Yay! Chapter 9!
And the duel between Yuzu and Masumi was altered by my beta-reader, which is why it's written out in its entirety. Both Misha and I hope that you enjoy the new duel between Yuzu and Masumi and I hope that you enjoy this chapter.
Thank you to Dark Angel, talesfanjmf, Guest, MagicalPrincess07, and Queen of Peaceful Nights for reviewing the last chapter. You guys are great.
Turn 9
Fusing Maestras & Steadfast Resolve
Yuzu would admit that she was nervous. She couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. Her duel against Kotsa Masumi was about to start and she found herself thinking about the last time she had dueled Masumi. She'd lost terribly and those memories refused to leave her mind, even though she knew that she'd gotten stronger as a duelist since then.
She also couldn't stop thinking about Kurosaki. She had no idea why Kurosaki was suddenly part of LDS in spite of how hostile Masumi was toward him the last time they met at the harbor. Kurosaki had even attacked Masumi, or that was what Yuzu thought happened since there was no evidence that anything like that happened when she and Kazuki left after their talk with Yuto and Kenshin. So why was she not treating Kurosaki with hostility as one would expect given all that has happened?
It just didn't make any sense.
"You're up next, Yuzu." Yuya's voice brought Yuzu out of her thoughts and she blinked before turning her head to find her friend looking at her with a smile on his lips. "I have no doubt you're going to win. You've gotten a lot stronger since you last dueled Masumi."
Yuzu nodded and set her face in determination. She couldn't afford to dwell on her thoughts about her last duel against Masumi or about Kurosaki Shun. She had to focus. She couldn't afford to lose this duel. She had to win, for herself, for her friends, and for You Show.
"She'll be fine. Masumi may use Fusion Summoning but Yuzu's skills are far superior," Sora said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"You'll be great! My little girl, you'll be hot-blooded!" Shuzo said energetically.
Yuzu chuckled. "Dad..." she said with a faint smile.
"Go and get her, Yuzu. I'm with Yuya. You've got this," Kazuki said with an encouraging nod.
"Thanks, Kazuki," Yuzu said.
"I'm looking forward to seeing you win, Yuzu," Sora said with a grin. "And that'll make three wins for You Show today, which is awesome!"
Yuzu chuckled before turning and facing the arena. She took another deep breath before making her way toward the gate, stepping past it once the security guards opened it, and walking to the center of the court.
Masumi, who was in the process of strapping on her duel disk, also made her way toward the center of the court.
Yuzu frowned as she found herself briefly think about Kurosaki again. It was just so hard to know that the same duelist who's been attacking people from LDS was now part of their group, and Masumi claimed that he's been part of their group the entire time. It didn't make any sense.
Masumi hummed. "Your eyes have no luster," she said.
Yuzu flinched. Those words felt like a ten-ton weight dropping onto her head and she scowled inwardly as she realized that she had done what she'd told herself not to do; she got distracted by her thoughts, just as she had during her last duel against Masumi when she'd been so busy thinking about Yuya and Yuto and how much they resembled each other, as well as why Kazuki had a lookalike.
I will not let that happen again, she thought and shoved all those thoughts out of her head as she straightened up and looked Masumi straight in the eye. "You're going to see a different side of me in this duel than what you saw last time," she said firmly.
"That's fine," Masumi said with a wave of her hand. "This is a tournament match after all. It would be rather boring if you didn't even do that."
"The time has come to begin!" Nico declared for everyone to hear. "The second match of the First Round of the Junior Youth Division of the Maiami Championship Tournament! It will be You Show's Hiiragi Yuzu versus LDS's Kotsa Masumi!"
The orb of cards appeared above the air and a single card spun in it before it stopped and Nico declared, "Action Field! Infinite Bridge, activate!"
Crisscrossing railed walkways began to materialize and elevate Yuzu and Masumi above the ground. There were so many that were interconnected thoroughly and made it impossible to see where the bridge began or where it ended. It rose higher and higher until Yuzu and Masumi were almost level with the middle of the stadium walls.
"One misstep will mean a headfirst drop into the abyss," Nico said and grinned. "I wonder which of these two budding Junior Youth duelists shall bloom in this unnerving field! Let's begin!"
"Duelists locked in battle," Yuzu began the chant.
"Kicking against the earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters!" Masumi continued.
"They storm through the field!"
"Behold! This is the newest and greatest evolution of dueling! ACTION DUEL!" Yuzu and Masumi declared at the exact same time as they activated their duel disk and drew their opening hand while Action Cards rained down on the field.
Yuzu: 4000 | Masumi: 4000
"I'll start," Masumi said and held up a card. "I suspect you remember this from our last duel. I activate Gem-Knight Fusion and fuse Gem-Knight Sapphire, Gem-Knight Crystal, and Gem-Knight Emerald in my hand!"
As the three aforementioned monsters appeared and vanished into the spiraling vortex, Masumi chanted: "Brilliant sapphire of wisdom! Eye of quartz! Brilliant emerald of good fortune! In a whirlpool of light, combine to bring forth a new dazzling radiance! Fusion Summon! Appear! Supreme radiance who illuminates everything! Gem-Knight Master Dia!"
The tall, muscular warrior clad in diamond-encrusted armor and wielding a broadsword on which were multiple gems stepped onto the field (9/2900/2500).
"Master Dia gains 100 Attack for each Gem- monster in my Cemetery and there are three," Masumi added and Master Dia's strength increased (2900-3200).
"I set a card and end my turn. Now, come," Masumi said as a vertical facedown appeared at her feet.
"I will. I draw!" Yuzu drew and added the card to her hand before she turned her gaze to the audience. Her eyes locked with Sora's and Kazuki's. Sora grinned and gave her a thumbs' up while Kazuki nodded encouragingly. "You brought out a Fusion monster, so why don't I bring out one of my own?"
"What?" Masumi gasped.
"I activate Fusion," Yuzu declared, inserting the aforementioned card into her duel disk and then held up two cards in her hand. "I fuse Opera the Melodious Diva and Serenade the Melodious Diva!"
As the two divas appeared, they were swallowed up by a vortex as Yuzu chanted: "Echoing melody! Serene melodious voice! By the guidance of the baton, gather your power! Fusion Summon! Now, come here to the stage! Meisterin Schubert the Melodious Maestra!"
An orange haired maestra wielding a baton in one hand appeared on the field. Her orange hair was long and fell in waves down her back. She was dressed in an hourglass-shaped brown and orange dress with a red sash around her waist and hips and a golden mask over her eyes (6/2400/2000).
. . .
"She did it!" Ayu cheered.
"Big Sis Yuzu Fusion Summoned! Awesome," Tatsuya said.
Yuya grinned and glanced at Sora and Kazuki who both had pride in their eyes. "She had some pretty good teachers," he said.
"Well, of course," Sora said. "And Kazuki was good too, I guess."
Kazuki tilted his head to the side. "I can't tell. Was that a compliment?" he said in puzzlement.
Sora patted his shoulder. "Take it however you want," he said and then glanced off to the side.
Yuya didn't know what he was looking at but he did see Sora smile again; however, when he glanced in the direction Sora was looking, he didn't see anyone.
He decided not to worry about it, even as that strange masked kid's words echoed in his head once again, and returned his attention back to the duel. He frowned to himself. Why am I remembering that kid's words now of all times? He thought.
Truth be told, he hadn't forgotten those words. Even though he did trust Sora more so than he trusted that kid—primarily because he didn't know who that kid was or why he would tell him such things about Sora—it was odd that his instincts were telling him to trust that masked kid's words.
It was weird.
"Something on your mind, Yuya?" Kazuki asked in concern.
"It's nothing," Yuya assured his brother while shoving those thoughts out of his mind and focusing his attention back on his friend's duel, though not before noticing the faint glow that was emanating from Kazuki's pendant for some reason but he dismissed it as a trick of the light.
"Let's go, Yuzu, you're dazzling today!" Shuzo shouted while the three kids continued to cheer.
. . .
"And there's that Fusion Summon," Kenshin said, one hand resting on the garnet pendant that hung around his neck. He had no idea why it was glowing slightly but he didn't want to draw anyone's attention to it so he just kept his hand around it.
Yuto's lips were pressed together as he watched the duel. "She's using it to get strong enough to protect her school. I hope that it doesn't come back to bite her later," he said.
"Yeah, me too." Kenshin didn't say it out loud but he was also wondering how Shun was reacting to the proof of what Yuto told him being played out before his eyes. He had no doubt his other best friend was watching the duel and to find out the girl he'd mistook for Ruri using the summoning method that he hated the most might be hard for him, even if it simply brought back bad memories.
Like it did with Kenshin, especially in regards to the last Academia duelist he had come across while he'd still been in Heartland.
. . .
"Since Opera was sent to the Cemetery as a Fusion Material for a Fusion Summon, I activate its effect, which prevents Melodious monsters I control from being destroyed by battle or by card effect for the rest of the turn. I also activate Schubert's effect! I can target up to three cards in either player's Cemetery, banish them, and increase the Attack of Schubert by 200 for each one. I banish Gem-Knight Fusion, Gem-Knight Crystal, and Gem-Knight Emerald," Yuzu declared and grinned as Schubert glowed as her power increased (2400-3000) while Master Dia got a little weaker due to losing some Gem- monsters in the Cemetery (3200-3000).
"And since I control a Melodious monster, I can Special Summon Sonata the Melodious Diva in Attack Position through her own effect," Yuzu added and a pale-yellowish-green-skinned girl with green hair dressed in a blue dress with a blue lined green harp on her back appeared on the field (3/1200/1000). "When Sonata is Special Summoned, all Angel-Type monsters I control gain 500 Attack and Defense while she's on the field."
Sonata began singing as she and Schubert had their power increased (Sonata: 1200-1700/1000-1500) (Schubert: 3000-3500/2000-2500).
"Battle! Schubert, attack Master Dia! Wave of the Great!" Yuzu ordered and, with a wave of her baton, Schubert unleashed a cyclone of musical notes that crashed into Master Dia and destroyed it while Masumi, jumping off the bridge to land on the one only a few feet beneath them.
Yuzu: 4000 | Masumi: 3500
"I activate Brilliant Spark! Since a Gem-Knight monster I controlled was destroyed, I can target it and inflict damage to you equal to that target's original Attack and I choose Master Dia!" Masumi said.
Yuzu darted away from the railing and snagged the Action Card that she saw resting nearby. She bit her lip upon realizing that it wouldn't help her, but it would help her reload her hand at least. The blast of energy crashed into her and, with a yelp, she was sent flying off her feet.
Yuzu: 1100 | Masumi: 3500
"Action Magic! Damage Draw! Since I took 2000 or more damage, I can draw two cards," Yuzu said and drew two cards before pointing to Sonata. "Sonata, attack Masumi directly."
Masumi darted away and snatched an Action Card that was resting on the railing. "Action Magic, Evasion! I negate the attack."
Yuzu nodded. "I set three cards and end my turn," she said and three facedowns appeared at her feet.
"My move! I draw!" Masumi drew and inclined her head. "You are doing well and did surprise me with your Fusion Summon but I will show you the true power of Fusion Summoning! I activate Brilliant Fusion! With this, I can Fusion Summon a Gem-Knight Fusion monster using monsters in my Deck as Materials!"
"What? From your deck?" Yuzu gasped in shock.
"However, the Fusion monster's Attack and Defense will be reduced to zero, unless I send a Magic Card from my hand to the Cemetery. But, for now, I fuse Gem-Knight Garnet, Gem-Knight Tourmaline, and Gem-Knight Lazuli from my Deck!" Masumi declared and, as the aforementioned monsters appeared and were swallowed by the spinning vortex, the black-haired girl chanted, "Gem tinged with fire! Gem tinged with lightning! Mysterious green gem! In a whirlpool of light, combine to bring forth a new dazzling radiance! Fusion Summon! This is my true ace! Dazzling lady, Gem-Knight Lady Brilliant Dia!"
A tall warrior woman clad in tan armor with crystal spikes on her shoulders and a red cape around her shoulders appeared on the field (10/3400-0/2000-0).
"And since Lazuli was sent to the Cemetery by a card effect, I can target and add one Normal monster from my Cemetery to my hand. I choose Gem-Knight Garnet and then I'll Normal Summon him," Masumi added and a red rock warrior with a flaming fist appeared on the field (4/1900/0).
"I activate Lady Brilliant Dia's effect," the Gem-Knight duelist added. "I can send Garnet to my Cemetery to Special Summon one Gem-Knight Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, ignoring its summoning conditions. I Special Summon Lady Lapis Lazuli!"
Another Fusion Monster appeared on the field. She was a tall woman made of pale-blue rock and dressed in a gold-accented dark-blue dress with an over skirt that fanned out around her waist and long, wide sleeves and a dark-blue headdress that resembled bangs with a silver portion that hung down her back like hair and two longer strands of dark blue framing her face (5/2400/1000).
"I activate Lady Lapis Lazuli's effect, sending Gem-Knight Lazuli from my Deck to my Cemetery to inflict 500 Damage to you for each Special Summoned monster on the field!" Masumi said with a grin. "This is it!"
"Not yet!" Yuzu declared. "I activate my facedown, Caesura! When I would take damage, since I control a Melodious monster, I gain Life Points equal to the damage I would have taken instead!"
A sweet melody played and Yuzu smiled as her Life Points increased.
Yuzu: 3100 | Masumi: 3500
Masumi huffed. "I suppose it would have been a disappointment if you lost that quickly. I activate Lazuli's effect, since it was sent to the Cemetery by a card effect, I can add one Normal Monster in my Cemetery back to my hand. I choose Garnet."
She then darted off and Yuzu, remembering what Masumi said about Brilliant Fusion's effect, immediately darted after her. She couldn't let Masumi get an Action Card.
"I activate my facedown! Melodious Song of Divine Punishment! This inflicts 800 damage to you for each Melodious monster I control and I currently control two," Yuzu said, revealing her facedown and a blast of bright blue energy crashed into the ground in front of Masumi.
Masumi just turned and grabbed the railing, jumping into it and then jumping onto the bridge down below, grabbing an Action Card that was resting on the column supporting both bridges. Yuzu, who was darting toward where the Action Card Masumi had been aiming for, grabbed it and watched as Masumi landed and barrel-rolled to her feet.
Yuzu: 3100 | Masumi: 1900
"I send the Action Card Evasion from my hand to the Cemetery to restore Lady Brilliant Dia's stats to normal!" Masumi said, sending the Action Card she'd grabbed to her Cemetery and Lady Brilliant Dia began to glow (0-3400/0-2000).
"Battle! Lady Lapis Lazuli, attack Sonata!" Masumi ordered and Lady Lapis Lazuli unleashed a blast of blue energy that crashed into Sonata and destroyed her.
Yuzu: 2400 | Masumi: 1900
"Lady Brilliant Dia, attack Schubert!"
Lady Brilliant Dia jumped forward and cleaved Schubert in two while Yuzu was knocked off her feet by the aftershock of the attack.
Yuzu: 2000 | Masumi: 1900
"I activate Brilliant Spark's effect, discarding Garnet to add it back to my hand and then I set a card and end my turn."
The card she set has to be Brilliant Spark, Yuzu thought as she said, "Since it's the End Phase, I activate my facedown, Encore Performance, to target one Melodious monster in my Cemetery that was destroyed this turn and Special Summon it! I Special Summon Meisterin Schubert the Melodious Maestra in Attack Position."
Schubert returned to the field (6/2400/2000).
"And it's my turn now," Yuzu declared and drew a card before adding, "I activate Schubert's effect and banish Gem-Knight Master Dia, Gem-Knight Garnet, and Gem-Knight Tourmaline from your Cemetery to increase Schubert's attack by 200 for each."
Schubert glowed as her power increased (2400-3000).
"Battle! Schubert, attack Lady Lapis Lazuli! Wave of the Great!" Yuzu ordered and Schubert waved her wand, unleashing a blast of wind that crashed into Lady Lapis Lazuli, destroying her.
Yuzu: 2000 | Masumi: 1300
"I activate Brilliant Spark and target Lady Lapis Lazuli to deal you damage equal to her original Attack!" Masumi declared.
"I'm not losing this match that easily! Action Magic, Acceleration! I make the effect damage zero," Yuzu said, inserting the Action Card she'd grabbed earlier.
Masumi huffed.
"I set a card and end my turn," Yuzu added and a vertical facedown appeared at her feet. During the End Phase, Brilliant Dia's Attack and Defense went down to zero as per Brilliant Fusion's effect (3400-0/2000-0).
"My turn! I draw!" Masumi drew a card.
Yuzu darted away, noticing that Masumi was also heading toward an Action Card.
"I won't let you stop me! I summon Crystal Rose!" Masumi declared and a crystalline rose appeared on the field (2/500/500). "Crystal Rose's effect. I can send Gem-Knight Lapis from my Deck to my Cemetery to have Crystal Rose be treated as Gem-Knight Lapis until the end of my turn. Next, I activate Lady Brilliant Dia's effect, sending Crystal Rose being treated as Lapis to the Cemetery to Special Summon my second Lady Lapis Lazuli in Attack Position."
A copy of the blue rock monster from earlier appeared on the field (5/2400/1000).
"Next, I activate the second effect of Crystal Rose. I banish Lady Lapis Lazuli from my Cemetery in order to Special Summon Crystal Rose in Defense Position," Masumi added.
"I won't let you! Reverse card, open! Counterpoint! Since you Special Summoned a monster from your Extra Deck this turn, I can target one Level 4 or lower monster in your Cemetery and Special Summon it to my side of the field in Defense Position. I choose Crystal Rose."
"What?! You took my Crystal Rose!" Masumi gasped as Crystal Rose appeared on Yuzu's side of the field (2/500/500).
She gritted her teeth and added, "You were quite lucky that I Fusion Summoned this turn."
"It wasn't luck. I know you have pride as a Fusion user. I suspected you would want to try and win with a Fusion monster," Yuzu explained.
"Even so, I'm still not done. I activate Lady Lapis Lazuli's effect, sending Lazuli from my deck to the Cemetery to inflict 500 damage to you for each Special Summoned monster on the field, which is four, which means this is over," Masumi said.
"You've been saying that a lot but I will say the same thing that I said all the other times you said that. I'm not out of this yet! I banish Caesura and Serenade the Melodious Diva to activate Caesura's second effect, halving all damage that I take this turn!" Yuzu declared and winced as the blast of blue energy struck her and sent her flying off her feet again.
Yuzu: 1000 | Masumi: 1300
"I activate Lazuli's effect again, adding Gem-Knight Lapis to my hand," Masumi added before she darted off.
Yuzu darted forward but skidded to a halt to avoid running into Lady Lapis Lazuli who had jumped in front of her.
Masumi grabbed an Action Card. "I send the Action Card Miracle to the Cemetery to restore Lady Brilliant Dia's stats to normal," she said and Lady Brilliant Dia began glowing (0-3400/0-2000).
"Battle! Lady Brilliant Dia, attack Schubert!"
Masumi ordered and the knight shot forward and cleaved Schubert in two once again while Yuzu yelped as she was sent skidding backwards.
Yuzu: 800 | Masumi: 1300
"Lady Lapis Lazuli, destroy Crystal Rose," Masumi ordered.
"Due to Counterpoint's effect, Crystal Rose cannot be destroyed by battle this turn," Yuzu said.
Masumi huffed. "Well, I suppose you've survived by the skin of your teeth. I activate Brilliant Spark's effect, discarding Lapis to add it back to my hand. Then I set a card and end my turn," she said. "Let's see if you can prove to me that you can do something aside from pointlessly struggling."
"I plan to," Yuzu said firmly and rested her fingers on her duel disk. All this time, I have been trying to get stronger and so have Yuya and Kazuki. We may have gone different routes to grow stronger but we have reached a higher level then where we were then. I will become even stronger for my friends and that is my resolve!"I draw!"
She glanced at her card and grinned before turning to Masumi. "I will show you my radiance right now! But first, I activate Melodious Shift! I discard Elegy the Melodious Diva to draw two cards!" She did so before adding, "And now I summon Soprano the Melodious Songstress!"
A tall, slender woman in a purple and orange top with a white flowing skirt and pale-blue skin appeared on the screen (4/1400/1400).
"Next, I activate Crystal Rose's effect and send Prodigy Mozart the Melodious Maestra from my deck to the Cemetery," Yuzu went on, making Masumi grimace as light rays shot out of Crystal Rose, refracting into Mozart.
"Now for Soprano's effect! I can perform a Fusion Summon using monsters on my field as materials. I now fuse Soprano the Melodious Songstress with Crystal Rose being treated as Prodigy Mozart!" Yuzu declared and, as the two jumped into the vortex of blues and oranges, she chanted, "Angel's song! Supreme genius! By the guidance of the baton, gather your power! Fusion Summon! Now come here to the stage! Sing the song of victory! Bloom Diva the Melodious Floral Saint!"
A flower bud materialized on the field and bloomed to reveal a young pale-skinned girl in a light blue dress that faded into darker blue. She had purple ribbons wrapping around her arms and thick bluish-purple hair that stuck into the air in curls and bright, pupilless blue eyes (6/1000/2000).
Masumi darted away but Yuzu, knowing what she was aiming for, inserted a card into her duel disk. "I enter my Battle Phase and activate Anti-Magic Arrows! Now, for the rest of this turn, Magic and Trap Cards and their effects cannot be activated!"
Masumi swore as glowing arrows rained down from the sky, blocking her path.
"Battle! Bloom Diva, attack Lady Brilliant Dia!" Yuzu ordered.
"Are you crazy? Bloom Diva doesn't have enough Attack," Masumi protested.
"Bloom Diva can't be destroyed by battle or card effects and I also take no battle damage from attacks involving her," the pink-haired girl explained.
"Then why even bother attacking?" wondered Masumi as Bloom Diva and Lady Brilliant Dia's battle seemingly ended in a stalemate.
A smile formed on Yuzu's lips. "Because due to her other effect, after she battles a Special Summoned monster, you take damage equal to the difference between their original Attack Points and your monster is destroyed. Reflect Shout!"
Bloom Diva sang a sonic wave that shot across the field and crashed into Lady Brilliant Diamond. She exploded and the resulting explosion sent Masumi, with a cry, flying into the air.
Yuzu: 800 W | Masumi: 0
Yuzu gasped before shouting to her monster. "Bloom Diva!"
Bloom Diva shot forward and caught Masumi who turned to Yuzu in surprise.
Yuzu just smiled and nodded at her.
Masumi looked away, her cheeks burning red.
"And there you have it! Your winner is Hiiragi Yuzu!" Nico declared and Yuzu smiled and waved at the crowd as everyone began to cheer. She'd done it. She won.
. . .
As the next duel began, Yuya met Yuzu in the tunnel leading away from the arena with the kids, Gongenzaka, the overly emotional Shuzo, Yoko, Kazuki, and Sora. Yuya could see the happiness shining on her face and couldn't help but smile. He was really proud of Yuzu. She had certainly dazzled everyone during that duel.
"Congrats, Big Sis Yuzu!" Ayu, Futoshi, and Tatsuya exclaimed as they all nearly tackled Yuzu to the ground.
Yuzu laughed but hugged them back.
"That was awesome! Congrats on your win, Yuzu," Yuya said.
"Well done, apprentice," Sora said with a grin around the lollipop in his mouth.
Yuzu beamed. "It was thanks to your teachings, Teacher, so thank you and you too, Kazuki," she said.
Kazuki smiled shyly. "You're welcome, Yuzu."
"Yuzu!" A shout sounded and Yuzu turned, surprised when Masumi joined them.
Masumi folded her arms across her chest. "You better not lose the tournament. I won't be able to handle losing to someone who didn't win." She released her side and dug into her pocket before removing a card and holding it out to Yuzu. "Take it."
Yuzu took it, her eyes widening in surprise. "Crystal Rose?"
"You'll need it to shine like you did in our duel today. I won't forgive you if you lose," Masumi said before she turned and walked away.
Yuzu waved at her. "Thank you! I'll be sure to shine brighter!" she shouted.
Yuya smiled.I really think she will. She certainly did today.
. . .
The following day found Kazuki jogging down the street after Yuzu and the other You Show students. The first match of the second day was about to begin and Kazuki was both eager to see how Gongenzaka did and anxious because of Ankokuji. The former member of the Gongenzaka Dojo had been one of Kazuki and Yuya's prime bullies in the months after their father disappeared and Kazuki didn't have good memories of that young man.
Ankokuji made Yuya's and Kazuki's lives miserable in those few months after Sakaki Yushou's disappearance. It was thanks to Yuzu's constant support and Gongenzaka always being there to step in and put an end to the bullying and the humiliation it brought that Kazuki and Yuya were, slowly, able to overcome it.
Not entirely, no. But then the memories would always be there. The scars would always remain. At least, with Kazuki, the scars still remained and had been the reason why it had taken so long for him to come out of his shell. He was sure that if it hadn't been for his brother, Yuzu, and Gongenzaka, he probably would have never opened up enough to actually participate in this tournament.
"Kazuki? You're spacing out again," Sora said, bringing Kazuki out of his thoughts.
"Sorry," Kazuki automatically apologized.
"What's up?" Yuzu wondered, concerned.
"Just thinking about Ankokuji," Kazuki admitted. "He doesn't seem to have changed much, at least from what I saw while we were waiting for Yuya yesterday."
Yuzu huffed. "I don't like him," she said. "But we don't have to worry. Gongenzaka is going to beat him. He's gotten really strong as a duelist recently."
Kazuki nodded in agreement. It seemed as if everyone had grown stronger as a duelist in recent weeks.
"By the way, where's Yuya? I thought he was with you," Yuzu added.
"He went on ahead while I was still getting ready. He should be waiting for us at the stadium," the white-haired duelist replied as the group rounded a corner and jogged the remaining yards to the entrance to the stadium.
Inside, the place was filled with last-minute people who were hurrying to get to their seats before the duel began. As Kazuki scanned the group of latecomers, he frowned because he couldn't see his brother among any of them.
"He's not here," Yuzu said, puzzled. "Where could he be?"
"Are you sure he left before you?" Sora asked.
"I'm sure," Kazuki said. "Mom said that Yuya had already left by the time I'd come down for breakfast. He should already be here."
"Wait, I see him! Why's he running?" Tatsuya said, pointing, and Kazuki, Yuzu, and Sora turned to find Yuya was running past the windows outside the building.
"I don't know," Kazuki said.
"Should someone go after him?" Ayu asked.
"Maybe he just forgot something or is looking for us or something." Sora shrugged and turned to gaze at the television screen as Nico welcomed the audience to the second day of the tournament. "The duel's about to begin so we should get to our seats."
"We can call him if he's not back in fifteen minutes," Kazuki suggested.
Yuzu nodded and the group made their way into the stadium. As they walked, Kazuki glanced over his shoulder at where he saw his brother running off and his brow furrowed.Just why are you running? he thought.
He, Yuzu, Sora, and the three kids took their seats, just in time to watch the Action Field Solitary Cove in a Faraway Sea activate, leaving Gongenzaka—who was proudly wearing a new black sash around his chest—and Ankokuji standing across from each other surrounded by a dense forest.
The duel started off with Ankokuji bringing out two Battleguard monsters—Barbarian #3 and Barbarian #4—that made Kazuki think of Strong Ishijima since he'd used monsters from the same archetype. Ankokuji has always been a big fan of Strong Ishijima, since Kazuki and Yuya were little, and that didn't seem to have changed all that much. He was curious to see what the bully had up is sleeve; even if he didn't particularly like Ankokuji, he was always interested in seeing how a duelist dueled, especially in a tournament match where everyone was expected to be at their best.
"That's it for me. It's your turn. You'd better hurry up or your friend is going to be beaten to a pulp," Ankokuji said with a sneer as he ended his turn with a set card.
Gongenzaka went on the attack almost as soon as his turn began, by bring out Superheavy Samurai Big Benkei in his first turn while Kazuki frowned to himself.
What does Ankokuji mean by that? Is he talking about Yuya? He knew that he was jumping to conclusions but, at the same time, he could recall just how Ankokuji treated him and his brother not long after their father's disappearance, and how Gongenzaka had to step in several times to prevent the bullying from getting worse. If anyone would cause Gongenzaka to worry then it would be Yuya, even though Yuya was far stronger now than he was when they were little.
However, just to put his mind at ease—since he could be wrong and Ankokuji either wasn't talking about Yuya or was just saying something like that to play mind games with Gongenzaka—Kazuki pulled out his duel disk. He dialed his brother's number as he watched Gongenzaka bring out the Tuner monster Superheavy Samurai Horaga-E. But when Gongenzaka went to Synchro Summon, Ankokuji activated his Trap that allowed him to take control of Horaga-E.
As Ankokuji taunted Gongenzaka, reminding him of how duels weren't just fought on the field and that anything could be happening outside of the field at that moment, Kazuki listened to the ring of the duel disk.
"Who knows what could be happening to your beloved friend?" Ankokuji taunted.
Gongenzaka uttered Yuya's name, causing Yuzu to gasp and making Kazuki's brow furrow in worry. So my suspicions were right. Yuya, answer, he thought.
"I'm calling him now," he said to Yuzu.
"Okay." Yuzu looked a bit relieved at that but Kazuki knew that she wouldn't let go of her worry until she knew that Yuya was really safe.
He was the same way.
There was a click, then "Kazuki?" Yuya's breathless voice said.
"Yuya, are you all right?" Kazuki asked urgently.
"I'm fine, Kazuki," Yuya said, sounding puzzled. It was clear he was taken aback by Kazuki's worry. It cleared up as he added, "By the way, I know I'm missing Gongenzaka's duel so let him know that I will be there soon and I will definitely get his sash back! I've gotta go. It's my turn." Yuya hung up before Kazuki could question what he meant by that.
His turn? Is Yuya dueling? Kazuki thought as he lowered his duel disk.
Yuzu glanced at him. "What did he say?"
Kazuki explained what his brother said to him and Yuzu frowned. "Gongenzaka's sash?"
"That's what he said."
"Is he dueling?"
"I'm assuming so."
Just then, as Gongenzaka's attack with Big Benkei was blocked by Barbarian #4's effect, he slammed his first into the ground and cursed. The look of panic on his face coupled with what Ankokuji said earlier clicked together and Kazuki scowled. "That is low," he said.
"What is?"
"Ankokuji. Remember what he said earlier? I think he, or maybe some lackeys of his, was the one that caused Yuya to leave, likely by taking Gongenzaka's sash. Naturally, Yuya is going to go retrieve it, and that's probably how Yuya ended up in a duel. Ankokuji's lackeys probably challenged him to one and he had to participate in order to get that sash back," Kazuki explained since that was something Yuya would do and everyone knew it.
"And Gongenzaka's panicking because he doesn't know this or what's happened to Yuya," Yuzu realized before she jumped to her feet and shouted, "Gongenzaka! Believe in Yuya!"
Gongenzaka stopped and turned to face Yuzu who gazed at him with determination in her eyes. "Yuya told me to tell you that he'll definitely get your sash back so don't stop believing in him!" she shouted.
Kazuki stood up as well. "Yuya is not the same person he was all those years ago. He is capable of fighting on his own," he called. "He will definitely come back and just in time to watch you win!"
"Ha! You're saying that he's going to win? You're clearly as deluded as you are weak, Sakaki Kazuki!" Ankokuji shot back.
Kazuki didn't back down and let that insult slide right off him. The fact that he was capable of doing that showed that he'd changed since then as well; back then, whenever he was insulted, he would always get upset by it. That was also a reason why he didn't really interact with people aside from his brother, Yuzu, and Gongenzaka, because he hadn't wanted to deal with the insults that he knew he would be on the receiving end of. He hide away from them, avoided them, but he wasn't going to do that anymore. He was not going to let Ankokuji's insults get to him anymore.
"I am not the same person I was three years ago, either," he said, keeping his voice level. "Call me what you wish but I believe in Gongenzaka and I know my brother believes in him as well."
"Yuzu...Kazuki..." Gongenzaka's teeth set in determination and he stood up. "Yes, they are right. Yuya is no longer a weakling, and neither is Kazuki for that matter. Yuya will definitely come back; just as Yuzu and Kazuki said, Yuya is not the same as he was three years ago and can fight on his own. Now that I know my friend is safe, my spirit will waver no more! I will follow my own dueling ways!"
"Let's go, Gongenzaka! Be hot-blooded!" Shuzo shouted.
"He can't do anything but end his turn 'cause he's already attacked," Sora reminded him as Gongenzaka ended his turn.
Ankokuji slammed his foot into the ground, a sneer on his lips. "Believing in others? What a pathetically naive notion! People betray one another, just like your monster betrayed you. That's just the way of life!" he said coolly as he drew a card, starting off his turn.
Using the monsters on the field, he brought out a Level 10 monster known as Barbarian Mad Shaman, who scared the living daylights out of the kids, and made Kazuki raise an eyebrow.
"That monster's creepier than your Death-Toys, Sora," he mused.
Sora raised an eyebrow as well. "I can't tell. Was that a compliment?"
"Take it however you want."
Sora rolled his eyes, amusement in their green depths. "That's payback, isn't it?"
"Perhaps." Kazuki's lips quirked into a slight half-smile.
. . .
Yuya let loose a breath as he tightened his grip on the white sash in his hands. It had taken a battle-royal style duel against three of Ankokuji's followers but Yuya was glad that not only had he gotten his friend's sash back but he also managed to get Ankokuji's followers to smile. It was always nice when he could make his audience smile and enjoy his duels, in spite of the circumstances surrounding the duel.
But I should get back. I've probably missed most of the duel, he thought as he turned and darted down the street, weaving around a few trees and exiting the park. He hoped that Gongenzaka was doing all right; even though he knew that Gongenzaka was a strong duelist, and had only gotten stronger in recent weeks, duels were still very unpredictable. Anything could happen and anyone could turn things in their favor at any time.
That was one of the first things he'd been taught when his father taught him and Kazuki how to duel.
Yuya frowned as he ran and came to a stop, turning his head. It was odd but he had the oddest feeling that he was being watched. He scanned the area but there wasn't anyone around and he hummed to himself. "Must've imagined it," he said and began running again, picking up the pace in the hopes of getting back to the duel in time.
. . .
"I think he noticed us," Kenshin said, turning his gaze from Yuto's lookalike to look at Yuto. They were both standing in the shadows of the nearby building right next to the park; they had both noticed the incident with Yuto's lookalike and those three people clad in dark blue and had been quick to move out of the way. Kenshin's idea of watching the next duel in the park, since it was better than standing in the middle of a sidewalk, had been why they'd been there to begin with.
Not only were they paying attention to Gongenzaka Noboru's duel but they had also been treated to a second duel that happened between Yuto's lookalike and those three people. The duel was enjoyable and brought back memories of Heartland before the invasion; Kenshin had no doubt that Yuto was thinking the same thing. It may have been far different from the duels that Kenshin and Yuto had seen before the invasion but it did still have that same carefree and fun nature to it that Kenshin could still remember.
"I think so as well. But he was clearly too focused on returning to the stadium," Yuto said and leaned against the wall. "Nothing is off about this duel, except for Ankokuji's rather underhanded tactic."
"Some people would do anything to fulfill their goals," Kenshin said, his thoughts drifted to Miyako and he scowled and shoved that particular memory out of his mind.
Yuto nodded mutely in agreement. They both knew that to be true all too well. Academia was like that. Every single duelist whom Kenshin, Yuto, and Shun had fought against were like that; when they weren't dueling those who were brave enough to fight back, they were just carding people no matter what. Whether they were men, women, elderly, children, whether they were duelists or not, it didn't matter to them so long as they could fulfill their goal.
Ankokuji wasn't as bad as Academia but it was clear he was one of those kinds of people and people like that were the ones that Kenshin detested the most.
"Gongenzaka has received a rather devastating amount of battle damage," Yuto noted. "He's down to his last 500 and that Shaman's monster effect is pretty powerful as well."
"Wonder how he's gonna get back from this," Kenshin mused as he refocused his attention on the duel.
. . .
"Gongenzaka!"
At the sound of Yuya's voice, Yuzu let loose a sigh of relief and turned to find her friend standing at the top of the stairs with a smile on his face and Gongenzaka's white sash in his hands. She smiled, glad that Yuya was all right and had gotten Gongenzaka's sash back.
"Big Bro Yuya!" Ayu shouted along with the other two kids.
"You're finally here," Gongenzaka said with a smile.
"Sorry for the wait," Yuya called as he threw the sash over the heads of the people below him. It sailed across the air and Gongenzaka caught it easily before tying it around himself.
"I believed in Yuya and Yuya came! This is my sash of victory," Gongenzaka declared.
"Victory, you say? Ha! In case you have forgotten, I have control of your Big Benkei and even if you managed to summon a stronger monster, I can just swap Benkei out for that one. And you only have 500 Life Points left," Ankokuji said with a scoff. "Face it, Gongenzaka, you've lost."
"I have not lost yet," Gongenzaka declared as he slammed his foot into the ground and rested his fingers on his deck. "It is my turn! I draw!" He drew with enough force to conjure up a powerful wind that caused several branches to tremble.
"I summon the Tuner monster Superheavy Samurai Tama-C!" Gongenzaka said and a bronze and gold machine ball-like monster appeared on the field wielding a spear.
"You can't Synchro Summon with only one monster. What is that piece of fodder even good for?" Ankokuji scoffed.
"Tama-C can use a Machine-type monster on your field in order to Synchro Summon!" Gongenzaka declared.
"W...What? A Machine-type on my field?" Ankokuji repeated in shock.
"You can do that?" Yuzu breathed.
"Apparently, you can," Kazuki said in amazement.
Yuya joined them at that moment, slipping into a seat next to Kazuki and taking a few deep breaths. "Sorry I'm late," he said to his friends and brother.
"No worries. You're here, aren't you?" Sora said.
"And just in time to see Gongenzaka win," Kazuki added.
"I tune my Level 2 Tama-C with my Level 8 Big Benkei!" Gongenzaka declared. "Raging deity, in unison with the soul of a thousand blades, come forth in a spiraling sandstorm! Synchro Summon! Now come before us! Level 10! Superheavy Koujin Susano-O!"
Out of the burst of light that erupted from within the tuning rings, a giant machine samurai monster appeared on the field, seated cross-legged in Defense Position with its giant broadsword's blade buried in the ground. It had 2400 Attack and 3800 Defense.
"I am not done, as I equip Susano-O with Superheavy Samurai Soulbuster Gauntlet! This increases Susano-O's Defense by 400," Gongenzaka said as his monster's Defense jumped up to 4200.
"Wait...does this mean…?" Ankokuji began. "It's like Big Benkei!"
"Exactly. It can attack while in Defense Position and using its Defense as its Attack. Battle! Susano-O, attack Barbarian Mad Shaman!"
"And Mad Shaman's Attack is zero!" Tatsuya exclaimed.
"He's got this won!" Ayu cheered, jumping to her feet with a wide grin on her face.
"I'm getting the shivers!" Futoshi exclaimed.
"Gongenzaka's gonna end this in one attack," Sora said.
"Way to be hot-blooded, Gongenzaka!" Shuzo shouted.
Susano-O shot forward and crashed its giant sword into Mad Shaman, cutting it into pieces. The resulting explosion was powerful enough that it sent Ankokuji flying as his Life Points fell to zero, ending the duel with Gongenzaka's win.
"And there you have it, everyone!" Nico shouted as the Action Field dematerialized, leaving behind the empty arena with only Gongenzaka and Ankokuji laying flat on his back toward the center of the arena. "The first Junior Youth winner of the day is Gongenzaka Noboru!"
Yuya stood up and jogged down the stairs to meet Gongenzaka who was leaving the arena. Yuzu, Kazuki, Sora, and the kids followed suit to give Gongenzaka their own congratulations.
Gongenzaka thanked them as Nico stood up and made the announcement of the next duel of the day.
"Our next duel shall be You Show Duel School's Sakaki Yuya versus Leo Duel School's Sawatari Shingo!"
"Well, I'm off then," Yuya said.
Kazuki patted his brother's shoulder. "Good luck, Yuya!"
"You'll be great," Yuzu added.
Yuya grinned at them and nodded before he turned and made his way into the arena for his first duel in the Maiami Championship Tournament.
. . .
Next Time: Battle of the Pendulums! A White-Hot Rematch
. . .
Featured cards
Melodious Shift
Normal Spell
Discard 1 "Melodious" monster; draw 2 cards. You can only activate 1 "Melodious Shift" per turn.
Caesura
Counter Trap
When a card or effect is activated that would inflict damage to you: Make that effect damage to you 0. If you control a "Melodious" monster, you can gain LP equal to the damage you would have taken instead. During either player's turn, except the turn this card was sent to the Graveyard: You can banish this card and 1 "Melodious" monster from your Graveyard; halve all damage you take this turn. (You cannot halve the same damage twice with this effect.)
Counterpoint
Normal Trap
Activate only if your opponent Special Summoned a monster from the Extra Deck this turn. Target 1 Level 4 or lower monster in your opponent's Graveyard; Special Summon it to your side of the field in Defense Position. It cannot be destroyed by battle this turn.
Encore Performance
Normal Trap
Activate only during the End Phase. Target 1 "Melodious" monster that was destroyed and sent to your Graveyard this turn; Special Summon it. During either player's turn, if this card is in your Graveyard: You can banish this card from your Graveyard, then target 1 "Melodious" monster in your Graveyard that was destroyed by a card effect this turn; Special Summon it. You can only use this effect of "Encore Performance" once per turn.
. . .
