Aaron walked down the halls of Luke's house being escorted by one of the maids to one of the yards. "What's up?" Luke saw Aaron first. Luke relaxed in a hot tub sipping iced tea wearing a pair of sunglasses; the jets were on full blast.
"You tell me. You called." Aaron said crossing his arms.
"Let me get a shower and get dressed." Luke tossed aside the bendy straw in his iced tea and drank it quickly before setting the glass down. He stepped out of the hot tub revealing that he was not wearing anything.
"Hey!" Aaron quickly turned away.
"It's my house. I'll do what I want." Luke said tying on a bathrobe. "Go wait inside while I get ready." He slipped on a pair of sandals and walked inside holding the door for Aaron. "The maids can get you a snack or something, but I would save room if I were you." Luke walked down the halls leaving Aaron in one of the many recreation rooms in the house.
"Can I get you something?" One of the maids asked.
"Something to drink would be nice."
"We have a lovely assortment of sodas, teas, juices, wines, beers…"
Aaron stopped her from continuing with the list. "Iced tea is fine, black and sweetened." He said to ensure the maid would not start rattling off the list of teas they had.
"I'll be back shortly." The maid walked off to fulfill his request.
Meanwhile, Aaron looked around the room eyeing the pool table. He grabbed the balls from the holes along with the triangle off the wall and started racking the balls together. Once he was satisfied with the placement, he lifted up the triangle and put it back on the wall. He grabbed a cue rubbing some chalk on the tip before grabbing the cue ball and positioning it. He took aim and forced the cue ball forward scattering all of the balls on the table. He aimed again nailing a solid ball into the hole. He repeated the process occasionally knocking balls into the holes or missing. He sipped his iced tea on occasion until there was an empty glass.
"You're not that bad." Luke walked into the room wearing a collared shirt, nice pants, and smelling of cologne; his hair was gelled as well. He picked up a cue off the rack and nailed the eight ball into a hole. "Let's get going. There's a car outside for us." He started walking to the door with Aaron following behind him. One of the maids was waiting for them holding a bouquet of roses. "Thank you." Luke grabbed the roses as they walked out the door to a black town car waiting for them.
"Where are we headed?" Aaron asked as Luke took a seat next to him. The door closed and the car started driving.
"A nice little restaurant downtown in the city, great burgers."
"Any reason you have roses?"
"Because I have to make an arrangement, and I don't slack on certain things."
Soon the car stopped outside a restaurant downtown. There was a sign hovering in the sky, The Den. Luke stepped out of the car with Aaron by his side. The two walked into the restaurant; it was a very casual atmosphere. There were red leather seats, booths, and stools in the restaurant. It was somewhat busy with people from school studying as well as business people having discussions. It was the wait staff that caught Aaron's attention; they all wore short skirts along with bright t-shirts and suspenders.
"Not everyone comes here for the food." Luke said putting a hand on Aaron's shoulder. "Let's get a table." Luke walked over to the host booth. "Can we get a table in Kari's section?"
"I don't know. She's pretty full." The host said looking at the seating chart.
"Tell her Lukie is here." He slipped a few pieces of silver on the counter.
"I'll be back shortly." The host pocketed the money and walked off.
"Lukie?"
"She kind of has a thing for me." Luke said motioning to the flowers in his hand.
"Hey boys." A girl with long, very light pink hair and purple eyes greeted them. "Oh, it's been so long, Lukie!" She hugged him tightly. She broke the hug. "And you brought flowers. You're so sweet." She bent over the counter and grabbed the menus revealing the panties under her skirt. She blushed smiling at Luke. Aaron's face turned crimson while Luke seemed unphased. "Come with me." She led the two to a table. Walking by, Aaron saw the huge tips that people were leaving Kari. Both boys sat down and Kari handed them menus. "Can I get you two something to drink?" She placed her hand on Aaron's shoulder rubbing it.
He could smell her perfume. "Iced tea works." Aaron said slightly mesmerized by Kari's beauty and her perky bosoms.
"I'll have one too." Luke added. Kari wrote down the order and skipped away to get their drinks. "You getting the idea of what she is?" Luke asked. Aaron shook his head. "I'll tell you eventually."
Kari came back with the drink order setting a glass in front of each boy. She leaned over them delivering their drinks. "You boys ready to order?" She clicked her pen smiling at them.
"Mushroom Swiss burger." Aaron said trying not to stare at Kari.
"Bacon cheddar, and a big thing of onion rings." Luke said setting down his menu.
"I'll be back soon." Kari smiled at both of the boys winking before grabbing their menus and walking away.
"Seductive, isn't she?" Luke asked. Aaron nodded his head turning red. The two sat there sipping their drinks making small talk as they waited for their food.
Kari came back with a serving tray. She set the burgers between the boys; they came with large cut steak fries and had large steak knives in them. She also set a container of onion rings between them. "You boys enjoy and call if you need anything."
Luke grabbed her arm as she started walking away. "I actually came here for something other than a burger. I need you to duel my friend Aaron here."
"What's in it for me?" Kari asked. A seductive grin formed on her face.
"You beat him, we'll go on a date. I'll take you somewhere nice."
"Then what?" Kari asked rubbing Luke's shoulders.
"Whatever you want." Luke said blushing slightly and tugging on his collar.
"That's more like it. Come see me when you come to pay your bill. I can't wait for our date." Kari skipped away excitedly.
"Eat up." Luke said changing the subject and picking up his burger and taking a large bite.
Aaron picked up one of the fries and dipped it in the sauce that came with them. "Food's good." He took a bite of his burger savoring it.
"Try the onion rings." Luke pushed the bowl over to him.
"Really good." Aaron said taking one from the bowl. "So where's Marin?"
"Probably playing with his dragon or doing something important." Luke said continuing to eat his food. The two finished their food eventually. Kari came by with the bill; her name was written at the bottom with a purple glitter pen and a heart.
"She's flirty." Aaron said looking at the bill and reaching for some money in his pocket.
"That's what she does, and this one's on me." Luke pulled some money out of his pocket and set it down. "Just wait for her to come back." Luke said tapping his fingers on the table.
Kari came back and picked up the money. "Such a good tipper, Lukie."
"You ready to duel now?" Luke asked.
"Oh yeah. Slight change." Kari snapped her fingers as a floating platform appeared in the middle of the restaurant. "The duel's happening right here, right now." She hopped on to the platform giving the whole restaurant a view of her panties as her skirt rose a little.
The other girls in the restaurant got everyone's attention as they all walked over to the platform. "Everyone, we have a special treat for you. Our favorite waitress, Kari is going to duel one of our customers…Aaron." She read the name on her hand.
"Get up there." Luke said pointing to the platform. "And watch out for her charm." Aaron nodded his head jumping on to the platform.
"Duel rune activate!" Aaron and Kari shouted activating their duel runes. They shuffled their decks into the holders on their arms. The duel began with 4000 life points each.
Aaron flashed his fangs at Kari. "I'm going first." He said drawing his five cards.
"How about you let me go first?" Kari blew him a kiss that seemed to have a strange magic with it. Aaron caught a whiff of Kari's perfume. He nodded his head in a daze. "Such a sweetie." She smiled drawing her cards.
"Snap out of it!" Luke yelled at Aaron bringing him back to reality.
"I summon Rose Witch (LV4/1600 atk/1000 def) and play one card facedown. That's my turn."
Aaron drew his card glaring at Kari trying to figure her out. "I summon Vampire Koala (LV4/1800 atk/1500 def) and I'm going to have it destroy your Rose Witch."
Kari blew Aaron another kiss. "You don't need to do that." Aaron ceased the attack. "Good boy. Now end your turn."
"Kari, knock it off!" Luke shouted at her.
"It's not my fault your friend is so vulnerable." Aaron ended his turn while Kari drew her card. "I activate Rose Witch's ability and use it as two tributes so I can summon Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms (LV8/2800 atk/1200 def). She gains 100 attack for each plant monster I control, so her attack automatically goes up to 2900. Talaya, can you give my special friend a treat here?" The monster darted over to Aaron's field attacking his monster destroying his Vampire Koala. His life points fell to 2900. Aaron could see the monster wink at him before it attacked.
Kari ended her turn while Aaron drew his card. He looked at Kari swearing he could see a tail. "I play one card facedown and I play one monster facedown. I end my turn."
"You want to tell me what card it is?" Kari asked. Aaron put his head down trying not to make eye contact with her. "You were so much more happy when we started. Look at me so I can cheer you up." Aaron shook his head. "Fine, I'll make you look at me!" Kari drew her card growing a little irritable. "I summon Aromage Jasmine (LV2/100 atk/1900 def). I activate her ability to summon another monster, Aromage Rosemary (LV4/1800 atk/700 def). I play the field spell, Aroma Garden." The field changed as a garden formed around the two duelists; it was beautiful. "Such a romantic place to duel." Kari smiled picking up one of the flowers and putting it in her hair. Her outfit had also changed to a short, yellow sundress. "Now I gain 500 life points and I get to activate some abilities. First, Aromage Jasmine lets me draw a card. Then Aromage Rosemary lets me change a monster's battle position. I change Aromage Jasmine to defense mode. And Talaya gets 100 attack points for each of my new monsters. Then Aroma Garden gives them another 500 attack and defense." Kari's life points grew to 4500 and her monster's attack grew to 3600. "Talaya, attack his cowardly excuse for a monster, but do it sweetly." The monster swung at his defense position monster revealing Vampire Sorcerer (LV4/1500 atk/1500 def) before it was destroyed. "Aromage Rosemary, attack!" Aaron remained silent keeping his head down trying to avoid Kari's gaze. He could feel the attack hit him and knock him down. He caught a whiff of Kari's perfume trying to ignore it. His life points fell down to 600.
Luke looked over at Kari who was now showing more of herself. He could see her purple tail and her demonic wings.
Aaron forced himself off the ground catching a glimpse of Kari who was smiling at him again. "You're…a…succubus."
"Very good sweetie." Kari blew him another kiss. "Now how about you end your turn?"
Aaron's eyes glowed ferociously as he hissed at Kari flashing his fangs at her. "Not happening." He drew his card trying to control his urges.
"And I only thought Luke could resist me." Kari grinned.
"Think again. I banish the card you destroyed earlier, Vampire Sorcerer. By doing this I can summon a vampire without a tribute. This is my Vampire Vamp (LV7/2000 atk/2000 def), one of my most powerful vampires." The monster appeared flashing her fangs at Kari's monsters. "She has an ability that allows me to take control of one of your monsters with more attack than her. Your queen is mine." His monster rushed to Kari's field biting her monster. His monster's attack grew to 4800. "Vampire Vamp, attack Aromage Rosemary." Aaron's monster attacked destroying Kari's monster and reducing her life points down to 2500. "I play one card facedown. That's my turn."
"You've got some spunk." Kari drew her card, gained 500 life points, and drew another card from her Aromage Jasmine's ability. "I summon Aromage Rosemary. I activate Aromage Jasmine's ability and summon again, this time it's Aromaseraphy Angelica (LV1/0 atk/0 def). I tune level one Aromaseraphy Angelica with level four Aromage Rosemary. I Synchro summon level five Aromaseraphy Rosemary(LV5/2000 atk/900 def)! I'm using her ability to negate your Vampire Vamp's ability. That means I get Talaya back. Aroma Garden gives all my monsters 500 attack and defense and so does my Rosemary. Time to end this duel. Talaya, destroy his Vampire Vamp!"
"Time to activate my trap, Negate Attack."
Kari hovered angrily. "Your turn."
Aaron drew his card. "I play Foolish Burial and send Vampire Lord from my deck to the graveyard. I activate Vampire Takeover allowing me to activate Vampire Kingdom." A large castle formed behind Aaron adding an ominous feeling to the once serene and tranquil garden. "I also get to summon a monster from my graveyard in defense position. I select Vampire Lord." The monster appeared on the field (LV6/2000 atk/1500 def). I'm tributing Vampire Lord to summon the vampire king, Vampire Genesis (LV8/3000 atk/ 2100 def)! Then I have one more summon to make. I summon Vampire Koala (LV4/1800 atk/1500 def). I also get to activate Vampire Vamp's ability and take one of your monsters. I'm taking Talaya back." Vampire Vamp's attack grew to 4800. "Vampire Genesis, destroy Aromage Jasmine!" The Monster was destroyed with brute force. "Vampire Vamp, destroy Aromaseraphy Rosemary!" Both monsters had gained 500 attack points from their respective effects. Kari's life points fell to 200. Kari sighed knowing what was coming. "Vampire Koala, end this duel!" Aaron's monster attacked reducing Kari's life points to zero.
The field faded returning everyone to the restaurant and Kari's clothes to normal. She stood up having returned to her human form. She glanced at Aaron briefly before running at him and jumping into his arms tackling him to the ground. "That was so much fun!" She looked down at him grinning.
"Hey!" Luke shouted at her helping Aaron up.
"Don't get jealous Lukie." Kari stood up fixing her hair a little. "I'll see you two later, I hope." She smiled at Aaron winking.
"You probably will." Luke gave Aaron a discreet shove towards the door as they left the restaurant. "You got a duel, and now she's off my back. This day just got a lot better." Luke smiled as a car pulled up for them. "I'll take you home, and we can hang out again soon. I have more people for you to duel."
"You think anything is happening?"
"Definitely." Luke said getting into the car and closing the door before it started driving away.
Later that night…
"You're saying that the vampire, Aaron, is showing progress." An old man with pointed ears and white hair and beard asked.
"That is correct. The one called Luke has seemingly taken him under his wing." A boy with long blonde hair and pointed ears responded.
"What monsters does he wield?" A woman with purple skin and hair asked.
"Vampire monsters including Vampire Genesis."
Everyone in the room gasped. "That card has not been seen in over a century." The clearly older man spoke.
"I saw it."
"The card must have travelled millennia through his lineage to reach him." An older man with long black hair and a staff resting by his chair spoke.
A blue woman with scales, blue hair, and three eyes spoke with only two eyes open; her hands rested on a crystal ball. "I motion for deliberation on Aaron's acceptance into the tournament."
"Motion postponed." The elven man spoke. "There is a more pressing matter to discuss." He nodded to the guards in the room who opened the large doors to their chamber. A large, orb was pushed into the room by two of the guards. A woman, a man, and a girl walked with it eyeing the cards floating inside.
"What is that?" The elven boy with long blonde hair walked towards the orb mesmerized with curiosity. The guards immediately blocked his path.
"That is how we make this tournament like no other. If you would care to explain." He motioned to the people walking with the orb.
The woman spoke while the girl kept her head down. "As requested, we have discovered a unique set of cards for your tournament. These cards have been recreated from the originals which hail from a different dimension, the number cards as they are known."
"Incredible." The council looked at the cards in awe.
"I can feel their power." The blue woman said eyeing the cards floating around in the orb. "They cry out for compatible duelists."
"And they shall have them when the tournament commences." The man with black hair spoke standing from his chair. He walked over to the orb and placed his hand on it. He looked at the cards inside manipulating some of their movements with his staff. "I recall you saying that there would be one hundred number cards. I do not count that many."
"Some of the cards were unstable during creation and dissolved." The woman spoke.
"Is this true?" The man put a hand on the girl's shoulder tilting her head upward and brushing back some of her purple hair. He stared into her sapphire blue eyes waiting for an answer.
"Yes." She squeaked nervously feeling his intimidating gaze.
"Your card alchemy has improved greatly. You should be proud, Lola." He squeezed her shoulder before returning his attention to the orb.
"We'll be going now." The group walked out of the room leaving the council to their deliberations. A car was waiting for them to take them to their home.
When they arrived, Lola ran to her room waving her finger at the door making it close and lock behind her. She unlocked her jewelry box with the key around her neck. She then lifted part of it revealing a secret compartment. She pulled out several cards and held them close looking at each one; they were number cards. "I won't let them hurt you. I'll protect you. I promise."
I'm hoping this chapter is an improvement. I know things have been a little dull, but I'm trying not to rush this story too much. Hopefully you stick around for what's to come.
