<Atem> I wonder who we'll meet today?
<Setsuna> Yeah, every time we go to one of these things, we end up getting into something.
<Seto> Which isn't always a bad thing… *wraps his arm around Setsuna*
<Marik> I second that. *smiles at Ari*
<Ari> *smiles back, but then turns to look at Bakura, changing to Kibira*
<Bakura> *catches the glance, and looks back oddly* *cocks head* Eh? *turns into Ryou*
<Ryou> *grins* Hello…
<Marik> *growls, looking over his shoulder*
<Ryou> *sweatdrop* What?! =_=' 'I wasn't saying hello to you…
<Marik> Erg. It's nothing… *turns back to Ari, to find she's Kibira* *raises an eyebrow*
<Kibira> Oh… sorry. *quickly turns into Ari*
<Setsuna> *blinks* Kibira seems to be coming out at the weirdest moments nowadays… and then she just disappears. I wonder what's up with her?
<Ari> *anger mark* I dunno… but I have my suspicions.
<Marik> *is about to ask what they are, but is interrupted by a group of duelists heading their way*
<Boy> *running up* Hey! Look it's Seto Kaiba! Wow! He's so awesome!
<Seto> *grins* Heh… glad you noticed…
<Girl> Oh yeah?! Well, there's Setsuna Himoko! Last time I was here I witnessed her defeat of Seto Kaiba! What about that?!
<Seto> =_=' And I'm quickly forgotten…
<Setsuna> *laughs* My reputation precedes me… what can I say?!
<Crystal> And I don't have a reputation at all! *laughs* I really need to practice!
<Atem> Technically, you do have a rep… you did lose to Ari once...
<Crystal> Yeah, I guess...Oh well. *smiles*
<Setsuna> *stretches her arms out* Okay… I'm rarin' for a duel… I haven't gotten some action in a while!
<Marik> *snort* That kinda sounds wrong...
<Crystal> *laughs hysterically* *smiles* This is gonna be a great day!
<Atem> You're in an unusually good mood today.
<Crystal> This is what happens when I drink too much soda! *laughs*
<Ari> *a flicker of Kibira showing through* I think I wanna duel someone today!
<Crystal> Hmmm... I think I'll just watch today. Maybe after I witness a couple of duels, I'll join in on the fun. ^^
<Seto> Maybe Ari could duel Setsuna? >> They both seem to want to duel…
<Ryou> *smirks* That might be an interesting duel… Best friends, duking it out… Reminds me of Duelist Kingdom.
<Atem> There wouldn't be any stakes here like there were at DK =_='
<Seto> *grumbles* That fruitcake…
<Setsuna> *giggles* Hey, it was because of Pegasus that I got the second BEUD! I'd say that's just fine!
<Atem> The man had to have been gay =_='
<Seto> I second shorty, for once.
<Crystal> Well are we going to duel, or not?
<Setsuna> *grins* I'll take you on, Ari.
<Ari> *grits her teeth* What's the point? You always beat me…
<Setsuna> That's not true… you've won a bunch of times!
<Ari> Yeah, because you were messing with your deck and were finding out if it was better or worse. Your real deck kicks arse. -_-
<Marik> *puts his arms on Ari's hips* Come on, have a little more confidence in yourself… I'm sure you could beat Setsuna.
<Ari> *Kibira popping through again* You're right. *narrows her eyes* Setsuna, you're going down!
<Setsuna> *grins* That's what I like to hear! A real challenge! *puts her Duel Disk on her arm* (LP 8000)
<Crystal> ^^ This is gonna be fun!
<Ryou> *folds his arms and smirks* Indeed.
<Kibira> *taking over completely, putting her Duel Disk on* (LP 8000) Let's make this a Yukikureru battle, eh?
<Liana> *grins* Way ahead of you. *draws* I'll go first! *looks at her hand* *smirks* Heh… I play two cards face down, and Luster Dragon in attack mode! (1900/1600) Your turn.
<Kibira> *draws* I play Dark Hole! Say goodbye to your Luster Dragon!
<Liana> Oh, I would… but… I use De-Spell! Your Dark Hole is useless *smirks*
<Kibira> *clenches a fist* Damn… I play one monster in defense mode, and end my turn.
<Liana> *draws* I play Disc Fighter in attack mode! (1000/1000) Now, I'll attack your face down monster with my Disc Fighter!
<Seto> Liana, are you nuts?? An attack of 1000 and you're going for a defense monster??
<Kibira> *grins* My monster was the Earthbound Spirit! (500/2000) You lose 1000 life points!
<Liana> *smirks* Not so fast; my Disc Fighter has a special ability! If he attacks a defense monster with a defense of 2000 or more, he destroys the monster without any damage calculation!
<Kibira> No!!
<Liana> And I'm not done yet… Now, I'll attack with my Luster Dragon!
<Kibira> *grits her teeth* Rarg! (LP 7100) My turn! *draws* Hah! This will work… I play Change of Heart! Your Luster Dragon is mine! And I'll destroy your Disc Fighter with it!
<Liana> *shrugs* Fine with me. (LP 8100) Done yet?
<Kibira> *sneers* Hardly. I'll put a monster in defense mode before I end my turn.
<Liana> *grins* Well folks… *draws* Here is where I take control of this duel!
<Crystal> It already seemed like she was in control… didn't it?
<Seto> Not really… it was pretty evenly matched up till now.
<Atem> Kaiba, do you know what Liana's going to play?
<Seto> Isn't it obvious? She got the last piece of the puzzle she needed for BEUD. That's the only thing she could have been waiting for!
<Marik> Hang in there, Kibira!
<Ryou> *thinking to himself: This works very well… if she wins, she'll only have me to thank for teaching her… and if she loses, it will only make her resolve to learn greater…* *grins* *I love it when things work out my way…*
*There has been a crowd gathering since the start of the duel, and now there is a hush as Liana plays her next set of cards*
<Liana> First, I summon Lord of D.! (1200/1100) Then, I'll play two Flute of Summoning Dragons! And we all know what that means! *smirks smugly as the three dragons appear on the field* All three Blue Eyes! (3000/2500) But, that's not all… I play my face down magic card, Polymerization! Rise, my beautiful Ultimate Dragon! (4500/3800)
<Kibira> *stares up at the dragons* Damn… I'm done for!
<Marik> Come on, Kibira! You can take her!
<Seto> Yeah right… The Blue Eyes Ultimate is unstoppable!
<Atem> *coughs*
<Crystal> *giggles*
<Seto> =_=''' Shut up.
<Atem> *innocently* I didn't say anything! ^-^
<Liana> Fusion monsters can't attack on their first turn, so it's your go, Kibira. *smiles*
<Kibira> *draws* Not that it matters much… I play another monster in defense mode, and end my turn. *clenches her firsts, knowing she can't beat Liana*
<Liana> *draws* Yes! I play my trap card, Dragon's Rage! Now I can inflict damage no matter what the position of a monster I attack, as long as I use a dragon-type monster! Now, I'll attack one of your monsters with my BEUD!
<Kibira> No! My Mystical Elf! (800/2000) DAMMIT!! (LP 4600)
<Liana> And now, My Luster Dragon will attack your other monster!
<Kibira> La Jinn… (1800/1000) *sigh* I'm gonna get beat… bad… (LP 3700)
<Liana> Finally, my Lord of D. will attack your life points directly!
<Kibira> *silent* (LP 2500) *draws* *plays a monster in defense and waves Liana on for her turn*
<Liana> *grins wickedly, the crowd applauding* I attack your monster with BEUD!
<Kibira> It was D. D. Trainer (100/2000) … (LP 0000) You win… as always…
<Liana> YES!! *jumps up as the holograms disappear* *grins, bowing to the crowd which is cheering*
<Crystal> *grins* Liana's quite popular with the crowds…
<Seto> *folds his arms, watching the guys in the crowd like a hawk* Just as long as no one tries anything funny…
<Marik> *goes over to Kibira, who hasn't moved* You did well, Kibira… I think you're an awesome duelist…
<Kibira> *bats his hands away as he reaches for her* Leave me alone. *runs off, towards her house*
<Marik> Wait! Kibira! *sigh*
<Ryou> *laughs* Awww… looks like you don't comfort her the way you used to…
<Marik> *glares* Shut up, you fruitcake.
<Ryou> *raises an eyebrow* My, my, we are forgetting who did the brainwashing, aren't we?
<Marik> *clenches his fists, holding back the urge to punch Ryou* I'm not like that anymore!
<Atem> Will you two stop before you get going, please?
<Liana> *jogging over* Where'd Kibira go?
<Marik> *snapping* You scared her off with your lovely display of humility!
<Seto> Hey, take it easy!
<Crystal> *picking up on Kibira's thoughts* Liana… I think you may have gone too far today…
<Liana> *folds her arms* Why does everyone think I'm some kind of stuck-up lunatic? Kibira knows I didn't mean anything bad… It's just a game! *stalks off in Kibira's direction, wanting to find out what's up, once and for all*
<Atem> Aren't you two going to follow after her? *looks at Seto and Marik*
<Marik> *shakes his head* This is between them… we'd be in the way.
<Seto> *nods* They've been best friends for life… Kibira must have something else on her mind that's making her act like this…
<Ryou> *keeps himself from laughing* Well, kiddies, I'm heading home. See you all tomorrow at the sleepover… *waves as he walks off in the same direction as Liana*
<Crystal> That was strangely chipper for Ryou… >>'
<Seto> *folds his arms* Something's going on… I can't get into his mind anymore.
<Marik> =_='' Trust me, that's not a bad thing.
<Crystal> I can't read it either… and Kibira's mind is kinda splotchy. I agree with Seto; something's going on.
*meanwhile*
<Kibira> *has reached her step, and is unlocking the door hurriedly, trying to get in before Liana comes up*
<Liana> *grabs Kibira's arm before she goes in the door* What is wrong with you lately? What did I do?
<Kibira> *glares* Leave me alone! *goes inside, not caring that Liana is following her inside*
<Liana> I'm not leaving until you tell me what I did, so I can either apologize or explain. Since when have you been keeping things from me? We used to be able to read each other's minds easy; now I can't even get near your thoughts!
<Kibira> Maybe I don't want you trouncing around in my mind anymore!
<Liana> Kibira! What on earth is wrong? WHAT DID I DO?!
<Kibira> *is about to yell, but stops, folding her arms* I… You didn't do anything… it's what I can't do. *stares at the floor*
<Liana> *trying to understand* You… are jealous or something?
<Kibira> *doesn't look up, but nods slightly*
<Liana> *lest out an exasperated laugh* Kibira, there's nothing to be jealous of! You've got everything I've got and more… you've got Marik… you've got powers, and looks, and smarts… and even if I do get math faster than you, who cares? Does any of that stuff really matter?
<Kibira> *sighs* I just… hate living in your shadow all the time.
<Liana> Since when? You've never said this before. You aren't "in my shadow" at all! I'm trying to get you in the light at well! I mean, what; did you expect me to let you win the match or something?
<Kibira> *snapping* No! … No… I just… I don't know… for all the hate you've always expressed over your Item… you seem to be learning its powers so quickly… while I just kinda stumble over mine awkwardly… You're a natural… I'm not.
<Liana> *bending over, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder* That only means that you're better than I am… you have to really work to get where you are now… I can just walk around easy… and some day… I'll have to work for it too; and I might not be ready for something big, while you already will be.
<Kibira> *smiling weakly, feeling guilty about her meetings with Ryou* I still wish I could beat you at something…
<Liana> *laughs* You can. You just haven't discovered what it is yet. Now come on… you've beaten me at things before…
<Kibira> *folds her arms* All of them times you claimed to have let me win. That's one thing that just makes it worse… you make yourself look unbeatable… and if you lose, you won't admit it!
<Liana> *sighs* Kibira, you know I'm just kidding around with stuff like that…
<Kibira> Well you shouldn't! It hurts my feelings, and I'm sure the others don't want to see you gloating all the time!
<Liana> Gloating?
<Kibira> Yeah, gloating! All you ever do is rub it in that you win all the time! You never step aside and let other people win! You've always got to be in there somehow… You could barely stand it when I dueled that Rift girl! Where do you get all that? Honestly?!
<Liana> *standing straight, trying not to let her eyes well up* You know how I am, Kibira… and you know I mean no harm by it. It is your current actions that I would like to know "where from." I've been like this for a long time, and you've known… however this new disposition of yours is quite different from you… and it isn't becoming either. *leaves quickly, letting Kibira take in her words*
<Ryou> *coming down the stairs* Well, that was quite interesting… *sneers at the door, where Liana left* She's on to you… you've been foolish, acting the way you have been.
<Kibira> *glares* Like you've helped.
<Ryou> *inspects his nails* You'll show them all, tomorrow, I'm sure…
<Kibira> *clenches her fists* Yeah, I will.
<Ryou> *smiles, looking lustily at her* Well at least you're talking to me again… after our last meeting I-
<Kibira> *cutting him off* If you wish to continue talking, I suggest not bringing that up.
<Ryou> *folding his arms* Or what?
<Kibira> *standing and walking over to him, glaring into his eyes* Or I'll show them all tomorrow, without you.
<Ryou> *has to laugh at this* It seems like a pretty empty threat... after all, how do you plan on showing them how you've learned, with no teacher? *drapes his arms around her waist* I could teach you so much more… you know…
<Kibira> *moves closer to him, looking into his eyes dreamily* Oh really? I'd just love to see you… TRY! *pushes him back harshly, slamming him into the wall* Lay off, Ryou!
<Ryou> *grinning* So you want to play that way? Fine… *comes back over and grabs her harshly, kissing her before she can fight back*
<Kibira> *finds herself kissing back, not fighting the small inkling she's had to try kissing back on her own for once*
<Ryou> *lets go after a minute or two, and looks at her with a raised eyebrow* I'll see you tomorrow. *leaves without another word*
<Kibira> *touches her lips sensitively after she's sure he's gone* Oh my… I have got to be going nuts…