As she made her way up on the stage in her beautiful red, black and gold kimono, Yuna was well aware that something strange and not very good was going on. Mana had almost been disqualified, since someone had shredded her kimono just before she was supposed to get up on stage. It was only by pure luck alone that Yuna couldn't decide weather to let the kimono match or contrast her eyes, thus a green kimono was provided for Mana to use. The Duel Queen had never had any doubt that this would turn ugly far too soon. That's how these things usually are.
Yuna didn't really understand why most of her fans idolized her, as if she was perfection itself, but she guessed that some of the things they said about her were true. Like how she was always ready for anything, or how she can't be surprised that easily. There were others who had figured out how much her friends mean to her and they claimed for her to be overprotective, which wasn't a lie either.
However, many questioned her relationships with Seto and Yugi. Everyone knew they were of a different kind, obviously, but many of the people all around the world are always wondering who she would chose if she had to. Yuna knew that she probably wouldn't be able to give a satisfactory answer, since she herself wasn't sure she could live without either of them.
But if Yugi had been in Seto's shoes right now ... Well, Yuna would have just teased him, but she wouldn't have entered the competition unless he was in some sort of danger. So, for some, it was answer enough.
The kimono thing had been for the tradition of the New Years eve that was approaching and Yuna was glad none of her visions hit her this time. When she'd had a fitting a few hours ago, she collapsed as a dream about one of the samurai missions hit her and she spent three hours sleeping. When she woke up, it was with a new idea for what she would present as her talent and she had asked Seto to join her on the stage. Her rival had been confused, but made no fuss and moved to the stage without any complaints. He had grinned, however, in a rather smug way when Mia and Roland handed them their samurai swords and Yuna took the traditional stance. The crowd had been absolutely quiet for the first time since the whole competition had started and they watched in curiosity as Yuna took a rather aggressive approach and Seto answered in kind. All five minutes only gasps and 'ahh!'s were heard as the two gracefully moved around the stage, their swords meeting. They ended their little display with a sword dance that had the crowd cheering so loud they were heard a good few miles.
But, despite some things going good and some things being fixed, Mana was still disqualified because someone interrupted her concentration during a particularly hard part of her routine and she almost blew the judges away. Not only that, but Mai's dress for the second part of the round was cut so that it was utterly inappropriate and made her look like a slut. Since she had no other dress, Mai was forced to leave the competition. But what really angered Yuna was how Ishizu was forced to give up. Mahad was her escort for the entire show and his hair had been completely tangled that even Jelly and her team could help him in time. He had been knocked out cold when they found him just before Ishizu's turn and so she gave up so she could tend to her distressed boyfriend.
Seeing as Aileen looked pretty smug, Yuna didn't put it past her but she wasn't the only one. Kaoruko Himekoji was also acting suspicious and Yuna wasn't ready to put it past her to cheat. That girl didn't like her from the first time she was hugged by her rival after four years in Domino High School.
However, Yuna was at a loss now. Neither she nor Ishizu had an escort, but Ishizu gave up so she could be with Mahad.
She can't ask Bakura or Ryou, because they are practically polar opposites. Tristan and Joey were out of the question. And she would never ask Duke or Rafael. Valon was a category of his own! A walking, talking disaster zone! That didn't leave Yuna with many choices. She could always ask one of her friends from her younger days, but it felt wrong. But there was still two more stages until escorts were needed and right now, she had a Santa costume to get into.
And right after she got off the stage, Yuna encountered another problem. It would seem one of her ''rivals'' had destroyed her evening gown she was supposed to wear that night, leaving large holes in the most inappropriate places. And there was really nothing Yuna could do to save her poor dress! Her team all looked ashamed that someone had managed to get in and destroy the previously beautiful white dress and Yuna knew that she had to get her act together before she flipped and lost all the time she had to think of something. This was obviously a ploy to get rid of her and she had a good idea of who might be responsible. She was ready to bet her money that it was Aileen and/or Himekoji, since she knew Kisara at least had some pride in her. Besides, the white-haired beauty was searching for her shoes at the moment, and Yuna just knew that she was being made a fool of by the same two girls.
Not really knowing what to do, Yuna sent Kaito and Gakuto, who were starring remorsefully at the once beautiful dress, to get their sister, Cecillia, Seto, Anubis and Pegasus. She then turned to Mia and told her to get her the needle-kit and the roses from outside. Not a full minute later, everyone but Mia were running into Yuna's section and all froze at the sight of her dress.
''What happened!?'' Anubis all but screeched. He recognized the dress that should have been one of the new articles of clothes from his new collection, the one that Yuna had actually been ready to beg him to let her use it for the pageant, and now it was in almost shreds. Whoever had done this had made sure it could not be worn for the pageant, or ever again, really. But what really made Anubis mad was that Yuna seemed upset about letting it happen, as did Jelly and her team.
''Sabotage, but that's not important now. And it's not why I called you all here.'' Yuna said seriously, and Yugi, who had tagged along since it was his sister that might need help, realized she was now in what he called ''Pharaoh mode''. She was the scariest like this, even scarier when she ''turned into Yami''.
''What do you mean, it's not important!'' Pegasus yelled. ''It very much so is!''
Yuna sighed and ran a hand through her hair. ''It's not right now. I need your help to make this thing actually look wearable and for that, I need Roland and Croquet or Mia to get back to the mansion and get me a few things, along with a dress for the stage after this one.''
''Right.'' Said Mia as she finally returned with two dozen red roses and the needle-kit.
Yuna nodded at her. ''I need you to bring me the newest five dresses I have, the box that its at my table and the three pairs of shoes on the furthest left in the closet. You know the ones?'' Mia nodded. ''The accessory box from the third shelf and my flute. I have a bad feeling that things are going to go even more wrong as they get more desperate. Better be safe than sorry.'' Mia nodded again and bowed before leaving, dragging a surprised Roland with her. Yuna then turned to her rival and friend.
''Seto, I have a favor to ask.'' Not knowing what that could be, or why he was called here at all, Seto nodded for her to continue. Yuna hesitated for a moment and looked a bit sheepish as she finally asked him. ''Would you please be my escort?''
00000
Although Seto was still a bit dazed when Mia returned with Roland from having been asked to escort Yuna, he was suddenly aware of someone scowling in their direction. Looking around, he saw a few faces turning away, but he was sure Kisara wasn't the only one. In fact, he was sure Kisara's was the least threatening, since Aileen looked about ready to kill his rival.
Then, he was assured that it wasn't Kisara that was trying to sabotage Yuna. For one, the white-haired girl was too proud and arrogant to do something like that since she believed that she could easily win. And the other reason, you ask? Well, Kisara was currently screaming their ears off as she saw that her hairspray was replaced with green graffiti spray and she had just ruined her hair for another twelve or so washes.
''Poor Kisara,'' Someone beside him said and he turned to see it was Zoey, who he had though hadn't came with them. ''I know she wasn't the best towards Yuna, but she doesn't deserve this either. Especially with such pretty hair.''
The CEO could only sigh and agree. ''She isn't that bad, or she wouldn't be if she could just let go of the past and realize that whatever she thought she knew wasn't exactly what she thought it to be.'' Zoey looked confused, so Seto explained as curtly as possible how things got complicated and how she had reacted and then acted after that. And although Zoey frowned, she still looked sympathizing for the white-haired girl.
''I've also noticed that Yuna and Kisara aren't the only ones being sabotaged, only theirs are the worst.'' At that, Seto looked confused and observed the other competitors more closely. Indeed, many a girls had a lot of trouble with their hair products or make-up or even their dresses having little tears and holes, but none were destroyed like Yuna's or had their hair turned a different color like Kisara.
''Yes, you're right. But let's not forget that Yuna and Kisara are the most likely to be the two finalists and to be the winner and follow up.'' Seto commented as he suddenly saw Kaito running toward them. The kid smiled at him and grabbed his big hand in his smaller one and started tugging in the direction of where he should be waiting for Yuna as her escort. There, he found that there is no more beautiful in the entire world than his crimson-eyed rival.
The audience could only stare in awed amazement as Yuna was led to the stage by the youngest self-made billionaire in the world, looking like a vision of perfection. Yuna was dressed in what looked to be a gold and white dress, but really, it was one of the white curtains that hung in the dressing rooms. The golden part, well ... The Millennium Puzzle, Millennium Rod, Millennium Eye, Millennium Ring, Millennium Necklace and Millennium Rod hung from many places on the dress, glinting in the bright light. The Millennium Necklace was somehow, miraculously, tied around Yuna's a bit too slim waist as a waistband and it brought out all of Yuna's impressive curves, as well as accenting her breasts. The Puzzle hung like a loose belt on her hips, a bit to the side, hung there by its regular chain. The Millennium Eye had been placed in what seemed like a tiara for an ancient Egyptian queen, surrounded by the most magnificent jewels. They all matched Yuna's eyes and hair, accenting their natural, if unearthly beauty. The Millennium Ring was sewed into the front flaps of her dress, which was slit on both sides up to her thigh. Its pointers were spread out and the space between the outer ring and the pyramid-shaped center of the Item showed a tantalizing glimpse of skin that had many a males swooning. And the Millennium Rod was held in her delicate right hand, in a way that only a queen would hold a scepter of royalty, while the other hand was holding onto Seto's elbow. Around her neck was a gold chocker, much like the one she had seen the Nameless Pharaoh always wearing, except it had a ruby in its center, decorated by two falcon wings. Around her wrists were silver bracelets and gold wristbands, up to her elbows. Her fingers were adorned in gold and silver rings that were decorated with rubies, opals and diamonds. Pegasus, as well as many of the worlds greatest jewelers, loved her a bit too much to not get her these things for her birthday. A barely noticeable wail trailed behind her white dress and in her hair, on either side of her face, was a lush, crimson rose. There were two more on her hips, opposite of the Millennium Puzzle.
Seto, himself, looked pretty amazing. Dressed in a new, never before worn or seen white trench coat, which was so white that the clouds would be jealous of it. In contrast, his black clothes seemed even darker somehow. The silver studs and cuffs were replaced with golden studs and what appeared to be thousands of years old golden wristbands. Around his proud neck was a gold chocker, much like Yuna's own, except it held a sapphire and not a ruby. He still had his Duel Monsters locket around his neck, resting by his heart, just where it should be.
The judges could only gape at them, knowing that the two could really clean up nicely, but this was ridiculously amazing, even for the two rivals. Only Kuon understood what Jelly could do, since he had seen it himself quite a good few times. But she had outdone herself. And besides, Elliott noted, the two were very good looking without all that glamor. Kirari thought they looked like a prince and princess from a fairytale, totally agreeing with Kyoko's fantasies, while Renee, Anubis and Juliena couldn't help but want to work with the rivals, who would make excellent models indeed.
After leading her around the stage like he should, Seto left Yuna in the center of the spotlight so she could show everyone what she had prepared for the talent part of the show. Yuna gracefully lifted the beautifully carved flute and thought carefully of the consequences of what she was about to do. In all rights of reason she had, she knew that a dream might assault her while she was standing right there, in the sight of thousands of people, both right there and behind small screens at their homes, which could end in her revealing her secret. But Yuna knew that she had this once chance, that if she doesn't do this, tomorrow would be too late. So it was with that in mind that she brought the flute up to her lips and blew.
The crowd cheered as a rock 'n roll like melody escaped a mere flute, not believing it to be possible before that moment. But he closest friend knew, they knew, how dangerous this could be. Yugi was bitting his nails as Yuna finished the first song and started a ballade. Seto was tense all throughout her performance, especially when he saw a flash of a falcon in his mind as Yuna started playing that now recognizable melody that still cannot be recorded or copied by anyone.
They all sighed in relief when Yuna finished the song, for the first time in years, with focused eyes and they joined in on the cheering as Yuna bowed. Seto only composed himself enough to go and take Yuna off the stage, before he enveloped her in a happy hug. She melted in his arms as they laughed, and soon their friends came to congratulate the Queen of Games and berate her for doing something so risky.