Episode 2: Fury of the Swarm

It was the next day and rumors about last night's Orphenoch attack, as well as Faiz's appearance, spread like wildfire in Duel Academy. The Security officer, that was attacked, was hysterical and going on about monsters and such. Fortunately, he was taken to the hospital to receive medical treatment.

Right now, the first-year students were getting situated in their classes and one Omura Yumi was introducing herself to the students of Class A. The classroom was built like a university's lecture hall, with 4 seats at each desk. Each desk rested two steps apart from one another.

Music- "Academy Life" (Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Sound Duel 2)

"I'm Omura Yumi! It's nice to meet you all," the first-year introduced.

"Same Here!" the class replied.

Yumi got a good look at her classmates. She immediately caught sight of Yuji and the others. One girl had short blue hair that covered her face, named Miyazaki Nodoka. another girl with long brown hair and matching eyes, one Kokoe Konoka. Sasaki Makie, a girl with green eyes and short orange hair. A pair of twins, Narutaki Fuuka had pink hair in pig tails and had purple eyes, and Narutaki Fumika had matching hair and eyes but her hair was in a pair of buns. Nagase Kaede was a tall girl with long brown hair in a loose braid and her eyes were squinted, like a fox. Another girl, named Chao Lingshen, had black hair in chinese buns, with braids sticking from underneath, and brown eyes. Yotsuba Satsuki had short brown hair and was a little on the chubby side. Sakurako Shiina had blonde spiky hair with blue eyes and was fixing a pom pom. Kakizaki Misa had light lavender hair and auburn eyes, also with a pair of pom poms. Kugimiya Madoka had short brown hair and matching eyes, with a third set of pom poms. These 3 girls were the class cheerleaders. Moving on, Saotome Haruna had long green hair and amber eyes covered by glasses and was drawing in a sketch book. Kuu Fei was a tan-skinned girl with blonde hair and green eyes. Asakura Kazu had spiky red hair with green eyes and was cleaning a camera lense. Sakurazaki Setsuna had black hair and eyes with her hair done in a ponytail on the leftside of her head. A bokudou, wrapped in a purple cloth, was at her side. Hakase Satomi had black eyes and hair in braids, and had a surprisingly big fore head. Towards the top row Tatsumiya Mana, with long black hair and tied bangs framing her face coupled with gold eyes, was polishing a shotgun that nobody seemed to notice. Finally, Morisaki Sayumi had REALLY long black hair with brown eyes and she looked like a badass.

Introducing Class A: 22 students, including Yumi and Yuji's group. (However, some seats were still empty, but that will be explained later.)

"Thank you, Yumi-chan," Shimizu Takako clapped. She had long brown hair with matching eyes and was wearing a dark pink Duel Academy blazer with beige slacks. She was the homeroom teacher for class A. "Well, how about you take a seat next to Nodoka-chan," she offered.

"Hai, Shimizu-sensei," Yumi saluted. She then went up the stairs to take her seat next to Nodoka.

"N-Nice...t-to meet you Omura-san," Nodoka greeted shyly.

"Nice to meet you too, Nodoka-san." Yumi smiled. "And you don't have to be so formal."

"That's Nodoka-chan for you, always polite to everyone," Yuji said as he leaned over from his seat. Next to him was Rachel on his right, with Jasmine on his left and Yuki on her left. Their desk was above where Yumi, Nodoka, and Haruna sat.

"Gomen, F-Fudo-san," Nodoka stuttered.

"Nodoka-chan, I thought I told you not to be so formal with me," Yuji sighed. "We are friends after all."

"Sorry."

Yumi then looked around the room and noticed something strange. Yuji was in a room full of girls. Plus, he was a boy. Why was he here?

"Ne, Yuji-senpai," Yumi called.

"Hai?" Yuji replied.

"I've been wondering, why are you the only boy in a room full of girls?"

Yuji slumped over his desk. "It's Shizuru-san's idea of a joke," he groaned.

Yumi tilted her head in confusion. "A joke?"

"Shizuru and Natuski-kouchou are our godmothers. They come over to our place to hang out with us every once in a while," Rachel explained.

"And Shizuru-nee loves to tease Yuji," Jasmine snickered.

"Oh, I see..." Yumi blinked.

"So, I heard one of the Security officers on duty last night was attacked by a monster!" Makie spoke.

"No way..." Fuuka said.

"I can't believe it, desu" Fumika said fearfully.

"Hmm, it does sound kind of hard to believe, de gozaru," Kanade said.

"Ne ne, what do you think, Set-chan?" Konoka asked.

"I'm not sure, Ojou-sama,"Setsuna replied. "However, it IS true that there's been some strange incedents occuring over the past few months," she reasoned.

"What do you mean, Setsuna-dono?" Kaede asked.

"There have been reports that people in the city have been found dead in allies late at night. The bodies can't be identified and the only thing left behind are their clothes and piles of ashes," Sayumi explained.

"HOW SCARY!!" the 3 cheerleaders exclaimed.

"Hmm, if I can just a picture of this monster, it would be a huge scoop," Kazu pondered as she continued to clean her camera.

"Ah, when you do get a shot, Kazu-chan, let me get a copy so I can sketch it. Maybe I can make a card out of it. OK?" Haruna asked.

"Sure."

"This beast sounds like the perfect opponent for me!" Kuu Fei boasted.

"Hey Satsuki-chan, maybe this monster likes meat buns," Chao wondered.

"Maybe..." Satsuki replied with a sweatdrop.

"It's a good thing the officer wasn't injured too badly when it happened, right Mana-san?" Satomi said.

"Thanks to Faiz." Mana replied, still focused on her shotgun.

"That's right!" Makie said. "Faiz is the legendary warrior of Duel Academy! He protects us under the cover of night!"

"Our knight in shining armor," the cheerleaders swooned.

"Yeah, I'm gonna need a picture of him too," Kazu realized.

"Ne Yuji-kun," Konoka called. "Do you think Faiz is real?"

"Well, there's always the possibilty that he/she could be an under cover Security officer," Yuji answered. "It may be part of some new system the police are producing," he laughed nervously.

Satomi giggled while Mana smirked, it was obvious to them that Yuji was hiding something from the rest of the class.

End Music

"Eh? You've dated everyone in class?!" Yumi exclaimed.

It was lunch time and Yumi was sitting with Yuji, Yuki, Jasmine, and Rachel in a courtyard.

Yuji rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "Yeah, it was last year. that's why we're all close friends right now."

"As soon as everyone saw him when he walked into class the first time, they all fell head over heels for him," Rachel laughed.

"Wait...even the twins?" Yumi asked skeptically.

"They were quite fond of me during our first year," Yuji replied.

"Onii-sama is very dense when it comes to a woman's feelings and will never say "no" when a girl asks him out," Yuki explained.

"Yuki..." Yuji sweatdropped.

"FUDO YUJI!!" a voice called out.

Everyone turned their heads to the source of disturbance to find 3 students in blue blazers, One had short black hair with brown eyes. The second male had short auburn hair and wore glasses over brown eyes. The third student was short, fat, and had black hair in a bowl cut.

"Oh man..." Rachel groaned.

"Not these idiots again," Jasmine complained.

"Fudo Yuji! Today's the day I defeat you...once and for all!" the first student announced.

"Who're these guys?" Yumi asked.

"Just a bunch of guys from Class F. The idiot leading them is called Nakamaru," Rachel explained.

"Nakamaru always duels Onii-sama with futile effort to earn bragging rights to the other girls from class. He's simply jealous because Onii-sama is the only boy in the entire school in a room full of girls. That, and the fact that Onii-sama has dated the entire class," Yuki explained.

"I see..." Yumi said with a sweatdrop.

"Look, do we really have to do this now, Nakamura?" Yuji sighed. "It's lunch time and I'm starving." His belly began to roar like a volcano.

"Heh, what's the matter Fudo? Chicken?" taunted the idiot student.

"Hey!" Yumi called out. "Leave Yuji-senpai alone! He said he doesn't wanna duel so he's not gonna duel!"

"It's not that I don't wanna duel Yumi...I'm just REALLY hungry," the blue-eyed boy complained.

"Then I'll duel!" Yumi declared.

"WHAT!?" everyone exclaimed.

"That's right! I challenge Nakamura-san to a duel!" Yumi repeated. "What's the matter?" She grinned, "Chicken?"

Nakamaru was fuming now. A first-year was trying to make a fool out of him. Well, he would put her in her place...or so he thought.

"OK then," Nakamaru grinned. "Let's duel."

"Yumi, are sure about this?" Yuji asked.

"Hai," the first-year nodded. "I'm not gonna let him talk badly about you like that. I know you're better than that."

Yuji saw the look of determination in her eyes. He then knew she would take the win.

"Gambatte, Yumi," Yuji encouraged.

"Hai, Yuji-senpai!" Yumi said.

The two duelists took thier places. Nakamaru had a plain gray Duel Disk.

Yumi's Duel Disk was more customized. The overall base color was a metallic pink with a green opaque glass cover for the LP counter. The panel for the card zones was shaped like a butterfly wing with the Monster Card Zones colored green.

"DUEL!" they called out.

Yumi: 4000

Nakamaru: 4000

Music- "Duel 02" (Tag Force 4)

"Lady's fisrt!" Yumi dec;ared. "Draw! I play the Continuous Spell, Verdant Sactuary!" Yumi slid the card into the Spell & Trap slot and a projection of the card appeared on the field. "Next, I'll play Howling Insect in Defense Mode!" A giant cricket-like monster appeared in front of Yumi and turned blue. "I'll Set a card and end my turn." A face down card appeared on the field, waiting to be used.

"Now I'll go! Draw!" Nakamaru exclaimed. He inspected his hand and smirked. "I'll summon the Marauding Captain in Attack Mode!" A warrior in broken arwor appeared before Nakamaru. "Now my Captain's ability activates! I can Special Summon one Level 4monster from my hand. So I choose Twin-Sword Marauder!" This time, a warrior in Japanese armor, with bladed gantlets on his arms appeared. "Battle! Twin-Sword Maurader attacks Howling Insect!" The Marauder cut down the insect, and a blade of wind went through Yumi, causing her to wince a little. "Heh, Twin-Sword Marauder deals Piercing Damage to monsters that are weaker than him," Nakamaru grinned.

Yumi: 3700

Nakamaru: 4000

"Verdant Sanctuary activates!" Yumi called. "When an Insect-type monster is destroyed, I can add another Insect to my hand with the same Level as Howling Insect." Yumi went through her deck and took out anothe Howling Insect. "Now Howling Insect's effect activates! I get to Special Summon an INsect from my Deck with, at most, 1500 ATK. And I'll choose another Howling Insect!" Another Howling INsect appeared to take the place of its fallen brother.

"Heh, is that the best you can do, first-year?" Nakamaru taunted. "You should know that my Maurader can attack a second time if he destroyed a monster in Defense Mode. Show her what I mean!" he ordered his warrior. The Marauder attacked again, destroying the insect and dealing damage to Yumi.

Yumi: 3400

Nakamaru: 4000

"I'll now Special Summon Gokipon!" Yumi declared. A small, ladybug-like, insect appeared in Defese Mode.

"So I'll wipe him out too! With Marauding Captain!" Nakamaru's first warrior charged at the Gokipon, cutting it down with his swprd.

"Gokipon's effect activates! I can add 1 Insect with 1500 ATK to my hand. So I choose Pinch Hopper!" She went through her deck and added the card to her hand.

"Heh, just stallin', huh?" he grinned. "I'll set a card and let you squirm some more." The card was set but a gust of wind blew through the field and shattered the face down card like glass, "What the Hell?!"

"I activated Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying your card before you could activate it next turn," Yumi explained.

"Wow, she sure played you, Bakamaru," Rachel laughed.

(A/N: Rachel insults Nakamaru by using "Baka", or idiot, in his name)

"Building up her hand at maintaining field presence, impressive," Yuji observed.

"Yumi's Deck seems to be that of the swarm variety," Jasmine commented.

"Yes. Those decks can be very tricky and hard to deal with if one is not cautious."

"Watashi no turn! Draw!" Yumi drew her car and smiled. "I play the Field Spell, Gaia Power!" The field turned into a meadow after Yumi inserted a card into a slot at the end of her Duel Disk. A REALLY huge tree was in the middle of the field. "Now all monsters of EARTH gain 500 ATK."

Marauding Captain: (1700/0)

"So, what's the point if you don't have any monsters?" Nakamaru scoffed.

"I'll get to that," smiled Yumi. But first, I play the Spell, Lightning Vortex!" She discarded a card and the two warriors were destroyed like nothing.

"Aw Shit!" Nakamaru cursed.

"Now I remove my Gokipon form the Graveyard to Special Summon Aztekipede, the Worm Warrior!" A giant green centiped came bursting from the ground, looking rather hungry. "Next, I'll remove my two Howling Insects from my Graveyard to Special Summon Doom Dozer!" This time, an even BIGGER black and red centipede burst from the ground in all its snarling glory.

Aztekipede, the Worm Warrior: 2400/0

Doom Dozer: 3300/2200

"OH MY GOD!!!!" Nakamaru cried.

"I attack directly!" Yumi called out.

The two mammoth-sized centipedes rushed at Nakamaru and appeared to be eating him. The idiot cried out like a little girl and eventually crapped his pants. Obviously, he forgot the monsters were holograms.

Yumi: 3400

Nakamaru: 0

End Music

"Alright!" Yumi cheered. "Did you see that, Yuji-senpai?!"

"Yes. That was very impressive, Yumi." Yuji smiled.

"That baka didn't even last two turns," Rachel cried as she rolled around on the floor in laughter.

After dropping Yumi off from school, Yuji decided to make a detour before heading home.

He turned the corner and stopped in front a tall office building. There was a sign in front of the building with a sign that said "Smart Brain" in black and silver type. The security guard gave Yuji entry after being showed a black and silver watch on Yuji's left wrist. As Yuji walked through the halls, he greeted by several employees and Yuji returned their greetings respectively.

Yuji took an elevator to the top floor and walked through a long hall before entering an office. It was pretty big and quite spacious.

Towards the back of the room, by a window, was a man who appeared to be in his late 20's. He had long black hair, yellow eyes, and wore a business suit and glasses. He was Akai Haruaki, president of Smart Brain Corp.

"Ah, welcome, Fudo-kun," the business man greeted. "Please, come in."

"Thank you, Akai-shachou" Yuji bowed. He walked over to Akai's desk and handed him a yellow envelope. "This is a report from the Orphenoch sighting from last night."

"Ah, thank you" Akai smiled. "Keep up the good work. So, how are the others?"

"Everyone's doing well" Yuji smiled.

"Just make sure your job doesn't interfere with school. Your studies are important, after all," Haruaki advised.

"I understand sir." Yuji bowed and turned to leave Haruaki to his business.

Haruaki sat in his chair as he watched Yuji's retreating form and smiled as Yuji left the room. "That boy has quite a future ahead of himself."

To Be Continued...

Chapter's Key Card: "Howling Insect"

Bushido: Well, that's it for this chapter. Sorry if it's alittle short. I wanted to introduce Yumi's deck in this chapter. The girls in Yuji's class are from Negima! and Takako is another character from Chobits. Haruaki and Sayumi are from Maburaho. They don't belong to me. I just thought they would be good additions to this story. Does Haruaki know something special about Yuji? The truth will be revealed soon. If anyone has any requests, then let me know!

Next Episode: "913 Kaixa!"