Here we are again. Finals are over, as is my last semester for a while. Indeed, I am currently home in Maryland, and will remain there until the spring, at which point I will return to BYU-Idaho. In truth, I really don't know if that will improve my updating time or not. Bare with me, please, and enjoy!

Also, I would like to thank G.O.T.Nick for creating Professor Yoriyoi Katsu.

The Way of the Dreamer

Chapter Three-First Day

Standing on the deck of the large boat, Kazuki looked ahead, gazing at the island where the Academy was, his stomach turning with excitement. He was just beginning to be able to make out a vague outline of the school itself, which was built in the very center of the volcanic landmass, and took up about a third of the total area.

However, despite his excitement, he continued to turn over the letter he had been given moments after getting onto the boat. Most students got just their dorm assignments and instructions for signing up for class, along with a list of class rules. However, Kazuki had an extra page addressed specifically to him, although he wasn't sure who had written it.

"Kazuki, I regret to inform you that, although you did earn an amazing score on your written exam, as well as an impressive amount of skill was displayed in your duel, you will be in the Osiris Red dorm. Please understand that myself and the other teachers have done everything we can to get you the position you deserve, circumstances beyond our control have forced our hand, and so you are currently the highest ranked first year student in Osiris Red. However, if you continue to show the same skills as seen at the entrance exam, I am sure you will be promoted in no time.

Sadly, I also regret to inform you that 'in no time', in this instance, will be no sooner than next year. As already stated, there are circumstances which we cannot control at work, and we are being forced to adapt as best we can. For now, we don't want to burden you with too much, though. As such, you will receive further information and instruction concerning your position at the school over the course of the first marking period. Until then, enjoy your studies and work hard."

That was it. No name or anything. Not only that, but in their attempt to avoid burdening Kazuki's mind with details, that had instead burdened him with a lack of information and the anxiety of what might be in store for him. What kinds of conditions could have been placed upon his enrollment at the academy?

Sighing, he folded up the letter and placed it in his backpack. As for his dorm, he really didn't care. Things weren't the same as they used to be, back when Osiris Red was considered to be more of a curse than anything else. So long as he could stand his roommates, he wasn't too worried.

XXXXXXXXX

In another section of the boat there was a large room where all of the teachers had gathered together. On the wall in front of them was a large screen, which currently displayed the face of a man in his middle ages. His hair was a faded brown that was combed to his right, while his eyes reflected a youthful spirit, despite the wrinkles that were just starting to appear on his face. He was dressed in a white shirt and tie, with a formal purple coat hanging open over it all.

"Professors, I have just received word of Professor Dayu's resignation from the Academy." he began, his voice friendly, though it also carried evidence of authority. Although this news was already common amongst the teachers on the boat, they knew that the other staff members who had remained at the school were currently watching this same broadcast in their rooms on the island, and they wouldn't have known about the events at the testing center yet. "In conjunction with this, we are in need very suddenly for a new head of the Ra Yellow dorm before the students arrive at the school. I want to avoid as much chaos as I can, and for new students to arrive and have no dorm head would definitely be something I'd like to avoid."

Nodding, the teachers on the boat agreed, and they knew that their colleagues back on the island were doing the same. However, for those on the boat they had been considering this for the past few hours.

"So, I would like to hear any nominations you all may have." the man in the purple coat continued.

"Principal Tsuji, I nominate Professor Eizan Kiske." a feminine voice on the boat piped up, causing all present, including Eizan to turn and see who. Of all those who did turn, though, only Eizan himself had a look of confusion on his face. It was as if the others on the boat had already voted on this without him. As such, while those around Eizan remained silent, they could hear discussions of consideration and consent from the speakers tuned to microphones in the rooms of the other teachers.

Smiling, Eizan turned away from Miya and turned back to the monitor and the camera above it that would transmit what he had to say back to the island. "Principal Tsuji, although I am honored by this proposal, I would like to say that I would prefer to not become the new head of Ra Yellow." At this, every teacher began to look around in confusion, unsure as to why their fellow teacher would turn this down.

"In that case," a voice interjected before anyone would question the smiling instructor. A screen on an adjacent wall to the principals turned on, revealing a young man in his office with deep red hair. "I would like to propose someone else. I originally wasn't going to say anything since I figured Eizan would be chosen, but since he's turned it down, I would like to cast a vote for Edo Idane."

"That makes sense." Keiko Hitomi added, standing in front of Eizan. "Edo's done a great job in Osiris Red, and it's only logical that he be the one promoted to the new position."

Nodding, Seiki Tsuji turned away from the monitor in his room of the young man who had made the nomination, and back to his staff as a whole. "All in favor?" Instantly a wave of hands rose up, consenting to the proposal. "Opposed, if any?" This time, only one hand was lifted above the sea of heads.

"Flattered as I am," Edo said sheepishly, "I like Osiris Red. Please, choose someone else."

Taken aback, Principal Tsuji cleared his throat and adjusted his tie. Again he looked into the camera in his office. "Any other ideas, or do I need to assign someone?" Silence. "Very well, Professor Saira, I would like you to fill the position." he dictated, pointing into his camera, although it was only relevant to those on the boat, who turned to look at the brown-haired woman in her late twenties.

"Um, Principal, I'd really rather-" Kita Saira began, nervous about how to refuse such an order.

"Principal Tsuji, I have someone in mind." Edo suddenly declared, raising his hand, and again all heads shifted back to him. "I know someone who wouldn't back down from the proposition. He's a splendid teacher, and he'd do great things in Ra Yellow."

"Yes, who is this?" Seiki demanded, remaining calm, although it was obvious he had already grown tired of this ordeal, and for good reason. The boat would arrive in less than an hour.

"Professor Katsu Yoriyoi!" Edo called with a hint of pride in his voice.

"Yoriyoi?" a few people asked, rather surprised by this idea. Although they trusted Edo and his judgement, his proposal was odd, for one very simple reason.

"But he's only been teaching for one year." the young man with red hair finally said.

"True, but he's more than qualified. His skills as a duelist will help him to quickly get the students respect, and he is one of our more successful teachers. Remember that last year, even as the newest teacher at the school, he had the fifth highest percentage of perfect scores in the entire school, and his class was one of only three to have all of its students pass."

"I second the nomination, that I do." a voice called, and everyone turned to see Eizan with his arm raised. Seconds later, Kita raised her arm, then Keiko. Quickly thereafter, other teachers began to raise their arms, including the young teacher with red hair. A few moments later Principal Tsuji glanced at all of his monitors and then back at his camera.

"Kastu Yoriyoi, do you have any objections?"

"None whatsoever." a young voice declared over the speakers.

"Very well. Since you're already here on the island, could you please report to my office to receive a few items." Seiki spoke, and smiled. Although Katsu never turned on his camera, so no one could see him, it was assumed he must have nodded or somehow signaled his compliance. "Good, very good. Alright, could all Professors on the island currently, except for Katsu, please finish your preparations for the arrival of your new students. Those of you on the boat, please prepare the students. Oh, and Eizan," he added as a last minute thought while other teachers filed out of the room. "Are you sure about what we talked about earlier?"

"I've never been more sure in my career, that I have not." was the reply before the screen blacked out.

XXXXXXXXX

Wheeling a suitcase behind him, as well as a large duffle baghanging from his left arm, and finally a significantly smaller duffle bag looped over his shoulder, Kazuki headed towards the Osiris Red dorms. As he did, a single thought was on his mind: 'I think my bodies going to pop!'

Sighing with relief as he reached his door, he set his large back down to free up his hand. However, when he tried to grab the doorknob, he found that he couldn't move his arm, the muscles so severely strained. It would take several minutes before he regained mobility of said arm. Sighing again, he waited.

"It's not locked." a voice from within called. Then it went on to say, "Shoryu, put my guinea pig back in his cage!"

Sighing in frustration, he waited a few minutes more before managing to grab the knob, twist, and then lightly slamming his weight into the door, it popped open. Sadly, he realized too late that he had put his duffle down in front of him, so he couldn't move his feet forward to try and catch himself. Also, as he tripped the smaller bag around his shoulders shifted from underneath his arm to in front of him, meaning it was now pulling him forward and down.

Landing with a loud "thud", he seethed in pain as he rubbed his knee, which had been the first part of him to hit the ground. Opening his eyes, he quickly realized that all heads currently in the common room were looking at him. Thankfully, there weren't very many. Just a man with blonde hair hanging down to his shoulders and wearing a red blazer. There were also a few other students hauling suitcases toward the stairs.

"Um...hi?" he uttered while flushing pink with embarrassment. Picking himself and his bags up, he dropped his head and stared at the ground while he made his way to the table where the man in the blazer stood. "Um, I'm Kazuki Katsura." he muttered lowly.

"Ah yes, I remember. Excellent duel with Miya. I was there, and even though you lost, you did remarkably well. As such, you are entering here as the top ranked first year duelist in Osiris Red, and I doubt it will take you long before you are the best in the dorm." the professor smiled back as he checked off a few boxes on the chart in front of him. Then he reached into a box next to the table and lifted out a package in plastic wrap, which he handed to Kazuki. "This is your uniform, which you will be expected to be wearing to all classes. Tonight, after we get everyone checked in we will distribute extra uniforms to everyone so that you have a weeks worth. Also, here is your dorm key." Taking the uniform and key, Kazuki bowed and then retreated towards the steps.

After several minutes of laborious tugging and pulling, he finally managed to make it to the third floor. Taking the key out of his pocket, he double-checked the actual number. 'Room 325.' he mentally mumbled as he checked the nearest doorframe, which read "302." Sighing, he pushed onward, coming to a rest at the final room in the hall. Inserting his key into the small hole, he twisted, and the door swung open on its own weight.

Gasping, Kazuki took in his room. It was larger than he had expected, with a sturdy desk, solid wood frame bed, and even a couch. Stepping in, Kazuki was surprised by how new the carpet felt under his step. Looking around, he also noticed that the walls looked as if they had been painted recently.

Leaving his two duffles on the floor he hoisted his large rolling bag up onto his bed and unzipped it. First to be withdrawn was a large briefcase, which he set into his closet on the floor against the wall. Then he started to take out books, hand carved figurines he had collected over the years, a duel disk repair kit he had bought in order to keep his older model in shape, and various other items.

A few hours later he was fully unpacked and setup. Looking around, he suddenly realized something. "I have this great dorm, but there's only one of everything. I thought there were supposed to be three to a room."

Walking back down to the lounge he found the professor who had greeted him when he walked in still sitting at his table, only there didn't seem to be any other students about. As he approached the table the teacher turned and smiled at him.

"Yes, Kazuki, how may I help you?"

"Professor..." he began when he realized he hadn't yet learned the mans name.

"Edo Idane." the blonde man finished for him. "Please, continue."

"Yes, well, I just finished unpacking, and I realized that it seems that I wont have any roommates." Kazuki explained.

"Ah, yes, sorry, I should have told you. You see, do to some last minute changes a few students got to retake their exams, and as a result got into Ra Yellow, which had a few openings. However, there wasn't any time to recall anyone who had failed, so instead you get your own room."

Nodding in understanding, Kazuki bowed and returned to his room. Sighing, he decided to slip into his new uniform to make sure he got the right size. Removing it from the plastic envelope he unfolded it and snapped it in the air a few times to try and get some of the creases out. As it turned out, he was only provided with a jacket and pants, so the rest was up to him.

A few minutes later he was placing his folded up jeans into his drawer and then buttoning up his jacket, but leaving the top one or two undone. Lying down on his bed, he laced his fingers behind his head and closed his eyes.

"Yo! Kid!" a voice shouted in Kazuki's ear, startling him from the state of sleep he had apparently fallen into. Jerking his body slightly in surprise, the first thing he did was hit his forehead on the narrow shelf built into the wall to hold his alarm clock.

Rubbing his head in pain, the next thing Kazuki realized was that his ears were ringing. Reaching up to message his ears, he was surprised to find something was already there. Shaking his head to try and get a grip, he realized that the prongs of a stethoscope were in his ears, and the young man who had awoken him was barely keeping his fingers wrapped around the end of the cable as he laughed hysterically.

Dislodging the device from his ears in annoyance, Kazuki rubbed his ears to end the ringing and then turned his attention on the young man, who was dressed in an Osiris Red uniform. He had forest green hair, and seemed to be shorter than Kazuki by several inches.

"And you are?" he grumbled, annoyed that he had been awoken in such a manner.

"Oh man!" the boy laughed. "That was great. You were like 'Wha!' And then you smacked yourself on the shelf just like I had expected you to."

"Again I'll ask: who are you." Kazuki repeated, sounding slightly annoyed.

"Oh, ah..." the boy continued to laugh, though he did seem to be taking measures to regain control of himself. Swallowing a few times, he stood up straight. "Sorry, names Yoshida Tsumara. I live on the second floor and was just checking out the other rooms and getting to know people and all."

"How'd you get in here?" Kazuki asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Well, if you really must know," Yoshida began, hushing his voice and leaning in close as if he were going to share some great secret. "I recommend that if you don't want to be pranked worse, you should keep your door closed and locked."

XXXXXXXXX

"Enter." Professor Yoriyoi, the new head of Ra Yellow called as the knocking at his office door ceased. Turning up from his computer, he was please to see Professor Kiske enter. "Eizan, how may I help you?"

"I assume you heard about Dayu." the silver-haired teacher began as he closed the door. In response, his younger colleague nodded. Breathing deeply, Eizan quickly formulated the correct wording for what he was about to ask. "I have a favor to ask of you."

XXXXXXXXX

Switching off his alarm clock, Kazuki shifted out of his bed and quickly straightened out the covers. Snatching up the clothes and towel he had laid out the night before, he made it way for the floor bathroom. It was the first day of classes, the weekend of orientation finished, and so he was rather excited, so getting up wasn't much trouble for him, despite the fact that the sun wouldn't begin to rise for another hour. He had always been an early riser, and he had started his time as Duel Academy no differently. Besides, this meant he got some quiet in the shower, plus all the hot water he could ask for.

An hour later he stood at the door of his room, fully dressed, hair combed, teeth brushed, and backpack slung over his shoulder. Checking to make sure he had his key and that the door was locked, he began to exit, pulling the heavy door closed as he did. Jiggling the handle a little, he confirmed that it was indeed locked. He had already begun to make a bit of a habit of this ever since Yoshida had warned him about locking the door, and then after seeing the level of maturity displayed by the majority of the Osiris Red boys, he had established a firm foundation of resolve to follow through.

Clutching his pocket tightly he made sure he still had his key. The day before he had forgotten it and had a hard time getting into his room since Professor Idane wasn't in his office until late at night, meaning Kazuki couldn't get a hold of the spare.

Another hour later and Kazuki was sitting in the front of the lecture hall of his first class, Deck Construction and Card Analysis. Slowly the hall filled up, and within the next twenty minutes the room was packed.

"Welcome, class, to Deck Construction and Card Analysis 101." a friendly voice called, causing a number of heads to turn and watch the isle as a man with silver hair in a black button-up-the-front shirt and silver tie made his way towards the front. Once he reached the large stage-like area at the front he tapped a few keys on the computer on the side and then clipped a small black box to his belt. Seconds later all questions about the black box were dismissed as his voice came over the speakers lining the walls. "I am Professor Eizan Kiske. You may use any combination of those words when addressing me, that you may, so long as at least one of them is 'Professor'." Turning back to the computer, the professor tapped in a few more commands and then rounded back on the class.

"In this class we will analyze various deck types, there strategies, various single cards that have had whole decks made for them, and much more, that we will." he continued to explain as a projector turned on, flashing the image of a Duel Monsters card on the screen. "Now, in my class we will operate on what I call Higher Level Thinking, which uses a four point scale, that it does. Can I have a volunteer?" Looking out at the sea of about two hundred students, he was disappointed to not find one hand raised. Finally, pointing towards the back he let his focus fall on a girl in a Ra Yellow uniform. "Riza Mairen, is it not?" he asked, and she nodded.

Standing up and making her way to the isle, many of the young men in the class watched in awe at her. Dressed in the skirt and jacket of Ra Yellow, she stood at about five and a half feet, with platinum blonde hair, bright emerald eyes, and a very attractive and slender body. Best of all, it seemed that she didn't even try to look this good, which caused the hormone-plagued mind of the average teenage boy to try and imagine her potential.

As she stepped onto the platform where Professor Eizan was, he pulled a shinai out from behind his podium and met her in the middle of the stage. "Riza, may I hit you across the head with this shinai?" he asked.

Taken aback and flushing with a mix of surprise and embarrassment, Rizan took a second to answer. "No."

Smiling, Eizan turned to the class. "That was a level one answer, that it was, because she has answered the question, that she has." Turning back to Riza, he placed the tip of the bamboo sword against the ground and held it under his palm as anyone would a cane. "Why not?"

Looking at him as if he were insane, which currently didn't seem too absurd of an idea, Riza again took a moment to answer. "Because it would hurt."

"That, class," he said, again turning to them. "Was a level two answer, because she has explained why she doesn't want me to hit her, that she has." Again his attention shifted back to the blonde girl. "How do you know it would hurt, may I ask?"

Suddenly, realization seemed to hit Riza, and she smiled with a great inner confidence. "I've been hit before, and so experience goes to show that it causes pain."

Smiling at the fact that she was starting to get the feel for it, Eizan turned to the class. "Level three, that it was. She has backed up her answer. Now, Riza," he pressed, turning to face away from her and pacing to the other end of the stage with a very casual step about him. "Why would it hurt?"

"Pain receptors in my body would fire off nerves through my body to my brain with lightning speed, causing me to feel pain." she explained without hesitation this time.

With a massive grin, Eizan turned back to her, swinging the shinai to his side offhandedly. "And that is level four, having used extra evidence and reasoning outside of a textbook to explain her answer, that it was. Well done, Riza. You may return to your seat, that you may." With a bow, she left the teacher alone on the stage.

"Now, class," he continued, taking a remote out of his pocket and pointing at the screen. Seconds later the image of the card changed to show a monster with no effect and standard attack points. The image was of a man in purple robes with a green staff in his hand. "This is the Dark Magician (2500/2100). Anyone care to give me a brief synopsis of this card and how it could be utilized"

Raising his hand swiftly, Kazuki decided to give his hand at this higher level thinking a try. "Shinji." Eizan said, pointing to an Osiris Red a few columns to Kazuki's right, much to his disappointment. Rising to his feet, the named boy raised his voice so he could be heard.

"Well, since the Dark Magician himself has no effect, he has been supplied with a number of support cards, such as the Dark Magic Curtain and Skilled Dark Magician to make summoning him easier, or Thousand Knives to enable him to destroy monsters without fear of triggering effects or dealing with stronger enemy monsters. Also there's Magicians Tomb to increase his attack points to thirty-two hundred." Shinji rambled, ticking cards off of his fingers, seeming to avoid direct eye contact all along. "Oh, and Buster Blader can be used to help create the Dark Paladin. Plus, Buster Blader himself has some good support cards to help make it easier."

"Thank you, Shinji, that will do, that it will." Eizan cut the boy off with a smile. With a bit of embarrassment, Shinji took his seat. "Now then, since we're going to be running out of time, and since we don't yet know each other, I'm going to take it easy on you, that I will. I'm going to give you the remainder of the class to work on your homework assignment, which shouldn't be too hard. I want you to either list for me your current deck, or your ideal deck. Next, I want an essay explaining the major focus of that decks effects, strategies to utilize those cards and their effects, and why you chose that deck. That will be all, that it will." he ended, switching off the screen. Instantly students pulled out paper and pencils, or laptops, in the case of some students, and began to furiously scribble/type.

A little while later the bell rang and students began to stuff items into their bags and rise to leave. However, for whatever reason, Kazuki was moving significantly slower than the others, and so no one else was near by him when he finally stood up.

"Kazuki, could you hold on for a moment." he was suddenly stopped by the voice of his teacher. Turning, slightly startled, Kazuki's head began to instantly spin, trying to figure out what he had done that would cause the professor to ask him to hold back.

"Don't worry, Kazuki, you're not in any trouble, that you are not." Professor Eizan smiled as he approached. "No, I wanted to make a proposal to you."

"How do you know my name? How did you know the name of everyone else in the class?" Kazuki suddenly found himself blurt out as if he hadn't heard the instructor say anything at all.

"Well, I know many of them because I was there at the entrance exams, overseeing the tests, so I memorized a number of the new students names that way. Also, have you forgotten that one of the first things you did when you got here was to get your ID picture taken? When that happens, a copy of each students image is sent to me, and so I spend part of my weekend memorizing faces, that I do." Eizan explained without skipping a beat.

"Oh. Well, what was it you wanted again." Kazuki asked, feeling very foolish.

"Well, I noticed in your duel with Professor Masuko that you're definitely ready for a higher level course, but since you're in Osiris Red I can't advance you to a higher class level without you first taking the pre-requisite classes. However, I've spoken with another teacher, and he has agreed to allow you to take his class as a sort of extra credit course, that he has. It's the two hundred level version of my class, and so mine is the pre-requisite, that it is. You wont have to do any homework or take any tests unless you want to, except for the Final Exam, that you will. If you pass, you get credit. If not, it's as if you were never in the class, that it is."

"But, all of the classes are filled." Kazuki pointed out, confused by the proposal. Again Eizan smiled.

"I spoke with him several days ago, so we signed you up just to make sure. If you don't want to take it, then I will explain to him and he will erase you from the list."

"I..." Kazuki trailed off, unsure. "Can I give it a try first and see how it works out?"

"Of course." Eizan smiled. "I need to go over anyway for a minute, so I'll show you the way."

Heart racing, Kazuki got to his feet and followed the silver-haired teacher out of the room and to another lecture hall a few rooms down the hall. It was already filling up with students, and so Kazuki had to take a seat in the middle, much to his discomfort. He had always sat up front, so this made him feel rather insecure.

With his now apparently normal zeal, Eizan stepped up to the stage at the bottom of the slightly sloped room.

"Class, I would like you to meet the new head of Ra Yellow dorm, that I would. He's a respected colleague of mine, and a world class duelist, Professor Katsu Yoriyoi." Eizan called with another warm smile, motioning behind him, and the named man walked onto the stage.

He was a tall man, just barely over six feet, with a limber body, black hair combed straight back, square glasses, and black slacks with a white button-up-the-front shirt. However, distinguishing him in this occasion was the yellow overcoat he wore loosely over his shoulders, letting it fan out at his waist. Pinching one arm of his glasses between his right middle finger and thumb, he adjusted the frames slightly before raising both of his arms in a cheer, and then lowering one to grasp Eizan in a friendly headlock at his side.

"Welcome students!" he bellowed, strong traces of emotion in his voice. "Let me say it is an honor to be teaching you, not as a normal professor, but as head of Ra Yellow. And I owe so much of it to this fine man here." At this, he jerked his arm slightly, causing Eizan to choke for a moment, though Katsu didn't seem to notice. "Why, not only did he take it upon himself to risk his entire career just to expose the previous dorm head as the fraud that he was, but he then turned down the opportunity to become head of Ra Yellow, and was the one to second my nomination." Again he hoisted the teacher at his side a bit, causing him to gag as he tried to breath.

"Katsu!" he shouted as best as he could from his position, which wasn't very great. Turning to look at the man in his arm, Katsu had a curious look to his face.

"Yes, Professor Kiske? How can I help you?"

"I don't mean to be rude, that I do not, but I really should go and prepare for my advanced class that starts in twenty minutes. Besides, you have a class to teach right now, that you do."

Snapping his head up as if struck with a revolutionary thought, Katsu immediately released Eizan, who dropped to the floor with a yelp and then a thud. Clearing his throat, Katsu rubbed his hands together and took a few steps closer to the students while Eizan picked himself up off of the floor.

"Class," he began again, his voice suddenly losing that immense cheer from ten seconds ago. Turning his head, he made sure he took in every single student. "Welcome to Strategic Analysis 201. In this class we will examine varying duel scenarios and decks in an attempt to learn one important thing: Out of the Box Thinking. I want you to use this semester to learn how to use the most simple and unlikely move to break free from the most impressive deadlocks you may encounter. You must be prepared for whatever situation you may find yourself in. No matter how well toned a deck may be, if you do not learn to come up with new strategies with whatever cards you draw at whatever time, then you increase your chances of failure."

As he began, Eizan lifted himself to his feet and silently made his way out of the room, headed back towards the lecture hall he had come from. As he grasped the doorknob, he turned his head and sent one last thought back to the room he had come from. 'Give it your all, Kazuki. It may seem harsh to expose you so early on to that class, but you will come to understand that I had little choice.'

Back in Professor Yoriyoi's room, he had just finished taking role and was returning to the front of the stage when he was interrupted by the door swinging open and a young man in a second year Ra Yellow uniform walked in, seemingly unaware that the class had begun nearly ten minutes before.

"Excuse me, young man, but please, next time, could you arrive thirty minutes before class, three minutes for every minute you were late." Katsu said, his tone not seeming to be bothered by this, despite his words.

Rolling his eyes, the young man jerked his head in a half-nod. "Yeah, sure, whatever."

Turning back to the class, Katsu gave them all a stern look, although his eyes betrayed a glimmer of some inner light of excitement. "Now, we will start the day by-"

"What?" a voice nearly shrieked. With annoyance, Katsu quickly located the source, narrowing his eyes when he realized it was the same Ra Yellow who had interrupted just a few minutes before. He seemed to have just been speaking with a friend next to him, and whatever they had been discussing had obviously upset him. "You mean some pansy-assed teacher forced the best instructor this school had into resigning? That's bullcrap!"

"What was your name?" Katsu asked, his voice remaining calm, although his face reflected an inner fury that had just been sparked.

"Arata Nakadai." came the reply, very off-handedly. Somehow, Arata didn't seem to notice that now the entire class was looking at him, many of them seeming to think that he was insane.

"Arata, thank you for volunteering." Katsu growled, narrowing his eyes dangerously.

"Say what?" the arrogant voice responded.

"Would you please be so kind as to come down here." Katsu growled, tapping a button on his computer and a table rose out of a compartment under the stage. "Today we're going to be looking at overcoming an Exodia strategy." he explained, indicating the table, which had two decks on it, hands already drawn.

Looking annoyed, Arata stood up and made his way down to stage and stood across from the professor at the table. Picking up his hand, his eyes widened in surprise for a moment. There, staring up at him, were four of the five pieces of Exodia the Forbidden One! (ALP:4000)

Tapping another command into the computer, Katsu made his way over to the table, the scree above them displaying the field. Picking up his hand, he began to explain. "Now, I arranged your hand of cards and then shuffled your deck. That means that it is entirely up to you to make the winning move. On the other hand, the deck I will be using was fully shuffled and the hand I have is entirely random." (KLP:4000)

"Wait, so I have all of the card drawing and searching power of an Exodia deck, and I only need to find one piece?" Arata asked. "You want me to humiliate you on the first day?"

"I think you'll find that it wont work quite like that." Katsu replied, although he did not smile. For Kazuki, it was almost unnerving. Professor Katsu was such a different person from Professor Kiske, who was warm an encouraging.

"Whatever." Arata snorted, drawing a card. "I play Graceful Charity to draw three cards and then discard two." he said, sounding bored as he picked up cards from his deck, and then quickly dropped two of them on top of his graveyard pile. "One of the cards I discarded was Repayment of Losses, so I draw again. Then, I play my Different Dimension Capsule to remove a card in my deck from play, but in two turns it goes to my hand." he said as a bright blue sarcophagus appeared on his field, opened, and then the image of a card sliding into it and then being sealed. "Finally, I set one card face down and end my turn." he finished, leaving him with a hand of five.

"Not even a monster to protect you?" Katsu sighed, looking disappointed.

"Why bother? In just two turns I'll win automatically, and the chances of you finishing me off by then aren't all that great." came the reply.

"Arata, you need to learn flexibility." Katsu reprimanded. "Yes, Exodia is a deck that requires great focus in card drawing, searching, and hand protection. However, if that is all that you focus on, then it can easily be dismantled by an opponent who tries."

Holding up one of the cards from his original five, he turned it around and a large image of it appeared on the screen. "Tiny Pound Hammer allows me to shuffle it and my hand into my deck to draw that number of cards, so I get six new cards." he explained, continuing to stare harshly at his student, who wasn't even paying attention. "I had figured this would happen, but I had no idea it would happen on the first turn. I play Descent into Darkness to send three cards from my deck to the graveyard to destroy two cards on your field."

Picking up the deck from the table he fanned it out and picked three cards from various points on it and then placed them into his graveyard pile. Grumbling, Arata placed the two magic cards from his field into his graveyard.

"Even though I don't have my Negate Attack anymore to protect me, you'll only be summoning one monster, so I'm safe."

"Not in the slightest." Katsu responded, reaching for another of the cards in his hand. "First off, don't you know that when Different Dimension Capsule is destroyed, the card you chose with it must now stay out of play?" Eyes widening, Arata looked at the face down card next to his deck, which he now couldn't touch.

"You made a number of mistake right there, Arata. First you left yourself vulnerable because you relied solely on your set card to protect you for a few turns. Second, you relied too much on a single magic card to end this quickly. Finally, you didn't even take a single moment to think about what I might due, especially since I knew what kind of deck you were using." Turning his head, he addressed the class a whole. "Always be careful how to play. If you are reckless, you reveal to your opponent what kind of deck, or at least what kind of strategy you are using, and that bit of knowledge alone can ruin you."

"Shut the hell up and go." Arata responded.

"You would do well to learn to respect all teachers at this school, Arata, and not just those who help you get by without trying. Be grateful for a teacher who pushes you to your limits. Praise a teacher who cares for his students. Admire a teacher who is more concerned with your success than his own position." Katsu growled, firmly gripping the card he had been fiddling with, and then flipped it around.

"Renewal of Triplets lets me special summon three monsters with the same name from my graveyard to the field." Reaching for his graveyard, he picked up the top three cards, which he then laid onto his field and three identical monsters appeared on the large screen. Each was a large bird, probably with a two foot wingspan each. Each had a sort of crown of feathers on their head, and a long, thin tail, curved and coiled on itself reached out of their backsides. What was startling about them was that they were pitch black, their feathers along the back edges of their wings long and flimsy, giving the illusion that the wings were lined with flickering black flames.

"These are my Hellion Phoenix's (2200/1000), each with a few effects, but the one I'm currently interested in is the perfect one for finishing you off." Katsu continued to explain. "When special summoned from the graveyard, Hellion Phoenix instantly discards a card from your hand and then allows me to draw one card for each card you lose."

Eyes wide, Arata dropped the cards on top of the cards in his graveyard pile while Katsu drew. 'This is ridiculous!' he shouted to himself. 'I was only one piece away from destroying him! It should have been impossible for him to counter that!'

"You've cheated." he snarled, although Katsu remained unfazed. "You stacked my hand, as well as yours." To his relief, a number of voices in amongst the students seemed to agree with this possibility. However, Katsu stilled seemed completely unaffected by this or the rather simple yet logical argument.

"I told you, Arata, that I only selected those four pieces of Exodia for your hand. The fifth card in your hand, as well as your entire deck, was randomized. My deck was the same, except I didn't know any of my opening cards until we began. You defeated yourself the instant you saw what deck you were using, because you jumped to conclusions about the situation, and thought it would be easy. You thought that, since I'm a teacher, I'll go easy on you to 'nurture' you and 'help you to develop.' You couldn't be more wrong. In this classroom, everyone is on their own and at their best. No exceptions."

"Bullcrap!" came the harsh response. "And, even if that's true, you're using a deck that is full of discard effects, which still isn't fair. Not only that, but it voids your entire lecture about 'being flexible' and crap."

"Again, you're jumping to conclusions, Arata." Katsu replied, his tone even, but extremely cold and judgmental. "This deck has a number of different effects and combinations for different situations. I could have chose a set of monsters that would deal you direct damage by being in the grave, or cards that discarded from your deck. I have a few monsters in this deck that grow stronger as time passes. However, I chose my Hellion Phoenix's because I knew you were trying to complete Exodia. It wouldn't have been long before you drew a card to return your Head of Exodia to play, and not long after that you would place him into your hand. I good plan, but only if executed correctly, with decoys set up to draw my attention and cards set up to protect yourself if I attack. You made the gravest mistake, Arata, when you not only underestimated me, but also when you ignored me. If you ever expect to beat anyone of merit, then you must try and think like they would and try to outmaneuver them."

"Spare me." the teenager huffed.

"You wont learn, will you." Katsu stated with disdain. "You will find, Arata, that if you ignore my lessons, you will fail." Turning back to the field of cards before him, he decided to declare his attack, and the life point counter on the screen above Arata began to count down. (ALP:700)

Blinking in surprise, Katsu double-checked the score, and was surprised to see it stay at seven hundred. Looking over at Arata, slightly confused, it took him a moment to realize what had happened, and then he too let loose a slight, although completely unheard chuckle.

"I see, one of the cards I discarded from your hand wasn't an Exodia fragment, but actually Force Redux. Since it went to the grave this turn, the attack power of my monsters was cut in half." Professor Yoriyoi called, mostly for the sake of explaining to those in the class not familiar with the card. Taking one of the three he had drawn when he summoned his monsters, he slapped it onto a monster zone. "Unfortunately for you, I had anticipated you might have something like that. Like I've been saying, expect the unexpected. So, I sacrifice two of my Hellion Phoenix's for my Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys (2400/2000) in attack mode. Then I'll set two cards face down, and end my turn."

Drawing a card, Arata seemed somewhat pleased with what he had drawn. True, it was the only non-Exodia card in his hand, so he had to hope for something good. "I play Pot of Greed to draw two cards." he said, pulling the cards from the deck. "Next I play Dark Hole to destroy all monsters on the field, so your two birdies go bye-bye." Without even blinking, as if he were bored, Katsu picked the two cards up off of the table and placed them neatly in his graveyard.

Without wasting another minute, Arata grabbed his other drawn card and played it. "Servant of Exodia (1600/1200), who allows me to draw a card when summoned. Then, whenever he does damage, I can discard one card from my hand to place a card pertaining to Exodia into my hand, as well as draw another card from the top of my deck. Also, if you try and destroy him, I can discard a piece of Exodia from my hand to protect him and increase his attack by three hundred. Servant of Exodia, attack him directly!"

Nodding, Katsu waited patiently as his life point counter ticked down by nearly half, as well as when Arata discarded the card he had drawn when he summoned his monster in order to pick up a card from his graveyard, and then drawing again. Setting his drawn card, he ended his turn. (KLP:2400)

Drawing, Katsu looked Arata straight in the eye, and suddenly, Arata felt a level of anticipation that he hadn't before. It was as if somehow this new teacher, the one who had replaced his favorite of the instructors at the school, was about to pass judgment.

"I must admit, you did surprise me by surviving the way you did, Arata." he admitted, although his tone was still cold. "However, you began this duel in such arrogance that you didn't take it seriously. If you don't push yourself in every duel to enter into, then you cannot grow."

Up in his seat, Kazuki leaned in even closer than he had been, which was pretty far. He was barely connected to his chair anymore, and his eyes were practically dancing with excitement. 'This Professor really knows what he's talking about!'

Reaching for his graveyard, Katsu picked up a card. "Since she was destroyed by a card effect, Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys returns in attack mode, and destroys all magic and trap cards on the field." he explained as he took his two cards and Arata took his one and they placed them on top of their respective graveyards. "Next, I will summon Phoenix Rider (1600/1800) in attack mode, and he will union to Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys, raising its attack power by eight hundred."

There was a certain level of anticipation in the room as he placed the monster onto the table and his monsters attack power rose to thirty-two hundred. Well, except for on the part of Arata, who actually looked infuriated by the twist of events.

"I attack with Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys (3200) and finish you off." Professor Yoriyoi declared, and Arata's life points plummeted. (ALP:0) With a brief nod, the teacher signaled the student to return to his seat, which he did with a low growl.

"Now, class, for tonight I would like an essay which either discusses the mistakes you saw in today's duel, or how you would use your own deck to combat an Exodia strategy. That is all." Katsu told the class and then they all rose to their feet and began to leave.

Five minutes later, Kazuki was still in his seat, the only one in the entire lecture hall. There was a look of pondering on his face, and his eyes looked as if they were far away.

Rolling through his head, over and over again, each time with a slightly different word combination, was a single question.

'Do I always enter a duel at my best?'

To Be Continued...

Next Time-Kazuki has gotten off to an excellent start at Duelist Academy, already making it into the top five for test scores in the first year. But who's number one on that list? Are they that good at dueling? Meanwhile, Kazuki continues to think on the words of Professors Kiske and Katsu, and he's ready to put their words to the test!

Next Time-Burning Spirit of Ambition

That was fun. Sorry it took so long, but with my traveling home for the holidays, spending time with my sisters and brother, and getting to play on my brother-in-law's Xbox (My parents didn't allow me to have video games when I was a kid), haven't had much time to think about this. Anyway, next up I'm gonna get back to work on Era of Souls, so for those of you who haven't read it and like my work, might want to try and catch up there to carry you over until I get back to this.

Also, original cards include Servant of Exodia, Hellion Phoenix, Phoenix Rider, Force Redux, and Descent into Darkness.

See ya.