Chapter 6: Look At My Treasured Deck!
In a skyscraper somewhere in New Domino City.
"Yusei Fudo. Yusei Fudo!" The only light in the courtroom is a harsh spotlight on the criminal in question, sitting slumped over on a wooden chair before the massive, towering seat of the judge. "Are you listening? The authorities have seized your D-Wheel and deck."
Yusei looks up, his teeth clenched.
The harsh lighting prevents from seeing his face, but he seems to be gray-haired and balding, wearing a plain black or gray suit and a white shirt. "Yusei Fudo! Satellite citizens trespassing into Neo Domino City without permission is a heinous crime. Therefore, the Public Maintenance Department has rendered the following verdict: One count! You will be inscribed with a marker." From his tone, this is a serious offense.
A machine descends from the above, which proceeds to laser a design onto Yusei's face, holding his head still with a metal helmet, while two officials look on. Yusei screams out, in pain, as the design is etched into his skin.
"Under Neo Domino City jurisdiction, this mark symbolizes incompatibility."
Both the machine and helmet retract towards the ceiling. Yusei falls forward onto the floor, wincing in pain.
"It means, that you are not allowed to live in our jurisdiction!"
The two officers surround Yusei, one of them grabbing him by the hair, lifting him up off the floor a bit, roughly, while the other kneels in front of him. The new yellow mark on Yusei's cheek glows light blue. It's a line that starts at the bottom of Yusei's left eye, running downward, then left to his jaw and a small triangle next to the line. As the mark glows, Yusei grunts with pain, feeling as though everything is slipping away.
Next thing he knows, Yusei is boarding a van to the detention center, with several other prisoners, in a large parking garage. This van has a spray-painted 60 on its roof and the other numbered van Yusei sees is 75. The other vans in the garage, six more, are too distant to read. "One count! Yusei Fudo will take part in a reeducation program at a detention center for one month." Two Security guards hold the doors to the van. "Hurry up and get on!"
Ten glum-faced passengers boarding so far, including Yusei, who takes a seat on the left-side bench, quietly. The guy next to Yusei is staring at the ground, disconsolately, while the next guy over is scowling, as he watches the rest of the passengers board. Yusei also glances at the door and then glares at the floor, bitterly. "This is to reconfirm that you know the laws of Neo Domino City. Every violator must take this program."
"Pardon me." A kooky old man, in wooden sandals, with gray socks, a gray-green wraparound robe and a long, yellow vest, boards and looks for a seat, snatching the available one next to Yusei. Grinning wide enough to show a golden tooth, he's the only person in the van who's not depressed and miserable.
The van soon drives out of the garage and onto the street. Some of the other passengers are looking around or out the windows. Yusei's frowning at the floor, recalling the judge's words to him, bitterly… "After finishing the program, you will spend six months at the Neo Domino City expansion factory before being sent home to Satellite." "Hey." "Hm?" Yusei asks. He notices the old man and turns away, not in the mood to talk. The old man leans over to look over Yusei's far shoulder, disgustingly cheerful. "Hey, hey." Yusei looks back the other way and the old man sits down again. "I heard you were caught trespassing. Same here. My name is Tenzen Yanagi. Nice to meet you." Yusei, still trying to avoid talking to anyone, is now looking over his shoulder out the window. "You were caught at Duel Stadium, right? I was nearby at the time. It was incredible. All the lights went out." Says Yanagi.
Flashback. Alarmed citizens look around, as every light in every skyscraper on the street goes out, building by building. The only building still lit is the Duel Stadium, glowing like a supernatural ruby. "But what surprised me the most was that red dragon!" Yanagi says, in voice-over. Yanagi is standing outside the Duel Stadium, crying out, in terror, as a beam of red light shoots into the air from the stadium, into the swirling clouds above. In an eye blink, the Crimson Dragon appears in its place, warbles its birdlike cry and then spreads its wings, shining like a beacon. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. "Weren't you inside the stadium at that time?" Asks Yanagi. "What do you know?" Yusei asks. "Sonny, how did you bring that out? Weren't you having a Riding Duel? You can bring that dragon out during a duel?" Yanagi says. "Hm?" Asks Yusei.
Meanwhile. In his plush apartment in Neo Domino, Jack's tossing and turning in bed.
Jack's dreams are full of the Crimson Dragon and its strange cry. Jack falls off of his runner and the dragon just stares at him, as if waiting for a command to attack. The dragon soon comes to being calm and then standing on its head is a person. The dragon brings its head down so the person can step off and stand on the ground.
"Who are you? Do you control this beast?" Jack asks.
The person is soon revealed as being a woman. Her outfit consists of a black, long-sleeved, skin-tight leotard, that gives off the appearance of a racing-suit, which is very low-cut, bearing her breasts quite a bit and giving off a very pronounced busty-appearance, with precise red segments and lines, and a patch of red, transparent material, going from just below her breasts to just below her navel. She has two black and red wrist-cuffs, as well. She also wears black, thigh-high, heeled boots, with some red details, and a black cloak, with a hood attached and over her head, shadowing the upper half of her face. A head-shaped sign suddenly appears on her right forearm, glowing crimson red through her sleeve, and then over her abdomen, a dragon symbol appears, glowing crimson red through her leotard. Then all of a sudden, she has symbols and markings all over her body, glowing crimson red. Her eyes even start glowing crimson red, as well. She then collapses to her knees, struggling to keep herself up.
Jack runs to her to try and get questions. "What does this mark mean? Why does Yusei have one? And who are you?" Asks Jack. He then removes her hood to reveal that she is someone he knows. "No, how's this possible?" Jack asks.
She is revealed to be Sakura Kuraitaiyoh, only her long, wavy hair is calf-length and is completely red, with absolutely no trace of black in it, who is either severely weakened or fatally wounded. "Sakura, please just stay with me." Says Jack. "I'm sorry, Jack. However, it is already too late!" Sakura says, her voice menacing and echoic. She then pushes herself off of Jack's chest and out of his grip. "What do you mean 'it's too late'?" Asks Jack. "It has already been decided and has already begun. There is no stopping what is meant to be." Sakura says. Her long, wavy, red hair is blowing in some sort of wind. "What has been decided? What has already begun and meant to be that is unstoppable, Sakura?!" Asks Jack. Sakura then turns to face him. "Your fate!" Sakura says. Her eyes then glow even brighter, the sclera's of her eyes have gone black, and red veins appear across her eyes.
The dragon suddenly grabs Sakura with one of its hands, it has its hand wrapped around her waist. Skylara tries to get herself out of the dragon's grip.
"Hey, let 'er go you big beast!" Says Jack. The dragon knocks him back down to the ground with its tail.
The dragon then brings Sakura back down to the ground, safely, and releases her. "This dragon isn't trying to hurt you. It's trying to protect you or save you, one of the two." Jack says. "You are correct, Jack. It is trying to save me. However, it is also trying to protect me." Says Sakura. "Then why was it trying to attack me? You know that I would never do anything to hurt you." Jack says. Sakura laughs, slightly. "It wasn't trying to attack you, Jack. It was testing you." Says Sakura. "Testing me? For what?" Jack asks. Before Sakura can give him an answer, the dragon suddenly attacks him, out of no where.
Jack awakens and sits up, with a yell. Jack looks down at the sign visible on his arm.
He soon goes downstairs, wearing a sleeveless, black shirt, grey jeans and white boots.
Minako is arranging some pink roses in a vase. "How long have I been here?" Asks Jack. "Good morning. Since this morning, Master Atlas. The Director himself brought you here. He thought the reason you were upset was because the duel wasn't completed." Minako says. "Wait! How did you know that the duel wasn't completed?" Asks Jack. "Uh, um… I'm sorry. I saw the whole thing." Minako says. "Sakiko..." Says Jack. He walks off. "Uh! Master Atlas, where are you going?" Minako asks.
Jack pushes open both halves of the door and strides out, ignoring her.
"Please wait, Master Atlas!" Says Minako, calling out after him from the doorway.
Meanwhile. Godwin, Jaeger and Akutsu are analyzing the monitor footage from the previous night's duel, in a room somewhere near the top of the same building at the bottom of which Yusei was tried in court. "As you can see, when Red Dragon Archfiend, Stardust Dragon and Cynder the Black Dragon clashed, the Moment's rotations increased rapidly." Akutsu says. Footage from the previous night's duel is showing on a circular holographic screen. Around it, several smaller screens show readouts and graphs. Godwin is sitting at the table, with his chin on his hands, apparently troubled. "This supports the conditions required for resurrecting the ancient Crimson Dragon. Hahahahahahaha!" Says Jaeger. "That's correct!" Akutsu says, in a breathy scream. He practically throws himself at Godwin's desk, panicked. Even Jaeger looks startled. "This event occurred just when we finalized plans to include Moment in all parts of Neo Domino City! This is great news!" Says Akutsu. He spins like a top and stops when the screen goes blank. "Ugh!" Akutsu says. "This is when we lost power, so the recording stopped." Says Jaeger. "I see. That means, the Crimson Dragon hasn't been filmed clearly." Godwin says. "Correct." Says Jaeger. Godwin appears to be deep in thought. Jaeger chuckles.
The detention center is a building within a building, around the prison complex itself is a sort of parking garage. The central building is several stories tall, with shorter wings built off of it, like spokes on a wheel. Directly above the central building, a giant skylight in the parking garage building, open to the sky, lights the space below. The wall around the complex features a massive iron door. Every exterior wall is dotted with the small, uniform windows of individual cells. Several sets of iron doors slide open and the van trundles through. When it stops, Yanagi jumps out of the van and follows Yusei, who's already disembarked. One of the guards shoves Yusei. "This way!" As Yusei stumbles from the shove, he passes a point on the wall and a laser shoots out of it. Yusei stops moving, with a groan of pain. Another guard looks at a portable screen, as the laser scans Yusei's mark. "You're G2MA2-88. Starting today, you will be referred to by your number."
The new prisoners are soon led into the detention center. The bottom level of the main building is a wide lobby, with walkways crisscrossing it overhead. Each level has a walkway to the cells that open onto this main area. Guards and inmates watch the new prisoners from above. "Everyone who caused problems in the city are housed here to undergo reeducation." The cells on the bottom story of the main area, which they're passing right now, are more like cages. They're full of inmates grasping through the bars, sneering and yelling. "Other than trespassers like you, people unfit for society are also kept here." They walk down a hallway in one of the wings, it's well-lit with fluorescent fixtures, very plain and clinical. Yusei looks straight ahead, calm and steady.
An inmate in one of the cells Yusei walks past catches his eye, this tall, strong guy has blue, spiky hair and a look of contempt on his hard face, as he watches the new guys walk by. Yusei only catches a short glimpse before the vertical shutters that serve the cells as bars obscures him from view.
The guard stops walking. "Stop! This is your room! Enter!" He clicks a remote control and the doors to several cells in that area of the hallway swing open.
Yanagi dashes into the cell nearest to Yusei and leaps onto the plain mattress of the left-side bed, kicking off his sandals and huddling on the bed. "Hooray! I can finally sleep in a bed." Yanagi says.
Yusei follows, reluctantly.
"The reeducation program starts in the afternoon. Until then, you should think about what you did." The guard soon makes his way past the door to leave.
As he's walking away down the hall, an inmate reaches a hand through the shutters of his cell to catch his attention. "Hello." "What do you want?" "I want to throw a welcome party for the new arrivals. As an old-timer, I'll teach them the rules of this place." "Again? Don't cause too much trouble." With a smile, he clicks a remote and the light next to the cell door flashes blue, with the word UNLOCK.
The tough guy Yusei noticed earlier chuckles, mischievously.
Yanagi is looking out the window, while Yusei stands near the door. "This place is big. And it's also new." Says Yanagi. "You haven't answered my question yet." Yusei says. Yanagi is clinging to the wall, he'd be about a foot too short to look out the window from the ground. "About what?" Asks Yanagi. "About the red dragon." Yusei says. "Sonny." Says Yanagi. He jumps down and walks over to him, who sits down on the unclaimed bed. "Did you bring a deck?" Yanagi asks. "Huh?" Asks Yusei. "We'll talk afterwards." Yanagi says. "We're not allowed to bring one." Says Yusei. Yanagi pulls out a couple cards he had stashed in his vest and pulls out some more from under his arms. "Ta-daa! After visiting various detention centers, I learned that you always need a deck." Yanagi says. "You're allowed to duel here?" Asks Yusei. "It's the same inside as outside. Even in a detention center, there are ones who are in control and ones being controlled. Who's who is decided by a duel." Yanagi says. "A duel." Says Yusei. "Heh heh!" Yanagi giggles.
Jack is striding down a hallway, with Minako fluttering in his wake. Jack's wearing a long, white tench coat, lined with purple and spiked shoulders, similar to the design of his turbo-dueling suit, over a white, plunging shirt, and his usual grey pants and white boots. Jack's also wearing a neckband and a belt buckle, along with his usual earrings. "Master Atlas! Please wait, Master Atlas!" Minako says.
Akutsu is pulling one of the holographic screens over to him through the air and points to it. "This shows that when the King had them both out simultaneously, Moment didn't run amok!" Says Akutsu, excitedly. "But it did when they clashed. So did something happen when the three battled?" Jaeger asks. Godwin's still deep in thought.
The door suddenly opens.
"Hmph?" Asks Godwin.
Jack strides in, with Minako behind him. "I'm sorry, Director." Minako says. Jack sees the screen and gasps. "What is this? Why are you watching this?" Asks Jack, furiously. Godwin stands up and walks around the desk. "Please, calm down. This is the Public Maintenance Department. We protect the peace in Neo Domino City. It is our duty to learn about strange events that occur in the city. Information connected to the people of the stars is especially important." Godwin says, soothingly. "You know something." Says Jack, at first surprised and then back to furious. He rolls up his sleeve. "When the Crimson Dragon appeared, I felt pain from this mark!" Jack says. Godwin bows his head at the sight of the sign. "That's right. According to legend, you are a Signer." Says Godwin. Jaeger, Akutsu and Minako snap to, following his lead and bowing to Jack. "You're a person who has the mark of the dragon." Godwin says. "Signer?" Asks Jack. "You are the chosen one. You are a person of the stars." Godwin says. "However, Yusei also had the mark! It was linked to my mark!" Says Jack. "What? That person from Satellite?" Godwin asks. "You didn't see it?" Says Jack. "Unfortunately, the visuals were cut due to the power outage." Godwin says. "I saw it! And I'm sure Sakiko saw it, too!" Says Jack, defensively.
Flashback, to the sight of a glowing mark on Yusei's arm. "Yusei's arm also had the mark!" Jack says, in voice-over. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. "But, he didn't have it two years ago! Huh? Stop! Pause the monitor! Rewind! Right here!" Says Jack. Akutsu is operating the controls, haphazardly. Jack points to it. "Enlarge that section." Jack says. "Easily done." Says Akutsu.
The image on the screen shows the trap card Yusei activated a split second before the duel ended.
"Ugh! This is… 'Meteor Stream'!" Jack says. "I see. 'Meteor Stream'. King, what you activated right before was…" Says Jaeger.
Another video screen shows the moment before that, when Jack activated his last card. "I activate a Speed Spell! 'End of the Storm'!" Jack says, via-video.
"'End of the Storm' destroys all monsters on the field. For every destroyed monster, the player takes three hundred points of damage." Says Jaeger. "That's right! That was a strategy to get Stardust back! He takes damage, and then it was supposed to return to my field after he released it! But at the very end, he was going to use 'Meteor Stream'." Jack says. "When a released monster resurrects, that card deals a thousand points of damage. That means…" Says Jaeger. He looks downright gleeful at how upset Jack is getting. "I had nine-hundred life points. If I took a thousand points of damage… Zero! I lost to him! I… Rrrgh!" Jack says. He clenches his fists, all but ready to break down. Godwin puts a hand over one of his fists. "Don't worry about it. No one knows what happened last night." Says Godwin, bracingly. Jack flings his hand aside. "But I know! The King knows! There's no way I can forget this duel! Where is he? Where is he right now?" Jack asks. "It's regular policy to quarantine people who arrive from Satellite. He is no exception. He would be at the detention center by now." Says Godwin.
Meanwhile, in the detention center.
The inmate and his cronies are emerging from their cells, filling the hallway.
The door to Yusei and Yanagi's cell bursts open.
The inmate steps into the cell, a bunch of other thugs at his back.
"I'm going to meet him." Jack says, flatly. "You can't. Think about your role as the King. Don't you want to know about the people of the stars and Signers? Don't you want to know who you truly are?" Asks Godwin. Jack looks back at him, contemptuous, but uncertain.
Jack's heading for the door, when Sakiko, with Onyx standing at her side, is suddenly in the doorway in front of him.
Jack finally realizes that Sakiko wasn't at Godwin's side for once during the whole discussion.
It doesn't seem that any of the others in the room noticed Sakiko at all either.
Jack's staring into Sakiko's dark crimson-red eyes, which can only be seen through the lower eye slits of her mask, knowing what happened last night during the duel, remembering Cynder the Black Dragon appearing out of no where and attacking his dragon, but Jack only knows one person who possesses that card.
Sakiko is glaring into Jack's purple eyes, still remembering the relation between her and Yusei that she had forgotten about for two years.
"Sakiko." Minako says, surprised. She then runs over to Sakiko, sort of coming between her and Jack.
Sakiko and Jack don't take their eyes off of each other once, barely blinking. They're not happy with each other one bit after what happened last night. Jack's hands are at his sides for the moment, his fists still clenched, but he knows very well that he can't hurt a woman at all and Sakiko knows she can't place a finger on him without Godwin's consent. Sakiko's arms are folded over her chest for now. "Sakiko, what are you doing here? I thought you were in the infirmary resting. You were unconscious and really banged up when Jack brought you back here last night." Says Minako. Sakiko doesn't answer her, still glaring at Jack.
"Sakiko, I gave you permission to rest off your injuries." Godwin says.
"With all do respect, Sir. I don't need it. I'm well enough to do any assignment you have scheduled for me." Says Sakiko, addressing Godwin, but still not taking her eyes off of Jack.
Godwin walks up, getting between her and Jack, touching Minako's shoulder, in reassurance that she can step out from between them. Godwin then sort of takes Minako's place being between the two, in case something were to occur between them. Godwin moves his body so now Jack is at his left and Sakiko is at his right. "Then Sakiko, if you are feeling strong enough and willing to do any assignment that I assign to you. I have a special assignment for you to do…" Godwin says. He then leans over towards the side of Sakiko, touching her shoulder. "…I need you to go to the detention center and do some investigating there. You must watch over the man from Satellite very carefully while you are there, too. Do you understand?" Asks Godwin, whispering behind his hand. "Yes. I understand my assignment very clearly, Sir." Sakiko says. Godwin takes his hand off of her shoulder and goes back to how he was standing before, with Jack to his left and her to his right. "Very good. How soon will you be prepared to leave?" Asks Godwin. "As soon as possible, Sir." Sakiko says. "Very well. You may go." Says Godwin. He then walks away from between the two.
They're still very much staring into each others eyes, not really moving an inch. Jack then walks to Sakiko, but moves to the side of her towards the door. "I need a word with you, if I may?!" Jack asks. "Very well, Jack. But make it quick, I have somewhere I need to be." Says Sakiko. She then follows him out the door, with Onyx following right alongside her.
Sakiko closes the door behind them and follows Jack halfway, away from the door so Godwin and the others can't hear their discussion. Sakiko stops walking, with Onyx stopping to stand at her side, and then Jack stops not too far in front of her.
"You cost me my duel last night and I want answers. I want to know why you intervened in my duel with Yusei. 'Cause, I know Godwin only sent you there in case of emergencies if something went wrong, but I think you had other ideas." Jack says.
"And so what if I did. Even if I wouldn't have intervened, if that's what you call it, you would have lost to Yusei due to his 'Meteor Stream', if I do recall. You said so yourself, your miserable life points would have been lost." Says Sakiko.
Jack then walks up to her, pointing a finger at her, furiously. Jack's taller than Sakiko, since he's 6'0", while she is 5'4", but she doesn't seem to be bothered by it at all. Onyx lets out a deep growl, as a warning for Jack to stay back. Jack glares down at Onyx, he knows full well that this dog can attack him at any given minute, he steps back a bit and returns his focus to Sakiko. "How long were you standing there in the doorway?" Jack asks. "Oh, long enough precious 'chosen one.' Truth is, whether you like it or not. You are not destined for anything but pathetic failure, Jack." Says Sakiko. Jack seems as if he's ready to explode after that statement. "Well, let's move onto a different subject. Where did you get that dragon card from?" Jack asks. "Your going to have to be a little more specific. Because my memory isn't quite what it used to be since your cowardly duel last night." Says Sakiko, toying with him. "Then allow me to fix your memory!" Jack says. He then grabs Sakiko by the waist and presses her up against a wall, sort of slamming her into it.
Onyx is baring his teeth at Jack and snarling at him, he's about ready to attack him.
"Onyx, no. It is alright." Says Sakiko.
Onyx shifts his stance and stops baring his fangs, but he's not taking his eyes off of Jack one little bit.
"Has your memory returned from where you got that dragon card from? Or am I going to have to slam you harder against this wall?" Jack asks, threateningly. "Which dragon, Jack?" Asks Sakiko. "Cynder the Black Dragon." Jack says. "That card found me, Jack. Cynder chose me as her duelist. Just like Red Dragon Archfiend chose you and Stardust Dragon chose Yusei. And Jack, you're hurting me." Says Sakiko. Jack then releases his hold on her waist and moves his arms on either side of her, his fists clenched on the wall. "You could've told me you had Cynder. So, why don't you just hand the card over to me." Jack says. "That is not going to happen, Jack. Cynder is my card and she is staying with me." Says Sakiko. Jack takes his left fist from the wall and places it near his side. Then with his right hand, Jack punches it into the wall, right near the side of Sakiko's head. Sakiko closes her eyes so she wouldn't have to watch.
Onyx growls and then barks.
When Sakiko hears Jack's fist hit the wall beside her head, she at least opens one of her dark crimson-red eyes. When Sakiko looks, Jack almost has tears in his purple eyes, only they don't go down his cheeks. Sakiko can see that Jack is trying to be the tough guy he thinks he is. Jack can't find it in his heart to hurt any woman, no matter how upset he is at that specific woman. Sakiko suddenly touches Jack's fist, that's right next to the side of her head. Jack feels the touch of Sakiko's gloved hand on his bare fist, feeling her hand shaking a little bit as if a little bit hurt, but almost soothing. Jack almost feels a familiar touch he knows well, but can't find it in his heart to believe what he thinks. Out of no where, in order for some reason to apologize for his actions towards Sakiko, but also to thank her for her sympathy, Jack leans in closer to her and kisses her on the forehead, with his eyes closed. Sakiko's eyes are closed, as well, but only for a second while it happens. Sakiko's eyes are open before Jack removes his lips from her forehead and opens his eyes once again. Their hands are still touching, though. Jack then removes his hand from the wall, but still has their hands touching, having their hands between them and their fingers intertwined.
Onyx walks over to them and stands near Sakiko.
"So, what's going on here then?" Jaeger asks.
They both turn to look and he is about four feet away from them. Sakiko then removes her hand out of Jack's hold. Onyx starts growling at Jaeger, which makes him keep his distance from them.
"Well, I see you two are suddenly getting along nicely. Your lucky it was me and not the director. Otherwise, you dear Sakiko would be out of here in probably not even a…" Says Jaeger.
"That's enough, Jaeger!" Jack says, yelling. He moves to stand in front of Sakiko, defending her for his own actions. "It wasn't her doing, it was all mine. You didn't see anything here, Jaeger. Or so help me, I'll pound your face 'til it looks like a pancake." Says Jack. He suddenly feels a hand on one of his shoulders and looks back over his shoulder at Sakiko. "It is alright, Jack. You should just worry about dueling and not losing any other duels. I have an assignment to do… I shall see you when I return." Sakiko says. She removes her hand from Jack's shoulder. Then as Sakiko's about to turn and leave, Jack grabs her hand to stop her and is now holding her hand between them again, lacing his fingers with hers. "You don't have to keep living like this. You know, working as Godwin's assistant, messenger and bodyguard. If you want, I have a penthouse that's big enough for more than just me. If you want, my penthouse door is always open for you to either come talk to me or stay with me as my roommate. Onyx is more than welcome, too." Says Jack. "Thanks for the offer, Jack. I shall take it under consideration. However, this assignment that Goodwin assigned me is something I must do. Don't worry, Jack. I will think about it." Sakiko says. "That's all I ask is for you to think about it." Says Jack. He lets go of Sakiko's hand. "I shall see you when I return." Sakiko says. She then walks away and leaves out the doors, with Onyx walking alongside her.
Jaeger walks up to stand at Jack's side, with his arms behind his back. "So, it's Sakiko that you want, is it? If that's so, then I would get to her while you still have a chance. But, her with a guy like you. Someone who hides her face behind a mask. Doesn't really do the King justice." Says Jaeger, commenting. He's trying to get Jack fired up again. Jack glares down at Jaeger. "You say one more disrespectful thing about 'er, you're going to wish you never met me. She's just a friend." Jack says, fiercely. "That's not what I saw. Friends don't kiss." Says Jaeger. "That kiss was just on the forehead and it was to thank her." Jack says. "You kissed her mask, not the face that she hides behind it. And, thank her for what?" Asks Jaeger. "Never mind, someone like you would never understand." Jack says. "Anyway, the director wants a word with you." Says Jaeger. "I'm serious, Jaeger. You mention a word of this to Godwin and cost Sakiko her job…" Jack says, threateningly. "My lips are sealed, King. But sooner or later, the director is going to find out that there is some sort of spark between you and her." Says Jaeger. "He isn't going to find out. I'll make sure of it." Jack thinks to himself.
Yusei and Yanagi have been escorted to a gym of some kind, roughly, shoved across the room and are now standing opposite of the inmate and about fifteen thugs. "Welcome to my duel field. I'm Himuro. This is my realm." Himuro speaks with a Brooklyn accent. This is clearly the new inmate's trial by fire.
Yanagi is panicking, but Yusei is poker-faced.
Himuro walks up and bends over slightly to get in Yusei's face. Yanagi is still panicking, Yusei doesn't blink. "Since you're new, you don't know that there are two sets of rules. One for inside the detention center and another for the outside. Got it? And I rule the inside." Himuro says. "Ah! Ahhh! Aaah-hah-hah! I know who you are! You're the pro duelist Jin Himuro, right?" Asks Yanagi. "Shut up, geezer!" Himuro says. "Awesome! I'm so lucky that I can meet you in a place like this!" Says Yanagi. He turns to Yusei. "Hey sonny, I've seen him several times on TV." Yanagi says, aside to Yusei. "Stop talking about the past!" Says Himuro.
Two of his cronies mutter to each other. A taller one with an orange jumpsuit, a tuft of blondish hair and a thin mark running down his left cheek. The other guy is shorter by half a foot, with short black hair and a mark under his right eye that looks like a spiky, upside-down letter U. "That geezer can't sense the tension in the air." "Talking about Himuro's past isn't allowed."
"Hey geezer! When I talk about the rules on the inside, it mean that you have to duel me to determine your rank. The lower rank must obey the higher rank!" Himuro says. "Ehehe! That's what I thought. Since I thought this was going to happen, I brought a deck." Says Yanagi. "Naahh!" Himuro says. "My deck is incredible. It's the rarest of the rare! I call it the treasure deck!" Says Yanagi. He pulls out his cards and waves them around, jumping about, ecstatically. "Look! Look! Look! Look!" Yanagi says.
"Treasure deck?" "The rarest of the rare?"
"It's good that you're prepared." Says Himuro. He then turns to Yusei. "How about you?" Himuro asks. Yusei breaks eye contact and looks at the floor. "I don't have one." Says Yusei. "Ha! You're a trespasser from Satellite. That means you won't have a deck." Himuro says. He gets in Yusei's face. "Just by being a citizen of Satellite, you're the lowest of the low." Says Himuro. Yusei matches his hostility with a glare of his own. Yanagi steps between Yanagi and Yusei. "Well now, my sonny didn't know anything. Take it easy on me, Himuro." Yanagi says. "Stop saying my name like that!" Says Himuro, yelling. "Let me borrow a duel disk." Yanagi says. He puts on a duel disk. "Whooohooo! I'm so happy that I can duel against Himuro." Says Yanagi. "Geezer!" Himuro says, yelling.
"Be careful, Himuro. He said it's the rarest of the rare. I'm worried."
"Ha! He's just bragging. I'll break through his disguise." Says Himuro.
"Oh really? Am I bragging? Watch, sonny." Yanagi says.
"Grandpa, I'll let you go first." Says Himuro.
"Ehahahaha! Okay, let's duel!" Yanagi says.
He and Himuro activate their duel disks and each start with 4000 life points.
"My turn!" Says Yanagi. He draws. "First, I'll show you this!" Yanagi says. He waves Crystal Skull. "It's an incredible card that I acquired recently! This card was found deep in South America and depicts a strange ancient item!" Says Yanagi.
"Stop bragging and hurry up and play it, geezer." Himuro says.
"Watch and be shocked!" Says Yanagi. He kisses the card. "I summon Crystal Skull in defense position!" Yanagi says.
Crystal Skull has 0 defense points and is a Level 1 monster. Big light show. "Come out, Crystal Skull!" Says Yanagi. Crystal Skull shocks him for 1000 points. "Ahiyaiyaiya! Why?" Yanagi asks
Himuro's peanut gallery is in stitches. "Don't you know that card's monster effect?" "The player who summons Crystal Skull takes a thousand points of damage."
"Oh no! No wonder it's an ancient treasure. There's a curse on it!" Says Yanagi.
The thugs laugh even harder. "I can't believe you put such a useless card in your deck. Hahaha!" "Oh yeah! There's a rumor that Crystal Skull's elaborate design could only be created using modern methods."
"Hehehahahah! That means it's a forgery." Himuro says.
"That's not true! Ancient people created Crystal Skull using techniques that even we don't know about!" Says Yanagi.
"That's enough! It's the end of your turn, right?" Himuro asks.
"Yeah." Says Yanagi.
"Than it's my turn!" Himuro says. He draws. "I activate the spell card 'Cost Down'! Until the End Phase, the Level of all monsters is decreased by two!" Says Himuro.
"Huh? Lower the Level?" Yanagi asks.
"All I did was make my skill level in dueling match yours, grandpa. I discard one card in my hand and summon Level six Ushi Oni!" Says Himuro.
"Aaaaaah!" Yanagi screams.
Ushi Oni has 2150 attack points.
"Ushi Oni!" "He said that he would lower his skill level, but he brought out Ushi Oni. Himuro is cruel."
Yusei's spectating from behind Yanagi, closely.
"Due to 'Cost Down', Level six Ushi Oni becomes Level four, so I can summon it without releasing another monster. Ushi Oni, attack Crystal Skull!" Himuro says.
Ushi Oni moves in to attack Crystal Skull.
"No! Don't destroy my Crystal Skull!" Says Yanagi.
Ushi Oni attacks and Crystal Skull shatters.
"Aaaaaih!" Yanagi screams.
The thugs laugh and cheer.
"Waiiigh! My Crystal Skull!" Yanagi says.
"It's fate that fakes quickly vanish. It's your turn, grandpa. Bring it." Says Himuro.
"It's time for my next card. I draw! Ah-hahaha! This is pretty good too. Its defense points are excellent! Look at this card. I summon it in defense position!" Yanagi says.
Ashoka Pillar has 2200 defense points and is a Level 3 monster.
All the thugs gasp, in awe. "Awesome! I've never seen a card like this!" "That's Ashoka Pillar." "That's right. Ashoka Pillar is a mysterious iron pole that exists in India. This perfect iron pole was made using techniques that didn't exist during that era!" Says Yanagi.
"Grandpa, do you really want to duel? You've played nothing but lame cards! Are you making fun of me?" Himuro asks.
"I'll show you even more shocking cards! From my hand, I equip the spell card 'Spirit Mask' on Ashoka Pillar!" Says Yanagi. He plays the spell card and an African tribal mask appears at the top of the pillar.
"So? What are you planning to do with that?" Himuro asks.
"Stay tuned. I end my turn." Says Yanagi.
"My turn. I draw! Grandpa, all you want to do is show off your cards. All your cards are useless garbage that don't work well together!" Himuro says.
Yusei, watching quietly, doesn't like the sound of that at all.
Up high in the bleachers, not even noticed, which she doesn't really mind. Sakiko looks on, watching the duel, just like Yusei is. Sakiko's right leg is crossed over her left, her right arm is lying across her lap and her left arm is lying on a bleacher above from where she's sitting. As usual, Onyx is lying down beside Sakiko, with his head lying on his front paws. Sakiko got there near the middle of the duel and doesn't like how it's been going so far, how terrible Himuro is treating Yanagi. Only, Sakiko knows the reason why Himuro is locked up in here, as well as why he hates people bringing up his past.
"This is a waste of time! I'll wipe away those garbage cards! First, I release Ushi Oni!" Says Himuro.
"Why?" Yanagi says.
"I Special Summon Giant Ushi Oni!" Says Himuro.
Giant Ushi Oni has 2600 attack points and is a Level 8 monster.
"This is…" Yanagi says.
"Giant Ushi Oni is a monster that can only be summoned by releasing Ushi Oni." Says Himuro.
Yanagi's mouth is agape.
"Giant Ushi Oni, attack Ashoka Pillar! Specter's Bite!" Himuro says.
"Yaaaah!" Yanagi screams. He looks up at his pillar, as it crumbles.
"Well done, Himuro!"
Yanagi then winces, as the pillar shatters and disappears.
"Heheheheh. You're pathetic. But don't think you've escaped yet!" Says Himuro.
"Huh?" Yanagi asks.
"When Ashoka Pillar is destroyed, you take two thousand points of damage!" Says Himuro.
"Yaaaaiaaah!" Yanagi screams, as his life points are shocked down to 1000.
"And don't forget the effect of 'Spirit Mask'. When that card is sent to the graveyard, you have to send another card in your hand to the graveyard." Himuro says.
Yanagi sighs. "Oh yeah." Says Yanagi, sadly. He discards the spell 'Triangle O'.
"It takes skill to gather that many useless cards."
Yusei grits his teeth, this isn't good.
Sakiko's dark crimson-red eyes are showing her frustration towards how Himuro and his cronies are treating miserable and depressed Yanagi.
"Giant Ushi Oni's monster effect! If it destroys your monster in battle, it can attack again! Attack grandpa directly!" Himuro says.
Yanagi panics, waving his arms, wildly, and falling backward before Giant Ushi Oni pounces on him. Yanagi's cards scatter to the ground.
Which forces Sakiko to stand to her feet, wanting to help Yanagi, but she doesn't walk down from there. Onyx just lifts up his head.
Yusei runs over to Yanagi, as his life points fall to 0. "Ah! Are you okay, grandpa?" Asks Yusei. He starts to lift Yanagi to his feet, but he struggles away and hastens to pick up his precious cards from the ground.
"Grandpa, you lose." Himuro says. He walks over to Yanagi's side of the field. "Sheesh. Not only didn't I lose any life points, but you dueled in a manner that was insulting to me!" Says Himuro.
Crystal Skull is still lying on the floor.
Before Yanagi can grab it, Himuro stomps on it and the card is under his foot. Yanagi falls upon it with a wail, kneeling over Himuro's shoe. "Grandpa, I give you the lowest rank possible!" Himuro says. "I wasn't insulting you. I just wanted to show these cards to an incredible duelist like you! I love these cards! Am I not allowed to love them?" Asks Yanagi.
Yusei hasn't moved, from the look on his face, he won't stand by and let Himuro bully him.
Sakiko's eyes, only visible through the lower eye slits of her mask, show almost the exact same thing as Yusei's, but she can't really do anything about it. Even though Sakiko is a woman and Himuro won't place his hands on her, she can't risk someone else getting hurt because of her again. Remembering how the hatred she had in her heart when she summoned out Cynder and sent her to attack Archfiend in order for Jack to lose the duel, but she wound up attacking Stardust, as well, which almost put Yusei in danger and almost seriously injured him.
"It's true that I don't know much about effects and such. But, I love these cards because they tell me about the mysteries of the human world. Please, move your foot. My precious cards are in pain!" Yanagi says. Himuro starts to grind Crystal Skull's card under his foot. "How horrible!" Says Yanagi.
Yusei puts one of his hands on one of Himuro's shoulder. HImuro turns his head. Yusei kicks both of Himuro's feet out from under him and he lands sprawled on the floor.
Himuro sits up, infuriated.
Yusei also seems angry, shoulders hunched, as he looks down at Yanagi.
Sakiko saw the whole thing happen and is impressed with what Yusei had done, although it can't be seen from behind the mask that hides her face. "That's the Yusei I remember, my younger, half-twin brother." Sakiko thinks to herself.
"What are you doing, you punk?!" Himuro asks.
"Will you let me borrow that deck?" Asks Yusei. "Huh?!" Yanagi asks. "I want to win with that deck." Says Yusei. He takes Yanagi's deck, holding it with the esteem due another duelist's cards.
Himuro gasps, aghast.
Yusei straps on the duel disk Yanagi was using, then stands up and faces him. He then turns to Himuro. "You said you were a professional duelist, so duel me." Yusei says.
Sakiko sits back down on the bleacher she was recently sitting on, crossing her right leg over her left and her arms where they were recently laying. If there was one thing Sakiko remembered about Yusei's dueling, it is that he can pull off a duel with anyone's deck. Onyx places his head on Sakiko's lap, resting.
"Interesting." Says Himuro. He stands up. "You're saying that you can beat me with that lame deck?" Himuro asks.
"That's right. Of the numerous cards in existence, there's not a single useless card." Says Yusei.
"Well said, Yusei." Sakiko thinks to herself.
It's on. Yanagi is overjoyed.
Himuro glares, fiercely.
The thugs are agape.
Yusei glares back at Himuro, a smoldering fire, as the latter chuckles, superiorly.