Chapter X [10]
Anguished Promise
Why is it hot in here? I should force myself up to open the window at least. To my surprise, through my eyes I wasn't in the room I slept in. No, I am outside, surrounded by bewildering fire that engulfed the area where it's flames touches. This isn't right, I got up and realized the sign that was caught in flames.
"Sakura Festival…?" I questioned, checking my surroundings, glancing at the shadowed figure emerging from the flames, "…W-Who are you!?"
The stranger didn't speak a word, instead snapped their fingers. Revealing many figures around me, being devoured by the flames. They had familiar face… No, it was my friends! Delthea! Yurika! Johan! Takashi! The screams filled the area as they're arms tried to reach out for me, I couldn't bare to watch it!
"Leave my friends out of this! Please!" I called out, hoping for a response, still nothing, "W-What do you want!?"
Before my question was given an answer, I heard a chainsaw sounding like its revving up for something. The figure pointed at me, I forced myself to turn around only to face an large arm with claws aiming towards me. Through my cries, I heard a loud roar from the skies, clashing down on the ground next to me, stopping the attack with is arm. It was Red Dragon Archfiend, its eyes glaring at me, feeling a sense if disappointment towards me.
Within seconds, the whole area cracked like glass, shattering in front of me. The ground shattered as well, falling into the dark abyss that felt endless, the only thing I was looking up was my monster. Not affected by my situation, as it flew away while I kept falling into the abyss, feeling like its been an eternity. No help from anyone, I failed to protect my friends so it seemed.
"I-I am… weak…" I softly spoke towards myself, seeing nothing in front of me.
"You are weak! You have no passion towards your cards! You call yourself a duelist!" I heard a deep manly voice echoing around me, "Being a duelist mean trusting in your cards! It's not just monster, spells, or traps that will guide to victory! It's the soul of a duelist! Which, you do not carry! So give up being weak, Shizuka!"
Afterwards, silence returned as I noticed a glowing white light at the bottom. Placing my arms in front of my face in 'x' formation, as my body finally passes through the light.
Shizuka woken up, heavily panting, looking around seeing she returned back to her room. Another dream she endured, looking at the timer of the clock, 12:48am. It was still dark outside, opening the curtain to let the moonlight brighten the room. Wiping the sweat off her body with a towel she kept close by. Trying to understand what her dreams meant. The more she questioned it, the more she felt like being further away from the truth.
Looking over at the bed table next to her was her deck, reaching towards her. Until a burning sensation around her arm caused her to halt. Thinking it was just an imagination, since she was tired. Closing her eyes once more, returning back into her sheet, looking away from her cards.
Morning rises, as Shizuka was already finished with her daily routine. But instead of her uniform, she worn a plain purple shirt to match her eyes. Overlaying it with a white jacket, leaving it open to show off her shirt. The jacket reaches to her waistline, placing a black choker around her neck. Finally, wears grey skirt, purple leggings, and white boots. Looking like a average civilian, adding the final touch, was two white ribbons on both sides of her hair. Afterwards, she takes her backpack containing the duel-disk before leaving the apartment. Seeing that the whole group waited up for her once again, everyone wearing different outfits, which was a refresher. To Shizuka, this is the first time they all hanged out as friends.
Takashi wearing blue jeans and a designer white t-shirt saying, "Don't let anything stop you." Which made Shizuka let out a small giggle, when she saw it. Confusing Takashi, but he didn't care after he found out why. Johan worn a black leather jacket, underneath a plain white t-shirt, and black jeans. Still having the scar that Takashi left him, making them both seem like twins in a way.
The girls on the other hand, we're in a different style than the boys. One of them at least, Delthea still worn her school uniform but held a plastic bag in her hands. Shizuka noticing some pink and white fabric, but Delthea made sure no one can see it yet. Yurika however, she looked completely different. She long black hair shined brightly in the sunlight, wearing only two white lined pins on the right side of her bangs, just for personal reference. Wearing long white summer dress, with two giant blue ribbons, one placed onto her chest and the other behind her waist. Light-blue frills at the bottom, to give it that cutesy touch. As for the final piece, she is wearing a white summer hat, to block out the sun's harmful rays, having a giant light-blue ribbon attached to it.
It didn't take them long to reach the school grounds, all decorated into the setting of spring. Full of colors, the cherry blossom scattered around the area. Joy and happiness filled the air, passing stand after another. Truly a time of peace, Takashi was enjoying the food along with Yurika, making sure it doesn't dirty her dress. While Delthea and Johan played competitively on catching fish. Losing out more than half their money due to their arguments about fishing.
From a distance, a young girl nearly around their age just stared at them, as her brother came by her side, with some Dangos. As he noticed his sister not paying any attention towards the sweets, but at the group of students having fun. Letting out a disappointing sigh, which broke off the concentration away from the crowd and towards her brother. Smiling, as she took one of the Dangos, taking a small bite, savoring its sweet taste. Revealing that it was her favorite, her eyes filled with delight towards the gift.
"Thank you, brother!" She said, happily, taking another bite, "Sorry for not noticing sooner, it's just... they seem to have more fun than-."
"Yoshino." He interrupted, to prevent her from finishing her sentence, "Just enjoy the sweets."
"Y-Yes! I am sorry once again... Siegfried..." Yoshino said, feeling guilty from what she almost said.
As Yoshino took another bite from the dango, looking at the group with a cold glare. Not being happy that they planted thoughts into Yoshino's head without effort. His right hand closed and turned into a fist, intensely shaken due to anger but in a few seconds, it went away. Yoshino caught a glimpsed, noticing her brother wasn't happy with what she said, taking the last bite of her dango, but it felt empty to her, since sadness sinks in. Throwing the stick away inside the trash can, wrapping her arms around his arm, smiling at him. As he returned the favor, taking a bite from the dango, as he gave the rest to her, being happy from his action, the twins walked away from the area with smiles.
Shizuka noticed the twins walking away from them, staring at them for a moment as she returned her attention to her friends. As the groups walks passed a few stands in search for the stage for Delthea, which she was assigned to take part of the ceremony.
"Alright guys, my stop is here." Delthea claimed, splitting off from the group, looking back and pointed her finger at Shizuka, "Do not forget, you have to come back in three hours.."
"I promise not to forget Delthea!" Shizuka said happily, as she took a bite of a popsicle she held.
"Alright guys, I will be heading out. Wish me luck!" Delthea called out as she heads back stage halls, waving at her friends, "You better come as well Johan!"
Johan let out a small chuckle, waving his hand at her so she can see. Noticing her smile, as she entered the halls, everyone headed back to the stands to sight see. Shizuka noticed a stand that sold card packets, remembering what Yurika's words a while back.
'You can't win on action cards alone…' She thought, claiming a few packets and handing the cashier the appropriate amount of yen required for purchase.
'I hope this will help my deck out, even if it's a small amount.' She thought, heading to a wooden table near the resting area and opening them up one by one.
Yurika noticed Shizuka organizing her deck, which made her slightly smile. As she noticed Takashi and Johan are having a food off, keeping an eye on them to make sure they don't overdo it, for their own good.
"Guys. Remember you can't overeat or you will get a tummy ache." Yurika said, patting Takashi's back, "Especially you, Takashi."
"Oh please, don't worry about me!" Takashi said, gulping down the food he had stuffed in his mouth, "Besides! This is a rare occasion of food! I cannot standby and watch, I deserve this!"
The rest sat down with Shizuka, as she implanted what cards she received from the packet into her deck. Leaving out a few cards from her original recipe, the others noticed what cards she used, they were a bit surprised from what she had inside.
"Shizuka, some of these cards are many decades ago. Why did you keep some of them?" Takashi asked in a polite matter, holding one of her old cards, "You have many chances to upgrade, why now?"
"Yurika was right, I can't rely on action cards. So it's best to keep advancing, our last duel I was lucky." Shizuka said, focusing more on her build, "I don't even remember anything after I summoned my ace…"
The group looked at her with a confused look, as Yurika placed her hand onto Shizuka's forehead. Causing her to cease action, staring at Yurika with confusion. She withdrawn her hand, and smiled.
"Shi-Chi, can I ask you something?" Yurika asked, as she faded away and had a serious look on her face.
"Y-Yeah, what is it?" Shizuka said, in a nervous tone, being a little scared of her friend.
"Shi-Chi… Have you been dealing with nightmares lately?" Yurika questioned, as the two guys just stared blank at her.
Shizuka slightly nodded in embarrassment, letting out a small blush as Yurika sighed.
"Shi-Chi, did they happen after you summoned your ace?" She questioned once again.
"Y-Yes.." She answered, looking down at her deck, shaking her hands as a sign of fear.
"H-Hey Shizuka…" Takashi said, reach his hand out to her, until Yurika intercepts and blocked his hand, "Huh?"
"So I guess the legends aren't falsified after all." Yurika said, as her eyes became cold staring right into Shizuka's eyes, "Shi-Chi… Are you truly having fun in duel monsters?"
"I-I…" Shizuka stuttered from the question, as she noticed Takashi's hand placed on Yurika's shoulder.
"Yurika, don't be asking these types of things. Remember, she is still too new for this environment." Takashi explained, as Yurika's eyes broke off from Shizuka, "It's a festival, let's at least enjoy it."
"I am sorry Shi-Chi…" Yurika apologized to Shizuka, feeling bad for what she asked, "It was uncalled for…"
"N-No! It's fine!" Shizuka said, giving them all a gentle smile, but it was to make sure they didn't worry.
'Am I truly having fun…?' Shizuka thought, as she put all the cards back and the extras in a container.
While Takashi lectured Yurika in front of Shizuka and Johan, from a distance, underneath the shade of a sakura tree. Having a nasty grin on his face from what he overheard, giving him some chills, as one of his comrade tapped his shoulder. The grin went away looking over his comrade, with his cold navy-blue eyes, not liking when people disturb him, as he sighed.
"What is it, Silias?" The male stranger said, naming his ally on his first name casually, "This better be something worth mentioning."
The male now known as Silias whispered into his comrade's ear being discreet about their conversation, which resulted the with a smile on the stranger's face. To Silias, the smile he saw wasn't out of sheer joy, knowing that his comrade enjoys more than anything is chaos.
'Valter...' Silias thought, as he took a bite of his popsicle.
Heading towards her destination, Delthea was all set up with her outfit, fitting the theme for the festival. It was a pink and white lined dress that shows how slender her body was, short sleeved, white gloves with pink ribbons around the wrist. A giant pink-colored bow onto her torso area, showing some of her cleavage, but covered up by white frills. The dress also having a short skirt, showing off her legs a little, but she was wearing long white leggings with frills at the end, attached with two pink ribbons around them. Her original blue and white colored bows replaced with pink and white, today she felt beautiful and happy to take stage, just to entertain her audience.
"This feels completely nice, I am sure this festival will be worth remembering." She said happily, until she met a cloaked person in front of her, blocking the path to the stage, "Uhm, excuse me?"
The cloaked person gazed at her with cold light blue eyes and a wicked smile, the slowly scared Delthea as she took a step back, being on her guard for anything. Hoping for anyone to passing by to avoid any further conflict. The stranger took a step forward, while Delthea stepped back as a counter measure.
"Tell me something." The stranger asked, "Why did you forget your promise? Aren't you angry at all?"
"Angry at who...?" Delthea questioned, as confusion spread the hall, "What does my anger have to do with anything here?"
Instantly the stranger grabbed Delthea's face, slamming it against the wall, causing serious damage. Grunting in pain from the brutal approach, confused by what is happening, and not being able to counter by in time, she stood there, scared. Hoping it would go away in time, watching those cold blue eyes stare her down, and saw a crooked smile.
"Ahhh... But you see... Delthea..." The stranger said, as they pressed their tongue against her cheek and slowly licked, creeping her down, "Your emotions alone gave birth to something new, how about I... rekindle them for you?"
She was too scared from what just happened and begun to struggle against the stranger, as they pinned her down on the floor. Squirming to get out, as she felt her arms being pinned by both their hands, and legs as well. Realizing it was a male that began to assault her, as she began to scream for help.
"Stop it! Help!" Delthea yelled out, but no answer, "Let me go!"
He headbutt her forehead which knocked her out cold, laying still with no retaliation, as he slowly began to laugh, as another cloaked figure stepped into the scene and just watched in disgust. At the stage, people gathered around to watch the show they were ready for launch. Yurika, Johan, and Takashi took their seats, and watched from the back, as they assumed it was a better view.
"I never once took Delthea as an entertainer." Takashi said, chewing on some popcorn.
"Well of course she is, she always enjoyed being the center of attention." Yurika explained, smiling as she finally gets to see her friend preform, "After all, a certain attention made her pursuit dueling in the first place."
"Yeah... She can be a handful at times." Johan said, remembering the times he joked with her to comfort her in her time of need, "But in the end, she truly is sweet when she feels like it."
"Hey guys! Shizuka is getting on stage!" Takashi announced, as they saw their friend Shizuka take the stage first, hearing the crowd cheer loudly for her, "Man, pretty lively around here!"
"Well of course, she is the holder of one the ancient dragon before our generation." Yurika exclaimed, clapping for her friend, hoping that she would have fun with Delthea, "It's not often we see it, I hope Shi-Chi will manage on her own."
Shizuka finally took her first steps outside and onto the big stage, where the area is ready for containment, looking up to the light blue skies as the wind blew. Her long blonde hair breezed through, slightly lifting as it cooled her down, forgetting about the crowd for that moment. Taking a deep breath as a smile appeared on her face, having confidence, preparing her duel-disk. As she heard footsteps from the other side, only to see Delthea come out, looking down on the ground like an idle zombie.
"Delthea?" Shizuka asked out of concern for her friend, "You okay?"
"Y-Yeah, I am just peachy." Delthea exclaimed, as she prepared her duel-disk, activating its sequence, as the containment field took over to confined the area, "Shizuka..."
"Yeah, Delthea?" Shizuka asked, as the sphere containing the action cards lifted in the air, as the area turned into a forest filled with cherry-blossom trees and an old Buddhist temple.
"Why is the world so cruel...?" Delthea asked, as the action cards slowly started to scatter inside the sphere, "Tell me... Why?"
"W-What do you mean?" Shizuka question, as the containment finally finished as the Solid-Vision System activated, enabling the safety protocol for the duelist, enhancing their physical traits, "Delthea... Did something happen!?"
Johan caught glimpse of their conversation, slowly getting concern of Delthea's well-being, looking over at the others to see if they noticed. Which resulted to a no, as the announcer begun to speak loudly on the microphone.
"Now then! We shall start off the festival with a duel! Challengers!" He announced, as the sphere was ready to erupt, "Are you ready!?"
"Delthea! Answer me!" Shizuka asked once more, as Delthea lifted her head to see Shizuka, which shocked her, "What... Happened..."
"Now then! Ready... ACTION DUEL!" The announced called out.
"Lemme show you... Why I am called the Treasured Idol!" Delthea yelled out, drawing her cards by sheer force.
As the life point system activated, the sphere exploded that scattered the card all over the upcoming battlefield. The two duelists took their stance, Shizuka trying to snap out of it, but couldn't because Delthea's eyes seem like they lost their spirit. An empty void, out of reach, but Shizuka decided to put her fears aside and determined herself, to go into that endless void to reach out Delthea. Because in her eyes, Delthea was excited about this more than anything.
To be Continued...
... A novice duelist that fears the card game for the pain it caused. A treasured duelist that is determined to be the best and to never be forgtten even by time itself...
Once these two engage in battle, only then they will truly understand what it means to know fear...
Next on Yu-Gi-Oh! Dimensional Scales!
Chapter XI: Burning Petals.
Author's Note:
Sorry for the delay for the chapter, many setbacks occured and deciding the route that can settle for this arc. I do hope you enjoy the story so far if you read this far, the next part isn't far off. The script is ready, hope to see you next chapter!