Vile: Hey, it's Vile here with my second Numbershot! The idea was in my head, and the first chapter came out quick!

Yuma: *smirks* So who's the star of this one?

Vile: This time, it's Kaito.

Shark: Kaito, eh? I can't wait to see how this goes.

Vile: I think you'll be impressed with this (I hope). I don't own any characters from ZEXAL, or any cards, but any OCs and cards made up by me, I do own. Enjoy!

Numbershot 10: Fall of The Hunter

Chapter 1

Kaito's hand was pressed against the glass as he gazed out over the Heartland cityscape. A scowl was present on his face. "Numbers… I will find you all… I will rip you from your owners…" He said with a level of malice that was uncharacteristic of him.

"Nii-san…? What is wrong?" A voice behind him asked. Kaito turned around and saw Haruto looking at him. His golden eyes still held that blank look, but there was a level of inquisition and slight worry in them.

"…Nothing. I'm fine, Haruto." Kaito said trying to cheer up, but failing.

"You cannot fool anyone, Kaito. You are troubled." Another voice spoke. A disc of light opened in the floor as Mr. Heartland rose into the room, his usual smile not present. Kaito openly glared at the green-haired man. "You must learn to keep yourself calm, Kaito. Remember, if your emotions become too out of control, you will not be able to keep your focus. And if that happens… the Numbers can get to you." Kaito's face did not change. "Perhaps capturing a Number can calm your nerves, as it is easy for you." Kaito nodded slowly. "Haruto, you are needed. Come with me."

The boy began to walk toward the man, but his brother immediately stepped between them. "No."

"Nii-san…?" Haruto asked.

"What are you doing, Kaito?" Mr. Heartland asked.

"Haruto stays here until I return." Kaito said, dead serious. "I don't trust you with him anymore."

Mr. Heartland looked confused. "Do you suspect me of doing something wrong, Kaito?"

"Not yet, I'm not. I've just lost my faith in you after your big Carnival plot." Kaito said. "You said that Number Hunters from all over the world would appear at the Carnival. How many Numbers did I obtain…?" His voice suddenly rose to a yell. "Four!" A measly FOUR!" Mr. Heartland recoiled, stepping back a bit. Haruto recoiled as well. "To add insult to injury, that stupid kid Yuma got three Numbers, almost as much as me! He nearly proved himself equal to me! The World Duel Carnival was almost a complete failure!"

Haruto's eyes widened as his brother's unexpected outburst. "Nii-san…"

"K-Kaito, please calm down. Dr. Faker-sama and I understand how bad our error was." The man explained. "We overestimated our own plans."

"Well, here's the new plan. You leave the Numbers to me and me alone. I am all that you need." Kaito said adamantly. "I will be the one to heal my brother."

Mr. Heartland was surprised and slightly angered that Kaito was speaking to him this way, and wanted to reprimand him, but didn't, as it might cost him his Hunter. He sighed. "Very well, Kaito. I leave everything to you."

"Good. I'm going to find more Numbers." Kaito told him. "Listen up. From now on, Haruto does nothing with his powers unless I am around. If I find out that you are using him outside of my presence…" He threatening held up the hand with his Photon Hand gadget. Mr. Heartland backed up slightly in fear.

"Nii-san… why can't I go…?" Haruto's voice asked behind him. Kaito turned around, walked over, and knelt down in front of his brother, placing his hands on his shoulders.

"If you use your powers, you might overexert yourself again and die." Kaito explained. "If I'm collecting the Numbers, I don't want to see you dead knowing I could've been there to save you." Kaito hugged Haruto gently. In his out state, Haruto could not bring himself to return the hug. Kaito then stood up and walked toward where Mr. Heartland entered, his face in a slightly sad look. An energy ring formed under him as he went through the floor out of the room.

Mr. Heartland watched Kaito leave the room with a skeptical look. 'Kaito… you are becoming problematic…'

Orbital 7 was taking a nap in front of the computer again. A hand was suddenly slapped on his shoulder, making him jerk awake and whirl around, noticing the blonde-and-green-haired boy. "Aah! K-Kaito-sama!" He yelled in fear.

"Calm down, Orbital. We're leaving." Kaito said simply before walking toward the exit.

"Un-Understood! Please wait for me!" The robot said as he rushed after his master.

*A Little While Later*

"Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, ATTACK! Photon Stream of Destruction!" Kaito, in his Photon Mode, ordered as his signature dragon unleashed a beam of star-studded energy at its opponent, Number 35: Mushrocket. The energy beam obliterated the plant completely, making its owner yell as he was forced backwards. The augmented reality around them faded along with their cards, and Kaito reverted to him normal state. "Now… to take the Number." He held out his hand, ready to use Photon Hand, when…

"Kaito-sama! On your left!" Orbital 7 suddenly yelled. Kaito looked left and saw a stream of purple energy swinging at him like a sword. The boy quickly jumped out of the blade's range.

"That blade!" Kaito realized. "I remember it now…"

"You are still using this deplorable method…" A voice said solemnly. From the shadows, a lone figure emerged: 15 years old, black hair, purple eyes, and an outfit similar to a school uniform.

"You… I remember you." Kaito growled. "You were the one who took Number 55. I saw it. You are a Number Hunter… Yamoto!"

Yamoto nodded. "I am honored that you recall me, Kaito-kun." He said simply.

"Enough talk. You have Numbers. Allow me to hunt for your-"

"Always with this… have you no sense of sympathy?" Yamoto asked.

"Sympathy?"

Yamoto walked toward the downed holder of Number 35. "I have seen your actions, Kaito-kun. Your methods… and your behaviors… they are truly deplorable." He raised his left hand. "You see the Number holders, much like this man, as people who are truly evil. But I see them for what they truly are: innocent souls who are corrupted by desires that some of them don't even know they have." He lanced the man with his energy blade, making him yell as he extracted Number 35 from him. "My method of taking the Numbers, the Dark Matter Blade, may be a painful one, but at least afterwards, the pain will pass. But you… you have to steal their very souls in order to gain these cards." Yamoto looked at him with slight anger. "Does that mean nothing to you?"

"What are you saying?" Kaito accused.

"Have you ever paid attention to the looks on the faces of those you have defeated, Kaito-kun?" Yamoto asked. "Maybe not, but I have. Each look of terror is a visual presentation of a question that you have given no answer. I bring you the question they have asked: 'What have I done to deserve such a horrible fate?'"

"What nonsense he is spouting!" Orbital 7 ranted. "Kaito-sama, just get rid of him before-"

"Silence!" Kaito barked.

"Un-Understood!" Orbital stood and saluted.

The Number Hunter looked back at the dark-haired boy. "I do not need to answer that question, not for you, not for any of them. They had Numbers. That's all that mattered!"

"...You fiend." The Dark Hunter said. "You possess no regard for human life at all. Human life is measured by Numbers to you. Fine. If you want my Numbers so bad, then you must take them from me in a Duel. But as you know, your Numbers will be mine if you lose."

"Kaito-sama will not lose! He cannot lose to someone like you!" Orbital 7 yelled.

Kaito grinned. "Allow me to hunt for your Numbers along with your soul! Duel Mode, Photon Change!" His right eye pulsated, and his coat went from black to white. His D-Pad whipped around like a boomerang before clicking on his left wrist. His left eye gained purple markings and turned red, and the glow faded from his body.

Yamoto's eyes narrowed. "I will relieve you of your Numbers, as well as your suffering!" He yelled as he extended his right arm. His hair suddenly rippled before spiking wildly and gaining purple streaks. "Duel Disk, set!" From seemingly nowhere, darkness covered his right arm. The darkness faded, revealing an active black D-Pad that radiated a slight dark aura. "D-Gazer, set!" His eyes closed, and darkness covered his left eye, extending around his head in a diagonal pattern. The darkness faded again, revealing a black D-Gazer with a dark blue lens with three eyelash-like spikes on top of it (giving it the impression of an actual eye), also sporting a cord that wrapped around his head in a northwestern (from a viewer's perspective) direction. Yamoto's eyes shot open, glowing purple, the left eye shining behind the lens.

"AR VISION, LINK ESTABLISHED." The automated voice stated as Kaito's eye and Yamoto's D-Gazer glowed. "ESTABLISHING LINK BETWEEN A AND B." The area around them morphed into the augmented reality.

"DUEL!"

Vile: Not a bad start, I think. I wonder how many chapters this Duel should be.

Kaito: Whatever can manage to work for you, I guess.

Vile: Yeah, true. Things are gonna take a dark turn partway through the fic. I'll warn you guys now.

Yuma: Uh... what do you mean by "dark"?

Vile: You'll see later on. Leave some reviews if you think I'm doing well so far. See ya later, guys!

Computer Voice: Vile, logging out.