Hi all! Hiyuusha here, leaving you all another chapter of Yugioh: Tag Force! Now that the Invitation Cup has come to a close, Konami can return to his rather simple life, and forge new bonds with those around him, but he mustn't forget that danger can appear in the least likely of places! Now, enjoy the next chapter of Yu-Gi-Oh: Tag Force, and like always, give me your thoughts!
Last time…
Akiza couldn't stay sad for long. With Divine's disappearance someone would have to take up the mantle, at least until Divine decided to reveal himself. Luckily, Akiza had been given a strict set of orders to follow in the event that something happened to Divine.
She'd follow them to the letter, but that wasn't all she could do. She knew that Divine's disappearance was attributed to one person.
It was that boy, Konami… the one that had gone against the Arcadia Movement… and won. It was unthinkable. Who was this boy, to strut around with his red hat acting as if he owned the place? What made him so special, to allow him to return from wherever they had gone and leave Divine behind?
Akiza's hand clenched in what she thought was righteous anger.
She'd show him.
The boy may had defeated Divine, but several of Akiza's orders just happened to revolve around that particular instance. Divine was a very smart man after all, and he was not one to leave such a gaping hole in his plans unplugged.
Smiling, Akiza calmed herself. Yes, all she had to do was stick to the plan. Divine may be gone, but it wouldn't be for long, at least not if she followed his final orders. In the meantime, the Arcadia Movement would need a leader.
She could be that leader. The time she spent with Divine taught her a lot about what was expected of him, and as long as it wasn't permanent, Akiza was certain she could fill his role.
She smirked, grabbing the cold white mask resting by her side. Yes, she could do it. But first…
She had a few phone calls to make.
And now….
Chapter Fourteen
Wings of a Black Bird
A week had passed since the cataclysmic end of the Invitation Cup. Ever since that day, reporters had taken to swarming the apartment complex where Red Hat lived, hoping to gain insight on just what had occurred when no one was looking.
If it were just the reporters, Konami figured he could have handled it. However, since that day Enzo and Rathie had taken to swarming him at any possible opportunity as well. He suspected that it was Misty's doing, but he didn't have anything concrete that pointed as such. He hadn't even seen the woman since his return. But he knew all too well that just because you didn't see someone, didn't mean they weren't watching.
Every so often he would feel a chill, or some foreboding feeling that he was being watched, but it was always gone before he could get a direct sense of where it was coming from. In the end, it had gotten to the point where Konami would flee on sight, hiding in places no one would suspect an "upstanding citizen" of Neo Domino to go.
Of course, that meant that Konami repetitively headed into Satellite, but with good reason.
During the first few rounds of the Invitation Cup, Konami distinctly remembered promising a young boy to help him find Yusei, and seeing as the red-loving Duelist found himself with more than enough free time since the tournament's end, he figured it was just a good as time as any to get started.
Still, finding the boy was proving to be rather difficult.
Those he encountered in Satellite were less than welcoming to his arrival, and without any leads to go on, he repeatedly found himself lost and confused by the day's end.
Luckily, a chance encounter would change all that.
It was Wednesday evening, and Konami had once again taking to scouring the rough land of Satellite for the boy he'd promised to help. The roads were cold and dry as always, and the smell of drying cement filled the air. In essence, it was Satellite at its worst.
Sighing, the teen dropped down on a broken stairwell, leaning back and turning his head to the sky as he lamented his current life. It was nice that things were finally starting to slow down but in some ways it felt more complicated than before. He supposed it was all just a part of growing as a Duelist, something he'd failed to do until recently.
"I wonder if this is how Jaden felt during his last year of school…" he wondered, watching the stars streak through the sky. "Probably, the guy always seemed so serious, with the exception of those last few days. Oh well, not like it matters."
Konami smiled, thinking back on all his old friends. "Alexis has taken up teaching back at Duel Academy… and I hear she's pretty good at it. Chazz and Aster are both running around in the pro leagues, no doubt trying to pass up Cyrus." He laughed, thinking back on the young boy who had seemed so timid during their first year. "He's probably the one who's grown the most. I guess he had to, with everything that had been happening to his brother. Haven't heard from Chumley in a while, but I guess it's because he's busy with his card designs at Industrial Illusions…. Even Blair got a gig around here as a cheerleader… I should probably look her up sometime."
He snorted, thinking about the girl. Konami knew she had a flair for the dramatic, but he never expected her to go for cheerleading. An actor maybe… but knowing her she'd probably try out for a male role.
Standing, Konami took out his phone, debating whether or not to give one of his old friends a call. It had been some time since he last spoke with them, and he knew they'd want to know about his latest exploits with Divine. But did he really want to have to tell them all one at a time…?
"You seem like you're in a spot of trouble dear."
Konami glanced up towards the voice, locking eyes with an elderly woman he remembered interviewing with Carly a few weeks back.
"Huh…? Oh, it's you Miss…"
"You can call me Martha." The woman smiled, "It's not often I run into someone out here this time at night. Usually everyone would be out at the Square." She paused, looking down at the teen worriedly, "You aren't in any trouble are you dear?"
"Trouble?" Konami blinked in confusion, "What? No! No, nothing like that!" he laughed sheepishly, "Though I guess you could say I'm not all that used to the layout of this place… I've gotten lost a good number of times."
"Yes, this place can be a bit troublesome for those who don't come here often." Martha nodded in understanding, "I'll tell you what. Why don't you escort me back to my place? It's not that far from here, and a warm bed would be better than whatever plans you had for shelter in this place." She told him, glancing around the nearby area, "Besides, it's not safe to be out here alone this time of night."
"Ah…" Konami trailed off, "I couldn't ask you to do that…"
"I insist. Besides, you wouldn't let an old woman like me run around here alone would you?" she asked.
"No…" Konami sighed, "I guess not. I didn't want to be any trouble but… if you insist…."
"I do, and you won't be a problem." Martha laughed at the look on his face, "Really, I've taken care of troublemakers before. Trust me when I say you don't seem to be the sort to go looking for trouble." She grabbed him by the arm, shocking him with the amount of strength she seemed to display.
The woman was definitely not one to cross.
Before Konami knew it he was seated at Martha's orphanage, small children watching him curiously around the table while Martha walked in and out of the kitchen, preparing food.
"These kids… they all look so happy. Guess Martha really does take good care of them." Konami thought with a smile, "Heh, guess it's to be expected. One doesn't get an interview for running a bad orphanage... at least not one that gets good publicity."
Several minutes passed before Martha returned to the dining room carrying a steaming pot filled with smoking noodles.
"Just ramen tonight, I'm afraid." She told the children, getting several small nods of understanding in return as she handed each of them a bowl.
Sighing, she took a seat across the table, setting a hand on her cheek as she regarded Konami slowly. "So, what brings you all the way out to Satellite Konami-san? It doesn't look like you're working for that newspaper like the last time you visited."
"Not at all." Konami agreed, "Actually, I came here because I was looking for someone."
"Oh? It must be someone important if you're willing to come all the way here to find them." Martha smiled, "A friend perhaps?"
"Something like that." Konami shrugged, "I promised to help them find a person called Yusei."
"Yusei is it?" Martha smiled, gazing off into the distance as if remembering a time long past. "Then the person you're looking for is probably Rally. That boy adores Yusei; I'm not surprised he's out looking for him."
"Eh…? Rally? You know him then?!" Konami asked in shock.
"Yes." Martha laughed, "Yusei used to bring him around every so often. If you're looking for him, he has a hideout not too far from here. In fact, I believe Crow was talking about going over there for a visit…"
"Crow?" Konami blinked curiously, "Who's that?"
"He's one of Yusei's friends. Yusei, Crow, and Jack… they used to cause all kinds of trouble in Satellite. Well, trouble for the troublemakers at least. They used to be part of a gang called Team Satisfaction. There was another, but he hasn't been around for some time…."
"I see…" Konami murmured, feeling awkward from the sudden forlorn look that had crossed the elderly woman's face, "W-Well, where can I find Crow then? IF he's going to go see Rally, I might as well tag along."
"Ah, he doesn't live that far from here, he likes staying close to help take care of the kids." Martha explained, "I'll give you the directions after dinner."
Konami smiled. "That'd be great."
The rest of dinner proceeded smoothly. The pair had exchanged pleasantries and small talk, but before long Konami began to grow restless, not wanting to overstay his welcome. Waiting until night had fallen the teen had slipped out quietly, leaving a small note thanking the woman for her kindness on the table before disappearing into the night.
"This is the place…" Konami thought aloud, stuffing the directions Martha had scribbled down earlier back in his pocket.
He stared upwards, looking at the old, run-down building that this "Crow" seemed to use as a hideout. "Not the best accommodations, but this is Satellite so…" he trailed off.
Reaching the door, the teen knocked twice, glancing through the dusty window to see if there was any sign of the person he was looking for. After several minutes, no one had answered. Was he not home?
Making his way towards the other side of the building, Konami frowned. Despite the run-down look of the place the area seemed secure, and he didn't see a way inside. Many of the doors were locked, and the few windows that were open were far too high for him to use to get inside.
It was unfortunate, but Konami finally had a lead. He wasn't going to let it go to waste out of some sense of morality. Slipping off into a nearby lot, Red Hat grabbed a broken pipe, swinging it twice to test its weight. Satisfied, he returned to the side of the building, circling the building once more as he searched for a door or window that seemed slightly less secure than the rest.
In the back of the building, he smiled. During the search he'd discovered a small crack in an otherwise secure doorway, the perfect place to use his newly found pipe to make an entryway. Sliding the pipe through the crack, Konami pulled, using it as a crowbar to pry the door open with a loud snap.
"G-Gah!" he hissed, jumping back as the door crashed to the ground in a heap of dust and smoke, "I knew it was old but man…" he sighed, tossing the pipe and making his way inside.
"Hello?" his voice echoed through the building, "Anyone here?"
There was no response.
Sighing, Konami continued onward, walking slowly through the creaking corridors and narrow hallways that filled the building he was in. In another day or age, he assumed it might've been an office building of some kind, but the Reactor Tragedy that had occurred years prior had all but annihilated the building, and most of Satellite along with it.
Suddenly, Konami stopped. The hall he was in nearly identical to the others, but there was something about it that flew out at him, demanding his attention. He combed the hallway slowly, taking in all he could about the hall until he found just what was drawing his attention.
In the center of the hall was a single door, and while usual for the type of building Konami stood in, there was one thing that made it stand out from the rest of the hall.
Its doorknob held no dust.
Smirking, Konami entered the room, surprised at what he saw. Pictures of all shapes and sizes lined the walls of the room, and in the corner a medium-sized bed sat snugly in the room.
"This must be his bedroom," Konami thought briefly, moving further inside.
He noticed many of the pictures were of children he recognized as being in Martha's care; though in all of them an orange-haired fellow was seen smiling amongst them. Konami blinked. Thinking back, he thought he recognized the man from one of his earlier visits to Satellite, but was his name really Crow? He'd have to do a bit more research before he could-
The sudden sound of movement caught Konami off guard. In a flash, the teen was on his knees with a firm hand gripping him by the hair, pulling him back as a bladed weapon was pressed against his neck.
"Who are you? What are you doing in here?"
Konami gasped for air, his body having lost his wind with all the quick movement. "I'm… I'm Konami. I was sent here by Martha to see Crow."
His assailant seemed to pause at this, slowly pulling the blade away from Konami's neck and tossing his head to the ground. "Martha sent you? You should've said so earlier!" the man huffed, his demeanor changing in an instant.
Konami scowled, brushing his hair before setting his red hat snugly on his head. "Maybe I would have if you didn't just jump out and attack me." He grumbled, glancing up to take in his assailant's appearance. "Eh? You're…"
The man smiled, "Yo, I'm the Crow you're looking for. What's up?"
It was astounding how the man's demeanor could change so suddenly.
"You're Crow?" Konami blinked, "Huh… I guess you really are the same person then."
Crow furrowed his brow in confusion, "Do I know you from somewhere…?" he asked briefly, his eyes narrowing as he took in Konami's appearance, "A-Ah! I do! You're that guy who was picking up cards off the side of the road! How've you been?!"
Konami sweatdropped. "One look at me and suddenly we're best buds? Weird… Still, this guy might be the only one who can help me find Rally."
"Fine, for the most part." Konami replied with a sigh, "I've been busy with a tournament and all but…"
"Ah, yeah, yeah, I heard about that." Crow grinned, "You won an invite into the big leagues right? That's gotta be cool. But what'd you come all the way out here for? It's not like you live in Satellite."
"That's what I came to you for." Konami explained, "I'm looking for Rally, I was told you know where he is."
"Huh? Rally…?" Crow frowned, "What do you need him for?"
"Do I really have to explain everything?" Konami complained, stopping once he saw the look on Crow's face, "Fine. I promised him a while back that I'd help him track down someone we both know."
"Ah, so it's something like that then." Crow laughed, "I was worried for a moment. Rally's known for getting in trouble a lot, so I didn't want to bring him any unnecessary trouble."
"I get it." Konami nodded, "So, do you know where he is or not?"
"Yeah, I can tell you where he's at." Crow grinned, "He'll probably be hiding out with the rest of his pals. Follow me."
Konami nodded as he watched Crow turn and leave the room. Following, Konami found himself led to a makeshift garage, filled to the brim with all kinds of tools and trinkets used to engineer a Duel Runner.
"It's nothing too special," Crow had told him, "but it's what I have. The real gem is the Runner it's used for."
Konami didn't have to wait long for an explanation. With the single press of a button the garage rose, and he found himself staring at a feathery black Duel Runner known for its capability to "fly".
"Heh, I call her the Blackbird. And you should count yourself lucky," Crow grinned, "because you'll be one of the few people to ever ride it."
-5D's-
"This is the place." Crow said, driving his Blackbird down into the subway tunnel Rally hid out in. "If you're looking for Rally, this is where he'll be."
"Thanks." Konami replied, setting his feet down on the concrete and descending from the Duel Runner.
Idly, he glanced around. The walls were cracked and aged, and in the distance a sparking light could be seen, accompanied by several sounds of loud noise. The subway itself was abandoned and no longer in use, so it was obvious that if Rally was present in the tunnels, that'd be where to find him.
"Hey, hold up." Crow called after him, "You shouldn't go in there alone. If Rally's not there you might end up in a tight spot. Not everyone takes kindly to strangers."
"Don't need to tell me twice." Konami thought, unconsciously rubbing his neck, "Yeah, you're probably right. You're used to looking out for people huh?"
"Heh, I help out with Martha's kids a lot is all." Crow replied, parking his Duel Runner and walking towards Konami, "Have to make sure I keep them out of trouble. I'm their Big Bro Crow after all!"
"Big Bro huh?" Konami smiled lightly, "Let's get going then."
"Yeah. Now that I think about it, I'm not too sure I like the sounds I'm hearing in there."
"Trouble?"
"Probably," Crow's face narrowed, "Actually, I think I just heard someone screaming. Let's go, Red Hat!"
"Right!"
The two charged in, fists raised and Duel Disks ready only to realize they had arrived too late. Several people where thrown about the room curled up in pain, and the only indication that someone had attacked them to begin with was a swinging door off in the corner. Konami scowled, quickly bursting through the door in pursuit as Crow turned his attention to those left behind.
"Rally!" he shouted, spotting the red-head twisting in pain upon the floor.
"C-Crow…" the boy whispered, "M-My deck… those guys…"
"Your deck?" Crow asked, "What about it? Rally…? Rally!"
The door swung back open as Konami re-entered the premises.
"They got away." He said solemnly, "But I managed to get a good look at their faces. Next time we see them…"
Crow scowled, "Damn it! I won't let this go!"
"Crow, and Konami too…?" Rally asked weakly.
"Rally, what happened here? Who attacked you?" Crow asked, gripping the boy's shoulders. "Tell me!"
"O-Okay…" Rally agreed, "It started when I found a card I thought I could use in that big pile of junk not far from here…. But then, this group of guys I never saw before just showed up out of nowhere and came up to me. They took one look at my deck and decided that it was too good for me…."
Konami and Crow both scowled at this, knowing how important one's deck could be.
"And…?" Crow asked slowly, "What happened next?"
"Well… we got in a fight, but I managed to get away." Rally explained, "I thought I'd come back here and rest for a bit, but it turned out they were already here waiting for me. They beat me up… took my deck, and said that from now on they'd be showing it the respect it deserves…."
"So they basically just up and stole it from you huh?" Crow asked rhetorically.
That didn't stop Rally from answering.
"Exactly!" he shouted angrily, "I can't believe those guys!"
"So," Crow stood, "Any idea where they went?"
Konami frowned, "When I lost them it looked like they were headed towards the ocean."
"Hmm…. I see." Crow nodded, turning back to Rally, "Don't worry. We'll handle those guys for ya."
"Huh? Only you and Konami?" Rally asked.
"We're more than enough for a few punks like that!" Crow grinned, "And did you forget? I'm Crow the Bullet!"
"That was your nickname from when you, Yusei and Jack used to hang out right?" Rally laughed, "Ow…"
"Heh…" Crow smiled sadly, "Yeah, so take it easy Rally, I'll get these guys in no time." He stood, turning to face Konami once more. "Let's move out. If they were headed for the ocean, then I have a good idea of where they'll be. Will you be alright here, Rally?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Go get em Crow." Rally nodded.
"Right, let's get a move on, Red Hat!"
-5D's-
"There they are." Crow smirked, gesturing towards the ocean, "They're the ones who took Rally's deck."
"Huh? Crow, hate to tell you this," Konami murmured, "But there's only one guy."
"Eh? You're right!" Crow scowled, "Rally said there was a whole bunch of em…."
"It doesn't matter. I recognize him as one of the ones I was chasing." Konami explained, "Might as well go talk to him and find out just what's going on."
"You're right! Let's go, Konami. Don't let your guard down, there's no telling what this guy will pull." Crow scowled, standing up and making his way towards the man, "Hey punk!"
"Huh?" the man looked up. "Is there a problem?"
Konami's eyes widened. "I know this guy! He was the one that had been defeated by Uria! I think his name was KENYoU…"
Crow scowled, his face twisting angrily as he stepped in front of the man, "How about you give me back the deck you stole from my friend?!"
KENYoU frowned, "The deck I stole? Wait, are you talking about that long haired kid? His deck was too good for him, so I thought I'd give it a better owner."
Crow snarled, "Taking a deck by force… you don't even deserve to be called a Duelist."
KENYoU shrugged, "Meh, it's too much trouble to build a deck by force."
Trembling angrily, Crow grabbed the man by the collar, lifting him off the ground as he raised his fist, "You little punk! I'll beat some sense into you!"
KENYoU leaned back in fright, quickly raising his hands in defense, "W-What?! Hold on! I'm totally against violence man!"
"Tell that to the kid you beat up." Konami replied, folding his arms in victory.
"No… wait! S-Somebody help!" KENYoU shouted, "Ahhh! You, you over there! Help me out!"
A silver-haired girl dressed in typical Duel Academy wear turned, frowning as she glanced at the situation. "Huh?"
"This crazy guy wants to fight me!" KENYoU explained, "Help! Help me!"
Crow smirked, "Oh come off it. Are you serious…?!"
The girl approached them with a frown, her face deepening into a scowl as she took in Crow's appearance, "What's with the hair? You're a Duelist, aren't you?"
Crow scowled, dropping KENYoU as he turned to the girl, "I sure am, and this is none of your business, so get out of here!"
The girl narrowed her eyes, folding her arms in annoyance, "Hmph, bullying those weaker than you. You don't deserve to be called a Duelist!"
"Holy shit this is ironic." Konami thought, already processing how things were going to turn out.
"Yeah, that's right!" KENYoU jumped in, rubbing his neck cautiously.
Crow scowled, "That's it! Now you've gone too far!"
The woman scowled back, activating her Duel Disk, "I'll teach you punks what respect is all about! Get ready to Duel!"
"What?!" Crow snarled, "You wanna go?! You think I'll back down after all that?! Ha! You've got another thing coming! Come on Konami! Let's show them what we've got!"
Konami nodded, silently activating his Duel Disk. "There's probably a better way to do this, but…"
"DUEL!"
Konami and Crow- 8000 LP
KENYoU and Ida- 8000 LP
"I'll be going first!" Konami shouted, taking the lead as he drew his first card. "Every second we waste here the trail to Rally's deck gets colder. I'll finish this quickly!" "I'll start by summoning Armageddon Knight to the Field in Attack Mode!
Armageddon Knight-LV4-(1400/1200)
"But that's not all, because this monster has an effect!" Konami explained, "When I summon it, I can send one Dark Monster from my Deck to the Graveyard, and I'll be making full use of that effect to send the Immortal Bushi packing!"
A visage of the warrior appeared briefly on the Field before dispersing to the Graveyard, prompting the Duel Academy girl to scoff.
"Why would you do something like that?"
"You'll just have to wait and find out won't you?" Konami smirked, "I set one card face down and end my turn!"
"Then I'll draw!" the girl started, adding a card to her hand, "Alright… I'll start by activating the Spell Card Valhalla, Hall of the Fallen! Once per turn, this card lets me special summon one Fairy Type Monster from my hand if I control no monsters! And since I don't control any…" she smirked, "I'll be using it to bring out my Majestic Mech- Ohka!"
A winged creature of light suddenly descended upon the Field, rearing its fairy head and crying out into the heavens.
Majestic Mech Ohka-LV6-(2400/1400)
"Now it's time for me to do some damage!" the girl grinned, "Majestic Mech- Ohka, destroy that punk's Armageddon Knight!"
"Heh, not so fast!" Konami declared, "You activated my Trap Card! Sakuretsu Armor!"
"What?!" the girl scowled.
"Yeah, this card targets the attacking monster and destroys it! Next time don't be so hasty with your moves!"
The girl scowled, watching as her Fairy was chained down by acidic armor and subsequently evaporated off the Field. "Ugh… I'll set a card and end my turn."
"You know," Crow started, setting a card on his hand, "If you wanna quit, it's fine by me! Draw!"
"I wonder what kind of deck he uses." Konami thought, turning his head to the man, "Probably something feathery…"
"Time to make my move!" Crow grinned, "I'm activating the Spell Card Black Whirlwind! Let me explain what it does. You see, any time I Normal Summon a Blackwing monster to my side of the Field, this card will let me add a Blackwing monster from my Deck to my Hand that has an Attack less than the monster I summoned!"
"A Blackwing Deck?" KENYoU frowned, "But those cards are so rare…"
"Don't get any weird ideas!" Crow glared, "This Deck isn't up for grabs, and I'll prove it with this next card! I'm summoning Blackwing- Blizzard the Far North to the Field in Attack Mode!"
As he spoke, a tiny blue bird with several strands of black feathers streaked onto the Field, flying above the earth below.
Blackwing-Blizzard the Far North-LV2-(1300/0)
"And that's not all!" Crow grinned, "Because now my Black Whirlwind activates, allowing me to add another Blackwing monster from my Deck to my Hand!" he paused to search through his deck for an appropriate card, "Found ya! Blackwing-Vayu, welcome to the team!" he glanced back at his hand and grinned, "Heh, and it looks like my turn's just getting started! I activate Bora the Spear's effect from my Hand! This allows me to Special Summon it to the Field if I control a different Blackwing monster! And since I have Blizzard on the Field…"
KENYoU and his partner both fell back as a gust of wind blew past them, materializing into black feathers that wrapped into a bird equipped with a mighty spear.
Blackwing-Bora the Spear-LV4-(1700/800)
"And I'm not done just yet," Crow continued, "Because now I'm going to make use of my partner's Armageddon Knight to bring out something even more spectacular!"
The group's eyes widened as both Armageddon Knight and Blizzard the Far North disappeared into six shining lights.
"Synchro?!" the girl gasped.
"But it's only his first move!" KENYoU argued.
Crow grinned, raising his hand to the sky.
"Great Warrior! Reveal your brand of justice to those who thieve in the night! Synchro Summon! Goyo Guardian!"
The stars collided in a crash of light, revealing a tall samurai-like warrior wielding a large whip.
"Not bad…" Konami thought, gazing upon the creature, "But to be honest I expected something a little more… birdlike."
Goyo Guardian-LV6-(2800/2000)
"Now's the time to attack!" Crow shouted, "Goyo Guardian, beat em down!"
The warrior nodded, lunging forward and lashing out at the pair with his whip. The girl on the team scowled, reeling back as her team's Life Points began to drop.
Konami and Crow- 8000 LP
KENYoU and Ida- 5200 LP
"Next I'll follow up with my Bora the Spear!" Crow declared, prompting his second monster to strike. Bora glided forward in a flurry of black feathers, gutting KENYoU through the chest with its spear before settling back down on Crow's side of the Field.
"Good thing it's just a hologram!" KENYoU thought, rubbing the spot where the creature struck worriedly.
Konami and Crow- 8000 LP
KENYoU and Ida- 3500 LP
"But we've fallen behind…." KENYoU finished aloud.
"That's it for my turn." Crow stated, glaring at the man.
"Then it's time for a comeback!" KENYoU shouted, "My turn! Draw!" he glanced at his cards and smiled inwardly. It wasn't enough to beat back his opponent, but he could buy some time.
"I'll set a monster and two face-downs to end my turn."
"That's it?" Konami thought, "Fishy… alright then." "My move! Draw!"
Pausing, Konami glanced at his hand. "Nothing to destroy traps or spells… guess I better play it safe."
"Goyo Guardian," he shouted, "Attack their face-down monster!"
The warrior once again nodded, spiraling into the air before hurling the whip down towards the face-down card. In response, the card flipped up, revealing Mother Grizzly before vanishing into the Graveyard.
"No traps?" Konami thought, "In that case…" "And now I'll activate Goyo Guardian's effect! When it destroys an opponent's monster by battle, that monster can be Special Summoned to my side of the Field in Defense Mode!"
KENYoU smirked, "Heh, then I'm activating its effect before it goes! It lets me Special Summon a Water Monster with 1500 or less Attack Points in Attack Position. The monster I'm choosing is another Mother Grizzly!"
Konami scowled as he watched the two Beast-warriors appear on separate sides of the Field.
Mother Grizzly-LV4-(1400/1000)
"So that was his plan…. Clever. Might as well get some damage in then."
"Bora, attack Mother Grizzly!"
The Blackwing nodded in understanding, slashing through the creature with ease.
Konami and Crow-8000 LP
KENYoU and Ida- 3200 LP
"Heh, but don't forget!" KENYoU smirked, "Mother Grizzly's effect lets me bring out another Water Monster! This time, I'll Special Summon Ameba!"
A small blue bubble appeared on the Field, bulging with life and disease.
Ameba-LV1-(300/350)
Konami scowled. "I'll set a monster and end my turn."
"Good job," the girl said to KENYoU, "You bought us some time."
"Heh, it was nothing miss…" KENYoU trailed off, not knowing her name.
"Ida, call me Ida." The girl smiled before turning a scowl back to her opponents. "And now it's my move! Draw!" she smirked, "Perfect! I'm activating the Spell Card Brain Control! It'll let me take control of one of your monsters by paying 800 Life Points!"
Konami and Crow- 8000 LP
KENYoU and Ida- 2400 LP
"Not good!" Crow told Konami, "They're gonna take-"
"That's right!" Ida called in a sing-song voice, "Your Goyo Guardian is mine!"
Goyo Guardian cried out as a brain latched itself onto the Warrior's head, bringing it under Ida's control.
"Now," the girl thought aloud, "What shall I do with it? Oh! I know! Goyo Guardian, how about you attack your former master? Destroy Bora the Spear with your Black Betrayal!"
The Guardian nodded dully, lashing its whip through the Blackwing with ease.
"Oh No!" Crow cried out, "Bora!"
The Blackwing let out a cry of despair as the Guardian tore through it, sending it straight to the Graveyard.
Konami and Crow- 6900 LP
KENYoU and Ida- 2400 LP
"And don't forget!" Ida laughed, "The Goyo Guardian's effect lets me bring Bora back under a far more respectable banner- mine!"
Black feathers littered the Field as Bora revived, making it the second monster to be snatched from Crow.
"Guh… This isn't good!" Crow shouted.
"Now I'll switch Ameba to Defense Mode and end my turn." Ida smirked.
"Man… that was a good play, but since your turn has ended Goyo Guardian will come back to his sense!" Konami explained.
Ida scowled, knowing he was right. She could already see her brain losing its grip on the Guardian.
"My turn!" Crow shouted, "Draw! Don't worry Bora, I'll save you right now!"
He glanced at his hand, "I summon Blackwing- Gale the Whirlwind to the Field in Attack Mode!"
Blackwing-Gale the Whirlwind-LV3-(1300/400)
"Next, I'll switch our Mother Grizzly to Attack Mode!" Crow continued, "And I'll do the same with our Face-Down monster Fortress Warrior!"
The two monsters stood, giving them more than enough firepower to finish the Duel.
Mother Grizzly-LV4-(1400/1000)
Fortress Warrior-LV2-(600/1200)
"Alright! Time to do this!" Crow declared, "First, I'll take back my Bora by attacking with my Goyo Guardian!"
The warrior grinned, lashing out at Bora to cleave it in two before reviving it with the Guardian's effect.
"Next," Crow continued, "I'll get rid of your Ameba with Fortress Warrior!"
The living fortress nodded at the words, stomping on the small blob and ridding Ida of her last defense.
"What?!" she gasped, "No way…."
"Is this is…?" KENYoU scowled.
"Yes! It's time to end this! Mother Grizzly and Gale, tag team her to finish this Duel once and for all!"
The two monsters nodded, both charging their attacks at the same time to unite and annihilate the last of their opponents' Life Points.
Konami and Crow- 6900 LP
KENYoU and Ida- 0 LP
"That's it." Crow stated, disengaging his Duel Disk.
Ida scowled, gripping her shoulder tightly in annoyance. "Impossible! How could we lose to this guy?!"
"Ugh…" KENYoU grunted.
Crow smirked. "If you're gonna pick a fight, make sure it's one you can win. Now, give me back that Deck you stole!"
KENYoU frowned, "Well… you see… about that…"
Crow's eyes narrowed, "What? You want to give me more excuses?"
"N-No! It's not that! I… don't have that Deck anymore!"
"What are you talking about?" Crow asked in suspicion.
"Before you got here, one of my friends got caught by Sector Security…. He was the one with the Deck."
Crow scowled, "So now Sector Security has Rally's deck? Well that's just great."
"Wait…" Ida frowned, "What are you guys talking about?"
"This guy stole a friend of mine's deck, so I came to get it back from him…. But it looks like his friend had the Deck and got caught by some Securities…." Crow sighed.
"Wait," Ida blinked in confusion, "So you weren't actually bullying anyone?"
"Next time you should try actually listening to what people are telling you!" Crow huffed in annoyance.
Ida ignored Crow, rounding on KENYoU to give him a piece of her mind, "You STOLE someone's Deck?! That's terrible!"
"E-Eh?" KENYoU blinked, taking several steps back as Ida closed in on him. "Uh oh…."
He ran.
"Come back here!" Ida snarled angrily, taking pursuit, "I'll knock some sense into you!"
"Ahhhhhh! Help! Crow!" KENYoU cried.
Crow snorted, glancing towards the ground, "Hmph, that'll teach ya."
-5D's-
"…and that's what happened." Konami explained, sitting across from Rally.
The boy's eyes were wide. "So Sector Security has it? Great… What am I supposed to do now?!"
Crow shrugged, "Sector Security confiscated it. You'll have to forget about getting that Deck back."
"N-No way…" Rally frowned, on the verge of tears.
"Heh," Crow grinned, "Just kidding!"
"H-Huh?"
"You know where all the cards they confiscate go, right?" Crow asked.
"I dunno… to the Sector Security Vault?" Konami shrugged.
"Exactly!" Crow grinned in approval, "All we have to do is sneak in there and get your Deck back!"
Rally frowned. "You're talking like it'll be easy though. Are you sure?"
Crow laughed, patting Rally's head softly, "Just leave it to me! I'm Crow the Bullet after all!"
-Chapter Fourteen-
End
With Rally's Deck missing the trio turn their eyes to the Sector Security Vault. Will they succeed in retrieving the Deck the young boy lost, or will Sector Security prove too much for them to handle? Find out, next time on Yu-Gi-Oh: Tag Force!
Memory Fragment 0
It was just another day in Duel Academy. The sky was blue, students were chattering energetically in the corridor, and Dr. Crowler seemed to be in a good mood.
The reason?
Rumors were that a transfer student would be arriving any day now. The students weren't entirely sure of the circumstances, but apparently the student in question had managed to ace the entrance exam. They supposed that another student to dote on was more than enough reason for Crowler to be as giddy as a schoolgirl.
Unfortunately, by lunch the teacher's mood seemed to have taken a turn for the worst.
Apparently the student had yet to arrive, and Crowler couldn't help but worry. Had he gotten lost on the way to the island? What if he had been struck down by some hooligan before he could reach the school? Chancellor Shepard assured the man that everything was fine, but Dr. Crowler had a tendency to overthink things.
Nonetheless, it made quite the show for the students in the café.
"Man, look at him go." Jaden laughed, "He must be pretty upset."
"You're right big bro!" Syrus agreed, "I don't think I've ever seen anyone sweat that bad since… well, ever!"
Alexis sighed, watching the teacher dab at his face with a napkin. As much as she hated to admit it, Syrus was right. The teacher was sweating profusely, and the makeup the man wore daily was beginning to run down his face. "I wonder if he's in some kind of trouble. I mean, not to be rude or anything, but usually he's the one making you guys sweat."
"Maybe," Jaden shrugged, "But I think it'll be funnier to let him sweat it out a bit before finding out what's wrong."
"You know, I heard that it was because he couldn't get ahold of that new student that was supposed to be coming." Syrus whispered.
"New student?" Jaden asked curiously, "What're you talking about Sy?"
"You don't know?" Alexis blinked in shock, "There's supposed to be some student coming today. Word is that he's transferring out of some fancy high school back in Domino. He aced the Entrance Exam and everything too."
"Whoa really?! He must be a pretty good Duelist then!"
"Of course he is!" Chazz cut in as he approached the group, peeling open the pork bun sandwich he drew. "You don't really think this academy would let in some idiot do you?" he paused, as if only just noticing who he was talking to, "other than you Slifer Slackers anyway."
"Huh? Chazz? What're you doing here?" Syrus asked.
"I'm not going to sit back and watch as you corrupt Alexis into being some Slacker like you two." Chazz hissed, "Problem?"
"Well… no not really but…" Syrus trailed off.
"Really Chazz, I don't need someone looking after me all the time." Alexis sighed, "To be honest it's kind of annoying."
Chazz opened his mouth to reply when he paused, turning to stare at Crowler who seemed to be approaching them briskly with someone in tow.
"Mr. Princeton, Ms. Rhodes, May I have a word?" the man asked sweetly, as he did with all Obelisk Blue students.
"Of course Dr. Crowler," Chazz smiled arrogantly, standing up.
Alexis frowned, not sure what this was about. "I guess, has something important come up?"
"Yes, it is of the upmost importance," Dr. Crowler nodded furiously, "as such, it needs to be handled…" he glanced at Jaden and frowned, "discreetly."
"I… see." Alexis glanced at Jaden and Syrus, "We'll be right back."
"Okay," Jaden mumbled through his food, earning another glare from Crowler.
"So, what's this all about?" Alexis asked.
"You see, it's… it's the transfer student!" Dr. Crowler despaired, "I had hoped I'd be able to talk him out of it but…"
"But what? Did something happen?" Chazz asked.
"Yes! That fool… that fool's decided to go join the Slifer Red dorm!" Dr. Crowler wailed.
Alexis raised an eyebrow incredulously. That was the big issue that had Crowler so worried. "And what's the problem with that?"
The two turned on her in shock.
"What's the problem? He's going to be stuck with the Slackers Alexis!" Chazz shouted, "It absolutely can't happen!"
"Exactly!" Crowler agreed, "Which is why I've called on you two. You are some of the best Obelisk Blues the school has to offer! If anyone can talk him into rethinking his horrendous decision, it'll be you two!"
"Of course sir! We'll make him understand his mistake!" Chazz declared.
"I knew I could count on you!" Dr. Crowler smiled brightly, "Now, off you go! I'm sure you two have to go… make plans and such… yes yes!"
He shooed the two away, returning to his flurried pacing as he despaired over the student's choice.
Alexis sighed, "I can't believe that's what has him so worked up."
"It's a serious issue Alexis," Chazz argued, "Such talent can't be wasted away in the Slifer Slacker dorm! He needs to be with the elites!"
"I'm not too sure…" Alexis sighed, "Anyway, we can think on this later. I want to finish eating my lunch."
"Fine, but we'll have to handle this as soon as possible!"
Jaden grinned as he watched the two return, "So, what was so important that Crowler had to whisk you away from us?"
"Nothing important slacker," Chazz scowled, "Besides, it's none of your business."
Alexis rolled her eyes, "Really Chazz…" she turned to Jaden and Syrus, "Crowler's just upset that his prized transfer student chose to join the Slifer Red Dorm. He thinks we can talk him into joining Obelisk Blue instead."
"What? Really?" Syrus blinked, "So that means we might be seeing the guy around Jaden!"
"Yeah, should be pretty interesting. I wonder if he'll let me duel him?"
"Uh, were you listening idiots?" Chazz scoffed, "I'm going to be convincing him to join Obelisk Blue! If anyone will be hanging out with him, it'll be me!"
Jaden and Syrus both inspected Chazz for several moments before breaking out into soft giggles.
"Yeah right, you couldn't convince anyone of anything. Face it Chazz, that guy's gonna be a "Slifer Slacker" all the way!"
Chazz scowled, "Bah! You'll see, I'll have him wearing white and blue in no time!"
"Looks like you'll have your chance." Alexis told him, "Looks like Crowler's about to send him over here."
"What? He's here?!" Jaden asked, slamming a hand on the table as he glanced around.
Sure enough, he saw him. Standing across from Crowler was a boy their age scratching the back of his head sheepishly. As expected, he was dressed in the light red Slifer jacket, and wore a hat of the same color with the Duel Academy Logo blazoned across its front.
"Is that him…?" Syrus asked.
Alexis nodded, "I guess so. Looks like Crowler's sending him over here."
"Heh, now's my time to shine!" Chazz smirked, waving the boy over once he looked at them.
The boy seemed to frown for a brief moment, before shaking his head and walking over to them.
"Sorry for the trouble," the boy sighed, "but apparently Dr. Crowler seems to think I should sit with you guys."
"Not a problem," Chazz smiled, pulling out a seat between himself and Alexis, "take a seat new guy."
"Thanks." The boy nodded, doing as Chazz asked.
An awkward silence seemed to settle over the table as they all thought of what to say.
"So…" Jaden started, still munching through his drawn sandwiches, "Tell us about yourself New Guy. Where you from?"
"Domino." He answered quickly, not bothering to say anything more.
"Domino? Hey isn't that where the King of Games is from?" Syrus asked.
"Probably. He doesn't have anything to do with me though, if that's what you're asking." The boy explained, "Now my dad on the other hand… well, that's a story for another time."
"Hey aren't you hungry?" Alexis asked, "You look kind of starved. Don't tell me… you didn't eat anything on the way over here?"
"Well…" the boy frowned, "Not really. The ship food looked terrible, and now that you mention it…" his stomach growled, "I am pretty hungry, heh."
"Well what're you waiting for new guy?" Jaden grinned, "Go draw a sandwich!"
"Draw… a sandwich?" the boy asked.
"Heh, it's something custom to this school," Chazz explained, making to stand, "Come on, I'll show you how it's done!"
The boy smirked inwardly, but said nothing. To be honest, he knew all about Drawing Sandwiches. Unbeknownst to Chazz, it was not something specific to Duel Academy, but was in fact something the boy himself had grown up doing. But they didn't need to know that just yet.
Making his way over to the sandwich pile, Chazz smirked as his group gathered around. "Alright, watch carefully! I'll show you how an Obelisk Blue does it!" he raised his hand, his eyes narrowing as he glanced into the great pile. "Hi-Yah!" he shouted dramatically, stuffing his hand into the pile and pulling. "This time it'll be…!"
Pork Bun Sandwich.
"Again?! No way!"
"Looks like luck isn't on your side Chazz." Jaden laughed.
"Grr… darn it! That Golden Egg Sandwich will be mine!" Chazz growled.
"They have that here?" the boy asked in shock.
"What? Yeah. It's so rare than one person might draw it every other month though." Jaden explained.
"Ah if I could just taste it once…." Syrus drooled, "I hear it's like heaven…."
"Hmph, no Slifer is ever gonna draw that Sandwich!" Chazz scowled, "The only ones who've ever managed to pull it out are Obelisk Blues, obviously."
Alexis frowned, "Uh, Chazz? I don't think that's quite right. Still, I wouldn't mind having one."
"Sounds like it's pretty interesting." The boy smiled, "Mind if I try?"
"Yeah, go ahead new guy." Chazz grunted, "Not like you'll draw anything better than me wearing that red jacket anyway."
The boy smiled good-naturedly. "It isn't "new guy"." He explained, stepping in front of the pile.
"My name is Konami." He stated, "My likes include drawing the Golden Egg Sandwich. My Special Skill is drawing the Golden Egg Sandwich." He smirked at the group.
"And my hobby?" he plunged his hand into the pile, grabbing the first sandwich he touched and revealing it to all.
The Golden Egg Sandwich.
He handed the package to Alexis, "For you, mademoiselle," he smiled, taking Chazz's Pork Bun and heading out the door.
The girl blushed. One thing was certain; things would be interesting from now on.
End