Wow! Look at all the reviews! Thanks everyone!

l33t k1w1 - Sorry! Somehow, the borders I put in don't turn up when I post the chapter. I think it would only work if a put letters. So I might just use a letter.

Deathliger - Thanks for the compliment! It's my first fic!

boy george - Thanks a lot for the compliment. I'm glad you like it!

Kausi - I think Hakuoh looks good no matter what hair color he has!

evan - Thanks for the compliment! I don't think I'll be able to make it an R even if I wanted to. I'm not talented enough.

SxT - Thanks for being so nice! I sort-of like SaiyukixToru now that you mentioned it. Um... About the OC... She is going to be pretty but she has a lot of flaws. I didn't want the OC to be too perfect as well. And clue: She's not the curvaceous woman in the last chapter. Oo. A curvaceous woman with Hakuoh? Sorry, but I think not. That would be... weird...

The Terminator - Thanks for the info! Do you know the cards that they have? I know some of Mimi's cards...

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Duel Masters!

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Duel Guard

The New Champion and Four Guardians

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Mimi looked outside the window. It was raining outside. She was stuck at home.

The former Second Guardian's thoughts, however, were preoccupied by the news Hakuoh gave her. She, like Hakuoh, Kokujo, Miyuni and her poor excuse of a brother, has been replaced by a new Guardian. She knew it would happen sooner or later but not this soon. Were they really so replaceable? And where did Master get these new Guardians and Champion? And just how good were they?

I feel as though Shobu's going to be fighting a faceless enemy soon...

She remembered how Shobu reacted when she revealed that she was the Second Guardian. He didn't believe it at first, like the others, but when they started dueling, he slowly began believing her. She remembered how he thought she was his friend and that she betrayed him. But Mimi had to do what she did. One reason was that she had no choice to do it. Another reason was that she believed that if Shobu dueled with Hakuoh, the friend she knew would surface. And indeed, he did. But it won't always be the same. Hakuoh was already tainted with the Temple's evil. Or more specific, Master's evil.

When I first met him, he was so nice and charming and polite... He was the greatest duelist I knew. But that Temple changed him for a while. Do those new ones know what they're in for? Or are they like Master?

Mimi really wanted to know who the new Champion was. If this person was as good as Hakuoh, that was saying a lot. Hakuoh was world champion until Shobu came along. But if Shobu can beat Hakuoh, he surely can beat the new Champion.

But how good is the new Champion? What if...

Naa. Shobu will always win. He's the best!

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Reiko and Norihiro were kneeling in front of someone, wearing their cloaks. Their hoods were down, however.

"Reiko, Norihiro, please stand up. You don't have to kneel," a soft female voice said.

"Actually, they do," Master said, appearing out of nowhere, with a smirk on his face. "They serve you. They must do it."

Master walked up some steps and beside a throne-like chair. Sitting on it was a young girl with pink hair that reached to her waist. She had brown eyes. She was very pretty.

Master smiled at the girl. She wasn't looking at him though. She was looking at the two kneeling figures in front of her.

"Reiko, Norihiro, leave us."

Norihiro opened his mouth, about to protest, but Reiko placed a hand on his shoulder and shook her head. He looked at her before leaving.

"Yui, there is no room for friends in being Champion," Master said calmly though sternly. "Your Guardians aren't your friends anymore."

"Master, I didn't chose to be your champion. Can't you grant me the wish of keeping my friends?"

"I did. That's why they are your Guardians. But you are not to have sentimentalities with them."

Yui kept her head down, her bangs covering her face. "Why?"

Master went in front of her and lifted her chin, making her look at him. Her eyes were confused, questioning.

"It's because you are special," he said gently. "You are going to be my successor - unless Kirifuda's son beats you. But I doubt that."

You don't doubt it. I am only a pawn in your want to get him, Yui thought quietly. Instead, she lowered her eyes.

"If you say so Master."

Master straightened and gave a small laugh. "Yes... Very good my little Champion."

"Am I still to be secluded here or can I go outside now?"

"You may but make sure that no one knows you are the Temple Champion."

"As you wish."

"Very good."

Master disappeared. Yui sighed heavily. Norihiro and Reiko came in after a few moments. Yui quickly stood up and went to the older woman. The pink-haired girl was only a bit taller than Norihiro.

"Yui... Are you okay?" Reiko asked worriedly. "Did he hurt you? Did he-"

"He didn't hurt me," Yui said quietly as she leaned her head on the older woman's shoulder. "He said you couldn't be my friends anymore. I don't want that Reiko."

"Neither do I," Reiko said earnestly, stroking the younger girl's head.

Yui then straightened herself and turned to Norihiro.

"Norihiro, is Shobu a nice boy?" she asked.

"He is," Norihiro said quietly, not looking at her. "I'm starting to feel guilty. Do you think this is what Mimi Tasogare felt when she pretended to be Shobu's friend?"

"Um... Who's Mimi Tasogare?" Yui asked sheepishly.

Reiko and Norihiro sweat dropped.

"Didn't you read the Temple history book?" Norihiro asked exasperatedly. He suddenly took a book out from nowhere. He flicked through the pages and went to one of the most recent ones and pointed at a page.

"See here? During the 'reign' of the Champion Hakuoh, his First Guardian was a guy names Miyuni, his Second Guardian is Mimi Tasogare, his Third Guardian is Benny-Ha-Ha and his latest Fourth Guardian was Koshiro Kokujo."

"Oh..." Yui said, peering at the page. "Hey, they don't have pictures."

"It's a formal book therefore, just text," Norihiro said, slamming the book closed.

"Oh Norihiro, calm down," Yui said with a smile. "At least I know who Shobu Kirifuda is."

"Do you even know who Knight is?" Norihiro asked. Yui looked thoughtful for a second before answering.

"Um... No?"

Norihiro slapped his hand to his forehead.

"Yui! You have to study your opponents! Don't be so carefree and careless!"

Yui frowned, pouting. "Hey! You can be so mean Norihiro!"

"That's right! Stop bullying Yui!"

Somebody launched at Yui. She almost fell over if Reiko didn't balance her.

"Omi! Stop running into Yui like that! What if you suddenly get a growth spurt and not get rid of that habit?" Norihiro scolded. A dirty blonde-haired boy stuck his tongue out at Norihiro. He was almost Norihiro's height - a tiny bit taller - but still shorter than Yui for a tiny bit as well.

"Stop scolding me. I'm older than you," Omi said smugly.

"I'll stop when you act your age," Norihiro shot back, annoyed.

"Stop it, both of you," Reiko said sternly. "Omi, Norihiro's right. Start acting your age. You need to be more serious. You are the Third Guardian. And Norihiro, calm down. You are so much the opposite of the former Second Guardian."

"Well," Norihiro said sarcastically. "Hail the First Guardian."

"Haha, very funny," Reiko replied, rolling her eyes.

"You really should stop arguing," Yui said with a smile. "Now... Reiko, I'm asking you a favor again. Could you please start investigating on the former first and fourth guardians?"

"Sure," Reiko said with a wink. "I'll start now actually. See you guys later."

"Omi?" Yui said, looking at the boy with his arms wrapped around her waist. "Could you please look into this Knight-person?"

Omi let her go and made a mock salute. "I'm on my way!" Norihiro was left with Yui. She turned with a bright smile to him.

"So my beloved cousin, how are you?"

Norihiro looked sadly down. "I-I'm starting to feel guilty Yui... I know it's wrong but..."

Yui wrapped her arms around the younger boy. Norihiro hugged her loosely, burying his head on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry that this is the best life I could give you Norihiro," Yui said with a sad smile. "I really want to give you a better future but I have nothing except my talent in Duel Masters. Can you ever forgive me?"

Norihiro looked sharply up at her. "Yui! Don't say that! I am very thankful that you are my cousin! I love you! You tried your hardest to let both of us survive! How could you ask for forgiveness?"

Yui took his face is between her hands and looked deep into his eyes.

"Norihiro, listen. I heard from Reiko that this place can change people. It changed the last champion, Hakuoh, and made him an empty shell for a time. I-if the same thing happens to me, will you still have hope and confidence in me?"

"Of course!" Norihiro said with feeling. "Always, Yui! Always!"

Yui smiled. "That's my dear little cousin. Now go and take a rest. You have to watch my exhibition match tomorrow."

Norihiro looked startled. "You have an exhibition match tomorrow?! But I thought Master didn't want you revealed yet!" Yui shrugged.

"I don't know. But Master told me that I have to wear a mask." She suddenly went to the throne-like chair and pulled a chest from under it. Norihiro watched curiously.

"Do you think I should wear this? Perhaps this? Maybe this?" Yui was taking out various masks that didn't suit well for a serious Kaijudo match. One was a green monster. One was a bumblebee. One was a white ghost. One was a scarecrow. One was a chicken and one was... Well, it was just something.

"Yui, you never are good with disguises," Norihiro muttered, looking at her warily.

"Well I'll find something," Yui said cheerfully, revealing the chest. It was full of different masks. "And Master said that they aren't saying my name. He ordered it in fact."

"Who are you dueling?" Norihiro asked, changing the subject.

"Oh some American guy," Yui said, humming to herself as she looked through the masks. "Make sure Shobu's watching. I want him to get an idea of how I duel."

"Why?" Norihiro asked, confused.

"I just do," Yui said with a smile. "Now run along."

Norihiro sighed and left. Yui suddenly stopped what she was doing. Her eyes narrowed seriously.

"Akio, come out from there. I can see you."

A tall and slender young man went out from the shadows. He had brown hair and sky blue eyes. Those blue eyes, however, were cold. He was, in fact, handsome.

"I heard you had an exhibition match tomorrow," Akio said casually, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. He wasn't wearing a cloak like the others but a simple black high school uniform.

"I do," Yui said quietly. "Are you watching?"

"Maybe," Akio said, closing his eyes. "You plan to go out as well. Temple eyes will be watching you."

"I know," Yui said cheerfully, turning to him with a smile. "But you'll get rid of them for me, ne?"

"As you wish," Akio said, looking at her. "Rest Yui. I won't say it again."

Yui nodded and stood up. She yawned tiredly. Without hesitation, Akio walked straight up to her and grabbed her arm, dragging her off.

"Stop it! Stop babying me. I'm sixteen years old!"

"You don't have the height and the character for it," Akio said with a hint of a smile. It was true. Yui had the height of a thirteen-year old. Yui glared openly at him.

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The rain finally stopped. Mimi slowly stood up and stretched lazily. She then looked outside again, her experiences in the Temple flashing before her eyes.

Who are the new victims? Do they know what they're in for?

How many times had she asked that question to herself?

Why did they join the Temple? What made them do it?

Don't they know that the Temple only destroys lives?

Mimi knew that fact. She had witnessed it herself.

I want to help those new victims. I want them to know what it's like to be a Temple Guardian and Champion.