Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Time on a Chain ❯ Chapter 21 ( Chapter 21 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Yanagi 
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Psychological / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 01.30.2005 | Pages: 8 | Words: 7.8K | Visits: 213 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Psychological / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 01.30.2005 | Pages: 8 | Words: 7.8K | Visits: 213 | Status: Completed
Disclaimer: don't own, don't sue me and so on.
Time 23
Seto booted up the computer in the vault and did a search with the parameters that Willow had wanted, he managed to find enough cards to make her a good deck of mostly dragons and damsels with a few other cards thrown in. As well as the regular Pot of Greed, Monster Reborn and so on.
He gathered all the cards and took them back up stairs, he hoped Willow liked the deck. He decided to take al the cards and let Willow fine tune her deck herself. He had picked some cards that weren't in dragons or damsels but were very good cards and he hoped that she'd leave them they made a more balanced deck and he'd managed to keep the deck down to forty cards. Although he'd seen some people who had enormous decks. He couldn't see how they ever drew the cards they wanted.
"OOOooo I like this one and that one and this has a pretty picture too."
Seto and Joey both winced while Mokuba nearly choked he laughed so hard.
"What? If you don't like the picture on the card what's the use of having it, you're supposed to be having fun, aren't you?"
Seto rubbed his chin and Joey shrugged. Her outlook on life was a bit different than theirs mostly because of her life before them.
"Ok here. You can't just choose cards because you like the pictures. You have to look at the attack and defense points and how many tributes it takes to get it on the field. Have you read the manual?"
"Yes and I've got all that stuff in my head and I'm taking it into consideration but I'm not having a bug in my deck so you can just take them away. " Willow eyed cards carefully."I don't think I'll have Harpy Lady it only has 1300 attack points I like Amazon cards though, most of them have an attack of 1500 or better."
Joey pushed cards around on the table with one paint-stained finger. "You ought to think about defense points too. But if you're using a KCD deck offence is more important. . . . I guess."
Willow smiled at Joey, and leaned against Seto's shins. "I tend to think in attack not defense, the best defense is a good offense. And I don't want a lot of high tribute cards. Take's too much time to get them on the field and I think I'm going to work better if I can mount a quick offence rather than whittling them down by degrees."
Willow sorted through the magic and spell cards. "Hey selfish much."
"What? That's every card you wanted and then some"
"Yeah but only one Monster Reborn and . . . um . . . let me see. Several others that I'd like three of."
"You forgot. Some of the cards are restricted or semi restricted. You can only have one in your deck.
"Well, I could slip them in. How would anyone know?"
Joey sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. Sometimes she just didn't make sense, she said that it was for fun and then wanted to cheat. Willow sighed too and smiled apologetically.
"Can't get over the need to win. Losing usualy means someone is dead. I'm tryin' to get over it. Give me a break. 'K?"
Seto tugged her braid gently, making her hug his leg, rubbing her cheek on his knee.
"You can't slip cards into your deck. It has to be verified before every duel, especially if you do a change out." At Willow's look, he explained farther. "If you put more cards in your deck or change cards from your side deck, they'll verify your deck again. It keeps people from using counterfeits or having too many cards of one kind and will really catch over limit restricted. You'll get disqualified in a flash. So, no cards up your sleeve or in your braid. "
"Incidentally, what the hell is this?" Seto started to pull something out of Willows braid but she stopped him by gently grasping his wrist. "Why don't you want me to see it?"
"Believable deny-ability. You don't need to know all the things I have in there. I've got some stuff that . . . it's not quite kosher."
Joey nearly strangled he tried so hard not to laugh. Seto gave him an evil look. "That's right Wheeler, yuck it up. But what if . . . never mind, I decided I really don't want to know."
Willow gathered up her deck and leered at Mokuba, "Want to duel me. I'll lose. I'm not good yet."
Mokuba held out his hands palm out and shook his head. "No thanks. You've got too good a grasp of strategy and tactics. I'll lose. I haven't worked on my deck in I don't know how long, it's still the same deck Seto gave me. Duel Joey. Seto and I will kibitz."
Willow drew her first five cards and set a monster and three magic cards. Joey drew and summoned Minomushi Warrior (Attack 1300) he attacked and found out that Willow's card was Cyber Harpy (attack 1800)
"Damn. I forgot you set up a KCD. I think I may be toast."
"Don't give up yet, but first I equip Cyber Harpy with Cyber Shield, that adds an additional three hundred attack points bringing her up to 2100. Oh and before I end my turn I activate Tremendous Fire."
Joey groaned, in the first turn she had managed to hit him with 500 points when he attacked a stronger card, then the Cyber Harpy equipped for 2100 and Tremendous Fire for 1000.
"That's a total hit of 3600 points on the first turn" Seto remarked. "As score keeper, I don't think I'm going to have much to do, if this keeps up."
"Yeah, but you know I can come back from almost nothing to win."
Joey considered his hand for a second and drew one card, activated Pot of Greed and drew three more. That left him with too many cards in his hand but he set two magic cards and examined his hand again
"Ok I play Time Wizard. And end my turn."
Willow grunted and wriggled, thinking. She hated to do this, but Joey was used to playing elegant duelists like Yugi Muto and Seto. She was a hammer, where they were a sword.
She picked over her hand and then summoned Dunames Dark Witch, equipped her with Dark Pendant. (1800+500=2300) and smiled.
"I attack Time Wizard with Cyber Harpy equipped and attack your life points directly with Dunames Dark Witch equipped. That makes a total of . . . let me see . . . um . . . Cyber Harpy at 2100 minus 500 is 1800 and direct attack of 2300 is a total of 4100 points that leaves you with 300 . . . right Seto?"
"Yeah. Rub it in why don't ya. I'll make a come back, see if I don't."
Joey picked over his hand again. He needed two tributes to bring Red-eyes to the field and he wasn't going to get them. He set Big Shield Gardna in defense mode (2600 points) and ended his turn.
"Humm I'm stuck, let me draw . . . oh, I didn't draw last turn. Does that mean I can draw two this turn?"
"No. If you don't draw, you've passed the chance. One draw per turn, unless you have a special effect or magic card."
"Ok. I'll play. . . hmm" Willow gave Joey a speculative look and played Dark Hole. "I think that clears away your Shield card. And then I play . . . " Willow picked over her hand again and set a magic card and one monster, Fairy's Gift. "And end my turn."
Joey played a card that put Fairy's Gift in the grave yard but sighed as it increased Willow's life points by 1000.
Willow gathered up her cards and picked over them, then played Blackland Fire Dragon equipped with Axe of Despair. "That's 1500 plus 500 for Axe against your card . . . why did you leave it in attack mode?"
"Can't change it after you use it. Only when you set it. Either, or. Then you can't change it until next turn."
"Ok. Well, you're toast. I over ran you by three hundred points and I have 9000 because of the Gift card."
Joey blinked and Seto smirked proudly. The whole duel hadn't taken more that fifteen minutes, mostly because of the time Willow had taken thinking. Joey was grinning too.
"Joey, if you let me win I'll. . . ."
Joey held his hands over his head mock protectively. "Didn't . . . Swear. You just had a real lucky run of cards and I didn't draw shit. But still. If you'd made one mistake, I'd have won. Just on experience."
Seto patted Joey on the shoulder "You did good, Joey. I've never seen you draw such bad cards. You usually at least get in a hit on life points. Mo' you ever seen him lose that badly before?"
"Not that I remember. I want a deck like Willow's."
"Won't work for you." Willow remarked absently while she studied her cards.
"Why?"
"Huh?" Willow snapped back to the world. "Oh, you're not aggressive like I am. I want to hammer them into submission. You're more like Joey and Seto. You like the elegance of getting fusion and ritual cards into play. I don't care about that. I've got Black Luster Soldier in my deck and I doubt I'll ever use it. But it's a nice card to have if I need it."
Seto yawned and stretched. "While I was out I got that raving queen Daniel to start arraignments for the changes in the introductory party. There'll be dueling now and Weevil will come."
"Daniel is straight, I've seen his wife."
"I didn't mean his sex life. Have you really payed attention to him? He's a flash queen."
Joey, considering Daniel's actions, decided he agreed with Seto. He acted queer as hell but it was all a show. He only did it because it was what was 'expected' from a party planner. But they all admitted that he was really good at what he did.
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Seto took Willow to the dueling hall in the ground floor of Kaiba towers. It was a high level hall, meaning that only duelists of the higher skill levels bothered to actually duel there. The chances of running into Yugi, Seto or some other extremely skilled duelist were high.
Willow gave her deck to the door man and watched as he put it in a card counter. The counter scanned each card electronically and checked to see that she didn't have any violations. She didn't, so she was presented with a key tag and allowed to enter.
"Mr. Kaiba, you might want to watch her fairly closely. She's got a brand-new deck and I don't remember seeing her here before. I'd sure hate for a nice girl like her to get whipped and give up."
"Thank you, Parker. I don't think that'll be a problem, she just beat Wheeler in five rounds."
The man got big eyed and whistled. "Wow. You duel her yet."
"No and I don't intend to anytime soon. Wouldn't look good, no matter what." At the man's questioning grunt Seto smiled slightly. "Doesn't look good if a guy beats his girlfriend when she doesn't have much experience and I'd sure hate to admit that she beat me."
Seto strolled after Willow as the man's jaw hit the floor. {Ohm'god!}
Seto and Willow entered the arena and Seto explained about the holographic duel disks and the arenas. Willow watched with interest and realized that she was very close to her very first 'real' duel.
"Seto, I'm nervous." Willow fiddled with the disk on her arm and craned her neck trying to see her opponent.
"Don't be. You beat Joey. And no matter what I said, he is good. The man is third in the world. After me and Muto. This guy is a chump, just take your time and think. You'll wipe up the floor with him, unless he gets really lucky."
Willow stepped up to the platform and started the duel. She beat the boy in quick time and smiled hesitantly as he walked across the field with his hand out stretched. They shook hands and he bowed slightly, then walked away.
"Seto! He was easier than Joey. And he drew some good cards. I'd like to duel Joey again, it could be a challenge if he draws some decent cards."
Willow returned to the arena and spent the next four hours dueling. She lost twice, both times to someone that Seto respected. Seto realized that he was standing on the sidelines smirking like a cat in the cream. It felt good to watch her winning with grace and losing with equanimity. She didn't seem to mind as much as most duelists did.
Finally she approached Seto, asking if she had enough points to be invited to the opening without raising questions.
Seto took her key card and swiped it through the terminal. She'd accumulated enough points to be considered intermediate. He felt something warm wrap around his heart; pride. She was beautiful, smart, very good at what she did and she liked him. His ruthlessness didn't bother her, in fact she might even think it was an asset.
Willow leaned around Seto to look at the read out. It looked good to her but Seto was eyeing it with an odd look in his eyes.
"Something wrong? Is there a problem? . . . Seto, you've got a funny look on your face."
"Huh? . . . oh, just gloating. You've got plenty of points. You're a shoe in for rookie of the year."
"Gloating? What for? I'm just an intermediate. That's not anywhere near Master, like you."
Seto laughed out loud, making several people stare in wonder. Seto Kaiba laughing in other than scorn was so rare that most people had never heard it.
"Koi, it takes most duelists several years to get to intermediate. I'm the first Master and there are only two others."
"Don't tell me, let me guess . . . Yugi Muto and Joseph K. Wheeler. So I'm doing ok?"
"Better than ok. You're phenomenal. Oh and something else. Um . . . I . . . " Seto took a deep breath. He knew he'd told her before but this time he wanted it to be special. "I love you." He held up a card between index and middle finger. It was one of the new cards; Lady Assassin, level five, attack 2000 points. It looked like her.
Willow gaped at him for a second then kissed him right on the mouth there in the middle of the dueling arena complex with about a hundred people looking on. It felt good, and if they wanted to attract attention, they couldn't have gotten more if they'd screamed. People just didn't kiss in public in a dueling arena, especially like this and not get noticed. Seto felt supremely happy and very self-satisfied.
"Seto? You ok? Seto?"
"Huh? Oh I'm fine, Koi. Can I have another like that one?"
"Sure, if you want me to put you on the floor and have my 'way' with you. Let's go back to the penthouse."
"Perv."
"You betcha! "
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Joey eyed the print out that Seto handed hin and crowed with delight, Mokuba looking over his shoulder let out a tiny yelp.
"Intermediate! How the hell did she manage that? It's almost impossible."
"Not really. She dueled for almost four hours and won all but two matches. The duelists that she beat all were worth high duelist points. So she really cleaned up, not to mention that I allowed her points for beating you, Joey. She's just barely qualified but she did. Joey. That freak from the gallery is going to be here this afternoon and he want's to ask you a bunch of silly questions about framing and mating."
Joey gave Seto a dirty look, framing and matting were very important in art work, and Joey said so, remarking, "Seto, the wrong frame can ruin a piece. If you want all the pieces framed the same you have to be careful to pick something plain, simple but tasteful. Not common. It's really hard. I hope this freak, as you call him, knows what he's doing."
Joey rubbed his eyes they were burning again and he had flashes of lightening flickering in his vision even when he closed his eyes. It bothered him and gave him a headache.
"Joey? You ok. What's wrong?" Mokuba reached out one slender hand and rubbed Joey's shoulder comfortingly.
"Nothing, really. Just lighting in my eyes, gives me a headache. I'll take a pill and it'll be all better."
"Joseph." Seto's quiet voice brought everyone's head around "If you are taking pills, I want to know what kind."
Much to everyone's surprise, Joey didn't get mad or defensive. He dipped his hand into a pocket and showed Seto a flat tin of over-the-counter pills. He took two out of it and headed for the kitchen area for a glass of water. Seto examined the tin and the pills then handed them to Willow. She just tossed them to Mokuba with a short nod. They were exactly what they seemed, headache pills. No one thought it odd that Seto was defensive about pills.
Joey made lunch and they sat around nibbling on the sliced meats and cheeses, arguing about cards and decks, until the knock on the door made them all jump.
"Who? Oh yeah, the art gallery guy. Or is it the party planner." Joey peered through the peep in the door. "Oh hell, it's both of them."
Willow got up and strolled over to the door, backing Joey up without question. Mokuba stayed where he was and Seto stood close. When Joey opened the door both men came in and immediately began bristling at each other.
Seto sorted them out in short order. Sending Joey to his studio with the "Gallery Guy" whose name turned out to be a very mundane Sam Tompkins. But the party planner was another story. First he threw a fit about his name which, it turned out was not Daniel something, but 'Mr. Daniel to everyone, I don't care who you are.' Then he started to explain to Seto how impossible it was to change plans at this late date.
"After all, it's tomorrow night. What am I suppose to tell people. They won't bring their decks. And . . ."
"That's the whole point. I want them to use decks made up of the new cards only . There is a two fold reason behind this. You better prepare for quite a scene. I want Weevil Underwood there. And this will bring him."
"Underwood? The whole family is common in a way I can't describe. Why would you . . . .oh, how delicious. You're up to something completely naughty. I just know you are. You bad boy, you."
Seto rolled his eyes, "Could you tell me why you do that?"
"Act the way I do? It's natural to some extent, thrills the rich ladies and gets me talked about. All important things when you're in my line of work."
"I see. I'll leave arrangements up to you, but I need to be sure that Weevil comes. You understand?"
"Yes, I do. I think a simple word dropped here and there about how impossible you are being about not telling anyone about the surprise duels with nothing but the new cards will do the trick. He'll be there for sure."
Seto saw the man out and decided the less contact they all had with the man the better, he was annoying in every way; Joey couldn't stand him, Mokuba left the room at the first opportunity and Willow openly sneered at him. They'd had enough upset in the last few months they didn't need to put up with piddly stuff like this.
Seto found that he was alone in the room, so he went hunting for the rest of his 'family'. He listened and found them all in Joey's studio on the third floor. Joey had taken over half the floor and the other half was a dojo. But the divisions were floating walls made up of large shoji and, Seto realized with surprise, gigantic murals.
Mr. Thompkins was going through sketch books and crooning in delight. All the books were full of sketches of everything, duels, life studies, head 'shots', even a rather odd drawing of Seto. At least odd if you didn't duel. It was a drawing of Seto just after he'd set a card, his hand in the forefront and his face showing between the fingers.
"Well, I just can't make up my mind about what I should pick. I'll take a little of everything and I'll be sending someone to pick up all the murals I marked. I don't want to . . . actually, I can't take them. I don't think they will fit in my BMW. I can't be ready for a show for at least a week. The matting and framing will take that long. Unless, . . . Mr. Kaiba. I can get all the necessary work done in three days, but it'll cost. We have a cancellation and I was going to use the time to do some refurbishment on the gallery but they aren't that necessary. What do you want to do?"
Joey considered watching Seto, Willow allowed her eyes to flick back and forth between the three men, waiting for decisions, so she would know what to do about security.
"I don't know. Joey what do you want to do? Do you need time or would you rather just get it over with? I know it's unnerving. I'm a wreck over the cards. So it 's whatever you want to do. Although we need to get it in the works fairly soon."
Willow knew they needed the exposure as quickly as possible. But it was looking hard on Joey, letting go of his art seemed harder that she thought it ought to be.
"I just hate this. What if no one likes it. What if they laugh, what if . . ."
"What if, what if. Joey, you're going to make yourself crazy. You're good. Mr. Thompkins wouldn't give you the time of day if you weren't. No matter who his patron is. Seto doesn't like yes men and Sam knows it."
Mokuba hugged Seto and then Joey, nestling into his arms for a prolonged cuddle. Willow wandered into Seto's arms and they watched as Thompkins, who had distanced himself from the group, continued to flip through books. He finally came back to the group.
"Are you through fussing?"At Joey's nod he continued. "I want the drawing of Seto as an anime character. And there are several of recognizable people from the dueling crowd. If only . . . Mr. Kaiba, I just had an idea. There are a lot of duel related drawings, sketches and paintings" Mr. Thompkins rubbed his chin thinking. "If I call in more favors than I've got I could get the show ready for the night of the intro party. Or . . . no, it must open right after that. It ties in so deliciously you'll have everybody who is anybody in society there. And I heard you want the Underwood's there. I can manage that easily, all I have to do is drop the word that there will be dueling with a new deck and you couldn't keep him away with a gun to his head. Whole family is a nasty piece of work. Not fit to be around, but old money, so what can you do?"
"Ruin them. And you get to help, you and Daniels." Mr. Thompkins made a face "Oh I am soooo sorry MR Daniels if you please." Seto twinkled at the group, which left Joey gaping. "Anyway, the opening could be scheduled for the same night as the Gala Introduction. As Mr. Daniels called it. We've got to settle on a name for this mess."
"Operation: Settle Scores." Willows deadly look scared Mr. Thompkins.
"Look, I'm just an art gallery manager. I don't know exactly what is going on and I don't want to. But if you're starting something that will get Underwood, et. all., off the social register, I'm in. They cause more trouble than they are worth and their attitude is . . . supercilious at best. So . . . I'll get the show ready for the Gala if it kills me. But I want to be able to do it right. I'll need so much help. "
Seto thought for a while, then asked what exactly he needed help with. When Thompkins replied that cutting the frames was going to take forever and the mats would too. After getting an explanation of what mat cutting was, Seto made a call, then turned to Thompkins saying, "I've managed to find someone who knows how to cut mats with a machine. Is that acceptable? And cabinetmakers from one of my subsidiaries can make frames."
"The frame makers are good, but the mats need to have beveled edges and you can't do that by machine. If I can get the frames made, I can manage to get people I know to come help me cut mats. I think we can do this."
And they did. Late that afternoon Seto got a final conformation of the details of the Gala and Joey got one for the Gallery opening. Willow slipped out to check security and came back satisfied that everything was as secure as she could make it, of course they did want their attackers to be able to get to them so they could be taken care of. Willow smiled evilly to herself, she would settle this mess and then they could get on with their lives, which included her staying right here for the rest of a very long life.
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After a late lazy supper of carry in they all sat around watching tv with the stated objective of boring themselves to sleep. It worked; Joey and Mokuba unashamedly headed for their room and Seto eyed Willow, now was the time.
"Seto, you know I'm going to punish you tonight. I don't want you wandering off and doing it yourself. You promised"
"Yes, and so did you."
Willow went into the outer sitting room and he heard her scrabbling around out there. Seto flopped down on the bed, then he rolled over onto his stomach and clutched the nearest pillow. He grimaced, he knew he deserved to be punished. Willow had promised to do it so he wouldn't damage himself. He was mortified to realize that he was sweating slightly.
"I'm going to prepare in the other room, stay here. I'll be back soon." Willow noticed Seto sweating and smiled at him gently.
Seto rolled over and groaned. {What the hell have I done, I've just submitted my body . . . and my soul to one of the most feared assassins in the world.}
Willow came back into the room.
"Come."
Seto rolled one eye in her direction, and smirked.
" . . . with me, you ass."
Willow led Seto to the sitting room and pointed to the couch, which was now covered with a sheet, and had a pillow and a blanket on it as well.
"You're sleeping on the couch tonight. You don't deserve to sleep with me, bad boy!"
Seto settled himself on the couch and thought. He wondered wether he could get her to spank him instead. It was infinitely more painful to be separated from her for the night. {Damnit, I'm turning into a pervert on top of everything else. Maybe if I beg her.} Seto slammed the pillow with his fist trying to make it more comfortable. He wasn't going to beg her to let him back into his own bed.
"Shit! . . . .Wiiiillllloooow . . . If . . . "
"NO!"
"Damn"
Seto groaned, the couch was comfortable, there wasn't a piece of furniture in the apartment that wasn't. But he knew he wasn't going to get a seconds sleep all night. He'd been sleeping with Willow in his arms for too long for him to be comfortable away from her. He just knew she was sleeping like a baby {Damnit, I'm not going to sleep. The bed is too big and it's cold and . . . Seto you jerk. Why can't you be happy with just feeling bad and let me . . . shit . . . I want Seto. So, I'm a big baby.}
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"Seto, what the hell are you doing sleeping on the couch. Get up."
Seto opened one eye and glared at Mokuba, they were going to have to have a talk about knocking soon.
"I'm being punished. I'm not sure if I'm allowed off the couch or not. Don't wake Willow, just bring me my cell phone and a cup of coffee. ok.?"
"Sure. But Willow's standing right there in the door, ask her."
Seto turned around at looked at Willow, she didn't look any happier than he was. She had dark circles under her eyes and her hair was a tangled mess
"I forgot to have you braid it for the night. Get up and help me comb out this mess. Mo'? You know that thing that existed between this room and the hall. Called a door?"
Mokuba gave her a nervous look "Yeah. Door, open same, enter room. Sso?"
"Knock before opening. Next time you walk in on us and I'm not dressed, I'm putting something nasty in your bed."
Seto grinned "Besides Wheeler you mean?"
"Joey isn't nasty!". Mokuba was indignant
Willow smirked at him, "If he isn't a nasty boy why is he in your bed?"
"Ack! Willow, Seto you both are just gross." Mokuba slammed the door on their laughter.
Seto followed Willow into the bathroom and helped her get her hair under control again and took his own shower. They had hours before the Gala started and he was wondering if he had bitten off more than Sam could chew.
The rest of that day was spent in watching Willow duel, giving her advice and dueling themselves, that evening they went to a fancy restaurant and then picked up their clothing for the next evening.
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The next morning was much nicer than the last one. Willow woke in Seto's arms and snuggled against him, he smiled down at her and laughed as she made morning faces and realized that her breath was less than sweet, but Seto kissed her anyway.
"Morning Koi."
"Yeh, bad sun. too bright."
"Grouch! Get up. We'll knock Joey up, and he and Mokuba can make us breakfast."
"Seto, that's not fair." Willow realized that Joey had been doing all the cooking sense they'd started living here. "We ought to do some of the cooking."
"Can you cook? "
"Yes, not very good, but I don't burn water."
"I don't even know how to work this stove. I'm more of a cold cereal and toast kind a' guy.
Seto stretched "I could manage an omelet if I don't turn my back on it."
Twenty minutes later they were knocking on Joey and Mokuba's door. Joey answered the door fully dressed and holding a hairbrush. He grinned at them and then grumbled. "I'm growin' my hair, I'm the only one with . . .well, then there is Seto."
Seto grinned back, they both had lovers with long hair, he wondered if he should have a plumber on retainer like a lawyer. When he asked Joey what he thought, Willow grabbed for him and missed, Joey yelped as Mokuba tickled his ribs and they all wound up in the kitchen laughing and breathless.
Joey opened cabinets and drawers, preparing to make breakfast. He rummaged around in the refrigerator and snarled, "Breakfast today is gonna be left overs. I need to go to the grocery store or get some delivered. Lessee. I got . . . rice, and some chicken . . . what the hell is this? And eggs, no bread or bacon. Gah!"
Willow eyed the assortment of odds and ends. She'd be happy with a breakfast bar and some tea. When she said so, Joey just handed her what she asked for and went back to grumbling. Seto exchanged grins with Mokuba, Joey was a real grouch before coffee and he took it out on the pots and pans, banging them around, and slamming doors.
Mokuba put his arms around Joey and rubbed his cheek against his back. Joey patted his hands and sighed, he was so nervous about the Gallery that he was about to jump out of his skin.
"Damnit, I'm so scared. What if they don't like them. Who's gonna be there? Fuck!"
Mokuba hugged Joey harder, "Koi, don't upset yourself so much. It'll be fine. You'll probably know most of the duelists who come, and Seto and I know the rest. The Gallery show will be open to people other than duelists. It'll be open before the Gala is over. So all you have to do is wander around with a drink in your hand and look artistic. Smile at the nice people, answer their stupid intrusive questions and sell, sell, sell.,"
Joey gave Seto a sour look, he was used to social situations like this, Joey wasn't. It made it better that someone knew what was going on but not much.
Willow shook her head, she didn't see any reason for Joey to be so nervous, no one was shooting at him after all. But if he was, he was. She decided to have him go with her to check the security at the Gala site.
"Seto, where is the Gala going to be? I know you told me the arena but did Daniels change it. He was threatening to."
"MISTER, if you please. No, he didn't, I wouldn't allow it. The arena is the best place to have it. There is a banquet room behind the arena proper where they can set up the food and drink tables, with plenty of room for standing around, and enough wall space to hang posters of cards. The high value cards will be in the arena, but the rest will be there. You going to the gallery? If you are, I want to go too."
Willow checked her guns and knives and smirked at Seto.
"I"m armed aren't I? If you're coming, come on."
So they went down to the arena and she drove the security people crazy as she went over the security systems with a fine tooth comb and physically checked all the cameras and locks. Her check showed up some faults that were quickly corrected by her. And one breach of security caused by wait staff propping a door open for deliveries.
By the time she got done dressing the entire catering staff down, from the head of operations to the waiters, Seto was wondering if he had rubbed off on her, he'd never heard her go off like that. She walked away, grumbling about people who couldn't follow simple guide lines, and told the head of security that they were propping a door open and she expected it to stop. The head of security just gave a jerky nod and went to find the caterer.
"Willow, calm down. I'm sure, now that you've explained it, they won't do it anymore."
"Seto, I've seen it every place I've ever worked. It's not convenient to have to unlock the door for every trip, so they prop the door open. And leave it, so that anyone and everyone can just wander in. They won't stop unless someone checks on them constantly. That's the way whoever is after us will get in or I miss my guess."
"You're sure."
"It's human nature, tell me I'm wrong."
Willow lead the way to the limo and they headed for the Gallery to see what was up there. They walked into chaos and confusion. Mr. Thompkins was rushing around with handfuls of papers and a tape measure around his neck. He stopped long enough to explain to Seto and Willow that he'd managed to get the building manager to ok them setting Joey's art up in the big banquette room across from the arena, ending up with a snarled request for them to get out and let him work, or things wouldn't be ready
"Well . . . that went well. I'll go back and check out the banquette room and then I'm going to make sure Mokuba didn't buy me some stupid dress. I'm wearing a tux, just like you."
"Umm, . . . I . . . Willow, I got you something. And I don't think a tux will show it off."
"I'm not wearing a tuxedo shirt. I found a really nice silk top that looks good and just feminine enough that I don't look like a dyke. It's a swaged front. Look's . . . sexy. Or at lest that's what Joey said."
"Lets go back to the apartment and you show me, ok?"
"Sure. As soon as I check out the Gallery."
When they got back, Willow headed for the large banquette room across the large loby of the ground floor and was stopped at the door. The guard said no one without clearance from Mr. Thompkins was allowed in. After some polite consultation and a look at Seto's ID, he allowed them in.
Seto whistled softly. Thompkins had used some of Joeys' murals as hanging walls, dividing the room into a maze of blank walls and murals. The murals were all placed so that there was enough room to get far enough away to see them properly, and room to gather in small groups and gossip. Willow wondered how he was going to keep traffic moving but decided that was up to him.
The sketches, drawings and paintings were going to be hung on the bare, light buff walls. Willow wondered about what the decorative pillars and small tables scattered about were for and decided not to worry. The security was tight, the cameras were all in place and operative, and that was all she cared about. She didn't like nasty surprises and didn't intend to get one.
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Willow was in her room trying on the tux she was going to wear. Mokuba had wanted her to wear a dress but she'd told him no way, besides how was she supposed to hide a gun in a dress not to mention throwing pins and a knife. She decided she looked good, the top showed off just enough of her figure that everyone knew she was definitely a girl.
Seto didn't even try to sneak up on Willow, he just walked up behind her and dangled the diamond heart next to her head. She saw it in the mirror, but her reaction was unusual for a woman. She smiled and took it from Seto examining it with interest.
"Don't you like it?"
"Yes, it's very nice. But . . . um . . . Seto, I didn't think you wore necklaces."
Seto nearly strangled himself trying not to laugh at her.
"It's for you, Kirei Tenshi. Here let me put it on for you."
"For me? But . . . why? It's expensive. What if I loose it?"
"It's for you because I love you. If you lose it, I'll buy you another. It looks good."
Willow looked at herself in the mirror and liked what she saw. Her tux was black classic Armani but instead of wearing a ruffled tuxedo shirt she was wearing the swaged front blouse that matched her eyes. It was cut just low enough that the necklace rested just at the top of it drawing attention to the diamond glitter.
"Well?"
"I'm locking you up." Willow gave Seto a funny look as he started helping her out of the tux. Seto nuzzled her neck and murmured, "So no one else can see you so beautiful. I'm incurably jealous."
"Jealous of me? But I'm . . . "
Seto put one finger over her lips and shushed her. Then he gave her a lot else to think about.
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I was going to put the deck on my LJ, but it doesn't like my format so here is the address anyway:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/yanagi_wa/
Deck
Amazon Assassin is not a real card
Amazon Chain Master
level 4
attack 1500
defense 1300
warrior
earth
in deck 3
Amazon Fighter
level 4
attack 1500
defense 1300
warrior
earth
in deck 1
Amazon Sword Woman
level 4
attack 1500
defense 1600
warrior
earth
in deck 3
Black Luster Soldier
level 8 must have Ritual card + eight stars tribute
attack 3000
defense 2500
warrior
divine
in deck 1
Black Luster Ritual
magic
in deck 1
Blackland Fire Dragon
level 4
attack 1500
defense 800
dragon
shadow
in deck 1
Cyber Harpy
level 4
attack 1800
defense 1300
winged beast
wind
in deck 3
Dark Magician Girl
level 6 tributes required 1
attack 2000
defense 1700
magician
shadow
in deck 3
Des Volstgalph
level 6 tributes required 1
attack 2200
defense 1700
dragon
earth
in deck 1
Dunames Dark Witch
level 4
attack 1800
defense 1050
fairy
light
in deck 3
Fairy's Gift
level 4
attack 1400
Defense 1000
magician
forest
in deck 1 special abilities restore life points by 1000
Queen's Knight
level 4
attack 1500
defense 1600
warrior
light
in deck 3
Summoned Skull
level 6 tributes required 1
attack 2500
defense 1200
fiend
fiend
in deck 3
Thousand Dragon
level 7 tributes required 2
attack 2400
defense 2000
dragon
pyro
in deck 1
magic and trap cards
.
Change of Heart
Axe of Despair in deck 3
Tremendous Fire
Beast Fangs
Cyber Shield in deck 3
Dark Hole
Dian Keto the Cure Master
Dragon Treasure
Final Flame
Goblin's Secret Remedy
Harpy's Feather Duster
Hitnotama
Kuni with Chain
Monster Reborn
Pot of Greed.
Total monster cards 26
total magic cards 20
total spell cards 1
total cards in deck 47
It's kind of a big deck but I don't use a side deck so that's all the cards I've got. I picked my cards on the same principles that Rowan used. I like the picture and it's got a good attack or defense. Magic cards I picked solely on how useful they were to my style.
Time 23
Seto booted up the computer in the vault and did a search with the parameters that Willow had wanted, he managed to find enough cards to make her a good deck of mostly dragons and damsels with a few other cards thrown in. As well as the regular Pot of Greed, Monster Reborn and so on.
He gathered all the cards and took them back up stairs, he hoped Willow liked the deck. He decided to take al the cards and let Willow fine tune her deck herself. He had picked some cards that weren't in dragons or damsels but were very good cards and he hoped that she'd leave them they made a more balanced deck and he'd managed to keep the deck down to forty cards. Although he'd seen some people who had enormous decks. He couldn't see how they ever drew the cards they wanted.
"OOOooo I like this one and that one and this has a pretty picture too."
Seto and Joey both winced while Mokuba nearly choked he laughed so hard.
"What? If you don't like the picture on the card what's the use of having it, you're supposed to be having fun, aren't you?"
Seto rubbed his chin and Joey shrugged. Her outlook on life was a bit different than theirs mostly because of her life before them.
"Ok here. You can't just choose cards because you like the pictures. You have to look at the attack and defense points and how many tributes it takes to get it on the field. Have you read the manual?"
"Yes and I've got all that stuff in my head and I'm taking it into consideration but I'm not having a bug in my deck so you can just take them away. " Willow eyed cards carefully."I don't think I'll have Harpy Lady it only has 1300 attack points I like Amazon cards though, most of them have an attack of 1500 or better."
Joey pushed cards around on the table with one paint-stained finger. "You ought to think about defense points too. But if you're using a KCD deck offence is more important. . . . I guess."
Willow smiled at Joey, and leaned against Seto's shins. "I tend to think in attack not defense, the best defense is a good offense. And I don't want a lot of high tribute cards. Take's too much time to get them on the field and I think I'm going to work better if I can mount a quick offence rather than whittling them down by degrees."
Willow sorted through the magic and spell cards. "Hey selfish much."
"What? That's every card you wanted and then some"
"Yeah but only one Monster Reborn and . . . um . . . let me see. Several others that I'd like three of."
"You forgot. Some of the cards are restricted or semi restricted. You can only have one in your deck.
"Well, I could slip them in. How would anyone know?"
Joey sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. Sometimes she just didn't make sense, she said that it was for fun and then wanted to cheat. Willow sighed too and smiled apologetically.
"Can't get over the need to win. Losing usualy means someone is dead. I'm tryin' to get over it. Give me a break. 'K?"
Seto tugged her braid gently, making her hug his leg, rubbing her cheek on his knee.
"You can't slip cards into your deck. It has to be verified before every duel, especially if you do a change out." At Willow's look, he explained farther. "If you put more cards in your deck or change cards from your side deck, they'll verify your deck again. It keeps people from using counterfeits or having too many cards of one kind and will really catch over limit restricted. You'll get disqualified in a flash. So, no cards up your sleeve or in your braid. "
"Incidentally, what the hell is this?" Seto started to pull something out of Willows braid but she stopped him by gently grasping his wrist. "Why don't you want me to see it?"
"Believable deny-ability. You don't need to know all the things I have in there. I've got some stuff that . . . it's not quite kosher."
Joey nearly strangled he tried so hard not to laugh. Seto gave him an evil look. "That's right Wheeler, yuck it up. But what if . . . never mind, I decided I really don't want to know."
Willow gathered up her deck and leered at Mokuba, "Want to duel me. I'll lose. I'm not good yet."
Mokuba held out his hands palm out and shook his head. "No thanks. You've got too good a grasp of strategy and tactics. I'll lose. I haven't worked on my deck in I don't know how long, it's still the same deck Seto gave me. Duel Joey. Seto and I will kibitz."
Willow drew her first five cards and set a monster and three magic cards. Joey drew and summoned Minomushi Warrior (Attack 1300) he attacked and found out that Willow's card was Cyber Harpy (attack 1800)
"Damn. I forgot you set up a KCD. I think I may be toast."
"Don't give up yet, but first I equip Cyber Harpy with Cyber Shield, that adds an additional three hundred attack points bringing her up to 2100. Oh and before I end my turn I activate Tremendous Fire."
Joey groaned, in the first turn she had managed to hit him with 500 points when he attacked a stronger card, then the Cyber Harpy equipped for 2100 and Tremendous Fire for 1000.
"That's a total hit of 3600 points on the first turn" Seto remarked. "As score keeper, I don't think I'm going to have much to do, if this keeps up."
"Yeah, but you know I can come back from almost nothing to win."
Joey considered his hand for a second and drew one card, activated Pot of Greed and drew three more. That left him with too many cards in his hand but he set two magic cards and examined his hand again
"Ok I play Time Wizard. And end my turn."
Willow grunted and wriggled, thinking. She hated to do this, but Joey was used to playing elegant duelists like Yugi Muto and Seto. She was a hammer, where they were a sword.
She picked over her hand and then summoned Dunames Dark Witch, equipped her with Dark Pendant. (1800+500=2300) and smiled.
"I attack Time Wizard with Cyber Harpy equipped and attack your life points directly with Dunames Dark Witch equipped. That makes a total of . . . let me see . . . um . . . Cyber Harpy at 2100 minus 500 is 1800 and direct attack of 2300 is a total of 4100 points that leaves you with 300 . . . right Seto?"
"Yeah. Rub it in why don't ya. I'll make a come back, see if I don't."
Joey picked over his hand again. He needed two tributes to bring Red-eyes to the field and he wasn't going to get them. He set Big Shield Gardna in defense mode (2600 points) and ended his turn.
"Humm I'm stuck, let me draw . . . oh, I didn't draw last turn. Does that mean I can draw two this turn?"
"No. If you don't draw, you've passed the chance. One draw per turn, unless you have a special effect or magic card."
"Ok. I'll play. . . hmm" Willow gave Joey a speculative look and played Dark Hole. "I think that clears away your Shield card. And then I play . . . " Willow picked over her hand again and set a magic card and one monster, Fairy's Gift. "And end my turn."
Joey played a card that put Fairy's Gift in the grave yard but sighed as it increased Willow's life points by 1000.
Willow gathered up her cards and picked over them, then played Blackland Fire Dragon equipped with Axe of Despair. "That's 1500 plus 500 for Axe against your card . . . why did you leave it in attack mode?"
"Can't change it after you use it. Only when you set it. Either, or. Then you can't change it until next turn."
"Ok. Well, you're toast. I over ran you by three hundred points and I have 9000 because of the Gift card."
Joey blinked and Seto smirked proudly. The whole duel hadn't taken more that fifteen minutes, mostly because of the time Willow had taken thinking. Joey was grinning too.
"Joey, if you let me win I'll. . . ."
Joey held his hands over his head mock protectively. "Didn't . . . Swear. You just had a real lucky run of cards and I didn't draw shit. But still. If you'd made one mistake, I'd have won. Just on experience."
Seto patted Joey on the shoulder "You did good, Joey. I've never seen you draw such bad cards. You usually at least get in a hit on life points. Mo' you ever seen him lose that badly before?"
"Not that I remember. I want a deck like Willow's."
"Won't work for you." Willow remarked absently while she studied her cards.
"Why?"
"Huh?" Willow snapped back to the world. "Oh, you're not aggressive like I am. I want to hammer them into submission. You're more like Joey and Seto. You like the elegance of getting fusion and ritual cards into play. I don't care about that. I've got Black Luster Soldier in my deck and I doubt I'll ever use it. But it's a nice card to have if I need it."
Seto yawned and stretched. "While I was out I got that raving queen Daniel to start arraignments for the changes in the introductory party. There'll be dueling now and Weevil will come."
"Daniel is straight, I've seen his wife."
"I didn't mean his sex life. Have you really payed attention to him? He's a flash queen."
Joey, considering Daniel's actions, decided he agreed with Seto. He acted queer as hell but it was all a show. He only did it because it was what was 'expected' from a party planner. But they all admitted that he was really good at what he did.
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Seto took Willow to the dueling hall in the ground floor of Kaiba towers. It was a high level hall, meaning that only duelists of the higher skill levels bothered to actually duel there. The chances of running into Yugi, Seto or some other extremely skilled duelist were high.
Willow gave her deck to the door man and watched as he put it in a card counter. The counter scanned each card electronically and checked to see that she didn't have any violations. She didn't, so she was presented with a key tag and allowed to enter.
"Mr. Kaiba, you might want to watch her fairly closely. She's got a brand-new deck and I don't remember seeing her here before. I'd sure hate for a nice girl like her to get whipped and give up."
"Thank you, Parker. I don't think that'll be a problem, she just beat Wheeler in five rounds."
The man got big eyed and whistled. "Wow. You duel her yet."
"No and I don't intend to anytime soon. Wouldn't look good, no matter what." At the man's questioning grunt Seto smiled slightly. "Doesn't look good if a guy beats his girlfriend when she doesn't have much experience and I'd sure hate to admit that she beat me."
Seto strolled after Willow as the man's jaw hit the floor. {Ohm'god!}
Seto and Willow entered the arena and Seto explained about the holographic duel disks and the arenas. Willow watched with interest and realized that she was very close to her very first 'real' duel.
"Seto, I'm nervous." Willow fiddled with the disk on her arm and craned her neck trying to see her opponent.
"Don't be. You beat Joey. And no matter what I said, he is good. The man is third in the world. After me and Muto. This guy is a chump, just take your time and think. You'll wipe up the floor with him, unless he gets really lucky."
Willow stepped up to the platform and started the duel. She beat the boy in quick time and smiled hesitantly as he walked across the field with his hand out stretched. They shook hands and he bowed slightly, then walked away.
"Seto! He was easier than Joey. And he drew some good cards. I'd like to duel Joey again, it could be a challenge if he draws some decent cards."
Willow returned to the arena and spent the next four hours dueling. She lost twice, both times to someone that Seto respected. Seto realized that he was standing on the sidelines smirking like a cat in the cream. It felt good to watch her winning with grace and losing with equanimity. She didn't seem to mind as much as most duelists did.
Finally she approached Seto, asking if she had enough points to be invited to the opening without raising questions.
Seto took her key card and swiped it through the terminal. She'd accumulated enough points to be considered intermediate. He felt something warm wrap around his heart; pride. She was beautiful, smart, very good at what she did and she liked him. His ruthlessness didn't bother her, in fact she might even think it was an asset.
Willow leaned around Seto to look at the read out. It looked good to her but Seto was eyeing it with an odd look in his eyes.
"Something wrong? Is there a problem? . . . Seto, you've got a funny look on your face."
"Huh? . . . oh, just gloating. You've got plenty of points. You're a shoe in for rookie of the year."
"Gloating? What for? I'm just an intermediate. That's not anywhere near Master, like you."
Seto laughed out loud, making several people stare in wonder. Seto Kaiba laughing in other than scorn was so rare that most people had never heard it.
"Koi, it takes most duelists several years to get to intermediate. I'm the first Master and there are only two others."
"Don't tell me, let me guess . . . Yugi Muto and Joseph K. Wheeler. So I'm doing ok?"
"Better than ok. You're phenomenal. Oh and something else. Um . . . I . . . " Seto took a deep breath. He knew he'd told her before but this time he wanted it to be special. "I love you." He held up a card between index and middle finger. It was one of the new cards; Lady Assassin, level five, attack 2000 points. It looked like her.
Willow gaped at him for a second then kissed him right on the mouth there in the middle of the dueling arena complex with about a hundred people looking on. It felt good, and if they wanted to attract attention, they couldn't have gotten more if they'd screamed. People just didn't kiss in public in a dueling arena, especially like this and not get noticed. Seto felt supremely happy and very self-satisfied.
"Seto? You ok? Seto?"
"Huh? Oh I'm fine, Koi. Can I have another like that one?"
"Sure, if you want me to put you on the floor and have my 'way' with you. Let's go back to the penthouse."
"Perv."
"You betcha! "
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Joey eyed the print out that Seto handed hin and crowed with delight, Mokuba looking over his shoulder let out a tiny yelp.
"Intermediate! How the hell did she manage that? It's almost impossible."
"Not really. She dueled for almost four hours and won all but two matches. The duelists that she beat all were worth high duelist points. So she really cleaned up, not to mention that I allowed her points for beating you, Joey. She's just barely qualified but she did. Joey. That freak from the gallery is going to be here this afternoon and he want's to ask you a bunch of silly questions about framing and mating."
Joey gave Seto a dirty look, framing and matting were very important in art work, and Joey said so, remarking, "Seto, the wrong frame can ruin a piece. If you want all the pieces framed the same you have to be careful to pick something plain, simple but tasteful. Not common. It's really hard. I hope this freak, as you call him, knows what he's doing."
Joey rubbed his eyes they were burning again and he had flashes of lightening flickering in his vision even when he closed his eyes. It bothered him and gave him a headache.
"Joey? You ok. What's wrong?" Mokuba reached out one slender hand and rubbed Joey's shoulder comfortingly.
"Nothing, really. Just lighting in my eyes, gives me a headache. I'll take a pill and it'll be all better."
"Joseph." Seto's quiet voice brought everyone's head around "If you are taking pills, I want to know what kind."
Much to everyone's surprise, Joey didn't get mad or defensive. He dipped his hand into a pocket and showed Seto a flat tin of over-the-counter pills. He took two out of it and headed for the kitchen area for a glass of water. Seto examined the tin and the pills then handed them to Willow. She just tossed them to Mokuba with a short nod. They were exactly what they seemed, headache pills. No one thought it odd that Seto was defensive about pills.
Joey made lunch and they sat around nibbling on the sliced meats and cheeses, arguing about cards and decks, until the knock on the door made them all jump.
"Who? Oh yeah, the art gallery guy. Or is it the party planner." Joey peered through the peep in the door. "Oh hell, it's both of them."
Willow got up and strolled over to the door, backing Joey up without question. Mokuba stayed where he was and Seto stood close. When Joey opened the door both men came in and immediately began bristling at each other.
Seto sorted them out in short order. Sending Joey to his studio with the "Gallery Guy" whose name turned out to be a very mundane Sam Tompkins. But the party planner was another story. First he threw a fit about his name which, it turned out was not Daniel something, but 'Mr. Daniel to everyone, I don't care who you are.' Then he started to explain to Seto how impossible it was to change plans at this late date.
"After all, it's tomorrow night. What am I suppose to tell people. They won't bring their decks. And . . ."
"That's the whole point. I want them to use decks made up of the new cards only . There is a two fold reason behind this. You better prepare for quite a scene. I want Weevil Underwood there. And this will bring him."
"Underwood? The whole family is common in a way I can't describe. Why would you . . . .oh, how delicious. You're up to something completely naughty. I just know you are. You bad boy, you."
Seto rolled his eyes, "Could you tell me why you do that?"
"Act the way I do? It's natural to some extent, thrills the rich ladies and gets me talked about. All important things when you're in my line of work."
"I see. I'll leave arrangements up to you, but I need to be sure that Weevil comes. You understand?"
"Yes, I do. I think a simple word dropped here and there about how impossible you are being about not telling anyone about the surprise duels with nothing but the new cards will do the trick. He'll be there for sure."
Seto saw the man out and decided the less contact they all had with the man the better, he was annoying in every way; Joey couldn't stand him, Mokuba left the room at the first opportunity and Willow openly sneered at him. They'd had enough upset in the last few months they didn't need to put up with piddly stuff like this.
Seto found that he was alone in the room, so he went hunting for the rest of his 'family'. He listened and found them all in Joey's studio on the third floor. Joey had taken over half the floor and the other half was a dojo. But the divisions were floating walls made up of large shoji and, Seto realized with surprise, gigantic murals.
Mr. Thompkins was going through sketch books and crooning in delight. All the books were full of sketches of everything, duels, life studies, head 'shots', even a rather odd drawing of Seto. At least odd if you didn't duel. It was a drawing of Seto just after he'd set a card, his hand in the forefront and his face showing between the fingers.
"Well, I just can't make up my mind about what I should pick. I'll take a little of everything and I'll be sending someone to pick up all the murals I marked. I don't want to . . . actually, I can't take them. I don't think they will fit in my BMW. I can't be ready for a show for at least a week. The matting and framing will take that long. Unless, . . . Mr. Kaiba. I can get all the necessary work done in three days, but it'll cost. We have a cancellation and I was going to use the time to do some refurbishment on the gallery but they aren't that necessary. What do you want to do?"
Joey considered watching Seto, Willow allowed her eyes to flick back and forth between the three men, waiting for decisions, so she would know what to do about security.
"I don't know. Joey what do you want to do? Do you need time or would you rather just get it over with? I know it's unnerving. I'm a wreck over the cards. So it 's whatever you want to do. Although we need to get it in the works fairly soon."
Willow knew they needed the exposure as quickly as possible. But it was looking hard on Joey, letting go of his art seemed harder that she thought it ought to be.
"I just hate this. What if no one likes it. What if they laugh, what if . . ."
"What if, what if. Joey, you're going to make yourself crazy. You're good. Mr. Thompkins wouldn't give you the time of day if you weren't. No matter who his patron is. Seto doesn't like yes men and Sam knows it."
Mokuba hugged Seto and then Joey, nestling into his arms for a prolonged cuddle. Willow wandered into Seto's arms and they watched as Thompkins, who had distanced himself from the group, continued to flip through books. He finally came back to the group.
"Are you through fussing?"At Joey's nod he continued. "I want the drawing of Seto as an anime character. And there are several of recognizable people from the dueling crowd. If only . . . Mr. Kaiba, I just had an idea. There are a lot of duel related drawings, sketches and paintings" Mr. Thompkins rubbed his chin thinking. "If I call in more favors than I've got I could get the show ready for the night of the intro party. Or . . . no, it must open right after that. It ties in so deliciously you'll have everybody who is anybody in society there. And I heard you want the Underwood's there. I can manage that easily, all I have to do is drop the word that there will be dueling with a new deck and you couldn't keep him away with a gun to his head. Whole family is a nasty piece of work. Not fit to be around, but old money, so what can you do?"
"Ruin them. And you get to help, you and Daniels." Mr. Thompkins made a face "Oh I am soooo sorry MR Daniels if you please." Seto twinkled at the group, which left Joey gaping. "Anyway, the opening could be scheduled for the same night as the Gala Introduction. As Mr. Daniels called it. We've got to settle on a name for this mess."
"Operation: Settle Scores." Willows deadly look scared Mr. Thompkins.
"Look, I'm just an art gallery manager. I don't know exactly what is going on and I don't want to. But if you're starting something that will get Underwood, et. all., off the social register, I'm in. They cause more trouble than they are worth and their attitude is . . . supercilious at best. So . . . I'll get the show ready for the Gala if it kills me. But I want to be able to do it right. I'll need so much help. "
Seto thought for a while, then asked what exactly he needed help with. When Thompkins replied that cutting the frames was going to take forever and the mats would too. After getting an explanation of what mat cutting was, Seto made a call, then turned to Thompkins saying, "I've managed to find someone who knows how to cut mats with a machine. Is that acceptable? And cabinetmakers from one of my subsidiaries can make frames."
"The frame makers are good, but the mats need to have beveled edges and you can't do that by machine. If I can get the frames made, I can manage to get people I know to come help me cut mats. I think we can do this."
And they did. Late that afternoon Seto got a final conformation of the details of the Gala and Joey got one for the Gallery opening. Willow slipped out to check security and came back satisfied that everything was as secure as she could make it, of course they did want their attackers to be able to get to them so they could be taken care of. Willow smiled evilly to herself, she would settle this mess and then they could get on with their lives, which included her staying right here for the rest of a very long life.
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After a late lazy supper of carry in they all sat around watching tv with the stated objective of boring themselves to sleep. It worked; Joey and Mokuba unashamedly headed for their room and Seto eyed Willow, now was the time.
"Seto, you know I'm going to punish you tonight. I don't want you wandering off and doing it yourself. You promised"
"Yes, and so did you."
Willow went into the outer sitting room and he heard her scrabbling around out there. Seto flopped down on the bed, then he rolled over onto his stomach and clutched the nearest pillow. He grimaced, he knew he deserved to be punished. Willow had promised to do it so he wouldn't damage himself. He was mortified to realize that he was sweating slightly.
"I'm going to prepare in the other room, stay here. I'll be back soon." Willow noticed Seto sweating and smiled at him gently.
Seto rolled over and groaned. {What the hell have I done, I've just submitted my body . . . and my soul to one of the most feared assassins in the world.}
Willow came back into the room.
"Come."
Seto rolled one eye in her direction, and smirked.
" . . . with me, you ass."
Willow led Seto to the sitting room and pointed to the couch, which was now covered with a sheet, and had a pillow and a blanket on it as well.
"You're sleeping on the couch tonight. You don't deserve to sleep with me, bad boy!"
Seto settled himself on the couch and thought. He wondered wether he could get her to spank him instead. It was infinitely more painful to be separated from her for the night. {Damnit, I'm turning into a pervert on top of everything else. Maybe if I beg her.} Seto slammed the pillow with his fist trying to make it more comfortable. He wasn't going to beg her to let him back into his own bed.
"Shit! . . . .Wiiiillllloooow . . . If . . . "
"NO!"
"Damn"
Seto groaned, the couch was comfortable, there wasn't a piece of furniture in the apartment that wasn't. But he knew he wasn't going to get a seconds sleep all night. He'd been sleeping with Willow in his arms for too long for him to be comfortable away from her. He just knew she was sleeping like a baby {Damnit, I'm not going to sleep. The bed is too big and it's cold and . . . Seto you jerk. Why can't you be happy with just feeling bad and let me . . . shit . . . I want Seto. So, I'm a big baby.}
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"Seto, what the hell are you doing sleeping on the couch. Get up."
Seto opened one eye and glared at Mokuba, they were going to have to have a talk about knocking soon.
"I'm being punished. I'm not sure if I'm allowed off the couch or not. Don't wake Willow, just bring me my cell phone and a cup of coffee. ok.?"
"Sure. But Willow's standing right there in the door, ask her."
Seto turned around at looked at Willow, she didn't look any happier than he was. She had dark circles under her eyes and her hair was a tangled mess
"I forgot to have you braid it for the night. Get up and help me comb out this mess. Mo'? You know that thing that existed between this room and the hall. Called a door?"
Mokuba gave her a nervous look "Yeah. Door, open same, enter room. Sso?"
"Knock before opening. Next time you walk in on us and I'm not dressed, I'm putting something nasty in your bed."
Seto grinned "Besides Wheeler you mean?"
"Joey isn't nasty!". Mokuba was indignant
Willow smirked at him, "If he isn't a nasty boy why is he in your bed?"
"Ack! Willow, Seto you both are just gross." Mokuba slammed the door on their laughter.
Seto followed Willow into the bathroom and helped her get her hair under control again and took his own shower. They had hours before the Gala started and he was wondering if he had bitten off more than Sam could chew.
The rest of that day was spent in watching Willow duel, giving her advice and dueling themselves, that evening they went to a fancy restaurant and then picked up their clothing for the next evening.
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The next morning was much nicer than the last one. Willow woke in Seto's arms and snuggled against him, he smiled down at her and laughed as she made morning faces and realized that her breath was less than sweet, but Seto kissed her anyway.
"Morning Koi."
"Yeh, bad sun. too bright."
"Grouch! Get up. We'll knock Joey up, and he and Mokuba can make us breakfast."
"Seto, that's not fair." Willow realized that Joey had been doing all the cooking sense they'd started living here. "We ought to do some of the cooking."
"Can you cook? "
"Yes, not very good, but I don't burn water."
"I don't even know how to work this stove. I'm more of a cold cereal and toast kind a' guy.
Seto stretched "I could manage an omelet if I don't turn my back on it."
Twenty minutes later they were knocking on Joey and Mokuba's door. Joey answered the door fully dressed and holding a hairbrush. He grinned at them and then grumbled. "I'm growin' my hair, I'm the only one with . . .well, then there is Seto."
Seto grinned back, they both had lovers with long hair, he wondered if he should have a plumber on retainer like a lawyer. When he asked Joey what he thought, Willow grabbed for him and missed, Joey yelped as Mokuba tickled his ribs and they all wound up in the kitchen laughing and breathless.
Joey opened cabinets and drawers, preparing to make breakfast. He rummaged around in the refrigerator and snarled, "Breakfast today is gonna be left overs. I need to go to the grocery store or get some delivered. Lessee. I got . . . rice, and some chicken . . . what the hell is this? And eggs, no bread or bacon. Gah!"
Willow eyed the assortment of odds and ends. She'd be happy with a breakfast bar and some tea. When she said so, Joey just handed her what she asked for and went back to grumbling. Seto exchanged grins with Mokuba, Joey was a real grouch before coffee and he took it out on the pots and pans, banging them around, and slamming doors.
Mokuba put his arms around Joey and rubbed his cheek against his back. Joey patted his hands and sighed, he was so nervous about the Gallery that he was about to jump out of his skin.
"Damnit, I'm so scared. What if they don't like them. Who's gonna be there? Fuck!"
Mokuba hugged Joey harder, "Koi, don't upset yourself so much. It'll be fine. You'll probably know most of the duelists who come, and Seto and I know the rest. The Gallery show will be open to people other than duelists. It'll be open before the Gala is over. So all you have to do is wander around with a drink in your hand and look artistic. Smile at the nice people, answer their stupid intrusive questions and sell, sell, sell.,"
Joey gave Seto a sour look, he was used to social situations like this, Joey wasn't. It made it better that someone knew what was going on but not much.
Willow shook her head, she didn't see any reason for Joey to be so nervous, no one was shooting at him after all. But if he was, he was. She decided to have him go with her to check the security at the Gala site.
"Seto, where is the Gala going to be? I know you told me the arena but did Daniels change it. He was threatening to."
"MISTER, if you please. No, he didn't, I wouldn't allow it. The arena is the best place to have it. There is a banquet room behind the arena proper where they can set up the food and drink tables, with plenty of room for standing around, and enough wall space to hang posters of cards. The high value cards will be in the arena, but the rest will be there. You going to the gallery? If you are, I want to go too."
Willow checked her guns and knives and smirked at Seto.
"I"m armed aren't I? If you're coming, come on."
So they went down to the arena and she drove the security people crazy as she went over the security systems with a fine tooth comb and physically checked all the cameras and locks. Her check showed up some faults that were quickly corrected by her. And one breach of security caused by wait staff propping a door open for deliveries.
By the time she got done dressing the entire catering staff down, from the head of operations to the waiters, Seto was wondering if he had rubbed off on her, he'd never heard her go off like that. She walked away, grumbling about people who couldn't follow simple guide lines, and told the head of security that they were propping a door open and she expected it to stop. The head of security just gave a jerky nod and went to find the caterer.
"Willow, calm down. I'm sure, now that you've explained it, they won't do it anymore."
"Seto, I've seen it every place I've ever worked. It's not convenient to have to unlock the door for every trip, so they prop the door open. And leave it, so that anyone and everyone can just wander in. They won't stop unless someone checks on them constantly. That's the way whoever is after us will get in or I miss my guess."
"You're sure."
"It's human nature, tell me I'm wrong."
Willow lead the way to the limo and they headed for the Gallery to see what was up there. They walked into chaos and confusion. Mr. Thompkins was rushing around with handfuls of papers and a tape measure around his neck. He stopped long enough to explain to Seto and Willow that he'd managed to get the building manager to ok them setting Joey's art up in the big banquette room across from the arena, ending up with a snarled request for them to get out and let him work, or things wouldn't be ready
"Well . . . that went well. I'll go back and check out the banquette room and then I'm going to make sure Mokuba didn't buy me some stupid dress. I'm wearing a tux, just like you."
"Umm, . . . I . . . Willow, I got you something. And I don't think a tux will show it off."
"I'm not wearing a tuxedo shirt. I found a really nice silk top that looks good and just feminine enough that I don't look like a dyke. It's a swaged front. Look's . . . sexy. Or at lest that's what Joey said."
"Lets go back to the apartment and you show me, ok?"
"Sure. As soon as I check out the Gallery."
When they got back, Willow headed for the large banquette room across the large loby of the ground floor and was stopped at the door. The guard said no one without clearance from Mr. Thompkins was allowed in. After some polite consultation and a look at Seto's ID, he allowed them in.
Seto whistled softly. Thompkins had used some of Joeys' murals as hanging walls, dividing the room into a maze of blank walls and murals. The murals were all placed so that there was enough room to get far enough away to see them properly, and room to gather in small groups and gossip. Willow wondered how he was going to keep traffic moving but decided that was up to him.
The sketches, drawings and paintings were going to be hung on the bare, light buff walls. Willow wondered about what the decorative pillars and small tables scattered about were for and decided not to worry. The security was tight, the cameras were all in place and operative, and that was all she cared about. She didn't like nasty surprises and didn't intend to get one.
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Willow was in her room trying on the tux she was going to wear. Mokuba had wanted her to wear a dress but she'd told him no way, besides how was she supposed to hide a gun in a dress not to mention throwing pins and a knife. She decided she looked good, the top showed off just enough of her figure that everyone knew she was definitely a girl.
Seto didn't even try to sneak up on Willow, he just walked up behind her and dangled the diamond heart next to her head. She saw it in the mirror, but her reaction was unusual for a woman. She smiled and took it from Seto examining it with interest.
"Don't you like it?"
"Yes, it's very nice. But . . . um . . . Seto, I didn't think you wore necklaces."
Seto nearly strangled himself trying not to laugh at her.
"It's for you, Kirei Tenshi. Here let me put it on for you."
"For me? But . . . why? It's expensive. What if I loose it?"
"It's for you because I love you. If you lose it, I'll buy you another. It looks good."
Willow looked at herself in the mirror and liked what she saw. Her tux was black classic Armani but instead of wearing a ruffled tuxedo shirt she was wearing the swaged front blouse that matched her eyes. It was cut just low enough that the necklace rested just at the top of it drawing attention to the diamond glitter.
"Well?"
"I'm locking you up." Willow gave Seto a funny look as he started helping her out of the tux. Seto nuzzled her neck and murmured, "So no one else can see you so beautiful. I'm incurably jealous."
"Jealous of me? But I'm . . . "
Seto put one finger over her lips and shushed her. Then he gave her a lot else to think about.
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I was going to put the deck on my LJ, but it doesn't like my format so here is the address anyway:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/yanagi_wa/
Deck
Amazon Assassin is not a real card
Amazon Chain Master
level 4
attack 1500
defense 1300
warrior
earth
in deck 3
Amazon Fighter
level 4
attack 1500
defense 1300
warrior
earth
in deck 1
Amazon Sword Woman
level 4
attack 1500
defense 1600
warrior
earth
in deck 3
Black Luster Soldier
level 8 must have Ritual card + eight stars tribute
attack 3000
defense 2500
warrior
divine
in deck 1
Black Luster Ritual
magic
in deck 1
Blackland Fire Dragon
level 4
attack 1500
defense 800
dragon
shadow
in deck 1
Cyber Harpy
level 4
attack 1800
defense 1300
winged beast
wind
in deck 3
Dark Magician Girl
level 6 tributes required 1
attack 2000
defense 1700
magician
shadow
in deck 3
Des Volstgalph
level 6 tributes required 1
attack 2200
defense 1700
dragon
earth
in deck 1
Dunames Dark Witch
level 4
attack 1800
defense 1050
fairy
light
in deck 3
Fairy's Gift
level 4
attack 1400
Defense 1000
magician
forest
in deck 1 special abilities restore life points by 1000
Queen's Knight
level 4
attack 1500
defense 1600
warrior
light
in deck 3
Summoned Skull
level 6 tributes required 1
attack 2500
defense 1200
fiend
fiend
in deck 3
Thousand Dragon
level 7 tributes required 2
attack 2400
defense 2000
dragon
pyro
in deck 1
magic and trap cards
.
Change of Heart
Axe of Despair in deck 3
Tremendous Fire
Beast Fangs
Cyber Shield in deck 3
Dark Hole
Dian Keto the Cure Master
Dragon Treasure
Final Flame
Goblin's Secret Remedy
Harpy's Feather Duster
Hitnotama
Kuni with Chain
Monster Reborn
Pot of Greed.
Total monster cards 26
total magic cards 20
total spell cards 1
total cards in deck 47
It's kind of a big deck but I don't use a side deck so that's all the cards I've got. I picked my cards on the same principles that Rowan used. I like the picture and it's got a good attack or defense. Magic cards I picked solely on how useful they were to my style.