Disclaimer::::
I do not own Harry Potter or Yu-Gi-Oh! Characters. Only my OC character (s).
I don't make any profit from any of my stories on this website.
Rated M due to language.
"Characters Speaking"
Characters Thinking
/Authors Comments\
~~~Chapter Seventeen~~~
~~~Previous~~~
Yami leans against the wall, hands inside his pockets. "The hospital has something quite handy."
"Especially inside that certain room," I add.
Gouyuu's eyes widen. "The nurse centre's mail drop?"
Yami smirks. "Hole-in-one. I win. You may be knowledgeable in golf courses…but you don't know your way around the hospital course."
"You bastard!" Gouyuu curses. He lifts his club and walks toward us. "Give that tape back!"
I narrow my eyes. "Yami," I call out.
"I know," Yami replies.
Gouyuu brings his club down. We both move out of the way. The club hits the floor, and the end snaps off. Gouyuu falls forward with a yell. He rolls forward and lands on his back.
A gold eye appears on Yami's forehead. "The door of darkness has opened."
Gouyuu rolls over to his stomach. The surgery door opens, and people begin staggering out. "Sensei…" They surround him. "Sensei…"
He lets out a scream. Yami and I share a look before we turn around and walk away.
~~~3rd POV~~~
~~~At the Station~~~
Jounouchi rushes to the station, and his eyes widen when he sees Miyuki with her luggage. "Miyuki-san!"
She looks behind her. "Jounouchi-kun!"
Jounouchi, who has his head lowered. Breathing heavily lifts his head once he regains his breath. "Miyuki-san. Please return to the hospital. I'll prove it wasn't your mistake."
"Jounouchi-kun…" Miyuki trails off.
"Miyuki-san. I…I…" Jounouchi holds out the flowers. "…please take this!" He lets out a gasp when he notices the flowers are gone.
Miyuki reaches out and takes the flowers anyway. "Thank you. But I…had decided beforehand to quit that hospital."
"But…" Jounouchi trails off.
A man walks over. Miyuki looks at him with a smile, while Jounouchi looks at him with a surprised face. Miyuki looks at Jounouchi. "I'm going with this Sensei to a tiny clinic on an island. I'm sure the work will be good." Miyuki holds up her hand. "Come visit on your summer vacation, okay? Give my best to Shizuka-chan, too. So…Goodbye!" She walks off with the man.
Jounouchi stands there with his head lowered and arms down by his sides. "Miyuki-san."
~~~Next Day~~~
~~~At the Hospital~~~
"I'm joining the competition. Of course, I put off the surgery." Gouyuu's voice is heard through the tape.
"That's right. I like golf more than my patients!" Gouyuu agrees, his eyes wide. He laughs as a nurse, and patients look down at him as he lies on the floor.
~~~Isis's POV~~~
We sneak to the hospital before Jounouchi and enter Shizuka's room.
It isn't long before the door opens. "Shizuka! I brought cake!" Jounouchi calls out.
The others use party poppers, which release confetti that lands on Jounouchi. "Congratulations on your appearance!"
"Wh-what?" Jounouchi says in disbelief.
"It was a splendid defeat," Anzu states with a smile.
Miho wipes her eyes. "It was too bad."
"Jounouchi-kun, in times like this…" Yuugi starts.
"…It's best to go through it with everyone, right?" I finish.
Jounouchi looks at us with blank eyes. "You guys!"
"Onii-chan. Everyone was worried about you, Onii-chan." Shizuka points out.
Honda walks forward and places a hand on Jounouchi's shoulder. "That's right, Jounouchi. I greatly understand how you feel. You can cry! Here on this beautification member's chest!"
Jounouchi looks at Honda with narrowed eyes. "Honda…you…you're smiling!"
Honda laughs.
"Honestly, you, too, never stop," I comment with a sigh. Oh well, at least Jounouchi is feeling better compared to before.
~~~Present~~~
~~~3rd POV~~~
Lighting flashes in a dark, cloudy, rainy sky as a plane flies past.
Inside the airport, many media people look outside as it rains heavily.
The plane slowly lands and stops in front of the entrance.
The media flash their cameras and hold their microphones, ready for their next scoop. A woman stands in front of them, a suitcase by her side. The woman has tanned skin with long black hair tied in braids. She is wearing a yellow hat, black sunglasses, a green ribbon choker, a green beaded necklace, multiple bangles, a purple long-sleeved top that ends midriff, a short white skirt, and purple sandals.
"Aileen-san, welcome to Japan!" A man in a blue suit greets.
"Aileen-san, why are you visiting our country?" A female wearing a yellow suit asks.
"Is it for promotion? Or is it private?" A female wearing a green suit questions.
Aileen picks up her suitcase and flashes by them. The media snapped out of shock as Aileen approached the door. "Ah…Aileen-san! Please tell us why you cancelled your work in Paris to come to Japan!"
Aileen stops and turns her head to look at them. A smirk appears on her face. She exits and looks around. A car beeps, and a red car stops in front of her. A young man with shoulder-length brown hair and eyes wearing black clothes looks at her with a smirk from the window. "Get in."
The media snap out of it and rush outside. "Aileen-san! Aileen-san!"
They are too late as she gets in the car, and the car speeds off. "Wasn't that the soccer player Hirada?" The man wearing the blue suit queries.
The woman in a yellow suit lets out a surprised gasp. "That international player?"
The car speeds away from the airport and down the road. "Let's go eat." Hirada offers.
"There's somewhere I want to go. Just take me there." Aileen orders; she removes her gold lighter and lights up her cigarette.
"You called me just to be your chauffeur?" Hirada demands, annoyed.
Aileen lets out a puff of smoke. "You think you're a playboy?" He glances at her. "Sorry. I've come to play a game with him."
Hirada lets out a scoff as he glances away. "Then play with me. I'm good at games."
"You're good? I didn't know." Aileen comments.
"From balls to chess, I can do anything." Hirada brags. "Let's go to my mansion."
They head to his apartment and head inside. Aileen sets up the game. Hirada looks at the game, confused. "That's it?"
"It's raijinhai. It's similar to shogi." Aileen states.
"Tell me the rules." Hirada orders. "If I win, you're going on a date with me today."
"Okay." Aileen agrees. "But if you lose the game, you will lose something important to you." Aileen takes off her sunglasses to show her black eyes.
~~~Kaiba's Mansion~~~
Kaiba is sitting behind his desk when he hears footsteps and looks up as Aileen enters. "You're late."
She walks closer to his desk. "I had to do a short game with a boring opponent. He was no fun. Seto promised to introduce me to an opponent. I even came to Japan for this. What a side trip." Aileen sits down on the couch, one leg resting over the other. "So, who's the opponent this time?"
Kaiba doesn't answer. He presses a button on his control, and the news appears on the screen. "Soccer player Hirada had to be hospitalised! His body just suddenly is in bad shape."
"It's no use! I'm finished!" Hirada shouts as he is wheeled inside.
"Supermodel Aileen Rao-san…"
Aileen looks away from the screen and closes her eyes. "Who cares about this news?"
Kaiba picks up the remote. "Yeah. What I want to show you is this video."
A video of Yuugi playing Duel Monsters with the school nurse appears.
"Who's he?" Aileen questions.
"Your opponent this time," Kaiba replies without hesitation.
Aileen looks at him. "Seto." She stands up. "You didn't forget why I am one of the Shitennou, did you? It's because you introduce me to smart or famous men as game opponents." She points her hand at the screen. "Crushing this child won't be fun at all." She folds her arms across his chest and looks away from Kaiba.
"He's no ordinary child," Kaiba states. Aileen looks at him. "Look more carefully."
Aileen looks back at the screen. It shows when Yami takes over against the Baron in the Doll House. Her eyes widen. "What? He has a different feeling to him."
"He's Yuugi. When he plays games, he becomes strong." Kaiba points out.
"Oh? This seems pretty good." Aileen comments, interested.
"Two Shitennou have already lost to him," Kaiba adds.
Aileen looks at him. "And you?"
"A draw," Kaiba admits.
"At Duel Monsters?" Aileen queries. "I'm getting excited. So, he's the real thing?" She looks at the screen with a smirk on her face. "Nice. I want to crush him."
Kaiba stands up. "Then go! Those are your orders."
~~~Isis's POV~~~
I slowly stir and open my eyes. I look at my clock and can't help but let out a sigh. Really…once again, I wake up early. It has only just turned dawn. I hear tapping on my balcony window. I get out and bed and head towards it. I open my curtain and let out a soft chuckle when I see Hedwig and Padfoot waiting outside my window, their eyes begging to be let in.
I open the window. As soon as I do, Hedwig flies in and lands on her perch while Padfoot rushes towards me and jumps into my arms. I pat Padfoot softly before looking at Hedwig and back to Padfoot. "Did you have a nice hunt?"
Padfoot lets out a bark. I did, I did. I caught a rabbit.
Hedwig lets out a screech. I caught my prey without hesitation, chick.
I let out a soft chuckle. "As long as the pair of you had fun."
I sat on my bed, placed Padfoot on my lap, and picked up a book about Egyptian myths and legends. I sit silently as I read until I hear movement from Grandfather's room. I place Padfoot on my bed. I give him a pat and rub Hedwig's chest before heading into the bathroom. I shower quickly, dry my hair, and get dressed before heading downstairs.
Grandfather had just finished breakfast and placed it on the table when I made it down. "Morning, Grandfather."
"Morning, Isis." Grandfather greets me with a smile.
I let out a chuckle. "Yuugi, breakfast is ready," I call out.
As usual, there is a bang from upstairs. "C-Coming!" Yuugi calls back.
I listen as Yuugi rushes down the stairs. "Morning, Yuugi." Grandfather and I greet at the same time.
"Good morning, Jii-chan! Isis-nee!" Yuugi greets happily.
"Let's eat breakfast before it gets cold," I stated softly.
We quickly ate breakfast before heading to the store. It isn't long before the door opens, and Anzu comes rushing inside, excitement written across her face. "Look, look, look! I finally got it!" She shakes a video excitedly in front of her face. "It's Aileen Rao's super exercise!" She lowers the video.
I let out a soft chuckle. Anzu is wearing a long-sleeved pink top, blue shorts with straps over her shoulder, yellow thigh socks, and white trainers.
"Who's Aileen Rao?" Yuugi questions.
Anzu's eyes widen as she looks at Yuugi. "What are you saying?" Anzu waves her arms about and jumps from one foot to the other. "She's a nineteen-year-old exciting supermodel! Aileen Rao!" She stops moving about and holds out her hand in the air.
"Hmmm…" Yuugi states, blinking his eyes as he gazes at Anzu.
Anzu looks at Yuugi in disbelief. "'Hmmm'? That's all?"
"I know her too," Grandfather admits. "Seems she's come to Japan. Seems she's escaped the press. It's all hushed up."
"I've never heard of her," I admit softly.
Anzu looks at me with a pout on her face. "You're from England, so you wouldn't know her." Anzu looks at Yuugi and places a hand on his shoulder. "See. Even your grandpa knows. So, what are you doing?"
Yuugi backs away slightly and looks at Anzu with wide eyes. "Jii-chan has too much free time, so he watches variety shows."
"What do you mean free time?" Grandfather demands as he folds his arms on the counter. "I just saw it between work."
Yuugi looks away from Grandfather and looks back at Anzu. "She's that famous?"
Anzu's eyes sparkle, and stars appear in them. She clutches the video to her chest, both hands clutching it. "Aileen was originally a dancer." Anzu spins around, arms held out in the air. "She's also appeared in Broadway musicals. She's my idol!" Anzu stops spinning around.
Yuugi and I let out a faint, amazed sound as we shared a look.
Anzu takes a step forward. "This video shows Aileen's dancing and how she gets those proportions." She spins around again. "I'm going to do a lot of exercise!"
I hear faint footsteps before the door opens.
"Welcome." Grandfather greets.
A foreign woman is standing there.
Yuugi places a hand over his mouth and looks at Grandfather. "It's a foreigner, jii-chan," Yuugi whispers.
Grandfather looks at Yuugi, placing a hand over his mouth and whispering. "I hope she can speak Japanese."
I let out a soft chuckle. "I know multiple languages, remember." I point out, whispering.
Yuugi and Grandfather share a look and nod their heads.
Anzu looks at her wide-eyed, a hand resting on her cheek. "This person has such great proportions."
She walks over and lets out a faint sound when she sees the video in Anzu's grasp. She holds out one hand while holding a pen in the other. "Let me see." She takes the video and begins writing on it.
Anzu lets out a gasp and holds out her hands. "Hey! What are you doing?"
She hands the video back to Anzu and turns to the side, arms folded across her chest. "A signed version would make it better."
Anzu looks from her now signed video to her and back again. She takes off her glasses. Anzu shouts and points at her, backing away in surprise.
She bangs into Yuugi. "What is it, Anzu?"
Anzu stutters, but no words come out as she looks at the woman with wide eyes and a gaping mouth.
The woman walks over to the counter. "If you have any rare games, I'd like to see them."
"What kind of game do you like?" Grandfather questions.
She turns away and places a finger against the side of her chin. "I don't like ones that rely on luck. Ones where you read and trick each other are good."
Grandfather folds his arms across the counter and lets out a pondering sound. "This is a difficult order."
She looks away from Grandfather and looks at Yuugi. "What kind of game are you good at?"
Yuugi blinks, surprised. "Me? I like all games."
She looks surprised before a smile appears and lets out a thoughtful sound.
Anzu snaps out of her shock and points at her with a grin. "Aileen Rao!" Aileen backs away, surprised, as Anzu takes a step forward. "Why are you in a place like this?"
"What do you mean 'a place like this'?" Grandfather queries. "Although she is the hot chick who I saw on television."
Anzu looks at her with glittering eyes with stars in them as she gazes up at Aileen. "Umm…I…umm…" Anzu hugs her slightly. "I'm your fan, Aileen-san!"
Aileen places her hands on Anzu's shoulder. "Right, right." She looks at Yuugi. "Is she your girlfriend?"
Yuugi lets out a surprised sound. "No…uh…Anzu isn't…"
I narrow my eyes when she narrows her eyes at Yuugi's stuttered answer. She holds out a card and gives it to Anzu. "This is where I'm staying." A smile appears on her face. "You're my fan; I'll show you around."
Anzu lets out a faint sound. "Okay! I accept!"
She looks at Yuugi and me. "And you too."
Yuugi points at himself. "Me too?"
"Yes. Find an interesting game and bring it, please." Aileen comments.
"Okay." Yuugi agrees.
Aileen turns around, lifting her hand in the air. "I'm counting on you, okay?" She walks towards the door. She opens it, turns back, and waves with a smile before closing the door.
Anzu waves at the closed door with a grin on her face.
"That hot chick is rich, right? I wonder if she'll buy an overpriced game I can't usually sell?" Grandfather ponders.
"Hey!" Anzu scolds, snapping out of it and pulling her gaze from the closed door.
"Grandfather!" I scolded before letting out a soft chuckle.
~~~Next Day~~~
Anzu knocks on the door early in the morning, dressed in a short-sleeved lilac dress with a black strapped cardigan. In her arms is a bouquet of pink flowers. "Wow! Supermodels are so different."
"Well, they have money to live in places like this." I point out softly.
"Anzu!" Yuugi calls out. He is breathing heavily as he is carrying many bags. "Carry some of these."
"No." Anzu refused without hesitation. "The flowers would get crushed."
Yuugi lets out a sigh. I let out a soft chuckle. "Nearly there, Yuugi."
We head inside, and when we get to the right room, Anzu is quick to ring the doorbell, anticipation in her eyes. Aileen opens the door. She is wearing a red dress with a one-shoulder green dress over the top. "Welcome."
We take off our shoes and head inside. Aileen leads us to a room. Anzu looks around in amazement. "What a lovely room."
"An acquaintance I know in Japan arranged it for me," Aileen admits.
"Aileen-san is half Canadian and half Indian, right?" I question softly.
"Yes. My tastes are similar to my father's. That's why this room is like this." Aileen comments.
"Umm…where should I put this?" Yuugi asks.
Aileen looks at Yuugi and makes a faint sound before holding her hand in front of her. "Please leave it on that table."
I take a few bags from Yuugi, and the pair head to the table. I see Anzu look at Aileen shyly. "Ummm…please take these flowers."
Aileen takes them. "Thank you." She brings them up to her nose.
We sit down while Yuugi shows the games he brought. "Jii-chan said to try this one. But putting the board together will take some time."
"Can you please put it together so that I can see?" Aileen requests.
"Wait a moment," Yuugi states.
I let out a soft chuckle. "I'll help Yuugi."
Aileen lets out a chuckle. "Looks like this will take some time." Aileen stands up. "Let's go to the next room. It's my dance room."
"Okay!" Anzu agrees without hesitation.
They leave the room. Yuugi and I put the game together. We had just finished when Aileen returned, though Anzu wasn't with her. Yuugi looks at her when he notices her. "Ah, we're done."
Aileen shuts the door, and I narrow my eyes when she locks it with a key. Yuugi looks at her, confused. "Aileen-san?"
"What an honest and good kid." Aileen comments. I narrow my eyes while Yuugi lets out a confused sound. Aileen looks at us. "She's so honest that she took my suggestion immediately. " Aileen walks towards the window partition in the room. "She can't move anymore. Not even if she gets tired." She looks back at us. "All she can do is hold that pose."
Yuugi and I share a look before rushing over. "Anzu!" We both call out.
"It's no use. The wall is soundproof, and that's a magic mirror. She can't hear our voices, and she can't see anything." Aileen adds.
Yuugi turns his head to look at her, confusion in his eyes. "But why?"
"If you want to save her, you must beat me in a game," Aileen smirks.
"It can't be…" Yuugi trails off.
I narrow my eyes. "You work for Kaiba."
"Yes. That's right." Aileen holds her arms out to the sides. "I am one of Kaiba's Shitennou."
Yuugi lets out a gasp of surprise as his eyes widen.
Aileen lifts a hidden necklace from under her dress. "I challenge you to a game! And it's raijinhai!"
"Raijinhai?" Yuugi and I repeat at the same time.
A closed box is on a table. Aileen looks down at the box. "It's a game passed down by the Rao family. It's a game like shogi."
"I don't know that game!" Yuugi admits.
"The rules are simple; you'll learn them quickly. But in this game…the loser loses something important. In your case, it might be that girl!" Aileen points at Anzu.
Yuugi lets out a gasp. He turns and bangs on the mirror. "Anzu! Anzu!"
"If you want to save her, you must beat me," Aileen states.
Yuugi looks at Aileen before looking back at Anzu, his gaze worried.
"Now…let's begin." Aileen orders.
The Millennium Puzzle glows, and Yami takes over. "You want to play a game with me so badly that you'll take Anzu as a hostage?"
"Yami, calm down," I mutter softly.
Yami looks at me and nods his head.
A smirk appears on Aileen's face. "So, you finally show your true self."
"What will you lose if you're the loser?" Yami questions.
"I've never lost before, so I don't know," Aileen admits.
"If I win, you will free Anzu," Yami demands.
Aileen sits down at the table, one leg crossed over the other. "Of course! So, let me explain the rules."
Yami sits down, and I stand behind him as Aileen explains the rules. "There are ten pieces. Two soldiers. Two cavalries. Two elephants. Shogun. King. Queen. One each. And…Raijin Indra. The soldier is the weakest, and the king is the strongest. Pick a piece."
Yami picks an elephant.
"We'll each pick a piece and duel them." Aileen places the shogun forward. "The shogun is stronger than the elephant, so the elephant loses." She takes the elephant and moves it to the side. "The shogun won, so he can return to his camp." She takes the shogun back. "If you win, you can send it out as often as you want."
"And in a draw?" Yami questions.
"Both die in battle. There are two exceptions." Aileen places the queen forward. "The queen can only beat the king." She places Indra forward. "Indra is invincible. He can beat anything, but he can only be used once. He isn't returned to camp."
"How is the match decided?" Yami asks.
"There are several variations, but…Let's go with the easiest one. The first to lose the king loses." Aileen comments.
"King? This?" Yami looks at the king piece.
"And this game board has a device. This gate is set up so you can set your figure without your opponent seeing." A gate appears. "Press the side button…" The gate disappears. "…then it opens up to show each other's piece. I'll wait for you to draw up a plan. It's your first game, after all."
Yami and I look at Anzu before Yami looks back at Aileen. "Let's begin. It's game time."
The gate goes up. "Then, pick a piece and place it beside the gate."
"Okay." Yami agrees and picks his piece.
"Let me guess before we open it. Your piece is the cavalry." We look at Aileen, surprised. "Open." Yami had put down the cavalry, while Aileen had put down an elephant. "The cavalry loses to the elephant." The calvary is removed to the side. "The winner elephant returns to camp." She takes her elephant piece back. The gate goes up. "Shall I guess at what you're thinking? You're thinking I'm cheating somehow."
"The next match." The gate disappears. "The king?"
Aileen takes Yami's piece. "You're thinking that again. This is my room, and I set up this Raijinhai game. I'm going to win without any tricks." The gate goes up. "Perhaps I know everything you are thinking."
"Of course, that can't be true." Yami denies it as he places down his next piece.
"Oh wait." Aileen leans forward. "I think I'll go with this."
"Open!" Yami calls out.
"The cavalry loses," Aileen states.
"The king again," Yami mutters.
Aileen takes Yami's piece. "Your army now has no more cavalries. And no shogun either."
Yami places his next piece.
"Open!" Aileen calls out. "Oh. Two soldiers simultaneously striking each other down? So, you finally get a kill?"
"Next!" Yami orders.
The gate disappears. Aileen picks up the queen. "Poor queen. Taken out of the battlefield. Now my king is pretty safe."
"Open!" Yami calls out.
The gate lowers. They have the same piece. "Double death," Yami states.
"For the first one, let's call it a draw." Aileen offers.
"What?" Yami questions, surprised.
"But since you don't lose anything, you don't retrieve anything either." Yami and I share a look before looking at Anzu. "The current rules will probably lead to a draw. Let's use the formal rule."
"Okay, as long as we come to a conclusion." Yami agrees.
Aileen pours herself a cup of tea. "In a situation where both sides lose…the one with more pieces left wins. But Indra and the queen aren't added to those numbers."
"Okay." Yami agrees.
Aileen takes her cup of tea and sits back down. "Depending on how this game proceeds, you might lose her. See the door in the room? My pet tiger is there. Each time you lose a piece, the door opens bit by bit. It's a tiger that only likes me. He would probably attack her."
"Stop it! This is in bad taste!" Yami scolds angrily.
"There isn't any need for this," I add disapprovingly.
"In ancient Raijinhai, life and death were at stake! Now…let's begin. Open!" Aileen calls out after Yami sits back down. Aileen takes Yami's piece. "Bye-bye, shogun. Curse your incompetent commander."
I narrow my eyes as the door hiding the tiger ascends slightly.
"Look!" Aileen orders.
Yami looks before he looks away and closes his eyes, relaxing.
"Can't see your girlfriend in danger?" Aileen taunts. "That's no good. You have to see properly."
I place a hand on Yami's shoulder and give it a gentle squeeze. Yami looks at me before he looks away and closes his eyes.
"What is it?" Aileen queries.
"If I'm an ineffective commander…Then I have no way of winning. Better to leave it to luck." Yami takes a piece and holds it in his fist, his eyes still closed.
"That's a bluff. You lost your shogun; you're at a disadvantage." Aileen points out. "Raijinhai isn't so easy that you can win that way."
Yami opens his eyes. "I let luck choose the piece for me. Now…hurry and pick yours."
"Okay." Aileen agrees.
"Before opening, let me guess. You picked the elephant." Yami comments.
"What?" Aileen exclaims, surprised.
Yami narrows his eyes. "I can see your trick."
"Guesswork? Or are you cheating?" Aileen queries.
"I remembered. You said you like games where you read and trick each other, not ones relying on luck." Yami states.
"So what?" Aileen questions.
"Raijinhai is a game based on probability and tactics as well as reading your opponent's thinking," Yami adds.
"Very good. You already understand the basic notion of Raijinhai." Aileen praises.
"That's the problem." Yami continues. "If you limit your opponent's thinking…it becomes easier to read them. You limited me by putting Anzu in danger. And you know my gaming ability from Kaiba."
"So?" Aileen questions.
"It's my first game, but…There's a way to keep me from figuring out the basic tactics of Raijinhai. However, it requires prudent tactics. Taking Anzu or Isis hostage was the only way."
"Open!" Aileen calls out. The gate lowers. "See! I win!"
"Look. An elephant, as I said." Yami states.
Aileen stands up. "You guessed!"
"To counter my randomly picked piece…you cannot decide whether to pick a king, queen, or Indra. There's a one-in-nine chance that I will pick a king. So…since I don't have a shogun, you sent the elephant. It's the best choice based on the probability and tactics. Am I wrong?"
"Think what you want. But you ended up losing another piece. Look, the door opens again." Ailene taunts.
Yami and I turn to see the door ascend even further, the tiger's paws and mouth poking out.
"You don't have the luxury of losing pieces!" Aileen warns.
Yami looks away from the door and back at Aileen. "I have chosen a strategy for beating you. I can read your mind. Open!"
Aileen had put the Indra forward. "I win!"
"And you've lost your trump card, the Indra…to the weakest opponent, the soldier." Yami points out. "I'm not cheating, nor are there any tricks. I also don't have some supernatural power for reading minds. I'm just reading the probabilities and strategies. All you can do is decide based on your opponent's words."
"But you don't have an established tactic. Raijinhai had 2000 years of tactics behind it." Aileen acknowledges.
"Open!" Yami calls out.
Aileen stands up, surprised. "The king here?" She loses her elephant.
Yami puts her elephant to the side. "The origins of games…comes from ancient Egypt. Open!"
Aileen's eyes widen, and she lets out a gasp of surprise.
Yami's puzzle glows. "I have 5000 years of Egypt's knowledge."
Aileen stands up, moves to the window, and opens the curtains. "I…lose, don't I?"
Yami stands up. "There's one mystery left. Raijinhai may have a long history…but it doesn't give you the power to manipulate people. Did you use hypnotism on Anzu?"
I shake my head. "Not quite hypnotism, I think."
"I just use words to get into the crevices of people's hearts. Confused by those words…when they lose the game, they lose something. They lose to the weakness in their own heart." Aileen states softly.
"So, even though you lost the game, you lost nothing. So, it was just a good strategy." Yami praises.
"No…I lost something." Aileen admits. She walks towards the door.
"Lost? What?" Yami queries.
She stops near the door. "I also have a mystery." She looks back at Yami. "When you closed your eyes to pick a piece. Was that really random?"
"That was the only way. It was so I could read your strategy. I've fought many strong opponents before. But you were especially strong, Aileen." Yami praises.
A smile appears on her face. "Thank you." She opens the door.
Yami lets Yuugi take over as he runs towards Anzu. "Anzu!"
Anzu suddenly slaps Yuugi's face, sending him to the floor. "Stop it!"
"Anzu!" Yuugi calls out in surprise.
"What are you doing, Yuugi?" Anzu demands with her hands on her hips. Anzu looks at Aileen. "Aileen-san! Yuugi got in the way." She looks back at Yuugi. "Aileen-san was giving me a lesson, too!"
"That's enough, Anzu. Don't forget the basics, okay?" Aileen orders softly.
"Okay." Anzu agrees with a smile on her face.
Yuugi stands up. "That hurt, Anzu. What are you doing?"
Anzu looks away with a pout on her face. "It's your fault for interrupting."
"No…how mean!" Yuugi exclaims.
"Sorry, sorry." Anzu apologises sheepishly.
We spent a little longer with Aileen before we headed back home.
~~~3rd POV~~~
Aileen heads to Kaiba's mansion and meets him in a dark room. "A complete loss? Furthermore, at your speciality, Raijinhai."
"He was strong," Aileen admits.
"You are no longer worthy of being a part of Kaiba's Shitennou," Kaiba states.
Aileen takes off her necklace and hands it back to Kaiba. "Seto. He's stronger than you!"
Kaiba narrows his eyes before looking away. "Get lost!" He orders angrily.
Aileen turns around and walks off.
Kaiba clenches his teeth in annoyance. Damn you, Yuugi! Don't think it ends here!
The next day, Aileen heads to the airport, ready to leave. Anzu, Yuugi, and Isis see her off.
"Ailene-san! I'll surely grow up to be like you! I'll work hard!" Anzu yells as she waves her arms in the air.
"Goodbye!" Yuugi and Isis call out at the same time, their arms also waving in the air.
/Thank you for reading this chapter. Please leave a review. Your opinions are appreciated.\