AU where Season Zero carries on into Duellist Kingdom. Written for @5daysofygofemslash day 5: Canon Divergent | Alternate Universe.
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When Miho first met Mai Kujaku on the cruise ship to Duellist Kingdom, Miho saw how she caught all the boys’ eyes: she was a dangerous rival. Miho called her obasan, aunt, to denigrate her age - but instead of being angry, she laughed and said that Miho must be very young to call her that.
When Yugi and the others later discussed the rivals on the ship, Miho sniffily remarked how unimpressed she was with Kujaku’s condescending manner. Honda actually hesitated before agreeing with Miho. A dangerous rival indeed.
When Mai duelled Jounouchi, Miho was quick to denounce her aroma strategy as underhanded. Even if it was clever.
When Mai offered them a meal, Miho started looking at Mai - not her effect on the others. This woman hadn’t come expecting other people to give her food or shelter: she’d brought them herself. This woman had complete self-confidence. This woman turned heads, but didn’t need to turn heads.
When Mai lost to the Player Killer, Miho was scared and didn’t understand why. It was good that a dangerous rival was kicked off the island, right?
When Yugi duelled for Mai’s star chips, Miho cheered extra loud.
When Mai tried to repay Yugi those star chips, and Yugi refused, Anzu challenged her to a duel. And Miho felt a stab of guilt that Miho hadn’t been the challenger. Or was it a stab of jealousy? Miho wasn’t used to being stabbed by feelings like this!
—
When the tournament was over, when the finalists were leaving the island, when it was Miho’s last chance - Miho went up to Mai.
Miho bowed deeply. “Please teach Miho how to duel!”
Mai was surprised. “You don’t Jounouchi or Yugi to teach you?”
In truth, Yugi had tried to teach Miho before - but back then, the mass of rules and card text had just been too much for Miho to sustain interest. But now was different.
“Miho wants to understand how Mai duels. Mai’s duelling is different to Yugi’s or Jounouchi’s. And…”
The words were hard. Miho blurted them out as quickly as possible. “Miho wants to spend more time with you!”
And then Miho blinked in shock: she had accidentally said ‘you’ as anta, which was informal to the point of rude.
But instead of being angry, Mai laughed: it was a form address she often used herself. She ruffled Miho's hair. "I'll see what I can do."
