The Duel Masters Tournament

It was starting to go dark in Domino, Aaron had brought the kid who dueled Mike before he did, the boy was still unconscious, but he was going to be ok. Aaron looked at his deck and took out the Rope of Life card, his mind still focused on the duel he had today.

"Mike, he was a tough duelist, but he most have been an errand boy for who ever is after us, I guess that's why my crest started to glow and guided me to him. But why now?" Aaron wondered.

He thought back to when he was Gearfried and was fighting against the Battle Ox at the Ames store.

(Flash Back)

"AXE SLAM ATTACK!!!" The Ox roared swinging his ax in a downward swing.

"TAURO!" Gearfried said as he suddenly shot past the Swing and turned around behind the Ox. "IRON FIERCE!" He called out as he swung his blade and slashed the ox down.

(End Flash Back)

"The first time I turned into Gearfried was because of them, and then there was those Other Duel Monsters."

(Flash Back)

Gearfried's blade was surging with energy, "TRICK OR TREAT! IRON FREICE!!!" He swung with all his might. A blast of energy flew from the blade, and blew up the Millennium Shield, and lit the gases that had filled up inside. Gearfried braced himself, as the Pumpking exploded. A hail of foul smelling pumpkin chunks fell all over the parking lot.

(End Flash Back)

"They said their master wanted to speak to us, I have a feeling he had more on his mind then a simple how do you do." He said, looking down to the tired kid.

Just then, there was a gust of wind that blew the nearby window open. Aaron blocked the wind with his arm as he tried to reach the window. Just as he approached the window, a large shadowy figure appeared and lunged at him.

"Whoa!" He said jumping back from the window, as it came through.

It was tall, almost six feet, it wore a coat of fine silver fur, face and body resembling a fox, and in its arms was Dan.

"What did you do to him?" Aaron demanded.

"He needed a timeout." Said the fox, with a strangely familiar voice.

It took Aaron a few seconds to figure who it was, "Jess?" He asked.

The fox nodded and put Dan down in Aaron's chair, then turned back to one of the bed's privacy curtains and ripped it off its hooks. She then wrapped it around herself, and then she began to change. She started to shrink, the fur vanishing from her body, her face and bones started to grow back into shape, her mouth folding back into her face, and her long blonde hair flowed back in one moment, as though a dam had burst.

There before Aaron, was his friend, the Senva of Focus, Jess Marrow, wearing no more than that curtain. He was stunned, to say the least.

"What? Never seen a girl before?" She asked.

"I.I.I never. saw a girl." He shook his head and got back his senses, "What are you? You were a fox no more than five seconds ago, and you don't seem to care at all."

She sat down on the windowsill, and breathed a heavy sigh, "I am a creature called Kitsune, a fox demon. Our kind once helped humans against the dark forces of the untamed lands. But then, when offlanders arrived over a hundred years ago, we took to hiding in order to protect ourselves."

Aaron walked up and stood beside her, "I surmise you took off from your people's policy of isolation. But why go to America? And not stay here in Japan?"

"It was my people's fear of the outside world that had sent us into hiding; we have kept to ourselves, although some of my kin haven't been able to hide in the civilized world as you might have guessed." She said, lowering her eyes, as though she was pitying someone.

Aaron thought for a second, then realized what she meant, "Werewolves."

"Yes, the pull of the Moon's light causes our kind to change into our natural selves as source of energy, and it heals all ailments. Our kind is wise to avoid the Full moon without cover." She said, turning her head towards the great sight of Mt Fuji.

"You miss your home, don't you?" Aaron asked, looking out the window.

"Yes, I have not set eyes on these lands since the day I left, so long ago." She said, her gaze as though she were in a trance.

"Around that time, I was about 5, I was always hearing about the bright light of the big towers of stone and glass. The magic of technology, it was so mysterious to us. One day, I met a traveler who found me as I was now, a young human girl. He adopted me, said I had a look of wonder in my eyes, and gave me my name, after his ancestor who had made her way from the shores of Europe to the province of America. And that's how I came to America, but when I turned 10, he died from cancer, and I was left to my grandmother. She was sweet, but I couldn't bear to tell her my secret, the one I kept from her very son. I soon discovered duel monsters and learned how even something evil and dark, can bring about joy and Happiness."

"So what happened to your family?" He asked, looking down to her.

"I'm not quite sure, I haven't returned to my home for over 12 years, I can't imagine how it might have changed." She said.

"Then explain why you turned into that beast back at the docks." Said a voice, that sounded as though it had a hangover.

The two turned around and found Dan waking up, Jess decided to answer, "When you found me Dan, I was running from the Stalker. My body has a natural defensive measure to ensure my survival."

"Like a chameleon's camouflage." Aaron said, becoming more interested, science was one of his favorite subjects.

"Yes, but this is more of a life or death mechanism, if my body is serve danger, it ignites my ancient heritage." She said.

"Heritage? You get something from your family?" Dan asked.

"When the offlanders tried to capture us when they discovered us, my great ancestor granted us a dark power of the shadow beast, Noctus Draga. It is fueled by the will to survive at all costs. Dan, if you didn't take me by surprise, you would probably be in pieces right now." She said.

"Ha, I held my own out there." He said, crossing his arms.

Aaron sighed, "Not one for modesty, eh Dan?"

"What do you mean?" Jess asked.

"Dan here was once a kid who took on bullies twice his size. He lives on a farm, and built up his strength thorough the rigorous workload." He said.

"And my manly physique." Dan added.

"Give me a break, so what's all that training done for your deck?" Jess asked, engaging her tough as nails mode.

"Take a look for your self." He said, handing it over to her. She began to skim through it, and quickly realized his deck theme.

"Time Wizard, Roulette barrel, Skull Dice, Fiend's Comedian, Jiri Gumo, These are all chance cards!" She exclaimed.
"Yep, but if you look closer, there's another strategy built into it." He said, but he quickly snatched it away.

"Hey why you'd do that?" She demanded.

"He's keeping it a secret, what is it probably will be used on us during this tournament." Aaron said, "Besides, neither of us have seen your deck."

"But you haven't said anything about you either." She said, crossing her arms.

Aaron reached into his pocket and took out his deck, "My deck is a warrior deck, built to fend off an opponent until I can take him out. And as for myself." He said, but then he pocketed his deck and started to away.

"Hey! Where you going?" Jess demanded.

"Leave him be, he's got his reasons." Dan said, as his friend left the room and down the hall.

Aaron trekked his way down towards the stairway, past the other rooms. He kept his mind focused on his path without wavering. But just as he made the final turn towards the stairwell, an obstruction blocked his path. Or rather he crashed into it.

"Whoa!" Aaron said, as he fell on his backside.

"Hey you ok?" A voice with a familiar tone asked. It wasn't a very ordinary one, he sounded American.

"Yeah, I'm alright, sorry about bumping into ya." Aaron said, rubbing his back.

A hand stuck out in front of his face, "Come on, I'll help you up."

Aaron took it and was pulled up, then saw who it was; a guy with huge blonde hair, and brown eyes, the appearance was unmistakable.

"Joey., is that you?" He asked.

"Yeah, wait a minute you kind of look familiar." He stated, trying to figure out who he was.

Meanwhile.

"So what's the deal?" Jess demanded.

"Aaron used to live here too. When he was a kid, he was ditched at an orphanage, over there he was picked on by the others, and never really opened up to anyone." Dan said, looking out the window.

"He must have been lonely." Jess said.

"He said to me that the people who ran the orphanage wondered whether or not he was mute. Not that they cared, they were just as mean as the kids. There were very few nice kids there, but Aaron kept to himself, not wanting to cause them more trouble by attracting more torment."

"Sounds to me like he cared about everyone else."

"He's always been like that, but that also got himself into trouble, that he had never wanted to see."

Back in the hall.

"You're not a short runt like Weevil, Espa had blue hair, sorry but I don't remember. Who are you again?" Joey asked.

Aaron sighed, "Just a face, I'm sorry for bothering. See you around Joseph." He said, as he returned to his path to the staircase.

Joey was about to turn away when he suddenly remembered the tone, from long ago, "Aaron? Hey wait!"

Aaron froze, No, I can't. I can't let anymore of my friends get in trouble because of me. I'm sorry Joey, I owe you too much already, He thought to himself, as he shut the door behind him. In his mind, images of a battered face, covered in blood ran rampant. I can't forget why either.

Back in the room, Dan continued the account of Aaron's past.
"It was a dark night, He had gone to get some flowers for a girl's birthday for the next day. He spent hours hunting the parks for the right flowers to make a perfect bouquet."

"Sounds to me like he had a crush." She said.

"Well, I'm not sure, he said that he didn't really know her, but she was one of the more harassed orphans, who had a boyfriend who helped him out once."

"So he was just repaying another debt?"

"Well, he never got the chance to deliver. On his way back to the orphanage, he saw something horrible."

Back to the stairs,

Aaron's memories continued to run through his mind, The night was cold, the streets were deserted, and I was in a hurry.

(Flash Back)

A young boy with tattered jeans, and a ripped green shirt was running down an empty street. His cracked glasses glittered with the lights of neon signs, and his mess of brown hair flapped in the mad pace.

"I got to get back, It's just around the next block." He said, cradling in his little arms was a beautiful assortment of lilies, roses, and tulips.

I was so concerned about getting back, I didn't remember that the shortcut I was taking was leading me in trouble.

The boy made the turn into an alley. But there, he saw a teenaged girl, her face covered with blood, her body striped naked, and her throat was cut. The little boy, Aaron, shook with fear.

It was the first time in my life I saw death, I was scared out of my mind, then. I saw him.

Beside the dead woman was a man, one with a face covered with a heavy black hood. But his eyes shown, blood red and pupils of darkness. He stood taller than the woman, and in his hand, was an old samurai sword, still with the blood of the young woman.

I was absolutely terrified, I was just a seven year old boy, with nothing but flowers, up against a murderer with a sword.

Young Aaron looked into the eyes of the killer, they were full of anger and pleasure, he was in bliss. Then he turned to the woman's eyes, still full of the terror, she had died with her mind scared and broken.

It was too much for me, so I ran.

Aaron turned around and made a run for it, heading back towards the street.

I turned my head to see if he was chasing me, he continued to stare at me, those blood shot eyes were solely on me, but they were also full of pleasure. He was getting a thrill out of seeing me run for my life. I never figured what he was going to do, because as soon as I made it to the street, I ran out onto the road.

Aaron ran out into the road with his head still turned, just as he heard a three beeps of a horn. He turned his head towards the noise and saw a pair of bright lights. He was hit by a car! Sent flying over the hood of the car, his flowers were sent flying through the air, and he landed on the payment unconscious.

(End Flash Back)

"He was soon picked up by the driver and brought to the hospital." Dan said, looking down at the boy who still remained asleep.

"I can't believe it, he always seemed so weak, I didn't think he could survive something like that." Jess said, surprised.

"He almost didn't, he was sent to the ER, and he spent the next week in the hospital." Dan said, turning his attention back to Jess.

"I think its about time we head back to the hotel, Its getting late." He said.

"No problem there, I need to get some sleep." She said, giving a yawn.

"Speaking of which, how do you plan to get out of here dressed like that?" Dan asked, seeing as all she was wearing was the curtain.

"I'll handle myself. See you later." She said, as she changed back into her kitsune form, tossed the curtain aside, and jumped out the window.

"She's one for quick exits, I'd better hit the road too." He said, as he took off out the room.

Meanwhile on the roof, Aaron watched as the final light drew down past the horizon.

"Dan is the only one I have ever told about my experience, but I still have my secrets, as does he. I hope what ever hell this tournament is meant to be, I and my friends will stick together. Our defenses are lowered, but I think it's a sign of strength, and progress." He said.

He reached into his pocket and drew Gearfried, and transformed into the Iron Knight, "Time to go home." He said, as he jumped from the roof and started to plummet towards the street!

He suddenly raised his shield, the front blade opened up, and a chain with a spiked end shot out. It snatched itself to a nearby building. Gearfried swung along the chain, then released, sending him flying towards the hotel, and towards his last night of sleep before the tournament.

To be continued.

Next Time: Aaron, Dan, and Jess, all attend the tournament opening ceremonies. There the Senva's learn the tournament new rules, and where the tournament is going to be held. However, it seems in light of the Senvas, another force of Duelists are assembled to be their rivals, The Daikai.

Next time at The Duel Masters Tournament,
The Rules and The Rivals.