Disclaimer: I don't own YuGiOh, GX, Google or Jabberwocky.
Anyway, Kira here. After reading through Ghost's story, I grew to love his openings. So I hope he doesn't mind me copying his style. Anyway, I hope to finish with this episodic nature soon and get to the tournament. Oh and its been a while since I switch the focus away from Naota or Hikaru, I feel bad about that, but they still have one more chapter after this. Anyway, I think I'll keep his chapter short and skip to the duel to compensate for last chapters inability to end.
…
The car shrieked as it spun toward the sidewalk. A scream died in Naota's throat, unable to escape. He could see the car whirling towards him, but fear had him paralyzed. He couldn't move.
"Naota, look out!" Hikaru screamed. She rushed toward her friend, but he was too far way.
Someone grabbed Naota's hand and yanked him away. The car crashed into a wall.
Naota was having that dream again.
…
After they left Naota with the nurse, Hikaru and Nayuta both headed to their drama class. They waited through some of the others performances before their turns came up. Nayuta gave an impressive reading, but then it was Hikaru's turn.
She took a calming breath. She'd been waiting for this moment for a few days, and they'd been spent with a nervous nagging in the back of her mind. With the added weight of her promise to Naota layered on, Hikaru found herself shaking.
Hikaru took the script and began to read. "Oh, Zach, why are you such an idiot," she moaned. It wasn't that hard to pull off the compassionate sass that was required for the role. She felt like she was playing herself. "You'll need to be more careful or next time you might lose the duel." She read more lines, adding emotion into each one without over acting. She wasn't a professional, but she was good for a student. She ended and the classroom cheered.
"Way to overact," sneered a brown haired girl in an Obelisk uniform. "I'll show you how it's really done." She took the stage and began reciting the same lines.
Hikaru suppressed the violent urge to attack her and tear her to bits.
As the girl's recital finished to an end, the audience broke into applause.
"That was amazing, Eriko," Mrs. Kino clapped along. "I don't think we've ever a student give such a passionate yet genuine performance. The only problem is that your grades are to low, so I'm afraid you won't be able to get the role."
Eriko's eye twitched. "Wha-huh?" She gawked.
Mrs. Kino shook her head. "I'm sorry but you're getting C's and lower in your other classes. So it looks like I'm going to have to give this role to Hikaru.
…
Hiroaki sat back in his chair typing away at his laptop. 'We've planted the seeds of despair within Ryou, we've chipped away at Naota's armor, and Hikaru's light is fading fast. Those three are well within our grasp, but we should begin working on Nayuta soon.' He hit a few keys and clicked a few buttons on his screen. "So tell me, my dear Google, what is Nayuta's darkest secret."
Fumiko laughed. "Is it really that easy?"
"Yes it is," Hiroaki answered. "The Organization's been finding out the secret fears of countless students and exploited them to get more students on our side. It's been this way for a few years now."
"Scary," muttered Fumiko. "So just how big is this Organization anyway?"
"Over half the student population has been converted, and the teacher's haven't a clue."
…
"Grrr, I will not accept this," growled Eriko. "I am a star. I'm not letting this second-rate trash steal the spotlight from me." She had the attitude of a stereotypical superstar, one of her biggest weaknesses. "I demand the lead be given to me."
"I'm afraid we can't do that," Mrs. Kino apologized, "Well, there is a way I suppose. Eriko, Hikaru, you two will duel, and the lead role will be awarded to whoever can give a more passionate performance."
Eriko wasted no time. "It's time to duel!"
…
Takuya sat on top of the school roof, gazing out at the blue sky. He could smell the flowers growing in the garden below. There were roses and violets among others. Approaching footsteps echoed in the stairwell. He closed his eyes and waited. "Hello, my dear Lunatic Princess, what brings you here?"
The girl behind him only growled. "I don't know what you're up to, Takuya, but I swear that if it harms my little sister in anyway I will hunt you down and kill you."
"Wow, very violent aren't you. I guess that's where you get your name from." He raised his duel disk. "Care to duel?"
"Sorry, I have important business to attend to." She turned and walked away, vanishing like an illusion.
Takuya reached into his pocket and pulled out his deck. "Looks like someone is on to me."
…
Eriko drew a card, rushing directly into the battle. "I summon Beautiful Headhuntress!" (600/800) The girl that appeared wore a beautiful blue kimono with a pink sash. A pink ribbon held her blue hair up when she engaged in battle. "Next I equip her with Vorpal Blade and play one card face down. Your move, Hikaru." Headhuntress dropped her sword in favor of a long blade that shimmered black and red.
The young girl drew.
"Come on Hikaru, you can do it!" Nayuta cheered.
Hikaru smiled, knowing that she had exactly what she wanted in her hand.
"I summon Maho Shoujo Haruka to the field!" (1700/1300) "Using her effect I add Dimension Magic to my hand, and I offer Haruka up to my Spell Card to Special Summon Maho Shoujo Kimiko!" (1600/1400) "Now I can destroy your Headhuntress and activate Kimiko's effect!" Kimiko blasted her foe with a black flame. It ate the Headhuntress like a hungry tiger. "Now Kimiko deals you 600 points of damage."
E: 3400
"Now my Vorpal Sword's effect activates. When the monster it's equipped to gets sent to the grave by a Spell or Trap, I can choose one monster on your side of the field to remove from play." The Vorpal Blade flew forward and sliced through Kimiko. "Next I can special summon one monster from my deck with the same level as the monster that Vorpal Blade had been equipped to, and then I can choose an equip card in my deck to equip to it!" A mysterious black portal opened on the ground and out rose another Headhuntress. "Say hello to my Grand Beauty Headhuntress. (1600/800) "She gets 400 attack points for every card of yours that has been removed from play. (2000/800) "Then I equip her with Axe of Despair."
"I play one card face down and end my turn," Hikaru balled her free hand into a fist, like she was squeezing an invisible stress ball.
Eriko drew her card and played it immediately. I activate Nobleman of Extermination to remove your facedown from play." Eriko smiled as her opponents Negate Attack was taken off the field. "So this not only boosts my monster's attack, but means that I remove my Negate Attack from play." The Duel Disk ejected the Trap Card from Eriko's deck. "So now I get to activate my face down continues trap, Different Dimension Stagnation! When one of my cards is removed from play you have to take the top card of your deck and remove it from play."
Hikaru slipped the top card of her deck into the Removed From Play zone.
Headhuntress' attack rose to 3800. Eriko grinned. "Now I normal summon my Lovely Assassin to the field!" (1700/100) "I can use her effect to boost her attack for this turn, all by removing the top two cards of my deck from the game!" The assassin's attack went up by 300 points for each. (2300/100) Naturally, Hikaru slipped two more cards from her deck into the Removed from Play slot. Headhuntress attack rose to 4600. "Go, my Assassin, attack her directly!"
The assassin moved swiftly. She was dressed like a stereotypical ninja but she had a cute pink and blue outfit instead of the traditional black uniform. She appeared behind Hikaru in an instant, and plunged a dagger into her back.
H: 1700
"Now go, my Headhuntress, attack!" The Headhuntress sprang forward on Eriko's orders.
Hikaru grabbed a card from her hand and threw it onto her Duel Disk. "Every good Maho Shoujo story needs a cute animal, don't you think?" She grinned. "Say hello to Kurinin!" A Kuriboh like fuzz ball leapt onto the field, dressed in black just like a stereotypical ninja. "You aren't the only one fond of ninjutsu. Let's see what my assassin can do!" Kurinin pulled out a large shuriken and threw it at the Headhuntress. She had no time to dodge before the weapon sliced right through her. "When you attack I can Special Summon Kurinin from my hand to the field in attack mode. He'll not only negate the attack, but he'll destroy the monster as well!"
"Very well, I'll let you make your move." Eriko snarled viciously.
…
Naota's eyes opened slowly. He could hardly believe the face in front of him. "Haruka," he squealed. "What are you doing here." He sat up and hugged the girl.
She handed him a bouquet of flowers. They smelled sweeter than anything on the island did.
"Well, Hikaru told me you weren't doing to well lately, so I thought I'd stop by." She had short brown hair and arm, gentle eyes. "So how are you doing?"
"Poorly," he admitted. "I don't know if I can handle any more stress. I've already fainted twice this month, although, to be fair, the second time might have been because I stayed up until five this morning."
Haruka smiled. "Well don't worry; I'm sure you'll be fine. Hey, my brother told me to give these to you." She pulled a small envelope out of her tote bag.
"Thanks," Naota said politely. He opened the envelope to find a few Duel Monsters cards inside, along with a note.
Dear Naota,
Hey how are you doing? I hope my cousin's taking good care of you, and not being too mean. I haven't seen you two in ages, although that's about to change. I can't say much, but you can expect me to drop by soon. Tell Hikaru I said hi!
PS I know some of these cards aren't your style, but I really think that if you include a few more attack options, your chances of winning would increase dramatically.
Naota looked at the cards inside. "Hey, these look like they could be useful."
…
Hikaru twirled around as she drew her card. "I sacrifice my Kurinin to play Maho Shoujo Megumi!" (2500/1200) This Maho Shoujo looked slightly older than the most. She had long black hair that seemed to glimmer in the light. "Go, attack her ninja!" A magical explosion of light and colors streamed out of her staff,
E: 2600
"Ha, when my Assassin is destroyed, I get to choose one monster on your side of the field to take with her, so say bye-bye to Megumi!" Eriko watched as a storm of shuriken tore the magical schoolgirl to bits.
"When my Megumi is destroyed, I can Special Summon another Maho Shoujo from my hand or deck, so say hello to Asuka!" (1800/1000) "Attack her directly!"
Eriko grunted as the blast of energy washed over her.
H: 3500 E: 800
"When she deals you damage, I recover Life Points equal to that amount. Now I play a facedown and end my turn."
Eriko grunted as she drew her card. "Silver Winds and Golden Sun. Life's Mysteries Roll on Forever. When she Comes out Let all be Undone. Return this World to Never! Go Lifeless Angel!" (1400/1300) Eriko smiled. "Now watch as my Angel's effect goes into play. I flip a coin and call it. If I'm right, then five cards from the top of your deck are removed from play. If I'm wrong, they come off my deck. So I'm calling Heads!"
A silver coin spun through the air, landing on tails. "So now we both send five cards from our deck to the other dimension!"
Thanks to Different Dimension Stagnation, Hikaru was losing more cards from her deck.
Eriko smiled. "Next I activate Angel's Aria! I can remove an angel I control from play and Special Summon monster from my deck with the same level. So say hello to my second Grand Beauty Headhuntress. (6000/800) "Attack her Maho Shoujo!"
"I activate Maho Shoujo Last Gift! I remove my Megumi from play to gain 2500 Life Points!" The Headhuntress slashed through Asuka.
H: 1600
"Hah, what an excellent move I must say." Eriko's sarcasm was grating to Hikaru. It sounded worse than a dying giraffe. "It's your move."
Hikaru prayed as she drew her card. "I activate Pot of Greed!" She felt like humming classical music in celebration. "I summon Maho Shoujo Emi!" (1200/1100) "Her effect lets me draw a card. Now I attack your monster and activate the Quick Play Spells Radiant Heart and Radiant Will! Both cards can only be activated when a Maho Shoujo enters battle with another monster. My Radiant Heart stops me from taking any Battle Damage, thus protecting my card and my Life Points. Radiant Will ensures that the opposing monster is destroyed in battle!"
There was a burst of energy, and the Headhuntress vanished. "I play one card facedown and end my turn."
Eriko was visibly angered. She seemed to be fuming at the ears. "My turn. Draw." She kept her words simple and bitter. "Time to end this. I activate Mystical Space Typhoon on your facedown!"
Hikaru's stomach churned with worry. And audible growl could be heard coming from inside. "Now I'll show you why you don't mess with me, Hikaru. I summon Jabberwocky to the field!" (3000/0) "He can only be summoned if I have a Vorpal Sword in the grave. Even then, he is returned to my hand at the end of the turn. Oh and I take 1000 damage every time that happens. But its all worth it for the massive attack power don't you say?"
It had a tall thin body, long wings, and a hideous face with huge slobbering lips and large round eyes.
"He'll be attacking you though, so I won't take any damage from his effect, seeing as this duel will be over by than." The large monster flew forth and crushed Maho Shoujo Emi between its claws.
H: 0
The blonde fell to her knees in disbelief. "I lost?"
"That was an excellent duel, both of you did well." Mrs. Kino told the girls. "And seeing as you both performed spectacularly, this makes it so much harder to choose. I'm sorry Hikaru, but I'm giving the lead role to Eriko. Would you like to be her understudy?
Hikaru nodded emotionlessly, like a zombie.
…
Author's Note: And thus our short chapter ends for today. And fans of Nayuta and Ryou, don't worry, they'll get some more screen time soon. I'll be sure to include more duels for both of them.