Tea's Time to Shine

Magicman: All right! I've been wanting to do this chapter for a while now. It involves a character that I created out of thin air. You want to meet her? You'll just have to read on and find out.

Joey: I've met your characters before. I think they'd be better off staying out of this one.

Magicman: Aw! I'm hurt. Now I don't have the will to write. Smokegirl, will you take over please?

Joey: What?! Oh no, no, no, I wasn't serious! I was just fooling around, you know?

Smokegirl: Too late! I'm in charge now sucker!

Joey: AAAAAAHHH!!!

Tea: Oh shut up. She can't kill you. You're in the story!

Pegasus: Oh forget him. He's out of it now. *Watches Joey run around screaming* Well, lets get down to business. By the way BECA, now you know what Ryou's been doing.

***

Ishizu stepped into the clearing and looked about curiously. It seemed that someone was camping here. Backpacks lay on the ground as well as a supply of firewood and a small pit for cooking. One of the backpacks was upended, its contents, mostly mangas with a lighter and a pair of sunglasses, lying spilled on the ground. Not wanting to intrude on anyone's solitude, the Egyptian woman started to step back but a voice stopped her.

"Ishizu! Thank Heaven! Finally, someone sane to talk to!" Ryou hurried over to the woman from where he'd been reading one of Zev's mangas and nearly hugged her excitedly. He managed to recover himself though, and settled for grinning broadly and clasping his hands behind his back.

Ishizu smiled faintly. "It is good to see you too Ryou. How have you been?"

"Not bad until this tournament started. Bakura took it into his head to follow around after Miss Crawford like some lovesick puppy, and I was dragged along to cook." Ryou shook his head ruefully. "They go out together for most of the day and leave me here to do whatever I feel like, as long as it doesn't interfere with their silent flirting. I suppose it's good for him though. Sometimes I get to thinking that he'll never really be human, and then he goes and does something like this."

"I think I understand" Ishizu commented, leaning against a tree. "He was imprisoned for thousands of years. He is still trying to remember what it is like to be human. He does have a heart like you do."

"Sometimes I think so. Maybe he just needs to be near someone as deranged as he is." Ryou shrugged. He gestured to a log his yami had dragged into the clearing. "Would you care to sit down?"

"I don't see why not." Ishizu smiled and walked over to the log, seating herself gracefully. She cocked her head, seeming to wait for something. Ryou was just about to ask what for when a voice shouted "Damn it!" She sighed and raised her own voice. "Marik get over here, and watch your language. We're guests."

The blond Egyptian broke through a tangle of briars, swearing viciously. "Guests? What the hell are you talking about?!" His eyes met Ryou's and he jerked his head around quickly. "Where is he? I know he's out here somewhere!"

Ryou was puzzled. "Who do you mean?"

"You know who I mean!" Marik snapped. "That lunatic of a thief! He's around here somewhere I just know he is."

Ishizu rolled her eyes. "Just relax brother. Bakura is no longer a threat. It is Ryou who has the Millennium Ring. Shaddi made it so. Without magic, he cannot take other items. And without the items, he's harmless."

"I wouldn't say harmless exactly", Ryou put in. "He does have a switchblade he likes to carry around with him."

"I'm surprised he hasn't been thrown in prison by now" Marik muttered. Slowly he relaxed and joined his sister on the log.

"So am I, frankly" Ryou admitted. He dug through his backpack and pulled out a pot. "Can I make you two some tea? It's about four o'clock now."

***

"Alright! Only two more star chips to go and I'm in Pegasus' castle! This kicks it!" Tea performed a cartwheel and landed gracefully. She brushed her hands off and gazed happily at her duelling deck. "Okay guys" she said to her cards, "Let's keep up the great work. We can make it to the finals, beat down Zev, and celebrate our victory at Burger World when we get home. Does that sound good to you?"

"Is she talking to her deck?" Yugi stage-whispered. Yami grinned.

"Whatever happened to the Heart of the Cards?"

"Even I don't think they can answer back." Yugi admitted.

Tea happened to overhear and grinned. "They don't have to answer back, but they've been very helpful. I wouldn't want them to think I'm being ungrateful."

Yugi didn't bother answering. He only sighed and looked up at the sky helplessly. Yami ruffled his counterpart's hair.

The trio left the forested area in good spirits and, following the river tea had swum in to a more hilly part of the island. Scattered trees dotted the countryside and Pegasus' castle loomed up in the horizon. Tea looked about in approval. "A great place for a duel. Now, all I need is my opponent."

Yugi watched Tea look around. 'She's a lot happier duelling than I was last Duellist Kingdom. I never looked forward to my battles, or to the game. All I was concerned with was helping my grandfather. I was always afraid, too. Afraid of losing. But Tea duels with confidence and courage, like I would when I let Yami take over.' A sudden thought came to him and he smiled. 'Maybe Tea has a yami.'

A rustle in the tree above him drew his attention. When he looked up, Yugi found himself staring into a face, only half an inch from his. "Hello cubling!"

"AAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

Tea and Yami whirled from what they were doing and rushed over to Yugi. The diminutive little person was lying on the ground beneath a tree, gasping for breath and clutching his chest, purple eyes twitching wildly. Hanging upside down from a branch in the tree was a laughing teenaged girl, swinging back and forth. "So cute!" she gushed, short dirty-blond hair falling in her face. "Such a cute little wolf cub, aren't you? You want to play with Ami? So adorable!" She continued to gush while Tea and Yami rushed to their fallen friend.

"Yugi, are you alright?" Tea asked, concern in her eyes.

"N-no m-more coffee f-for me, th-thanks" Yugi stammered. Tea tilted her head, a puzzled expression on her face before shrugging and looking over at the girl curiously.

Yami approached said girl cautiously, hands opened diplomatically. "Excuse me, but who exactly are-"

"DEMON!" The girl shrieked, making Yami jump back. She dropped to the ground, gracefully landing on her feet and coming up in a karate defence position. "Back demon! Back!" She slowly circled Yami, who had frozen in place. Tea was staring at the bizarre sight incredulously.

"Are you crazy?" the dancer asked. The strange girl looked over at Tea, curiosity on her own face,

"I'm not crazy. I'm Ami. You want to play with Ami?"

Tea blinked. "Uh-"

"SHHHHH!!!" Ami hushed furiously, cutting Tea off. She peered around cautiously. "Are they listening?"

"Um, who?"

"The ones who listen."

"I see....."

Ami listened intently for a few more moments, peering about. Her gaze passed suspiciously by Yami but passed on until she made a full circle. Then she sighed and grinned widely. "No one here, no one but this Ryuta. This Ami Ryuta is here. Want to play?"

Yami opened his mouth, but a vicious glare from Ami closed it again. Silently, he moved behind Tea, who left Yugi in his hands and stood up. "Well Ami" she said neutrally, "I'm Tea."

Ami suddenly laughed happily. Tea noted that she wore only green track shorts and a white T-shirt. "Are you a player?"

Tea blinked. "Er, what?"

Ami cocked her head, her green eyes puzzled. "Do you play?"

"Play what?"

"The game."

"What game? What do you mean?"

"The old game. The ancient game."

"Huh?"

"The game of kings! Do you play the game of kings?!"

"What the Hell are you talking about?!"

"The game of kings and shadows! Do you understand the words coming from my mouth?!"

"NOBODY is understanding the words coming from your mouth!"

Yami fought valiantly against a snicker trying to make its way from his mouth while the two girls continued to rail at each other. He could probably have cleared up the confusion, but this was too entertaining. Yugi had mostly recovered by now, though he was still gasping for breath, and he was watching the increasingly vehement conversation interestedly.

Finally, Ami lifted her hand a thrust it into Tea's face. "The game!" she screamed. "Do you play the game?!"

Tea crossed her eyes and made out star chips on a duelling glove, just as comprehension dawned on her. "Yes!" she said. "I play the game."

"Good." Ami changed from frustration to cheerfulness again in a heartbeat. She waved her glove, showing off eight star chips. "I bet two! Two stars!"

Tea nodded and picked two stars from her glove. "Two it is. It's time to duel."

Ami's smile turned cunning. "Lets play."

The two stepped up the duelling platform and readied their decks. On the ground, Yugi and Yami watched. "This shouldn't be too hard" Yugi said, eyeing Ami warily. "The girl is crazy, after all."

"Hmm." Was all Yami said, regarding Ami curiously.

"Ami goes first! Start the game with good move! Defending with Witch of the Black Forest (1100/1200)." Laughing, Ami summoned the Witch and ended her turn with a swish of her hand. "Think you can beat her?"

Tea frowned. "I know that the witch isn't as weak as she looks," she told her opponent. "I've seen her effect used before. You can bring a monster to your hand after she's destroyed. So I'll have to summon a monster strong enough to survive whatever you might summon next." She drew and a smile lit her features. "Alright! I play Dark Magician Girl (2000/1700) in attack mode!"

Tea's favourite card appeared with a happy smile, and she waved at Tea. Tea waved back. "She's much stronger than your Witch. Now my Dark Magician Girl, attack Witch of the Black Forest with Dark Magic Flash!"

Dark Magician Girl flipped forward, showing off a bit, and landed right in front of the witch. The weaker spellcaster raised her hands in defence but the blue clad magician twirled her staff like a baton. When the staff stopped twirling, a bright flash of magical light lit the arena, causing everyone to cover their faces. The light shattered the witch and the Dark Magician Girl danced back to her place in the arena happily. Tea grinned.

"Now your lifepoints are defenceless. And just in case you get ideas, I'll set one card facedown." Tea set her Mirror Force trap and smiled. 'Even if she attacks, I'll just play my trap.' She thought.

Ami shrugged and pulled a monster from her deck and put in into her hand. "Witch come back!" she chanted. "Witch come back! Witch come back! Witch come back!" Tea wondered what the heck she was doing when she played Monster Reborn and brought the witch back in defence mode. "Now a friend for my witch. Sangan (1000/600) in defence mode! You go now." Ami played the fuzzy monster and ended her turn, smiling benignly.

By now alarm bells were setting off an uproar in Tea's head. Ami wasn't even fighting back, and Tea was on the verge of destroying her monsters yet again. But she had no other recourse, and with a feeling of trepidation, Tea summoned her Amazoness Swordswoman (1500/1600) to the field. In a matter of seconds, the Sangan and the witch were sent to the graveyard, blasted and sliced. Tea watched Ami happily draw her two monsters and wondered. 'I wonder when the shoe is going to drop' she thought, ending her turn.

Ami's strategy was driving Yami crazy, on the sidelines. "What the heck is her plan?!" he raved to Yugi. "She's not even protecting herself. How does she expect to win if she doesn't attack? I just can't figure it out!"

Yugi shrugged. "Maybe she's setting up for her attack?"

"What attack? Tea is too firmly entrenched on the field to be knocked out easily."

"Well, I'm sure we'll find out soon."

Back on the field, the duel progressed. "It's your move Ami" Tea said. "By the way, you still don't have any monsters on the field. If I can attack you, you're done."

"You won't attack Ami."

"Oh? And why not?"

"Because I say so," Ami countered, her voice cold. She drew a card and gasped dramatically. "Yay! Wonderful! Perfect and etcetera! One monster defends lifepoints and one card facedown defends monster. Yay!" She pulled a bad disco move after she played her cards.

Tea raised her eyebrow. "Okay, at least you're trying to defend yourself. But I still have two monsters on the field. When I take out your monster, your lifepoints are next. Sooo take out her facedown card, Amazoness Swordswoman!"

The amazon let out a howling battle cry and leapt into the air, her sword outstretched. But just as she was about to strike, she fell from the sky, landing hard on one knee. She struggled to her feet but was forced to lean upon her sword just to remain standing. Tea's Dark Magician Girl wasn't any better. She was lying on the ground, pinned helplessly by some invisible force.

"What the- What did you do to my monsters?!" Tea screamed furiously. "Let them go now!"

"Let them go?" Ami rolled her eyes back into her head so that only the whites showed. "Why? The game is harsh. Only the best play. Ami is one of the best. Ranked third. Gravity Bind is a good trap, so Ami uses it. You done?"

Literally quivering, Tea didn't trust herself to open her mouth; she would probably say the nasty things that were running through her mind. To force a monster into such a submissive position..... Instead of answering, she nodded.

"Oh goodie! My turn!" Ami drew and grinned lightly. "Ami passes this turn."

Tea shook her head in frustration. "What the hell are you doing?!" she half-screamed. "Why aren't you fighting back?"

"I am."

Tea blinked and Ami continued, a rather smug look on her face and her piercing green eyes dancing. "When Ami first started playing the game, she wanted the strongest cards in the world. Big cards. Make golden god look weak. So I thought of which cards could beat any others. Which cards, put together could defeat any duellist, using their best cards? In short, what in the game is unstoppable?"

Ami's suddenly straightforward and coherent speech threw Tea off. But when the half-crazed duelling girl started chanting 'unstoppable' over and over, while dancing in a circle, the pieces fell into place. 'She doesn't want to summon any specific monster', Tea thought. 'She wants to get a bunch of monsters in her hand, and she's positive that they'll win her the game. Unstoppable? I know what she wants!' She voiced her suspicions out loud. "You want to summon Exodia!"

Yugi stiffened at the mention of the monster and Ami laughed happily. "Got it in one! Yay! Little and late though. Puzzle almost finished. Look!" Ami lifted her hand and showed Tea the cards she held. Exodia's head, both arms, and a leg gleamed in the sun at her.

Tea stared. "Life just got a whole lot harder."

Ami nodded happily. "Exodia is unstoppable. Exodia is all-powerful. Not even the Egyptian Gods can beat him. Only Exodia can keep them out of my head." She looked about suspiciously, as though hearing more voices. Seeing no one, she turned to Tea and gave her a wicked grin. "And Exodia will defeat you and take your stars!"

Tea tried to fight against the panic that was rapidly building in her throat. The four cards flashed mockingly from Ami's hand, threatening to bring her entire winning streak crashing down around her. The finals were so close, but with Exodia in the way that goal was looking further and further away every second.

'If I don't figure a way out of this' she thought frantically, 'I'm dead!'

***

Pegasus: Isn't a little harsh to sick Exodia on her?

Tea: Naw. I can take her. Come on you nutcase take your best shot! *Raises her fists and starts shadow-boxing* Ya want some of this? Huh? Huh?!

Joey: Uh, Magic? I think you've turned her into a psycho.

Smokegirl: Magicman's not here, remember? Now, who wants to play? *Revs up a chainsaw*

Joey: *runs screaming, chased by Smokegirl*