Here's Chapter 11. Though I must remind you, I do not have a regular schedule when it comes to posting more chapters. Also, I've been rather busy preparing for a Graduation Party for someone close to my family. Things are slightly chaotic over here in real life. Anyway, let's get on with the story. Hopefully Lelouch is going to be okay.
Ch.11: Familiar Faces
You know, being in a world with nothing but darkness would normally terrify people. Lelouch however, found it to be rather nice, peaceful even. The teen recognized what had happened just seemingly a few minutes prior. It hasn't happened for a while now. Though it grates on the raven haired teen's nerves at the fact it happened at the Yusho Duel School. In front of Yuya and Reiji. The pain in Lelouch's eye was gone, which was one of the first things he had noticed. It started to worry the secret rebel. Did he just lose control of his geass? Was he just like Mao now? Unable to control his power and unable to look anyone in the eye regularly anymore? It worried Lelouch more, especially when he thought about Nunnally and those back at Ashford Academy. How would he ever be able to see them? He had to get up and see. Had to wake up and look in a mirror. He had to do damage control with everyone at the Yusho Duel School. He needed to check in with Yuto, Shun, and Ruri. So much to do with so little time.
The weird thing was that Lelouch knew he was unconscious, but for some reason he just couldn't wake up.
Lelouch struggled against the pitch darkness now. It was like he was stretching against rubber or some kind of foil. He would push forward, and the darkness would bend slightly, but it wouldn't go any farther. It made the teen think he was trapped in a bubble of some sorts.
"Lelouch."
That voice. Lelouch would recognize it from anywhere, that lack of emotion. He turned around in the darkness, only to see the glowing red mark of geass flickering faintly. He could catch a hint of lime green hair here and there, but it would only be in the corner of his eye.
"C.C." Lelouch breathed, before he called out louder. "Dammit C.C I just knew you were the one responsible for sending me to another DAMN DIMENSION!"
"Thats-" C.C's voice flickered and faltered, as if it was coming through a crappy radio transmission. Though Lelouch could still catch how much C.C didn't really care at his current predicament. "No- important. Your geass-"
Lelouch straightened when C.C spoke of his geass. "Yeah, I can tell what's happening. My geass is starting to run out of control. I'm starting to become like Mao!"
"LISTEN TO ME!" C.C finally yelled, irritation clear in her tone. Lelouch jumped slightly, he never heard C.C get like this. In all of the time he's known her, she only seemed to act indifferent, careless, like a shell. The raven haired teen straightened slightly, and violet eyes narrowed as he stayed silent. This allowed C.C to continue. "I don't have a lot of time to speak with you. I just barely managed this, and I can't hold it for long. Yes, I sent you to another dimension, and for once I'm sorry." Lelouch was surprised the immortal witch even bothered to apologize. "I had no choice, another immortal like me, V-" C.C's voice fizzled slightly, like static. "-he would've killed you. So I had no choice but to send you away, somewhere else. Have you managed to find a way back?"
"No." Lelouch responded instantly, the green haired witch was being serious, so there was no room to joke around. "I'm in a world where guns don't exist and people becoming cards is the equivalent to being shot. I haven't managed to find any way back, but I think I have a lead. This place called Academia." The Fusion Dimension, Academia. They managed to make technology that could teleport people into different dimensions, like Synchro, Xyz, and Standard. Perhaps he could use that technology to get back home as well.
C.C swore. "The Black Knights are trying their best to get you back as well." Lelouch jerked back.
"You told them!" Lelouch barked, anger clear in his voice.
"I had no choice, the Black Knights were in chaos, spiralling out of control. Your identity is still safe, but I had to tell them about geass. Or at least, that I was immortal and that I was connected to you in a way, so that I knew you were alive." Lelouch sighed, Nunnally was still safe. "I've taken command, but it's harder to move around. Cornelia is doubling down on us since she's realized you've disappeared. She most likely thinks you're dead."
"And Kallen?" Lelouch's thoughts strayed back to how she had protected his body with her own. "What about her? Is she alright, or did you send her to this world as well? And what about Suzaku at that?"
C.C clicked her tongue. "You seem to care about your comrades more than the last time I've met you."
Lelouch chuckled slightly. "Well, being thrown into a new and strange world can change people C.C."
The immortal sighed. "Fine. Kallen is just fine, though she's freaking out about you." Even Lelouch could feel the smirk she had on her face. "Your Q-1 seems to care about you a great deal."
"Suzaku? And Nunnally?" Lelouch ignored C.C's jab. She tended to do that a lot.
"Suzaku is fine, he's still Euphemia's knight and the pilot of the Lancelot." C.C paused. "Though Nunnally is in a wreck without you." Lelouch tensed, his big brother instincts kicking into overdrive. He had to get home, NOW. "Don't worry. Suzaku, Milly, Shirley, Rival and even Kallen are looking out for her until you get back. I've been keeping an eye on her to." Lelouch relaxed slightly, but he still needed to get home.
"What's about the other Black Knights? Like Ohgi and Todoh-" The world seemed to spaz out, multiple colors flashing by as if it was a TV. Both Lelouch and C.C's voices went in higher and lower pitches, and almost seemed robotic. The red mark of geass was fading, and Lelouch could hear other people mumbling, but it was almost like he was underwater.
"Shit-" C.C's voice faded out, but quickly came back. "There's no more time. Your geass is getting stronger, I felt the spike of pain as well. It's not quite-" C.C's voice became unrecognizable momentarily. "-but it will be soon. Just don't- - and remember we have a contract. So you better- -alive!"
"Wait!" Lelouch tried to reach out, but the mark of geass was gone, along with C.C's voice. "Your voice fizzled out before I could hear what you just said! What about my geass?!"
There was no reply.
"C.C?" Lelouch called out. The darkness was going away, a bright white light taking over. There was still no reply. "C.C?! C.C!"
. . .
The mumbling became clearer, more precise. Though it was still spoken in a worried hush. Lelouch's face twisted into discomfort momentarily, his eyelids twitching, before they slowly opened. Violet eyes were glassy, unfocused as they tried to adjust to the light shining down from the ceiling. The raven haired teen shuffled from where he was lying, and gave a small, slightly pained groan.
The voices stopped speaking, and suddenly red and green covered Lelouch's vision.
"Lelouch! You're awake!" A young male's voice called out. The sudden proximity of someone elses face next to his freaked Lelouch out, and he carelessly pushed the person away. Quickly, Lelouch sat up from the couch he was laying on and rubbed his bleary violet eyes. The feminine figured teen grumbling, before he opened his eyes again and could finally see everyone.
Yuya had regained his balance, and was right back where he was beside his new friend. The tomato haired teen was the one responsible for taking up most of Lelouch's vision, and personal space momentarily, but he seemed to back off after Lelouch had pushed him aside. He was on Lelouch's left, with Gongenzaka right beside him. Yuzu was on Lelouch's right, Sora beside her, with Tate, Frederick, and finally Allie finishing the small circle.
"What the he-" Lelouch paused, not really wanting to get yelled at for cursing in front of the smaller kids. "What the heck happened?"
Everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief at Lelouch's words. Yuzu looked at Lelouch with concern in her periwinkle eyes. "You mean you don't know? Or at least, you don't remember?"
Lelouch furrowed his eyebrows in thought. "I remember Yuya was dueling Reiji." Yuya sucked in a breath between his teeth at the reminder of his ass getting whooped by his newfound rival. "Reiji managed to perform a Fusion, Synchro, and Xyz Summon… and that's it." Lelouch didn't mention C.C's voice or the conversation he had with her. They would just think he was crazy.
"Lelouch." Violet eyes met scarlet red ones as Yuya spoke. "You had a panic attack."
The raven haired teen cringed slightly at that. He knew it had happened, but he didn't necessarily want to believe it. Lelouch thought he had gotten over those, but it seems he was wrong. It had been years since he had last had one, his emotions being nipped at the bud when he was ten. Though, who the hell wouldn't have problems after seeing their mother murdered, get thrown into an unknown land like trash, be used as pawns and hostages, walk through a literal sea of dead and decaying corpses, and see the horrors of war at the precious age of ten?! The only reason he didn't panic as much as he should have was because he had to take care of Nunnally. She was his only reason for living practically, she was what grounded Lelouch.
"I see." Lelouch drawled the words out. Not only was his geass screwing with him, but he had a panic attack as well. Perhaps it was Reiji's words that triggered it, they were so similar to C.C's when he had first gained his geass. Violet eyes blinked as he finally noticed something, he could only see out of one eye. The other was working just fine, but it was blocked by something.
Lelouch reached up to see what was blocking his vision, before Yuya stopped him. He grabbed Lelouch's hand and gently put it back in his lap. "No, don't do that."
Lelouch almost glared at Yuya with his one eye. "And why not? Why is there something blocking my eye?" The truth was that Lelouch was fearful that they saw his geass. That he really did end up like Mao.
"Well-" Yuya was stopped by Yuzu.
"Why don't we just start from the beginning?" She suggested, and Yuya nodded in agreement.
"Okay." He conceded. "You explain first."
"Alright." Yuzu settled down on the chair next to Lelouch's right while the others listened intently. "So we were watching Reiji and Yuya dueling. Reiji just managed to do all three summoning methods when you started your panic attack." Periwinkle met violet. "It didn't seem that bad at first. You were just really tense and we didn't even know it was an attack until later, but then you suddenly just collapsed onto the ground." Yuzu turned her head towards Gongenzaka. "Gongenzaka tried to wake you up, but you wouldn't respond. Eventually your troubled breathing caused you to pass out." She gestured to Lelouch's blocked eye. "You hit your head on the window as you went down, and your eye started to turn red so we put a bandage on it. We couldn't get you to a doctor, so you should really go see one once you leave. It looked bad, like your entire eye was pink and red." In reality, Yuzu must have saw his geass, but mistaken it for an injury. Lelouch could at least sigh in relief at THAT crisis averted.
"We got so worried!" Allie cried out, deciding to finish Yuzu's story. "You were asleep for so long!"
"Thankfully." Gongenzaka decided to interject. "Something came up at L.D.S. Yuya was so worried about you that he couldn't really focus on the duel. With the sudden emergency, Reiji left alongside the rest of L.D.S, giving Yuya the win. They won't be bothering this school, or Yuya anymore."
Lelouch blinked. L.D.S left? Since when?! "Wait. How long have I been unconscious?!" Everyone else winced at Lelouch's question. Which did not bode well for the Knightmare Frame user.
"You've been out for about five hours, going onto six." Sora spoke bluntly, and unwrapped a new sucker before putting it in his mouth.
"... What." Lelouch spoke calmly, when he was really panicking in his mind. Six hours! Its past sunset by now! Hell, it's near midnight! How am I going to explain this to the others? They have to be freaking out. Lelouch realized that he WOULDN'T be able to explain his way out of this. Unless he decided to tell them about his geass, which wasn't an option. I need to get back to the room.
"I need to go." Lelouch threw his legs to the side of the couch and stood up in a rush. The others got up and followed him.
"Wait, you're leaving? Now?!" Yuya spoke frantically. "You just woke up!"
"I need to get back to my room." Lelouch quickly made his way towards the front doors of the school. Lelouch having memorized his way in and out. "I wasn't supposed to stay here so late into the night. I didn't plan on it, this was only supposed to be a visit. I had other things I needed to get done today."
"Well, can I at least walk you back?" Lelouch spun around to look back at Yuya. "Okay, that sounded a bit weird, but still!" The tomato haired teen admitted, but still persisted. "It's not exactly safe at this time of night, so it would be better to travel in a group."
"I, the man Gongenzaka wouldn't mind walking his newest friend back to his hotel room." The giant teen agreed easily.
"I don't mind either." Yuzu also agreed, Lelouch being outvoted. "Also, you're hurt. So it'd be best to have someone accompany you incase you collapse again."
Lelouch grimaced slightly, not liking the idea of leading them to his base. Where he, along with three other Dimension travelling rebels temporarily live. Though, from the looks on their faces, it seemed like he had no choice.
Lelouch showed his charming smile, which made the others relax slightly. "Sure. I don't see why not, I appreciate your efforts." He would just have them depart when they arrived at the front of the hotel.
Sora put his hands behind his head casually. "Well in that case. I suppose I should take Allie, Tate, and Frederick home." Emerald eyes looked down at the three kids. "They're exhausted from today's events, and their parents must be upset at them staying for so long."
Yuya nodded to Sora. "Thanks Sora, I really appreciate it."
Sora just waved Yuya off. "Ehh, it's fine. Besides, this is my way of repaying you for not dueling." Lelouch just figured Sora had to do something Academia related. Though, from the looks of it even the candy addict wouldn't leave three kids alone on the street at night. It just didn't seem like him, and it would also break his character. If he was really playing one. From what Lelouch could tell, he varied from being genuine to just putting on a facade. Though it seemed to become more genuine as time passed.
"Well, I suppose we should be on our way." Lelouch subtly pushed them to depart, and with a few goodbyes they were off towards the hotel.
It was quiet for the most part. A few questions here and there, one involving why he even had a panic attack in the first place. Lelouch explained that he didn't have the best father, and that his mother had been murdered a long time ago. That was enough to get them to stop asking questions about his past, and a half truth was the best kind of lie. Lelouch had certainly become screwed up because of what had happened to his mother and because of his damned 'father'. But he never told them about his geass being the main reason why he fell unconscious and had an attack in the first place.
When Lelouch heard that Reiji had Pendulum Summoned, he was quite surprised. He looked over at Yuya with disbelief. "You're serious, he actually had his own Pendulum cards and did his own Pendulum Summon?" Yuya nodded, and Lelouch frowned slightly. "He shouldn't be allowed to do that. Pendulum Summoning was your creation, it's your work. He can't just copy and steal the idea. Thats copyright infringement."
Yuya blinked. "What?"
Lelouch rubbed his eyes. Well, eye since he would get glares for messing with his other one. "I'm saying you could sue Reiji and the LEO Corporation for copying your idea without your permission."
"Oh." Yuya frowned, disliking the idea. "Well, it doesn't really seem to be worth the effort. Besides, after dueling the Principal, I think everyone should get the ability to Pendulum Summon. Not just me, it would be unfair, especially with the tournament coming up."
"If you say so." Lelouch pursed his lips slightly. "Though, at least talk to Reiji about it before he does anything else with those cards." Now the raven haired teen moved on to another subject. This one having caught his interest as he raised an eyebrow. "Now what's this tournament I'm hearing about?"
Yuya, Yuzu, and Gongenzaka looked at Lelouch as if he had just eaten dirt or some other weird food. "You haven't heard about the Miami Championship?"
"Apparently not." Lelouch leaned back slightly. "Care to explain?"
"The Miami Championship is where all duelists from around the world come together to battle in a giant tournament." Now Lelouch was really interested as Yuzu explained. "This is also where duelists can battle to be classified as Professional Duelists."
"Which is what I'm aspiring to be " Yuya put in.
"So are you guys going to be entering this tournament?" Lelouch asked.
"Of course!" They all yelled at the raven haired teen at once.
"Sheesh!" Lelouch covered his ears, which were ringing slightly. "No need to make me go deaf."
"Sorry." Yuya apologized for the rest. "It's just that the tournament is coming up real soon, around a week. I still need to get four wins before I can compete, but I'm willing to try." Yuya pumped his fist and gave Lelouch a look that was full of determination. "I have to get stronger, so that I can really beat Reiji the next time we face off in a duel!"
Lelouch nodded. "I have to agree." One violet eye looked over at his tomato haired friend as they walked. "Because from what I've gathered, you won because of a technicality. Which to me, isn't really a win. You still would have lost if Reiji hadn't forfeited the match."
Yuya nearly tripped over his own two feet before looking up at Lelouch with a pout. "No need to be so harsh."
"I'm being honest." The raven haired teen corrected. "Hopefully this tournament will improve your dueling. It would be better to have strategizes that don't revolve around Pendulum Summoning. You can become predictable that way."
"Are you going to enter the tournament Lelouch?" Gongenzaka questioned.
"No." Yes. Lelouch lied. The others seemed to look down at his answer. "I'll still be sure to support you guys. That's no question, I'll probably just be in another part of the stands." They nodded at Lelouch, taking his words to heart. While they made the journey back to Lelouch's hotel, the teen himself was in deep thought.
A world wide tournament huh? Hmm… Lelouch pondered. And L.D.S is going to host it, Reiji Akaba is going to host it. Lelouch gave a small, unnoticeable smirk. Why, I do believe someone is looking for recruits to their own army of duelists. Was it convenient that this tournament was happening right as Lelouch and the other resistance fighters had arrived? Hell yes. Reiji must have spotted a large amount of energy when we teleported here. Just like how Academia went looking for me when I first arrived to the Xyz Dimension… Perhaps this is the invitation we've been looking for.
Lelouch most certainly won't be competing in the tournament. However, that didn't stop Zero from making a grand entrance.
. . .
"Thanks for walking me here. Again, I really appreciate it." Lelouch gave off his charming smile once again.
Yuya rubbed the back of his head and gave a small laugh. "It was nothing really." Scarlet eyes looked up the enormous skyscraper that was Lelouch's hotel he was staying at temporarily. It didn't go as high as the L.D.S tower however. "Though, I didn't expect that you would be staying in such a hotel as this. This is one of the most expensive ones!"
Lelouch laughed, though it wasn't completely genuine. The teen was just humored at Yuya's reaction. He didn't exactly buy his way into having a room here, more work from his geass. "It's why I'm so busy all of the time. My father has his own mountain of work he buries himself in." That wasn't true, the old bastard he called a father hardly did anything, and left most of his duties as Emperor to his older brother Schniezel. But that was in an entirely different world, wasn't it? "I don't know when I'll next see you guys, but hopefully I'll be able to see a couple of your matches Yuya."
"Yeah, that'd be great." Yuya gave a more regular smile, and dropped his hand. "I'll text you the time and place."
"Alright then." Lelouch nodded. "Just be sure to answer when I do call next time. I don't want to walk in with you in the middle of another duel with L.D.S." Yuya had the nerve to blush a bit in embarrassment at that. Lelouch turned around, planning to go inside. "I'll be seeing you guys later I suppose. Have a safe journey on the way back."
"See ya!" Yuya, Yuzu, and Gongenzaka all waved, and Lelouch made sure to wave back. When the automatic doors closed, and the other three finally left to get back home, Lelouch finally relaxed. His secrets were safe, but he still grit his teeth and frowned at the bandage over his eye. Lelouch rubbed against the gauze irritably, before walking towards the elevator. He'd take it off when he got into his room, or the bathroom.
Though, his geass was starting to pinch the back of his mind again. It was making the raven haired teen even more agitated. He entered the elevator alongside a man with short, light brown hair and blue eyes.
The man pressed a button alongside Lelouch, but when he saw Lelouch's face he grew concerned and furrowed his eyebrows. "Are you alright?"
One violet eye looked over at the man, before a charming smile graced his face. Having been well practiced in the art of switching personalities and masking emotions since birth. The curse of being nobility, even if you're exiled. "I'm fine sir. I just got a bad case of pink eye, and the doctors had this bandage wrapped around my head."
The man took a small, barely noticeable to all but Lelouch, step away. The stranger not desiring to get infected at all. "Alright, if you say so." He muttered.
"Actually." Lelouch spoke up, regaining his attention. Carefully, the teen moved his bandage out of the way of his eye, and his geass met the blue eyes of the stranger. "I want you to forget having ever met me."
The geass took effect instantly, and the man slumped slightly. "Sure, no problem."
Quickly, before the elevator ride ended, Lelouch refixed his bandage. When the door dinged he casually walked out. His geass having been satisfied with its latest victim, and went into a dormant slumber. When he reached his door, Lelouch let out a big sigh, before he opened it as quietly as possible. Groping for his mask incase the others were waiting on the other side, Lelouch was finally able to find it on the coat rack where he left it.
Sliding his hand across the sleek purple glass and black plastic that looked and almost felt like metal, Lelouch put the mask on. With a loud hiss, Zero was finally able to truly breathe a sigh of relief. That sound always seemed to soothe his nerves somehow. The masked teen opened the door all the way, and made sure to quietly close it as well.
When he turned around, two people were standing there, arms crossed, and obviously not happy. It made Zero think of two parents scolding a teenager for staying out too late. Though this wasn't going to end as well as that scenario. Especially since he was facing Shun and Yuto.
It was silent as the three faced each other.
"Where the hell have you been." Shun decided to break the icy silence first with an icy remark. Zero admittedly shrunk back a little at the yellow eyes glaring holes into his mask, though both didn't notice.
"At the Yusho Duel School, checking on Yuya Sakaki and Yuzu Hiragi as I said I was going to do." Zero answered somewhat honestly. The other two seemed to know that something had happened, and seeing that Zero wasn't going to say what made them both frown a little more.
"What happened?" Yuto sighed, before he uncrossed his arms. Unlike Shun and Zero, the Phantom Knights user did notice Zero shrink back slightly.
"Nothing much." Zero shrugged, before going over to the leather couch casually. He sunk into the cushions, and tipped his masked head back. Both Shun and Yuto knew it was an obvious lie, and Zero seemed to realize it to. Yellow eyes looked over at grey, both had at least a small hint of amusement in this.
"Bullshit." Shun called Zero out on his lie, before he joined the masked man on the couch. Yuto himself went into the kitchen to get all of them a drink of coffee. "Knowing your luck something happened over there, so care to share with the rest of the class? Or do I need to poke fun at you again like last time?"
Zero groaned. "Anything but that. Damn, you have no idea how much I hate it when you do that." His faceless mask looked up at Yuto as he came back with three mugs full of steaming coffee. Zero eagerly leaned forward and took ahold of a black mug. "Thank God coffee exists, this stuff is literally what keeps me going sometimes."
Yuto snorted at Zero's words, before he handed Shun a navy blue mug, leaving himself with a dark green one. All three mostly focused on their drinks for a minute, before Yuto spoke this time. "So, are you going to tell us why your…" He looked up at the clock on the wall. "Four hours past the time you said we'd meet back here?"
"Fine, but only because you two won't let me go, and that Ruri will be on my ass even more than you two about this… Where is she anyway?" Zero asked, frowning at the fact he couldn't even drink his coffee. Now Zero's faceless mask met Yuto's eyes. "You gave me this coffee on purpose, because you KNEW I couldn't drink it." Even with the modulator, Zero still managed to hiss.
Yuto shrugged, making his amusement and zero guilt obvious as he spoke innocently. "I'm sure you can take your mask off and take a sip." To add salt to the wound, the Phantom Knights duelist took a nice, long sip of his own coffee.
"That's just cruel." Zero slumped, before setting his mug down onto the small, black table beside the couch. He looked over at Shun. "Remind me to never make Yuto angry, or want revenge at least. He knows how to make one feel regret."
"Trust me." Shun spoke sarcastically, while narrowing his yellow eyes at Yuto. Who was still drinking his coffee. "I know. I've been his friend for years."
"You have?" Yuto met Shun's look with mock surprise, before they both gave a soft chuckle and looked back at Zero. "Ruri's asleep at the moment, rest assured she's still slightly mad at you. Now are you going to tell us what happened, or am I going to have to wake Ruri up and sick her on you?" Yuto subtly threatened. Zero cringed, and even Shun shrunk back slightly. Zero remembered the last time he had really upset Milly… it wasn't pretty.
"He really is evil." Zero muttered, before leaning back against the couch again. "Anyway, I'll tell you nosey people exactly what I did today." Zero spoke about the problem with L.D.S, which Shun and Yuto didn't expect. The masked man went from the battles, to Reiji and Yuya's duel, which he was able to tell thanks to what he had learned when he woke up. He didn't mention the attack he had, which was the real reason he was so late getting back, but Shun and Yuto had a hunch that he was hiding something.
He did mention about the tournament though.
"You're kidding me." Shun deadpanned. When Zero didn't say anything else the Raidraptor user sighed. "You're serious, okay then."
"Reiji's holding this entire tournament to find potential duelist that would do well in his own army." Zero explained. "This little 'invitation' is just what we needed to show our skill. To show that we're not one to be trampled over, but to be taken seriously and with respect."
"I just spent the entire day carding L.D.S people, and now you want to do this?" Shun raised an eyebrow. "You just like to do complete 180s you know? You have been rather moody these past couple of days. Are you sure you're not-"
"Don't go there Shun, I'm warning- No, threatening you that you'll regret it. Badly." Zero's voice lowered, which seemed more dangerous than when he would be screaming or yelling.
"Fine." Shun crossed his arms. "But what are we going to do until then? How are we going to even enter this tournament?"
"Leave that to me." Zero put a had on his chest, before he dropped it. "I'll have to get in contact with my friend, but he can pull some strings and have us entered into the system. Whether Reiji likes it or not. He won't notice it until it's too late." The room dropped a few degrees at those words, but the warm atmosphere quickly returned.
"Okay, so we're going into a tournament." Shun just decided to go with it. At this rate, he didn't even know what Zero was going to have them do next. The dude was somewhat eccentric and unpredictable as hell. "Whose being entered."
"Not Ruri." Zero instantly spoke, his voice saying there was no room for argument. "She'll understand this time. If she dueled in this tournament, which is going to be broadcasted worldwide, Academia will most certainly be invading in mere days. They already know that I'm here, which they'll at least send the Obelisk Force to either card me, capture and torture me for information, or just kill me." The room was getting chilly again, but mentioning murder tend to cause that. Zero tilted his head towards Yuto. "I'm afraid Yuto won't be able to compete either. Yuya Sakaki, his Standard counterpart, will already be participating in this tournament. Having two people with the same face will cause enough questions and complications within the Standard Dimension. That also leaves out the fact that Academia is also looking for you as well."
Yuto shifted a little at the thought of the Professor wanting him captured, alive. Shun himself seemed very uncomfortable and unsettled at the thought as well.
"Bastard isn't going to get his hands on either of them." Shun stated, almost like it was a fact. "That I can guarantee, because I'll kick his ass and card him before he even gets the chance."
"Better to be safe than to be sorry." Zero persisted, but no one argued against Yuto not going into the tournament. "Yuto, you and Ruri can keep an eye on each other. Watch each others backs and just continue what you've been doing. You two work well enough together, and I'm sure you can wipe Obelisk Force out easily if you do somehow run into them. Just be wary of your counterpart Yuri." Yuto's scowl deepened at the mention of his Fusion counterpart. "He's strong, and he's already beaten Ruri. Do NOT underestimate him, because I'm sure he'll be coming over here eventually as well. Let us know if you two run into him, and we'll abandon the tournament if it means getting to you in time. We'll take him down together, all four of us."
"Alright." Yuto agreed easily enough. He didn't feel comfortable dueling in a tournament yet anyway. It had been so long since he had last entered one. He was so busy trying to survive, so his dueling may be a bit violent, rough at the least. "Let's get back on track though."
"Right." Zero looked over at Shun. "So that leaves you and me. We'll be entering the tournament, and we'll also be looking for any Fusion spies or infiltrators." Shun nodded. With that, Zero stood up and stretched. "Good. We can talk the rest over with Ruri in the morning… By the way, who did you card today?" Zero's faceless mask met Shun's yellow eyes. "Whoever you carded must have been important, because it even made Reiji forfeit a duel."
"I think it was a professor." Shun shrugged. "All I really know is that his name was Marco, he was a Fusion professor, and that he worked at L.D.S."
"Hmm, alright." Honestly, Zero didn't really care either. He was just curious. "Good work today Shun, I'll be joining you on carding L.D.S tomorrow." The masked man grabbed his slightly cooled mug of coffee, and began to head to his room. "I'm going to at least try and get some more shut eye. So with that, I bid you all adieu, and goodnight."
Before Yuto and Shun had a chance to say anything else, Zero was already in his room with the door locked. He didn't want them to see his face, nor did he want to suddenly get splashed with cold water if Ruri was still upset in the morning. He set the coffee mug down, and went over to the full body mirror beside the large window that nearly covered one side of his room. Zero took off his mask, and temporarily became Lelouch once again.
Lelouch carefully unwrapped the bandage from around his head, before he covered his eye with his own hand. The raven haired teen threw the gauze in the trash, knowing it was useless.
This was the moment to find out if his geass had run away. If he had become like Mao.
Lelouch took a deep breath, and removed the hand. Only to find he had closed his eye. "Dammit." Lelouch swore. "I shouldn't be so terrified about this, if it did lose control I'll just wear sunglasses like Mao's." The raven haired teen hated even doing anything related to what Mao did, but he would have no choice unless he kept his Zero mask on.
One more deep breath, and Lelouch opened his eye.
.
.
.
It was there, the red mark of geass that stained his eye.
Lelouch sucked in a breath, his legs buckled slightly. He didn't actually get the realization that his geass was permanently activated until he actually saw it. Lelouch rubbed his eye and blinked a couple more times to make sure it was there, permanently.
When he reopened his eye, a normal violet orb stared back. Lelouch couldn't hold the huge sigh of pure relief. He almost slumped onto the carpet floor he was so relieved. Thankfully, he didn't, and instead just went over to his bed. Lelouch put his Zero mask on the nightstand beside his bed, before tucking himself in. Both violet eyes stared up at the ceiling, just staring for a few minutes. I'll have to use my geass more carefully from now on. I'll use it to get Shun and I into the tournament, but then that's it. Unless something else occurs that requires it, or some emergency arises. I won't use it anymore. Now that Lelouch knew the true threat of his geass running out of control. He had to tighten down on that loose end, and fast. Perhaps doing some breathing exercises I had learned for my panic attacks will help slow down the geass' progress.
Lelouch remembered when Nunnally had her own mini panic attack, which had caused him to have one as well. The younger exiled prince fearing that his little sister was dying instead of having an attack. He was a genius, but his emotions had blinded him in that moment. Once all of that hell was over with. Sayako, his maid, decided to teach them both some breathing techniques to help deal with and get through the nightmare. Needless to say, they helped IMMENSELY. Though, Lelouch always had a feeling that there was more to Sayako than her just being a maid that once belonged to Milly.
Lelouch thought back to what C.C was trying to say. There was another immortal just like her in his world, existing and giving out geass to other people. From what he had gathered, this V person tried to kill him when C.C was transporting him to another location. Which caused C.C to send him to the Xyz Dimension. Lelouch didn't doubt that this immortal worked from within Britannia, with the Emperor. Charles wouldn't let something like that slip his notice. So the real question was did he have a geass of his own, or not? How far up in the chain of command was this new found immortal?
Lelouch frowned, he didn't like being left with so many questions, nor did he like being left in the dark. Then his mind went over to the Black Knights. Never in his life did Lelouch think he would actually miss his original inner circle, or that he would miss his friends back at Ashford. Though, he was a bit hesitant about the Black Knights now, they knew that C.C was immortal. Sure, C.C was in command at the moment, and proved to the others that he was alive because of their strange contract, but when would they turn on them? People were greedy, and would do anything for power, even Lelouch wasn't exempt from this. It was only a matter of time before someone sold them out for the ultimate power, immorality. The ability to continue living, even when you suffered a bullet through the head or a slit throat. That didn't even get started on the Black Knights knowing about geass, if they did then hell was going to break loose when he got back.
Though, they would have most likely thrown C.C out of the Black Knights if they knew about geass. They wouldn't bother searching for Zero, but yet C.C is in charge while he was missing and they were actually trying to find him. Either they were too desperate for his leadership to care, they wanted to make sure he was dead and kill him themselves, or they really didn't know about geass. Lelouch actually prayed that it was option number three. That would cause a lot of stress to leave his shoulders.
The Black Knights were actually looking for him. It actually made Lelouch smirk a little at the thought. They were so desperate for his leadership, but that was how he made the Black Knights. They wouldn't be able to function as well without Zero, they wouldn't shine as brightly as they could without their masked leader. While he needed them to achieve his own goals. Without Zero, the Black Knights would fall apart. Though they didn't have to believe C.C, most likely she shot herself and came back from the dead in front of their eyes. That actually made Lelouch laugh a little. He could imagine her careless, if slightly miffed, golden eyes staring at them as she commented about the new stains on her dress. He could also imagine how the inner circle would drop their jaws open in pure shock. Tamaki would most likely widen his eyes so much they'd almost popped out of his skull, and then go into a cursing rank of some sort, or pass out. Lelouch honestly wasn't sure which. Even Todoh would be rocked by the sight, and proof that immortality existed. Now THAT was what Lelouch wanted to see, and record if he could. Still, they didn't have to try and find him, but they were.
That made Lelouch smile a little, did they actually care about him? Most likely no, they cared about his results and the god-like aura he surrounded himself in. The only ones who would really care would be Kallen, Tamaki because he's actually the most loyal out of them besides Q-1, and maybe even Ohgi and C.C.
With those thoughts in mind, Lelouch managed to get a few hours of true rest. Though he would certainly get a surprise on the next day.
. . .
L.D.S SECURITY LP- 1300 = 0 LOSER
L.D.S SECURITY LP- 1800 = 0 LOSER
ZERO LP- 3800 WINNER
I can't believe them. Zero grumbled to himself grumpily as he turned the two L.D.S officers into cards. Zero had to move out of the way of some falling rubble from one of the big scratches etched into the top of a building. The infrastructure up there having been compromised from the recent duel. The masked crusader quickly left the scene, leaving both cards behind in the alleyway he had fought them in. Shun was right behind him, both climbing onto the rooftops and escaping that way without the cameras catching them.
Grounded. He was being GROUNDED. Zero, the masked leader that led the resistance to two victories against Academia. Who was their LEADER, was being grounded! It was such a childish notion that it made Zero even more upset then he had been originally.
When he had woken up the next morning, Zero put on his usual suit, cape, and mask before leaving his room. The first thing that happened was Ruri chewing him out during breakfast, but it got worse when he and Shun were about to leave to go and card more L.D.S people. Yuto started yelling at Zero, the Phantom Knights duelist walking over to the masked man with a familiar thrown away bandage. Yuto asked why he was injured, which Zero had cooly denied he was even hurt. Then Yuto got Shun to join in, both boys having realized Zero's actual face must have been injured. Seeing as both didn't see any bandages on Zero's body or person, so it had to be under his mask. Then RURI came back and chewed on him AGAIN. Zero honestly swore that he wasn't injured, because he really wasn't! But no one believed him.
'Right. Just like how you didn't get 3rd degree burns from being electrocuted.' That little piece of sarcastic work was the birth child of one Shun Kurosaki. Therefore, all three decided that one of them would always have an eye on Zero until the tournament started. Yuto would switch with Shun when they arrived at the harbor. At the warehouse where they had last met and where Yuto fought Sawatari. Which just grated on his nerves. He couldn't become Lelouch because someone was ALWAYS WATCHING HIM!
Zero did try and lose Shun, multiple times in fact. But the Raidraptor user always seemed to find him somehow. Then again, Zero's costume did stick out, badly. One time, Shun even came in on one of his freaking Raidraptors. The taller teen had a barely visible smirk as Zero just stared up at him, honestly gobsmacked. That was when Zero just gave up and decided to go with the motion, because he wasn't really going to get away. They all lived together after all, they would get him eventually.
At least he's letting me do my own duels. Zero mostly pondered to himself as the two stumbled across a couple more L.D.S security guards. Four to be exact.
Zero looked over at Shun. "Two per piece?"
"Nah." Shun denied. "I'll just take on all of their asses. They're much weaker than compared to Academia." That was actually true, they certainly weren't as much of a hassle. Even if they new multiple summoning methods.
"Okay then, two a piece it is." Zero remarked, before jumping into the fray. The L.D.S guards were instantly on guard. Duel disks out and at the ready, Zero and Shun's duel disks soon joined them. They stood back to back. "Just be sure not to whoop their asses too hard, we don't want anybody hurt too badly. We just want them carded."
"Yeah yeah yeah. Lighten up you negative nancy." Shun rolled his yellow eyes. "You're just upset that I can't be shaken off of your tail." Zero didn't bother to respond. "Knew it."
Now Zero growled. "Just focus on your own damn duel before I decide to turn on you." It wasn't a real threat. He was just annoyed that Shun knew he was right.
"DUEL!"
ZERO LP- 4000
FIRST L.D.S SECURITY LP- 4000
SECOND L.D.S SECURITY LP- 4000
SHUN LP- 4000
THIRD L.D.S SECURITY LP- 4000
FOURTH L.D.S SECURITY LP- 4000
"I'll go first." Zero stated, before he calmly drew a card. "I draw. I summon a Black Knight Glasgow in Defence Mode."
GLASGOW LV.4 ATK:1200 DEF:900
"When I successfully summon one Black Knight Glasgow, I can use its effect to summon another from my hand or deck. This Glasgow will also be in Defence Mode." Zero grabbed the card from his deck and calmly summoned his next monster.
GLASGOW LV.4 ATK:1200 DEF:900
"I set two cards down and end my turn."
"I draw." The first guard didn't bother to do small talk. All four knew that these people were the ones responsible for L.D.S' recent disappearances. They also knew they were dangerous. "I summon Aromage Cananga to the field!" A blonde girl with red eyes appeared. She had a brown robe on along with a green scarf. There were a lot of candles surrounding the monster.
AROMAGE CANANGA LV.3 ATK:1400 DEF:1000
"Battle!" The first guard pointed at one of Zero's Glasgows. "I attack your Black Knight Glasgow with my Aromage Cananga! Aroma Overload!" The girl held her hand out, and a blast of pure scents sped to Zero's monster at high speeds. The Glasgow was destroyed, but since it was in Defence Mode Zero didn't take any damage. "I set one card and end my turn."
The second guard drew. "My turn then, I draw!" He looked down at his hand in thought. "I summon Battlin' Boxer Headgeared in Attack Mode!" A purple humanoid monster with red eyes appeared. He had black boxing pants with white stripes along with red gloves, boots, and headgear.
BATTLIN' BOXER HEADGEARED LV.4 ATK:1000 DEF:1800
"Next I play the Spell card Battle Boxer TeamUp! This allows me to Special Summon one Battlin' Boxer from my hand or deck. I choose to summon Battlin' Boxer Switchitter!" A more robotic looking monster appeared, but it was still humanoid in figure. It also had red eyes, a brown boxer shirt and grey boxing shorts. Along with red boxing gloves and a light brown hoodie over it's robotic head.
BATTLIN' BOXER SWITCHITTER LV.4 ATK:1500 DEF:1400
"Battle!" The second guard yelled. "I attack your last Black Knight Glasgow with my Battlin' Boxer Headgeared! Knockout Punch!" The robotic boxer sprinted towards the lumbering knightmare frame, and with one punch, destroyed Zero's monster. However, this monster was also in Defence Mode, so Zero received no damage. "Now, I attack you directly with my Battlin' Boxer Switchitter! Sweeping Kick!"
The second robot also sprinted forward while the other one retreated back to its original position. Zero calmly raised a black gloved hand towards his two face downs. "I activate the Trap Mechanical Malfunction, this forcefully ends the Battle Phase." Sparks flew around the field and surrounded the robotic boxer, forcing him to stop his attack and retreat.
The guard growled. "Fine then. I end my turn."
"Well then, my turn. I draw." Zero casually drew a card. The masked man's relaxed nature was starting to freak the L.D.S employees out more than it should. Zero gestured to his last face down. "I activate the Spell card Knightmare Illusions. This card revives all of the monsters that were destroyed on my field last turn. However, when my turn ends they will return to the Graveyard."
GLASGOW LV.4 ATK:1200 DEF:900
GLASGOW LV.4 ATK:1200 DEF:900
"Dammit, we just destroyed those things." One of the guards swore under his breath.
"Next. I play the Spell card Geass: Monster Puppetry. I can forcibly take control of one of your monsters." Zero's black gloved hand pointed to one of the Battlin' Boxers. "I choose to take control of Battlin' Boxer Switchitter." The robot jerked suddenly, as if it was being possessed. A red aura outlined the monster's frame, before it jerked to Zero's side of the field like an actual puppet on strings. The guard could only growl and watch as his monster was taken away. "With that done, I'll summon one more Black Knight Burai before getting to the fun part." With that, Zero only had two cards in his hand.
BLACK KNIGHT BURAI LV.3 ATK: 900 DEF: 800
Most of Zero's field was full of monsters, but that would change quickly. Zero lifted his hand towards the sky, his cape flaring out even more at the motion. "I overlay my three Level 4 monsters to build the Overlay Network." The vortex appeared above and slightly behind Zero, and a familiar gigantic frame began to descend. "Rise from the depths of your slumber with your cold metal and sleek gold! Xyz summon! Come forth! Rank four! Knightmare Gawain!" Cold, almost murderous red eyes glowed down at the two L.D.S security guards.
KNIGHTMARE GAWAIN RNK.4 ORBS:3 ATK:2700 DEF:2000
Both shook as they stared up at the giant beast. "Screw this! I don't get paid enough for this kind of shit." One of them almost squeaked.
"Battle." Zero calmly pointed at the two scared guards. "At this moment I activate Knightmare Gawain's effect. By discarding one orbital it can attack all of my opponent's twice. When Gawain battles with its effect activated, spells and trap cards become ineffective." The two compartments on the Gawain's shoulders opened, and dark red energy began to pool inside it. "Hadron Cannon Blast!"
The dark red energy was released, and slowly but surely began to destroy the guards and their fields. Both monster and human were consumed in the dark red energy, but the guards weren't hurt too badly.
"By discarding one Battlin' Boxer monster from my deck to the Graveyard, I can't prevent my monster from being destroyed." The second guard quickly discarded one monster from his deck, helping to soften the blows from the Gawain. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the other guard.
FIRST L.D.S SECURITY GUARD LP- 4000 = 2700 = 0 LOSER
SECOND L.D.S SECURITY GUARD LP- 4000 = 2300 = 600
The second guard sighed with relief, and wiped the sweat off of his brow that came from the intense duel. However, Zero wasn't done, and this guy wasn't out of the woods yet. Not only that, but Battlin' Boxer Headgeared's effect could only be activated once per turn. Since the Gawain could attack twice because of its effect, the man's field was wide open for another attack.
"In that case." Zero sounded amused about something as he held his hand out towards his Burai, before directing it at the guard. "I attack you directly with my Black Knight Burai. Machine Gun Barrage! Checkmate!" The old knightmare frame raised its machine gun, before firing. Thankfully, the bullet only grazed the officer's clothes, but the man was still terrified as he collapsed beside his unconscious friend.
SECOND L.D.S SECURITY GUARD LP- 600 = 0 LOSER
ZERO LP- 4000 WINNER
Zero casually stepped forward towards his defeated opponents, before he raised his duel disk. Despite hearing cries for mercy from the second guard, the masked man callously proceeded to card them. Though he felt something at the thought of carding an innocent person, the bigger picture pushed them aside. That, and all of the years of blocking his heart of emotions to become the famous 'Cold Prince' of Ashford.
Once that was done, Zero turned to see Shun finishing his own duel just about now.
"I attack you all with my Raidrapotor Rise Falcon! Go! Ravaging Rebellion!" The mechanical falcon burst into flames, before flying up high into the sky with a loud screech. Quickly, the bird slammed down onto Shun's last two opponents like a real life phoenix. Both L.D.S guards screamed as the impact forced them back against the walls of the alley.
THIRD L.D.S SECURITY GUARD LP- 3300 = 0 LOSER
FOURTH L.D.S SECURITY GUARD LP- 4000 = 0 LOSER
SHUN LP- 3200 WINNER
With that duel out of the way, the Raidrapotor user quickly walked over and carded his opponents as well. All four cards were left in the alley, and both Shun and Zero made another quick getaway on the rooftops. Both being careful of the grooves and damage that was done to the buildings from the duel.
It wasn't until they were around the harbor that Shun decided to speak again. "That's what now? Seven guards we've carded?"
"Six to be exact." Zero corrected. "You do realize I'll have to get out of my Zero facade to enter us into the tournament, right?" Zero asked.
"We'll get there when we get there." Shun pushed the slight problem aside. "Yuto will probably let you do it when it's his turn to watch you… Honestly, I feel like I'm babysitting right now."
Zero swiped at Shun with his duel blade, and Shun just ducked underneath it as if he was playing limbo. Though seeing such flexibility from such a tall teen managed to vaguely surprise the Knightmare Frame user. However that surprise vanished when he saw Shun's smirk.
"You missed." Shun spoke bluntly, and Zero was tempted to try and swipe at him again.
"Grr." Zero growled, before pushing past him. "Lets just go and met up Yuto at the damn warehouse. I need a break from you." The two walked forward, and enter the designated building. "Though, I can't believe you chased after me by riding one of your Raidrapotors. That was insane, and stupid. I mean, how many people saw you riding that giant mechanical falcon exactly?!"
"Relax." Shun pushed Zero's paranoia and worries aside casually. "Most people probably thought it was a duel of sorts, they don't care too much about it. Besides, haven't you ever ridden one of your Knightmare Frames? I know a couple of them fly."
Zero shifted a little. "I'm not exactly comfortable with riding a machine thousands of feet in the air. Which can disappear rather easily if the wind blows the card away from the duel disk." Zero narrowed his eyes slightly. "I don't desire to become a masked pancake."
Shun gave a swift laugh, looking at his masked leader with disbelief. "I can't believe you've never ridden one of your monsters before. We need to get you to do that one of these days. Probably after we kick Academia out of the Xyz Dimension and oust the Professor."
Zero nodded in agreement with Shun's words. "Sure, whatever. Though I like your confidence on kicking Academia's ass. By the time we finish defeating Academia and everything is returned to its happy ending, I'll be long gone." He didn't notice Shun's subtle frown at that statement.
"Anyway. I'll be leaving you here." Shun turned, and began to walk back out of the warehouse. "Yuto should arrive in a few minutes, so you better stay put and wait for him. Unless you want to have Ruri chew you out again, which I have to say is rather amusing to watch." Zero crossed his arms, at that. Shun looked back at his masked leader, yellow eyes filled with mirth. Before he gave a small wave, and closed the warehouse door behind him. "See you later."
After around ten minutes, which Zero was about to go change back into Lelouch. Yuto finally walked into the warehouse. Though he seemed rather rushed, and more quiet than usual. "Hmm?" Zero's masked head tilted at Yuto's somewhat weird behavior. "About time you showed up Yuto. Though, I have to ask what you're doing-"
"Someone is coming." Yuto spoke quietly, bluntly, but it was enough to get Zero into action. The rebel fighter tensed, and quickly followed his comrade into the shadows of the second floor.
Both of them stood there, rather tense. Just as Zero was about to make a sarcastic remark, the door was opened. Zero tensed even more as Yuzu and the Academia spy Sora walked into the building. Since when did this place become a popular meeting ground? Its an abandoned freaking warehouse! Though, Yuzu seemed to be dragging Sora. The sky blue haired teen slightly complaining as he was being pulled forward by his wrist.
Yuzu finally released Sora from her iron grip, and the shorter teen casually walked further into the warehouse. Emerald eyes looked up at the ceiling, before they turned to look at Yuzu. "Why'd you bring me to a place like this?"
Yuzu closed the door of the warehouse, before walking right up to Sora. She said nothing, and just looked down into Sora's emerald green eyes. Before she took a deep breath, and did a little bow. Her hands held together in front of her head in a pleading gesture. Yuto didn't like the sight, seeing Yuzu, who looked so much like Ruri, lowering her head to an Academia spy. Even if she didn't know that Sora was a spy in the first place.
"Please!" She begged. "Teach me how to use Fusion Summoning!" Yuto and Zero narrowed their eyes slightly, disliking the idea somewhat. Though Zero did use Fusion Summoning, he didn't exactly appreciate it, nor did he really like the Fusion monsters he had. Lancelot, more like a pain in the ass and a constant, haunting reminder.
Sora leaned back slightly, caught off guard at Yuzu's sudden request. "Huh? Here?"
"Yes."
"Why…?" Sora had both of his eyebrows raised and he spoke incredulously.
Now periwinkle eyes opened to look up at Sora. "I want to get stronger!" She leaned forward slightly, and Sora put his lollipop in front of his face as if it would shield him. "I'm not good enough as I am right now!"
Sora slowly lowered his lollipop, emerald eyes still wide at this request of Yuzu's. He was having some trouble processing it slightly. "Umm… are you still upset that you lost to that lady…?" Zero remembered that duel as well, how she had been too distracted by Yuto to properly duel.
Yuzu blinked, before looking at her feet, sadly. She was slightly put down at the reminder of her loss. She turned her head to the side slightly, and tightly closed her eyes. "Reiji said he GAVE us the win! We didn't earn the win properly, and most likely would have lost our school if he didn't forfeit." That was true. Yuzu stood straighter now. "I want to become strong enough to protect Yusho too! I want to win against Masumi!"
"That's why-!" Yuzu went back into her bow.
"You want a Fusion user like me to teach you?" Sora asked, beginning to understand Yuzu's reasons. "Is that it?"
"Yes, so I'm begging you!" Yuzu pleaded. "Teach me!"
Sora looked to the side, and hummed. "Hmm… What should I do…"
Yuzu peaked up at Sora, her voice sounding almost fragile. "You can't?"
Sora looked back at Yuzu and quickly fixed his mistake. "No no no, it's not like I can't! Just… Is this really okay?" He gave his lollipop one lick before continuing. "If I taught you then you'd definitely get stronger…" Both Zero and Yuto looked down at the two. Yuto's stormy grey eyes were calm, but Zero could catch a small hint of disbelief in them. He probably couldn't believe a Ruri look a like would learn how to Fusion Summon since Ruri herself would never want to perform it. Though there was a lot of anger directed towards the spy as well.
"Then all the better, right?" Yuzu asked, and lowered her hands to stand up straighter again. "Make me stronger so I don't lose to anyone!"
"But I just don't know if this is okay." Both teens remained quiet as Sora stood there, thinking momentarily. Before he gave a big sigh, and slumped his shoulders in defeat. "Alright fine, I'll teach you."
Yuzu smiled, before bowing one more time. "Oh thank you Sora! Thank you so much! I'll be sure to pay close attention and take your advice seriously! You just have no idea how thankful I am."
"Yeah." Sora chuckled lightly, before he pulled out a card from his deck box. Holding the spell card in between two fingers, he handed it over to Yuzu. "All right, well, this is the Polymerization card. This Spell card allows you to fuse Fusion Materials." Sora began to explain. Yuzu listening with rapt attention. "This is the bread and butter of Fusion Summoning, got it?"
Yuzu grabbed the card, and took a close look at it herself. She gave a swift nod. "Yeah, I do." She didn't notice Sora's slightly concerned look as he thought about his decision to teach her Fusion Summoning. "The Fusion Materials can be on the field or in my hand, right?"
Sora looked back at Yuzu. "Huh? Oh! Yeah, that's right." He lifted one finger. "What's important is that you have all of the Fusion Materials for the monster you're summoning! Though, there are some exceptions… But we can learn that lesson on another day. Right now, let's just focus on the basics." Yuzu nodded, before her periwinkle eyes stared down at her newly owned Polymerization card.
"When you activate Polymerization, the materials go to the Graveyard, and the Fusion monster is summoned from your Extra Deck." She read the cards description outloud, and Sora nodded.
"That's right-" Sora stopped saying what he was about to say, and quickly turned to the side. His emerald eyes focusing right on Zero and Yuto.
"Shit." Zero couldn't help the quiet curse escaping his lips at them being caught eavesdropping.
Yuto sprung right into action, and jumped away from their hiding spot, Sora sprinting right after him. The small yet rather athletic teen jumped on top of some crates to reach Yuto's spot. However, the Phantom Knights duelist just vacated said spot in favor for another one. It vaguely reminded Zero of a cat and mouse chase.
"Huh? What's wrong?" Yuzu looked around, having not spotted Yuto yet unlike Sora. The sky blue haired teen just ignored Yuzu in favor of putting his duel disk on and activating it. All while still chasing Yuto, did Sora even know that Zero was here? Or was he more focused on eliminating one rebel and then going after the other?
Yuto ran past Yuzu, who turned around to follow his appearance with her confused and shocked periwinkle eyes. "Wha… What the?!"
With a flick of his cape, Zero lunged down from his spot and activated his own duel disk. The masked rebel swiped at Sora, but the Academia spy just jumped back from the attack. Yuto's gray eyes looked back at the two, before he activated his own duel disk. He jumped on a few crates, before pushing himself off of the side of the warehouse wall. The Phantom Knights duelist heading straight for the Frightfur duelist. Yuto moved his black cape out of the way to make way for his purple duel blade.
Sora jumped up to meet Yuto, his own blue duel blade appearing. The two blades clashed together, and caused some actual sparks to fly, before both were pushed back. The two duelist's feet skidded against the ground, but they never stopped glaring at each other. Zero ran up to stand beside Yuto, duel disk at the ready.
It was quiet as the three made their standoff.
"And just who are you?" Sora asked. His emerald green eyes flickered towards Zero, but they were mostly on Yuto. He couldn't let Yuzu know that he knew just WHO these two were already. The Academia spy having read the reports about Zero alongside Yuto Raiden, if briefly.
Neither rebels decided to respond. Though Zero was slightly worried that even with his voice modulated they would still somehow recognize him. Even Zero knew that was because of his paranoia, and they wouldn't find out who he is over something so ridiculous as this.
Sora smirked. "You're not from HERE, are you?"
"Neither are you." Yuto snapped over his filtered mouthpiece.
"Ah!- You're from before-!" Yuzu trailed off, as she remembered the whole incident regarding Sylvio. It was the thing that started the whole L.D.S fight with Yusho in the first place. Grey eyes looked over at Yuzu temporarily, while Zero kept his eyes on Sora. "You're Zero!" She pointed at the masked man, before pointing at Yuto. "And you're Yuto!"
"Huh?" Sora looked back at Yuzu with fake shock. "Yuzu, you know them?"
"Yeah, when I was here with Sylvio before…" Yuzu trailed off as she began to remember the incident. How Yuto Xyz Summoned Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon.
Zero decided to humor them, and did a short bow. "Indeed I am Zero, and this is my comrade. I'm glad you remember us, Yuzu Hiragi. Though, I didn't expect you to be here today, and especially not with this 'friend' of yours, Sora Shuinin."
Sora tensed slightly at Zero saying his name. "How do you know who I am?" He demanded, but Zero didn't bother to grace that question with an answer.
"Not only that." Yuzu tensed as she stared at the two resistance fighters. "Are you behind the incident this time too?"
No reply.
"Incident?" Sora raised an eyebrow, eyes on Yuzu now.
"Apparently, an L.D.S teacher was attacked." Yuzu explained to Sora.
"An L.D.S…" Sora spoke to himself softly. "Oh, that explains why there were so many guards." He realized, before turning to look back at his enemies, pointing at them. "So, you're the culprits then?"
Nothing.
Yuzu lowered her head slightly. "Just who are you… Yuto? Zero?"
"To ask a man who wears a mask who he is. That's silly, isn't it?" Zero tilted his head, almost playfully. But he was acting anything but playful at the moment, his entire aura spelled out danger.
"Then was your duel with Slyvio to save me, Yuto?" Yuzu spoke directly to Yuto at that. "Or do you have a grudge against L.D.S?!"
"That's-" Yuto began. But he was cut off at the sound of the warehouse door opening.
"So you're the culprit! Or should I say culprits!" A familiar voice to Yuzu, Sora, and Zero yelled. Everyone looked over to see Masumi, the long black haired, ruby eyed, and coco colored Fusion duelist glaring at Yuto and Zero. Her breathing was slightly erratic, as if she had ran a mile to get here, but she quickly recovered. The sun was beginning to set on another day behind her.
"Masumi!" Yuzu called out.
"What did you do to Professor Marco?!" Masumi demanded, and walked into the warehouse brimming with confidence and dangerous intent. "Answer me!"
"Professor Marco?" Zero raised an eyebrow. He heard Shun say that name, it was one of the first people the Raidrapotor duelist had carded. Zero sighed. Oh Shun, if only you had stayed for a few more minutes.
"What are you doing here?!" Yuzu asked.
"I thought I might find something if I went to the scene of the first incident." She took out her duel disk, ready for battle. "But if you were lurking here all along, you saved me the trouble of searching!"
"Wait, I'm still talking to them!" Yuzu stepped in front of the other female duelist, her arms stretched out as if to block Masumi.
Masumi glared, and raised her voice. "I've got things to say to them first!"
"What are you talking about?!" Yuzu was clearly missing something. "And besides, it hasn't been proven that they're the culprits yet!"
Sora hummed behind her, not exactly agreeing with that sentiment. "I don't know Yuzu. These two are rather suspicious, and they won't answer any of our questions anyway." Emerald eyes met a faceless mask. "Besides, one of them is still hiding his face. That's suspicious enough all on its own."
Masumi pointed past her. "Once we see whether they use Xyz or not, we'll know the truth!" When Yuto didn't say anything Masumi threw her arm to the side. "I'll find out myself, fight me!" She practically ordered, before activating her duel disk. An orange blade appearing beside her. "Here we go, let's Duel!"
"Just because we can possibly Xyz Summon doesn't mean that we could be the culprits." Zero pointed out. "Lots of people can perform Xyz Summonings here, along with Fusion, and Synchro-"
"Don't try and change the subject or distract me!" Masumi snapped. "I won't fall for such a trick! Now tell me what you two did to Professor Marco."
"Would you really want to know if I told you?" Zero tilted his masked head, and he could feel how Masumi doubled her glare at him.
"So you do know what happened to Marco! You admit it! You're the one responsible for making Professor Marco diseapper!" Masumi took a step forward. "You're going to duel me right now, and when I beat you I'll make you tell me what happened to Professor Marco! I'll turn you into L.D.S and they'll make you say where you hid him!"
"I don't exactly like that plan. It sounds like a lot of pain is involved for me, so I'm afraid I'll have to pass. Why exactly is Professor Marco so important to you? If I may be so bold as to ask, Masumi Kotsu." Zero couldn't help but enjoy the way people flinched back when he said their names. How they always wondered how he knew just who they were.
Masumi growled. "I'll get you to tell me how you know my name once I beat you."
"Hey now!" Sora whined slightly and interjected. "I'm the one who raised his duel disk against them first. I should be the one to duel them! I want to beat this guy and remove his mask!"
"They're seriously not going to fight over me now, are they?" Zero whispered to Yuto, who honestly shrugged. "I bet we could probably escape now with them fighting over each other." At that Yuto nodded in agreement.
"Hey, cut it out! Give it a rest already!" Yuzu stepped forward once again, glaring at both Sora and Masumi. Though, it was at that moment Yuzu's bracelet started to glow a bright pink light. The light was so bright that it blinded everyone but Zero, the masked man having his mask to act as sunglasses almost.
"What the-" Yuto began, and Zero turned to look at his friend. Only to see him vanish in a bunch of pink particles, the particles flying away somewhere even Zero didn't know.
You've got to be fucking kidding me. This again?! Zero grumbled to himself mentally. They already had to deal with Ruri's bracelet glowing and doing weird shit, and now Yuzu's bracelet did the same thing. It looks like Zero was right about all four bracelets having a power. If it was unique to each or not he still didn't know.
The glowing finally died down, and all three Standard teens looked up again. "Huh?!" Yuzu breathed.
"He's gone…" Sora trailed off, noticing Yuto's disappearance.
"Well that's nice." Zero crossed his arms and leaned against one leg, hip jutting out slightly at the motion. "He could have at least taken me along for the ride as well, but I guess leaving me here to defeat two teenagers isn't so bad." At least he was somewhat alone now. Does that mean he was technically 'ungrounded'? Zero hoped so.
"Hey, Yuzu!" Another familiar voice called out, and Yuzu turned when she heard Yuya's voice.
"Great." Zero grumbled, before he pulled out a card from his deck. "I don't exactly have time for this, so I'll be leaving you all as well. I hope we can meet again on more better terms." With that, Zero raised up a Spell. "Spell card Geass: Time Stop, activate."
"Wai-" Masumi raised her hand towards the masked man and Sora lunged forward towards him, but it was too late. A giant red sphere expanded across a giant part of the area. Yuzu, Sora, and Masumi all stopped, Sora falling over towards the ground from his halted lunge. Casually, Zero walked out of the warehouse, only to see Yuya staring at the strange red field with slight shock. When scarlet eyes met the familiar mask once again, Yuya jumped back in surprise.
"It's you!" Yuya pointed, the tomato haired teen just barely missing the geass' range.
"It's me." Zero agreed casually, before he tilted his head back inside the warehouse. "You may want to focus on your friends first. They'll be a bit disoriented once this effect wears off."
Yuay clenched his fists, and spoke through gritted teeth. "What did you do?!"
"Nothing." Zero spoke innocently through his modulator, and backed away a few steps. "To them, it'll looked like I had just vanished without a trace. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have places I must get to and things that must be done."
"At least tell me who you are!" Yuya asked, not daring to step through the strange red aura that encompassed the warehouse, but it didn't seem to affect the masked stranger.
Zero ruffled his cape slightly, and barely tilted his masked head back at Yuya. "Zero. I am Zero." With that, Zero was gone, and the strange field vanished with him a few minutes after.
As soon as that strange red aura was gone, Yuya sprang into action and sprinted towards the warehouse. "Yuzu! Yuzu!"
. . .
"Please place your hand here if you wish to enter the L.D.S tower." A security guard held out a hand scanner.
"I don't think that will be necessary, you'll let me pass and exit without fuss." A raven haired teen spoke collected and calmly.
The guard straightened slightly, before his voice droned on slightly, but there was still some hint of emotion. "Of course." He held his hand out for the teen to pass. "Right this way please."
With that, Lelouch entered the building without any resistance. The red blur in his left eye vanished. Lelouch's violet eyes scanned the familiar setting of the L.D.S tower, before he walked over to the secretary at the front desk.
"Hello there." Lelouch gave a charming smile, and when the woman looked up to see such a face. The girl couldn't help but blush slightly. "I'm looking to enter the Miami Championship, the Junior Youth Championship to be exact."
The secretary smiled back at Lelouch cheerfully. "Alright then, please tell me your name and Duel Disk ID."
The mark of geass appeared within Lelouch's left eye once again. The power thirsting to feast on its latest victim. "That won't be necessary, you'll enter these two canidates for free and without any information beside their names. You won't remember seeing me, or doing this, and you won't tell Reiji Akaba or anyone else about it until the last minute. Once this is done and I leave, you will erase all video footage of me being here at all, understand?"
The woman nodded, but still smiled brightly. "Alright, please tell me the names of the two competetors that will enter." She turned over to her computer, ready to type the names.
"Shun Kurosaki, and Zero." Lelouch spoke with a lower voice, one that the cameras wouldn't catch it. The footage hasn't been erased yet, so anyone could see what was transpiring right now.
After a few seconds of keys being pressed, the secretary turned back to face Lelouch again. "The two competators have been entered into the database, and will be participating in the tournament. Please report to the Miami City Duel Tournament Stadium on Monday before 12 o'clock for the introduction to the tournament. Dueling will start right away once introductions are out of the way, so be prepared to fight incase your name comes up."
"Alright then, I'll be on my way, erase the footage." Lelouch deactivated his geass, though it was rather difficult, and walked away.
"I hope you have a nice day, and thank you for coming to the L.D.S tower." The secretary did a small bow, before returning to the computer to erase all of the camera footage on Lelouch. The teen himself casually walked out the way he came, the guard not even acknowledging his presence as he left.
With that out of the way, the only real big thing coming up was the tournament itself.
Lelouch smirked slightly, this will be interesting indeed.
There's Chapter Eleven folks! We got a visit from C.C! How nice is that?! Though, the circumstances under it aren't as pleasant. At least Lelouch hasn't lost control of his geass yet, but at this rate it'll happen very soon. Yet it looks like Zero, Shun, and Yuto are all getting along rather nicely, that's great!
I did use some Arc-V Abridged lines, like the negative Nancy.
Darn it though! There was almost a Zero VS Sora or a Zero VS Masumi in this episode. At least we got to see Zero duel at all in this chapter, but I wonder what'll transpire in the next one? This Chapter was around 13,100 words, and took up 30 pages. The tournament is coming up and I'm excited! I'll be seeing you all in Chapter 12! -MoonlightWright
