At Samejima's Office
Samejima sat at his desk, his eyes fixed on the screen of his personal computer, watching as the frame of an elderly man in a suit, a long white beard and a noted bald patch upon his head, read through the reports of the first block of examinations. Samejima was smiling for he was confident Kagemaru would be as pleased as he was; they'd taken on a good batch of students and, with the necessary years of guidance they would receive at the Academy, they could easily shape up to be the greatest duelists the world had ever seen.
Kagemaru nodded in approval. "Quite the fine group of students you've taken on, Samejima". he mused, "One of the most promising years yet." Samejima smiled, chuckling with approval. "…perhaps they can be of assistance then…"
"Assistance?" Samejima asked, surprised, "For what?"
Kagemaru grinned. "The re-creation of the Spirit Keys."
Samejima shot up to his feet. "You can't be serious," he spat, "After the incident three years ago, we agreed it was for the best that the Spirit Keys remained destroyed!" He narrowed his eyes. "Or are you forgetting what those Keys unlock…and what those cards falling into the wrong hands could mean?"
"I haven't forgotten," Kagemaru calmly replied, "But there are forces at work already and we may need the power of those cards to stop them...for we face the Shadow Riders once more." Kagemaru paused as Samejima gasped. "At least consider it, Samejima," Kagemaru continued, Samejima sitting down, "…If Amnael and his Shadow Riders were to attack again, do you think we can stop them? We're not as young as we used to be after all." Samejima nodded. "…Just…consider it." The screen turned black as the communication ended.
Samejima sighed, looking around his office. "…And just how much of that did you listen to, Banner?" Samejima sharply called out…the figure of Professor Banner rising from the chancellor's couch, Pharaoh leaping up from the floor onto the back of the furniture piece.
Banner stared Samejima down. "I heard enough," Banner answered, "…enough to know that whatever threat is coming, it is Kagemaru who has orchestrated it." Samejima nodded in agreement, resting his chin upon the back of his hands, his elbows in turn resting upon his desk. "Or so it would seem…had you and I not been there at the Abandoned Dorm three years ago."
"…What do you propose we do then?" Samejima inquired.
Banner thought for several moments, weighing up the options. "…We must prepare the students as best we can," Banner replied, "In the meantime, I will make the preparations to confront Kagemaru." Banner stood up. "…I will begin recreating the Spirit Keys."
Samejima sighed. "…It's the only way," he glumly agreed, "I'll notify Kagemaru in the morning…I just pray our students are up to the task of defending themselves." He stood up, watching as students made their way into the main academy building for the annual dance. Without the Spirit Keys to paint clear targets, these Shadow Riders can and will duel anyone on this island…
At DA Dance Party
The crowds of students bustled around Koyo as the Ra Yellow's eyes scanned through the groups of Students, looking for his date…looking for a suitable girl for his date. As his eyes scanned through the throngs of students, he spotted several pairing of his friends; Chumley nervously approaching the dance floor, clad in a tuxedo, with Koyo holding onto his arm, wearing a backless, blue dress. Misawa and Ran sitting down at a table, Misawa in uniform while Ran was a red dress with white polka dots that seemed right out of the 50's. Slade wearing a white suit with a black shirt and white tie dancing with Yuna clad in an elegant white dress that appeared a step down from a wedding dress. Yet still no sign of Anna or Ryo showing up.
A pair of hands planted themselves firmly over his eyes. "Surprise" Anna quickly said into Koyo's ear. Koyo laughed turning around to look at Anna…and smiling; she wasn't in an elaborate dress or even a smart casual attire. She was in a Yellow Girls uniform. "I figured you wouldn't dress up at all, so I dressed to match." She stepped back, doing a twirl to show off the uniform to Koyo. "What do you think?"
Koyo smiled. "Looks good on you," he answered, "Makes me wish you wore it all the time." Anna's eyes widened as Koyo gulped, "W-W-What I meant is you look good in Yellow instead of Blue Uniform., I didn't actually mean that way." Anna walked closer, her face barely an inch from Koyo's. She appeared angry…before smiling cheerfully.
"That's so sweet," she mused, "I wore this dress because you insist me to do it" She winked at Koyo, the Ra's cheeks turning a bright red. Anna quickly grabbed a hold of Koyo's hands and pulled him towards the center of the room, to where the dancing was happening, Misawa felt lightly jealous seeing Anna and Koyo filiriting with each other..
"So Anna why did you choose me as your partner?" She then raised his hand up before holding onto his shoulder. "That's because you're special and I have something important to tell you". Koyo looked around at the other students and then offered her a hand as gesture asking him if she want's to join the dance and Anna gracefully accepted in return.
The pair then joined in the dancing, Anna taking the lead as the pair slowly spun around one another as they made their way through the crowd. As soon as the pair were moving at a confident pace, Anna pulled herself in closer, Koyo blushing a little more as she did. Her hand descended from his shoulder to wrap around his back.
Koyo looked around. "Looks like we're missing a few faces," he said slowly, Anna slowly sighing, "I don't see Dimitri, Ryo or Taku anywhere." Anna pulled back a bit, looking around…before gesturing with her head to the front of the hall. Koyo looked over near the front, almost at the foot of the erected stage, to see Torimaki seated at a table with a 3rd year girl ,with black shoulder length hair, both of them in their uniforms. Sitting with them were Chronos de Medici and Midori Hibiki. "Ok, what about Ryo and Taku then?"
Anna looked down, but kept dancing. "Ryo might not be coming," Anna replied, "…the thing about being the best student in the Girls dorm is that all the guys Ryo might actually have come with think she's out of their league…and the guys who think they're in her league are either have dates already or are the elitist snobs that give the Blue dorm a bad name." Anna looked into Koyo's eyes. "Luckily for me, I foun-." Anna got interrupted suddenly there was a clamor from the students near the entrance to the hall, Koyo pulling back and looking over his shoulder to see what was the commotion. Anna silently groaned before leading Koyo off of the dancefloor to some seating off to the side, keeping the stage, entrance and Torimaki''s table in sight. They then looked to the entrance…and their jaws dropped at what they saw: Taku and Ryo, walking into the hall, his right hand holding onto her left. Ryo clad in a blue kimono adorned with white cloud shapes, her waist tied with a large red silk band. Taku clad in a white kimono top with blue pants and a blue haori draped over his shoulders. Taku blushed a little as he walked with Ryo, their feet in socks and straw sandals as opposed to the more modern and western gear favoured by all other attendants. Anna stood up, waving to Ryo, the blunette noticing her friend before pointing to nudging Taku, the green-eyed student spying Anna. The pair walked over to the waiting, red-clad students.
"I thought you weren't coming," Anna stated in greeting.
"We almost didn't," Ryo answered.
"Wait…we?" came Anna's questioning reply.
Taku nodded. "Yes, we almost didn't," he stated, "I thought I'd have to sit in on a family business meeting, even if it's via a video conference." Anna nodded. "But Father insisted that I attend the dance; he said the meeting wasn't covering anything important and I should focus on my time here at the Academy instead. But by the time he said that…almost all of the girls already had dates."
Anna looked from Taku to Ryo. "…No one I'd want to go with asked me," Ryo added before looking to Taku, "…until I found out this guy didn't have a date either." Taku smiled softly, Ryo smiled back. Anna grinned coyly as the group sat down together. They watched Koyo laughing as she waltzed with Chumley, the fat Slifer grinning almost from ear to ear. They beheld a reluctant Misawa bowing down to plant a soft kiss on Ran's hand, inviting her to dance at last. Yuna and Slade glaring at each other from eye to eye, the Princeton running his hand up and down her back as he led her away from the dance floor to a nearby table. Taku looked to Ryo before gesturing with his head towards the dance floor, Ryo nodding and standing up…
…just as the music stopped and a spotlight shone onto the stage, Chronos standing in it. His wide grin unsettled the students as he held an envelope in his hand. "A good evening to you all, students," Chrono's greeted, cheerily, "It's nice to see you all having so much fun. Now before we get too far into the evening, it is time for an important announcement; the results of the Ms Duel Academia contest!" There was a cheer among some of the students as Koyo looked around, puzzled.
"What's the Ms Duel Academia contest?" Koyo asked.
Anna chuckled. "It was a survey conducted right before your duel with Misawa," Anna replied, "Basically, you pick who you think the most beautiful and talented girl in the school is."
Koyo blinked. "Oh, really" he mused.
A second spotlight appeared on the stage behind Chronos. "Our winner for the last two years, Miss Seika Kohinata," Chronos continued, "Has humbly agreed to help present the award to this year's winner. Of course, she is also a candidate and may well be the first student to take the prize for three years running!" Seika smiled, waving lightly to the crowd, basking the adoration of her peers…confident that she would indeed become the first student to win the award for her entire period of study at Duel Academy. Chronos pulled out an envelope from his pocket, excitedly opening it with a chuckle. "And the winner of this year's Ms Duel Academia contest is…"
Seika Kohinata. Seika grinned, waiting for those words, her muscles tensing up as she prepared her reaction. She'd be humble, graceful…everything the school expected from its female idol. "…oh my," Chronos continued, gasping from shock, "This is never happened in the history of the Academy!" Seika's smile widened. Seika Kohinata has won the Ms Duel Academia contest for the third year in a row! Say it! "…We seem to have a tie between four woman." Seika's jaw dropped, her eyes widened.
"W-what?" Seika remarked.
"There has been a tie for the title of Ms Duel Academia," Chronos explained, "Between our defending Miss Seika Kohinata of the Senior year…and the three Obelisk Queen Freshman Ryo Marufuji! Yuna Fujiwara! and Anna Rhodes!" A third, fourth and fifth spotlight shone down upon them, the three Obelisk Freshman wincing and covering their eyes before the bright barrage. They slowly rose to their feet as the crowd around them applauded, parting so they could make their way to the stage.
"…Actually, Professor Chrono's," Ryo replied, "I'd like to withdraw." The crowd gasped, Anna sighing. I don't need that kind of recognition.
"Same here and I am not interested in those nonsense either". Yuna added.
"Me three". Anna added
Seika sighed with relief at those words.
"Nonsense, you three" Chronos, however, insisted, "You don't need to be so humble. Come on up and we'll sort out some way to decide a winner." The three Obelisk Queens sighed again, making their way through the crowd to the stage, stopping only when they reached 's Misawa's table. The Ra Genius looked at Anna, a soft smile forming on his lips…before she turned her head away and walked past him with Ryo and Yuna, leaving Misawa oddly confused. Anna and Ryo stood next to Seika with Yuna stood beside Anna, the senior girl staring daggers at the three juniors. And now they're about to take the title of Ms Duel Academia? Ryo Marufuji, Yuna Fujiwara and Anna Rhodes…I will crush you. As these thoughts raced through Seika's mind, another student, a blue dorm girl with neat black hair cut into a bob and a pair of glasses raced over and handed a sheet of paper to Chronos. "Thank you, Bright. Now let's see here…," the doctor looked at the sheet, "It appears that there was only one student that didn't cast their vote and it is…KOYO HIBIKI!" The crowd at once looked at Koyo.
"What do you mean I didn't cast?" Koyo questioned, "I voted for Anna just fine." Anna's eyes widened as she blushed while Misawa again felt jealous.
Chronos quickly spun the sheet around, pointing to a pair of empty boxes below the one within which Anna's name had been written. "YOU DIDN'T INCLUDE YOUR SECOND OR THIRD PREFERENCES!" Chronos spat back, "WE INCLUDED THEM IN CASE EXACTLY THIS HAPPENED!"
"So…I have to pick between Seika, Ryo or Yuna?" Koyo question, Chronos nodding impatiently. Koyo looked around and then up to the stage. Ryo closed her eyes, a resigned look on her face same as Yuna…while Seika's eyes were wide, a clear visage of fear upon her face. No, no, no, no! That Koyo kid…he's one of Ryo and Yuna's friends! He'll vote for one of them! He'll ruin everything! Unless…
"Excuse me, Chronos-sensei" Seika interjected, "But I think it's unfair to put so much weight on the shoulders of a freshman." Chronos turned to look at her. "I mean, he's already going to be embarrassed enough as it is," she continued, "We shouldn't risk making him regret his decision here for the next three years." Chronos raised an eyebrow. "So I propose we settle this in Academy way; with a Duel." Seika turned to Ryo, the bluenette opening her eyes. "Me against Ryo, the winner gets Koyo's vote!"
Chronos looked to Ryo seeing the bluenette student now staring Seika down. "Ryo, is this alright with you?" he asked.
Ryo nodded. "Fine by me," she said, her voice low almost to the point of growling. Seika smiled before walking away. I don't want that title…but I never back down from a duel! With that Chronos grinned as the crowd of student began murmuring.
Taku tapped Koyo on the shoulder. "You were about to vote for Seika, weren't you?" he questioned, a sly grin on his face, Koyo nodding in reply, "Thought so." Taku shifted his gaze from Koyo to Ryo. "Ryo doesn't want recognition of her beauty and same goes to Yuna and Anna". he mused, " They wants to be seen as a Duellist, first and foremost." Koyo nodded in agreement, Taku's green eyes never leaving Ryo for a moment. And it's why I turned down every other girl who asked me to be their date tonight…
Duel with Ryo and Seika
Seika stared down Ryo, her freshly shuffled deck sliding neatly into her Duel Disk, the freshman echoing the gesture. Ryo had changed back into her Blue School Uniform, unused to wearing Yukata, her eyes remaining firmly fixed on Seika even as the pair activated their duel disk. The attendees of the dance had relocated along with both the duelists to the main arena, now seating themselves in the stands around the arena. Now then, Freshman, I'll teach you what it means to mess with the real Queen of Obelisk Blue.
"Best of luck to you," Seika called, smiling to Ryo. You're going to need it. After I'm done with you, you'll wish you'd never come to this island.
"Yeah, you too," Ryo replied, the pair each drawing five cards from their deck. I really didn't want that title…but I'm not going to lose to you.
"DUEL!" Their LP counters set to 4000
Turn 1 Ryo
"I'll start things off, Senior," Ryo declared, "I'll start off with my Proto-Cyber Dragon."
The image of a thin, serpentine mechanical dragon rose up from the ground in front of Koyo (ATK 1100). "My Proto-Cyber Dragon is treated as the more refined beast while it's on the field…which means I'm allowed to summon this; Cyber Dragon Vier!"
Another Cyber Dragon, this one with a more complete form with back spines and a multiple pronged tail rose up next to the Proto-Cyber Dragon (DEF 1600). "And now that Cyber Dragon Vier is on the field, all my Cyber Dragons gain 500 Attack and Defence points." A silver glow surrounded both the Proto-Cyber Dragon (ATK 1100 - 1600) and Cyber Dragon Vier (DEF 1600 - 2100).
"I'll now set one card face down and end my turn." The image of a set card, laying vertically appeared behind Ryo's mechanical monsters. "You're up, Seika."
Turn 2 Seika
Seika grinned. "Then that makes it my turn," she announced, drawing a card, "Tell me, Ryo, do you like gardens?" Ryo raised an eyebrow. "Me, I adore them; sure you have to spend forever and a day crafting it, shaping it, getting the right mix of plants and flowers…but as a reward for your success, you get a captivating space that you can enjoy for even longer." Ryo sighed. "Of course…even the most beautiful of roses have thorns," Seika continued, smirking a little, "…and it's time to show you mine! I summon Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio!"
Burst out of one of the ice chunks in front of Seika was a large, flower-like scorpion with thorny branches for its legs and claws, and a flowery bulb at the end of its tail from which a stinger protruded (ATK 1200).
"And my Scorpio has an effect to boot; when he's summoned to the field, by sending a monster in my hand to the graveyard, I can summon another Predaplant from my deck…so I choose Predaplant Chlamydosundew." A second plant like monster, this one taking the shape of a frilled-neck lizard with small buds on the end of stalk growing from its frill (ATK 600).
Ryo narrowed her gaze. Neither of those monsters can defeat my Dragon; what's she thinking using them?""Now my my Chlamydosundew's effect; once per turn I can fusion summon a Dark Monster as long as I use him among the materials," Seika continued, the red-blue spiral of fusion appearing above her. Both her monsters were pulled into the spiral. "I Fusion Summon…Predaplant Chimerafflesia!"
Ryo's stomach turned as she saw what emerged from the spiral; a large, twisted, dark green mass of vines with a central body topped with a large, open blue flower. From that central bulk were two tendrils, both ending with large, bulb-like jaws (ATK 2500).
"Now my newest plan has an effect, once per turn I can target a monster of equal or lower level than it…and banish it. Like your Cyber Dragon Veir." A vine shot forth from the central mass of the Chimerafflesia, wrapping around Veir. The dragon was pulled towards the central body, towards that flower…the middle of which opened up to reveal a third mouth into which the Cyber Dragon Veir was dropped…and eaten. "Battle," Seika announced, "Chimerafflesia attacks you directly!" The bulb-like jaws shot out at once, one biting Ryo's arm, the other leg, as the bluenette flinced, her LP dropping to 1500.
"I set one card face down and end my turn." A face down card appeared behind the Chimerafflesia. How was that, you little upstart? That will make you think twice before challenging me to anything.
Turn 3 Ryo
Ryo's eyes wide. I can see why she's the top student among the Senior Girls. "I activate my set card; Necro Fusion!" Ryo interjected, her set card flipping up, "With this card, I can banish the two Cyber Dragons in my graveyard to summon a new monster." Two streams of light shot out of Ryo's graveyard before flying up into the Spiral of Fusion, which turned a Dark Blue and Purple colour. "Now I Fusion Summon a new dragon that will decimate your Predaplant monsters…I Fusion Summon Chimeratech Rampage Dragon!" From the spiral emerged a strange series of interlocking black cubes from which extended the heads and tails of two Cyber Dragons (ATK 2100).
"Battle!" Ryo exclaimed, pointing towards Seika's monster, " Chimeratech Rampage Dragon attacks Chimerafflesia!" All the dragon roared as it streams billowed forth, sending shockwaves the Predaplant before it shattered, Seika's LP dropping to 3300.
"Now I set one card face down and call it a turn."
Turn 4 Seika
Seika growled a little. Still got some fight left in you? "My turn," she stated, drawing her next card, "I activate my set card, Call of the Haunted, to revive Predaplant Chimerafflesia!"
One of Seika's set cards flipped up…and from it emerging the mass of vines that made up the Chimerafflesia. "Next I summon Predaplant Flytrap!" A small, gangly vine creature with a twisted, jagged pod appeared (ATK 400). "Now I activate Flytrap's effect! Once per turn I can put a Predator Counter on one of your monsters and, if it's level 2 or higher, that monster's level is reduced to 1…and since you only have one monster, I put a Predator Counter on your Chimeratech Rampage Dragon!"
A small pod flew from Flytrap's jaw before fixing onto the nose of one of Chimeratech Rampage Dragon heads, a dark aura surrounding the dragon. "Now that your dragon is weakened, I can activate my Chimerafflesia's effect to banish it!" Chimerafflesia's two jaws surged forward, seizing and pulling the dragon into the waiting maw within its central body, Ryo groaning. "Battle! Chimerafflesia attacks you directly!" Those pod-like jaws surged towards Ryo once again, Seika smirking as they did so. At last…victory is mine!
"I activate my trap card, Mirror Force!" Ryo declared, her set card flipping up as a large, glass-like wall formed between her and the ravenous plant. It's jaws struck the surfaced of the protective screen. "Now all your monsters in attack position are destroyed!" Beams of light shot off the screen, striking first the Flytrap and then the Chimerafflesia, both plants igniting and burning away to ashes…leaving Seika stunned, her eyes wide, her jaw lowered and trembling. Why? Why are you fighting so hard for a title you don't even want? Why are you so intent of winning this duel- Seika gasped, before closing her eyes…and smiling. I see, so that's how you want people to view you…
"I end my turn," Seika replied.
Turn 5 Ryo
Ryo nodded, drawing a new card. . "I activate the spell card Cybernetic Fusion Support!" Another gasp as the crowd recognized the card from her duel the previous day. "Now by paying half my life points," Ryo explained, her LP dropping to 1200, "I can banish monster from my hand, field or graveyard to Fusion Summon Machine Monsters…and I happen to have three Cyber Dragons in my graveyard that will do just fine." Seika gulped. "Especially once I activate this; Power Bond!" Ryo slid her last card into her Duel Disk. "Now I can Fusion Summon a Machine Monster…and it's attack strength doubles! So I banish the three Cyber Dragons in my graveyard to Fusion Summon…"
An electrical vortex appeared above Ryo as the images of three Cyber Dragons were pulled up into it. "…the Cyber End Dragon!" The vortex was at once blown apart as the largest mechanical dragon yet appeared, it's body splitting into a trio of necks each with a mechanical head…before it quickly glowed and doubled in size (ATK 4000 - 8000).
The crowd was silent as Seika stared at the hulking, mechanical monster. Then her gaze switched to Ryo, the Blue Ace standing entirely nonchalantly. Seika sighed, nodding…a slight smile forming on Ryo's face. "Battle!" Ryo announced, "Cyber End Dragon attacks you directly!" All three heads unleashed their combined torrents of energy, which quickly consumed towards Seika, the Senior Blue bracing herself before being thrown back by the attack and landing on her rear, her LP completely emptying to 0.
The images of the dragon vanished as Ryo walked over to Seika, offering her senior a hand…which Seika accepted. "Good game, well played," Seika stated, "…Ms Duel Academia."
Ryo sighed, looking away. "I never wanted that stupid title to begin with," she replied, "…but when you offered a duel, I couldn't say no and walk away." She looked back, smiling at Seika. "Because…I love duelling and I want people to see me as a duellist, not just as some eye candy or trophy wife to be won."
Seika held onto Ryo's hand. "And that's exactly why you deserve to be Ms Duel Academia," she stated, "You can inspire the other girls at this school to be more than just pretty faces…unlike me." Seika smiled again to which Ryo answered with her own smile as the audience around them cheered. "…Of course," Seika continued, her smile turning to a smirk, "Next time we duel, you're going down."
Ryo chuckled. "You just name the time and place," she replied.
Notes
So today's chapter is Ryo VS Seika Kohinata. I based this chapter on Miss DA mini arc ifrom the manga and I gave Seika a Predaplant deck and this duel was challenging for me to write and it took 2 months for me to planned it. I honesty copy paste the pervious chapter based on manga but today's chapter I challenged myself to give a unique chapter. Seika isn't going to be a regular so I decide to have her appear and duel Ryo on her debut duel.
If I made any errors please correct me.
Next chapter is going to be the explosion duel where we finally see Koyo and Slade teaming up against two big opponent's and its not going to be the Paradox Brother's and I am not going to spoil who their opponents are.