Here's my first ficcie revolving around my OC for Yu-Gi-Oh GX, Mitsuro Itachu. This takes place after her junior year at Duel Academy. It also gives some background on her past and her life when not at school. On a side note, her cards are all made up. So, hope you enjoy this fic! Yu-Gi-Oh and all relates characters belong to Konami and their owners. I only own my OC, her cards, and any OCs involved. Enjoy!
Chapter 1: Return Home
The setting sun set beyond the horizon, throwing deep red rays out across the water, setting it ablaze with crimson light. The fiery orb was just about halfway below the horizon, and the sky was colored many different colors with some stars above the sunset.
Mitsuro Itachu took in a deep breath and sighed, letting it out. The salty air always tasted good after a hard year at school. Especially when that school happened to be one of the best dueling academies on the planet.
Mitsuro stood at an impressive height of five feet eleven inches, a rare trait considering her Japanese American heritage. Her hair was cut rather short for her age and she kept her bangs out of her face with a green rag, a style she took after watching several of her father's friends who were Marines. Her eyes were a deep green, almost forest green, and they sparkled with intelligence. Her body was athletically built, a result of karate training and a few workouts with a few of her friends on the base. She also knew a few good military fighting moves, courtesy of a family friend who served with the Marines. She was dressed in a green tank top that exposed her well-toned arms to the sunlight. A pair of Bermuda shorts covered her lower body, revealing her shapely lower legs and on her feet was a pair of combat boots.
She was a very intelligent individual who had been accepted to Duel Academy, the best dueling institution on the planet. The school had recently been transformed into a four year university, thus enabling students to get general education as well as further their skills in the popular game of Duel Monsters. Recently, however, some strange events had been taking place, and she knew that something was up there.
She recalled the day that she had dueled against someone named Albedo. It had happened less than three months ago, and she still didn't understand what had happened during that duel. She knew that Albedo had used some kind of card that created a transmutation circle, but it seemed impossible. How could a simple game card do that? It seemed to her that something was off, but she didn't know what. And on top of that, there had been five copies of their leading student, Matthew Luther. What had caused that, and why?
She knew that Matt had a foster father who was an abusive man, and she felt sorry for Matt in that regard. But she wanted to know who was behind all the strange happenings on campus…and who the Ghost Duelist was. It seemed that some of these events revolved around that man. Plus, there was Kasumi Okuyama's odd behavior. She had been a duelist who loved Matt and dueling, but then she had undergone a massive behavior change. She was more aggressive and more powerful. The last time she had dueled Kasumi, she had barely won. It was only thanks to the effect of her most powerful card that she had been able to win that duel.
So, what was going—?
"Hey, Mitsuro!" a voice called, cutting into her thoughts.
The girl winced, but turned to face the speaker nonetheless.
"Sorry, Zack," she said. "I was just busy thinking. That's all."
Zack Thompson grinned. "Forget it. That's normal. So, how was the school year?"
Mitsuro grinned back. "Oh, it was interesting, as usual."
The two burst out laughing. It felt good to release the tension. She felt herself become more carefree once that laughter ended. Her best friend Zack always knew how to cheer her up.
At five foot one, Zack was a good ten inches shorter than her, but he was broader in the shoulders than she was, and his build was quite muscular. The two joked about it quite often, and around the San Diego Naval Base where they lived, he had a nickname that reflected his personality and his ability to outdrink any four men at once.
"Anything unusual happen?" Zack asked.
"Just the usual. Alchemic circles, clones of Matt, and the disappearance of one of the staff," she said sarcastically.
"That Matt Luther kid?" Zack's eyebrows shot up. "You're kidding!"
Mitsuro shook her head. "No. I'm not. I was there during one such duel."
Zack frowned. "Something's going on there, isn't that right?"
She nodded. "Yeah. But what is it?" She looked down at the metal deck beneath her feet. "That's what's bothering me."
"I bet. So, what's bothering you, specifically regarding this whole issue?" the young man asked. "Besides the Shadow Realm thing."
"Just the whole issue in general," the girl said. She returned her gaze to him. "Something's not right here, especially regarding the duelist that calls himself the Ghost Duelist."
"Oh. Well, I'm sorry, but I can't help you there," Zack said. "But I can tell you what I think."
"What's that?" Mitsuro asked him.
"If those rumors of the Shadow Realm are even true, which I doubt highly, then maybe something's about to happen that will be changing the world for the worse or better. It's kind of hard to explain, but I think you get the idea," he said.
Mitsuro nodded, getting the picture.
She turned her gaze back to the sea rushing past the speeding vessel. "Still, it's good to be coming home," she murmured.
"I bet you didn't expect me to ask the captain to bring you back," Zack teased.
She smiled and looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "No. I didn't," she said. "This was a nice surprise."
"I thought that maybe a little familiarity might be calming," he told her.
"Yeah. It sure is," Mitsuro said, glancing around the flight deck. The two of them were currently en route from the academy back to the United States on the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which had come to pick them up coming back from a routine visit to Japan.
Zack worked as a crewman on board the massive carrier, and his specialty was with the radar, so he was often found on the bridge.
It was just as well, because he interacted with the captain to the point where the two men had formed a bond of friendship that rivaled a brotherly bond. As a result, the captain usually sometimes owed Zack favors.
"So, what favor did he owe you this time?" Mitsuro asked slyly.
"I helped him out of a pickle when some drunk fools nearly did him in," Zack said. "They learned to never mess with a navy man after that!"
They burst out laughing again at the mental image of Zack teaching those two a lesson in their own language.
Mitsuro wiped her eyes and stood up, turning back to the sunset. The carrier glided through the water like a ghost, and behind them was the wake, a magnificent thing that shimmered in the reflected sunset. "Seriously though. It's good to get away from the hustle of the school year for a while."
"Yeah," Zack murmured. "You know, sometimes I wonder if Jason's still alive on nights like this."
"I know," she said softly. "I miss him, too. He was always there for me when I needed it." Then she turned to face Zack. "I'm thinking of trying to figure out what happened to him this summer. And maybe I just might tackle that tournament and sign up for the Navy."
"Hey, they already got your application. They're looking it over now at the recruitment center. I must say, getting that school duel victory really got their attention," Zack said with a grin.
"That's good to hear," Mitsuro said. "But…will it even help me?"
"It will," Zack assured her. "If not, I can always see if you can get an assignment here on the Washington."
"Thanks, Zack," she said. "I appreciate the offer."
"Anyway, I think I see San Diego up ahead," the young man said, looking out towards the bow.
Mitsuro turned and her eyes sparkled with happiness when she saw the base she called home. A second carrier was moored to one of the docks, and a few other assorted vessels were tied up for resupply, maintenance, or crew transfers. She always felt relieved when she arrived back home.
"It's sure good to be back home again," she murmured.
"Yeah. Home sweet home," Zack agreed.
"So, anything new happening back here in the States?" Mitsuro asked.
Zack nodded. "As a matter of fact, there is. You recall that construction site in Santa Barbara that's been worked on for the last few years?"
When she nodded, he continued. "Well, it turns out that someone built a new dueling school there. Apparently it's called the Themelic Pantheon or something like that. It's been the talk of the base for the last three months. The place is set to open during the next school year," he said.
"That school sure sounds interesting," Mitsuro replied.
"Yeah. But something seems off about it. I think something's wrong there, but I can't be sure," Zack said softly. "It's just so hard to figure it out."
She nodded in agreement. "Sometimes things can be like that." She turned to look at him. "But you can't always expect for an answer to appear."
"Like with the Shadow Realm stuff," Zack remarked.
"Exactly," Mitsuro said with a nod.
The carrier's captain approached the two a few minutes later, a smile on his face. "Well, you two, we're about to dock. So I suggest you get your gear, Mitsuro."
"Thanks. I will, Joe," Mitsuro said. "It'll be good to see my parents again."
Joe Hanson laughed. "Yeah. It's always good to spend time with family," he said. He glanced back at the shore, his face suddenly becoming serious. "I still can't get the sight of that new damn school out of my mind."
"If you're talking about the Themelic Pantheon, then forget it, Joe. They're not gonna close it down and bulldoze it to the ground this time," Zack replied. "As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with you that something needs to be done about that place."
"Such as someone going to the school for a while?" Joe remarked, rolling his eyes.
Zack nodded. "Yeah. But they won't let anyone on the grounds for a good reason, or so they claim."
"That school's a new place, so of course they don't want anyone on the campus," Mitsuro replied to their remarks.
"I bet," Zack grumbled. Mitsuro cocked an eyebrow. What was up with Zack? Normally he didn't act like this regarding a new institution of dueling.
"Anyway, we'd better get ready. The ship's about to dock," Joe said. He turned and walked back into the carrier, Mitsuro tailing behind him. Zack watched them go with a worried look on his face. Personally, he hoped that Mitsuro would get into the US Navy, because then and only then would the mystery of Jason's disappearance be solved.
However, she needed the means to do so, and he would do anything to help her get that means.
Joe led Mitsuro through the carrier's corridors, every now and then saying hello to crew members or giving them a few orders. Mitsuro said hi to a few of them as well and they responded back with a hello as well. Sometimes they merely grunted their hellos if they were carrying or pushing something heavy.
The two stopped in front of Mitsuro's room, allowing her time to grab her supplies and packs.
As was befitting a military family, she carried very little, preferring simplicity to over indulgence of luxury items. The only things she really had were her deck, her laptop, and her suitcase full of basic undergarments and hygiene care. She gathered up her laptop and slipped her suitcase onto her back; it also doubled as a backpack.
"You got everything?" Joe asked as she stepped out.
She nodded. "Yeah. I have everything."
He grinned. "Good. C'mon. The ship's about to dock."
They made their way back to the carrier's deck in fifteen minutes. During that time, the carrier had been maneuvered by high-powered tugboats to her berth at the naval base. The ramp was lowered and the two set foot back in the United States.
A few personnel on the base scurried past them, not even bothering to pay any attention to them. Mitsuro noticed this and cast her gaze around the base. Everyone was busy, she noticed.
"What's going on? The base isn't usually this busy," she said.
"It's because of that new school opening up. A few big shots are coming, so we need to be ready," Joe explained. "The CEO of Kaiba Corp. himself, Seto Kaiba, is coming, along with Pegasus. They're coming via the Kaiba Corp. yacht, and there's been a request for a military escort, although I'm not sure why."
"So is that why everyone's so busy?" Mitsuro asked. "Because of Kaiba and Pegasus's arrival?"
"Yep. That's pretty much it," Joe replied. "But I think it sounds silly to have the US Navy do an escort. Surely he could hire a team of security specialists, not ask us for security."
"That is pretty unusual," Mitsuro murmured.
"Yeah. The United States Navy is a part of the military, not some mere security company," Joe grumbled.
"I agree," Mitsuro said. She looked around, trying to find her father's truck. "Where's my dad?"
"He'll be here in another hour," Joe said. "Why don't I show you something in the meantime?"
"What?" Mitsuro asked as he led her down to the shipyard adjacent to the naval base. The young woman was curious. Normally no one brought her down there unless it was something important they wanted to show others, such as her father or one of his superiors.
A few people they passed said hi, but very hurriedly. Mitsuro didn't like the idea that Kaiba Corp was using the US Navy as an escort, and neither did the other personnel at the base. She didn't blame them. But she had to focus. She forced it from her mind as he two made their way down to the shipyard, which took less than fifteen minutes. By the time they arrived, the sun was almost fully set on the horizon, but there was still enough light to reflect on the hulls of some of the ships under construction.
Joe led her to the closest dock, where a new ship's hull was being built. Her eyes widened as the light set on the streamlined hull, noticing that it was much sleeker than normal for what she guessed to be a new destroyer. She looked at Joe, confused. "Joe, what's going on? Why bring me down here to show me a new ship?"
"You don't know?" he asked, confused.
Mitsuro shook her head. "No. What don't I know?" Then she grew serious. "Are you hiding something from me?"
Joe's face registered shock at the sudden accusation. He shook his head. "No! I'm not hiding anything!"
"Take it easy, Joe," a familiar voice said from the shadows.
Joe relaxed as the speaker stepped out. "But, sir…"
"I'll handle her. She's my daughter, after all," John Itachu said with a smirk.
John Itachu was a man who had served on the seas for twenty-four years, making him one of the most experienced seamen on the base. He stood at an impressive five-foot eleven like his daughter, but he was broader in the shoulders and he had a build that indicated a man who worked out a lot at the base's gym frequently. His hair was a dark brown and he had green eyes like his daughter. A scar crisscrossed his nose, a reminder of a nasty bar fight he had gotten involved in when visiting Shanghai once.
"Very well, sir. I have to get back to the ship anyway," Joe said.
"Excellent. And good luck."
Joe smiled and threw his superior a salute before turning and running off back towards the carrier.
Now Mitsuro was really confused. What was going on?
"Dad, what's going on here? Why did Joe bring me down here? And why are you here?" she asked.
John merely smiled at his daughter. "Well, first off, it's in regards to your application to join the Navy."
"So? What about it? Wasn't I accepted?" Mitsuro asked.
"You were." Those words caught her off guard. Her eyes widened in shock as the realization came home.
"W…What? Are you serious?" she whispered, stunned at the revelation. Normally acceptance into the armed forces didn't happen so suddenly. But apparently something had happened to cause it to go through smoothly. "Dad, are you sure that this isn't a joke?" she cried.
Her father nodded. "Yes. You were indeed accepted into the Navy."
"But…I'm still in school!" she protested.
"I know that. But what really got the ball moving on your acceptance into the Navy was the fact that your brother was one of their best officers," John explained. "He was one of their best in terms of commanding a destroyer. In fact, it was because of that fact, not to mention the sudden call for the United States Navy to act as an escort for the CEO of Kaiba Corp, that you were accepted, along with your application. It was very impressive."
"I…" She was stunned. She was actually accepted into the Navy right on the spot, a real feat for someone her age. But…
"But why am I down here at the shipyard? Why show me this new ship?" the young woman asked.
"Because this ship under construction is destined to be yours to command," her father said.
Mitsuro's mouth fell open. She had been given a ship to command so suddenly? "But why?" she asked. "I need to go through training and work my way up through the ranks, don't I?"
Her father nodded. "Yes, that would normally be the case. But due to what's been going on at Duel Academy, and the sinister feeling we've been getting at that new school, the higher ups decided to skip the rest of the training and give you your own ship to command. It's important because something big may be coming. Okay?"
"Hold on! How do you know of what's been happening at Duel Academy?" Mitsuro asked harshly.
John looked at her sternly. "Remember, the United States has spy satellites up in orbit. We spotted what happened down there."
Mitsuro felt her face flush at the mention of the satellites. She had completely forgotten about them! "Sorry, Dad," she murmured.
John burst out laughing. "Hey. I make that same mistake sometimes. So don't think you're the only one!"
Mitsuro grinned. "Yeah. I guess so." Then she returned her gaze to the ship before them. "I just didn't expect this to happen to suddenly," she murmured. "Being given command of my own ship… It's just so unbelievable."
"I know. But it's for the best. The US Navy needs some extra help, and sometimes it's necessary to get more ships and crew into play." John glanced at her. "Besides, you're related to a great destroyer captain. So, why not?"
Mitsuro smiled. "Yeah. That may be one factor in play."
"And I have something else for you. I had it custom-made especially for you," John said. He reached into the sack he carried on his shoulder and pulled out a long package of some kind. He smiled as he held it out to her.
Mitsuro stared in shock as she took it. It felt light, but something was inside. She could tell. But what was it? She slowly lifted up the lid and she gasped. She whipped off the top and pulled out the object inside.
"Well?" John smiled. "What do you think?"
It was a brand new Duel Disk. Like he had said, it was custom-made for her. Unlike the Academy Duel Disk she had used, this one was much different in design and shape. It was shaped like a destroyer, and it was colored like one, too. The hull was made up of the standard slots for the monster cards and the spell and trap card zone was located underneath it. The bridge was where her deck went, and a small port was for the Graveyard. Plus, on the very front was her brother's destroyer number.
She ran a hand across the design, her fingers taking in the details. She turned it over, inspecting the slot for her arm. It was built to custom specifications, meaning that instead of the usual sleeve, it had what looked like a gauntlet built on the bottom. She slipped it on her arm, and tested its weight. It was light and it felt just right.
She couldn't believe it. She had been accepted into the Navy, given her own ship to command, and a new custom Duel Disk. It was just so overwhelming. Mitsuro lifted her gaze to meet her father's own eyes.
"Dad… It's wonderful," she whispered, tears shimmering in her own green eyes.
"I'm glad you like it," he murmured.
"But…why? Why do this for me?" she asked, looking at the Duel Disk.
"Because you deserve it," John said with a warm smile. "You are a strong young woman, and you've been growing stronger in terms of dueling. Plus, you helped figure out the mystery of those strange circles."
"Thanks," Mitsuro said.
"Now let's get home. You've got a busy day tomorrow, with your training."
"But what about my ship?" she asked. "Does it have a name?"
"We'll get to that soon, honey. The ship is still in the building stages, but by next month it should be ready for commissioning," John said.
"By next month? But ships normally take a while to commission. They have to go through trails and sea trials!" Mitsuro exclaimed.
"Yeah, but this time, the top brass made an exception. They need another ship of the latest design, and that ship is the one," her father said. Just as she opened her mouth to protest, he waved his hand cutting her off. "And I know that it would normally take years to build a ship of this type, but like I said. The top staff made an exception. Something sinister is going on, so we need to be ready on all fronts."
"Does that include the rest of the US military?" she asked.
He nodded. "Yes. All forces. Ground, air, naval, and marines."
"Oh…" Her voice trailed off as he guided her to the family's truck. It wasn't that long of a journey back home.
On the way, her father looked at his daughter. "Mitsuro, the reason that this is happening is because of that incident last year when the school went into some unknown place. It was very sinister, and even here in our own world we felt the energy. It's almost like Duel Academy is a portal to that very realm. That means that something's about to happen and we want to be prepared in case something nasty comes through. We need all the help we can get in this."
"What about the rest of the world?" Mitsuro asked.
Her father became serious as he spoke. "The President has asked other nations to ready their armed forces should anything come through. The United Nations is prepared to lead the world's armies in defense of our planet. But hopefully, it won't come to that. Still, it never hurts to be prepared. And being prepared is one thing I've learned since I've been in the Navy for over twenty years now."
Mitsuro glanced back out the window of the truck, watching the cars go by. She reflected back on Kasumi's unusual behavior. "I don't understand though. Who or what is the Ghost Duelist?" she murmured. "And what does he do to others?"
She remembered the duel with Kasumi, reflecting on the emotions she had seen on the other girl's face. She had been very aggressive in terms of dueling, and she seemed to be more powerful in terms of dueling strategy. Mitsuro herself was a powerful duelist, but even she had trouble against the new Kasumi. Something seemed off about this whole thing. But what was it?
And did this have anything to do with the Ghost Duelist? If so, what was the connection?
She wanted to find out, but the girl had left a few days before the carrier had stopped by to pick her up.
Her father noticed her vague look on her face, but he knew better than to disturb her when she was like that. She often let herself get lost in her thoughts when this happened, and he had learned to let her think and to not snap her out of it. She could do that on her own.