Everyone wore masks. It was common truth. Even the most honest of people could not deny this obvious fact.
Morning had come. It was time for her to put on her most common mask, that of Shinobu Matsuda, the serious president of the student council, ever so popular and hard-working. That mask came with a series of titles and responsibilities which she bore with pride. Besides heading the drama and cinema clubs, which she started mostly to satisfy her own thirst for entertainment, she used her high position on campus to gain more and more influence on her peers and rise in popularity. After all, when someone was as beautiful and charming as herself, would they not be entitled to such things? Most boys fell for her, some girls admired her and a minority were jealous of all she had attained. Little did all those worms know that it took her years of rigorous studying, both school material and people alike.
Alas, it was but a mask, and like all other disguises, it was hiding secrets. In this case, she was more than aware that if any authority figure would have discovered what she was up to, or worse, what she was thinking, she might have ended up in a mental institution then and there. It was oh so typical of society to look down on those who were different, those who refused to toe the line of mediocrity and complacency. That was why she adored surrounding herself with all the losers and freaks on campus, not only because they were very easy to coerce into doing her bidding, but also because on some level, she felt some strange sense of belonging among them. At least there she could freely express some of her beliefs, and in secrecy she could indulge in some of her urges. But how did it all begin?
The oldest memory she could recall from her childhood was the fateful day which shaped her. She was a small toddler. There was a pile of books on which she climbed to look out the window. Mommy and daddy had gotten in the jet, presumably to go shopping. As soon as they took off in the sky, another jet got rammed into theirs, both flying vehicles exploding before her very eyes. The loud show of lights shocked her, made her cry for hours all alone in the apartment. Looking back at it past the tragic aspect, that was what planted the seeds for her fascination with death and suffering. What followed after were years of scuttling around in orphanages and foster homes. She saw lonely children who were abused, sometimes she was also on the receiving end of said abuse. That was the only constant of her childhood, the only thing she was absolutely certain of –adults were either evil or careless. But back then she could not help but observe one strange anomaly, that of children playing, being happy, having families where they seemed loved. How was that possible? Why did they experience that kind of childhood while she was given such a shitty lot in life? Those questions boiled deep inside of her and only fueled a rage she had felt for what seemed like forever. And said rage was what kept her going through the cold treatment and beatings she received from both the orphanage nurses and the few deadbeat couples who adopted her only to cheat the state out of money. Yes, that rage kept building up, and it led to her finally snapping one day when a peer dared to take her lunch plate in the orphanage's cafeteria.
She kicked him right in the crotch. His squeals of pain were a delightful melody to her ears. As he dropped the plate and curled into the fetal position on the floor, she kicked him again in the stomach, and repeatedly did so until the adults tore her away from him. From that day onward, the entire orphanage knew that Shinobu Matsuda was no ordinary kid or pushover, but someone to be feared. She soon discovered upon attending high school that life there was no different. Youths were a bunch of mindless brutes putting on a façade of civility and intelligence to hide their true barbaric nature. The only way to survive among them was to wear a similar mask while on a personal level asserting oneself through verbal and sometimes even physical abuse. Some might have called her a bully, but those weaklings were only hypocrites who could never put themselves in another person's shoes. As time went on, the abuse she inflicted started to give her a strange feeling of pleasure and satisfaction – for once those bastards who enjoyed their perfect lives were feeling a small part of the suffering she had endured since childhood. She wanted more of it, she needed the thrill of punishing others and asserting her dominance, but for that she required influence and social circles. Thus she began working on her image as a model student since her high school, an image which had now been perfected at college.
Those were the thoughts that preoccupied her as she wandered the empty college corridors with hastened steps so she would not be late at the first course for the day. Her black hair bounced against the long dark blue jacket she wore over a formal white shirt which was assorted with her pinkish miniskirt. Out of the bloom, a hand covered by a red boxing glove grabbed her shoulder and pulled her into the women's bathroom. Shinobu jumped and turned around, fists ready to defend herself... only to find Bochiborof sitting on the sink. She immediately recalled how on the previous night, after the cult's meeting was over and she was left alone to lock the doors of Hellhole, this strange sentient plush toy walked from behind the building and introduced himself as Shishima's most loyal minion, a claim which she found highly dubious. He had offered her a map of the college's sewage and ventilation systems, and another with all of its rooms and corridors, suggesting that they would be useful in the near future, after which he vanished as she averted her attention to the papers for a mere moment. Now there he was again, those hollow blue eyes and that dumb smirk with plush fangs seemingly mocking her.
"Sorry that I had to leave so quickly last night. Allow me to introduce myself – I am Bochiborof, Aloof Fighter. As you probably recall, I am-"
"Shishima's most loyal follower, yes, I heard you the first time," the unimpressed Shinobu replied.
"And if you wish to worship him, you ought to show me some respect as well!" the plush toy added with indignation in his voice.
"Yeah, whatever you say. Why are you here?"
"Merely to give you a fair warning. There's a traitor inside your cult, someone has divulged your identities and the location of your little nightly meetings to the police."
Shinobu paused and gave him a mile-wide stare. Someone under her authority dared to defy everything she stood for and betrayed the group. Was it Keiichi? That little weasel always sucked up to any authority. Was it one of the other losers? Those pathetic scoundrels were indeed slightly unpredictable. Or was it one of the jocks she had seduced into the cult? Maybe the nightly murders were too much even for those superficial neanderthals.
"Whoever it is, I swear I'll find the fucking traitor and personally gut him down!" she hissed through her clenched teeth, her outpouring of emotions impressing the purple wolf.
"Yes, yes, anger at those who defy us is always good! However, you should inform your cultists to stay into hiding, the cops will be on your trail."
"What other underground place could we find? The city surveillance has only grown during these past few days."
"Hm, well, um, I mean, you could, err..." Bochiborof rubbed his chin while crossing and uncrossing his legs. After a few seconds of fruitless brainstorming, he pulled out a cell phone from his pants and got off the sink. "Excuse me a moment, I need to consult with the master."
Shinobu silently observed him as he walked in circles while waiting for his call to be answered. When it did, he went into a corner for his private chat. All the while, the girl could not fathom how such a goofy creature could earn the right to stand by the side of a mighty demon. Was he just another tool to Shishima, waiting for his usefulness to expire? Or perhaps his appearance was a deceiving factor and there was more to him.
"Good news!" Bochiborof exclaimed after closing the call. "Your temporary new hideout will be with the master himself."
"You're serious...?" the girl questioned him, dumbfounded by the sudden revelation. "Am I actually going to meet Shishima in real life?"
"Of course, that's what the master said."
"But he's a demon, demons are immaterial, how am I going to meet him?"
"Hah, and this is why you mortals are inferior to us. Your puny minds can't even comprehend the grandeur of someone as brilliant as Shishima-sama!"
Suddenly, Shinobu grabbed Bochiborof by the neck and lifted him in the air so that their faces were at the same level, her hands tightly squeezed at his throat.
"Listen here, you idiot plushie, I'm not one you can talk down so easily!" The girl fixated him with her yellow cat-like eyes like a predator ready to pounce at any second. "Now spill the beans on where the master is hiding, or I'm afraid the corridors might soon smell of roasted stuffed toy."
"O-of course, miss." The purple wolf nodded while shaking. "He's hiding right... here!" In the span of a second, he sucker punched her in the gut, the shock of his hit being so hard that she instantly dropped him and recoiled. When was the last time she had experienced such gut-wrenching physical pain? It almost felt like a lifetime. "Don't think that you can just bully me because I'm shorter than you, human! We are hiding in the second alleyway that's westward from the campus, just behind the metallic fence. Feel free to drop by when you're feeling better."
"Wait, that's it? You're hiding out in the open? That's such a dumb idea!"
"It may be, but it's also plausible. You said earlier that the police is surveilling the streets and buildings. We are in neither."
"I suppose that is indeed plausible," Shinobu said while pulling out her cell phone. "Before I text the location to the other members, I need to know the traitor's identity, just to be sure that we're not found again by the cops."
"Can't help you there, the master knows it, not me. He just told me to come and inform you, which I've done."
Not wasting any more time, the dark haired girl went to the bathroom window and opened it, jumping out before Bochiborof could utter anything else.
Meanwhile in the alleyway, Demon Subaru peacefully slept between two trash cans, for he required full strength for the great act he would perform later that night. But unlike him, his two demonized servants could not rest, so to kill some time, they pulled a table from the garbage, dusted it slightly and began a normal duel on it.
"I summon Mypad, Start Dash," Demon Edo said.
"I summon Jasmine, Mist Faerie and destroy her to mana ramp. Then I cast Treasure Map." Demon Sora checked the top five cards of her deck and took Ochappi, Pure Hearted Faerie to her hand.
"I summon Pakurio, show me your hand!" He smirked as his opponent revealed the four card sin her hand – Jaberu, Snow Faerie, Marinyan, Dragon Edge, Euru=Bucca, Antique Dragon Ruins and Ochappi. "You could use less card draw, so I send Jaberu to your shields."
"Don't think that will hinder me so easily! I summon Ochappi and send Treasure Map from the graveyard to my mana zone. Then I summon Jasmine and destroy her to ramp again."
"Of course it won't, but I'll still do my best. I cast Energy Stream and draw two cards. Then I summon Onikamas, Strange Flow."
"I summon Fighting Musubi and I return Ochappi to my hand to activate his Marshall Touch ability and ramp again."
"It's time to bring out my trump card – I summon VV-8, Forbidden Machine! I check the top five cards of my deck, take two to my hand and put the rest on him as seals."
"What a coincidence, I'll do the same thing – I summon Sasoris Rage, Terror Dragon Edge and ramp once more. Then I also bring out Judaiou, Jurassic Jungle. Now your creatures with power 4000 or less can't attack!"
"So you've incapacitated my weenies, big deal, I can still make use of them. I expand All For One, Machine of D. I end my turn and All For One destroys Pakurio and replaces him with Metal Avenger Solid, Dragon Edge from my hand. Metal Avenger Solid returns Fighting Musubi to your hand and brings out Evidegoras, Dragon Sonic Aircraft Carrier."
"I summon Ochappi and send Jasmine from the graveyard to my mana zone. Then I evolve Ochappi into Gyogyou, Revolutionkind." A smile of satisfaction flashed for a second on Demon Sora's face. "Your turn."
"I draw an extra card thanks to Evidegoras. I summon Wild Speed, D2W and take off a seal from VV-8. With Wild Speed's effect, I check the top two cards of my deck and put Shuff, Eureka in the battle zone. Shuff takes off another seal and with his effect I choose 5, now you can't cast spells which cost 5 and your creatures which cost 5 can't attack or block!"
"Gyogyou's effect, I put a non-evolution Nature creature from my mana zone into the battle zone, which costs the same as or less than the creatures you put in the battle zone. I bring out Silver Scoop and send him back to my mana zone."
"Tsh, I send Mypad to my mana zone."
"I bring out Silver Scoop again and send him back to my mana zone."
"I send Metal Avenger Solid to my mana zone. Denjara Switch, I turn All For One upside down and reuse Wild Speed's effect. I check the top two cards of my deck and put Pakurio in the battle zone. Wild Speed gives him the Command race, so I unseal VV-8 and gain an extra turn!"
"Gyogyou's effect activates again, I bring Silver Scoop and send him to my mana zone."
"I send Pakurio to my mana zone. VV-8, triple break her shields! And now my extra turn begins, I draw a second card from Evidegoras. I cast Streaming Shaper." Demon Edo revealed the top four cards of his deck – Mypad, Start Dash, Onikamas, Strange Flow, Aqua Super Emeral and Shuff, Eureka. "All are Water cards, all go to my hand, and since I drew five cards or more this turn, I Dragsolution Evidegoras into Q.E.D. Plus, Final Dragon Logic! Then I summon another Shuff and choose 6."
"Gyogyou's effect brings out Silver Scoop again and I once more send him to my mana zone."
"I send a Shuff to my mana zone. VV-8, break her final shields!"
"Ninja Strike 4, I summon Falconer, Lightfang Ninja and block VV-8!"
"Wild Speed, double break her shields!"
"Strike Back – I discard Baron Gouyama and summon Ochappi, which in turn sends Baron Gouyama from the graveyard to my mana zone."
"Q.E.D. Plus, break her final shield! I end my turn."
"I may be defenseless now, but it's not over yet!" Demon Sora claimed with a playful tone that was painfully endearing.
"Just like in our youth..." Demon Edo mused. "Give me your best shot!"
"I summon Sasoris, Dragon Edge and equip her with Judaina, Jurassic Hammer. Then I summon Ragmal, Spirit Knight and send him to my mana zone."
"I send my other Shuff."
"I cast Treasure Map, look at the top five cards of my deck... and take Gyogyou, Revolutionkind to my hand. Revolution 2, since I have 2 shields or less, Gyogyou costs 5 less to summon, so I evolve Ochappi into a second Gyogyou, Revolutionkind! And now it's time to attack, my Gyogyou destroys your Wild Speed! I end my turn and since I have 3 Dragons in the battle zone – Sasoris Rage and two Gyogyous – Judaina Dragsolutions into Saurupio, Ancient King!"
"While you have no shields, Saurupio won't let my creatures attack you. So that's your plan, huh? Interesting, but all I need to do is get rid of your finisher and the game's over! At the start of my turn, Q.E.D. Plus allows me to check the top five cards of my deck and take one to my hand. I expand another All For One, Machine of D and summon another Mypad, Start Dash."
"Both Gyogyous bring out Dandy Eggplant and Jasmine. With Dandy Eggplant's effect, I search my deck and send Goemonkey! Snake-Handed Boss to my mana zone, while I also send Jaberu from my mana zone into the graveyard."
"I end my turn and All For One destroys Mypad and replaces him with Pakurio, show me the last card in your hand!"
"My pleasure!" Demon Sora revealed Euru=Bucca, Antique Dragon Ruins which she gingerly placed in her shield zone. "Thank you for the shield trigger. Also, each Gyogyou will bring out Silver Scoop once."
"I send Pakurio and Onikamas to my mana zone. If I dare break that final shield, both my finishers will be sent to the mana zone, then my weenies still won't be able to attack thanks to Judaiou. I guess I'll end my turn here..."
"Since the total cost of my creatures is 25 or more, Judaiou Dragsolutions into Sauzaurupio, Terror Ancient King! I summon Jaberu, Snow Faerie and Mana Arms 3, I check the top four cards of my deck and take Sanmadd, S-Rank Tribe into my hand. Then I evolve Jaberu into Sanmadd and with his effect I send VV-8 to your mana zone. Sauzaurupio, quattro break his shields!"
"Shield trigger, I cast Tune Again and send Saurupio back to the hyperspatial zone!"
"Gyogyou, break his final shield!"
"Shield trigger, I summon The Clock, Ragnarok and end your turn!"
"That was lucky. Let's see how you fare out of this one then."
"Q.E.D. Plus lets me check the top five cards of my deck and take one into my hand. I summon Giga Speed, D2W2 and send Sauzaurupio back to the hyperspatial zone. Then since I have a D2 Field out, I also send a Gyogyou back to your hand!"
"Both Gyogyous still get to use their effects, so I bring out Silver Scoop twice and send it back to the mana zone each time!"
"I send The Clock and Giga Speed to my mana zone. But before he goes, Denjara Switch, I turn All For One upside down and use Giga Speed's effects again! I send Sasoris Rage and the other Gyogyou back to your hand! I end my turn, All For One destroys Q.E.D. Plus which flips back to Evidegoras, then I bring out Wild Speed, D2W from my hand. With his effect, I check the top two cards of my deck and bring out Shuff, Eureka, choosing 2. Now Dandy Eggplant and Jasmine can't attack me!"
"I summon Sasoris, Dragon Edge and equip her with Boaroaxe, Evil Tomahawk, which brings out Marinyan, Dragon Edge, who also brings out Euru=Bucca, Mystery Gathering Ruins. Then Revolution 2, I evolve Sasoris and Marinyan into two Gyogyou, Revolutionkind for one mana each! Gyogyou, todomeda!"
"Ninja Strike 4, I summon Falconer, Lightfang Ninja, block!"
"Your last means of defense is gone. I guess that's game, isn't it?"
"Afraid so." Demon Edo gave her a sly smile. "Unless you wish to give me another t-"
"Gyogyou, todomeda!" Demon Sora interrupted him, ending their match.
The sound of clapping took them both by surprise, the duo jumping into battle positions, their fangs out and beastly growls filling the air. They saw Shinobu step into the alleyway, not a sign of fear on her young pretty face. She inspected them with her curious glare and spoke with an oddly charming voice, "I like your looks, they go surprisingly well with your dueling style!"
"Who are you, girlie?" Demon Edo questioned. "You must have a lot of guts to come here all by yourself."
"I am the head of the Spawns of Shishima. I demand to meet the master."
The former chosen duelists looked at each other, unsure if they could trust a mere human.
"Let her through," Demon Subaru ordered from behind, causing the duo to step aside.
Shinobu slowly walked into the shadows, unsure of what awaited her. Much to her disappointment, all she found was a pathetic hooded hobo resting between two trash cans. Did that stupid plushie pull a prank on her? There was only one way to find out.
"Are you the one?" she coldly asked.
In the very next moment, the girl was assaulted with visions upon visions of humans in agony, she felt flesh being torn apart, heard screams so loud that her ears hurt, she saw the hopelessness and despair on each victim's face as if she were witnessing the murders right in front of her. But this was different from her nightly rituals, for this time around she could feel the pain of each victim as if she was the one being tortured to death. When she awoke from the visions, she saw a pair of black eyes with shining red irises fixating her, just like the ones she had seen on the previous night. Unable to do anything else, Shinobu fell on her knees, her forehead pressed against the dirty ground, and humbly said, "I am so sorry for having doubted you, master. I never knew you could take on a human form." Only silence followed. "What do you want me to do next?"
"The traitor is Jack Thornton," Demon Subaru casually replied.