/|{ }|\
'Fernweh' | CH.2 | (1/4)
(Noun) (Origin: German)
Wanderlust; feeling homesick for a place you've never been.
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CH.2 P.1: Blue Violet
The morning brought a sunny clear day, not a cloud in the sky. Light softly filtered through the windows of Domino City High School, a pleasant breeze coursed its way across the school. Keeping its residents cool and happy, despite the otherwise warm day. It was blissful, serene. But, if one word had to be used to describe this morning, it would be peaceful. uncharacteristically peaceful.
"YO! Guys!"
Unfortunately not everyone felt the need to keep it that way. Teà turned around from staring out the window waiting for the morning bell to announce the start of classes just in time to see the blonde menace enter.
Joey was dashing into the classroom at a breakneck pace, stopping right before her and the rest of their little gang, who were also trying to pass the time. Well, most of them anyways. Among everyone who was currently gathered here there was Tristan who was trying to finish the last bits of his homework that he should've been doing last night, Bakura who was playing a pretty intense game of chess with Yugi. Shougo may or may not count yet as apart of their gang yet, but that didn't matter either way because he was still in the hospital according to Yugi.
Though he also said he wouldn't explain why Shougo was in the hospital yet until Joey got here. Hopefully she could quickly find out why. She was tense ever since the second she was given the news.
Joey slammed both of his hands on her desk."Hey!" He instantly and loudly started. "You heard the news last night? right!" Teà assumed Joey had meant the same thing she'd panicked upon hearing this morning. She could hardly believe it when he heard it on the radio before she walked to school today.
Tristan leaned back into his seat, Stretching his arms behind his head. "What about?"
"Kaiba!" Joey pointed to the empty seat where the teenager in question usually sat down to accentuate his point.
"What about, his new invention showcase or how he was attacked right afterwards?" Teà asked. She gave Joey a stern frown.
"Yea that. Someone attacked him last night."
"I also saw news that a pair of thieves tried to steal from Kaiba during his showcase." Teà added, crossing her arms and staring accusingly at both Joey and Yugi. "And that those thieves were both wearing Domino High uniforms. One was blond the other had a very distinctive hair style. They both sound quite familiar don't you think?"
"Ah!" Joey couldn't help but give an awkward laugh at that. Yugi likewise shrunk in his seat. "You see, that may or may not have been me and Yuge."
"Sorry!" Yugi quickly apologised.
"Joey! Yugi! How could you! I thought you were better than petty theft."
"Hey! We had to! He beat up Shougo, enough so we had to send him to the hospital and then that jerk took his card." Joey defended himself as Teà continued to stare at him with greater and greater bewilderment. She couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. She knew Kaiba was cold and asocial towards the rest of the school, but she never guessed he'd do something like that.
"He What!" Teà felt appalled. Why would anyone do that. She shook her head and pointed a finger at Joey. "And what were you thinking! Breaking into his showcase anyways to steal from him. Joey there are consequences to your actions. You could've just I don't know, called the police at least." She scolded to him, stressing the absolute seriousness of what he had done.
"I couldn't let Kaiba get away with what he had done Teà!" She couldn't fault Joey for feeling like that. She'd be no different. But still.
"You could've done something other than robbing the richest kid in the school. Either way, I care more about what could happen to you now. How he's going to hurt you" She whispered the next part, still keeping her voice deadly serious. "Were you two the ones who attacked Kaiba as well!"
"No, i'd already left when that happened." Yugi whispered back to Teà.
"No I didn't.." Joey then paused. "Well, i think i was there when the incident happened, but i was outside with someone."
"You stayed behind?" Yugi asked, confused. "With who?"
"Mai, she was the one duelling Kaiba remember?"
"Oh her. i forgot about her." Yugi nodded. Joey eyed Yugi anxiously for a second before looking back at Teà.
Teà stared into his eyes, trying to gauge whether that was a lie or not. After a second she nodded. "I believe you, but why are you pausing?" Joey scratched at the back of his head acting as if he was innocent.
"It's nothing." Tristan spotted Joey flinch slightly as he said that.
"Yo dude, are you okay?" Asked his pal Tristan, clearly concerned.
"Nah it's fine, it's just that something about yesterday has been nagging at me.. That's all." He shrugged to his friends. "Mai is fricken weird. Kept assuming i was trying something and wouldn't let me leave until something proved overwise, forced me to stay until the incident at Kaibacorp cleared up. That's it."
Teà sighed. "Honestly you two will cause me to die of stress." The teenage girl then placed a hand on her hip. "But seriously? Did you really meet Mai Valentine?"
"Mhm." Joey nodded. "You knew who i was talking about? Are you a fan or something, Teà?"
"No, i'm not sure, but. Probably just heard her on the news or something like that." Teà shrugged.
"Great move Yugi." Bakura complimented, interrupting Joey and teà's conversation and grabbing their attention as he laughed to himself at what had happened in his game with Yugi. Unintentionally stealing the focus in the lull in the conversation. "You've really pushed me into a corner, I wasn't expecting that trap. I thought i could wrestle the win back from you in the end but, oh well. congratulations are an order."
"My grandpa taught me how to play." The boy with the gigantic hair nonchalantly answered back.
"What games haven't your grandpa taught you, you must let me meet him sometime." Bakura insisted as he scanned the board for a way to counter attack.
"Why not today? I think Joey and i were going to see him after school since we didn't get a chance to yesterday." Yugi offered
"Despite my victory over one of the Bishop's, the other has a stronger position now that I can't seem compete. I can block it, but then i'll lose another valuable piece." Bakura mused, almost lost in thought. "Ah, thank you Yugi." the white haired boy quickly added.
"Hm?" Joey hummed. "I'm not actually sure if i can do that today?"
"Really?" Yugi almost seemed to groan. "Oh well, if it can't be helped, we'll go some other time."
"Seriously, I'm just overthinking things. It doesn't matter. Don't make any plans with me in them." The blonde waved off Yugi as he backed away to take his seat at the back of the classroom. The bell sounded announcing the start of classes and the conversation was forcibly put on hold.
"Ah man, We couldn't start a new game. I wanted it to be best of three." Yugi sighed, disappointed that he'd now have to put away the pieces of the chess board.
"Aw well." Bakura rose from his chair. "I've got a class to get to. It was a great game Yugi, we should play again sometime when we actually have enough time to finish." The polite boy gave Yugi a handshake for a game well done.
Tristan decided that that was the moment to also start to leave the classroom to head into his own one. "Yep, me too. It was nice talking to you. Now it's time to get through the most tedious part of the day."
"Come on Tristan, it's not that bad." Bakura tried to encourage them. "If you engage with the content it can be surprising how gripping it then becomes. Come put your all into your work today, you're smarter than you know."
"Whatever you say man." The other teen sighed as he packed up his unfinished homework. "Whatever you say.."
The class started and Tristan expected to be completely bored again by the lesson, but instead of the teacher immediately heading into learning some subject, the teacher caught the classes attention. "Students I would like to introduce yet another transfer student today."
A student walked in from the door to the front of the classroom. He looked foreign, he had a darker skin tone, dark pale teal hair that was short at the front but was tied back into a thin tail at the back by a gold band. His eyes were like molten gold. Overall they gave Tristan a mysterious, ancient vibe, like he was staring into deep pits filled with hidden treasures.
"Please introduce yourself to the class please." The teacher prompted.
"My name is Aigami Pegasus, It's a pleasure to meet you." Aigami introduced themselves, giving a forlorn smile to the rest of the class.
"Pegasus? Like the president of industrial illusions? The maker of Duel Monsters!" Another student asked instantly. Clearly he was fan Tristan realised. Tristan couldn't blame the student, Duel Monsters were becoming more and more popular every day. It must be exciting at the idea of meeting the son of the creator of the game that was quickly becoming the newest craze.
Though Tristan couldn't relate to that. Still couldn't see what the buzz was about it.
"No, i'm sorry to disappoint, no relation." Aigami corrected. The student that asked the question deflated immediately at the answer. Even feeling a little embarrassed at his presumptuous outburst.
The teacher then decided to finish with the introductions. "Aigami, how about you seat down.." They looked for one of the empty seats at the back of the class. "Sit between Tristan and Bakura please."
"Thank you." Aigami bowed before moving to occupy his new seat.
As he took a seat Tristan turned towards him. "Hey it's nice ta meet'cha new kid." He welcomed half-heartedly.
"Ah, you're Tristan right." Aigami must've guessed.
"Lucky guess." Tristan grinned. The new kid laughed at that before turning to face the white-haired boy.
"And you're Bakura?" He stated. "Wish I had a window seat."
"Ah, it's not as great as it seems, the sun always gets into my eyes in the afternoon." Bakura shrugged at the attempt of communication. He frowned slightly as a overly noisy pair of girls started to gossip about him. Seemingly quite jealous at someone else getting to sit next to the female student body's purest desire: Bakura.
"Well, new kid." Aigami glanced back at Tristan as he started to talk. "Welcome to Domino High, what's you're gimmick?"
"Gimmick?"
"You are like the third exchange student we've had this year, it's also like really late into the year so i doubt you're here to learn. Every transfer student comes to Domino to do something, Rumour has it that Kaiba, the last student started a mini gambling ring, taking everyone's valuables. The one before it also started playing games to extort people too, so I'm asking what you plan to do here."
"Oh" Aigami shrugged. "Nothing much, I'm just here to see some people." The smile Aigami gave struck Tristan as weird, it didn't look genuine in the slightest. Way too forced.
"Ooookay." Tristan nodded. Aigami could probably easily tell he hadn't been convinced of their answer.
"What?" Aigami propped up his head with his hand. "I'm serious."
"Sorry, but the odds are against ya." Tristan shrugged at the new student. It was almost guaranteed that an exchange student would go try and do something illegal. From extorting money to stealing property. "Welcome to Domino High, you couldn't have chosen a better school. Where about every other student has probably committed some kind of crime."
"Does it happen that much!" asked Aigami.
"If you do end up doing something it'd be the 3rd.. no 7th? actually how many times has it happened, i'm freaking myself out here." Tristan joked.
"hm.." Aigami hummed as he thought to himself, Then class continued as normal. Much to Tristan's displeasure.
The lunch bell rang and Joey immediately walked into Tristan's class, almost making him wonder if he left his own class before the bell had actually rang with how fast he got here.
"Hey Tristan duel me!" He asked.
Tristan perked an eyebrow. "I told you I don't have any cards yesterday." He started to move some of his stuff off his desk so Joey could have space to sit without messing anything up.
"Oh." Joey realised. "C'mon, i wanna get better at this dumb game, ya gotta help me man!" The blonde student took a empty chair and pulled it to Tristan's table and sat down there.
"I'm sorry you play duel monsters?" Asked Aigami who was now looking over at Joey with interest.
"Mhm." Joey nodded back. "Why? You gotta deck, wait a second actually, who even are you?"
"I'm Aigami. I've just started attending today." Aigami introduced himself. "And while I didn't bring my deck today i do play it. fairly well if i do say so myself."
"That sounds like a challenge, well tomorrow bring you're deck and we'll have ourselves a good old fashioned showdown." The blonde student gave a competitive grin at the new student.
"Still doesn't solve who you're gonna duel." Tristan reminded his friend. "Why do you even wanna duel so much now."
"Because!" Joey stressed. "I got to see a pair of pros duel yesterday, it was a good duel. I'm gonna do just as good or better, definitely better. I won't settle for anything less! So i need to duel someone! right now!"
"Pros? People play this game professionally? It's just a game." Tristan flatly pointed out.
"You wouldn't understand since you don't play it. But Kaiba and Mai were at least exciting to watch. Even if Kaiba was an ass."
"Looking for a Duel?" Teà questioned as she walked into the room, Yugi following besides her. They both waved as they approached.
"The craze has taken you too Teà, i'll mourn for you at your funeral" Tristan bemoaned.
"Meh" Joey shrugged. "Hey do you have a deck? i never did ask."
"Mhm." She confirmed. "Yep, built one last night, the craze has gotten me too it seems. would you like to see it?" She offered taking out a small box from her school bag.
"You're all crazy." Tristan sighed.
"Come on Tristan, you're blowing this outta proportion. Why don't you have a go?" Yugi asked as he pulled out his chess set, placing it on Bakura's desk. Both player's began to set the pieces back into their starting positions.
"Come on Tristan join the hive mind." Joey joked. Trying to put on a mind controlled reverb in their voice "It'll never get boring. One of us. One of us."
"You said the same thing about Poppin' Pirates. It took two weeks for you to get sick of it." Tristan recounted.
"Hey! Poppin' Pirates was the bomb, i just need a break!"
"We could make it a once a week thing then. Like every Friday." Yugi piped up.
"Ehh, well-" Joey started but stopped abruptly.
"Come on Joey, i'm ready to deck you." Teà offered the blonde student. Joey didn't argue against that. Instead he fetched his deck from his bag. Teà also fetched her deck, though her's was kept inside of a deck box and looked much more well kept compared to Joey's messy pile of a deck that he was still fishing cards from the bottom of his bag to add to.
Teà and Joey cleared Tristan's table, much to his chagrin and pulled out some chairs to sit down on. "Geez can't you do it somewhere else.." The owner of said desk frowned.
"Nope." Joey and Teà harmonised.
"You'll gain more respect for the cards if you watch closely." Joey explained. Though the blonde couldn't contain their laughter, so Tristan knew immediately he was just doing it to annoy them.
"You seemed to like it when Shougo and Yugi played yesterday." Teà said diplomatically.
"Whatever, go ahead." He relented. "Play your little game, i'll just watch."
The duo drew their cards, Joey checked over the field. Teà had set up a front-line consisting of 'Ruins' which, was predictable. Ruins boosted the power of Beast, Fairy and Plant monsters while weakening Dragon, Fiend and Winged-Beasts.
On her back-line was Sogen, a terrain card Joey was extremely familiar with. Boosting Beast-Warriors, Dinosaurs, Plants and Warrior Monsters, but also weakening Fairy and Spellcaster monsters.
He smiled. None of that field could really negatively affect his monsters.
The gang grouped up to watch the duel unfold on Tristan's table. Aigami stood up and looked down at the field from behind Joey, His arms crossed over his chest. He was probably able to see his hand too. Tristan noted. Yugi sat neatly on a nearby empty chair and watched with excited anticipation.
Teà was holding her hand neatly in front of her, she looked determined to win this, meanwhile Joey was smiling widely, giggling softly to himself with a hint of madness in his voice. He must really like his opening hand.
Once the field was set up they drew their hand and prepared to announce the start of the duel. "Duel!" Teà and Joey yelled in unison.
[Turn 1]
Joey (Idle: 0) (2000 LP) Hand: 5
Back-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Front-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Mid-Line: C2, C3, C4
Front-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Back-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Teà (Idle: 0) (2000 LP) Hand: 5
Terrain Breakdown
Joey's Field
Front/Back-Line: 10/10 'Sogen' zones
Teà's Field
Front-Line: 5/5 'Ruins'
Back-Line: 5/5 'Sogen'
"I'm going first Joey." Teà politely alerted Joey as she summoned her first monster. Placing a green skinned woman with butterfly wings behind her. "Fairy's Gift appears in the Ruins terrain, giving them a 50% power boost or it would've if it was actually a Fairy." (1400/1000)
"Wait if it's not a Fairy then what is it?" Asked Joey, confused as why it didn't receive the power boost.
"Spellcaster for some reason." She shrugged, putting her hand down on the table. "That's it for my turn."
"Do you use Fairy Monsters?" Asked Aigami from where he watched on the side.
"Mhm, they have good utility. Fairy's Gift though usually has high attack if i put it it on the correct terrain." Teà was more than happy to explain to the other student.
"Then why didn't you play it on a zone that boosts spell casters? You don't even have any Yami Terrain Spaces." The new exchange student asked.
"That's a secret." Teà teased. Not wanting to reveal all of her secrets yet.
[Turn 2]
Joey (Idle: 0) (2000 LP) Hand: 5 (7)
Back-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Front-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Mid-Line: C2, C3, C4
Front-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Back-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Teà (Idle: 1) (2000 LP) Hand: 4
Joey's Field
None
Teà's Field
Fairy's Gift (FL-C3) (1400/1000)
"My move!" Joey quickly picks up his 2 cards for turn slashing the air as she draws the cards. He smiled at his pull. "Aw man, I couldn't ask for anything better!"
Praising his own luck Joey immediately went to summon a monster from his hand.
Without warning he slammed a Monster onto the field. "I'll Normal Summon the 'Goddess With The Third Eye' and even though she ain't no warrior. She does have a strong effect. She can conduct a Fusion Summon using herself and any other Monster on my field or hand as long as that Fusion Monster i summon is Level 7 or below."
"Woah." Yugi awed at the card. "That looks new! You didn't use it against me yesterday."
"Wasn't expecting that from you Joey." Bakura added. Joey crossed his arms and let out a proud smile at the minor praise.
"A fusion deck? Without spells? That's certainly something, most people use Polymerization." Teà looked down at the fairy monster with interest. She didn't expect Joey to side step the obvious problem of not playing any copies of the iconic fusion spell.
"What's a polymeri- what?" Joey asked. "Polyma? Polymer? Zaton?"
"Nevermind." Teà quickly corrected herself.
"Anyways" Joey continued his turn. "I'll fuse my 'Flame Manipulator' in my hand and use my Goddess to Substitute for my 'Masaki The Legendary Swordsman' card." he snickered as he picked up his Fusion Deck. Well, actually it could hardly be called a deck considering it consisted of one single card.
"Ah Ha, here comes my favourite card. Appear 'Flame Swordsman' in attack mode! With the field bonus he's gonna get. He'll be well over 2000! Now attack!" He pointed his free arm forward at Teà, causing her to react, slapping it away from her before he pokes her eye out. (1800/1600 = 2340/2080)
Joey discarded the Fusion Materials to the graveyard causing Teà to facepalm. "Joey."
"What?" He asked.
"Fusion Materials become Equipped to the Fusion Monster, they inherit the traits of those cards to use."
"OH! Wait really!" He put the two fusion materials behind his Swordsman. Squinting down at the traits section of his cards. "Third Eye has [Purity] while Flame Dude has [Amplified] and [Intercepter]. Cool!"
"Next I'll Summon my 'Rock Ogre Grotto #1' in attack mode." Joey slammed the earth golem onto the field. (800/1200)
"Battle! Flame Swordsman's gonna attack your Fairy- Spellcaster- thing."
"Phooey" She pouted as she took the fairy off the field. "There goes 940 of my life points" Teà calculated quickly.
"Then Rock Ogre is going to attack you directly."
Teà shrugged at the 800 extra damage as Joey ended his turn afterwards. That was close, they'd just lost 1740 LP, but they were still in this race to win this thing.
[Turn 3]
Joey (Idle: 0) (2000 LP) Hand: 4
Back-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Front-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Mid-Line: C2, C3, C4
Front-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Back-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Teà (Idle: 1) (260 LP) Hand: 4 (6)
Joey's Field
Flame Swordsman** (FL-C3) (2340/2080)
Rock Ogre Grotto #1 (FL-C2) (800/1200)
Fusion Material - GotTE* (BL-C3), FM* (BL-C4)
Teà's Field
None
Teà drew for turn.
"but that's not it, i still have plenty of gas in the tank. I'll activate the Ritual Spell! 'War-Lion Ritual which let's me summon the king of beasts 'Super War-Lion' straight from my hand."
"What!" Joey stammered. Teà could understand why he was shocked, but on the bright side, his Swordsman gains 200 ATK due to [Amplified]. She shrugged off that thought as she continued.
"That's right, but the cost isn't that simple, I have to fulfil the requirements of the Ritual Spell first, I need to tribute 3 monsters from my deck whose total levels equals 7 exactly."
Teà picked up her deck and fished out 3 cards; the level 2 'Happy Lover', the level 1 'Dancing Elf' and finally the level 4 'Shining Friendship' and sent them to the graveyard. She slammed the blue-bordered card depicting a mighty humanoid lion with a wild mane of blood red. Once placed onto the 'Ruins' terrain Joey grimaced as it only grew stronger. (2300/2100 = 2930/2730)
"The 'Happy Lover' card's [Bountiful] trait triggers since it was tributed, doubling it's potent boost this turn, bringing it's attack all the way up to 3560, then after my Ritual Spell is finished summoning my monster, it equips to it like a Equip Spell granting my Lion an extra effect while doing so."
"It's gets all that!"
"Mhm, now when it destroys a monster by battle it can make an second attack immediately afterwards." She smiled as she Normal summoned another monster. "Next I'll Normal Summon another Fairy's Gift and enter the Battle Phase."
"Even if you attack my "Flame Swordsman" Their [Superior] Trait would make your Lion too weak to win." Joey explained. Teà scoffed at that.
"There are three things wrong with that assumption. First up [Superior] only works when the monster is attacking, not being attacked. Secondly It doesn't even trigger If the other monster also has [Superior] so my War Lion's attack wouldn't go down. Finally if it was a problem I wouldn't be doing this! War Lion attack the Rock Ogre Grotto now!"
"Flame Swordsman Intercept it!" The blonde slid their card over their weaker monster's location. "I'll send a Fusion Material to the grave to protect my Swordsman." Joey continued as he detached his Goddess Card.
Teà tapped his Fusion Monster with her Ritual one to indicate the attack hitting. "Now you'll take.." She quickly calculated the maths. "3560 minus 2340 means you'll take 1220 damage"
"That's a lot of damage." Joey clenched his teeth. "But my Swordsman still stands!"
"That's nice." Teà commented. "But how do you plan to defeat my "Super War-Lion", at the end of this turn they'll still have 2930, well it would be if another trait didn't activate."
"What?"
"My ritual has the [Frenzy] Trait, meaning that after a battle they gain a Frenzy Counter, letting them gain 400 ATK. So as I end my turn and [Bountiful] wears off, My Lion's attack would be left at 3330, what a fun number." Teà giggled. "If only i could attack that Rock."
Joey grinned back at her. "Even though my Flame Swordsman isn't stronger than your monster, he's still ready to defend my field at the drop of a hat."
"Loooks like I don't have a choice. I'll finish my turn by setting down a face-down!" She slotted the card onto the field before passing the turn back to Joey."
[Turn 4]
Joey (Idle: 0) (1380 LP) Hand: 4 (6)
Back-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Front-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Mid-Line: C2, C3, C4
Front-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Back-Line C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
Teà (Idle: 1) (260 LP) Hand: 2
Joey's Field
Flame Swordsman* (FL-C3) (2340/2080)
Fusion Material - FM* (BL-C4)
Teà's Field
Super War-Lion* (FL-C3) (3330/
Fairy's Gift (BL-C4) (1400/1000)
War-Lion Ritual* (FL-C3)
1 Set Card (BL-C1)
"I can still pull this together." Joey assured himself as he started his turn, drawing cards like he did every turn.
"How do you plan to do that?" Teà asked with a mix of disbelief, but also curiosity. "You can't attack Fairy's Gift to reach my life points. You also mentioned that you only play monsters, how can any of your monsters destroy my Lion, Hm?"
"Just you watch!"
"I can't wait." Teà smiled back with a competitive grin as Joey scanned over his hand. They were probably all monsters She realised, nonetheless Joey tried to come up with an answer that could beat her Ritual Lion.
"This will do!" Joey decided placing another effect monster onto the board. "From my hand, it's Jinzo #7." Joey summoned another brown bordered card that depicted a scientist equipped with cybernetic enhancements.
"What?" Teà wasn't familiar with the card.
"This little guy is smart enough to completely avoid your monsters and strike your life points directly! Weren't expecting this dude were ya!"
"Oh so that's your game plan." She realised. "Looking to side step the whole issue of my monsters and just take me out."
"That's right! Battle Phase, Jinzo #7 attack Teà directly."
Joey picked up his card and tapped it behind Teà monsters, the attempt would've worked. the key word being would've. She smiled as she picked up a card from her hand. "I'll be discarding this monster to reduce the damage to 0 using their sacrifice trait. Thank You Shining Friendship."
Teà thanked the card as she respectfully placed it in the graveyard.
"Wait seriously." Joey slammed his hands on the table out of frustration.
"Mhm, then on my next turn my Lion will attack and your monster and I'll win." She predicted what would happen easily enough, it was clear Joey didn't have anything to so much as stop her.
"Agh! She's right. Wait, my swordsman can just intercept." Joey quickly realised. "I'll set him to defence mode and end my turn."
"Sadly my Lion had Piercing too Joey. You've lost this. Quick game is a good game." Teà sang as she began to pack up her field.
"Wait! Really, ah man! I almost had you." The blonde tried to salvage their ego. He'd lost to someone who'd just built their deck yesterday. "Ugh.." He groaned. That's embarrassing.
"You had a good first turn that's for sure, but still." She shrugged as she held up her Super War-Lion to him. A smile broad across her face. "My Ritual Monster was just too good for you to beat."
"You had a good run there Joey." Bakura tried to improve Joey's mood to no avail.
"It was a good game" Yugi complimented cheerfully. "You both did really well."
"Alright, alright." Joey dismissed, picking up his cards. "Do ya think we got time for another game, i want a rematch!"
Teà picked up her own cards. "I don't know, still need to eat. Didn't you bring anything."
"Nah" Joey hummed noncommittally. "I'll just buy something from a vending machine later."
"Joey, the stuff in there isn't that healthy." the short brown haired girl lectured to the blonde across from her. Who decidedly was not going to listen to this.
Yugi chuckled lightly at his other friends as he moved his bishop. "Joey you got to be more careful."
"Yeah, yeah." Joey waved off. "I might as well get it now." With that the blonde quickly got up and left the classroom.
The bell sounded off again before he came back. Which Teà considered weird, there should've been plenty of time to get back in time. The vending machines in the school weren't that far away.
Teà knew something was wrong by the afternoon bell, letting the students know they could leave. Joey took the same class as her and when that bell rang, he told Yugi he had to go somewhere to be and just left. He just left. No jokes were cracked, just a simple goodbye and explanation. Yugi had accepted it easily and went to leave, saying he's going to his Grandpa's store with Bakura.
But Teà didn't buy Joey's explanation. No something had been wrong all day. Something had happened between Yugi and Joey. She wasn't just gonna leave that problem hanging, she was going to find out what was wrong and see if she couldn't fix it.
So Teà decided to follow Joey as he left later. He had left the school with Tristan by his side. It was about halfway through the school's front courtyard that the blonde student finally turned around with a frown to look at her. "Why are you following me Teà?" He asked.
"Never pegged you for a stalker." Tristan jokes sarcastically. She rolled her eyes at that.
"Why have you been weird today." She asked Joey. Crossing her arms over her chest.
"Dunno what ya mean Teà?" He tried to deflect but she wasn't having it today.
"You've been weird whenever Yugi is around.. Did you fight yesterday, soemthing else happen when you went to confront. Kaiba. i'd rather you talk it out like a normal person instead of doing... whatever it is you're doing." Teà carefully told him.
Joey growled, confirming for Teà that she was right. "Look, it's just. Me and Yugi split up after our attempt to get Red-Eyes had failed. Except later the place was attacked, i could tell everyone was running around on the inside of the building. Elevator wasn't working or something." He shrugged. "Doesn't matter, Mai had me stay behind cause she was suspicious of me, thought my pal Yugi was up to something. I told her that was ridiculous.."
"Joey.." Teà sighed.
"Hey, I didn't end up doing anything wrong, it was too busy to even get into the building, I didn't think I could at least, but i still waited out the front of the building and at some point while i was waiting i noticed something across the street. Someone. You won't believe who it was."
"What?" She could almost guess who Joey was going to mention, but it didn't make the answer any less confusing.
Tristan looked towards Joey also curious about his story. "Who'd you see?"
"Yugi." Joey confirmed. "I called out to him, but he completely ignored me. He was completely focussed on whatever he was doing. He was a man on a mission."
"W-what?" Tristan stuttered.
"Did you walk up to him?" She asked.
"Mhm." Joey nodded. "Well i tried to, i went up to him but no matter how fast i went he was always ahead of me, i chased him all the way to Domino Hospital, where i lost him, but i assumed where he'd go and went to Shougo's room. There on the kid's bedside was Red-Eyes."
"You're joking? That's creepy? Are you sure it was Yugi?" Teà tried to deny the possibility, but it wasn't likely. Yugi had a look that was hard to copy.
"Probably, i'm really sure i saw him. Though Shougo never saw anyone come in so I can't be sure, he just saw the Red-Eyes." Joey continued to explain to Teà. It sounded like a creepy ghost story to her.
"That can't have been Yugi." She denied vehemently shaking her head. The idea that the person that had attacked Kaiba was little Yugi. it was impossible. "For all we know someone just decided to help him and gave him the card when he was done."
"Then why wouldn't Yugi tell us..." Joey asked almost as if he wanted to be given a definitive reason why Yugi can't have possibly hurt someone.
"Well either way." Teà moved on. "That's no excuse to give him the cold shoulder Joey, what did you think you were doing.
"I don't know, it's just been weird, everything's felt so weird lately." Said Joey.
Honestly Teà could relate to that. "Mhm, i can understand that feeling." She sighed. "That doesn't matter, you should go back and say you're sorry to Yugi. If you talk to him you could sort this out easily." Teà phrased it more like an order than a request.
"Fine, I'll do that. He's at his grandpa's shop right? Do you know where that is? I haven't been yet." the blonde student asked Tristan and Teà.
"Nah." Tristan shrugged.
"Yea, i've been there plenty of times." Teà answered. "I'll give you both directions."
"Hm?" Joey scrutinised her. "What? Aren't you coming along."
"Nope. I want to try and find something out."
"What is it? Actually is it something for school, if it is then spare me the details." The blonde student turned to leave as Teà finished scribbling directions on a piece of paper and handed it to him. According the the paper Joey was just given it wouldn't be that far.
"Nope, not a school thing. It's just something weird. I'm going to see Shougo in the hospital, you can come later if you want? We should all see him today."
"Really?" Joey asked skeptical that that was it. "Whatever sure, i'll come later with Yuge and any others.
"Mhm." Tristan nodded. "I'll come too don't worry." He assured Teà.
"Mhm" She nodded. "Say, you said you saw Mai yesterday right?" She asked to make sure.
"Yeah, why?"
"Was that the first time you've seen her?" Teà put a hand under her chin thoughtfully.
"Yes? Why? Jealous i might like her?" He teased with a wide grin.
"Okay.." That was all Teà mumbled out as she started to walk past him and out the school gates.
"what was that?" Joey called out
"First Yugi, now Teà is acting all weird.. It's not just me right Tristan." Joey mumbled as he started to follow the instructions to Yugi's grandpa's game store.
"Look man, this is all horror movie levels of uncomfortable. Did that stuff really happen with Yugi?" Joey's pal asked.
"Mhm." He nodded back.
Joey arrived at the store, or where Teà's instructions told her to go. Here's hoping she wasn't wrong. He entered the store, Tristan following right behind him. A small bell jingling as he opened the door, inside he found a empty shop. He perked an eyebrow. "What the?"
"Fricken ghost town." Joey's pal muttered.
"Hey!" He shouted out as he walked up to the front counter, he craned his head to view down the hallway that lead from the shop into the more house like portion of the building. No-one was there. He then curiously look behind the counter and freaked as he spotted a body lying down there.
He jumped over the counter and bent down next to the fallen body. It was an old man, grey hair covered with a black bandanna. wearing a white shirt and green overalls. Joey put together that this was probably Yugi's grandpa he was talking about before.
The blonde shook him lightly by the shoulders trying to wake him up. "Hey! What's going on here."
The body isn't responding. For a second Joey assumes the worst before Tristan stops Joey from shaking the old man.
"Hey, i've done first aid, give it to me." Tristan ordered with authoritatively.
Joey lightly nodded and backed up to let his friend at it. Tristan bent down and placed fingers on the old man's neck. There was moment where they both held their breath before Tristan nodded his head. "he's going to be fine, that's a pulse, what the heck caused this tp happen? Did he faint."
Joey clenches his teeth in frustration then remembers. An ambulance, he should call an ambulance. He fishes out his phone was his pocket, flipping it open and dialing the correct number.
as he puts the phone up to his ear all he hears is garbage noise. He cringes and looks at the screen telling him that he has no connection.
What? He was in the middle of a city, how did he not have a line? "This is fricken impossible. My phone just had to be on the fritz today." He muttered. "Where the heck is my connection!"
"Are you serious!" Tristan glanced at Joey. He pulled out his own phone and tried to use call emergency services. Only to reach the same conclusion as his blonde friend.
Joey felt like he was on edge, this is all weird. What is he supposed to do, he assumes he could just carry him to the hospital, but what if something goes wrong from him picking the old man up? Was it okay to move an unconscious body. He can't be careless here.
"Oh, you're here." A calm voice suddenly spoke up from behind him. Joey and Tristan spins around instantly, arms up ready to make whoever it was catch hands. They both stop themselves and sighs in relief as they recognised the person who had said it.
"Bakura, thanks, you scared me. Help, something happened to Yugi's grandpa." He quickly requests help. but the polite white haired boy makes no moves towards them.
"Really?" Bakura says neutrally. "Something similar happened to Yugi in the back."
"What." Joey shouts.
"This isn't good!" Tristan grimaced. "Do you know why the phone lines aren't working?"
"I do, but come look at Yugi first. You have to see this, it's not good." Bakura almost demands, pointing a hand down the hallway into one of the backrooms.
Joey dashes down to see who was also hurt. Tristan close behind. The blonde slams open a door that he's directed towards and finds a living room like area, sitting on a table was the layout of a map, around the table two bodies laid there on the ground unmoving.
Joey immediately panics further. One of the unconscious bodies was Yugi's. "Yuge! Bakura what happened."
Bakura quietly follows him into the room and closes the door. "You see Joey, we were about to play a game, but when it started they fell unconscious, now i have no-one to play with. Not that where was enough people to have a good game anyways."
"I think that's the least of our worries, i'll run to the hospital if we can't call." Joey explained his plan to the other two teenagers. "try to get someone to bring an ambulance, can you wait here with them?" Joey asks.
Bakura shakes his head. "That might be a little hard."
"What? Why?" Tristan asked.
"Why don't you look outside?" The white haired boy nonchalantly lets them know. Joey looks at Bakura, confusion apparent, but nonetheless complies and opens the door out of the living room, but theres no longer a hallway.
Abyss.
Just an abyss. Nothing, there's nothing, theres nothing and it's getting closer.
Darkness reaching for him.
Wanting to grab him.
Eat him. Gnash his bones. Devour his soul. Leaving nothing behind.
Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
It was closer now.
Closer. It's getting closer now.
Far too close.
Too Close!
It's after him.
Chasing. It's racing towards him. It wants to devour him again!
Again?
*Slam*
Joey slams the door shut and falls down against the door. Only just regaining control of his thoughts through a haze of fear and doubt that'd almost consumed him. He realises that he's breathing quickly. His head is swimming. "The heck was that." Joey shudders as he speaks up to his friends.
"Joey are you okay!" Tristan shouted as he kneeled at his fallen friend. "What the heck was out there Bakura! Why is there.. there nothing!?"
"If you still don't understand then i have no choice I guess, i thought you might know... whatever." Bakura shrugs taking a seat at the head of the table in the living room. An open laptop at his side and a number of random game pieces about.
"Bakura, what is happening! Did you do something!" Joey growled back, something telling him the boy was responsible.
A golden pendant that definitely wasn't there before was hung around his neck now. It glowed with a molten gold light, mixed with flashes of dark purples. Bakura grinned malisciously, a look he's never seen before on the kind boys face before this very moment.
"Well, well Joey, It's simple really. I'm surprised you don't know about it. Haven't you seen a shadow game before?"
Joey and Tristan suddenly felt a chill run down their spine as they heard that name. Their fear threatening to strangle them. That name was unnatural. They could tell that none of this was natural. None of it.
Ending Note
Woah! Who expected that? Early Bakura!
Honestly i'm not happy with this chapter, but it's been like this for so long, i'd rather just get it out rather than stress about it any longer.
In case you didn't know chapters 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 have been rewritten and published on DEC 1 2021.
Card List
Fairy's Gift
Attribute: Light Level: 4
[Spellcaster/Normal]
ATK 1400 DEF 1000
+700/+500 P:(50%)
[Purity]
Goddess With The Third Eye
Attribute: LIGHT Level: 4
[Fairy/Effect]
ATK 1200 DEF 1000
+240/+200 P:(20%)
[1] You can substitute this Card for any 1 Fusion Material Monster. When you do this, the other Fusion Material Monster(s) must be the correct one(s).
[2] You can Fusion Summon 1 Level 7 or lower Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using this Card on the Field and Monsters from your Hand or Deck.
[Purity]
Flame Manipulator
Attribute: FIRE Level: 3
[Spellcaster/Normal]
ATK 900 DEF 1000
+450/+500 P: (50%)
[Amplified] [Incinerate] [Intercepter]
Flame Swordsman
Attribute: FIRE Level: 5
[Warrior/Fusion/Normal]
ATK 1800 DEF 1600
+540/+480 P: (30%)
(1 Normal FIRE Monster + "Masaki The Legendary Swordsman")
[Incinerate] [Superior]
War-Lion Ritual
[Ritual Spell]
[1] You can Ritual Summon 1 "Super War-Lion" from your Hand by Tributing exactly 3 Monsters from your Deck whose total Levels equal 7, and if you do, Equip this Card to that Monster.
[2] While Equipped to "Super War-Lion" it gains the following effects:
[2.1] If this Card destroys a Monster by battle and sends it to the GY; this Card can attack again.
[2.2] Negate the effects of Monsters this Card destroys by battle and sends to the GY.
Happy Lover
Attribute: LIGHT Level: 2
[Fairy/Normal]
ATK 800 DEF 500
+240/+150 P: (30%)
[Bountiful] [Depth] [Healer]
Dancing Elf
Attribute: WIND Level: 1
[Fairy/Normal]
ATK 300 DEF 200
+30/+20 P: (10%)
[Healer] [Herald] [Fortress] [Sacrifice]
Shining Friendship
Attribute: LIGHT Level: 4
[Fairy/Normal]
ATK 1300 DEF 1100
+390/+330 P: (30%)
[Dazzling +300] [Purity] [Sacrifice -1100]
Super War-Lion
Attribute: EARTH Level: 7
[Beast/Ritual/Normal]
ATK 2300 DEF 2100
+690/+630 P: (40%)
(Ritual: "War-Lion Ritual")
[Frenzy] [Piercing] [Superior]
Jinzo #7
Attribute: DARK Level: 2
[Machine/Effect]
ATK 500 DEF 400
+200/+160 P: (40%)
[Anti-Spell Defence]
[1] This Card can attack your opponent directly.
[2] If this Card inflicts Battle Damage to your opponent; you send 1 Trap Card from your Deck to the GY, and if you do, add 1 Equip Spell from your GY to your Hand.