Black and Red
This is where the stories are going to take a major split. This is going to be a really busy chapter since it's three episodes, mainly because I'm planning on rushing through the episode with Blair, which leaves plenty of time for Jaden vs Bastion. Still, it's worth it for the cuteness!
Also, don't forget to read the oneshots and companion story Gold and Silver!
One final note: For those of you who read Broken Halo, the poll over its remastering is going to be taken down when the next update goes up, so if you haven't voted, do it now while you have the chance!
I did all the transcribing for this chapter myself, so go me!
This is the title of the English-dub for Episodes 18 and 19. Its Japanese version translates to "VS Yugi's Deck (Part 1)" and "VS Yugi's Deck (Part 2)", but my own title for this is "Future Unmet"
I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX otherwise I would have killed Dimitri off before he even got his own episode.
Chapter 18/19: The King of the Copycats, Parts One and Two, or "Future Unmet"
Chazz rested his crossed wrists on the railing up by the bow of the ship, staring out into the distance where he guessed Duel Academy roughly was. Sora… he thought, don't worry, I'm coming back soon. I just need to make sure I can beat that yellowbelly to keep him in line so he doesn't leave you… "Jaden," he whispered, turning his face upwards and letting the breeze caress his hair, sending his spikes dancing wildly about his head, "are you thinking about me?" His question was greeted by the movement of the water and he sighed, closing his silver eyes. "Yeah, you really aren't the type to let something like this bug you for too long," he muttered, "but I still dream about you… you Slifer slacker."
A familiar loud screech caught his attention, causing his eyes to fly open. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me," he grumbled, but sure enough, it was the silver dragon again, albeit a good bit larger, tangled up in a mess of netting down in the water. It turned towards him, revealing a more pronounced mouth along with much more developed wings, and screeched, its claws struggling underneath it and getting all the more tangled for its efforts. "Damn dragons," the ravenet grumbled, peeling off his Obelisk jacket and the black turtleneck underneath it before he removed his black leather boots and socks, "can't even use their claws to cut their bindings without me to untangle them first." He dug around in the pocket of his jacket, palming the object of his search before turning back to his task.
The dragon screeched at him again, right in his face when he jumped over the side of the bow to work off the net. "Deep-sea fishing," he noted, scanning the rough hemp critically. "It'll be hard to get these off." The creature opened its silver muzzle, but he beat it to the punch, ducking under the water to set to work pulling off what he could with his fingers and cutting what he couldn't with the Swiss army knife from his pocket.
As soon as it was free, the dragon heaved itself up out of the water in a flurry of droplets, shaking the liquid from its feathers before snatching its rescuer up in its claws, depositing the boy onto his boat once more. As Chazz coughed on the deck, looking rather like a drowned cat with most of his hair flopping over his eyes now, he glanced up to see another fluttering feather in front of his face. He snatched it, shoving it into his pouch and turning his attention to drying himself off with the sun. There was no doubt in his mind that this rescue had given him yet another blank card…
Bastion waited while the others dispersed, heckling poor Dimitri as they went, but he refrained from commenting. Sure, he may not have been fond of the boy since he used someone else's deck rather than his own, but having seen firsthand what that sort of thing could do to a person, he held his tongue in check and tried to be civil to his fellow Ra. "Well then," he said, giving the boy a smile after he'd glanced around to see only Jaden and Syrus remaining, "I think that's about the worst of it."
"Sure," Dimitri spat, getting to his feet, "until the next time I lose! Well, I've had it!" He ran off, and for a moment, Bastion could have sworn he saw red hair rather than the spikes did.
"Hey," a voice said from behind him, and he turned to see Benito standing there, his arms behind his head, "you're Bastion Misawa, aren't you?" The Italian didn't wait for an answer, instead presenting his hand. "I don't believe we've officially met, I'm Benito Devlin. I've heard a lot about you from… Sora."
The genius's face fell. "Oh."
"Don't worry," Benito assured, "it wasn't all bad." The Mystic Swordsman wielder looked content in his role to meet with the Ra. "In fact, I want you to get back together with him."
Bastion's brown eyes widened. "What?"
"You're a good influence on him," the Devlin admitted, "far better than I could ever be, which is why I want you to take him in to see Yugi's deck tonight."
It would be a risk… but the Misawa was willing to do anything to get the Princeton back. "If you can get him," he promised, jaw firm.
"Sora?"
The redhead looked up at the sound of his boyfriend's voice, an easy smile adorning his face as he reached up to trace the tanned features of his seme. "Bastion," he murmured, chuckling softly when the Brit pressed a sneaky kiss to his palm.
"Happy anniversary, love," the genius whispered, careful to keep things just between them two before he gently pulled his smaller uke into his arms.
The gamer purred when his lover leaned down to kiss him sweetly, his tongue caressing every inch of the Princeton's mouth, his hands fisting in raven hair as the very corners of his lips perked up in a slight smile.
Of course, that all came to an abrupt end when he was abruptly awoken with a touch to his arm, causing his restless silver eyes to open and focus upon Benito's blue-green orbs. "What do you want?" he asked bluntly, tone empty of emotion.
"You promised you'd let me choose what you did for one night," he reminded the redhead, watching as the Princeton's brow furrowed with the attempt to remember such a conversation. "You know, back that one time in Venice?"
"I recollect," the gamer admitted finally, "although vaguely due to the fact that you got me drunk that night and the most poignant memory of that trip was Chazz dragging me to the airport to leave because he figured out I was hungover the next morning."
"Anyway, because of that incident," the Italian continued, "I never did manage to collect my debt."
"And your point is?"
"I want you to take Bastion to go see Yugi's deck tonight."
Sora stiffened harshly. "No."
"But Sora-"
"But nothing!" Silver eyes were alight with a fire and passion he hadn't seen in a very long time. "I will not accompany Bastion on a fool's errand to get myself expelled from this school."
"And if it's not a fool's errand?" Benito pleaded, using his big blue-green eyes to get him what he wanted.
"Fine," Sora sighed, losing animation as quickly as he gained it, "I'll go."
"Good," the Italian grinned, pulling the redhead to the door. "I already promised Bastion he could take you." He yanked the door open, Mystic Swordsman having already alerted him of the genius' presence, and shoved the slender boy out the door.
Sora looked up, his silver eyes gleaming softly in the moonlight as he realized Bastion was holding him tightly to prevent him from falling. "Bastion," he breathed, his lips moving mere inches from the mathematician's, but just as the Brit began to lean in, Sora pulled away. "Are we going to see Yugi's deck or not?" he asked softly, fiery curtain of hair coming between them to hide his face from view.
Bastion smiled, forcing back the slight pang in his heart from being denied… something. He couldn't place what it was for the life of him, but he did know he'd just lost the chance for it right now. "Yeah," he murmured, leading the way.
"Oh! Sora! Bastion!" Jaden cried, stopping as soon as he saw the two Ras in the main building, the former tensing at the call of his name while the latter just grinned sheepishly at being caught.
"Jaden," the genius greeted, reaching out to capture the redhead's hand in preparation for the prevention of a possible escape attempt. He chuckled as the other two Slifers caught up, putting his free hand on his hip. "Fancy meeting you here," he stated, "taking a sneak peak at the deck?"
"I guess great minds think alike," Jaden pronounced with a shrug.
"Either that or disturbed ones," Sora muttered under his breath.
Jaden sighed, pouting rather cutely. "You know, I'm starting to wonder whose personality influences whose, Chazz's or yours."
"Jaden, shut up," Sora said, head turning as they all heard a scream.
"Didja hear that?" the brunet Slifer asked.
"Sure did," Syrus replied hurriedly.
"Someone's in trouble," Chumely offered in confirmation.
"Let's go help her!" Bastion cried, joining Jaden in running into the hall.
"Watch as it turns out to be Doctor Crowler," the Princeton snickered, following at his own pace and howling with laughter when he found out he was right, though he still took his place at Bastion's side.
"Let's get Chancellor Sheppard!" Jaden cried, turning around.
"Let's not and say we did," Sora commented lazily, tugging the Slifer to a stop via the red jacket sleeve and restraining his fellow Ra by the hand, just managing to get them out of the way of the teacher's flying tackle.
"Hey, what gives?" the perky brunet asked confusedly.
"I know this looks bad," the effeminate blond began, "but believe me, I didn't steal the deck!"
"He has a point," Sora stated. "After all, the only one of us here without a deck would be myself, but I couldn't have taken it since I just got here and have a solid alibi in that I've been with either Bastion or Benito the entire time and thus had no opportunity to steal it myself. Sure, Doctor Crowler might have stolen it to get Yugi's deck for himself, but why would he do it if it was only going to be traced right back to him since he's the one in charge of the exhibit?" The gamer shrugged. "Besides, I'm fairly certain he'd have the key, so why would he bother breaking the glass?"
"Then who did?" Bastion asked.
"You were the only one here, Doctor Crowler," Chumley continued the argument.
"Standing right next to the case." Syrus was just as convinced of the teacher's guilt.
"Then search me, please!" he declared. "Sora has the right idea, but if that's what'll convince you, then go ahead, go ahead!"
Silence reigned in the room while the skeptics thought about it, Bastion waiting on the Slifers' decisions since he'd seen the logic in his fellow Ra's conjecture. "You know," Jaden murmured slowly, "it could be because I don't wanna search him"—mainly because I feel it would be an insult to Chazz's former rank to accuse an Obelisk of stooping so low without investigating a few other avenues first—"but I believe what Doctor Crowler is saying."
The teacher sighed in relief. "Yes, yes, you're not so dim after all!"
"Please," Sora scoffed, his attitude tonight far more akin to his brother rather than his usual temperament, likely a side effect of all the medication he'd been taking, "my twin doesn't date morons, no matter how cute."
"The real thief is still out there!" Jaden declared, pulling his fellow Slifers from the ground. "Let's split up!" Crowler was obviously delighted to receive the unexpected assistance, despite volunteering to remain to make sure the delinquent didn't return to the scene of the crime, but Sora only agreed to help because Bastion dragged him off before he could voice any dissent, and after they were apart from the group, what was the point?
"Dorms are clear," Bastion informed Jaden, tugging his fellow Ra along behind him, fingers tightly laced with those of the youngest Princeton.
"So are the classrooms," Chumley said.
Sora gasped, eyes wide with panic. His breathing raced and he squeezed Bastion's hand tightly, wincing and putting his free hand to his temple. "Is something wrong?" the mathematician asked, concerned for his friend.
"Syrus found them," the redhead panted, body tense. "They're dueling down by the water… Kami, the monsters are pissed that they've been taken… I can feel their anger all the way over here…"
/Kurriii!/ a familiar voice sounded in Jaden's ear, causing the brunet to look over at the little furball waving a monster card in its stubby paws. Realizing it might be part of what was causing the younger Princeton trouble, he took the card from his duel spirit, examining the silver dragon before he heard a soft screech in his ear.
/He is the one who hears the spirits where few others do… he is sensitive to compensate for his soulmate's ignorance… and now without a protector, he is at the mercy of all who might dare oppose him…/ a soft voice sounded in Jaden's head.
"Come on!" the brunet growled, running towards the dock. "We've gotta check it out!" He didn't know what the obligation was stemming from, guilt or fondness, but he wanted to prevent Sora from feeling the backlash of Yugi's missing cards, and since Chazz wasn't around to do it, he was going to have to do.
"Coming!" Bastion yelled, towing Sora along behind him while glancing worriedly over his shoulder. Sora… I don't know what you're talking about… but whatever it is, it's worrying me… please, just be okay, Sora, I don't know what I would do without you now…
Bastion worriedly eyed Sora, who was huddling against his arm with wide silver eyes and had been ever since the duel had begun. "Hey," he murmured softly, "it'll be okay, Sora. Jaden'll win this and get the deck back."
"I doubt it," the redhead replied, clutching the yellow jacket tightly in his hands. "The spirits are angry, so very angry, and they might just kill Jaden for daring to oppose them now."
"It's more than that," Bastion replied, needing to reassure the other boy. "You see, Dimitri's a copycat duelist, so in order to defeat him, you must exploit the failings of whoever he's copying, as you did when you first dueled Dimitri, Syrus. You knew he was copying Crowler's deck and you knew what its weaknesses were, that's how you won, but the problem is now he's copying Yugi, a duelist whose weaknesses are not so well known, that is, if he has any at all. You see, there is no set formula on how to beat the King of Games, therefore there is no set formula on how to beat Dimitri now." He paused to give an encouraging smile to the male clutching at his arm. "However, I don't doubt that Jaden will find one."
"Not if the spirits have anything to say about it," Sora whispered, silver eyes focused on the duel with startling intensity he hadn't shown since Chazz had left.
The instant Dark Magician appeared on the field, Sora let out an odd cry, burying his face in Bastion's shoulder. "No, not Mahado, please, not Mahado," he whimpered, terrified by specters only he could sense.
"It's all right, Sora, it's all right," the Ra soothed, stroking the copper hair and ignoring the Slifers' concerned looks. "I won't let Mahado won't hurt you."
"Yes," the Princeton murmured sadly as Thousand Knives destroyed Jaden's Thunder Giant, "but you can do nothing for Jaden."
"Well well, there may be no known blueprint to defeat Yugi," Bastion stated, trying to bolster the redhead's faltering spirits, "but Jaden's still trying to design one, and if my hunch is right, what he's planning might work."
Silver eyes looked up at him with childlike hope. "I hope so," he mumbled, snuggling his face into Bastion's shoulder, which prompted a blush to appear on the genius' cheekbones before he returned his attention to the duel, feeling a little better now that his companion didn't seem so frightened any more.
"All right!" Syrus said happily, "Now Jay's got a monster that can stand up to the Dark Magician!"
"And every other monster in Yugi's deck," Bastion finished, relief flooding him with the hope that Sora would calm with the new development. "After all, with no Egyptian God cards, that Dark Magician is the strongest card Dimitri has."
Sora shook his head. "Wrong, wrong, wrongity, wrong," he stated in a sing-song voice, "the spirits' might is still yet strong."
The Brit turned to his companion. "Sora, what are you talking about?" he murmured before his brown eyes widened with the sudden realization that the Dark Magician of Chaos was on the field. "That's one of the mightiest creatures you'll ever see."
"Foolish is as foolish does," Sora sung again, a strange smile splitting his face, "and he's the biggest there ever was!"
"Jaden is in deep trouble," Syrus murmured.
"Unfortunately, Syrus, that's the understatement of the year," Bastion replied, turning a questioning gaze to how Sora shrunk closer still to him, slender chest pressing against his broad shoulder. "Look what he has to contend against: The Dark Magician of Chaos, full Life Points, the King of Games' deck. The trouble isn't deep, it's subterranean." He reached around to stroke the Princeton's hair. "Of course, Jaden always performs best under pressure, so I think he'll be fine."
"The spirits are furious," Sora whispered, seeming to be coming back to himself slightly as Winged Kurbioh took the field. "Bastion, I'm scared, they're baying for blood to pay for their loss… and they don't care who's it is that ends up spilled."
"It'll be okay, Sora," the Brit muttered. "I promise."
Sora seems a deal calmer now that Jaden's turned things around, Bastion thought, glancing at the redhead who had gone quiet though still clutched his sleeve in one pale hand. "My, Jaden's impressing more and more every turn!" the Brit praised, "What skillful play! Now he'll be able to attack with each monster separately."
Sora shuddered. "A village burned for the price of this," he whispered, "ninety-nine for seven's magic to tame the spirits' anger," he whispered, silver eyes unseeing. "But they were wrong, but they were wrong." He started crying, hiding his face in Bastion's arm as the mathematician worried comforted him, having no idea what he was supposed to do to stop the waterworks since even he had lost the boy this time.
It was the Black Luster Soldier that caused it. Sora whimpered as the first monster was destroyed, pressing himself so close to Bastion that the other boy could feel every divot of his body. "Protect me, Water Dragon," the gamer whispered, "don't let Copycat get me."
"Sora, snap out of it!" Jaden yelled, the antics of his Winged Kuriboh finally causing him to see what was happening, only it was too late. He had only turned after the snap had split the air, audible only to him and extremely faintly for Chumley, who had thought it merely something of his imagination.
The Princeton let out a scream, somehow squirming closer to the genius. "No, not Flame Wingman, anything but Flame Wingman!" he cried.
"Sora, you're okay!" Syrus cried as Bastion turned to cuddle the distraught Ra close. "You're okay!"
Sora raised his head to reveal foggy, unfocused silver eyes. "Steam Gyroid?" he murmured, "Why can't I see you?"
"Finish this, Jaden!" Chumley called. "We can't figure out what's wrong with him until he calms down, and he won't do that until you finish this!"
The Slifer nodded. "You've done it now, Dimitri!" he yelled. "As if there wasn't enough reason to win this, now you've got Chazz on my side too! This duel's over!"
Thankfully, once the duel had concluded, Sora was docile as a lamb, clinging to Bastion's sleeve quietly until the blond in Zane's arms sent everyone scurrying off. Worried, the genius led the gamer up the cliff and to the infirmary, not caring if he was waking Miss Fontaine up. This was an emergency. "Hello?" he called, his footsteps echoing loudly on the linoleum though Sora's were silent. "Is anyone here?"
"What are you doing here, dearie?" the lady asked, revealing herself from where she was organizing the closet.
"Sora here," Bastion said, nodding his head to the other Ra, "is suffering from sudden blindness and some sort of delusion where he thinks everyone is a Duel Monster."
The Princeton sniffled, looking very small on the plastic chair the Misawa had sat him on. "Why'd you leave me, Water Dragon?" he whimpered, head down.
"Hey Sora!" Jaden declared, bursting into the infirmary, "how ya doing?"
The redhead let out a little shriek of alarm, scrambling off the chair, the metal legs tangling with his own as he pushed himself into huddling in a corner, eyes shut fearfully.
Bastion darted to his side, brushing copper hair from in front of his face. "Sora?" he murmured, "you're okay."
The Princeton buried his face in the genius's chest. "Flame Wingman is scary," he whispered in a conspirital tone. "He's why Infernal Incinerator left."
"From the looks of things, Bastion," the teacher stated, having watched the past few moments carefully, "this is a sickness of the mind, not the body. He'll likely get better on his own, but he should have someone he trusts implicitly to take care of him."
"I'll do it," the Brit volunteered without a second thought. "Chazz isn't here to do it, and he's afraid of Jaden, but he seems to trust me." The boy made a little noise in the back of his throat as if to agree with that statement, nuzzling into Bastion's chest and looking thoroughly satisfied when the genius picked him up and began carrying him off back to the room with the walls covered in equations, the one he'd always thought of as a second home.
Phew, done! I'mma call it a day!
Bastion: You made him go insane!
Yeah, so?
Chazz: I'M GONNA KILL YOU! *chases after Die*
Jaden: Review please!
Last edited: 12/15/2011