Disclaimer: No I do not own Yugioh.
Tournament of Tears
Chapter 19: Ryu's mistake and Rikuo's retaliation
Ichigo sat on top of a crate, surrounded by his friends. Eri, Kenshin, Krieger, and Griff were all poking and prodding him, finding his full demon appearance strangely appealing. "Guys…please stop…uhhh…"
Krieger did so, but Griff, Eri and Kenshin continued, much to the now blushing Ichigo's dismay.
Hitokage scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Canine demons…how foolish."
Then they all froze as they heard three sets of feet running across the pier rapidly. "…and then after I tear his head off I'll order it to return everyone!" All of them breathed a sigh of relief at once at the sound of Rikuo's voice.
"Don't be so brash." Ryu's calm voice interjected. "I don't think he'll live through the removal of his head."
Everyone calmed down even more at the sound of the dragon demon…except then all of the hairs on the back of their neck stood up on end as a sudden surge of energy erupted nearby.
Ryu and Rikuo both skidded to a stop in front of the warehouse they had all labeled Home Base, just in time to catch a sight that left both of them speechless.
There was a huge aura of energy that seemed to converge around the room. Within it were traces of silver, jet black, red, and blue coloring. And at the base of it all was Ichigo, his eyes both glowing a bright red and locked onto Ryu. "You…" His fists clenched tightly and he snarled, the sound shaking the pier. "Why didn't you tell me? Why did you keep it a secret?"
The dragon demon lifted his eyebrows when he realized that the boy was talking to him. "Keep what a secret?"
Ichigo's face calmed…and then he was standing where Ryu had been, while the dragon demon was currently flying over the bay, a deep indent in the side of his face where the boy had punched him roughly.
Rikuo stared at Ichigo, unsure what to say. "What did…why did you hit Jourgen?"
"My father died right before the tournament against North School…and Uncle Ryu was the one who hid it. He made some kind of clone that resembled my father, and….and…" Despite the rage on his face, tears started to slowly flow. "I kissed that thing…called it father…but my real father was dead! I didn't even know it too…."
Rikuo's eyes were distant now, and then he slowly walked towards the end of the pier, where a now soaking wet Jourgen stood.
"What in the nine hells was that all about?" The dragon demon muttered under his breath. "This suit is dry clean too…jeez…" Then he immediately became serious as he had to dodge a claw that was aimed right for his eyes. "What's your problem, Amero?"
Rikuo was sucking in air and looked like he was on the verge of losing his mind. "You…You…" He turned and glared at Adriel. "Duel Disk, now!"
"Why…" The half dragon demon realized that Rikuo wasn't playing, and immediately threw a duel disk over to the wolf demon.
Catching it, Rikuo slammed his deck into its slot and strapped it on. "Jourgen Politumas, I challenge you to a level eight darkness game!"
"Level eight?" Ryu's eyes widened and he took his cell phone/duel disk out of his pocket. Removing his deck from its water-proof case, he slammed it home as well. "Are you insane? Now is not the time…"
"SILENCE!" Rikuo's voice carried with it an authority that left even Ryu speechless. "You will duel me here and now. If I win, then you will tell me all about my other half…all of it. If you win, then you may choose an appropriate punishment." He snapped five cards off of his deck. "Now let's begin!"
Ryu frowned and drew his opening five. "Very well!"
They faced off, and then at the same time yelled, "Duel!"
Ryu- 4000
Rikuo- 4000
Ryu snapped the top card off of his deck, surprised that there was no globe of darkness for this duel. "Why didn't you trap me in the darkness?"
"Why? I want them to watch this…I want them all to see the full truth, whatever it may be." Rikuo pointed at Ryu. "Well?"
Ryu frowned and fanned out his hand. ("How did Ichigo find out?") "First I play Gaius the Earth Dragon (500/2200) and then I'll set two cards face-down on my field. The turn is yours." A giant boulder-like dragon appeared on his field, its body rolled up into a ball.
Rikuo took a deep breath and drew. "I won't hold back against you."
"I expect your machines and their full power soon, am I correct?" Ryu started to smile, as he had his System Down magic card in hand. With it, he could defeat all of Rikuo's monsters easily.
"No. Not this time…you don't get off that easily!" Rikuo threw a card down onto his disk. "Emerge from the abyss, Fenrir's Brood!" (1950/1700) A large horse-sized black wolf appeared on the field and howled. "From my deck, I can special summon two more!" Another two new wolves appeared on the field. (1950/1700x2) "Also, I set one card face-down on the field and end my turn."
Ryu felt a drop of sweat pour down his face at the sight of the three wolves. ("He isn't using machines? Indeed…this was unexpected.") Drawing, the dragon demon held up a magic card. "First I activate Card Destruction, so we both discard our hands and draw cards equal to the number we discarded." They both tossed their hand cards into the graveyard and drew new hands, which got rid of Ryu's System Down card.
Rikuo glanced at his hand and licked his lips.
Ryu knew what that meant. ("He either has drawn Fenrir or he has drawn a card capable of bringing the monster out.") Sliding two more cards into his deck, the dragon demon pointed at his field. "I set another two cards from my hand face-down on the field. Also, I'll lay down Shine the Light Dragon (0/0) in defense mode." A little golden dragon appeared on the field. "End turn."
Fenrir drew. "Now's it's the end for you, Jourgen! I sacrifice…"
"Hold it!" One of Ryu's face-down cards flipped up. "I activate my continuous trap card, which is called Dual Dragon Sanctuary. As long as this card remains in play and I have two or more dragon type monsters on my field, you cannot sacrifice any monster cards."
Rikuo frowned as he realized that Jourgen's deck was most likely set up to repel God Cards at the moment. "Fairly well played…except for one problem!" He held up a new card. "I wasn't intending to summon Fenrir. I was going to summon something much more dangerous. For now though, I'll just play the magic card Wolven Trio. This magic card activates only when there are three monsters in play that have wolf or Fenrir in their title. I may draw three cards, or force you to discard three cards. Obviously, I'll draw three cards." Sliding three more cards off of his deck, Rikuo's eyes started to glow red. "Now…it ends here…I'll not hold back at all."
"Neither will I! Activate trap card!" Another of Ryu's face-down cards flipped up. "Winds of the Dragon Lord. This card's special ability allows me to send the cards you have drawn to the graveyard…along with one magic or trap card on the field."
"That's…what?" Rikuo frowned. "How…"
"Winds of the Dragon Lord activates when my opponent adds cards to their hand. I force the drawn cards to their graveyard, and then I may also send one magic or trap card on the field to the graveyard." Ryu smirked quietly. ("I am not like anyone else, Rikuo. You know my power…you still try to fight me like a fool.")
Rikuo snarled and fanned out two more cards. "Then let me introduce you to my new monster and a little equipment magic card for it! Come out now…Templar of Fenrir!" (1800/1600) A black-armored man in priestly armor appeared on the field. "Also, I equip it with the magic card called Sword of Faith. This card can only activate when a monster with a God Card's name is in play. That monster gains 1000 attack points for every monster in play that has the name of the God Card in their title that is shared by the equipped monster. Essentially, that's 4000 attack points!" (5800/1600)
Ryu gritted his teeth, while he noticed that Ichigo was smiling coldly. ("You fool…why do you treat me like an enemy?")
Rikuo pointed at Gaius. "This is the end for you! Go Templar, attack that rock and blow it apart!"
"Reveal face-down card!" Another of Ryu's face-down cards flipped up. "Omega Flare! This card allows me to sacrifice a dragon type monster I have in play to destroy all monsters that you have in play at once! Now Shine, Omega Flare!" The tiny dragon unleashed a blast of energy so mighty that it obliterated everything on Rikuo's field.
Rikuo smiled slowly. "Yes…that is a powerful trap card. But you underestimate me for using it. Or don't you know its second effect?"
Ryu nodded. "Of course I know its second effect. At this point in time, you may now draw one card for every card you lost because of Omega Flare."
"That's right, and as you know, cards in my hand are a very bad thing for my opponent." Rikuo drew five cards, four for his monsters, and one for his sword. As he looked at the drawn cards, his eyes widened in amusement. "Isn't it funny…that this duel is your end already? Or have you forgotten that by using your trap card, you have reduced the number of dragons on your field to one. Therefore…I can sacrifice monsters!"
He held up a magic card. "Firstly, I'll activate my Offering from the Lands of the Dead. This card's special ability lets me remove all monsters from my graveyard from the game. In return, I may normal summon one additional monster during this turn for every removed monster." Six cards left his graveyard, and six glowing stones appeared over his head.
"Obviously I cannot use all of these summonses, but I intend to make them all count! First, another Templar!" Another of the black-armored warriors appeared in play. "Then a monster known as Fenrir's Speaker." (500/1500) A man in black priestly robes appeared on the field. "During my turn, this monster can once activate its effect. By discarding a card from my hand, I can draw a card and if it is a card with Fenrir in its title, I can draw an additional card." Holding up his Jinzo card, he sneered. "He'll be back, don't you agree?" Then the card disappeared and he drew once. "Heh, lucky you that all I drew was Coins from Heaven. Obviously activating that card would be stupid considering you have no cards in your hand. So instead, I'll discard it to my graveyard through the effect of Spell Reproduction!"
Ryu grimaced angrily at Rikuo's decision. ("He's playing smart…very strange compared to his normal, aggressive behavior.") He flexed his hand unconsciously, unsure whether or not to activate his last face-down card. ("If I activate it and Rikuo meets the requirements of the card, he will be allowed to draw as many cards as he wants. However, if he cannot meet the requirement then I can draw as many cards as I want.")
Rikuo slid two cards from his hand into the graveyard and held up a magic card with a picture on it of a cloaked being over a crystal ball. "Spell Reproduction allows me to send two magic cards from my hand to the graveyard to activate one magic card from my graveyard! My choice is the Remove Trap card that I lost at the start of the duel!" Dual Dragon Sanctuary exploded into dust. "Now you can't prevent me from summoning my ultimate destroyer."
"Maybe not…but I'll risk it all by activating my Gold Dragon Gambit trap card!" Ryu's face-down card flipped up and a giant golden dragon statue with an arm like a slot machine's appeared on the field. "This card will only work if I have no cards in my hand. During this time, you can discard a magic card from your hand to negate my trap card's effect and draw up to five cards. However, the card must have been in your hand at the time of the trap's activation, or else it won't work."
"How do you know that I'm not holding a magic card?" Rikuo sneered…
And Ryu snickered. "Do the words 'my ultimate destroyer' mean anything to you?"
Rikuo paled and frowned. ("That's right…this guy knew that one card in my hand was a monster, but he wasn't sure where it was. Now though, he knows that the remaining card I am holding must be a monster card, because of how he prevented me from sacrificing to summon it.")
Ryu pointed at the single card in Rikuo's hand. "Gold Dragon Gambit now lets me guess what kind of card you have in your hand. I guess monster card."
"Keh…yeah, you have it right." Rikuo growled under his breath at the fact that he was being made a fool of.
"Therefore, I may now draw as many cards as I wish!" Ryu slid eight cards off the top of his deck. ("I can't get too greedy, since each card will cost me 300 life points.")
Ryu- 1600
Rikuo- 4000
Rikuo pointed at his Fenrir's Speaker. "I sacrifice my monster to summon out Fenrir's Spawn-Claw!" A giant black wolf with a red tattoo of a claw on its forehead appeared in play. (2400/2000) "This monster is immune to the opponent's magic cards, so now the turn is yours." The glowing counters disappeared instantly, meaning Rikuo's other normal summons were gone.
"Do you feel like surrendering, Rikuo?" Ryu fanned out his hand and drew his ninth card. "By no means do you have to…but if you continue this duel you will be badly injured. For our cause against Midnight, I cannot allow that."
"Shut up and duel!" The wolf demon grimaced.
"As you wish!" Ryu pointed at his Gaius. "Now I'll trigger my Painful Summoning of Hell magic card. This card forces both players to select a monster they have in play and special summon as many of that monster as they can from their deck." Two more Gaius appeared in play, while another Templar appeared on Rikuo's field.
("Three Gaius…this…this isn't his normal deck at all…") Rikuo frowned deeply. "No fusions then?"
"Exactly right. I noticed that my ability to fuse ultimate servants of Bahamut might not work against a prepared opponent, hence I have changed my deck." Ryu held up a card. "Now then, I'll still be crushing your monsters though, Rikuo."
"Bring it on." Rikuo rubbed a finger under his nose confidently. "I'm the best duelist in the world, or have you forgotten?"
"Ten years has passed since then, and legends can lose their luster." The dragon demon slid three cards into his disk and then held up Emergency Provisions, all of the card vanishing instantly. "My golden scales shall always shine though."
Ryu- 4600
Rikuo- 4000
Ryu pointed at two of his Gaius. "Now I offer two of these armored beasts to summon out a monster that I have not spoken with in a long time. Emerge, Tyrant Dragon!" (2900/2300) A giant red-scaled dragon appeared on the field. "Tyrant Dragon…Tyrant Flame!" A blast of fire came from the dragon's jaws as it blew Claw apart.
Ryu- 4600
Rikuo- 3500
Rikuo braced himself as Tyrant Dragon's special ability let it attack once more, blowing one of his two Templar apart.
Ryu- 4600
Rikuo- 2400
Ryu slid two cards into his disk. "Now I'll set two cards face-down on the field and I will end my turn. Show me Rikuo…show me that this challenge wasn't just one huge mistake on your part!"
"Father, show this insolent dragon…show him your godly might!" Eri saw the look in her father's eyes…he wanted to bring out Fenrir so badly…
"He'll never win if this is his true power." Adriel chuckled. "Maybe my dad should go take out Midnight?"
Rikuo drew…and then his lips lifted up into a cold smile. "Jourgen, you've walked right into my trap!"
"What?" Ryu's eyes widened.
"During my standby phase, the special ability of one of the magic cards I discarded through the effect of Spell Reproduction activates! Go Psychic Puppetry!" The Templar of Fenrir exploded into dust. "By removing this card from the game, I can draw one card and special summon Jinzo from my graveyard!" The green armored humanoid appeared on the field and chuckled coldly. (2400/1500)
The dragon demon looked at his set cards helplessly. ("Damn…but I still have my much stronger…")
"Now I play Pot of Greed!" Rikuo drew two more cards and held one of them up. "Dimension Fusion lets me sacrifice 2000 life points so that both of us can special summon as many of our removed from play monsters as we can!" Three of the Fenrir's Brood and one of the Templars appeared on the field.
Ryu- 4600
Rikuo- 400
"And now I offer the three Fenrir Broods to summon their father! Emerge now, Fenrir-Destroyer of Gods!" Rikuo howled into the night sky as the giant black flaming wolf that he was host to appeared on the field. (4000/4000)
Adriel paled, while Eri's eyes lit up and she started to cheer.
Ryu stood strong in the face of the all-powerful Fenrir, knowing that his deck was built to oppose the God Cards of every type. ("Even the anti-God Card is not completely immune to my deck.")
Rikuo pointed at the Tyrant Dragon. "Go now, Black Inferno's Roar!" Fenrir sprayed the dragon with black flame, instantly consuming it.
Ryu- 3500
Rikuo- 400
Ryu braced himself and frowned as Jinzo unleashed a Cyber Energy Shock that blew Gaius apart as well.
"And now my final hit! Go Templar of Fenrir!" The black-armored warrior slashed its sword through Ryu's body. "Other than that and one hand card face-down, my turn is complete."
Ryu stood there, his eyes closed. Then he slowly opened then and looked at Rikuo with red fire in his eyes. "Dog, I end you here."
"Let's see you try!" Rikuo sneered. "Though my life points may be low, I have all the methods necessary to defeat you!"
Ryu's eyes shimmered bright silver, as did his hair. "No…you won't beat me! I won't let you force a secret between friends from my mouth!" He drew. "First I draw two cards with Pot of Greed, but that isn't anything compared to my next card! I activate my powerful Reflecting Magical Wings card!" A pair of giant rainbow dragon wings exploded from his back. "One magic card from either player's graveyard will now be activated! At the cost of 1000 life points, System Down removes Jinzo from the game!" The green-armored humanoid faded away.
Ryu- 800
Rikuo- 400
Rikuo grimaced, but didn't activate his face-down card yet. ("If I do, then I'll lose Fenrir but I'll gain enough life points to live through anything.")
Ryu slapped a card onto his disk. "Come, Grand Templar of the Shining!" (100/100) A small little dragon wearing glittering jewel armor appeared on the field.
"What's that little whelp going to do?" Rikuo started to smile…but his eyes widened as the dragon exploded into nothingness and the giant crystal gold form of the Grand Emperor Dragon appeared on the field. "What…it can be sacrificed to special summon any dragon from you hand?"
"That's right." Ryu held out his hand and the Grand Emperor Dragon roared. (2000/2500) "Now I end this with my face-down magic card, Solar Stream! This card can only be activated if Grand Emperor Dragon is in play and there are monsters in play stronger than it. When this card resolves, all monsters in play that are not dragons will be destroyed!" A blast of solar energy shot from the dragon's jaws as it blew both Fenrir and the Templar away.
"Reverse card open!" Rikuo's face-down card flipped up to reveal a picture of a pair of black wolf ears attached to a band. "Cute Earband's special ability triggers when a monster with Fenrir or Wolf in its title is destroyed! The destroying monster is annihilated from the game, and I gain 2000 life points!" The Grand Emperor Dragon vanished, while Rikuo's life points shot up. "It's too bad Jourgen, but you just couldn't get close enough to me, could you?"
Ryu- 800
Rikuo- 2400
"No…" Ryu's last face-down card flipped up. "My trap ends it here. Reveal Dragon King's Will!"
Rikuo's eyes widened as he read the card's effect. "Both players must have no cards in play or in their hand for this effect to work….your opponent loses the game." His eyes started to twitch. "Impossible…"
Ryu- Victory
Rikuo- Loss by Dragon King's Will
Ichigo just stood there as well, his eyes wide. "That…that can't be…"
The dragon demon stood there quietly, wind whipping through his hair. "For my punishment game…" He gritted his teeth and prayed that they would be able to forgive him. "Your memories of your desires for what you sought begone!"
Everyone collapsed to the ground, while Ryu just stood there and looked out at the ocean. ("Daniel…I did as you asked. They will not remember anything about what really happened to you….") His shoulders started to heave as the image of the anger in Ichigo's eyes came to him. ("WHY? Why did you ask this of me? I was and am now a father too…do you think I want to have to lie to your son? Do you think I don't know his pain?") Dropping to his knees, he started to cry. ("Friend…I cannot forgive you for placing this burden upon me. Forgiveness will never come. But I will continue to uphold your secret…with my honor as my witness.")
To be continued…
So, now we make our move against Midnight, right?
That's right, now we shall…Ichigo? Hey Ichigo? What are you staring at?
It's him…I can't believe it is really him…
It's really who?
The man I look up to…my greatest idol…
Ichigo has an idol?