult. It was already neutral but it seemed like he was now trying to bore holes through his opponent with just his cold stare.
Mai smiled at the reaction. At finally managing to get a tiny rise out of him. it seemed like the basic insults were enough. Which was slightly surprising, but she wouldn't question it. "i'll set a card face-down in defence mode. Your move. Come at me." She challenged.
"You are nothing."
"What was that?" Mai asked.
"I said that you're nothing compared to me." Kaiba repeated with ice cold malice. He reached down and flipped up a face-down card, revealing a trap card. "During either player's main phase 1 can activate this card, 'Ultimate Offering' letting me pay 500 life to reveal a monster in my hand, send the top cards of my deck to the graveyard face-down equal to that revealed monster's level. then i can summon that card." Kaiba explained, turning his last card around with his fingers, showing off a green genie monster in his hand. (1610 = 1110)
He quickly tossed the top 4 cards of his deck to the graveyard promptly. "To my side 'La Jinn, The Mystical Genie Of The Lamp', serve out my wishes." (1800/1000)
a lamp rose out of the card and from it a cloud of green smoke was released, revealing the a massive muscled form of a genie.
"Now it is my move." Kaiba corrected with contempt.
[Turn 5]
Mai (Idle: 1) (1300 LP) Hand: 0
Back-Line: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Front-Line: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Mid-Line: C2, C3, C4
Front-Line: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Back-Line: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Seto (Idle: 1) (1110 LP) Hand: 0 (2)
Mai's Field
Harpie Lady* (FL-C3) (2190/2320)
(FDD) 1 Set Card (BL-C2)
Follow Wind* (BL-C5)
Seto's Field
La Jinn The Mystical Genie Of The Lamp (FL-C3) (1800/1000)
1 (FDA) Set Cards (BL-C4)
Ultimate Offering (BL-C2)
Kaiba picked up his two cards for turn. He glanced down at the field then back up to his hand and nodded. "I'll pay 500 to reveal my 'Battle Ox', sending 4 from the top of my deck to the graveyard to let him join my genie on the field." A minotaur monster dressed in red and blue metal battle armor marched into the field besides La jinn and huffed out a breath of air so hit that it created steam." (1110 = 610)
"Now with 2 monsters on my field I'll tribute both of them for the 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon' onto the 'Mountain' Terrain." the two monsters on the field crumbled to dust as a black dragon rose from the table and snarled at Mai. (2400/2000 = 3600/3000)
"Did you say the 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon!', did i hear that right!" Mai paled at the sight of the black dragon before her. She mumbled several profanities to herself as Kaiba lifted his hand to point at the purple clad Duelist.
"Red-Eyes! Remove this trash from my sight. Inferno Fire Blast!" Mai's last 'Harpie Lady' shattered to gold dust and her remaining life points evacuated. the scorecard beside her ticked down until it hit 0 with a satisfying beep.
Mai crumpled forward slightly, wincing to herself from some invisible pain. She started taking quick short breaths, but otherwise kept quiet. She quickly caught herself by placing a hand on her brow to try and keep herself steady.
"Just another weakling" Kaiba spat out before leaving his seat.
"Seto Kaiba is the winner of the match and showcase!" Roland announced to the crowd who erupted with thunderous applause at the display.
"Do you think she's okay." Joey asked Yugi as people around him cheered. it made him uncomfortable how people clapped for such a vicious duel.
"I don't know." Yugi genuinely didn't know. maybe the machine had side effects. "She seems to be okay at least.."
"I guess." Joey added as he looked back to Mai who looked like she was suffering from a particularly severe headache at the moment. "We need to just need that card." Joey focused onto the Red-Eyes that Kaiba left on the table as he proceeded to exit the room.
"Well it's been nice to speak to you. goodbye." The mature teen in the red suit sighed as he followed the rest of the crowd that seemed to also be dispersing to follow Kaiba as he walked over to the stage at the other end of the room.
"Oh.. see ya.. you." Joey waved weakly.
"You don't know who I am?" The man in the red suit looked at Joey with surprise. Genuine surprise.
"Should I?" Joey raised an eyebrow at him.
"I-i guess not.." He looked down and pulled out a business card from his pocket and handed it out for the blonde teen to take. "My name is Ziegfried von Schroder, Current owner of the Schroder Corporation."
"Oh okay.." Joey awkwardly took it. "My name's Jonouchi and this is my pal Yuge." He gestured to his shorter friend who waved back and smiled warmly at Ziegfried."
"Nice meeting you, i can easily declare you were the most pleasant part of this entire showcase. To think i flew out from Europe just to be made fun of.." He sighed again and made to leave towards the gathering crowd that was currently following Kaiba to the the raised platform at the back where he was beginning a speech. Ziegfried stopped again as Yugi spoke up again.
"Made fun of?" He asked curiously.
"Yes.. he knows i'm inventing and working as apart of the same industry as him. Working on similar projects, a rival you could say. It seems he's won this foot race of innovation however.. and he's invited me to watch his victory toast. Can't say i enjoy that gesture." Ziegfried voiced his thoughts out. with nothing else to say to the two other teens he turned to leave. Actually leaving this time.
"Damn, that's just cruel.." Joey stated, feeling bad for the young CEO.
"Mhm." Yugi agreed. "But we really need to take this card Joey. now." He whispered.
"Got it." said the blonde teen as he looked at what he'd have to get past to have that card. Mai had stayed in the room and was still nursing her headache. At the entrance into the room was currently guarded by a suit with sunglasses. Yugi remembered? He was referred to as Roland before, wasn't he?
"Do you think you can grab that suit's attention as i sneak past?" Joey asked his pal.
"Are you sure you can do this" Yugi asked worried for his friend and what could happen if he messes up.
"Don't worry i'm great at sneaking outta class, this will be nothing. Let's join the crowd so we don't stand out, first." Joey assured Yugi as he broke away to join the rest of the crowd. The blonde's friend kept up, but looked down at their golden puzzle hanging from around their neck and held it anxiously.
Joey placed a hand on Yugi's shoulder. "Don't worry, we got this!" The blonde teen pumped his fist forward.
Yugi smiled slightly and returned the fist bump. "Alright, i trust you." Having said that the tri-tone haired boy stopped whispering with his friend and walked in a different direction them him, reaching the other end of the crowd, so if he was looked at the suit would have their back to Joey.
Yugi took a deep breath to keep calm, reminding himself that this was for Shougo. He wasn't quite sure how to distract him, but he'd played several stealth games before so he decided to try some of the things he saw from them. He could throw a coin and distract the guard?
While he was thinking Yugi wasn't paying enough attention to how he was manuvering to the end of the crowd and stumbled forward over someone's shoes and fell forward. He was about to topple over when a hand stretched out and grabbed him by the shoulder, lifting him back up to his feet.
"Oh, it's you again." An familiar accent hummed.
Yugi looked up to see Ziegfried again. "Oh, hello." He replied.
"Here to check how I'm doing? Did my tale of woe inspire sympathy in you perhaps?" The mature teen asked, theatrically twirling their wrist.
"Um.." Yugi started, before looking around. Was he far enough away from Joey to not be associated with him yet or.. He looked back up at Ziegfried, suddenly remembering he'd been asked a question. "It's hard not to." He honestly admitted.
"Bah, I'm fine." The mature teen assured Yugi.
Kaiba's speech over the crowd continued. "With this new age, brought to you by the leading edge in technology, Kaibacorp. No other can compete." The he speech was earning a frown across Ziegfried's face.
"I will admit it's hard to listen to.." He noticed that Yugi seemed distracted, repeatedly looking towards the duel room, actually no, it must be the attendant actually Ziegfried assumed. "Why are you looking at the attendant like that?" He asked.
"Oh!" Yugi startled. "I'm not looking at Roland like anything!" Yugi suspiciously corrected.
"Mmm?" Ziegfried hummed disbelievingly. "Are you a shy type?"
"Wha-what?" Yugi fumbled.
"Mhm, i thought so, would you like me to speak to them, i'd rather help you than be here in all honesty." Ziegfried explained to Yugi.
"You would do that for me?" Yugi raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I've only just met you, this is awfully nice."
"You sure?" Ziegfried asked. "I swear you remind me of someone I know, small, Terrible in crowds, eyes full of wonder? Nevermind." He shrugged away the notion. "What would you like to ask the attendant?"
"Oh!" Yugi thought to himself for a second. He didn't want to abuse Ziegfried's kindness, but he had to distract that attendant for Joey. Actually with how he was feeling from all the anxiety pulsing through him right now, perhaps he didn't need to lie. "here the bathroom's are? I feel a little sick actually."
"Mhm, you do look a little pale." Ziegfried agreed.
That's what stress would do to you!
Yugi nodded at Ziegfried. "Thank you for helping."
"It's no skin off my back. Really i should thank you for getting me away from Kaiba."
Joey watched the attendant who was standing close to the entrance of the duel room, the blonde woman was still in there and was not making any effort to leave. He gritted his teeth. What if she decided to stay in there until this whole thing was over. He'd probably have to go in there and just play it off, like he was fetching Kaiba's deck or something for him. It was a weak excuse but it was also all he had thought up of so far.
Eventually Yugi walked up to the attendant, alongside Ziegfried. Was he helping their plan or something. Whatever.
They pulled the attendant away from his post. He seemed to be asked a question and was explaining something to Yugi, but Yugi just shook his head like he didn't understand. The process started to repeat and Joey figured the attendant had been away long enough for him to be safe enough to silently approach the room.
As Joey entered the Blonde woman instantly lifted her head at the almost quiet sound of the door to the room being shut behind him.
"What are you doing here! This isn't- i'm not supposed-" Mai stumbled over her words, she seemed incredibly alarmed at the new person in the room. Joey quickly looked behind him to make sure the guards weren't listening. It seemed that they were occupied with other things, such as Yugi's distraction.
"Oh.. you know? Looking around?" Joey started, shrugging slightly at Mai.
"You're not supposed to be in here!" She whispered, trying to compose herself.
Joey scoffed. "What are you? Psychic." Mai groaned at that for some reason Joey wasn't aware of, was there an inside joke there?
"God you're still terrible." Mai sighed. "Get outta here kid before i get Security." She waved him off dismissively.
"W-wait." Joey waved his hands dissolve the tension. "Woah, you have the wrong idea, i'm just here to take back one of my friend's card that Kaiba stole." He blurted out before immediately regretted saying that instead of a lie like he'd planned to.
"Yeah right." Mai shook her head.
"No see, Kaiba took my friend's 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon' after he beat him up in a back alley." Joey struggled to keep his voice low as he recounted the event. It made him want to get back at that jerk even more.
"Mhm, suuure." She replied with heavy sarcasm. "I don't believe you even for a second chump."
"B-but it's the truth!" Joey shot back. He looked over his shoulder back towards where Yugi was still distracting the attendant, Ziegfried had seemed to have noticed him, but didn't say anything as he looked back between Yugi and Joey confused. Joey realised this ruse wasn't going to last much longer than it already has.
"Anyone could see right through you, Red-Eyes is a rare card, i think it's been used as a prize for tournaments before, it's easily a card that could be sold for millions. Let's not joke around. Admit you've been caught, cut your loses and ditch this show." Mai ordered, her voice growing with annoyance.
"H-Hey." Joey tried to counter. "You don't know what my friend's been through, nothing at all!" He slammed the table to punctuate his outburst. "I'm no thief!" He was about to continue when a loud voice thundered throughout the entire room.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING IN THERE!" Joey turned around instantly, every instinct in his body telling him to run, he's been caught. He saw stepping down from the stage and marching towards him with a cold, but furious glare was Kaiba.
the rest of the room was silent as it all looked around, the entire room's eyes now staring at Joey or Kaiba.
"Hey you can't be in there!" One of the guards at the edge of the room shouted. Took them long enough to notice. With no time to process that fully Joey snapped back to face Mai. "Sorry for the trouble." He awkwardly laughed to hid his fear at having alerted everyone around him that he was here.
"Dammit." Joey sweared before whipping a hand forward and taking the 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon' that was left on the field before Mai could stop him and dash outside the room, knocking a suited man aside as he they approached Joey.
"Hey!" Mai shouted. "You can't fricken take that."
"I'm getting outta here. Come on Yuge!" Joey shouted as he ran. Yugi moved to join by his side, but was stopped as Roland reached out and grabbed at the boy to stop him.
"You were apart of this?" The attendant realised. All Yugi could do was smile guiltily as he tried to struggle out of his grasp.
Joey swore again. Without hesitation he immediately turned back around. Changing his course from running towards the doorway back to help his pal. A pair of guards that were chasing him blocked his way to Yugi. The blonde teenager gritted there teeth and prepared to charge right through them. Only to be caught unaware by a third guard shoulder checking him from his side, knocking Joey to the floor.
He immediately tried to push himself back up, but with three seperate guards upon him he was pushed to the ground and had his arms forcibly moved behind him.
They wrestled with his hands to try and take back the card he'd taken. "We're here to take back that card you stole, so if you could be cooperative here before we toss you onto the street." The suit pinning Joey stated as he pried open the blondes hand and plucked the dragon card from his grasp. Joey sweared as eventually they succeeded.
A pinned Yugi, who'd accepted they weren't getting out of this at this point and thus had stopped struggled was escorted to be besides Joey on the floor. "I'm sorry Joey.." He apologised.
Kaiba walked up as the rest of the guards who were not caring the offenders were instead beginning to escort everyone out of the showcase room. The guard who'd taken back the card held out the 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon' to him.
Kaiba took it and glared back at the other two students and then back towards Ziegfried, who a guard was trying to also drag towards the rest of the restrained thieves. "What do you think you're doing!" The young CEO of Scrodinger corp yelled at their captor.
"Of course it's you." Kaiba muttered as if he was putting together a puzzle in his mind. "Couldn't not be a sore loser could you." Kaiba pointedly accused the other CEO.
"What!" Ziegfried practically snarled at the accusation. "I had no part in this!"
"No sir, he was with the young shorter boy. They were asking questions meant to stall me and distract me from my post." Roland explained.
"Really now?" He smiled maliciously at Ziegfried. "Oh the news will love this."
"Thats- I didn't know these two were planning to steal I'm just.." Ziegfried tried to explain.
"Whatever." Kaiba shrugged, not bothering to here the CEO out. "Kick them all out."
"No!" Yugi interrupted.
"Hm?" Kaiba looked down at the boy.
"I tricked Ziegfried into helping us.." Yugi regretfully admitted. "I thought he could help talk to people better than I could.. I shouldn't have, i'm sorry Ziegfried."
"See!" Ziegfried smiled at the hope that was given to him. "This boy speaks the truth."
Kaiba shrugged. "Who cares.. He's probably lying. Gods, i'm going to love seeing what this does to you're reputation." Kaiba's face turned the slightest bits upwards into something that could probably be called a smile.
"Y-you! You're doing this just because you want to see how this ruins me! That's petty! You'll be hearing from my lawyers!" Ziegfried threatened.
"Call it what you will." Kaiba didn't seem to want to continue the conversation. "Throw them out already."
"You're a prick you know that Kaiba, first you steal my friends cards now thiss- ow, ow." Joey growled before wincing as the suit restraining him pulled his arm even more.
"You are not worth my time." Kaiba responded back matter-of-factly. The blonde could only grit his teeth at the cruel teen decided to continue. "But look on the bright side, I'm not going to press charges. instead i'd say this has sparked a new sense of sympathy in me. Clearly you two must've been raised in a terrible environment. you must've had no choice, but to resort to petty theft and so i've decided to gentrify your neighbourhood instead. How Thoughtful of me." He explained in a deadpan voice.
"You wouldn't! You can't do that!" Yugi shouted as he twisted around trying to break free from his captor's grasp.
"Gentrify?" Joey asked. He wasn't sure what that exactly meant.
"It's where you raise the quality of a neighbourhood, consequentially raising the price of the area to the point that the people originally living there can't pay to do so anymore." Yugi explained
"He's a smart kid isn't he?" One of the security guards chuckled to themselves.
"What! He wouldn't!" Joey muttered in disbelief.
"You'll just have to wait and see, now lets get you out of here already." Kaiba clapped his hands and all of the guards moved to do so.
Joey and Yugi couldn't help but feel a new sense of dread fall over them.
Notes
Writing is difficult, quite so. updating quickly is also another pressure, i'll grow to get better at it but still. Chapters this large are what i think is the main problem, they're gonna start being less top heavy from here.
Also here are some cards that were used in this chapter:
Ryu-Kishin
Dark - LV3 - Fiend/Normal
ATK 1000 DEF 500
+300/+150 P: (30%)
[Eclipser +700] [Piercing]
Harpie Lady
Wind - LV4 - Winged-Beast/Normal
ATK 1300 DEF 1400
+390/+420 P: (30%)
[Pack Tactics] [Rally] [Superior]
Elegant Egotist
[Normal Spell]
[1] If you control a "Harpie Lady"; Special Summon 1 "Harpie Lady" from your Hand or Deck.
Harpie Lady Sisters
Wind - LV6 - Winged-Beast/Effect
ATK 1950 DEF 2100
+780/+840 P: (40%)
Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set.
[1] If this Card is Special Summoned you can target 1 'Harpie Lady' you control; that target either gains 1950 ATK or 2100 DEF, until the end of your opponent's next turn.
[2] While this Card is in your GY, it's name is becomes 'Harpie Lady'
[Pack Tactics] [Rally]
Cyber Shield
[Equip Spell]
[1] Equip only to "Harpie Lady" or "Harpie Lady Sisters"
[2] The Equipped Monster gains 500 ATK/DEF, all other "Harpie Monsters gain 500 ATK.
[3] Your opponent cannot target other Monsters you control for attacks, except the Equipped Monster.
Crush Card Virus
[Normal Trap]
[1] Tribute 1 DARK Monster with 1000 or less ATK adjacent to this Card; look at your opponent's Hand any Card on the Field, send all Monsters among them with 1500 or more ATK to the GY.
[2] Until the End of your 3rd Standby Phase after this Card is activated, look at any Card your opponent draws, and then, destroy any Monster with 1500 or more ATK among them.
Hitotsu-Me Giant
Earth - LV4 - Beast-Warrior/Normal
ATK 1200 DEF 1000
+360/+300 P: (30%)
[Herald] [Superior]
Rude Kaiser
Earth - LV5 - Beast-Warrior/Normal
ATK 1800 DEF 1600
+540/+480 P: (30%)
[Piercing]
Faith Bird
Wind - LV4 - Winged-Beast/Normal
ATK 1500 DEF 1100
+300/+220 P: (20%)
[Bountiful] [Gust] [Quick]
Follow Wind
[Equip Spell]
[1] Equip only to a Winged-Beast Monster.
[2] It gains 300 ATK/DEF.
[3] Once per turn during your Battle Phase if the Equipped Monster destroys a Monster by battle, you can target 1 Set Card on the Field; destroy it.
Ultimate Offering
[Continuous Trap]
[1] Once per Phase, During either player's Main Phase, you can reveal 1 Monster in your Hand, pay 500 LP; Send Cards from the top of your Deck to the GY Face-Down equal to the Level of that Monster, then Normal/Tribute Summon it.
La Jinn, The Mystical Genie Of The Lamp
Dark - LV4 - Fiend/Normal
ATK 1800 DEF 1000
+180/+100 P: (10%)
[Anti-Spell Defence]
Battle Ox
Earth - LV4 - Beast-Warrior/Normal
ATK 1800 DEF 1000
+180/+100 P: (10%)
[Maze-Dweller]