Chapter 25: A Betrayal of Heart
That night, I made a huge mistake. I nearly tore Kelsey and me apart, all for one stupid moment...
Julian leaned back against the wall and looked over to Yamato and Mayumi, who were gracefully dancing together. They moved with incredible elegance and skill, probably the product of dance lessons.
This painfully reminded Julian he had never danced with anyone before. At his high school prom, he had just sat in a corner and hoped a girl would ask him to dance with her. He'd been so cowardly back then... but the Satellite had hardened him so much.
In some ways, being sent to the Satellite had made him a far better person. He had met Kelsey in the Satellite, and fallen in love with her. He had become a part of a group making the Satellite better, inspired by the former Enforcers of the Satellite, Team Satisfaction.
(I only kept Team Satisfaction for the 'Satisfy me' joke.)
He smirked as he remembered that dumb old catchphrase they had, that so blank, but so hilarious catchphrase. That joke cracked him up every time he heard it.
"Satisfy me," he chuckled under his breath. He kept watching and waiting.
Suddenly, he was aware of someone standing near him. He looked and saw a pale-skinned young woman with long black hair, wearing a gown that at some point probably had been white, but was now more of a hideous grey. Her eyes were covered by glasses with hypnotic swirls on them.
Julian wondered what she was even doing there.
"Can I help you?" he asked quietly.
"Um... yeah... you can," she said, stammering a bit "I'm Carly Carmine... and I'm a journalist... well, more of a blogger actually... but I'd like to interview you. You're Julian Mikuro, right?"
"That's me."
"Well... can I have an interview?"
"Sure, why not? I'm waiting for someone anyway."
"Really? Who are you waiting for?"
"Just... someone I love," Julian said quietly "someone I care about. She should be here soon."
"Is it that girl?"
"Which girl?" Julian asked, a cold edge entering his voice.
"The girl that... you know, you..."
"Slept with? You've heard it too? God, when I find whoever squealed... I'm gonna make them pay for this..."
"Uh... Julian... we're kinda in an interview already."
"Sorry. Just frustrated with this whole thing, Carly."
"Anyway... so, how does it feel being a part of this tournament?"
"Apart from my first opponent freezing me up and my name being dragged through the dirt over me sleeping with a girl I like... well, apart from that stuff, I'm having a blast," he said bitterly.
"You're really torn up about it, aren't you?"
"Of course I'm torn up," Julian muttered "because of what I did; I'm New Domino's hot gossip for the next three months."
"Awe... that's just sad. You love this girl, don't you?"
"You bet I love her," Julian said fiercely, turning his gaze to her.
She saw the pain in his eyes, the long buried ashes of pain heaped on his soul. But still flames burned on the ashes, love and courage burning bright like the sun. He burned like an inferno, full of such strength and passion Carly couldn't even imagine it.
"Uh, I think I'll go and talk to... um, that Minato Ryuji guy! See you around!" With that, Carly left, moving a little too quickly. Something about Julian scared her, perhaps the ferocity of his gaze.
Julian sighed and continued to gaze at the crowd impassively. They couldn't understand the pain he felt, with their happy lives and all their family.
He had no family any more. First the Zero Reverse, then Flamvell Nidhogg had stolen his family from him.
He noticed someone else coming towards him, a stunning woman, probably in her early thirties, with raven-black hair, dazzling emerald green eyes and wearing a beautiful black strapless dress. She moved with incredible grace and elegance, he noted, and she gave him a soft smile.
"Well well, Misty Tredwell," he said softly "the world's top model. Why would you want to talk to me?"
"Because you seem interesting," she replied, looking directly at his face "you're Julian Mikuro. You're the vigilante with a lot of trouble around you."
"Trouble? You could call it that."
"Persecuted for doing something with someone you love... poor you," she said sadly "I feel sorry for you, you know. You seem so sweet and innocent, but you're the one taking all of this. I think I'll do you a little favour... you see, I tell people's fortunes."
"How? Crystal balls? Tarot cards?"
"Oh no... I read faces."
"Faces?" Julian echoed, a little surprised.
"Yes... it's not very traditional, is it?" she chuckled "here. Just let me look at you... it might be uncomfortable. Just tell me if you want to stop."
She gently cupped his face with her hands and stared straight into his eyes. He felt a little strange, but suppressed the feeling.
"Interesting," she murmured "there's a shadow in your future... a shadow of death hanging over those you care about. Someone you love will die... but then... something seems to say they will return for vengeance."
"What does that mean?" Julian asked.
"I don't know," she replied. But Julian saw it in her eyes.
She was lying. She knew something, but she wouldn't tell him.
"I've got an appointment now," she said quickly "it was nice talking to you." With that, she walked away.
"There's something about her..." Julian thought "something not right... almost like she isn't really alive at all..." He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something about Misty Tredwell that seemed somehow wrong. Perhaps it was the elegance in her movements, her pale skin... but there was definitely something there.
For the third time, he noticed someone standing close to him. He looked, opening his mouth to snap at them, but closing it sharply as he recognised the person in question.
It was Kisara.
And she was beautiful, dressed in a black ball gown. He had no idea how she'd got it, but he had to admit she looked magnificent with that ball gown on.
"Hey," she said quietly "you look lonely."
"I'm waiting for Kelsey." Something flashed in her eyes too quickly for him to notice, a spark of jealousy.
"Why not dance while you wait?"
"Dance with who?" he asked.
"How about me? I'm all alone, just waiting for a handsome knight to sweep me off my feet."
"I have Kelsey," Julian replied sharply "I don't need anyone else."
"Oh... come on, don't be so uptight," she murmured, giving him a flirtatious wink "it's just a dance..."
He felt his mouth go dry. Why was she able to do this to him?
"No," he said hesitantly.
"Really?" she said, winking again "come and dance, why not? It's just a bit of fun..." Her voice gained a seductive edge on the last word and she crept closer.
"I said no."
"You know you want to," she murmured "come and dance, Julian."
"No," Julian said, hesitating slightly.
"Dance with me, Julian," she said seductively, creeping closer and closer. He couldn't concentrate because all he could focus on was her breath on his skin and the scent of her body and how unbearably close she was getting.
"Yes..." he gasped, giving into her spell. She gave a seductive smile and wrapped an arm around his waist as he did the same, clasping her other hand into his.
They moved onto the dance floor, twirling, spinning, swaying. They lost themselves in the melody of the music, in the passion of the dance...
And then it went too far.
They looked into each other's eyes, seeing something that passed between them, some feeling of affection. A passion-drunk Kisara saw it as an invitation.
She moved closer and closer.
She kissed Julian, their lips meeting, both losing themselves in the emotions...
Kisara deepened the kiss, pushing her tongue into Julian's mouth and he just could not resist the feeling as she pressed her body against his and forced her tongue inside his mouth and his mind was blank, thought impossible...
There seems to be a rule of fate governing such situations, in that when a person would be caught doing something wrong by the very person they wrong by that action, the wronged person must inadvertently enter the room right in time to observe the wrongdoing.
And unfortunately for Julian, that rule held very true at that precise moment.
Kelsey stepped into the ballroom, resplendent in her new white and gold dress, Alexis slightly behind her in a dark blue dress of the same make.
The room fell into silence as everyone noticed her, except Kisara, of course, who kept kissing Julian regardless.
Kelsey's expression at that moment could only be described as thunderous.
Her eyes locked on Kisara, staring daggers into the other girl's back. Still Kisara kissed Julian, unaware of Kelsey's entrance.
Kelsey opened her mouth to shout. Everyone seemed to hold their breaths, ready for what would be remembered as a priceless moment.
Yamato and Mayumi looked on, both looking absolutely horrified.
Drago watched with Milo, sensing the tension in the air.
Kelsey's shoulders were shaking with rage, hands clenched into tight fists. Her eyes were burning with pure anger.
"Kisara's dead," Milo murmured to Drago.
"Indeed," Drago answered.
Alexis looked horrified as she looked from behind Kelsey.
The storm broke.
"Kisara Kaiba!" Kelsey roared "what the hell are you doing?!"
Kisara paled as she broke the kiss and turned to face the furious Kelsey.
"Uh... he came onto me..." she offered weakly.
Kelsey's gaze turned to Julian, who was looking at her and pleading with his eyes.
"Yeah right," Kelsey hissed "you sicken me, Kisara. How dare you kiss him! How dare you!"
"This is priceless," Milo said.
Kisara was speechless.
Kelsey glared at her.
"You filthy whore!" she roared, storming forwards. However, Kisara would not let such an insult stand and she rose to meet Kelsey.
"Oh, I'm the filthy one!" she shouted "I'm not the one who had sex with him, thank you!"
Kelsey bristled at the comment.
"How dare you!" she spat "you're nothing but a vile slut, who can't find love of her own and settles for seducing another girl's lover!"
There were gasps at the words.
"At least I..."
"Don't you dare try arguing with me!" Kelsey roared "get out of my sight, you wretch!" Kisara clenched her hands into fists, nails digging into her palms, and Yamato noticed it.
"This is going to get physical," he muttered to Mayumi. The two prepared to intervene. They were reasonably sure they could keep the two young women from murdering each other, after all, both Yamato and Mayumi had rather strict, not to mention irritating, fitness coaches who kept them exercising more than enough.
Still, fitness coaches rarely trained their charges about how to separate a pair of cat fighting young women arguing over a handsome young man.
Oh well.
Kelsey glared at Kisara and vice versa.
"I'm a lot better for Julian than you are," Kisara said sharply "I'm of noble birth. I'm not some filthy, low-breed cow from the Satellite, who doesn't know anything about love except sex!"
That had to hurt, Yamato mused.
It was a pretty low hit, but it worked. Kelsey's eyes widened in shock, and then narrowed again.
"You BITCH!" she roared, hurling herself at Kisara. Mayumi reacted instantly, moving forwards and catching the outraged girl in her arms. Kelsey struggled to escape, but Mayumi held her with a grip of steel.
"Calm down!" Mayumi cried, trying to restrain the furious young woman thrashing around in her arms.
"Let me go!" Kelsey shrieked.
"That's enough!" Yamato said sharply "if you two are gonna argue, settle it with a duel rather than have a cat fight in public."
"Fine," Kelsey spat. Yamato calmly removed his Deck from his Duel Disk, slid the device off of his arm and tossed it to Kelsey as Mayumi released her. Kelsey neatly caught the device, slid it onto her arm, pulled her Deck from a pocket on her dress and slotted it into place. Kisara just retrieved her own Disk from a nearby table, Deck already in place.
"DUEL!" they yelled, activating the Duel Disks.
Kelsey 8000LP/Kisara 8000LP
"I'll go first!" Kelsey snapped "I draw!" She did so violently.
"I set a monster face-down." The reversed card appeared in a flash of light. "Next I activate Core Denseness Compression, revealing the Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru and discarding Koa'ki Meiru Speed to draw two cards." She slotted the monster into her Graveyard and drew two more cards from her Deck.
"I'll end with two face-downs." The reversed cards appeared.
Kelsey 8000LP/Kisara 8000LP
"I draw," Kisara said "now I activate Ancient Rules to Special Summon my Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
With an almighty roar, the cerulean dragon appeared, its cobalt eyes filled with hope and content as it towered over the two duelists (ATK: 3000).
"On her first turn," Yamato muttered, barely even surprised.
"Next I use my Normal Summon for this turn to summon Dark Blade!" A hulking, brutal warrior clad in black and silver armour appeared, raising two curved and serrated sabres as he roared a battle cry (ATK: 1800).
"Dark Blade, attack her face-down monster!" The dark warrior rushed at the reversed card and slashed through it. Light burst from the card, becoming a brown, craggy golem with fiery eyes and a white-hot maw (DEF: 1000). The Koa'ki Meiru Rock shattered.
"Because Koa'ki Meiru Rock was destroyed by battle, I can add an Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru or a Level four or lower Koa'ki Meiru monster from my Deck to my hand," Kelsey said "I add an Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru" The card was pushed out of her Deck automatically and she added it to her hand.
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon, attack her directly!" Kisara ordered "White Lightning!" Her majestic dragon charged white energy in its maw before unleashing it with an almighty roar.
"I activate a Trap Card, Defense Draw! This negates the attack and I draw a card! Next, I chain-activate Refining of the Core, returning Koa'ki Meiru Rock to my field!" She drew a card from Defense Draw and her Rock reappeared (ATK: 1200).
"I end my turn with a face-down!" Kisara snapped. The reversed card appeared.
Kelsey 8000LP/Kisara 8000LP
"I draw," Kelsey said "next I activate Double Summon, allowing me two Normal Summons this turn. First, I Tribute Koa'ki Meiru Rock to Tribute Summon Koa'ki Meiru Rooklord!" An immense pale blue, silver and black robotic creature appeared, towering over Dark Blade, but in turn being dwarfed by the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, its arms ending in hammer-head like gauntlets emblazoned with the seal of the Koa'ki Meiru. Koa'ki Meiru Rooklord gave a mechanical groan as it gazed at Kisara through a pale blue slit in its helmet (ATK: 2800).
"I activate the effect of Koa'ki Meiru Rooklord, removing from play Koa'ki Meiru Rock in my Graveyard to destroy your Dark Blade and Blue-Eyes White Dragon!" Energy burst from Koa'ki Meiru Rooklord, reducing Kisara's monsters to ashes.
"Now I use my second Normal Summon to sacrifice Rooklord and summon Koa'ki Meiru Valafar!" Koa'ki Meiru Rooklord melted into intense flames, before Koa'ki Meiru Valafar rose from the inferno with an almighty roar (ATK: 3000).
"Koa'ki Meiru Valafar, attack that bitch directly!" Kelsey ordered. The demonic monster roared and unleashed a burst of flames from its hand, engulfing Kisara and making her scream.
(Kisara: 5000LP)
"I'll end my turn by equipping a card called Iron Core Storage to Valafar. This reduces the attack points of any monster that battles my Valafar by 100 times Valafar's Level, which is eight. In addition, if Valafar would be destroyed by an effect during the End Phase, I can lose Iron Core Storage instead." Plates of iron armour appeared on Valafar's shoulders, torso and back.
"I send an Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru from my hand to the Graveyard to keep Valafar." She slotted the card into her Graveyard.
Kelsey 8000LP/Kisara 5000LP
"I draw!" Kisara snarled "I activate Future Fusion, sending five Dragons from my Deck to the Graveyard, and in two turns I can Special Summon Five-Headed Dragon to my field!" She slotted Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon, Montage Dragon, Tyrant Dragon, Pitch-Dark Dragon and Red-Eyes Wyvern into her Graveyard.
"Next I activate Dragon's Mirror, removing from play the Dragons I just sent to Fusion Summon Five-Headed Dragon!"
"Shit," Drago muttered.
With an awe-inspiring roar of pride and power, the almighty beast appeared, five heads rising to roar in unison (ATK: 5000).
"I play Burial from a Different Dimension to return Pitch-Dark Dragon, Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon and Red-Eyes Wyvern to my Graveyard," Kisara said "now, Five-Headed Dragon, attack her Valafar! Draconic Elemental Storm!" Five-Headed Dragon roared, building a sphere of elemental power in each of its maws. Fire, Water, Earth, Wind and Darkness were forces commanded by the almighty beast and all five were unleashed in a burst of destructive force, although Iron Core Storage glowed and reduced the dragon's power (ATK: 4200).
Kelsey screamed as the destructive force washed over her, searing her and freezing her at the same time.
(Kelsey: 6800LP)
Five-Headed Dragon roared in triumph (ATK: 5000).
"Now I move to my End Phase and remove from play Red-Eyes Wyvern in my Graveyard to Special Summon Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon," Kisara said calmly. The obsidian black dragon emerged in a blaze of crimson flame (ATK: 2800). "Now I use Darkness Metal Dragon's effect to revive my Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
With an almighty roar, her legendary dragon reappeared, screaming its rage to the heavens, casting glorious light across the room (ATK: 3000).
"And I end my turn there," the Kaiba said smugly.
Kelsey 6800LP/Kisara 5000LP
"Damn it," Kelsey thought as she drew her next card. "What do I know about Five-Headed Dragon? One, it's big and scary, with 5000 attack points. Two, it can't be destroyed in battle by any monster that isn't Light Attribute. Three, it takes no damage from a battle with a monster that isn't Light Attribute. Four, she's got another fucking one coming in two turns if I don't blow up that Future Fusion! So focus, damn it!"
She looked at the card she had drawn and gave an inward groan. The card was near useless in such a situation.
Still, beggars can't be choosers.
"I lay a monster face-down in defence and activate the Continuous Spell, The Dark Door, allowing only one monster to attack per Battle Phase," she said. Her reversed monster appeared, followed by a barrier of wispy shadows with a single door of clear space in it.
"I end there."
Kelsey 6800LP/Kisara 5000LP
"I draw," Kisara said "I equip my Five-Headed Dragon with Big Bang Shot, allowing it to inflict Piercing Damage and giving it 400 extra attack points." Her Dragon gained a crimson destructive aura (ATK: 5400).
"Five-Headed Dragon, attack her face-down monster! Draconic Elemental Storm!"
Five-Headed Dragon roared and unleashed five blasts of elemental energy. The blasts shot through the Dark Door and struck the face-down monster. The card was engulfed in flames and a green, somewhat reptilian humanoid with light purple fins running along its shoulders, neck and back, with a long tail whipping out behind it and webbing between its fingers and toes rose from the flames with a shriek of pain (DEF: 1200).
Kelsey cried out in pain as the energy of Five-Headed Dragon's attack immolated her Koa'ki Meiru Seapanther and engulfed her, searing and freezing her at once.
(Kelsey: 2600LP)
"I'll end my turn there," Kisara laughed.
Kelsey 2600LP/Kisara 5000LP
"I draw," Kelsey said, smirking as she saw the card "I play Emergency Assets. This means that if I have less than two cards in my hand when I activate it, I can draw until I have five cards." She drew the cards and smirked as she saw them.
"I lay one card face-down," she said, watching the card appear. She looked at the other card, remembering who had given it to her. She might have been angry at him, but she still loved Julian and he had given her the key to victory.
"I summon the Tuner Monster Koa'ki Meiru Seraph!" she called. An angelic being clad in iron armour, with wings of fire and a sword of molten steel appeared in a blaze of flames, roaring a battle cry (ATK: 1600). "This Level 4 Tuner Monster will unleash my greatest Koa'ki Meiru Monster, and all I need it to do is hold out one turn!"
"You don't have another turn," Kisara sneered.
"Oh, I will. I end there and now my Seraph's special ability activates. I need to reveal a Normal Spell Card in my hand to keep him, so I reveal Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru." She showed Kisara the card quickly before flipping it back around.
Kelsey 2600LP/Kisara 5000LP
"I draw," Kisara said "and now the effect of Future Fusion activates, bringing another Five-Headed Dragon to my field!"
With an almighty roar, a second Five-Headed Dragon appeared, roaring its fury to the unseen heavens (ATK: 5000).
The two dragons towered over Kelsey, roaring in unison as they glared at the girl below them, their elemental power crackling around them like auras of electricity.
"You're about to lose," Kisara laughed "so I won't drag it out! Five-Headed Dragon, attack Koa'ki Meiru Seraph! Draconic Elemental Storm!"
Her dragon roared, unleashing its five elements in a storm that threatened to defeat Kelsey in that one blast...
25
Kisara lusted after me, I found that out later. However, it was more than lust, she did love me.
I wouldn't know until later, after I watched the world burn, after I unleashed the dragon...
25
Card Stats:
Monsters:
Koa'ki Meiru Rock
EARTH/ Rock/Effect /Level 4/ATK: 1200/DEF: 1000
When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, you can add 1 'Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru' or a Level 4 or lower 'Koa'ki Meiru' monster from your Deck to your hand.
*
Koa'ki Meiru Rooklord
EARTH/ Warrior/Effect /Level 7/ATK: 2800/DEF: 2200
During each of your End Phases, destroy this card unless you send 1 'Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru' from your hand to the Graveyard or reveal 1 Warrior-Type monster in your hand. You can Tribute Summon this card by Tributing 1 'Koa'ki Meiru' monster. When this card is Normal Summoned, you can remove from play 1 'Koa'ki Meiru' card in your Graveyard to destroy up to two cards your opponent controls.
*
Koa'ki Meiru Seapanther
WATER/ Sea Serpent/Effect /Level 4/ATK: 1900/DEF: 1200
During each of your End Phases, destroy this card unless you send 1 'Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru' from your hand to the Graveyard or reveal 1 WATER monster in your hand. Once per turn, by sending 1 'Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru' from your hand to the Graveyard, select one Spell Card from your Graveyard and place it on top of your Deck.
(Koa'ki Meiru Rock will be released in the Ancient Prophecy set in September, while Koa'ki Meiru Rooklord and Koa'ki Meiru Seapanther will be released in Stardust Overdrive, sometime around November.
7777777
Koa'ki Meiru Seraph
FIRE/ Fairy/Tuner /Level 4/ATK: 1600/DEF: 500
During each of your End Phases, destroy this card unless you reveal a Normal Spell Card in your hand. Once per turn, you can discard 1 'Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru' from your hand and Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'Koa'ki Meiru' monster from your hand or Graveyard. You cannot Normal Summon or Set during the turn you use this effect, and the Special Summoned monster cannot attack.
(Koa'ki Meiru Seraph is my own invention and creative credit for it goes to me.)
7777777
Spells:
7777777
Iron Core Storage
Equip Spell Card
Image: A set of armour designed to cover shoulders, torso and upper back, made of iron or steel. Golden lines similar to circuitry patterns run across it, and several Koa'ki Meiru symbols decorate it.
Equip only to a Koa'ki Meiru monster. The ATK of an opponent's monster battling the equipped monster is reduced by 100 x the Level of the equipped monster during Damage Calculation only. If the equipped monster would be destroyed during the End Phase, you can send this card to the Graveyard instead.
(Iron Core Storage will be released in the Stardust Overdrive set.)
7777777
Emergency Assets
Normal Spell Card
Image: A crate of food being handed out to a group of tired, starving people while Adrian Gecko looks on with a smile on his face.
Activate this card only when you have one or no other cards in your hand. Draw from your Deck until you have five cards.
(Emergency Assets is my own invention and creative credit for it goes to me.)
25
Digidramon: Well, bitchy cat fight, then bitchy duel between Kisara and Kelsey! And Kisara kissed Julian!
Milo: Kelsey's beaten already. Kisara's got two Five-Headed Dragons on her field.
Drago: I don't count any duelist out until the last card is played. Kelsey still has every chance.
Milo: Fine. I bet you a corn dog the face-down she set was Mirror Force.
Drago: Done. I bet you ten becks Kelsey will win.
Milo: Done.
Digidramon: Anyway, back to the issues. Carly and Misty appeared! And Misty made one very ominous prediction! What does she mean?
Akiza: I don't know, but I bet you'll overdo it. Digidramon does not own 5D's or its predecessors because if he did, he'd have explored Demak in more detail.
Digidramon: Demak needs a back-story, to be honest. Crow, Featured Card please.
Crow: Alright, today's cards are Koa'ki Meiru Rooklord, Five-Headed Dragon, Koa'ki Meiru Seraph, Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon!
Yamato: I'll help you this time. I pick Five-Headed Dragon as today's Featured Card, as it is one of the two most powerful monsters in the game. The Future Fusion and Dragon's Mirror combo used by Kisara is one very effective way to bring out multiple copies of this beast, and since it can't be destroyed and takes no battle damage when it fights a non-LIGHT monster, it is incredibly hard to defeat too.
Digidramon: Well, there you go. Next time, Kelsey and Kisara's duel continues, and Julian must try to explain what happened to Kelsey. Can the two of them make up, or is this the end for them? Meanwhile, the Vessels of the Seven Spirits put their plans into action, as the Dark Signers look with interest at the promise of a new member and Sayer of the Arcadia Movement makes his own schemes...
So watch out for Chapter 26 of Seven Spirits: A Pitch-Black World