Chapter 35
Old friends, Destined enemies? Part 1
I was running along the road follow Mieru, apparently she said that Yuya was in deep trouble and in desperate need of help. At first I thought he was really hurt so I was worried, what I saw next made my heart skip a beat…
"AAAARRRGGGG! RAAAAHHH!"
"Yuya!"
"Darling!"
I was stunned to see that Yuya was in such a berserk state! His eyes were glowing bright red and his hair flared up with dark aura surrounding him! Gongenzaka was doing his best to hold him down, but even he was struggling! Yuya was so feral, I couldn't even recognise him anymore!
"What happened!? How did he end up like this!?" I asked in panic, "I…It is a very long story! But please! Help me! I don't know how much longer I…"
"Say no more!" Mieru cried as she rushed over to my friends, "Don't just stand there! Help!"
"R…right!" I then ran along and we did our best to restrain him, it wasn't easy, almost like trying to hold down a thrashing eel! As we headed back to the jungle zone for help, I took notice and saw behind me….3 unconscious Obelisk Force goons.
"Yuya…." I realised what may have took place, "What happened to you….Is it the same for me?" What really is going on here? It was all I could think as we headed off.
(Moments later)
"Urrgg…"
"Oahh…my head…"
The Obelisk Force goons had just regained consciousness and were struggling back up. "Huh? This isn't Academia. Shouldn't we have gone back?"
"Guess the dimensional transport function must have been damaged in the duel with that lunatic…"
"Great…Now we've got to walk all the way to find to some of our other members scattered all over this place just to go home!" grumbled one. What they didn't notice was that someone was walking towards them.
"There's no need for that."
"Huh?" they then turned around and froze stiff at the voice of the cloaked figure, wielding a fusion duel disk, "M..Master Nushi!?"
"We're so glad you're here sir, now you can send us back!" one of them joyfully cried, making him only smirk deviously.
"Heh, you fail to grasp my meaning. I mean, you guys aren't going back, you 3 lost miserably and now it's my job to set things straight for the Professor, by eliminating all redundancies or loose ends to our cause." He grinned wickedly, his face still hidden under his cloak.
"Gah!" The 3 of them then fell to their knees, shaking in fear, "P..Please give us another chance! We won't repeat the same mistake again! We swear!"
"I know you won't," he replied before holding out a card, "Because you guys won't be around for much longer." they then cowered and trembled like earthquakes!
"Don't feel all bad, I've good news and bad news for you though, good news is that my partner has just had her fill, so she's in no mood to eat anymore today," They then swallowed hard, knowing his demonic personality all to well, "Bad news, another dragon of mine hasn't eaten in days, and he's really wanting to make a meal of someone disloyal or useless, and you 3 might just fit the bill."
He then threw his card on his duel disk, calling out a massive serpentine monster! "Cyberdark dragon! It's feeding time!"
"ROOOOAAARRRR!"
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!" Minutes later, all that was left of the scene were fragments of shattered disks spread out on the road…..
(That night)
I was sitting down on a log around a fire next to Yuya, while everyone was doing other things like cooking or keeping watch.
Earlier today, the 3 of us managed to carry Yuya over here in the jungle zone, where it was secluded and safe. Luckily for us, we came across a 'team' of participants, Michio Mokota and Teppei Tairyobata who were able to help us secure Yuya. From what we learnt, Yuya apparently had 2 souls inside his body (I knew it was Yuto thanks to Bahamut a while back), and was acting the way he was due to some dark presence within him. No doubt it must have erupted due his uncontrolled rage and emotion, no doubt further amplified by Yuto's hatred for Academia. I can't blame him though, they were such monsters! And yet, what I did, to them and my friends…..
"Blue eyes…Red eyes…" I muttered before looking at their cards. They appeared normal but I could easily see beyond the physical card. "If you guys can hear me…I know you probably would never forgive me, but…I'm sorry." It would no doubt take more than words to fix this, they were my closest friends and I let my blind rage and anger consume me. "Bahamut? What happened to us? If you know anything please tell me."
I then saw him appear, he too was in a depressed phase as I was. I remembered we both were in full sync that time, but it wasn't the kind I wanted at all. "I..I'm sorry…I….have no words for this…..Never before I would imagine…." I then made him stop, and told him to go check on the other 2 to make sure they were okay. "Very well, that would the most wise decision to do at this point."
(Dragon POV)
As Bahamut searched for his 2 friends, he was filled with doubt in himself now. "Could my actions of protecting Ryuga have been wrong this entire time? Should I have been truthful with him from the beginning?" As he continued to think he eventually came across the 2 dragons taking refuge in a glade of trees.
"That was…horrible. Being consumed by that darkness. And Ryuga…"
"It'll be okay Blue eyes…I'm the same like you, so you're not alone." Red eyes comforted her. They then took notice of Bahamut as he landed before them, "You! Stay away!" Blue eyes growled as she bared her fangs.
"My friends….I…" Bahamut was at a loss for words, no amount of verbal apology could ever alleviate such pain and betrayal. Red eyes however took a step before him, 'Hey, I think it's time you came clean with Blue eyes here on the whole truth."
"Whole truth….?" she muttered curiously, "Do you both know something I don't?"
Bahamut then took another breath and he began to unravel his secret.
(Meanwhile)
Yuya had started groaning and soon his eyes began to open, it was enough to get our full attention. "Yuya!" we cried as we huddled over to him.
"I've had enough of scary occult things for one day!" Teppei jittered, this guy was even more of a whiner than Futoshi…Hearing him moan while being forced to help Yuya.
"Ryuga…Gongenzaka….Michio…." his voice was weak but he was pretty much okay, I was relieved.
"Darling!" Mieru cried as she came up to him. "You're…Mieru?" he muttered.
"He's back! Darling is back to the usual darling!" she added as she…embraced him? Wow, she really does care, glad Yuzu isn't here though. A while later, we sat down and had dinner together, Yuya explained how he had summoned Odd eyes rebellion dragon after undergoing such rage. It must have been hard for him to take in all that at once….When all we wamyed to do was just win and bring smiles to people.
Michio continued to give us delicious soup, I had to admit, he's even better than how Yuya described. It gave me some relief, but I still couldn't get over all that's happening.
"Hey Ryuga," Yuya spoke suddenly, "You've been really quiet, if there's anything, you tell us."
If only that were true, I then put on the best reassuring smile I could, "It's all good, just so much to take in for one day…."
"I know…." Yuya replied sadly before putting on a weak smile of his own, "But let's not dwell on it for now, let's get some sleep okay?"
"Sure…" I replied. It took me a long while but eventually I was able to doze off, but not before I shed a small tear….."Please forgive me you guys…"
Either I hope this resolves eventually, or, would it stay with me forever, or, should I make a move to reverse it. Whatever happens, there's no going back….
(Next morning)
We woke up and had breakfast, Michio no doubt was a really great cook! I bet he would even give Yoko a run for her money in a home cooked meal contest! Made sure Yuya didn't hear that though…
"Delicious! Your cooking really is the best Mitchie!"
"Haha, great to see you back to normal Yuya." I laughed, it was inspiring to see him make such a recovery, he may be even stronger than I am in that manner.
"Oh it's nothing…" Michio blushed while scratching his head, "It's just a simple something I put together from what we could find!" (This place is all solid vision right?)
"No it really is impressive!" Teppei added, "You're strong at duels and your cooking is delicious! You really are the best partner, Mitchie!"
"Yeah sure…a partnership where he does all the work and you sponge off all his hard efforts like a leech….You're more like a parasite than a partner…" I thought annoyed as I continued eating, not wanting to start an unnecessary fight.
"Yuya being able to regain his spirit is also thanks to your cooking. I, the manly Gongenzaka must express my thanks. Thank you Mitchie!" Gonegenzaka thanked.
"No doubt it helped us all get back our strength and spirit after yesterday." I complimented as I helped myself to more sandwiches.
"What the heck!?" We all jumped at Mieru's sudden scream and I nearly choked on my food! I had to hit my chest just to swallow it down. "You all keep talking Mitchie this and Mitchie that! Even I can make delicious food for darling!" She yelled before bolting off, "Just how far is she willing to go for Yuya!?" I gasped.
"Oi what's with her?"
"Maybe she went to search for ingredients."
"I doubt it," I sighed, "Still, with all that's going on it's not safe for her to go do as she pleases. I better go keep an eye on her." I offered.
'H..hey Ryuga!" Yuya called, "If you run into Yuzu! Please take care of her!"
"I will Yuya!" I replied before following the overactive girl.
(Later)
I found myself in the Iceberg area, it was was a wonder how Mieru was able to travel so far with such small legs. It was also interesting how the solid vision also came with such cold….
"Hey Bahamut?" I asked, "You felt it too didn't you? Yuya's darkness?"
He then appeared alone, "Indeed, it was no doubt very similar to Yuya. Great power amplified by emotions of anger and hatred. Something, I haven't felt for a long time."
"L..long time?" I asked. He then realised his mistake before interrupting, "Um, I managed to speak to both Red eyes and Blue eyes about earlier."
"Huh!? You did!? What did they say!?"
"They…are still recovering from the trauma they suffered while we were….under that influence."
"I see.." I was a little worried for them, "Don't worry, I'm sure they'll forgive you. What's important is that we move forward now with what he have."
"Yeah I guess…" As we walked around, I then realised something, 'Hey Bahamut! I just remembered, if the Obelisk Force, no, fusion dimension took Ruri and are after Selena, wouldn't it make sense if they want Yuzu as well?"
His eyes then widened in amazement at my quick thinking and alarm, "That is highly plausible. No doubt we should make finding Yuzu or Selena our first priority."
"Well then, do your thing?" he then sniffed the air, (That's strange, why do I sense synchro energy here?)
(Spot where Yugo and Yuzu teleported)
He then paused a bit before growing a little, "Fusion! Nearby!"
"What!? Here!?" I gasped, "Maybe it's Selena, but if not we can't just let them slide!" I said before hurrying off, I knew the risk, but I couldn't live with myself if I let them get away with it.
(Minutes later)
"Alright Twin-headed thunder dragon! Attack directly! Twin thunder strike!" The stormy dragon monster charged readied its mouths and blasted directly at Umesagi! "Aaargh!" he cried as he was knocked unconscious next to Takeda (sad because they recently recovered from their duels with Yugo). Tora then smiled at his victory as his 2 friends Suzume and Hiro soon joined him.
"Great work Tora! You took both these guys out with ease!" Hiro praised.
He then smiled to himself, "Heh, it's no big deal. I'd do anything for Academia, I can do even better if these guys weren't so weak."
"Well then, you can have the honour of putting them away." Hiro replied. Tora then nodded before being stopped by his other friend, "Wait!" she cried.
"Hey! What gives!? I beat them so I get to do it! Go find your own duel!"
"N..no it's not that! I just…don't think we should do this."
"Say what!?" Hiro gasped in shock.
"This is just wrong. When I signed up to help make the 4 worlds a utopia, I didn't mean it like this!" Suzume cried.
"Tch! You're such a wuss as always." he scoffed before shaking her off. He was about to press the button before suddenly, "Not so fast!"
"Huh!?" the 3 of them gasped as they looked up.
"I'll make you invaders of Academia regret ever coming here!" Ryuga yelled as he readied his disk.
(Meanwhile)
"Hmmm, still no sign of Mistress Selena…." Ayame thought as she hopped from iceberg peak to peak, scanning high and low. "She's really determined to prove herself to the Professor, heh…Almost reminds me of myself." she thought as she smiled to herself before being interrupted by a call on her duel disk. "Hmm? A call?" she then answered.
"This is lieutenant Aya…"
"Lieutenant! We need help!"
"Huh!?" she gasped at the sudden yelling, "Suzume! What's your status!?"
"We're being driven into a corner by a powerful standard duelist! Right now both Hiro and Tora are fighting him, but they won't last much longer! Please help…Aaah!" Bzzt Suddenly a big explosion could be seen an icy hill.
"Suzume!" Ayame cried in horror, she then thought of her priorities-Mistress Selena? Or her subordinates? She then gritted her teeth in frustration as she made her choice.
(Meanwhile)
"Dragon of the subzero world! Arise and encase all who oppose you in an eternal prison of ice! I synchro summon! Level 9! Trishula! Dragon of the Ice barrier!" My 3 headed synchro emerged and growled in the howling blizzard. I also had scrap dragon and a facedown on my field while my opponents, 2 members of Academia, had Worm Zero and twin headed thunder dragon on their field.
"When Trishula is successfully summoned, her special ability lets me banish 3 cards! One from my opponent's field, hand and graveyard!"
"Say what!?"
"I banish Your worm zero from your field, worm drake from your graveyard and your last card in your hand! (Revealed to be polymerisation) Go Dimensional Ice stream!" She then charged 3 icy breaths which shot at the 3 targets from his field and banished them!
"That leaves me wide open!"
"I'm not done yet, now my scrap dragon's ability activates! Once per turn I can destroy 2 cards, one on my field and another on my opponent's field! I destroy my facedown, dragon evolution in order to destroy twin headed thunder dragon! Scrap bomber!" The second dragon flew up and shot down some bombs which blew up both cards!
"No way!"
"Alight! I'll now attack you both directly with my scrap and ice barrier dragons! Go! Subzero scrap strike!" They both then shot a combined ice and flaming attack at both of them and sent them flying.
"AAAAHHH!" they yelled as they flew across the ice surface.
Hiro:0
Tora:0
Ryuga:WIN!
"Hiro! Tora!" cried the girl in shock as she came to their aid. The 2 boys grit their teeth and looked up at me as I walked towards them. "Leave now." I warned.
"Not one step further." I suddenly heard, it sounded familiar…I then turned and I saw a person I never would have imagined meeting here, "A..Ayame!?" I gasped. Bahamut was as shocked as I was, after so long since we parted….
She then assessed the situation and then took a look at me, her eyes widening in shock too, "R..Ryuga!? Is that you!?"
"Wh..what are you doing here!?" I gasped before noticing what she had on her arm, "That duel disk…No! It couldn't be!"
"Lieutenant!" the boys called as they stood up, "She's a lieutenant!? How can that be!?" I thought to myself.
She too found it hard to believe as well, she then closed her eyes and faced her subordinates, "You 3, get out while you still can."
"Huh!? But lieutenant! We…"
"Trust me, he's not someone you can handle. Go, I'll settle things here myself." she ordered.
"Say what!? No way I'm just going to…!"
"You heard her! Let's leave now!" the girl insisted as the boys grunted and ran off. I paid them no attention, because now, I had a much bigger matter on my hands...
"Ayame….Please tell me it isn't true…" I begged with a worried look, "Please tell me you aren't with Academia!"
She said nothing for a moment.
"Answer me!" I yelled.
"I'm sorry, but it's true." she admitted without any difficulty.
"No…." I was at a complete loss, the very first person I became friends with and understood since I first came to Maiami City, all along, was enemy? "Then all those times before…"
"I'm sorry, but I was merely doing my task as a spy under the high officials of Academia to oversee the Standard dimension and scouting for any possible threats to the main force before their arrival."
"Then that time when you asked me about joining your school…."
"Another task i was given was to seek out any possible candidates to join us and our cause. Believe it or not, you were the best candidate I found I never wanted you to find out about this…really. It was unfortunate I couldn't get you on our side and here we are now. On the battlefield once again, not as rivals but as enemies."
"How could you of all people side with the likes of Academia? You were a duelist of honour and pride,"
"I still am, in fact, my greatest pride of all is because I stand with Academia! As a gallant warrior of the fusion dimension with a noble goal!"
"What's noble about waging war against other innocent dimensions and bringing ruin to their lives!? How can you explain yourself for what you and your comrades did to both xyz and standard dimensions!?" I retorted in sadness and anger, at the person who I really respected before, was not who she turned out to be.
"It was an inevitability, if we are to unite the worlds into one!"
"U..unite?"
"Indeed, after we have overcome the standard dimension in this glorious battle, we shall soon assimilate the synchro dimension! Once that is done, we shall unite them all as one supreme dimension! All for the glory of Academia! That is why we duel and fight! For our noble cause to create a utopia, a perfect world. Of course, we may need to eliminate any interferences in the process, but in the end, nothing can be created without destroying something first."
I then gritted my teeth on anger, "How could you all deem yourselves heroes!? Haven't you realised the pain and suffering you caused to the xyz dimension!? Not just to duelists but also innocent civilians and families too!"
She then widened her eyes in shock, "Wh..what are your talking about!? We did no such thing!? How dare you accuse Academia of such an atrocity!?" she yelled.
"I've heard about it myself, your cohorts even enjoyed causing the xyzians such pain, even deeming it as a hunting game!"
"Enough talking! I won't allow you to continue to sully our honour with such lies! If you truly mean what you say, prove me wrong in a duel! After all, you once said a duel is how 2 communicate right? So let's see if you still got it!" she then resided her disk with a blue sword-like blade.
"Ayame…don't do this." (I knew if I were to duel her like I am now…I might…)
"Ryuga."
"B..Bahamut?" I was surprised as he appeared next to me, "It's pointless to try and reason with her, you know it too.
"But..maybe I can,"
"Look into her eyes." he replied, seeing them filled with hard determination and absolute will, "She believes what she's doing is right, her mind is completely made up, so there's no trying to talk her out of this. I know the risk, but we have no choice in this situation. We have to fight, no matter how hard it is, otherwise we will be overwhelmed in an instant."
I then looked down in defeat, realising he was right, "I'm still going to try and reason with her, maybe if I can prove to her in this match, she'll stop this…She has to."
Bahamut then looked at me silently and unsure, but he then noticed how determined I was as well so he yielded, "Very well, whatever choice you make I'll support you to the end. Let's fight together your way."
"Yeah..Let's!" I then readied my disk, "Alright Ayame! If a duel is the only way to make you listen to reason, then I'll show my words right here and now!"
She then smirked, 'Heh! That's more like it! That fiery determination in your eyes, I've been looking forward to a rematch with you for sometime now and this time I won;t hop;d anything back! Prepare to witness my true power!"
"Same for me!"
DUEL!
Well, there's the next chapter, hope you guys are excited for later on. Also you've seen another monster Nushi uses, a small spoiler is that he uses all Dark monsters in his deck.
As for the next duel, how do you think things will play out? Will Ryuga be able to bring Ayame to her senses or will they be enemies for life?