Chapter Seventeen

"Why the hell are you so good at this game?" Jeanie asked, as she watched Keiji pocketing the black ball for the third game in a row.

"If you want to start betting money, I'm warmed up now," he replied, putting the balls back on the table.

The both of them were playing for a while now and – contrary to what Keiji had expected – got actually along very well. He learned that Jeanie went to a boarding school, when she couldn't deal with the antics anymore that their dad developed after Keiji disappeared. There she got into dueling, first as a hobby but she soon found out she had a talent for it. And Jeanie had heard several stories about street life and she actually had a less sensitive gag reflex than Alessia when he told her about that.

Jeanie had picked him up in front of his apartment building, with a limousine. First time he had ever driven in one, but to her it seemed like she did it on a regular base, so she could barely understand his excitement when he realized there was a moving glass window between them and Jeanies bodyguards.

Gorou was one of them, and Keiji didn't know the other. They were still with them, sitting on a dining table outside of their play room and eating nachos while watching the door.

In general, Jeanie seemed to be a very cautious person. She insisted on keeping a hat and sunglasses on until no one could see them and made sure her bodyguards let nobody in by accident.

"Nah, I won't end up paying for this evening after all," Jeanie replied, "I mean, this is a one-time opportunity for me."

"Depends on if I ever get to some money," Keiji replied, "don't expect me to rely on Ito all the time."

"You know I would've paid."

"I didn't want you to pay," Keiji said, "I drank your three bottles of wine last time. I think this is payback."

"For the record I didn't think you drank more than two."

"When I woke up there were three empty bottles on the table."

"I was there too, and your friend and I shared the rest after you passed out."

"I guess this is why we're having soda," Keiji mused, taking a sip from his straw.

"I don't know about you, but I'm not having whatever cheap beer they serve in this joint," his sister replied, barely having touched her nachos or her drink, "besides, me and your friend had a talk, and he convinced me to be a little more cautious around you with alcohol."

"Ah, thoughtful little Ito, refuses to let me ruin my life."

"I sometimes wish I had a friend like that. He seemed to really care for you. I hope you're glad you have him around brother."

"I love him," Keiji replied, "and I think he's probably the only person I've ever known I can say this about. Without the little critter, I'd have become a heroin addict in the best case scenario."

"Best case scenario?"

"Imagine several colorful iterations of gruesome death."

"That wouldn't necessarily be worse," Jeanie mused to herself, "but then again, you can tell bad from worse better than me, most likely."

"Yes, I couldn't wish for a better friend than Yuito," Keiji said, "and yes, I have more experience in that case."

"Ain't gonna doubt that," she replied, but soon changed the topic again, "for real now, how are you so good at this game? You beat me thrice now. This is how the kids at school must feel when I'm supposed to 'teach them how to duel'."

"You beat little kids as a hobby?" Keiji asked.

"Not with my actual deck," she quickly said, "and not with as much drive as I deal with other opponents. I still beat them though, most of them never picked up a deck before."

"Sounds fun."

"It's what passes as public relations in my agency. I take some per-constructed decks to a school class, then we play some random games and I tell them how they can improve their game. To be honest it's a recruitment scheme for future talents but I get to crush their wimpy dreams. That's especially satisfying with the occasional misogynistic teenage boy."

"I doubt those teenage boys know how to spell misogynistic."

"Dyslexia is also a rather hard to spell word, for the disability of having a hard time spelling words."

"Ironic."

"Book definition thereof. Now, for the third time, how are you so good at this game?"

"There was this one really cold winter, and, Yuito and I didn't have anywhere to go, so, we decided to take a risk. We strolled into the more livid parts of town, found a flat, with a guy on winter vacation and broke in there. I dunno how we made it but nobody noticed. Aaaand, he had a billiard table, so that's what we did that Christmas," Keiji explained, "I mean, we had a nice run from the cops soon after Christmas when the guy returned, but it was fun, and we played a lot."

"Sounds like a fun time," Jeanie replied, "though I'm not sure about this breaking and entering thing."

"It was breaking and entering or freezing to death, so I'd gladly take the former," Keiji said, "also while it was just for a few days, it was definitely fun."

"This game bores me," Jeanie said, after setting up a fourth game, "besides, our time in here is almost over. You want to do something else for a change?"

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you'd be flirting with me."

"Jerk," she replied, "I was more thinking about a game I have a chance of winning."

She walked over to her bag, pulling a pink Duel Disk from it. "I mean, if you're up for that."

"I mean, I've seen your duels, but if you go easy on me certainly. Treat me like one of those teenage boys."

"You might want to rethink that."

"I said teenage boy, not that I'm misogynistic," he replied, "I don't think I have enough evidence on that."

"We have time," Jeanie said, "so what do you say?"

"I'd say we do this," he said, pulling his own Duel Disk from his backpack.

The group – completed by Gorou and Jeanies other bodyguards – eventually found a quiet alleyway, that Jeanie deemed to be suitable. It was away from the streets with little people around, so, as Jeanie put it, no fanboys would bother them while they played.

It has been a while since Keiji dueled. Before Yuito had gotten his contract they'd usually play with each other to pass the time on a regular base, but ever since, he got so busy that Keijis last duel was actually the one against Tian, the lantern guy, back when he appeared on their roof.

"So you're going easy on me, aren't you?" he asked his sister.

"Not promising anything," she replied, "I mean, I wanna see what my brother's made of. You have my genes. You should at least be able to put up a fight."

"So you're gonna kill me as soon as your turn rolls around?"

"Would be a suitable pay pack for those billiard rounds."

Keiji: 4000 LP

Jeanie: 4000 LP

"Please," Jeanie said, "be my guest and have the first turn."

"As you wish," Keiji said as he drew his first card, "I Normal Summon Boltedge Dual Wielder!" The monster that emerged from his card was a humanoid figure being completely obscured by electric current running all over its body. As it swung two revolvers through the air, it let out a mad laughter.

Boltedge Dual Wielder: LIGHT / Thunder / Effect / Level 4 / 1600 ATK / 1000 DEF

"Whenever my gunman is Summoned, I can take a Continuous Spell with Conductor in its name from my deck and immediately activate it. I choose my Fuse Conductor." A figure made of copper wires appeared behind Keiji, electricity running all over it.

"It allows me to perform an additional Normal Summon for a Thunder Monster this turn," he picked another card from his hand, "this should protect me well enough. I tribute Dual Wielder for my trusted Boltedge Magnet Gunner!" After the monster he just had Summoned had disappeared again, a new one appeared where it stood. It was a human figure, except that for skin it had iron wires running all over it, silver plates running all over its body serving as armor and helmet. In its hand it carried a sniper rifle that vibrated with charge.

Boltedge Magnet Gunner: LIGHT / Thunder / Effect / Level 8 / 2700 ATK / 1000 DEF

"My monster can be Tribute Summoned for one less tribute while I control a Continuous Spell Card," Keiji continued, "with that, I just Set one more card and end my turn."

"Interesting start," Jeanie said as she drew her card. "From my hand I begin by Normal Summoning my Battleballoon – Party Blimp." A small blimp appeared above the duelists heads, party lights running over it, catchy music playing from its speakers.

Battleballoon – Party Blimp: FIRE / Machine / Effect / Level 4 / 1800 ATK / 0 DEF

Keiji tried his hardest to suppress the urge to spitefully dance along to the tune. "Quite the banger," he said, "you wanna groove me to death?"

"It serves its purpose, as a decoy," Jeanie replied, "while also increasing its Level by the current number of cards in my hand."

Battleballoon – Party Blimp: Level 4 → Level 9

"I next activate the Continuous Spell Card Dancing Sky Lights," Jeanie said, "but I'll get to that later, for now it just reduces my hand size."

Battleballoon – Party Blimp: Level 9 → Level 8

"Next, I use the effect of my Battleballoon – Backup Blimp in my hand," she said as she showed the card to her brother, "it Summons itself to my field while I control a Battleballon with a Level, and then makes its own Level equal to that monsters Level." A second blimp appeared right next to the first one, this one much less cheerful. Its fabric was painted in military colors, and it had an array of machine guns on each side of it.

Battleballoon – Backup Blimp: FIRE / Machine / Effect / Level 4 / 1900 ATK / 0 DEF

Battleballoon – Party Blimp: Level 8 → Level 7

Battleballoon – Backup Blimp: Level 4 → Level 7

"So this is how you facilitate your Xyz Summons. Getting a Rank 7 on your first turn sounds pretty strong."

"Yeah," Jeanie continued, "almost. I activate a second Continuous Spell Card, called Hot Air Mirror."

Battleballoon – Party Blimp: Level 7 → Level 6

"...excuse me?" Keiji asked bewildered when his sister gave up her two monsters with matching Levels.

"You said you watched my duels," she stated, "did this tiny, little detail really skim past you?"

"Maybe I went to the toilet or something," Keiji replied, a little unsure what to expect.

"In that case, revel in the cornerstone of my deck," she said, as her Spell Card started to flare up and heat the air around her monsters, "Hot Air Mirror allows me to Xyz Summon Battleballoon monsters using only a single material, but I cannot Special Summon other monsters while it is face-up."

A vague duplicate of her Party Blimp appeared next to the first one in the shimmering air.

"I overlay Party Blimp!" she said, as her monster and the mirror image turned red and spiraled into a portal in the sky, "Start up your engine and conquer the sky! Xyz Summon, Rank 6! Battleballoon – Striker Airship!"

As the portal combusted, the monster that appeared was a large airship with a sharp metal tip darting out from its front. It had huge burners in the back, and all sorts of weaponry were imbued in its side. On both sides of its balloon, it had a large, printed crest that resembled a stylized 'BB'.

Battleballoon – Striker Airship: FIRE / Machine / Xyz / Effect / Rank 6 / 2000 ATK / 2000 DEF / 1 Xyz Material

"But why stop right here? Backup Blimp, overlay!" A duplicate also appeared next to her other monster, which also shot into a portal, "Speed across the skies and catch anyone who dares oppress you! Xyz Summon, Rank 7! Battleballoon – Thruster Airship!" Jeanies new monster was an airship similar to the first one, except it had a metal contraption wrapped around its balloon, with jets draped all over it.

Battleballoon – Thruster Airship: FIRE / Machine / Xyz / Effect / Rank 7 / 2400 ATK / 2000 DEF / 1 Xyz Material

"This seems rather impressive," Keiji said, "I'm sure you wouldn't Summon any of these if neither could get over my Magnet Gunner."

"Oh I certainly could. I'll just activate the effect of my Striker Airship," Jeanie continued, "I can use one of its materials and double the ATK of one of my Machine Xyz Monsters, so let me just target itself." The airship absorbed its single material through its sharp tip, which started to heat up until it glowed red.

Battleballoon – Striker Airship: 1 Xyz Material → 0 Xyz Materials

Battleballoon – Striker Airship: 2000 ATK → 4000 ATK

"That's quite a lot of ATK," Keiji said, "but why did you not boost Thruster instead?"

"Boy, do you really not trust my judgment? Because I still want to use Thrusters effect, and I cannot use that on itself. I detach one material from it, to allow another Machine Xyz to attack directly." The other Xyz monster absorbed the material through its metal ring, after which it inflated its balloon and attached itself to the back of Striker Airship, acting as a gigantic jet booster.

Battleballoon – Thruster Airship: 1 Xyz Material → 0 Xyz Materials

"Oh, hell," Keiji exclaimed on seeing a direct attacker with 4000 ATK on his opponents side of the field.

"Indeed. Your Magnet Gunner is a strong monster, being capable of mass destruction whenever attacked or targeted. So, the easiest way for me to take it out is just strike… past it."

"So this is why you Summoned exactly those two monsters, activating that pointless Continuous Spell to lower your Blimps level," Keiji mused, "you are really Rank Two worthy."

"Nice to hear you say that," she continued, before moving on to battle, "Striker Airship, attack Keiji directly! Fire Dasher!" The jet boosters on the airship started to flare up, launching it towards Keiji at breakneck speed, ready to strike with its heated tip.

"I activate my Trap Card! Short Out!" Keiji yelled as his card flipped over, "this card works similarly to a Mirror Force, except that it Summons a Thunder monster from my grave after your monsters have all been destroyed!"

Keijis Trap Card crackled with energy before unleashing a gigantic lightning into the charging airships direction.

But to Keijis surprise, the monster was utterly unfazed by the blast and continued to just pass though it, past his monster, and straight into him.

Keiji: 4000 LP → 0 LP

"What?" Keiji said bewildered, "what did just happen?"

"You remember about the pointless Spell? Well, whenever my Battleballoons attack, and I have either less cards in my hand than you, or zero altogether, my monsters are unaffected by any card effects while battling."

"So that's how you got through my Short Out?"

"That's how I got through your Short Out. But I'm impressed. Most other players wouldn't be considerate enough to get through your double layer defense."

"I know you're just saying that to make me feel better," Keiji replied, "I was well aware I don't stand a chance against a top duelist, but I didn't think it'd be this… sudden."

"Don't blame yourself. Sudden wins are my specialty."

"This was fun, though. We could do this again sometime," Keiji said, "I think I'm starting to like this family time thing."

"Same honestly. It's a shame I'm rather busy these days."

"Yeah, the championship duel must sure require a load of practice."

"You have no idea."

Jeanie agreed to take Keiji back to his apartment, after all riding in her car was more comfortable than walking all there way back there.

"So, are you gonna come and watch your sister beating the champion?" Jeanie eventually asked.

"We tried getting tickets," Keiji answered, "but they were sold out before we even knew about the event."

"Oh please," his sister replied, "you and your buddy won't need tickets. I'll get you in. I do have several family and friends seats left."

"We are friends and family."

"Congrats, you qualify."

"Yay," Keiji feigned euphoria, before turning back to being serious, "thank you a lot. We actually considered getting tickets from the black market, but I doubt Yuito could afford two of those."

"The black market is a sinkhole of lowlifes," Jeanie replied, "and I don't want my brother to be forced to sit within the sweating peasants while I make history as the first female dueling champ ever."

"That sounds weird but nice."

"No sweat. Just get to the Royal Stadiums back entrance and text me, one of my managers will pick you up and escort you to your seats."

"Yuito is gonna be freaking out when I tell him," Keiji continued, "he likes this kind of stuff a lot. And I'm sure you're gonna put on a great show."

"I'd rather do a sudden death, but Eivin isn't gonna do me this favor. His Evasion Synchro style is incredibly resilient."

"Sounds tough."

"He's the best, what do you expect," Jeanie said, "but I'm fairly certain I can give him a good asswhopping. Not as hard as I gave you today, but similar."

"I look forward too seeing it."

"Miss Jeanie, we arrived at the destination," Jeanies driver told the pair of them, and Keiji turned to leave.

"Looks like its goodbye for the night," Jeanie said, "I hope you don't expect a kiss."

"Hell no," Keiji replied, "but I wish you a good night anyway."

"I wish it was that easy, but I still have some appointments tonight."

"This late?"

"As I said, I have a busy schedule, and some others have an even busier schedule."

"I don't pity you on your life," Keiji replied, before adding, "okay I sometimes do, but not about this thing in particular."

"Good night brother," Jeanie said laughing, while Keiji got out of the car and closed the door behind him.

He watched for a few moments as Jeanie drive off into the night, her bodyguards following her in a second car, before going inside.

Of all the good things that happened to Yuito and him lately, these stairs were probably the worst, by a fair margin. Really, Keiji was out of breath by the time he had reached their floor. In hindsight, he shouldn't have been jogging upstairs, but he was just too excited to tell Yuito about how well his night out with Jeanie went, and that he scored them seats for the championship duel on Saturday.

But his breath returned immediately when he saw that the door to their apartment was wide open.

"Yuito?" he carefully said, while peeking into the apartment.

It was utter mess inside, someone knocked over the table and tore open their bed sheets, spreading the filling all over the floor.

Keiji checked the bathroom, under the bed, in the closet, but no sign of Yuito anywhere. Upon closer inspection, he saw that the sheets weren't torn, but in fact sliced apart. By a knife? A sword? Who'd bring a sword to their apartment?

'Whatever happened,' he thought, 'Yuito must've made a getaway.'

As Keiji knew his friend, he wouldn't just wreck their apartment and then disappear. Someone attacked him. A mugger? A stalker? A crazy Ever White fan? Whoever it was, Yuito might still be in danger.

Failing to find his friends Duel Disk or Deck anywhere, he immediately gave Alessia a call. She should be able to track it.

Keiji could just pray they wouldn't stumble across a corpse.

Author-made cards:

Boltedge Dual Wielder / LIGHT / Thunder / Effect / Level 4 / 1600 ATK / 1000 DEF
If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can take 1 "Conductor" Continuous Spell from your deck and either add it to your hand or activate it. If this card is banished by a Thunder monsters effect: You can target card your opponent controls; Destroy it. You can only activate 1 "Boltedge Dual Wielder" effect per turn, and only once that turn.

Boltedge Magnet Gunner / LIGHT / Thunder / Effect / Level 8 / 2700 ATK / 1000 DEF
You can Normal Summon this card for 1 less Tribute for each face-up Continuous Spell you control. Your opponent cannot target other Thunder monsters you control for attacks or card effects. If this card is targeted for an attack, or by an opponents card effect: You can banish 1 Thunder monster from your GY; Destroy all face-up cards your opponent controls, also, this card cannot attack directly during your next Battle Phase. You can only control 1 face-up "Boltedge Magnet Gunner".

Battleballoon - Party Blimp / FIRE / Machine-Type / Effect / Level 4 / 1800 ATK / 0 DEF
Increase this cards Level by 1 for each card in your hand. You can discard 1 card; Inflict 800 LP Damage to your opponent. If this card is sent from your hand to the Graveyard: You can target 1 other "Battleballoon" Monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it. You can only use each effect of "Battleballoon - Party Blimp" once per turn.

Battleballoon - Backup Blimp / FIRE / Machine-Type / Effect / Level 4 / 1900 ATK / 0 DEF
Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set. During your Main Phase, if this card is in your hand: You can reveal it and target 1 "Battleballoon" with a Level that you control; Special Summon this card and if you do, its Level becomes equal to the targets Level. During your Main Phase, if this card is in your Graveyard and you have no cards in your hand: You can pay 1900 LP; Special Summon this card and if you do, increase its Level by the number of cards in your opponents hand. You can only Special Summon 1 "Battleballoon - Backup Blimp" per turn.

Battleballoon - Striker Airship / FIRE / Machine-Type / Xyz / Effect / Rank 6 / 2000 ATK / 2000 DEF
2 Level 6 Monsters
You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card: Target 1 Machine-Type Monster you control; Double its ATK and if you do, during your End Phase, its ATK becomes 0. If a face-up "Battleballoon" Xyz Monster you control is targeted by or would be destroyed by an opponents card effect while this card is in your Graveyard: You can send that Monster to the Graveyard; Special Summon this card and if you do, its ATK and DEF becomes 0, also, it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects until the End Phase.

Battleballoon - Thruster Airship / FIRE / Machine-Type / Xyz / Effect / Rank 7 / 2500 ATK / 2300 DEF
2 Level 7 Monsters
Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card to target 1 face-up Machine-Type Monster you control; This card cannot declare an attack on monsters during this turn, also, the target can attack your opponent directly during this turn. If your opponent takes Battle Damage from a battle involving a face-up "Battleballoon" Monster you control: You can inflict 300 LP Damage to your opponent for each card in their hand. You can only control 1 face-up "Battleballoon - Thruster Airship".

Hot Air Mirror / Continuous Spell Card
You cannot Special Summon Monsters, except "Battleballoon" Monsters. During your Main Phase: You can target 1 "Battleballoon" Monster you control; Special Summon 1 "Battleballoon" Xyz Monster from your Extra Deck with a Rank equal to the targets Level, using the target as Xyz Material. (This Special Summon is treated as a Xyz Summon.) During your End Phase: Discard 1 card for each time you Xyz Summoned a Monster during this turn (even if this card leaves the field).

Dancing Sky Lights / Continuous Spell Card
Once per turn, during your Main Phase: You can send 1 "Battleballoon" Monster from your hand or field to the Graveyard; You cannot Special Summon Monsters until the End Phase, except "Battleballoon" Monsters, also, add 1 Continuous Spell or Trap Card whose text contains "Battleballoon" from your Deck to your hand. If a "Battleballoon" Xyz monster attacks while you have less cards in your hand than your opponent: It is unaffected by your opponents card effects until the end of the Damage Step.

Fuse Conductor / Continuous Spell Card
During your Main Phase: You can Normal Summon 1 Thunder Monster in addition to your Normal Summon/Set. (You can only gain this effect once per turn.)

Short Out / Normal Trap Card
If an opponents monster declares an attack: You can target 1 Thunder monster in your GY; Destroy all Attack Position monsters your opponent controls and if you do, Special Summon the target.