The last day of the competition, Yuna and Tea were the only ones from out favorite group of friends that were still participating. Kisara was still skulking around, sulking because she was disqualified. She had actually shown a different side of her, since she had helped all the other girls, except Aileen and Himekoji, whom she was glaring at. The two had managed to get rid of ten girls and were now fighting with Yuna and two other girls for the title of Japan's Beautiful Flower beauty pageant that would probably go to Yuna in the end.
Yuna was probably the only one calm about the whole thing, since she didn't see this tournament as something that would end her career and take away some of her titles, since even Seto was edgy. Yuna had so far won every round and every stage, but Aileen and Himekoji were now getting desperate. It was obvious to everyone, but Yuna ignored the potential thing that they could do. She could counter anything they threw at her, she had enough back up plans to cover all grounds were they could cause trouble.
The Yugi-tachi and all her other friends in the audience were already getting restless for the damn thing to end, especially the young ones and Seto's scowl was starting to scare half of the security team that was placed there to protect the pageant contestants. Even the always cheerful Pegasus was sweating and the host guy was almost pulling on his hair. Roland was already doing so.
Today, there wont be any speeches nor will there be any need for escorts. Hell, there will be no showing talents either! Today, they will only change three outfits and walk around the stage before the judges and crowd decide the winner. Then the winner is to be given their prize and that is the end of the competition. The crowd was already excited enough, so the host didn't need to do anything to build up the atmosphere and the contestants were nervous enough for both them and their teams who were helping them along in getting ready. Jelly was probably the only one who was enjoying what she was doing, seeing as all the other make-up artists were shaking with worry. Aileen and Yuna were the only ones that kept a cool exterior, but Yuna was probably the only one truly unaffected by what was going on around her. After all, she was used to all that attention and tense situations from years of being the youngest student in her many collages, from being the best gamer and duelist in tournaments as well as being the Daughter of History and many other things. Her experience from her dreams were only helping her, since she had been in various situations in them over the years.
In all their worrying and anxiety, Yuna's friends didn't notice one lone figure as she watched Yuna trying to calm down a frightened girl who was in a booth not far from hers and panicking her poor heart out. Blue eyes watched and observed, and the owner of those eyes couldn't help but admiring the Queen of Games. It was now easy to see everything she had refused to see in the girl that was the world's favorite celebrity. Her kindness and good heart were so obvious, that the white-haired girl had refused to notice because she was jealous. Kisara felt both shame and anger, because she knew that she had misjudged Yuna, but she also knew that the girl had stolen all her chances with Seto years and years before Kisara had ever gotten the chance to meet Seth's reincarnation. And although Kisara has no plans of giving up the fight just yet, a part of her already knew and accepted that the war for Seto's heart was already lost and in Yuna's hands.
Kisara also noticed, apart from Yuna's real personality and character and appeal to the world, that Seto and Yuna didn't treat each other the way she had expected the Nameless Pharaoh and his High Priest to act together. Sure, they were an expert team and their love for each other was obvious to everyone but them, but neither of them was ready to take that one last step in their relationship that Seth and the Nameless Pharaoh have had. Kisara realized that they probably didn't even know about it and she had a theory that if they never found out, she could still win Seto over. She just no longer wanted to make Yuna suffer.
It was with that in mind that Kisara walked up to Yuna just as she was choosing a dress for a dinner date as a part of the last round and tapped her on the shoulder. Yuna turned to her, barely masking her surprised expression at seeing the girl she had thought hated her. Kisara suddenly felt very irritated and she felt a scowl appearing on her pretty face. Suddenly embarrassed as well at what she was going to do, the white-haired girl thrust the dress she had been holding, completely unnoticed by then by the usually observant Duel Queen, into Yuna's stunned hands and frowned at her even as a blush spread across her cheeks.
''Here!'' She said. Yuna almost gawked at her, something rarely seen. ''Use this. And you better win!'' With that, she left Yuna to stare after her, as well as Seto and their other friends.
After she left and Yuna finally snapped out of her surprised state, the reincarnated Nameless Pharaoh looked down at the dress covered by the usual dry cleaning bag that all the dresses were protected with. From what she could tell without pulling it out, it was black and would come up to Kisara's tights, but it would be to around Yuna's knees due to the hight difference. One side seemed a bit longer and the dress hugged the body. It was as black as night and very plain, yet with the right accessories, it could look magnificent. It had a certain elegance to it that would definitely help with this round. Yuna couldn't help the little happy smile that was tugging at her full lips. It was time to slowly end this.
As the last round started off with Aileen, in a red Indian-styled elegant dress with purple high heels and a purple scarf, Seto was already too impatient to sit in his seat. He just wanted this to get over and done with, and seeing as this is only the first stage of the night, his nerves will fry over before this damn thing finishes.
''She'll be alright.'' Seto almost jumped out of his skin when he was disturbed out of his thoughts. He looked behind him, almost not at all surprised to find Sho behind him. ''She's a though one. She'll win.''
Seto snorted, both at seeing that he was most definitely taller than Sho and close to Ren himself in height and at the thought that he doubted Yuna, turning back to see one of the two girls who he didn't even know coming on to the stage. ''I know, and have no doubt who will walk away victorious. What worries me is that there are two snakes trying to cheat their way through to that victory they don't deserve.''
Sho, who had been relaxed and laid back with his hands in his pockets, immediately straightened, his icy gray-blue eyes narrowing a fraction, seriousness etched in every line of his handsome face as he came to stand beside the CEO. ''You think they will try something now?''
Seto didn't turn to look at him, eyes still on the stage as Himekoji came out, wearing a skimpy red and purple dress and black heeled high boots. ''I don't know.'' She turned and winked at the two hot guys by the stage. Seto shuddered, while Sho sent her a fake smirk. ''And I really don't want to find out.''
''Well,'' Sho tapped the reincarnated High Priest of the Millennium Rod on the shoulder, the brunet almost looking to him as the pompous red-head left the stage, as the blond singer got ready to return to Kyoko's side. ''Whatever they try, Yuna has us to rely on. We'll ... help ... her ...''
Sho had apparently lost the ability to speak as Yuna stepped in. There were gasps and gawking people all over the room, even some catcalls, as the Queen of Games strutted across the stage. The host couldn't even get enough professionalism to stop his starring. Kisara, for whatever reason she could possibly have, looked quite pleased with herself.
The black dress had had to be adjusted slightly, seeing as Yuna had a slightly slimmer waist than the original owner of the dress, so now it looked like it was made for her. It brought out just how dark her hair was and just how thick her eyelashes were, and so in turn made her eyes stand out even more. The bloody rubies were accompanied with her red lips, the color of her rouge was that of the finest wine, but nothing else was that royal color. She wore gold rings on her right hand and gold and silver bracelets on both her wrists. Her shoes were the same color as her dress with the heels colored gold. Her hair was in a different style, pulled up in and elegant bun, her goldenrod bangs left to frame her heart-shaped face.
Well, with the reaction of the crowd, it was safe to say that Yuna had stolen the thunder of the show.
It went pretty much the same in the other two stages, and despite Aileen's and Himekoji's best efforts, Yuna looked magnificent for both stages. However, Himekoji had been found plotting before the third and last stage and was therefore disqualified. That left Aileen alone to deal with Yuna's always growing popularity.
And now, as the crowd had voted for their favorite contestants, the four girls stood on the stage in kimonos. Yuna's was a magnificent red kimono with golden dragons and pinkish-white lotus flowers all over the beautiful material. Her hair was once more in a bun, but her bangs were pulled out of her face as well. it gave her a totally different look to her, and combined with the kimono and the traditional accessories, she looked like a real Japanese empress. Aileen, in her yellow kimono, didn't look much seeing as the kimono clashed quite spectacularly with her tall form and dark skin. She herself didn't look confident or comfortable in it, so it wasn't helping her any. The other two girls, on in a blue kimono and the other in a rather pretty pink one that really suited her, were just as nervous about this round as they had been throughout the whole competition, if not three time more so.
In the crowd, Yugi was bitting his nails, Roland was pulling on his hair and dabbing the side of his face with a handkerchief, Mokuba couldn't sit still in his seat and Noah was glaring a hole into Pegasus' head. Joey was stuffing his mouth with hot dogs no one wonted to know where they came from. Tristan had joined him, and Duke was no better. Serenity and Mai looked a bit disgusted, despite their worry.
Seto and Pegasus wanted to bang their heads or fists into walls or tables seeing as they were both sick of this. Pegasus had decided that he will never do anything like this ever again and Seto considered massive murder of all those who got him into this. The other celebrity friends Yuna had in the audience were at least looking all cool and calm, if only for appearances. Although, the younger ones were at least a little bit too excited for this sort of thing.
Yuna herself had this strange anxiousness that felt so strange because it was practically new. The only time she had ever felt this was when she had held her first presentation, and that was ages and ages ago. She was still a toddler when that had happened. She thought she understood why she was feeling this way, though. Her and Yugi's mother was a very beautiful woman, a true Japanese beauty, despite her genes being part Egyptian. Solomon's great grandfather had been a pure-blooded Egyptian, and although neither Solomon nor his father had inherited his looks, but Yuna's mother sure as hell had. In high school, she was the girl everyone wanted to go out with, but she had never had a relationship before going to an expedition with her father, where she met Aknamkanon. They had married, had kids and the rest is already history. Yuna had always thought her mother very beautiful, and was very sad that she had not inherited her looks, but instead had the looks her father's family had carried for 5000 years. But she knew that she had some of her mother's most noticeable traits, such as her high cheekbones and petite nose, not to mention her figure. But her hair and eyes ... Her mother had beautiful amethyst eyes, just like Yugi and Solomon.
No one had eyes like Yuna did.
Her mother had loved her eyes. She said it made Yuna unique, and although it was more than true, it also made her stick out like a sore thumb. People had often looked at her as if she was some strange creature that would jump on them and bite their heads off, or put a curse on their families. However, Yuna had learned to live with it. What really mattered to her was that her friends and family thought her eyes beautiful and cool, especially Seto. He called them his favorite jewels in the world, and that praise often made Yuna blush like a school-girl.
Well, she was a school-girl ...
The point of this was that Yuna felt she would fit a lot better in a kimono if she had her mother's looks. Sometimes, she just didn't feel pretty enough.
She didn't know that almost everyone was stunned with how beautiful she really was. Many were even very jealous of her.
''And now the results are here!" The host's voice broke Yuna out of her thoughts and she brought her attention back to the man as he played the last bit with the people's anxiety and excitement. "The people have voted, judges gave their judgments and now it is time to end all of this! First things first ..." The man started listing off their sponsors and all those who had helped to make it possible and both Yuna and Seto rolled their eyes when they were mentioned, although they had waved at the public just like they should. Although Seto looked far too bored when he did this, and Yuna had a sudden inappropriate urge to giggle. The judges had all stood up to wave at the crowd when their names were mentioned, and both Julie and Pegasus had sent kisses to their fans while Kuon just sweat-dropped at his mother's antics. Zoey was cheering the loudest when Eliot stood, and that should be mentioned since a lot of girls in the audience had become his fans through the duration of the competition. They were now almost equal to Kuon's fans, and were just as loud.
"And now!" The host said as soon as the audience settled and the lights instantly dimmed, only three spotlights lighting the contestants, judges and the host himself. Tension was so thick in the air, that it could be cut like butter. Everyone held their breath. "The beaty that has been voted for third place is ..." Dramatic drums could be heard from the speakers in the background. "Jane Smith!"
The applause and screams of excitement exploded through the room as the girl screamed in surprise and happiness. Seto came up to the stage, as he was the one to congratulate the finalists, and handed her a bouquet of flowers while the girl was blowing kisses to the crowds in thanks. The other girl came and shook her hand before hugging her, Yuna quick to follow, smiling all the while. Aileen only nodded in her direction ,causing an annoyed eye-twitch from Yuna. Seriously, that girl thought she was God's gift to Earth or something. So arrogant!
Yuna almost chuckled, since that was her first thought of Seto when they met. But Yuna had to admit that Seto could be arrogant in a totally cute, and more often than not recently: hot, way. She was once more startled from her thoughts by the host.
''And now! What we were all waiting for!'' He said, raising his hand above his head with the last envelope of the night (and of his life if he doesn't hurry up, judging by the look on Seto's face) and waited for the new wave of cheers to stop. ''In this envelope, in my hand, is the name of the winer of this pageant! We will know who is the best of the best, the prettiest of the pretty! The one who will spend a lot of time with our most famous teenage CEO in the world! The one who will walk away with 2,000,000 American dollars!''
'Oh God, how long can he go on like this!?'Thought a frustrated Seto Kaiba, already more than annoyed and very, very impatient.
''It is! It is!'' With every 'it is', he made to show it to the crowd and the people all move forward in their seats. ''IT IS...!'' He opened the gold-colored envelope, rather dramatically if you ask one Noah Kaiba, and made a show of reading it, before grinning at the crowd with the biggest shit-eating grin the green-haired Kaiba brother had ever seen.
''It goes to the award winning model, gamer and all together wonderful...'' Aileen already stepped forward to accept the award with a smug smile, only for it to drop in three seconds flat as the winner's name was read.
''YUNA YAMI MOUTO!''
The crowds all over the world exploded with joy as their champion was declared as the winner. Seto was more than happy to hand her her bouquet and Yugi was jumping so high he was actually seen over the crowds, despite his short body. Mana had had to restrain both herself and an overexcited Seth, who saw that his master was extremely happy and was as thus happy for her and wanted to go to her. Mahad, who was home with Ishizu, her brothers and the Bakuras, cheered loud enough for half the rich-quart to hear him. Ryou was almost jumping in his seat while Malik was hugging the life out of poor Bakura. The Thief King had a huge smug but happy grin on his albino face. All of Yuna's friends who hadn't been able to come in person were cheering her on and waving their [WE LOVE YUNA] banners at their TVs. Solomon, who had managed to hurt his hip, again, the previous day, cheered along with Professor Hopkins and Rebeca in a hospital room.
And Yuna ...
Yuna, for some strange reason that probably shouldn't exist (if you asked Seto ... or any other sane person), looked so stunned that there was even a little, genuine, crystal tear slipping down her left cheek. Seto felt compelled to kiss it away, so he didn't resist. And the blush he got from Yuna was more than worth it.
As their friends came running up to the stage to congratulate her, Yuna threw her arms around Seto's neck and he hugged her back by clasping his arms around her lithe waist. He couldn't help but grin. He got Yuna, all to himself, for a whole day.
Life sure was good.