Day Nine


Maneuvering the hallways was really difficult. Not because of the spare lighting, I didn't have much trouble seeing after my eyes adjusted to the dim light. The problem was that each of this corridors looked just like the one before. I was almost afraid I'd come across my room again. Even though I was incredibly thankful to whoever let me out of my room, it wouldn't have hurt him that much to enclose a map or something, because this whole place was a fucking labyrinth.

Hell, I didn't even know what floor I was in when I finally reached a staircase. Considering that I saw the sunlight from my window, I couldn't have been in the cellar and because the rooms looked different than the ones I passed through with Minori, I couldn't be on the first floor either. So, I just decided to go down, maybe I'd find a window low enough that I could jump out without killing myself, at the very least.

There were surprisingly few cameras in this floor compared to the one I had just exited, so I was able to move though the floors a little faster. In the end, it proved to be too fast, as I ended up crashing in to someone else who was walking though the corridors.

And when I look up to see who it was who caught me, I looked into my own face.

It was Yoru.

Whoever opened my door had opened his one too.

"Yuro!" he immediately yelled when he recognized me, before jumping at me to give me the most bone-breaking hug I've gotten in my short life so far.

"Don't be so loud," I scolded him.

"I'm sorry, Yuro," he replied sheepishly, while still holding me tight, "but I've been looking for you all over the place!"

"So you wanna escape this place with me?" I asked. I couldn't say that I wasn't impressed by how he has been thinking of me. Ever since I left my room, my only thought has been escape, I didn't even pay a single one to my brother who was still locked up that this place.

"Escape? Are you mad?" he whispered into my ear and when he did, I could almost see how my face fell to pieces. "We need to stay here. The world outside is bad. People die outside. I don't want us to die."

"What?" I replied, trying to loosen his hug, "the world outside isn't bad. Did the doctors tell you that?"

"No, I figured it out myself," he replied, "they said if you and me aren't here, all the people outside will die. And when we leave, we won't be here, but outside instead. So we'll die."

"But… not immediately! In sixty or seventy years from now, when we're old. When we'd die anyway!"

"But I want to stay with you longer. They said as long as we stay here, we'll be safe. So I'll just stay here with you forever."

"Yoru that's not how this works!" I yelled, finally freeing myself from his arms and getting back on my feet. "We won't just live forever just because we're here!"

"But we can do anything," Yoru said, getting up as well, "Didn't you feel it when we dueled? We were doing those things, things that they can't. Things they need us for. You especially, you made their colorful lights blink too fast with that beautiful dragon you've summoned."

I was just dumbfounded how Yoru could just be so stupid. He believed anything they told him, and he even took it literally.

"If you don't want to leave," I eventually said, "I'm leaving alone."

I tried to get going and past him, but he just made a step to the side to block my way: "You can't leave. I want you to stay. We belong together, don't you see that?"

"What are you even talking about," I snapped at him, trying to get behind him but he was, not surprisingly, just as fast as me.

"No!" he yelled, "please, don't leave me alone here!"

I was getting increasingly annoyed at him. "Fine!" I yelled, before starting up the Duel Disk on my arm, "If you don't move by yourself I'll make you move!"

"Yes!" Yoru exclaimed, almost gleefully, before readying his Duel Disk as well, "Let's play! Let's do those amazing things again!"

Yoru: 4000 LP

Yuro: 4000 LP

"I'll begin," Yoru said and immediately started his turn, without giving me any chance to object, "I Normal Summon 'Dormant Worm Burier'!" The monster that appeared on Yorus field wasn't entirely visible, it was buried into the ground with only a hot read spot signaling its presence.

Dormant Worm Burier: FIRE / Rock-Type / Seedling / Level 2 / 900 ATK / 0 DEF

"I immediately let it blossom as it is the only Dormant Worm that I control!" His monster was enveloped by a red cocoon, that started to disperse immense heat. "Look at it Yoru! I made this just for you! To show you we belong together! Bloom Summon! Burn your fiery love into the heart of my opponent! Show yourself, 'Contagious Hatred Bloom Dragon'!"

When the cocoon vanished, it revealed a large serpentine dragon. It had red, stony skin with orange lines pulsating along its length. It spotted two wings on its back, however, those we're tiny and looked like charcoal, forcing the dragon to lean on its two massive arms that clung to the ground like tree trunks. Lava was dripping from its massive jaw like slobber.

Contagious Hatred Bloom Dragon: FIRE / Dragon-Type / Bloom / Level 7 / 2500 ATK / 2000 DEF

I couldn't say Yorus new monster didn't surprise me. The resemblance to Stealth Scales, even outside of the name was… astonishing.

"Where did you get this?" I eventually asked him, when the first shock had settled a little.

"I found it in my Extra Deck when we dueled. But you defeated me before I could Summon it. It's a shame our dragons didn't get to play last time."

"A shame," I repeated, albeit less enthusiastic as Yoru.

"I set two cards and end my turn," he finished, "Now come on, get your dragon so they can play together!"

I drew my card and looked at my hand for a few seconds. I could set up multiple Bloom Summons during this turn. Maybe I could manage to Summon Sirius first, to get rid of the dragon, before he became a nuisance. But I needed a 'Current' Spell Card in my Graveyard, for that move to work.

"I activate my Spell Card 'Gathering Current'! It allows me to add a Skyghost from my Deck to my hand, like 'Skyghost Moorei'!" My Duel Disk spat out a single card which I immediately placed on the field again. "I immediately Normal Summon it!" The card materialized on my side of the field and the ghostly image of a large brown eagle appeared in front of me.

Skyghost Moorei: WIND / Winged Beast-Type / Seedling / Level 4 / 1700 ATK / 1200 DEF

"And because I already resolved a 'Current' Spell Card this turn, I can immediately let it blossom!"

"I'll stop you right there," Yoru said when one of his set cards flipped up, "I wanna see your dragon, but I don't believe you're gonna summon it. So I'll use my set card 'Matter Pull'. First, this card requires me to have a monster in my Extra Deck that you could Bloom Summon using your monster. But before that would happen, I can look at your Extra Deck and see if you can Bloom Summon one of your monsters with your current field, and then force you to Summon that Monster! Isn't that great? Come on Yuro, please, please, I wanna see your dragon, I wanna see it! Show me your dragon!"

"Gee, fine," I replied. Stealth Scales would deal with Contagious Hatred as much as Sirius would have done. "I let Skyghost Moorei blossom! Bloom Summon! Reveal yourself from behind your wings and illuminate the battlefield! 'Stealth Scales Bloom Dragon'!" The serpentine dragon that I used to defeat Yoru in our last duel appeared again on the field, letting out a displeased growl when it spotted Contagious Hatred Bloom Dragon on the opposing field.

Stealth Scales Bloom Dragon: WIND / Dragon-Type / Bloom / Level 7 / 2500 ATK / 2000 DEF

"Look how beautiful they are!" Yoru exclaimed in awe, "they're going to have so much fun together!"

"I'm sorry I'll have to cut that short. When Stealth Scales is Bloom Summoned, it will immediately banish all Level 5 or higher monsters on the field and in the Graveyards." As I spoke, the dragon behind me opened up its wings, trying to suck Contagious Hatred into it.

"In chain, I activate my Set card 'Eternal Bond'!"

However, that set card didn't do anything to save Contagious Hatred, as it disappeared without further ado, while Stealth Scales ATK rose by the second part of its effect.

Stealth Scales Bloom Dragon: 2500 ATK → 2600 ATK

"I'll move to battle!" I declared, before Yoru interrupted me again.

"The effect of Eternal Bond activates!" he explained, and as soon as he said this, Contagious Hatred Bloom Dragon reappeared at its spot behind him as if nothing had happened, before a large infinity symbol formed on the ground around me and Yoru.

Seeing my fallen face, he explained: "See, when Eternal Bond is activated, it takes note of two face-up monsters, but those must be the only monsters we control, respectively. If one of those monsters is removed from the field in any way, it will return to the field at the end of the phase. Also, as long as we control our respective monster, we cannot Summon or Set any other monsters of any kind."

"So it effectively forces us to play with just our two monsters," I summed up what he just said.

"We don't need anything else!" Yoru exclaimed, "Our dragons are amazing! They will have lots and lots of fun playing together every day."

If that was the way he wanted our duels to turn out, I was sure the BRER wouldn't be happy with it, considering they wanted us to create as many Bloom Monsters as possible, not keep on sitting on the same ones all day long.

"Alright then. That means our dragons will just stare at each other over the course of this duel?" I asked.

"No, that's the great thing! Eternal Bond will force its two targets to battle every turn!"

As if that was a sign for it, Stealth Scales built up a sphere of energy in its mouth and shot it towards Contagious Hatred.

"I activate the effect of Contagious Hatred Bloom Dragon!" Yoru declared, "when it battles, I can target a Level five or higher monster on the field and have Contagious Hatred gain ATK until it is 300 points stronger than the target. I'll choose Stealth Scales!" The dragon let out a breath that was hot enough to force me to cover my face, even from the distance, after which its body flared up in bright orange.

"Chain!" I was able to intervene, "If Stealth Scales is targeted by a card effect, I can banish one monster from my Extra Deck to negate that effect!" While I spoke, I slipped 'Skyghost Overseer Atria' out of my Extra Deck and stored it in my back pocket.

"Chain as well!" Yoru gleefully declared, "when a card effect is activated during the Battle Phase, Contagious Hatred can negate it when I pay 1000 Life Points and double all Battle Damage you'll take this turn!"

Contagious Hatred Bloom Dragon: 2500 ATK → 2900 ATK

Yoru: 4000 LP → 3000 LP

Almost on-command, the Solid Vision displayed the rise in Contagious Hatreds ATK, followed by the dragon coughing up lava and vomiting it at Stealth Scales, which burst into light particles after letting out a horrific screech.

Yuro: 4000 LP → 3400 LP

Yoru: 3000 LP → 2400 LP

"Wait, what?" I said confused, "Why did you lose Life Points as well?"

"Because my dragon likes to share the fun! While its ATK-gaining effect is active, we'll both take the same damage from battles involving him. It connects us even more than we're already are!"

With nothing else to do for now, I ended my Battle Phase, causing my dragon to return to my side, while Yorus dragon lost the ATK it gained via its effect.

Contagious Hatred Bloom Dragon: 2900 ATK → 2500 ATK

"I end my turn," I eventually said.

"My turn," Yoru declared, "I draw! Let's have some more fun! Contagious Hatred, attack Stealth Scales! And I'll use its effect targeting itself!"

Contagious Hatred Bloom Dragon: 2500 ATK → 2800 ATK

The dragon let out another hot breath, before vomiting a surge of lava unto Stealth Scales, which again shattered to pieces under the heat.

Yuro: 3400 LP → 3100 LP

Yoru: 2400 LP → 2100 LP

After Yoru had ended his Battle Phase, the field was once again reset to how it was before.

Contagious Hatred Bloom Dragon: 2800 ATK → 2500 ATK

"Yes!" Yoru yelled, "isn't this great? Look how much fun our dragons are having!"

He looked up in awe, pointing at a red lava dragon growling in dominance, while Stealth Scales' wings looked worn out and it seemed tired of being destroyed and revived over and over again.

"You're having fun too, right?" he eventually turned to me, "You're enjoying this too, I know you are!"

When I said nothing in response, Yoru just continued: "I set one card, then I end my turn. It's yours again."

After I had drawn my card, he added: "Don't worry, we have lots of time. You'll see how great the combination of us can be sooner or later. And when you do you'll thank me."

"Yoru," I calmly said, "I don't care what I'll see or how much time you think we'll have, but we need to get away from here. It won't take long until they notice we're gone."

"I won't let them hurt you," Yoru responded, "I won't let them separate us ever again! Look at our dragons, they belong together just like we do."

"Maybe they belong together, but not in the way you're forcing them to be!" I yelled, "and maybe we belong together, but maybe you should leave me a choice as well, instead of trapping me and my dragon in limbo!"

"But..." Yoru looked like he was about to start to cry, "I love you Yuro. I never felt as good as when I dueled you, you must've felt that as well!"

"Yoru, listen to me. I..." I started.

"It doesn't matter what you say!" My opponent yelled, tears running down from his cheeks, "'Eternal Bond' forces our monsters to battle this turn. And I immediately use the effect of Contagious Hatred, targeting itself!"

Contagious Hatred Bloom Dragon: 2500 ATK → 2800 ATK

With no prompting from me, Stealth Scales once again raised its head and fired a missile at Contagious Hatred, but it was quickly overpowered by the lava the other dragon threw up, causing my dragon to be destroyed once again.

Yuro: 3100 LP → 2800 LP

Yoru: 2100 LP → 1800 LP

"I activate my Set card!" Yoru declared, still during the Battle Phase, "'Bloom Overdrive'! When a Bloom Monster I control destroys yours by battle, I can pay half of my Life Points to inflict Damage to you equal to half of my monsters ATK!" Contagious Hatred once again roared and exhaled its burning hot breath in my direction.

Yuro: 2800 LP → 1400 LP

Yoru: 1800 LP → 900 LP

At the end of my Battle Phase, Stealth Scales once again returned to the field, looking more torn than ever.

Contagious Hatred Bloom Dragon: 2800 ATK → 2500 ATK

"I end my turn," I finally declared. My hand was full of monsters and Yorus trap was keeping me locked very effectively. The only good thing would be that his Life Points would hit the rock bottom earlier than mine, if he kept the current way going.

"My turn," he said while he drew, but he didn't even look at his card, "Contagious Hatred, attack Stealth Scales!"

The whole play that had happened the entire duel so far repeated itself again. Contagious Hatreds ATK rose, Stealth Scales died an agonizing dead, both Yoru and me took damage and then, Contagious Hatreds ATK became normal again and Stealth Scales reappeared, like nothing had happened.

Yuro: 1400 LP → 1100 LP

Yoru: 900 LP → 600 LP

"During my Main Phase 2," Yoru continued his turn, much to my surprise, "if a Bloom Monster I control battled this turn, I can Set 'Bloom Overdrive' back to my field. Then I end my turn."

Fucking shit. Seems like I shouldn't have been so secure that I had the advantage in this duel. Come my Battle Phase, Bloom Overdrive would wipe me out and there was nothing I could do in this situation. Maybe I could, but I'd need to draw a card that allowed me to destroy Stealth Scales during my Main Phase AND allow me to perform a Bloom Summon afterwards for a monster strong enough to defeat Contagious Hatred.

So I just drew and when I saw the card, my face fell.

It was blank.

It was the fucking blank card I had put into my Main Deck to test out if I could shape it. What a joke! Drawing that card in this moment!

There was no use in protesting, so I decided to just try it out now. I didn't exactly knew what I was trying to create, there was just the vague thought of escaping Yorus lock and Summoning something powerful enough to defeat Contagious Hatred.

And it worked.

Right before my eyes, the blank card became green, with a name and a text box and an effect. And one effect that was.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Closing Blossom'!" I inserted the Spell Card in my Duel Disk, "firstly, this card returns Stealth Scales to my Extra Deck and then, I can Summon any Seedling Monster from my Graveyard." Stealth Scales gave me one last look before it disappeared, looking infinitely relieved. Contagious Hatred, however, howled in desperation, as its favorite plaything had just vanished.

And so did its owner: "No! No! NO! NO! You're not supposed to do that! That's cheating! Summon your dragon back, I beg you!"

In the meanwhile, the Seedling Monster I had used to Summon Stealth Scales reappeared on my field, enveloped by a golden aura.

Skyghost Moorei: WIND / Winged Beast-Type / Seedling / Level 4 / 1700 ATK / 1200 DEF

"Due to the effect of 'Closing Blossom'," I continued, despite Yuros protests, "my Seedling is now able to always be used for a Bloom Summon, while it will also be treated as 'Second Blossoming'."

"'Second Blossoming'?" Yoru asked confused, breaking from his temper tantrum.

I however wasn't paying attention to him anymore. I had taken a card from my Extra Deck that was slowly taking form. A monster that was only be able to be Summon with a Second Blossoming Seedling. A monster that could destroy one hundred monsters like Contagious Hatred.

The most powerful monster I had ever created.

And that thought was when I remembered Director Abes words.

When I decided to win this duel as fast as possible.

"I let my 'Skyghost Moorei' blossom a second time," I hurried, when my vision was already blurry, "Spirit Bloom Summon! 'Illusion Scales Bloom…."

I didn't manage to go any further however, because at that point my vision went black and I passed out.

When I was starting to regain my consciousness, I didn't know how much time had passed since my duel with Yoru. I did know, however what caused my sudden blackout. I passed over the limit in my head somehow and the energy I used was too much.

"You're back again!"

That was the voice that eventually snapped me out of my half-awakened state, which was also when a flood of impressions crashed in on me at once.

The faint smell of smoke in my nose, an air raid siren blaring somewhere in the distance, the narrow walls of a storage room I was cramped in in almost total darkness and, what had been the worst one to me by then, Yorus face just centimeters away from mine, while he was lying on top of me.

"You were sleeping for hours my love, I'm so happy you're awake again."

"What? I? What?" Were the only things I was able to say.

"Shh," he silenced me, "You must still be dizzy. Don't worry, I've taken good care of you. Nobody will find us here, nobody will hurt you, I promise."

"What's that sound?" I finally managed to ask, referring to the air raid siren.

"Wait a second my love, you'll hear it soon."

While I was confused about that at first, I eventually got my answer when I heard an automated female voice make an announcement: "Don't panic please, execute the emergency protocol, this is not a test run. A group of rebels has entered the building by force. Don't panic please, execute the emergency protocol, this is not a test run. A group of rebels has entered the building by force."

"She's been repeating this for hours now, there must've been a minor struggle at the front doors, then there was a loud BANG and suddenly everyone around was running. Nobody came in here though, looks like they just store blank cards in here. Jokes on them when we tell them we'll only need our dragons from now on."

I didn't really pay much attention to my twin brother pinning me to the ground, because it was a hella lot information for my brain to process. The rebels we're here. Hideo, Tsutomo, Mino… well, not Minori, god knows where she was. But they we're here! They came to rescue me, from the BRER, from Yoru, from everything! Yes!

...If they checked this closet. If Yoru wouldn't just let Contagious Hatred run amok on them when they tried to take me away from him. If, if, if, way too many ifs for me.

"What's wrong love?" Yoru eventually asked after I had stayed silent for a while, "you look worried. Don't do that, we can have lots and lots of fun on our own, even in here."

And as he leaned in closer, the clock passed midnight.

I would've been able to witness some things happening at the same time. The computer voice doing the same announcement once again. Another loud explosion, not very far away from where I was. Yorus body hitting the cold floor, followed by his distraught cry.

I could've witnessed all that, but I simply wasn't there anymore.


"I have chosen."


Author-made cards:

Skyghost Moorei / WIND / Winged Beast / Effect / Seedling / Level 4 / 1700 ATK / 1200 DEF
Can be used for a Bloom Summon if you successfully resolved the effect of a "Current" Spell Card during your turn. Once per turn: You can shuffle 1 "Current" Spell Card from your Graveyard into your Deck; Draw 1 card. If it is a "Skyghost" Monster: You can reveal the drawn card; Special Summon that Monster.

Dormant Worm Burier / FIRE / Rock-Type / Seedling / Level 2 / 900 ATK / 0 DEF
If a face-up "Dormant Worm" Monster you control is destroyed while this card is in your hand: You can Special Summon this card. Can be used for a Bloom Summon if you do not control another face-up "Dormant Worm" Monster. If this card is Special Summoned during your opponents turn and it can be used for a Bloom Summon: You can, immediately after this effect resolves, Bloom Summon 1 monster using this card as Bloom Material Monster.

Contagious Hatred Bloom Dragon / FIRE / Dragon-Type / Bloom / Level 7 / 2500 ATK / 2000 DEF
1 Level 2 or 3 Seedling Monster
If this card attacks or is attacked: You can target 1 face-up Level 5 or higher Monster; This cards ATK becomes equal to the targets ATK + 300, also, both players take any Battle Damage a player would take from battles involving this card. These changes last until the end of the Battle Phase. Once per turn, during either players Battle Phase, if another monsters effect is activated: You can pay 1000 LP; negate that effect and if you do, all Battle Damage your opponent takes is doubled until the End Phase. You can only control 1 face-up "Contagious Hatred Bloom Dragon".

Stealth Scales Bloom Dragon / WIND / Dragon-Type / Bloom / Level 7 / 2500 ATK / 2000 DEF
1 Level 4 or lower Seedling Monster
If this card is Bloom Summoned: You can banish all other Level 5 or higher Monsters on the field and in both players Graveyards and if you do, this card gains 100 ATK for each monster banished by this effect. If this card is targeted by a card effect: You can banish 1 Monster from your Extra Deck; Negate that effect and destroy the card, also, this cards name also becomes banished Monsters name. You can only use this effect of "Stealth Scale Bloom Dragon" once per turn.

Closing Blossom / Normal Spell Card
Target 1 face-up Bloom Monster you control; Return it to the Extra Deck and if you do, you can Special Summon 1 Seedling Monster from your Graveyard. A monster Special Summoned by this effect is treated as "Second Blossoming", also, it can always be used for a Bloom Summon.

Matter Pull / Normal Trap Card
Activate only if you have a monster in your Extra Deck that could be Special Summoned to your opponents side of the field using monsters they control as the materials. Look at your opponents Extra Deck; If it contains a monster(s) that can be Special Summoned to their side of the field using monsters they control as the materials, you can make your opponent Special Summon it to their side of the field, using monsters they control as the materials. If it does not: Your opponent can choose 1 monster from your Extra Deck and Special Summon it to their side of the field, using monsters they control as the materials.

Eternal Bond / Continuous Trap Card
Activate only if both players control (exactly) 1 face-up Special Summoned monster (and no other monsters). While a player controls one of those monsters, they cannot Summon or Set Monsters. At the end of a Phase, if one of those monsters was removed from the field and its controller does not control a face-up monster: Return that monster to the field. Those monsters must battle each turn, if possible. At the end of either players End Phase, if one of those monsters is not on the field: Destroy this card.

Bloom Overdrive / Normal Trap Card
If a face-up Bloom Monster you control destroys an opponents monster by battle: You can pay half of your LP: Inflict Damage to your opponent equal to half of its ATK. If a face-up Bloom Monster you control destroys an opponents monster by battle while this card is in your Graveyard: You can Set this card from your Graveyard to your side of the field.