Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's – Reverse of Arcadia
by Yusei
Summary - "As a member of Arcadia, Rena begins to learn of the organization's secrets as a war begins to unfold. The present and the past begin to clash, unleashing a future of doubt as the Signers rise up to battle the darkness".
Disclaimer - I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's or any of the characters.
A / N – Firstly, I'd like to thank everyone who has already read this, I didn't expect so many favourites and reviews on the first day, let alone for the chapter at all. Updates for this and Sutādasuto Accelerator may be quicker over the holiday period, there are a number of fics and oneshots that will hopefully be updated as they're worked on over the next few weeks. For the sake of Divine leaving Arcadia for the first day of the Fortune Cup, the timeline differs from the game, the featured duel is also different for two reasons; it takes the focus off Rena for a bit and I promises a friend that Okita and Liquid would have a bigger role. Hope you enjoy this. Please read and review.
「Neo-Domino」- Arcadia Movement
Training had lasted for a few hours; students duelling dummies and then each other, revealing any alterations they had made to their decks. The decks handed to them by Arcadia, manipulated slightly by the outside world and the preferences of the individuals. Rena had no cards of her own to mingle with those given to her, none from the outside world; apparently, she had tossed them into a campfire one night whilst on the run from the family who shut her out, vowing never to even think about them again.
But she did think. What kind of cards were they? What theme had she played with? Okita claimed that through duelling, they could learn what kind of person a duellist was, so what did that lost deck say about her? She felt lost, among people she was getting to know and enjoy, but still lost. Seria was like an older sister, showing her the ropes, Okita and Liquid were good friends, inviting her to more, the others around were peers, people she would grow closer to and trust as friends. Arcadia truly was a family.
But for now, they were seated in rows like some kind of assembly at a school, Liquid and Okita sat to her left, another male and his female companion the other side. All fixed their eyes ahead to the platform where Seria climbed up; truly she was of a higher rank to stand up before those still learning or just beginning, the students of Arcadia; another generation of outcasts. The young woman cleared her throat before lifting her head, eyes blazing with strength as she gathered herself.
"Students of Arcadia" she began, her voice possessing a new power behind it. "As you are aware, the Public Security Maintenance Bureau has set up a tournament for the top duellists in the City to battle with each other for the opportunity to face the Duel King, Jack Atlus".
"Yeah, greedy bastards are trying to make themselves look better by playing with 'normal' people. They don't give two shits about us" the boy beside Rena scowled to his friend.
"I know what you are thinking; 'they don't care about us, why bother informing us? We already know, but it's got nothing to do with us'" Seria continued, a few murmurs chipped into the silence as her voice sailed through the air. "However, that is not the case. It does have something to do with us".
A chorus of confused noises and single word questions followed, Rena cast her eyes to Liquid and Okita, neither had any more of an idea than the rest. Seria's low cough, clearing her throat, drew eyes and soothed the chatter.
"Divine will explain the details" she announced. "But he has given me the privilege to disclose just why the Fortune Cup involves Arcadia. Izayoi Aki has been invited to participate against seven other hopefuls to face Jack Atlus".
"Izayoi-san?" a voice cried out from the gathering. "Our Izayoi-san?"
"That tournament's already been decided!" another cheered.
"Now those bastards will see what Psychics are made of!"
Seria smiled lightly at the reception of the news and took a step back. Rena looked to Okita and the Liquid, they both smiled back at the news, aware of why she had moved to them. They would finally get to see Izayoi Aki in action, unleashing her full potential, duelling like no-one else in Neo-Domino could. All eyes moved back to the front and silent fell when Divine stepped up to the platform, his hands locked behind his back, the same smirk defining his face.
"Arcadia, this is, indeed, a proud day" he proclaimed. "However, as you all know, we and those at Security are more like enemies than even the City and Satellite. It is both thrilling and suspicious that they would acknowledge our Izayoi Aki for their tournament. While we celebrate the light shining upon her, we must question; why has she been chosen by our enemies? Is this some kind of trap? Will they try to steal her from her home? Be wary, we have no idea what it is they plan to do. This tournament could be some kind of diversion to sneak into this tower and capture others while luring Aki and myself away. Seria and others high up in the chain of command here will watch over you while Aki and I attend the Fortune Cup, using our trucks in order to get there safely".
Another wave of low voices and suspicions swept across those gathered before the leader. Rena remained silent, keeping her eyes locked onto the man as she waited eagerly to learn more.
"The Fortune Cup will run across two days; the first – tomorrow – will consist of quarter-final matches" Divine continued. "We don't know who Aki will be fighting or anything about the others, not even their names. The second day will be where you come in. That day will have fewer matches and less people standing in Aki's way of facing the Duel King and proving the worth of Psychic Duellists. During that day, you will infiltrate the building and support Aki. Like tomorrow, a large majority of Arcadia will remain here. There can't be more than three dozen of you here; you will be invading Security's territory before they invade ours. Consider this field training, like when some of you move on to searching for other disowned Psychic Duellists. But for now, training will continue through tomorrow and then you will prepare yourselves. On the second day of the Fortune Cup, the Psychics of Arcadia will rise".
Claps and cheers from those around the trio roared, a couple of the students standing up and pushing the tips against their lips, whistling in celebration; even if it was a trap, this was the chance for Izayoi Aki to prove Arcadia and the scorned world of Psychics to those who considered them freaks and deserving of imprisonment, just because of accidents. Rena's eyes softened as she watched Divine walk away.
-遊戯王5D's-
Arcadia ~ Chapter 2 – Invasion of the Fortune Cup! A Threat Uncovered ~ Arcadia
Rena -「Neo-Domino」- Arcadia Movement
The following day proved useful to those eager to move time ahead and to the second day of the Fortune Cup. It had also proved vital for Rena, who was easily able to get to know several of the other students who had been in Arcadia for weeks and into months. Nobody hated anyone else, they were united under one banner, everyone got on; everyone was equal here.
By the time evening came, the sun was inching closer towards the horizon and darkness was slowly spreading over the City. Rena stood in front of the door to the room she shared with Okita and Liquid, ruffling her damp hair with a towel. The two turned to her, playing with their cards on Liquid's bed when she walked in blindly. There were no Duel Disks, no holograms and no Psychic powers. It was just a friendly game like how children would play before getting a Duel Disk for their birthdays or before an upcoming tournament. Rena lifted the towel, showing the tips of her soaked hair hanging over her brow as she peered through at the duo.
"You two are still going at it?" she asked, smirking softly.
"We weren't duelling when you left" Liquid commented.
"I mean that we've been training all day and you two are still focused on duelling" Rena answered, shaking her head slowly. "I thought you guys might want a break, maybe talk about tomorrow".
"Izayoi-san hasn't returned yet" Okita stated. "She should be back soon though. She'll be swamped when she comes back; everyone will want to know how she did and who else is there".
"You reckon many big names will be there?" Rena asked. "I don't really know anyone in the professional duellist world".
"Apart from Jack Atlus" Liquid corrected.
"Apart from Jack Atlus" Rena echoed, smirking at the dirty-blonde.
"I know someone, but I doubt he'll be there" Okita chipped in. "He dropped off the radar a few months ago. Unless some sap found him and thought he deserved another shot at beating Jack, it's unlikely he'll be there".
"'Another shot'?" Rena repeated, cocking an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Jack came out of nowhere, so he thought he could take him on" Okita told. "It hadn't been long after Jack became the Duel King, so he reckoned it had been a string of flukes and went up against him. Jack crushed him mercilessly, he was devastated. I don't know what he did after that, but I haven't heard of him since".
"Oh, you mean Jin Himuro" Liquid called, pointing at his companion.
Okita beamed at his friend. Rena pressed down on the towel hanging over her head and began to rub it against her hair again. While cards flicked from place to place, she crossed the room and turned on a hairdryer that had been laid on her bed before departing for the bathroom. The device shrieked to life and began to blow her hair about as she shook it.
Excited uproar filled the room with distant voices after a few minutes. Rena had paused the device to pull a brush through her hair, holding it when she and the duelling pair froze. Okita smiled as he looked over his shoulder to the door that slid open, a girl leaping in to avoid the stampede.
"What's going on, Haruki?" he asked the brunette.
"It's Izayoi-san" she cried out ecstatically, pointing out the open doorway. "She's back from the Fortune Cup!"
"Looks like your suspicions were right" Liquid commented, dropping his eyes to Okita, who grinned proudly.
"Izayoi-san has always been popular here. Now that she's in the Fortune Cup, she's one step away from being a celebrity outside the Movement as well as inside" Okita chuckled.
"Everyone wants to know how she did" Haruki added, struggling to keep herself from leaping up and down on the spot. She turned to Rena, who clutched her hair while brushing her hair. "Come on, Rena. You haven't seen Izayoi-san in the flesh".
"Huh? You want me to go with you?" Rena mumbled, bewildered.
She had been among the others for two days, and already she was being invited by someone outside her room to a major event on the floor. Her eyes shot to Okita and Liquid, both smirked at her.
"Go on" Liquid said. "We've seen her before, we'll find out what happened there later. There's no point in us getting crushed".
"Thanks" Haruki sarcastically replied, smirking and cocking her left eyebrow at him. She turned back to Rena, who sat cross-legged on her bed. "Come on, Rena. You don't want to miss this".
Rena smiled, even if her hair wasn't completely dry or brushed, Haruki had a point. She leapt off the bed and crossed the room, following Haruki out. The two met the backs of excited students, Haruki giggled lightly and turned to the girl beside her, tilting her head slightly; there wasn't much between them in height.
"Seria-san says that living here is like living at a university; we share corridors and learn more about ourselves. And that family is who we live around rather than those who turned their backs on us" she chuckled.
Rena smiled and turned her eyes ahead, to the backs of excited fellows who jumped and waved and called out to the local celebrity. Her eyes softened, even if her past was gone, even if it was painful, she needn't worry about it anymore. She was happy here.
A magenta-haired woman appeared through the masses, her clothes much unlike the uniforms of those around her. Haruki gasped and slammed her left hand onto Rena's shoulder, shaking the girl as they met.
"That's her. That's Izayoi Aki!" Haruki shrieked.
Rena sucked in her breath, like she was meeting someone she had admired for weeks and months, Aki moved towards them and past, glancing at the pair in the corner of her eye. There was no change in her expression and there were no words in response to the questions of those around her. Haruki and Rena remained where they stood as the mass moved on, leaving them in the drowning quiet as they moved on too far for their voices to reach back.
Once they were alone, Haruki jumped from the ground, twisting in the air and clamping her hands on Rena's shoulders, landing perfectly in front of her.
"She looked at us, did you see it?" she squealed.
"Yeah, but… she didn't look so happy" Rena murmured. "For someone taking part in the Fortune Cup, she didn't look too thrilled, even though she's getting all of this attention".
"She's got a big responsibility, she's fighting for us all" Haruki replied, shrugging her shoulders. "Maybe that's taking away from having fun during all this. Maybe she'll get to have some after it's all done and the other people realise we have some worth in society".
Rena's eyes narrowed, moving towards the ground as she picked up on Haruki's words. "So they really see us as nothing, huh" she mumbled.
Haruki laid her hand onto Rena's back, drawing the girl's eyes up to her face, smiling brightly at her new friend.
"Don't worry, Izayoi-san will show them all tomorrow. And we'll be right there behind her".
「Neo-Domino」- Arcadia Movement
Morning had come to Neo-Domino and the class of students had gathered like they had two evenings before. Rena sat to the right of Okita and Liquid as she had on the previous occasion, with Haruki on the other side of her. The four listened intently as Divine spoke about the plan; while he and Aki would enter using the same vehicles as the day before, a handful of students would accompany them as stowaways – Haruki was amongst them. She would be closer to Aki when she duelled her next opponent. Rena, Liquid, Okita and the rest would head into the Stadium through other entrances, evading Security as they did so.
"I trust each and every one of you to carry out the mission successfully" he announced, eyes swimming through the crowd before him. "While Aki fights for us, we'll do whatever we can to show our support for her. Together, you will spread the message of Arcadia and show our superiority over Security".
Fists shot up and cheers roared; everyone was ready. Rena smiled as those in front and behind cheered and yelled whatever came to mind first; support for Aki, slanders against Security, praises of Divine. Haruki turned to Rena, Okita and Liquid, wearing an anxious smile.
"Looks like we won't be hanging out together at the Fortune Cup" she called through the noise. "I hope you'll be okay".
"Yeah, you too. Take care of yourself" Rena responded. "We should meet up at our room later".
"It makes sense. Let's go with that" Okita added.
"Okay then" Haruki agreed, nodding her head.
The three looked ahead, smiling as the chamber's life grew with the hopes and cheers of those around them. Arcadia was ready for the Fortune Cup; it was time to see if Neo-Domino was ready for them.
Okita / Liquid / Rena -「Neo-Domino」- Duel Stadium
Okita jogged in retreat to Liquid and Rena who waited a short distance from the main entrance to the Duel Stadium. He sighed when he reached the, stopping a couple of yards from the waiting pair.
"No good. There're Security officers there" he reported.
"Told you" Liquid mumbled, folding his arms over his chest.
"I wonder if any of the other groups have gotten in" Rena interjected, grabbing her chin thoughtfully.
Those not assigned to accompany the Arcadia convoy were divided into small groups. Immediately; Okita, Liquid and Rena agreed to be a trio. Other groups ranged from pairs to fives – they outnumbered those who had the easy way of getting in. Liquid surveyed the surrounding area, lush green public gardens and concrete routes stretching across the area and beyond.
"Hey, I've got an idea" he stated, alerting the other two. "There's got to be more ways into the place than just the main entrances. Let's go see where else lets us in. Like where the competitors went or the place where they store D-Wheels".
"There's an idea" Okita replied, clutching his chin as she smirked. "Alright. Let's go".
Liquid led the way as the three dashed around the massive Stadium, running past fewer officers patrolling the outside of the arena the further back they went. As he predicted, Liquid was able to locate a place that matched the description of the tunnel Divine described as the way the others would have travelled, he smirked, proud of himself, and darted ahead. Okita and Rena remained on his heels. He led them down the carelessly unguarded tunnel and towards the incessant cheering. Leading them into the Fortune Cup.
The three found themselves in the corridors of the massive structure, slate blue walls opposite a series of windows. Above them, lights shone fixed into a navy blue ceiling. Liquid paused when he came to a crossroads, turning back to Okita and Rena as they slowed to a halt behind him.
"Do you guys have any idea where we're going?" he asked.
"What? You're leading us, aren't you?" Rena cried out, pressed the tips of her fingers against her forehead in slight irritation.
"All I was doing was getting us in, that's the first step in doing anything" Liquid scowled, narrowing his eyes into a sharp glare.
Okita stepped between the two. Holding up his hands and smiling anxiously, hoping to restore peace. "Listen, it's no-one's fault. This is a big place, maybe that's why Divine wanted so many of us to come – in case some of us got lost".
"Well we certainly succeeded in that" Liquid scowled. "If we don't find somewhere soon, Security will probably find us and kick us out".
"I'm sure we'll find somewhere" Okita chuckled.
While the duo discussed which way could travel in search of a decent place to meet with the others, Rena focused on the path to the right of her and Okita, her head with its back to the males. It took a moment for them to notice her lack of concentration, her absent eyes focused elsewhere.
"Rena?" Okita murmured curiously.
"This way. We should try this way, it sounds like where people are cheering from" Rena responded without looking back at the pair.
"Rena, we're in a Stadium filled to capacity with people" Liquid stated. "People are cheering from every direction".
"No" Rena mumbled. "It sounds like they're closer this way".
Without another word, she darted down the hallway, leaving the two males with little choice but to follow. Rena stood outside a door on the right of the hallway partway down, the door slid open, revealing an empty longue. On the wall behind two opposing sofas, a large flat-screen television had been fixed, showing the duel that was happening at the time. The trio were drawn deeper into the room when Izayoi Aki appeared, wearing a mask. Rena stood in between the two, lined with the centre of screen as she watched the scene unfolding before her.
"That's the mask of the Black Rose Witch" Okita commented.
"That must mean she's using her powers" Liquid added.
"I feel sorry for the poor sap facing her" Okita chuckled lightly. The display flashed to show Aki's opponent – a young man no older than her, black hair divided into bent spikes, blonde highlights running up the largest standing up. "Her powers are deadly when she gets angry, she must be really pissed at him".
"Izayoi-san…" Rena whispered, watching the two advanced duellists.
The chatter came to an end when Aki began to shout at her opponent, a faint purple aura glowing around her. The emotions driving her power were growing stronger.
"Black Rose Dragon's effect activates!" Aki called, throwing her arm above her wild locks. "Black Rose Gale!"
The dragon of black scales and rose petals unleashed a fierce roar, its eyes glowing pink as its power began. The thorny whips waved once a sudden gust kicked up. The effects could be seen across the Stadium, Okita was right – Aki's powers were brutally active. The circuit for Riding Duels began to crack, previously damaged sections shattered completely, throwing shards of glass and poles bent to support the track into the howling air, mingling with the dark petals already thrown into the air from the creature.
"It will destroy all cards on the field".
"I'll catch anything you dish out!" the dark-haired teenager shouted back. "Vent out all of your sorrow! Victim Sanctuary!"
The glorious white and blue dragon above him spread its shimmering wings despite the harsh gales. The limbs became arms as it soared across the field, slamming into Black Rose and closing its wings around the floral body.
"Izayoi-san!" Rena cried out, stepping towards the monitor.
The darker creature shrieked as the two collided, unable to escape the power of the opponent. The thorny whips lashed out, striking the dragon repeatedly, across its entire body, but the light creature clung on regardless. After a number of seconds that passed like minutes, Black Rose began to glow, dissolving into the furious air, followed by the light dragon.
Aki stood limply, her long fringe hanging over her half-masked face. Her right arm moved, showing a strange glow in the shape of a narrow claw.
"The pain is fading away…" she whispered.
The Magic card activate on the guy's field faded, he set his azure eyes on Aki, the tornado in between them began to calm. Within seconds, it blended into the calmed air.
"Now Phoenixician Cluster Amaryllis is freed from Prevent Star's spell, your field is wide open" he stated. "If I land a direct attack, I'll win".
"I wish everything would just go away" Aki hissed. "Don't try to make me think. You're indeed a wretched foe!"
"If I am, why are you crying?" the boy asked.
Aki gasped, lifting her head. Down the exposed left cheek, tears could be seen trickling down. Rena's eyes widened at the sight of it, Izayoi Aki hadn't been the kind of woman to cry judged on her exterior. Did that mean she and Haruki had been right last night? Rena furrowed her brow; the boy on the screen stretched his right arm, showing that it, too, was glowing with a strange shape.
"Trap card – Cosmic Blast!" he declared strongly. "When a Dragon-type Synchro Monster is removed from the field, it'll inflict damage equal to the monster's attack power".
A transparent replica of the pale dragon that had slammed into Black Rose only a moment beforehand appeared above him its arms and legs stretched and ready to be put to use in tackling the last barrier between him and victory that was Aki's remaining lifepoints. The ghost dragon shrieked and rose higher, capturing the whirlwind that still lived with petals caught in its force, the wings of the creature closed around the winds. Purple light exploded from the spirit, which shattered suddenly. A pink glowing petal, hardened by the dragon's will slammed into Aki's mast, between her eyes, she gasped as it collided, splitting the already damaged mask into two halves that fell from her face as she leaned over. Her final 1900 lifepoints plummeted to nothing, the duel was over. Izayoi Aki… has lost.
"No way. It's can't be" Liquid gasped.
"Izayoi-san, no!" Rena cried again, horrified that the strongest of Arcadia had been defeated by someone else.
The broadcast continued, showing the man's shocked face when Aki lifted her head slightly, but Rena had turned away already, unable to bear watching any more of Aki's suffering. There were jeers from the audience, each who despised and feared her power. Those who had branded her a freak and outcast based on the snarling voices that passed through the television. Her eyes moved to the faces of the pair standing either side of her.
"I can't believe that she lost to one of those people" Liquid scowled. "And he's from Satellite. That fucking scum. I'm sure he'll be laughing the instant he gets to wherever he crawled out of".
"No…" Rena uttered quickly. Both of the men turned to see her with her head down, fringe hanging over her eyes. "He wasn't trying to hurt her like everyone else. I think he could see that Izayoi-san had been hurt after everything she's been through". Her head lifted, showing the eyes filled with sympathy and dismay. "I think he was trying to help her, to show her that not everyone without Psychic powers is bad. He wanted to show that they… can be good too".
"Rena!" Liquid snapped. He was about to grab her shoulders and shake her when his eyes hit Okita, who shook his head. His hands fell. "We should head off, if Izayoi-san lost, then Arcadia won't have any more use for this place" he sighed. "I'm sure Divine will spread the order soon".
"Let's at least find out. We could see if Izayoi-san is alright as well" Okita suggested.
The three sauntered dejectedly out of the room and down the hallway, resuming the path they had taken after leaving the crossroads. After a moment, they came to a corner which offered them two directions. Rena glanced over her shoulder at the two males behind her; no-one was sure which way to go.
The hum of electronic doors opening drew their eyes to the right path where Divine and Aki appeared, walking through. Divine's coat hung over Aki's shoulders; she clutched the glowing arm with the thick strands of her fringe hanging over her face. The doors groaned shut behind them; Divine had his focus set solely on the shaken girl stumbling forward by his side.
"You did great, Aki, regardless of the outcome of that one duel" he whispered. "He just got in your head and knew what buttons to push. We'll get him the next time he dares to fight you. Let's just go home and get you some rest".
"But… Divine, I-" Aki attempted weakly. She was still confused, lost, wanting someone to tell her what to do. Where to go. Something was different about her; she wasn't the same girl from the night before.
Rena's eyes softened as she heard the tone of Aki's voice; this wasn't the destructive powerhouse that she had been told about, this wasn't the stern celebrity she had seen the night before. This was an entirely new Izayoi Aki. And it made her feel sorry for the girl. Divine moved his eyes to the stationary trio.
"Well this makes beginning the withdrawal much easier" he commented with a slight smirk. "We're heading back to Arcadia".
A shrill laughter rang out, sending all eyes but Aki's flying. From the elevator the pair had taken, a small clown-like man stood with his hands behind his back. Curled hair somewhere between lilac and grey bounced as his head shuddered while the laughter continued, red marks running vertically through his eyes and lipstick of the same colour furthered his image. His outfit consisted of a white shirt and trousers, held in place by a black belt, and a large maroon jacket almost as tall as his whole body.
"Izayoi Aki-san" he spoke with a voice unlike anything the three student Psychics had heard before. He sounded as odd as he looked. "Director Godwin would like to speak with you for a moment".
Divine scowled, that only served to prove him right – Godwin was after Aki, for something. He didn't know what, and he wasn't about to give Godwin the opportunity to show him. The clown-man smirked, chuckling in the same twisted manner while showing off his white teeth; clearly he had worked out Divine's defiance with ease.
"Feisty, aren't you?" he laughed. "But Director Godwin needs to see Izayoi Aki; you won't stop him for doing so".
Divine turned to the three students, laying his hand on Aki's left shoulder and keeping her by his side. "Take care of these guys, I need to get Aki to the others and then get everyone out safely".
"Yes sir" the three responded in unison.
Divine rushed Aki away, the troubled girl managed to keep up. The man clicked the fingers and thumb on his right hand, opening the doors behind him, a man in a Security uniform and another wearing a black suit appeared through the passage.
"Jeager-san" the man in the suit uttered, looking down at the superior.
"Tashiro-kun" he replied, then looked to the officer. "Aase-kun. You two have a mission – to retrieve Izayoi Aki. If these three try to stand in your way, knock them down. I'll be waiting with Director Godwin".
The man, identified as Jeager moved through the open doors of elevator, which began to slide close, he turned to face the scene once more before they closed on him completely. The two men turned to face the student trio, readying Duel Disks fixed onto their left arms. Okita and Liquid activated their own.
"Okita, Liquid, what are you-?" Rena began.
She was cut off when Liquid stepped in front of her, stretching the fingers on his left hand. "Your powers aren't as developed as ours, we don't know if you'd do so well against these guys. You should focus on getting out of here before something happens".
"I'm not leaving without you two" Rena protested desperately.
"You won't have to" Okita replied. "You can stay, but you're not duelling. Let us fight for you".
Rena bit her bottom lip, she had experienced Okita's style for herself, but Liquid's was something completely different. But there was something about the two that seemed to be perfect. Maybe they could work together, better than she could with either. She nodded and made her way against the corner, standing level with her friends against the Security duo.
"So it's a Tag Team" Tashiro called. "We sharing lifepoints?"
"May as well" Liquid answered with a smirk. He and Okita glanced at each other, already, a strategy was brewing.
"Alright then" Tashiro mumbled.
"Duel!"
DUEL START
OKITA / LIQUID - TASHIRO / AASE
8000 - LP - 8000
FIRST TURN - OKITA
"I'll begin this duel" Okita stated, drawing an extra card over the other three. "I summon Krebons [ATK 1200]".
The jester of white skin in a suit of purple and gold appeared on the field, grinning with closed electronic eyes while juggling block pieces that looked like they belonged in an arcade game. Rena turned her eyes to the opposing pair, wondering if they knew of Psychic monsters and the ability of the present being.
"I'll add a card face-down and end my turn" the blonde added, slipping the card in.
SECOND TURN – AASE
"Draw" the officer called, taking the top card of his deck. He smirked at it and placed it amongst the others in his hand. One card rose, falling face-down on the top of the Duel Disk's central slot. "I'll set a monster. And then I'll lay two cards face-down".
The trio of face-down cards appear on the field, two laying vertical and the third, in front of them, horizontal. For a moment, Rena was puzzled over why the man hadn't placed the monster in an offensive position, ready to strike, only to then remember that in a Tag Duel, no-one could attack until everyone had had their chance. Tashiro would be the first with that privilege.
"Turn end".
THIRD TURN – LIQUID
"I summon Giant Rat! [ATK 1400]" the dirty-blonde called, throwing the card he had drawn onto the top of his Duel Disk.
In front of him, a large rodent stood on two legs, clutching a skull in its right hand, a scaly tail wagging behind it. The animal bore its pointed teeth, white against the blue-grey fur around them. Its eyes gleamed orange.
"I see what you're doing" Aase growled. "I won't let you – Mystical Space Typhoon activate!"
One of the officer's face-down cards flipped over, depicting a tornado tearing through the environment around it, taking whatever it desired. Okita's face-down card shattered, he lifted his arm in front of his spectacles as it happened, groaning briefly.
"That card destroys a Magic or Trap card. Now you won't be able to use that card in your gang-up on my monster" the officer stated, smirking proudly.
"I'll end my turn there" Liquid scowled.
FOURTH TURN – TASHIRO
"My turn!" the suit announced, whipping the top card from the rest. "I summon Baby Dragon [ATK 1200] in attack mode".
With a squeak the infant dragon appeared, orange scales covering its entire body with the exception of its chest, stomach and the front of its neck. Two dark grey horns protruded from its head, four claws from its hands and three from its feet. Blue eyes sparkled as it breathed out fire playfully, flapping the small and inexperienced wings, small spikes lined its spine from head to the tip of its tail.
"Why would he play that in attack mode?" Liquid wondered aloud. "It's not strong enough to take out either of our monsters".
"Maybe not yet, but I have a way to make it strong enough" Tashiro declared, holding up a Magic card. "I activate Dragon Treasure. This increases Baby Dragon's attack power by 300!"
Okita grimaced while the power of the card surrounded the small dragon, the beast gurgled as its offensive power increased beyond that of either Krebons or Giant Rat [ATK 1500].
"Baby Dragon, take out Krebons!" the suit yelled, pointing to the jester opposite.
The dragon opened its small mouth, quickly building a sphere of flames to launch at its target. Okita tucked his chin behind his Duel Disk, throwing his left arm to the side afterwards.
"Krebons' monster effect – I can pay 800 lifepoints to negate attacks that target it" he snapped.
OKITA / LIQUID - TASHIRO / AASE
7200 - LP - 8000
Tashiro clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth in disappointment. He had been hoping to deal the first strike early, a way to damage the opponent swiftly. The two choosing to sacrifice lifepoints wasn't the way he wanted them to go down. He picked up a card from his hand and pushed it into his Duel Disk.
"I'll set a card and leave it there" he scowled.
FIFTH TURN – OKITA
"It's my turn. Draw!" the chirpy brunette called, looking over his hand once inserting the new card into it. His spectacles gleamed as his smile thickened while observing the card he had drawn from the deck. "I summon Life Harmonizer [ATK 800]".
The small blue blob appeared, somewhat resembling a tadpole, the creature possessed several shades of blue across its small body. Lemon yellow patches stood out around its dark eyes, another waving patch opened with the same shade, the mouth of the young creature.
"Now who's summoning weak monsters in attack mode" Aase scowled, pointing his right hand at the monster. "Just what do you plan to do with that?"
"Simple" Okita replied, smirking deviously. "I activate Psi-Station, increasing Life Harmonizer's attack power by 1500 and its level by 1".
A faint green glow crept around the creature that purred, welcoming the new power and shooting its offensive ability far beyond that of any other monster on the field [ATK 2200]. Aase and Tashiro both bit their tongues, waiting for the inevitable strike against Baby Dragon that would decrease their lifepoints and narrow their lead over the Psychic pair. Rena watched eagerly, somewhat suspicious over Okita's strategy. But she had an idea; with that card, his monsters' levels totalled five, there had to be a reason he had used the card other than to merely increase the attack strength of his small creature.
"Here we go" Okita stated. "I tune Level 2 Krebons with Level 3 Life Harmonizer!"
"A Synchro Summon?" Tashiro gasped. "Damn it!"
Krebons surrendered its body, creating two stars that floated above Life Harmonizer that then stretched into identical rings. The two descended over the small electric-looking being, sucking three stars from it. The sparkles played within the barriers and lined themselves, guiding a streak of light that grew stronger.
"Synchro Summon!" Okita yelled, throwing his right hand up. "Magical Android! [ATK 2400]"
The monster that appeared was one familiar to Rena; the same redheaded woman dressed in turquoise, blue and gold she had faced before. The being swung her curved sword wildly as she struck her pose ready to take part in the battle.
"Magical Android, attack Baby Dragon!" Okita called, pointing at the creature.
The Synchro Psychic lunged forward, positioning her weapon to strike the opposing monster. Aase smirked, withdrawing his arm and pressing down on a key at the edge of his Duel Disk's circular centre.
"Trap card – Begone, Knave!" he yelled. "This'll return any monster that deals damage back to its owner's hand".
"Oh my" Okita gasped.
"That means Okita's losing three monsters in the place of one" Rena cried out. "He sacrificed his other monsters for nothing. He'll be defenceless".
Magical Android's sword cut into Baby Dragon, piercing through its chest. The young creature screeched and flailed on the end of the blade, squirming before it exploded. A teal aura surrounded Magical Android, who observed the glow around her and began to cry out, forced from the field.
"It's just a shame that Synchro Monsters can't go back to you hand" Aase laughed darkly.
Okita removed Magical Android from his deck, a frown across his face as he despotised it back into his Extra Deck. Rena curved her eyebrows at the sight of Okita without a smile. Since meeting him, he had been smiling with the exception being when she defeated him, otherwise, he was permanently smiling. Did this change prelude something worse ahead? Was Okita worried?
OKITA / LIQUID - TASHIRO / AASE
7200 - LP - 7100
"Since I've already summoned this turn, I've little more to do than end my turn" the brunette sighed heavily.
SIXTH TURN – AASE
"My turn!" the officer gleefully snapped, drawing from his deck. "I summon Asura Priest! [ATK1700]"
A grey-skinned figure appeared with three heads connected as one, each sprouting royal blue hair. Three arms saved from each side of its torso, decorated like its chest with gold jewellery and markings. A maroon cloth hung over its right shoulder, reappearing around its waist and hanging over its legs. All the eyes of its identical heads were closed, but the hands glided through the air without colliding, as well as it could perform with them open. Okita grimaced at the sight of the creature, certain he knew who the target would be.
"Asura Priest, attack the player directly!" Aase yelled, pointing at the defenceless Okita.
The three-headed human held up its six hands, swords materialised behind flashes above each. Twenty-four fingers wrapped themselves around the handles; the blades gleamed under the lights fixed overhead. Rena and Liquid exchanged glances, the former worried, the latter unafraid. The six weapons shot forward, striking Okita's arms and legs, the final slamming into the Duel Disk he held up as a shield.
"Okita!" Rena cried, taking a step towards the pair.
"Stay there" Liquid called hastily. "If you get too close, they'll count it as interference and they'll claim victory by default. This place has cameras all over the place, they'd have their evidence".
The dirty-blonde pointed to one of the cameras in the corner of the corridor on the opposite side to the edge they had taken. Rena frowned, with that view, they had everything; Divine and Aki, Jeager calling his guards, every feature of the trio. She frowned and retreated a step, returning to where she had been, and set her eyes on Okita, who groaned as he lowered the Duel Disk, swords dissolving into nothing.
OKITA / LIQUID - TASHIRO / AASE
5900 - LP - 7100
"How does it feel? To be struck down by power?" Aase chuckled.
"At least Asura Priest will be sent back to your hand before it does any more damage" Okita hissed, clutching his chest.
"Asura Priest is a Spirit monster, it would return to my hand at the end of my turn regardless" the officer laughed. The grey-skinned figure vanished, leaving his field with one
"Damn, they're a step ahead of us" Liquid scowled, shooting a glare at the duo opposite... "That Trap won't even affect his monsters any differently than they would work".
"I set a card face-down" Aase added, leaving his field empty of offensive monsters and back to one face-down creature. "Turn end".
SEVENTH TURN – LIQUID
"Draw!" Liquid snapped. "Seeing as leaving ourselves vulnerable isn't an option, I summon Power Injector! [ATK 1300]"
A large grey-green skinned man appeared, red eyes burning in the sockets beneath the stitched incision around his head. Three silver bolts stood from the upper half of his skull, an additional cavity had made above his left eye, an empty place for a fourth. The man-shaped figure wore a turtleneck white shirt that clung onto his bottom jaw, a blue jacket with white patterns over that. Forest green trousers covered his narrow legs, looking unsuited to support his body. Cannons made of red glass replaced hands, grey wires connecting the bronze ends to the being's back.
"I see what he's trying to do" Tashiro scowled, shooting a glance at his team-mate.
"Liquid's planning a direct attack" Rena commentated discreetly.
"Giant Rat, go for it!" Liquid yelled, pointing at the Security officer.
The rodent scampered across the field on its hind legs, the skull in its claws shining as it took in power from the rat's will. The animal launched the skull ahead of it, sending it ahead for the remainder of the journey across the invisible battlefield. Aase smirked, unnerving both Okita and Rena as they watched the fleshless head soar towards him.
"Trap card – Magic Cylinder!" he called.
"Damn it" Liquid hissed.
"Liquid, watch out" Okita cried out immediately after his friend.
Two tubes appeared on the field, maroon with gold stripes across it, the wider pair with black diamonds. Between the two inner streaks, white question marks stood out. The skull toppled into the left cylinder, the three student Psychics cringed as they waited anxiously. A pink blast erupted from the twin cylinder, shooting across the field and slamming into Liquid, who groaned as the beam hit him.
OKITA / LIQUID - TASHIRO / AASE
4500 - LP - 7100
"Liquid!" Rena called from the side-lines.
Liquid fell to one knee, watching the lifepoints in the counter of his Duel Disk plummet to almost half what they began with. He scowled, lifting his glare to the officer as he heard the laughter flood into his ears.
"And since Giant Rat dealt damage, it gets sent back to your hand" Aase laughed proudly.
"What?" Rena gasped in horror. "All it did was hurt Liquid, but it still goes back to his hand?"
"That must be their strategy – to keep our monsters from defending us and dealing damage through direct attacks" Okita called, leaning forward slightly.
The rodent vanished from the field, entering Liquid's once hand more. The dirty-blonde scowled as he looked over the cards in his hand, eyes flitting between each. There was little left.
"I set two cards face-down. Turn end".
Rena furrowed her forehead as she watched; Liquid had lost the stronger of his two monsters and had nothing face-down. If Tashiro summoned a stronger monster, he could easily strike down the Power Injector standing in from of him.
EIGHTH TURN – TASHIRO
"Draw" the suited man called, removing the top card of his deck. "I activate Simultaneous Loss. This forces us both to lose a card from the top of ours decks".
"Why did he wait until now to activate that?" Liquid mused discreetly. "Did he want that card, and willing to risk losing a better one for it?"
"I set a monster face-down" Tashiro called, throwing another card face-down on his field. A holographic replica appeared on the field in front of him, matching the hidden monster on Aase's field. "As tempting as it is to strike your monster down, I'm saving my lifepoints. Turn end".
NINETH TURN – OKITA
"It's my turn. Draw!" Okita announced. His smile returned when he set his eyes on the new card "I summon Healing Wave Generator [DEF 1600]".
An oval mirror appeared on the field, lined with blocks of bronze and yellow lights fixed onto the frame, blinking in time with the flashing red light fixed on the bottom.
"So you're trying to play it safe, huh?" Aase taunted, smirking. "It won't do you any good. If one of my monsters attacks that thing and gets a little damaged, it'll be your monster that gets returned to your hand".
"But it'll be you losing lifepoints" Okita responded calmly. "You won't be able to touch our lifepoints".
"We'll see about that" Aase hissed, smirking coldly.
"You won't wipe our lifepoints, I won't allow it" Okita protested.
"And how do you plan to do that?" Tashiro questioned, folding his arms confidently.
"Like this – Spring of Rebirth!" Okita shouted. "This gives us 500 lifepoints every time a monster returns to our hands".
At the edge of the duel field, Rena's shoulders dipped, a smile crossing her face as she watched the play. "That means that even when their monsters are returned, they'll be able to use that to their advantage. When they're attacked, they'll have a few hundred more lifepoints standing between them and losing".
Liquid smirked at the girl in the corner of his eye, the two may not have been good friends yet, but they trusted each other. Seeing her smile at the opportunity Okita had given them made him feel better about her; she wasn't just concerned for Okita, but him as well. Room-mates, classmates, they were together as fellow Psychics, trusting and growing. Even if they couldn't stand each other, they were stuck together. He moved his attention back to the duel as Okita opened his mouth again.
"I end my turn there".
TENTH TURN – AASE
"My turn" the security officer called. He looked down at the card he had been given and smirked. "I activate The Shallow Grave". An enlarged copy of the card glowed into view before him, depicting a zombie creature climbing out of the ground it had been buried beneath. "This lets us both reclaim a monster from our Graveyards and set them face-down".
Aase moved first, placing a face-down monster to the right of his existing servant. Okita followed, removing Krebons from his deck and laying it face-down to the left of Healing Wave Generator. The twin holograms emerged simultaneously. Aase held up another card.
"Now I play another monster face-down" he added with a smug grin.
He threw the card down, creating a replica of the other two cards on his field. Liquid tapered his eyes at the sight of three face-down monsters on one field; he was building up to something. A droplet of sweat built itself on Rena's forehead as she watched.
"Three monsters… but if he's building up for a high level monster, then why didn't he release his two monsters to summon it?" she asked herself, pressing the edge of her curled forefinger against her chin. "Can they really have something that requires three sacrifices?"
"Now I activate Double Summon!" Aase yelled, holding the card above his head. "This means I can release two of my face-down monsters in order to Advance Summon something much stronger".
"Wait, he's keeping a monster?" Liquid gasped.
Transparent versions of the hidden monsters appeared briefly, revealing them to be the revived Baby Dragon and the newer Otohime. The twin cards melted into two spheres of energy, blobs of colours crashing into each other and swimming carelessly. The couple floated higher in the air, dancing the ritualistic frolicking before absorbing one another. The mass grew into one larger shape; Aase threw his right arm wildly towards the form.
"Appear now, Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi! [ATK 2800]" he yelled tremendously.
The colours exploded into a massive man, tanned and brawny. Crimson markings had been painted onto the biceps. Around his waist, a faded forest green belt and golden buckle held the white cloth hanging from his waist, joined by a loose circle of beads. Atop his smirking face, red flames burned fiercely, replacing hair.
"This is what he's been building up to… this… beast" Liquid hissed breathlessly.
"But why didn't he use his other face-down monster as a sacrifice? What's so important about that?" Rena asked herself, eyeing the card suspiciously.
"Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi, attack Power Injector!" Aase yelled.
"It's a Spirit Monster as well" Okita gasped, then turned to his partner. "Liquid!"
Flames sparked around the massive man's fist. Neither of the Psychic duellists could do anything before he lunged across the field, grinning inanely and striking the vulnerable Power Injector with his fist. The wide enemy flailed as the fist smashed through its chest and ignited its internals. The flaming demon towered over the defeated combatant as he exploded, Liquid groaned as shards shot past him, using his right arm to shield his lowered head.
"Liquid!" Rena cried out, powerless as a spectator to his struggle.
OKITA / LIQUID - TASHIRO / AASE
3000 - LP - 7100
Liquid fell to one knee, groaning as the lifepoints he shared with Okita plummeted. Rena's face twisted into a mixture of horror and despair at the sight of one of the pair downed. Aase's laughter drew her and Okita's eyes, adding fury into the recipe.
"Luckily for you, Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi gets returned to my hand now" the officer added, entertained by the latest round.
Rena set her anxious eyes back onto Okita and Liquid; they had two monsters between them, neither able to take on very much. If the duo representing Jeager were able to pull off another successful round like the one that was continuing, then the Psychic pair of Arcadia would fall with ease and fail not only Aki, but the rest of those they stood for.
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Arcadia ~ PREVIEW ~ Arcadia
Rena: Okita… Liquid…
Okita: We're not letting you get to Izayoi-san! You won't take away our hope!
Aase: You can't stand up to Security. Now you'll see just how powerful we are.
Liquid: Power has nothing to do with it when we work better together.
Rena: Next, Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's – Reverse of Arcadia, "Worth of the Disowned! Clash Across the Rift". Fight for Izayoi-san. Even if she can't prove us, you guys can.
