Chapter 2~! I don't own anything except Valentic, and the deck he uses. Thank you to all the reviewers too!
Valentic stretched as he walked through the dark streets of Heartland city, wearing his all black clothes consisting of a t-shirt, jacket, skinny jeans, and simple running shoes; he had to find a sharpie to color over all the white that was there. Yawning as he normally was trying to get a good night's rest about now, he didn't quite mind, for now, but he probably would in the morning. Licking his dried lips, he strolled on out of the city and on to the observatory that is about a ten minute walk from the city, which is actually twenty since it is up a hill. Has to be to catch the stars right? Well, Valentic didn't quite like the uphill walk, but endured it as he wanted to help out Blackmist.
Once the climb was done, he sat himself down and caught his breath. Flat paths like in the city he could do but a steep uphill, not so much. It was more strain and energy than he liked, but whatever. Once his breath was caught, he stood and stretched again. "Okay Blackmist, what now?" He asked, looking around for the alien. He waited a moment, before a small flash showed Blackmist's arrival.
"Well, first I must ask if all is well? You are quite red in the face and seem out of breath." He stated, floating about a foot away from him, leaning over as he spoke. Valentic wove a hand, taking a step back so as to have a bit of space.
"I'm alright, not a fan of climbing uphill though." He replied, shrugging and smiling. "No big deal, I'll just steal a bottle of water on the way back home." He continued, and looked around once more. "Now, why are we here?" He asked to bring Blackmist back to the reason they were there.
"Ah yes. Go around that way," Blackmist pointed in the direction he wanted Valentic to go, and directed him from there about halfway down the other side and inside the bushes that had yet to be trimmed. Valentic shrugged as he went into those bushes and, squinting, searched the ground for the small patch of dirt Blackmist was talking of. He couldn't see too well; regretted doing this at night when he couldn't see; but continued on, determined to find it.
After what seemed like ages but was really just one hour, he found a patch of dirt that felt a bit different from the rest. Curiosity getting the best of him he started digging the dirt up, until he couldn't anymore, as there was a box in the way now. Eager now he pulled the small golden box out of the ground and set it aside so he could replace the dirt into the hole, not wanting to get caught. Once finished he climbed back up to the observatory, sitting against the wall where there was a little light, and set the box onto his lap. He looked up at Blackmist, head tilted in a questioning way, and then looked back at the box when he nodded. Carefully he opened it up, and looked inside, finding cards in there. Curious, he wiped his hands on his shirt then pulled them out of the box, looking through them. The common theme in them all seemed to be starlight. Valentic couldn't make out anything but the names of them, as he would have to look when he had more light, but he already knew that, without Blackmist helping, there would be no way he would be able to use them.
Looking up, he saw a faraway look on Blackmist's face, and smiled small. Probably remembering the good times he had with the deck's previous owner. Letting out a breath, he replaced the deck into the box and stood up, grinning at Blackmist. "Well, now I can learn to duel!" He chuckled when Blackmist looked at him funny. "Right, now back home." He continued, and taking a running start, he landed on the side of the hill and skidded down a ways. Chuckling to himself, he walked the rest of the way down and back to the shack that he called home.
"When shall I teach you then? You do need rest so that you are in top performance when we take on Astral." To Blackmist's query Valentic shrugged and grinned.
"Tomorrow. We'll go to a secluded place after I steal a duel disk and you'll teach me then." He replied, and then the two walked; well Blackmist floated; to Valentic's home in silence. Once there, Blackmist chuckled.
"Oh, by the way only you can see and hear me, and I can hear your thoughts." Blackmist said before disappearing back into the key around the boys neck.
~~Skip to morning~~
Well the theft was harder than planned. Valentic was currently running from the cops now, box clenched to his chest as he dashed as fast as he could to get away. How did he get seen and tattled on so easily? Well, the fact that Blackmist demanded that Valentic get a black colored duel disk. Valentic had made a verbal comment about it when he took it off the shelf, and was heard. From there the store clerk was told, and then the authorities as Valentic ran from the store. That is how the teen was seen on the streets, darting through alleyways and across the streets as cars whipped past. It was during the third pass through the busy road that me finally managed to get decent distance, darting through three alleyways in succession. He stopped and hid, making himself a tiny ball, box under the dumpster and out of sight as he hid himself. A minute later the cops passed, and he heard them continue through alleyways for a little before they were gone. He waited to be sure, then stretched, grabbed the box, and stood up. He opened the box right there, discarded the unneeded box and foam and chuckled.
"Wow, I take back what I said Blackmist, the black looks better than that dull old red color." Valentic said as he put on the arm-brace part that the duel disk would connect to. He put the sleek, slim part and the eye piece into his pockets then went out onto the street, walking along to the outskirts of the city to find a good place to learn dueling. Unknown to him; surprisingly; that he had a follower. Someone had seen his duel disk connector and followed to have a duel. "So 'Mist, what will I learn first?" Valentic asked, giving a nickname to Blackmist, as it was shorter and quicker to say. He had found a secluded plot of grass, and had put the disk onto the connector and the eye piece over his ear; it wasn't hard to see how they were used; and now was shuffling his deck. He placed it into the spot for the deck right before a hand on his shoulder startled him.
"I'll teach ya, no worries!" A chirpier voice said in the boys ear, making him yelp and turn, ready to fight. When he saw it was a boy about his age, in school uniform, he relaxed a bit. "Hey now! I swear I won't hurt you, so please don't hurt me?" The boy said, hands raised as a sign of piece. Valentic nodded, straightening then heard Blackmist's voice in his head.
Be careful, Vale, I can feel Astral nearby. If this boy is connected to him we may loose, especially since you know nothing of dueling. So whatever you do, do NOT Xyz summon number 96. I will not risk my life right now. Valentic, surprised that Blackmist could talk to him in his head, was staring at the other boy.
"Oh! My bad, sorry. My name is Yuma Tsukomo, next dueling champion!" The boy now named Yuma said eagerly and excitedly. Valentic nodded slow and looked away from him.
"I'm Valentic." He said low, not to trusting of strangers; Blackmist is a ghost that can't touch anything, he doesn't really count. Valentic just barely caught the blue shine from the corner of his eye, and glanced back in time to see an alien that looked like Blackmist floating beside Yuma. "Thank you..by the way, for going out of your way to teach me." He said, not wanting to let on to the fact that he saw that alien that just might be Astral. Yuma just grinned and backed up a bit.
"Course! Now, stand about five steps further away okay?" As Valentic moved he saw Yuma do a crazy move of tossing his disk into the air, and watched in surprise as it easily connected to the connector on his arm. He then put his duel gazer on and grinned at the darker boy. "Alright, so, since I'm teaching, I'll go first so you can see how a move is done." Yuma said, and looked at his hand. the alien beside him made a comment on dueling by himself since he sensed no numbers in the duel, and Yuma retaliating that he needed no help from a floating flashlight. Valentic stared at the two waiting, as Blackmist talked to him mentally.
Remember, do not summon out number 96. That is Astral, and if they win while my card is used I will disappear and they win. Also, I shall talk you through plays mentally.