Disclaimer: see previous chapters
(Japanese Smile Bomb)
In a crowded city, as I bump shoulders, I'm alone. On an endless prairie, as the wind whistles by, I'm all alone.
Which one is it that makes me want to cry more, I wonder. Marking it with twin circles, I feel a bit more grown-up!
It must be, that when I run into these terribly difficult walls, and unexpectedly, for whatever reason, The courage and power to break through rises up from within, All because of how, when I run into these terribly difficult people, they show me kindness, I bet!
Thank you very much!
Chapter 18
At the Slifer Dorm, Jordan was unpacking his things in his room. He didn't want a roommate because he was used to being alone, he never had any friends at all back at his hometown. Just then there was a knock on the door and walked over to the door. He opened it to unveil that his cousin was behind the door.
"Hey Jordan, I'm going to the Obelisk arena to check out a duel between my friends, Yusuke and Ryoko. You want to come?" Alexis asked
"If you hold my hand, while watching the duel then yes!" Jordan replied, as Alexis took his hand and walked off with him
As they were walking out of the dorm, "So the nightmares that you have, were they that bad?" Alexis asked
Jordan nodded in reply, "It keeps getting scarier and scarier." He replied then felt an arm wrapped around him and pulled to a hug, "Jordan, I promise that I won't let anything happen to you." Alexis told him putting another arm around him.
Jordan wrapped his arms wrapped his cousin, returning the hug, "You promise?"
"Yes, I promise," Alexis said, hold Jordan tighter like a protective older sister and kissed his temple
Meanwhile at Obelisk arena, Yusuke and Ryoko are facing each other on the stadium. While Chazz, Jaden, Keiko, Syrus, Kari and Kagome were watching a few inches from the stage.
"Yusuke, you can do!" Syrus cheered
Yusuke eyed his friend, "Thanks Sy!" and looked at his opponent
Just then Alexis and Jordan came into the arena and spotted the gang, "Hey guys!" she greeted running to them, with Jordan
"Oh good, you've made it, Lex!" Kari said, "My brother is dueling Ryoko now and who's the kid?" she asked, which followed Jordan to hide behind Alexis
"Oh this is my cousin, Jordan Sabre!" Alexis replied, "He's kind of too shy to introduce himself right now. So what's the point of this duel?"
"If Yusuke loses then he'll have to go home!" Syrus exclaimed
"What!" Alexis said, "My guess is that Ryoko is still having doubts that Yusuke has given up being a street punk."
"Hopefully, this duel would prove her wrong," Keiko said
"Not 'hopefully', slacker!" Chazz said, "It'll prove to her that Yusuke is a far better duelist than she'll ever be."
"Hey I've heard that before though that the Great Urameshi was a fighting demon, he was a terrible duelist." Kagome said
"Well, he didn't become a Ra Yellow by luck, Kagome," Kari said
Alexis eyed Kagome, "Hey, who's the kid?"
"This is our new friend, Kagome Higurashi." Keiko said, "She's new to the school."
Alexis flinches and says, "What a sec! You're the 'sick girl'!"
Kagome pulls an anime fall and cursed her grandfather and his foney sick granddaughter stories.
"Ready!" Yusuke said
"Yeah!" Ryoko replied, followed by the duel disks activating
"DUEL!" both duelists said in unison (4000/4000)
"Game on!" Ryoko exclaimed drawing her card and looked at her hand, 'Sweet, I have Ocean Dragon Lord-Neo Daedalus in my hand. Maybe if I summon this on my first turn then I'll have the advantage.' She thought "Okay, I'll summon Eria the Water Charmer in attack mode!" a girl with long light blue hair wearing a green shirt, dark blue mini-skirt, a gray cape and scepter appears on the field (500/1500), "But she would be here for long, next I'll activate my spell card Big Wave Small Wave!" Just a huge tidal wave appears on the field and Yusuke is surprise at it appearance
"What's that card do?" Syrus asked
"It can destroy every water monster on Ryoko's side of the field." Alexis replied, "In replace summon another water monster from her hand."
"Now, my tidal wave will destroy Eria to summon Ocean Dragon Lord-Neo Daedalus in attack mode!" Ryoko declared, which were followed by sharp gasps from everyone, "Ocean Dragon Lord-Neo Daedalus!" Yusuke exclaimed as the tidal wave washes Eria away and in her place came out a two-headed sea serpent, with red fins on the back and a blue and purple body. (2900/1600)
"What!" Syrus exclaimed, "That monster is way too strong for Yusuke to defeat now!"
"Relax Sy, Yusuke is going to destroy that fish!" Jaden said
'He better!' Chazz thought, 'I won't be humiliated by another Slifer Slacker!'
"Next, I'll place a face down and end my turn!" Ryoko said
"Okay," Yusuke said drawing, "I'll activate my spell card, Reinforcement of the Army with this card, I can place a four-star or lower warrior from my deck and to my hand!"
"Too bad that you won't get the chance to, because I'll activate a trap card known as Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell!" Ryoko declared, "Once I discard one spell card, I can activate its effect to negate any effect of a spell card and destroy it. Plus, you can't activate any spell cards that has the same name as the card that was destroyed by this trap cards effect for the reminder of the duel!"
Yusuke grimaced, 'Guess I'll go with another strategy then!' he thought "My turn isn't over yet, Ryoko, I'll summon Marauding Captain in defense mode!" the captain appears on the field, kneeling down on one knee, with his sword shielding him (1200/800), "Then, I'll activate it effect to summon another warrior type monster and I summon Mataza the Zapper in defense mode!" a warrior with green Chinese armor appears kneeling down on one knee, with his sword shielding him (1300/800), "As long as Marauding Captain is on the field you can only attack him."
Ryoko draws her card, "Okay then Dragon Lord attack Marauding Captain with Tidal Rage!" she declared, as the sea serpent shoots a water blast, from its mouth, at Marauding Captain, destroying him, "And that would do it!"
Yusuke draws his card, "Okay then I'll summon Etoile Cyber in defense mode!" a girl with a red jumpsuit appears kneeling down, with her arms in a defense position (1200/1600), "And that's all!"
"That's all, huh?" Ryoko said, while drawing, "Okay then Dragon Lord attack Mataza with Tidal Rage!" the serpents shoots Mataza, destroying him, "Now, I end my turn!"
Chazz snarled, 'All Yusuke has been doing is playing defense against that Slifer! She can't take him out, I want that glory!'
"Okay my move!" Yusuke declared, while drawing, "Okay then I'll summon Gearfried the Iron Knight in attack mode!" he declared at the iron clad knight appears (1800/1600), "Then, I'll switch my Etoile Cyber in attack mode!" Etoile Cyber stands up and ready for fight
"Are you kidding me?" Ryoko asked, with amazement, "Those monsters won't stand a chance against my monster!"
"I know!" Yusuke said, "That's because I'm going activate the spell card Release Restraint. With this card, Gearfried can transform himself as Gearfried the Swordmaster!" Gearfried's armor shatters and he, himself, is transformed to the muscular swordmaster (2600/2200)
"Okay, so he's more powerful than ever," Ryoko said, "But, he's still weaker than my dragon!"
"It's true!" Alexis said, "That swordmaster is still weaker unless Yusuke activates its special ability."
"Now, I'll equip my monster with the spell card, Divine Sword-Phoenix Blade, which increases my swordmaster's power by 300!" Yusuke declares, as the phoenix blade appears in the swordmaster's hand (2900/2200)
"But, they're equal in points they'll just destroy each other!" Ryoko said
"I know!" Yusuke said, "However, my swordmaster's special power can destroy an opponent's monster whenever it's equipped with an equip spell card!"
"What!" Ryoko exclaimed
"Alright!" Syrus exclaimed
"Yeah!" Jaden added, "Yusuke is gonna win this!"
Chazz smirked at this moment, 'Now, that slacker has had it!'
"Now Gearfried, use your special ability to destroy Ocean Dragon Lord-Neo Daedalus, with Divine Strike!" Yusuke commanded as Gearfried hammers the sword to the ground and slash flies towards the Dragon Lord and destroys it. Ryoko covers her face, with her duel disk from the explosion, "Now, you're wide open for a direct attack from my monsters and a win for me."
"Oh no!" Ryoko cries
"Now Etoile Cyber attack with Roundhouse Kick!" Etoile Cyber charges towards Ryoko, "Whenever Etoile Cyber attacks an opponent directly her power increases by 600!" Yusuke said as the Etoile Cyber twirls a kick onto Ryoko's shoulder. The blonde grips her shoulder (4000/2200) "Now Gearfried end this duel with Phoenix Blast!" Yusuke commanded as Gearfried slashes the air as a yellow and red blast shaped like a phoenix bird rushes straight towards a grief-shrunken Ryoko and hits her hard. Chazz smirks at this, 'She had no chance at all,' he thought as he sees Ryoko being engulfed by the blast, 'I can't believe it,' she thought, 'He is really gone. The Great Urameshi, the street fighter whose kills for fun and whistles 1,000 to kills people, who look at him funny is dead. I was a fool to think that he couldn't be killed. In the past, Urameshi was a terrible student and duelist all together. He got into so much trouble, not to mention that he skips school and classes. Now, Ura- no Yusuke has defeated me in a duel, like I was nothing. He, being a boy, would gloat about, he was right and I was wrong.' She thought some more as the blast disappears and she falls on her knees (4000/0)
"I can't believe it," Kagome said, "Ura-I mean, Yusuke won a duel."
"What would you expect, slacker?" Chazz asked, "He's a Ra Yellow of course and Slifers are considered the lowest of the food chain, here in Duel Academy!" he added as he walked away
Kagome glared at Chazz, leaving, 'I swear he puts Inuyasha's cocky attitude in second of his rude behavior then again, I bet all Obelisks and Ras are like that to Slifers!' she thought
"I'm sorry that Chazz rubbed you the wrong way, Kagome." Alexis said, breaking Kagome's thoughts
"Yeah, not all us, Obelisks are like that at all." Kari added, "He's like that to Slifers!"
"And not all of us, Ra Yellow duelists are just as snobby as Obelisks Blue students, no offense to both Kari and Alexis." Keiko reinsured to Kagome
Kagome smiled, "Thanks!"
"Alright!" Syrus exclaims, "Yusuke's here to stay!"
"Yeah, I'm glad to, Sy!" Jaden added
Yusuke walked towards Ryoko, as the images of his monsters were gone, and the pigtailed blonde Slifer saw this. She knew that he'll gloat at his victory and was ready for the gloating from the black haired Ra Yellow duelist as she covered her eyes with her bangs, "Ryoko!" Yusuke called out
The blonde looked up to see Yusuke, with a serious expression, "Here!" he said, as he lowered his hand to Ryoko. The Slifer was surprised that Yusuke would give her his hand and she grabbed hold of it as she was being pulled to her feet, "That was a great duel!" he said, with glee and letting go of her hand.
Ryoko blinked twice, "So, you're not going to gloat on your win?" she asked
"Now, that wouldn't be good sportsmanship now would it."
"No it wouldn't," Ryoko said then smiled, "But that was a great duel and maybe if there's a chance that we be friends, Yusuke." She said in a soft low tone at the last past and frowned
"Of course, there's a chance that we be friends, Ryoko and that chance is now." Yusuke said, with a smile
Later in the evening, Yusuke was sitting at his favorite spot on the island, by a tree looking at the ground, "I'm glad that you've finally made up with Keiko, Yusuke!" came a cheery and familiar voice
"Okay Botan, come down here now!" Yusuke demanded as the reaper came down from the tree and Yusuke getting up, "Is there something you wanted?"
"Yeah, how come you didn't say anything about Keiko getting forced into a kiss and almost getting raped in Japan!" he asked and yelled
Botan gave Yusuke an annoyed looked, "Well I tried to tell you but you were mad and enjoying your new life that, I didn't have to nerve to tell you." She said, "Are you still angry?"
"I'm not angry, Botan," Yusuke said
"You're not?"
"No, I'm officially PISSED off!" Yusuke yelled, "Not to you or Keiko, it's that clown freak, who touched her and almost forced himself of her. I swear the next time I see his face, I'm gonna make him regret ever doing that to her."
"Now Yusuke, you're not going to kill him, aren't you?"
"No I'm not, Botan," Yusuke replied, "I'm going to make his life a living hell that's what I'm going to do."
Botan let out a giggle, "You're taking like you're a street punk, again."
Yusuke glared at Botan, "What! No way, am I a stupid street punk again, besides Joey Wheeler was a street punk when he was my age and that's before he met Yugi and now he always make threats and fights when needed, like defending."
"Kind of a spirit detective right?"
"What! You're kidding me, Botan!" Yusuke said, "I'm not going back as a street punk or spirit detective ever! I'm living a new normal life, remember. That means that I'm not going to get involved in any spirit detective missions that Baby Face Koenma has for me. By the way, not that I care or anything, has he picked out another spirit detective, yet? If he chooses Kari, so help me that I'm going down to his office and jam that pacifier of his ten inches down his throat!"
"Well, he did and it's not you or Hikari, just to let you know. Koenma has heard about your recent toddler jokes and insults and has no grudge on you what's so ever about that or you quitting your job for a new life. He says that you would really need it for your future and wishes you good luck."
Yusuke smiles, "Well, tell him that good luck on getting the position of King of the Spirit World for me." He says getting something out of his blazer pocket and put it on a tree, "Hey Yusuke, what are you doing?"
"Hey Botan, does this sutra looks familiar to you?" Yusuke asks with a smirk on his face and gave Botan a look
"Yeah, those are the sutras that Hikari and Alexis put so I won't…" she starts to get it, "Wait a minute Yusuke, you won't it!" Botan said with fear
Yusuke pointed his right index finger at the sutra, in a gun form, "I would!" he said shooting at the sutra and the stroll absorbing the blast. Suddenly, Botan was floating in midair and flew away from Yusuke and thrown out of the forest.
While at porch of the Slifer Red dorm, Jaden and Alexis were normal dueling, while both Syrus and Kari were watching.
"Hey, what's that?" Alexis asked as something was flying at them with force.
"Whatever, it is we better move it!" Jaden exclaimed as he and Alexis were picking their cards and got out of the way, along with both Syrus and Kari. The thing crashed to the wall of by the door, "It's Botan!" Alexis exclaimed
"Why was she flying that fast though?" Jaden asked
"Let's ask questions later," Kari said as she pulled the reaper out of the wall and laid her on the floor. Botan was moaning in pain, with swirls in her eyes, a few bruises on her face and a crazy wide smile on her face.
"Gees, she's seen better days, huh?" Syrus asked
"Yeah, no kidding Sy!" Jaden exclaimed, "Hey Alexis, where's Jordan?"
"He's sleeping right now, after a big ride you tend to be tired!" Alexis said, hopefully that no one knows what she's hiding
While at the forest, Yusuke was sitting down by the tree and looking at the sky. Suddenly, a pair of hands, in yellow gloves, came covering his eyes, "Guess who?" asked a familiar voice
Yusuke realized who was responsible for covering his eyes, "Do I get two guesses?"
"Hm…Yes!" the person said
"Is it Kari?"
"No, one more try and I won't smack you upside the head."
"Is it…I know…Keiko?"
The hands were taking off Yusuke's eyes and the Ra Yellow duelist turned to see Keiko was behind, "Hey!" she greeted with glee and sitting next to Yusuke
"Hey, how are you like Duel Academy?" Yusuke asked
"It's great considering how much it changed you." She replied and felt an arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her to him.
"I love you know that right?" Yusuke asked
Keiko rested her head onto Yusuke's shoulder, "Of course, I do and I love you too," she replied and snuggled onto it, "What's the question for anyways?"
Yusuke sighed, "Well, the reason why you're here is because that freak has to be caught for you to go home right?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, when that freak is caught and sent to jail, you'll end up going home and that would mean that, I'd never see you again, for a while."
"What are you saying, Yusuke?" Keiko asked getting her head up and look at him in the eye, "Are you willing to let me go back home to Japan, after what happened?"
"Yeah, because I completely trust you."
"You do?"
"Yeah! Besides, I'm not in control of your life, you know."
"That's true and I'm not in control of yours as well."
"Suppose if we find someone in our separate schools, we'll notify each other first. I want to enjoy our time together, Keiko." Yusuke said, holding the brunette tighter
"Same here, Yusuke!" Keiko said then lay her head to Yusuke's shoulder once again, "Which reminds me, I thought about my stay here at Duel Academy, even though it's a gaming school, it's no different from a normal school, you know. They teach us math, history, chemistry, almost things you learn from a normal school. It's a good start if you want to become a CEO of a gaming corporation, a game designer, or a business person, and a better duelist than you were at home."
"Yeah, so what are you saying?"
Keiko sighed, "I called my parents to check how I was doing and they were glad that I was doing fine and the same for you and Hikari. They haven't found where that pervert is hiding, yet so it's still not safe for me to go back home, yet."
"So, you're staying until that bastard is caught?"
"More than that, I'm staying here in Duel Academy with, you guys, even if they caught that freak!"
Yusuke's eyes widened, "Say what!"
"You heard me, I'm going to be a full time Ra Yellow student here at Duel Academy, until I become an Obelisk Blue."
"So, you're hear to stay?" Yusuke asked
"That's right!"
"What about your position as class rep. at Sarayashiki Junior High?"
"Well, I can always work hard here to be the best female Ra Yellow student. Besides, I always wanted to hear a teacher's praise about you, instead of complaints like the ones from our old school."
Yusuke sighed, "Keiko Ukimura, you're weird!"
"Yeah, but I'm your weirdo!"
Yusuke rested his head onto top of his girlfriend's head, "That's right, you are my weirdo! Forever!" he said then kissed her temple, rested his head onto her head and looked at the sunset.
(Japanese The Sun Will Rise Again)
When my letter reaches you, don't break the seal, just leave it alone, after some time has passed, I'm sure you will understand how I feel now.
This is my first and last request.
As gently as we could, it wasn't very hard, with one purpose, we foolishly embraced.
As twilight closes in, I shoot an arrow of courage from a distant window, toward your back, as you leave.
Although it still has not stopped raining outside, the drenched people and the city still believe in the sun.
An old melody and a blurred silhouette.
Living the easy life doesn't make for a very good picture.
THE END!
Sorry that I had to end the story so soon, but there will be a sequel to the story. Besides, there's the blank card in Yusuke's deck that he got from that old man in the first chapter of this story, how that freak, who tried to get his way with Keiko, is going to get caught, and the mystery of Jordan's behavior. Till then Ja ne (See you later)