Episode 2 - Taro's Time To Shine!

The day after Yugi's confrontation with Senbei, he was just at school like always. Just sitting, looking at Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8 before class was to start, as Joey said "Hello! Earth to Yugi!"

Yugi shook his head and came back from the slightly unaware state of mind he was in. "Huh? Did you say something, Joey...?"
"Yeah, man, I asked what happened with you and Taro after you got back to your place last night? I tried to call ya but no one answered." Joey replied, sitting in a chair across from Yugi.

"Well... this guy, Senbei, from a group known as the Card Hunters, kidnapped Mom, Taro, and Grandpa, and I had to face him in a Duel. And... I felt this link between me and this card." Yugi carefully held up Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8 to Joey. Soon, walking up, Téa said "Hey, guys!"

Joey turned and said "Morning, Téa!" but then cried out as he dropped Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8. Luckily, Téa picked it up and smiled. She then blinked a second and said "Whose card is this?"
"That would be mine, Téa." Yugi replied.

"Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8..." Téa began to look it over then read its' effect and said "What made you want to put Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8 into your Deck, Yugi?"

Carefully, Yugi took the card back and said "Something about this card calls to me, Téa... I don't know what it is, but it must be what Atem felt whenever he used Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl... like I was destined to use Horus the Black Flame Dragon in all its' forms. It's amazing."

Soon, Yugi, Joey, and Téa turned as the door closed and they saw Tristan and Taro as Taro was now in a Domino High School uniform, adjusting his shirt under it as he said "Man, I cannot get used to this uniform! Yugi, how do you guys pull it out!?"
"I guess we grow into it, Taro. You get yourself all set up?"

"Yup!" Taro added with a big grin.

"We have his classes all set up, I showed him where everything is. It should be fine, Yugi." Tristan replied as someone behind them said "And who do we have here?"

All 5 standing there turned to see a young man with messy black hair, green eyes, a red and black headband with black diamonds in the center and the same uniform as a student at Domino High. Yugi spoke up and said "This is my cousin, Duke. His name is Taro Mutoh, and he's come all the way from Tokyo to stay with my family while his mom's in America."

"And whaddya mean by that 'who do we have here'?! Huh!? You being condescending to me!?"
Duke chuckled and said "Such a fiery attitude. You do know who I am, right?"

"Yeah, yeah! You're Duke Devlin, the creator of Dungeon Dice Monsters, and from what I can tell, you sound like one royal pain in the butt." Taro replied, arms crossed over his chest as he huffed.

"Hey, at least I ain't a walkin' talkin' midget." Duke replied, but then Taro twitched at that, then tackled Duke, the two beginning to punch and fight as Taro said "You're gonna pay for that!"

"You and what army are gonna make me, twerp!?!"

Some of the other students in the room all watched as Taro and Duke began to fight one another. Walking up to Yugi and the others, also in a Domino High uniform, but with long white hair and brown eyes as he whispered to Yugi. "What's going on, Yugi?"
"Bakura... well, my cousin Taro and Duke are fighting. I knew when Taro got here someting like this was gonna occur, but in the middle of the classroom!? I'm sure this is gonna be one wild ride..." Yugi ended with a sigh until a female voice, soft and gentle, but sweet also, rang out and said "Would you guys please stop it? You know if the teacher walks in, you two both may be in trouble."

Taro had the collar of Duke's coat, as Duke had Taro's shirt. Both turned to the female voice and were in awe as the young woman in a girl's uniform had light purple hair, long in length, with part of it in a ponytail, tied by a yellow ribbon as both said, as if in a daze "Alright..." then they let each other go as the teacher for the homeroom stepped into the room and said "Everyone to your seats please. But..." He stopped and looked at Taro and said "Could you please step up?"

Hearing that, Taro gulped and rushed up to the front of the class, turning to everyone else as he cleared his throat. "I know what the teacher wishes of me. He wants me to tell you all who I am. My name is Kentaro Mutoh. But only teachers, and other adults will get to call me that. Everyone else can call me Taro. Uh, if you cannot tell by my last name, I'm related to our own Yugi Mutoh. He's my cousin. Sorry, I feel really shy in front like this! It's different when I am not around a big crowd.. so... sorry if I don't feel like talking!" He then rushed off, taking his seat near Yugi's desk as he sighed, panting a bit as Yugi patted his shoulder.

However... someone else in the class had their eye on Taro for a moment... and this one was another female student. This one had fiery red hair, and a girl's uniform on as she smiled, but this smile was like that of a succubbus... a sign of trouble.

After a few classes, about 3 hours or so later on in the day, around lunchtime, Taro was eating some lunch, particularly rice while he did his homework, making use of his pencils as makeshift chopsticks. He then continued to write as Yugi said "Sheesh, Taro, working through lunch?"

"Hey, man, the sooner I get this taken care of, the more time I get some work on the reworking of my Deck taken care of!" Taro swallowed his rice then said "What about the Card Hunters? You going paranoid on us?"

"Nope. I am cautious... but something tells me they want more than just what Senbei told me. And from what he told me, it does seem serious... to make Duel Monsters more exciting apparently..."

Taro had a small bit of squid leg in his mouth as he chewed then swallowed as he replied. "That cannot be good at all..."

But as Taro was about to speak again, the young girl with light purple hair walked up and said "Hello."
"Oh!! Uh, uhm... hi." Taro replied, his cheeks red some. "Ya know... I never caught your name..."

The girl giggled some and said "It's Melody. Melody Nosaka. But many of my friends call me Ribbon."
Yugi nodded. "Well, you know who we are, Melody. I was wondering what brought you over to our seats?"

"I just wanted to see how Taro was adjusting to our school." Melody asked, her arms behind her back.

Taro was about to speak until a red-haired girl came up and smiled "Taro Mutoh!!" She then out of nowhere hugged Taro as Taro gulped and Yugi and Melody had a shocked look on their face. Taro looked at her and said "Uhm, miss..."

"Oh! My name is Rumiko! I just wanted to say, I've seen you Duel in Tokyo before, and I must say it's an honor to have a Duelist as skilled as you around our school! Along with Yugi's known reputation, it will add to our school's popularity to know we have celebrities here!" Rumiko smiled, her long red hair resting along her back.

Tristan came walking up and said "Please, would you let go of my friend, Rumiko? You are suffocating the life outta him!"

In Rumiko's arms, Taro flailed his right arm and cried out "Lemme go, lemme go, lemme go! I LIKE THE ATTENTION, BUT THIS IS TOO MUCH!!"

Rumiko blinked then dropped Taro onto his feet, who was panting his head off. With that said, the young red-haired girl said "Thanks for your time, Taro! Buh-bye." She waved then walked off. Tristan scratched his head and replied. "Holding up well?"
"So-so." Taro replied, as he smiled. "Hey, Yugi, if we got time, wanna get a practice Duel in!?"

"Will do, Taro. Lemme just grab my Deck and..." Yugi reached into his back, feeling for where he placed his Deck, but then he blinked. When he did... he had a bad feeling as he began to put all of his things out of his bag and cried out. "AAAAAHHHH!!! My Deck! No way!"

"Say what!? Your Deck's gone!?!" Taro said. "When did it...?"
"I think I have an idea of who might have swiped it. But how that person managed to swipe it without us knowing it has sticky fingers." Tristan said, with Melody then saying "Rumiko! It must have occured when she was hugging Taro."

Taro clenched his fist and said "Oh, that's it! I'm gonna go find that girl, and I'm gonna get your Deck back, Yugi! Just you wait!"

Reaching into his bag, Taro grabbed his Duel Disk, and his Deck and raced out of the classroom. Walking down the hallway, quite a bit ahead of Taro was Rumiko holding Yugi's Deck as she smiled and said "Like taking candy from a baby."

Once outside, Rumiko looked around to see if she could find someone or something. One couldn't tell until... "Do you have it?" A male voice spoke from the shadows. Rumiko stopped and turned as she smiled. "Oh, yeah, I sure did, Senbei. I got Yugi Mutoh's Deck. But... your leg... should you even be up, big brother?"

Senbei limped forward, using a crutch to help him some, nodding. "It's alright, Rumiko. I just busted it, that's all that happened. It'll heal soon. And besides, why else am I glad the Card Hunters had you enrolled here, at Domino High, the same school Yugi Mutoh goes to...? It meant we couild spy on him, and if need be, take any potential Decks and/or cards from others who play Duel Monsters. Did you recognize anyone else who played..?"

"Yeah, Mutoh's cousin... Tero... Tiiro..."

"It's Taro!!!!" Senbei and Rumiko turned as they saw Taro, panting who had his Duel Disk under his right arm as he said, his index finger pointed at Rumiko and Senbei. "You got some guts, Rumiko, acting nice to me, then swiping Yugi's Deck! And then you're gonna give it to Senbei of the Card Hunters!? I thought for a moment something about you wasn't right!"

"Heh. Well, well, you're not as dumb as you act, shrimp. I'll tell you up... we'll make a wager. I'll give you Yugi's Deck if you can beat me in a Duel. But if I win, I get his Deck AND I also get your Deck. What do you say?"

Taro nodded. "Alright, I accept, Ms. Sticky Fingers." And with that, he rushed a bit out, sliding his Duel Disk on and placing his Deck into it, as it locked onto the ready position, and his LP counter was set at 4000 points. Rumiko reached behind her to get a different model of Duel Disk... one that was more petit it seemed, but it still had the basic 5 card Monster Zone, 5 card Magic/Trap Card zone, and a slot for the Field Magic Cards, and the Graveyard as well as she smiled, placing her Deck inside of her Duel Disk, her LP at 4000 also as she drew her first 5 cards ands Taro did the same. Then she smiled and said "You know all I said in class, Taro? It was all a big act. So let me see what you actually can do."

Taro smiled as he said "With pleasure. I'll go first then! Draw!" Taro drew his sixth card, examining his hand as he smiled and said "Time to rock and roll the gears, beybah! I summon X-Head Cannon in Attack Mode!" With Taro's summon a Machine-Type Monster with mostly a blue body, with some spots of yellow along the wrists, on its' fingers, down the middle of its' chest panel, and along its' upper arm area, and two cannons on its' shoulders appeared onto the Field.

X-HEAD CANNON

Light/Machine/4/1800 ATK/1500 DEF

"Next up, I'll set a card face-down and end my turn." Taro smiled, as a large Duel Monsters card took to his side of the Field.

Rumiko casually drew her sixth card and said "Trust me, beating you will be too much fun, Taro... considering you must be lonely."
"..." Taro twitched at that a bit as Senbei already knew what his sister was doing... her skills at acting to her advantage as she continued. "You never seemed to fit in, and you won't here either. Everyone else didn't ask anything because they couldn't tolerate you. So why are you even here in Domino City?"

Taro clenched his cards, his hair over his eyes as he was remembering back in Tokyo... about 2 days ago, before his plan to set up a trip down to Domino City occured.

"Mom, how long do you think you'll be in Seattle for?" Taro had asked, sitting with his mother, Asako, as they ate dinner, which just was rice and shrimp, something simple, which Taro liked.

"It may be for the whole school year, kiddo. Besides, your Aunt Suki already said it was alright if you stayed with them in Domino City while I'm gone. Besides, I am sure that you would make a lot of good friends there. Especially considering you will be there with Yugi and I know how much you enjoy being around him. You two are so much like peas in a pod when together!" Asako smiled, her black hair tied up in a ponytail.

"Yeah. But the problem is, Mom... I've not had many friends at school... everyone seems put off by me whenever I just try to talk about Duel Monsters or anything else I like. I dunno if this place will be any different."

"You just need to believe, Taro. That's all you can do, sweetie..."

"I suppose."

Taro then heard someone calling his name, but it wasn't Rumiko. He lifted his head up and turned to see Yugi, Téa, Tristan, Joey, Duke, Bakura, and Melody, as he blinked and said "Guys..." With that said, suddenly, more students came out, murmuring as the Duel was about to get underway. Yugi looked on and said "Hey, Taro, kick some butt, man! I know how good of a Duelist you are so show her."

Taro nodded and said "Will do!"

Rumiko then said "Well, it won't last us too long! I play White Magical Hat in Attack Mode." With Rumiko's summon, a gentleman appeared. He had a black moustache, a while tophat with a blue trim in the middle, a white cape with reverse red side, a red bowtie, blue suit with white gloves and shoes. However, Senbei knew this card was of Rumiko's Deck, which she called "Sticky Fingers Theft".

WHITE MAGICAL HAT

Light/Spellcaster/3/1000 ATK/700 DEF
Effect: When this card inflicts damage to your opponent's Life Points, one card must be discarded randomly from your opponent's hand to the Graveyard.

Rumiko then smiled, following up by saying "And to add to that, I play this card. Confiscation!"

Taro gulped a bit as Tristan said "Hey, Yugi, what does Confiscation do?"
"The player who uses it pays 1000 Life Points and then can look at the opponent's hand and discard 1 card to the Graveyard. In other words, it provides card advantage a bit."

CONFISCATION
Normal Magic Card

Effect: Pay 1000 Life Points to look at your opponent's hand. Select 1 card and discard it to the Graveyard.

Taro's cards began to glow as Rumiko then saw virtual images of Taro's hand, sizing it up carefully, just smiling. The choices she had were Limiter Removal, Cyber Falcon, Y-Dragon Head, and Ground Collapse.

LIMITER REMOVAL
Quickplay Magic Card

Effect: Double the ATK of all Machine-Type Monsters on your side of the Field. At the end of this turn, all Machine-Type Monsters on your side of the Field are destroyed.

CYBER FALCON

Wind/Machine/4/1400 ATK/1200 DEF

Y-DRAGON HEAD

Light/Machine-Union/4/1500 ATK/1600 DEF
Effect: Once per turn, during your Main Phase, if your control this Monster on the Field, you can equip it to your "X-Head Cannon" as an Equipment Magic Card, OR change it back to a Monster in face-up Attack Mode. When equipped to a Monster by this card's effect, that Monster's ATK/DEF is increased by 400 points (1 Monster can only be Equipped with 1 Union Monster at a time. If the Monster that this card is equipped to is destroyed in battle, this card is destroyed instead.)

GROUND COLLAPSE

Permanent Magic Card

Effect: Select 2 Monster Card Zones on the Field (you cannot select a zone occupied by a Monster Card). The selected zones cannot be used as long as this card remains face-up on the Field.

Rumiko nodded as she said "I will discard... Y-Dragon Head." She tapped Y-Dragon Head's card and it exploded, as Taro then took it from his hand and slipped it into the Graveyard slot until he smiled and said "You know, I was hoping you would do that... 'cause it gives me an opportunity to do this! Trap Card, activate! Gears of Rebirth!"

With that, the card Taro had set shined as the red metalled Y-Dragon Head appeared on the Field again, its' card horizontally turned as it had its' wings over its' body. Taro smiled as Rumiko said "How the-!?"

"Simple! My Trap Card, Gears of Rebirth. When a Level 4 Machine-Type Monster rests in my Graveyard, I can play this card and Special Summon it or another Level 4 Machine-Type Monster from my Graveyard in Defense Mode. But it can't change its' battle position next turn and can't attack while it remains face-up. Small price to pay."

GEARS OF REBIRTH

Normal Trap Card

Effect: Select 1 Level 4 Machine-Type Monster in your Graveyard and Special Summon the chosen card to your side of the Field in Defense Mode. This card cannot change its' battle position next turn, and cannot attack while it remains face-up on the Field.

Rumiko then said "So? It's gonna hurt you too. I play the Magic Card, Secret Pass to the Treasures!" Bakura looked on and said "I know that card. It allows a Monster with 1000 ATK or less that the player has to direct attack the opponent's Life Points. In other words, Rumiko can hit Taro for 1000 Life Points and..."

"Make him discard 1 card from his hand to the Graveyard... what a bad sitch that is for Taro..." Tristan replied. Melody looked on and said "How bad is it for Taro, Yugi?"

"I'm not sure yet. Rumiko's Deck isn't clear to me yet, even if her basic strategem is, Melody."

SECRET PASS TO THE TREASURES

Normal Magic Card

Effect: Select 1 face-up Monster with an ATK equal to 1000 points or less on your side of the Field. During the turn this card is activated, the selected Monster can attack your opponent's Life Points directly.

All of the other students observing the Duel all looked on, all of them giving their own opinions to others, as Rumiko said "White Magical Hat, attack his Life Points directly!" White Magical Hat charged right at Taro as he gulped then was punched hard in the face, hitting the ground with a thud, his LP dropped by 1000 points to 3000, making him tied with Rumiko. But as Rumiko reminded him... "With that damage, you're going to have to discard 1 card from your hand to the Graveyard at random."

Taro got up and began to dig through his cards in his hand, then discarded Limiter Removal to the Graveyard. Rumiko smiled and said "I will next set a card face-down, and end my turn with just two cards in my hand."

After shaking himself off, Taro exhaled and said "My turn! Draw!" He drew his next card, now having 3 cards in hand. He then said "I will now play Pot of Greed!"

POT OF GREED
Normal Magic Card

Effect: Draw 2 cards from your Deck.

Taro quickly drew two cards, then looked at them sas he said "I now play Z-Metal Tank in Attack Mode!"

Taro's summon this time provided a golden colored tank-like Machine, with a green glass eye in the middle of its' mid-section, with 2 slots that seemed to be able to open... and now, Taro was ready to rock and roll as he smiled. "I'm sure you know how these 3 work, don'tcha?"

Z-METAL TANK

Light/Machine-Union/4/1500 ATK/1300 DEF

Effect: Once per turn, during your Main Phase, if your control this Monster on the Field, you can equip it to your "X-Head Cannon" or "Y-Dragon Head" as an Equip Magic Card, OR change it back to a Monster in face-up Attack Mode. When equipped to a Monster by this card's effect, that Monster's ATK/DEF is increased by 600 points (1 Monster can only be Equipped with 1 Union Monster at a time. If the Monster that this card is equipped to is destroyed in battle, this card is destroyed instead.)

"X... Y... Z...?" Rumiko blinked as she said "They're all... what!? You don't mean-!"
"He is gonna do it, isn't he? He is gonna call that out!?" Senbei thought as Taro grinned and said "Get ready to meet the true power of my Machine Link Deck! X, Y, Z, UNITE!!!"

X-Head Cannon shot up into the air, Y-Dragon Head right behind, as a compartment on Y's back opened up, its' wings locking into place at its' sides as X-Head Cannon landed onto Y-Dragon Head's back, then Z-Metal Tank opened up its' back, sliding parts of itself into its' body as Y-Dragon Head pulled its' legs up and landed onto Z-Metal Tank, and then Taro said "And now... here comes the strongest of my Union Machines! X... Y... Z... Dragon Cannon!!"

Z-Metal Tank's compartments opened and revealed cannons as XYZ-Dragon Cannon sparked with electricity, as it was ready to fight.

XYZ-DRAGON CANNON

Light/Machine-Fusion/8/2800 ATK/2600 DEF

"X-Head Cannon" + "Y-Dragon Head" + "Z-Metal Tank"

Effect: This Monster cannot be Special Summoned except by removing from play the above Fusion Material Monsters on your side of the Field. You do not use "Polymerization" to Special Summon this Monster from your Fusion Deck. Discard 1 card from your hand to destroy 1 card on your opponent's side of the Field.

Rumiko looked on and said "XYZ-Dragon Cannon!? I knew all 3 of them could unite, but this is just...!!"

"What? Complicated for a guy like me? I'm not as dumb as I look, sweetheart. And now I am gonna use XYZ-Dragon Cannon's effect, discarding a card from my hand to the Graveyard... and destroy 1 card on your side of the Field!"

Taro took Cyber Falcon from his hand and slid it into his Duel Disk's Graveyard slot, saying "XYZ-Dragon Cannon, Hyper Destruction!"

X's cannons charged up, as did Y's mouth, and Z's own cannons charged up all at once as they fired, blowing away Rumiko's set card, as Taro then said "Attack White Magical Hat, XYZ-Dragon Cannon! Now!"

XYZ-Dragon Cannon's attack charged then fired, blowing White Magical Hat to dust, blowing it up, as Rumiko cried out, her LP dropped by 1800 points to 1200 points, but Rumiko smiled as she said "Foolish mistake, I got to say." With that, suddenly, a golden demonic snake like creature with an Aztec feel appeared, its' long arms at its' sides, its' 4 eyes glowing red, and a red orb in the center of its' body with a green slot shined. Taro blinked "What the!?!"

Rumiko then held up a card. "Check out my card... Statue of The Wicked. I bet you know how this works, right?" The red-haired girl's tone reminded the spikey brown-haired boy's attitude when he had summoned XYZ-Dragon Cannon. And she simply smiled, slipping her Trap Card away.

STATUE OF THE WICKED

Normal Trap Card

Effect: When this face-down card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon 1 "Wicked Token" (Demon-Type/DARK/4 Stars/ATK 1000/DEF 1000) in Attack or Defense Mode on your side of the Field.

Taro then said "Well, at least I got the lead in LP for the moment, so I'll end my turn."

Rumiko smiled, drawing her next card as she then showed her next card. "I will now play Coins from Heaven. This little number will let us both draw until we have 6 cards. We both have 2... so we both get 4 cards."

COINS FROM HEAVEN (English name - Card of Sanctity)

Normal Magic Card

Effect: Both players draw cards until they both have 6 cards in hand.

Taro drew his 4 cards as did Rumiko, who smiled and said "I will next set another card down. And play Cyclone to destroy it!"

Taro blinked at that as the other card was destroyed, and out came another Wicked Token! Taro had then figured out it was another copy of Statue of the Wicked, which meant that she had 2 Wicked Tokens! And that meant she had two free Monsters now. Senbei smiled, watching the Duel, right arm across his stomach as he said 'Now it's time for the real fun to begin."

Rumiko then smiled, holding up a card as she said "Get ready! I now sacrifice both of my Wicked Tokens... and I call out this number!!" Rumiko's two Wicked Tokens disappeared in a flash of fire, her hand size being dropped to 3 cards in her hand now as she held up her 2-sacrifice Monster. "Come out! Ultimate Obedient Fiend in Attack Mode!"

In a blaze of fire, a gigantic red demon with black markings on its' body, two large red horns, a large-like teeth structure in the center of its' chest, eyes on its' chest and along the metal bandana it had, as it clenched its' fists and snarled... then roared loudly.

Taro looked on and said "Oooohhhh, boy... this isn't gonna bode well..."

ULTIMATE OBEDIENT FIEND

Fire/Demon/10/3500 ATK/3000 DEF
Effect: This card can only attack when there are no other cards on your side of the Field and you also have no hand. Negate the effects of Effect Monsters destroyed by this card.

Taro then blinked, remembering Ultimate Obedient Fiend's effect and said "Ha! In YOUR face, Rumiko! That card can't attack since you still got 3 cards in your hand! And you couldn't set 'em 'cause then your poor Ultimate Obedient Fiend STILL couldn't attack!"

Rumiko chuckled. "Foolish mistake." She took another card from her hand and showed it to Taro as he said "I will now play the Quickplay Magic Card, Shrink, and weaken your XYZ-Dragon Cannon!"

SHRINK

Quickplay Magic Card

Effect: Select 1 face-up Monster on the Field. Reduce the selected Monster's base ATK by half until the End Phase of the current turn.

Suddenly, XYZ-Dragon Cannon began to shrink as Rumiko now had 2 cards as she then smiled and took another card from her hand. "I will now play this next card! The Secret of the Bandit!"

THE SECRET OF THE BANDIT

Normal Magic Card

Effect: This card can only be activated during Main Phase 1. Select 1 Monster on the Field. Each time the selected Monster inflicts Battle Damage, your opponent must randomly discard 1 card randomly during the turn this card is activated.

Ultimate Obedient Fiend began to glow as Rumiko said "As you can guess, my lovely little Fiend here will get the effect of Secret of the Bandit. Next... I will play Emergency Provisions and destroy my last set card!"

EMERGENCY PROVISIONS
Quickplay Magic Card

Effect: Send Magic or Trap Cards on your side of the Field to increase your Life Points by 1000 points per card. This card is excluded.

With the explosion of her set Magic/Trap Card, Rumiko's Life Points were raised to 2200 as Rumiko smiled and said "Ultimate Obedient Fiend, crush XYZ-Dragon Cannon! Inferno Fist!" Ultimate Obedient Fiend's fist began to glow with fire as it shot right at XYZ-Dragon Cannon, smashing it to dust, destroying it and dropping Taro's Life Points by 1100 points to 1900. But he then looked at his hand, randomly selecting a card, and discarding it to the Graveyard as he then thought to himself 'This is NOT good! That Fiend is strong, but Rumiko has wasted her whole hand just to attack with it... does she got some grander scheme in mind with Ultimate Obedient Fiend...?'

Rumiko then smiled, saying "Turn end."

Taro placed his hand on his Deck and said "My turn!" He drew his next card, with much gusto as he examined his hand. He then took his card of choice and said "I will now play this Magic Card from my hand! I play Silent Dead!"

SILENT DEAD (English Name: Silent Doom)

Normal Magic Card

Effect: Special Summon 1 Normal Monster from your Graveyard to the Field in face-up Defense Mode. As long as the Special Summoned card remains face-up on the Field, it can't attack.

With a flash of light, Cyber Falcon appeared back onto the Field in Defense Mode, its' wings wrapped around itself as Taro then examined other cards in his hand as he then took 2 cards and said "I will set 2 cards down, and so I end my turn."

Rumiko smiled. "My turn." She drew her next card and said "I will now set a card down, and since my poor Fiend can't attack yet... I'll end my turn."

Taro blinked as he then said "OK... my turn." He drew his next card as Rumiko then smiled, saying "Set Card, activate! SKILL DRAIN!!!"

Suddenly, Ultimate Obedient Fiend cried out as it dropped to one knee, groaning in pain as it then stood back up, cracking its' knuckles.

SKILL DRAIN

Continuous Trap Card

Effect: Pay 1000 Life Points. As long as this card remains face-up on the Field, negate the effects of all face-up Effect Monsters on the Field.

Rumiko's Life Points were now at 1200 points as she said "Oops. Forget it. My Monster CAN now attack, sans its' effect, but a noble sacrifice for it to attack without restriction."
Taro gulped as he then said "I'll just summon Battle Footballer in Defense Mode."

A robot that appeared to have a football uniform on, its' arms crossed over its' body, a red helmet with the same shoulder pads, green chest armor and leg armor as it remained beside Cyber Falcon.

BATTLE FOOTBALLER

Fire/Machine/4/1000 ATK/2100 DEF

"Turn end."

"Getting desperate now, Mutoh? I can tell... you're nowhere near as good as your cousin. And beating you and keeping his Deck AND getting yours as well will be even sweeter. My turn!" Rumiko drew her next card and said "Ultimate Obedient Fiend! Plow right through Cyber Falcon!" Ultimate Obedient Fiend's fist began to ignite as it attacked, but Taro smiled as he said "Trap Card, activate! Negate Attack!"

Suddenly, Ultimate Obedient Fiend's attack was blocked by a vortex as it leapt back towards Rumiko as Taro grinned and laughed. "That was such an easy read to me! Too slow, I gotta say, Rumiko!"
"Feh. Lucky break. I end my turn."

Taro exhaled and said "My turn..." He looked at his hand again... seeing he had Scapegoat in his hand. If he just had his best Monster... he could easily raise it up with his other set card AND win the Duel.

SCAPEGOAT
Quickplay Magic Card

Effect: When this card is activated, you cannot summon any Monsters during the same turn (including Flip Summon and Special Summon). Place 4 "Sheep Tokens" (Beast-Type/EARTH/1 Star/ATK 0/DEF 0) in Defense Mode on your side of the Field. The tokens cannot be used in a Sacrifice for a Sacrifice Summon.

Taro closed his eyes as he drew his next card, then opened his eyes as he smiled, getting the Monster he needed... Perfect Machine King!

PERFECT MACHINE KING

Earth/Machine/8/2700 ATK/1500 DEF

Effect: Increase the ATK of this card by 500 points for each Machine-Type Monster on the Field other than this card.

Taro then smiled as he said "I will now sacrifice Cyber Falcon and Battle Footballer... and I will call out Perfect Machine King in Attack Mode!"

In a flash of light both of Taro's previous Machine-Type Monsters had gone, and in their place, stood a larger machine. This one stood like a man, with red armor showing as well as white armor, including two missile launchers on the shoulders, the one on the right having a "04" on it as its' blue eyes began to glow. Perfect Machine King landed down onto Taro's side of the Field as he said "I will now set 1 card face-down! Turn end!"

Bakura looked on and then said "Is Taro throwing the Duel away? If Ultimate Obedient Fiend is going to attack, it's over. And... Skill Drain stops Perfect Machine King's effect. What is he...?"
"I do get what he is up to... it's simple, Bakura. Just watch." Yugi smiled. "Taro IS good. And I won't help anyone in their Duels. All I can give him, like I will give anyone else is support, nothin' more. So come on, Taro!"

Taro nodded as he said "So... whatcha gonna do now?"
"Gonna end this!" Rumiko drew her next card and said "Ultimate Obedient Fiend! Attack Perfect Machine King!" Ultimate Obedient Fiend shot its' fist right at Perfect Machine King and then it stopped as Rumiko said "What..? How did..?"
Taro laughed then said "Check it out! My set card... Dust Tornado!"

DUST TORNADO

Normal Trap Card

Effect: Destroy 1 Magic or Trap Card on your opponent's side of the Field. You can then Set 1 Magic or Trap Card from your hand to your side of the Field.

A tornado appeared onto the Field, sweeping away Skill Drain. Taro simply smiled before speaking and said "Since Skill Drain is gone, Ultimate Obedient Fiend's attack is null and void since you got 2 cards in your hand now, Rumiko! Plus, with Dust Tornado's effect, I will set one card face-down in my Magic/Trap Card Zone."

Rumiko then took her free thumb to her lip and bit it as she said "He's right... so I will end my turn. But I doubt you can get enough power to your Monster to beat me, Taro."

Taro smiled as he said "My turn. Draw!" He drew his next card and said "You'd be surprised. I set a plan into motion WAAAAAY back a few turns ago."

"Hmm?" Senbei blinked then said "Wait a minute..."

Taro smiled and said "Set Card, activate! Scapegoat!"

With Taro's use of Scapegoat, four tiny goats, 1 red, 1 blue, 1 pink, and 1 orange, appeared on the Field, and happily smiled as Taro then said "But the fun doesn't end there! Trap Card! DNA Surgery!"

Joey then snapped his fingers and said "I get it! Taro is gonna use Scapegoat and DNA Surgery to raise Perfect Machine King's ATK by 2000 points!"

"2500, dufus!" Tristan added. "Don't forget, Rumiko has Ultimate Obedient Fiend in play too. Since we can guess he'll call Machine as the Type for DNA Surgery's effect. That means 500 for her Monsters too."

DNA SURGERY
Continuous Trap Card

Effect: When you activate this card, declare 1 Type of Monster. As long as this card remains face-up on the Field, all face-up Monster Cards become the Type selected.

With that, Taro's 4 Goat Tokens changed from Beast-Type to more Machine-Type as did Rumiko's Ultimate Obedient Fiend as Rumiko said "Oh, no! That means..."

"Yup! 500 x 5 2500! That means Perfect Machine King's ATK is gonna skyrocket from 2700 points to 5200 points!"

Perfect Machine King began to glow, and like Taro had said, its' ATK went up from 2700 to 5200 points. Taro then said "And since it's my turn... I'll attack! Perfect Machine King, attack Ultimate Obedient Fiend!"

Perfect Machine King locked onto Ultimate Obedient Fiend and shot a series of missiles from its' missile launchers on its' shoulders, blowing Ultimate Obedient Fiend to dust as Rumiko cried out, her Life Points dropping to 0 as Taro flicked his nose with his left thumb and put his index and middle finger into a V shape as he said "Victory is mine!"

Joey blinked in surprise as he said "He's THAT strong!? OK... mental note to self... don't insult Taro enough unless I want him to take me on in a Duel AND take me down..."

Tristan chuckled as he smiled. "Did you really expect less from Yugi's cousin?"
"No, no! N-not at all!" Joey replied, chuckling uneasily as Melody clapped happily, with Duke saying "Wow. This shrimp is..."

Taro then walked over to Rumiko, extending his hand. "If I could... can I please get Yugi's Deck back?"

Rumiko nodded then placed Yugi's Deck into Taro's hand as she said "A promise is a promise."

"Thanks, Rumiko. And I gotta say, even if you did swipe Yugi's Deck, you're sure a strong Duelist! I sometimes thought for a moment I was gonna lose there!" Taro replied, a big grin on his face as Rumiko blinked then said "Just because you won today doesn't mean you will win next time." She turned and walked off, walking to her brother, Senbei as he followed. Taro then heard more clapping besides from Melody and turned to see everyone clapping.

He sheepishly chuckled, then rubbed the back of his head as Yugi smiled, saying 'I can tell that for Taro, adjusting was going to be tough, but now... now that he knows he's not truly alone, he will do well. And I am going to be right there with him to help if I need to.' Taro then said "Thank you very much!!"

However... Senbei and Rumiko kept walking as Senbei said "I am sure the boss will not be very happy about us failing, Rumiko."
"Don't worry, Senbei... she did want to have their Decks studied for the REAL incident to come." Rumiko replied, smiling.

Senbei nodded as he said "Of course... but... I can't help but feel anyone of us won't beat Yugi or anyone else in his entourage..." Senbei had his thoughts to himself as he walked with Rumiko, to who knows where... as the plans of their "boss" seemed unknown for the time.

To Be Continued...