Sayo took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air as she and her friends stepped out of the train wagon. The sun shone brightly in the West on that autumn afternoon, slowly descending towards the peaks. No matter how many benefits the latest technological advancements of the cities brought, to her the great outdoors, especially the quiet woods, were always the preferred option whenever it came to resting somewhere after a long travel.

The village of Akufuko was small, spanning over a lightly abrupt terrain on what could have been considered a fifteen minute climb. A total of three hotels had been erected, one upon the highest cliff and the other two at the bottom of the village which served as its entrance. The rest were vacation houses, each more decorated and pristine than the previous. Carton signs with the word 'RENT' were hung by a few doors, most likely in an attempt to compete with the hotels. Coupled with the obligatory smiles with which the locals greeted them as they walked by, this truly felt like a resort. However, due to the lack of traditional houses, it was safe to assume that the village must have been built in the past hundred years. The fact that she had managed to bring with her the entire group had been a miracle. Earlier that morning, she and Hajime had been in another argument with his parents, who were ever so concerned with their offspring's safety. Only after they discovered that the government had already sent military troops to investigate Sagakin's disappearance did they finally feel like it was safe enough to allow them to journey together.

The priestess looked at her three companions and noticed their different attitudes. Hajime was admiring the sights as he smiled and nodded back at the villagers. It was obvious that he was relieved to have escaped Tokyo's busy atmosphere. Jack on the other hand was avoiding eye contact and looking ahead, following her lead. Lori was busying herself by texting on her phone, making no effort to hide her boredom and dissatisfaction. Unfortunate as it was, the latter two had been robbed of the city's comforts and thus felt like fish out of the water. Considering that Akufuko was the last sign of civilization, Sayo most likely would have had to teach the couple how to best survive in the wilderness so that they would not be a burden on tomorrow's journey. The only ones who had any luggage on them were her and Hajime. She had her ever-present travel bag on a stick, while the blond had a backpack filled with food and a first aid kit. Jack and Lori opted to leave their belongings at the Shirayama mansion, reasoning that they would only require them if they survived the adventure. Thus the only items they brought along were their cards and cell phones.

Hajime felt like he was in paradise at the moment. The train ride had been uneventful and he spent it discussing literature with Sayo and Jack while Lori simply plugged her headphones and shut herself off from the rest. Sharing the written adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and James Bond had been a great delight, especially since his cowboy friend was more of a film connoisseur and thus the two of them could make comparisons between the novels and their screenings. The dark-haired girl had been more of a listener, although she would occasionally bring up Romantic poetry whenever asked about the latest books she had read. At one point she even joked about them starting a literature club once their adventure was over and they settled down back in Tokyo. At that point, both boys had to excuse themselves, as they had no writing experience whatsoever, but the blond was quick to point out how she did. This made her blush out of embarrassment, but at his insistence she opened her travel bag, searched through the myriad of items she had collected through her travels until she found the notebook, and showed one of her poems to the curious Jack.


This sunset painted with blood,
My only light in life's mud,
Alone and dirty, my thoughts flood.

Is humanity overwhelming?
Am I but a bud?

Is it wrong that I enjoy the weakness of living?
I want to dwell in mortality's pleasures,
It's not wrong to seek my mocked treasures.

Even if my whole body vanishes before you
And I lose my chance before I knew,
My lullaby shall always unfailingly echo!

I can hear them, those lost violins,
A soft requiem to cleanse my sins,
Walking to the gallows, my ill fate sings.

Can a simple flute make magic?
Or has my voice gone?

I want to lose you, so I can finally learn
How to treasure that which is gone.
Please understand it all must be done.

I walk to the castle where I am sentenced,
Yet you still watch up from the peak,
My lullaby to you will forever speak!

Is it wrong that I enjoy the weakness of living?
My flowers remind me of how delicate it is,
A nourished garden oh so many words says.

I want to lose you, so I can finally learn
The art of pain which makes me alive,
My lullaby will thus forever strive!

The lake is so lonely, poppy petals float,
Yet the lullaby still loudly gloats...


Despite her claims that it was not one of her best works, Hajime and Jack insisted on the contrary, being impressed by the imagery and strong feelings of melancholy that the lyrics evoked. Additionally, the cowboy claimed that if his blond friend were at least half as good at writing like her, he probably would have gotten a girlfriend by that point, thing which earned him an elbow hit in the rib. It was that kind of lighthearted banter which Hajime missed, as he and Ken used to say similar things to each other, if not worse.

"We're here," Sayo announced as they stopped in front of the hotel atop the village's cliff.

The building only had seven floors and was painted a metallic blue, red neon lights shaped after the kanji for summer hung above the entrance.

"Hotel Natsu? Only 3 stars? With blondie's money, he could've easily gotten us something better," Lori remarked.

"Yes, but this is closer to our destination, so it will have to do for now," Hajime replied.

Checking in proved easier than expected, as Aki had phoned and made them reservations the night prior. Two rooms were granted to them at the second floor, Jack and Lori taking one while Hajime and Sayo took the other. Much to nobody's surprise, the number of tourists in the hotel was small, for they were in the middle of autumn and the weather was getting colder, but they were also not too far from the place where Sagakin used to exist, thing which brought fear into many who were faint of heart.

The hot spring pools were located in the back of the hotel and they were gender split, separated by a large wooden wall. Eager to check them out, Sayo and Lori went for a bath, while Jack and Hajime opted to head for the cafeteria to have a look at the day's menu. After changing into towels, the girls walked out of the dressing rooms into the bathing area. All footpaths were filled with small rocks, an inconvenience for those who went barefoot. Thankfully, both of them were wearing wooden sandals, the redhead having borrowed one from the hotel while the priestess had her very own pair. Steam came out of the hot water, but it was not thick enough to block visibility. A single old woman sat in a far corner of the pool, relaxing and paying no attention to the newcomers. After checking and confirming that the water's temperature was not too hot, the two girls took off their towels and dived in, enjoying the relieving warmth.

"Ah, now this feels like heaven!" Lori exclaimed, descending until only her neck was above the water.

"Agreed. Do they have similar baths back in your country?" Sayo asked, relaxing against a rock, her breasts half-dived in the spring.

"We do have a couple of hot springs, yes, but those are nothing compared to these! This is one of the reasons why I chose to do my studies here."

"Oh? And what are the other reasons?"

"Hm, let's see... my boyfriend also wanted to study here, Canada can sometimes get boring as hell, I guess that's about it."

"I refuse to believe that any country on this earth can ever be boring! Have you taken the time to appreciate your nation's culture and achievements?"

"I'd rather not open that can of worms here. Let's just say that both Jack and I saw huge potential in Japan, at least that was until the whole mass murder crap started."

"I am sorry to hear that. Suppose we manage to defeat Shishima and put an end to the murders, would you be willing to stay?"

"Sure, but we'd most likely settle in a more secure area. There's no way in hell I'm moving back to Sagakin after this, no matter how well they manage to rebuild it. We've got too many bad memories back there."

"I understand. Hajime told me that he hoped I could convince both you and Jack to at least stay in Tokyo with us. He said he would even make the effort to help you transfer universities."

"Hehe, you can count on blondie to try keeping his friends close. I must say, once you get to know him better, he does seem to get attached to you."

"Of course, he is an introvert who has had few friendships..." Sayo leaned in and whispered, "...and just two girlfriends."

"Oh?" Lori giggled. "For a long time I was convinced that he was a lonely virgin loser who had never even kissed a girl!"

"I can assure you of the contrary, he's definitely kissed girls before. As for his bed experiences, I did not ask him of something that personal."

"Then tell me this, Sayo: What's your relationship with him?"

"What do you mean? I view him as a really close friend and also as the only one truly able to defeat Shishima, which is why I swore that I would be by his side until the end of this conflict."

"Oh my, what a guardian angel you are, girl! Are you really sure he's a close friend only?"

"Of course, why ask?"

A sly smile grew on the redhead's face. "I've seen the way you look at each other, hell it's kind of hard to not notice one of you blush whenever the other says something vaguely romantic. I don't know about you, but after talking with Hajime, I can definitely tell that he likes you."

"He does?!" the priestess gasped, her face slowly turning red.

"Yup, but he's too much of a pussy to admit it. And from the embarrassed look on you, I can definitely tell that you like him back."

Sayo turned away from her, unable to comment on that remark. Satisfied that her suspicions were fully confirmed, Lori swam closer to her and added, "Listen, it's obvious that you two care about each other a lot. If he's too much of a wuss to make the first step, why don't you do it?"

"M-me...?"

"Yes, just go up to him and admit that you like him! I'm sure that'll relieve some tension between the two of you, and it would definitely make your lives easier."

"I'm not sure about this." The priestess turned back to face her friend. "We do come from different worlds, he belongs to the rich elite while I belong to the Shrine. This would just complicate things."

"Who gives a crap about your backgrounds? We're in modern times, they should hold no relevance whatsoever. I've seen his folks, they definitely took a liking to you as well. I'm sure you'd both make a cute couple!"

After taking a pause to consider the redhead's words, Sayo looked her in the eye and earnestly asked, "Would that make Hajime happy?"

"What? You two getting together? I'm willing to bet on anything that it would! He's already been more cheery ever since you've been with him. Definitely an improvement over the grumpy obsessed freak he was back at Sagakin after his best friend was killed."

"I see. Thank you, I will consider it."

Night fell and both Jack and Hajime went to bathe as well, all the while caught in their discussion about the latest thriller movies they had seen. After not even fifteen minutes of properly settling in the water, a rock fell from the other side, splashing their faces with water.

"Hey, is anyone there bent on pulling bad pranks?!" the angered cowboy asked.

"Jack, I'm sorry, this was only to catch your attention!" Sayo spoke from the other side of the wooden wall. "I just wanted to speak with Hajime, if I'm not bothering you two."

"Yes, Sayo, I'm here." The blond swam to the wall. "What do you want to talk about?"

"It's... private. I would rather we discussed this while going out for a walk."

"Are you sure? These hot springs are just the best!"

"Yes, I promise we won't take too long; then when we're done you can return and enjoy your bath."

"Fine, I'll get dressed and meet you in the hallway."

In a matter of minutes, Hajime and Sayo found themselves walking out of the building, the former in a generic black kimono borrowed from the hotel, while the latter had her blue yukata with multicolored flower patterns, the same one she wore on the night she rescued him. The road leading into the woods was lighted by traditional red lanterns. From above in the night sky, the bright moon also shone down on the calm mountain sights.

"So, what was it that you wanted to talk?"

"Hajime, I know we've known each other for almost a week, but in this time I've watched you grow both in character and as a duelist, somehow I can't help but feel like I've also grown alongside you."

"Yeah, I agree, no matter how traumatized we've been by this experience, in a way we've gotten stronger than we once were."

"Besides the horrible things that happened to you back at Sagakin, do you have any other regrets about what happened?"

"You mean besides Shishima also terrorizing my mansion last weekend? No, not really. I managed to convince Jack and Lori to stay and we've even gotten closer as friends. And I've also met you, no matter what happens from this point on, I'll always be grateful for that!"

"I feel the exact same way!" She reached out and grabbed his hand, the two of them staring deeply into each other's eyes. "All my life I'd been walking the lonely path of a priestess because I believed I was too different from the rest. With all the rigorous training to suppress my emotions, I thought I would never have a normal life. But then I met you and I realized that there are people like me, who can admire nature and the simpler aspects of life, who would not shun me as a freak."

"Sayo, why are you saying all of this now?"

"It's because..." Her hand began to shake as she struggled to think the proper words. "Because I..."

All of a sudden, he placed his finger on her lips to silence her, a loving smile on his face.

"Ssh, it's okay, I feel the same way. I just didn't know how to best tell you, because I was afraid you didn't reciprocate it."

"So it's true, you also feel the same..."

In the next moment, Hajime leaned in and kissed Sayo, taking her by surprise. She accepted him and returned the gesture, relieved to have at last broken the barrier between them. When their lips separated, she once more stared into his blue eyes, feeling like she could lose herself in them for hours.

"I guess we're officially together?" she shyly asked.

"If you can put up with my attitude, I guess so," Hajime joked, catching a laugh from her.

"There's so much more I want to tell you. But you know what? I think it's best I share everything with you after a duel." Sayo pulled out her deck from one the yukata's pockets.

"You want to duel right here and now?"

"Yes, I wish to test you and see how much stronger you've become since last time, Hajime. Would you grant me this request?"

"Sure, anything for my new girlfriend." He also fetched his own deck out of the kimono. "Hm, 'girlfriend', now that's a word I could get used to again."

"I am still new to the whole concept of a romantic relationship, but as long as you're happy, I can also get used to this. Anyway, let us begin!"

Two dueling tables arose from the ground, each of them placing their decks and setting their cards. Five blue rectangular shields appeared by each player's side, thus marking the beginning of their duel.

"I summon Mixel, Strange Stone," Hajime said and a creature made of red stone which was shaped like a plane appeared by his side.

"Whenever I put a creature into the battle zone that costs more than the number of cards in my mana zone, Mixel sends it to the bottom of my deck," Sayo read the creature's effect. "That will definitely hinder my Revolution Change strategies, good job! You with Mixel, Lori with Onikamas and Jack with Senno, all of you now have answers against cheating creatures into play. Anyway, I charge mana and end."

"I cast Three Swords' Judgment. With its effect I check the top three cards of my deck and take a spell or Metallica into my hand while the rest go to the bottom of my deck. I'll take Prelude of Horror and place this spell face up on my shield."

"I summon Tamagineil, Second Seed! With his effect, I discard VAN Beethoven, Zenith of "Shura" and destroy one of your creatures with power 4000 or less." A vine creature with a large orange onion head appeared and stretched its purple frog-like tongue which stabbed Mixel and made it disappear in an explosion.

"I cast Prelude of Horror and the next colorless creature I summon costs 5 mana less - I summon Savark DG with one mana! Now I reveal the top three cards of my deck and add all spells and Metallicas into my hand." A small cycloptic dragon made of pale purple crystals appeared, its owner revealing the top cards of his deck as Furious Broken Mask's Judgment, Kirazeus Savark and Logic Circle, all of which went into Hajime's hand. "I end my turn and with Savark DG's effect I cast One Eye's Judgment which freezes Tamagineil." A red eye appeared and fired a bright beam on the onion-headed creature, binding it to the ground. "I place the spell face up on another shield. Your move."

"I cast Demon Wolf, Betrayal Moonlight Castle. Mana Arms 4, since I have four multicolored cards in my mana zone, you will discard three cards instead of one." Sayo watched her opponent toss Kirazeus Savark, Logic Circle and Prelude of Horror into his graveyard. "Then I summon Gogo Jigocchi, check the top five cards of my deck and add a Dragon into my hand, the rest going to the bottom of my deck." A small Fire Bird with a rocket launcher on its back appeared and allowed its owner to check her deck's top five cards, after which she took Magurakazura, D2M into her hand.

"I cast Furious Broken Mask's Judgment and draw a card, after which I place it face up on another shield. Then I cast Tenseino Seisai Zett and return a shield into my hand, then I place this spell on my last shield which lacks a face up card. Savark DG, destroy Tamagineil!" The purple crystal dragon fired a red beam from its one eye which made the vine creature vanish in flames.

"I hope your defenses are ready, Hajime, because my swarm begins now!"

"Heh, bring everything you've got!"

"Getting confident, ey? I'm liking the sound of that! I summon Evil Heat, Screaming Demon Dragon." A dark purple demonic dragon with pink flowers growing out of its skin appeared by Sayo's side. "With its effect I put the top card of my deck into the graveyard... and return Dogiragon Buster, Blue Leader from the graveyard into my hand. Evil Heat is also a speed attacker, so I attack with him and Revolution Change into Dogiragon Buster, Blue Leader!" The purple dragon gave an ear-piercing high-pitched scream and flew towards the opponent's shields, after which it turned around and hi-fived a dragon donning a sapphire blue armor, long red cape and flowing blonde hair, wielding a golden sword in its mouth, the two switching places. "Now with his Final Revolution effect, Dogiragon Buster brings Evil Heat back. I put the top card of my deck into the graveyard and return Honenbe, Skeletal Guardian to my hand. Now go, Dogiragon Buster, triple break his shields!"

With a smirk on his face, Hajime revealed a card from his hand which glowed with a bright light. Sayo covered her eyes for a moment and peeked from between her fingers to have a better look. There was no mistaking it, that was the new trump card which he had added in his deck as they worked on rebuilding it on the previous day.

"I turn all three Judgment Emblems on my shields face down and bring out Ghiramessiah Savark Calibur!"