I'll need to go through the numbers, but I think this story has become one of my most popular ones to date. I've been doing fan fiction for years and Game's Magic is up there with stories that I have had up for years. I'm so glad you like this.
"Yuugi wins!" announced Jounouchi.
"No . . ." moaned Miho.
They were gathered around a desk, Yuugi and Miho playing Duel Monsters while the others watched.
"I don't believe it," said Honda.
"I did it! I won!" cheered Yuugi.
"No way! I lost?" Miho cried, looking at her cards and sulking.
"Way to go, Yuugi," Anzu congratulated.
"You sure are cold when it comes to games," Jounouchi commented.
Yuugi turned to him. "But this is the first time I've won this game," he defended.
Miho sniffled. "Miho also was playing this card game for the first time."
Yuugi's expression fell. "Miho-chan . . ."
"There's always next time, Miho-chan," Mahou tried to console.
Honda slammed his hands on the table and got in Yuugi's face. "Why you, Yuugi!"
Yuugi's chair tipped back and he fell onto the floor.
"You made Miho-chan cry!" Honda shouted at him. "You're not a man! I, beautification member Honda Hiroto-sama, will clean up your dirtied spirit!"
"Sorry . . ." Yuugi said weakly.
Anzu and Mahou helped him up.
"Wait, Honda-kun! It's not Yuugi's fault," Anzu scolded. "This is a game after all."
"Yup yup. Cool your head, janitor member," Jounouchi teased.
"Beautification member!" Honda corrected angrily.
"Squid member?" Jounouchi toyed.
"Yes, yes. White and swimming in the ocean with ten legs," Honda answered, oblivious to what Jounouchi was doing. "Wriggling like this . . . and going . . ." He acted out being a squid.
"That's an octopus member," Jounouchi corrected.
"No! I'm a beautification member!" Honda snapped.
"Mandarin member?" Jounouchi asked innocently.
"Yes, yes. Full of vitamin C. Round, sweet, a bit acidic mandarin," replied Honda.
Jounouchi sighed. "How long are you going to keep this up?"
"You're the one forcing me to!" Honda retorted. "I'm talking to Yuugi!"
"At any rate, it's not Yuugi's fault," Anzu pointed out. "There's no reason for him to apologize."
Miho got up and hugged Honda. "Honda-kun!" she cried.
"Miho-chan . . ." Honda glared at Yuugi. "It is Yuugi's fault."
"Sorry," Yuugi said again.
Anzu gave him a little pinch. "I said don't apologize."
"But . . ."
A chime sounded and there was an announcement. "First year class B Mutou Yuugi-kun . . . First year class B Mutou Yuugi-kun, please come to the infirmary right now."
"Huh? Me?"
Mahou turned to Yuugi. "Did something happen?"
Yuugi shrugged.
"Go on, Yuugi," said Jounouchi.
"I can take over," Mahou suggested, taking out her Duel Monsters deck.
"Okay." Yuugi left the classroom.
Mahou sat down in Yuugi's vacant seat. "Miho-chan, would you like to play against me?"
School let out for the day and Anzu, Yuugi, and Mahou were standing outside the main gate.
"So I have something to do . . ." Yuugi said, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
Anzu put her hands on her hips. "Wait, Yuugi. You're not going to the game center again, are you?"
"Eh. No," he replied, not facing her.
"Yuugi, you put a lot of money into games," Anzu said. "You're abusing your grandpa."
"It's not the game center! Bye!" Yuugi jogged off, leaving Mahou behind.
Anzu turned to her. "He's going to game center, isn't he?"
Mahou didn't answer.
Anzu sighed. "Just make sure he's not spending all your family's money on games."
"He won't," said Mahou. She hurried to catch up with him.
Yuugi and Mahou walked into the game center. Yuugi looked around for a specific game.
"What are we looking for, Yuugi?" Mahou asked.
"The new fighting game," replied Yuugi.
Mahou scanned the area. "I don't see it," she said, not seeing anything different from their last visit.
"Where could it be?" Yuugi muttered. "I wonder if it's not here yet."
"Sir, miss, are you looking for something?" asked an employee.
Mahou didn't recognize him. He's new.
"The new game," Yuugi answered.
"Oh, right. It's this way. You're the first, sir. This way," said the employee.
"Really? I'm first?" Yuugi asked excitedly.
"This way," the employee insisted, leading them to a hallway.
"Lucky!" beamed Yuugi. "I get to be the first to try it. You can go after me, Mahou."
"I don't care for fighting games," Mahou said. "Maybe I'll play a few rounds of pinball later."
They followed the employee into the back. He opened the door and ushered them through it. It was the back of the building. There was a car parked with its door open.
"This is the back door," said Yuugi.
"Just come already, Yuugi!" The employee grabbed Yuugi and shoved him towards the car.
Mahou got caught between them and they were both forced into the back of the car. The door shut behind them and the car started moving. Mahou ended up on the floor. Yuugi was on the seat being held down by the employee.
"What are you doing?" shouted Yuugi.
A woman's voice chuckled from the front seat. "Yuugi-kun, let's continue our game." An old gentleman with a monocle turned around to look at them. He held up a Duel Monster card. "You want your Neon Knight card back, right?"
Mahou's eyes widened. How does he have Yuugi's Neon Knight?
"That voice . . ." gasped Yuugi.
The woman's voice laughed again, sliding into male.
"It's one of the Game Shitennou, Baron Didory Sheldan," said the employee. He pulled off his mask.
"Kaiba-kun!" cried Yuugi.
"I will bring you to your knees in the Mansion of Dolls!" Kaiba told him.
"Mansion of Dolls?" Yuugi repeated.
"Will you show me a Yami Game?" chuckled Baron Sheldan.
Yuugi looked at him in confusion.
Mahou stared in horror before finding her voice. "Let me up!" She kicked at whosever's leg was by hers.
Kaiba grunted. "You!" he snarled at her.
"Kaiba-sama, that is not how a gentleman treats a lady," Baron Sheldan chastised. "Even a lady of a lower rank."
Mahou wiggled herself up so she was sitting on the edge of the backseat. "You don't know what you're asking . . ." she whispered.
But no one heard her.
The room at Kaiba's mansion they were put in was decorated with porcelain dolls with haunting faces. Baron Sheldan was holding a nicer looking one: a blonde, blue-eyed girl in a pink dress and hat. A table was put in the middle of it all and was set for Duel Monsters. Baron Sheldan sat on one side while Yuugi sat on the other. Kaiba stood at Baron Sheldan's side while Mahou was in a chair within his reach.
"How creepy . . ." murmured Yuugi, looking at the decorations.
Creepy is right, Mahou silently agreed.
"Does something about this Mansion of Dolls displease you?" Baron Sheldan asked Yuugi.
"All those eyes looking at me creeps me out," Yuugi told him.
"They all want to see you fall to your knees in loss," said Kaiba.
Yuugi gritted his teeth angrily at him.
Kaiba laughed. "Hurry and pull your card. Begin the game!"
Baron Sheldan held up his card. "I will use your card first."
"My Neon Knight!"
"Then let's begin," said Kaiba. "The Baron gets the first turn. Duel!"
Baron Sheldan set Neon Knight on the field. "Attack on the Mountain field!"
"Starting off with that?" Yuugi said aloud. "Neon Knight's . . . attack power is too high."
"Now show me your real power," Baron Sheldan told him.
Mahou watched in apprehension. He's trying to draw out Yami . . .
"I can't . . . I can't beat Neon Knight," said Yuugi. "It can't be helped. Then I use Devil Dragon on the Wasteland field. Defense." He placed the card down.
Baron Sheldan looked at the move. "You will regret battling so passively."
"Huh?"
"Do you know why I left Neon Knight on the mountain?" asked Baron Sheldan. "That's because on the Mountain field the lightning will help him."
The Duel Monsters appeared and Neon Knight destroyed Yuugi's Devil Dragon in a blast of lightning. Yuugi was knocked back to the floor.
Mahou jumped up. "Yuugi!" She noticed Yuugi was getting back up slowly.
"I told you that you would regret it," said Baron Sheldan. "This is the Mansion of Dolls. If you lose your life points even if using defense . . . A fight is a fight. Yuugi-kun, if you're going to be in a fight, then come at me!"
"That's true." Yami stood up. "How idiotic, being protective and getting hurt. It's my turn."
There he is, thought Kaiba.
Yami took his seat and smirked. "I will attack you . . . Baron Sheldan."
Baron Sheldan stared at him in shock. He's different. It's like a different person for before.
Mahou returned to her chair, too.
Yami chose a card from his hand. "Death Wolf attacks on the Forest field."
"Wolf monster Death Wolf," repeated Baron Sheldan.
The wolf appeared behind Yami.
"Plus one more card. A shadow."
"Planning to fight Neon Knight using the dark sword?" asked Baron Sheldan. "I think that is most reckless."
Yami continued to smirk. "Really?"
"I wonder how long that front of yours will last," Baron Sheldan said, selecting a card from his hand. "Then I will meet you in a full fight! King Beetle!"
A massive Hercules beetle appeared and started shooting fire from its horn.
"There is no way King Beetle's flame attack can be overcome by Death Wolf and Shadowman! Too bad!" Baron Sheldan said.
"That's my line," said Yami. "You didn't think that one through, Baron Sheldan. Shadowman!"
Shadowman shoved its sword into the ground. The room darkened.
"Th-this is . . ." stammered Baron Sheldan.
"Shadowman's use isn't in battle," said Yami. "He uses his dark sword to turn the field into darkness."
Mahou's breathing came a bit quicker. She gripped her skirt tightly.
Yami glanced in her direction. Forgive me, Mahou-san. I know you don't like dark places.
Death Wolf howled.
"Damn!" swore Baron Sheldan.
"King Beetle and Neon Knight are weak in the darkness," Yami said. "But Death Wolf is strong in the darkness."
Death Wolf attacked Neon Knight and destroyed it.
"Neon Knight!" Baron Sheldan lamented.
Death Wolf disappeared back into the darkness.
King Beetle began attacking in the direction of where Death Wolf went.
"That's it!" encouraged Baron Sheldan. "Attack with flaming attack, King Beetle!"
Yami scoffed. "How pointless."
Death Wolf jumped out and put the horn between its jaws. They struggled at a stalemate.
Yami drew back in surprise. "What? Cut the horn!" he commanded.
The horn broke and King Beetle exploded. Death Wolf howled in victory.
"You let your guard down, Baron Sheldan," said Yami. "I win."
"Damn you! You okay, Fiona?"
The little doll was dirty, but in one piece.
"Fiona!" He turned back to Yami. "Unforgivable!"
Yami chuckled. "Now . . . your turn."
Kaiba turned to the baron. "Hurry and continue the game, Sheldan!"
"Right." He drew a card and put another down. "Gargoyle on the Mountain field! Try taking his Tornado attack!"
Yami put his hands up to protect against the wind. "Come forward, Knight Soldier!"
The soldier blocked the attack with its shield. Gargoyle attacked Knight Soldier.
"Knight Soldier with his sword has an advantage to those who fling themselves at him," said Yami.
But Knight Soldier was having trouble.
"The sword doesn't work?" frowned Yami.
Baron Sheldan chuckled.
Gargoyle destroyed Knight Soldier.
"Not possible," Yami said in disbelief. "Knight Soldier had a sword . . . and lost to Gargoyle! What is going on? Actually, it also happened earlier with King Beetle."
Death Wolf's fang wasn't able to bite off its horn in one try. Strange. Something's wrong. For a sword to not affect Gargoyle . . . Why?
Mahou was having a similar thought. Her eyes slid over to Kaiba. Kaiba . . . did you rig this game into Baron Sheldan's favor . . . because you don't think you can beat Yami in a fair fight? First it was slipping Blue Eyes Dragon into your hand, now this? You cheater!
"Your turn, Yuugi-kun," Baron Sheldan said confidently. "Now . . . look, Fiona, at him begging on his knees."
Yami glared over his cards. Creepy Bisque Doll. His mouth parted. A doll? I see . . . so that's it! This is a Mansion of Dolls. All the monsters that he controls are dolls. This is a Doll field!
"(Hurry up,) Yuugi-kun!" Baron Sheldan said impatiently.
"Hurry up and admit your defeat!" said Kaiba.
Mahou narrowed her eyes at him.
"Think all you want, it's a waste of time," said Baron Sheldan.
A Doll field . . . thought Yami. All right . . .
"I attack! A magic card on Death Wolf. Howl, Death Wolf!"
Death Wolf began to howl loudly.
Baron Sheldan gasped. "Th-this is . . ."
"Using the magic card's power it changes Death Wolf's howl into a destructive wave," Yami informed.
"Armoring it? How cheeky. Burn everything away, Salamander!"
The flaming salamander appeared on the field.
"It's no use," Yami told him. "A doll monster cannot win against a destructive wave."
Doll monster? Mahou realized it then. It's a doll field! That's why Kaiba brought us here! It gives the baron the advantage.
"Just fall into pieces," said Yami.
"You bastard!"
Baron Sheldan's monsters began to crumble into nothing.
"Oh, no! Gargoyle! Salamander!"
"I win," Yami announced.
The baron had to jump out of the way of the disintegrating monsters.
Yami stood up. "Game over. Too bad, Baron Sheldan."
The baron glared at Yami from the floor.
Yami walked around the table. "Mahou-san, we're leaving."
Mahou got up and followed Yami to the door.
Kaiba gritted his teeth. "This isn't over, Yuugi!"
Yami paused at the door and looked back. "No, it isn't."
Mahou sat in her room with her sketchbook. She was in the process of added some color to the scene she had made. A man was fleeing from a howling wolf in the dark woods while the wolf's master looked on, red eyes glowing in the black. A doll was perched on a chair in the middle while a prince raged in his castle.
You do not know how lucky you are, Baron Sheldan, thought Mahou. And Kaiba . . . what will you try next? How long will be it before Yami has enough and hurts you?
The next day at school Yuugi and Miho played Duel Monsters again.
"I won again," said Yuugi, scratching the back of his neck.
Miho moaned. "I lost! Oh no! Let's do it one more time. If I lose, I'll give you a kiss."
"Eh! A kiss?" the boys cried and they began fighting who would duel Miho next.
"Yuugi, switch games with me!"
"N-no!"
Miho smiled.
"Hey! What did you say, Miho!" scolded Anzu.
The boys were holding each other back and made kissy faces at Miho.
Anzu trembled in anger. "Damn it all!" She grabbed the cards and shoved them in Yuugi's face. "Idiots! Go kiss the game!" She stormed out of the classroom.
"What a scary kiss," said Honda.
"Yuugi can never beat Anzu," said Jounouchi.
Mahou shook her head.
The boys laughed.
I will admit I do feel a little bad about Miho and Mahou playing Duel Monsters and not going into their match. I'm not sure if I'll ever feature a duel with Mahou. I have tried to write my own duels in the past, but they never come out so good.