Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Kawaita Sakebi ❯ Ancient telescope & respect play ( Chapter 9 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

***
Ancient Telescope
A magic card that allows you to see the top five cards in your opponent's deck.
***

"Good afternoon, Master Kaiba."
"Gary."
"Jane sent you coffee, donuts and your mail, Sir."
"What's that?"
"Package for Miss Mai, Sir. I thought she was still here."
"Leave it here."
"But sir-"
"That will be all, Gary."
"Yes, Sir."

***
She is my employee; that gives me the right to open her mail. If it was really important she'd have been here to collect it. And she should have been here to collect her mail. Besides, if I open the box carefully, I could reseal it. It's probably art supplies, anyway.
Let's see. Three rather battered Harpy cards. One small envelope. Some medical papers. A note.

***
I have to find Mai.

***
"Turtle Card shop."
"Is Mai there?"
"Who is this?"
"Is Mai there?"
"Yeah, but she said she wanted to be alone. Can I help--? Hello?"
"Who was that?"
"Beats me."
"Where is Mai, anyway?"
"In the back."
"Is she baking cookies?"
"Hey, Mai-- I want peanut butter this time--"
"No, chocolate chip."
"Peanut Butter."
"Chocolate Chip."
"Peanut butter with chocolate chips."
"Hm. Ok."
"Guys, I don't think she's baking cookies."
"Women. Hey, Tea, why don't you bake some--"
"Yeah right-- why don't you?"
"I'll bet we could. Come on, man, how hard can it be?"
"I don't know."
"We'll make some plain peanut butter ones--"

***
"Mai."
"Hey Yami. What do you want?"
"Do you wish to discuss what is wrong?"
"No, not really."
"Would you prefer to talk to Yuugi?"
"No."
"Is there anything that you require?"
"Just hit me over the head and be done with it, ok."
"Mai, that is an odd request, However--"
"Ouch! Hey!"
"Well, you did state--"
"Never mind, just-- I just want to be alone."
"As you wish."

***
"Yuugi."
"Hey, Kaiba."
"Yuugi, are you aware something is burning?"
"I think it's ok, Tristan and Joey said something about making cookies."
"Ah."
"Hey, Yuug, do you have a fire extinguisher? What's he doing here?"
I have a package for Mai, where is she?"
"Why would she trust anything you gave her?"
"It's not from me, Mutt, it was delivered to me."
"Why are you getting Mai's mail?"
"Yeah, who'd you have to bribe for that?"
"The sender was unaware of Mai's address, however, he knew mine. Thus, the package was sent to Mai, via KaibaCorp."
"Who's it from?"
"What's in it?"
"Joey, don't you know it's not polite to read other people's mail."
"You're one to talk, Tea."
"Well, Joey, don't leave your stuff lying around. Here, Kaiba, I'll take it to her."
"Also, remind her of tomorrow's meeting: It is vital that she is present."
"If you say so."
"I do."

***
"Mai I have-- where'd that bruise come from?"
"Yami. I don't think quite understands the concept of figurative speech."
"What?! No!"
"It's not funny!"
"Yes it is. Here, this is for you."
"What's this? Oh. When did it come?"
"Just now, Kaiba brought it."
"Kaiba? Lovely."
"Mai, what's wrong?"
"I think I'm going to head home, Tea."
"Also, Kaiba told me to remind you about tomorrow's meeting."
"Oh?"
"He said 'it is vital that she is present'. Like the world's gonna end if you don't go to one meeting."
"I'll make a note of it."
"Are you sure you're all right?"
"Honestly, Tea! What do you think?"
"Well, if there's anything I can do-"
"Yeah, yeah; I'll let you know. Thanks."

***
Hey-- this has been opened. Wonderful, now he's reading my mail. Jerk. We've moved on to a whole new level of distrust.
The papers I asked for. I didn't think they'd actually send them. Guess he must have felt slightly guilty. But-- what's this?

Dear Miss Valentine-

Greetings. I hope this letter finds you as well as can be expected. I apologize for sending this care of the Kaiba estate. However, as your place of residence is unknown to me, and word has reached me that you are currently consulting for KaibaCorp, it is my sincere hope that the capable staff therein can forward this to you with a minimum of effort.
Enclosed are three Duel Monster cards found within Pegasus' personal suite. Since Pegasus' deck, to the best of my knowledge, does not contain harpy cards, I can only assume they are yours, and am, therefore, returning them.
I am also enclosing a card from my own collection-- The White Queen. Although her attack and defense points are not extraordinary, she possesses the unique ability to deflect an attack from within her player's deck. I trust the meaning of my gift will not be lost on you.
As requested, I am also enclosing pertinent medical information for Maximillion Pegasus. I anticipate you should have no difficulties, outside of the normal physical and mental recovery time that can be expected due to your nocturnal activities.
Your friend should have no complications. My examination confirmed your statement; excessive amounts of protection were used, thus the possibility for any unexpected contamination is remote.
I am truly sorry that, in spite of your best efforts, you were unable to prevent the activities that ensued. Your dueling skill is noteworthy, if a bit unorthodox, and I hope to challenge you, under less dire circumstances, at a future time.
You should, however, take comfort in the fact, that, although you could not prevent the night's activities, your presence no doubt migrated some of the more excessive reveling, since the damage sustained by both you and your friend was, while no doubt painful, ultimately not fatal.
I offer my sincerest wishes for your quick recovery, both physical and mental. If I can be of service to you in the future, please don't hesitate to ask, and I will do what I can to assist you.

***
<Virtual Reality program loading. Please wait a moment.>

"Hello Seto Kaiba. How can I help you?"
"Mai. Your data was correct. I have evidence that she was trying to rescue me."
"I thought as much, Seto. It was, after all, the most probable scenario."
"She failed."
"Yes. I suspect she feels quite badly about that, actually."
"She got hurt."
"Yes. As did you."
"Is she all right?"
"Are you, Seto Kaiba?"
"No."
"Well then."

"But why did she do it?"
"That, Seto, is something you will have to ask her. Her decision were not logical. But then, neither was your decision to rescue Mokuba, or Yuugi's decision to rescue his Grandfather."
"My decision was logical. Mokuba is my brother. I am responsible for him. I love him."
"Perhaps Mai's motives were similar."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Seto, I am a program, and therefore, by default, incapable of being ridiculous. I you feel there is an error in my calculations, I suggest you check my code."
"Great. Just what the world needs. A sarcastic computer program."
"I assure you, I am incapable of being sarcastic."
"If you continue to be cheeky, I will delete you."
"If you feel it would be beneficial, Seto, that is, of course, your privilege."
"Goodnight Mai. End program"
"Goodni--"

<Virtual Reality Program Terminated.>



***
***
Respect Play
A trap card that requires each player to show their opponent the cards in their hand.
***

"Good morning, Sir."
"Tell me, my old friend, what do you think of this note?"
"Sir, with all due respect, I'm not sure you're strong enough to attempt--"
"Perhaps not. But she won't know that."

***
"I'm here for the meeting, as requested."
"Mai."
"Kaiba."
"Why did you do it?"
"Here, Kaiba, have some coffee."
"Why? What did you get out of it?"
"Some bruises, a few sore muscles. A violent hatred for gold eyeballs."
"Mai, why did you came charging in to rescue me?"
"If you want to put it that way, I suppose--"
"How dare you!"
'What?!"
"Who gave you the right to be the deux ex machina? Who gave you the right to decide to mitigate my suffering? Pegasus humiliated me, true, but I had fought bravely, I had failed honorably. You disgraced me."
"I didn't want to see you in pain."
"The pain was nothing. I could have bourn it. And I did. But how do I regain my honor?"
"Wait. Shouldn't you be angry at Yuugi, then?"
'Perhaps. But I'm not. He dueled to save his Grandfather. Mokuba and I were a bonus, an afterthought, the result of good negotiation. That I can respect."
"I'm sorry, Kaiba. It appears that I have made a severe miscalculation. I humbly request that you give me some time to consider my actions in this matter."
"Don't be snide."
"I'm not. It's just-- This wasn't quite what I was expecting. I don't know what to say, and I don't want to make it any worse. I think I'd better leave now."

***
"Hey, Big Brother, I'm home."
"Hello, Mokuba. How was school?"
"It was ok. Look--"
"What are these?"
"Mai sent you these because she was at Yuugi's Grandfather's shop when I went by to say hi to Yuugi and look at the new cards. She said she was sending them to you 'cause you needed them to finish the game. Is it done yet?"
"Not quite."
"When will it be done? Are you going to work on it right now? Can I help? Can I play it? Can I be a grown-up character?"
"Soon, no, yes, if your homework is done, yes, if you wish, and who gave you sugar?"
"I helped Joey make cookies, he's been practicing. But didja see this one-- Mai did one of me. Look, she drew armor and a sword and she was going to draw me a horse to ride on but I said I didn't really like them and that I wanted a dragon and she said she didn't have enough room on the paper, but that she'd draw the tail and finish him properly on another sheet.
But then she ran out of time and had to go somewhere so she said she'd bring him by for me tomorrow. Can we hang him on my wall, Big Brother, after you're done with him?
"I suppose."
"How come Mai doesn't come here to work anymore?
"It's not your concern, Mokuba."
"That's not what she said."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, she said you didn't need her anymore. So then I asked why not and she said because there wasn't anything more she could do for you. And I asked why was she still finishing all the sketches. And she said because she always finished what she started. And then she looked really sad, Seto, and said she had to use the bathroom. And I think maybe she was crying 'cause when she came back her face was all red, and her make-up was streaky on the edges.
"Mm."
"I don't see why she couldn't come over once in a while and help me test the games even if you don't need her to need her to do any more sketches for this game, you'll be working on another one pretty soon, and she could get started ahead of time and that way she wouldn't be too rushed and maybe she'd have time to finish my dragon and still get some sleep because she looked really tired."
"I'll consider it. What would you like for dinner?"

***
"Seto."
"Yami. What brings you here?"
"Mai."
"What has she said?"
"Nothing. She's been strangely quiet, in fact. She is worried about you."
"Mm."
"What happened to you after you lost the duel with Pegasus?"
"You mean while you were off saving the world?"
"No. Before that."
"Mai decided to play God for me."
"Oh?"
"She attempted to defend my honor and failed.
"I see. Kaiba.
"What?"
"No matter how strong you are, eventually you will encounter something that breaks you. Being broken is not what makes you weak. Weakness is the stubborn refusal to continue the duel if you dislike the hand you were dealt.
"The duel is over. I failed."
"Perhaps it's time to reshuffle your deck and start over."
"How can I do that, knowing that I failed; that I may very well fail again?"
"How can you refuse, knowing that you may win?"
"It's too hard; there's no point."
"As long as you feel that way, my friend, you have already lost."

***
"How are you Mai?."
"I've been better, Yuugi."
"Yami says you have to go and talk to Kaiba again."
"I think not."
"He says to tell he'll 'hit you over the head and be done with it' if you don't. Although I'm not too sure what he meant by that."
"Tell him I said to go for it."