Joy: Hi, everyone! I told you I would update faster this time, and since you guys have made me so happy with the reviews and all, I finally came up with a thank you of sorts by deciding to come out with two chapters at once! So chapters 22 and 23 will be uploaded at the same time. Hope you this one…Joy and Kaiba's duel took me by surprise. You'll see what I mean. Review responses:
DMoS13: Yeah, but she won't admit to it and neither will he…yet, that is. ;o)
Sapphire: Yeah, he was a pain to say the least.
Midnights: Yeah, but I get to see it tomorrow. I hear it's good. =D And yeah, Vargon's still around. He'll pop up again really soon, when the tournament is over.
Silver Moon Phoenix: Yeah, he annoyed me, too.
So here it is, Chapter 22!
Rematch
Morning came quickly. Soon everyone gathered around in the lobby, awaiting the start of the first duel of the day, which would be Sakura versus Yugi. Needless to say, Sakura was nervous.
Relax, girl! It's okay. Everyone gets a little nervous before a duel, Cala tried to reassure her.
Yami's not nervous! Just look at him…so calm and collected…
"Okay, folks. The first duel of the day is about to start. Will Sakura Kodasawa and Yugi Moto please step onto the platform and shake hands?"
Sakura and Yami did as instructed. When they went to shake hands, Yami smiled at her. "Sakura, do not worry. Just do your best and no one can look down on you, no matter what happens in this duel, you are still a good friend to both Yugi and myself." Those words of encouragement seemed to make Sakura feel much better and she smiled back.
"Arigatou, Yami. You are a good friend to me, too. Now, let's duel!" The coin was tossed and Sakura called it right, so she got to go first. She looked at her first hand. Not to bad. "I place one monster facedown and two cards facedown."
"I summon Neo the Magic Swordsman in attack mode and I shall also place two cards facedown."
Sakura drew. "I activate Graceful Charity." She drew three more cards and discarded two from her hand. "Now I summon Opticlops and I'll attack!"
Yami: 3900
Sakura: 4000
"I shall summon the Dark Blade in attack mode and he shall attack your facedown card."
"It was Sangan, which allows me to pick out a monster of 1500 attack or less and add it to my hand." Sakura did that. "Now I place one monster facedown and one card facedown. Your move."
"I summon Warrior Dai Grepher in defense mode and I shall place one card facedown."
"I'm going to sacrifice my two monsters to summon Hyozanryu in attack mode. Attack Dark Blade."
"Waboku!"
Sarkura sighed. Good move.
Of course, he is the champion, after all, Caru reminded her. Sakura mentally sent her a glare.
Yami drew. "I activate Fissure!" Sakura's Hyozanryu was sent to the graveyard. Sakura frowned at the spot where he once stood, knowing what was going to happen next. Yugi had a monster on the field, but she did not. "Attack her life points directly, Dark Blade!"
Yami: 3900
Sakura: 2200
Sakura drew. YES! SWEET! "I activate Monster Reborn to recall my Hyozanryu! Now, let's try this again. Attack the Dark Blade!"
Yami: 3600
Sakura: 2200
"I summon the Sonic Bird in defense mode."
"Hyozanryu, attack her Warrior Dai Grepher!"
"I activate the Reliable Guardian, raising my monster's defense high enough to withstand the attack. That also means you lose life points, Sakura."
"Damn," Sakura muttered.
Yami: 3600
Sakura: 2000
"Now I'll activate Card Destruction. We have to send our hand to the Graveyard and draw the same number of cards we just had." The both sent their cards to the Graveyard and drew.
Not a bad tradeoff, really. "I summon Kaiser Sea Horse in attack mode. Attack Sonic Bird!" Sakura commanded. The monster was destroyed. "Now Hyonzanryu, attack Warrior Dai Grepher!"
"I want to thank you," Yugi said with a smile.
"Huh? For what?" Sakura asked.
"Destroying my monsters. I did not wish to do it myself when I activate this card – Dark Hole!"
"Damn! My monsters!"
"Now I summon Alpha the Magnet Warrior and he shall attack your life points directly!"
Yami: 3600
Sakura: 600
Sakura drew. "I summon Harpie's Brother in attack mode and he will destroy your Magnet Warrior!"
Yami: 3200
Sakura: 600
"I place one card facedown and a monster facedown. Your move, Sakura."
"Attack his monster!" Sakura commanded.
"Waboku!"
"Remove Trap!"
"De-Spell!"
Yami looked over at Sakura. "Now, it is my turn, and I shall end this duel. Summoned Skull, attack her Harpie's Brother."
I lost… Sakura said. But, it was a good duel, and Yami and Yugi are some of the best duelists I know. "I had fun."
"Yes. It was a well fought duel, Sakura. Your dueling skills are well developed. You will get even better with each duel."
Yami and Sakura exchanged smiles and they shook hands. Then the platform lowered and they went over to their friends.
"Excellent dueling, you two. The winner of that round is Yugi Moto. Now, will Joy Houyouku and Seto Kaiba please enter the platform arena and shake hands?"
This is it…why do I have butterflies in my stomach?
Relax, my light. Everything if fine, Katilli said, trying to calm her. Joy took a deep breath.
Right. I can do this. I just have to focus.
Joy and Seto went to the arena and stood in front of each other. "I expect a challenge, Kaiba."
"Then you won't be disappointed. I expect to win."
"Then maybe you will be disappointed." They reached out to shook hands. When their hands met, it sent a surge of emotions through Joy's body. Not now! I don't need any distractions…just because Kaiba is so damn hot doesn't mean I am going to back down from this duel.
Joy won the coin toss. She drew her first hand. "I place two cards facedown and summon Opticlops in attack mode."
Seto had his first hand. Blue-Eyes on the first hand. Not bad, but I need to get the others to beat her. She's crafty. "One monster facedown and one card facedown. Your move."
Joy drew. "I summon Raigeki Break!" she announced, discarding one card to activate the trap. "Now I sacrifice Opticlops to summon Jinzo! Attack his life points!"
Seto: 1600
Joy: 4000
Damn…she's not holding back. Not that I want or expect her to. "One monster facedown, and then I activate the Change of Heart, allowing me to take control of you monster. Attack!"
Seto: 1600
Joy: 1600
Wow, Yami! They have exactly the same amount of life points! This duel is heating up quickly, isn't it? Yugi asked.
Indeed, aibou. It will be interesting to see who wins.
Joy drew. "Attack his monster, Jinzo!"
"Waboku!"
"Now, it's my turn. I activate Monster Reborn, calling one of my monsters back from the Graveyard. Then I shall sacrifice both monsters to call forth the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Attack her Jinzo!"
Seto: 1600
Joy: 1000
Shit! This duel is over unless I can defend my life points or find a way to get rid of that monster. Joy drew, then her eyes lit up. YES! "I summon the Goblin Attack Force in attack mode and I'll equip it with the Malevolent Nuzzler!"
Both monster have the same attack points. This is interesting… Yami said. Yugi mentally agreed.
Damn it all! She's made a come back! And I can't attack or they'll both be destroyed. "I end my turn without playing."
Okay, that was a good come back, but now I'm out of steam. If I attack, that won't help because they will both get destroyed. Hmm… Joy drew. Then her face produced the biggest grin she had ever made. "I win."
"Nani? How?" Seto asked.
"With this! I activate the Change of Heart to take control of your Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
NO! She really has won…I have no other monsters…
"Attack his life points, Blue-Eyes!"
Joy: 1000
Seto: 0000
"Wow…didn't see that one coming at all. I was sure you would face Kaiba in the finals, Yugi," Ryou said, turning to his friend.
Yugi blinked. "Me too…I had not clue that she would win over Kaiba."
(AN: They aren't the only ones surprised, believe me. O.O )
Joy approached Seto, who looked too shocked to speak. "That was a fantastic duel, Kaiba. I really can't believe I pulled it off. When you summoned your Blue-Eyes, I thought I was a goner for sure."
Seto looked up at her, noting that she was telling the truth. "Yeah. It was a good duel, but next time my dragons are going to take you down." With that said, they shook hands and left the platform. "By the way," Seto said, turning back to Joy. "Good luck against Moto. You're going to need it."
Joy: Okay, that was SO unexpected. I really had it planned that Seto would win, but when I went and played out the duel with their decks, Joy won. I almost fell over, trust me! I did not plan on Joy winning at first. Anyway. Hope that doesn't disappoint you.
So, with that turn of events played out, it will be Joy versus Yugi in the final round, which I have dubbed: 'Winner'. Review and see ya then!