digigirl-izumi - heehee! Guess what? That love controversy comes up in the next chappie! n_n
Kuso Netaba - You have a Mr. Cheesy? o.o Okaaay.....
SerafinaMoon - good ol' trustworthy friend! Glad you enjoyed the chapter. Yeah, you know I had to mention you sometime! Your the author of my fav YGO fics! *hug* And the thing about Nazo's dad will be brought up, but not just yet. -_-' I hate him!
Shibby-One - I'll definately take all of those words into consideration in the sequal, when I have Kaiba in on the funn too! Hmm, I think ite is correct. I'll check that out ...
Keiko - NEE-CHAN!! *glomp* Tell Matt Ocean's Eleven is one of my fav movies (you really should watch it). And I got the choco-lax idea from Mr. Bean. V.V British comedy! Hope you're still okay, Nee-chan.
LastSheikah - Welcome! Hope you stay with us for a long time. And keep the Yami plushie. *huggles Yugi plushie* This one's more kawaii!!
.
.
Bardock: Oh, is the pharaoh finally willing to do his job and say the intro?
Yami: *smacks Bardock* Last time on Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yugi helped break into Kaiba Corp. and steal back Nazo's cards. Now, its time to duel!!
Bardock: -_-' Oh goddess! He's using that horrible line from the American dub!
Yugi: *backs away* UNCLEAN!! UNCLEAN!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 7
Yami VS Nazo part 2; Duel Monsters!
When the crowds started to gather around the machines, Nazo figured she'd better leave. That was the downside to arcades; too many nosy kids gawking at the best player in the area.
She looked at her score. Second place yet again. She normally received the highest, but this "KAI" outranked her by a narrow margin. It had been the same on every game. Well, some games also had "YGO" as the highest rank.
Nazo picked up her soda and got up to leave. Many teens parted to allow her passage. `Maybe it isn't so bad,' she thought. `At least I'm getting some respect.'
She sat down in the resting area to doze until the arcade got less crowded. Too many witnesses to her prowess in games meant too many to remember her face, which made Nazo feel uncomfortable. Anonymity appeared to be a fleeting wish for someone as talented as she. If only she felt the same way about her talents as other gamers did. She didn't think she was all that good, she just wantec to have some fun in her life.
Speaking of which ....
"Mind if I buy you another drink?"
Nazo lifted her eyes to see a teen with long black hair tied back, green eyes, and a dice earring hanging from his right ear. The boy leaned against her chair, trying to look suave. "What's yer poison," he asked.
"And who are you?"
"The name is Otogi." [AN - Duke Devlin to you American fans.] He twirled his long, loose lock of hair. "You might have heard of me. I'm the creator of the new game Dungeon Dice Monsters." At his name, Otogi's three cheerleaders appeared and performed a cheer.
Nazo snorted and concentrated on her coke. "Not interested," she said.
"Really," he asked, and sat down next to her. "Can't I even interest you in a little game?"
"Oh?"
"Sure! Allow me to escort you to my store and we'll have a round of DDM, no charge." He offered his hand.
Nazo turned away and stood up. "Keh! I think I'd rather go home."
The cheerleaders glared daggers at this nobody who so easily brushed aside their hero. "Don't you get it," one asked. "This is Otogi! He's offering you a chance to spend time with him," another added. "It's an honor to play the master of DDM," said the third. "He's the greatest of the greats," they all chanted.
But Nazo side-glanced Otogi and asked, "You sure have a strange taste in women. First these trolls, now me? What kind of sick weirdo are you?" She walked out the door, crumpled up her coke can, and tossed it in the nearest garbage dumpster.
"Tanaka-kun! Please wait!" This time Otogi came without his fan club in tow. "Please! Just hear me out!"
Without a word or a glance, Nazo stopped. "What?"
Otogi caught up to her. "Tanaka-kun, I just wanted to talk to you. Most girls dig the cheers and smooth talk and stuff. I just wanted to get your attention." He straightened up. "Truth is I'm in one of your classes at school."
"Statistics," provided Nazo. "Yeah, I've seen you."
"Yeah, well, I wanted us to get to know each other a little. You're at the top of the class, and you're the most fantastic girl gamer I've ever seen!" He put his hand on her shoulder. "You're also kinda cute."
Nazo's eyes darkened. "Who said you could touch me," she asked icily.
"Hey babe! I'm only trying to be friendly!"
"I don't like being forcibly touched."
Otogi dismissed the comment. "Look, I know you're shy, but-"
"Get your hand off of her!!"
They both turned around. Yami ran up to Otogi, grabbed the offending appendage and threw it away. "If she tells you not to touch her," he snarled, "DON'T!"
Nazo's eyes widened. "Moto Yami?"
Yami suddenly became very conscientious of his actions, and he gave Nazo a nervous side-glance. He really had not intended to act so protectively. To him, such an act was instinctual. "Gomen," he muttered.
"You're Moto Yami, ne?" asked Nazo. "Moto Yugi's cousin?"
Otogi raised an eyebrow, but kept his mouth shut. Yami gave a short nod.
Nazo blushed a little. "Listen, about the other night ..."
"Forget it," said Yami waving his hand. "No big deal. I rarely draw with anyone in any game, so I got moody." He reached into the pocket of his black jeans and took out Nazo's box. "This is for you, by the way."
Nazo turned away. "I don't take things from strange boys."
"But this is yours. Look." He held it up so she could see it properly.
Nazo's eyes turned from ice cold to stone stunned. Yami dropped the box in her hands. She held it up and gaped at it as if she had never seen a box in her entire life!
"She played you a game and tied," cried Otogi to Yami.
Yami shoved his hands in his pockets. "We played a few games of cards is all. She won a few, I won a few." He felt warmth wash over his face. `No,' he screamed in his mind, `I will not redden like a foolish schoolboy! Pharaohs do not feel ashamed!'
Otogi refused to let this die. "SHE beat YOU at CARDS!?! OH MY GOD!!"
"Enough, Otogi! She's a good player, and that's that! I'm just returning her cards that her father stole from her. Yugi, Jonouchi, Honda, and Ryou stole them back, and-"
Before he could finish his sentence, he heard a dry sob come from Nazo. She scanned her cards, making sure they were all there, and holding them as gently as if they were made of glass. Her eyes sparkled in a fanatic passion, and she threw her arms around the pharaoh.
"What the....!?"
"Oh,thankyousomuchYami! I'msosorryIeverhurtyou! Ididn'tmeantomakeyousuffersomuchwithmyBracelet! IthoughtyouonlywantedtomakefunofmeandputmedownbecauseI'mnotthatgoodatanythingbutplayinggames! AndIthoughtJounouchiwantedtokillmebecauseofwhatIdidtoyou!! HowcanIeverrepayyouforthis!?! I'mnotabadpersona,reallyI'mnot!!"
Most of Nazo's hurried words went one ear and out the other. Yami felt his face turn bright read, and his eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. "I - uh - well ..."
Nazo let go and shuffled her cards again. "I can't believe I have them back! They're all here! Each of them is back in my hands!"
Otogi's pupils were pin-pricks! "What is this girl, bi-polar?!"
Yami cleared his throat, trying to regain his normal air of egotism. "Anyway, as I said, it was Yugi-tachi who rescued them from your dad's office. I only delivered them, because they come with a price."
Nazo hugged her cards protectively. "I should have known! What is it? I'll do whatever to keep these!"
Yami smirked. "I wish to have a friendly duel with you. No Penalty Games, no money at stake, no nothing. Just a game between two gameing fanatics."
Nazo blinked. "That's all?"
"That's all."
"Can I come, too?" Otogi asked. "I can't miss this!"
"Only if it's alright with Nazo," said Yami. "I know you don't like having witnesses ..."
`His eyes,' thought Nazo. `It's like I can trust him with anything!' "Yoshi! I accept!"
.
.
The three gamers entered the Turtle Game Shop to find Anzu, Jonouchi, Ryou, Honda, and Yugi's grandfather setting up a table and chairs for them. "Ho," said Sogoroku, "so you're Nazo, eh?"
Nazo stared at the room full of people. "Yes," she said softly.
The old man looked her up and down, measuring up in his mind her figure, face, and bust size. "Atta boy, Yami," he cheered.
Yami gave him a smug look. `At least Anzu let him in on my supposed name,' he thought. He noticed Nazo eyeing the others. "They want to watch our match, too."
Jonouchi stepped forward. "Ano," he began, "I know I shouldn't've messed with you like that. I get kinda mad when it comes to my friends." He looked away, trying to still look cool. He hated apologies!
To his and most of the boys' shock, Nazo bowed respectfully. "Please, I'm sorry I attacked you back so strongly. It wasn't fair either way."
"C'mon," exclaimed Otogi. "I want to see them play!"
"Hai," Yami and Nazo said. They sat at opposite ends of the special table lined with a Duel Monsters game board, a die, and a scoreboard. Each took out their respective decks, shuffled, and placed them on each end. Jonouchi took the chalk to keep score. "Ready," he asked.
"DUEL!"
Both picked up five cards. "Ladies first," said Yami.
Nazo picked up and extra card. "I play Forgiving Maiden [850/2000] in defense mode. And I'll fold one card to end my turn."
Yami picked up his card. "I play Curse of Dragon [2000/1300] in attack mode, and place one other monster face down. Plus, I'll fold a card and end my turn."
Nazo picked up another card, her face passive. "I'll only fold one more card and end my turn."
Yami's eyebrow rose. Was she trying to sucker him to attack? He picked up another card. "I'll place Celtic Guardian [1400/1200] in attack mode."
Jonouchi grumbled. `When is this game gonna get good?' he thought.
Nazo placed her hand on her deck and closed her eyes, concentrating. 'She's putting all of her faith in the card,' Yami thought. She must truly care for them. What a woman!'
She picked up another card and smiled. "I place Marie the Fallen One in attack mode, and switch Forgiving Maiden to attack." She flipped over a card from her folded ones. "I also use Polymerization to fuse these two together to create the monster-," she pulled from her fusion deck, "-St. Joan [2800/2500]. St. Joan attacks Yami's face-down card."
It turned out to be Gaia the Fierce Knight [2300/2100], so Yami lost 500 points.
Jonouchi's jaw dropped. "How'd you do that!?!"
Nazo smirked. "Yami played it safe by not attacking my Maiden with Gaia, because he thought at least one of these was a trap card. He fell for my bluff. I fold one more card."
Yami picked up his card. "So, if that was a bluff, I won't feel terrible about playing this. Summoned Skull [2500/1200] in attack mode."
"He's still lower than St. Joan."
"You're forgetting my face-down card. I play Demonic Mist, which increases Skull's attack to 3200 points! Summoned Skull, attack St. Joan!"
The skeletal demon lowered Nazo's life points by 400. "And now," continued Yami, "Curse of Dragon, attack her life points directly!"
"Not so fast," said Nazo. She flipped over her other face-down card. "I play the magic card Queen's Loyalty."
"Never heard of it," said Jonouchi.
"That's because I have the only card in existence! It protects me from direct attacks from any monster."
"What a wonderful card," commented Ryou.
"This is finally getting good," said Jonouchi.
Sogoroku nodded. "Yes, I can see why Kaiba Seto would want a card like this."
Nazo nodded. "So, my life points remain as they are." She picked up a card. "I'll place Dancing Fairy [1700/1000] in defense mode and fold a card."
Yami picked up his card and smirked. "I play Dark Magician [2500/2100] in attack mode to destroy your Fairy."
Nazo picked up her card for her turn. "I've been waiting for you to use Dark Magician. First, I'll put one monster face down on the field. Then, I'll activate my magic card Dark Hole, destroying all monsters on the field."
Yami gathered his cards, curious why she threw away one monster.
"Next, I play the magic card Ground Collapse, so you can only use three monsters at a time. Finally," she continued, "I place Thunder Nyan Nyan [1900/800] in attack mode."
The game continued. As it progressed, Yami and Nazo remained within 150 points of each other. It took nearly an hour before they reached triple digits. Jonouchi lapped it up! He took down notes at the same time as keeping score, impressed by both duelists' performances. Yami had to use new tricks in order to defend his life points from Nazo's direct attacks, but Nazo had far inferior monsters to Yami.
Nazo glanced up at Yami. "You're better then I originally gave you credit," she admitted. "I'm losing by 100 points, but I don't care!"
"That's because you have a good heart," said Grandpa Moto wisely. "You recognize Yami as a champion and accept it, unlike Kaiba. But don't sell yourself short; I've not seen such an impressive match in ages!"
"Here here," cheered Ryou.
"I'm not too good at this game," said Otogi, "but if you can go toe to toe with the Yu-Gi-Oh, you're one tough chick!"
Anzu put her hand on Nazo's shoulder. "I told you they were nice!"
Nazo shook her head, studying her cards. "I still don't get why you guys went to all the trouble of getting back my cards!"
"Probably returning the favor."
Everyone stared at Yami. "What favor," asked Jonouchi.
Yami picked up his card. "I fold one card. Don't you remember? She gave Yugi back his cards after they got stolen a couple of weeks ago." He leaned forward. "Am I right?"
Nazo smiled. "Yeah. This creepy girl made off with them, saying how she finally got the ultimate deck of a champion, but I stopped her and challenged her to a game of Twenty-One. Needless to say she lost, and I got the cards back. I'll place one monster face down in defense mode and fold one card."
"Where did you get the Millennium Bracelet," asked Yami. "I'll pass this turn."
"The what?"
Ryou gaped. "You don't even know what that thing is!?!"
Nazo, annoyed, ignored the question and placed a card face down. "I play Dark Magician Girl [2000/1000] in Attack mode!" She flipped over one of her folded cards. "Also, I activate Book of Spells to increase her points by 300. Not to mention the extra 600 I get from the Magicians in the graveyard."
"Magicians," Yami asked.
"Yes. I may play female cards all the time, but I have one male card, and that's her partner Dark Magician." She smiled. "But I sent him to the graveyard early on, along with your monster, preparing for this." She attacked Yugi's monster, reducing his life points to 50 even. She had 100.
Jonouchi scribbled down the move. "Aw man! What a match!"
Anzu smacked him. "Not now! Nazo-chan, who gave that bracelet to you?"
Yami looked at his hand, trying not to think of anything having to do with the Mil. Items right now. He had two magic cards down and only Kuribo left on the field. If he didn't pick up a good card next, he'd lose for sure. He picked up his card. After a few seconds of staring at it, he held out his hand.
"What're you doing," asked Nazo.
"What's he doing," asked Anzu to Ryou.
"He's offering her a draw," said Ryou.
"I'm offering you a draw," replied Yami to Nazo. "You've lost."
She looked over the field. "Move," she said.
Jonouchi bit his lip with anticipation. "Alright! The last play! This oughta be good!"
"I warned you," Yami sighed and showed her his card. "Monster Reborn. I re-summon Dark Magician, decreasing your DMG by 300 points."
"That's still 2600 to 2500 points."
"Not after this," said Yami, flipping over a card he already had face down. "De-Spell will cancel out the Book of Magic's effects, putting you back to 2300. Now, I attack with my Dark Magician!"
Nazo smirked. "You win."
Jonouchi cheered! Everyone else applauded.
"What's all the fuss about," said a voice from the back of the store. Yugi's mother had just come home from her trip to the market. "Otousan, who's out there?"
"Hide," whispered Grandpa Moto to Jonouchi and Honda. Honda jumped into a cupboard and Jonouchi ducked under the table were Nazo and Yami played.
Nazo's face went rigid. "What's wrong?"
"Yugi's grounded," whispered Yami, "but he's out, and those two aren't supposed to be here!"
Mrs. Moto emerged in the doorway. Luckily, Yami's back was to her and he was still sitting down. "Yugi, I thought I said no friends over."
"Uh, they're customers, Mother," said Yami, not turning around.
She tilted her head slightly. "Yugi-chan, are you coming down with something? You sound strange."
A sweat-drop slid down Yami's head. He cleared is throat and set his voice up about an octive higher then Yugi's. "Uh, no Mom! I'm fine."
Nazo tried to hide her giggles in her cards. Anzu pinch Ryou, who let out a howl of laughter. Yugi, inside his mind, face-vaulted. Jonouchi punched Yami in the shin. "Shut up," he hissed.
"Ma'am," said Nazo from behind her cards, "I'm a friend of Yugi-kun from school. I want to get into Duel Monsters, so he offered to teach me." She looked straight at Yami. "It is such an honor to play such a skilled, world-renown champion like him!"
Mrs. Moto smiled. "What a nice girl! Continue your lesson, Yugi-chan! Otousan," she said to Grandpa Moto, "can you help me with dinner?"
"Sure," he said, and the adults left the room.
Jonouchi climbed out and punched Yami again. "What," grumbled Yami.
"Don't do that again! You sounded like a chipmunk!"
"Hey, normally people can't tell the difference in our voices! I forgot myself for a minute."
Yugi's spirit blushed angrily. "My voice ain't THAT high!"
"That's odd," said Nazo. "You and Yugi are so different." She stood, walked over to Yami, and kissed him on the cheek. "I meant it when I said it was an honor to play you." She gathered her cards. "See you at school, minna-san! Bye-bye!" With that, she was gone.
Ryou bolted for the door. "Oy! You didn't tell us where you got that bracelet!"
Jonouchi nudged Yami. "Good goin', Yami! She totally has the hotts for ya! I can tell! Welcome to the Game of Love!"
Yami put a hand on his cheek where Nazo had kissed him. 'Game of Love,' he thought. 'If this is a game, and Nazo's the prize," he smiled evilly, "then I'm sure to win!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yugi: Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh!, love is in the air on White Day morning, and I'm planning on asking Anzu out on a date at last! One problem though; Nazo asks out Yami, too! What now?!
Next episode is "White Day; The Game of Love Begins!"
Bardock: The 'Game of Love'? Sheesh, Una, how corny can ya get!?!
Yami: Sounds good to me!
Bardock: And you wasted a whole chapter on a stupid card match! When are we gonna get to some action?!
Una: Patience, my Sayin captain! Patience!
Review please!!
Kuso Netaba - You have a Mr. Cheesy? o.o Okaaay.....
SerafinaMoon - good ol' trustworthy friend! Glad you enjoyed the chapter. Yeah, you know I had to mention you sometime! Your the author of my fav YGO fics! *hug* And the thing about Nazo's dad will be brought up, but not just yet. -_-' I hate him!
Shibby-One - I'll definately take all of those words into consideration in the sequal, when I have Kaiba in on the funn too! Hmm, I think ite is correct. I'll check that out ...
Keiko - NEE-CHAN!! *glomp* Tell Matt Ocean's Eleven is one of my fav movies (you really should watch it). And I got the choco-lax idea from Mr. Bean. V.V British comedy! Hope you're still okay, Nee-chan.
LastSheikah - Welcome! Hope you stay with us for a long time. And keep the Yami plushie. *huggles Yugi plushie* This one's more kawaii!!
.
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Bardock: Oh, is the pharaoh finally willing to do his job and say the intro?
Yami: *smacks Bardock* Last time on Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yugi helped break into Kaiba Corp. and steal back Nazo's cards. Now, its time to duel!!
Bardock: -_-' Oh goddess! He's using that horrible line from the American dub!
Yugi: *backs away* UNCLEAN!! UNCLEAN!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 7
Yami VS Nazo part 2; Duel Monsters!
When the crowds started to gather around the machines, Nazo figured she'd better leave. That was the downside to arcades; too many nosy kids gawking at the best player in the area.
She looked at her score. Second place yet again. She normally received the highest, but this "KAI" outranked her by a narrow margin. It had been the same on every game. Well, some games also had "YGO" as the highest rank.
Nazo picked up her soda and got up to leave. Many teens parted to allow her passage. `Maybe it isn't so bad,' she thought. `At least I'm getting some respect.'
She sat down in the resting area to doze until the arcade got less crowded. Too many witnesses to her prowess in games meant too many to remember her face, which made Nazo feel uncomfortable. Anonymity appeared to be a fleeting wish for someone as talented as she. If only she felt the same way about her talents as other gamers did. She didn't think she was all that good, she just wantec to have some fun in her life.
Speaking of which ....
"Mind if I buy you another drink?"
Nazo lifted her eyes to see a teen with long black hair tied back, green eyes, and a dice earring hanging from his right ear. The boy leaned against her chair, trying to look suave. "What's yer poison," he asked.
"And who are you?"
"The name is Otogi." [AN - Duke Devlin to you American fans.] He twirled his long, loose lock of hair. "You might have heard of me. I'm the creator of the new game Dungeon Dice Monsters." At his name, Otogi's three cheerleaders appeared and performed a cheer.
Nazo snorted and concentrated on her coke. "Not interested," she said.
"Really," he asked, and sat down next to her. "Can't I even interest you in a little game?"
"Oh?"
"Sure! Allow me to escort you to my store and we'll have a round of DDM, no charge." He offered his hand.
Nazo turned away and stood up. "Keh! I think I'd rather go home."
The cheerleaders glared daggers at this nobody who so easily brushed aside their hero. "Don't you get it," one asked. "This is Otogi! He's offering you a chance to spend time with him," another added. "It's an honor to play the master of DDM," said the third. "He's the greatest of the greats," they all chanted.
But Nazo side-glanced Otogi and asked, "You sure have a strange taste in women. First these trolls, now me? What kind of sick weirdo are you?" She walked out the door, crumpled up her coke can, and tossed it in the nearest garbage dumpster.
"Tanaka-kun! Please wait!" This time Otogi came without his fan club in tow. "Please! Just hear me out!"
Without a word or a glance, Nazo stopped. "What?"
Otogi caught up to her. "Tanaka-kun, I just wanted to talk to you. Most girls dig the cheers and smooth talk and stuff. I just wanted to get your attention." He straightened up. "Truth is I'm in one of your classes at school."
"Statistics," provided Nazo. "Yeah, I've seen you."
"Yeah, well, I wanted us to get to know each other a little. You're at the top of the class, and you're the most fantastic girl gamer I've ever seen!" He put his hand on her shoulder. "You're also kinda cute."
Nazo's eyes darkened. "Who said you could touch me," she asked icily.
"Hey babe! I'm only trying to be friendly!"
"I don't like being forcibly touched."
Otogi dismissed the comment. "Look, I know you're shy, but-"
"Get your hand off of her!!"
They both turned around. Yami ran up to Otogi, grabbed the offending appendage and threw it away. "If she tells you not to touch her," he snarled, "DON'T!"
Nazo's eyes widened. "Moto Yami?"
Yami suddenly became very conscientious of his actions, and he gave Nazo a nervous side-glance. He really had not intended to act so protectively. To him, such an act was instinctual. "Gomen," he muttered.
"You're Moto Yami, ne?" asked Nazo. "Moto Yugi's cousin?"
Otogi raised an eyebrow, but kept his mouth shut. Yami gave a short nod.
Nazo blushed a little. "Listen, about the other night ..."
"Forget it," said Yami waving his hand. "No big deal. I rarely draw with anyone in any game, so I got moody." He reached into the pocket of his black jeans and took out Nazo's box. "This is for you, by the way."
Nazo turned away. "I don't take things from strange boys."
"But this is yours. Look." He held it up so she could see it properly.
Nazo's eyes turned from ice cold to stone stunned. Yami dropped the box in her hands. She held it up and gaped at it as if she had never seen a box in her entire life!
"She played you a game and tied," cried Otogi to Yami.
Yami shoved his hands in his pockets. "We played a few games of cards is all. She won a few, I won a few." He felt warmth wash over his face. `No,' he screamed in his mind, `I will not redden like a foolish schoolboy! Pharaohs do not feel ashamed!'
Otogi refused to let this die. "SHE beat YOU at CARDS!?! OH MY GOD!!"
"Enough, Otogi! She's a good player, and that's that! I'm just returning her cards that her father stole from her. Yugi, Jonouchi, Honda, and Ryou stole them back, and-"
Before he could finish his sentence, he heard a dry sob come from Nazo. She scanned her cards, making sure they were all there, and holding them as gently as if they were made of glass. Her eyes sparkled in a fanatic passion, and she threw her arms around the pharaoh.
"What the....!?"
"Oh,thankyousomuchYami! I'msosorryIeverhurtyou! Ididn'tmeantomakeyousuffersomuchwithmyBracelet! IthoughtyouonlywantedtomakefunofmeandputmedownbecauseI'mnotthatgoodatanythingbutplayinggames! AndIthoughtJounouchiwantedtokillmebecauseofwhatIdidtoyou!! HowcanIeverrepayyouforthis!?! I'mnotabadpersona,reallyI'mnot!!"
Most of Nazo's hurried words went one ear and out the other. Yami felt his face turn bright read, and his eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. "I - uh - well ..."
Nazo let go and shuffled her cards again. "I can't believe I have them back! They're all here! Each of them is back in my hands!"
Otogi's pupils were pin-pricks! "What is this girl, bi-polar?!"
Yami cleared his throat, trying to regain his normal air of egotism. "Anyway, as I said, it was Yugi-tachi who rescued them from your dad's office. I only delivered them, because they come with a price."
Nazo hugged her cards protectively. "I should have known! What is it? I'll do whatever to keep these!"
Yami smirked. "I wish to have a friendly duel with you. No Penalty Games, no money at stake, no nothing. Just a game between two gameing fanatics."
Nazo blinked. "That's all?"
"That's all."
"Can I come, too?" Otogi asked. "I can't miss this!"
"Only if it's alright with Nazo," said Yami. "I know you don't like having witnesses ..."
`His eyes,' thought Nazo. `It's like I can trust him with anything!' "Yoshi! I accept!"
.
.
The three gamers entered the Turtle Game Shop to find Anzu, Jonouchi, Ryou, Honda, and Yugi's grandfather setting up a table and chairs for them. "Ho," said Sogoroku, "so you're Nazo, eh?"
Nazo stared at the room full of people. "Yes," she said softly.
The old man looked her up and down, measuring up in his mind her figure, face, and bust size. "Atta boy, Yami," he cheered.
Yami gave him a smug look. `At least Anzu let him in on my supposed name,' he thought. He noticed Nazo eyeing the others. "They want to watch our match, too."
Jonouchi stepped forward. "Ano," he began, "I know I shouldn't've messed with you like that. I get kinda mad when it comes to my friends." He looked away, trying to still look cool. He hated apologies!
To his and most of the boys' shock, Nazo bowed respectfully. "Please, I'm sorry I attacked you back so strongly. It wasn't fair either way."
"C'mon," exclaimed Otogi. "I want to see them play!"
"Hai," Yami and Nazo said. They sat at opposite ends of the special table lined with a Duel Monsters game board, a die, and a scoreboard. Each took out their respective decks, shuffled, and placed them on each end. Jonouchi took the chalk to keep score. "Ready," he asked.
"DUEL!"
Both picked up five cards. "Ladies first," said Yami.
Nazo picked up and extra card. "I play Forgiving Maiden [850/2000] in defense mode. And I'll fold one card to end my turn."
Yami picked up his card. "I play Curse of Dragon [2000/1300] in attack mode, and place one other monster face down. Plus, I'll fold a card and end my turn."
Nazo picked up another card, her face passive. "I'll only fold one more card and end my turn."
Yami's eyebrow rose. Was she trying to sucker him to attack? He picked up another card. "I'll place Celtic Guardian [1400/1200] in attack mode."
Jonouchi grumbled. `When is this game gonna get good?' he thought.
Nazo placed her hand on her deck and closed her eyes, concentrating. 'She's putting all of her faith in the card,' Yami thought. She must truly care for them. What a woman!'
She picked up another card and smiled. "I place Marie the Fallen One in attack mode, and switch Forgiving Maiden to attack." She flipped over a card from her folded ones. "I also use Polymerization to fuse these two together to create the monster-," she pulled from her fusion deck, "-St. Joan [2800/2500]. St. Joan attacks Yami's face-down card."
It turned out to be Gaia the Fierce Knight [2300/2100], so Yami lost 500 points.
Jonouchi's jaw dropped. "How'd you do that!?!"
Nazo smirked. "Yami played it safe by not attacking my Maiden with Gaia, because he thought at least one of these was a trap card. He fell for my bluff. I fold one more card."
Yami picked up his card. "So, if that was a bluff, I won't feel terrible about playing this. Summoned Skull [2500/1200] in attack mode."
"He's still lower than St. Joan."
"You're forgetting my face-down card. I play Demonic Mist, which increases Skull's attack to 3200 points! Summoned Skull, attack St. Joan!"
The skeletal demon lowered Nazo's life points by 400. "And now," continued Yami, "Curse of Dragon, attack her life points directly!"
"Not so fast," said Nazo. She flipped over her other face-down card. "I play the magic card Queen's Loyalty."
"Never heard of it," said Jonouchi.
"That's because I have the only card in existence! It protects me from direct attacks from any monster."
"What a wonderful card," commented Ryou.
"This is finally getting good," said Jonouchi.
Sogoroku nodded. "Yes, I can see why Kaiba Seto would want a card like this."
Nazo nodded. "So, my life points remain as they are." She picked up a card. "I'll place Dancing Fairy [1700/1000] in defense mode and fold a card."
Yami picked up his card and smirked. "I play Dark Magician [2500/2100] in attack mode to destroy your Fairy."
Nazo picked up her card for her turn. "I've been waiting for you to use Dark Magician. First, I'll put one monster face down on the field. Then, I'll activate my magic card Dark Hole, destroying all monsters on the field."
Yami gathered his cards, curious why she threw away one monster.
"Next, I play the magic card Ground Collapse, so you can only use three monsters at a time. Finally," she continued, "I place Thunder Nyan Nyan [1900/800] in attack mode."
The game continued. As it progressed, Yami and Nazo remained within 150 points of each other. It took nearly an hour before they reached triple digits. Jonouchi lapped it up! He took down notes at the same time as keeping score, impressed by both duelists' performances. Yami had to use new tricks in order to defend his life points from Nazo's direct attacks, but Nazo had far inferior monsters to Yami.
Nazo glanced up at Yami. "You're better then I originally gave you credit," she admitted. "I'm losing by 100 points, but I don't care!"
"That's because you have a good heart," said Grandpa Moto wisely. "You recognize Yami as a champion and accept it, unlike Kaiba. But don't sell yourself short; I've not seen such an impressive match in ages!"
"Here here," cheered Ryou.
"I'm not too good at this game," said Otogi, "but if you can go toe to toe with the Yu-Gi-Oh, you're one tough chick!"
Anzu put her hand on Nazo's shoulder. "I told you they were nice!"
Nazo shook her head, studying her cards. "I still don't get why you guys went to all the trouble of getting back my cards!"
"Probably returning the favor."
Everyone stared at Yami. "What favor," asked Jonouchi.
Yami picked up his card. "I fold one card. Don't you remember? She gave Yugi back his cards after they got stolen a couple of weeks ago." He leaned forward. "Am I right?"
Nazo smiled. "Yeah. This creepy girl made off with them, saying how she finally got the ultimate deck of a champion, but I stopped her and challenged her to a game of Twenty-One. Needless to say she lost, and I got the cards back. I'll place one monster face down in defense mode and fold one card."
"Where did you get the Millennium Bracelet," asked Yami. "I'll pass this turn."
"The what?"
Ryou gaped. "You don't even know what that thing is!?!"
Nazo, annoyed, ignored the question and placed a card face down. "I play Dark Magician Girl [2000/1000] in Attack mode!" She flipped over one of her folded cards. "Also, I activate Book of Spells to increase her points by 300. Not to mention the extra 600 I get from the Magicians in the graveyard."
"Magicians," Yami asked.
"Yes. I may play female cards all the time, but I have one male card, and that's her partner Dark Magician." She smiled. "But I sent him to the graveyard early on, along with your monster, preparing for this." She attacked Yugi's monster, reducing his life points to 50 even. She had 100.
Jonouchi scribbled down the move. "Aw man! What a match!"
Anzu smacked him. "Not now! Nazo-chan, who gave that bracelet to you?"
Yami looked at his hand, trying not to think of anything having to do with the Mil. Items right now. He had two magic cards down and only Kuribo left on the field. If he didn't pick up a good card next, he'd lose for sure. He picked up his card. After a few seconds of staring at it, he held out his hand.
"What're you doing," asked Nazo.
"What's he doing," asked Anzu to Ryou.
"He's offering her a draw," said Ryou.
"I'm offering you a draw," replied Yami to Nazo. "You've lost."
She looked over the field. "Move," she said.
Jonouchi bit his lip with anticipation. "Alright! The last play! This oughta be good!"
"I warned you," Yami sighed and showed her his card. "Monster Reborn. I re-summon Dark Magician, decreasing your DMG by 300 points."
"That's still 2600 to 2500 points."
"Not after this," said Yami, flipping over a card he already had face down. "De-Spell will cancel out the Book of Magic's effects, putting you back to 2300. Now, I attack with my Dark Magician!"
Nazo smirked. "You win."
Jonouchi cheered! Everyone else applauded.
"What's all the fuss about," said a voice from the back of the store. Yugi's mother had just come home from her trip to the market. "Otousan, who's out there?"
"Hide," whispered Grandpa Moto to Jonouchi and Honda. Honda jumped into a cupboard and Jonouchi ducked under the table were Nazo and Yami played.
Nazo's face went rigid. "What's wrong?"
"Yugi's grounded," whispered Yami, "but he's out, and those two aren't supposed to be here!"
Mrs. Moto emerged in the doorway. Luckily, Yami's back was to her and he was still sitting down. "Yugi, I thought I said no friends over."
"Uh, they're customers, Mother," said Yami, not turning around.
She tilted her head slightly. "Yugi-chan, are you coming down with something? You sound strange."
A sweat-drop slid down Yami's head. He cleared is throat and set his voice up about an octive higher then Yugi's. "Uh, no Mom! I'm fine."
Nazo tried to hide her giggles in her cards. Anzu pinch Ryou, who let out a howl of laughter. Yugi, inside his mind, face-vaulted. Jonouchi punched Yami in the shin. "Shut up," he hissed.
"Ma'am," said Nazo from behind her cards, "I'm a friend of Yugi-kun from school. I want to get into Duel Monsters, so he offered to teach me." She looked straight at Yami. "It is such an honor to play such a skilled, world-renown champion like him!"
Mrs. Moto smiled. "What a nice girl! Continue your lesson, Yugi-chan! Otousan," she said to Grandpa Moto, "can you help me with dinner?"
"Sure," he said, and the adults left the room.
Jonouchi climbed out and punched Yami again. "What," grumbled Yami.
"Don't do that again! You sounded like a chipmunk!"
"Hey, normally people can't tell the difference in our voices! I forgot myself for a minute."
Yugi's spirit blushed angrily. "My voice ain't THAT high!"
"That's odd," said Nazo. "You and Yugi are so different." She stood, walked over to Yami, and kissed him on the cheek. "I meant it when I said it was an honor to play you." She gathered her cards. "See you at school, minna-san! Bye-bye!" With that, she was gone.
Ryou bolted for the door. "Oy! You didn't tell us where you got that bracelet!"
Jonouchi nudged Yami. "Good goin', Yami! She totally has the hotts for ya! I can tell! Welcome to the Game of Love!"
Yami put a hand on his cheek where Nazo had kissed him. 'Game of Love,' he thought. 'If this is a game, and Nazo's the prize," he smiled evilly, "then I'm sure to win!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yugi: Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh!, love is in the air on White Day morning, and I'm planning on asking Anzu out on a date at last! One problem though; Nazo asks out Yami, too! What now?!
Next episode is "White Day; The Game of Love Begins!"
Bardock: The 'Game of Love'? Sheesh, Una, how corny can ya get!?!
Yami: Sounds good to me!
Bardock: And you wasted a whole chapter on a stupid card match! When are we gonna get to some action?!
Una: Patience, my Sayin captain! Patience!
Review please!!