Chapter Seven

Every Shade of Black


./before


A song's first note is different for every player: the first step towards a dream, the release of built-up anxiety, or the instant one realizes they have no idea what they're performing. The last was a new introduction for me. My fingers used to dance along the pianoforte's keys. Tonight they lingered too long for the rhythm. I questioned each note. No, no, I've played this song a thousand times; no, no, I'm sure I'll mess it up.

BANG!

Dru's elbows rested on the piano's far edge. Lines of weariness tugged down the usual harshness in his features. "You're making an awful lot of noise, doll."

My hands dropped to my lap. The instrument I sat at was tucked into the corner of the large dance hall. Silver starlight spilled through three sky-high, arched windows. "Sorry."

"When I heard the maids whispering about a musically inclined ghost haunting the halls at night, I never would've guessed it would be you."

"There are a lot of nights I sneak in just to do this," I whispered. "I've loved playing since I was a kid."

He said, "You think you'd be better at it."

"I used to… be a lot better, yeah." I scanned the hall. The dance floor was black marble. I shimmied off the seat and said, "How about a dance? Like that one time, when we were kids!"

The whole band had been set up, and golden firelight showered from the chandeliers. Dru had taken the lead and swept me away so effortlessly. He laughed as we moved, and the sound gave me joy.

The present was dark and void. Dru said, "Sounds like a gigantic waste of time."

"Y-yeah. Probably… is." Dru dragged his arms off the piano and sauntered towards me. I looked up at him and said, "I- I just- It can be really fun, especially the dips!"

A corner of his mouth quirked up. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pressed his other hand between my shoulder blades. I grinned as he lowered me and held me an inch from the floor. The movement tossed my hair.

Dru dropped me. The back of my skull hit the marble; I grunted. His mouth twitched down, and he roared, "What the hell is that?"

"What? Why did you-"

He placed his hand on my forehead and pushed upwards, moving my bangs away. Dru pointed at the scar beneath my hairline. "This. You got a chip, didn't you? I told you not to!"

"I-I know, but I-"

Crack. Stars filled my vision. I fell back and touched my aching eye. The ringing in my ears nearly drowned out a gentle sound to my right. Dru was curled on the ground. One hand held onto his eyes, and tears spilled through. The other showed his swelling knuckles. He sobbed, saying, "I can't believe you would make me do that."

At the sight of his suffering, I moved forward almost automatically and grasped his shoulders. "I'm… I'm sorry. It's okay. I'm sorry."

In a single, smooth movement, he was on his feet. His tears sparkled on the floor like shards of onyx. Dru grabbed my wrist and pulled me along. His crying had stopped so suddenly, and despite the pain in my eye I wondered if he was okay. Our two pairs of footsteps echoed down the dark, empty chambers of Dartz's palace. His were loud and sure; mine were soft and arrhythmic.

He pulled me into his quarters. The hearth was ashen, and the room was cold. The only light was whatever the moon could spare. My former home was a gray palette, the opposite of the pastel colors I'd chosen for it. I sat crisscrossed in the middle of the bed. Dru was at its foot, and his hair was the brightest thing in the room.

I tapped my fingers absentmindedly on my legs. "Um, I should probably be going soon. It's really late."

"No."

"…Huh?"

"Think about it," he said while rising. "You can't run to your brother for help. You can't scream and cry; no one will come for an outcast."

A small, nervous laugh tumbled from me. "Why would I need to-"

He pressed his palms on the mattress and leaned over me. "You're not leaving, Rain."


./after


"If you think about it from any angle, the best counter to Lightsworn is deck destruction." My finger ran over the many feathers laced into the black scarf in my hands. "I don't have a deck like that, though, or the time to build it. I hate the strategy."

My legs dangled over Atlantis's edge. Starlight reflected off of battling, dark waves. A bright blue butterfly flitted around my head. What's your plan, young one?

"I have one. The deck's put together, and I have a counter for whatever he throws at me. I'm really nervous. I can only think of one way to stop." I walked into my shack, dug through my things, and produced a large, see-through bottle.

Not this again, Master scolded.

I drank until I swayed and collapsed by my own bonfire. Sparks and ashes drifted up to mix with the clouded moon. I laughed at the strange idea that ashes from fire might be caught in the sea.

"Black Vulture? Is that you?" Vivian Havika leaned over me. A longer hair in her pigtails tickled my ear. I scratched at it, grumbled, and turned on my side. "Aren't you supposed to be preparing for facing If? You're drunk…"

"I've been ready for him! Stop bothering me!"

"You're whiny like a child!" She stuck her tongue out at me. She pulled a teal card from her pocket and said, "I have a card that I think will help you in your duel tomorrow."

I pounded a fist against the cobblestones in fake tantrum. Maybe not entirely fake. "If it'll get you to leave me alone! The black box. Bring it here."

She dragged the large container made of a strange metal, undid the clasps, and opened the top. Within were rows upon rows of indents filled with decks. Each had a label beneath it, listing the deck's name in the symbols of our language. "Put it in the one that says 'Destiny.' And don't forget to shuffle!"

While Vivian shuffled, she said, "There are so many. What're the vein-looking things? That's Orichalcos, isn't it?"

"Ranue created it," I said. The thought of him brought a smile to my lips. "It connects to my main disk and my chip and lets me change decks at will – similar to how the chip lets you materialize your duel disk whenever."

"Your brother's really smart." She shut the black box. "I hope I can meet him someday. He's cute, don't you think?"

"No! Ugh! He's my brother! I don't think of him like that at all!"

Vivian huffed a breath. "Why're you so rude about it? You're acting like a five year old!"

"Whatever! Put the box back."

She did as I told. When she came back, she had a thick book in her hands. "Um, Rain? I found this near it. Why do you have… 'The Art of Human Torture?'"

"It's a solid read, though the author has a bit of his head up his own ass calling it an 'art.'" I burst out laughing at my own joke, crossed my arms behind my head and watched the dark clouds drift by the waning moon. "Speaking of which! You know I'm not human, right? We're not even the same species!"

"I don't understand." She dropped the book and tried to not look at it. "You look like a person, act like a person, and talk like a person. What makes you not one?"

"Dartz decided I wasn't." His name settled like the bitterest poison on my taste buds. "We look different, don't you think?"

Her hazel eyes scanned her arm. Its skin was dark. Perfect. Beautiful. She stared at mine. Even with the faint light of the bonfire, the blue of my veins was visible through the sickly pale. I said, "Around eight years ago, I looked a lot like Ranue. I saved the life of a real Duel Monster, and it cursed me. I'm some half-breed now. If I'd turned away from that dragon like I should have, I wouldn't be outcast or having to deal with the aftereffects of Dru goddamn Ilumari."

"Being different doesn't have to be bad," she muttered.

"If only that were true."

Vivian fiddled with the hair in her pigtails. "Um, what was the dragon? The card. Do you have it?"

The Chaos duel disk appeared on my arm in a green flash. A card shot out from my deck. I placed it on the field, and the Blue-Eyes White Dragon materialized beside me. I was lying flat on my back. The dragon sniffed my face, and my bangs lifted towards its nostrils. "Hey, hey! Personal space."

It groaned and backed away an inch. Vivian watched with wide eyes. I said, "Why not give it a pat? It may look scary, but it loves affection, as all… creatures… do."

"Isn't it one of those holo-whatsits?" The dragon neared her. She placed a tentative hand on its snout. It nestled into her touch, and she smiled. "This is the new system, huh?"

"No. A few certain cards of mine are more than 'cards.' They summon forth the very soul of the monster within. I happen to carry the soul of this monster within myself. The card is a different form of its body, shed when it evolved." I held my hand out to her, and azure flames licked it. "This is the soul of true dragonfire."

"Its soul…" Vivian watched the Blue Flame flicker and dance. She stared into the dragon's blue eyes. "Your eyes are the same. And, your skin is like its scales."

"Same with my hair, unfortunately," I mumbled.

"Your hair's black."

I stroked my braid. "Dyed from white. Like an old person's, kinda. Without the gray."

"Wow. That's amazing," she breathed. Her hand ran down the Blue-Eyes White Dragon's head. It purred. "I wonder if the King made Duel Monsters real in the same way!"

My focus rose to the sky. With a soul? No. He has no way of capturing a monster's soul. That's impossible for some human. "Vivian. Want to try sword training?"

"F-for real?"

I directed her to my Orichalcos saber. I stumbled around her and showed her the proper form for holding it. Two-handed and feet spread, I explained, since her hands were small. She attempted a few vertical slices before complaining about her arms being tired. The Blue-Eyes White Dragon watched on in curiosity.

Vivian sheathed my saber and dropped it next to my bed. She noticed one last box. Her horrid curiosity caused her to unearth my two dresses. "Woah! This is your coming-of-age dress! And, this white one – it's beautiful!"

I took them from her and stuffed them back in the box. "Let's not talk about this."

"They look nice," Vivian said. "Why wouldn't you wear them?"

The Blue-Eyes faded with my duel disk. I fell onto my "bed." "Hey, Vivian. Could you make me a promise?"

"What is it?"

"If I mess up in the next match or the finals," I said, "promise me you'll run away from Atlantis."

"Run? I don't have anywhere to go. I wouldn't know what to do, or how to-"

"Doesn't matter." I covered my eyes with my forearm. "There is no fate worse than being trapped with Dru Ilumari."

"No. I have you to protect me, Black Vulture," she said. "You're my hero."

"I'm not… I'm not a hero. You see how they all cheer against me. It's because I'm the bad guy. I'm inhuman. I liked hurting those duelists. I'm no hero."

"I don't care what they all say about you!" she shouted. "Dru does the same with hurting people, but everyone loves him. They shouldn't. You're helping me, and just like your dragon, you're nice, too! You're my hero!"

My breath hitched. "I- I can't protect you from him."

"Why not? You're, like, super strong, and you're the best duelist of all time, I just know it!"

I flipped my forearm around and scanned the parallel scars. "Because it's true I hate no one more than Dru and want to see the most tragic destiny possible befall him.

"However. There is no one I fear more. Dru is not human. He is constantly wearing a mask that makes it appear so. He can turn his emotions off and on as though he has a switch for them. Everything he pretends, says, and does is towards the end of getting what he wants. Don't let him fool you into thinking he cares about anything else."

The sound of Vivian's breathing became shallower. "What does he want from me?"

I knew. I knew, but she didn't have to. "It doesn't matter since he won't be getting it."

"I believe in you," she said, but the words were distant and fading.

The next thing I knew, sunlight crept through the holes in the walls. I attempted to bat it away and held my pounding head with the other hand. I moved aside a blanket I hadn't remember having. Weird…

I downed as much fresh water as I could stomach and threw on the Shadow disguise. My black Chaos model rested upon the ebony box. I flipped it open and placed the Destiny deck in the deck slot.

I kept a claw up to shadow my face on the way to the stadium. The crowds were daunting. I had to push my way to my competitor entrance. Roars and cheers drowned out my thoughts.

The announcer hollered, "Welcome, one and all, to the semifinals of the Orichalcum Grand Cup!"

I pressed my palms over my ears at the high-pitched screaming. White and yellow mist wafted into the entryway opposite me. "Now introducing your first semifinalist: Sworn to the light, bringer of judgement: If!"

My old friend Buster sported a new pelt today. The feathery black hide was that of his ace card, Judgement Dragon. Its trail was long, and two small wings bounced at his back. Two beady, crimson eyes stared out from above If's own. A pair of whiskers slithered alongside his temples. If wore a confident smile reminiscent of Dru's. His new pelt darkened his complexion, which made his grin brighter.

"Next up is your second semifinalist! A mysterious identity, a dueling variety! Welcome Black Vulture!" I walked into the arena with a mix of clinging black fog and oppressive jeering. "This is the second time these two duelists have gone against each other in tournament! At our last major, Black Vulture barely lost to If in the finals!"

"We both know it wasn't 'barely.' If you want to save face, you can always fold."

Through the insanity and chaos, I heard a single voice shouting cheers in my name. I said, "Never. Remember what I said, If. Your fate is sealed. As always, you may take the first move."

"You'll regret it!" He stepped forward, and his pelt's red eyes caught sunlight. "Your foretold destiny is a repeat of history!"

We shouted, "Orichalcos trace the monster! DUEL START!"

"My draw," If announced. "I begin by activating the spell, Solar Recharge! By discarding Jenis, Lightsworn Mender, I can draw two cards and send two from my deck to the grave. Next I'll summon Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner in defense position!"

Pink light surrounded Lumina's hands. If said, "Her effect will let me special summon Jenis from the grave by discarding. I'll set a face-down and end my turn. Lumina's effect sends the top three cards of my deck to the grave, and Jenis's ability chains. Since a card was destroyed from my deck, I gain 500 LP and you take the same amount as damage!"

The curly-haired woman raised her emerald-encrusted staff. Dual beams shot forth; one burned me, and the other soothed If. His life rose to 4500 while mine dropped to 3500. A howl broke through our field, and a white wolf tore out from the graveyard. "Looks like Lumina's effect discarded Wulf, which special summons him. What was that about 'destiny' again, Black Vulture?"

In his first turn, he had crowded his field with three monsters. Though Lumina's 1000 defense was small, Jenis's 2100 defense to match Wulf's 2100 attack was more than a little intimidating. I said, "I can do better."

He laughed. "I'll say this, Black Vulture: you have more of a tongue with you than last time, at least."

"I draw. First, I use a spell known as Different Dimension Capsule. I can choose any card in my deck to remove from play for two turns. Afterwards, it's added to my hand."

"Which one are you choosing?" If inquired.

"It's removed from play face-down, so you can't know," I responded with a finger wag for good measure. "I'll use another spell called Destiny Draw! By discarding a certain type of monster, I can draw two more times!"

"Oh, joy," If droned. "Stalling for more time."

I picked three cards from my hand. "Pay close attention, because it's about to change fast. You have monsters on the field while I don't, so I can special summon Evil HERO Infernal Prodigy. I summon Destiny HERO – Fear Monger beside him and use the ability of Destiny HERO – Malicious in my grave, who I discarded using Destiny Draw. By removing Malicious from play, I can special summon yet another Malicious from my deck!"

My field had three monsters to match his: Prodigy with 300 attack, Fear Monger with 1000 attack, and Malicious with 800 attack. If scoffed. "Three weak monsters! So what?"

"Did you honestly think they were staying?" Rings of light consumed my monsters. Triple pillars of darkness converged into the form of a red-armored man with torn wings like a dragon's. A long, forked tail flowed from him, and a cannon like a dragonhead replaced his right arm. "One of my best monsters requires three whole sacrifices! This is Destiny HERO – Plasma!"

"'One of your best monsters' is about to be torn to shreds," If said. "You don't learn, Black Vulture. I use my trap, Bottomless Trap Hole! Plasma is removed from play!"

A gaping red tear like a wound opened beneath Plasma. He fell into the nether – until a shiny spear appeared in his hands, spanning the gap and allowing Plasma to climb back out. I explained, "The Quick Play Spell Forbidden Lance prevents Plasma from being targeted by other spells and traps at the cost of 800 attack."

"Whatever! It's too weak to do anything!"

"Plasma's ability activates," I said. My monster crossed the field, stuck his claw into Wulf, and dragged him to my side. Plasma's attack boosted to 2150. "I can take control of one of your monsters and gain half its attack. Destiny HERO – Plasma destroys Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner!"

Plasma's dragon cannon loaded up with bright red energy. Crimson blasted across the field, wiping away Lumina's existence. I said, "Turn end. Plasma's attack returns to 2950."

"I see. You choose Lumina to break my summon chain and prevent Jenis's effect."

As if it matters, I thought. If he didn't know, I wouldn't break it to him.

"For making it this far, I admit you do have some smidgen of skill. It ends here. I summon Shire, Lightsworn Spirit in attack position!" A blonde woman spun a golden, angel-topped staff. Icy blue fairy wings sprouted from her shoulders. "Her 400 attack is nothing to look down on once her effect activates. She gains 300 attack for every Lightsworn in my grave!"

If and the crowd were silent in expectance for the change in attack power – which never came. I couldn't hold in a laugh at his utter seriousness. He shouted, "What's going on here? Explain yourself!"

"I'm sorry, it's just-" I chuckled. "This is what you made fun of me for in the last duel! You didn't bother to check all of Plasma's abilities. As long as he's on my side of the field, none of your monsters can use their abilities!"

I could see his set jaw from my side of the arena. "I pass my turn."

I added a second card to my hand. "I summon Destiny HERO – Diamond Dude in defense position. I'll use his effect. I reveal the top card of my deck. If it's a Normal Spell, I can use that spell on my next turn. If it's not, the revealed card moves to the bottom of my deck."

The card I would have drawn next flipped over. "It's Over Destiny, a Normal Spell. The card goes to the grave, awaiting its use next turn. My Battle Phase begins! Destiny HERO – Plasma attacks the Shire, Lightsworn Spirit you so graciously placed in attack position!"

Plasma fired his blood-red beam. Shire's high-pitched scream blended with If's, and the crowd booed at his rapidly falling life counter. If's pelt steamed; his life rested at 1950. I said, "I end my turn."

"Let's see who's laughing after this. I discard Effect Veiler from my hand and target Destiny HERO – Plasma! This turn, its effects are negated. That means my monsters can use abilities and it loses its attack increase."

Pale feathers masked Plasma's presence from the field. The monster on If's field turned see-through. "I sacrifice Jenis to summon Gragonith, Lightsworn Dragon! It gains 300 attack for every Lightsworn with a different name in my grave, which would be three. Time to part ways with the monster you worked so hard for. Gragonith battles Destiny HERO – Plasma!"

The four-legged dragon with the golden mane fired a burst of light through the veiled Plasma. With her attack increased to 2900, Gragonith was an entire 1000 attack ahead of my monster. Its light breath consumed me. My life points fell to 2500, and feathers from my costume were sent flying. My breathing labored. The quickened beats of my heart ached with each pulse. Gragonith's attack increased to 3200 since the Wulf attached to Plasma hit his grave.

He has four different Lightsworns in his grave now… If he has a Judgement Dragon in his hand or a way to get him there, I'm doomed. I had to keep my life points above 3000. His Lightsworn Dragon has piercing ability, too, so it won't matter if my monsters are in defense. I can't…

"My turn's over! Let's see if your scrappy decks can break through my foolproof one, Black Vulture. A jack-of-all-trades is a master of none, as they say."

I hesitated to move my free hand away from my aching heart. I pulled my card. "Different Dimension Capsule's effect adds the card I removed from play two turns ago to my hand." What does it matter? I can't use it. I thought I had created a way around his abilities, but I should have known better…

My breaths quickened, and the sight of my cards doubled and blurred.

I c-can't do anything right, just like he said. I'm worthless… I'm…

Huh?

The green card I'd drawn sharpened in my vision, and the confusion it caused me allowed my panic to die down. This isn't my card. I would never add this to a deck!

A spare few memories from the previous night met me as though through a fog. Vivian Havika. My black box. The Art of Human Torture. A single spell card she slipped into my deck. I slid the same one onto my disk. My hand was shaking, but not for the normal reason of fear. "I activate Soul of the Pure."

A thin, blonde angel materialized behind me. Her arms wrapped around my neck, and her embrace was warm. She lifted her hands towards my face, and blue orbs floated up from her palms. They popped upon touching my mask. The corners of my mouth turned up. A soothing sensation flowed like a massage on my muscles. My life points increased to 3300.

If broke into a fit of laughter. "You're kidding! That's the most useless card I've ever seen! To think I respected you."

I could see her. Vivian leaned over her front-row seating. She reached towards me and screamed my name. Though the rest of the arena was laughing at me along with If, I was reading her lips. Not Black Vulture or Shadow.

Rain.

I believe in you, Rain.

"Thanks to Diamond Dude's ability last turn, I can use the spell Over Destiny's ability this turn! I can special summon a Destiny HERO from my deck with less stars of a HERO in my grave. I choose to special summon level three Destiny HERO – Doom Lord!" A red-cloaked warrior with black, spiked armor and a domed helmet alighted onto my field. Doom Lord had 600 attack.

"Weak monster after weak monster," If said. "It's more like you using this deck twists destiny to be in my favor."

"When Doom Lord is in attack position on my field, I can remove from play one monster from your side of the field!" Doom held a long-clawed hand towards Gragonith. She was sucked into the future. "I summon Destiny HERO – Captain Tenacious in defense position and end my turn. By Over Destiny's effect, Doom Lord is destroyed. Your Gragonith, however, remains removed from play until my turn after next."

If's hand increased to three. "A minor setback doesn't change the big picture. I summon Herald of Creation in attack position. I've been saving this little monster for the right moment. By discarding, I can add a level seven or higher monster from my graveyard to my hand. Can you guess which one, Black Vulture?"

The Herald held aloft her golden staff. Yellow light like the sunrise sparkled from its crest. A card appeared between the two prongs: Judgement Dragon. "I have four different Lightsworns in my grave. Judgement Dragon is special summoned to my field!"

The gray-feathered dragon dropped from the sun like a meteor. Cobblestones flew in all directions from Judgement Dragon's fall. Between two pairs of whiskers, a bright, red eye opened and focused on me. The pupil shrank. If's ace growled through his bared fangs.

"The World's Foredooming activates! By paying 1000 life points, all other cards on the field are destroyed!"

Judgement Dragon leapt into the azure sky and slammed onto the field. The ensuing shockwave shattered Diamond Dude, Captain Tenacious, and Herald of Creation. I was wide open to all of Judgement Dragon's 3000 attack. If commanded, "Direct attack! Roar of World's End!"

The dragon cracked its crimson claws into the earth. Black energy specked with white like stars in the night sky streamed out from the ground. Judgement Dragon bit onto the stream then roared. I covered my ears but it was no good, the attack was too loud and coming closer closer-

Cobblestones were tossed aside. The dirt beneath shivered and floated. The supersonic wave rushed towards me, and the starry power was laced within. The very force of the sound crushed my bones. I wondered if what I heard was my own screaming, the dragon's roaring, or what the end of the world was supposed to sound like.

My back hit the ground. I hadn't remembered being tossed into the air in the first place. The forever ringing in my ears was finding an end. What was that rhythm? A chant. If, If, If. Go If. Down with the Shadow. Back to hell.

The MC had to scream to be heard above them: "Black Vulture has ten more seconds to take his move! If takes the win when Black Vulture can no longer go on!"

Ten seconds..?

Go If. Go If. Go If.

That's right! I have 300 life left, because Vivian…

I pushed to a sitting position. Boo. Hiss. Whatever the hell else they can come up with to discourage me. That might work if I had courage in the first place. No. My drive is…

"You're not leaving, Rain."

The adrenaline, the panic, and I was on my feet, ready to bolt. "It's my turn, and I can't lose!"

If tossed up his head, shifting the whiskers of his pelt. "You're the first one who's stood back up, Black Vulture."

"My world has ended," I said. The voice changer didn't capture the shaking in my true voice – that of a weak-willed, foolish girl. "But someone else's has not! For her, I have to win!"

Buster grinned. "I'm ready! Show me what destiny has in store for the both of us!"

I swiped a card off my deck. "I chose this deck because it contains the ability to summon a monster stronger than your Judgement Dragon! I brought it to my hand using Different Dimension Capsule!"

"That was a whole turn ago!" If shouted. "You would have used it by now!"

"I wish," I said. "The card in my hand has very particular summoning requirements. I have to remove seven DARK monsters with different names from my grave. After last turn, I have exactly seven!"

I held the card towards the sun. A black sheen was filtered over its image. Seven ebony connections wired to it. "Evil HERO Infernal Prodigy! Destiny HERO – Fear Monger! Destiny HERO – Malicious! Destiny HERO – Plasma! Destiny HERO – Diamond Dude! Destiny HERO – Doom Lord! Destiny HERO – Captain Tenacious! They all serve as sacrifices for my spectacular monster, one to twist fate: Rainbow Dark Dragon!"

A slithering serpent twice the length of Judgement Dragon clawed from the dirt on a pair of midnight wings. Beads of the seven rainbow colors lined the dragon's body. Its sparkling black magnificence glared down on If's ace monster with four red eyes. Rainbow Dark Dragon wielded 4000 attack.

"Exactly seven." If's mouth hung open. An odd laugh tumbled from it. "Damn. Damn, Black Vulture. This was… a damn fine duel."

I smiled and thrust a claw forth. "Rainbow Dark Dragon! Attack Judgement Dragon with Negaton Beam!"

The blast from my strongest monster contained every shade of black. Judgement Dragon shied away before the attack hit. Buster's agonized shouts were in solidarity with his dragon. His life counter fell from 950 to zero.

Judgement Dragon crumbled. If's pelt was tossed off his shoulders. His honest mane of long, navy locks tumbled down his shoulders. Shaking fingers clenched his upper arm. Buster's brown eyes met mine. "Take him down for me… Shadow."

Buster collapsed. I crossed the field and knelt next to him. The shouts in despair at the favorite's loss didn't stop me. I placed two fingers on his shoulders. Shining Diffusion.

Blue fire flickered but didn't take hold. In my mind's eye, I saw Buster holding my hands behind my back while Dru and Abi beat me. Forgive. Forgive! If I do, he can recover through Shining Diffusion's healing abilities. I'll be able to tell him about Dru's weakness, and that I can beat-

Be still, young one. Master's voice was louder in my mind than the entire crowd put together. If you could truly forgive, you would have healed him. You cannot see past his prior actions.

Why? Why can't I help him?

Because you hold grudges, he said, and the only reason you want him to be healed is for your own self-satisfaction.

The truth of his words cut me. I didn't want him to be better for his sake. I wanted it because I didn't want to feel bad about hurting him. But. But why should I feel guilt after what he did to me day after day? Why should I why should I-

There it is, young one. There is the defining anger in your blood. As much as I want to believe you are a good person, I see the truth within. You are not.

My black cloak swirled behind me, and a couple of white-tipped feathers fell upon Buster. I ducked into the stadium's alcoves. I am not.

There is a question I have: do you wish to duel Dru Ilumari for the sake of your revenge, or to save the young Havika?

"The last semi-finals match begins! The Flame versus The Masque! Who will face off against Black Vulture in the Orichalcum Grand Cup finals for the seat of King's duelist?"

Dru had his arms folded over his chest and chin held high. His crimson cape fluttered in the breeze. Little Abi with her golden mask and purple mantle was hardly half his height. She said, "The coin toss goes my way, and I choose to go first! I'll use the spell Foolish Burial to send Elemental HERO Necroshade from my grave to the deck. I'll summon Elemental HERO Lady Heat and use my Quick Play Spell, Mask Change! Lady Heat flips her mask to become Masked HERO Goka!"

A bright red warrior with massive shoulder pads burst forth in a spurt of magma. His 2200 attack increased to 2400. "For every HERO in my grave, its attack will continue to increase! Your move, Flame."

"I'd say I'm impressed, but I'm an honest man." The twist his smirk gave his face made my stomach turn. "I'll use Card Destruction. This'll send both of our hands to the grave, and we draw the same amount."

"Not very smart," Masque grumbled. "I discarded three HERO monsters, so Goka's attack increases to 2700!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'm going to use a spell card called Rekindling. I can special summon as many FIRE monsters with 200 defense from my grave as possible. My old hand had three: Flamvell Dragnov, Flamvell Archer, and Flamvell Poun. I'll summon Flamvell Guard in defense position along with these three. I'll also be using a little card you might recognize. Monster Reborn will let me return another monster from my original hand to the field: Darkblaze Dragon."

The navy dragon's bright orange accents were reminiscent of Dru's obnoxious hair dye. Abi said, "Okay, and since it returned from the graveyard, its attack is doubled. That's 2400, a. k. a. still too low for Goka! Aren't you supposed to be a good duelist?"

Dru tossed his hands into the air. "Ah, you lil newbie. All these monsters you see here aren't anything more than fodder."

"Fodder..?"

"Synchro Summon!" Dru shouted. "The one-star tuner Flamvell Guard aligns with two other dragons: Darkblaze and Dragnov! One, seven, and two make ten-star Trident Dragion!"

A pale red dragon with triple heads, each with their own pair of demonic horns, spewed a mix of electricity and fire into the sky. Dragion had 3000 attack. Trident's two outer heads gobbled up the monsters flanking them – Flamvell Archer and Flamvell Poun. Abi sputtered, "Wh-what?"

"When Trident Dragion is Synchro Summoned, I can destroy up to two of my own cards to give him that many extra attacks this turn." Dru held up a finger. "One for your monster."

Dragion's electrifying dragonfire flooded through Goka and onto Masque. Her life fell to 3700. Another of Dru's fingers popped up. "One for your life points."

The second of Dragion's heads spat an inferno at Abi. Her screams did nothing to hide her true identity. Dru raised his third finger. "One to end your useless career."

"Wait!" She ripped off her golden mask, revealing her burn-pocked face. Her light brown eyes held an infinity of pleading. "It's me, Dru. It's me! I have to win this. My da is- he's so sick, he's falling apart. I can't afford the treatment…"

Dru's expression was stone. "You're not even a duelist, you weak, worthless woman. Burn."

"No, please! I need to-"

"I said burn!"

His monster roared with him. A pillar of fire blocked out the begging Abi. Her life counter dropped to zero. The final attack lingered around her. She was in a fetal position, whimpering, "Please, please, please, please…"

I said, "If he could suffer even a fraction of what he causes, I would be oh so immensely satisfied. I am sure he has never tasted regret. I will make him drown in it."

My back faced Abi's useless groveling. "Vivian is… a side effect. I admit I will be glad she won't go through what he did to me."

What exactly did he do? You wanted so desperately to be human at the time I did not witness it.

The air escaped my lungs. He was standing in the center of the arena, taking in his cheers. He saw me. The swirling fire caught in his irises, which were thinned by his smile.

"You're not leaving."

he bro̸̸̵̶͡ḱ̶͟é̴͜͞͝ ̴̨͡͡ḿ͢͜҉e̢͜҉̧͜


End of Chapter Seven


(((A/N: "but black doesn't HAVE shades, TIME THIEF"

Yes it does. We're just not edgy enough to see them.

Next chapter is called during. Can you guess what it's about? It'll be different from all the others for... a few reasons. I'm debating whether or not to post it together with the chapter involving the duel.)))