Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! or Zero no Tsukaima. Yu-Gi-Oh! Belongs to Konami Entertainment and Zero no Tsukaima belongs to Noboru Yamaguchi. Please support them both.

Kamishiro Ryoga stood perfectly still. His eyes were shut, his body relaxed, his breath tame, and his mind clear. Even as a soft wind blew around him he remained unmoving and stoic in the middle of the open courtyard as if he were made of stone.

Then the wind stopped.

Ryoga's eyes snapped open as his left arm shot up in front of his chest, Duel Disk at the ready. His right hand quickly followed suite and moved to the top of his deck.

"Draw!"

Pulling back hard and swift the top two cards of the deck were removed from their place and into Ryoga's palm. His gaze quickly flickered between each one before he slapped both onto the Duel Disk.

"Come forth! Big Jaws! Skull Kraken!"

The Barian crest around Ryoga's neck flickered crimson as the Duel Disk lit up with energy. A familiar torrent of water formed across the field before the Duelist as a familiar creature emerged and flew into the air. It was the same beast he had summoned against Guiche, Big Jaws. The metal-lipped shark let out a vicious gurgling sound as its' razor teeth seemed to glisten in the sunlight.

As the beast flew into the air the earth beside it began to rumble and crack, as suddenly several bone-like and clawed tentacles erupted from beneath the ground. The tentacles flailed about and hooked onto the grassy surface as a massive gray skull pulled itself out from the ground and moaned, the tentacles seeming to be attached to the bottom of the skull. The skull itself was vertically inverted with a pair of glowing red eyes in each socket and a jaw that was crookedly formed into a demonic smile. Several small silver spikes also extended from the sides of the skull, as well as formed a spiked hole on the "top" of its' head. To any normal person it would seem as if a creature from hell had suddenly been born from the peaceful grassy earth.

To Kamishiro Ryoga however, it just meant another successful day of practice.

It had been a week since he first arrived in this world and three days since he had awoken from his Duel with Guiche. The word of his victory had spread like wildfire and now everybody in the academy from the first-years to the common staff knew who he was. He personally found it annoying since it brought a lot of unwanted attention and rumors towards him, most of which revolved around the idea of him being a noble or something.

Ridiculous as the idea was Ryoga unfortunately realized that this image everyone had of him was his own fault due to the performance he had shown during the Duel. To everyone who watched the event, he somehow managed to not only summon a familiar, but also used what looked to be water magic in a way nobody had seen before, which was understandable given that he used the Duel Disk rather than a wand. These two actions alone led to him no longer being considered a mere commoner in the eyes of the students, though there were some who still doubted the whole thing.

While it was a bit annoying he supposed it could have been worse. After all nobody had yet to see him summon any of the other monsters in his deck like Skull Kraken, which was good seeing as the repercussions of that revelation could be quite catastrophic. Because of this he always made sure to be careful when practicing less he be discovered. He already had several close calls by some of the members of the servant staff, all of whom luckily never saw him summoning his other monsters. Instead they had caught him, in their words not his, showing off and displaying various forms of water magic and alchemy. Though in reality it was just him testing out the various Magic and Trap Cards he possessed to see if and how they would work in this world.

He didn't miss the irony of having "Magic" Cards in a place where magic ruled.

Because of his newfound popularity though the Duelist found himself constantly hounded by the people in the school. Usually it was just those who were curious about the purple-haired boy and wanted to learn more about him. It wasn't unexpected given the circumstance, and he had dealt with similar experiences in the past when he was on the road to being a Duel Champion, and even after when he attended Heartland Academy. It may have been annoying but it wasn't that big of a deal. Though he would have liked it more if people stopped questioning him constantly.

The real annoyance came from idiotic morons that were similar to Guiche. They put on a kind smile and polite appearance, but Ryoga knew better. They were nothing but selfish pigs who kept trying to befriend him in hopes he would use whatever connections they thought he had to their advantage. He felt insulted that they hadn't the brainpower to consider such an idea actually working. That didn't stop them from trying though, and the result usually ended with a Big Jaws to their face.

It was always funny to watch them run away screaming.

Sadly though the students obsessive nature with him was actually the lesser of the negatives to come out from the Duel. Because of his newfound status as a "noble" many of the servants who worked at the academy now looked at Ryoga with uncertainty and fear. And who could blame them for it? He had displayed a form of "magic" that nobody had never seen before, and had summoned a terrifying beast of a "familiar". Because of this many of the servants now hesitated to speak with or even approach the young Duelist, as they feared his noble status and power. Heck even Siesta's boss, Marteau if he recalled right, now watched him with caution and uncertainty. In fact the only worker who continued to even speak to him was Siesta, though Ryoga hadn't seen her much as of late.

"Probably busy with work or something," Ryoga thought to himself, though his mind felt unsettled when thinking about Siesta.

The truth was ever since their last meeting he wasn't sure what to think of the girl. Siesta claimed she didn't mind what he done and that she accepted his strange powers, but he didn't know if she was telling the truth or not. It wasn't that he thought she was the kind of person to lie about such things, but the fact was his own actions made himself out to be something he wasn't. She originally believed him to be a regular person like herself. A commoner who lived in a world where noble classes still existed and those with magic ruled. She thought she could connect with him due to their similar stature as people without magical talents, and knew about the harsh reality of the common folk.

Instead he showed that he could do things no normal commoner could, and was now being judged as a noble by everyone because of it.

Was she really okay with that? Was she really that accepting of what he could do? Ryoga didn't know but it was constantly frustrating to think about, and because of that he had been trying to find a private time to speak with Siesta about the whole thing. To see what she honestly thought and felt about it. But she seemed so busy lately that he could never get a good enough moment with her.

It also didn't help that most of his time was now spent dealing with Louise.

That was actually one big change that had occurred. Ever since the Duel the pinkette had lessened up on her attitude towards Ryoga, and had started treating him more like a person rather than an object, though she still called him familiar every now and then. She still had that very prideful and stubborn personality that annoyed the hell out of him, but it was a lot better than when Ryoga had first met the girl, so he found himself able to tolerate her a lot better. The two could actually strike up a conversation now without yelling at each other half the time, though they still did so on occasion. It also helped that many of the students who had originally bullied and mocked Louise had decided to back off out of fear of what Ryoga would do to them. That in turn had probably taken a great weight off her shoulders and helped to elevate her attitude.

But the major reason Ryoga could think of for his own change towards Louise was the discovery of her history with the school as a "Zero". It reminded him a lot of Yuma's own history with Dueling and his Kattobingu. Like Yuma, Louise acted as she did because she wanted to prove herself and not be seen as a failure, despite everyone's doubts and constant laughter towards her. She wanted to become something more than what others saw her as. To make a name for herself and achieve a dream that nobody else believed in.

This gave a lot of explanation to many of her previous actions, though Ryoga still held a lot of negativity for them. It wasn't easy to let go of first impressions like that. Still he couldn't really blame Louise now that he understood her reasons for doing such things. Instead he decided to redirect his negativity and hatred towards the ones who looked down upon and belittled her. He may have gone down that road once before, hurting people for the sake of pleasure, but thanks to Yuma and his original memories he had changed from that dark moment in his life, no longer able to stand by and watch as others were put down and had their dreams insulted. As such he made it a personal vow to never allow such a thing to happen in front of him again.

It was that same reason that he no longer felt any hatred for the pink-eyed girl, as well as the main reason why he defended her during the Duel. It was why he now supported and treated her better than when they had first met. And though she could still be a major pain in the ass when she wanted to be, Ryoga now held a minor amount of respect towards the noble girl, even if he would never say it aloud.

There was however still the whole issue of him being her "familiar" and she his '"master". Luckily he had managed to work out a very understanding and ideal solution to the problem with the headmaster and Colbert to serve both parties situations.

Though whether it was something he would come to regret or not was still up in the air.

"Duelist?" Osmond questioned.

"Yeah. It's what I'm known as back home. I'm not a noble or mage. I don't have magic and can't cast spells or anything like that. I'm just a Duelist," Ryoga explained as he watched the reactions of everyone around him.

It had only been a full day since he had woken up from his Duel with Guiche before he and Louise were called into the old man's office. He wasn't at all surprised and had actually expected this to happen, considering his little showing with the blonde-haired playboy. Especially since before that event everyone had thought him to be a regular commoner. And yet he had managed to kick the ass out of several bronze sentinels, displayed a high level of combat and fighting skill, and managed to summon a "familiar" and used "water magic" during the Duel.

That was bound to raise some questions.

Which also made Ryoga question himself. How had he managed to use his power of Chaos again? He thought it had been lost to him when he had awoken to this strange land, as he couldn't feel it inside his body or sense it anywhere else in the area around him. And yet now he could feel it inside of him again. It was merely a fraction of the power he had compared to when he was a full Barian, but it was still there, fully functional and with no explanation.

So here he was, in the office of the headmaster of the school with Louise and Professor Colbert, to answer any questions they had, as well as hopefully find some for himself.

"I'm sorry, but is there something special about being a 'Duelist' where you are from?" Ryoga's attention turned towards Colbert who had spoken. "I mean no offense to you of course. It's just that as you were told, duels held here are always held between nobles, and usually only for special events or to settle issues and personal matters. No commoner is allowed to duel because of the dangers that could befall them in challenging a mage. Yet you claim not to be a noble or have magic despite what you displayed against Mister Gramont."

"Indeed. What you did certainly looked like magic to me. Can you clear this up and explain exactly why you claim otherwise?" Osmond asked, not bothering to hide his curiosity.

Ryoga mentally sighed and glanced over to his left at Louise, who was also waiting for an explanation. While he had promised to explain everything to her, he had to be careful over what he said. While Osmond and Colbert already knew the truth of where he was from and would probably believe whatever else he told them, Louise had no knowledge of him being from another world, and he had no intention of letting her find out since he wasn't sure how she would react. Yet he also knew that the stubborn girl wouldn't drop the subject until he told her everything he could.

Thankfully Osmond and Colbert seemed to have come to the same conclusion despite their own desires for answers, and so when he had begun explaining to Louise about where he was from, the two had helped out by providing subtle hints and ideas of what he could use during the conversation. As it stood now the story they had created was that Ryoga came from a land named Heartland that was located beyond a large desert called Rub al' Khali, and that he was taught how to fight and defend himself thanks to training from an old friend who had long since passed away. Technically these were both half true since Heartland did exist, just in another world rather than beyond any desert. And while his first father was the one who started his lessons on fighting and self-defense, he learned most of his skills by training with Durbe.

The memories of which he pushed down for fear of guilt and regret.

Upon hearing his backstory Louise appeared quite shocked by what she was told. She had never heard of any place existing beyond the Holy Lands and Ryoga could tell she held doubts about the whole story, even if she had no way to dispute his claim. She did however feel sympathy when she heard about Ryoga's deceased friend, as she couldn't imagine what it was like for him to lose someone so close like that. She even shuddered when she considered losing the person she considered her closest friend, a concept she quickly erased out of her mind.

Now though she was watching him like an eagle, wanting to know exactly what he had done and how he had done it. Sighing to himself Ryoga briefly thought over what to say before nodding and holding up the device on his arm.

"It's because of this. It's called a Duel Disk. Back home anyone can use it to do what I did. Think of it kind of like those wands you carry around. It acts as a sort of catalyst that bends light and allows people to summon monsters using the cards you see in it," Ryoga held up his hand when Osmond opened his mouth. "And before you ask again, yes, despite how it all sounds, it isn't magic. It's just something the people from my home created, and can be used by anyone. The duels you have here, and the Duels back home, are two completely different concepts. Because unlike here where duels are dangerous and even life threatening, back home it's just used for sport and enjoyment, and not as a way to hurt people."

It was as clear an explanation as he could give to them. It wasn't like he was lying or anything as Duel Monsters was originally made for entertainment and fun for all ages. But excruciating circumstance forced the once enjoyable Duels to become battles of life and death for the former Barian. Not that they needed to know that little detail. Besides, seeing the lack of technological advances in this place meant that they probably wouldn't be able to comprehend just how complex the device on his arm really was, and going into detail over just how ahead his world was to theirs would raise too many questions and problems he would rather not deal with. So for now it was better to let their imaginations run free rather than overwhelm then with such knowledge.

"Fascinating," Colbert said as he stared at the device, a curious expression showing on his face. "Bending light to perform a summoning? I've never heard of such a thing. And you claim anyone back where you're from can do it?"

Ryoga nodded. "As long as they have a disk and cards, yeah. Even you could do it if you wanted too."

"I see. How interesting," Colbert's eyes seemed to gleam at the concept. Ryoga smiled a little at the action. Who knew the professor had a geeky side to him?

"Impossible!" Louise suddenly yelled drawing everybody's attention onto her. "W-What you're saying can't be possible! Only those born into nobility can use magic! No commoner can use magic or summon familiars! That goes against the founder's teachings and beliefs!"

"I just said it wasn't magic remember?" Ryoga repeated as he put his arm down. "Where I'm from there's no such thing as magic or nobility, nor is there any 'founder', so none of your rules apply there. Is that really so hard to grasp?"

"But that still doesn't make sense!" Louise exclaimed. "Everyone knows of Brimir and magic! It's the entire basis of how the world is! And yet you claim nobody from whatever backwaters place you came from has heard of them? You can't just say such things like that so openly! It'd be the equivalent of heresy!"

Ryoga scowled, not taking the insult to his home lightly. "Are you even listening to me? Heck why are you even arguing this? You heard what I said before about not being from these lands right? Just because things work differently here compared to where I'm from doesn't mean one side is right and the other isn't. Besides, didn't you tell me yesterday that you believed me when I said I wasn't a noble and didn't have magic?"

"That's different though!"

"How is it different!?"

"As entertaining as this is, I'm afraid Miss Valliere does bring up a point," Osmond interrupted the two, getting both to turn to him. "While you claim it isn't magic not many will take that at face value. I myself have no reason to believe you're lying to us, and in fact find your explanations quite interesting, but after your display in the courtyard I doubt many will believe you on words alone," his eyes motioned to Louise as if to emphasize the point.

Ryoga grunted but didn't bother to deny the man's words. Even he knew that his summoning of Big Jaws was going to prove to be more problematic then helpful. Now everyone would see him as another noble rather than a commoner, and even if he wanted to tell the truth he doubted it would go anywhere, as Louise had clearly shown what kind of reaction he could expect from the people here. And that was just from how his Duel Disk and cards worked.

He didn't even want to begin imagining the reaction that would come from knowing about the existence of another world.

"Still, it would probably be for the best if you kept such information to yourself from now on," Osmond continued as if reading the boy's mind. "While many will see you as simply another noble now, there are still those who would use such knowledge to their advantage against both you and Miss Valliere. Therefore I ask you both to be discrete and keep this information a secret. Understood?"

"No problem's here," Ryoga nodded. He looked over to Louise for her response.

The noble frowned slightly but eventually relented and gave a nod as well. "Yes headmaster. Understood."

Osmond nodded himself and smiled. "Excellent. I'm glad to see that worked out so well," Ryoga rolled his eyes. "Now with that out of the way, I believe that leaves only one major issue left to deal with."

"What issue is that?" Ryoga asked curious. He thought they had covered everything.

"He means regarding your status as Miss Valliere's familiar," Colbert explained, albeit a bit nervous given the topic.

At those words both the Duelist and pinkette stiffened and looked directly at each other. An awkward silence passed between the two as the professor and headmaster watched in silence. After a few moments though Ryoga broke the stare and spoke first.

"No."

"What do you mean no!?" Louise shouted before either Colbert or Osmond could get a word out. Ryoga merely closed his eyes in annoyance.

"Do you people ever listen? I already said I have no intention of being a familiar. Nothing has changed my mind about that," Ryoga stated firmly.

Despite everything that happened with the Duel and Louise, his ideas and beliefs over the whole familiar contract had not faltered. Sure he saw how the nobles treated their familiars fairly well and with respect, but this situation did not deal with those other mages or their familiars. This dealt with Louise and him. And even though things seemed to have settled down slightly between them, though they still needed to have a major talk later, judging by how she was already acting around him he doubted she'd be any kinder or gentler if he suddenly decided to become her familiar.

Plus despite his newfound opinions of the girl he still held true to the idea that this contract was like slavery. While it may seem more like a relationship between a pet and their owner, the fact remained that he wasn't some animal, but a human. And a human being made into a servant against his or her will was the equivalent of a slave. Sure they may not see it as such but he did, and despite how they may say or do otherwise he wouldn't take the chance.

He had already been manipulated and controlled by Tron and that damn Don Thousand once before, and he refused to ever allow it to happen again.

He would not let his freedom to be taken away.

Louise didn't seem to take his comment well though as she glared angrily. "But you-"

"I thought as much," Osmond suddenly spoke, causing Louise to pause in her rant as she and Ryoga looked back at the headmaster. "And you're determined to keep to this decision?" He asked Ryoga.

The former king's eyes narrowed on the old man, uncertain of what to take of his calm nature. "Yeah. Why?"

Osmond sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I see. I expected as such sadly. Though the repercussions of this will be quite difficult to deal with."

"R-Repercussions?" Louise questioned nervously. Even Ryoga looked confused.

Colbert was the one to answer as he stepped forward. "Sadly Miss Valliere, we are not entirely sure what to do in this scenario. Never before has a familiar rejected the contract with their summoner, nor has there ever been any record of a human familiar in the school. As things stand we are uncertain over how to handle your future here in the academy, nor whether to allow you to continue your studies here."

Louise's face paled as her stomach filled with fear and dread.

"What do you mean by that?" Ryoga inquired, his own suspicions rising.

"Simply put," Osmond spoke. "Without having formed a contract with you, Miss Valliere has not managed to fulfill the requirements necessary for continuing her studies here at the academy. Every second-year student must be able to summon a familiar and form a contract with it in order to move onto the next level of classes. But as you have no intention of being her familiar, it means she will be unable to continue her studies. Unfortunately, because of this I will have to inform Miss Valliere's family of the situation and discuss what to do with her."

If Louise had looked scared before she was now downright terrified. Her family? Her family was going to be informed? That may as well as been the equivalent of hanging a noose around her neck.

Her family had always been one of the strongest and noblest of all the royal families of Tristania, and yet she was the black sheep of her family. Her inability to use magic had always been a stain on her family's name and had pushed her to succeed as desperately as she has. Not just for herself but for her name as a Valliere. But if word got out that she had summoned a familiar yet was unable to form a contract with him, then there was no telling how her family would react.

She could already picture the worst-case scenarios though. Her mother would punish her so badly she would probably be killed, and that was if she wasn't disowned right away. Her father probably wouldn't say a word to her and would be ashamed of even being in her presence. Eleonore would be absolutely furious and would probably berate and insult her far worse than usual. And Cattleya…

Oh Brimir, Cattleya...

"Louise?" Ryoga called out to the pinkette. He didn't get a response and was met with silence as the girl continued staring at the ground motionlessly, causing a frown to appear on the Duelist.

The fear on Louise's face said it all. He had seen that same look on the day he Dueled Guiche, when the students had discovered that he wasn't bonded to her through a contract. Only now it seemed worse. Far worse. As if her whole life had suddenly come crashing down and any joy she had was shattered like glass.

And dammit if it didn't just piss him off.

"Hey old man, is it really that big a deal?" Ryoga asked Osmond. "I mean, so she and I aren't bound by a contract, so what? It doesn't mean she can't still learn or use magic right?"

"I'm afraid it's not that simple," Osmond shook his head. "While it's true she could still learn and practice magic on her own I cannot simply bend the rules for her. It also doesn't help that she was already in danger of being expelled due to her lack of magical control, as well as the constant destruction and problems she has caused from her failed spells. But now without having completed the contract with you, we have no way of knowing how to proceed with the situation nor what the consequences would be. Despite being a daughter of the Valliere's I cannot show favoritism towards one particular student in a matter so dear, especially once word spreads about this situation."

"I don't get it. Does something like that really matter?" Ryoga questioned, not understanding the point behind the reasoning.

"You must understand, the familiar contract is a cherished and sacred tradition here at the academy," Colbert explained as he adjusted his glasses. "It is a sign of maturity and growth for the students, as well as proves that they are ready to take the next step towards becoming true nobles. However because of this, the students must be able to demonstrate their ability and courage to take such a commitment on their own, as with that maturity comes a great deal of responsibilities and promises that will be required of them. Were we to show favoritism towards Miss Valliere in regards to failing the ritual, many would see it as an insult towards the ritual and themselves."

Osmond nodded in agreement. "Worse still is that Miss Valliere would continue to be seen as a child throughout the eyes of every noble out there. And that will only lead to a dangerous future for her."

Ryoga frowned. He had a good idea what the old man meant, but he had to hear it for himself. "Just what do you mean by that?"

Osmond hesitated for a moment. He didn't wish to bring up a subject like this when the one who it would be affecting was in the room, but he could also tell that the boy before him wouldn't let the matter drop so easily. Looking over at Louise the headmaster mentally sighed and braced himself for what he was about to say.

"Simply put, once word gets out about her failing something so sacred and cherished as the familiar contract, many nobles and commoners will leap to use such knowledge to their advantage. In fact, her family name will simply make things worse, as the Valliere's have many rivals and enemies lurking about just waiting for the opportunity to use any tiny detail they can find against the family. This means that Miss Valliere will become a target for such people, and as such will bring many enemies wherever she goes. While I wish there was another way to prevent such a future for her, I cannot risk bringing such danger to my other students or staff. And so I must contact her family and discuss the next step. Even if it means having her leave and sending her back home."

Ryoga's mind processed the information as he looked back over to Louise to judge her reaction. She didn't seem to be affected outwardly, as she still remained in place, silent and unmoving. Yet he knew better too look past such base observations, and upon closer inspection was able to see that the fear in her eyes had grown even larger over such knowledge, which only served to frustrate him further.

"But it's not like anyone needs to know right?" The Duelist asked, his voice trying to stay even but cracking with the emotions he felt. "I mean the only ones who do right now are all at the academy aren't they? Can't you just keep them from saying anything?"

"You give me too much credit child," Osmond said with a shake of his head. "Even I as headmaster do not have full control over what my students and staff write or say to those outside these walls. Eventually word will spread, and when it does there will be repercussions based on what actions are taken towards Miss Valliere. It is why the best option is to let her family decide her fate."

"Bullshit!"

Ryoga slammed his hand onto the headmaster's desk, the loud banging causing Louise and Colbert to jump.

"R-Ryoga?" Louise spoke, having broken from her fear-induced trance as she looked at the Duelist, surprised by his sudden anger.

"Mister Ryoga that's n-" Colbert began only to pause when Osmond raised a hand to stop him.

"And why exactly is that so negative in your eyes Mister Ryoga?" Osmond asked in a completely calm manner, despite the glare directed at him.

"Don't play games old man," Ryoga growled. "You and I both can see clear as day that that is the last thing Louise wants. I may not know what the deal is, but it's clear she's terrified over the idea of her family knowing, meaning there's a good chance that her life here would be finished anyways. Am I right Louise?" He looked at the noble for confirmation.

"R-Ryoga why are you...?" Louise stuttered out confused.

"And why do you care?" Osmond questioned as he kept his gaze locked solely on the boy before him. "You said it yourself, she is not your master, nor you her familiar. It has nothing to do with you correct? So why do you suddenly care about what happens to her?"

Ryoga's eyes widened as he became silent. Everybody watched him anxiously, awaiting to see and hear what his response would be. After a moment the Duelist closed his eyes and removed his hand from the desk, straightening himself as he pocketed his hands.

"You're right, it has nothing to do with me. Frankly if given a choice, I would rather just leave this damn place and spend my time trying to find a way back home rather than sit around and be some stubborn and prideful little kid's pet," the purple-haired boy stated.

Louise's teeth clenched. Despite her own fears and confusion at the moment she felt angry and hurt over the words coming from the Duelist, especially after how different things were looking between them.

"You-"

"BUT," Ryoga suddenly continued as his eyes snapped open, revealing the same level of seriousness he had during the Duel with the Gramont. "If Louise doesn't want to leave this place than she shouldn't have too. Just because things aren't going like they should doesn't mean it should ruin someone else's hopes and dreams. I won't stand by and listen to something so stupid as letting someone's future be decided for them by another!"

He would not let it happen again. He had seen it happen to too many innocent people in his life. His kingdom. His friends. The emperors.

Rio.

He would not let another person's future and hope be controlled by someone else again!

"Ryoga..." Louise's anger died as she looked at him confused.

She couldn't understand him. He didn't want to be her familiar and had a distinct hate for nobles and how they treated commoners. He wanted to have his freedom and not be tied down in any way, and clearly still had issues with everything that had happened to him.

And yet, here he was. Standing up for her just as he had done so during his battle with Guiche. He was here trying to help her in staying at the academy and keeping her family from finding out the truth about the contract, when he could have just as easily allowed it to happen and walked away. Even after all the things she had done, such as bringing him here against his will and treating him as badly as she did when he first arrived, he still defended her. Whether it was against Guiche or even the headmaster, he still stood up to them without any hesitation and helped her every time she was hurt or saddened.

For some reason it made her chest feel heavy.

Colbert and Osmond looked at Ryoga before turning towards each other. Neither expected such a reaction from the sapphire-eyed teen, despite watching what he had done during his duel with Sir Gramont. It was rather surprising and had caught them off guard.

They were the only ones who knew the truth about the boy's origins, despite some minuscule measure of doubt they still had, and had already concluded based on what they had seen that he couldn't be forced to do something against his will. He held a strong and distinct nature about him that reminded them of several powerful nobles, and to see such action from a boy so young was quite surprising. It made both men wonder just what kind of events the boy had been through to become so strong willed and determined.

And yet it seemed that he had in him a distinct nature to help others despite whatever feelings he may have at the time. Even after his first meeting with Miss Valliere had gone south, he still defended her during the duel. It was something about the boy that couldn't be explained or understood, but seemed to be a hidden strength of his that he himself might not have been aware of.

Osmond smiled lightly at the thought. "I see. I can certainly say I respect how strongly you hold onto such opinions," his smile faded as he once again gained a serious look about him. "However, I'm afraid that even if you are right in what you say, it does not change the current situation. Unless you suddenly wish to become Miss Valliere's familiar I do not see many other options available to help us solve this problem. Of course if you have any ideas over what to do I'd be more than happy to hear them."

Ryoga teeth grit in annoyance but didn't he speak. Much as he wished to deny it he knew the old man had a point. Despite his words they would mean nothing unless he somehow thought of a way to solve everyone's problems. He refused to be tied down and forced to be a servant to someone again, but he wasn't going to watch somebody like Louise have her own hope and future taken from her. It was two conflicting issues that needed to be addressed, and unless there was a way to get someone else to play the role of familiar he would-

Ryoga's eyes widened.

Wait a second.

Play the role?

The Duelist's mind began to race as Osmond and Colbert watched with calm and curious eyes, having noticed the teen's expression and assuming he was formulating some sort of plan to try and fix the situation. Louise meanwhile began praying to Brimir that despite how bleak and hopeless it may seem, that Ryoga would think of something, anything, to help her out. That he would somehow help her to stay in the academy and not return home. That he would give her the same level of hope he had when facing Guiche.

After a couple of minutes, Ryoga looked up at Osmond and nodded. "I think I have an idea."

Everyone's breath hitched.

"Are you serious?" Osmond questioned sternly. Had the boy truly come up with an idea that could solve their issues? It wasn't that he doubted him, but the headmaster had to be absolutely sure that Ryoga knew what he was talking about. For if whatever he planned didn't work out, it could have dire consequences for both them and the school. After receiving a nod in response the old man became fully focused. "Then tell us. What exactly do you have in mind?"

Ryoga remained silent for a moment as he gathered his thoughts, trying to figure out the best way to explain his idea. After a few seconds he opened his mouth and spoke.

"Is it possible to become someone's familiar, but not take part in the contract?"

Silence filled the room.

Absolute silence.

Before it was shattered by a choir of disbelief.

Ryoga nearly chuckled as he recalled the faces of the old geezers and Louise after he had asked that question. If only he had a camera on him at the time.

Granted it hadn't been the best thought out idea, as he had come up with it on the spot, but it certainly wasn't the worst either. After all it wasn't like he didn't know how pretend and act a certain role in front of others, and really all he had to do was stay with Louise and play the part of her "familiar" when needed to.

Of course the concept of the familiar ruins to prove his connection to the pink-haired chibi was a slight issue. If someone asked to see them to prove the connection, then it could cause a problem since they wouldn't exist on Ryoga's body, which was apparently the case for all familiars. However Ryoga figured that since the runes had to indicate the familiar's connection to the master, that they could be located on not just the summoned familiar's body, but on anything belonging to them as well.

So why not his deck?

Nobody in this world could read the text on his cards nor understand what they meant, meaning they had no way to confirm or deny them to be familiar ruins. Of course people could always go investigate if they wished, but Ryoga figured that there had to have been some form of ruins and text that had been lost to the ages, something Colbert had immediately confirmed. Besides, since none of them had heard of a human familiar before, chances were that nobody else could say they were lying as there was no evidence to go by. Therefore it could be easy to define that the boy's cards were his tie as a familiar contract to Louise.

Despite this thought process Ryoga still had to convince the others that his plan was the best solution for all sides. Osmond was surprisingly the easiest to convince and first to accept the idea, having kept an open mind about the subject and seeming to have weighed the pros and cons rather quickly. He agreed that while a bit unconventional it would certainly solve many of their problems so long as nobody outside the four of them knew the truth. Colbert took a bit more persuasion, as the man seemed to hold the idea of traditions of the ceremonies quite highly. However with some help from the headmaster the bald professor eventually agreed, though he still seemed unsure about such actions.

Of course the only one who had really put up a protest was Ryoga's new "master". Her damn pride as a noble clearly hadn't taken well to the idea of him only pretending to be her familiar, let alone lying to everybody since it could be seen as an insult to being a true noble. It was only due to his reminder of her other options that Louise finally shut up and accepted the idea, rather grudgingly though.

Ryoga did have some request though for agreeing to this plan, much to Louise's dismay, though they weren't exactly unreasonable. Since he was going to be living in this place now he felt it best to be taught as much as he could about this world's history, as well as how to read and write the language. So his first request was to get someone to teach him. He immediately rejected the idea of Louise doing so because A, he knew they would probably argue more rather than get any actual learning done, and B, she would probably blow him up again if she got really pissed.

He really didn't want to be blown up again.

He also requested that the person teaching him be a student, as he knew that if he was being lectured by some old professor that he'd probably get annoyed and ignore them before long. Despite his issues with the students he knew he'd probably have an easier time if one of them taught him. Though he made sure to let Osmond know to be cautious about who he picked, less that person end up being shark food. The old man couldn't tell if he was joking or not, but decided not to test the threat out.

The other request was a small stipend. While Ryoga may now be pretending to be Louise's familiar the Duelist had no intention of using her connections or wealth in case he needed to get something, especially since she was a noble. Instead he would rather be given a small amount of money each month that he could either use or save up for future plans he had, considering he had no idea how long he would be staying in this world, and that they could label it as "services rendered" if they were worried.

Thankfully Osmond seemed to find both request reasonable and accepted them. Ryoga had already received his first "payment" of fifty new gold coins, which he chuckled at seeing as he hadn't had any of these since his first life. As for the tutor, he was still waiting on that but figured it was understandable given that the headmaster wanted to make sure the person he chooses didn't piss off the water Duelist and end up causing more chaos.

Since then the word had spread throughout the academy that Ryoga had now formed a contract with Louise and had officially become her familiar. Rumors varied over his reasons but he didn't care because it simply meant his plan was working. As long as he continued to play the part of "familiar" when it was required, Louise wouldn't have to leave the school, her family wouldn't have to know, he would have a place to stay for the time, and all while being able to keep his freedom and do as he wished.

Overall, it wasn't a half bad deal. Though he still debated on whether it was worth it given his new position with Louise.

Pushing the thoughts aside Ryoga focused back onto his two monsters, watching as both moved around and seemed to be exploring the area. He was still trying to understand what exactly happened during the Duel with Guiche that had allowed him to regain his power of Chaos again.

When Louise had summoned him to this world he knew immediately that he had been reborn as a normal human once more, even if he hadn't realized it at the time. His body had felt the same as it did during his time in Heartland and he couldn't feel a single trace of the power of Chaos anywhere within his veins. He also couldn't hear the voices of his Duel Monsters in his deck, something he was able to naturally in all his previous lives, yet at the time it felt as if he had been completely blocked off from them.

And yet here he was in a human body, capable of wielding the power of Chaos and being able to bring his monsters to life once more. How was that even possible? Did he not lose his powers when he lost against Yuma and Astral? Didn't his Chaos fade away along with his life?

And why was it than when he now used the power of Chaos, did it feel so different?

Chaos had always had a certain density and weight to it, mostly due to the conflict of emotions between light and dark that it was born from. That was what Chaos essentially was, the struggling balance between light and dark. This conflict made the power of Chaos wild and savage in nature, allowing it to give birth to many powerful and destructive abilities such twisting reality to the wielders will or corrupting the minds of others.

But now whenever he channeled the power of Chaos, he didn't feel the same savage nature he was used too. He hadn't noticed it at first, but after experimenting these past few days he realized that the Chaos inside of him had felt lighter than before, almost cleaner even. The tension between light and dark had dwindled significantly, and he now felt a sort of semi-balance between the two forces. The conflict was still there, but at a much tamer level. Even now as he summoned both Big Jaws and Skull Kraken, Ryoga felt that same lightness flow through his veins to give shape to his monsters.

"What does it all mean though?" Ryoga questioned as he looked down to his Barian pendant.

"Who are you talking too?"

Ryoga turned around surprised by the voice only to relax upon seeing Louise. "Oh, it's only you."

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Louise asked, her tone less then pleased with his words.

"Nothing. Just forget it," Ryoga replied. He didn't need to worry about Louise seeing Skull Kraken since she already knew he had more than one monster from when he showed her his deck, even if she had gone into a whole rant about it. He still removed the cards from the Duel Disk though, causing the monsters to fade away into balls of light. "So what's up? You need me for something?"

Louise huffed and crossed her arms. "Obviously, why else would I be searching for you?" Ryoga opened his mouth to answer but Louise's glare made him shut up. "Did you forget that my morning classes are starting soon?"

Ryoga blinked and thought over it before shrugging. "I guess. What of it?"

Louise's eyebrow twitched as she forced herself to stay calm. "Don't you remember our conversation yesterday? I told you, one of your duties as a familiar is to always escort your master to any class they take. It's to ensure that the master arrives safely and appropriately to their destination. And seeing as you are my familiar-"

"Pretend," Ryoga reminded the pinkette.

"Pretend familiar," Louise spat out, her brow twitching more fiercely. She then let out a loud sigh and dropped her arms. "Look, the point is you were taking too long to get back, so I came out here to look for you. Honestly, why was I stuck with such a lazy familiar?"

Ryoga bit back his tongue, though it was very tempting not too.

"At any rate, class will be starting soon and I don't want to be late because of your lack of recollection. We're going now and I expect you to be on your best behavior, understood?" Louise said as she pointed at Ryoga to ensure her point came across. The Duelist just rolled his eyes and nodded.

"Yeah, yeah I get it. Let's just get this over with."

With that Ryoga calmly walked past Louise, ignoring her shouts of him going in the wrong direction. Yup, he definitely questioned if he had made the right choice with this little "agreement".

As the master and "familiar" walked off, the two never noticed a pair of amber eyes watching him from the distance, matched alongside a very sultry smile.

*BLOWS DOWN DOORS WITH A SHOTGUN AND STEPS THROUGH CALMLY WHILE WEARING A PAIR OF BLACK SUNGLASSES*

"I said I'd be back" *COCKS SHOTGUN*

Hey guys! Glad to see you all again, metaphorically anyways. I was so happy to see the amount of positivity with the duel in the last chapter and really want to thank you guys. I worked hard on it and I know a lot of people didn't expect it to go as it did, but I'm glad you all liked it regardless!

Now starting Monday I get a new schedule on my workflow so I don't know how this will affect the story updates and all, but don't worry as I am still writing and planning out events. In fact I rewatched the entire first and second season and have MAJOR ideas and plans set up for it, though...*looks at story* based on how I write, the exact time when those will appear is unknown...eheheh ^^;. Yeah expect this story to be a LONG one, but I hope you'll all join me through it and help me out. I wouldn't be here without you.

NOW FOR THE REVIEWS!

Omega Porunga: Hey man good to see ya again! :D Glad you're still enjoying the story and thank you so much for the support. I really hope you'll love what I got planned. As for your ideas, the dream one could be helpful later on as as you can see, Ryoga's not quite a true "familiar", though I think I could possibly still use that for another plan. And that now makes two for Tabitha, haha. The tragedies could certainly help the two bond though, so I'll definitely keep it in mind.

FOJ: I'm glad you loved it so much. And yeah in a real fight you can't be expected to wait your turn, and while Ryoga may be used to that sort of thing with Dueling, he's also fought real battles and wars, as well as had to defend himself during opponent's turns in duels, so he wash't as caught off guard as someone like Yuma would be.

duskrider: Well that's kinda why I did it. See I know I could have easily summoned an xyz in there if I wanted...but yeah let's face it, anything above Big Jaws is just overkill on poor Guiche. I don't want to murder the poor bastard, just give him some PTSD about sharks *grins evilly*. Besides the big boys will be coming in later on, and rushing the special events so soon would be boring.

Guest 1: Yeah, like I said to duskrider, anything above Big Jaws would have been overkill. Though don't worry as when future fights come in you'll definitely be seeing Ryoga using more of his cards and monsters to fight back. And let me tell you I got some fun ideas with all the stuff I can create with them, haha.

Touhou is Life: Gah I'm sorry about the Big jaws! D: But do you guys really want to watch Guiche get beat down by Black Ray or Aero Shark...*debates idea*...okay I admit it would have been hilarious but also a bit cruel. The order of which events will go will be around the anime, for now anyways. I have debated on reading the manga to get ideas, but for now the direction the anime follows will be where the story leads in terms of arcs. As for the other familiars, here's the thing.

In the original story Saito was the ONLY person from his world to become a familiar. The others were all from this world. Now I'm not saying anything about having the other familiars be people from Ryoga's world, but this fact means that Sheffield and Julio were already living in the Zero no Tsukaima world, and I don't like removing characters out of context for no reason. The only reason Saito isn't here is because Ryoga took his place, and the Japanese teen is probably at home watching anime or at school observing girls in school uniforms...lucky bastard.

But anyways, I think I have an idea in regards to what I plan to do with the familiars, so don't worry.

Guest 2: I'm happy you approve man! And thank you for the compliment, as I was worried if I was doing Shark any justice in his character. I'm glad to know one person thinks so ^^

Sekishiki: *Hangs head* Yes I know, Big Jaws, Xyz...I'm sorry! But anyways as you read, Ryoga can definitely use magic and trap cards just as well as his monsters. But the question is, how do magic and trap cards work in this world? Oh you'll see. It also leaves a small debate in your head on this...if monsters can be summoned...then what does that mean for their effects? *grins*

And finally DarkZexal: I am glad you're hyped! And hopefully you didn't stay up till 5am like before, haha

Well now, that's everything. As I said I don't know how new schedule will affect my posting, so stay strong and wait for me guys!

And now before I go...one last bonus, as a completion of the first real arc. I was debating doing it on the previous chapter, but hopefully you guys will like it. You can also skip it if you want, but either way it was done for fun and I hope you like it.

So I give to you all...THE OPENING!

Opening: Masterpiece (Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal Opening 1) by mihimaru GT

Music begins to kick in as the scene opens up showing the Barian Pendant resting on a table surrounded by various Duel Monster cards, only for a hand to grab it and move past the screen.

Ame no hi mo kaze no hi mo gokkan no fubuki mo shakunetsu no taiyou mo (Whether it's rainy, or windy, or a cold winter blizzard, or the burning sun,)

Three pictures are shown in a row. The first being a close up of Ryoga smiling at the sky. The second of him arguing with Louise. And the third of him laying on the ground sleeping.

Subete hibi wo irodoru zairyou, hekotarenaide ishi to ai wo (They're all ingredients to color each day. Don't lose heart, will or love.)

Three more pictures are shown, the first being a close up of Louise smiling from her bedroom window. The second being her chasing after Ryoga angrily as he looked back confused while standing next to Siesta. And the third being Louise standing embarrassed in the middle of a blown up classroom with several students laid flat on the ground out cold while Ryoga facepalms beside her.

Kimi ga kureta yasashisa wa kibishisa (The kindess you gave me was strict) Butsukaru koto de shitta modokashisa (When we clashed I learned irritation.)

Three more images appear. The first being a close up of Ryoga's face as his D-Gazer is equipped and holds a card in hand. The second being him drawing a card from his equipped Duel Disk. The third shows him standing ready to Duel with a wide grin.

Chigai wo mitomeru koto de hajimaru juuoumujin odore tenchikaibyaku (It starts by recognizing our differences, dancing freely, the creation of Heaven and Earth.)

Ryoga and Louise are seen standing on top of the academy main tower roof, as the sun rises upon their smiling faces as the title appears.

Zero no Tsukaima and Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal presents:

BARIAN OF THE VOID.

Hontou wa sabishikatta kimi ni au made wa (The truth is, I was lonely. Until I met you.)

The camera pans around Ryoga as he grins widely. Three shots are seen of his Duel Disk, his D-Gazer, and his Barian Pendant.

Hitori de iru hou ga kiraku nan datte usotsuite ita (I lied to myself that being alone was easier.)

Ryoga runs and front flips off the top of the academy tower before the scene shifts to show him and Louise walking side by side towards the school, with Louise talking and Ryoga's eyes being shut.

Suki na honmo shumi mo marude awanai kedo (My favorite books and hobbies, they don't seem to match.)

A close up of the previous scene shows Louise getting annoyed by Ryoga ignoring her only for Siesta, Katie, and Kirche to suddenly appear and grab Ryoga away from the pinkette, much to her and the Duelist's shock as Louise shouts and chases while Guiche and Montmorency sigh as they watch from the side.

A brief glimpse of the family picture in Ryoga's shark-toothed pendant appears as it twinkles in the moonlight.

The scene changes as Siesta appears in front of the camera smiling and twirling around before posing. Kirche, Tabitha, Katie, and Henrietta then appear from the right and left of the maid, with the redhead, first-year, and princess smiling and posing as well while Tabitha remains as calm and collected as ever.

Kimi dake da yo unazuite kureta no wa (You were the only one to nod in agreement with me.)

Black Ray Lancer appears as he flies at the screen with spear at the ready.

The scene changes to show Louise and Ryoga back to back in the dark, the Duelist holding his shark-toothed necklace while Louise looks down at her wand.

Yorokobi to kanashimi to ikari to DO to RE to MI to FA to SO to RA to SHI to DO (Happiness and sadness and anger and Do and Re and Mi and Fa and So and La and Ti and Do,)

Six quick pictures appear. The first being Louise and Ryoga pointing and yelling at each other. The second being the two walking in the courtyard at sunset, with Ryoga behind Louise. The third shows Ryoga about to Duel as Louise calls out to him from behind with Siesta, Katie, and Kirche cheering alongside her, as Guiche, Montmorency, and Tabitha watch from the other side. The fourth is of Ryoga eating outside with the other familiars as Sylphid nuzzles him while Louise just shakes her head. The fifth shows the inside of a dark place as what appears to be a large statue of some sort is seen in the shadows. The final picture is of Louise and Ryoga at her windowsill watching the two moons together.

Chigawanakya dekinai HARMONY to SCENARIO (It doesn't work unless they're different, the harmony and scenario.)

The scene shifts to the previous scene of the two back to back as they look up and turn towards each other, eyes wide with surprise.

Dare mo onaji ja nai (No one is exactly the same,)

Ryoga is seen with Duel Disk and D-Gazer equipped, his left hand holding five cards as he spins and draws a sixth as Louise appears beside him with wand at the ready.

Sore koso ga ikiteru imi dakara (Because that's the reason for living.)

A dark cloaked woman with green hair appears facing the opposite direction as she grins and swings her wand down as a large golem of earth forms in front of her.

A dark alleyway is then seen as a silver-haired man in noble robes and wearing a hat looks up to reveal a dark aura engulfing his left eye.

Tokitoshite dashita oto ga fukyouwaon demo (Even if the sounds are dissonant from time to time,)

A figure in a black robe jumps back to reveal a silver and blue Duel Disk on left arm, as it draws a card and swings it forward as arcs of electricity form around the figure.

The kingdom of Tristania is shown at night as dozens of cards appear in the sky and glow, as the image of a large shadowy figure seems to hold its' palms above the kingdom, one of which is decorated with a silver ring containing a purple gem.

Dakara akiramenai shinji nukeru tsuyosa de (Don't give up on the strength that will get you through.)

Camera zooms in towards the academy and towards the roof as Tabitha and Sylphid are seen sitting on it, as the blue-haired girl reached up towards the twin moons and grasp at the air.

The screen flashes as the black robed figure and Ryoga clash their Duel Disk fiercely against one another before both push off each other and land on their feet.

Tadori tsukeru sekai no hate de kimi to miru keshiki ga shinjitsu nanda (When we reach the edge of the world, the view we will see will be the truth.)

Ryoga continues from previous scene as he swings a rusted looking sword before Louise steps in front of him and aims her wand as she fires a bolt of white light at the screen.

The scene shifts to show Louise on a grass field and looking up as Ryoga looks down at her and huffs before holding out a hand. Louise blinks surprised before smiling and taking the hand with her own, causing a light to shine brightly from the ring on the Duelist's finger.

Ame no hi mo kaze no hi mo gokkan no fubuki mo shakunetsu no taiyou mo (Whether it's rainy, or windy', or a cold winter blizzard, or the burning sun,)

Big Jaws flies at the screen and chomps down being quickly followed by Aero Shark as it unleashes a volley of torpedoes.

Subete hibi wo irodoru zairyou hekotarenaide ishi to ai wo (They're all ingredients to the color eacy day. Don't lose heart, will or love.)

Skull Krakken appears from below and jumps away as Jawsman charges in roaring. Black Ray Lancer then flies towards the screen, eyes glowing and spear pulled back

Kimi ga kureta yasashisa wa kibishisa (The kindness you gave me was strict,) Butsukaru koto de shitta modokashisa (When we clashed I learned irritation.)

Black Ray braces himself as a shadowy serpent head clamps down on his spear and pushes. Black Ray then swings the spear knocking the head back to reveal two more heads, the three attached onto a single body with a pair of dark black wings. The three headed beast roars and charges while Black Ray does the same as he spins his spear while it glows brightly.

Chigai wo mitomeru koto de hajimaru juuoumujin odore tenchikaibyaku (It starts by recognizing our differences, dancing freely, the creation of Heaven and Earth.)

A split screen is shown of Ryoga and Louise's eyes side by side before returning to normal with the two being seen standing beside each other. Ryoga lifts his Duel Disk to the air while Louise does the same with her wand, as a burst of crimson light forms from the sky and engulfs the screen.

The final scene is of Louise and Ryoga smiling back to back as they hover in the air while Siesta, Kirche, Tabitha, Katie, Henrietta, Guiche, and Montmorency are all seen in the background smiling and waving, while the ghostly image of the Barian pendant is seen and shines with a red gleam.

End

Hope you liked it :D Until next time *puts on black sunglasses* I'll be back.

TrueHeartKnight