Fun Fact: Yuri and Yugo have both made fun of Futoshi behind his back.

Chapter Summary: The Yu boys face off against the bracelet girls in a duel.

May 10th

Yuya's time in the Xyz Dimension was almost up. In a few more days, he would have to return to his home in the Pendulum Dimension. Luckily for him though, Yuzu had also chosen to extend her visit, so they could leave together.

But while they didn't go to school, they still had their homework. Given to them ahead of time, the boys would spend every day doing as much as they could to get work done. It was dull, but having four minds on the job made doing the work a lot easier.

Well, two minds. Yuri refused to help, and Yugo only showed interest in art.

Luckily, they had almost completed their work. Yuya was just about done with his Duel Theory homework, though he was interrupted by a knock at the door.

Yuya rose from his desk and walked over to the door. He opened it and egao'd the person on the other side.

"Yuzu, hey!" he said cheerfully. "Wait... Serena? Those are Serena's eyes."

Serena couldn't help but blush a the comment. She balled her hands into fists and lowered her head in shame. She didn't want Yuya to see her off-guard like this...

"I... I w-want to talk to Yugo a sec!" she stammered.

Yuya nodded. After a moment of silence, his eyes changed into a deep blue, and the egao grew into a large , cheeky grin.

"Riiin!" Yugo exclaimed. "Rin, it's y- oh wait, those are Serena's eyes."

Serena's head rose up. Her face became softer, and her embarrassing blush was gone. her body started to let go of the tension she had built up.

"Yugo, I'm here for a duel," she said to him.

"Can't. I'm watching Yuya do our homework."

"It's important. I need to have a duel with Yuya right now."

Yugo's eyes shifted back to red. "Eh? What's wrong, Serena?"

Serena blushed again. "Yuya, get out of here! I'm not talking to you?"

"Eh?" Yugo groaned. "Why me?"

"You see, it's about the... how should I... hmm."

Serena folded her ams and looked back down on her feet. Seemed to Yugo that cat got her tongue.

This time, Serena's eyes changed color. As Rin took control of her body, the eyes changed from green to orange.

"Serena wants to duel and defeat Yuzu," Rin explained.

"Riiiin!" Yugo eclaimed.

He wrapped his arms around Rin. Rin was at first surprised, but instead chose to return the hug. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

It was a long moment before anyone spoke. This time it was Serena. "... Why are you touching me?"

Serena pulled herself out of the hug and pushed Yugo back. He grabbed hold of the door knob to keep himself from falling to the ground.

"Rin was taking too long, so I took over again," Serena explained. "But she's right; I want to defeat Yuya."

"Why him?" Yugo scoffed. "Why not me?"

"Because my attraction largely comes from his strength."

"... Oh?"

Yugo straightened himself up and leaned in. Yuri appeared beside him, and the two of them looked at Serena with sassy little smirks. Yuto and Yuya, however, hung back and crossed the arms.

"Do go on," Yugo said.

"I think that, when I defeat him, I'll see that he isn't as strong as I made him out to be," Serena continued. "And I'll feel more in-control."

"And what if you lose?"

"I won't."

"But what if?"

"I. Won't."

Yugo pulled himself back, and his eyes became gray. Sensing the change in management, Yuri also chose to fade away from the situation.

"Feelings don't work like that," Yuto said. "A duel can't make your feelings work how you want."

"... It's worth a try," Serena replied.

"I accept," Yuya said.

"Yuya! I'm not talking to you!"

"But-"

"Get out of here!"

Both of their eyes changed color. Yuto slipped back in control of Yuya's body, and Yuzu reclaimed hers.

"How can she even duel him if she can't even talk to him?" Yuto asked.

"Hey, Yuto."

"Ruri."

"Yugo?"

"... Wait, I'm Yuto."

"I'm Yugo!" Yugo barked.

"Even I got confused there," Yuto admitted. "As we were saying... Yuzu?"

"Oh, right!" Ruri said, tenting her fingers. "Yuzu had an idea to get around that."

"I can fight!" Serena scoffed. "I can always fight, no matter how I feel."

"Yuzu had the idea that we could all duel each other," Ruri continued. "It would give us all a chance to hang out and have fun."

"It would be more fun than a duel between Yuya and Serena," Yuzu said.

"Ruri?" Yuto asked.

"No, that's Serena," Yugo interjected. "No, wait. Damn! That's Yuzu."

"... Anyway," Yuzu went on. "We'll all duel. And instead of Serena railing against Yuya, we could all duel, have fun with each other, and help Serena as a group."

"I don't need help!" Serena growled. "And I said that I'd only agree to that if I got to kick Yuya's ass."

"You'll be able to kick all their asses at once," Rin offered.

"... You... Hmm... Good point."

"Well, I'd love to duel," Yuto responded.

"It would be a great break from homework," Yuya agreed.

"Sounds sweet," Yugo said. "But I'm not going easy on you because you're a cuck."

Yuri nodded. "Ya. We can't know if what's-her-face is really the strongest if we just let her win. I think we should destroy all hope she has, then work from there."

"Ew, it's Yuri," said Rin.

"Ew, it's a huge bitch."

"I just said that, didn't I?"

"I also agree to a duel," Yuri said finally. "There, it'll be my turn to bring the entertainment. Let's see you smile then."

"I'll be smiling when I win, yes!" Rin barked.

Yuri gasped. "Oh, that would be a surprise twist ending wouldn't it? Especially since I defeated you last time we fought."

Thanks to Ruri and Yuto's guidance, it only took about half an hour for them to reach the Heartland Academy's Spade Branch. Or where it used to be, to be precise.

While other branches of the Academy were still up and running, to varying degrees, Heart Branch was completely demolished. The area had since been cleared of rubble, leaving a large, empty lot. One day, the Heart Branch would be remade there. Until then, it was plans were being drafted to make an apartment complex.

Yuya and Yuzu stood at the center of the lot. Surrounding them were their counterparts, who were all eagerly waiting to start the duel.

But first, they needed to know how this would go down.

"Here are the rules," Yuzo told them. "We will each have a turn to duel. After you have your turn, and your opponent's next turn, you will switch with another person."

"Be sure to remember the order," Yuya added. "First it's Yugo, then me, then Yuto, and then Yuri."

"For us, it'll be Ruri, then Serena, then me, and finally, Rin."

"If the duel lasts longer than that, then we'll just go abck to Yugo and Ruri and continue the chain."

Yuto, Yugo, Serena, Rin and Ruri all nodded. Yuri simply crossed his arms and tilted his head down.

"Remember the goal is to have fun," Yuya explained. "It's not about winning, but having a good time and letting the bad feelings pass you by."

That's your goal, not mine, Serena thought. I'm going to kick four asses at once.

Their Duel Disks spoke: "FIELD SPELL: CROSSOVER, ACTIVATE."

Four asses.

"Duelists locked in battle!" Yuya shouted.

Eight cheeks.

"Kicking the earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters!" Yuzu announced.

"They storm through this field!" Yuto cried out.

And all of them are going to be kicked.

"Behold!" Ruri declared. "This is the latest and greatest evolution of Dueling!"

"Action!" the eight of them shouted.

"DUEL!"

Yugo placed a hand on his deck. He could see Yuya, Yuto and Yuri press their hands on the deck with him, lending him their power. All four of them drew the first five cards from the top of the deck.

"I'm the first one to move!" Yugo declared. "I play the Spell Card, Cup of Ace!"

Yugo slammed a card onto his blade. The card was projected onto his side of the field, displaying the image of a golden chalice.

"I flip a coin. If it's heads, I draw two cards. But if it's tails, you draw two cards."

"That's a big risk," Ruri said. "Are you sure you want to take it, Yugo?"

Yugo sneered. "The best fun comes from risking it all. You gotta live on the edge sometimes!"

A large gold coin poured out from the card image. It flew high in the air, spinning as though it was flipped.

Come on, tails! Rin cheered. Whoo!

Serena, who had been observing the duel over Ruri's shoulder, egao'd. It only just started, and she was dying to see how her opponent's play would turn out.

The coin stopped gaining air and started to fall down. It twirled downwards, gathering speed until it crashed into the ground. Both Ruri and Yugo leaned forward to get a look at the results.

Heads.

"Whoo-hoo!" Yugo cheered. He was quick to pull the two two cards from his deck.

Serena groaned. Ugh! Let's hope the next coin toss is on our side.

Yugo grabbed a card from his hand and presented it to his opponent. . "If I control no monsters, I can Special Summon Speedroid Terrortop from my hand!"

He placed a card on the middle of his blade. Rising from the ground was a large spinning top with jutted scythes on the side. Similar tops poured out from the ground, forming a long line behind the original. (ATK 1200)

"When Terrortop is Summoned, I can add a Speedroid to my hand."

A card ejected from the deck, and Yugo was quick to snatch it up and add it to his hand.

"I add Speedroid Taketomborg to my hand," he continued. "And when I control a WIND monster, I can special summon it!"

The monster appeared on the field as a traditional taketombo. But its body unforled and changed its shape, taking the form of a humanoid robot with bug-like eyes. (DEF 1200)

"He summoned two monsters, and he hasn't even used up his Normal Summon," Ruri said.

He's not done yet, Serena told her.

"Taketomborg's effect!" Yugo declared. "I can Tribute this card to Special Summon a Speedroid Tuner from my Deck!"

Taketomborg returned to its toy-like shape, and its blades started to spin around wildly. A green wind swirled around its body, obscuring it. The storm grew and grew, until Yugo's side was completely blanketed.

And then, almost as quickly, the wind started to fade. Soon, the Yugo's side of the field was almost completely cleared, and Taketomborg was replaced with Speedroid Den-Den Daiko Duke. (ATK 1000)

"I tune my Level 3 Terrortop with my Level 3 Den-Den Daiko Duke!"

The Dyke floated above the field. Its body dissolved into three green circles, floating and spinning before each other. One by one, the pieces of Terror top jumped into the circles. Their bodies joined together into one blob of white light, then broke into three orbs.

"Magical sword with the form of a cross. Use your power to rend all enemies! Synchro Summon! Appear now! Level 6! Hi-Speedroid Kendama!"

The orbs and circles joined together to create a new form. Appearing on the field was a sword-like monster, blue in color. Its red eyes stared absently at the bracelet girl before it. (ATK 2200)

Only 2200 ATK, Ruri mused. It must have a strong effect to back it up.

"Kendama's effect! I banish Speedroid Terrortop from my Graveyard to run you over with 500 points damage!" (Ruri: 4000 → 3500)

Yugo placed another card on the field. Summoned before the girls was a large yellow die. A large red eye opened at the front, and six red, glowing balls circled around its body.

"I used my Normal Summon to call Speedroid Red-Eyed Dice," Yuto explained. "And I'll tune my Hi-Speedroid Kendama with it!"

Second verse, same as the first. Red-Eyed Dice became the rings, and Kendama became the orbs. They all flew high into the air, where they joined together to create a new form.

"Spread those wondrous and beautiful wings, and strike down your enemies at the speed of light! Synchro Summon! Appear now! Clear Wing Synchro Dragon!"

Descending to the field was Clear Wing. It let out a mighty, loud roar as it flew down. The dragon landed right in front of Yugo and looked back at him.

"Hello, my friend," Yugo said, egao-ing. "Ready to kick some ass together?"

The dragon responded with another roar. To which Yugo nodded.

"Well, we're not going to, 'cuz we don't have a Battle Phase yet. I set one card faced down and end my turn. Let's see how you go, Rin."

Yugo placed a card on the field, face down. He ended his turn with that card and Clear Wing Synchro Dragon on the field, and three cards in his hand. His Life Points remained at 4000.

"Crap, I mean Ruri!"

Ruri drew a card, then added it to her hand.

Hang in there, Ruri, Yuzu said. Yugo doesn't play a burn deck, things like Kendama's effect won't be common. But watch out for strong monsters and effects.

Don't just try to overpower him, Serena advised. Clear Wing has the power to really hurt you if you try and target it with effects.

Oh, I don't need to worry about Clear Wing, Ruri told them.

"If I control no monsters, I can Special Summon Lyrilusc - Turquoise Warbler from my hand."

Ruri placed a card on her blade. Taking flight into the field was a small humanoid girl in yellow, with talon feet and wing-like hands. (ATK 100)

"When Turquoise Warbler is Special Summoned from my hand, I can Special Summon a Lyrilusc from my hand or Gravayard," Ruri continued. "And I Summon Lyrilusc - Sapphire Swallow."

Ruri placed another card on her blade. Flying onto to the field was a another bird girl. A blue-haired, blue-eyed girl in a blue bird outfit hovered in the air beside Turquoise Warbler. (ATK 0)

"Then I Summon another Lyrilusc - Turquoise Warbler from my hand."

Ruri placed a third card on her blade. A second Turquoise Warbler joined the flock on the field, positioning itself right next to Sapphire Swallow.

"She summoned three monsters in one turn!" Yugo commented. "Alright! Go, Ruri!"

Yeah, don't cheer too loud now, Rin thought to herself.

"That's go cool!"

Ruri, destroy him! Rin commanded.

Ruri, destroy him, Yuto thought.

"For my next move..." Ruri started. "I overlay my three Lyrilusc monsters."

A black hole opened in the middle of the field. One by one, the little birds flew inside it. The hole's outer ring started to fold into the rest of the hole, creating a strange, warped cocoon.

"Birds with beautiful wings! Gather on the battlefield and take brilliant flight! Xyz Summon! Dance in the sky! Rank 1! Lyrilisc - Assembled Nightingale!"

The cocoon shattered. Rising from the broken pieces was a woman. Her dress and sleeves flowed in multiple colors, and her talon feet gracefully touched the ground. Three Overlay Units orbited around her body. (ATK 0)

Yugo scratched the side of his head. "Eh? 0 ATK? But you spent three cards bringing it out."

"This card gains 200 ATK for each Overlay Unit attached to it," Ruri explained. "And it can attack up to the number of Overlay Units attached to it." (ATK 0 → 600)

"You should check your math there, Ri... Ruri. 600 is a smaller number than 2500."

Yuto appeared by Yugo's side, egao-ing. Ruri plays by her own rules here. Start running.

Yugo nodded. He was confused, but he nodded. And he started taking off in another direction, towards one of the floating platforms provided by the Action Field.

"So you know what comes next!" Ruri called out. "Assembled Nightingale can attack directly!"

"Huh?"

Yugo turned his head to look back at Ruri. And as he did, he was assaulted by a kick to the face from her monster. He slammed into the platform ahead of him, knocking him to the ground. (Yugo: 4000 → 3400)

Yugo felt something smooth on the ground, resting in his hand. He raised his arm up to see an Action Card. Lucky!

Assembed Nightingale rose up into the sky, then dove down at Yugo. Her talons were bared at him, threatening to bash him once more.

"Action Spell - Evasion!" Yugo declared. "Your next attack is negated!"

Yugo slammed the card onto the blade. A thin barrier of white surrounded him. Assembled Nightingale's leg connected with the barrier, shattering it into dust.

"Nightingale, your final attack," Ruri ordered.

Unfortunately for Yugo, he received yet another kick. A sharp kick to the side of the head knocked his face to the ground. (Yugo: 3400 → 2800)

Ruri put a hand to her mouth. "Oh, I didn't mean for her to be so rough... Sorry, Yugo!"

"Ahca...!" the boy groaned. "We just started the duel, and we've lost almost half our Life Points. You're a bruiser, lady."

Ruri lifted one card from her hand. "I set a card and end my turn. It's up to you now, Yuya!"

Ruri ended her turn with Assembly Nightingale and a face-down Spell/Trap on the field, and two cards in her hands. Her Life Points were at 3500.

Yugo rose back up. He lifted his eyelids, revealing Yuya's red eyes to the world.

"Hello, Clear Wing," he said to the dragon before him. Clear Wing's response was a roar and an egao.

Yuya drew a card from the deck, then glanced at it. He egao'd, knowing that this card would help him turn the duel back in their favor.

Yuto, Yuya called out to his brother. Run some details about Assembled Nightingale by me, please?

Yuto nodded. It gains ATK power with each Overlay Unit it gains, and Ruri has cards to give her monster more Overlay Units. Also, she has cards to revive her monsters to Xyz Summon further.

He bit down on his thumb. But if she had any of those cards in her hand, she would have used them. I want to go out on a limb and assume that she doesn't have those cards in her hand.

Anything else, Yuto?

Yes. Her monster can detach an Overlay Unit; it would prevent her Lyrilusc monsters from being destroyed by battle and effects, and she'd receive no battle damage. Attacking head-on won't help you much here.

Yuya nodded. I think I know what to do now. Thanks, Yuto.

Yuya held up two cards in his hand, then flipped them and revealed them to his opponent. They were two Pendulum Monsters, and Ruri knew what this meant.

"With my Scale 2 Performapal Gongato, and my Scale 5 Wisdom-Eye Magician, I set the Pendulum Scales."

Yuya placed the cards on his Pendulum Zones. The columns of blue light appeared on either side of him, along with either monster. Their Scale numbers appeared below them.

"I activate my Wisdom-Eye Magician's effect," Yuya explained. "I can destroy it, then place another Magician Pendulum monster in my Pendulum Zone."

Wisdom-Eye's image shattered, but the pieces of its body soon joined back together to form a new monster. Replacing the spellcaster in the column was Dragonpit Magician. The number underneath it rose accordingly, becoming an 8.

"Now swing, pendulum of the soul! Carve an arc of light across the ether! Let's go, my monsters!"

A swirling pendulum swayed circles in the sky. From within the center of that circle, a single ball of light fell to the ground. The light faded to reveal Wisdom-Eye Magician, standing before Yuya. (DEF 1500)

"Defense mode?" Ruri asked. "I thought that you'd pour everything into attacking."

"Where's the fun in that?" Yuya replied, egao-ing. "Besides, my monster is my gift to Yuto."

"Oh?"

Stupid Yuya, Serena growled. Stop thinking about others, you idiot. It'll cost you one day.

"Battle!" Yuya announced. "Clear Wing Synchro Dragon attacks Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale!"

"Not so fast, Yuya," Ruri responded. "I detach an Over-"

Ruri, Yuzu called out. Yuya knows that he can't destroy your 's why he put Wisdom-Eye Magician in Defense.

What?

He wants you to waste an Overlay Unit to protect it. Grab an Action Card instead.

Oh, right!

Assembled Nightingale flew above her duelist. She brought her talons down on the girl's shoulders and lifted her up into the air, soaring above the battlefield.

Clear Wing followed suit, flying straight towards the monster. Nightingale would rise higher to avoid Clear Wing's claws when it reached her. An aerial battle ensued above the field.

While Nightingale swerved to avoid the hits, Ruri kept a look-out for Action Cards. She noticed one, resting directly on a platform below her.

"You can let me go here," Ruri said to her monster.

Assembled Nightingale dove down a few feet, allowing Ruri to safely slip from her monster's talons and fall. Ruri landed on her feet, the grabbed hold of the Action Card.

She looked at the card she drew. It wasn't going to save her monster.

Ruri looked above. he watched as Clear Wing dug its claws into Nightingale's body. The monster let out a small yelp as its body was shattered. (Ruri: 3500 → 1600)

Wait, why didn't you protect your monster? Serena asked aggressively. You should have activated her effect.

"I was hoping to keep my monster alive for a little longer..." Ruri sighed. "But Serena, you need a gift, too."

Serena tilted her head, confused. What do you mean?

"Action Spell - Damage Draw!" Ruri cried. "When I take 2000 or more battle damage, I draw two cards."

Ruri drew two cards from her Deck, adding them to her hand. Serena glanced over to them and egao'd. One of them was Lunalight Kaleido Chick.

Ruri hopped down the set of platforms on her way back to her spot on the field. As she passed by, she returned a wave Yuya gave her.

"I wasn't sure what was going to happen!" Yuya called out. "You caught me off-guard there, Ruri."

"You're pretty good, yourself, Yuya. We should duel again sometime, just you and me."

As Ruri touched the ground, she gave Yuya an egao; something that made Yuto violently seethe with rage. Violently.

"I set a card in my Spell/Trap Zone," Yuya explained. "Then, I'll end my turn. It's up to you now, Serena."

Yuya's ending field consisted of his two Pendulum Scales, Clear Wing Synchro Dragon in Attack mode, Wisdom-Eye Magician in Defense mode, and two set Spells/Traps. He had one card in his hand.

This is it, Serena. You have to beat him now. Do whatever you can to conquer him.

Serena started her turn with a face-down Spell/Trap on the field, and five cards cards in her hand after drawing. Her Life Points were at 1600.

"Yuya!" she shouted out. "I'm going to win this turn!"

I won't let someone have control over me again.

"Good luck!" Yuya called out. "Do your best, okay?"

Serena blushed and covered her face with her hands. Damn it! Son of a fuck!

Next time: Serena raises the flag of Absolute Rebellion to fight against the tyranny of love.