Sorry if I don't update as much anymore. I am trying. I just received four assignments in ONE week!

Review Replies:

NocturneD - Hmm... You must be a really smart person. To tell you the truth, I am not very smart. I was actually a very poor student ever since I started up to Year 5. I then started trying hard in Year 6 because my parents started getting really upset with me. Year 7 and 8 was fun high school years until I had to move to another country. I had to adjust to everything for at least two years. And wham! I graduate compulsory school and I am now suddenly faced with so much workload. I'm actually still in a state of shock. I wasn't prepared for this so please, cut me some slack. I do enjoy and want to finish this story, that is why I'm trying not to give up on it. I also updated even though I just had four reviews that last chapter since I wanted everything to go faster. If it wasn't obvious, there was a joking tone in that sentence. And sorry if I probably shared my life story to you but I am just really... Never mind. About you reviewing, it's okay that you haven't reviewed. I often read stories and don't review them for many different reasons. I understand.

Princess Viv - The full stop! For some reason, some of the punctuation marks don't show on the net. It's really annoying. Slashes and colons don't appear as well and some other punctuation marks which is why I can never put smiley faces in! You really have a sharp eye! I hope you like this chapter!

Kausi - Thanks for wishing me luck! I need it!

l33t k1w1 - Don't need to apologize. I was just kidding. Yup, they are all human beings. Thanks for wishing me luck and I will TRY not to neglect this fic.

kittychanfluffy - (chokes from cookie but miraculously recovers after seeing a picture of Kakyou... xp) Hmm... You're a first! Or are there two of you? Anyway, here's my update!

stephanie - Aww! I don't want you to cry! Don't you dare shed a tear because of me! I'm updating already, see? Smile! Come on, you know you want to! A piece of advice: treasure your Year 7 years.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Duel Masters! Do I have to repeat this for every single chapter!

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Duel Guard

Yui vs. Hakuoh!

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Mimi was looking worriedly at her watch. Shobu, who was arranging his deck for his upcoming battle beside her, noticed and looked curiously up at the girl.

"What's wrong Mimi?" Shobu asked. "You're a bit fidgety."

Mimi and Shobu were currently alone inside the room where duelists prepare right before their duel. This was Shobu's room. Rakudah, Kintaro and Saiyuki stepped outside already to save seats.

"Yui and Hakuoh's duel should be starting right about now," Mimi said with a sigh. She smiled sadly at Shobu. "I just feel really sorry for Yui. She's our friend! We should help her but... Hakuoh's also our friend. I feel so guilty..."

Shobu stared at her before reaching out for her hand and giving it a squeeze. Mimi, startled, looked at him with wide eyes.

"I feel guilty as well, Mimi," Shobu said with a rueful smile. "We support her but that doesn't mean we don't support Hakuoh."

Mimi nodded and gave him a weak smile. "You're right. I shouldn't feel too guilty. Thanks Shobu."

"Anytime," Shobu replied as he looked into Mimi's eyes. His eyes then widened as he realized something.

She has amazing eyes...

Mimi, meanwhile, was feeling as though she was in cloud nine.

He's staring at me... Shobu is STARING at me! Could that mean that... he likes me...?

But before she could ever hope to find out, Rakudah and Kintaro burst through the door. The two jumped and Shobu quickly let go of Mimi's hand with a blush. Mimi, meanwhile, wanted to kill the two intruders right on the spot.

"Shobu! The duel's about to start so you better speed up!"

"Okay," Shobu said, standing up. "Where's Saiyuki?"

"Oh she's with Toru," Kintaro said with a shrug.

"Why?"

Rakudah answered this time. "Oh, she's wishing him luck."

Mimi, was thoughtful.

Hmm... I wonder if Saiyuki is going to make a move...

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Hakuoh had just finished arranging his deck. Aizen and Mikuni were with him inside his preparation room.

"Knight wishes you luck, Hakuoh," Aizen informed him. Hakuoh nodded.

"I will call him later to give my thanks."

Mikuni was staring at Hakuoh before looking away. "Do you know who your opponent is, Hakuoh?"

"A girl," Hakuoh replied a bit absent-mindedly. "Her name is Yui Koumyouji."

"I'm sure you'll defeat her, Hakuoh," Aizen said with a smile. Hakuoh smiled back.

There was a knock on the door.

"Mr. Jimmy Three-Horn," a man on the other side of the door called. "It's time!"

Hakuoh stood up and put his head gear on. Aizen and Mikuni gave him the thumbs-up.

"Good luck, Hakuoh."

"Win this."

Hakuoh nodded and left the room. He then approached the duel area where his opponent was already waiting.

"Welcome everybody to the duel between Yui Koumyouji and Jimmy Three-Horn!"

People clapped politely. There were few people watching so there were no cheers. This was, after all, a match between two unknown players. The people watching were probably just trying to get cooled down with the air conditioning system.

The announcer, however, continued as if the audience gave a huge applause. "As this is a semi-finals match, this duel will be a kaijudo match!" Since most of the audience weren't really that much into duel masters, they just stared, not really knowing what was going on. "All right then! Let's begin!"

Hakuoh looked at his opponent. She seemed somehow... different. When he saw her yesterday, she had a cheerful aura around her but now, it wasn't anything near cheerful. Her bangs shadowed her eyes and her head was slightly lowered. She had a dark aura surrounding her. What could have happened?

"Activate shields," she said emotionlessly, as she started the match.

"Shields deploy," Hakuoh said, raising his own shields.

Thus, the match officially began.

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Yui was concentrated fully on the duel. She could feel Tenkai watching her closely... intently. He was expecting her to win this.

"Ike!" She destroyed another one of Jimmy Three-Horn's shields. He was now left with only two shields.

She had to win this. She just had to. There was no other option but to win. She will not let this... man... defeat her. She will attack him with her full strength. She will dominate this game. She will...

"Double break her shield!"

Yui quickly raised her arms to her face to protect herself from the shattered shields. She looked at her opponent with wide eyes.

How did he do that?

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Hakuoh saw the shock in the girl's eyes. Did she really think that he would just lie down in front of her and let her trample over him?

I think not, Hakuoh thought, breaking another one of her shields. She now only had one shield left and it was still his turn.

She is not much of a challenge, Hakuoh thought, a little disappointed. "Ike. Break her last shield."

Hakuoh's trump card broke the last of Yui Koumyouji's shields. Fortunately for her, it was already her turn. It would take a miracle for her to be able to get a come-back.

Let's see if you can conjure up a miracle, Ms. Koumyouji.

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Yui was staring at the duelist in front of her. He was good... exceptionally good... She hasn't dueled with anyone this good since... well... since a very long time.

Losing to him would vex me more than anything else, Yui remembered Tenkai say. She glanced behind her and saw her former teacher giving her a look that clearly said, 'win this or else'. He then turned around and simply left. Yui turned back to her opponent.

His deck is powerful, Yui thought. And his civilization is light, just like mine. His trump card...

Her eyes widened. Even though she made it seem as though she never studied her opponents, the truth was far from that. She studied the former Temple Champion and his way of fighting. Hakuoh, the former Temple Champion, used a light civilization deck and his trump card was...

The same as Jimmy Three-Horn's! Yui thought, staring in shock at the man in front of her. The man in the mask. This man! Could he be...

Could he be the former Temple Champion, Hakuoh?

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Norihiro was running towards the building where the Annual Duel Masters Tournament was being held. He quickly ran towards the duel board and looked for Yui's name. Seeing it, he quickly turned around to run towards the room but instead, bumped into a person. He fell down on his behind with a wince.

"Good afternoon, Norihiro. Did you miss me?"

Norihiro's eyes widened. He recognized that voice! Looking up, his heart almost stopped when he saw who the one he bumped into was.

None other than Tenkai Hisato.

"T-Tenkai," Norihiro gasped out. Tenkai smirked down at the younger boy.

"You do remember me," he said with a sinister smirk. "Good."

"What have you done to Yui?" Norihiro asked, a slight tremble in his voice, worried about his cousin.

"I only gave her a few tips in dueling," Tenkai said innocently. Norihiro gathered all his courage and glared at the older man.

"Few tips! I bet you said some nasty things to her!"

"Those are harsh accusations Norihiro," Tenkai said calmly. "If I were you, I wouldn't jump to conclusions. You see, jumping to conclusions are one of the causes of self-ruin." He then left with a chuckle. Norihiro was rooted on the spot.

Tenkai had just threatened him.

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"You're Hakuoh," Yui said suddenly. "The former Temple Champion."

Jimmy Three-Horn was silent, his eyes invisible because of the helmet. Yui took this as a 'yes'. She then looked around the stadium. A tall glass wall suddenly surrounded the duel area, shielding them from the gas that suddenly engulfed the audience.

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Hakuoh looked around him in surprise. The audience was engulfed with a thick smoke. What was happening?

He looked at his opponent. She was staring intently at him, a serious look on her face.

"Hakuoh..." she said his name softly, her melodic voice ringing through the duel area. "I never thought I would met my predecessor here in this match."

Hakuoh's eyes widened. "'Predecessor'? You're the new Temple Champion!"

He watched as Yui Koumyouji took her glasses off, revealing deep and beautiful brown eyes. Hakuoh then saw that she wasn't what she first seemed. She didn't look ordinary now with her looks revealed.

"Yes, yes I am," Yui said as she raised her hand. It started glowing golden with black edges. "You may be my predecessor but you are no better than me. And I shall prove that by defeating you right here, right now!"

Her next card was a dark civilization card... a card Hakuoh has never seen before.

"I will defeat you Hakuoh!" Yui yelled as her card prepared what seemed to be a very powerful attack. "I will show Master once and for all who the better Temple Champion is!"

The last thing Hakuoh saw was the blazing eyes of his opponent.

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I know that was short and the description was so poor. Forgive me please! I know many people probably want to flame me right now but cut me some slack! I planned how the couples will interact ages ago! I can't suddenly just go against my plans!

Anyway, hope you liked that chapter.

Chisakami Saiyuki