Duel 16: All that glitters should not be attained.
Today, Saturday, June 13th, the ninth day on the run, I figured that I should do a little more assessing as to who I was fighting for. In order to do that, I decided to head further into the Satellite and see how others were living. It's about 5 A.M. and I was looking for what would be a good place to look into on a map. Olivia's Grandpa was helping me.
"You see sonny," he was telling me, "West Satellite is where Yusei and his friends use to live. Many people that like him tend to live over there. However, even they have a division of good people and bad people. The good tend to live in the south side, while the bad live north."
"I see." I said. "I can tell many people don't live in northern Satellite because it's astoundingly Industrial. Witch leave the South side to be Residential. We however, live on the eastern side of Satellite by the Bridge."
"See, your getting your bearings here Richard."
"Thank you. Now, with this info in mind, I think I will go to the southwestern part of Satellite, and see how it is there. Wish me luck." With that said, I went to the Garage, hoped on my Duel Runner, and left for Southwest Satellite.
It was 7 A.M when I reached the outer perimeter of that section of the city, I found a small group of kids outside on there front porch discussing the Fortune Cup so far. They seemed to be fans of me, May, and that Yumaki kid… I really wonder if he is from Yugi's Bloodline as I from Seto's. what I didn't like about there conversation was that they all thought that I was going to win because I came from Royal City and would somehow buy my victory.
That's when one girl came out from the house. She was dressed in clothes that looked like they were from Royal City, except for the fact that they were in some way 'ruined' as the folk back home said. And honestly, that didn't mean much. One of her shoes had a broken buckle, the other was a different color. Her blouse has many stained on it and 3 buttons missing, and she was wearing some tarnished jewelry. She wore a Duel Disk that was common to see in Royal City, except that their was a small scratch on the Red gem on the top… that was how superficial they all were. Damn you Royal City.
One of the boys spoke up. "Come on sis why do you have to look like that all the time?"
"Because Jimmy," The girl said, "One day, I'll be like all the other famous people in Royal City. If I look like them to start with, then I know I'll get there!" the poor girl. How could she know that she was searching for Fools Gold? "anyway, I'm heading out to look for more cards from the City. If I'm lucky, the rare ones won't be gone when I get there."
She went to a city Dump were I assumed a lot of Garbage tend to appear for this section of the Satellite. I followed her in a non stalking manner, she even noticed me following her and we had a pleasant conversation while she was walking. I was wearing my helmet so she didn't see who I was. Eventually, I offered her a ride to her destination. When she got there, she told me her master plan. "When I get the perfect deck," she started, "I'll take a test that I hared people talking about. They say that if you are an ace duelist, they'll let you live in Royal City and be one of them. It'll be a much better place to live then here."
I said "And you believe that it will be better in every possible way?"
"Well, yes, absolutely. That's what I've been banking on for some time now."
"And how much time would that be?"
"About 10 years." I was stunned.
I shook my head at her. "You poor, naive girl, do you not understand that the people there are the ones who are oppressing you? That they are the ones that lay their burdens on you?"
"No your wrong!" she exclaimed. "Neo Domino City is what is causing all this trash to come! Royal City will be my safe haven from this wrenched wasteland. All my cards, clothes, and Duel Disk came from there. It is destiny that they be reunited with their hometown, and I'll be the one who takes them home."
"… I see that you truly believe that, then let's see if it's true. Let Duel right here and now in a standard Duel. Your Royal City cards vs. my plain cards."
"Vary well, I accept." Her Duel Disk instantly fired up. So did mine. I made the first move.
"My draw." I saw Future Fusion in my hand and no Blue-Eyes. But she would become aware of who I was too soon. I wanted to show her that she truly was pursuing the wrong thing. I had to talk to her more as the Duel progresses. "I set a monster and 2 cards. Turn end."
"My turn." She said. "I summon Berserk Gorilla and attack your set monster." I played Sakuretsu Armor. "Damn. Fine, I end my turn."
"My draw. I set a card and play Gravekeeper's Servant. Then I summon Quillbolt Hedgehog, and Flip Summon my other Hedgehog." They both attacked and she lost 1600 Life Points. I'm at 8000, she's at 6400. "Turn end."
"Fine. My turn. I summon Jirai Gumo and play Rush Recklessly onto it." It's attack is at 2900 for this turn. She attacked, losing Big Bang Shot thanks to Gravekeeper's Servant. Because of her monster effect, she tossed a coin in the air, and called it wrong. She lost half her Life Points. I then played Scrap-Iron Scarecrow. I'm still at 8000, but she's now at 3200. "Damn you! Fine, your turn!"
"Why are so angry?" I said to her. "How come your precious Royal City cards failing you? Is it because they hate Satellite scum like you?"
She got tweaked at that. "Hay! I'm not-"
"Or," I interrupted, "is it because you cast aside strategy in order to become popular to a crowd that will never take you in? Believe me when I say this, I know there cruelty first hand. You truly never want to be one of them."
"How can I be sure of that? I don't even know who you are."
"Let me ask you this. Why do you want to leave everything that you care for and live in that City? In the long run, what difference dose it make?"
"Isn't it obvious? I live in a garbage dump that should have never existed. While they live in nice homes and have other comforts. That's what I want."
"I see… my draw. I shift my Hedgehogs to Defense mode. Turn end."
"My turn. I summon Chainsaw Insect. My insect attacks." She lost Bottomless Trap Hole, and I activated Negate Attack. "I end my turn."
"still having trouble. Well let me tell you why I left that City. In my opinion it was also a Garbage Dump. Not one of trash, but of feelings and superficiality. As far as I can see it, you are trying to flee from here to there. I'm fleeing from there to her."
"But why?" she inquired again. "Who the hell are you?"
I finally took of my helmet. "I'm Richard Kaiba." She was awestruck. "My draw, and I play Future Fusion. In 2 of my turns, I'll summon Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. Then set 1 card face down. Turn end." But she didn't move. "What's the matter? It's your turn."
She just stared at me. "…why? …Why are you here?"
"What have I been saying this whole Duel? I want to make Satellite a great place once again, as well as bring Royal City to its knees. If I win the Fortune Cup, and attain its big wish, if I can do so. Whether you believe me or not, they are bad people in that city, and I will stop them. They only seek acceptance with stuff and looks, never for who you are. Again, your turn."
"…I don't want to play anymore." Her hand was over her deck. I won by default. And she just walked away.
"Wait, I can take you home if you want." I yelled out, but I got no answer… I think I broke her dream, but I'm not to sure as to how… probably because she always knew that she had to go to them, not that they would come to her.
With nothing else to do, I went home.
Side Chapter 2: Comfort of Confessions.
At 3:20 P.M. everyone was back home from wherever they were. Most everyone in the Boarding House were watching the Fortune Cup, and keeping tabs on people they wanted to see Win… well, till I had to face them that is, and who they wanted to Lose. Lilly pointed out that that Yumaki kid won his second round Duel. Again, if it is fated…
While I was on my Duel Runner in the Garage running Duel Simulations built-in to the Runner, Lilly came in because she wanted to know a little more about me. "I was just wondering," she started to say, "Even though there are a lot of mean people in Royal City, did you have any friends?"
"Of coerce Lilly. You would be surprised at how many people have my way of thinking when it comes to the point of class separation… yet as the years went by, one by one, they either became like the rest of them, or kept quiet about there beliefs… I'm going to guess that you want to know about some of my friends?"
"That would be nice." She said as she twiddled her thumbs and was looking down.
"Ok, I don't have a problem with that." I paused the simulator and sat down with her. "I'll start with my best friend, Anton Betz. He falls under the category of hiding his beliefs. His father works at Kaiba Corp. as the head of Hologram development. He is credited for making Holograms be able to do real harm to people at the flick of a switch." I showed Lilly a switch on the bottom of my Duel Disk. "Listen." I moved the switch to the right and a computer voice said 'Safety Protocol Disengaged.' "only the Military and Public Maintenance Security are suppose to have this kind of Duel Disk, but my Mother gave this one to me anyway. She probably wanted me to harm Poor people when I got older… that's how cruel she is." I reengaged the Safety and put the Disk back on my Duel Runner. "Anton use to be vocal about how he felt that all people are equal, but that changed when my Mother took over as CEO of Kaiba Corp. She made sure that all charity ties were cut off, and that no one who wanted to help other in Royal City could have the opportunity… and in all Honesty, I could never truly understand why!"
"Maybe it's because she Greedy?" Lilly said with her head down still.
"Your guess is as good as mine Lilly. But the point being is that not everyone in Royal City has a grudge against the people of the Satellite. It's just that Mother now rules with such an iron fist, that they must act that way."
"Wow, one person can do that?"
"In that City, the company CEO that has the most profits practically rules… Lilly, if I lose this tournament, I'll have only one other option in order to make satellite a great City again."
"How?"
"By becoming the CEO of Kaiba Corp. myself. And since that won't happen till Mother dies… it will take a long time. Another of my friends, Phil Kaufman, he was a friend that went bad. Once he realized the power that Money had on and over people, he embraced it, and it consumed him."
"how bad was it?"
"Lilly… you truly do not want to know."
At that time, Olivia came into the Garage. "Lilly, there you are." She said. "everyone's playing Board Games upstairs, were waiting for you."
"Yay!" Lilly exclaimed as she got up and ran for the stairs, "I want to play Chutes and Ladders!" and with that, she was gone.
"Olivia sat next to me and asked "I'm sorry to have over herd you talking to Lilly, but what happened to your friend?"
"…5 years ago, he decided to test some of his 'Bargaining' abilities, and tried to convince some Satellite people to steal some petty item for him. At first they said no, then he promised them $1,000,000 if they would do it… so they did." I was starting to get emotional. "When Phil saw that they didn't get the right item…" some tears were coming down my face. "He killed them." Olivia gasped and covered her mouth.
"I remember that story!" she exclaimed. "the 2 guys lived around here. But they…" Olivia paused only for a moment. "…Never caught the murderer."
"That's because he bought his way out of Jail." I told her. "… How shameful of me." Olivia turned to look at me. And I to her. "looking back on it, that should have been the moment that I broke," I started to show more emotion. "but instead, it was when my Mother decided to force me into a marriage that I didn't want to get me to leave that Selfish, Greedy Hellhole…" again my voice started to choke up and tears came pouring down my face. "… I'm no better then them."
"No you aren't!" Olivia assured me. "Unlike them, you decided to leave at all. There still sitting in their Ivory Towers, pushing us around… Richard, your our last hope."
"That's also what I'm getting at Olivia!" I exclaimed, "what is to happen to the Satellite should I fail! What will happen to all of you? I can't take all of this pressure!" that's when I let it all out and cried on her shoulder.
All she did was hug me until I was done. How do I tell her that I have no way of thanking her for her comfort?