Author's Note: I've been super busy with stuff recently, so I hope my distraction doesn't bring a decline in my work. Hopefully the readers will enjoy this chapter.
Chapter Twelve: Unwanted Attention
'Pure…' That one thought had been on Juushin's mind since the previous night, when he had felt that surging power, the power that had made their mistaken target capable of defeating Dolgrune, one of his lower level Seed Puppets.
"To defeat Dolgrune requires a level of skill and power higher than I had estimated based on that bounty hunter's skills. However, his talents in that area are negligible, and that is unimportant now that I know he is no demon. However that power…" He pursed his lips, not quite sure what to make of it.
Never before in his long life had he felt any spiritual power that pure, or particularly like that. He had witnessed the unique spirit power of many different humans and beings of mystical persuasion, but this was different. "Pure, and beyond the realm of normal human power in some way. Not stronger just…different."
Mentally he assessed the level of power he had felt when the boy's energy had reached its peak. "Strong, above Dolgrune's of course, and worth noticing. However, his unique spiritual power is still so underdeveloped that it's a wonder he was able to manifest it at all. Even someone of middling spiritual power with knowledge of how to use it could defeat that child in battle."
No, defeating this strange boy was not something that would be a challenge if he were to send one of his minions for direct combat. He himself wouldn't even have to lift a finger to defeat the boy at his current level of power. "There was potential there, room for vast improvement in power. With cultivation I'm certain he could be very powerful. But what was that spiritual energy I sensed?"
He knew exactly who to consult on the nature of that energy. He would get his answers, and he would still capture the demon Amarai. "Capturing that dragon demon, although not killing him instantly is vexing, is important to the cause. However, this Keiji Saigo personally intrigues me. I'll be watching you Keiji, and I will have answers."
Determined to find the truth he set out to locate the one person he knew who could get him the information he needed. Doing so would require that he leave the city for a short time. "Cressa."
The female Seed Puppet appeared by his immediately, bowing to him. He didn't look back at her or acknowledge her other than to continue speaking. She was one of his four strongest Seed Puppets, the elite of his cadre of personal soldiers. "Inform your subordinates to continue with their assigned missions. I have to leave the city for a time."
She inclined her head, bowing even deeper as he started to walk away. "It will be as you say Master. We will capture the demon Amarai, purge this city of the few demons left hiding in it, and continue our other duties."
"Depart Cressa. There is no time for me to spare on pleasantries. Once you've spoken to the others, I want you to observe the activities of the boy that defeated Dolgrune. I want him watched at all times." The moment he was done speaking he vanished from her sight, but not from her senses. She could feel his masked spiritual presence heading through the city at great speed, moving away from her.
"It will be as you say. Always as you say."
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Looking out from the gap between customers Ken Mifune was able to see the man and the woman standing on the other side of the street, talking to each other. Normally he wouldn't have even noticed, but people just naturally slid around them, nobody seemed to pay them any head and the flow of human traffic just moved around them.
'Well well well…the ghost zone technique is it? Anyone without a certain level of spiritual awareness simply avoids you and the area around you without ever noticing it. And I recognize that technique.. That's Cressa and one of Kyouki's other Seed Puppets.' His train of thought was suddenly derailed when the world seemed to fade to black and white.
Ken was far from surprised when his customers and the rest of the crowd outside his booth seemed to be completely still in his zone. This was what it was like to be engulfed in Cressa's technique, the Ghost Zone Technique. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you're watching me."
The female Seed Puppet looked straight at him, her vibrant green eyes seeming to drill into his skull. Instead of the normal jeans and long sleeved shirts that the Seed Puppets wore to appear more normal Cressa was wearing her uniform, which she appeared in whenever she couldn't be seen. Thanks to her special technique she could go anywhere without being noticed, so she had no need of wearing normal clothing.
Her lithe and muscular body was covered snugly by a pair of long silken black pants, and a similar top that was covered by a red vest with what appeared to be a black rose blossom on the left breast. Kyouki's symbol. "Ken. You let your spiritual power ooze out like an untrained child and it focuses where you focus. Any person with even an inkling of spiritual awareness would know."
The gray haired man snorted, leaning up against the counter of his noodle cart to look her directly in the eye. "Don't say things like that when I've known you for thirty years Cressa, ever since Kyouki first created you. Only you can always tell where someone is focusing with that special ability of yours."
She inclined her head, giving him the respect he deserved by acknowledging it. "Master Juushin always has spoken highly of you Ken, although I never saw reason to agree. Your spiritual strength is mediocre at best, and your abilities also mediocre. I've also never witnessed any special talents of yours, so his confidence seemed based on personal opinion. He…likes the purity of your spirit."
Ken sighed, knowing exactly what she meant. He had met Kyouki, or as he was now called Juushin, forty three years previous when he had entered the organization at a fresh faced age of eighteen. Kyouki had acted as his guide and was his superior, teaching him how to fight and control his spiritual power. But what he would always remember was when he met Kyouki the first time.
He had walked through the grand halls, trying to ignore the condescending looks of higher level members. His minimal spiritual awareness of the time had been overwhelmed by the numerous and large presences all around him.
Then, as he had walked around a corner, he had felt every other presence shoved out of his mind and found himself falling to his knees, barely able to breathe. The power beating down on him had been huge and all consuming, and had lasted for what seemed eternity. But in reality mere moments passed before the power ebbed away, letting Ken come back to his senses.
He had looked up to find Kyouki standing a few feet away, looking down at him with icy blue eyes. He remembered being in awe that this man, whose relaxed spiritual presence could drop him to his knees, could so precisely control that massive power. There he had been, resplendent in a solid white uniform with a black rose blossom on the left breast, watching him. Then he had spoken. "In this place, power is important. When your awareness adjusts you'll be able to wander these halls without being overwhelmed. When you can stand near my presence without hesitation, you will become my direct subordinate."
Ken had been confused and asked the first thing that he could think of, shocked as he was that this man was even deigning to speak to him. "Your subordinate sir? But…why? My power is weak, and they say that even with training it will never be extraordinary."
Kyouki had looked at him very carefully, and then answered without hesitation. "Your spirit is untainted, it feels pure. Maintain that purity at all times, and I would be honored to have you stand at my side."
Then he had walked away as if he had explained everything, leaving Ken to ponder what he had just been told. "Why are you watching us?"
Ken's mind was jerked back to the present and the female Seed Puppet who was addressing him. He silently cursed his oncoming age for bringing up such memories, and refocused. "I suppose even now I'm curious what Kyouki is up to with you bunch wandering around. After all, I felt him leave the city a while back."
Cressa turned slightly, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. "Master Juushin's activities are no longer of your concern. You don't have his attention anymore; you are gone from his world for all time now. Never again will you take Master Juushin's attention away."
Ken gritted his teeth in annoyance, hearing the edge to her voice and the hinted threat. This was not the first time this particular Seed Puppet had confronted him like this. It was one of many such incidents during the days he had been Kyouki's direct subordinate. "Of all his Seed Puppets, you're the most devoted Cressa. How wonderful that he can show you attention again that you deserve. Except, you seem bothered, and the only thing that bothers you is when his attention is focused on someone, leaving you out."
He didn't even blink when she held up one of her extra long arms, her sleeves falling away to reveal her dainty hands with carefully manicured rosy nails. And the nail on her pointer finger was lengthening. "Silence yourself old man! Master Juushin will always recognize my existence, even if he is currently preoccupied with that brat!"
Ignoring the finger pointed at him, which could be shot off like a dart at her will, Ken stepped back from the counter and turned his back on her. "I'm sure that's the case. I won't take your time or attention any further. Go about your business, don't fail or I'm sure Kyouki will recognize your existence in a negative manner, and I know you don't want that."
He wasn't surprised when the world returned to full color, and when he looked back over his shoulder the female Seed Puppet was gone. He shook his head, unsatisfied with what he had learned. "So you've turned your attention to that boy Dolgrune went after? Keiji Saigo was it? Your attention is bound to be harmful to the boy's health and…I won't let you hurt any human."
His mind made up Ken turned back to his customers, who had never noticed the exchange thanks to Cressa's talent. "I'm sorry folks, but I've got to leave to take care of some personal business. I'm going to be closing down shortly."
Looking out at the city skyline he could only frown, thinking about what Kyouki's attention could do to a person. About what it had done to him. 'Keiji Saigo, I won't let him make you into anyone like me. I refuse to allow that to happen!'
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Keiji Saigo pushed his face up off the carpet, groaning at the slow pace his body was moving. He felt as if he had slept for a week, and his body was completely sluggish and useless. 'After last night, it's hardly surprising that I'm exhausted.'
He had no explanation for what had happened in his duel with that powerful insect duelist Dolgrune. He had unleashed some sort of power and successfully defeated Dolgrune, but it had taxed him of everything he had. "Sleeping on the floor is…uncomfortable."
"Yes, I'm sure it is." Keiji tried to spin around to face the source of the voice, but his body responded very slowly. Instead of whirling about his spine just sort of creaked and he slowly turned around.
There, leaning against the wall next to his television set was an elderly man with gray hair and calm brown eyes. Keiji didn't really get the same feeling from this man that he had from his previous encounters, but he still didn't trust it. "Before you say anything, I'm not a demon."
"Congratulations. At least I now know you're intelligent enough to know if you're a demon or not. Of course a child could tell that on his or her own. Keiji Saigo, right?" Keiji nodded slowly, not sure what to make of it.
This man's attitude was completely different from everyone else who had come after him recently, appearing randomly like this guy had. Not only did he not seem to care of Keiji was a demon or not, but he also actually called him Keiji, instead of calling him Amarai. "Yes, I'm Keiji Saigo. And you are?"
"Ken Mifune. Impressive work with Dolgrune the other night by the way. Few humans could have lasted well enough in a Darkness Game to even scratch Dolgrune, let alone defeat him." Keiji felt his blood run cold as he remembered what he had learned. Dolgrune was just some kind of puppet, used by someone who masked their presence. This man could be the hidden master.
"Did you send Dolgrune?" To Keiji's relief the old man shook his head, letting Keiji relax slightly. If this man wasn't associated with Dolgrune, then he was in a better position. But if he still ended up in a Darkness Game…he wouldn't stand a chance.
"I do however know who did send Dolgrune. And I'm here to warn you that something about you, whatever it is that let you last in the Darkness Game and beat Dolgrune, has brought that person's attention upon you. And his personal attention is something that you must avoid at all times. If you ever meet him, I want you to promise me that you will say no to whatever he requests of you." Keiji stared at the old man, not quite sure what to make of this declaration.
"Who is this man? More importantly, why is it that you want me to make this promise?" Keiji found himself not automatically rejecting the man's words as a ruse, as something in the man's eyes told him that he was sincere. Unlike Dolgrune this man was full of spirit, and seemed to have pure intentions.
"He is…different. I can't give you a name, I'm sorry but…his name is sealed against those who do not know him. By the same measure I can't tell you what he looks like, or anything else about him other than that he is now personally interested in you. And as for the reason for the promise…" Ken's eyes got a far away look in them for a moment, as if he was remembering something from long ago.
His eyes cleared, and he continued where he had left off. "The reason for the promise is that I don't want you to become mixed in anything. I don't want you to come under his influence like so many before have. He is a dangerous man, more dangerous than anything you can imagine."
"After these past three battles I've had, I'm certain I can handle it. Dolgrune was dangerous, but I managed. I am honored that you are worrying about me, even though you don't know me, but I'm not afraid. If I must, I'll deal with Dolgrune's master when the time comes." He tried to smile to reassure the old man, but instantly he found himself being forced onto his hands and knees, his vision fuzzing.
Keiji craned his neck, taking a look up at Ken. The old man was glaring down at him, now having pushed away from the wall. And to Keiji's eyes the old man was burning with an inner light, a light that was producing the force that was driving him into the ground. "You will promise. The man I speak of is too dangerous for you to brush aside like that. Dolgrune is nothing but a seedling amongst other seeds, while his master is a giant red wood. If my power forces you to your knees, his would crush you into a red stain on your carpet."
The look in Ken's eyes, and the way he spoke, it all pointed towards one conclusion. It was true. Whoever was now personally interested in him, it was someone who could easily kill him without a thought. "I…won't accept his requests. But tell me, why is he interested in me?"
As the pressure on Keiji's back relaxed, the look on Ken's face softened somewhat. He turned away, no longer wanting to look at the teenager. "Now that I've met you, if I had to say it was anything, I'd say it was because…you are pure. Goodbye Keiji Saigo, this is our only meeting."
Keiji was honestly expecting the old man to vanish in a flash of light, but instead he simply walked to the door, opened it, and then left. "My life has certainly become complicated."
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In the depths of a dark forest many miles outside of Kyoto Juushin found himself confronted by the two guardians of the large Shinto Shrine that he was standing outside of. Each one was a seven foot tall muscular man with the head of a lion. "Stand aside, I've already passed this asinine test and I don't have time for you."
There was a pause, and then the guardians stepped aside. Without another word Juushin brushed past them and swept through the door to the shrine. He paid no heed to his surroundings, as he knew the way by heart.
Finally after about a minute of walking through the maze-like shrine he found himself standing directly in front of what appeared to be a young boy of about eight years of age, dressed in the clothes of a Shinto Priest. "Lord Kurogashi, you've come to visit me again?"
Juushin stopped himself from frowning in annoyance. He knew protocol in this place. "You are perhaps the only person outside of the upper echelons of my order who I will allow to address me by anything other than my title. I hope you understand that."
The boy smiled enigmatically, his bright blue eyes shining as he looked up at Juushin. "Of course Lord Kurogashi, I am honored to have the right to address you as such. Now, what question have you come to ask me?"
"I desire to know the nature of the power of the boy called Keiji Saigo. Recently I discovered his pure power, and I wish to know the truth of that pure power." The boy scrutinized him, looking him up and down as if looking for something in particular. Finally the boy bobbed his head in satisfaction.
"Of course. It will require meditation for me to derive the answer from the myriad of lies, but it can be done. Of course, you also know what is required of you for this answer. I must advise against having this question answered, as this would be the third time, and it is unsafe to pay my price multiple times." Juushin's face was set in a grim line, just as usual.
"I am willing to pay the cost of a fragment of my life to have my question answered, just as before. I still have four questions remaining after this, so I don't worry. This is simply the fastest route to the answer I need." What he didn't mention, nor would he ever, was that a fragment of his life was meaningless. Unlike a normal person, he could give away those 'fragments' infinitely and be untouched.
"Very well then, let it begin."
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The two guardians of the shrine stood up from their spot, moving to guard the entrance as someone approached. It was none other than Cressa, who stalked towards the building, her green eyes ablaze. "Stand aside! I would speak with my master who resides within the walls of this building!"
The first lion-headed guardian shook his shaggy head, placing a hand out to stop her and an invisible force pushed her to a halt. "None can pass save those who have passed a test to prove their worthiness. Defeat the two of us in a contest of skill and you may enter."
Cressa sneered beneath her surgeon's mask and raised her right arm, vines shooting out of her arm to form into a duel disk. There was already a deck in place, just as always. "I'll obliterate you two to get to my master. None keep me from his side." (CLP: 4000)
The first guardian raised its left arm and a simple duel disk appear on it, a deck in it just like had been the case for Cressa. "Your terms are accepted. It will be a battle of this game." (G1LP: 4000)
The second guardian also had a duel disk form, and it drew a five card hand while the first drew six, and Cressa drew five. "You shall not pass." (G2LP: 4000)
Her first opponent placed a card into its duel disk, and the area around them shifted, becoming what looked like ancient ruins. "Activate field magic card, Ancient City. Now, activate continuous magic card, Ancient Key. This special summons two Ancient Man Tokens(400/400) to my field."
Two large stone humanoid creatures appeared in front of the lion-headed guardian, standing guard before him. "One card face down. Turn end."
Both tokens glowed, and the guardian's life points began to descend. "During a turn in which a Ancient Man token does not attack, I receive five hundred damage." (GLP: 3000)
Seconds later the second of the two guardians drew to start its turn. It placed a card onto its duel disk, and a demonic looking soldier emerged. "Death Kaiser(1800/1600) in attack mode. Activate Tribute Doll, sacrificing Death Kaiser for a level seven monster from hand."
The demon blew apart, and then a green circular shape with long green arms formed in its place. "Kazejin(2400/2200) is summoned. Death Kaiser, when tributed to an effect, allows its controller to draw two cards."
The guardian drew twice, renewing its hand from the cards wasted in summoning Kazejin. "Activate Lightning Summon. This card lets me normal summon without counting it as a normal summon for the turn. I summon Kaiser Seahorse(1700/1650)."
The blue and purple armored water monster raised its trident, glaring across the field at the Seed Puppet. "One card face down. End turn."
Cressa snatched a card off the top of her deck, her green eyes still burning up with her unbridled rage. The mere force of her draw dug at the ground around them, causing the guardians to be forced backwards. "I will not tolerate anyone standing between me and my master! Magical Well allows me to place a magic card from my deck to my hand, but during this turn it cannot be activated or set."
A card slid out of the middle of her deck and she quickly placed it amongst the other cards in her hand. Then she selected an entirely different card and slid it into her duel disk. "I set a card and end my turn. Let's hurry this along."
Her first guardian opponent drew, then without a word his two Ancient Man tokens shifted into defense mode. "Activate Ancient Book. This continuous magic card first lets me exchange a card from my hand with the top card of my deck."
He exchanged cards, and then continued. "During each standby phase I must discard a card from my hand for upkeep of Ancient Book or it is destroyed. Next, I activate Ancient Man Summon, summoning Ancient Giant Man(2200/1100) to the field."
A larger version of the two tokens appeared and pounded its fists together in preparation for an attack. "Ancient Giant Man will attack you directly." It began to charge towards her, only to be rebuffed by some invisible force."
"Continuous trap card activates. Borderline Battle prevents me from being attack at all so long as there are no monsters in my cemetery." If the guardian had a normal mouth, it probably would have frowned; instead it merely folded its hand up and nodded over at its partner. (GLP: 1700)
The other guardian drew. "He failed to mention Ancient Giant Man's draw back, that when it fails to attack it deals him three hundred damage. And now, for myself, I sacrifice Kaiser Seahorse, counting as two tributes, to summon Sanga of the Thunder(2600/2200)."
A brown monster that looked like it was the top half of something with big arms and some kind of spindly object on its back now stood near the other green body part. "Activate Set Completion, allowing me to summon the last third of this set, Suijin(2500/2200)."
A blue lower half appeared, giving the guardian the complete set. "I sacrifice all three to special summon Gate Guardian(3750/3400) to the field." The three pieces connected, forming into the huge and brutal monster known as Gate Guardian, one of the hardest to summon monsters in the entire game.
"Since I cannot attack you, my turn is ended." The instant he was done Cressa was already drawing, still giving off the same amount of force as before. She looked down at the card, then slid it amongst her other cards.
"Activate continuous magic card! Chaos Distill!" The field shook as a huge red Hershey kiss shaped kettle appeared behind Cressa, little mechanical arms sticking out of it. It steamed as complex actions went on inside of it.
"As long as this magic card is active all cards that would go to my cemetery are instead removed from the game. Now, I activate Copper Scales! Since Chaos Distill is on the field I can special summon Alchemic Beast-Copper Ouroboros(500/1500) to the field!" The kettle shook, and a red scaled serpent took shape on Cressa's field.
"This monster possesses the ability to attack the opposing player directly. However, I activate Alchemic Equation-Fire. I can sacrifice an alchemy monster to destroy a monster on the field and deal its attack as damage to each player. I take no damage if Chaos Distill is in play. So, Gate Guardian, shatter!" The serpent flew towards the guardian and when they collided both exploded, and fire rained down upon all three duelists.
The first guardian's field faded away as his life points reduced to nothing, leaving his partner on his own. "You have one desperate turn left guardian. I'm done for the moment." (G1LP: 0, G2LP: 250)
The second of the two guardians drew and held out the drawn card. "Dark Element allows me to pay half my life points if Gate Guardian is in the cemetery to special summon Dark Guardian(3800/3400) to the field." (G2LP: 125)
It looked over the field, and then pointed to its set card. As it flipped up the huge form of Gate Guardian returned. "Call of the Haunted allows me to revive Gate Guardian. However, since you still have Borderline Battle and zero monsters in the cemetery I cannot attack and must end my turn."
Cressa drew and looked over at the guardian coldly and then held up one of the cards from her hand over her head. "You foolishly assumed that power was the only way to go. Activate magic card, Silver Key! Since Chaos Distill is in play I can now special summon Alchemic Beast-Silver Moonface(500/1500) to the field!"
The monster that formed in front of her looked like a lump of silver in the form of a meteor. Or at least it would if a meteor had legs and tiny little arms, as well as big bulging eyes. "Weakling, get out of the way and allow me to my master! Silver Moonface can attack directly, so this is the end! Attack!"
Her alchemic monster's body warped, and a barb of silver matter shot out of it, going right between the two guardian monsters and striking the actual guardian in the chest. Seconds later all cards on the field faded away. "You have proven yourself worthy. You may enter." (G2LP: 0)
The female Seed Puppet shoved past the two monsters, moving at a swift pace through the building. She knew instinctively where her master was, she could feel him through their connection. And in less than a minute she was entering the room where he stood right in front of the strange boy he had come to see. "Master Juushin, I bring news!"
Juushin turned to face her as she dropped into a bow, one hand pressed against her heart in reverence. "Oh? Of Keiji Saigo?"
Cressa winced on the inside, her fury bubbling up again at her master's immediate thoughts about that boy. Yes, she knew that would have to be dealt with. She couldn't allow anyone or anything to get between her master's acknowledgments of her existence. "Ken Mifune has spoken to the boy and informed the boy of your intentions. He has betrayed us."
Juushin was silent for several seconds, his face completely still as he absorbed her words. Finally he looked back at the boy who had his eyes closed. "I'll return as soon as I have dealt with this matter. Then I'll be perfectly willing to wait by your side for the four necessary days."
The boy didn't respond, but Juushin had his answer. Juushin walked forwards, casually placing his hand on the female Seed Puppet's shoulder in a gesture to tell her to rise. Inwardly she thrilled to his touch. "Come Cressa. We'll deal with the traitor. This is a day I never wished to come, but I knew that it would eventually come. That one day he would betray my trust and I would be forced to act."
Cressa followed closely at his side, and eagerly asked a question that had been at the tip of her tongue. "Will you kill the traitor master Juushin?"
"He will die at my hands. Regrettable, but necessary." They continued their walk, but now it was different. At her master's side and with these words Cressa's mood lightened infinitely.
"It will be as you say master. It is always as you say." Soon there would be one less obstacle between her being the greatest focus of her master's attention and his acknowledgment. Perhaps if the Keiji boy were removed, then she would able to gain his full acknowledgment, and perhaps her ultimate desire.
Yes, for her ultimate desire she would do anything. She would fight, kill, and she would die for that one thing.
Her master's affection.
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Author's Note: Scwhaaa…nifty eh? I always wanted to use an Alchemy Deck, and Cressa was a perfect choice. Short duel yes, but it got its point across I think.
My my, it's getting quite complex here, isn't it? Jeeze, and here is little old me, just playing with my dragon demon. Oh well, can't be helped. Amarai is still dueling without his demon energy against Amur, and to win he's going to have to figure out a way to bring out his power.
Next episode- Scale of Crios