Foreword: Finally done with midterms and stuff, though I'm not particularly satisfied... Anyways, here is another chapter after more than two weeks. Also finished Haouden Gachi that I ordered, and I was pretty satisfied with the story and duel. Duel mistakes occur here and there, though that's not the main point.
Well, dear readers, Chapter 9. Do enjoy, and please leave comments if you can!
Touhou Duel Masters Café
Chapter 9 – Reality, Dreams and Illusions
"What do you mean, you can't let us?" Reimu glowered at the tall oni. "We were here first. And being the Hakurei Miko, I have the right to take them away for investigation. They're important witnesses after all.
'Heh…" Yuugi just crossed her arms. "I've got a request from someone too. Can't be backing away so easily. They've got some serious problems at hand too."
"And what is more important than Gensokyo…no, this world from being destroyed now?" Reimu didn't budge from her spot. "The faster we get this done with, the faster we can let you have these guys. However…"
"Hm… So you're telling me that it is impossible to let me take them away then?" A smile crossed Yuugi's lips as she cracked her knuckles. "Then we'll do it your way then. A duel. The most fair way to deal with this. No objections then?"
"…" Reimu stared back at the oni. "Hmph…if that's what you want. Then prepare yourself!"
"Then let's make this fair. No one touches those two until this duel is over." Yuugi stretched her muscles. "I'll use this. Duel Field, expand!"
Taking out a small pendent, a glaring light radiated form it, and a sphere expanded, enveloping the girls and the unconscious males. As the sphere gradually encased them and faded from the world's view, the forest once again was cast in silence under the sun.
"…This field…" Marisa looked around, examining the duel field they are in. Swirling mass of stars that rotated around them, like the galaxy during the night. It looked similar to the one that the First and Second expanded. But this one…the colors looked slightly lighter, and it felt…less chaotic. It was hard to describe. The girls stood on lighted panels that seemed to levitate in the galaxy-like space, while the two unconscious figures were left lying on another panel that was far from any of the girls' reach.
"Well…that settles the matter of them not waking up and running away suddenly." Yuugi flicked her long blonde hair. "Then, shall we start?"
"Hmph. I'll take you down then!" Reimu took out her deck, but a hand reached out and blocker her front.
"Huh…Sakuya?" Reimu looked at the silver-haired maid, who was looking calm and stoic as ever.
"Reimu, why don't you leave this to me?" Sakuya offered, her lips parting lightly as her voice echoed through the field. "It's been some time since I've had the chance to duel seriously."
"Sakuya…" Reimu nodded after a brief moment of hesitation. "I understand. I'll leave this to you then."
"Heh... It's been a while since we've seen Sakuya duel." Marisa smiled as she sat down on her panel, taking off her large hat as she did. "When was the last time we did?"
"It was a few months ago, if I remember correctly." Reimu replied as she sat down beside her friend. "When we were solving some incident together."
"Oh right, that's it." Marisa seemed to recall the time they did. "Hm…wonder how she'll fare against Yuugi. What was Yuugi's deck again?"
"I've forgotten too, to be honest." Reimu shrugged.
"Heheh… I'll have you see soon enough!" Yuugi laughed as she expanded five crystalline shields, and they floated around her, giving off a soft humming sound. "Let's see how much fun you'll give me, the Vampire's Maid!"
"…I'll be sure not to disappoint you." Sakuya expanded her shields too. "Enjoy it while you can!"
"Duema, Start!"
BGM: Mankind's Warrior Takehaya (7th Dragon 2020 OST)
"I cast Faerie Life." Sakuya declared as her top deck went into her mana zone.
"Hm…Can't catch up with that huh…" Yuugi drew a card. "I summon Kikuchi! As long as he is in the battle zone, all players can't put cards from their deck into any other zone besides their hand."
"My turn, I cast Lifeplan Charger." Sakuya's top five cards revealed themselves to her. "I add Metafiction, Ruler of Fiction to my hand. Lifeplan Charger goes to my mana zone. Turn End."
"…Heh, this is getting interesting." Yuugi grinned. "Getting over Kikuchi's ability… I should've thought of that. I summon Straight, Fighting Ogre!"
The Humanoid/Hunter/Alien materialized next to Yuugi, wielding two blades of Fire and Darkness.
"Straight's ability makes Yuugi's Humanoid evolution creatures cost 2 less…" Marisa looked at the creature. "And Red Black Humanoid… How fitting for Yuugi."
"Let's see what Sakuya has to do." Reimu shushed her friend.
"My turn. I summon Metafiction." The Light Demon Command who had conquered over his Unknown side and having a six-legged beast for his lower body appeared, waving his twin blades. "Turn End."
"Metafiction huh… I don't have many spells in my deck. Even if I did, I'll take care of him fast!" Yuugi declared as she started her turn. "With Straight's effect, this guy costs 2 less to summon! I evolve Kikuchi into Oninaguri, Last Attack!"
The Sphere of Evolution enveloped the Darkness Humanoid, and as it grew larger and larger, the red Evolution Humanoid, sporting a cross shaped scar on his chest and wielding two large mechanic arms, broke out from the sphere.
"Battle! I attack with Oninaguri!" Yuugi ordered, and the Humanoid/Hunter/Alien rushed at the maid. "When he attacks, can destroy your creatures with a total cost of 6 or less! Be gone, Metafiction!"
Metafiction tried to parry Oninaguri's attack with his blades, but the Humanoid's mechanical arms easily shattered the swords of light, and crushed the Demon Command.
"Oninaguri, Double Break!"
"…" Sakuya caught the two broken shields as they reformed in her hand.
"Straight, break her third shield!"
"No triggers." Sakuya confirmed as she looked at her third broken shield.
"Heheh… I hope you've got something up your sleeves, 'cuz it'd be boring to end this next turn!" Yuugi laughed heartedly.
"Worry not. I still haven't lost just yet." Sakuya calmly replied. "I cast Hyperspatial Green White Hole and put Victorious Purin into my battle zone."
The Alien princess appeared from a void and gave a light bow.
"Since Purin is a light creature, I add one card from my hand to my shields." One of her cards formed a crystalline shield, joining the two intact shields.
"With Purin's effect, Oninaguri cannot attack or block until my next turn." The Princess cast a binding spell on the Humanoid, rendering him powerless.
"Then I shall let you see… my ace…!" Sakuya declared as she held up a card.
"It's here!" Marisa sounded excited as the card glowed.
BGM: Lunar Dial (Rin ~ House Set of the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil)
"I cast Christie Gate!"
"…!"
"I look at one of my shields, and put a non-evolution Light Demon Command from that shield into my battle zone!"
"I, of course, choose the shield I've just added! Come, Codefight Agatha Hercule!"
From the added shield, a strong light shone, shattering the shield as the Unknown Light Demon Command, clad in golden armor, donning a red flowing cape, wielding his lance and riding on top of a gigantic golden unicorn, appeared on the battlefield. The tristone embedded in his lance glowed a vivid orange as he loomed over the battlefield.
"Your time is my time." Sakuya clicked her pocket watch shut. "Turn End."
"Heh…Agatha Hercule, eh. Should've seen that coming…" Yuugi licked her lips. "But that makes it all more interesting!"
"I'll show you my ace too then! With Straight's effect, this guy costs 2 less! I evolve Straight into this guy!"
As the small Humanoid let out a loud cry, his body glowed a white light and grew little bigger. Long hair started to flow from the silhouette as a large blade crashed down, and the figure grabbed it as the light subsided.
"Onimaru Baku, Golden Age! With your golden spirit, defeat your foes and become the victor!"
Emerging from the light, Onimaru let out a loud howl against the large Angel Command.
"Heh… Aneki (Big Sis), you've got me a good opponent! I'm itching to bust those Unknowns up now!" Onimaru gave Yuugi a thumbs-up.
"Wha… Even your creatures are talking now?" Reimu's eyebrow twitched, evidently not very pleased with this.
"I suddenly found him talking two days ago, I don't know why, neither does he." Yuugi shrugged. "But I like him. He's got all the qualities I like."
"Heheh… Aneki, I'll be embarrassed if you say that." Onimaru scratched his cheek sheepishly.
"…" A vein popped up on Reimu's head. "Then why aren't my creatures talking then?"
"Feeling lonely?" Marisa grinned and wrapped an arm around her friend. "You've got me after all!"
"Che…" An annoyed look crossed Reimu's face, although she didn't shrug off her friend's embrace.
"Hmph. Onimaru, you are just 500 power short of mine. How do you expect to defeat me?" The Demon Command on Sakuya's field suddenly boomed.
"…" Reimu stared at the creature with dead fish-eyes. "Hey, when did you start to talk?"
"Just now." Agatha Hercule gave a curt response, like he didn't care.
"Grr…"
"Agatha's effect!" Sakuya, unfazed by the sudden sentience of her creature, declared. "Whenever you put a creature into the battle zone, I can look at my shields and put a non-evolution Demon Command into my battle zone!"
The two remaining shields presented themselves to her.
"I put Destrozione into the battle zone!" One of the shields manifested into the large Demon Command on a skeletal horse, boasting 17000 power and Triple Breaker.
"Destrozione huh… Yuugi's pretty lucky that Sakuya hasn't got Big Day Out in her shields." Reimu observed as Sakuya activated Destrozione's effect.
"With his effect, you must discard your hand!" The Demon Command swung his scythe at Yuugi, ripping away the cards from her hand and into her graveyard.
"That won't stop us! Aneki!" Onimaru turned to Yuugi, who nodded. "Battle! Onimaru, break that last shield!"
The Humanoid, Hunter and Alien hybrid slashed away Sakuya's last shield.
"…No triggers."
"Hmph. There's nothing I can do anymore. Turn End."
"I cast DNA Spark. First I tap all your creatures, and then since I have less than 2 shields, my deck top becomes a new shield." Sakuya's empty shield zone was refilled with a new transparent shield.
"Battle. I attack Oninaguri and Onimaru with Agatha Hercule and Destrozione!"
Agtha Hercule speared through the burly Humanoid and destroyed him while Destrozione swung his large scythe at Onimaru.
"Aneki!" Onimaru called.
"Yeah, I know!" Yuugi replied. "When Onimaru is destroyed, I reveal the my deck top! If that card is a Humanoid, he stays in the battle zone instead!"
Yuugi's first card flipped open.
"Oninaguri The Legend! Since he's a Humanoid, Onimaru stays in the battle zone!"
Just as Destrozione's weapon was about to slice Onimaru in two, the Humanoid sidestepped, the scythe barely missing him, and he sent the large Demon Command back with a forceful roundhouse kick.
"…" A flicker of annoyance crossed the maid's face. "Turn End."
"How lucky of you…" Agatha Hercule mumbled, which was probably what his master thought too.
"Since Yuugi's deck is full of Humanoids, Onimaru would have a large chance of staying…" Marisa tapped her chin. "Maybe Sakuya should've attacked her shields instead?"
"Considering that Onimaru cannot defeat them alone, may be that would be the best choice…" Reimu agreed. "But I can understand Sakuya's action. Leaving him there might be dangerous."
"Heh, that's the power of our bonds!" Yuugi boasted. "My turn! I charge Oninaguri into my mana. Battle! Onimaru, attack her shields!"
Jumping right into the front of Sakuya, the Humanoid swiped away the last shield once again.
"Let's see if you're lucky enough to add another shield! Turn End!"
"It seems that I have no cards to increase my shields now…" Sakuya closed her eyes.
"Then how about we end it this turn?" She announced in a cold voice as her pupils fixated on the oni. "I summon Metafiction once again!"
Once more the Demon Command appeared, his body defending Sakuya from potential attacks.
"Battle. Destrozione, Agatha, Triple Break!"
Charging forward on their mounts, the two Demon Commands destroyed all five shields that protected Yuugi.
"Aneki!"
BGM: The Signal to Counterattack (Gundam Build Fighters OST)
"Heh…I haven't lost just yet! Shield Trigger! Love Sniper Moel!" A reformed shield shimmered in Yuugi's hands.
The card transformed into a long-red-haired female Humanoid, who instantly blasted the remaining attacker Sakuya possessed into oblivion with her large cannon.
"Onii-chan (鬼ぃちゃん)! I'm glad I can become your power!" The cheerful Humanoid girl flashed a V-sign towards Onimaru.
Marisa turned to see blood tricking out of the side of Reimu's mouth, whose eyes were completely without life now.
"Sad…"
"…Turn End." Sakuya was relieved that she summoned Metafiction now.
…If my attacks get through, then this would be the end… Yuugi thought. Well, I supposed it wouldn't be that easy…
However, this is my last turn! I won't be going down without a fight here!
"My turn! Draw!"
"…" Yuugi stared at her drawn card.
"I summon Laurier, Ogre Princess!"
"That card is…!" Reimu stood up from her seated position.
"While I have no shields, when Laurier is put into the battle zone, I can activate her effect!" Yuugi explained. "I can look at my deck and choose a Victory card from it, and evolve it on this creature if it can!"
Yuugi's deck fanned out in front of her. Grabbing one of them, she flung the chosen card on to the battle zone.
"Come! The victor of all battles, the champion of races!" Yuugi chanted as Laurier started to unleash the power of evolution. "Oni Champion, Victory Twelve!"
The small Humanoid evolved into the Red Command Dragon, letting out a great roar as he descended upon the battlefield.
"Oni Champion!?" Marisa's jaw dropped. "In a Humanoid deck!?"
"Then I summon Maccaran Fine, Explosive Roar!"
A sweat tricked down Sakuya's previously composed face.
"Battle!" Yuugi declared. "Oni Champion, direct attack!"
"I block with Metafiction!"
"Onimaru! Direct Attack!"
"Ninja Strike 4! Falconer! I turn Falconer into a blocker and block that attack!"
"Moel, direct attack!" Yuugi called on her third creature to deliver the finishing blow.
"Ninja Strike 7, Hanzou! Moel gets -6000 power!" Sakuya used her last resort to stop the attack.
"This is my last strike!" The oni exclaimed. "Maccaran Fine! Direct Attack!"
Huh… Where am I?
What is this place?
It's so dark…
I'm scared…
I don't like this feeling…
Why would it end like this?
We've prepared so much already…
But we still…
Tell me why…
Levia, Revia, Arto, Three, Seyfried, Karma, Al, Subaru, everyone…
I still have so much to do…
I still have people I want to protect…
There are so many things to take care of…
I can't die here like this…
I can't die here…
I can't die…
I can't…
I…!
"I…!" The Second's voice rose up as his eyes opened, and the sun almost blinded his eyes. "Kuh…"
I'm not dead yet…
Shielding his eyes from the bright light, he sat up in fatigue, and his ears picked up a conversation nearby.
"If I hadn't had Zerokage…"
"That was one hell of a duel…"
"What about Satori…?"
"I'll explain that to her…"
"Well, see you guys around…"
"Urgh…" The Second massaged his aching head and looked around, finding his still-unconcious friend sprawled on the floor nearby.
"We gotta get out of here fast…" He mumbled as he tried to wake The First up.
"Where do you think you're going?" A voice cut him short.
"…Ku…" He turned to see Reimu, Marisa and the maid who had visited previously staring at him.
Damn… I don't have the energy to materialize Katsuking and Bolshack Ulpheus now… What to do…
Right, we still have…!
"Yukari!" He cried out, and instantly, a gap opened up beneath his feet, swallowing him and The First up.
"Sakuya!" Reimu cried out.
"I understand." The maid flipped her watch open, and the next instant, The First and Second lay on the ground, far away from the opened gap.
"Shit…!" The Second gasped. Too careless…!
"Hmph… You won't be getting easily this time!" Reimu flew over to him. "Let's see that face of yours!"
"You want to do horrible things to me right!? Like in ero doujins!"
"What the hell are you saying?"
No sooner the words left Reimu's mouth, a light radiated from The First's body, temporarily blinding the three girls.
It was all the time they needed.
When their eyes finally adjusted back to the normal amount of light, they turned just in time to see the gap close, with both The First and Second nowhere in sight.
Her hand trembling in anger, Reimu's furious voice resonated through the forest.
"Yukariiiii!"
The Second tumbled through the opening and into a spacious room, with The First landing unceremoniously behind him.
"Urk…" It seemed that the impact woke him up from his slumber too. "Wha…"
"We've escaped…" The Second told him. "If it wasn't for Yukari…"
"Ugh… Thank God…" The First muttered, cringing as his body ached from fatigue and bruises. "We need to give Yukari our thanks later…"
"Yeah…but for now, we need to rest for a bit…"
"Fuck… Shangri-La… He's powered up too… It's also like he was pinpointing our decks right from the start…"
"…We need even more preparation huh…"
"But there's not much time to rest…"
"I know… Maybe we should just let them take care of him…"
"…That'd be our last resort."
The door to the room creaked open, and they immediately shifted their focus to the sudden noise.
A familiar figure stood at the doorway, and the figure's slightly surprised expression was replaced by a smile shortly thereafter.
"Yukari…that old hag!" Reimu gritted her teeth as she swung her gohei in the air. "I'll get her someday…"
"Wow. She's seriously pissed." Marisa observed. "Now that those two guys are officially related to Yukari, that kinda makes it worse."
"Yes. I can understand her anger." Sakuya agreed. "To think that the Youkai Sage was affiliated with those two people… There seems to be much more going on in this incident."
The three returned to the Scarlet Devil Mansion, with Reimu being absolutely furious over the turn of events, and nothing was calming her down.
Marisa, on the other hand, was taking the matter far more lightly, munching on some cookies that Sakuya made.
"Well…" She managed between bites. "Now that we know Yukari's involved, things are a lot easier, right?"
"That can be said…" Sakuya started.
"But it's hard to get the Youkai Sage out, right?" Patchouli went on for her.
Sakuya nodded.
"Now that they've been transported to unknown places, it's even harder to get information."
"Kuh…at this time, Yukari's still withholding information from us… Just what the hell is she thinking?" Reimu grumbled.
As if answering her question, a gap opened, and closed shortly, but not before a paper fluttered out of it.
"…" Snatching the piece of paper mid-air, Reimu began to examine it.
It was a map of Gensokyo, with markings similar to the ones on the paper they took from the café.
"…Now she's telling us these suspicious locations?" She arched her eyebros.
"Isn't it good she's giving us what we need then?" Marisa mumbled as she continued to stuff her cheeks full of biscuits.
"I'm more interested in those two guys…"
"That's not really our main concern until we get rid of Shangri-La, right?"
"…Chi…" Reimu reluctantly concurred.
The sun was setting, as Sakuya stepped out of the library and looked out the windows. The heaven and clouds were painted a beautiful orange, as the egg yolk- colored sun was slowly retreating beneath the horizon.
Looking at her watch, the Scarlet Devil Mansion's Maid decided it was time to make dinner, and as the watch snapped shut, time stopped.
"So we don't even have time to rest huh…" The First poked at a pea with his fork, before spearing a small broccoli and popping it into his mouth.
"Kinda like the old days, right?" The Second gobbled down a piece of chicken. "Getting involved in stuff left and right. Like when we were with the Pleiades and the Constellations…"
"Heh…yeah. Getting old, are we. Though…"
"Worry not. I have been assured that the Hakurei Shrine Maiden will take care of Shangri-La." The owner told the two guests. "In the meantime, you can have a rest for the night."
And I will need your help. The owner's voice echoed in their minds. Starting tomorrow.
"Sure thing." The First continued his dinner lazily. "You're our friend, after all…"
Friend… The owner pondered the meaning of that word, and smiled.
I will be counting on you then. Rest assured, the incident solvers will be sure to Shangri-La down, now that the Youkai Sage has finally decided to place the matter in their hands. It is, in a way, not something that you should care about anymore. They're the incident solvers. Nothing would be too hard for them if they try.
"Heh…" The Second let out a soft chuckle.. "Of course…"
Dinner passed in a light mood, with the owner and guests relaxing in a comfortable atmosphere, neither of them having done so for quite some time.
"Getting requests and having to balance stuff… So tiring."
"Yukari-sama?" Ran peeked into her master's room. "It's time for dinner."
"I'll be right there."
The Kistune bowed and retreated.
In the pitch black darkness, the Youkai Sage's pupils glowed an eerie gold, the only light illuminating the room.
"Well then, Shangri-La. Shall we step this up a little?"
Decks:
Yuugi: FD Humanoid (赤黒ヒューマノイド)
Sakuya: Nekura Agatha (ネクラアガサ)