Part II-I


with a smile


Initially Tenjo Kaito had had better things to do than to visit one of the dime a dozen duel schools in Heartland and tell them about XYZ Summoning, being of the firm belief that if they needed to have their answers spelled out by him, they clearly weren't capable of the level he expects anyone to be at before deserving to be called a duelist.

However rather unfortunately Kaito's opinion had been vetoed (and he still scowls at the memory, vowing to get even); apparently he'd been slacking off on doing his part to inspire the future generation.

As if that is his problem-

As if he didn't already do his part by ensuring there even is a future generation-

Kaito forces a calm breath out, telling himself that this trip might still become worth his time after all. And continues his presentation.

The four latecomers have, of course, not escaped his notice.

Incidentally, thanks to Orbital in his ear, he also knows that one of them is the child his robot is still keeping an eye on. A child with whom so far nothing is unnatural beyond making his first appearance on record by being caught for burning a strange duel disk. A child, who Kaito would bet one of his Daybreakers on, is no more a normal human than Kaito is. A child who Kaito would bet Galaxy Eyes on is not of this world. A child, who has now stepped too close to the hunter.

Kaito isn't who he is for being not who he is.

Time to see once and for all what is up with the boy, if anything at all. He needs to know if he has to prepare for some crisis that will lap up to the borders of this world or if it is little more than a wrong-place-wrong time case.

In short order, he cuts his original sentence short and continues it with, "a demonstration. Of the four latecomers. A volunteer."

The lines of students pause in their zealous note taking trading confused glances, before one after another turning to follow Kaito's stare. Said for are exposed as their camouflage of being one among many turns on them. Nothing moves for a long moment. They are too far away to see an expression.

But if they bother to sneak in they should know his reputation. A 'demonstration' is not going to be kind. Now, who -

"I volunteer."

The voice sounds of the right age, but its from the completely wrong location. Orbital is reliable as always and gives him a run down. "Sato Yuto, eleven. Five years of experience with the Spade School. A win ratio of 75%. Phantom Knights deck, a dragon type ace." Only the important information. As expected of Orbital.

"I didn't ask you," Kaito says shortly, not even bothering to look.

To his surprise, the boy doesn't sit back down. "They're my friends."

"I volunteer," speaks up the boy next to the first. "That's my sister."

"Kurosaki Shun, thirteen. Second year of sponsorship. Raid Raptors deck. Aims to be a professional duelist," lists Orbital.

"I volunteer." That's a girl's voice, and the right one. She even has her hand raised. "It was my idea, I'm sorry."

"Kurosaki Ruri. Eleven. Four years of experience with Spade School. Win ratio of 83%. Lyrical Luscinia deck."

"I volunteer!" A boy's voice. "Sorry we intruded, but -"

"Eriksen Judai, Master," confirms Orbital over the long-winded excuse that doesn't sound very apologetic at all. Finally.

"Enough," says Kaito, and the boy falls silent. "I asked for one volunteer, not four. But if that's the grave you want to lie in, be my guest. All four of you, come down."

They do. The two in their proper seat shuffle awkwardly out of their row, trading speaking glances. The boy and the girl come down the central steps, he with unconcerned ease and she staring at Kaito with determination.

"I hope you have brought your duel disks," states Kaito as they join him up stage.

They have.

The oldest boy shoots daggers from the corner of his eyes at Eriksen, but otherwise…

"Get ready."

Eriksen is the only one who falters, looking at Kaito with wide eyes. "Four against one?"

Kaito's lips curl. "You think it unfair?"

The boy opens his mouth. The girl and the boy who had volunteered first, Sato, hiss at him to be quiet.

Not quite hiding his skepticism, the boy shuts up, fixing his D-gazer.

"Duel!" They call at once.

Kaito doesn't make a move to draw, allowing them the first four turns. All of strategically sound mind, the one of them standing to the left of Kaito draws first. Boy Kurosaki.

He summons his monster, one become three in the blink of an eye and Kaito knows his style. Swarm tactics.

Next is Sato. Kaito's eyes escape nothing and he puts the moves the boy makes into tactical order. He most likely powers up his monsters with effects and spells.

Kurosaki Girl. Like her brother. Swarm tactics. It'll be dangerous to assume they share much of the same style, but at least the basics are clear.

And Eriksen. The boy is grinning as though he has no inkling of what Kaito has invited him down for. "Feather in the wind, spark of the fame. Unite and become a roaring blaze - Hear my call Elemental HERO Flame Wingman!" Polymerization. A Fusion monster.

If, now if, the child is from this world that one Fusion monster would be his only one. Fusion is rare, difficult to incorporate into XYZ decks.

Not even the Barians or the residents of the Astral World used Polymerization with anything approaching frequency.

Well then, from how much further than their neighboring dimension(s) might this boy be?

Kaito will be interested to find out.


Dusk is falling by the time the duel school lets out, but the summer air keeps them warm. Judai stares dumbly at the sky.

The duel keeps replaying in his mind, but -

"Awesome."

"It's Kaito," says Riku, which is indeed all explanation that is needed.

Because.

Awesome!

Judai jumps, pumping his fists in the air. "Awesome!"

"Yes. You said so already," says Ruri's big brother flatly.

"But!" Judai beams. "He's soooooo good! I can't believe it! That a duelist as powerful as that could exist! Fusion superiority my foot, I didn't stand a chance. We didn't stand a chance." He laughs, utterly delighted.

Ruri, the boy whose name Judai still doesn't know despite having dueled together, Ruri's brother, Toru and Riku all give him identical looks of incomprehension.

"It was humiliating," states Ruri's brother, as if he thinks Judai needs to be reminded.

"Who cares? I can't beeeeelieve someone that good even exists. I'm so gonna get better. I can't believe I lost! I never lost before!"

"You lost against me," Toru says, an expression on his face that speaks of his offense that Judai just forgot.

"Not with his Fusion deck, he didn't," counters in Riku. "In your attempts at teaching him XYZ he lost. I'd like to see you try against that Fusion deck." He eyes Judai curiously and impressed. "I didn't know Fusion could be utilized that efficiently." Pause. "Not that you lasted long."

"Neither did I," chimes in Ruri. "How come you even use Fusion in the first place? Did they teach that at the Duel School you said you went to?"

Judai flaps a hand. "They also had courses on XYZ and Synchro at Duel Academia, but those sucked. They were all like, here this is how it works, this is how you shut it down, and Fusion is ten time better anyway." He sticks out his tongue, pulling a face. "I'd like them to say that again after they saw Kaito. I can't believe I lost that badly!"

The others sigh, almost in unison.

"It's Kaito," says the nameless boy.

Ruri's brother meanwhile starts to look annoyed. "We lost."

"Even worse," insists Judai. "Four against one. Four. And that badly. I didn't know you could even lose that badly. Not even the instructors back at my previous school could trounce me that badly."

"I thought you just said you never lost before," cuts in Riku. Pointedly.

Judai doesn't see what's pointed. "That's my point. They couldn't beat me at all."

Riku's eyebrows rise. "They must not have been very good then."

"Nothing against Kaito," Judai gushes.

The unnamed boy looks at Judai thoughtfully. "Why are you so shocked about this? It's Kaito. A result like this was expected."

Riku nods, pushing his glasses up.

Ruri just smiles, bag swinging with every step.

Judai blinks. Looks from one face to the next. Huh. He squints at them; Ruri, Unknown and Ruri's brother especially. "Aren't you shocked at all?"

Ruri's smile becomes a bit embarrassed. "I am. It's so different in person. He's different. I think I learned a lot. I mean, we lasted two turns each, didn't we?"

"Only because he let us." Unknown shifts his bag from one shoulder to another. "I didn't even manage to get Dark Rebellion on the field. I think I learned the most about Fusion today," he admits though, shooting Judai a glance.

Judai turns that idea in his head. Again: huh. "You know I think you're right. I learned an awful lot about XYZ. You all use it like it's as easy as breathing, but it just doesn't click for me like that."

"You just need more practice," Toru huffs, crossing his arms and blowing a strand of hair out of his face.. "XYZ is an art, you know. Not everyone can do it. Or understand it."

"You say that but you can't even get your own XYZ monsters to fit your deck," jabs Riku, correcting his glasses with two fingers.

"Practice!" Judai exclaims, closed fist hitting his palm. He turns to face Ruri, and Unknown and Ruri's brother. "Will you duel me some time? You're so much better than these two!" He thumps at his two fellow orphans, who squawk in protest. It's true, though, that's why they're so shocked at Judai's Fusion.

"Sure I will," Ruri smiles. "You know you only need to ask. Anyone in school will. Especially once everyone knows you use Fusion. It's so rare! Everyone will want to have a go! Even Shun-nii-san. Don't you?" That last bit goes to her brother.

Ruri's-brother-Shun looks thoughtful for a moment, giving Judai an assessing once over. "I wouldn't mind more experience against a Fusion user. But we don't go to the same school."

"So after," says Ruri, her tone saying she's decided for him.

Toru huffs and Riku's eyes are dangerously narrowed on Judai, like he's a bug to be disected. "Toru, what do you think Martha-san will do if she finds out Judai sneaked into a Duel School and got in trouble?"

Judai feels his smile slip while Toru gains it in the form of a sun-bright grin. "You know, I think the tiles in the bathroom could use a good scrubbing. With a toothbrush."

"Then you're gonna do it with me! We were all there!" Judai retorts.

"So we were," agrees Riku simply. "But who is she going to believe? You? Or both of us?"

Judai squawks. "No fair!"


TBC

I've been hinting at it a bit but here's confirmation; yes, I'm going with the genuine ZEXAL cast. All memories, all past adventures included. Plus some obligatory post-canon allusions. Kaito is here as a guest lecturer and not a student from an rival school. About the Zexal kids' ages - they've all graduated High School, let's leave it at that.

What do you guys think of that? ;)

I decided to give Yuto a surname for a number of reasons: a) it would have been awkward to have all the others lists by full names and Yuto just with his given name or for Orbital to just give close-and-personal first names, b) in this still-whole world the surname actually still serves a purpose, c) if I wanted to give Yuto some background, a family(name) had to be included. If it bothers you, don't worry - that name won't have many more appearances.

On a different note, most of the chapter titles for Part II are phrases taken from the Heartland Arc opening of the Arc-V anime 'Light of Hope', so don't be surprised if you recognize some. I gleefully seized the chance to incorporate those lyrics - Light of Hope is one of the best Yugioh Openings of all times!
Also, that heavy-cheery split in the song really fits (for obvious reasons) this Arc of Abyss.