DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN YU-GI-OH!
|CHAPTER 3
Rex glared across the table, his hands clenched into tight fists.
"No way!" he shouted. "Beaten by toys? I demanded a rematch! That duel didn't count!"
James raised an eyebrow. "Pretty sure it counted. My Toy Soldier destroyed your Red-Eyes and dropped your life points to zero," he said simply, as he gathered his cards. "That's game."
"Beginner's luck!" Rex slammed his fist on the table.
Mai rolled her eyes as the sore loser carried on. She had seen more than enough of Rex's poor sportsmanship and didn't have an ounce of sympathy for the idiot. "That's enough," she said sharply. "A win is a win, fair and square. Don't be a spoiled brat about it."
Rex's face turned even redder. "Stay out of this! I'm getting a rematch, right here right now!" He turned back to James, eyes blazing. "Come on, let's duel again!"
Mai stood up swiftly, heels clicking as she strode over to Rex and grabbed him firmly by the arm. James was going to duel again, but it wasn't going to be against Rex.
"Hey, what are you—let me go!" Rex tried jerking out of her grasp, but she only tightened her grip.
"Time for you to go," Mai said evenly. She dragged the protesting Rex to the door. "Sorry, hon, but a duels a duel, and you lost."
With a sweet smile, she shoved him out into the hall and slammed the door shut. His muffled shouts could be heard for a few moments more before fading away.
Mai brushed her hands together and turned back to James with a smile, regarding him thoughtfully. She had to admit, his dueling skill had surprised her. Using such a silly archetype, she assumed he was going to lose.
At first glance, the childish cards had seemed harmless, almost a joke. Yet he had turned a weak monster like Toy Solider into a powerhouse, raising its attack points over 3000—while also lowering the attack points of Rex's Red-Eyes Black Dragon.
There was clearly more strategy to those toys than she first thought, but she was still confident she could beat him.
James leaned back on the couch as Mai strutted back over to him. She perched herself on the armrest, her thigh pressing against his shoulder.
"You might have beaten Rex, but about a match against a real duelist," she suggested.
"Us?" James pretended to hesitate.
"Oh, please!" Mai begged, leaning even further into him. Her corset was practically in his face. "Tell you what, if you beat me...I'll give you a kiss."
Gotcha! James grinned. He felt a little guilty because he knew all of Mai's secrets, but if she didn't want to kiss him she should be more careful when betting with strangers.
"But if I win," Mai said coldly, leaning away from him, her high-pitched girly giggle suddenly gone, "you agree to clear out of the room for the rest of the trip. Okay?"
"Tongue?" James asked, enjoying the shock on Mai's face. She probably thought him similar to Rex, a blushing teenage virgin who she could walk around like a puppy.
"Deal," Mai agreed, crossing out his and Rex's life points in her notepad. Under the crossed-out numbers, she wrote out their names and a new set of life points.
Mai LP: 2000
James LP: 2000
"You're way out of you league, kid," Mai rolled her eyes. "Now let's get this over with, I want to test out that tub I saw in the bath."
"Quite the high sense of opinion about yourself, huh?" James shook his head, but drew five cards.
"But sure, let's hurry this up. I've got things to do tonight."
"We'll see how cocky you are after I'm through with you, Hawkins," Mai huffed, laying all six of her cards face down in front of her. She hadn't looked at them once, instead closing her eyes and starting to hum.
James rolled his eyes, waiting for her to finish her little psychic act. Without an entire dueling arena between them, the smell of perfume on her cards was overwhelming. He was content to let her play her game, but after an entire minute of constant humming, he frowned and asked, "Are we dueling or not?"
Mai opened her eyes. "I'm divining my cards," she said. "I have to mystically choose which one of them is the best."
James was really tempted to tell her that he was onto her charade, and she could drop the whole mystic duelist stick, but she finally picked a card up so he kept quiet for the time being.
"And the best card would be...the Harpie Lady!" Mai played her signature monster without looking at it once.
How surprising, James almost scoffed. Mai playing a Harpie Lady...who could have seen that coming?
Harpies Lady****
1300/ATK
1400/DEF
Mai glanced at him and the smile on her face fell off when she saw James staring at her without a care in the world. Huh, most kids his age fall to pieces when they see my divination trick, she frowned.
Well, if her "card divination" didn't shake him, she had more tricks up her sleeve to make him forget everything he knew about Duel Monsters.
Sliding one of her Spell Cards into place, Mai made sure to lean over as much as possible, squishing her breasts together in her corset making them practically spill over the top.
And just like any other teenage boy in the world, James looked. Mai grinned. "I'll choose again...without looking, and play Cyber Shield! Which gives my Harpie Lady an extra 500 attack points!"
Harpie Lady****
1800/ATK
1400/DEF
"Your turn," Mai said, leaning back in her chair, stretching her corset to its limit.
James looked up from her chest. Focus! he scolded himself as he drew a card to start his turn. There would be time to ogle Mai later, right now it was time to win the duel.
"Because you have more monsters on the field I can Special Summon a Toy Knight from my hand," he said, setting his knight down horizontally. "I'll play him in defense mode."
Toy Knight****
ATK/200
DEF/1200
"Next, I'll Normal Summon my Exiled Force," James set his second monster down on the field.
Mai suddenly leaned forward again. "What?" she gasped.
"Guess you know what its effect is, huh?" James smirked, and even though she knew, he still explained. "Thanks to Exiled Force's card effect I can tribute it and destroy any monster on the field. And I choose your Harpie Lady."
Mai growled as she moved her Harpie Lady to her graveyard.
"But I'm still not done yet, because now I'll play Foolish Burial and send the Toy Emperor in my deck to the graveyard before playing a card face down and ending my turn," James finished his turn setting Ultimate Offering face down.
Mai drew and set down another Harpie Lady on the field. "I'll play Harpie Lady and then activate my Spell Card, Elegant Egotist which lets me Special Summon another Harpie Lady or a Harpie Lady Sisters from my deck."
Harpie Lady****
1800/ATK
1400/DEF
Harpie Lady Sister******
ATK/1950
DEF/2100
"Next, I'll use my Cyber Shield to boost my Harpies Lady Sisters attack power by 500 points!"
Harpie Lady Sister******
ATK/2450
DEF/2100
"And I'll use my sisters to destroy your knight!" Mai laughed, loudly and obnoxiously.
She didn't even do any battle damage, James thought as he set his Toy Knight in the graveyard. Then he flipped over his face down Trap Card.
"I'll activate Ulitmate Offering," he said, setting Toy Soldier down on the field. "At the cost of 500 Life Points, I can immediately Normal Summon 1 monster during my opponent's battle phase."
Toy Soldier***
Machine/Effect
300/DEF
800/ATK
"Don't think the same strategy you used to beat Rex will work against me," Mai said, playing a card face down in her backfield. "I'll set this card face down and end my turn."
That's probably Harpie's Feather Duster, James assumed as he drew again. If she was that confident she could stop his equip cards, that was the only card she had that could do it.
"I'll play Pot of Greed to draw two more cards," he drew two more cards from his deck a second later, United We Stand and Premature Burial, huh? It's not Monster Reborn or Call of the Haunted, but I can work with it, he smirked.
"Since you watched my duel with Rex, you know about Toy Soldier's effect," he said, thumbing through his deck to grab two more Toy Soldiers and set them on the field in defensive mode.
Toy Soldier***
Machine/Effect
300/DEF
800/ATK
Toy Soldier***
Machine/Effect
300/DEF
800/ATK
Toy Soldier***
Machine/Effect
300/DEF
800/ATK
Mai frowned as he placed two more Toy Soldiers on the field. So what? None of those cards can hurt my Harpie Lady. Not with my Harpies Feather Duster on the field.
"Then I'll play a Spell Card, Premature Burial!" James grinned as he slipped the card onto the field. "With it, I can pay 800 Life Points and Special Summon the Toy Emperor I sent to the graveyard with Foolish Burial to the field in attack position!"
Toy Emperor******
Machine/Effect
2300/ATK
800/DEF
"Next, I'll play another Spell Card," James flipped the Spell Card he'd set down his previous turn. "United We Stand!"
"What!"
James frowned at the stunned look on Mai's face. Did she not have Harpie Lady's Feather Duster in her backfield? Or was she just messing with him?
"Thanks to my three Toy Soldiers, my Toy Emperors attack points are boosted by 2400!"
Toy Emperor******
Machine/Effect
4700/ATK
3200/DEF
"Not so fast, kid," Mai's stunned look faded into a smirk. "I activate my face-down card, Harpie Lady's Feather Duster!"
So she was just messing with me, James thought as he moved his United We Stand to the graveyard and ended his turn.
Toy Emperor******
Machine/Effect
2300/ATK
800/DEF
"Without their power boosts, your toys are no match for my Harpie Ladies!" Mai drew her card and laughed. "And they're certainly no match for my Harpies Pet Dragon!"
Harpies Pet Dragon*******
ATK/2300
DEF/2800
"Since I can only attack once a turn, my Harpies Ladies Sister to crush your Toy Emperor!" Mai laughed again, and if she had been obnoxious before, her laugh was downright unbearable now.
Mai Life Points: 2000
James Life Points: 1050
James whistled as he drew a card, his turn beginning again. "Not bad, three monsters on the field, and two of them over 2000 attack points," he praised the girl.
It was impressive...for this world. But he had seen a world where children younger than Rebecca were OTK'ing on their first turn with monsters stronger than Blue-Eyes. They had access to internet forums dedicated to Duel Monster strategies. But in his world, where duelists guarded their strategies and cards as if their lives depended on it, it was actually something quite well done he supposed.
Still, it put Mai quite a bit above the average duelist competing in the tournament, but he already knew that.
"You say that, but you don't seem impressed at all," Mai pointed out knowingly. "Let's see if Rex was right about you getting lucky in your duel, or if you really do have talent."
"Okay, but just remember, you asked for it," James winked at her and set the card he just drew down. "I'll play Crowning of the Emperor! I can Tribute 1 Toy Soldier and Special Summon a Toy Emperor from my deck!"
Toy Emperor******
Machine/Effect
2300/ATK
800/DEF
"Then I'll play Limiter Removal!" James really did love that all Spell Cards were quick-play thanks to Duelist Kingdom rules. "Doubling the ATK points of all machine monsters on my side of the field!"
Toy Emperor******
Machine/Effect
4600/ATK
800/DEF
"What?" Mai gasped...again. But this time he was sure she really was shocked. She didn't have a single card in her backfield, and this duel was over.
Mai Life Points: 0
James Life Points: 1050
"I lost?" Mai whispered, dumbfounded, at the silly toy monster that just wiped out her life points. It didn't matter which of her monsters. None of them had enough attack points to keep her in the duel.
"You did," James said as he started collecting his cards from the table. He stacked them all together and slid his deck back into his pocket. "Now about my reward?"
Mai's head shot up. She glared at James for a moment before giving him a cruel smirk. "You actually think I'm going to kiss you?" she asked, laughing in his face. "You got lucky kid, that's all!"
James shrugged as Mai collected her cards and grabbed her back before storming towards the door. He leaned back in his seat and watched her tight skirt stretch with each step. "I won't force you to kiss me," he said, stopping her before she could leave, "but I will let everyone else with a private room know not to bother dueling you."
Mai froze with her hand on the doorknob. If he went blabbing to the rest of this ship she'd never find another loser to swindle out of their room. "Fine!" she turned around and stormed back toward him.
"Make it a good one, yeah?" James said as Mai grabbed his cheeks. She was a little rough and her nails dug into his skin, but he didn't mind. "I'd hate to have to let people know that the beautiful Mai Valentine kisses like a fish."
"Don't say a word about this to anyone," Mai growled as she leaned over and pressed her lips to his. His eyes went wide with shock, and she relished in it for a bit. Before he could recover from being stunned, she took the chance to take the lead and slipped her tongue between his lips.
As her tongue played with his, James deepened the kiss between them. He wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her into his lap, pressing her chest against his, her nose brushing against his own.
"Mmph!" Mai's eyes widened and a surprised squeal escaped her mouth when his hand dipped to unexpectedly grab her backside. She pulled back, cheeks flushed and panting deeply. "I didn't say you could touch," she said, glaring at him as she stood up.
"You didn't say I couldn't touch either," James pointed out as he got up from the couch. His jeans were now uncomfortably tight, but he didn't care. Mai was a damn good kisser.
Mai's eyes dipped to the tent on clear display and cocked an eyebrow. "Problem?" she asked, obviously trying to embarrass him.
"Yeah, want to help me with the solution?" James suggested with a smirk, which shocked Mai.
Again, despite his physical body, he wasn't some blushing virgin who'd just discovered the female body. Don't get him wrong, he hadn't been banging a different girl every night or anything (that's how you catch diseases) but he'd had a few girlfriends.
"Well, I hope you enjoyed that, because it's the last one you're ever going to get!" Mai picked up her bag again.
"C'mon, Mai, don't be like that," James grabbed his own bag and held out his keycard. "Here, you can have the room."
Mai paused, her anger replaced by shock. "What?"
"Take it," he offered, holding out the keycard to her.
Mai studied James warily as she accepted the card, glancing between it and his earnest expression. She didn't bother hiding her skepticism.
"You're really just going to give me a luxury room?" she arched a delicate brow. "What's the catch?"
James glanced over at the window and saw the sun was almost completely hidden by the horizon. "No catch," he said with a casual shrug. "We'll be at the island by morning and I was going to spend the night out on the deck anyway."
It'd be dark soon, and he still needed to save Yugi's Exodia cards from Weevil.
James Deck 1
Monsters
Toy Emperor: ATK/2300 and DEF/800—Card Effect: If this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle, you can add 1 Trap Card from your Deck to your hand.
Toy Soldier: ATK/800 and DEF/300—Card Effect: During your Standby Phase, you can Special Summon up to 2 "Toy Soldiers" from your Deck.
Toy Magician: ATK/1600 and DEF 1500—Card Effect: You can Set this card from your hand to your Spell & Trap Zone as a Spell. During the End Phase, if this Set card in your Spell & Trap Zone was destroyed by an opponent's card effect and sent to the GY this turn: Special Summon this card. If this card is Flip Summoned: Destroy Spells and Traps on the field, equal to the number of "Toy Magicians" on the field.
Toy Knight: ATK/200 and DEF/1200—Card Effect: Cannot be Special Summoned from the Deck. If your opponent controls more monsters than you do, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand). When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 "Toy Knight" from your hand.
Rocket Warrior: 1500/ATK and DEF/1300—Card Effect: This effect is only active during the Battle Phase of your turn. Battle Damage to this card and this card's controller that they take from a battle involving this card becomes 0. After damage calculation, decrease the ATK of the monster that was attacked by this card by 500 points until the end of this turn.
Exiled Force: ATK/1000 and DEF/1000—Card Effect: Tributing this face-up card, destroy 1 monster on the field.
SPELLS
Monster Reborn: Target 1 monster in either GY; Special Summon it.
United We Stand: Increase the ATK and DEF of the equipped monster by 800 points for each face-up monster you control.
Pot of Greed: Draw 2 cards from your Deck.
Heavy Storm: Destroy all Spell and Trap Cards on the field.
Limiter Removal: Double the ATK of all Machine monsters you currently control, until the end of this turn. During the End Phase of this turn, destroy those monsters.
Crowning of the Emperor: Tribute 1 "Toy Soldier". Special Summon 1 "Toy Emperor" from your hand or Deck.
Fife and Drum Corps: Double the ATK of all monsters you control with 1000 or less ATK until the End Phase.
Forced March: Halve the ATK of all monsters you currently control. All monsters affected by this card can attack your opponent directly this turn.
Negate Attack: When your opponent attacks with a monster, negate the attack and make your opponent's Battle Phase end.
Foolish Burial: Select 1 Monster card from your Deck and send it to the Graveyard.
TRAP CARDS
Premature Burial: Pay 800 Life Points. Select 1 Monster Card from your Graveyard, Special Summon it in face-up Attack Position and equip it with this card. When this card is destroyed, the monster is also destroyed.
Call of the Haunted: Activate this card by targeting 1 monster in your GY; Special Summon that target in Attack Position. When this card leaves the field, destroy that monster. When that monster is destroyed, destroy this card.
Trap Hole: Activate only when your opponent Normal Summons or Flip Summons a monster with 1000 or more ATK. Destroy that monster.
Malfunction: Pay 500 Life Points. Negate the activation of a Trap Card and return it to its original position.
Gulliver Chain: Activate only by selecting 1 monster your opponent controls when you change its battle position by a card effect. Change that monster to a face-up Defense Position. Then, when that monster is in Attack Position, destroy it and this card.
Toy Cannon: Select 1 face-up Attack Position monster your opponent controls. Change it to Defense Position, and inflict 400 damage to your opponent.
Unequal Treaty: Activate only when a monster you control inflicts Battle Damage to your opponent by a direct attack. Each time your opponent draws a card(s), gain 100 Life Points and inflict 100 damage to your opponent.
Rainbow Life: Discard 1 card. All damage you took this turn prior to this card's activation is negated. Increase your Life Points by the amount of damage negated by this card's effect.
Ultimate Offering: During your Main Phase or your opponent's Battle Phase: You can pay 500 Life Points; immediately after this effect resolves, Normal Summon/Set 1 monster.