-------- Spirit of a Duelist
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Note:
Once again, sorry for the delay. I don't have much time to write so expect only about 1 chapter per week or two because of my time restraint. This chapter is quite long too, so that contributed greatly to the time it took to complete this chapter.
Also, this chapter and the next is really like one long chapter, so this chapter is part A and continues to the next which is part B. The only reason I split it up is because the second part is taking a long time to write and I think I've made you wait long enough.
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----------Part A: Servant of the Shadows
"Fool, thou mayest sent Demius to the realm of shadows, yet herest I remain. And I shalt keepeth thine feminine friend till thou besteth me," growled Aroc. "And thou hast a similar chance of mine challenge as thouest doest of besting the lord of the realm of shadows."
"Lord of the shadow realm…? Who is that?" questioned Judai.
"Never mind that for tis none of thine worry, yet tis shall be soon," said Aroc.
"Ugh, I can barely understand anything you are saying. You're talking really funny, like someone from a thousand years ago and it is giving me a headache," groaned Judai.
"Thou amuseth me quist. Wherefore dost thou playeth child-like games. Thou art none match for thine enemy, hence thou best and mayest give in now."
"I might not be able to understand most of what you way, but I did get that end part and let me tell you now; I never turn down a challenge, so prepare to duel!" said Judai.
Aroc started to laugh, though it sounded more like a muffled grunt. "Didst I ever say twas a duel? The challenge is to best me in a fight. If thou hast the courage, then stand else stand not before me and be sent along thine merry way," replied Aroc.
"W-What? A fight…?" stammered Judai. I can't beat a bull in fighting, Aroc will destroy me, but I have to try. Maybe I can last long enough to think of a plan… "Okay Aroc, I accept your challenge!"
In the bushes nearby, the servant of the shadows was crouched in a position to observe the events. "What the…? That fool! He accepted the challenge! It seems I will have to take events into my own hands for Judai will be of no use to my master if he is dead. Aroc, you idiot, you could have kept your soul if not for your revengeful spirit. If only you did what you were supposed to do instead of trying to avenge Demius…," he murmured. Then suddenly, he snapped his wrist and a knife flew out of his hand. With a dull, barely audible thud, the blade sunk into Aroc's throat.
Judai stared with shock, for it seemed that a knife appeared out of nowhere and struck Aroc. That, however, was not what truly caught his interest. After he recollected himself, he noticed there was no blood, nor was Aroc in any pain. Instead, dark purplish waves erupted from the wound and slowed began encased Aroc.
"NO! You're there aren't you… come out and I will kill you M – ," Aroc wasn't able to complete his sentence as the shadows covered his face. An instant later, he vanished altogether, taking the purple waves and knife with him.
Just after Asuka felt the grip on her release, she heard a soft rustle a short distance off to her right. "Judai, I think there is someone watching. I just heard something in those bushes. Go find him or her and maybe we will figure out who the 'lord of the shadow realm' is and why this person or thing wants you," said Asuka. Then, after seeing the look on his face added, "Don't worry about me, I will be fine. I'm going to head back to the dorms and I will probably be in less danger that way because these people seem to want only you. I was just a hostage."
"Alright Asuka, just be careful." With that, Judai took off into the forest. Before long, he heard the rustling of leaves a couple meters in front of him. He was shortening the gap and intended to catch the runner before he escaped. "Hey! Stop!" he called.
He quickly cut down the last few yards separating the runner and he and leaped forward, catching a soft fabric and causing the runner to trip over himself. Judai smirked as he gazed down at the fallen man, for he was clearly human. "Gotcha! Now you better start providing me with some answers or else!"
"Or else what? What could you possibly do to me? I promise you that I can do things to you that are ten times worse than anything you could do to me," snarled the man.
"Oh ya? Well how does this sound: we duel and if I win you have to provide me the answers I want. If you win I will let you go," proclaimed Judai.
"Hmph… so be it, but I warn you I am not like the others. I am in a whole different league," warned the man.
"Good, a better challenge! Will you at least tell me who you are before we duel?" requested Judai.
"Haha, you are an amusing one. I am the servant of the lord of the shadows, and as for my name I will no be telling. Though if you win, I suppose I will have to if you ask for it then, but I wouldn't count on that," replied the man. "Now duel!"
Judai: 4000
Servant: 4000
Servant: I will let you go first.
Judai: Fine by me. I summon Elemental Hero Sparkman (1600 /1200) in attack mode. Then I will throw down a face-down and end my turn.
Servant: You truly are pathetic. This duel is over. First, I activate the spell card Mystical Space Typhoon which allows me to destroy one magic or trap card on your side of the field. Since there is only one, I guess that is the one that will be destroyed. (Hero Illusion is destroyed Next I will summon Hayabusa Knight (1000/700) in attack mode.
Judai: What is the point of that? He has lower attack points than my Sparkman.
Servant: Shut up. I do not think I have ever seen such arrogance in a boy. I will teach you respect. I will now equip my knight with two Axes of Despair. Each one raises Hayabusa Knight's attack points by 1000, giving him a total of 3000 attack.
Judai: Oh… well I guess now there is a point.
Servant: (chuckles lightly) Now I will attack Sparkman with Hayabusa Knight.
(E. Hero Sparkman is destroyed)
Judai: 2600
Servant: 4000
Judai: Ugh, oh well. I will get even with you when it is my turn.
Servant: Sorry, but there will be no 'next turn' for you. Hayabusa Knight has a special ability. He can attack twice in one turn, so Hayabusa Knight, attack Judai again!
Judai: 0
Servant: 4000
Judai fell to his knees and stared at the floor in utter astonishment and embarrassment. "I l-lost i-in just a s-single turn… How could I have lost in one turn without even doing a single LP of damage?"
"I told you you were pathetic. Too bad this wasn't a shadow duel, for if it was all of my troubles would be over and your soul would belong to the shadows. Of course, I won't tell you why I couldn't challenge you to a shadow duel since you only get the answers if you won. Clearly, you didn't, so goodbye. For now…"
As the man leapt into the woods beyond view, Judai simply sat there on his knees, still as a statue. The bushes shifted nearby and Asuka, Shou, and Misawa came into the clearing and strolled up to Judai.
"I just found Shou and Misawa, they were looking for us. I just had to run all the way back here so I'm a little exhausted. Judai are you listening? Judai, are you okay? What happened? Your cards are scattered all over the floor and you look like you just saw a ghost!" panted Asuka with a worried look on her face.
"He beat me…"
"Huh? What are you talking about? Who beat you?" asked Misawa.
"The servant of the shadow lord, he beat me in a duel. I challenged him and he beat me in one turn. I was completely outclassed. He didn't even break a sweat defeating me," mumbled Judai.
"Stop groaning over it. It's okay if you lost because you can beat him next time. If he is part the group that is trying to take your soul, I'm sure you'll meet up with him again. It isn't as if you've never lost a duel," scolded Asuka.
"Besides, you were still able to tie with Kaiser, and since he is the best duelist in the academy, that makes you the best as well. You should be proud. Don't let just one lousy duel break your spirit Judai," said Misawa.
"Hey Judai, I know something that should cheer you up!" exclaimed Shou with glee. "Yugi Moto, the king of games himself, is coming here tomorrow afternoon!"
"What?" gasped Judai.
"That's right, and it is a perfect opportunity to become a better duelist and get some hints from Yugi himself," said Misawa. "Chronos told us that we could sign up to duel Yugi because Yugi offered to duel us and give advice to his opponents. Shou already signed you up, so you're all set."
"Awesome! I feel better already!" exclaimed Judai as he jumped up. "Come on, let's get back to the dorms. I'm going to need my rest for the duel tomorrow." The four of them were about to leave when Judai suddenly froze.
"Ehhhh… guys, I just realized my cards are still on the ground!" said Judai with a stupid grin on his face. "Just go ahead, I will catch up as soon as I pick up my cards. I can't believe I actually almost forgot them! I just got excited when you told me the great news."
"I will stay here and help Judai," said Asuka.
"Alright, see you back at the dorm," said Shou as he and Misawa turned around to run to their dorms, eager to get a good night's rest.
"Bye," shouted Asuka after them, waving. Then she turned back to Judai and bent down to help gather fallen cards. "So… this was an unusual date," laughed Asuka.
"Ya, I know. Those shadow duelists are really starting to annoy me, especially the one that just beat me. It seems like all they do is stalk me, challenge me, insult me, then lose to me, except for the servant who beat me," remarked Judai.
"The sooner we figure out who they really are the better."
Soon the cards were all safely placed back in Judai's deck box, without a single one missing. They then turned to face the forest and began the trek to the dorms. The distance was somewhat long, but neither felt bored or tired because they were enjoying each other's company. After about a half-hour, they reached a fork in the road.
"Well, I'm on the right," said Asuka, pointing to the large castle, now clearly visible over the treetops. "And I think Slypher is the other way, right?"
"Ya, the dorms are perched on a cliff-top," replied Judai.
The two stood there for while in silence, not yet ready to part each other's company. After a few moments of awkward stillness, Judai finally mustered up the courage to wrap his arms around Asuka. Asuka blushed and remained motionless for a few seconds, then responded by hugging him in return. Judai then broke the embrace, feeling contempt for the moment.
"Okay… ummmm… b-bye," he stammered as his cheeks began to change to a reddish hue.
Asuka smiled as her cheeks burned a red even brighter than Judai's. "Bye."
They parted as Asuka ran down the road to the right and as Judai strolled towards his own dormitory, staring up into the sky with his hands folded behind his head, counting the stars of his luck.
Continued in: Part B: Duel of the brothers – Winged Kuriboh vs. Kuriboh