Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh Arc V

Yuzu LP: 4000 Hand: 5

Yuto LP: 4000 Hand: 5

"Ladies first!" Yuzu declared. "From my hand I summon Opera the Melodious Diva (Light/Level 4/Fairy/2300 ATK/1000 DEF)."

A fairy with pink hair stretched out in three directions, a purple and blue dress with musical notes surrounding it appeared singing softly.

"Next I activate the Continuous Spell Fortissimo! Once per turn, I can increase the attack of one Melodious monster on the field by 600 until my next standby phase. And since there's only one option I target Opera."

Light shone from the spell as Opera's dress became illuminated, increasing her power. Opera (ATK2300-2900).

"Opera can't attack on the turn she's summoned, but since it's the first of the duel, it works perfectly for me," Yuzu informed him. "With that, I end my turn."

'Summoning a monster that can't attack first, then powering up to nearly 3000,' Yuto silently observed. 'That's a clever move. However, it's I can't counter. I still haven't seen her deck's true strength yet.'

Yuto was certain he could win. However, Yuzu had one advantage over him, and that was knowing his deck and ace while he knew nothing about hers.

"My turn! I draw!" Yuto shouted. "I summon Phantom Knights: Ragged Gloves (Dark/Level 3/Warrior/1000 ATK/500 DEF) in attack position." An armoured soldier with big gloves and no legs, emitting blue and red fire from its body appeared. "When I have a Phantom Knights monster on the field I can special summon Phantom Knights: Silent Boots (Dark/Level 3/Warrior/200 ATK/1200 DEF)."

A blue being covered in brown clothing and wearing brown boots appeared on the field.

Yuzu was immediately concerned because of the levels the monsters possessed.

'Two level 3's, does that mean he's going to,' Yuzu thought worried.

Yuto knew exactly what she was thinking and wasted no time in acting.

"I overlay level 3 Ragged Gloves and Silent Boots! Souls of warriors fallen on the battlefield, revive now and become light to render the darkness! XYZ Summon! Appear before us! Rank 3, Phantom Knights: Break Sword (Dark/Rank 3/Warrior/XYZ/2000 ATK/1000 DEF)!" he chanted.

An armoured knight with blue flames coming out of the top riding on an armoured horse while carrying a long blade that was broken just at the top. The overlay units swirled around it in opposite directions.

'An XYZ monster right on his first turn! I guess I shouldn't be surprised,' Yuzu thought. 'At least it wasn't the one from last time. Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon. That card enabled him to defeat Sawatari like he was nothing.'

"Now, Ragged Gloves effect activates, when it's used as an XYZ, my monster gains 1000ATK until the end phase," Yuto announced.

Break Sword (ATK2000-3000).

Yuzu paled slightly as it was now stronger than her monster. Unfortunately for her, it was about to get much worse.

"I set three cards and activate Break Swords effect. By detaching one overlay unit, I target one card I control and one card you control and destroy them both," Yuto explained. No sooner had he said it were Opera and one of his face downs destroyed, leaving Yuzu completely wide open. "Now then, go Break Sword! Direct attack!"

The warrior struck Yuzu across the chest with its sword.

Yuzu LP: 1000 Hand: 3

Despite the hit, Yuzu remained standing. While it may not have been Solid Vision she could still feel the attack, though it didn't seem as powerful as it did during the last duel. It seemed Yuto was holding up to his promise of holding back.

'Dammit! This isn't good! The duel just started and already I'm down three quarters of LP!" Yuzu thought frustrated. 'I'll need a miracle next turn if I'm gonna turn this around.'

"I end my turn!" Yuto declared. "Now, show me what you can do!"

Yuzu didn't need to be told twice.

"My turn! I draw! I activate Pot of Greed, letting me draw two more cards," Yuzu shouted as she drew from her deck. Looking at the cards in her hand, Yuzu couldn't help but smirk. "I activate the Continuous Spell Valhalla, Hall of the Fallen. With this, once per turn, I can special summon one Fairy type monster from my hand provided I have no other monsters on the field. And the level doesn't matter either." Yuto realized where she was heading with this. "Now, the concert begins! Enchanting melody that echoes throughout the heavens, awaken the sleeping virtuoso! Come forth! Level 8, Mozarta the Melodious Maestra (Light/Level 8/Fairy/2600 ATK/2000 DEF)!"

A blue fairy wearing a beautiful red dress with musical notes, with pianos for wings and holding a composer's stick appeared on the field.

'Level 8 without tributing, impressive. Does her deck revolve around summoning monsters with high attack points and powering them up? It definitely a Fairy type focused deck, like Sayaka's,' Yuto wondered.

"I'm done! Mozarta's effect activates! Once per turn, I can special summon one level 4 or lower Melodious monster from my hand! I special summon Aria the Melodious Diva (Light/Level 4/Fairy/1600 ATK/1200 DEF) in attack mode!" A pink fairy with purple hair and a harp on her back, dressed in pink and dark red clothing, and musical notes appearing on her legs appeared. "Next I summon Cannon the Melodious Diva (Light/Level 4/Fairy/1400 ATK/2000 DEF)!" This time it was blue fairy wearing a gold mask and guards around her knees, a purple top followed by a black and blue skirt appeared. "Now, I activate Fortissimo and power up Mozarta (2600-3200)!"

It didn't take a genius to figure out what was coming next.

"Battle Phase! Mozarta attack Break Sword! Graceful Wave!" Yuzu shouted.

Mozarta summoned a large sonic burst and fired it at Break Sword, destroying it instantly.

Yuto LP: 2800 Hand: 1

"When Break Sword is destroyed, I can target two Phantom Knights monsters with the same level in my grave and special summon them. In addition, I can increase their levels by one!" Yuto declared. "Revive, Ragged Gloves, Silent Boots, in defence position!"

Phantom Knights: Ragged Gloves (Level 3-4).

Phantom Knights: Silent Boots (Level 3-4).

"Two level 4's!" Yuzu exclaimed. "Then that means, he's going to summon that monster. Like I'll let you. Aria attack Ragged Gloves."

"Trap activate! Phantom Knights Sword! I target Ragged Gloves and it gains 800 ATK!" Yuto explained.

Yuzu blinked confused. "What's the point? It's in defence mode."

"Phantom Knights Sword other effect activates! When a monster equipped with it would be destroyed, I can destroy it! So Ragged Gloves survives!" he stated.

Yuzu wasn't about to let him get off that easily.

"Aria's effect activates! Once per turn when she doesn't deal battle damage you get hit with 800 points of damage," Yuzu shouted as Aria released a sonic wave at Yuto.

Yuto LP: 2000 Hand: 2

Yuto didn't even flinch as he took on Aria's attack. It was just like in the duel with that LDS student. There was no power behind the attacks made by Standard Duellists. No sharpness of a blade, or power of a bullet from their duelling. It wasn't as if he was looking down on them or anything, or Yuzu for that matter. It was just a simple analysis. However, that only added to his belief that Standard wasn't aligned with Academia, whose attacks were so much more powerful and vicious.

"Canon, finish off Ragged Gloves for good!" Yuzu shouted as the blue fairy finally destroyed Yuto's monster. "I set one card and end my turn!"

Yuzu breathed out a sigh of relief. While she had struggled at first, she'd now managed to turn things around, for the moment at anyway.

'So her deck involves swarm based tactics. Interesting. Swarming the field is necessary when attempting to XYZ Summon,' Yuto thought as he stared down each of her monsters. 'It feels like I'm duelling with Sayaka, and to a certain extent Ruri.'

Yuto worried about his friend's fates. Ever since Ruri had vanished he and Shun had been searching endlessly for her with no leads, until they had heard about this place and the Professor having a son here. If they could capture him, then maybe they could use him as a hostage to bargain with him. It was a long shot but it was all they had.

Sayaka he was worried about because of how she might be handling things back at home. She was a good duellist however she wasn't a soldier. She couldn't handle the battlefield like the rest of them. The last time he had seen her was before they left when she packed their food and wished them luck. He hoped Allen and Kaito would look after properly and make sure she was safe.

Yuzu gazed at Yuto concerned. It had been like two minutes since ended her turn and the entire time he had spaced out. Maybe he was trying to strategize but she couldn't be sure.

"Um, are you okay?" Yuzu asked.

Yuto blinked, snapping back to reality. "W-What?"

'He really did space out. Unbelievable!' she deadpanned. "You've been standing there looking at my monsters for two minutes. Is there something wrong?"

Yuto waved his head. "No nothing like that. Sorry. I was just thinking about something."

'Right now he reminds me so much Yuya,' Yuzu thought.

"My turn! I draw! I summon Phantom Knights: Cloven Helm (Dark/Level 4/Warrior/1500 ATK/500 DEF)! Now, I overlay level 4 Cloven Helm and Silent Boots! Formed from pitch-black darkness, to fight those foolish enough to oppose its treacherous fangs! Descend, now! XYZ Summon! Rank 4, Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon (Dark/Rank 4/Dragon/XYZ/2500 ATK/2000 DEF)!" Yuto chanted.

The large black and purple dragon with purple orbs that harnessed lightning had finally appeared roaring loudly.

Yuzu's eyes widened in fear. She knew how powerful that dragon was, and damage it could do. However, she wasn't about to back down, not without a fight.

"Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon's effect activates! By detaching one overlay unit I can target a level 5 or higher monster and cut its attack points in half, and then add the same amount to Dark Rebellion for this turn! Treason discharge!" Yuto yelled.

Purple lighting shot from its wings and surrounded Mozarta (ATK3200-1600) depleting its attack and raising Dark Rebellions (ATK2500-4100).

"Battle! Dark Rebellion, attack Mozarta the Melodious Maestra! Revolt of Lightning Disobey!" Yuto shouted.

"Trap activate! Mozartas Requiem! With this I negate your attack and the battle phase ends. In addition, I'm allowed to draw a card," Yuzu declared as she drew from her deck.

"In that case, I set one card and end my turn," Yuto said.

'That was close! If I didn't have that trap, I would have already lost. I need to get rid of that monster, and I need to do it next turn!' Yuzu decided.

'Judging from the look in her eyes, she knows she needs to finish it next turn. Unfortunately, that won't happen. This duel is already over,' Yuto decided as he looked at his face-downs. 'I want to see how far you'll go first. Because when Academia comes, and they will, they will show no mercy!'

"My turn! I draw!" Yuzu said as she examined the card she drew. It took everything she had not to smirk. Because she could win this, and she would. "First I activate Fortissimo and boost Mozarta again, and next I'll equip her with the spell Cestus of Dagla which not only boosts her attack by 500, but any damage I deal you is added to my LP!"

Mozarta the Melodious Maestra (2600-3200-3700).

"Battle! Mozarta attack Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon! Graceful Wave!" Yuzu ordered.

"I activate my trap Half Unbreak! Dark Rebellion can't be destroyed this turn and all damage I would take from attacks involving this card is cut in half!" Yuto countered.

Yuzu scowled as Yuto's dragon was coated in a large bubble. Mozarta's attack bounced off of it creating a small burst of wind. But it didn't matter because it survived much to her frustration. However, where Yuto's LP fell, Yuzu's rose.

Yuto LP: 1400 Hand: 0

Yuzu LP: 1600 Hand: 1

"Don't think you'll get off that easy! Because she didn't deal battle damage Aria deals you 800!" Yuzu reminded him.

Yuto LP: 600 Hand: 0

"I set one card and end my turn!" Yuzu declared. 'Alright, I'm set. Even if I wasn't able to end it this turn I will during Yutos. The trap I've set is Musical Mayhem which will inflict 800 points of damage for every Melodious monster I've got out on the field. And I've got more than enough!'

Yuto silently observed Yuzu. While he couldn't say for certain, he guessed that face down was her key to winning or destroying his ace. From everything he had gathered throughout the duel, he acknowledged Yuzu was a pretty decent duellist with a good skill level. Her deck was balanced and she knew how to utilise it. He had already figured out a few ways to incorporate XYZ Summoning into it.

While he did acknowledge her abilities, he wasn't about to let her win.

"My turn! I draw!" Yuto said.

"Trap activate! Musical Mayhem!" Yuzu shouted surprising Yuto. "When this card is activated you take 800 points of damage for each Melodious monster on the field! And since there's three that means you take 2400 points of damage!"

Blue lighting shot straight towards Yuto. Admittedly he did not expect her to use her card the second he drew. It didn't matter though.

"Trap activate! Phantom Knights Barrier! When a spell or trap is activated, I can banish one Phantom Knights monster from my grave to negate and destroy it. I banish Silent Boots," Yuto declared.

Yuzu could only watch in horror as her trap failed.

"I activate Dark Rebellions effect and target Mozarta again. Treason Discharge!" Yuto said.

Mozarta the Melodious Maestra (ATK3700-1850).

Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon (ATK2500-4350).

"This is the end! Dark Rebellion, attack Mozarta! Revolt of Lightning Disobey!" Yuto shouted.

The dark dragon soared at the elegant fairy with wings glowing blue and surging with electricity. The tip of its chin glowed bright blue as it pierced Yuzus monster and exploded.

Yuzu let out a scream as she was sent flying back a little.

Yuzu LP: 0 Hand: 0

Yuto silently cursed at his monster. Despite having promised to hold back, he still ended up causing damage to the surrounding area.

He walked over to where Yuzu was who was just starting to sit up. He stood over her and offered out his hand, which she gratefully accepted.

"Sorry about that," he said a bit sheepishly. "With most of my other cards I can hold back with. Dark Rebellion unfortunately doesn't follow the same limitations." Yuzu stared at him blankly. "That aside, you did good. Now that I've seen how your deck functions we can get started on the real training."

Yuzu nodded. There was one thing she was curious about though.

"Hey, that last trap you used, you had it set since your first turn," she pointed out. "Why didn't you use it when I played Mozartas Requiem? If you had you would've definitely won a turn earlier."

"True. However, I wanted to test how far you would go in the duel and winning early wouldn't have allowed me to fully scope out your abilities," Yuto admitted.

Yuzu could see the logic in his argument. If he was going to be teaching her, he would need to know her deck's structure.

"Point taken. So, when do we officially start?" Yuzu asked. "I'm free for the entire month aside from when I'm in school."

Yuto thought about it for a moment. "How about tomorrow around five? I should be available. I think enough is enough for tonight."

"That's fine by me," Yuzu said.

Throughout the next couple of seconds, the two exchanged contact information so they'd know when and where to talk and meet up. Just as they were about to part ways, Yuto asked Yuzu something that had been on his mind earlier today.

"Yuzu, that girl from earlier today, she asked if I was the one behind the recent incident. Do you have an idea what she was talking about?" he asked.

Yuzu's eyes widened. So Yuto hadn't known about it, that meant there's no way he could have been involved.

"I only learned about it earlier today but, apparently a few days ago an LDS professor was attacked, by an XYZ user," Yuzu explained.

"WHAT?" Yuto shouted alarmed, startling Yuzu.

He turned away and glared at the ground. He knew exactly what had happened and who was responsible.

"That idiot, what does he think he's doing?" Yuto growled.

"Someone you know?" Yuzu enquired.

"Possibly, hopefully not," Yuto muttered. "Anyway, thanks for telling me Yuzu."

"No problem Sensei!" Yuzu replied.

Yuto's head snapped up at being called Sensei.

"What? You are my Sensei now since you're teaching me XYZ Summon. Should I not call you it?" she asked.

"Just Yuto is fine," he answered quickly. "Anyway, I'd better get going. See you around Yuzu."

"See you Yuto Sensei," Yuzu joked.

This time Yuto just chuckled as he kept walking. He had something he needed to do, or rather he needed to speak with someone. Shun was going to get an earful from him.

Yuzu turned and walked in the opposite direction.

Yuzu's house later

After arriving home her father questioned her about where she had been to which she said she was out training. She then told her dad that she wouldn't be attending duel school until the tournament so she could train, much to his chagrin. It took a small while, a smack on the head from her fan, but she convinced him to let her go through with it.

After a hot shower, she lay on her bed and stared at her bracelet, contemplating what the future held.

"Tonight, was the first step, but tomorrow the real training begins," Yuzu said softly.

With that she surrendered to tiredness and fell asleep.

With Yuto

Yuto had wandered around looking for Shun. He didn't know what he was thinking but it wasn't going to get them anywhere. Standard wasn't their enemy; their duellists were proof of that. Shun wasn't being as smart about it. Yuto briefly wondered if the professor that went missing used Fusion which is why Shun attacked him, however he decided to put it on hold for the time being until he found his best friend.

His meeting with Yuzu was still present in his mind from today. Of all the scenarios he pictured, becoming her XYZ teacher was not one of them. Still, he was willing to commit to it if she would survive in the future.

He reflected on how she called him sensei. He supposed he was one now. Although, being completely honest with himself, he figured he'd do something like this after becoming a pro duellist in his own dimension. That had been his dream alongside Ruri, Shun, and the others before the invasion, before their home hand become a battlefield.

While he processed this, there was one other thing about Yuzu calling him Sensei that made him freeze.

"That was the first time, in a long time I've laughed about anything," Yuto realized.

Hi there. Well, what did you think of that? What did you think of the duel? I wanted Yuzu to put up a fight but still end with Yuto winning since after everything he's been through I don't think he'd just lose.

Yuzu and Yuto's relationship is going to be a bit slow in this fic. They'll be moments where they grow close and start to develop feelings for each other without realizing it. Much like aa real-life couple.

A couple of things about this chapter. Yuzu's cards are currently based off their anime but I'm hoping to change that near the end of the Standard Arc. Aria's effect is slightly altered so it only activates when she doesn't inflict battle damage (I saw Yuzu do it in her duel with Chojiro so I thought why not) Yuto's are based off the OCG/TCG because at this point they weren't introduced into the story.

Also while there will be duels, they won't happen every chapter. Next chapter will feature Reiji Akaba and show Shun as Yuto argues with him.

Hope you enjoyed! Please review!

OC Cards

Mozarta's Requiem (Normal Trap)

When a 'Melodious monster you control is targeted for an attack you can negate that attack and end the battle phase. Then you may draw one card from your deck.

Phantom Knights Barrier (Counter Trap)

When a spell or trap card is activated you can banish one Phantom Knights monster from your grave to negate and destroy it.