Liftshipping (Jonouchi x Honda x Otogi x Mai)

"Ya know, this game is starting to look more and more like Duel Monsters."

"That's because I have a contract with Industrial Illusions, dunderhead."

"Hey, who're you callin' a dunderhead!"

"He's calling you a dunderhead, Jou."

"Shut up, Honda, I knew what he meant; it was just a retort!"

"Some retort, Jonouchi..."

"Shaddup!"

Otogi grinned as Jonouchi jumped on Honda and attempted to put him in a headlock. The spiky haired boy just laughed and used Jonouchi's momentum to roll him off to his other side. Otogi moved the Dungeon Dice Monsters board out of the way of getting hit by a flailing arm. Not that a misplaced hand could make Jonouchi's chances any worse. He was doing pretty badly.

"You're only angry cause you're losing," Honda said. "Take it like a man and keep playing."

Jonouchi scowled at Honda, but it was fake, and the real smile broke through quickly enough – he had a terrible poker face when he was relaxed.

"Here's an idea: how about you take over where I left off and then we'll see who's mad about losing," Jonouchi said.

"I'm not playing against Otogi with that much of a handicap."

"Yeah, that would be a bit unfair," Otogi said, grinning.

"You guys suck," Jonouchi moaned, but moved back to the game board and stared at his options.

A soft chime resounded through the Black Clown shop, and Otogi glanced up towards the door.

"Welcome to – oh! Hey, there!"

The other two boys glanced over their shoulders. The look on Jonouchi's face was priceless – one second it was blank, the next second, he had the biggest goofy grin on his face that was humanly possible.

"Mai!" he said. "Where did you come from?"

The tall blond woman smiled widely.

"Through the door, obviously," she said. "Although I'm glad to see that you missed me."

Jonouchi straightened up from the counter and turned to face her as she crossed the distance, her heels clicking across the floor.

"I haven't seen you in ages! How'd you know I was here?"

"Called Shizuka. She said you've been hanging out here a lot," Mai said. "Good to see you guys, Honda, Otogi."

Honda caught Otogi's gaze. He nodded towards Jonouchi's dopey face and rolled his eyes, grinning. Otogi grinned back. He doesn't even realize he's making that face, does he? He mouthed at Honda. Definitely not, Honda mouthed back. Still grinning, the spiky-haired boy walked around to Otogi's side of the counter so that Mai could take his spot.

"What have you been up to?" Jonouchi asked. "I mean, besides those big tournaments I heard about. Congratulations on first in Diamond Cup, by the way."

"Thanks," she said. She had to blow her bangs from her eyes before she continued. "Mostly just traveling. Visited a couple people. Said hello to my parents; did that ever go well. Ran into Valon and Amelda in America."

"Oh, how're they doing?" Jonouchi asked, although neither Otogi nor Honda missed the slight miffed look that passed over Jonouchi's face at Valon's name. They shared enough secret grin.

"Great," Mai said. "Better than before, at least."

She leaned her elbows down on the counter to see the game board.

"What are you playing?" she asked.

"Dungeon Dice Monsters," Otogi said.

"Looks like Duel Monsters on a board."

"Oh for the love of – why does everyone keep saying that?"

Honda shoved Otogi a little goodnaturedly.

"Don't worry, they just don't get it. I think it's much different than Duel Monsters...and I have played both games, by the way."

"Hmm, well that piece looks like the Dark Magician," Mai said, pointing at one of the figures.

"That's what I said twenty minutes ago, and Otogi hit me," Jonouchi said.

Mai kind of chuckled at that. Jonouchi poked her, and she shoved him back with her shoulder.

"It's because I have a contract with Industrial Illusions, okay! They add some of their character to increase the appeal so it sells better, and it damn well works! The game is still mine, and it's still different!"

He glared at the three giggling people around the counter, but it didn't last long, and he sighed, giving way to a smile.

"Fine then; if it's so much like duel monsters, how about that champion of the Diamond Cup faces me in a match? Should be easy for you since it's so much like Duel Monsters."

"Challenge accepted," Mai said. "Now tell me how this game works."

"Augh, don't accept, Mai! He's a cheater!" Jonouchi said.

"You're just a sore loser," said Honda.

Jonouchi argued back. Sounds of good-natured bickering and laughter echoed cheerily around the store, lending warmth to the night that was falling outside.


A/N: Some of these characters just don't seem capable of good poly relationships in which everyone gets equal attention...either that or I'm just a really bad writer (at least bad at writing poly) who can't manage to give equal time to all characters involved. Either way, this ended up being more of like, a combination Polarshipping and Chaseshipping. ….well, anyway... Next is Liberashipping (Marik x Yugi).