As Kintaro wandered down the street, he couldn't help but notice all the other duelists. In the IDC, there was no age limit. You entered on your own behalf. Of course there were separate leagues if you preferred to duel others your age. Little kids rarely joined the IDC because older duelists would just push them around and take the credits, sometimes cards. Bunch of punks. I could take on all of 'em. Walking down the corner of 1st and Charles Street, Kintaro looked out to the bay. It was beautiful this time of year. The water sparkled like a new car. The ocean was smooth and serene, reflecting the noontime sun.
"Ah, if it is Kintaro Akechi, the dueling prodigy,"
A stout person behind him said. Kintaro turned and looked, trying not to laugh. He was at least a foot shorter than Kintaro, had a black trench coat, and round sunglasses.
"You've got to be kidding me," Kintaro chuckled.
"You fell out of sight after your final win against Weevil in the last tiger round. How could you just turn your back on dueling? Now you have the nerve to come back," The small kid said.
"Shouldn't you be in the half-pint league?" Kintaro said.
"Very funny. I am the king of the dueling ocean! How dare you doubt my skills! I may only be thirteen, but I have credibility. My name is Masamune Baba, and I challenge Kintaro Akechi to a duel!" He finished, pointing at Kintaro.
"Hm, well, I appreciate your enthusiasm. Although the credibility you speak of may be too premature. I've seen you duel, and your record is only 7-4. But if you want to lose your credits that fast, I'll be glad to relieve you of them," Kintaro said smoothly.
"Not so fast, I make the arrangements. Three hours from now, meet me back here. I have yet to finish perfecting my water deck," Baba said.
"Heh, you challenge and delay. What a strategy. You hope that I'll duel someone else so you can obtain a strategy to defeat me because you still have an underlying fear that I may still be good as I once was," Kintaro explained.
Baba was silent, as if Kintaro had predicted his plan. "If your not here at four, I'll let everyone know what a coward you are," Baba said.
"Then I'll get more challenges, more cards, more credits, and my old reputation back. The more lambs to the slaughter, the better." Kintaro replied. With that, Baba left. People these days.
One hour had passed. Kintaro had almost forgot. He was walking along the sidewalk, along a popular dueling strip. Looking at the cards in the shops. Most of them weren't so great. One caught his eye though. Hmm, a Scapegoat, huh? I could use one.
"How much for Scapegoat?" Kintaro asked.
"Five dollars." The tall shopkeeper said.
Pulling the bill out of his wallet, Kintaro took the card in its hard sleeve.
"Thanks," He said and walked farther down the strip
Pondering what he should do next, he noticed some kids in the park. Two little ones around twelve being picked on by a few others who looked around eighteen (even though they were almost the same height). All of them had duel disks. Kintaro was about to walk away when he saw one of the two older ones punch the two smaller ones. Normally, Kintaro didn't get into other people's business, unless it was something he felt. Kintaro's childhood was full of teasing and nagging from others, so he couldn't stand it when he saw others in his position.
"Back off you bunch of punks," Kintaro said walking into the park.
"Buzz off man. This hood is ours. You wanna do sumtin' aboudit?" The short black kid said.
"What if I do? Tell you what. I'll duel either one of you. If I win, you high tail it out of here," Kintaro said.
"You think you're gonna win? Listen to dis kid. He thinks he can take me man." He said to his white buddy. "How bout dis, I'll bet my deck if you bet yours," he said.
"Then let's duel, I'll stomp you flat into the ground," Kintaro said sliding his deck in.
4000-4000 Kintaro Vs. Damian Bonderlos
"I'll go first. I'll play Pot of Greed and draw two cards. Then I'll play Graceful Charity. Draw three cards and discard two. I discard Polymorph and Dawn of the Dead," Kintaro said. "Then I'll summon Reflector Moki! I'll then set two more magic and trap cards face down and end my turn."
"My turn. I dunno whature thinkin' playing such a stoopid creature, but I'll take care of it. I summon Goblin Attack Force, attack!" He said.
A pair of pattern covered cylinders appeared in front of the little silver marshmallow creature that Kintaro summoned. Goblin Attack Force's attack was redirected at Damian who squinted and fell to his knees with an electric shock.
"I activated Magic Cylinder. You can take all that damage." Kintaro said.
4000-1700
"Damnit!" Damian said.
Well, I'll just hafta counter his next move den. Mirror Force
should do tha trick. "I end my turn after playing one card
face down.
"My turn. Hah, I knew this would end fast. I play Snatch Steal! I'll take your Goblins thank you. Next I'll tribute the two for The Unbreakable Warrior. He'll easily overwhelm you," Kintaro said as the familiar warrior creature appeared.
He doesn't even know dat I'm gonna blow away his creature in seconds. Dis'll be awesome!
Suddenly, a screech pierced the afternoon cool. A Harpy Lady appeared from the sky with huge feathered wings. It swooped down in front of Damian and wiped away his Mirror Force.
"Do you think I'm stupid enough to underestimate anyone? You are. I can easily tell that. Attack my warrior, shatter him!" Kintaro shouted.
The tall barbarian ran at full speed and swung his monstrous knife. A shocking noise arose and Damian fell flat on his face.
4000 - 0 Winner: Kintaro
"I'll take that deck." Kintaro said snatching the deck from a stunned Damian. "Is this yours?" Kintaro said to the two younger kids.
"Yeah. He stole it from me and threatened to beat up my brother unless he gave them his deck as well." The kid said.
Kintaro handed him the deck and the credits that were with it. He said nothing more as he walked away.
Ooh, the pure knight Kintaro, helping the needy and protecting the weak. He thought. It gave him some kind of neat feeling to help those who he felt needed it.
Two minutes. Kintaro had done nothing else the entire day but watch others duel. It's always better to watch first. Then, as he approached the docks near the bay, a strange feeling overcame him. My spider sense is tingling. He couldn't help it. Being more serious, he looked around as he came nearer to the loading area.
"I've been expecting you." Baba said from behind. As soon as he had spoken those words, Kintaro was surrounded.
Kintaro slipped his deck into the slot.
"Alright, let's dance."
