I had my laptop out, light music playing as I did some studying when I heard a knock on my door. I looked up to see Seto in the entrance of the doorway. I looked up at him, considering his presence. It'd been a few days since the latest adventure in the virtual world, and while Seto hadn't shown any anger or agitation with me, he had been a bit distant. It was a little disappointing, but understandable.
"Hana," He greeted in a cool tone, "join me for a duel at the dueling stadium. I reserved one at Kaibaland for us to use."
I blinked back at him in mild shock, not sure I'd heard him correctly. His statement wasn't really a request, more a demand. All in all, I was confused. "What?" I asked, my voice somewhat strangled.
"I reserved us a dueling stadium, join me. I'll call a car for us." He turned away in the doorway, but paused before fully striding down the hall. "Make sure you bring your deck," He reminded me before pulling out his phone and ordering a limousine to pick us up at the front door.
Still in shock, I reached into my desk and grabbed the deck that was hiding under piles of papers. I held it to my chest briefly as I stared out my door and down the hall where Seto had disappeared to. I stood then and wandered down the hallway, concerned by Seto's change in attitude. Why did he want to duel me? Was he checking to make sure he was the best duelist of the three of us Kaibas? That seemed too petty to be his style. I was figuratively scratching my head at this new puzzle. I did not enjoy being confused.
I met Mokuba down the steps in the entryway, just as I was about to exit the door. "Hey, big sis! I heard Seto's gonna duel with you. He invited me to come along." I smiled tightly back at him.
"He's not going to broadcast this, right?" I asked, worried.
Mokuba shook his head, "No, Seto wouldn't do that to you."
I still couldn't shake off my fear, the clenching in my stomach my heart in my throat. I wish I had friends who could cheer me on. I had my brothers, which was nice, but Seto could be obsessive. As much as I trusted him to care for Mokuba and I, I still knew that Seto could cross the line and needed a reality check every once in a while. It was just fortunate for him that he generally had the money, knowledge and talent to shake off any mistakes and keep forging ahead.
Me? I was more liable to sit down and wallow in my mistakes. I'm more of the kind of person who could ruminate on my mistakes for days on end without sleep. I knew it was terrible, and I never admitted my mental health to being the best. I had panic attacks and depressed episodes; I knew I wasn't anywhere close to healthy.
Still, as much as I loved my brothers, it would be nice to have friends again. Especially female friends.
Mokuba had been heading for the door after his words, but paused and turned to look at me as I felt myself stay rooted to my spot in the foyer. Mokuba shuffled his feet awkwardly a few seconds before looking up at me in concern. "Do you want me to contact Yugi and his friends?"
I felt a shock at hearing his words, and at my reaction, he waved his hands at me frantically.
"No! Not like that, I just know you've connected better with them than Seto and I, and you especially seemed to bond well with Anzu after the whole…well…you know…" He trailed off, still shifting about in awkwardness.
I felt affection and fondness bloom in my chest now, just barely taking over my anxiety. I smiled at him, this time brightly. "Would you? I'd really appreciate having someone there to comfort me after Seto kicks my butt."
Mokuba gave a small snicker as he began to text quickly, his fingers flying over the board on his phone at a surprising speed. I opened the door for both of us as he continued to text.
"When did you get their number?" I asked him curiously, but quietly so Seto didn't hear. I didn't think he'd be happy with us for inviting the "Geek Squad" as he'd been calling them the last few days.
Mokuba didn't look up as he answered. "Oh, Honda and Anzu gave it to me while you guys were in the virtual world. Said it'd be easier to ask for help again by text than to run all the way to Yugi's grandfather's game shop."
Mokuba didn't seem bothered by his answer, but I felt a mixture of emotion at his words. On one hand, Anzu and Honda were pretty great and we owed them a solid. They were super kind, helpful and self-sacrificing. On the other, Mokuba was already thinking we'd need their help again, and not only that, but we probably would. I didn't want to have to rely on them.
As we walked to the limousine and the driver held the door open, I thought about how asking for help had never been easy for me. Even before this life and living with Gozaburo Kaiba who took advantage of any neediness, I'd been hesitant to ask for help in my previous life.
With Gozaburo, it was like giving him rope to hang yourself. I would also liken it to showing any fraction of weakness meant it'd be held over your head forever. And before Gozaburo and this second life, I'd had a traumatic childhood with an abusive parent not unlike Gozaburo. Any tears that had to be shed, had to be shed far away from the parent. Any anxiety or panic, depression or harmful thoughts could never be spoken.
I climbed into the limousine, Mokuba sliding in after me. Seto was sitting in front of both of us with his arms crossed as he stared ahead. I rubbed my thumb over the edges of my cards, wondering if the heart of the cards was a real thing and I needed to start believing in it. I couldn't deny that when I played duel links in my last life, I did have some cards that really saved my butt. They were my pride and joy, and I could always count on them to get me out of a pickle. Maybe that was like the heart of the cards? I wasn't sure.
Mokuba finally put his phone down and I looked over at him briefly and got a short nod back from him. I smiled back, ruffling his hair with affection. He blushed as I did so, grumbling under his breath and trying to bat my hand away as his other hand tried to smooth down his hair again. I laughed at his antics, finally letting him be.
I stuffed my cards back into the pocket of my skirt. I'd decided on a black skirt today, a pink tube top and a black cardigan made of lace. I felt a bit exposed, having only planned on staying in the mansion and studying today. Not that it was actually homework this time. I was studying the business here in Japan, as Seto was still keeping things secret, as well as Mokuba. We needed to have that conversation, but Seto had been busy as of late with new inventions and what I was suspicious of being a tournament in the making.
We finally pulled up to Kaibaland. I knew that the group, if they even agreed to be there for the duel, would be a little late considering we were driving and they'd most likely walk there. I took a deep breath before climbing out after Mokuba and Seto. Seto led us to the duel stadium and I hesitated in the front doors.
As I stared at the large technology, I wondered if I was really doing this. I should just surrender, right? What hope did I have to beat Seto? But what if I beat Seto? I wouldn't be a rival, right? He wouldn't be angry, right? But there wasn't even a chance I could beat him.
Seto kept walking, but Mokuba turned around after a few steps and stared at me, waiting for me to walk up to my side of the field. I met his worried eyes and tried to smile back at him and headed towards my side of the field, Seto having taken the opposite.
I stepped on the platform and jolted as it started to rise. My uneasiness increased by the second and I had to swallow back my lunch as I started to shuffle my deck with Seto doing the same opposite of me.
We'd apparently stalled long enough, because just after I drew my hand, Yugi, Anzu, Jonouchi and Honda hurried through the doors, Jonouchi shouting, "Have they started yet?"
I felt my shoulders slump at their presence, thankful to have them here despite Seto's anger. Sure enough, Seto yelled out, "Who invited you guys?" His tone was more irritated than really angry.
Mokuba looked sheepish as the group made gestures towards Mokuba, with Jonouchi even mentioning Mokuba's name.
"Sorry, Seto, Hana seemed like she needed some company." I wanted to stand up for myself and admit I asked Mokuba to contact them, but fear closed my throat. I cringed as he turned back to me, and at that, his stern look softened on me and he didn't say anything else.
"We'll be going by the rules that are being established currently for future tournaments. You know them, I'm sure?" I flushed at being caught having tried to pry into his Kaiba Corp information, but nodded back. "You'll go first as well."
I took another deep breath, nodded back and looked down. I hadn't looked at my hand yet, and when I did, I let out a breath of despair at the cards I had on hand. Just my luck. I always liked to start with three trap cards on the field, but two at the minimum.
Instead, I started with Berry Magician Girl, Palladium Oracle Mahad, Dark Magician, Magician of Dark Illusion and Michizure. A barely playable hand. "I set one card face down in my spell and trap card zone and I also summon my Berry Magician Girl in attack mode." I blushed brightly as she appeared on the field. I was terribly embarrassed by such a girly card being in my deck, but I couldn't deny her effects were too good to pass up
I heard Jonouchi make a "what the heck kinda card is that?" to the side as the others hushed him, and I felt my blush worsen at his words. I tried to stand taller and lift my chin like I wasn't beet red.
Seto didn't laugh, though. "My monster's special effect activates!" I called out. "When normal summoned, I am allowed to add one monster with the name 'magician girl' from my deck to my hand. I now end my turn."
Seto didn't make any mention of my move or my monster. Instead, he normal summoned Vorse Raider and placed a card in his spell and trap card zone. Despite my Berry Magician Girl having only 400 attack points, I was still assured I'd made the right move as she faced Seto's Vorse Raider.
"She's gonna get massacred," I heard a low murmur to the side, but tried to shove those words out of my head.
When Seto yelled, "Vorse Raider, attack!" I immediately countered with, "My monster's effect activates!"
I heard surprised cries next to me, but gathered my bearings and continued, "When Berry Magician Girl is targeted for an attack or a card effect, she is allowed to change her battle position and by doing so, I can special summon one 'magician girl' card from my deck that isn't Berry Magician Girl. And I choose Dark Magician Girl!" My Dark Magician Girl was released from my deck to me and I placed her in attack mode on the field.
Seto didn't pause after the special summon, continuing his attack on my Berry Magician Girl. She was destroyed and I let out a sigh as she was sent to the graveyard.
"By destroying my monster, you've activated my trap card! My trap card Michizure activates and I choose to destroy your Vorse Raider."
His Vorse Raider was discarded to the graveyard as he ended his turn. I drew a card, glancing down at it and the card I had drawn initially when normal summoning Berry Magician Girl. I'd drawn Apple Magician Girl at my turn, and initially had drawn Kiwi Magician Girl during my battle phase. I clenched a fist at my draw.
"I normal summon my Apple Magician Girl in attack mode." I put her face up on the field next to my Dark Magician Girl. "Dark Magician Girl, attack Seto directly." My Dark Magician Girl did so, and I saw Seto clench his teeth at my attack. Since we were playing with Battle City rules, we both had four thousand life points to start. After Dark Magician Girl's attack, he dropped to two thousand life points. I paused then, glancing at my Apple Magician Girl. Cheering from the sidelines caused me to start.
"Come on, Hana! You got this!" Anzu shouted.
"Hurry and hit him with all ya got!" Jonouchi called out.
"You're doing great!" I heard Yami call out. His deeper voice made me jolt in shock again and I turned to look him in the eyes. He gave a slow nod and I felt myself blush again before I turned back to the duel.
I gulped and then declared my next attack. "Apple Magician Girl, attack him directly." I called to her. She did so, a measly 1200 attack points, but bringing Seto down to eight hundred life points left. I was still at four thousand points. I couldn't believe I'd gotten him down to eight hundred so fast. It made me happy, but uneasy. Was he going easy on me? Would he be mad if I beat him?
"I end my turn." I declared.
"I draw!" Seto yelled out in confidence. It set me on edge and his smirk even more so. "I drew my spell card, Pot of Greed. I draw two cards – and I drew my Polymerization spell card and since I have three Blue Eyes White Dragons in my hand, I fusion summon my three Blue Eyes White Dragons to create Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon!" He's almost giddy as he summons his mixture of his Blue Eyes. I can't bring myself to be upset with him, as I know how much he loves them. He also places another monster in attack mode; "I also summon Lord of D. in attack mode.
"Attack, Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon, and destroy her Dark Magician Girl!"
I heard gasps from the side and a brief mention of, "no one's defeated his Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon aside from Yugi," I didn't let the comments stop me.
I watched him destroy my Dark Magician Girl, my life points dropping from four thousand to fifteen hundred.
There were some noises of dismay, and it was almost amusing how much the group wanted Seto to lose, but he was still my brother despite his faults. I knew he'd made a lot of mistakes and often antagonized them intentionally, so I could understand their anger towards him.
Seto ended his turn with his Lord of D. still on the field. He was at eight hundred life points and I was at fifteen hundred. I took a deep breath at that, feeling a bead of sweat trailing down the side of my face as I heard more cheering and words of encouragement. I wished I had more trap cards, but even if I did, his Lord of D. negated all spell, trap and monster card effects that would target a dragon card. I'd have to be careful.
I drew a card from my deck and looked down at it, thankful. "I summon my Chocolate Magician Girl to the field in attack mode. Chocolate Magician Girl, attack Lord of D.!" My Chocolate Magician Girl did so, and I let out a breath of relief as that went to plan. I ended my turn with a weary sigh. As Seto decreased from eight hundred points to four hundred.
Seto was clenching his teeth again as he drew a card. "I summon Battle Ox in attack mode. Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon, attack her Chocolate Magician Girl!"
I threw my hand out towards the field. "My Chocolate Magician Girl's effect activates! If my Chocolate Magician Girl is targeted for an attack, I can special summon one 'magician girl' monster from my graveyard. When I do so, I can force your Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon to focus its attack on her while also decreasing your monster's attack by half making your monster's attack now at two thousand, two hundred and fifty. I special summon my Dark Magician Girl from my graveyard to the field and force your Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon to attack her."
I look up to see Seto's almost grimace, lips pursed as his ultimate monster be decreased in attack points while facing my Dark Magician Girl's two thousand attack points. His monster barely destroys my Dark Magician Girl again and I see my life points decrease from fifteen hundred to one thousand, two hundred and fifty.
I pursed my lips together as he declared another attack. "For my second attack, Battle Ox, attack her Apple Magician Girl!"
"My monster's effect activates!" I gasped out. I could feel anxiety clenching in my chest. I hadn't ever been in a real duel, especially not in person. Only online on Duel Links in my past. This was intense and I felt like I was going to pass out from the anxiety of all of it. I took a steadying breath before declaring, "My Apple Magician Girl's effect allows me to special summon a level five spellcaster or lower to my field from my hand when she is targeted for an attack. By doing so, I can force your Battle Ox to attack the special summoned monster and halve its attack points as well. I choose to special summon my Kiwi Magician Girl from my hand to the field in attack mode." I placed her face up and she appeared.
His Battle Ox's attack dropped from seventeen hundred to eight hundred and fifty. He took three hundred and fifty points from that attack. He was left with fifty points to his name.
Another bead of sweat dripped down my face and I heard the group murmuring to the side quietly. I glanced over, my eyes passing over the group until they landed on Yami. Our eyes met and he gave me a firm nod, look resolute. His confidence and strength made me straighten and draw my next card. I looked down at it and frowned. I drew Mirror Force.
It was a good back up plan if needed. Currently, his Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon was still at half its attack with my Chocolate Magician Girl on the field. I set my trap card Mirror Force and then ended my turn without moving any of the rest of my cards.
Seto drew once again, smirking this time as he summoned Blade Knight. "Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon, attack her Chocolate Magician Girl."
"I activate my trap card, Mirror Force, causing all your monsters to go to the graveyard, halting your attack." I announced hesitantly.
"My trap activates," Seto countered calmly. "Return From the Different Dimension. This card allows me to sacrifice half my life points to bring back to the field as many of my monsters as I can. So I choose to bring back my Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon, Vorse Raider and Battle Ox. Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon, attack her Chocolate Magician Girl."
"My monster's effect activates. I special summon Dark Magician Girl from the graveyard to the field." His monster dueled mine again, forcing my life points from one thousand two hundred and fifty to one thousand life points left. Because my Chocolate Magician was off the field, his Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon now had its full attack back again. "Vorse Raider, attack her Apple Magician Girl." I saw my life points decrease from one thousand to three hundred.
I closed my eyes briefly, knowing this was the end.
"For my final attack, my Battle Ox attacks you directly." With the last attack, my life points depleted completely.
I could hear some groans from the teens on the side and I clutched my chest where my heart beat too impossibly fast indiscretely. When I looked up at Seto just as our platforms started to descend, he was smiling at me. It made my mind screech to a halt.
Why was he smiling at me?
As I stepped from the platform, the group of teens crowded around me and I nearly fell as I tried to step down. Yami immediately reached up to catch me, steadying me. I blushed at my weak legs, murmuring a thank you.
"You did very well, Hana," He said in that deep voice of his. I pushed back from him and pushed a stray hair behind my ear.
"Oh, um, thank you."
"Yeah, Hana, you had Kaiba on the ropes there!" Jonouchi said excitedly.
I tried to wave him off quickly, sweatdropping. "No, it was nothing."
"I disagree," Yami refuted from beside me. I turned back to him. "Many people older than you have struggled against Kaiba. Besides, you made one major mistake that may have cost you the duel. You may have won if not for that." I swiveled around to look at Yami in surprise.
"I did?" I asked with a strangled noise.
"Yes," Yami said, "I got a glance of your cards. One of your cards that was in your hand had the ability to be special summoned when there is a trap card activated during your opponents' turn. You did not activate it twice. The monster had twenty one hundred attack points and very well could have turned the tide."
I looked down wide eyed at my deck. "Oh, that's so embarrassing." I whined. "I've never really dueled anyone before, but that still feels like a really bad mistake!"
Before I could say more, a large hand plopped itself down on my head. I looked up at Seto to see a still slightly there smile on his face. Not a smirk, a smile. "Good job, Hana," He praised me. "We can work on that together. Work on the kinks and create some more strategies at home."
I brightened up at that. "You really mean it?"
"Of course." Seto said with a slight scoff, but not in an offensive way. "You've got the skill, we just have to hone it. You won't be making any mistakes when I'm done with you." The words were almost said darkly, and I fought a shiver down my spine. The promise was a bit menacing and I was scared to imagine what a task master Seto would be at duel monsters. "We should go, we have a lot to do." He gave me a firm look and I understood that he'd had enough of Yugi and his friends for the day.
I turned to them and thanked each of them for coming, giving a hug to Anzu on the way out. Mokuba clutched onto my arm as we left, excitedly jabbering about the duel and wanting to get started on duel monsters as well. I nodded along as I led him to the limousine.
After we'd gotten settled and the limousine was moving, I turned to my brothers tentatively. "I really want to get into the company. I'm tired of you guys leaving me behind. I can help, and I want to. You don't need to protect me. Please let me help?"
Seto was silent at first, and Mokuba followed his lead. After a few minutes of silence, he answered. "Fine, we can come up with some things. We'll start off small, though." I nodded along as we began to plan.