Chapter 11: The story of hEARTH
In an alternate universe, stood a red planet. hEARTH. The place Aru had came from. In the planet, its citizens gathered outside a palace, demanding a reason as to why one of their own has left the planet. The city was in a state of panic. A man shrouded in a robe appears from the top of the palace.
Man: "If everyone would calm down, I will explain everything."
Citizen 1: "Explain to us now! Why did our princess leave?!"
Citizen 2: "Our princess Aru should be here, keeping our world in check!"
The crowd roars in agreement.
Man: "We have sent two representatives to retrieve the princess. Until then, I am taking over her position as ruler of this world."
Citizen 3: "We don't want another ruler! We want princess Aru back! Bring her back! Bring her back!"
The crowd joins in on the chant. The shrouded man feels there is nothing left he can say and heads down a flight of stairs into a lighted room where a book laid on the opposite side. In the book, Aru was shown with her parents who were the previous king and queen of hEARTH. Aru inherited the throne but for some reason, left the planet of hEARTH.
Man: "Princess. What is the meaning of you leaving your people?" He turns a page to discover another picture. The picture depicted Aru as the queen of hEARTH sitting next to a blurred person. "Is it possible that...you're looking for this person? But who?"
Back on Earth, it's nighttime. The Ranking Round was finished and everyone headed home. In their dorm room, Yura and Shizuka sleep on their beds. Aru sat by the window, staring outside.
Aru: "What am I here for? Maybe it was a bad idea to come here after all. I should head back home..."
Yura: "Why would you want to head back home?"
Aru: "I don't know. I feel as though I'm needed there."
Yura: "Hey. If you really think you need to go home, I'll help you get there."
Aru: "Thanks but I'd rather stay awhile."
Yura: "Stay as long as you like. Good night."
The next morning...
Intercom: "Good morning, students. This is your chairman, Mr. Mitsuo. As I had explained before, bronze students can duel each other to move up in the rankings of your division. If you're ranked 1 to 10, you'll be able to duel anyone within the next division that's not ranked 1-10 and so on. Until then, you all have your classes. Have a great day."
Yura: "Hehe, I'm gonna duel everyone today!"
Shizuka: "Calm down, we have class first."
Yura: "Fine. Let me just grab my..."
Yura looks around for Aru but can't find her. She searches in her bag for her.
Yura: "Aru...?"
Shizuka: "Yura? Is everything okay?"
Yura: "I'm fine. Go to class without me. I'll catch up in a minute."
Shizuka: "Um..Okay."
Shizuka exits the room.
Yura: "Aru? Aru!" She looks at the window to see it slightly opened. "Don't tell me she..." Yura ran out the door and out of the school and headed downtown. She looked all around the buildings in search of a flying object. "Where did you go..?" A shock went through her and all of a sudden, she knew where Aru was.
Unconscious, Aru wakes up to find herself outside the city and in the arms of one of the representatives from hEARTH.
Representative: "Ah, princess!"
Aru: "Princess? Me?"
Representative: "Of course! I came to take you home, princess."
Aru: "Who are you?"
Representative: "You've forgotten me already? I'm Inaho, your maid."
Aru: "Inaho?"
Yura: "ARU!"
Aru and Inaho look to see Yura running towards them.
Aru: "Yu..ra?"
Inaho: "Stay away from us human!"
Yura: "Who are you and what're you doing with Aru?"
Inaho: "I will not reveal myself to a human. Let's go princess."
Yura: "[Princess?]"
Inaho carries Aru and walks away.
Yura: "Aru! Are you okay with this?!"
Inaho whispers in Aru's ear.
Inaho: "Princess, please tell her that it's okay."
The life in Aru's eyes disappeared.
Aru: "Yura. I don't want you interfere with me any longer."
Yura: "Aru..."
A black vehicle appears on the horizon coming towards Yura and stops near them. Stepping out of the vehicle was a girl that wore the school uniform with 4 golden stars. She confronted Yura, Aru, and Inaho.
?: "There's more than 1 familiar?"
Yura: "That uniform...Who are you?"
?: "Yura Minako...Please, call me Kira. Gold division, ranked 8th."
Yura: "Ranked 8th?!"
Kira: "Yura, you have something I want." She points to Aru. "I want that familiar over there."
Yura: "You know about Aru?"
Kira: "I've been watching you for a while. I'm on a mission to capture that familiar. I cannot disclose any further information."
Yura runs towards Aru and Inaho and grabs them.
Yura: "Sorry, but I can't allow you to take her. Neither can I let this other familiar take Aru. I'm going to take them back with me."
3 other men emerge from the vehicle and surround Yura.
Kira: "It seems I need that other familiar too. I cannot allow you to leave with them."
Inaho: "Let me go, human! I have to take my princess back home!
Yura: "You're coming with me. And I refuse to anyone take Aru."
The surrounding men get closer.
Kira: "No. That's enough gentlemen." The guards stop. "Since you're refusing, how about we duel for them. If I win, you'll hand over both familiars and never interfere with me."
Yura: "And if I win?"
Kira: "Then we shall leave you alone."
Yura: "That's fine with me. I won't lose!"
Kira: "That's more like it." Kira's eyes change color from blue to red. SEQV has been set between Yura and Kira.
Yura & Kira: "Let's duel!"
To be continued in Chapter 12: The rivalry ensued! Yura vs Kira