Here it is! I changed the title of this chapter because I couldn't fit the school part into this chapter! Sorry!

*Chapter 2: The Card Thief Part 2*

It was around 5:00pm; with the sun setting around the two duelists locked in a duel. One was undoubtedly smiling underneath his mask and the other was clenching her teeth as she knew this would be a difficult situation to escape from. But all hope was not lost, yet.

Kotori: 2000

Hooded guy: 4000

"According to the description," Kotori raised her Winda card. "When this card is destroyed, I can special summon a Gusto tuner monster from my deck." As she said this, her deck shuffled out a single card which was to be special summoned to the field.

"I summon Gusto Gulldo (LV 3/ATK 500/DEF 500) in attack mode."

A greenish wind enveloped the field and when it subsided, an armored green bird was left in its place. The hooded guy, with nothing else to do, claimed the end of his turn.

"Alright Kotori!" cheered Yuma. "I taught her those skills."

Tetsuo chuckled, "Yeah right, the last time you practiced with me, you barely knew what Gagaga Magician's effect did."

This prompted Yuma to raise a fist at his friend and Tetsuo took a stance as if he was about counter any action Yuma was about to make.

Ryoga intervened, "Knock it off you two, Kotori is still in a bind."

"Oh yeah, you can do it Kotori!" both Yuma and Tetsuo cheered. She smiled from the support from her friends and drew her card.

Let's see…ah! She smirked.

"What's so funny," the hooded guy added. "Have you gone insane from your situation?"

"Nope, but I'm about to put you in your place!" she swiped her card. "If I remember correctly; I can release a weaker monster for a stronger one."

A cloud-like hole appeared before them and the Gusto Gulldo morphed into a cluster of green energy which then dived into the swirling hole. The effect was a bright light that erupted from the crater.

"By releasing Gusto Gulldo," she continued. "I can tribute summon my Windaar, Sage of Gusto (LV 6/ATK 2000/DEF 1000)."

The bright light soon dimmed down and revealed a green haired man wearing a light brown hooded cape. He was wielding a white scythe that had electrical currents running through it. Kotori looked up at the man and smiled, this monster would help her get through this predicament.

"Windaar, destroy his Chiron the Mage!"

With that command, the sage vanished with a trace of electricity and appeared right before the centaur, which flinched in surprise. Windaar slashed the monster with an electrical swing and left it exploded into shards of pixels.

Kotori: 2000

Hooded guy: 3800

"Damn you, but that isn't eno—" was the hood's response, but he was interrupted.

"If it destroys…um," she glanced back to her card description. "Your monster, then I can special summon a LV3 or lower Gusto monster from my grave in defense mode!"

Once again, the swirling portal of light appeared, but this time a familiar green energy flew out and formed the previously released Gusto Gulldo (DEF 500).

"Great move Kotori!" her friends encouraged.

"And…um," she sorted through her hand. "I guess I'll lay this face down card to be safe."

A cluster of yellow pixels formed behind the sage and bird, before becoming a reverse card.

The hooded guy laughed, "You were lucky for bringing out an offensive monster, but now it's my turn!"

This time, the Marauding Captain morphed into yellow energy and dived into the portal as well. The eruption resulted in long blonde haired man clad in silver armor and green cape.

"By releasing my captain, I tribute summon, Freed the Matchless General (LV 5/ATK 2300/DEF 1700)!"

Kotori grimaced, as she saw a monster with more attack points than her strongest on the field, this was worse than before. She frowned when he started chuckling.

"Before I make my attack, I use Giant Trunade to send both our Spells and Traps to our hands."

"No, then my trap is—"

"That's right, you can't counter my attacks!" he scoffed.

A great wind swept up the field, causing the duelists to cover their eyes as it blew the reversed cards back to their respective owner's hands.

"No, Kotori!" Yuma shouted. "That's some dirty trick you pulled!"

"This is bad, really bad!" Tetsuo grunted.

Ryoga Kamishiro was the only one who remained calm during this time. He never expressed emotions of dread or excitement when in duels and always kept his cool; that's why his friends always counted on him for advice and support.

"Now then, attack the sage!" the hooded guy ordered. The general placed his hand on his hilt and swung the blade that created a slash of razor winds. Windaar was destroyed almost instantly.

Kotori: 1700

Hooded guy: 3800

Kotori fell to her knees. Her strongest monster was destroyed and in duel monsters, that means you have already lost the duel, especially if your opponent had a way stronger monster as well. The hooded stranger noticed her lack of confidence as well.

"Look at the lack of energy left," hoods added. "Do you give up now? I see this duel as pointless."

No! If she gave up now, then she would be the damsel in distress again! She thought, frowning at the thought of being useless.

"Don't give up, you can do it!" Yuma shouted. "You're not feeling the flow!"

"What's that?" laughed hoods. "Some dumb motto for you?"

"No."

Hoods turned back to Kotori who got back up. She couldn't give up now, her friend's card was at stake here and losing to this creep would be so disappointing, especially with her friends watching.

"Well, then let's see what you've got," he felt satisfaction. This girl may not be easy to get rid of, but her situation is not one that will be simple to escape from, he thought. Especially since he had Sakuretsu Armor as his trap.

"Draw!" she swiped her new card and grunted. Can't use this yet!

"You think you got a good card, huh?" hoods noticed Kotori's sudden change in expression.

"I won't lose to you just yet!" with that, she played a card. "I summon Gusto Codor!"

A greenish-white bird appeared with a helmet and torso armor (LV 3/ATK 1000/DEF 400).

"But you still have less attack than me, and it was foolish of you to play that in attack position," he pointed out. "You could have protected your life points a bit longer, but oh well, makes this go by faster."

That's right, why did I do that, what a stupid move! She face palmed like she made the most idiotic mistake in the world.

She turned to her friends, "Sorry guys…"

"But, but Kattobingu…" Yuma went on.

"Damn! You did well Kotori, I'm surprised," Tetsuo tried to make the situation better, but it didn't work as she frowned even more.

"Not yet," was Ryoga's comment.

"What do you mean?" Tetsuo was confused.

"Look at her monsters closely," Shark pointed out. "Both are LV3."

Kotori examined her cards, "But I don't recall having any Rank 3 Xyz monsters."

"That's not what I meant; you have another type of card that might help you win."

Kotori was confused, what other cards does she have in the extra deck besides Xyz's, unless… That's right!

"You're talking about my Synchro monsters?" she bursted out and Ryoga nodded in response.

"That's right!" Yuma jumped up as high as he can. "Kattobingu, I knew she would win!"

The female duelist looked through her extra deck and noticed that there was a card that would work. Synchro monsters are different from Xyz's in that they are special summoned by adding the levels of two monsters. While Xyz was by having two of the same level to special summon a monster with the same Rank.

"Can we get this over with," hoods clutched his stomach. "Your friendship bonding is making me sick."

"You bet, and it's the power of friendship that will get me through this," she assured him. "As Yuma always says, get set to get decked!"

"That's what I'm talking about!" Yuma jumped again for no reason, but left Kotori smiling. What she loved about him was his determination and not giving up, which would fuel her for this duel.

"If I got this right," Kotori looked at the white coated card. "I will tune my Gusto Gulldo with my Gusto Codor for a Synchro Summon!"

Although he didn't want to admit it, hoods clenched his fists in concern because he didn't know what was going to happen.

Suddenly, Gusto Gulldo flew up into the air and exploded into a set of three green rings. The other bird, Codor passed through them. A line shot through it and erupted in a bright light. For some reason Kotori chanted as if she was being possessed:

"Young deity of the wind's guardian protects us with your breeze of hope! Synchro Summon! Help us! Daigusto Sphreez!

As the light faded, a long green-red haired girl with a gold circlet on her forehead appeared. She wore green clothing with pieces of armor on her shoulders and torso. Her weapon was a black staff with a blue jewel (LV 6/ATK 2000/DEF 1300).

Ryoga grinned, I've heard that these cards were used a long time ago and it looks like they haven't lost their touch.

"Wow, oh my god Kotori!" Yuma jumped once again. "That was awesome!"

"Except for the lame chant," Tetsuo chuckled, prompting the girl to pout. But their admiration was cut short by laughter from the other side.

"Seriously, that's all you got?" hoods exclaimed. "It still has less attack than my General."

Kotori grinned, "That's not all, though."

"What?"

"When this card is synchro summoned, I can add 1 Gusto monster from my graveyard to my hand and I pick…Winda, Priestess of Gusto."

I just need to stall him until I get everything ready… she thought.

"One face down, and turn end."

The opponent drew and played his card, "D.D. Warrior Lady in defense mode!"

A blonde haired woman wearing black jumpsuit armor and a blade was summoned (LV4/1500/1600).

"General Freed attacks your Daigusto Sphreez!"

Kotori smiled just as the general struck his sword at the wind girl there was a big eruption of wind and energy. When the debris subsided Sphreez was still intact.

"What," hoods was confused. "Why wasn't it destroyed?"

"That's because her effect makes it so that she can't be destroyed by battle, also…"

Kotori: 1400

Hooded guy: 3500

"Why did my life points decrease as well?"

"Her other effect; battle damage to me is also inflicted onto you!" smirked Kotori.

"Dammit, I'll end my turn then," he grunted. But next turn you'll fall victim to my plans.

Yuma and Tetsuo cheered, "Way to go Kotori!"

The female duelist drew her next card as she read the descriptions on each card she had, carefully analyzing for a good strategy.

"I summon Winda, Priestess of Gusto from my hand!"

The familiar young girl with the white scepter appeared once again (LV2/ATK1000/DEF600).

"And say goodbye to your general because I activate Contact with Gusto!" she said with confidence. "By targeting 2 Gusto monsters in my graveyard and shuffling them into my deck, I can destroy 1 monster you control!"

As she said this, two cards of Gusto Gulldo and Windaar, Sage of Gusto were shuffled into her deck. A bolt of electricity raged towards Freed the Matchless General to be destroyed.

"Not so fast, my general has a special ability," countered hoods. "When a spell card is targeted at him, I can negate and destroy it!"

"What?"

The bolt of electricity reached its destination but as it struck the target, it bounced off the armor of the general and disappeared.

"B-but I can still attack your Warrior Lady, go Sphreez!

The wind deity raised her wand and waved it, releasing a green ball of wind energy that was directed towards the blonde woman. There was a big explosion from the impact.

Good, that should have gotten rid of his monster! Huh?

Kotori couldn't believe her eyes as not only was the warrior lady still alive and well, but her own Sphreez was emitting red lights and clutching her stomach in pain. The warrior lady, now clad in strange looking armor attacked the wind deity and destroyed her.

"What, how is that possible?" screamed Kotori.

"You forgot I had a trap!" hoods waved his hand and the trap flipped up. "Sakuretsu Armor, your attacking monster was destroyed."

She looked through her hand and hoped for the best by activating her only trap card.

"I use Spiritual Wind Art- Miyabi!"

Winda was enveloped in a seal like design that flowed around her until she became an orb of light that exploded out of the seal.

"Since your general is immune to spells, I can use my trap to send him to the bottom of your deck!"

"What?"

The orb of Miyabi flew past the warrior lady and surrounds the general. Before he could understand his fate, he too became a gust of wind and went to the bottom of hood's deck.

With nothing else for her to do, she ended her turn with one face down. Her last hope was the trap card she set Whirlwind of Gusto. With that she could special summon 1 Gusto monster with 1000 or less DEF from her deck as long as he controlled no monsters and had 2 Wind monsters in the graveyard.

Even her friends who couldn't do anything at the moment, hoped for their friend to somehow make a comeback in this situation.

"This is the last turn of the duel," hoods drew his card. "I play from my hand The Warrior Returning Alive!"

A spell card appeared with the image of a Marauding Captain in tattered armor with injuries, but standing while clutching his blade.

"This lets me add 1 LV4 or lower warrior type monster from my graveyard to my hand," a card from the discard slot ejected into his grasp. "Marauding Captain of course!"

The same soldier that appeared on the card and has been played earlier in the duel was returning. It definitely was the warrior returning alive (LV3/1200/DEF400).

"Due to his special ability, I can special summon my Gene-Warped Warwolf!"

Another monster entered the field, but this time, it wasn't human. It was a giant humanoid-wolf with four arms and claws the color of blood (LV4/ATK2000/DEF100). Kotori took a step back from the monstrosity that was just across from her. It licked its lips as it saw its prey.

"But he won't feast on you just yet; first, the captain will go because he is the leader!" belched hoods.

With that, the captain lunged with his blade pointed towards the defenseless girl, but she immediately countered with her face down, her last hope.

"With Whirlwind of Gusto; while I control no monsters, I can target 2 wind monsters in my graveyard and shuffle them into my deck (Winda and Codor)," she retaliated. "Then special summon 1 Gusto monster with 1000 or less DEF!"

Her deck shuffled once more and slid out a card, she took it and slammed it down onto her empty monster slot.

"Windaar, don't fail me now!"

The man with green hair and brown clothes appeared, holding his scythe proudly (LV6/ATK2000/DEF1000). The attacking captain immediately halted his movements.

"You merely escaped defeat!" growled the hooded guy in surprise. "But now I can have my D.D. Warrior Lady attack your monster!"

"Why, she has less attack," Kotori was confused.

The woman was fast. She ran at full speed and it was quite difficult to see her; Windaar searched around for her exact location, and barely managed to strike her from behind him, destroying her.

Kotori: 1400

Hooded guy: 3000

"You made a terrible mistake creep," Kotori grinned, but stopped when her opponent started to laugh.

"I activate D.D. Warrior Lady's effect," hoods held up her card. "When she is destroyed by battle, both her and the monster she battled with is banished!"

Kotori's eyes widened in disbelief as her monster was being sucked into some strange portal and disappeared, along with her last line of defense.

"Well then, let's end this," continued hoods. "Marauding Captain goes for a strike!"

The captain, now eager to complete his failed attack from last time sped towards Kotori and slashed her with a swing of his huge blade. She screamed as she fell back on her bottom, and gripping her arm.

Kotori: 200

Hooded guy: 3000

"No, Kotori!" everyone else screamed.

"It's over, Warwolf, finish her off!"

Already in an attacking stance; the monster jumped high and landed right in front of the grounded girl. With one powerful swipe, she was lifted up off her feet and fell back.

Kotori: 0

Hooded guy: WINNER

Yuma and Tetsuo immediately ran towards their friend to see if she was alright. Although she took a huge hit, it wasn't real, so she was fine. Ryoga looked to where the hooded guy was, but grunted when he saw that he had escaped.

"The card…is it safe?" Kotori grunted.

Ryoga shook his head, "Unfortunately not, but all that matters now is that you're not hurt."

She slammed her fists and swore, which surprised her friends because they never, ever heard her swear before.

"Take it easy," consoled Tetsuo, who looked to the other two guys for support.

"But…Carly's card," she tried. "I couldn't get it back; I'm such a useless person!" but she looked up when someone grabbed her hands and cupped them.

"Don't worry, I'll get them back," reassured Yuma. "He won't get away with this…"

"Yuma…" she blushed and immediately pushed him away. "But how do we do that?"

"Let's return to the card shop first," advised Ryoga. "We'll start from there."

*At the shop*

It was 8:00pm in the evening and even though it was past their curfew, the four kids entered the card store. Kotori immediately fell to her knees and put her head down, "Carly, I'm so sorry I tried my best, but couldn't get your card back, I knew it, and I'm a useless person!"

Everyone remained silent for a while and the atmosphere became extremely awkward to the point of Yuma stomping his foot on the ground.

"Come on, can't we just get the card back then?"

To everyone's astonishment, Carly smiled and knelt down in front of Kotori and placed a hand on her head, then ruffled it.

"Hey!"

Carly giggled, "Kotori, I didn't expect you to get my card back, and if you tried your best, thank you."

"Are you sure?" Kotori questioned. "Wasn't that card precious to you?"

"Of course, it was a one-of a kind card that you couldn't find anywhere else…but," she paused. "I was more worried about you getting raped so I'm glad you're okay."

Tetsuo and Yuma made barfing sounds as the two girls hugged each other, except Ryoga; who appeared to be deep in thought.

"Shouldn't you guys get going?" Carly added. "I mean, your families might be worried right now."

Everyone checked their D-gazers and nodded in agreement. Ryoga, with a small wave and nod was the first one to leave. Tetsuo readied his skateboard as Yuma and Kotori said their farewells to their store friend before leaving.

Carly grabbed her keys and bags before turning off the store lights. She scanned the store for anything out of place before locking the place up. Taking a deep breath, she looked up at the shining full moon. The stars haven't appeared yet and the city lights were bright in the distance.

There was a parking lot at the back of the store with a lone truck parked at the far end. Carly made her way towards the vehicle as quickly as she could, glance left and right as if she was being followed. She took a deep breath once she reached her truck and swiftly searched her bag for the keys. At last she located them and pulled them out. As she turned to unlock her car, a dark shadow was cast over her.

Noticing the change in brightness, she turned around. The keys made a klinking sound as they fell on the asphalt of the parking lot. Her eyes widened with fear as they came closer and closer…

*Unknown Location*

A strange room it was. There were lights and electricity everywhere. Computers were strewn around in the circular room and people in white lab coats were vigorously typing something into their respective touch screen keyboards.

"Sir, we have located the energy source," said one of the researchers. "It seems to be emitting from somewhere on Castel Island."

There was a pause at first, then a mild chuckle that came from the center of the circular room. Cords and electrical wires from the ceiling were hanging down above the central location. Below the cords was a large throne-like chair strewn with touch screens and various buttons of different colors that lit up.

A middle age voice replied back, "Good, then prepare the cards and the Resolvers."

"Yes sir, it will take about a few days for everything to be ready, is that acceptable?"

"Do what is needed, but I expect it to be done soon."

The individual who appears to be the commander noticed eyes gazing into him from behind. He turned around and smiled at who he saw. Standing before him were two people that he was counting on. One of them had short green hair and wore pink lensed glasses. His style of clothing was rather strange for a man, but his status covered that.

The other was a young man sporting medium length white hair with a gray-blue sweater that had a hood attached to it. His eyes were crimson colored and he was smiling as well.

"Have you distributed the cards?" asked the commanding man.

The green haired man took a bow, "Of course, Dr. Faker sir."

Dr. Faker grinned, and then turned to the white haired youth, "And what were you supposed to do again?"

The youth just smiled and ran his hand through his hair, then crossed his arms. The green haired man, angry at the youth for showing disrespect towards his master snapped at him.

"What do you think you're doing?" he nagged. "Apologize to Dr. Faker now!"

"No Heartland, it is fine," Dr. Faker intervened. "As long as he does his job, it's alright."

Heartland pouted and crossed his arms as well, then stomped away, leaving the youth behind. The youth just stood there and looked around until he saw a disturbing sight.

Dr. Faker turned to the youth, "However; if you are to interfere with my plans, I will get rid of you." With that, he returned to his original position to continue with his work.

There was no response from the youth. He just smiled and placed his hands in his pockets as if he did not care what the commander had said, but was quite curious when he noticed something peculiar behind him.

In the back of the room there was a water filled tank. Large metal cords that originated from big generators were plugged into the sides of the tank. But what was inside the tank was slightly unnerving. A young boy, probably of the age of 7 was inside the tank. His eyes were closed and there were cords that were attached to him as well.

Sickening, he narrowed his eyes. Even children are involved in this.

He too walked in the direction where Heartland left and took the teleportation pad back to where he needed to be, but with a lot on his mind. Just what was Faker planning to do?

*End…*

Preview: School is fun and everything, except for Yuma; who hates school for homework and losing in duel tests. Yuma, who is also part of the Duel Club with Tetsuo and Ryoga will have a tough time trying to win.

This time: It is Chapter 3: School Days! I'm not lying, this is the real deal!

See you soon!