Chaos Effect

A rule of thumb for any of you out there who wake up to find yourself suddenly living in an anime: take stock before you panic.

First determine what anime you are in. This is the most important thing because quite frankly there are some anime where, no matter who you are or your role in it may be, you are screwed. I don't know about you but no amount of funny wires that let me run along buildings will make up for the world gone to hell and cannibal giants eating my loved ones (at least that's what I assume Attack on Titan is about, it might be about DC fans trying to get Teen Titans Go canceled for all I know). Now, maybe some of you really want to end up in one of those emo worlds where humanity is doomed and you know that half of the people you meet will be dead before it is done because you want to live out your Hunger Games fantasies... whatever floats your boat. Me? I openly admit I am lazy and would much rather have an easy time of it.

Now, if you are in an anime world that isn't one big giant ball of suck I then suggest determining if you are a main character or just one of those random bystanders that is in the background. It might sound all neat to be in the Dragon Ball universe until you realize that if you are a normal human your life is going to be a series of 'bland, bland, oh god why! hello there King Yemma nice desk, alive again, bland bland'. Rinse, repeat, cash the friggin' check. I know a lot of people who end up sucked into anime worlds end up with Stands or sailing with Luffy but that's only because everyone who DOESN'T hit the jackpot when it comes to entering a fictional world dies a painful death and doesn't get a chance to share their tale. Or at the very least it doesn't get good reviews.

Finally, check to see if you are yourself. Sometimes you get to keep your body, sometimes you end up as Ash Ketchem. Ketchum. Keechum? Whatever. My point is that matters too because it is going to make things both easier and harder. Yeah, real cool to suddenly be Tai leading the digidestined but then you realize that you lost all the muscle memory you used to have so your desire to punch that monkey radio host in the face is going to end VERY badly. Tai wasn't a runner is all I'm saying. I'm personally glad I was just younger when this all started for me.

But I'm getting slightly ahead of myself.

You need to think these things through before you panic. Because your "magical adventure" (this site needs a button to make clear one is being sarcastic) isn't going to be so awe-inspiring if you spend the entire time locked in a padded room while doctors decide if they should put the straight jacket on you before or after the enema.

Now, I can't claim that I followed these rules when I found myself sucked into my oh so wonderful odyssey. Yeah, I'd like to claim I was all aloof and shit because that would make me sound cool and a badass but I am going to be honest with you all because you guys deserve that... and frankly I figure laughing at me will get me more reviews.

(innocent smile)

When I first woke up I was VERY startled. My bedroom isn't huge by any means... a full size bed, dresser, tv stand, nightstand, that's about it. But it is certainly bigger than that rice cracker box I found myself in the first morning I woke up in that strange world. I visit my dad's place a lot so I am used to waking up in a room that isn't my normal bedroom but not in something that feels like a closet's bastard brother. My change in clothing didn't help either; gone was the old t-shirt (a 'If You Are Redneck' Shirt, if you must know) and silk pajama bottoms and in their place was a set of pajamas you'd see some rich guy wearing in a cartoon right before Bugs Bunny popped up in his bedroom wondering if he should have taken that last left at Albuquerque. You know the kind, the colored baby blue shirt with matching pants, a pair of heelless slippers sitting nearby? Sorry, I'm cheap, so never going to wear something like that... yet there I was, in just such an outfit.

Hearing cars going by I went to the window and opened to only to find that my view of the apartment building across the parking lot had been replaced by a Japanese city skyline that stretched for miles. Tall skyscrapers mixed with squat buildings, warehouses in the distance with small leafy parks dotting the landscape before me. I could see an intersection of commerce, traffic, and humanity just to my left, with electronic billboards advertising the latest gadgets from Industrial Illusions... and Kaiba Corp.

"Oh... shoot," I muttered to myself, it very quickly dawning on me that I had either finally cracked (a very good possibility) or ended up in the one thing I'd never wanted to be a part of: an Author Insert.

Turning around I began to pace, or at least pace as well as I could in that refrigerator box of a bedroom. I didn't know what to do with my hands, sometimes raising one up to swoop my bangs back, other times putting my left arm behind my back and clutching my right (oddly comfortable, I must say). It was only when I reached up to stroke my chin and found it bare that I realized it wasn't just my location that had changed. Ever since I had been 21 years old I had sported a full goatee at minimum; even when I shaved the thing off I always left at least a bit of stubble. But rather than feeling a thick beard or at minimum coarse stubble it was smooth skin that greeted my fingertips. It took me a moment to shake the confusion of THAT before I rushed to the mirror, snatching up my glasses and plunking them on my face before I stared at myself.

You ever wonder what you'd look like as a cartoon character? I have. Those 'Make yourself a (insert tv show)' games are my favorite. Ducktales, My Little Pony, Pokémon... I've done them all. But it is one thing to design it on a computer screen and another to find yourself staring at it in the mirror. My features were almost the same. Round face. Blue-gray eyes. Blonde hair. Tall build. All the basics were there but there were little changes that made it... wrong. Utterly offputting. My chin was a bit more square. Eyes bigger and more intense, lacking the lines of gray that I normally saw in the irises. Skin flawless... not just missing blemishes but no moles or pores either. I had always had a mole below the corner of my right eye but that was gone, along with the ones on my forehead. Glancing at my arms showed that their moles and freckles were gone too. Pulling up my pant legs proved that in anime world I also had silky smooth legs to apparently save the artist time. That left me hairless save for the top of my head. And god, that was the biggest change as all. FAR longer than I would ever wear it and the dark blonde now had the streaks of red that normally only showed up in my beard now running along my hair like tiger stripes. I poked at my head, thankful at the very least that my hair was only at Kaiba levels and not Joey or, god forbid, Yugi.

"Fudge," I muttered myself before my face twisted in confusion. "Fudge. Fickle. Flipper." My nose crinkled as I snarled. "I can't swear. I can't floppin' swear. Gosh darn it those mother loving 4Kids copiers!" I gripped the dressed and shook it in frustration. "Oh this is going to be a fluffy time. Can't wait to have my rice ball-shaped donuts."

Grabbing my wallet off the small nightstand beside the bed I found my driver's license (international in this world, so at least I could use a car) and stared at my anime self's picture. My birthday was the same but a little math showed that I was only 22 years old in this world, meaning I'd lost nearly 13 years of my life. I still hailed from Michigan in the United States, though, and that gave me hope that my family might exist in some form in this weird world. The problem was the name I found typed on my id.

Edwin J. Chaos.

'So whoever sent me here decided to use my pen name,' I thought with a shake of my head. "No idea where Edwin came from. Don't think I ever established what Mr. Chaos' first name was.' I shut my eyes and sighed before I sang, "You are accepting this far too easily "Edwin"." Scoffing I decided I might as well explore this world I was stuck in and grabbed a t-shirt and some jeans, because damn it I was not walking around an anime world filled with ghost pharaohs and snake-dicked demons in my Uncle Scrooge pajamas.

As I pulled out my socks I grabbed my cellpone, only mildly surprised that it was here, and turning it on I saw that I thankfully had my normal apps. If I was going to be stuck in this world at least I could listen to music.

Once dressed I took a breath, braced myself, and left the room.

~MC~MC~MC~MC~

Kipling Chaos, an older man in his early 50s with graying hair that he tied back in a ponytail, warm brown eyes, and a round open face, looked up from his paper, shifting his wheelchair so that he could better see around the corner. "Ah, nephew, so good of you to join me for breakfast."

"Hello uncle, that wasn't a clunky sentence at all," Edwin said, one side of his mouth quirking up as he walked over to the small open kitchen and pulled out a bowl and dumped some Frosted Mini Wheats into it. "What do we have planned for today? Adventure? Romance? Egyptian pharaohs?"

"Nothing quite like the latter but perhaps some of the former," Kipling said, turning his wheelchair so that his right leg, which was in a heavy white cast that left it sticking straight out in front of him, was tucked once more under the table. Edwin had by this point poured himself a glass of orange juice before sitting down to join him, eating his cereal dry and with his bare hands. "You have horrible table manners."

"And a garbage palette, I'm told," Edwin said cheekily. "So, what's up?"

"I know you have been bored since you got here," Kipling said with a smile, watching his nephew ear. "I was the one who encouraged you to take a year off after graduating from college and come stay with me and work at my TV station, Chaos Communications. Promised you all the sights and wonders of Domino… and then the day before you arrive I trip on a candy bar wrapper and shatter my leg." He patted his cast.

"Yeah, about that… how do you break your leg stepping on a candy bar wrapper?"

"Ha! You are never going to let me live that down! Still-"

"No seriously-"

"-you've done a good job for me so far at the station. I know you were hoping for more reporting and less paperwork but you've been a godsend. Got the file room cleaned up, actually gave us some organization. It's appreciated, it truly is."

Edwin smiled at that. "No problem. You're welcome."

"I very much am. I've been thinking of how I could reward you and I think I know a way. Tell me… have you heard of Duel Monsters?"

"Card game, right?" the younger man said, popping another bit of cereal in his mouth.

"Exactly. I know it isn't that popular in America yet but here in Japan it has gone from a casual game to a cultural phenomenon! Everyone seems to be playing it nowadays."

"Really? I guess if Football can become a national pastime...suppose II should look into it then, if I'll be staying here a while."

Kipling grinned and grabbed a large box that had been sitting just near his own cereal bowl. "Oh, you'll be involved with it far sooner than you think. You see, Edwin, I play the game myself. Began about two years ago after doing a small puff piece on it when the reporter who was supposed to cover it caught the flu, but when it really took off last year I began getting more and more into it. Utterly addictive. Won a few tournaments, made a bit of a name for myself. I haven't been able to compete for the last few months though as I was getting ready for your visit."

"I'm sorry," Edwin said genuinely.

"No need to feel bad-"

"But I do," he retorted quickly. "You loved it and I prevented you from playing. I'm sorry."

"You are more important than any game. You are my brother's son, Edwin. You're family. That means so much more than… anything in this world."

"I know," Edwin whispered. "I know."

Kipling smiled at that before opening the box. "Now, I might have been out of the game, no pun intended, for the last few months but that doesn't mean everyone forgot about me. I got this in yesterday but only just now had a chance to look inside of it. Seems Industrial Illusions, the company that makes Duel Monsters, is holding some special tournament."

Edwin clearly perked up at that and Kipling smiled, knowing that his nephew, even though he'd only just HEARD about the game, was already hooked. The way he leaned forward, the intense look in his eyes, his entire focus on his uncle… oh yes, Edwin was being drawn in. It made Kipling smile that he had something to share with his nephew.

"And I do mean special. Maximillian Pegasus, the creator of Duel Monsters, is inviting all sorts of big names in the game to come to his island for a one of a kind tournament. He is calling it…" He paused, knowing that the tournament demanded a bit of the dramatic, "Duelist Kingdom."

"Lofty title."

"Even loftier prizes. The title of King of Games and $3 million dollars for the winner." Edwin let out a whistle, or as close as he could to one as he always seemed to have his peter out. "My thoughts exactly." He began to lay out the odd assortment of cards that had arrived in the box. One had a picture of a ship (a very nice looking yacht displayed on it), another an island, a third a red glove that matched the actual one the box contained. Then there were two more cards, one with a pile of riches, the other a blank card with no writing on it. Edwin was especially interested in that one, staring at it for several moments before setting it down and picking up two metallic stars, no bigger than an American nickel each. Finally there was a thick rule book that looked more like a pocket dictionary, though with a leather cover and the embossed logo of Industrial Illusions. "Personally I think Pegasus picked me out mainly because he wants the good press."

"Short notice," Edwin said, scanning the letter. "We got this last night and it says the boat takes off tomorrow evening. Not sure how many people will be able to attend. Certainly not anyone who isn't in Japan already."

"My thought exactly."

Edwin rubbed his chin. "So either Pegasus didn't plan real well when it came to setting this tournament up," his lips twisted into a frown and he looked over the top of his glasses at Kipling, "or Pegasus is up to something and doesn't have time to wait."

Kipling nodded in agreement. "I considered the same thing. That's why I want to see what is going on at that island."

"So what? We going and I push you around?" Edwin asked.

Kipling waved him off with a laugh. "No. The tournament, according to this letter, will mostly take place outside. My wheelchair isn't built for rough terrain. No, I want you to go in my place."

"That sounds about right," he jested, Kipling not getting what he was hinting at. "Call to adventure, hero's journey… think I'll skip the denying the call bit and go right to accepting." He rubbed his chin again, frowning a bit though Kipling didn't know quite why. "Guess I need to buy some cards…"

Understanding his nephew's concerns Kipling wheeled away from the table and went over to his desk, pulling at a cord that hung around his neck which had a key dangling from it. Unlocking the top drawer Kipling reached inside and pulled out a small box before rolling back to his nephew. "No, you won't." He placed the key and the box in Edwin's hands. "This is my deck. Take it."

"You sure?" Edwin asked, staring down at the case. "I mean-"

"I can't use it… but I can give it to someone I trust. Go to the island, have your adventure. At worst you'll be able to write up a great story, even if there isn't anything shady going on. Pegasus isn't allowing cameras on the island but you can take notes and report about it after the fact. Especially if there truly is a King of Games crowned!" He grinned and clapped his hand on Edwin's shoulder. "And who knows… it might be you!"

"Maybe," Edwin said, thumbing through the cards. "I do know at the very least that with this deck… this amazing, powerful deck… I have a shot."

~MC~MC~MC~

The deck sucked.

I sat on my bed going through the cards and shook my head as I looked at one terrible card after another. "Even with Duelist Kingdom rules this thing blows." I pulled out one card and made a face of sheer befuddlement. "You think I'm going to win with Sparks. Seriously?" I tossed that card on the bed and growled. "I am so flapping screwed."

I stood up and paced, fingers digging into my hair and scratching hard at my scalp, the need to feel a bit of pain to keep my centered flooding through my nerves. I had figured that somehow I'd end up at Duelist Kingdom, as the only other option would have been to start in Season Zero and if that was the case I had planned to lay low until the Pharaoh was no longer so… murder happy. Getting a personal invite meant I got to cut out the middle man when it came to getting onto the island. And from the altered ship card my uncle (whose name I didn't even know because he didn't look like my Uncle Ken nor was he as much of an ass as him) had given me I had a feeling that I would be getting a decent room and wouldn't have to deal with a bunch of kids spending all night gabbing. I could be a night owl when it called for it but I preferred to get at least 8 hours of sleep and from what I remembered from the show the sun rose just as Duelist Kingdom was spotted. I had gotten the information Weevil did about field zones but that didn't matter because I already knew about that even without the rule book… and the hunters or whatever they were called that Pegasus was going to send out to try and take players out.

"Not going to win the tournament," I muttered to myself. "Wait, no… I COULD win the tournament but I can't. Yugi has to win. Not unless I want to really screw with canon and leave the world doomed to Zorc." I paused, mentally wondering if I took the damn puzzle and just… incased it in concrete and dumped it in the ocean would that solve all our problems. Probably not… the Millenium Ring had the odd ability to always return to Bakura and I was willing to bet that while we had never seen it the puzzle would return to Yugi even if I shoved it on that rocket Jaden put the Neos drawing on. "So Yugi has to win the whole thing. But that doesn't mean I have to go out like a buttercup…" I shuddered in frustration. "I am going to find those Viva Pinata making bluechips and shove my foot up their atolls!"

Staring out the window I began to think things through, puzzling out the tournament and how it had worked. 'There are four finalists that move on from the main battles on the island… except what about Kaiba? I mean he demanded to face Pegasus and got that but why didn't Pegasus make him battle everyone else? Because there were only five people? No, that makes no sense, that isn't like Pegasus. He loves mindgames and screwing with people. Force Joey and Kaiba to battle each other, knowing that each one was fighting for a loved one… sick son of a bitch would get off on that. He made Kaiba get those Star Chips to get into the castle in the first place, why not make him go the entire way and compete in the mini tournament?'

I walked back to my bed where all the information Pegasus had sent my uncle was spread out and picked up the thick rule book describing the set up of the tournament, filling through it till, after almost 10 minutes, I found what I was looking for. 'Duelists will face each other across the island… 10 Star Chips to enter the castle… wait a minute… the first person to officially enter the castle's tournament hall will received The Right of Challenge. They may then claim both prizes. The next four arrivals will compete to determine who will receive the second Right of Challenge. Should both challengers defeat Mr. Pegasus there will be a final face off… shit, that's how that happened. Kaiba could have claimed the money the entire time. But Pegasus didn't tell him… and I bet Yugi and everyone else never bothered to read this! Bandit Keith clearly didn't because he just hung around and didn't enter the castle's main tournament hall! Neither did Mai or Joey or Yugi! And even if Kaiba could have he wouldn't have taken it! Jeez. Pegasus was probably laughing his pink-suited ass off that no one knew how important it was to get in first!'

Setting the letter down I began to pace again. "Okay, so there are technically five spots… but there isn't a limit that I remember for guests. Tristan, Tea, and Bakura were able to watch and they didn't even compete. Most people just didn't make it in time to claim a spot!" I went over to the small dresser next to the bed and pulled out a piece of paper and began to do the math. "Of the five people to enter three of them started with two Star Chips. So two had to get ten total and three had to get eight. That means there were 44 Star Chips in the castle that had to be won. Divide by two means 22 other duelists were completely wiped out in order for them to make it." I frowned and shut my eyes, trying to visual the crowd that had been around Yugi when he'd first arrived on the boat. I didn't know if the Hunters or whatever the Paradox Brothers, PaniK, or that creepy clown guy were called had been given star chips of their own… probably they had been given some or else there would be nothing won facing them. I knew that people in this world, from the casual player to the biggest of Big Bads, seemed honor bound to accept any challenge but could one run if challenged by a Hunter? Wouldn't it make it easier to get people to take them on by offering to double their winnings? Still, I decided not to include them in my math. I was pretty sure there were more than 22 other duelists in Duelist Kingdom which meant that if I played it right I could get ten Star Chips of my own and make it into the castle to at least watch the matches without needing to befriend one of the finalists and getting invited in.

I stared down at the monster card Dark Gray and scowled.

"But not with this slippy deck." Deciding that I needed to add stopping at a few card shops in order to try and augment the deck (on my uncle's dime, as he had already handed me his credit card to spend on supplies) I began to pick up the cards only to pause when I noticed a couple I had missed in the very bottom of the box my uncle had given me, having been preoccupied with the garbage. "Crusader of Endymion. Breaker the Magical Warrior. Defender the Magical Warrior…" I stopped as I came to the final card. "Endymion, The Master Magician. Hmmm… the first effect won't work because I don't have the field spell. Not that it matters, because thanks to Duelist Kingdom rules I can just summon him right off the bat. Second effect is also out. But being able to discard a spell card to destroy any card of the field?" I felt a wicked grin form on my lips. Duelist Kingdom was known for very few cards that could destroy spells and traps. Heck, Toon World had given Yugi and Kaiba a massive headache, with the later never even figuring out how to deal with it. But with Endymion, even without his other effects, I had something that would give me a MASSIVE edge even with the other shit in my uncle's deck. Letting out a little laugh and reached into the box and plucked out the card-

A thrum ran up my air and into my very soul.

I dropped the card and panted, my arm having jerked back while my other hand dropped the box onto the bed. I stared at Endymion, the card just lying there. No sparks of magic, no otherworldly cries or calls. Just… a card. Swallowing I reached out and touched it again.

THRUM!

This time I didn't jolt back. Instead I forced myself to stay still, to not shiver and shake. I carefully lifted the card up, the energy that seemed to be rushing through my body slowly becoming nothing more than a warm feeling, like a bowl of soup after being out in a cold day. It swirled in me, curled up and nestled in my chest, and I felt confidence and strength the likes of which I had never felt before.

Every duelist had a signature card. Yugi and the Dark Magician. Kaiba and the Blue Eyes. Joey and his Red-Eyes. Jaden and Neos. Zane and the Cyber Dragon. Yusei and the Stardust Dragon. On and on. Heroes, villains… the ones that truly matters had one card that they fell back on again and again.

"You aren't my uncle's anymore, are you?" I whispered to the card. "You're mine."

The energy in my chest roared in agreement.

The Heart of the Cards.

Damn.

~MC~MC~MC~

Mai Valentine looked over the selection of tents carefully, stroking her cheek with one long elegant finger. "Decisions, decisions."

"This one is smaller but has a higher waterproof rating, Miss Valentine," a teen with a squeaky voice and a jittery way about him, managed to get out. It was a wonder he could even talk to her, the way he was becoming tongue-tied just staring at her. "It's certified to survive winds up to 50 kilometers per hour and handle a downpour of over an inch per hour."

"That would come in handy…" Mai said to herself. "I am going to be out on some wooded island and if I have to rough it I'd prefer to be as comfortable as I can be." The clerk opened his mouth to speak but she held up her hand. "Give me a moment to think."

"O-of course!" the clerk stammered just as the bell over the door chimed and he turned to greet the new arrival. "Hello there, how might I help you?"

"Hi," a man said pleasantly. "Going on a trip and going to need some supplies for at least two days. Tent, sleeping bag, a camp stove. Do you have any solar lights that I can hang? Oh, and solar batteries too. With an adapter?"

"Yes sir, we have all of that. The lights are over there and we keep the solar batteries in the back. I can get them for you…"

"Thanks. I'll look around. Appreciated." The clerk scurried off and the new arrival moved to stand next to Mai. She glanced at him and the main thing that she noticed was how tall he was. She was used to towering over most men as it seemed like Duel Monsters tended to attract shorties. Rex Raptor, Weevil Underwood, just to name a few. Scrawny runts who spent all their time looking up at her boobs rather than her face. But the new arrival actually forced her to glance up. A bit of a slub in her opinion, as he was dressed in jeans, a gray hoodie, and a dark blue baseball cap with a stylized D on it, but no slob. Just casual. A suit would do marvels on him. "Any suggestions?" he asked.

"The clerk was saying that one is rated for hurricanes."

The man grimaced. "I could afford a car to drive away from the hurricane with how much that thing costs."

"Better to be protected," Mai said.

The newcomer scoffed. "I checked the weather… going to be dry as a bone where I am going. Just a bit cold at night. I'd rather save my money."

"And just where are you going?" Mai asked, turning to finally face him. "You are packing for quite a trip."

"Some island in the Pacific. Duel Monsters tournament."

Mai was surprised at that before grinning to herself; another duelist brought in by Pegasus. And one she'd never seen before. She tried to stay up to date on all the power players on the Duel Monster circuit, so she knew just how to deal with them. Which ones were brainless dolts who thought only with their hormones, the ones who could easily be tricked, and the ones who were cold customers and needed to see not the sultry seducer but the fierce warrior she could be. This one though… he was a rogue. A wild card in the deck. And Mai wasn't about to go on without some info.

"Duelist Kingdom? I'm competing too!" she said, adding a bit more bubbly charm to her voice than she normal used. "Oh, what a small world!"

"Ain't it?" the guy said with a smile.

"Mai Valentine. Oh, it will be so nice to know someone else when I get on the boat tomorrow." She gushed out the last few words before she offered her hand to him.

"Edwin Chaos," the newcomer said, accepting her hand in his own. Mai held on for a moment longer than needed, running her finger along his wrist. He tensed for a moment and she grinned, cooing, "Chaos… that is an unusual name."

"Can't blame anyone else, I chose it," he said with a scoffing chuckle before letting go of her hand. He was clearly a touch flustered by her advances but he wasn't being reduced to a whimpering puddle like the clerk was. "So, I think you and I might be the only two actually preparing for this thing. I ran into someone else and they were more concerned with the tournament itself rather than what they'd have to go through."

Mai nodded at that, using her cooing babydoll voice. "Oh yes… I just really hate the icky dirt and cold ground."

"And it helps that everyone else will be tired and sore when they wake up and we'll be well rested," Edwin answered back, finally moving and selecting the tent that was waterproof but far bigger than the one the clerk claimed could weather a monsoon. "Even if it's just for one night."

"That's very true!" Mai gushed. "You're so smart!"

"Smarter than most people you deal with, apparently," he said dryly. Mai blinked at that and he wagged his eyebrows. "Seriously, do people actually fall for that simpering girly girl routine? The vocal fry and the cutsey talk?"

Mai instantly dropped the act. "Usually. Not you?"

"Reverse. Annoys the hell out of me. I prefer my women to be smart."

"That so?" Mai asked as he turned to the clerk who finally reappeared with some solar batteries and a large portable charger one could wear. Smart. She could work with that.

"Yeah, I'd rather not have my kids be drooling idiots." Grabbing a dark green cart he began to stock up on supplies: a camp stove that could be run off the battery, the same with the lights, and after a moment a large thermos. He finally stopped at the coolers, rubbing his chin as he looked them over.

"Worried about prices?" Mai asked, finding Edwin Chaos to be an odd man. He was polite enough but he also seemed a bit reserved, stuck in his own head. And after breaking her little scheme to play the ditz he'd turned on his heel and walked away. She wasn't used to that. "With the prize money you could pay back anything you owe…"

"I don't go in debt. Never have, never will. Besides, with the prize money only going to one person I'd rather keep things under control that way I'm not cursing myself if I get booted off the island in the first few hours."

"Already assuming you are going to lose?" Mai asked, picking up a canteen and deciding to add it to her own purchases, tossing it to the clerk who was standing nearby to carry out her next order. "The same tent as Mr. Chaos here."

"I always assume I'm going to lose," Edwin stated, finally picking a cooler that was a bit bigger than a toaster. "Nah, I'll just go with water and preserved stuff." He pulled the stove out of his cart and walked back over to where he'd gotten it, placing it on the shelf. "Anyway, I always assume I am going to lose because then I'm never disappointed. Plan for the worst and all that rot."

"Maybe but I prefer to have confidence in myself," Mai said, zeroing in on a portable shower while Edwin looked over the sleeping bags, grabbing one and an inflatable pillow.

"Oh, I have confidence in myself but I always assume that life is going to kick me in the babydolls." Mai turned and stared at him and Edwin himself had an odd look on his face, as if he too didn't get why he'd said that. He finally shook his head and went back to shopping. "The point is I'm not going to spend money I don't need to and I still have more things to get."

"Like what?" Mai asked, deciding to mentally take notes. Edwin seemed to be on the same brainwaves as her and she was interested to see if he had ideas she hadn't considered… that she could then improve upon to one-up him.

"Suitcase with wheels, for one," he said. "Thick ones with good treads. Large enough to store everything so I just have to drag it around rather than carry it on my back." Mai thought of the rump sack she'd picked out and quickly decided to return that and get something like he was describing. "New clothes too. Waterproof shoes, gloves… got to be comfortable."

"Good," Mai said, giving him a once over. "I was afraid you'd wear something like that." When he gave her a flat look she smirked. "Half of dueling is the impression you give off. The style, the attitude. We are performers, after all!"

"Right… but you also need to be comfortable if you are mucking about a wild forest on an island in the Pacific." He waved his hand about as he grabbed a roll of bio-degrabeable toilet paper. "Have to think about colors… too dark and you'll roast in the sun. But also need to have enough clothing for all weather, warm or cold. I'll need to break my hiking books in too. Wouldn't do to get blisters. Probably walk around today to make sure I'm used to them."

Mai had considered that. She'd been planning to go in her standard dueling outfit: a white corset-style top, boots, and a matching purple jacket and short skirt. Perfect for teasing the boys and getting them all flustered to make mistakes. But trekking about an island? Edwin had the right of that and Mai made a mental note to grab some extra clothing, just in case. Still bring the fancy stuff but otherwise be ready for a serious workout.

"Batteries will cover the lights so my camping spot is well lit and it will power my phone. Need to pick out some books too."

Mai laughed at that. "Honey, if you think you'll have time to read…"

"You think duels are going to happen when the sun goes down?" Edwin asked. "Or what about when you're trying to eat?" He shook his head. "I don't do well when I'm bored. I get annoyed. My brain is like a sword and it needs a whet stone to keep sharp." He moved to the register and began to lay out his purchases. "Still need food too… doubt Pegasus is going to have hamburgers and hot dogs waiting about. Granola bars would be the smartest…"

"You are really thinking this through, aren't you?" Mai asked, trying to get him to actually talk to her. It was annoying her how he would converse with her only to then turn back to his shopping. She had to admit he was thinking more than most people did… she'd chatted with a few people and they seemed to believe that this would be like a resort vacation. Some, like Mako, could handle roughing it but Weevil? If he didn't win before nightfall that little vermin was going to die before the sun rose. Edwin Chaos though? He was plotting. And that made her a touch nervous. Because if he thought this many steps ahead just for how he'd go to sleep what would he be like in a duel?

She needed more info.

"I overplan, over think. Used to call myself a realist till that became the go-to word for smug jerks." He pulled out a credit card as the clerk rang up his order.

"And what do you call yourself now?"

"An overthinker with a hyperactive imagination and a rare blend of god-complex and inferiority complex." He paused. "But that doesn't roll of the tongue, does it?"

"It doesn't. But aren't you forgetting something?" Mai asked as Edwin swiped his card.

"And what's that?" he asked, leaning down to sign the receipt.

"You're deck," Mai pointed out as he moved out of the way so she could ring up her purchases. "Don't tell me you think that is all set. Some might try and claim that their decks are perfect but there is always room to improve."

"No, that's right," Edwin admitted. "I need to hit a card shop and see if there is anything good." Stuffing his purchases into the suitcase he'd purchased he zipped the whole thing up before he gave Mai a mock salute. "See ya."

Mai quickly thrust some money at the clerk before grabbing her own bags, bobbling the tent a bit as she hurried after Edwin, the man having already made it to the crosswalk by the time she left the store. She hadn't gotten anything out of him about his dueling style or how his deck was set up! She'd been so focused on what he was buying she'd forgotten that in the end it didn't matter how prepared he was if she sent him home the first day. "Wait!" Edwin, to his credit, did come to a stop, letting Mai catch up. "You… walk fast," she said, panting a touch.

"I have these long dancer's legs," he jested. "What's up?"

"You were nice enough to offer me suggestions on what to get in there… let's shop together a bit more. Help each other out."

Edwin considered this before nodded. "Works for me. But no rolling your eyes or making sarcastic comments if I stop to admit some action figures or comic books."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Mai said, mentally rolling her eyes. No matter how old they got some men were just… boys. "I know a place we can go that's right near here," she suggested, Edwin motioning for her to lead on. "Anything in particular you need help looking for?"

"Not really," Edwin said, not offering up any info. "Just need to see what they have."

"Oh, they have lots of stuff!" Mai said. "Fiends, Winged-Beasts, Fish, Aqua Monsters…" She kept glancing at Edwin but his face betrayed nothing, utterly neutral to the point that one would have thought he was in a bad mood if it were for the occasion smirk he'd flash her way or the twinkle in his eye. "So, what do you do when you aren't playing Duel Monsters?" Mai asked as they waited at the crosswalk, Edwin staring forward and bouncing on his heels.

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Is that even allowed? To have interests outside of the game? I got the impression that everyone in this town played the game and that it was the only thing that mattered."

Mai chuckled at that. "Yes, it does seem like some people become… obsessed."

"Weevil Underwood?"

"Weevil Underwood."

The light switched and the two of them made their way across the street, Mai steering him towards the Nousagi Game Shop, one of her preferred places to hunt for new cards. Not as big as some of the more popular card shops in Domino but that also meant it wasn't as crowded which was a plus for Mai when she felt like actually being treated like a person rather than an object of lust. It also happened to be surrounded by a wonderful clothing store and one of her favorite restaurants, meaning she could easily make a day out of shopping and not have to leave the same block.

"So is that a stage name or were his parents actually that cruel?" Edwin asked.

"I'm honestly not sure. If it was a stage name now he's made it his real name."

Edwin whistled… or tried to. It kind of petered out half way through. "I don't think there is anything I would love enough that would get me to change my name just to make a silly pun."

"And what would your name be if you did change it?"

"Probably 'You're Fishing Mai, Stop It'." He shot her a dry look and Mai's eyes went wide before she smiled weakly, though that grin was more of a grimace at being caught.

"Listen, I'm just-"

"Trying to get an advantage. I get it. After all, I know your shtick so you want to know mine."

"My shtick?" Mai asked, making a face at the word choice.

"Harpie Lady deck focused on quick swarm," Edwin said with a shrug before locking eyes with her. "You don't have to be so sneaky and cut throat about things. Believe it or not there are some people in the world who aren't ice holes." Again he paused, his features going sour before he shook it off. "If you want to know what deck I run just ask."

Mai scoffed. "Word of advice? Don't offer such information for free."

"Word of advice?" he echoed. "If you are a good duelist it won't matter. Oh, and try not being rude to people who are just friendly. Why throw a punch when a tap on the shoulder will do? Why threaten when a kind word will get the same result. Consider that. Being a condescending birch isn't a good look on you." With that he turned and began to walk off again and Mai felt a small stab of guilt. Life had taught her to be hard, to be distrustful and to always look out for number one… but he was right that there were ways to do that and ways not to. And Edwin Chaos, while far too trusting, didn't seem like a bad person. Not like Rex or Weevil or Kaiba. Just… naïve.

"Wait!" Mai called out again, giving chase. "Wait!" For a moment she feared he'd just keep walking but after a moment Edwin stopped so she could catch up. "I'm sorry."

Edwin merely nodded. "So, this card shop?"

"Almost there," Mai said, taking back her role of lead. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"You're deck."

"Oh no, you don't find out that easily. You need to ask properly."

Mai rolled her eyes. "Okay, tell me."

Edwin let out a scoffing laugh. "No, that's not going to do at all. You need to say, "Mr. Chaos, will you tell me what kind of deck you run, please?". The 'mister' part is important, shows respect."

"Really?" Mai asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No." He paused before adding. "Now you have to say "Mr. Chaos, will you tell me what kind of deck you run, pretty please?"."

"That's even worse!" Mai exclaimed. "I am not saying that."

"Well now you have to add 'with a cherry on top' to the end."

"You aren't serious."

"Deadly," Edwin said with a wide wicked grin. "Come on Mai, you've been around long enough… 'I got bills to pay, I got mouths to feed, ain't nothing in this world for free'," he sang the last part. "You want something from me… you pay."

"Then I'll find out on my own!" Mai said hotly. "Because I'm not going to embarrass myself like that."

"Why not? I embarrass myself all the time. This it?" the blonde bombshell looked up and realized they were standing in front of the game shop.

"Yeah," she said, deciding to not give into her urge to storm away from the infuriating man and instead go back to her original plan of observing him. Edwin stepped in and began to look around, surprising Mai by not making a beeline right for the cases full of cards and instead looking at the racks of magazines and then the shelves lined with toys. The clerk said hello and Edwin nodded but refused the offer of help, wandering about seemingly with no strategy or pattern. Mai resisted the urge to tap her foot and sigh until he finally got to the cards. She didn't know if he realized what he was doing but either way it was driving her nearly batty.

Finally… FINALLY… he moved to the glass display counters, glancing at the cards, sometimes squatting down to get a better look, other times bending over to look through the top of the case. What truly frustrated Mai was the fact that he didn't seem to ever truly look at one particular type of card. For a moment she thought he was a machine user, as he asked a question about some metal bug monster, but then he moved on to look at some warrior cards.

"Anything of interest?" Mai asked, walking over and leaning down so that her breasts were near his face.

Edwin glanced at her and for a moment she thought she had him only for him to turn away. "I assume you are talking about the cards?" he snarked. "A couple. Do you own Cyber Shield? They have a copy if you don't."

"I… wait, they do?" Edwin pointed to a case and Mai instantly forgot about grilling the man and instead focused on the card. "Oh, that would be perfect… and its on sale too! Darrin?" she waved the owner over. "How much for that?"

"¥1680," Darrin, a thin man with thick black-rimmed glasses and a bowl-haircut, told her.

"Bought," Mai said quickly. "That will… Edwin?" she looked around only to find that he'd moved to the main case in the shop, the one that held the most costly cards. Edwin had pulled out a notebook and was tapping a pen against it as he stared at one of the shelves. "What did you find?"

"Exodia set," he said, pointing to the five cards. "What are the cost of these, sir?"

Darrin walked over, handing Mai her card in a hardcase. "I charged it to your account, Miss Valentine. What cards, sir?"

"The Exodia set."

"The full set is ¥300,000."

Edwin nodded at that and Mai's mind boggled at such a price. Her entire deck didn't cost that much and while Exodia WAS powerful no one had ever managed to summon it, as far as she knew. "And each piece?"

"I'm selling it as a full set," Darrin said, shaking his head.

"But if you were. Curious."

"¥55,000. But again-"

"And if someone were to want to sell pieces, what would you pay? ¥50,000?"

"¥45,000."

Edwin shook his head. "Maybe… maybe."

"You have pieces of Exodia?" Mai asked, startled. "And you want to SELL them?"

"No, just curious." He pointed to a card right below the Exodia set. "What about that one?"

Mai blinked. "The Dark Magician Girl?"

"¥17,000, sir."

"No way. ¥11,200."

Darrin laughed at that. "Now you are being unreasonable."

"I don't think so," Edwin countered. "That card is strong, yes, but most people won't use it because the effect isn't worth it without a Dark Magician and those things are rarer than Exodia. Besides, there are cheaper cards to have for brute force. You have it marked up for rarity but the demand is small. What good is a rare card if no one is going to buy it? It's worthless until someone wants it and with how you have it priced you don't have anything of value you have something wasting space."

Darrin blustered at that before rallying. "¥16,500 then."

"Don't waste my time. ¥12,700."

The shop owner narrowed his eyes. "¥16,000."

Mai marveled as Edwin's eyes flashed. She'd seen that look before on card sharks, back when she'd been a dealer on a casino boat. She was real good at winning for the house (and thus netting herself some nice bonuses) and knew how to string people along who got on a hot streak until their luck changed and they suddenly went cold. But when she saw the look Edwin was sending Darrin she always knew it was time to ask for a break and let some other fool be dealer for them. Because they knew how to play the game and win.

"Let me ask you something… what is worth more to you? The money you WILL make now or the money you may make a year down the road. Because I can promise you that you're not selling that card any time soon. And that's assuming you get lucky and Industrial Illusions don't do a reprint… I've heard rumors they are thinking of doing just that with some cards. People are complaining that they want the cards their idols are using but can't get a hold of them. You think the card will hold its value but all it takes is a rumor and suddenly the price goes spiraling down." He walked over to another case and began to point out cards. "Steel Scorpion, ¥1670. Neo the Magic Swordsmen, ¥2810. Armed Ninja, ¥1200. Mystical Space Typhoon, ¥3440. That right there is more than what I'm asking for you to knock off the Magician Girl. I want those cards but I'm willing to walk away now, along with what I'm willing to spend on the Dark Magician Girl. Now… I know for a fact that there are at least five other card shops within walking distance; I only came here because Mai suggested it. It might take all day but I can find all four of those cards, minus the Magician Girl. But I promise there won't be anyone coming in today willing to drop that much money. Maybe all this week. Do the math here, Darrin… and be smart."

Darrin though shook his head. "I'm not-"

"What about a duel?" Mai quickly suggested. Edwin shot her a look and she smiled. "Edwin wins he gets his discounts, you win he pays full."

The shop keep poked at the inside of his cheek before shaking his head. "If he's with you, Mai, then he's at least a halfway decent duelist. That's a gamble I'm going to lose."

"Then we do first blood," Edwin suggested. When the two looked at him he held out his arms. "We play until the first person damages the other person's lifepoints. Doesn't matter how much, just that first damage scored wins. No putting monsters in defense either… we draw until someone wins."

"I don't…" Darrin began only for Mai to hold up her hand.

"Let me talk with him for a moment, Edwin," she said, her shopping companion nodding before he pulled out his notebook and began to scribble some things down. Pulling the shop owner aside Mai hissed, "I'll cover half the expense if he loses."

"What?" Darrin whispered.

"He and I are both going to the same tournament and I'm trying to figure out what deck he uses. You duel him and I'll cover half of the cost if you lose."

"But I'll still be-"

"It's ¥3,400," Mai complained. "You were willing to reduce it by nearly half that among. And he's right that you won't have any takers for that card. When is the last time you heard of someone using a Dark Magician? Besides… just stack your deck with powerful monsters and demand to go second. You just need to get one hit in."

Darrin thought that over before nodding. "Alright… and I'm charging your half directly to your account, Mai."

"You don't trust me?"

"Not as far as I can throw you," Darrin said before calling out to Edwin, "Alright, you have a deal."

Tucking his notebook back into his pocket Edwin opened his deckbox and pulled out his cards. It took Darrin several minutes as he said he needed to run to the back to get his deck but Mai knew he was really going through his inventory and pulling all his strongest monsters so that his deck was stacked with bruisers. Edwin merely waited, looking about like a child told to wait for his mommy while she tried on a shirt in the fitting room. Finally Darrin returned and Edwin held out his deck for his opponent to shuffle. The owner of the store cleared off space by the register and moved to stand behind the counter while Edwin stood on the other side. "Who goes first?"

"You made the challenge to I get second turn."

"Fair enough," Edwin said, drawing his cards while Mai moved to stand between them. She rubbed her fingers together, gleeful that she'd finally- "I play Sparks. 200 to your life points. I win."

"…what?" Mai said flatly.

"Oh, sorry. I forgot I'm supposed to explain what every card does. Sparks allows me to do 200 damage to your lifepoints automatically. And due to the rules-"

"That… but…" Darrin stammered.

"So that is Dark Magician Girl, Steel Scorpion, Neo, Armed Ninja, and Mystical Space Typhoon. I'll want a receipt."

Mai could only stare in stunned silence as Darrin grumbled but got Edwin's purchases, trying to work out how the blond man had managed to take her carefully made plans and shred them into confetti. She was so befuddled that it took the man tapping her on the shoulder and nodding towards the door before she finally snapped out of her stupor and followed him out.

"Well that was nice but I have a bad feeling he might not let me come back again," Edwin said, rocking back and forth on heels as they waited for the crosswalk light to change.

"I'll talk to him about it," Mai said before glancing at Edwin, something clicking in her head. "So… no need for me to say pretty please."

"I think you just did," Edwin pointed out but when Mai scowled he held up his hands. "Kidding, kidding." The light turned and they began to cross the road, Mai having to hurry to keep up with his long strides. "What do you mean?"

"I know what kind of deck you run."

"You caught me… it's a deck made up entirely of Sparks."

"No," Mai said dryly. "You use the Dark Magician."

"Oh?"

"Why else spend so much on the Dark Magician Girl if you don't have the Dark Magician?"

Edwin smirked. "Swing and a miss, Mai. Nice try. I need to get some food now… granola bars and such…"

"Okay, let's say you don't own the Dark Magician… why did you buy that card then? Why blow so much money on it?"

Edwin pursed his lips, clearly considering why Mai had said and just when she was thinking he was going to admit that she'd nailed it on the head and he was focused on the Dark Magician he asked, "You hear of Yugi Moto?"

Mai glanced at him as he pulled out his phone, checked for directions, and then made a right. "Should I have?"

"He defeated Seto Kaiba."

She blinked in surprise at that. "Seto Kaiba? The so-called best duelist in the world?"

"So-called because you haven't faced him?" Edwin teased. "Yeah, that would be him."

"This… Yugi Muto?"

"Moto."

"Defeated Kaiba?"

"Eeeyup," he said, popping the P at the end. "Ask your sources if you don't believe me. And don't try and deny it, I know you have sources. Woman like you wouldn't." Mai was surprising once more at how intuitive Edwin Chaos was. Many of the professional duelists had begun forming networks of people to pass along information. She had people like Darrin that kept an eye out for cards (and she was going to ask WHY exactly he hadn't let her know about the Cyber Armor card sooner), others on what her rivals and opponents were doing, and still more for rumors about tournaments and other events. She would have to make some quiet inquiries about Yugi Moto to see if what Edwin was saying was true. "Now my sources tell me that he's attracted Pegasus' attention. The man has a rather… unhealthy obsession when it comes to Seto Kaiba so someone defeating him would instantly get them on his radar. Apparently, despite having never competed in a tournament, Moto has been invited to Duelist Kingdom."

"And he uses the Dark Magician," Mai supplied.

Edwin smirked. "Doesn't hurt to have a card he might be interested in. Alliances and allies have been made with less."

"Hmmm," Mai said, seeing the logic in that. Not her normal way of handling things, as she tended to go it alone and if she did have to rely on anyone she liked to make it strictly business, but she could see where Edwin was coming from. "So that is your plan? Cozy up to Moto?"

"Not just him," Edwin said. "Few other people I have my eye on. I have a card Mako Tsunami might like… and if you hadn't been with me I'd have probably bought the Cyber Armor myself to trade to you later on."

Mai nodded at that. Edwin Chaos was far more cunning then she had pegged him for. With his sloppy style and casual air one would think him to just be a casual duelist… but there was steel under that smile and laugh and a brain that liked to play not just duel monsters but the interpersonal game. Despite spending an hour with him she had learned next to nothing about him . She didn't even know what kind of deck he ran other than he had Sparks of all cards in it. That wasn't enough to plan ahead with a strategy on how to beat him. She needed more.

"Unless you want to watch me shop for snacks I think this is where we part," he said, breaking her from her thoughts.

"Well," Mai said, reaching over and walking her fingers along his chest. She couldn't waste time watching him grocery shop but she wasn't about to let him walk away without give her SOMETHING. Flashing her most smoldering gaze she stood on her toes and whispered, "Maybe you and I could meet for dinner tonight? To celebrate before we head off to Duelist Kingdom?"

Edwin looked down at her for a moment before, to her shook, his face became thunderous. He took a step back, making her nearly topple, and folded his arms over his chest. "Maybe, if I thought you actually did like me like that and weren't STILL trying to trick me into revealing what deck I run… I might have said yes. Not even in a romantic sense, but as a friend because I think you really need one, Mai." He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Ask nicely. That's all I wanted. Couldn't even do that." He turned and stormed off without a word.

Mai just stared at his retreating form… trying to figure out what had went wrong. No one had ever turned her down. No one. She made men putty in her hands all the time and yet Edwin hadn't merely turned her away… he'd been ENRAGED that she'd attempted to seduce him.

"Who are you, Edwin Chaos?"