A/N: Hello. A Zexal fic. I don't do these very often and this is the first one I've published and OCs. I love OCs, shh. Not sure as far as time goes, it was going to be after the series, but we don't know how it'll end and blah blah, so imagine it was sometime in between where (spoilers if you've not got to ep 100 or so) Vector revealed himself and they go off to find the seven legendary numbers. Pairings are undecided, I'll see who clicks as we go, and reviews are lovely if you want to leave them. Also, I use English spellings, so if you think I'm spelling it just a little wrong, it's probably the alternate spelling. Gonna try to update weekly. I own nothing but the plot and my OCs.
Mother Grace's new house didn't take long to settle into its usual rhythm. Hiro smiled to himself, brushing a few messy blond strands from his face as music erupted from various bedrooms. It was always hey same. Always. In the hallways it was a mess of noise. Everyone had their favourite styles and they didn't always mesh well.
"Let's hope today goes well, huh Fluff?" he murmured, crouching down.
Fluff- the tubby, fluffy, lazy old black and white family cat- mewled in agreement as Hiro set down food for him. Hiro smiled and pet his head before getting up and returning to preparing lunch for his younger siblings. It was their first day at their new schools. He hoped they'd be ok.
"This skirt is ridiculous." His smile widened and he turned. Standing in the kitchen doorway was the middle girl, Nico in her new pink uniform. "This is all Miki's fault."
He scowled and shook his head before pulling a pink ribbon from his pocket. If they were looking from blame then perhaps it was Miki's fault they had to move, but they shouldn't be. Family should look out for each other. He took the hairbrush from Nico's hands and brushed through her short purple hair gently before gathering up a bit on the side and tying the ponytail with the ribbon.
"We all make mistakes," he said gently.
"What's important is making the bastard who did this to her pay," called Ken, bounding in and grabbing his bag and lunch.
"Yeah!" Akina cheered, running after him. Fluff squawked and hurried away at the chaos- well, as much as he ever hurried, which wasn't very fast at all. "That'll make Mother proud."
Hiro sighed and shook his head. "What's important is that we help her. That'll make Mother proud."
Ken clicked his tongue disapprovingly, something the younger kids seemed to be picking up, but said nothing to contradict him. Instead, he swung his bag over his shoulder, adjusted the tie around his pale, shoulder length hair and crouched so Akina could climb up onto his back. She laughed and pushed his hair over his shoulder, leaning her chin on the other.
"Green isn't your colour," Akina told Ken. He laughed. "Miki said she's not going to school today."
Hiro sighed again. Of course she said that. She and Akina shared a room. The young blue haired girl still got nightmares and she couldn't share a room with him or Ken, much as she argued the case, so Miki was the next best thing. At least she had been. Akina laughed and picked up her bag from the side. She was the youngest. The other three started Heartland Academy, but not her. She was only young and Ken made sure everyone knew she was their sweet baby sister and no one was to mess with her.
"You three go on, I'll sort Miki out," Hiro said, holding out Nico's bag. "Make friends, be good and don't let Mother down."
"We won't," Akina called, waving as Ken carried her out. "Good luck with Miki. Bye Fluff."
Nico frowned and glared at her bag before taking it. "If Miki ruins this and we have to move again-"
"Leave Miki to me," Hiro said firmly. His eyes flashed and Nico smiled nervously. "Go to school like you were told."
She nodded and ran out after Ken and Akina. Hiro sighed and ran a hand through his hair before picking up a cup of tea and heading upstairs. Their Mother had the room in the attic. He climbed up and knocked on her door. There was no answer, so he set the drink on the coffee table next to the door and returned downstairs to Miki and Akina's room.
The door was open and inside, sitting in the dark, was Miki. She was dressed and apparently ready to go, just wasn't planning to move any time soon. Hiro shook his head. Like Nico and Ken, Miki was supposed to be starting Heartland Academy today as a third year. She was probably even less impressed by the uniform than Nico. Her poof- and Hiro really wasn't sure how else to describe the hair that seemed to have a life of its own- of blonde hair was held off her face with a clip and the sky blue bangs were sticking out in all directions, but at least she looked a little bit smarter than normal. Even if her eyes were dull and lifeless.
"Mother wants you to go to school."
She turned and gazed up at him. Hiro folded his arms, pulling himself up to his full height and making sure to look as strict as he could- which wasn't much really. He wasn't letting her get away with this, certainly not on the first day. They had moved because of her. She had to appreciate that and try her best not to let things go wrong again.
"Don't disappoint her," he said. She didn't answer and he sighed, pulling open the curtains. Miki turned away, shielding her eyes from the light and getting up off the bed. After at least so many years as the big brother, Hiro knew what to do to get his younger siblings to behave. "After everything she's done, at least make an attempt. Put on a good show. For me and Mother?"
She nodded and turned to walk out with Hiro on her heels. "For Mother."
I was something. Miki barely formed sentences these days. Her voice had grown cold and monotone along with her dead eyes. His fists clenched absently but Hiro quickly pushed away the anger and put on his smile, adjusting his glasses.
"Miki." He called from the front door as she climbed down the front steps. She stopped but didn't turn. "We're going to help you."
Miki didn't reply just carried on. Well, at least she was out the house. Whether she made it to school or not was another matter but bar walking with her to school, he wasn't sure what else there was for him to do. He sighed and shut the door to Fluff yowling. There was a deck left on the side Fluff was staring at.
"Now you really can't duel if you leave your deck behind, Miki," he muttered, picking up the cards. He tucked them away safely and smiled down at Fluff. "All in a day's work, huh Fluff?" Fluff sighed and flopped in his cat basket. Hiro laughed and shook his head, folding his arms. "Yeah, I wish I had time to join you."
Late for school again, when Yuma finally entered his class, the entire room fell silent and everyone's stares fell on him. There was silence for a few moments and Yuma figured explaining the Emperor's Key somehow ended up in the laundry probably wasn't going to do much good.
"Well, it's not the latest you've been. Sit down, Yuma."
He sat quickly. There was a girl at the front of the class introducing herself. Yuma was a little distracted though. He'd been so distracted recently that returning to a normal school day was making him restless already. Not to mention his experience with transfer students wasn't the best. The thought made his stomach churn but he quickly shook it off. No time for feeling sorry for himself.
"It's nice to meet you all," the new girl said. "I'm Kurumi Nico. I just moved here with my brothers and sisters. I can't wait to get to know you all."
She seemed nice enough and she sat near them, chatting away. Astral had been strangely quiet and Yuma so he was alone with his thoughts. That was until he was shaken and poked.
"Yuma. Yuma!"
"Wha…?"
Kotori was smiling down at him. He groaned and sat up. He'd fallen asleep again, hadn't he? He hadn't slept much the night before. He'd kept having strange dreams he couldn't remember. Kotori sighed, her hands going to her hips.
"It's lunchtime, Yuma," she said. "Don't tell me you were sleeping the entire time?"
He nodded and got up slowly. The new girl was with them. He smiled slightly. "Hi, Nico right?"
"Yeah," she said, nodding quickly. "And you're Tsukumo Yuma. My sister watched you in the WDC. She's a big fan."
"Really?!"
She nodded again. "Made a big deal coming here because we might meet you and she might get to duel you."
"I'd duel her anytime. I'll duel anyone."
Nico smiled and she went with them up to the roof for lunch, chatting as they went, arranging for Yuma to duel her sister that day after school. They climbed up and found Shark was already up there with Rio and a blonde third year Yuma hadn't seen before. There were lots of new students today it seemed. She was looking up at them silently for a moment before Nico sighed.
"Please tell me you went to class," Nico said.
"I did," the girl replied.
"You're lying to me, aren't you, Miki?" she sighed.
"I am," the girl said, getting up from the floor.
She stepped past them and climbed down from the roof. Yuma watched her go and join a pale haired second year. He took her arm and glanced up at them with a charming smile and a slight wave. Miki kept her eyes dead ahead as he guided her away and Nico sighed.
"You know them then?" Tetsuo said.
"Hishikawa Ken is new in our class," Rio said. "Which you'd know if you'd been there rather than up here, Ryoga."
"Miki's my sister," Nico put in, over Shark telling Rio how he'd only got up on the roof moments before her.
Yuma's eyes widened and he turned to stare after the pair. If she was a big fan she didn't act much like it. Still, he'd find out that night when they duelled. A good heart pounding duel always did the world of good. He'd know what was going on soon. He sat down and pulled out lunch as Shark and Rio were introduced to Nico. Well, Rio and Nico were introduced, Shark just shrugged, and muttered something that might have been a hello.
"There's something strange about this, Yuma," Astral said. "Don't be so trusting."
"I know, I know," Yuma said. "But you worry too much, Astral. Things are going to be normal for a bit."
"Astral?" Nico said, lifting her head slightly.
"Nothing, nothing," he said quickly, waving his hand.
The afternoon passed much quicker with a duel to look forward too. By the time they got to the duelling area Yuma was restless. A duel against the seemingly cold Miki who was really a fan? He couldn't wait to see how she duelled.
"Yuma. You do remember the last time someone claimed to be a fan?" Astral said.
Pain flashed through him at the thought. At the idea of the bright purple eyes that had been so enthusiastic, so willing to help. But there was no time for that. No. Now was the time for moving on and having awesome non-life-threatening duels and making new friends.
Rio, Kotori and Nico were sitting together on the steps chatting away while his other friends were standing behind them. And Yuma was sure he'd seen Shark hanging around somewhere but a quick glance around didn't reveal his location. And then there was a high pitched call.
"Yuma!" There was suddenly a short little blue haired girl in front of him. She smiled and bounced up and down, her pigtails flying around her. He blinked down at her and she grinned. "This is so cool! I can't believe you agreed to duel me!" He faltered for a moment before grinning back and nodding. He supposed he should have considered a younger sibling too. "I'm Akina. You're really going to duel me?"
"I thought you meant Miki, Nico," Yuma laughed, rubbing the back of his neck.
Nico clicked her tongue in annoyance and turned away but Akina waved her hand in front of his eyes. "Miki can't duel. You'll have to duel me. You still want to, right?"
"Yeah," he said. "Don't think I'll go easy on you though."
"Of course not." She bounced up over to the other side of the field and beamed over. "This is going to be awesome!"
"Duel!"
Akina – 4000
Yuma – 4000
"Ladies first," Akina laughed. "And Mother says I'm a proper little lady so I'll take the first turn. Draw!"
"Is this going to be a difficult duel, Yuma?" Astral said quietly.
"Of course not," Yuma replied. "She's a kid I can handle this. Besides, it's not like it's a Numbers duel."
Akina pouted at her hand before lifting her head. "I'll just set three face downs and end my turn then."
"I guess you didn't get the right cards then," Yuma said. "Oh well, my turn. Draw!" He glanced over his cards and grinned. A blank field with just face down. An older duellist he'd think was baiting him but Akina was just a kid, right? "Let's give it a go. I'll summon Gogogo Golem!" 4/1800/1500. The large rocky creature spread its arms and Akina cheered. "Alright! Gogogo Golem! Direct attack!"
"Yuma, wait!" Astral called.
"Yuma!" the others cried.
"You fell for it!" Akina giggled, bouncing up and down.
"Eh?!"
"When my opponent attacks directly, I can negate the attack and Special Summon Ghostrick Lantern from my hand!" she laughed, holding out the card for him to see. A dark shape came onto the field, hovering above the ground, glowing eyes visible in the darkness of the Jack-o-Lantern head. 1/800/0. "Isn't he cute?"
Yuma glanced at the ghost, ignoring Astral essentially saying 'I told you so'. "Sure… Alright, Akina, I'll set a face down and end my turn."
"Awesome! My turn! Draw!" Akina paused again, glancing over to Nico, Rio and Kotori, who all smile kindly. Even if they were his friends, there was no harm encouraging the little girl, right? "I guess you were going easy on me, Yuma, even after saying you wouldn't."
Yuma was sure he heard Shark's voice cut in behind him. "I wouldn't be so sure."
He was about to turn to argue but Akina laughed. "I active the Field Spell Ghostrick House."
They field changed, quickly turning into a dark, dusty old house. Akina grinned and Yuma glanced around. Field Spells usually worked to the user's advantage. People didn't have them if they didn't.
"Creepy…" Kotori murmured and Yuma couldn't help nodding.
"And now I summon my ultra cute Witch of Ghostrick," Akina said. 2/1200/200. A blonde witch, complete with broom, hat and cape appeared, winking down at them. Not an XYZ summon in the works then. Unless they could change level. "Then I activate Witch of Ghostrick's effect!"
"Not good."
"Nope! Once per turn I can flip one of your monsters into face down defence position. And that's your Gogogo Golem!" The witch bounced over and smacked Gogogo Golem on the head with her broom so the monster flipped back over. "Now Ghostrick House's effect activates! When you only have face down monsters, I can attack directly. Usually battle damage is cut in half, but Ghostrick monsters still inflict the full amount."
"What?!" Yuma cried.
Akina giggled. "You won't go easy on me anymore, right? Ghostrick Lantern, direct attack!"
The ghost gave a creepy laugh and vanished into the ground before reappearing in front of Yuma, knocking him back to the floor with a thud.
Akina – 4000
Yuma – 3200
"I did it, Nico!" Akina cheered. "I did it! Did you see! Did you see! I did damage! And I'm going to do it again. Witch of Ghostrick, direct attack!"
The witch jumped onto her broom and flew over to smack him on the head with the brush. Yuma groaned and held his head as she jumped back over to Akina's field. The child herself was clapping her hands.
Akina – 4000
Yuma – 2000
"So much for an easy duel," Shark muttered.
"Don't go easy on my anymore, Yuma!" Akina called over. "I activate the effect of both my Ghostricks. Once per turn I can flip them back into face down defence position. I end my turn at that."
"But that just leaves her open to a direct attack," Yuma mused.
Astral nodded. "Be careful of those face downs, Yuma."
"Right! My turn. Draw!"
In the Next Chapter: Yuma and Akina's duel continues and Shark is starting to get suspicious about Akina and her family.
Playful Spirit, Ghostrick Akina
