Disclaimer: Check for it in chapter 1.
The Kaiba Christmas wish
Chapter 4
The Double Duel, part 1
[December 20: Yugi's home]
Mokuba and Melanie have been at Yugi's home for about an hour, and he already explained what was going on. The people present at the moment other than Mokuba and Melanie were Yugi, Tea, Joey, Mai, Tristan, Serenity, and Solomon (Yugi's grandfather).
"Hmm, I never thought of Kaiba actually taking even the slightest bit of interest in someone." Tristan pondered. "It's a strange thought, indeed."
"I think it's cute." Said Tea. "Don't you, Yugi?"
Yugi shrugged. "I'm still surprised at this."
"Well I think it is." Said Serenity. "What do you think, Joey?"
"I'll believe it when I see it." Joey answered. "Besides, Kaiba's a number one jerk. How can anyone keep an interest in him?"
"I think you should cut the guy some slack, Joey." Mai said.
Joey looked at her strangely. "You feelin' alright, Mai? This is the same guy that insults me every chance he gets!"
"I know that. I'm just saying that maybe there's still hope for the guy. After all, when I first met you, all that went through my mind was how much of a loser you looked like."
Joey's eyes narrowed. "Well gee, Mai. Thanks for thinkin' highly of me."
"Don't be so simpleminded, Joey." She then grinned and pulled him close to her. "Then again, that 'is' one of your perks. But like I was saying, if I could change my views about you, maybe there's still hope for Kaiba."
Joey grinned at this. "Ya know something? You're right, although by a small margin."
Before she could react to this, he quickly pulled her in for a deep kiss. Doing so often reduced his chances of Mai making him regret disagreeing with her. When the kiss ended, she just grinned at him. Feeling he was now safe, he turned his attention back at Mokuba and Melanie.
"Don't worry, though. I'm sure there's hope for even creeps like Kaiba, so I say-Ow!"
He tried to turn around, but Mai had a good grip on his hair.
"Nice try, but my facts aren't by any means a small margin."
"Okay! Okay! I give! You win!" Joey pleaded as he tried to struggle from her grasp. She let go, and he sat right next to her. "You don't always have to be right, you know."
"Of course I do." She retorted sweetly. "I'm a woman. I'm always right." Then she glared at the rest of the guys. "Care to disagree?"
The group of guys quickly shook their heads. The females chuckled at this. Tristan then sat closer to Serenity. Joey noticed this, and gave him a death glare, which made him scoot away again.
"Just please tell don't big brother or Bellona that you guys know about this." Mokuba added. "Especially you, Joey."
Joey turned away with head slightly upwards. "Well, I'll try, but I'm not making-Ow! I mean, sure, what are friends for?" Mai had pulled at his hair once again to make him agree. "Geez, Mai. Your temper's almost as bad as-uh, never mind." He had decided for his own health not to finish that sentence, since Tea was glaring at him, expecting to hear her name.
After a slight laugh, everyone thought of a way to help solve the situation. Mai eventually came up with an answer.
"How about we set them up on a date?"
Yugi shook his head. "That won't work. Kaiba would never agree to it, even if he would want to deep down inside."
"Then how about we just hustle him into doing so?"
"Sounds good, but Kaiba's smarter than that. We would need something that he would fall for."
"Hey, I got it!" Joey finally chimed in, standing up as he did so. "How about I duel him, and when he loses, he has to do what I say. What about that?"
Mai shook her head in embarrassment, and pulled him back to his seat. "Joey, please don't make a fool of yourself, again. We all know for a fact that Kaiba would just trounce you."
"Well aren't you the motivational speaker." Joey replied sarcastically. "And I suppose you have a better idea?"
"As a matter of fact, I don't. Not yet, at least."
Solomon then took this opportunity to speak up.
"Well, I might have a suggestion."
Everyone focused their attention on the old man, who took that as a sign to continue.
"In order for those two to get together, a sort of cooperation must form between the two. After all, it's not enough to just have common interests."
"Go on." They all said, quite interested in what he had to say.
"So although it might not be simple," he continued, "they would have to learn to work together on something. That way, a bond can slowly form."
"That's a great idea, grandpa!" Yugi replied excitedly. "But what things do they have in common that they can work with?"
"They could each cooperate on insulting Joey." Mai said. "They both seem to like doing that."
Joey's eyes narrowed. "Ha-ha. Very funny, Mai."
"Well, they're both interested in that duel monsters project." Mokuba said.
"That's a good start." Solomon said. "However, we'll need something smaller for right now."
"Hey, I know!" Tristan suddenly said. "Since we can't get them to go on a date, how about a two-on-two duel? They both like dueling, right?"
"Now that's a plan!" Solomon said. "Yugi, you and Joey can team up against Seto and Bellona. All you need to do is call him, and let him know that you're ready to duel. That way, in order to stand a chance of winning, they'll 'have' to work together!"
"Yeah, that's brilliant!" Yugi answered. "I'll go call him right now."
"Here. You this." Mokuba said as he handed Yugi his cell phone.
"Thanks." Yugi said as he accepted it. He dialed Kaiba Corporation on the speed dial, and waited for the phone to ring.
-----------------------------
[Kaiba Corporation]
Seto Kaiba was just working on some more paperwork when his cell phone rang. He ignored it until the fourth ring.
"Kaiba Corporations. State your business."
-----------------------------------
"Oh, hi Kaiba. This is Yugi?
---------------------------------
"Oh really. I couldn't tell, no matter how many times I've heard both of your voices." He answered sarcastically. "What do you want?"
-------------------------------
"Remember when you said to call you when I was ready to duel?"
--------------------------------
"So you're ready?"
------------------------------
"Yeah, but under one condition."
--------------------------------
"And what would that be?"
----------------------------
"I want this to be a two-on-two duel. You and Bellona against me and Joey."
---------------------------
"Why your sudden interest in a double duel?"
--------------------------
"It being the holidays and all, I felt like doing something different for a change."
-------------------------
"I see. Sorry, but I must refuse. This will remain a one-on-one duel. Besides, I can't stand that mutt."
------------------------
Before Yugi could reply, Joey quickly interrupted from the other line.
"Aw, what's the matter, Kaiba? Afraid Yugi and I will beat ya?"
-------------------------
Kaiba grinned. He just now remembered the insult Joey gave him a week ago. Perhaps this was a good time to make him pay for it. Besides, maybe dueling will Bellona might be fun, assuming she doesn't try to take control.
"On second thought, I accept your challenge. But keep in mind that you're just a smear on the wall to me. Yugi is the only one I'm interested in beating." Then he spoke to Yugi. "Be ready on the 24th of December. Also, I want to try out a new project during our duel."
-----------------------------
"Okay, but since this is a double duel, I'd like to put in an additional rule. You know, to promote teamwork."
-------------------------
Seto groaned at this. It often irritated him when he would talk like this. His speeches got even more irritating when he got together with Tea. Her influences obviously rubbed off on him.
"Fine. What is it?"
--------------------------
"When one team mates life points run out, the other can give 1000 of their own life points to keep them in the game."
------------------------
"Fine, although I don't see myself needing it. So I'll just assume it's something to help that mutt out."
------------------
"Hey!" Joey exclaimed.
---------------------
Ignoring Joey, Seto continued. "Be sure to bring your dueling disks. We'll have the duel outside your house." He then chuckled at a thought he just had. "It might be interesting to beat a boy and his dog." Then he hung up, not allowing Joey to retort.
----------------------
Yugi then hung up, and gave the cell phone back to Mokuba.
"Well, he agrees to it."
"Thanks, Yugi." Melanie said.
"Stupid jerk." Joey muttered. "I'm gonna show him who's the mutt when the duel arrives!"
[Kaiba Corporation]
After he had hung up, he dialed the mansions number. After three rings, Bellona answered it.
----------------------------
"Hello?"
----------------------------
"Bellona?"
--------------------------
"Oh, hi Seto deary."
-------------------------
"I told you not to call me that!"
-------------------------
"Whatever. Anyways, what do you want?"
-------------------------
"I just got off the phone with Yugi, and he wants both of us to double duel against him and Joey. Are you interested?"
--------------------------
Bellona was surprised at this. "Yugi Moto actually wants to duel against me? Why would he want to do that?"
----------------------
"I don't know, and I don't care. Are you interested or not?"
--------------------
"O-of course." The thought of dueling a skilled duelist was intriguing to her. The thought of dueling alongside Seto Kaiba also felt nice, as long as he didn't try to tell her how to duel.
-------------------------
"Just remember. Yugi is mine. You can get rid of the mutt for me."
----------------------
"If you insist, but if I see an open opportunity, I'm going to take it."
--------------------
"Fair enough. I'd also like to take a few strikes on Joey myself."
---------------------
"Okay, then. When does it start?"
--------------------
"December 24th, at his house. We'll be using a couple new conditions, though."
------------------
"Oh? Like what?"
----------------------------
"I'll tell you after work. I need to go now." Then he hung up.
When he tried to get back to his paperwork, some thoughts kept going
through his mind, distracting him from his work. He thought about
finally having the right strategy developed to beat Yugi, teach Joey a
lesson in respect, and duel with someone he was actually interested in,
even if he wouldn't be using her help.
He then worked on some more papers. Suddenly, a flashback of an event with Bellona occurred. It was just before he left for work this morning.
[Flash back: Kaiba's mansion: December 20]
Just as Seto gotten everything ready for work, and was about to step out the door, Bellona called him from the living room. He answered the call, and entered.
"What do you want?" he asked irritably. "I was just leaving for work."
"Seto deary? I've been thinking about something." She knew that calling him that irritated him, which is the reason she did so.
"I told you not to call me that! Anyways, out with it! I'm in a hurry!"
"I was talking with my sister the other day, and she said that I haven't shown my appreciation for your generosity."
"True, you are ungrateful. Fortunately, your being here wasn't my intent. If it were up to me, you would've been in an emergency room."
"Yes, that's what I kept telling myself. However, you 'did' have the authority to refuse, yet you didn't. Also, you 'are' of high status, so I should've at least thanked you..so, thanks."
This surprised Seto. He wasn't used to actually getting gratitude for his hard work, especially to someone who irritated him the whole time she was there.
"You're, welcome." He finally managed to say.
There was an awkward silence in the room. Both Bellona and Seto were surprised that a gloating frenzy hadn't commenced. Bellona was ready to counter any egotistical remarks he might've made, and Seto was ready to counter anything she might've said to his remarks. However, since he didn't gloat, they didn't have much to say. Finally, Bellona broke the silence.
"Oh, and I have something for you." She said as she pulled a gift wrapped present from her pocket. "A Christmas present to show my appreciation. It was my sisters idea, so don't think too much into it, okay?"
She handed the gift to him, which he then accepted. He looked strangely at the small box. It was wrapped in silver wrapping paper, and had a red ribbon around it. It felt awkward that someone other than Mokuba would give him a gift, even if it was just out of slight gratitude, which he didn't really deserve.
"Um, thank you." He finally said, and then put it in his briefcase. "Anyways, I gotta go." He then left the mansion without saying another word.
[End of flash back: Kaiba Corp: December 20]
He quickly shook off the daydream, and focused on his work.
"(What is wrong with me)?" he thought. "(Focus! I need to focus, especially on the upcoming duel, where I'll finally beat Yugi)!"
So he spent the rest of the work day trying to focus on the duel.
[Outside of Yugi's house: December 24]
The day had finally come. Yugi and Joey both had their dueling disks on, and standing on one end of the street. Seto and Bellona also had their dueling disks on, and were standing on the other side of the street. Mokuba, Melanie, Tea, Tristan, Serenity, Mai, and Solomon were standing on the sidelines. The roads have been blocked off by Seto's security guards, and the projector, the one that'll make the dueling more realistic, was set in place.
Bellona was a little surprised at how Yugi's voice seemed to change, and how he seemed a little taller. But this was the same Yugi whose victories were televised in Battle City.
[A/N: Throughout the duel, Yugi will now be referred to as Yami until the end of the duel.]
"Have you already been briefed on the rules?" Yami asked.
"Yes, I have." Bellona answered.
"Good. Just to remind you, we will be using standard rules, and begin with 8000 life points. Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"Good. As per the rule of coin flipping, I will go first, followed by Joey, then Kaiba, and then you. Now, it's time to duel!"
So the duel begins, with each player at a fresh 8000 life points.
*End of chapter 4*
Sorry I couldn't make the duel on the same chapter, but it was getting pretty long, so I broke it up into two chapters. I hope you don't mind.
The Kaiba Christmas wish
Chapter 4
The Double Duel, part 1
[December 20: Yugi's home]
Mokuba and Melanie have been at Yugi's home for about an hour, and he already explained what was going on. The people present at the moment other than Mokuba and Melanie were Yugi, Tea, Joey, Mai, Tristan, Serenity, and Solomon (Yugi's grandfather).
"Hmm, I never thought of Kaiba actually taking even the slightest bit of interest in someone." Tristan pondered. "It's a strange thought, indeed."
"I think it's cute." Said Tea. "Don't you, Yugi?"
Yugi shrugged. "I'm still surprised at this."
"Well I think it is." Said Serenity. "What do you think, Joey?"
"I'll believe it when I see it." Joey answered. "Besides, Kaiba's a number one jerk. How can anyone keep an interest in him?"
"I think you should cut the guy some slack, Joey." Mai said.
Joey looked at her strangely. "You feelin' alright, Mai? This is the same guy that insults me every chance he gets!"
"I know that. I'm just saying that maybe there's still hope for the guy. After all, when I first met you, all that went through my mind was how much of a loser you looked like."
Joey's eyes narrowed. "Well gee, Mai. Thanks for thinkin' highly of me."
"Don't be so simpleminded, Joey." She then grinned and pulled him close to her. "Then again, that 'is' one of your perks. But like I was saying, if I could change my views about you, maybe there's still hope for Kaiba."
Joey grinned at this. "Ya know something? You're right, although by a small margin."
Before she could react to this, he quickly pulled her in for a deep kiss. Doing so often reduced his chances of Mai making him regret disagreeing with her. When the kiss ended, she just grinned at him. Feeling he was now safe, he turned his attention back at Mokuba and Melanie.
"Don't worry, though. I'm sure there's hope for even creeps like Kaiba, so I say-Ow!"
He tried to turn around, but Mai had a good grip on his hair.
"Nice try, but my facts aren't by any means a small margin."
"Okay! Okay! I give! You win!" Joey pleaded as he tried to struggle from her grasp. She let go, and he sat right next to her. "You don't always have to be right, you know."
"Of course I do." She retorted sweetly. "I'm a woman. I'm always right." Then she glared at the rest of the guys. "Care to disagree?"
The group of guys quickly shook their heads. The females chuckled at this. Tristan then sat closer to Serenity. Joey noticed this, and gave him a death glare, which made him scoot away again.
"Just please tell don't big brother or Bellona that you guys know about this." Mokuba added. "Especially you, Joey."
Joey turned away with head slightly upwards. "Well, I'll try, but I'm not making-Ow! I mean, sure, what are friends for?" Mai had pulled at his hair once again to make him agree. "Geez, Mai. Your temper's almost as bad as-uh, never mind." He had decided for his own health not to finish that sentence, since Tea was glaring at him, expecting to hear her name.
After a slight laugh, everyone thought of a way to help solve the situation. Mai eventually came up with an answer.
"How about we set them up on a date?"
Yugi shook his head. "That won't work. Kaiba would never agree to it, even if he would want to deep down inside."
"Then how about we just hustle him into doing so?"
"Sounds good, but Kaiba's smarter than that. We would need something that he would fall for."
"Hey, I got it!" Joey finally chimed in, standing up as he did so. "How about I duel him, and when he loses, he has to do what I say. What about that?"
Mai shook her head in embarrassment, and pulled him back to his seat. "Joey, please don't make a fool of yourself, again. We all know for a fact that Kaiba would just trounce you."
"Well aren't you the motivational speaker." Joey replied sarcastically. "And I suppose you have a better idea?"
"As a matter of fact, I don't. Not yet, at least."
Solomon then took this opportunity to speak up.
"Well, I might have a suggestion."
Everyone focused their attention on the old man, who took that as a sign to continue.
"In order for those two to get together, a sort of cooperation must form between the two. After all, it's not enough to just have common interests."
"Go on." They all said, quite interested in what he had to say.
"So although it might not be simple," he continued, "they would have to learn to work together on something. That way, a bond can slowly form."
"That's a great idea, grandpa!" Yugi replied excitedly. "But what things do they have in common that they can work with?"
"They could each cooperate on insulting Joey." Mai said. "They both seem to like doing that."
Joey's eyes narrowed. "Ha-ha. Very funny, Mai."
"Well, they're both interested in that duel monsters project." Mokuba said.
"That's a good start." Solomon said. "However, we'll need something smaller for right now."
"Hey, I know!" Tristan suddenly said. "Since we can't get them to go on a date, how about a two-on-two duel? They both like dueling, right?"
"Now that's a plan!" Solomon said. "Yugi, you and Joey can team up against Seto and Bellona. All you need to do is call him, and let him know that you're ready to duel. That way, in order to stand a chance of winning, they'll 'have' to work together!"
"Yeah, that's brilliant!" Yugi answered. "I'll go call him right now."
"Here. You this." Mokuba said as he handed Yugi his cell phone.
"Thanks." Yugi said as he accepted it. He dialed Kaiba Corporation on the speed dial, and waited for the phone to ring.
-----------------------------
[Kaiba Corporation]
Seto Kaiba was just working on some more paperwork when his cell phone rang. He ignored it until the fourth ring.
"Kaiba Corporations. State your business."
-----------------------------------
"Oh, hi Kaiba. This is Yugi?
---------------------------------
"Oh really. I couldn't tell, no matter how many times I've heard both of your voices." He answered sarcastically. "What do you want?"
-------------------------------
"Remember when you said to call you when I was ready to duel?"
--------------------------------
"So you're ready?"
------------------------------
"Yeah, but under one condition."
--------------------------------
"And what would that be?"
----------------------------
"I want this to be a two-on-two duel. You and Bellona against me and Joey."
---------------------------
"Why your sudden interest in a double duel?"
--------------------------
"It being the holidays and all, I felt like doing something different for a change."
-------------------------
"I see. Sorry, but I must refuse. This will remain a one-on-one duel. Besides, I can't stand that mutt."
------------------------
Before Yugi could reply, Joey quickly interrupted from the other line.
"Aw, what's the matter, Kaiba? Afraid Yugi and I will beat ya?"
-------------------------
Kaiba grinned. He just now remembered the insult Joey gave him a week ago. Perhaps this was a good time to make him pay for it. Besides, maybe dueling will Bellona might be fun, assuming she doesn't try to take control.
"On second thought, I accept your challenge. But keep in mind that you're just a smear on the wall to me. Yugi is the only one I'm interested in beating." Then he spoke to Yugi. "Be ready on the 24th of December. Also, I want to try out a new project during our duel."
-----------------------------
"Okay, but since this is a double duel, I'd like to put in an additional rule. You know, to promote teamwork."
-------------------------
Seto groaned at this. It often irritated him when he would talk like this. His speeches got even more irritating when he got together with Tea. Her influences obviously rubbed off on him.
"Fine. What is it?"
--------------------------
"When one team mates life points run out, the other can give 1000 of their own life points to keep them in the game."
------------------------
"Fine, although I don't see myself needing it. So I'll just assume it's something to help that mutt out."
------------------
"Hey!" Joey exclaimed.
---------------------
Ignoring Joey, Seto continued. "Be sure to bring your dueling disks. We'll have the duel outside your house." He then chuckled at a thought he just had. "It might be interesting to beat a boy and his dog." Then he hung up, not allowing Joey to retort.
----------------------
Yugi then hung up, and gave the cell phone back to Mokuba.
"Well, he agrees to it."
"Thanks, Yugi." Melanie said.
"Stupid jerk." Joey muttered. "I'm gonna show him who's the mutt when the duel arrives!"
[Kaiba Corporation]
After he had hung up, he dialed the mansions number. After three rings, Bellona answered it.
----------------------------
"Hello?"
----------------------------
"Bellona?"
--------------------------
"Oh, hi Seto deary."
-------------------------
"I told you not to call me that!"
-------------------------
"Whatever. Anyways, what do you want?"
-------------------------
"I just got off the phone with Yugi, and he wants both of us to double duel against him and Joey. Are you interested?"
--------------------------
Bellona was surprised at this. "Yugi Moto actually wants to duel against me? Why would he want to do that?"
----------------------
"I don't know, and I don't care. Are you interested or not?"
--------------------
"O-of course." The thought of dueling a skilled duelist was intriguing to her. The thought of dueling alongside Seto Kaiba also felt nice, as long as he didn't try to tell her how to duel.
-------------------------
"Just remember. Yugi is mine. You can get rid of the mutt for me."
----------------------
"If you insist, but if I see an open opportunity, I'm going to take it."
--------------------
"Fair enough. I'd also like to take a few strikes on Joey myself."
---------------------
"Okay, then. When does it start?"
--------------------
"December 24th, at his house. We'll be using a couple new conditions, though."
------------------
"Oh? Like what?"
----------------------------
"I'll tell you after work. I need to go now." Then he hung up.
When he tried to get back to his paperwork, some thoughts kept going
through his mind, distracting him from his work. He thought about
finally having the right strategy developed to beat Yugi, teach Joey a
lesson in respect, and duel with someone he was actually interested in,
even if he wouldn't be using her help.
He then worked on some more papers. Suddenly, a flashback of an event with Bellona occurred. It was just before he left for work this morning.
[Flash back: Kaiba's mansion: December 20]
Just as Seto gotten everything ready for work, and was about to step out the door, Bellona called him from the living room. He answered the call, and entered.
"What do you want?" he asked irritably. "I was just leaving for work."
"Seto deary? I've been thinking about something." She knew that calling him that irritated him, which is the reason she did so.
"I told you not to call me that! Anyways, out with it! I'm in a hurry!"
"I was talking with my sister the other day, and she said that I haven't shown my appreciation for your generosity."
"True, you are ungrateful. Fortunately, your being here wasn't my intent. If it were up to me, you would've been in an emergency room."
"Yes, that's what I kept telling myself. However, you 'did' have the authority to refuse, yet you didn't. Also, you 'are' of high status, so I should've at least thanked you..so, thanks."
This surprised Seto. He wasn't used to actually getting gratitude for his hard work, especially to someone who irritated him the whole time she was there.
"You're, welcome." He finally managed to say.
There was an awkward silence in the room. Both Bellona and Seto were surprised that a gloating frenzy hadn't commenced. Bellona was ready to counter any egotistical remarks he might've made, and Seto was ready to counter anything she might've said to his remarks. However, since he didn't gloat, they didn't have much to say. Finally, Bellona broke the silence.
"Oh, and I have something for you." She said as she pulled a gift wrapped present from her pocket. "A Christmas present to show my appreciation. It was my sisters idea, so don't think too much into it, okay?"
She handed the gift to him, which he then accepted. He looked strangely at the small box. It was wrapped in silver wrapping paper, and had a red ribbon around it. It felt awkward that someone other than Mokuba would give him a gift, even if it was just out of slight gratitude, which he didn't really deserve.
"Um, thank you." He finally said, and then put it in his briefcase. "Anyways, I gotta go." He then left the mansion without saying another word.
[End of flash back: Kaiba Corp: December 20]
He quickly shook off the daydream, and focused on his work.
"(What is wrong with me)?" he thought. "(Focus! I need to focus, especially on the upcoming duel, where I'll finally beat Yugi)!"
So he spent the rest of the work day trying to focus on the duel.
[Outside of Yugi's house: December 24]
The day had finally come. Yugi and Joey both had their dueling disks on, and standing on one end of the street. Seto and Bellona also had their dueling disks on, and were standing on the other side of the street. Mokuba, Melanie, Tea, Tristan, Serenity, Mai, and Solomon were standing on the sidelines. The roads have been blocked off by Seto's security guards, and the projector, the one that'll make the dueling more realistic, was set in place.
Bellona was a little surprised at how Yugi's voice seemed to change, and how he seemed a little taller. But this was the same Yugi whose victories were televised in Battle City.
[A/N: Throughout the duel, Yugi will now be referred to as Yami until the end of the duel.]
"Have you already been briefed on the rules?" Yami asked.
"Yes, I have." Bellona answered.
"Good. Just to remind you, we will be using standard rules, and begin with 8000 life points. Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"Good. As per the rule of coin flipping, I will go first, followed by Joey, then Kaiba, and then you. Now, it's time to duel!"
So the duel begins, with each player at a fresh 8000 life points.
*End of chapter 4*
Sorry I couldn't make the duel on the same chapter, but it was getting pretty long, so I broke it up into two chapters. I hope you don't mind.