Tea's Time to Shine
Magicman: Hey BECA, guess who's in this chapter?
Joey: Oh! Oh! I know! It's her, isn't it?
Pegasus: *to Tea* I thought that was implied.
Tea: It was.
Pegasus: Ah.
Magicman: Anyway, as to a comment about Zev, she's not the type of duellist to cheat. It's just not her style. And I still maintain that Pegasus does not cheat.
Joey: Oh boy. Here he goes again. Why don't you guys read the chapter? Hopefully he'll be ranted out by then.
***
"Hey Yugi! How've you been?"
Yugi looked over to the other end of the concession stand and smiled. "Hi Serenity! What brings you here?"
The roan-haired girl slid through the crowd, balancing a burger, some onion rings and a small Coke on a tray, to come to a stop in front of Yugi. "I'm just taking some alone time. Joey and Mai... They're so cute together, but it can get a bit much."
"That bad?"
Serenity shuddered. "Last night, I caught them having sex on a picnic table. I swear, I will be having nightmares about that when I'm sixty-five."
Yugi shuddered in sympathy. "I think I can sympathise."
"Yeah. But at least it gives me a chance to talk to Rex." Serenity beamed. "He's supposed to meet me here at 8:00AM."
"Rex Raptor?"
Serenity waved a hand in dismissal. "It's a long story. So what are you doing here? I figured you'd be with Yami and Tea."
Yugi seemed to sober a bit. "Yesss" he said, drawing out the word. "I'm just getting water. As for Yami, he had a bad experience with another duellist. Tea is consoling him back at the camp." He couldn't help it, but he sounded slightly jealous to his ears.
"Is he alright?" Serenity asked, concerned.
Yugi smiled. "Knowing Tea, he'll be feeling better by nightfall."
***
Tea was rummaging through her backpack for some breakfast. She came up with a handful of granola bars. Unwrapping one, she shoved it into her mouth as she grabbed the others, a thermos of coffee she had packed, and two mugs. Burdened by this load, she made her way over to Yami on a log. The ex-pharaoh was peering up at the late-morning sky thoughtfully when Tea clambered down beside him.
"You know" he said slowly, "I've been thinking about last night. In five thousand years, that was the first time I ever actually lost."
Tea was still chewing on her granola bar so she couldn't answer. She listened attentively though.
"I used to hear from people that you learn more from losing than from winning. I always thought those people were just trying to cover up for their losing. But come to think of it, this is actually rather relieving."
"How so?" Tea asked, swallowing. She began to unscrew the lid of the thermos and pour out some coffee as Yami spoke.
"After spending all that time in the puzzle, I was losing my sense of self. I was a part of the magic rather than a separate being. Even when I got to duel with Yugi, it was always as if I was a part of his doing. When I got out, things got better but I was still the pharaoh from ancient Egypt, not an ordinary human being." He smiled self-mockingly. "I guess I needed Crawford to knock me off my high-horse."
"That's the spirit! Take life's troubles head on and roll with the punches." Tea handed Yami some coffee. "Here you go," she said. "Plenty of milk and sugar."
Yami took a sip of the drink and made a face. "No matter how many times I try it, coffee still tastes like camel milk. I could never stand camel milk as a child."
Tea laughed and sipped her own drink.
"What I'm not sure about" Yami mused, holding his mug, "Is how Crawford knew I was from ancient Egypt."
Tea shrugged. "She said that she's Pegasus' niece. He probably told her."
"And then, there are those of us who knew him back in the day."
Tea sighed. Without turning around, she asked sarcastically "Don't tell me. Let me guess. Its yet another crazy duellist out for blood."
"Oh, a smart ass eh? Why don't you put your deck where your mouth is."
Tea turned around and eyed the newcomer coolly. She was standing at the edge of the clearing. A black cape concealed most of her body but her face was framed by a mass of deep black hair and her green eyes regarded her with contempt. Yami turned too and frowned at what he saw.
"You look familiar." He said. "Why do you look familiar?"
The girl smirked at the ex-pharaoh and said nothing.
At this time, Akki walked into the camp, lugging a load of firewood. Seeing the brewing confrontation, she stopped in confusion. She watched the newcomer and recognition appeared in her eyes. "Akumu? What are-OW!" With her attention off her feet, she immediately tripped. She collapsed under the weight of the firewood and was pelted by it as she his the ground.
All eyes turned to her as she struggled to her feet. The new girl, apparently Akumu, sighed, her eyes taking on a suddenly exasperated look. "Akki. I wondered if I'd run into you." She turned to Tea and Yami, who was still puzzled, and gestured. "I see you've already met my sister."
Tea stared incredulously. "You're telling me that you two are related? No offence, but that's a little hard to believe."
Akumu Kino nodded. "Granted. I'm what you might call the black sheep of the family."
Back on her feet, Akki snorted. "You can say that again. The rest of us are nice, friendly, and sane, not to mention-"
"Simple" Akumu broke in, "Ordinary, and lacking any real ambition!"
"It's clear that there's a lot of sisterly love here." Tea noted.
Before either could start yelling, Yami snapped his fingers in frustration. "Damn it! I can't figure it out. I know you from somewhere, but it's no good!"
Akumu turned back to Yami, her long hair swishing behind her. She grinned, clearly enjoying the situation. "Still don't remember? I'll give you a hint. Think back five thousand years."
Akki shook her head in frustration. "Haven't you grown out of that yet?!"
"What?" Tea asked.
"Akumu has it in her head that she's a reincarnation of sorts." Akki's voice was laced with resignation. "Apparently she used to be a slave in some Egyptian court years back. Personally, I always knew she was crazy."
"A slave? In Egypt?" Yami's eyes suddenly widened with incredulous recognition. "Ziane?!"
"And he got it in one, ladies and gentlemen!" Akumu crowed. "Give the man a prize!" Suddenly her hand appeared from out her cape and chucked something at Yami's head with a lightning quick movement.
"Ow!" Yami rubbed his forehead where the rock had hit him. "What was that for?"
"Could it be possible that you truly don't remember?" Akumu's voice was sarcastic but the slightest bit puzzled as well. "Ah, I understand now. The rumours were true. You really were locked in that Puzzle, weren't you? That was what made you lose your memory and forget all about little old me. Well then, let me refresh the dingy corners of your mind. Do you remember the temple of Ra? After the midsummer's festival? The one where Seth got so drunk he had to be carried home?"
Yami looked blank for a moment. Then a guilty flush crept up his face. "Oh. That."
"Yes. That."
"Now Ziane, just calm down. I can explain-"
"Oh I'm sure you could! But I'm not going to hear it! You ruined my life, you know. You have no idea what happened to me after that night!"
"Yes" Yami said softly. "I did."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Tea yelled out, waving her arms. When everyone's attention was on her, she took a breath and continued. "Let me see if I understand the situation. You", she pointed to Akumu, "Are the reincarnated form of Yami's old girlfriend, whose name was Ziane."
"Actually, I was his slave." Akumu corrected. "But yes, there was a relationship going on between us."
"Okay" Tea continued. "Now it seems that this relationship broke up in ignominy. Now you're here as Akumu, and you're still pissed off." She looked over at Akki. "Am I crazy or does this make sense to you too?"
"Don't look at me," Akki muttered, "I'm still shocked that she was actually right about the reincarnation thing."
Tea turned back to Akumu. "And your purpose for coming here and throwing that rock at Yami's head is?"
"To let him know that I'm still around, and that given a chance I'll make his life Hell." Akumu tossed a strand of hair back over her shoulder.
"Now that's where you're wrong," Tea corrected. "To get to Yami, you're going to have to go through me."
Akumu raised an eyebrow and looked at Yami. "Protecting your boyfriend?"
"Protecting my friend!" Tea snapped. "Beyond that is none of your business."
"Ooh! Snappy, are we?" The reincarnated duellist snickered. "Alright then. If you're that insistent I'll go straight through you to get to him! One duel for all our star chips. Sound good to you?"
"Just perfect."
"Tea-" Yami started but stopped when she held up a hand.
"Don't interrupt please," she asked. "I have to do this." Yami could only nod.
Turning back to Akumu, she glared at her righteously. "Are you ready to duel?"
Akumu laughed as the platform rose from the ground. "I was born ready."
The duellists shuffled their decks and prepared to go. Tea won the ensuing coin toss and examined her starting hand carefully. 'Dark Magician' she thought. 'Good card. But she has thousands of years of experience. I'll have to move fast to beat her.'
"What is taking so long?" Akumu taunted. "Scared already?"
"Good moves take time!" Tea snapped back. "Dark Magician in attack mode! And I set two cards facedown!"
Akumu smirked at the tall magician. "It seems that you read my mind."
"What the heck are you talking about?"
"My deck is based around the Dark Magician. His sheer firepower supported by the magical skills of my deck make for a very hard to beat combination." Akumu said all this as she played her own Dark Magician. "So forgive me if I sound arrogant, but I'm not too worried about you beating me at my own game. Especially when I equip him with Butterfly Dagger!"
A gleaming blue dagger appeared in Akumu's Dark Magician's hand. The reincarnated slave smiled. "It increases his attack power by 300 points. Enough to take down your Dark Magician! Go Dark Magic Attack!"
Akumu's purple robed Dark Magician blasted Tea's red Dark Magician to atoms and dropping her life points by 300. Tea growled. "You just destroyed your own Dark Magician too. My Michizure trap ensures that!"
Without warning, the ground collapsed beneath Akumu's monster. She shrugged. "No matter. I play Monster Reborn to bring him back to the field. And I'll re-equip him with Butterfly Dagger."
Tea was stunned. "But that was sent to the graveyard."
"Yes, but it that happens after it has been equipped, it returns to my hand."
Tea sighed. "So are you done yet? Good. I'll play Monster Reborn too. Now we both have a Dark Magician again. Next I'll activate my facedown card, Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your Butterfly Dagger."
Akumu scowled. "Are you that desperate? I'll just replay it next turn."
"Right" Tea acknowledged. "But for now it's helpless in your hand. So I play Card Destruction to get rid of it!"
Both players sent their cards to the graveyards and redrew. Tea focussed on one card in particular. "Now I'll play Pot of Greed to let me draw two new cards and examine my options." She looked at her new hand and smiled. "I'll play Swords of Revealing Light and set one card facedown. Your move."
Akumu scowled. "You are becoming very annoying. So take this! A Thousand Knives!"
A large pack of knives materialised in Akumu's monster's hands. It threw them with unerring accuracy, scything towards Tea's Dark Magician. Suddenly a glowing blue shield appeared between the monster and the projectiles. They clattered to a halt.
"You activated Spell Shield Type 8, which destroys any spell that targets my monster."
"Then if I can't destroy you just yet, I'll wait you out. Go."
Tea drew and ended her turn. None of her cards would help at the moment. She could only wait.
Akumu looked at her cards too. "I'll play one card facedown" she said. "Just in case. Be my guest."
"In that case I'll play one card down too." Tea lifted another card and played it face up. "Next I'll equip Axe of Despair to my Dark Magician. It outranks your Butterfly Dagger by 700 points, bringing my monster up to 3500 attack points strong!"
Akumu waved a hand airily. "Well if you think it will help, go ahead and attack."
"I will! Dark Magician, use the power of the Axe of Despair and destroy her monster!"
Akumu laughed. "You fell into my trap! Magical Hats materialise!"
Tea's Dark Magician paused in confusion at the four hats that suddenly concealed his counterpart. He raised the axe and slashed through the hat on the right. Nothing.
Akumu danced about, cackling with glee. "That was always my favourite combo! Wheee! Just try and find him now! And if you're done, I'll place a card under one of those hats!"
'Ah great' Tea groused to herself.
"But that's not all! Now I'll play Ectoplasmer. Using its magic, I'll sacrifice my Dark Magician's soul to deal 1250 points of damage to your lifepoints!"
"What?!" Tea barely noticed as the ectoplasm struck her and threw her against the rails of the booth. "You sucked out your Dark Magician's soul just to deal damage to me?" She gestured wildly at her lifepoint counter, which read 450. "That's just sick!"
"Why? They're just cards. Oh." Suddenly Akumu looked disgusted. "You're like Yami, aren't you? You believe in that ridiculous Heart of the Cards thing, don't you? If you can explain to me exactly how a card can have a heart and a soul, then maybe, just maybe I'll believe it!"
Akki raised an eyebrow at Yami. "You used to go out with her?"
Yami shrugged. "She always was literal minded. It was one of her charms."
"Well, charming or not Tea looks like she's in trouble."
"Don't worry about Tea. I know she can win. She's duelled some tough duellists, but she always manages to make it out ahead." Yami smiled. He was so proud of her.
Akumu heard him and threw him a sweet smile. "Well maybe She had better hurry up, because now I activate the Shallow Grave to bring back my Dark Magician and hide him under a hat. All she can do now is guess, and she only has 450 lifepoints left! And my Ectoplasmer is still in play. Next turn I can activate it again and finish her off once and for all. And I have full health. There's no way she can bring me down in one turn!"
"'She' is still waiting for you to end your turn." Tea said sarcastically. "And the game isn't over yet."
"It may as well be! My magical hats are still hiding my Dark Magician and one of my traps. You still have only a one in three chance of attacking the right hat! And it will be all over next turn Tea!"
Akumu laughed. "You're finished! And there's nothing that you can do about it!"
***
Joey: Whoa. Talk about bad guys. She really creeps me out.
Magicman: I mean, if Yami, Ishizu, and Marik can use their millennium items to duel, why can't Pegasus?
Joey: Are you still going on about that?
Magicman: Yes.
Joey: Ah. Oh well then. See you next time gang!
Magicman: Hey BECA, guess who's in this chapter?
Joey: Oh! Oh! I know! It's her, isn't it?
Pegasus: *to Tea* I thought that was implied.
Tea: It was.
Pegasus: Ah.
Magicman: Anyway, as to a comment about Zev, she's not the type of duellist to cheat. It's just not her style. And I still maintain that Pegasus does not cheat.
Joey: Oh boy. Here he goes again. Why don't you guys read the chapter? Hopefully he'll be ranted out by then.
***
"Hey Yugi! How've you been?"
Yugi looked over to the other end of the concession stand and smiled. "Hi Serenity! What brings you here?"
The roan-haired girl slid through the crowd, balancing a burger, some onion rings and a small Coke on a tray, to come to a stop in front of Yugi. "I'm just taking some alone time. Joey and Mai... They're so cute together, but it can get a bit much."
"That bad?"
Serenity shuddered. "Last night, I caught them having sex on a picnic table. I swear, I will be having nightmares about that when I'm sixty-five."
Yugi shuddered in sympathy. "I think I can sympathise."
"Yeah. But at least it gives me a chance to talk to Rex." Serenity beamed. "He's supposed to meet me here at 8:00AM."
"Rex Raptor?"
Serenity waved a hand in dismissal. "It's a long story. So what are you doing here? I figured you'd be with Yami and Tea."
Yugi seemed to sober a bit. "Yesss" he said, drawing out the word. "I'm just getting water. As for Yami, he had a bad experience with another duellist. Tea is consoling him back at the camp." He couldn't help it, but he sounded slightly jealous to his ears.
"Is he alright?" Serenity asked, concerned.
Yugi smiled. "Knowing Tea, he'll be feeling better by nightfall."
***
Tea was rummaging through her backpack for some breakfast. She came up with a handful of granola bars. Unwrapping one, she shoved it into her mouth as she grabbed the others, a thermos of coffee she had packed, and two mugs. Burdened by this load, she made her way over to Yami on a log. The ex-pharaoh was peering up at the late-morning sky thoughtfully when Tea clambered down beside him.
"You know" he said slowly, "I've been thinking about last night. In five thousand years, that was the first time I ever actually lost."
Tea was still chewing on her granola bar so she couldn't answer. She listened attentively though.
"I used to hear from people that you learn more from losing than from winning. I always thought those people were just trying to cover up for their losing. But come to think of it, this is actually rather relieving."
"How so?" Tea asked, swallowing. She began to unscrew the lid of the thermos and pour out some coffee as Yami spoke.
"After spending all that time in the puzzle, I was losing my sense of self. I was a part of the magic rather than a separate being. Even when I got to duel with Yugi, it was always as if I was a part of his doing. When I got out, things got better but I was still the pharaoh from ancient Egypt, not an ordinary human being." He smiled self-mockingly. "I guess I needed Crawford to knock me off my high-horse."
"That's the spirit! Take life's troubles head on and roll with the punches." Tea handed Yami some coffee. "Here you go," she said. "Plenty of milk and sugar."
Yami took a sip of the drink and made a face. "No matter how many times I try it, coffee still tastes like camel milk. I could never stand camel milk as a child."
Tea laughed and sipped her own drink.
"What I'm not sure about" Yami mused, holding his mug, "Is how Crawford knew I was from ancient Egypt."
Tea shrugged. "She said that she's Pegasus' niece. He probably told her."
"And then, there are those of us who knew him back in the day."
Tea sighed. Without turning around, she asked sarcastically "Don't tell me. Let me guess. Its yet another crazy duellist out for blood."
"Oh, a smart ass eh? Why don't you put your deck where your mouth is."
Tea turned around and eyed the newcomer coolly. She was standing at the edge of the clearing. A black cape concealed most of her body but her face was framed by a mass of deep black hair and her green eyes regarded her with contempt. Yami turned too and frowned at what he saw.
"You look familiar." He said. "Why do you look familiar?"
The girl smirked at the ex-pharaoh and said nothing.
At this time, Akki walked into the camp, lugging a load of firewood. Seeing the brewing confrontation, she stopped in confusion. She watched the newcomer and recognition appeared in her eyes. "Akumu? What are-OW!" With her attention off her feet, she immediately tripped. She collapsed under the weight of the firewood and was pelted by it as she his the ground.
All eyes turned to her as she struggled to her feet. The new girl, apparently Akumu, sighed, her eyes taking on a suddenly exasperated look. "Akki. I wondered if I'd run into you." She turned to Tea and Yami, who was still puzzled, and gestured. "I see you've already met my sister."
Tea stared incredulously. "You're telling me that you two are related? No offence, but that's a little hard to believe."
Akumu Kino nodded. "Granted. I'm what you might call the black sheep of the family."
Back on her feet, Akki snorted. "You can say that again. The rest of us are nice, friendly, and sane, not to mention-"
"Simple" Akumu broke in, "Ordinary, and lacking any real ambition!"
"It's clear that there's a lot of sisterly love here." Tea noted.
Before either could start yelling, Yami snapped his fingers in frustration. "Damn it! I can't figure it out. I know you from somewhere, but it's no good!"
Akumu turned back to Yami, her long hair swishing behind her. She grinned, clearly enjoying the situation. "Still don't remember? I'll give you a hint. Think back five thousand years."
Akki shook her head in frustration. "Haven't you grown out of that yet?!"
"What?" Tea asked.
"Akumu has it in her head that she's a reincarnation of sorts." Akki's voice was laced with resignation. "Apparently she used to be a slave in some Egyptian court years back. Personally, I always knew she was crazy."
"A slave? In Egypt?" Yami's eyes suddenly widened with incredulous recognition. "Ziane?!"
"And he got it in one, ladies and gentlemen!" Akumu crowed. "Give the man a prize!" Suddenly her hand appeared from out her cape and chucked something at Yami's head with a lightning quick movement.
"Ow!" Yami rubbed his forehead where the rock had hit him. "What was that for?"
"Could it be possible that you truly don't remember?" Akumu's voice was sarcastic but the slightest bit puzzled as well. "Ah, I understand now. The rumours were true. You really were locked in that Puzzle, weren't you? That was what made you lose your memory and forget all about little old me. Well then, let me refresh the dingy corners of your mind. Do you remember the temple of Ra? After the midsummer's festival? The one where Seth got so drunk he had to be carried home?"
Yami looked blank for a moment. Then a guilty flush crept up his face. "Oh. That."
"Yes. That."
"Now Ziane, just calm down. I can explain-"
"Oh I'm sure you could! But I'm not going to hear it! You ruined my life, you know. You have no idea what happened to me after that night!"
"Yes" Yami said softly. "I did."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Tea yelled out, waving her arms. When everyone's attention was on her, she took a breath and continued. "Let me see if I understand the situation. You", she pointed to Akumu, "Are the reincarnated form of Yami's old girlfriend, whose name was Ziane."
"Actually, I was his slave." Akumu corrected. "But yes, there was a relationship going on between us."
"Okay" Tea continued. "Now it seems that this relationship broke up in ignominy. Now you're here as Akumu, and you're still pissed off." She looked over at Akki. "Am I crazy or does this make sense to you too?"
"Don't look at me," Akki muttered, "I'm still shocked that she was actually right about the reincarnation thing."
Tea turned back to Akumu. "And your purpose for coming here and throwing that rock at Yami's head is?"
"To let him know that I'm still around, and that given a chance I'll make his life Hell." Akumu tossed a strand of hair back over her shoulder.
"Now that's where you're wrong," Tea corrected. "To get to Yami, you're going to have to go through me."
Akumu raised an eyebrow and looked at Yami. "Protecting your boyfriend?"
"Protecting my friend!" Tea snapped. "Beyond that is none of your business."
"Ooh! Snappy, are we?" The reincarnated duellist snickered. "Alright then. If you're that insistent I'll go straight through you to get to him! One duel for all our star chips. Sound good to you?"
"Just perfect."
"Tea-" Yami started but stopped when she held up a hand.
"Don't interrupt please," she asked. "I have to do this." Yami could only nod.
Turning back to Akumu, she glared at her righteously. "Are you ready to duel?"
Akumu laughed as the platform rose from the ground. "I was born ready."
The duellists shuffled their decks and prepared to go. Tea won the ensuing coin toss and examined her starting hand carefully. 'Dark Magician' she thought. 'Good card. But she has thousands of years of experience. I'll have to move fast to beat her.'
"What is taking so long?" Akumu taunted. "Scared already?"
"Good moves take time!" Tea snapped back. "Dark Magician in attack mode! And I set two cards facedown!"
Akumu smirked at the tall magician. "It seems that you read my mind."
"What the heck are you talking about?"
"My deck is based around the Dark Magician. His sheer firepower supported by the magical skills of my deck make for a very hard to beat combination." Akumu said all this as she played her own Dark Magician. "So forgive me if I sound arrogant, but I'm not too worried about you beating me at my own game. Especially when I equip him with Butterfly Dagger!"
A gleaming blue dagger appeared in Akumu's Dark Magician's hand. The reincarnated slave smiled. "It increases his attack power by 300 points. Enough to take down your Dark Magician! Go Dark Magic Attack!"
Akumu's purple robed Dark Magician blasted Tea's red Dark Magician to atoms and dropping her life points by 300. Tea growled. "You just destroyed your own Dark Magician too. My Michizure trap ensures that!"
Without warning, the ground collapsed beneath Akumu's monster. She shrugged. "No matter. I play Monster Reborn to bring him back to the field. And I'll re-equip him with Butterfly Dagger."
Tea was stunned. "But that was sent to the graveyard."
"Yes, but it that happens after it has been equipped, it returns to my hand."
Tea sighed. "So are you done yet? Good. I'll play Monster Reborn too. Now we both have a Dark Magician again. Next I'll activate my facedown card, Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your Butterfly Dagger."
Akumu scowled. "Are you that desperate? I'll just replay it next turn."
"Right" Tea acknowledged. "But for now it's helpless in your hand. So I play Card Destruction to get rid of it!"
Both players sent their cards to the graveyards and redrew. Tea focussed on one card in particular. "Now I'll play Pot of Greed to let me draw two new cards and examine my options." She looked at her new hand and smiled. "I'll play Swords of Revealing Light and set one card facedown. Your move."
Akumu scowled. "You are becoming very annoying. So take this! A Thousand Knives!"
A large pack of knives materialised in Akumu's monster's hands. It threw them with unerring accuracy, scything towards Tea's Dark Magician. Suddenly a glowing blue shield appeared between the monster and the projectiles. They clattered to a halt.
"You activated Spell Shield Type 8, which destroys any spell that targets my monster."
"Then if I can't destroy you just yet, I'll wait you out. Go."
Tea drew and ended her turn. None of her cards would help at the moment. She could only wait.
Akumu looked at her cards too. "I'll play one card facedown" she said. "Just in case. Be my guest."
"In that case I'll play one card down too." Tea lifted another card and played it face up. "Next I'll equip Axe of Despair to my Dark Magician. It outranks your Butterfly Dagger by 700 points, bringing my monster up to 3500 attack points strong!"
Akumu waved a hand airily. "Well if you think it will help, go ahead and attack."
"I will! Dark Magician, use the power of the Axe of Despair and destroy her monster!"
Akumu laughed. "You fell into my trap! Magical Hats materialise!"
Tea's Dark Magician paused in confusion at the four hats that suddenly concealed his counterpart. He raised the axe and slashed through the hat on the right. Nothing.
Akumu danced about, cackling with glee. "That was always my favourite combo! Wheee! Just try and find him now! And if you're done, I'll place a card under one of those hats!"
'Ah great' Tea groused to herself.
"But that's not all! Now I'll play Ectoplasmer. Using its magic, I'll sacrifice my Dark Magician's soul to deal 1250 points of damage to your lifepoints!"
"What?!" Tea barely noticed as the ectoplasm struck her and threw her against the rails of the booth. "You sucked out your Dark Magician's soul just to deal damage to me?" She gestured wildly at her lifepoint counter, which read 450. "That's just sick!"
"Why? They're just cards. Oh." Suddenly Akumu looked disgusted. "You're like Yami, aren't you? You believe in that ridiculous Heart of the Cards thing, don't you? If you can explain to me exactly how a card can have a heart and a soul, then maybe, just maybe I'll believe it!"
Akki raised an eyebrow at Yami. "You used to go out with her?"
Yami shrugged. "She always was literal minded. It was one of her charms."
"Well, charming or not Tea looks like she's in trouble."
"Don't worry about Tea. I know she can win. She's duelled some tough duellists, but she always manages to make it out ahead." Yami smiled. He was so proud of her.
Akumu heard him and threw him a sweet smile. "Well maybe She had better hurry up, because now I activate the Shallow Grave to bring back my Dark Magician and hide him under a hat. All she can do now is guess, and she only has 450 lifepoints left! And my Ectoplasmer is still in play. Next turn I can activate it again and finish her off once and for all. And I have full health. There's no way she can bring me down in one turn!"
"'She' is still waiting for you to end your turn." Tea said sarcastically. "And the game isn't over yet."
"It may as well be! My magical hats are still hiding my Dark Magician and one of my traps. You still have only a one in three chance of attacking the right hat! And it will be all over next turn Tea!"
Akumu laughed. "You're finished! And there's nothing that you can do about it!"
***
Joey: Whoa. Talk about bad guys. She really creeps me out.
Magicman: I mean, if Yami, Ishizu, and Marik can use their millennium items to duel, why can't Pegasus?
Joey: Are you still going on about that?
Magicman: Yes.
Joey: Ah. Oh well then. See you next time gang!
