***This story takes place POST-EVENTS of my other two stories. Unfortunately, due to losing the original text documents, and the plans I had for them, I will be leaving them unfinished. But hopefully this story can fill in the details in the time-skip as this goes. I have great expectations for it, and I hope you all have fun reading it. ENJOY! =D ***

With a flicker, vision turned from a dark red to a hazy stripe. Eyes were so heavy and tired that they were causing themselves to re-close several times and to be rubbed. The morning was groggy as the surroundings shifted as the discomfort of the current position of Jeffery's body caused him to flip and flop back and forth in all manners of strange poses and twisted, mangled-looking, contortions to try and find a more suitable form to re-enter slumber. With messy brown hair, grey-ish blue eyes, and a rather normal body, he looked like any random -joe. With a grumble, the young man rose to a sitting position, un-wrapping the blanket from himself as he made an **UUFF** when he rose up to stand on shaky leggs. The rest of the morning passed by with the normal bowl of cereal, orange juice, and string cheese. Once his breakfast was over he took himself a shower and got dressed. Afterwards, he flicked on the television and switched it to his favorite channel. The announcer had a blue-fluffed suit and a top hat that has red and blue striped on adorning the tall part, leaving the flat part on top blue. Around his collar was a frilly, clown-like, wavy piece of cloth. "Welcome back to the D.U.E.L. network. Sitting with me today is-..." The host and the guest banter back and forth over some of the usefulness of the older cards. Most of which he's talking about of course are normal monsters, causing Jeffery to ignore them, recline back on the couch, and think over his own deck. But this guest speaker got him thinking to himself 'Calling normal monsters weak... how could they let a guy like that on the show?'. However he was broken from his own thoughts as the match going on behind them ended with one of the rising challengers using enchanting fitting room and sweeping the field with four level 3 monsters. Of which included Jerry Beans Man, Mad Lobster, Sonic Duck, and Hunter Dragon. To which the guest promptly ceased talking, watching only as the opponent's life points were reduced to zero. Jeff leaped onto his feet, fists balled up, and shouted out a loud **YEAH!** and relished in the guest-speakers loss for words.

The rest of the morning was spent with Jeffery either snoozing on the couch or daydreaming about playing in front of a live audience like the pros. However his daydreams would always end with his heart sinking. "I could never be that good... Hell, I'd be lucky to get through one turn with some of those guys." The D.U.E.L. network, also known as the Duelists United Entertainment League was filled with stories of strategic back-and-forth matches, surprise comebacks, one turn victories (Or OTK's as they're called), and of course interviews with the champions and the newest cards that had just been released. Jeffery would often get hyped up by the live competitions so much that he would go out and immediately buy several packs of cards from his local card store called the *HOBBY-STOP*, often reciting the shop's catch phrase as he walks through the door. 'Got a hobby you can't stop? then hop into the Hobby Stop. Your number one stop for all hobby shopping!' Of course this day would be no different from any other. And after an amazing battle between two 'beat-down' players (those who focus on pumping up their monster's attack points), Jeffery raced out the door while hopping on one foot as he slipped on his second shoe. He would reach the store with the usual enthusiasm and a shortness of breath. He'd push the right side, smokey-glass, door open with a few huffs and puffs. "Hey! Old man, I'm back. Where are you keeping the rare ca-..." He'd pause mid sentance, blinking a few times as his eyes fell upon the man standing at the counter. Someone which he hadn't seen there before. "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't know he had another customer." As he got closer, the symbol on the back of this person's jacket struck him. The person turned their head enough to peer through the corner of their left eye giving him a *Hmmph*. Jeffery was taken back a bit at how snooty this person was, but said nothing of it as to not cause a scene. The shop keeper, 'Guss', returned out from behind the back room with three black, card-sized, boxes and laid one of them on the counter.

Guss: "Here t'is. This'a what'cher askin' for, right?" The stranger flipped the top of the box, revealing a very sparkly version of 'Statue of the Wicked'.

Familiar Voice: "Surprised a shop like this had such a card. I'll take it." To which the stranger's hand entered their jacket, pulling out a stack of money that made Jeffery speechless.

Guss: "Pleasure doin' business wit'cha! Heh..." The short old man turned with the other two cards and the money back to the back room, leaving the stranger to close and clasp his hand over the box.

The stranger had turned, keeping his head low, and his collar on his white jacket high as if he were hiding his face on purpose. But as he passed, the same symbol flashed as before on his right shoulder, reflecting the light of the room over the Kanji that reads 'absolute'. Or in Japanese would be Zettai Tekina. Jeffery knew he had seen that somewhere before but couldn't seem to place it. He'd scratch his head and gave a frown at the frustration of not knowing where it came from. "Beeh... HEY!" he'd turn and rush to the counter. as Guss came back out from the back to re-man the counter.

Jeffery: "Who was that guy? Whoever he was, he was freaking RICH! I didn't know a card could be sold for that much... That was at least a few thou' right?"

Guss: "That's just it... The card shouldn't 'ta sold for what he gave." He'd place his hands onto the counter. "And that feller there was none other than Nataro, old reining U.S. champ. He heeeh." a wide grin spread over his face. "To think he'd show up here. So, what can I do ye' for?"

Jeffery's eyes snapped open as the connection was made, causing his voice to elevate a few decibels higher than normal. "NATARO?! You mean -THE- Nataro? The 'Wicked Champion' who held his seat at the top for four years straight?!" To which he recieved a *calm down sunny* from Guss. And with a few puffs of air and a pat on his chest, Jeffery regained his composure (or what little he had). "So why is he here? Why would he come to this town?"

Guss: "Welp, if I recall, he said he had some personal bu'ness to take care of. But knowin' his type, he's prob'ly just gonna' flaunt his strength at the regional tournament. Said somethin' 'bout some person named R-eye-ken? Or somethin'." He offered a meager shrug as he dismissed the whole ordeal and spread five card packs over the glass counter. "These the ones yer' after?" the packs were labeled 'D.U.E.L. pack 1-5'.

Jeffery: "Yep, thanks Guss!" After the money and cards changed hands, he'd stick the packs in his jacket pocket. "I think I might go watch them play then."

Guss: "Should Give'er a shot! Who knows, ye' might win."

Jeffery: "Naah. I'll probably get my butt handed to me if I do." He offered a weak smile and a hesitant, and completely unbelievable, laugh that made Guss sigh.

Guss: "Listen sunny..." His eyes slowly closed as he huffed out another, seemingly aggravated, sigh. "Here." Guss turned and grabbed up a box from around the corner, pulling up a box of unreleased packs. "If you can win, you can have two packs fer' fr-... fre-...Dag-nabbit... FREE!" Appearently the old timer's vocabulary was missing the word for QUITE some time. Upon seeing this, Jeffery's eyes went wide, dashing towards the door with a few shouts that he would do his best. "He heeeeh..." Guss grinned. "That ought'ta get'cher motor goin'... Only down part's I gotta stick to mah' word if'in he wins."