Joy: Okay, as promised, here comes chapter 23. The final duel of the tournament, which will be between Joy and Yami (Yugi). Now this is going to be a short chapter, so please don't be disappointed. Things are going to get heated up after this chapter. I promise. Since I am posting this one and the last together, I can't very well respond to reviews, so let us just get on with the final duel!
Winner
Good luck, aibou, Katilli said as Joy awaited the announcement of the final duel. It was herself versus Yugi…and she was more than a bit nervous.
Yugi and Yami have won several tournaments, Katilli. They are seasoned pros at this. I know I really don't stand much of a chance, but that isn't going to stop me from dueling my hardest and having fun. That way, at the end of this duel, I will be able to walk away proud that I had done the very best job I could, even if I don't win.
And I will be proud of you no matter how you do up there. Just have fun and be strong. Don't feel intimidated because of Yugi and Yami's skills. You are a fine duelist in your own right, Joy.
Joy smiled a bit. Thank you, Katilli.
Don't try to get too cocky, Yami. She is a good duelist. After all, she beat Kaiba – twice!
I know, Yugi. I am taking this duel as serious as possible.
Joy and Yami stepped up to the arena, looking at each other before stepping up to shake hands. "I hope you understand that I won't hold back because you're my friend, Yami. And I hope that you won't hold back either," Joy said.
"I shall not, and let us still be friends when this is over."
"Oh course!" Yami won the coin toss so he got to go first.
"I summon Alpha the Magnet Warrior in attack mode."
Joy looked over her hand briefly. "I summon Nin-Ken Dog and place two cards facedown."
Yami drew. "I sacrifice my Magnet Warrior to call forth the Summoned Skull. Attack her monster!"
Yami: 4000
Joy: 3300
Joy drew. "I place on monster facedown. You're move, Yugi."
"Attack her facedown card!"
"You just destroyed my Yomi Ship, which also means that the attacking monster is wiped out too. Say goodbye to Summoned Skull. Now it's my turn and I'm going to summon La Jinn Mystical Genie of the Lamp, and I'll raise it's attack by 1000 by equipping it with the Axe of Despair. Attack his life points directly!"
Yami: 1200
Joy: 3300
Not a bad maneuver. "One card facedown and I'll place one monster facedown as well."
"Attack his facedown monster!" Joy commanded. The monster was sent to the Graveyard.
Yami drew. "I activate Dian Keto the Cure Master to raise my life points by 1000."
Yami: 2200
Joy: 3300
"Then I shall place another monster facedown. Your move."
"I'll attack your facedown monster." The monster joined the Graveyard pile.
Yami drew. Kuriboh. He can save my monster this turn. "I'll place yet another monster facedown. Your turn."
Well, this isn't getting me anywhere. I need to raise the stakes. "I summon Master Kyonshee. Attack!"
"I am choosing to use Kuriboh's effect to negate your attack on my monster." Yugi discarded Kuriboh to negate Joy's attack.
"Now it is my turn and I shall activate Just Desserts!"
Damn. That's a thousand life points damage.
Yami: 2200
Joy: 2300
"Then I shall sacrifice my monster to summon the Dark Magician! Attack her Master Kyonshee!"
Yami: 2200
Joy: 1550
Not even Dark Magician can withstand my pumped-up La Jinn. "Attack the Dark Magician!"
"Not so fast." Yami flipped over his facedown card from a few turns ago. "The Malevolent Nuzzler raises Dark Magician's attack by 700, making him more than able to withstand your attack. But that's not all. Since your monster's attack was lower than my own, your monster is destroyed, leaving you vulnerable for a direct attack, which I will perform now."
It's over. Yami and Yugi have done it again.
"Attack with Dark Magic Attack!"
Yami: 2200
Joy: 0000
But…it's okay. At least I got this far. I'm proud of myself.
And I'm proud of you, too, aibou, Katilli said.
Thanks, Katilli.
"And the winner of the first annual Tournament in Tokyo is Yugi Moto!"
Everyone clapped (except Seto, of course) and cheered as the two duelists stepped off the platform arena. And they didn't just clap for the winner, but for the wonderful duel and the great time everyone had
As the cheering subsided, Sakura spoke up. "Hey, let's go celebrate!"
"Sure! Hey, Kaiba, can we go to Kaiba Manor and celebrate?" Joy asked, looking over at the CEO.
"You mean you want to celebrate MOTO'S victory at MY manor?" Seto said incredulously.
Joy paused, thinking for a second. "Yeah."
Seto groaned. "And what makes you think I would agree to it?"
"Because you are so good at being a host to parties and stuff. Mokuba said so. Come on, Kaiba. I'll order pizza for everyone. Plus I need to call obaasan and tell her about how the tournament went. It's been a few days since I talked to her and I don't want her to worry." Joy gave him a pleading look. "Please?"
Seto frowned and narrowed his eyes, but nodded.
Everyone cheered and filed out of the building, agreeing to follow Joy and Seto to the manor so they could celebrate the Game King's latest victory.
However, their plans did not go unobserved. Nearby two sets of eyes watched them. One set turned to the other. "You know what to do, I assume?" the owner of the eyes asked. It was a male voice, oozing with malice.
"Of course. I will not fail you," came another voice, this time female.
"See that you don't, or you will join the population of the Shadow Realm, mortal!"
Joy: Oohhh. Strange things are going to happen. The next chapter is going to be kind of exciting. The gang gets quite a shock during their little party.
The next chapter is going to be called… 'Jessie Reveals the Plot'. Till then, feed the story reviews and it will grow! See ya later!