Day's clouds began to dissipate as the crimson moon slowly arose to rule the night sky anew. Having rested and enjoyed a satisfying meal, Shishima and Borof left Fukurokuju's cave, grateful for his patient hospitality. To make matters better, they did not even leave empty-handed, for their host had gifted them both with a detailed map of the Twilight Kingdom along with the reassurance that the future was looking bright in their favor.
"What a pleasant stay, sire! I must admit that despite his odd personality, this Fukurokuju of yours sure knows how to welcome his guests!" Borof confessed while resting on his master's shoulder.
"That is because he feels obligated to treat me well," Shishima replied with a confident smirk on his sharp face.
"Obligation? How so?"
"You see, while he has indeed mastered the perception of thoughts, I can just as well read emotions. Fukurokuju may be trying to keep on his façade of a neutral party, but I can feel the guilt he is experiencing with each waking moment he stands in my presence. He is holding himself accountable both for my father's untimely demise and the path of bloodshed which I chose after my downfall. To put it simple, he believes he has failed both my father and I, and now he is trying to make up for his supposed failures by helping me achieve my goals. Which, on the long run, will prove most useful to our cause."
"I couldn't have said it better, milord! Your former tutor will surely prove himself as a most important ally."
"Indeed he will. But enough about him, we have bigger fish to fry." Shishima opened the map and began drawing invisible lines and circles with his claws. "Tomorrow by midday we will see the results of the vote of no confidence in the current oni senator. Having in mind the general negative opinion his fellow politicians possess, it's easy to say that he will lose his position. While a new replacement will have to come from among the oni, this will certainly not make the current rioters in the North-Northeast any happier and they will most likely push their violent protest deeper towards the capital palace."
"Are you counting on this fact, master?"
"Why of course I am, Borof! You see, the oni may not be the smartest among youkai, but they are definitely among the most brutal. Their rampage will cause damage in the infrastructure, casualties among the general populace, and on the long run prove the inefficiency of both Rufu's military defenses and my mother's chess politics. One by one, the seeds of rebellion will be planted in every low-class youkai until we reach the point where the Twilight Kingdom will be torn in half - those who wish to keep the status quo and those who seek to overturn it. When that happens, we will be there to lead the oppressed into battle and I will have my long-awaited revenge on Koushishi!"
"And little will your allies know that you played them like a fiddle and treated them as pawns in the very same chess politics your mother is playing. The irony couldn't have been more delicious, milord!"
"I have learned this by watching the humans whose bodies I possessed in my past lives. I've assisted plenty of orchestrated revolts and coups to know exactly how each puzzle piece fits. It's as I always say - know thy enemy, play their game and ace them so that thine ultimate victory stings them the hardest."
"Wise words to live by, Shishima-sama!"
The two shared a laugh as they exited the main woods and walked into the open space of a grove. Having predicted the upcoming day's main events, the lion daiyoukai folded the map and hid it inside his mane. High above, the clouds had fully vanished from the blackened sky upon which the red moon mournfully shined. The calm and soothing forest breeze coupled with the subtle stench of death and the nagging feeling of always being watched by someone or something filled him with excitement. Despite the ultimate betrayal and banishment he had endured from those whom he once viewed as followers, Shishima came to realize that he had missed the dangers and challenges which the Twilight Kingdom continuously brought. They kept one in shape and reminded them to always be on high alert. Perhaps the long stay on Earth had poisoned him with overconfidence and gotten him accustomed to easy prey. Even so, to someone with as much skill and power as him, ultimate victory was nothing but a most certain outcome.
All of a sudden, a loud roar killed the surrounding silence as Akamaru jumped from between the trees, a large kanabo decorated with thick spikes in his hands. Shishima was quick to take action and stepped aside as the weapon collided with the ground, leaving a hole in its wake. One second later and he would have suffered a grave injury. He regarded the unexpected visitor with amusement and said, "Still slow as ever, I see. To what honor do I owe your visit this time?"
"Oh you know damn well why I'm here!" the young oni growled in response.
"Still chasing after a pile of cards that are so clearly not meant for you? Keh, how amusing."
"The Onifuda Kingdom was designed after us oni, as such I am the rightful inheritor of all its cards, regardless of civilization. An entitled thief such as yourself is not worthy to wield any of them!"
With those words said, Akamaru lifted his kanabo and took another swing at his foe. Chuckling at his expense, Shishima dodged his attacks as if he were gracefully dancing. After a dozen swings, the fiendish lion grew bored and grabbed his opponent's wrists with one hand, squeezing them tight.
"What a shame, the little prince is such a bad fighter, he cannot even hold a weapon properly," Shishima teased as he shoved his sharp claws into both wrists. "How long will it be till you give in to the pain?"
"Not this time!" Akamaru shouted and headbutted him in response, freeing himself from the painful grasp. "I'm going to bash your skull open and show everyone what a sad excuse for a youkai you truly are, you selfish bastard!" He dashed forward, aiming the kanabo straight at the lion's head, but the latter spread his wings wide in response, which pushed the weapon out of his hands, sending it spinning far into the forest's depths. "Oh no..."
"What's the matter? Has your flame been extinguished so easily now that I've disarmed you?"
The oni prince stared with fear at the mighty daiyoukai who stood in front of him as a strong wave of migraines began assaulting him. He grabbed his head with both hands, pulling on his long white hair, and bit his lip in an attempt to block out the nauseating headaches. Would it really end there, with his skull exploding by the myriad of psychic attacks? Would he really go out with a whimper? No, he had to gather his rage and focus it all towards his enemy, that was the only way he could survive that predicament and keep fighting. Then, much to his surprise, the pain in his head ceased. He opened his eyes and looked ahead at the other prince, who held his deck out and spoke with a confident smirk, "Perhaps you are man enough to at least face me in a duel."
"Y-you... can bet your sorry ass I am!" Akamaru quickly took out his own deck in response.
Two dueling tables arose from the ground and both walked to them, setting up their cards, five blue rectangular shields materializing above each of them which marked the beginning of their showdown.
"I summon Gashadodokuro, Oni of "Tamagari"." A giant four-armed skeleton wearing a rusted samurai helmet, shoulder gear and two sheathed katanas on its back appeared by Akamaru's side.
"A 21000 power quattro breaker?!" the surprised Borof commented.
"Worry not, that thing can't attack unless Onitime is activated," Shishima confidently added. "I cast Bone Dance Charger and self mill two cards." Tsuruhashi Doji and Borof, Final Dragon Edge landed in his graveyard. "Then the spell goes to my mana zone."
"At the start of my turn, Gashadodokuro returns a shield to my hand without letting me use shield trigger. Now I summon Bakurohoshi, Oni of "Musabori" and return two more shields to my hand!" A tall red oni with two pairs of black wings coming out of his back, a crown of black feathers on his head with long flowing white hair appeared next to the giant skeleton. "Bakurohoshi is a speed attacker, so I break one of your shields!" Heeding the order, the winged oni flew towards the opponent and hacked away one of his shields. "I have two shields left and you have four, that means Onitime has activated and Gashadodokuro can attack. Go, Gashadodokuro, break all of his shields!" The skeleton gave an ear-piercing haunting wail as it unsheathed one of its katanas and used it to slice away all of the opponent's remaining shields.
Shishima lowered his head and giggled as he was surrounded by the shards of each broken shield. He reached a clawed hand in the air and waited for all four cards to appear in his hand. When he looked at them, he revealed a single one and replied, "Shield trigger, I cast Assault, Onifuda Kingdom! Since Onitime is activated, I can use both of its effects, so I destroy Gashadodokuro and revive Borof, Final Dragon Edge!"
"That's my call," the plushie said and flew off of his master's shoulder, entering the battle zone and causing the top card of its owner's deck to go into the graveyard, which was Ninjariban, Dragon Edge, after which Shishima recovered Assault, Onifuda Kingdom.
"Brought back your lapdog, ey?" Akamaru smugly took note.
"This 'lapdog' is about to turn the tables in my favor. I equip Borof with Go To Hell, Annihilator Blade and revive Ninjariban, Dragon Edge who brings out Demon Wolf, Soul Eating Moonlight Castle." A dark blue bone scythe appeared in the wolf plushie's hands and he swung it, causing a blue ninja plushie to appear alongside a wolf-shaped castle. "My turn begins and since I have two Darkness creatures in the battle zone, and I Dragsolution Demon Wolf into Minagorosseo, Wolf Demon Dragon." The castle grew four limbs and rose from the ground, giving an eerie howl. "I summon Gokensai, Oni of "Outrage"." An oni donning a red and blue samurai armor appeared, a skull necklace around his neck and dragon skulls attached to his arms.
"That's another card that should've been mine!"
"And yet it is mine. How does losing by your own Onitime strategy feel like?" Shishima arrogantly asked and enjoyed the increasingly angry expression on his opponent's face. "I end my turn and Dragsolution Go To Hell into Deathshiraz, Devil Corrupt King. Now that this has happened, I destroy Borof, Ninjariban, Minagorosseo and Gokensai. However, I discard Tigernitro, Explosive Devil to keep Gokensai in the battle zone." One by one, Borof cut down the ninja plushie, the wolf castle and the armored oni, after which he stabbed himself with the scythe and let it float in the air to unleash the demonic dragon with a serpent head from inside. "With Deathshiraz Dragsolutioned, I destroy your Bakurohoshi." The Demon Command Dragon gave a haunting moan and used the scythe which held him sealed to slice the winged oni in half.
"Building a big field just to remove most of it along with a single creature on my end? You must be getting desperate now that you have no shields; are you, Shishima?" No answer came from the demonic lion. "No matter, I will keep the pressure coming! Onitime, I summon Jaouga, Oniga Overlord for 5 mana instead of 10!" A tall dark red oni with a single horn coming out of his head, skull shoulder pads, a chest armor made of ribs, a battle axe attached to his left foot and a kanabo attached to his right foot, arose by Akamaru's side. "Jaouga can't leave the battle zone on the turn he is summoned, and also when he is put in the battle zone, all creatures are destroyed!" He smiled and watched how the creature unleashed a wave of darkness upon his opponent's field.
"Deathshiraz dies, but I discard Hellborof, Supreme Dragon Edge to keep Gokensai in the battle zone. And since Gokensai made your Jaouga enter the battle zone tapped, your turn ends here. Now, I cast Monte Scale Sign and revive Hellborof, Supreme Dragon Edge who brings out Welcome Hell, Supreme Devil King Palace!" The winged and horned wolf plushie appeared alongside a winged demonic palace, the former causing Reload Charger and Tsuruhashi Doji to fall into their owner's graveyard from the top of his deck. "Welcome Hell revives Ninjariban who brings out Reddull, Dragon Soul Castle, which grants Hellborof speed attacker. I attack with Hellborof and Welcome Hell also revives Tigernitro, Explosive Devil, now break his final shields!" Heeding his owner's order, the winged plushie flew towards the opponent and hacked away his remaining shields with a scythe.
"Strike Back - Fire, I discard Kodamanma, Gil Gil Doll and summon Dual Shock Dragon." A horned and winged dragon donning a red and white armor and wielding two swords appeared by Jaouga's side.
"It's futile trying to fight back. You should just know when to give up. Gokensai, todomeda!"
"Not so fast - Revolution 0 trigger! I put two Bolshack Dogiragons in the battle zone and also cast two Iron Fists of Revolution!" Akamaru revealed the four cards. "First Bolshack Dogiragon, the top card of my deck... is Jaouga, Oniga Overlord, it enters the battle zone and evolves into Bolshack Dogiragon, all creatures are destroyed."
"I discard Magnum, Shortshot to keep Gokensai. The attack continues."
"My second Bolshack Dogiragon evolves from... Michizure Nyudo. Due to both creatures' effects, it force battles Gokensai twice!"
"I discard Assault, Onifuda Kingdom and Rousseau Montes / Monte Scale Sign to keep Gokensai. The attack continues."
"Iron Fist of Revolution's effect, I reveal the top four cards of my deck - Kodamanma, Gil Gil Doll, Kizugui Henge, Bakurohoshi, Oni of "Musabori" and Dual Shock Dragon. The latter is stronger than Gokensai, so Iron Fist destroys him!"
"I discard Borof, Final Dragon Edge to keep Gokensai. The attack continues."
"My second Iron Fist of Revolution's effect, I reveal Gashadodokuro, Oni of "Tamagari", another Iron Fist of Revolution, Anyaku Yasha and Valchuris, Dragon Armored. Gashadodokuro is stronger than Gokensai, so Iron Fist destroys him!"
"I discard my last card - Jaouga, Onigaoni - to keep him. Gokensai, todomeda!"
The armored oni jumped at Akamaru and punched him hard with one of the dragon skulls from its arms, knocking him and his cards away, deep into the forest. Then the creatures disappeared, marking the end of their duel. Standing proud in his victory, Shishima began packing up his own cards as Borof flew towards him with glee and exclaimed, "Congratulations on another flawless win, master! It serves that mindless hooligan right! Who does he think he is to keep pestering your royal magnificence?"
"I must confess that his antics are entertaining in a way. I've even managed to waste a good amount of free time by training with the likes of him. Then again, I suppose we still have some time for a hunt."
"Will you not give chase and kill that stubborn oni who keeps pestering us, sire?"
"Why bother? He is way below my concerns. At worst he is a minor headache, at best a punching bag for myself to become stronger. He is definitely no Hajime. As such, I will let him live for now. But should the day come when he will become an actual hindrance, I will not hesitate to dispose of him."
"I will not argue with your decision, milord. After all, it sounds like he can be quite the source of entertainment! And speaking of which, shall we take our leave?"
Shishima carefully picked Borof with his fingers and placed him back on his right shoulder. Then the former prince sat on his fours, leaned into the grass to pick up a scent and ran ahead, excited at the prospect of imminent bloodshed.
Meanwhile, in another corner of the Southeastern woods, near the desert entrance, the defeated Akamaru lay wounded against a tree, his entire deck scattered around him, a shameful reminder of how victory was once more taken from his grasp. Gokensai's attack must have done some damage, because parts of his gray kimono were torn and he was bleeding in several places. But the physical pain he endured still did not compare to the pride wound he felt deep inside. Another defeat at the hands of his sworn rival... His bitter cries were swallowed by the hushed noise of the sandstorm from behind.
"Curse you, Shishima. Those cards... belong to me... give them back... you dishonorable thief..."
As his vision began to blur, he took notice of a figure approaching from the distance. If he still had the strength, he would have recoiled, perhaps jumped back up on his feet all ready to defend himself. But after that evening's happenings, his body was beginning to fail him. For all intents and purposes, he was at the stranger's mercy. He could faintly recognize the shape of a female with leonine features, purple fur covering her body alongside a multitude of flower petals growing out of her head and down her shoulders. She was pretty, almost like the muses which poets spoke of since ancient times. There was no sign of malice in her black eyes with red pupils, a rarity among the vile inhabitants of the Twilight Kingdom. He only saw concern and... pity? Whatever it was, he could no longer care, because fatigue had ultimately overtaken him. As she leaned down, everything went to black.
"Who are you? Are you alright?!" her melodious voice echoed in his ears. "Hang on!"
And then there was silence.