(A/N: I'd like to thank you all for once again bringing an overwhelmingly positive reception to a new chapter's release. I was going to find this chapter annoying, but there's nothing quite like a few good, emotionally charged reviews to make me laugh and remind me how much fun it is to keep producing content for you all. Enjoy!)
High above the sky on the backs of a Sky Dragon, Yami had the wind of his face as he sat behind Junko, her steady hands on the creature's back. She seemed to be able to steer and command it with little more than shifting her body weight and applying pressure to its back and neck. It was as if she instinctively knew how to pilot the monster like it was some sort of exotic horse.
"How far are we to our destination?" Yami asked, leaning a bit close so that the wind didn't wash away his words.
"Not far," Junko answered honestly. She took one hand off the dragon and pointed to a clump of dark clouds ahead. "See that?" she asked. "That's Miami. We'll be beginning our descent. I'll have a clear view of the Jaguar's stadium shortly. I'd take us in, but winged monsters and lightning don't mix."
"Agreed," Yami said and then inadvertently put his hands on Junko's waist, rather than on the monster, for balance. He immediately retracted his hands, putting them back on Sky Dragon's feathers. "Ah, sorry," he said, turning his head away, blushing.
"Oho," Junko smirked. "Getting a little grabby, are we?" Yami continued to blush, gazing away from her. "It's fine though. You can touch my body whenever and wherever you like." She took a hand and grabbed Yami's wrist. She then tried to forcibly put his hand on her chest so that he was groping it, but Yami had enough mental and physical fortitude to resist Junko's little game and pulled his hand free, getting a handful of Sky Dragon's feathers, heart jack hammering in his chest.
Junko laughed and laughed. "Oh relax, Pharaoh. I'm only teasing."
With a little bit of pressure and, leaning to one side, Junko began a swooping, curved descent down towards the stadium, eventually landing inside the stadium at the 50 yard line. Sky Dragon hovered about three feet off the ground, allowing Yami to dismount first.
Yami then reached up to give Junko his hand. "It's all right. I've got you."
"Oh my, such a gentleman," Junko stated, only for a fierce gust of wind to blow up and around. The winds blew Yami down and away towards the thirty yard line as Junko and Sky Dragon went hurtling through the air.
"Junko!" Yami exclaimed, pushing up off his arm and reaching towards her.
Junko was, however, being blown through the air and the wind was catching Sky Dragon's wings until the stadium lights had Yami blinded to her location.
Unbeknownst to him, Junko had been in complete control of that otherwise freak act of nature. By having Yami sit behind her the entire trip, he'd been unaware of her muttering an incantation for a while. Junko had memorized the spell ahead of time just for this sort of occasion.
Now, hundreds of feet in the air, and freefalling fast, Junko quickly cast another spell, changing her mount of choice to the much safer Gradius. She'd be in Miami in record time, way ahead of the others and that was of course all part of her plan.
By the time the Pharaoh and the others have reached me, I'll already be head to head to compete for the title of King of Games and then the true despair can begin. Secure inside Gradius' cockpit, Junko laughed in amusement all the way to her destination.
Back on the ground, Téa and the others had seen the freak windstorm and were rushing into the stadium.
"Pharaoh!" Téa was so overjoyed to see Yami unhurt that she threw her arms around him and gave him a big hug. However, Joey could see it in Yami's face. He looked worried.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
Mukuro was quick on the uptake. "I imagine Junko's lack of presence has him concerned."
"What?" Téa was so focused on Yami she'd failed to notice. She pulled back from the hug and looked around. "Hey, yeah, where is she?"
"She got caught up in a small twister and was thrown into the air. I haven't heard or seen her land. I'm worried."
"If that's all that has occurred, you needn't worry," Mukuro stated. "Junko is exceptionally resourceful. I imagine if we head for our destination, we will likely come across her."
"Shouldn't you have a stronger reaction than that? She's your sister, isn't she?" Téa asked.
Mukuro produced a very subdued, sort of glum expression and seemed to lazily roll her shoulders, resembling a shrugging motion.
"Let it go, Téa," Joey said. "Family is a bit different than friends."
"Oh? Is that a nugget of wisdom from the Ultimate Sibling's brain," Mai teased.
"Haha, you're not funny, Mai," Joey responded.
Then without warning, Yami started laughing.
"Wha…uhhh…" Téa and Joey in particular just stared at him, Mukuro in particular wondering if Junko had already sank her fangs into Yami so far already. "What's so funny, Pharaoh?" Téa was delighted to hear him laugh, but the timing was just…surreal.
"Nothing, it's just…I've been in only Junko's company for so long that the sounds of you all is…uplifting," Yami said with a smile Téa hadn't seen on him since Yugi disappeared. "It's good to be among you all once more."
Joey slapped him on the shoulder. "Glad to have you back, pal."
Seems this one is quite resilient to despair, Mukuro thought. Or, perhaps, he is so far gone these are the early signs of his disguising of his true emotions. As she did not have Junko's psychological analytical proficiency, Mukuro was forced to let the matter go. It didn't matter anyway. Far as she understood it, everything was still in line with Junko's short-term plans. "I'll drive us to Miami," she said. "We'll catch up with Junko soon. In the meantime, we should all exchange stories and catch each other up," she suggested. Proper recon procedures. Such suggestions were nothing out of the ordinary for Mukuro. As long as life lined up in ways that she could tailor it back to her Fenrir training, she was not lost, even without Junko's guidance.
"Agreed," Yami responded, nodding. And then, he and the others made way for the Jeep and motorcycles. Last stop: Miami and Paradius HQ.
It took some doing, but Hajime and Kazuichi were able to get them and their companions a proper set of wheels. Using the skin of a '37 Mayfair limo as a base, Kazuichi was able to reconfigure the vehicle with a still working engine from the 70s and make the system a convertible. Using levels of welding that only an Ultimate could muster, Kazuichi had improved the trunk space—to store luggage and…Gundham's unconscious body. Due to the age of the parts used to make it all possible, the car drove like it could fall apart, but Kazuichi, and Hajime, were certain it could get them from point A to point B.
As the car jerked up and down over I-95 south bound, Chihiro spoke up, "Are you sure we're safe?"
"Logistically speaking," Hajime stated, "The car Kazuichi and I put together can maintain high speed with 35 miles to the gallon. As long as we stick to the highway, we should be fine."
"Then why does Kazuichi look sick?" Akane asked.
"I told you, I get motion sickness," Kazuichi said, grabbing a paper bag and barely able to hold his food down.
"Perhaps your apprehension is on the part of our driver," Ryota stated. "On that note, aren't we well over the speed limit?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, is evil going to idle while I obey traffic signs?!" Yukizome shouted angrily, hands clenching the steering wheel like she was trying to strangle it. The situation with Gundham had left her quite on edge.
"Miss Yukizome," Hajime gulped. "I don't believe saving the world should come at the risk of us all dying in a horrific traffic accident."
"No, I agree with Miss Yukizome, we must make haste," Kyoko said, unbothered by any of this. The car then bounced on the highway's uneven curves. "That said…perhaps you could take your foot off the gas just a little," Kyoko recommended.
"This vehicle stops for nothing!" Yukizome shouted, tearing down the highway like a crazed demon.
Teruteru started praying. "Mama, I'm sorry! I'll be a good boy when I get home!"
Sonia, sitting in the middle front seat, as there was one in a car like this, was unusually quiet despite what had just occurred. Hajime, sitting next to her, put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you all right? Sorry that we put Gundham in the trunk, but…"
"No, that's not what's bothering me," Sonia said. "I just…we will be able to rescue Gundham once we stop Dartz, but…"
Sonia was cut off and Yukizome was alerted by the sound of a motorcycle. They looked out the passenger side window to see a man with blond hair and horn-like sideburns riding alongside them, an Atlantean duel disk prominent on his arm.
"Rafael?!" Sonia exclaimed. "Miss Yukizome, please follow him!"
"There's only one rode, I don't have a choice," Yukizome said. She adjusted her rearview and side mirrors. "Okay, blondie, get ready to lead me straight to your boss for the well-deserved punishment I have in store."
"This could all too likely be a trap," Kyoko said. "I'd exercise caution."
"Caution, nothing! I'll jump out of the car and tackle him if I have to! Get me in close!" Akane shouted, cracking her knuckles.
And like that, both vehicles went speeding southbound over the Georgia state lines towards the Florida state ones.
Despite this, and despite Yukizome's attempts to run Rafael off the road, Rafael was a master on his motorcycle of evading her.
Sonia, unable to take much more, leaned over Hajime and stuck her head out the window. "Rafael! Please stop and let's talk this out!" But her brother either didn't hear her or pretended not to, causing Sonia to lose heart and return to her seat. "I do not understand. Why is he being like this?"
"I don't know, but I'm not gonna let him escape me. Hang on, everyone!" Yukizome exclaimed.
As night rolled in, the young teacher began following Rafael by the tail of his headlights, doing her best not to lose him. Unfortunately, fog suddenly rolled in and Rafael sped off into the darkness, causing Yukizome to slow and lose sight of him as the fog cleared almost as quickly as it had appeared.
"Wh-where did he go?" Sonia inquired.
"We're still on the highway, right?" Kyoko asked, worried that the group had been led astray in all of the excitement.
Hajime pulled up the map app on his phone. "Yeah, we haven't left the planned route. We're actually almost in Florida. We've only got a couple more hours left. Take exit 362B."
"Got it," Yukizome stated.
Unfortunately, for Yukizome and company, that specific exit was where the trouble was brewing. Since most exits cut themselves down to a single lane, this one was no different. Yukizome had to slow her vehicle and come to a screeching halt when a head of corn yellow hair came into view. However, it didn't belong to Rafael.
It belonged to Hiyoko.
Yukizome lowered the driver's side window and leaned her head out. "Hiyoko, get out of the road!" she shouted.
"Make me!" Hiyoko exclaimed.
"Let me out of the car, I'll move her!" Akane shouted, but Ryota restrained her, everyone noticing how Yukizome was undoing her seatbelt and getting out of the car after putting it in park and turning it off. She slammed the driver side door with one quick motion, using no more force than necessary to get a nice good SLAM. She was the teacher here. It was up to her to remedy the situation.
Yukizome stood in front of the car, a good 12 feet in front of Hiyoko. "Hiyoko, please. I'm asking nicely. Whatever's bothering you, we can talk it out. I'm your teacher, you can trust me with these things."
"Shut up!" Hiyoko shouted. "I hate you! I hate your condescending "I'm better than everyone else" attitude. Well guess what you ginger bitch, this isn't about you, this is about the Great Leviathan and Father Dartz! I've got strict orders to take your soul so it's you who needs to get out of my way!"
"Hiyoko, Dartz is using you," Yukizome said calmly. "Don't you see that? He gave you a position in his organization so that you'd do things for him. He's a parasite on your good name."
"What good name?" Hiyoko asked with a creepy smile. "I don't give a fuck about my family or you idiots! You're the parasites around here! You're the ones that keep making me perform like some windup toy for your amusement! I'm sick of it!"
"Hiyoko, I've never asked you to do much of anything and if I did, it was no more or less than I've asked of the other students. No one has forced you to do anything. If I've been inconsiderate to your feelings," Yukizome said, putting her fingertips on her chest, "Tell me what I've done wrong and I'll correct it. I'm the former Ultimate Housekeeper, not the former Ultimate Teacher. I'm not an expert in that field, but I try my best. Please, Hiyoko. I really do want to help you."
"I never asked you to do any of that! And I don't need you or your stupid abilities! I just need Father Dartz," Hiyoko cooed with utter adoration in her eyes. "He makes everything make sense."
Yukizome took a deep breath. "Hajime! Duel Disk! Glove compartment!"
Lowering the hood just enough so he could toss it to her, Hajime got Yukizome's duel disk out of her glove compartment and tossed it to her.
Yukizome spoke more firmly with Hiyoko. "Hiyoko, I'm going to give you one more chance to stop all of this. I really don't want to hurt you. You're my student and I'm your teacher. It's my job to protect you. But if you're going to stand there and turn me away, then I need to focus my attention on saving the world and the other students' lives that share my fate."
"Take your concern and shove it up your ass!" Hiyoko shouted, glaring.
Yukizome activated her duel disk. "Final warning, Hiyoko. I will not hold back this time. Do not test my patience."
Hiyoko activated her duel disk in response. "You seem to already want to do this the hard way. I'm happy to oblige."
Yukizome sighed. This wasn't going to be pretty. "I summon to the field Pixie Knight!" Yukizome declared as a woman with long reddish hair in a blue wizard's hat appeared on a very long tree-limb like broom. She also had a dagger sheathed inside a red scabbard. It had 1,300 attack points and 200 defense points. "Next, I'm setting two cards face-down," Yukizome stated as the proper holograms appeared. "Your move, Hiyoko."
"What a weak monster," Hiyoko laughed. "I can't wait to squish it. I start by activating what else, the Seal of Orichalcos!" Hiyoko declared as the seal was put into play, emblazoning Hiyoko with its emblem on her forehead. Now, whoever lost the duel would lose their soul as well. "Father Dartz will be so pleased when I bring you his soul. I'm sure he'll call me his little princess! I'll be a true monarch of Atlantis. But first, I have to actually do the deed." She looked at the remaining five cards in her hand. "I start by summoning to the field White Magician Pikeru!" Hiyoko declared, bringing an old favorite onto the battlefield. Her monster had 1,200 attack points and 0 defense points.
A dark aura formed around Hiyoko as a red glint shone off her eyes. "And now, thanks to the power of the Orichalcos, she'll become strong enough to take on Pixie Knight!" Hiyoko declared. She then held up a spell card. "And why stop there? I'll activate this spell card Trial of the Princesses!"
"Not this time," Yukizome stated. "Go, Mystic Space Typhoon!"
The quick-play magic card erupted to a face-up position and destroyed Hiyoko's spell card.
"Wha…hey!"
"Hay is for horses, dear. Finish your move," Yukizome stated.
Hiyoko growled. "P-Pikeru still has enough attack points to take out your stupid pixie. Show her, Pikeru!"
"Pikeru!" The little magician cried out, charging an attack with her staff and preparing to sling it at Pixie Knight.
However, suddenly there was a powerful explosion underneath her that left no trace of White Magician Pikeru.
"Wh-what the…?"
When the dust cleared, Hiyoko saw Yukizome with a trap card flipped face-up: Widespread Ruin.
"Sorry, Hiyoko, but I told you I would hold nothing back," Yukizome stated. Her trap card dissolved. "You are defenseless."
"N-no! That's not fair!" Hiyoko exclaimed.
"Life isn't fair!" Yukizome shouted. "Now stand back and feel the consequences of your actions." She drew the top card of her deck and looked at her options. Nodding, Yukizome plucked one card out of her hand. "I sacrifice my Pixie Knight in order to summon a more powerful monster! Behold, Tethys! Goddess of Light!" Yukizome declared. A snow-white fairy in dress, wings, and hair appeared on the battlefield. It had 2,400 attack points and 1,800 defense points. "Tethys!" Yukizome declared. "Attack Hiyoko's life points directly! Light Beam!"
Tethys gathered energy and used it to blast Hiyoko's life points, causing the small girl to be thrown back and bang her back against the seal. She crumpled to the ground and got up off the ground, holding her shoulder. Her life points fell all the way to 1,600.
"Welcome to the adult world, Hiyoko," Yukizome stated. "That's your first taste."
"Screw you," Hiyoko said, spitting. "It's my move now and I'm going to make you regret that."
"Go ahead, make my day," Yukizome said calmly.
Hiyoko drew the top card of her deck, now having four cards in her hand. "I start by activating Graceful Charity. This will allow me to draw three new cards as long as I discard two." Hiyoko quickly picked up three cards and already knew one of the two cards she would be discarding. Then she tactfully selected the other, sending both to the graveyard. "Next, I summon to the field The Agent of Miracles – Jupiter!" A brown angel appeared, looking like the chieftain of a Native American tribe. He had 2,300 attack points and 1,000 defense points thanks to the power of the Seal of Orichalcos.
"And next, I'll activate his special ability. By removing the Agent of Wisdom, Mercury, that I just sent to my graveyard, I can power him up to the tune of 800 extra attack points until the end of this turn."
Jupiter's attack power increased to become 3,100.
"Jupiter! Attack! Wipe out Tethys! Miracle Beam!"
Jupiter fired a green beam of energy from its palm that completely obliterated Yukizome's goddess, reducing the teacher's life points down to 3,300.
"How do you like that?" Hiyoko shouted as her monster's attack power went back to being only 2,300.
"I'll manage," Yukizome said, picking up the top card of her deck. Excellent. "I activate Polymerization!" she declared. "This allows me to fuse together The Forgiving Maiden with Goddess with a Third Eye to create Saint Joan!"
A powerful warrior-like woman, clad in white armor, with red hair, appeared on the battlefield. She had 2,800 attack points and 2,000 defense points. She was clutching a ceremonial longsword.
"Joan!" Yukizome declared. "Attack Jupiter now, wipe him out with Cleansing Blade Slash!" Yukizome shouted.
Saint Joan opened her eyes and lunged forward with her blade, cutting down Hiyoko's monster and bringing her life points to only 1,100. This left Yukizome with but a single card in her hand, but given her field advantage, that hardly mattered at the moment. And, judging from the expression on Hiyoko's face, she was clearly feeling the heat.
"It's not too late to turn back, Hiyoko," Yukizome told her. "If you promise to keep passing your turn, I can draw the right card combination and end this duel in a draw, just like last time. I won't let you get hurt. You're my precious student."
Hajime felt a gripping in his chest. Even now, even in the midst of a tormenting duel, Yukizome was still willing to give Hiyoko a chance.
"I can't believe she still hasn't given up on her," Mikan said, clutching her hands to the chest. "Yukizome better not lose. She's such a good person."
Sonia, however, wanted to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. "Hajime, if Miss Yukizome should somehow lose—"
"I don't even want to think about it," Hajime said, cutting her off, staring determinedly at Yukizome and Hiyoko's duel. "The faster Yukizome removes Hiyoko from our path, the faster we can save Chiaki and the others."
"I agree, Hiyoko's being extremely selfish!" Mikan exclaimed.
"All the more reason for me to cut myself from off from you ugos!" Hiyoko shouted. "When the world has been swallowed up by the Great Leviathan, I'll make sure your torment is never ending!"
Hiyoko, Yukizome thought. She really wished the small blonde wouldn't say such things.
"Just watch me, I'm gonna defeat Miss Yukizome and get rewarded by Father Dartz the way I deserve!"
Yukizome stared at Hiyoko. "Hiyoko, I understand that the world can be a cruel, unforgiving place, but—"
"Shut up! You don't understand anything about me! None of you have even tried! No one understands what it's like to be me!"
"No! You shut up and listen to me!" Yukizome shouted, surprising everyone, including Hiyoko.
"When I was a little girl, I lived in a big house. My parents and I were very well off. I still live in the house we originally had together. It's huge, if but a bit empty these days. 15 years ago, my parents fell incredibly ill. They spent so much time traveling that they contracted something overseas. Fortunately, it wasn't contagious. To make matters worse, our butler had passed away only two weeks ago due to a sudden heart attack and we still hadn't found a new one. I was 5 years old and had no one to take care of me in a big empty house. I didn't understand how to take care of myself or why mommy and daddy wouldn't get up out of bed."
Yukizome started to get choked up. "So I learned. I put in the damn effort and I learned. I found the hard work rewarding. It made me, a tiny spoiled brat, strong. I learned how to pay bills, cook meals and even got a part time job working at a maid café on a volunteer basis. I got only tip money so that we had some money coming into our home. I became responsible. I was forced to grow up and mature before I'd even learned what the word puberty was let alone meant. And then…when I was seven…
"Mommy! Daddy! Breakfast is ready!" Yukizome exclaimed, wheeling the cart into the master bedroom. There was no response from her parents, not even a cough. "Mommy? Daddy?" All it took was one grasp of her mother's wrist before Yukizome jumped back in fright. She was screaming so loud and so long she ended up passing out from a lack of oxygen.
Yukizome sniffed. She could still remember the funeral vividly in her mind. "I had…no one. No butler to take care of me, no parents to dote on me. My life…felt empty. Sure, there were the students at school and the teachers as well, but no one understood me. Their smiles felt hollow…and meaningless. I felt cursed, cursed to be alone.
"So that no one could see the pain, I started smiling more. I greeted everyone with cheer and put energy into cleaning, to avoid feeling hurt." Yukizome sniffed, her eyelashes dabbing the tears falling out of her face. "I always believed that I was better than everyone else. I went through life shutting myself out, acting like the same wind up doll you said you feel like. Do you know what changed me?"
Hiyoko fumbled for words, deciding to just shake her head.
"It was kindness. As I got older, I realized that the people that were kind to me, they weren't trying to hurt me. They were trying to repay me for everything I'd done for them. I'd been so wrapped up in my housework and surviving, that I never really noticed how it was affecting other people."
"Chisa! My mom made chocolate! Will you please try some?"
"Hey, Chisa! I heard you were absent yesterday for work, do you want to borrow my notes?"
"Chisa, you all right?"
"Hey, Chisa!"
"Chisa-chan!"
Yukizome's mind drifted off to when she was twelve and everything just became overwhelming. She won an award in middle school for her achievements, including a scholarship—that she would later never end up using due to her Hope's Peak attendance. She was standing on stage, crying. The principal massaging her shoulders, the teachers clapping wildly, the students whistling and cheering. She could remember that day.
"My smile became genuine," Yukizome said. "I finally wasn't lonely anymore."
"Is there a point to your sappy sob story?" Hiyoko asked.
"My point is that I know things seem hard. I know how you feel, how insignificant everyone else seems, but you don't have to be alone, Hiyoko. If you'd stop hating the world for even a second, you'd notice that there are good people around you that just want to help," Yukizome said, giving her hand to Hiyoko. "And I promise I'm one of them. I won't lead you astray. Please Hiyoko," Yukizome sniffed. "Please just trust me."
Everyone watched. Had Yukizome finally gotten through? Was Hiyoko going to quit?
Sadly, it seemed, Hiyoko was too far gone. She just started laughing. "You really think I'm going to change my attitude just because your parents died of an illness? You really must take me for some soap opera loving sap."
Even Yukizome was at a loss for words.
"I gotta admit, you do come a teensy bit closer than most to understand me, but so what?"
"So…what?" Yukizome was flabbergasted by Hiyoko.
"It's too late," Hiyoko said. "I don't give a fuck what you or anyone else can promise me! I already made up my mind! I'm going to take control of this world by force! And there's nothing you, your stupid sob story, or that gross pig Mikan can do to stop me!"
"Why am I suddenly involved?" Mikan whimpered.
Yukizome took a deep breath. "Fine, I tried," she said flatly. "It's your move. Go."
"Don't mind if I do!" Hiyoko exclaimed and ripped the top card off of her deck. "I activate the spell card De-Fusion! This will turn your monster back into the monsters that you used to create it!"
Yukizome bit her thumbnail as Saint Joan morphed back into Forgiving Maiden and Goddess with a Third Eye.
"And I'm not done yet, cause now I activate Stop Defense!" Hiyoko declared, and I'll use it to switch your Forgiving Maiden back into attack position!"
As Yukizome's monster stood up straight, her spectators were rather worried. "That monster only has 850 attack points," Sonia said, sweating.
"Aw man, this is gonna hurt," Kazuichi complained.
"She'll pull through," Hajime said. "Yukizome has a huge lead."
"And now, I summon my Agent of Creation Venus!" Hiyoko exclaimed. "And now, I'll attack with Venus!"
Hiyoko's monster unleashed a colorful beam using the orbs surrounding it and blew away Marie, bringing Yukizome's life points down to 2,050, almost tying the game up.
"Next, I'll play this little card face-down on the field and end my turn," Hiyoko said with a happy tone to her voice.
Nodding, Yukizome picked the top card off of her deck. "I sacrifice Goddess with a Third Eye in order to summon Magna Slash Dragon!" Yukizome declared. "With 2,400 attack points, he's got more than enough attack power to wipe out Venus. Now go my beast, strike!"
Magna slash dragon flew towards Venus, but Hiyoko was prepared for this turn of events.
"Sorry, but that's not going to work!" Hiyoko declared. "Cause I'm activating my face-down card: Ego-Boost!" A card flipped face up showing a glowing green humanoid grinning with its hands against its hips. "This quick play spell increases my monster's attack points by 1,000 points."
"A thousand?!" Akane exclaimed worried.
Venus now had 3,100 attack points, more than enough to obliterate Yukizome's dragon, which it did so with tremendous ease. Yukizome shielded her eyes from the blinding light as her life points fell to 1,350, bringing the game even closer to a tie.
Hiyoko was cackling. "I did it! I won! You're out of luck!"
"Hajime, are you sure now would not be a good time to reassess our strategy?" Sonia asked him.
Hajime gave no response, he simply stared at the duel unfolding, running the possibilities in his head. There were still a couple of ways Yukizome could survive to see her next turn.
"If you're so confident, go ahead and attack," Yukizome goaded.
Hiyoko laughed. "All that bravado and now you're cheering for me to finish you off. You really are a weird woman, Miss Yukizome. And I'm happy to oblige!" Hiyoko exclaimed. She drew the top card of her deck as Venus now only had 2,100 attack points, but it was plenty to finish Yukizome off. "Venus! Attack Miss Yukizome and end this duel!"
"I can't look!" Kazuichi exclaimed.
"Miss Yukizome!" Akane, Sonia and Mikan exclaimed at the same time.
Venus blasted Miss Yukizome with its bright, colorful beams, but the attack was suddenly stopped dead cold in its tracks by a shimmering green light.
"What the…?" Hiyoko gasped.
Hajime smirked. He figured that was Yukizome's strategy.
The astral image of the Goddess of Sweet Revenge appeared behind Yukizome. And at that moment, Hiyoko realized the terrible blunder she'd just made. Uh oh.
"Miss Yukizome goaded Hiyoko into attacking so that she forgot about Miss Yukizome's trump card," Ryota said, snapping his fingers enthusiastically.
Chihiro breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's our teacher!" Hajime exclaimed joyously.
"Indeed, though I do wish she'd take care not to shave time off our lifespans like that."
"To fool your enemies, sometimes you need to fool your allies," Kyoko said. "Hiyoko saw the card's effect coming last time, Yukizome needed her to be fooled into thinking she was defenseless, or her trump card would've become a dud."
"Still, this is exactly what she needed," Kazuichi said, excited. "She can win now! Show her no mercy, Miss Yukizome!"
"Indeed," Miss Yukizome said as the Goddess of Sweet Revenge blasted Hiyoko's Venus away and then a fire erupted around her feet. "I'm going to summon one of the most powerful monsters in my deck. I told you, Hiyoko, not to test my patience. And now, you're going to find out what happens to people that break down my innocent demeanor…" Yukizome said as the flames cast a shadow on her face, revealing the violent, spiteful beast laid dormant within, "and see the terrifying monster that lurks within. I summon to the field, Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju!"
The winged, black dinosaur emerged onto the battlefield, towering over the trees on either side of the exit ramp, roaring proudly. It fanned out the flames it generated with beats of its wings, showing off its 3,000 attack points and 1,200 defense points.
"Hiyoko has only one card left in her hand!" Chihiro exclaimed. "This duel could be over!"
"Could be, but it isn't," Hiyoko said. "While you dumbasses were busy gawking at that overgrown lizard, I happened to see my good fortune with the card I drew this turn: Card of Sanctity! Now, Miss Yukizome and I will draw a new hand of six cards each."
"Aw, man! That gives Hiyoko plenty to work with to turn this around," Kazuichi complained.
"But it also gives Miss Yukizome plenty of resources at her disposal as well," Kyoko pointed out. "Also, her battle phase is over so she can't attack, even if she could get a stronger monster."
"Yeah, but Hiyoko doesn't have a choice," Hajime stated. "It was that or forfeit the duel. And she's too stubborn to give up that easily."
"Finally, someone says something intelligent," Hiyoko said with a condescending smirk. "It's so sad, really, you worked up all that effort to summon such a powerful monster, but it's not going to amount to anything. I activate this magic card: Smashing Ground! This will remove your monster from the field since it's the only monster you control, and to think, you put all that energy into summoning it!" Hiyoko laughed and laughed. Her spell card completely obliterated it as a tremor and a flash of blue light erased any trace of it. "And that's not all, I also activate the special ability of Chaos Sorcerer! By removing a light monster and a dark monster from my graveyard, I can summon this monster at no extra cost!"
A fiendish looking spellcaster appeared on Hiyoko's side of the field wit 2,300 attack points and 2,000 defense points. "And best of all, thanks to the Seal of Orichalcos, I get to increase his attack power by 500 points."
Chaos Sorcerer's attack power jacked up to 2,800.
"And just so you don't get any funny ideas about making a comeback, I'm placing one monster card face-down into defense mode and then I'm setting two more cards face-down. You can beg for mercy now!" Hiyoko laughed and then let out her typical impish laughter.
"Heavy Storm!" Yukizome shouted.
"Wait, wha…?"
Hiyoko had barely notice Yukizome draw a card let alone play a card in her hand, her face-down cards were completely obliterated by the power of Yukizome's spell card.
"B-Big deal!" Hiyoko exclaimed. "You still can't get a monster with enough attack points on the field to destroy my Chaos Sorcerer!"
Yukizome held up Monster Reborn. "Wanna bet money on that?"
"What are you going to do with that?" Hiyoko asked, shivering, not that she didn't already have an idea.
"Come on out and return to me now, Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju!" Yukizome shouted.
Dogoran stormed onto the field once more, its 3,000 attack points just barely strong enough to contend with Hiyoko's Orichalcos boosted Chaos Sorcerer.
"Dogoran, attack, Atomic Flare Blast!"
Dogoran sucked in a breath and then unleashed hot flames all over Hiyoko's Chaos Sorcerer, destroying it. Hiyoko's life points dropped to 900 as she clenched her teeth in frustration.
"Next, I'm setting one monster face-down onto the field and ending my turn," Yukizome stated. "I qualified for Battle City while you claim to hate the game," She declared. "You don't have the skills to defeat me. Let me tie, Hiyoko. I'm not going to request that from you again."
"I don't hate the game, OKAY?!" Hiyoko shouted. "It's just that whenever I got rare cards or tried to put a semi-decent deck together, my stupid cousins would always rip them up or set them on fire while leaving me pinned to the ground! Sometimes BOTH!"
Yukizome winced. She really wasn't sure what to say to that.
"Yeah, that's what I thought, you stupid ginger! Ooooh, listen to me! I don't have parents! I'm a hot mess! You have a boyfriend who loves you and a whole bunch of money and I'll take an empty house any day over an estate that hates me! So just shut your damn mouth!" Hiyoko shouted, her voice straining from all the yelling she'd been doing. "YOU MAKE ME SICK!" She screeched. She drew the top card of her deck. "I sacrifice my face-down monster in order to summon Agent of Judgment – Saturn!" With the power of the Orichalcos, Saturn's normally 2,400 attack points were boosted to 2,900. Her defense points remained the same at 0 however.
"It's time for your stupid dino to go extinct!" Hiyoko exclaimed. "And I know just how to do it too, with this magic card! Black Pendant! This special jewel increases my monster's attack power by 500 points!" Saturn now had 3,400 attack points, which was enough to defeat Yukizome's Kaiju. "And in case you get the funny idea of destroying my monster, if you destroy it, you'll take 500 points of damage!" She chuckled. "No, if my Black Pendant so much as goes to the graveyard, you're gonna take damage."
Exactly what I need to hopefully make this duel end in a draw.
"Saturn! Attack! Wipe out Dogoran! Celestial Rings!"
A black energy arc flew out of Saturn and obliterated Yukizome's Kaiju, reducing her life points to 950. The game was practically even now. Yukizome had the lead by only a mere 50 life points.
"My move," Yukizome stated and drew the top card of her deck. "I sacrifice my remaining monster to summon Teva!" A monk-like feminine looking warrior appeared on Yukizome's side of the field. It had 2,000 attack points and 1,500 defense points.
"Oh yeah? And what are you going to do with that?" Hiyoko asked.
"Nothing much," Yukizome said. "But since I played it successfully," she pointed at Hiyoko triumphantly. "You can't attack next turn!"
Hiyoko growled in frustration. "Stalling for time won't help you!" Hiyoko shouted.
Wrong, Hiyoko, Yukizome thought. Stalling for time is exactly what I need to do right now.
"Wh-whatever! I draw!" Hiyoko exclaimed. She looked at the two cards in her hand. Neither would help her overcome Teva's ability, or clench the duel. "I'm setting a monster," Hiyoko stated. "And now, I end my turn," Hiyoko stated.
"Fine then, I draw!" Yukizome exclaimed. She drew the top card of her deck. Finally, she'd gained something that could end this duel in a draw: Spell Shattering Arrow. All Hiyoko needed to do was play another magic card that stayed on the field, and Yukizome just needed to take somewhere between 450 and 949 points of damage, and she could end the duel in a draw. With Teva already on the field, if she played another monster now, she might be able to force Hiyoko's hand. She looked at the cards in her hand. Yes, she had Shining Fairy. She was far from on her last legs.
"I switch Teva to defense position!" Yukizome exclaimed. "And next, I set one monster face-down onto the field!" The hologram appeared and Teva crouched, holding its hands up in prayer. "That's my turn."
"I can't believe she's really trying to tie again," Hajime said, catching on to Yukizome's plan.
"She is? But I thought she said she was done trying to get through to Hiyoko," Akane said.
"She could just have bad cards," Ryota stated.
"Maybe, but…if that's the case, she would've played something face-down, even as a bluff. I don't know what her plan is exactly, but I believe she's trying to stall for just enough time to go for another draw."
"That's Miss Yukizome for you, she must truly not have given up on Hiyoko, even now."
"Even if Hiyoko doesn't deserve it," Mikan said.
"Maybe it's time we stop thinking like that. I mean, did any of us really understand Hiyoko before she flipped out?" Hajime asked.
"No, I…can't say I did," Sonia replied. None of the other members of 77-B seemed to think differently.
"There's an old saying, you attract more flies with honey than with vinegar. Maybe it's time we started using more honey on Hiyoko than vinegar. Once we get everyone back, we should at least try to be understanding and sympathetic to Hiyoko. Maybe she'll come around."
"We should punish her first. She's being a brat," Akane said.
"Agreed," Ryota, Sonia, Teruteru, Kazuichi, and Mikan all said at the same time.
Hajime sighed, sweat dripping down his face a little. Well, at least they meant well…right?
Back on the battlefield, it was Hiyoko's turn now. She drew the top card of her deck. "I activate Pot of Greed, allowing me to draw two cards!" Hiyoko declared. She then began laughing. "I now sacrifice Saturn and my face-down monster to summon The Big Saturn!"
A gigantic machine, bigger than even Dogoran appeared on Hiyoko's side of the field. It had 2,800 attack points and 2,200 defense points. "And since Black Pendant went to the graveyard, you take 500 points of damage."
Yukizome gasped. Hiyoko had just thrown her draw strategy completely out the window. Her life points fell to 450 as Hiyoko's monster increased its power to 3,300. "Next, I activate Air Cracking Storm!" Hiyoko exclaimed. "This allows me to equip my new machine with the ability to attack twice during my turn as long as its first attack destroys a monster. None of my other monsters can attack, but…" she laughed. "Who cares when I'm pounding you with 3,300 points of raw mechanical power!" Air Cracking Storm turned out to be a giant blue and green mallet that Big Saturn equipped.
"Hey! Machines are my thing, get your own!"
"Shut up! Giant mechs are a Japanese trade going all the way back to Nuclear Power Android in 1948!" Hiyoko shouted.
"You read manga?" Sonia asked, quite surprised.
"Of course I read manga! I read light novels too!" Hiyoko shouted. "Now shut your stupid faces, this is between me and cow tits here!" She exclaimed, pointing at Yukizome. "Now! Big Saturn! Wipe out both of her monsters!"
Big Saturn swung its big mallet around and utterly smashed Yukizome's monsters to pieces. Fortunately, her face-down monster, Shining Angel, allowed her to bring another Shining Angel into attack position at the end of Hiyoko stomping the first one into dust.
With Yukizome's field cleared, Hiyoko could only laugh. "So much for your pitiful defenses. Why don't you just surrender now? At least you'll have your dignity if you do."
"I'm not giving up," Yukizome said. "Not by a long shot." She swiftly drew the top card of her deck. She didn't have the power to shut down Hiyoko's Big Saturn, but she at least could stop it from blasting through the rest of her defenses and costing her the duel. "I activate Spell Shattering Arrow!" Yukizome declared. "This will destroy all face-up spell cards on your side of the field and then inflict 500 points of damage to you for each one destroyed!" Yukizome declared.
The arrow flew true from its face-up artwork and destroyed Air Cracking Storm. Hiyoko seemed less than impressed as her life points fell to 400 points. "Big deal. Saturn's still strong enough to destroy any monster you could possibly summon.
Yukizome quickly looked at her hand. She didn't have very many options, that was for certain. Iona, where are you?
Her best bet right now was to prevent Hiyoko from winning the duel by stomping over whatever monster she chose to summon with Shining Angel. "I sacrifice Shining Angel to play a monster face-down in defense mode!" Yukizome declared. "And then I'll set one card face-down! My turn is over!"
"You're wasting your time," Hiyoko stated. "It's my turn now!" She drew the top card of her deck. "I activate this magic card, Temporal Stasis!" Yellow chains suddenly surrounded Hiyoko's monster. "Here's how it works, I get to draw cards equal to my monster's level, but I can't play any of those cards until my next turn. However, if my monster gains or loses any attack points that are supposed to wear off at the end of the turn, they become permanent for the rest of the duel. And luckily, Saturn has his own special ability, for every card I discard from my hand, he gains 1,000 attack points. Normally I have to pay 1,000 life points for each activation of this ability, but thanks to temporal stasis, until Big Saturn is destroyed, I can't lose life points from card effects and even when he's destroyed, I don't lose the life points I would've lost from those card effects. So now, I draw 8 cards and then throw out my entire hand to power up Big Saturn to become one of the most powerful monsters in all of Duel Monsters' History!"
Big Saturn began glowing with golden light as it doubled in size with an absolutely absurd 11,300 attack points.
"And don't think staying in defense mode will save you," Hiyoko said. "I have a copy of Fairy Meteor Crush in my deck, the effects of which will pound your life points into dust." She held up her duel disk. "And considering I don't have very many cards left in my deck, I'd say the chances are high that I'll draw it soon. In other words, you're going to lose very soon!" She threw one of her arms out and behind her. "Now! Big Saturn, attack and wipe out the last of her defenses!"
Big Saturn's massive glowing fist destroyed Yukizome's monster, Gyakutenno Megami.
I could've used my trap card, Yukizome thought, biting her thumbnail, but I need to save it for when I'm being direct attacked or she summons another monster. And if I could just get Iona…
Hiyoko laughed. "This duel is so pathetically easy, it makes me want to cry. Go ahead and draw Yukizome, I'm sure it'll be just another useless monster for another useless turn. And once you're gone, I'm going to take out Hajime next. Two dragon wielders at once. Father Dartz will be so proud of me. Kyahahahahahahahahaha!"
"Don't start celebrating just yet!" Yukizome exclaimed. "I'm not out of options yet!" Yukizome went for the top card of her deck. A pulsing vibration ran through her fingers. She'd drawn it. And with it, this duel was over. "I summon to the field, The Wing of Iona!"
The majestic pink dragon appeared upon the battlefield, her beautiful pink wings flapping slowly as she emerged with 2,000 attack and defense points.
"Big deal," Hiyoko said. "I'm not scared of that thing. You can only summon a monster once by paying half your life points and I've already destroyed two of your best monsters."
Yukizome shook her head. "Hiyoko, you seem to have forgotten. Iona can fuse with anything. Did you forget that I still have something on the field?"
"Wha…you mean your face-down card?" Hiyoko gaped.
"Hiyoko, I know you don't like me and I know you don't want to be lectured by me, but I want to give you a free piece of advice. In the world of Duel Monsters," Yukizome's face was suddenly cast with a shadow from the shifting light of the moon above, "All things fear death. Reveal face-down card! Dimensional Prison!"
Yukizome flipped her face-down card face-up as Iona merged into the card artwork. The result was Iona becoming a phantasm. Her attack power had barely gone up, only to 2,250 to attack and defense.
"Behold Imprisoned Phantasm Dragon!"
"That's it?" Hiyoko laughed.
"I'm not done!" Yukizome declared. "Last time I played Iona, I didn't have any resources to fuse her together, but thanks to you," Yukizome said, holding up the rest of her hand, "I have plenty of cards, like this one. I fuse Imprisoned Phantasm Dragon with Call of the Haunted, to create a monster so powerful, so utterly terrifying, it is feared by death itself!"
Iona merged once more with Yukizome's trap card as she began chanting an incantation, eyes closed. Thanks to the ancient Atlantean Wisdom bestowed upon her by Iona, Yukizome was about to bring out a monster of true terror. She drew an emblem that was similar to the Orichalcos, but was pink and its spokes were in different positions.
"Come to me oh bringer of death, the champion of the night feared by even the gods. Emerge before me oh gatekeeper to the underworld and bring with you your 100 coffins to purge this wicked soul from my sight! I summon thee! Come, THANATOS!"
A pink light exuded out from Yukizome's position as a gray, draconian hand burst through a parallel dimension. Affected by the very real summoning, Yukizome's eyes were glowing yellow a few tears of blood trickling out of her face as a gust of wind blew around her apron and dress.
Another draconian arm tore open the purple and blue portal, revealing a gray dragon that resembled Iona, except it was surrounded by floating coffins, its head had been reduced to its skull, its empty eye sockets seeping black shadows. Its tail was also bony, but the tip that was exposed was lit with a royal blue flame. The body of Yukizome's new monster was completely dark, ashen gray, except for its feet, which, despite still having scales, were bone white.
A hellish roar emerged from Yukizome's dragon as she spoke its name, "Thanatophile Dragon."
Yukizome's monster had only 2,500 attack and defense points to its name, and the dragon itself was dwarfed by comparison in size to Hiyoko's monster.
Hiyoko continued to laugh. "Only 2,500 attack points? Are you stupid?"
"Thanatophile. Noun. A person fascinated with death and death-related subjects."
Hiyoko stopped laughing, but that was just because she was confused.
"Do you see the coffins surrounding my dragon? They're the imprisoned souls of those foolish enough to have met a grim end at her hands."
Hiyoko gaped. There were dozens of these coffins in multiple rotating circles. "Y-you're just trying to scare me! You can't hurt my monster, it has more than 4 times the attack points yours does."
"Attack points are not everything," Yukizome said as her eyes returned to normal. "Thanatophile Dragon has a special ability. First, I remove cards from my graveyard, fueling its dark powers." Yukizome removed 8 separate cards from her graveyard. "Next, depending on the amount of cards I removed, I can destroy any monster on the field instantly."
"Wait…WHAT?!" Hiyoko shrieked.
"I told you when this duel began, Hiyoko that I would not hold back. Spare the rod. Spoil the child. I will not avert your eyes from death and neither will I your monster." Yukizome gazed up at the massive monstrosity. "Iona," she said, snapping her fingers. "Kill it."
Taking a deep breath Thanatophile Dragon could be seen charging royal blue colored flame in its throat.
"No! This is stupid! This isn't happening! This isn't—"
Hiyoko's words were drowned out by Thanatophile Dragon's blue flames completely engulfing her monster, completely eradicating it.
Hiyoko fell onto her butt, crawling back against the wall of the seal as Thanatophile Dragon floated forward.
"H-hey…this isn't funny Miss Yukizome," Hiyoko said, shaking, looking terrified.
"Your monster has been completely removed from the duel," Miss Yukizome said, remaining by the book. "Not that it matters, one attack and you're done. My ability isn't limited to once per turn and I still have cards in my graveyard and I can still activate it on your turn. And if you somehow managed to destroy Thanatophile Dragon, she will return from the grave again and again. You lose, Hiyoko. Give up."
"H-hey…wh-what about all that stuff you said about this ending in a draw?"
Yukizome clenched a hand over her heart.
"Yeah…c-come on. You wouldn't do this to me, right?" Hiyoko laughed nervously. "I-I'm so small and pathetic. Come on, let's call the whole thing off. I've changed! I'm sorry! Really!" Hiyoko's breath became more and more panicked with every declaration.
"HIYOKO, I TRIED EVERYTHING I COULD! BUT YOU DIDN'T GIVE ME A CHANCE!" Yukizome shouted in anguish, tears pouring down her face. "No matter what, I tried my best not to give up on you. I tried Hiyoko," Yukizome hiccuped. "I really tried. I wanted to save you. I came up with strategies throughout the duel to make this end in a draw, but you wouldn't let me help you! I gave you every chance I could to turn back, but all you did was yell at me!"
"But I only…That was just…" Try as she might, sputter all she did, but no matter how much Hiyoko tried to rationalize her behavior, she realized the cold hard truth. She had no one to blame for her current situation…no one except herself. "Stop! Please! I'm begging you! Stop!"
"Hiyoko, I refuse to stand here locked in stalemate with you, but I promise I will get you back from Dartz. I'm sorry its come to this, truly I am," Yukizome said, and Hiyoko could see the tears. "But I don't think that this situation came about because you failed me as a student. The fact that it's come to this, means I've failed you as a teacher, and I will do my best to correct my mistake when we all return to Hope's Peak Academy together."
"Wait!" Hiyoko begged, reaching an arm out in protest. "Please wait!"
"Iona, end the duel," Yukizome said, choking on tears. "END IT NOW!"
With the tip of her tail, Thanatophile dragon lashed it out, the blue flame drilling into Hiyoko's sternum, pinning her by the tip of her epidermis against the wall of the seal. Hiyoko's life points dropped to 0 and Thanatophile Dragon let her fall to the ground on her butt, the walls of the Seal of the Orichalcos then closed around Hiyoko.
"No! I don't want to lose my soul! Please! I'll be good! Save me! Someone save me! I don't want to lose my soul!" Hiyoko cried out in protest.
Everyone in the car just kind of avoided eye contact with Hiyoko, knowing there was nothing they could do to stop this.
"Miss Yukizome! Mikan!" Hiyoko shouted as her ability to see started to disappear. "MAHIRUUUUUUUUUU!" she exclaimed in desperate protest. Without the ability to see, Hiyoko's sense of being was next. "Father Dartz," she sobbed, unable to see. "Father Dartz…please help me!"
Dartz's voice echoed inside Hiyoko's head. "You've done well my child. Your sacrifice for the Great Leviathan will truly be a boon to its resurrection."
"Father Dartz…please…" Hiyoko pleaded, tears dripping out of her eyes. "Please…give me another chance."
"My child, you've served your purpose. Grooming you was certainly amusing. Your pain, your suffering, I take it all away. You had the power you so chased and in the end you were undone by it, just as I had always anticipated. You were truly a masterful pawn."
Hiyoko choked. She couldn't believe it. She'd trusted Dartz. She'd let him groom her, be nice to her. She even sat in his lap. And in the end, all she was to him was just a pawn to be used, a toy to be thrown away when he'd grown bored of it.
Not sure if she was looking in Miss Yukizome's direction, Hiyoko reached out, hoping it was in the direction of her teacher. "I'm…sorry…"
As Hiyoko collapsed forward, her head fell into something soft. Before her soul was completely taken from her, the only thing Hiyoko could feel…was the sensation of being very warm. And then, just like that, she was gone, leaving her soulless, empty shell of a body behind.
In reality, she had reached towards Yukizome, and despite what the red head had done, she answered Hiyoko's apology. The softness Hiyoko had felt had been Yukizome's bosom. The warmness she felt had been her embrace. Too good for her? Not in Yukizome's eyes. Perhaps, when you finally wake up, you'll realize that I was only trying to help.
She carried Hiyoko back to the car and put her in the trunk with Gundham, tying Hiyoko down with bungie cords so that her body wouldn't rock too badly in the back. She then got back in the driver's seat, shut the door, strapped on her seat belt, put her hands on the wheel, and sighed.
"You okay?" Hajime asked her.
"No, I'm not," Yukizome said. "I don't care how much of an annoying brat she was. She was still my student, as well as your classmate." She turned the key, starting the car. "The fact that I was unable to stop her, or to save her, except by defeating Dartz now, shows that I still have a lot to learn as a teacher." She sighed again. "And I know that…Nagito will likely be the same." She put the car in drive, sighing again. "Let's get out of here. We'll stop for some snacks, gas, and to use the bathroom on the way."
"Snacks? It's a two-hour drive, isn't it?" Kyoko asked.
"No. It's five hours," Yukizome said.
"Five hours?" Hajime was confused.
Yukizome drove down the highway. "We're not going to Gainesville and the museum anymore," Yukizome said. "There's no point. I'm done letting Dartz screw with me. Screw with us! We're going to Paradius. We're taking the fight to him. I'm getting my students back!" she growled.
"Well, you're the adult," Hajime said, finding no reason to argue. He did want Chiaki back after all.
Rafael, Sonia thought solemnly to herself.
As Yukizome drove down the highway, someone put a hand on her shoulder. It was Kyoko. "You did everything you could," Kyoko said to her. "If you want to believe you can still improve, then improve. But I don't think you did anything wrong back there and beating yourself up over the possibilities won't change the reality in front of you." She slunk back into her seat. "That's all I wanted to say."
Yukizome smiled, a tear dripping out, touched by Kyoko's words. She sniffed in hard and then put on a happy face, faking it until she could make it, just like she did when she was growing up. "Oh, heck with it! Group Karaoke time!" She started up music on her ipod. "I face out! I hold out!"
"I reach out to the truth of my life," Her class, and even Chihiro, sang, Kyoko being the only one quiet. However, she was at least smiling.
"Seeking to seize on the whole moment, yeah!" They all sang together.
And there was merriment and cheer all the way to Miami.
(A/N: And then it was presumably crushed by despair because oh my shit none of you are ready for what's about to go down. We're in for another two-parter. Strap in ladies and gents. I advise both for and against reading 79 and 80 at night with the lights off XD. But for now, mmmmm, yeah that's some good writin' in my opinion. Hiyoko's now toast, leaving Dartz with only Rafael and Nagito for company—and make whatever jokes you will about the latter being one of Dartz's only acolytes remaining.
I really also want to take a moment and say that I hope you all see Yukizome's perspective this chapter regarding Hiyoko, and while Hiyoko has been a royal brat to be sure, I hope you can all find it in your hearts to let her try to turn over a new leaf once she's been properly punished.
As for Yukizome's backstory, I know it feels like it came right the heck out of nowhere and I probably could've foreshadowed it even a little since all of the other rivalries had some buildup throughout them, but I wanted Yukizome and Hiyoko's rivalry to remain Teacher and Student. Throwing in my headcanon backstory for her was sort of a last minute decision since I wanted Yukizome to pretty much tell Hiyoko that "I do understand you though, even a little."
At the very least, I am so god damn thankful that this is about as bitchy as Hiyoko will ever get and once we get her back it's back to the usual snide remarks. I don't think I'll ever have her this bad ever again for character development's sake. And while we're on the subject, how many of you want to give Yukizome a hug?
Anyway, I'm blathering at this point just long enough to put this chapter over 10,000 words with author's notes, so all of you have a pleasant week and be prepared for your happy cheery mood to come crashing down with the next couple of chapters. You are not prepared.
And, as always, from all of me, to all of you, let your hearts stay human, and your wrath draconic. Ja ne!)