Chapter 8: Duel Monsters

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow at school! Thanks again for walking me home, Bakura."

Bakura: "No problem, sorry again about what happened..."

"Don't worry about it, I'm just glad you're fine."

Bakura watched Akia as she went inside her house. He was confused as to why the spirit of the millennium ring attacked her. Was it because of the millennium scale? He didn't want to put her in any danger. He concluded that it was probably best to make sure they were never alone together again. He'd hate to see her hurt. He wanted to get to know her better, to get closer to her, but he knew that it would only harm her.

The Evil Spirit of the Ring was also watching her. He knew that she wasn't just some random girl. He felt strange around her, as if he'd already met her before, long ago. Akia did not get rid of him by banishing my soul with her millennium scale, since he was prepared for such dangers. He already had a fragment of myself inside the millennium ring so his soul would never die as long as the ring was intact. He was impressed with her, though. Nobody had ever dared threaten him before, but she did. She also defied him. He relished in how fun it would be to mess with her a little more. She was starting to entertain him.

Akia went to the living room to find her grandpa and Yugi unpacking some sort of cards.

"What's that? A new game?"

Sugoroku: "Oh, Akia! You're back."

Yugi: "How was your studying session with Bakura? Did you actually get any studying done?"

"What are you trying to say? Anyway, what are these cards?"

Akia got closer and took one of them.

"Kuriboh?"

Yugi: "It's called Duel Monsters. This game has been around for a while overseas, but it's only recently that it came here to Japan."

"Interesting... How do you play?"

Yugi: "Well, basically two players face each other with the deck they created. Then, the one who succeeds in bringing his opponent's life points down to zero, wins."

"Sounds interesting. How do you construct your own deck? Any tips?"

Yugi: "You want to make one?"

"Maybe..."

Yugi: "Another distraction from schoolwork, right?"

"Hey, I'm actually interested in this!"

Yugi: "Hm... Well, if you want, I'll tell you a few tips. I'm still beginning myself, though."

"Well, you've been always really good at games, so you'll probably master this in no time."

Yugi: "Yeah, I've been good at all games against everyone except you..."

"So will you tell me how to make a deck or not?"

Yugi: "I will... So first thing you have to know about duel monsters is that there are three main types of cards: Monsters, Spells, and Traps."

Yugi explained most of the rules to Akia, and, as always, she quickly grasped them. After going over them once more, she finally opened a few packs and tried to make her own deck.

"Well now... I should balance the Monsters, Spells, and Traps... Like this... This card looks good... Hey gramps, do you have any awesome rare cards?"

Sugoroku: "Well, I have this."

The twins' grandfather took out a Monster card called the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

"It has 3000 attack and 2500 defence? Can I have it in my deck? Please, grandpa!"

Sugoroku: "No way, this was a gift from a very dear friend of mine, a few years ago. You have enough good cards here to make a decent deck. In the future, you'll be able to strengthen your deck, and have your own style of dueling."

"Fine... Even though the cards here aren't all that next to that dragon..."

After a while, she finally constructed a rather decent, basic deck, considering that her grandfather's shop only had beginner packs at the moment.

"So Yugi, should we have a little duel? I want to see how effective this deck is."

Yugi: "Sure thing. I mean we both have about the same chances of winning this so I guess it'll be fair, unlike most other games that you somehow manage to get advantages in."

"Hehehe... Too bad, Yugi. I think I'm going to win this one too!"

The twins duelled into the night, going to bed rather late, considering they had school the next day.

On their way to school, Akia and Yugi were given a headlock from Jounouchi.

"Ow, you idiot! Let go!"

Jounouchi: "So Akia, how was your 'studying' session with Bakura? Any juicy details?"

"What are you talking about?! Nothing happened!"

It hurt Akia a little to hear Jounouchi saying those kind of things about her with another guy so casually, as if he didn't care. She knew he didn't, but she always tried to not face it.

Jounouchi: "Yeah, right. You just want to keep all the good parts for yourself... Hey Yugi, did your grandpa get those Duel Monster cards? I was able to get my hands on a few and made my own deck! Wanna try and duel me?"

Yugi: "Yeah, grandpa got them. In fact, Akia and I were able to make our own decks too. And we... played a little."

Jounouchi: "She owned you didn't she."

"You know it!"

Yugi: "Hey! It wasn't that bad! I was able to win once!"

"Out of seven games."

Jounouchi: "It's still an accomplishment considering that you somehow manage to win every single game on this planet. But you know what, I'll challenge her to a duel today and I will win! My deck is unbeatable!"

"Let's duel then."

After they all arrived at the classroom, Akia and Jounouchi sat facing each other and started duelling. After a few turns, Akia had her Horn Imp (1300/1000) in attack position and her full life points. Jounouchi on the other hand, had no monsters on the field and only 300 life points left.

"I'll just set a card face down and I'll end my turn."

Bakura made his way to where the two were dueling.

Bakura: "Is that the new Duel Monsters game?"

Anzu: "Good morning, Bakura. Yeah, those two have been playing for a few minutes now."

Bakura: "Who's wining?"

Honda: "Akia-chan, of course. I mean, do you really think Jounouchi stands any chance against her?"

Bakura: "Akia-chan is good at a lot of things, isn't she?"

Jounouchi: "Oh, stop crushing all my hopes! Anyway, it's my turn now. Draw! Aha! Finally! I summon Armored Lizard (1500/1200) in attack mode and I attack your Horn Imp!"

"Too bad, I activate my trap card: Reinforcements."

Jounouchi: "Whaa... What's that?"

"I can target one face up monster and it gains an extra 500 attack points until the end of this turn. Of course, I choose my Horn Imp."

Jounouchi: "Wait... so... how strong is it now?"

Anzu: "Now, it has 1800 attack points, so it's exactly 300 attack points stronger than your monster. That means you lose 300 life points."

Jounouchi: "But... Wait... That's all I have!"

"Exactly. I win!"

Jounouchi: "Oh come on! I want a rematch!"

"Too bad. I don't feel like it. Duel Yugi."

Jounouchi: "Fine. Come on, Yugi. Let's do this!"

Yugi: "Sure, Jounouchi-kun."

While they're having their duel, Akia noticed the multimillionaire, Kaiba Seto, sitting a few seats away. He never really attended his classes regularly, because of the fact he was the CEO of the biggest gaming company around. He was arrogant, cold, and unpleasant. Akia didn't like him very much.

Bakura: "Hey, Akia."

"Ah, Bakura. How are you?"

Bakura: "I'm good, thanks for asking. So, you're pretty good at Duel Monsters aren't you?"

"Yeah, you could say that I've got some kind of talent when it comes to games, just like Yugi has. Except that I almost always win against him too. Hey do you play Duel Monsters too?"

Bakura: "I haven't actually thought of trying the game."

"You should; it's really fun. Tell you what, I'll help you with the rules and stuff."

Bakura: "Akia-chan... I don't think it's a good idea to be alone with me. I don't want what happened yesterday to happen again..."

"Bakura, you worry too much!"

Bakura: "Akia-chan, please, I don't want to see you hurt."

"Fine..."

Honda: "And Jounouchi loses again!"

Akia and Bakura focused their attention back to the game. Yugi completely wiped the floor with Jounouchi, just like Akia did.

Jounouchi: "Aw, man! It's not fair! You guys have like unlimited cards at your grandpa's shop!"

"Stop complaining, you just suck at the game, Jounouchi."

Jounouchi: "Why, you!"

Jounouchi got up and trapped Akia in a friendly headlock.

"Ow, ow! I told you not to do that! Let go!"

Jounouchi: "As if I'll listen to you, shorty!"

Yugi: "Hey guy, if you want, you can come over to our grandpa's place with us. He has this super rare card, too. Come check it out!"

Jounouchi: "You serious, Yugi? I'm coming over!"

"Just let go of me first!"

Jounouchi: "What if I don't wanna let go?"

Akia blushed a little at the remark, even though Jounouchi meant nothing by it. She didn't know how to answer, because she actually enjoyed being so close to Jounouchi, even though it was in a friendly manner.

Bakura: "Come on, guys. No need to fight."

Jounouchi: "Oh yeah, sorry Bakura! Take your girlfriend back."

Jounouchi playfully shoved Akia into Bakura's arms. Bakura felt his cheeks burning up.

Bakura: "Sh... She's not..."

Akia was too confused to even say anything at that point. She was in Jounouchi's headlock for one second, then the second after she found herself in Bakura's arms. And she didn't hate it...

Anzu: "Guys, the teacher is here."

Akia finally broke away from Bakura and went to take her seat. During the whole day until the end of classes, her mind kept thinking of Jounouchi, then Bakura... then Jounouchi again... then Bakura again... then that boy from Egypt that she'd probably never see again.