-1The Beauty and the Duelist
Chapter One: An Unexplainable Act of Kindness
Note: Poor fans, instead of a new chapter, you get an old chapter updated. ;; I'm taking out the Japanese references, notes, and ect.
A quaint young lady walks happily down the sidewalk to her predetermined destination. Her rich brown hair is pulled back in a simple bun. Her cute and adorable dress indicates that she has recently gotten off from her job as a waitress. Clutched in her hands is a
tiny purse, only large enough to fit money and perhaps a single tube of lipstick.
The young waitress is at least 16 years old, perhaps closer to 18. She stops in front of a store. Looking up at the sign, she smiles with dazzling exuberance in the anticipation of her long awaited purchase there.
"Finally. I'm so far behind, and I have so much to catch up. Practically everyone is playing it now. I must be the only person in the world who hasn't even played yet. Well, it doesn't matter, because today I have the exact amount of money I need to purchase my first deck. Best of all, all of my bills and other expenses have already been taken care of, so I can afford to go ahead and check out this game. This means I can go ahead and read the gaming magazines and watch the tournaments on TV. Nevermind I don't have the money for any magazines, nor do I have cable. Maybe if I'm lucky, I can find someone to play with."
With an optimistic smile, the lovely young maiden skips happily into the shop.
"Anyway, as I was say...whoa Yug! Check out that cute babe that just walked in!"
A petite young man with spiky hair turns away from his blonde haired companion and looks up and at the simple beauty walking into his grandfather's store.
"Well, she does look pretty Joey," Yugi remarks apprehensively, "if you want to talk to her, now's your chance."
"No way Yug. Duelin's one thang, but talking to girls...I've still haven't quite figured that out. Sides, I'll just make a big fool of myself."
Yugi laughs to himself, noting how very rare it is for Joey to NOT make a fool of himself.
The cute serving girl walks up to the counter nervously. This is the moment she's been waiting for, the chance to buy her first deck and finally start getting into Duel Monsters. She silently thinks how silly it is to be so nervous about it, since it's only a game afterall.
"Ah, good afternoon miss," Grandpa Motou welcomes, "how may I help you today?"
"I'd uh...like to purchase a Duel Monsters starter deck...please," she replies.
Joey looks at Yugi with sweat rolling down the side of his face.
"Hey Yug, is it just me, or does it sound like this chick's never played the game before? Who asks for a starter deck anymore anyways?"
"Well Joey, not everyone's a professional duelist like you," Yugi jokes then adds on a more serious tone, "as hard as is for you to believe, there are still people all around the world who haven't played yet. That means there are still many beginners just getting into the game, just like her.
"Ah, you must be a first timer, right," Solomon Motou remarks.
"Well...uh...yes. It's not very hard to tell...is it," she confesses, oblivious to the conversation concerning her going on not far from her.
"It's alright, nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone is a beginner sometime. We all try new things in our lives, and none of us start off as professionals. All accomplishments are achieved one step at a time."
"Yes, that is very true."
"I guess you're right Yug, but I still don't know how to talk to her," Joey remarks.
"Oh come on Joey, there's no reason to be afraid. She doesn't look like she'll bite you. Besides, once you introduce yourself you can offer to teach her how to play," Yugi suggests.
"Yah well...I don't know..."
Mr. Motou excuses himself for a brief moment to find the starter deck the nice young waitress wants to purchase. Since almost everyone who's into Duel Monsters in Domino City already been playing for awhile, there are only a few starter decks still in stock. Grandpa Motou gives one a quick dusting off then returns to the counter to ring the young lady up.
"Ah, here it is. That'll be $12.35 please."
"Ah, yes, right, of course," she responds and opens her little purse.
The waitress takes out some money and change and sets it on the counter. She has a five, four ones, three quarters, and a various assortment of other change, mostly pennies. Grandpa's face twitches slightly at the sight of all that change, even though roughly 9/12ths is in bills. She quickly counts out the change to him, and not counting quiet enough, counts it three more times.
"Oh, no, I was sure I had $12.50 in my purse. This is only $11.97! I'm missing 53 cents!"
She turns her purse inside out and discovers a hole.
"Eh? Uwaaaaaaaaaa! The rest of it must have fallen out! It should be nearby! I'll be right back," she exclaims and suddenly rushes outside of the store in a frantic search for the rest of her change.
"Whoa! Did ya see how fast she just took off," Joey comments in awe of her speed.
"It's only 38 cents. There's no reason to fret over it so much," Yugi notes.
"That's right, I'd have been more than happy to just go ahead and give it to her for what she does have. It's not like I'm a stingy old man or anything. Afterall, she seems like such a nice girl too," Grandpa Motou comments jollily.
Joey grimaces at the claim made by his best friend's grandfather. He remembers all too well just exactly how stingy Grandpa Motou can be, especially when he was first getting into the game.
"Yah, but perhaps a little too nice. Some jerk could easily take advantage of a sweet gal like her," Joey remarks, trying to mental change the subject of his mind away from Grandpa Motou's meaness towards him.
"Well, I hope she comes back soon," Yugi adds.
"Hey, I saw her first! You're not trying to get the one up on me, are ya Yug," Joey elbows his best buddy.
"No, of course not Joey," Yugi insists.
"Oh, are you so sure about that?"
"We-well...yes I'm sure!"
"Oh, that's because you've got someone else on your mind, eh Yugi," Joey teases causing the petite King of Games to redden around the cheeks.
Not far from the store, the young waitress frantically searches for her missing change. She tries to take calm deep breathes, but the tears are starting to swell in her eyes. She had waited so long, and her chance had finally come. She had been looking forward to this all day. She had even requested a shorter day just so she could make sure she'd be able to purchase a deck before the store closed.
"I...I had come so far. I've worked so hard, and saved for so long. I've really waited a long time," she whimpers.
By some bizarre twist of fate, perhaps coincidence even, a tall, handsome, and ruthless man walks nearby wearing his motif trenchcoat - today it's white.
"Just my luck," Seto Kaiba mutters annoyed, "everything that could possibly go wrong has gone wrong. That stupid limousine broke down, the driver's an idiot, and now here I am walking around Domino City. Oh, and I just happen to have to pass that stupid store Yugi and his little buddies hang out at. I bet that twerp or one of his pathetic flunkies are inside, no doubt. Just great. I'm not in any mood to be bothered by the likes of them. Today couldn't possibly get any worse."
Just as Seto had said it, his day gets worse. Too busy grumbling about his lousy day, he had not been watching where he is walking. He stumbles over the bent over waitress just as she starts standing up. Her pretty face almost hits his crotch face first, and perhaps would have if he didn't quickly veer his fall over towards the right.
"Hey, watch it!"
"Oh, I'm so sorry," she replies and moves over to him to help him back on his feet.
She leans down and extends her hand and gently takes hold of his to help him regain his balance. Kaiba is clearly insulted by her sincere desire to help, but he hasn't the chance to protest as she starts to pull him up. She barely lifts him an inch when gravity decides to work against her and pull her down on top of him.
"Forgive me! I'm so sorry!"
While most men, such as Joey Wheeler, would be estatic about an attractive female falling down upon them, Seto Kaiba is merely annoyed and frustrated. He stands himself back up, lifting the young waitress up onto her feet along with him.
"Thank you."
"What for? It's your fault I fell in the first place."
"I'm so sorry," she bows appologetically, "I didn't think I was in anyone's way down there."
"Whatever, just what exactly WERE you doing all bent over looking at the ground anyway," Kaiba asked, wanting to know what could have been so important to cause her to get in his way and cause him to fall so foolishly, and in front of the store where Yugi's grandfather works.
"Oh well, I've lost some of my money and I was looking for it. It must have fell out somewhere around here," she answers politely.
"Well, whatever," Seto mumbles then walks away, hoping neither Yugi nor his groupies saw his fall.
"What a terrible day I'm having. First I accidently spill coffee on a customer's lap, and then I found out my boobs were lopsided because one of my pads had fallen out. Even worse, I started my period a during work today. Not to mention, I still haven't found that money I've lost, and I caused that young man to fall down and hurt himself. I didn't even check to make sure he wasn't hurt. Well, today can't possibly get any worse. It's sure to start looking up and I'm sure to find that money I dropped as well."
Kaiba pauses and glances back behind him. That young girl's words seem to catch his attention. His day and hers both started off terribly, but whereas he wanted to hurry up and get home before the day could get any worse, she actually expects it to get better. He shakes his head and sighs. To him, her optimism is rather foolish.
Kaiba turns around and walks backs towards the pretty waitress as she starts scouring around the area once more for her missing change. Seto Kaiba reaches into his pocket and pulls something out and places it tightly into the young maiden's hand.
"Eh? What's this for," she asks confused then looks down to see something green in her hand with the number 10 written on it.
She quickly bows down as Seto retreats.
"Thank you very much! I really appreciate it!"
"Whatever, you're welcome," Seto mutters out of earshot.
Thanks to a young stranger's unexplainable act of kindness, she rushes back in with money in hand and sets it happily on the counter.
"Ah, welcome back," Solomon Motou greets.
"Thank you. This should be enough now. A nice young man wearing a white coat lent this to me."
"Oh, I see," Grandpa Motou remarks then looks down at the bill she just placed on the table.
"Uh Yugi, she's not talking about the guy in the white coat I THINK she's talking about," Joey inquires in shock.
"I think I saw him walking by," Yugi admits, "but I don't think he's the kind of person to give money to a stranger."
"Oh you needn't have gone through such trouble, miss," Yugi's grandfather informs.
"Oh no, it was no trouble at all. I need to pay the full price afterall. I just wish I knew who lent me this so I can pay him back."
"Well, for now, don't worry about it."
Grandpa Motou looks down at the bill she had happily placed upon the counter. His eyes widen looking at it.
"What's wrong," she wonders seeing the concerned look on his face.
"Oh, nothing, it's just that it's been a slow day. I'm not sure I have change for a hundred," Grandpa admits.
"WHAT," Yugi and Joey exclaim in unison.
