Dueling Trigger Finger

by draconichero21

Worlds collide as a twisted tale interlocking the fates of both universes begins with the retelling of Battle City, but will cover the wide expanse of the plot of both series. Rated M due to profanity, Junko, sexual themes, Junko, murder, Junko, nightmarish imagery, and did I mention Junko?

101. Hati and Skoll

(A/N: Surprise! One more chapter before the new DLC. Byleth's classic mode was so infuriating, I decided to take a break from Smash since I had mostly finished this chapter before the character dropped anyway. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. It's um…well, I don't want to spoil before the show has started, but sit down and strap in. You're gonna be here a while

Also, content warning for people that are sensitive to darker material and Junko's...Junkoness. I want to properly warn all of you, but at the same time I don't want to spoil anything so...yeah).

---

Settling back into Hope's Peak after a week long vacation in the United States was much easier for Yugi than he thought it would be. As the sun trickled in through his window, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and stretched. Then he slipped into the bathroom, showered, brushed his teeth and got dressed.

"All right," he spoke aloud to himself. "All set."

He then walked outside to the sun looking pretty low to the East. And, in addition, found his classmate, Kiyotaka Ishimaru jogging. He was wearing pristinely kept workout sweats and a headband with running shoes and everything.

"Oh, good morning, Taka!" Yugi exclaimed.

"Oh, Yugi! Good morning," Taka said cordially, jogging in place. "It's unusual to see you up so early. Trouble sleeping? I'm afraid you've caught me in the middle of my morning run."

"What? Oh. No," Yugi said, laughing a little. "I must still be wired to American hours. I only got back last night after all."

"I see," Taka replied.

"I didn't know you jogged, Taka," Yugi said.

"A student must keep their body as sharp as their mind. If your body is weak, you are incapable of defending yourself from physical assaults from delinquents!"

Mondo must still be giving him trouble, Yugi thought.

Taka, realizing his morning routine was being interrupted, decided to stop his jogging and take a moment to chat. He was ahead of schedule and as class representative, he had a duty to his students before he had one to himself.

"Is everything all right?" Taka asked.

"Huh? Oh. No. I'm fine. Just not used to seeing you without your pristinely pressed white suit is all."

Taka laughed joyously. "My fine friend, a suit is for presenting one's self, work clothes are for working." He folded his arms. "You must always present yourself for the occasion! To do any less would be slovenly!"

He certainly takes it all so seriously, Yugi thought.

"Actually, if you have a moment, there is something I've been meaning to ask you," Taka said, wincing.

"Oh? What's the matter?" Yugi asked.

"Your…talent. I'm afraid I don't understand it. Ultimate…Duelist, is it? You described it as you being an undefeated champion in a world renown game as Duel Monsters. Yet, I fail to see the appeal. This question has weighed on me for some time now. I thought perhaps if I observed you and the other two Ultimate Duelists, Seto Kaiba and Hajime Hinata, I might learn something." Taka bit his lower lip and cast down his head, fists clenched. "Yet, I am still no closer to understanding how such a talent benefits one's studies."

"Studies?" Yugi asked. "Duel Monsters is a game."

Taka closed one eye. It was clear this was bothering him. "Yes, I understand the value of a gaming talent. Miss Celestia Ludenburg is the Ultimate Gambler, a talent with application to make better guess work. Senpai Chiaki Nanami has extremely advanced hand-eye coordination, which has all sorts of applications. But dueling? What could dueling possibly aid with other than being good at that specific game?"

Yami's astral form appeared next to Yugi. "It would appear our classmate is struggling to understand our abilities and the usefulness of them because of his own view of the world."

"Honestly, I'm still a bit shocked we're here at all," Yugi admitted.

"Allow me then. I might be able to shed some light on all of this," Yami offered.

Yugi gave control to Yami, startling Taka when his classmate suddenly sprouted up nearly a foot.

"What the…? What happened to your body?" Taka asked.

"I guess you could say I'm another side of Yugi," Yami replied, smiling, arms folded.

"And your voice! This goes beyond even my research into Dissociative Identity Disorder."

"Taka, listen to me," Yami said calmly, looking serious. "Not everything you think about my talent is as you know."

"Well then…please explain. I cannot grow if I do not learn," Taka encouraged, standing rigidly.

"Duel Monsters' history dates all the way back to 5,000 years ago to Ancient Egypt. The card game has its roots in games played by Egyptian sorcerers with powers over real monsters."

Taka gasped. "What? I never knew that! Although…honestly, I never really got into Duel Monsters. I don't have time to play games at all really." He pointed an index finger up over Yami's head and spoke loudly. "I must become the best I can be to achieve the greatest things any human can," he clenched both of his fists, "and lead by example!"

Yami nodded. "Well, everything I've just said is true. And the fact of the matter is, Duel Monsters helps me connect to that ancient past in a way." It was technically true. "I cannot speak for Hajime or Kaiba, but I know that, for me, dueling is what drives me forward. It guides me and leads me into contact with friends, adversaries, and myths both real and imagined." He held the Millennium Puzzle. "This here is an ancient artifact from Egypt itself, the Millennium Puzzle. Its purpose lost to time and only through mastering Duel Monsters will I eventually find the answers."

"Fascinating," Taka said, trying to comprehend all of this. "So you're saying that by better understanding Duel Monsters, you grow as an individual because of the accomplishments you make? By being a master at the game, it is the same to you as mastering a martial art, or a sport."

"You could look at it that way," Yami stated.

"And to be so good at the game you are an Ultimate…that must require intense strategic thinking." Taka had a basic understanding of the game through observance.

"It does actually, as well as faith, both in myself and in my cards," Yami replied.

"Ah! I think I get it now! No wonder Duel Monsters is so popular. It's not just some children's card game, but a tool of self-betterment. It combines elements of meditation, tactics, and even memorization, not to mention basic addition and subtraction. Eureka! It's a multi-faceted phenomenon with even historical significance!"

"Er, that's…"

"Let him have his fun," Yugi said to Yami with a smile. "Taka doesn't normally get fired up about something like this."

Taka stood rigidly at attention. "Yugi! You have opened my eyes to the errors of my thinking." He bowed gracefully to Yugi. "I will begin investigating how Duel Monsters can help me during what little spare time I have." He stood upright. "I hear that Seto Kaiba is hosting a tournament for the world's finest next week. I believe I will spectate it. When it is over, will you hear my comprehensive thesis on what I have learned?"

"Er…"

Yugi nodded several times.

"Yes, I will listen."

"Wonderful!" Taka exclaimed. "I cannot wait!" He then stomped his foot. "Okay! I'm going to finish my exercise in record time even with the time I've lost!" He then let out a furious scream and ran past Yugi, creating a dust cloud.

Yami sighed, groaning internally.

"I think it's good that Taka found a reason to get into Duel Monsters. It really isn't just a game, it has something for everyone."

"I suppose you might be right," Yami replied. "Still…"

Silently, Yami remained in control for a bit longer and began heading towards the forest.

"Where are we going? The school's the other way."

"Just trying to find somewhere quiet," Yami replied. He stopped when he found a clearing in the middle of the woods and sat down on a rock, listening to the birds and squirrels and bugs. "It's quite peaceful here."

"Yeah," Yugi agreed. He then saw the stern, closed-eyed look on Yami's face. "Something's bothering you. What is it?"

"Junko's talk about destiny," Yami said. "We worked hard to defeat Marik and Dartz, but in the end the final blow was struck by another."

"I think it's great that we don't have to constantly do everything ourselves. Hajime and Yukizome really helped us out," Yugi told him with a smile.

"Even so, to work so hard only for others to be put in danger…"

Yugi grabbed Yami's hand. "You're overthinking it," Yugi told him. "Téa, Joey and Tristan have also put themselves in harm's way for us. And don't forget, we still defeated Pegasus together."

Yami sighed. "Yes. Pegasus."

Now it was Yugi's turn to sigh. "Now what?"

"Pegasus. Marik. Dartz. Evils the likes of which are unique to this world. Each time the world is engulfed in darkness, we help set it right and each time a new evil arises. But…Dartz was nearly a year ago. I can't help but feel anxious."

"I'm glad to have a break in all the action," Yugi said. "That gives us more time to find out your secrets, pal."

"And yet we've come no closer to that either. We've obtained three Millennium items with four still out there somewhere, one of which belongs to Bakura."

"Right," Yugi responded, "The spirit of the ring."

"And yet, he's made no attempt on the puzzle in all this time. I just feel like if we aren't given something to combat, a sign that evil is still lurking, we will be unprepared when next it strikes, or mistake it for something mundane…"

Yami immediately moved off his rock right as a foot came crashing down, shattering it to pieces.

"All right, where are you? I sensed ya! Come on out!" Standing where he had just been amidst the rubble was Akane Owari.

Yami sighed. So much for peace and quiet.

"Oh, it's just you, Yugi?" she asked, confused. She seemed disappointed. "Man, I thought I sensed this really powerful presence, but you're no fun to fight, you'd break like a twig."

"A really powerful presence?" Yami asked.

"Yeah," Akane said, punching her fist into her palm. "And it's close real close. It's not bloodlusted, but I can feel it in my bones." She gave off a demonic grin and held her hands at her sides. "I'm gettin' pumped up just thinking about fighting them, whoever they are!"

"I think she's talking about you," Yugi laughed.

"Me? But why?" Yami responded.

"Well you do have such a commanding aura about you. Maybe she's sensitive to the energies of the Millennium Puzzle. Here, let me."

Yugi took control. "Do you still sense it, Akane?"

Akane blinked and was shocked. "…No. All of a sudden it just…went away." She scratched her ear with her pinky. "Aw, man. What a disappointment."

"Such perception. Seems you were right, Yugi," Yami told him.

Yugi nodded.

"Hey, Yugi. You're up pretty early," Akane said. "And I'll wager you haven't eaten breakfast yet. Well, let's go! I'm starvin' myself! We need to get some food!"

"Uh…sure…" Yugi said, smiling nervously.

When it came to Akane, she had a record lately of doting on him because of his height.

"When I see small hungry things, I can't help but want to make sure they're eating right," she had told him the first time she did it.

Yugi and Yami later found out this was because of Akane's vast amount of step siblings and her lack of money and the fact that she was head of her own household. So, in the interest of making her happy, Yugi let her spoil him on occasion when they crossed paths.

"Man, your hair is always so spikey, but soft," Akane said as she ruffled Yugi's hair while they ate in the dining hall, sitting next to each other. "It's also really strange that it's three different colors. How do you do that, anyway?"

"Well, I—"

Yugi and Akane were distracted by Yukizome stepping into the room in her housekeeper best. "Ah, there you are, Akane. Oh! And Yugi too!"

"Hi, Miss Yukizome!" Yugi greeted her with a smile.

"Yo, teach. Wassup?" Akane asked with a big goofy grin.

"There's an old man on the phone asking for you by full name."

Akane stood up, surprised. "What? Master's calling me?"

"Master?" Yukizome asked.

"Yeah, the old geezer that taught me how to be a gymnast," Akane stated. "Have we never discussed this before?"

Yukizome shook her head. "You don't talk a lot about your history. You kind of mostly talk about food."

Akane grinned. "That's cause it's so tasty."

"Akane. Phone call. My office," Yukizome said.

"Ah, right. Right." She sighed. "Jeez, must be a competition going on or something. Thanks, Miss Yukizome. Make sure Teruteru doesn't clean my plate up!" She then tore off into the hall.

Yukizome then turned her attention to Yugi. "So, I take it Kaiba's already told you about the Grand Prix."

Yugi nodded. Then he winced. "Wait…are you?"

Yukizome produced her letter of invitation. "Ta-dah!"

Yugi swallowed. Of all the potential duelists, Yukizome was one he was actually afraid of facing given the stories he had heard.

"Oh, don't give me that look," Yukizome said with a happy smile, almost laughing. "I don't use my powers for evil when the duel is all in good fun." She pointed directly at Yugi. "Still, even if you are an Ultimate Duelist, I won't hold back, not against you, or even my own students."

"Yeah, you defeated Dartz by yourself after all, so I know you'll do really well. I'll be cheering for you if I can," Yugi said.

Yukizome knew that he meant that in the "as long as her opponent wasn't someone he was more familiar or friendly with" sense. "It should be fun! Finally, a tournament with nothing to worry about. I know Kaiba wouldn't make the same mistake twice and let some creep like Marik get involved again. Sorry, I couldn't be of more help in Battle City. I had…other priorities."

"Well, you are an adult. You can't always be expected to drop what you're doing just for a tournament," Yugi said.

Yukizome laughed. "That's so true. And speaking of adult work." She seemed to produce a mop and bucket from almost out of nowhere. "I've got cleaning to do. We can chat, but this place isn't going to scrub itself."

"Oh, that's fine. I actually need to finish eating and then I think I might drop by my classroom early," Yugi said. "I'll see you later, okay?"

Yukizome nodded and then got to scrubbing.

---

Opening homeroom was pretty mundane, as mundane as Homura setting something on fire and pitching it out the window again could be considered mundane.

Afterwards, after a bit of walking around, Yugi spotted Mukuro, Sayaka and Makoto heading off campus. He dashed up to them. "Hey, where are you guys off to?" Yugi asked.

"Well, it's Saturday," Makoto said. "And it's still summer break for most schools. Kaiba has a brand new dueling dome that's opening tomorrow in preparation for the tournament and since I'm a participant, I get priority access."

"A dueling dome?" Yugi asked.

"Supposedly it's supposed to have new, updated hard light graphics so real, they're practically life like," Sayaka said. "You know, higher definition and more fluid movement."

"And, apparently a demo for that new video game Hajime's helping Kaiba Corp work on will be available in another part of the dome."

"Oh, neat!" Yugi exclaimed. "Well then, let's go!"

"Oh, we're still waiting on a couple more people," Makoto said.

"Yoohoo!" Junko exclaimed, dashing up to the group with Hina in tow.

"Hey, Junko. Hina," Yugi said, greeting them both.

"I'm so psyched to go out into the city with you guys." She laughed bubbly. "I've never really done something like this before with my classmates, so this ought to be fun. I just bought a new deck so I'd like to test it out!" Hina exclaimed, getting pumped up.

"Oh, so just like Mukuro then," Makoto laughed. "Let's all go have a fun time."

"Hoooooold everything!"

The group saw Homura approaching. Everyone except Junko and Mukuro flinched.

"You can't just go wandering off campus without permission. No unauthorized field trips," she said, wagging a finger. "It's against the rules."

"Is it?" Yugi asked, not sure.

"If you're looking for an excuse to chaperone, you don't have to make things up," Junko smirked.

"Wow, nothing gets by you, huh? All right, fine. Yeah, I want to take along. Got a problem with that?" Everyone shook their heads. "Well good, cause I'm going." She folded her arms and turned her head to the side. "Maybe give Kaiba a piece of my mind while I'm there."

"You know Kaiba?" Yugi asked.

"Um, duh. How do you think I got this job?" she asked, leaning over and pointing to herself along her cheek. "He pulled me out of a demolition site I was working on and told me I was the Steering Committee's last pick for teaching you guys. Apparently the other 19 people they had lined up turned 'em down. Can't imagine why. Honestly. I can't. So, it was either step up or let the drunken idiot take the reins and lose a talent scout." By drunken idiot, the group knew she meant Kizakura.

"Oh yeah, you were a senior when Kaiba was a freshman," Makoto said as if it just dawned on him. "I guess you two kind of know each other."

Homura laughed suddenly sounding proud of herself. "Who do you think helped give his company the resources to help make Kaiba Corp Island go boom?"

Should've figured, Makoto thought.

"Well, if our teacher is coming we can bill this to Hope's Peak for expenses," Junko chuckled.

"Oh. Wow. I didn't think of that. Yeah. Let's put that taxpayer money to good work," Homura said smacking her fist down into her awaiting palm.

Yugi suddenly stared at the ground.

"What's the matter, Yugi?" Hina asked him.

"I'll be right back. Don't leave yet, okay?"

"Hey, we've got all day. Place doesn't open till 11 anyway," Junko said.

Yugi went running back towards the school and went straight for the library. He found Taka pouring over some books.

"Taka," he whispered.

"Yugi. What brings you to the library?"

"Miss Takashiro's organizing a voluntary field trip to the new Dueling Dome. I thought this might be a good opportunity to gain some knowledge on Duel Monsters."

"A field trip to a Kaiba Corp facility? Yes, that's the perfect place to learn." Excited, Taka closed his books and went up to a busty, pink haired girl behind the librarian's desk. "I'll be checking out these books, Kiriko."

The girl smiled. "Sure, Taka. Have a pleasant weekend."

He nodded and then headed for the front door, grabbing the knob. "Shall we be off?"

Yugi smiled and he and Taka met up with the group.

And the increase in party size didn't stop there. After crossing three streets down, Yugi spotted his old friends waiting by the bus stop. Tristan noticed Yugi's approach first and elbowed Téa. She turned her head and saw Yugi in the distance, happily waving him over.

"Are you guys heading for the dueling dome too?" Yugi asked excitedly.

"Sure are," Joey said. "But what about you? I know we're on vacation, but you still got class, don'tcha?"

"We're officially on a field trip," Homura told Joey.

"Oh, you must be Yugi's teacher, Miss Takashiro," Bakura said. "Good to finally meet you. Yugi's told us so much about you."

"Oh, has he?" Homura asked with a mischievous grin as she leaned over and got in Yugi's personal space. "Only good things, I hope?"

Yugi swallowed, sweating, laughing nervously. He didn't want to be target practice.

"Sayaka!" Miho exclaimed, hugging her childhood friend. She danced in a circle with her and the two started chatting outright and catching up.

Téa, realizing the ice had properly been broken and that Yugi's new friends were pretty amicable, looked at Yugi's group and didn't recognize two of them. "I don't think we've met," she said to Hina and Taka.

"I'm Kiyotaka Ishimaru!" Taka announced loudly. "I'm Hope's Peak Academy's Ultimate Moral Compass and consistent leader of the Public Morals Committee!"

"And the loudest voice this side of Tokyo," Joey said, cleaning his ear.

"Public Morals Committee, huh? Me too," Tristan said. "And if you're an ultimate, maybe you can teach me a few things."

"Ah! A student to pass my knowledge onto! I will help in any way I can!" Taka exclaimed proudly. He then began to give Tristan a few pointers.

Hina then took the opportunity to introduce herself. "I'm Aoi Asahina. But my friends call me Hina. I'm the Ultimate Swimming Pro."

"I'm Téa," Téa introduced.

"Oh, I already know who you guys are. Yugi's got tons of pictures of you guys. It's nice to finally meet you."

"Tons of pictures?" Téa asked, now curious.

Hina nodded. She and Téa then began chatting endlessly.

"No Frenchy, Yug?" Joey asked.

Yugi shook his head. "Celeste said she didn't want to come. Something about having better things to do with her time. She also said she might use the peace and quiet to practice for the tournament."

"So Frenchy's competing too, huh? Why am I not surprised?" Joey asked rhetorically.

"I'm excited," Yugi said with a smile. "I know I'm just the exhibition match for the winner, but it'll be nice to see all of my friends dueling against some of the greatest duelists in the world."

"Yeah, should be entertaining," Homura agreed.

"Are you competing, Joey?" Makoto asked him.

Joey nodded. "Yup, got my invitation yesterday. Guess rich boy realized you can't have a proper tournament without Joey Wheeler."

"Or maybe he just realizes it'd be bad for PR if the best friend of his grand prize wasn't at least invited," Junko snickered.

"Hey! If you got something to say to me blondie, say it to my face," Joey said, getting upset. Tristan pulled him back.

"Ah, I see I don't need to teach you about proper holding procedures," Taka stated.

"You kidding? I've been keeping this knucklehead out of trouble for years," Tristan pointed out.

Junko's voice suddenly alerted Téa to her presence. "And why exactly are you coming along?"

"Didn't Yugi tell you? I'm competing too," Junko said.

"What? You?" Téa balked.

Junko chuckled. "What's the matter? Upset that I pass you in dueling ability too."

"Junko…" Téa grumbled, twitching.

Hina watched Junko and Téa lock gazes and thought, where have I seen that intense look before? She needed to only glance at Mukuro and Sayaka and realize what was going on.

---

The dome in question wasn't exactly what most in the group were expecting. It was in the shape of the head of a Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

"This is going to be the centerpiece for when Kaiba Land Tokyo finally opens up," Homura pointed out.

"How do you know that?" Joey asked.

Homura showed her the article she'd just pulled up on her phone.

"Well, there you go, I guess," Joey said.

"Oh, wow, big crowd today it seems."

The group looked to see Mokuba near the entrance. "What's up kiddo?" Joey asked him.

"Seto's got me down here on the ground for maintenance," Mokuba said. "Chihiro and Hajime have their own assignments so I've gotta do my part as well. The Grand Prix starts Thursday so everything has to be ready. Come on inside."

The group followed Mokuba inside and were led into the dueling arena.

"Whoa, this place is huge," Tristan marveled.

"You're looking at the biggest indoor dueling arena in the world now," Mokuba said.

"Largest, hmm? Wow. Kaiba just has to have the biggest and best technology, doesn't he?" Junko smirked.

"Well yeah, we're the leaders in the business," Mokuba said proudly, misunderstanding the intentions of Junko's comment.

"Oh, hey," Makoto said, watching a duel in progress. "I remember this set up. This is just like those dueling terminals that were used to help see who was qualified for Battle City."

Mokuba nodded. "Yup, but we fine tuned this specific system and it's currently in beta format. No bugs, but we're not done implementing all the deck data we got for its installation."

"What a remarkable piece of technology," Taka marveled. "This is what Kaiba does with his talent? It's incredible."

"What's so different between this model and the last model?" Junko asked.

"Well, now we've got twenty difficulty levels," Mokuba said. "And some of the deck structures are based on the decks and strategies of actual pros sent to us directly instead of just basic structures. And of course, it was play tested by Chiaki and Hajime themselves. Plus, thanks to Chihiro, the AI is self-evolving so certain levels can learn to predict an opponent's strategy mid-duel. The previous terminal couldn't do that."

Homura took an inquisitive look around.

"What's wrong, Professor?" Taka asked her.

"You guys went pretty heavy on the security," she noted. "Your blast doors are military grade. Would be difficult to escape from if we got locked in here."

"Y-yeah, I guess you could say that," Mokuba said, a little off put by Homura's priorities.

"Well, if we did get trapped in here, we'd just have to repopulate humanity," Junko chuckled. "Besides, a big closed space and a bunch of people. Add a little food and this place could be a shelter."

"Please don't add to the creepiness, Junko," Téa requested politely.

The group watched the current duelist lose to a combo of DNA surgery, Polymerization, scapegoat and a monster on the field to summon Five Headed Dragon for massive damage. His friends all gathered around him to console him, but none of them seemed eager to get up there themselves.

As the first to realize this, Mukuro pulled out her deck. "Um, Makoto," she said, holding her deck in front of her chest, blushing. "Will you watch me test my new deck?"

Makoto nodded. "Sure, Mukuro."

"Wait, how come you get to go first?" Hina asked. "Can we at least rock paper scissors for it?"

Mukuro, knowing it best by now to fall in line with some social norms, marched up to Hina and played a quick round of the game with her. Hina lost. Rock breaks scissors.

Hina giggled. "Guess you beat me fair and square, huh? All right. I'll wait my turn then. No big deal."

Mukuro waltzed up to the dome and stood upon the arena.

Junko hung back and watched her. You know, on some level, it's kind of adorable watching her trying to be normal.

Within seconds after thinking that, people started swarming her and Yugi, recognizing them from the magazine cover teaser due next week, and just in general.

"Oh, wow! Junko Enoshima, in person!"

"And it's Yugi Mutoh too!"

"Wow! Sayaka Maizono!"

"Joey Wheeler! Can I have your autograph!"

The dome was suddenly abuzz with star struck children and parents.

"All right, one at a time, cool yer jets," Joey chuckled, happy for the recognition.

Junko and Yami even did the iconic pose together for the entertainment of their fans. Téa, watching this, was not amused.

Stupid Junko. Wish I had fans to pose with Yugi and…stuff, she pouted.

Okay so after careful examination…I should pick level seven, Mukuro thought as she placed down her deck. However, just as she was raised over the ground, the power went out across the dome.

In the darkness, Junko grinned. This was not her doing or even her desire. And there was no way the Kaiba brothers had the ire of the power company. There was only one explanation: sabotage.

"Well, this will be interesting," Junko mused aloud to herself amidst the panic. "Mukuro, do you…" she then saw Mukuro standing on her side of the dueling arena. "…oh…right." Well, shoot. Guess I'll have to do this myself.

However, as Junko made for one of the doors, all of them slammed shut, trapping all the dome goers in, causing even further panic. Junko's heart raced. Well, a troublemaker after my own heart. Just listen to those cries of despair.

"What happened?" Joey gasped.

"Tristan," Miho whined, leaning into him. "Hold me, I'm scared."

Tristan rubbed her shoulder. "It's going to be all right, Miho."

Mokuba opened up the emergency panel as Makoto hovered over him. "Anything?"

"I don't know. The whole system is frozen. I can't get a response at all," Mokuba told him.

Homura held up her phone. "Cell reception's dead too. I can't get a call out."

"So we're trapped with no way out?!" Sayaka panicked.

"There is no cause for alarm!" Taka shouted. "Everyone who can hear my voice, please begin lining up single file. Put your right hand on the shoulder of the person in front of you and follow me into the stands!"

"I've got the rear!" Tristan shouted. "Come on, Miho," he said, shuffling her along.

"Mukuro!" Homura called to her. "You don't have any explosives on you I can borrow, do you?"

"I do not!" Mukuro hollered back.

"Well shoot, so much for that plan," Homura said, snapping her fingers in disappointment.

"What do you mean?" Hina shrieked.

"I don't normally carry very potent explosives, at least not ones that can blast open doors like the ones sealing us in," Homura explained. "I was hoping Mukuro might've had some emergency components, but I guess we're out of luck."

"Then how do we get out of here?!" Sayaka shouted.

In response to her question, the dueling arena sprang to life, but there was a problem.

"Level 20?!" Makoto gasped.

Mukuro gasped too. That wasn't good.

"What's going on? We fixed all of the bugs! This shouldn't be happening!" he said, shaking the panel.

"It's simple," Junko said. "You've got an adversary with a personal vendetta and this is his or her way of saying hello."

"But who would do this?" Mokuba asked.

"No idea," Junko said. "But I have every aim to find out." For my own benefit of course.

"Level twenty…there's no way Mukuro can handle that," Makoto said. "I'd be scared to—"

"No, we can leave it to her," Junko said. "At least for the moment."

"What? Are you crazy?" Makoto asked her.

"I am, but not in the way you currently mean it," Junko responded.

Yami, having been in control since the lights went out, said, "Makoto, look at Mukuro, does that look like the face of someone in peril?"

Makoto watched Mukuro carefully, she was standing in an unconcerned, professional manner. Even her visible exhale seemed deliberate, like she was releasing tension or unleashing something from within herself.

"Mukuro?"

"Oh yeah, I forgot she could do this," Junko said. "When she's backed into a corner, big sis can do some truly incredible things."

Yugi and Makoto blinked and the top card of Mukuro's deck was already in her hand. "Setting two cards," she said, completely entranced on the duel. The face-down cards appeared. "Summoning Silver Fang in attack mode."

A silver wolf with glowing yellow eyes appeared. It had 1,200 attack points and 900 defense points.

Mission objectives: win this duel. Focus level: 100%. Makoto, watch me. I will get us all out of here. She glanced down briefly at him and their eyes met. Normally, locking eyes with Makoto for more than a second would turn Mukuro into a blushing mess, but not right now. Right now, she was not human. She was a soldier and all she saw was this machine locking her into this cramped space and she would make sure that it would cease doing so by any means necessary. "End turn," Mukuro declared.

"What?" Hina gasped. "But that monster's so weak. Level 20 must be able to summon like, I don't know, a monster that's like 10 times that strong or something."

"Hina, that would be a 12,000 attack point monster," Makoto said. "I don't think that's that easy to pull off."

The deep booming voice of the duel computer sounded off. "Drawing card," it said as a hologram of six cards appeared in front of the interface. "Now playing Berserk Gorilla." A powerful ape with 2,000 attack points stormed the field, beating its chest and snarling angrily. "Berserk Gorilla attacks."

The children cowered as Berserk Gorilla charged towards Mukuro's otherwise weak wolf.

"Activating quick play spell: Blessing of the Full Moon," Mukuro said without a hint of emotion or worry. A large full moon appeared over the center of the battlefield. "When activated, all beast-type wolf monsters double in their attack points until the end of the turn."

Silver Fang howled as its attack power doubled to 2,400, more than a match for Berserk Gorilla. Berserk Gorilla's punch missed the wolf as it then flanked the ape and chomped at its neck, slamming it with its powerful jaws into the ground, destroying the monster. First blood had been drawn by Mukuro. Her opponent now had only 3,600 points.

"Whoa, she's awesome," one of the little kids in the audience said, watching the duel.

"Setting two cards face-down," the computer's deep voice beeped robotically. "Ending turn. It is not opponent's turn."

Once again, Makoto and Yugi didn't even see Mukuro draw her hand moved so fast.

Analyzing, Mukuro thought, scanning the field. Analytical talent wasn't exclusive to Junko. Both sisters used it in remarkably different ways. Likelihood of battle trap, over 90%. Chances of saving Silver Fang. Mukuro glanced at her hand. Zero. She looked back at the field. Commencing combat strategy. "Silver Fang attacks directly," she declared only just loud enough to be necessary.

"Activating Battle Trap, Widespread Ruin. Silver Fang is destroyed."

Silver Fang was caught in an explosion that utterly blasted it like it had stepped on a land mine. This brought worry, fear and despair to the onlookers.

But Mukuro didn't even flinch. "Activating trap card," Mukuro said as robotically as humanly possible without sounding…off. "Spirit of the Cyber Wolf! When a beast-type Wolf monster is destroyed, I am able to look at the top 7 cards of my deck. If a machine-type Wolf monster is among them, I can summon it regardless of its normal summoning conditions."

No one even saw the transition between Mukuro putting down her hand and picking up seven cards.

"Whoa, she's fast," Mokuba said.

"Summoning Blade Wolf RX90."

A mechanical wolf monster emerged on the field with a claw for a tail, decked in black armor with glowing red eyes. It had 2,700 attack points and 1,300 defense points.

"All cards revealed by Spirit of the Cyber Wolf are shuffled into the deck," Mukuro stated. Her shuffled so quick that all anyone saw was her pick up her deck and place it back where it belonged with a slam.

All eyes were on Mukuro, the only chance that anyone had of getting out of here.

Junko, noticing everyone's focus, decided to slink into the shadows. This is so binary, it hurts. Using the light from her cell phone, Junko looked for a maintenance hatch or some sort of way out of the dome that didn't require the sealed doors. After a bit of digging, she did find one and, with the power out, the magna-seal wasn't working and she let herself down, using the light as a guide to climb down the ladder.

Let's see about finding a control room or finding some kind of server. I'll find who you are yet, mystery sabotager.

Back on the ground level, Mukuro was continuing her turn. Her hand consisted of four cards. "Setting monster." She said, placing a monster face-down in defense position. She looked at the other three.

I should bluff.

"Setting a card," Mukuro stated, as a face-down hologram appeared. "Ending turn."

"It is my turn now," the computer boomed. "Summoning Slate Warrior in attack mode!"

A slender monster with a shiny blue head appeared. It had 1,900 attack points.

"Revealing face-down card, continuous trap Ultimate Offering. Additional monsters can be summoned on turn at the cost of 500 life points. Summoning Armored Bee in attack mode." The computer now had 3,100 points.

A metal covered bee appeared with 1,600 attack points and 1,200 defense points.

"What's it gonna do with those?" Joey wondered.

"Activating special effect of Armored Bee. Cutting attack points of target monster in half. Targeting Blade Wolf RX90."

Armored Bee shot a stinger at Mukuro's monster that reduced its attack points to 1,350.

"Attacking with Slate Warrior for damage," The computer declared as its monster rushed forward to punch Mukuro's weakened wolf in the face.

Mukuro didn't flinch, but her monster was shattered into fragments of light instantly. Mukuro's life points drained to 3,450.

"Well so much for a big badass metal wolf monster!" Tristan shouted in frustration.

It is fine, Mukuro thought. I absolutely… her eyes briefly flashed yellow as she stared ahead at her adversary, the world around her growing quiet, her focus squarely on the task before her …will not lose.

---

Meanwhile, down in the maintenance tunnel, Junko was poking around, looking for any type of clue or direction when she heard footsteps approaching from behind. She turned her head, but didn't move her cell phone and saw a golden glow. Uh oh. Had Yugi followed her down here?

"Well, well, well, I don't normally chase after rats crawling through sewers, but in your case, I think I'll make an exception."

The glow was revealed to belong to the Millennium Ring and its wearer, Bakura, stood behind it, the trinket hanging from his neck.

Junko turned around and used her phone to light herself up. "Ah, the spirit of the ring. I was wondering when you'd make a move on me."

"Oh? You were expecting a visit? I should've knocked then."

Junko smirked. "You're after the millennium items, right? You must already know I possess the Millennium Key."

"I do indeed. That's why I'm here. The Pharaoh can't protect you when you're all alone. How foolish of you to wander off alone."

"Me? Foolish?" Junko asked, taking her Dio Brando pose. "You must have me confused with someone else. And you think the Pharaoh is protecting me? Also wrong. No one protects me, spirit. I can take care of myself."

"We'll see how confident you feel when I send you to the shadow realm."

Junko held up a finger and wagged it, winking briefly. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"And why not?" Yami Bakura asked.

"Because the paper trail would lead straight back to you and far too fast for your liking. And you and I both know the chances of you defeating the Pharaoh in a fair duel is low."

"How brave of you," the spirt responded.

"Listen, instead of stealing my Millennium Key, why don't we broker a deal?"

"I'm listening," Yami Bakura said, folding his arms.

"I've no need of the Millennium Items after a certain point. And if you cooperate with me, you can have mine."

"I could just take it from you," Yami Bakura said. "How would us teaming up avail me?"

Junko smiled. "You don't seem to know who you're dealing with, do you? You think that I'm one of the Pharaoh's greatest allies and close confidants, ready to defend his honor and put my neck on the line for him at a moment's notice."

The spirit's eyes narrowed, confused. "Aren't you?"

"That couldn't be further from the truth," Junko said, going back to her Dio pose. "It might appear that way, but that's only because that's how I want things to seem. Why don't you and I chat for a bit spirit, do you have a name?"

"I go by many names," the spirit smirked.

"Then I'm just going to call you Florence. Okay? Okay."

The spirit spouted gibberish indignantly for a moment, but recanted. Junko interested him all of a sudden and he was willing to put up with a silly name like Florence if it meant learning something interesting.

---

While Junko and Florence got acquainted, Mukuro continued her duel against the computer.

"Armored Bee attacks face-down monster with armored sting."

Mukuro's monster was revealed to be a silver metal wolf with a red, furry underbelly with only 1,200 defense points before it was destroyed.

Some children in the audience cried.

"Setting card," the computer declared as it set a card in its hand face-down, bringing it down to one card in its hand. "Ending turn."

Once again, Mukuro drew faster than anyone else could see. "Activating special ability of monster in the graveyard: Chimeric Wolf AF00. Banishing from graveyard to summon Chimeric Wolf AF01 directly from deck."

A bigger, meaner wolf appeared with long, rabbit-sized ears and a steel mane, its underbelly brown instead of red. It had 2,100 attack points and 1,000 defense points.

"Activating special ability of Chimeric Wolf AF01, summoning two Chimeric Wolf AF00 monsters."

Mukuro special summoned, from her deck, two monsters with 800 attack points and 1,200 defense points in defense mode.

"Chimeric Wolf AF01 attacks Armored Bee," she stated.

"Activating face-down card, Quaking Mirror Force. Chimeric Wolf AF01 set to face-down defense position!"

"Aw, come on! How perfectly prepared is this thing?" Tristan objected.

"It…is a level 20 AI," Taka stated. "But…no matter. The human spirit can conquer anything. After all, an AI was programmed by a human. It lacks the creativity of one."

"You sure about that, eyebrows?" Tristan asked him. "Mukuro ain't exactly known for her creative thinking."

Mukuro… Makoto thought watching her up on the arena.

"Tributing one Chimeric Wolf AF01. Setting monster," Mukuro stated as a monster was placed face-down. "Setting a card." Another magic or trap card was placed face-down on Mukuro's side of the field.

"Yugi," Téa said approaching the Pharaoh. "Do you have any idea what Mukuro's strategy is?"

"Hmm," Yami responded, staring up at the soldier. "Not specifically. However, look at the board Téa."

"What do you mean?" Téa asked.

"Mukuro's Chimeric Wolf monsters can summon themselves directly from the deck. She is never without an ally. But her opponent…"

"Oh yeah, it only has one card in its hand."

Yami nodded. "This could be her big chance to turn things around."

---

"So now you know," Junko told Yami Bakura. "Question is: what will you do about it?"

Yami Bakura laughed. "Your so-called future sounds even more depressing and hellish than the shadow realm itself. And you agree to still give all of the Millennium Items to me after it's come to pass?"

"I'm a woman of my exact word. When the world lies in tatters and Yugi and the Pharaoh are drowning in despair, the Millennium Items are all yours, I'll have no need of them."

Bakura smiled psychotically. "Well now, things just got interesting then. How can I help?"

Junko gave her own unfriendly grin in response.

---

As Junko and the spirit of the ring hashed out how they could cooperate with one another, Mukuro still struggled against the Duel Computer.

"Drawing card," it said. "Activating Card of Demise. Drawing to five cards, but will discard entire hand five turns later." The computer now had 5 cards in its hand.

"Well there goes the resource option," Homura frowned.

"Summoning to the field Fencing Fire Ferret," the computer stated. "Activating Twin Twisters, discarding card from hand to destroy two spell or trap cards on the field."

Shocked faces went all around the arena as more kids cried. Both of Mukuro's back row defenses were destroyed.

"It's like it draws whatever the hell it needs right when it needs it!" Tristan exclaimed, rubbing his hair furiously.

"Tristan, please. You're going to scare the kids," Miho told him.

"Attacking with Armored Bee against monster face-down Chimeric Wolf AF01. Monster will be destroyed."

Indeed, Mukuro's monster was stung to smithereens.

"Attacking face-up Chimeric Wolf AF01 with Fencing Fire Ferret," The computer declared, destroying Mukuro's second monster. "Commencing attack on unknown face-down monster."

Fortunately for Mukuro, her face-down monster had 2,000 defense points, just enough to stop Slate Warrior. It was a big, red wolf that looked like it had a copper beard. A flaming gleam emitted from its back.

The computer now had 3,000 life points even.

"Activating Ultimate Offering," the computer stated as its life points dropped to 2,500. "Summoning monster. Summoned Skull. Tributing Armored Bee."

"With that off the field, Mukuro won't have to worry about her monsters having their attack points reduced!" Makoto exclaimed cheerfully.

"No, that was a carefully calculated decision," Mokuba said. "Armored Bee's ability pales in comparison to the damage Slate Warrior and Fencing Fire Ferret can do to Mukuro."

"Summoned Skull attacks face-up monster Chimeric Wolf Heat."

Summoned Skull brought down its dark lightning and burnt Mukuro's monster to a crisp. And the computer still had two cards left in hand. "Summoning monster: Gemini Elf."

A monster with 1,900 attack points took to the field and Mukuro was wide open.

"Monster attacks directly. 1,900 points of damage."

The two elves combined their magic rays and blasted Mukuro's life points directly, dropping her points hard from 3,450 to 1,550.

"One more attack like that and she's done for!" Joey exclaimed.

"Ending turn," The computer stated.

"Mukuro," Makoto said her name in concerned.

However, Makoto's worry only hardened Mukuro's resolve. "Drawing card," she declared, the card already in her hand. "Activating special ability of Chimeric Wolf AF00 in graveyard, summoning Chimeric Wolf AF01 directly from deck." Mukuro's 2,100 attack point monster took to the field.

"Normal summoning monster by tributing Chimeric Wolf AF01. Chimeric Wolf: ORTHRUS!"

A yellow and blue winged wolf, with piercing red eyes, stormed the field with a cry and accompanied by a green tornado around itself. It had 2,400 attack points and 2,000 defense points.

"Activating special ability of Chimeric Wolf: Orthrus! Removing four Chimeric Wolf monsters from graveyard to destroy as many monsters from opponent's side of the field and send them to the graveyard!"

"Yeah! That's the way!" Sayaka cheered.

Makoto looked at her oddly.

"What? It's kind of cool," Sayaka said. Even if Mukuro was her rival in love, she had to give kudos for such a comeback move.

"That wasn't bright," Mokuba lamented.

"What? Why not?" Hina asked. "Look."

A powerful gale of wind destroyed each of the computer's monsters one by one.

"Effect of Fencing Fire Ferret activates," the computer declared. "Targeting Chimeric Wolf: Orthrus for destruction."

"Sorry, but that won't work," Mukuro said, eyes flashing. "Orthrus' special ability activates when it enters the battlefield and that makes it immune to monster effects for the rest of the turn if it is. Your Fencing Fire Ferret," Mukuro glared, somehow striking fear into a machine, "will not stop me."

"Error. Error. Rebooting program," the computer said, showing a buffering screen briefly.

"T-too cool," Makoto stuttered in awe.

"Chimeric Wolf: Orthrus, attack directly!" Mukuro declared.

Orthrus howled and charged towards the enemy side of the field and slashed at the computer with its wind-empowered claws, reducing its life points all the way down to 100.

The gust of wind ripped out behind the monster and blew towards Mukuro, who stood there with her arms folded, like she was too cool to take enjoyment in the carnage.

"All right! One more attack and its all over!" Joey cheered.

"You can do it, Mukuro!" Téa exclaimed. "We all believe in you!"

However, their cheers were drowned out when they reached Mukuro's ears. She was focused squarely on the duel. Reality was a frosted world of turquoise to her eyes.

"Reboot complete," the computer stated. "Drawing card." It now had two cards in its hand. "Activating spell Supremacy Berry. Gaining 2,000 life points."

More shocked reactions went all around the dome.

"Come on, she was just one attack away," Hina frowned, looking distraught.

I'm surprised Junko is missing this, Mukuro thought. She had noticed Junko sneak away. Nothing escaped her senses when she was in Battle Trance mode.

With 2,100 life points, now at its disposal, the computer played its other card, "Activating Monster Reborn. Returning Summoned Skull to battlefield."

"No!" One of the kids in the audience wailed. Miho pat him on the shoulders.

"Summoned Skull attacks with dark lightning. Chimeric Wolf: Orthrus will be destroyed."

Summoned Skull blasted down onto Orthrus with its lightning, destroying it, leaving Mukuro open with only 1,450 life points left.

"Ending turn," the computer declared.

Once again, Mukuro drew faster than the eye could track. No cards in hand. Only one monster. She looked at the monster she'd just drawn. My graveyard is empty, but once I fill it again, I can fight back. I'll stay on the defensive. No other option.

"Setting a monster," Mukuro stated, putting a monster face-down. "Ending turn."

"That's it?!" Tristan yelled. "Aw, man! We're screwed!" He shouted, furiously rubbing his scalp

"Tristan, please! You're scaring the kids," Miho told him.

Tristan popped his collar and tried to play it cool.

"Smooth, Tristan," Téa said with a glazed expression.

"Drawing card," the computer stated. "Activating equip-type magic card: Fairy Meteor Crush."

For the first time since the duel started, Mukuro was shocked to her core.

"Attacking."

With Fairy Meteor Crush active on Summoned Skull, Mukuro's monster was not protecting her life points.

Dark Lightning rained down on her 1,500 defense point, icy wolf monster, dealing 1,000 points of damage to Mukuro's life points. She only had 450 left.

"Ending turn."

Mukuro's Battle Trance started to slip as sweat began pouring towards her eyes.

"Mukuro…" Makoto said, looking up at her open mouth and how she was gripping the card in her hand so hard she was crinkling it.

"Hey," Hina said, sounding like she might cry. "She's gonna win, right? RIGHT?!"

"I wanna go home," Sayaka said, sitting in a corner, rocking back and forth, holding herself. "I wanna go home. I wanna go homeIwannagohomeIwannagohomeIwannagohomeIwannagohome!"

Homura bit her lip. She was supposed to be in charge of these kids, but she was at a loss on how to make them relax.

Fortunately, Taka had her back. "Everyone, calm down! Even if the duel is lost, we will find another way out! We will not be trapped in here forever!"

Ever the optimist, Homura thought. Hmm, yeah, maybe I should prepare in case Mukuro doesn't win. "Yo, small fry!" she called to Mokuba.

"Huh, me?" Mokuba asked, pointing to himself. "Wait, aren't you—"

"No time for that." Homura held up a rectangular prism that looked like a block of hardened sand wrapped in brown paper. "Do you know anywhere where this bad boy might do some damage?"

"Hey! You can't just damage this facility! Do you know how much this cost to make?" Mokuba asked.

They're already planning for my loss, Mukuro thought, her vision starting to blur. Her Battle Trance ended abruptly and so many sounds that were half-muted earlier were now at the forefront of her ears, the sound of her nervous heart, the crying kids, the whir of the machine. And rightfully they should. Orthrus was my plan. And with Fairy Meteor Crush…I don't have time to stall. She looked at the card in her hand. It was useless to her right now. She couldn't summon it.

Amid all the chaos and the confusion though, a sudden shout of thundering confidence pierced the air. "Mukuro!"

Mukuro turned to see Yami, the Millennium Puzzle glowing. "Pharaoh?"

"Mukuro, no one should look how you do right now in a duel? It's too soon to give up."

"But—"

"No buts," Yami told her. "You are a commendable duelist. When you first arrived at Hope's Peak, you were losing to Makoto and I repeatedly. Your deck was all over the place. Now look at you, making plays faster than most of us can think and holding your own against the highest level AI Kaiba has to offer. You have focus, strategy, and integrity."

"Platitudes will not save us," Mukuro growled in frustration.

"You're right, they're platitudes, but that is because I wasn't done. Mukuro, you have respectable qualities as a duelist, but you are missing one key detail." Yami extended his index finger up at the Ultimate Soldier. "You must believe in the heart of the cards."

Mukuro gasped, eyes bugging out. Her mind traveled back in time to earlier in the school year.

---

"You don't believe in the heart of the cards, Junko?" Mukuro asked her sister while the two were sitting around in the former's dorm room. Junko was eating and reading a magazine. Mukuro was looking at some things on her phone.

"Pfft," Junko scoffed, popping a chocolate covered almond, from the bowl on the coffee table, into her mouth, "It's drivel. Just a fancy statement those softhearted idiots say as part of their second wind. You can't alter reality just by wanting a victory enough. The cards are either in your favor because your deck is better or you flub the draw. Think about it, have the heart of the cards ever helped Joey defeat Kaiba? Raw skill will always trump blind faith. If you shuffled a deck 100 times, a few times your deck will match your opponent in a way that makes things go 20 turns and be absolutely interesting. You saw the rabble at Battle City, it was boring!"

"But when you dueled Rafael, you said—"

Junko cut her sister off. "I know what I said," she snapped as she crunched an almond and swallowed. "I was acting. It added to the dramatic flair. Ahm!" She popped another chocolate treat into her mouth. "I was prepared to draw a dud, but for my plans to go the optimal route, I had to obtain victory. Everything just sort of worked out. I've reviewed the duels time and again and while you can call it an unexplainable phenomenon, nothing indicates that it actually exists. It's just a pretty term, Mukuro." She gave her sister a cold stare. "Never believe in the heart of the cards. It's rubbish. Place faith in only what you can see with your very eyes and comprehend with that degenerate brain of yours." Junko slapped her magazine shut. "Taking blind leaps of luck and faith will only backfire on you."

---

The conversation was bubbling to the surface. Never believe in the heart of the cards. That was what Junko had told her. So, Mukuro hadn't even bothered to accept the idea. She couldn't just do it, especially if it didn't exist.

"I…I can't…" Mukuro stuttered, body shaking.

"Yes, you can," Yami encouraged. "I know you can."

"No…I can't!" Mukuro exclaimed, biting her lip and shutting her eyes. "I just can't!"

Feelings of despair drowned the Ultimate Soldier. Junko was right. She tried to be the hero and look where it got her? Right into the pits of despa—

"Don't lose hope now, Mukuro!"

A piercing light shattered the darkness and the waters of despair as Mukuro's eyes shot open in surprise. She gazed down to see Makoto looking up at her with his brow furrowed.

"I believe in you, Mukuro," Makoto said sternly. "So, please, have faith in yourself, okay? Don't look so sad."

"Makoto…" A chord ran deep into Mukuro. What…was this feeling?

"Everyone here is counting on you," Makoto told her. "And if you can't believe in yourself, believe in the me, that believes in you!"

Mukuro's entire body pulsed from deep inside her. She closed her eyes. A current seemed to run through her body. What is this I'm feeling? It's like my entire body is vibrating, refusing to let my doubt get to me. Is this…is this what hope feels like? I feel…renewed. Lighter.

"Mukuro?" Makoto was confused by her change in posture, like she was standing under a rainfall, soaking up the water.

Mukuro opened her eyes. She smiled at Makoto, giving a rare, genuine smile. "Makoto, can you say it one more time? Can you smile and tell me you believe in me?"

"I believe in you," Makoto said with a cheerful smile.

Those words were all Mukuro needed. A white light seemed to course around her. Something about Makoto was pushing her mind and body beyond any limit she'd ever had before. Her inner howl was begging to be released. The wolf of Ragnarok seemed to feel more powerful than ever.

Junko…is wrong, Mukuro thought as she faced the duel computer. There is a heart in my deck. In me. Because right now, Mukuro thought as she slammed her hand on her deck and stared with vigor and determination at the duel computer and its Summoned Skull, I can feel it in my very soul!

"Draw!"

Mukuro declared, the card going to her hand with a vigorous pull. This was it. No backing down. Things down to the wire.

It's not a question of do or die. Do. Mukuro told herself. Apply everything you've learned. Just like all those missions in Fenrir, her Battle Trance resumed, I can do this.

She looked at the card she'd drawn. She nodded at it. "Activating Spell card!" Mukuro shouted, another rarity for her. "Astral Gene Code Absorption! I draw one card for every monster I've banished with Chimeric in its name. That's seven cards!" Mukuro declared, replenishing her hand to eight cards.

That's more than you can draw with even Card of Sanctity, Makoto blinked.

"Did…did Mukuro just win?" Hina asked.

"No, not yet," Yami stated. "It's still an uphill battle, but she's gained something far more important."

"What's that?" Hina asked.

"Her strength of will," Yami stated.

"Activating Mystic Space Typhoon," Mukuro declared. "Target is Fairy Meteor Crush!"

The magic card was blasted from the field, taking away Summoned Skull's ability to deal piercing damage.

"Setting a monster," Mukuro said, playing a monster face-down as the hologram appeared. "Setting a card."

From eight cards, Mukuro now only had four. "Ending turn."

"Drawing card," the computer stated as a sole card appeared in its hand. "Setting card." It set a card face-down. "Attacking with Summoned Skull against face-down monster."

Summoned Skull utterly destroyed Mukuro's other icy wolf.

And then, Mukuro did something she hardly ever did in life: she smirked, showing off the teeth on one side of her mouth.

She drew her card and fanned out her hand of five. It was go time. "Activating special ability of Chimeric Wolf ICY. Banishing two of this monster from my graveyard to special summon Chimeric Wolf: Nemean!"

An arctic wolf with white and blue plate metal all over it emerged from Mukuro's hand, surrounded by frost. It had 2,700 attack points and 2,400 defense points.

"Nemean attacks Summoned Skull!" Mukuro declared, pointing at the monster. "Frosted Claw Strike!"

"Activating Battle Trap: Sakuretsu Armor," the computer responded.

Mukuro didn't even flinch. "Activating face-down card: Astral Plane Wormhole." Mukuro's monster suddenly disappeared into a red vortex it charged into. "When a trap card is activated in reaction to a Chimeric monster's attack, I can activate this trap card. It negates the effect of the trap and destroys it and also allows my attack to keep going. Of course, I do have to discard a Chimeric monster from my hand as well." Mukuro said, sending a card to the graveyard.

Nemean then appeared behind Summoned Skull and raked it to bits with its claws. Summoned Skull was destroyed and the computer's life points dropped to 1,900.

With only three cards left in her hand, Mukuro nodded to herself. "Ending turn."

"Drawing card," the computer responded. "Activating Pot of Greed. Drawing two more cards. Activating spell card Hammer Shot. Destroys strongest monster on opponent's field."

A giant hammer raised up and slammed down onto Mukuro's monster, destroying it.

"Setting card," the computer stated. "Ending turn."

Mukuro nodded and drew the top card of her deck to her hand.

Everyone watched with baited breath. This duel could end at any moment and no one knew who would emerge the victor.

By this point, Junko was helping the normal Bakura up from the maintenance hatch and closing it before anyone noticed them. She saw Mukuro in the position she was in and was quite astonished. "Well, what do you know? She's still going."

Bakura looked at the duel as well, free of the spirit of the ring for the moment. "She doesn't have very many life points left."

"That doesn't matter," Junko said and smiled. "Because the further Mukuro gets backed into a corner, sometimes the sharper her claws."

"Summoning monster," Mukuro stated. "Chimeric Wolf 4A-00." A weaker looking version of Orthrus appeared—it was smaller and had an entirely green body—with 1,400 attack points and 1,300 defense points.

If that face-down card is what I think it is, the computer will make a fatal mistake, Mukuro thought. "My monster attacks!" she declared, swiping her arm out across the air in front of her.

"Activating face-down card: Mirror Force. Monster is destroyed."

A destruction trap, Mukuro thought.

Just what she needed
Just what I needed, Junko and Mukuro thought at the same time.

"I don't get it!" Tristan shouted. She left herself wide open.

Taka realized something and gasped. "No! She didn't!"

"Huh? What do you mean?" Joey asked him.

"It's been five turns since Card of Demise was played." He pointed at the dueling arena. "A computer cannot disobey the rules!"

"Huh? Has it really been that many turns?" Miho asked.

Taka nodded. "Just watch. Mukuro has just earned herself a free turn."

"Drawing card," the computer stated. It beeped for a few seconds. "Secondary effect of Card of Demise activates. All cards in hand must be discarded." The card immediately disappeared. "No cards in hand or on the field can be activated. Turn passes. Opponent's turn."

"Wait, so did Mukuro want her card to get fried?" Joey asked.

"But why would she do that?" Téa wondered aloud.

"She must have some sort of plan," Taka stated.

One of the kids in the group spoke up. "I think I know what she's up to." He was a bit nasally, but he had long purple hair. He was wearing the vest and shirt of his school uniform.

"You there, boy. Introduce yourself to your superiors before you speak out of turn," Taka stated.

"Oh, sorry," the boy apologized. "My name's Leon. Leon Wilson."

"Okay, kid. Fire away. We're listening."

Leon nodded. "The chimerics are a new archetype that thrive on their monsters being in the graveyard. Mukuro must've needed her monster in her graveyard for whatever she's planning."

"Oh! That makes sense!" Téa exclaimed.

"Let's just hope it's enough," Leon said, gritting his teeth. "This duel is way too tense."

Time to end this, Mukuro thought as she drew the top card of her deck. The card she needed was already in here hand. "Activating spell card: Chimeric Dark Fusion!" A swirling mist with three sets of piercing, red eyes adorned the card artwork. "Now, I banish three Chimeric monsters from my graveyard of the same monster type and fusion summon a monster of that type to the field with Dark Chimeric in its name. So I banish, Nemean, 4A-00 and B-DIV from my graveyard," the card she had sent there herself with her trap card, "To summon Dark Chimeric Wolf: Cerberus!"

A black and red, three-headed wolf, each head with rows of sharp fangs, emerged with miasma swirling all about it. It let out a powerful howl from each head that reverberated through the arena. It had 3,200 attack points and 3,100 defense points.

"What a terrifying beast," Taka gaped.

"You can say that again," Tristan retorted.

Come on, Mukuro, Makoto thought. End this.

"Cerberus, attack! End this duel," Mukuro said. "Dark flare breath!"

Each of Cerberus' heads charged up an attack to utterly lay waste to the last 1,900 points the computer had left.

However…

The attack was suddenly cancelled, surprising everyone.

"That can't be…" Mukuro gasped, more surprised than anyone.

"Bacon Saver's ability in the graveyard activates," the computer stated.

"Bacon Saver?" Mukuro questioned how that card got there. "Ah!"

"No way! This thing must be cheating. How did it get lucky enough to have a card with a graveyard effect on the turn it needed to discard a card?" Tristan asked.

On the opposite side of the dueling arena, in the stands on the other side, Homura glared at Mokuba.

"Don't look at me!" the younger Kaiba brother protested.

"Guess it's not level twenty for nothing," Bakura responded.

"Relax," Junko said. "Mukuro has her second most powerful monster on the field. What's the worst that can happen?"

"Setting card," Mukuro stated, placing one card face-down. "Ending turn."

"Drawing card," the computer declared. "Activating Card of Sanctity. Both players draw to six cards."

Mukuro nodded as she and the computer replenished her hand.

"This is getting crazy," Tristan declared, grinding his teeth together with worry.

"Activating Premature Burial," the computer stated. "Returning Summoned Skull to field."

Summoned Skull was back in action as the computer's life points fell to 1,100.

"Activating Polymerization. Fusing together Summoned Skull with Red-Eyes Black Dragon in hand to create Black Skull Dragon."

The massive monster emerged onto the field with 3,200 attack points and 2,500 defense points.

"Equipping monster with spell card Dragon Treasure. Attack points increase."

"That's not good," Joey trembled, backing up.

Black Skull Dragon now had 3,500 attack points and could bring Mukuro down to her last 150.

"Summoning monster," the computer declared. "Vorse Raider." The weaker monster appeared with 1,900 attack points and 1,200 defense points.

"Oh no!" Téa exclaimed.

"Black Skull Dragon attacks. Target is Dark Chimeric Wolf: Cerberus."

Molten fireballs rained down from Black Skull Dragon into Cerberus, destroying it and leaving Mukuro with only 150 life points.

"Vorse Raider attacks directly," the computer stated.

"Activating effect of Dark Chimeric Wolf: Cerberus in the graveyard," Mukuro stated calmly. "In exchange for removing itself and three non-monster cards from my graveyard, direct attack is halted."

Vorse Raider was stopped by a phantom emergence of Cerberus' three heads.

"Activating Ultimate Offering, paying 500 life points," the computer stated, going down to 600 life points. "Summoning monster. Blazing Inpachi." The pyro monster with 1,850 attack points emerged. And the computer still had 2 cards left in hand.

Mukuro saw Makoto's lips move. She knew he was saying "don't give up", but she had no intention of doing so.

Still within parameters, Mukuro thought.

"Blazing Inpachi attacks," the computer declared as the monster tried to pitch a fireball at Mukuro's life points.

"Activating face-down card: Astral Gate," Mukuro stated.

A sudden portal opened on Mukuro's side of the field and stopped the attack.

"Astral Gate stops all direct attacks from a monsters and delays the damage as long as I send a monster card from my deck to the graveyard during each of my standby phases for each attack Astral Gate has absorbed."

"Activating Ultimate Offering," the computer stated, "Summoning Cyber Tech Alligator in place of Blazing Inpachi."

The computer fruitlessly tried to attack Mukuro in favor of depriving her of resources. Then, with one card in hand, it declared. "Activating equip-type spell card: Attack Guidance Shield. Raising monster's attack points by 800."

Black Skull Dragon's attack points were now 4,300.

"Opponent must attack designated monster on field. Ending turn."

"Oh, that's just great," Joey complained. "Mukuro can stop direct attacks, but she can't attack unless she destroys Black Skull Dragon."

She doesn't have to, Junko thought. This duel is already over. Mukuro glanced briefly at her sister and Junko nodded to her. Do it.

Mukuro drew the top card of her deck, but it hardly mattered. "Astral Gate's effect activates. Sending two monsters from deck to graveyard. Next, activating the secondary effect of Astral Gate. Once, while the card is active, I can discard my entire hand. Then, I can summon any Chimeric monster in my deck with attack points less than or equal to the amount of damage that Astral Gate has absorbed. I've absorbed a total of 4,350 life points of damage, meaning I can summon any monster in my deck now. And I only need one in particular."

Mukuro took a deep breath and then let out a tremendous shout as she called, "FENRIR!"

More precisely, Chimeric Wolf: Fenrir EX, the strongest of the wolf line. The monster was all black, covered in thick shadows with ruby red eyes. Its claws were barely visible beneath the thick shadows and it dwarfed all the other monsters on the field in size. Normally requiring 3 tributes from the field and one from the graveyard just to normal summon, this massive monster was on the battlefield in all its 4,000 attack point and 4,000 defense point ferocity.

What's with that shout? Junko wondered, perplexed. What happened while I was down there?

"Activating Fenrir's special ability. I banish one Chimeric Wolf monster from my graveyard, then it gains 200 attack points for each of that monster's level stars. And I happened to have sent a 9 star monster there with the power of Astral Gate."

"She…she won!" Joey shouted. "It's over!"

"Finish it!" Yami shouted.

"Fenrir! With me!" Mukuro shouted as the monster chowed down on nine tasty level stars as its power skyrocketed all the way up to 5,800 attack points. "Spirit of the Wolf!"

Fenrir opened up its shadowy jaws and unleashed a massive blast of dark energy that sought to engulf the entire battlefield, reducing it to opaque shadows.

Black Skull Dragon roared in pain as it was completely and utterly annihilated, bringing the computer's last 600 life points to 0.

"Game…overrrrrrr…" the computer sputtered out like someone just drained the battery.

The shutters all retracted and light filtered into the arena as all the electrical lights came on.

"Is…is it over?" Sayaka asked. "Mukuro won?"

Junko, now over by Yami without him having even noticed she'd disappeared, said, "Told you she was capable of amazing things."

"You did indeed," Yami said as the arena lowered Mukuro back to the ground. "Mukuro is an excellent duelist, Junko. You should be proud of her."

"Yeah, she even believed in the heart of the cards!" Makoto exclaimed. "It was awesome."

"She did what?" Junko asked flatly, forgetting herself for a moment, eyes and face looking distant and pissed.

"Junko?" Yami asked.

Junko immediately realized what she was doing and knew she needed to quickly backpedal like crazy. She went moe mode. "Oh golly! Mukuro used the Heart of the Cards. I'm so mad I missed my sister relying on it for the first time." I want to throw up in my own mouth.

This backspace seemed to do the trick. Both Yami and Makoto's faces showed that they bought into it.

Mukuro approached the trio. "Makoto…I…"

Now completely out of Battle Trance, Mukuro was confused when she suddenly became surrounded by the little kids.

"You were awesome," one of them said to her.

"Have you been dueling for very long?" one of the girls asked her.

"Hey, are you gonna compete in the tournament?" another one of the boys asked.

"W-well, I…" Mukuro tried to answer even one question, but she was quickly overwhelmed, and confused, by all the eyes of adoration now staring at her. It also didn't help that the size of the crowd, and the children themselves, gave Mukuro flashbacks to one of orders she'd carried out on Junko's behalf where she helped slaughter an entire middle school.

"Please excuse me," Mukuro said, pushing past the crowd, covering her mouth and making for the open door.

Murmurs went among the children, but Yami and Makoto acted on damage control. "I guess even the best duelists are shy when they're crowded."

Makoto smiled. "I'm sure Mukuro's really proud of saving all of you."

"Oh, so Mukuro's her name," one of the boys said.

"Mukuro's cool," another girl added.

Junko looked like she'd enjoy rotting in a grave more than she would enjoying the cheer of this arena for one second longer.

---

8 Years Ago…

Splat!

Mukuro's water gun tagged the last opposing fifth grader in the shoulder of his t-shirt. A horn went off.

"This competition is over. The winner is Mukuro Enoshima."

Mukuro, standing in a full child's sized camouflage and wearing safety goggles, pulled her goggles up.

Junko, in her original reddish brown hair, standing in her school uniform, saw the victory her sister had taken without effort at the school sport's festival. Her older, proud, boorish sister now had people crowding around her, asking her questions, sucking up to her. People that crowded Junko for her genius now were paying those same compliments to Mukuro, who they'd formerly looked down upon for her meathead behavior.

Singlehandedly, Mukuro had carried her and Junko's third grade class through the sports festival.

Go ahead, soak up the praise, Junko thought, glaring. None of them know the real you, the monster that lurks beneath, the murderer.

Junko could see Mukuro staring at her with an open mouthed, confused look.

Junko turned her head to one side, arms folded. A hollow feeling of blackness welled up from her stomach. As if Mukuro could ever make me feel despair.

Junko was so absorbed in dissing her sister non-verbally that she didn't notice Mukuro push past the crowd to check on her. "Junko? Junko, did I do something wrong? Say something. Junko?" Mukuro shook her shoulder. "Junko?"

---

Present Day

"Junko, are you okay?"

Junko snapped back from her little flashback to see Makoto standing a little too close for comfort.

She took two instinctual steps back. "Wow, personal space, Makoto. Jeez."

"Sorry, it's just you were spacing out. The authorities are coming to check on everyone and Miss Takashiro wants everyone outside."

"Oh. All right." Junko only now noticed that mostly everyone, including Yugi and Mokuba were outside. She went with Makoto outside, thinking only of her sister. Mukuro, we are going to have a serious talk when we get back to the dorms.

---

Mukuro, for her part, after making her way outside, found the least foul and sticky garbage can nearby to hang her head over. She and nausea had never been acquainted before, but the surprise visit of the sensation seemed intent on making sure that Mukuro knew what this felt like. The big question on Mukuro's lips was why was she nauseous?

Fortunately, the strong dizziness that accompanied her nausea seemed to clear out the more her heart rate went down. The sobering smells of both the clear air and the putrid garbage can helped Mukuro return to being her emotionally, stunted, always alert self.

However, feelings of despair she could not fight were now wedged in her heart like mouse trap clenched tightly over a rodent's neck. Sighing inwardly, Mukuro took a seat on the curb and put her hands on her knees. As she looked at the tiny pebbles on the road, she could only think about how Junko would analyze her current feelings of despair.

Was that the right thing to do? I felt…happy, but I didn't feel despair. And…if Junko was wrong about the Heart of the Cards…what else could she possibly be wrong about?

"Mukuro?"

Mukuro had hoped that call for her was coming from Makoto, but instead it was from Sayaka. Rare for Sayaka though, the blue haired idol looked quite concerned about her. It was strange for Mukuro to see a look on Sayaka's face directed at her that wasn't a smile hiding a knife or a serious look to engage in verbal sparring.

Junko once described to Mukuro that empathy was just another word for pity and that people who felt bad for you were just glad, on some level, that they weren't you.

"If someone tries to cheer you up, it's because they want to feel better for making you feel better. Altruism is a myth," Junko had told her.

So then why is Sayaka here? What does she get out of this?

"Are you okay?" Sayaka asked her.

Mukuro, the absolute worst at socializing, simply turned her head back around to stare at the fence 50 meters away. "I'm fine," she said in her usual stoic tone.

"Are you sure? Because it looked like you got overwhelmed a little," Sayaka said to her.

"I'm not a people person," Mukuro said, delivering one of the few lines she'd memorized for situations like this.

Sayaka giggled. "I can see that. Still, you did a good thing back there. You were really brave."

"Brave?" Mukuro was completely confused. "I just did what came natural. It was a fight. I won."

Sayaka giggled again. "Ever the soldier." She took a seat on the ground next to Mukuro, raising only one leg and draping her arm over it by the elbow. She looked up at the clouds. "If it had been me up there, I would've never been able to do what you did. It's funny, I can sing my heart out in front of a crowd of millions, but the second I lose control of my surroundings, I panic." Sayaka blushed. "One time, the power went out at one of my concerts and I started shrieking like a banshee. Then one of my fans started singing the opening number and one of my group members started singing along and doing the routine, despite the fact that no one could see a thing, but I could tell from the echoing of her footsteps." She sighed. "I've always relied on the kindness of others when I lose my way. I'm not very good at handling really bad situations all by myself." She smiled brightly. "But that vulnerability is what makes me so appealing I feel."

Always about herself, Mukuro thought. "If you came here to brag…"

"Oh, sorry," Sayaka said, covering her mouth, "I got a little carried away. What I was trying to say was that…thank you, Mukuro. Really, I mean it."

Mukuro's gaze didn't flinch. Instead she only slumped forward and hugged her ankles.

Sayaka pat Mukuro firmly on the back a few times. She then stretched her legs out and put her arms behind her shoulders, staring at the sky. "You know, we spend so much time fighting over Makoto, that we never really try to understand each other. We sit together at lunch every day. Maybe we could be closer friends?"

"We will never understand each other," Mukuro replied.

Sayaka's brow furrowed. "Not with that attitude. Come on, I know we called each other names and made severe accusations on the first day of school, but I think we've come a long way in the last few months. Maybe you can't see it because you're not very sociable, but I'd like to think it's possible."

Mukuro turned her head to look at Sayaka who was giving a kind smile back to her. She'd spent so much time building up Sayaka in her head as this vile, backstabbing witch that she never really bothered to get to know Sayaka. It was easier that way. Makoto was the target of her affections and Sayaka was standing in her way. Junko referred to her as Mukuro's hypotenuse.

Mukuro considered the possibilities with bewilderment all across her face. However, before she could commit to reach out her hand with the intent of offering Sayaka a handshake, another pair of footsteps approached.

"There you are, you flat chested deviant."

Oh. Perfect timing, Mukuro thought semi-sarcastically. She got to her feet slowly. "Did you need something, Junko?"

"Not personally. Teach is callin' everyone so we can all go back to the school. Plus you and I need to talk about some stuff. You know sister talk."

Whenever Junko emphasized the sister in sister talk, Mukuro knew that was code for "We need to talk about our plan".

Sayaka got to her feet. "You know, I'm actually a bit jealous of the two of you," Sayaka said. "You two seem really close. I always wanted a sister growing up."

"You want her?" Mukuro and Junko asked at the same time.

Sayaka laughed and laughed. "You guys must be really close if you can make jokes like that. Well, we should get going back to the school I guess. It's too bad really. All that walking just for things to get caught by a cyber terrorist."

"Eh, it could've been much worse," Junko said. "We could've had to start dividing up people for rations and turned to cannibalism for survival."

"Please do not make jokes like that," Mukuro told her sister.

Sayaka laughed, finding it all in good fun. Unfortunately, much to her ignorance, Junko sadly wasn't kidding deep down.

---

When Mukuro and Junko returned to the dorms, they picked Junko's dorm to chat in. Mukuro entered first and Junko slammed the door behind her.

"All right," she said, sounding completely displeased. "I heard you broke a rule. Spill it."

"Broke a rule?" Mukuro asked.

"Makoto said you used the heart of the cards?" Junko asked with a veritably grouchy expression. "Is that true?"

"Well, I…"

"Is? That. True?" Junko repeated with more emphasis on each word.

"Yes, it's true," Mukuro nodded.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Junko asked. "What did I tell you about telling blind leaps of faith?"

"I know what you said, and you're wrong," Mukuro shot back. "I felt it."

Junko's mouth hung open as her eyes shrunk in. "You…felt it?"

"It was like…how do I describe it? It was a like a rush going through me. Invigorating and powerful. It was unlike anything I'd ever felt before." Mukuro recalled the situation vividly. "I was backed into a corner. I had no out and Yami and Makoto, they both believed in me."

"So you let the power go to your head and dug into it? What you felt wasn't the heart of the cards, what you felt was hope, Mukuro," Junko told her.

"Hope?" Mukuro asked, bewildered. "That's what hope feels like?"

"Yup. And it'll feel the same way every time. No matter what he situation, hope is always the same. Eventually, the feeling just dies inside you in seconds because you start clinging to it and you're so used to it. That's why despair is better. You can't predict despair and its feelings are always different. Different levels, different emotions. Hope is like a cable car and it can't be modified, while despair is like the switch that guides the tracks. Despair is harmony," Junko said with a smirk. "I taught you that."

Mukuro nodded. "You did, but…you also told me that hope was pointless. I disagree."

"Excuse me?" Junko asked, now surlier than ever.

"Junko, what I felt back there…it wasn't like anything I'd felt before, not as a soldier, and not even as your sister. I…liked it."

Junko was quiet for a long time before she said calmly. "So, it's treason then." Junko then took a swing at Mukuro's head with her open palm to slap some sense into her sister.

However, rather than the sensation of her palm smacking Mukuro's cheek, Junko instead felt her arm collide with Mukuro's arm.

This surprised both of them. I…blocked it.

Whenever Junko wanted to inflict despair on Mukuro, the older sibling had always let Junko have her fun. She only ever blocked attacks from Junko when they would otherwise be lethal. This was not one of those times. Instead of letting Junko slap her, knock her to the ground and step on her, Mukuro had stopped Junko, instinctively, at stage one.

Junko balled her fist and bowed her head. Neither sister moved their arms that were in contact with each other. "Mukuro…" Junko said calmly, sounding extremely upset. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"I…I don't know. It was an instinct," Mukuro said, voice shaken. She'd never openly defied her sister before.

"Instinct? INSTINCT?!" Junko shouted.

"Junko…you're yelling," Mukuro pointed out the obvious.

"Shut UP!" Junko shouted. She threw her head back and laughed in a controlled fashion, but sounded no less deranged. She covered her face with her palm.

Mukuro stiffened and felt uncomfortable. Junko was clearly in despair right now, but it was a strand of it that Mukuro had never experienced.

Junko took a deep, haggard breath and then stopped laughing. She gave Mukuro one of her best despair fueled smiles. The sensation was enough to make Mukuro blush.

"You've got a lot of guts defying me, big sis. I thought you said when we reunited that you'd never betray me again. Was that a lie?"

"N-no, o-of course not. I realize that you need me! That we need each other!"

"Really, because it sounds to me like you're throwing away everything we built up together," Junko said. "Or did you honestly think that for a moment that you could act like a normal person. That you could be a hero and stand up with your head held high?"

"I…" Mukuro hesitated to response.

Junko's hand swiftly darted through the air and grabbed Mukuro by the throat, choking her.

Rather that fight back, Mukuro took it, like a soldier being disciplined by their superior officer. As her body craved oxygen she leaned forward, eyes bugging out towards the floor.

"Why are you hesitating?" Junko asked with frightening calmness. "You have far too much blood on your hands to ever have a normal life. You've always been a deviant, Mukuro, and you always will be. Now tell me, which is better? Hope or despair?"

"Des…" Mukuro coughed. "despair," she barely got out.

"Sorry, didn't quite catch that," Junko responded.

"Des…pair," Mukuro responded, lungs on fire.

"Louder, soldier!"

"Despair."

"I said LOUDER!"

"DESPAIR!" Mukuro shouted.

Junko let go of her throat, causing Mukuro to cough and then massage her throat as Junko tipped up her sister's head with her knee and then her finger, gazing into Mukuro's soul.

"That's a good girl."

Mukuro panted as she gazed into Junko's fake, piercing blue eyes. All Junko needed her to do was stare at her long enough, to remind the bitch who was the real woman in charge.

Eventually, all on her own, Mukuro's gaze hardened and she stood erect, arms at her sides. "I made a mistake, sister. I'm sorry. It won't happen again," Mukuro said with soldier-like delivery.

"It better not," Junko said. "You really upset me when you left, let me remind you. I did all sorts of bad things and they're all your fault because you abandoned me. You weren't there to keep an eye on me."

Junko then deliberately tripped Mukuro and put the heel of her boot into Mukuro's spine. Masochistic coos emitted from Mukuro's lips as she blushed. "D-despair…"

Junko twisted her heel. "How dare you try to be normal. You know full well there's too much blood on your hands. You've always been like this. Even when we were little. Do you remember, Mukuro? Do you remember your first kill? Do you?"

"Y-yes. I do!" Mukuro exclaimed.

Junko took her foot off Mukuro's back and Mukuro returned to her feet. She then turned to face Junko. Her face was completely emotionless. "I remember it vividly. I will never forget."

---

11 Years Ago…

With their parents late picking the twins up from kindergarten, Junko had a marvelous idea: she and Mukuro should walk home together.

"I don't know if that's such a good idea," Mukuro protested.

"Oh come on, it'll be fine," Junko said, "Where's your sense of adventure? Besides, you're the big strong one, you'll protect me, right?"

Junko had her there. "Please walk behind me at all times," Mukuro told her sister.

However, multiple times, Junko insisted on taking the "scenic route", making detours, all for the sake of exploration.

"Hey, sis, are we lost?" Junko asked.

"No, Junko. I still know how to get us home," Mukuro answered again and again. She was starting to think that Junko was trying to get them lost. First the sandcastle, now this. Does your hunger for the misery of others know no bounds, Junko?

Mukuro continued to humor her sister until an unmarked van rolled up to the side of the street. A man stepped out and stood in front of the Enoshima siblings. "Well hey there cuties, are you lost?"

Mukuro shook her head. "No, we are simply wandering the prefecture on our way home."

"Oh? Where do you live? I could drive you. I've even got candy for the drive."

"Candy!" Junko exclaimed. She made for the van but Mukuro grabbed her arm. The older twin knew there was no candy. This stranger could not be trusted. She could see it in his smile.

However, Junko's smile back to Mukuro indicated that she full well knew there was no candy. And Mukuro let go of her sister's arm. The stranger weighed 200 pounds and had a beer gut. In an emergency, the twins could easily escape his grasp.

Sighing, Mukuro got into the van with Junko. Predictably there was no candy inside as he locked the van.

"All right, brats," he said, fiddling with his belt. "Uncle Taro has a surprise for you."

Junko grinned, either blissfully ignorant of what was going on, or all too intrigued by the situation as she rocked back and forth on top of the metal container that was serving as her seat.

"let's start with the twin tails," the man said, reaching for Junko.

The minute the man's hand touched Junko's head and a vile smell permeated through the air, something snapped inside Mukuro. Before Junko, or this man, knew what was happening, Mukuro had torn his belt from his pants and was crawling up his back.

With all the coldness and efficiency of a KGB operative, Mukuro began choking the man to death with his own belt. "Don't touch my sister," she said without even raising her voice.

The man furiously tried to get Mukuro off his back and shoulders, but Mukuro planted her feet firmly into his shoulder blades and pulled the belt tighter, further cutting off the oxygen. She showed no emotion and did not even flinch as he tugged at the belt or tried to pull her off his shoulders.

Junko stared at her sister with eyes of interest. No, not so much at Mukuro, but the face her victim, Junko's former attacker, was making. It was…amusing.

A cheerful, unsettling laugh escaped Junko's lips and a sinister smile crossed her lips, showing off all of her teeth. "Puhuhu. Puhuhuhuhuhuhu."

With great strength that no 5-year-old should have, Mukuro pulled back and slammed her victim backwards towards the floor of the van. While Mukuro's fall was broken by her previously discarded backpack, her victim cracked his skull wide open on the floor of his own metal van. Blood pooled around Mukuro as she continued to pull until it was clear her target had expired.

Then, without even a hint of remorse, she grabbed the man's keys from his pocket and used them to unlock the van. Blood covering the soles of her shoes, Mukuro stepped out of the van and wiped them on the street.

Junko followed suit. "Heck of a scene to leave behind, sis?"

"We should get as far away from here as possible," Mukuro said.

"Agreed," Junko said. The two then jogged in the correct direction of their house.

"Say, Mukuro," Junko said to her as the two kept pace with each other.

"Yes, Junko?"

"Will you always protect me like that from anything?" Junko asked her.

"I am your older sister. It is my job to protect you," Mukuro said.

---

Present Day

"But you broke that promise," Junko said to Mukuro's face. "You abandoned me without a care in the world, all to join Fenrir."

Mukuro gave no reply. She simply glanced her eyes to one side. Well, not at first. "You killed our parents."

"It was an experiment. I recall you cleaning up the crime scene for me," Junko said to her.

Mukuro looked guilty.

"What's with that expression? Are you saying you regret that?" Junko snapped at her.

"I still miss our parents," Mukuro replied.

"Good, that means the experiment is working," Junko said with a smile.

"…"

"Big sis, you have far, far too much blood on your hands to think that you could ever amount to anything other than being a hired gun. It's your calling, your passion. You love to kill, to destroy. Just. Like. Me."

"I suppose I do," Mukuro said, not denying it. Still…

Junko sat down on the couch and let out an exasperated sigh, stretching. "All this despair is making me thirsty. Mukuro. Water," Junko said, snapping her fingers.

Mukuro got her sister fresh cold water from the fridge, only to watch Junko drink half of it and splash the other half in her face. Junko then threw the plastic tumbler on the ground.

"Pick that up," Junko said like a spoiled child, pointing to the discarded beverage container.

"Yes, Junko," Mukuro said. She got on all fours, only for Junko to slap both of her legs onto her back.

Mukuro's mouth formed a smile. "Am I your footstool, Junko?" she asked, blushing and cooing.

"Yes, and footstools are quiet. Now shut up you flat chested deviant."

"Yes, sister," Mukuro said and then went silent and still.

Junko sighed and repeatedly curled and uncurled her fingers in her right hand, drumming the arm of the couch with the fingers of her left hand. A lot had happened today. She made a new ally, however temporary, a new foe had entered the fray, purpose unclear. However, for Junko, the most important thing of all that happened today was her change in her relationship with Mukuro.

I managed to rein her in, but I can't keep this up indefinitely, Junko thought. She sighed internally. Disappointing. I never thought I would have to plan for your eventual betrayal, Mukuro, but you've left me no choice. It's not a question of if anymore, only a question of when. And I'll make sure the second that you finally turn on me, Junko thought as she smacked the back of her ankle against Mukuro's back.

"Ah!" Mukuro moaned.

Junko glared at her only for Mukuro to stiffen. Footstools didn't make noise.

Junko sighed again, crossing her legs at the shins. Yes, I'll make sure that the second you decide to turn on me once and for all, you'll diefor it. You'll die for the mistake of turning your back on your only sister. Junko giggled inside her head. Oh, who am I kidding? I was already planning on killing you at some point. You just sped up the process. But you did something right, you flat chested deviant, Junko thought as she sunk into the couch, closing her eyes. You made me look forward to the day I kill you. And that makes our relationship more interesting. Junko chuckled lowly to herself. I suppose, in that aspect Mukuro, you are a good big sister. I'll miss you when you're gone. Junko sighed contently into the couch as she drifted off for a nap. My one…and only…sister.

---

(A/N: Sheesh, and I thought what I did with Junko last chapter was maddening. When I first started writing this chapter, it didn't start as the Mukuro-centered chapter it became, but mid-duel I decided "eh, what the heck?" My original thought was to just have Mukuro win the duel against the duel computer and let it be a fun ship tease moment between her and Makoto, but the whole chapter turned into so much more than that.

Bonus points to anyone who knows where Mukuro's fic invented archetype Chimerics, came from. Hint: it's a Nintendo property.

And that'll just about do it for the first chapter of the Kaiba Corp Grand Prix. The first chapter of the tournament proper officially begins. Get ready for some non-stop back to back dueling action!

…It's probably not a good time to be trying to hype people up after a chapter this heavy. I'm gonna go back to Smash Bros. You all have a nice time and probably weekend as I don't envision getting 102 done for quite some time. And, as always, from all of me, to all of you, let your hearts stay human and your wrath draconic. Ja ne!)