Disclaimer: No I do not own Yugioh. I do own Temarocia though, but I'm sure you know that already.

The Region Transit system was established recently to assist merchants and travelers with the troubles that normally came with going across the country on foot or pack animal. It is an invention from the mechanical country of Tuletia, beginning a new age for those living in the country. With the Region Transit, which goes from Mudeia to the connection station in the Tuletian border town of Roland and every major city or town between them, life has reached a new pinnacle of convenience for those living in Evangela.

"All aboard!" One of the train station employees yelled out. "This is the last train heading out this evening, so if you've got a ticket then get on board!" It was a waste of breath, as there was no one in the station now. Those that had tickets had already gone on board to get warm.

A few minutes later the train was slowly huffing out of the station, heading along the tracks towards its next destination.

Song of Temarocia

Chapter 32: The Greatest Ninja in the World

Jason's eyes slowly opened, and he cautiously lifted up his head to look around. ("Where am I? I'm pretty sure I passed out…no, not so much passed out as stopped moving. Stupid stomach…") There was a red ceiling above him, and the ground under him was shaking slightly with a gentle rocking, as if it was moving across bumpy. "Where am I?"

When there was no response he turned his head so his cheek was pressed against the soft velvety ground under him. ("A train car? Well, it looks like I got on board the transit thing.")

The room was strangely spacious, meaning it probably took up the whole car. ("There are benches along the walls though…it's like somebody set this car up to be a fighting ring or something…") Rolling off of the bench he was on, the Grafter landed on his feet. "Well, I guess I'd go find the others."

His stomach protested as loud as it could, and his nose told him something he hadn't initially realized. There was an aroma in the air that could only be one thing… "Meat…" A line of drool slid down the edge of his mouth and he got down on all fours, closing his eyes and pressing his nose to the ground. ("Where? Where's the food…")

Inching across the room, Jason stopped when he felt heat warming his face. Tilting his head up, he immediately got starry-eyed at the sight of a pair of extremely large steaks sitting on top of some kind of weird portable stove, the two slabs of meat nearly done cooking. "So hungry…" His hand started to inch towards one of the two mouth-watering meals…

"Stop right there, villain!" A voice bellowed out, the amplification a bit too powerful even for the spacious room.

Jason slid into a cross-legged position and looked around for the owner of the voice. "Don't be so stingy, it's not like you were gonna eat both of them."

"It's unforgivable…" The voice yelled out. "How dare you try to steal something that isn't yours, thief!"

("I have the sudden feeling like it doesn't matter what I say…") The Grafter stood up and brushed himself off. "Hey, disembodied voice, where are you?"

"Haha!" The voice grew smug. "One such as you cannot see through my unstoppable Super Camouflage Technique!"

"…" If Jason hadn't have been so hungry he would have realized that kind of stupid name sounded vaguely familiar. Eyes narrowed angrily, he walked over and stopped in front of a section of the room's wall that was forest camouflage-colored instead of the same burgundy the rest of the walls were. "Playing around won't work with me."

"Unbelievable!" The piece of forest-colored cloth rippled a little. "You aren't just any normal criminal, are you? No, you must be a super criminal! It seems I have no choice…"

The piece of fabric dropped to the ground and whoever was behind it dashed towards the other end of the room. When they reached that end they pulled a bush out of thin air and hid behind it. "Hahaha, thanks to my superhuman speed and Transformation technique now you'll never be able to find me!"

"…." Jason scratched the top of his head and sighed. "Hey, listen…I don't know how to tell you this without making you sound stupid, but that really wasn't superhuman speed. It was kind of a mad dash, but honestly…"

He walked over and poked the bush a couple of times. "We're in a train car too, so I'm really not going to have trouble noticing a suspicious bush in the middle of the room."

"…Really?" The bush rustled a couple of times and started laughing again. "You are truly perceptive to see through my techniques a second time! Very well, I shall give you the privilege of seeing my true form!" A cloud of white smoke erupted from the out-of-place piece of foliage, covering one side of the room.

When it cleared the bush had disappeared and in its place there was a man wearing the robes of a ninja, except instead of a traditional black they were bright red with white stars all over them. Hanging from the man's neck was a red and white sequence scarf, the piece of wool blowing in a wind that Jason didn't feel. Hanging from the ninja's back there was a large two-handed sheathed weapon, probably a sword of some kind. "I am the mighty Triple R, hero of justice!" Two fountains of sparks, one white and one red, erupted from both sides of him when he announced his identity dramatically.

Jason looked down at the two little fireworks shooting the sparks, and then up at Triple R. "I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry."

"I'll tell you what you should do," the ninja thumbed at his chest. "Surrender now, villain! If you do I'll let you off with a warning and a slap on the wrist, because otherwise you will have to taste my mighty techniques!"

"Why would a hero of justice be on a train stopping a guy from taking a steak?" Jason turned away and sighed. "Don't you have some posing to do somewhere?"

"It seems you won't listen…" He made a few nonsense symbols with his hands. "Ninja Technique; Breathtaking Blue Rocket!"

Jason turned in time to catch a bottle rocket to the forehead, the hand-made firework hurling him backwards into one of the benches with a burst of blue-colored smoke as it exploded, spraying hot glass in a two foot radius around where it had connected.

"I tried to warn you," Triple R sighed sadly, shaking his head in disappointment. "You should have given up. After all, this was a fight a mere thief such as yourself couldn't have won. I am a hero of justice, after all." The blue smoke cloud he was talking to sweat-dropped as he started laughing triumphantly.

A loud squelching noise came from the cloud as Jason charged out of it, his stomach rumbling and blood dripping down his face where the hot glass had cut or entered his flesh. "You jerk, just let me have one!" He threw a right hook at the ninja's face.

"Ninja Fantastic Guard Technique!" Triple R pulled a metal hot plate from out of nowhere and blocked the punch with it, a hissing noise coming from Jason's knuckles as his skin started to cook.

"GAH!" The Grafter twisted backwards and started blowing on his hand while the ninja returned the hot plate to wherever it had originally come from.

"Ninja Technique; Wondrous White Bomb!" Triple R pulled another object out of nowhere and threw it at his feet, the ground around him erupting into a cloud of white smoke.

"You annoying..." Jason was cut off by the growl of his stomach, and he slid to his knees with an exhausted look on his face.

"Ninja Technique; Remarkable Red Firecrackers!" Triple R announced this while standing behind Jason and lighting a fuse before he ran for cover.

"Huh?" The Grafter looked at the string of firecrackers at his feet and wrapped around his legs before he broke into a frantic dance to avoid the little bursts of red fire and smoke as they went off. "AHHH!"

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King sighed and reshuffled the deck of playing cards he had taken from the remains of Don Karot's stronghold. ("I never knew Solitaire was such a good way to keep you occupied.")

Saika yawned loudly and stretched her entire body in one pull, tail swinging lazily below her as she slept in the luggage shelf. "I'm glad we didn't have too many bags. Otherwise this great napping spot would have been wasted."

Alita continued to write in her tome, stopping occasionally to look up at Saika. ("So when you are a Graftborn the monster's habits can become your own too…interesting…")

Flair looked away from the window and over at the tome. ("I wonder whether or not Aenpest will be a worthy opponent for my ultimate technique.")

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"Ninja Technique; Outstanding Orange Mortar!" Triple R covered his ears as the portable mortar in front of him fired, sending a tail of orange smoke through the air as the shell it fired crashed into the hunger-paralyzed Jason's stomach. "Have you had enough yet?"

Jason had stopped moving, his face pressed into the carpet. ("I've figured out who you are, Rick. I don't get the retarded costume and these stupid firework tricks, but you've pushed me a little too far. As soon as I'm able to move you're mine…") He twitched a couple of times and tried to stand up, though halfway up his body trembled and collapsed again.

"It seems I've beaten you." Triple R stood tall, his scarf blowing in the wind that seemed to exist around him only. "It was to be expected, considering how powerful my mighty techniques are."

"Hang on…there…" His stomach protesting again, Jason stood up and managed to prop himself up with an arm. "I'm not quite done yet. I suggest you use those techniques of yours again. After all…"

His head turned just enough so one of his eyes met the ninja's, and it reflected the crazy look he only got when he was willing to fight to the end. "…what kind of Freaks Gang member leaves their opponent still conscious in a fight like this. You made a pretty steep accusation saying I was trying to steal, Rick Robby Richardson…"

"That may be true, Jason," Triple R pulled another strange firework out of nowhere. "That's why it hurts me to make such an accusation. I thought the Freaks Gang was one that did not allow stealing? What is that made you suddenly change your mind about the policy of the group, huh?"

"Yeah, well wouldn't it be crueler to let somebody starve to death?" The Grafter rolled into a sitting position, his elbows resting on his thighs.

"The steaks aren't mine to give out, Jason." Triple R lit the fuse on the firework, its shape that of a nearly flat wheel. "Ninja Technique; Great Green Pinwheel!" Then he threw it at the same time the fuse reached the firework, a spray of green sparks coming from it as it turned into a bright green buzzsaw of sparks that hurtled towards Jason.

"It seems that talking to you isn't going to do any good." Jason's stomach protested again and this time he punched it with his fist to silence it, doubling over for a moment on reflex. "It looks like I'll have to knock you out, Triple R." Then he threw himself out of the way as the pinwheel flew past him.

"You're welcome to try!" The ninja loosened the fasteners for the weapon on his back. "If that's the case though, then let me show you my ultimate weapon. It is the killing sword, the blade that wields the power of the colored flames." Drawing it free, he held it up so Jason could see its body. "Behold its brilliance."

The sword's body was shaped like a scoop, it's inside burnt slightly. "Fourth Jubilee, the blade of legend. Regardless of what you think of my other techniques, do not be mistaken about this one. It is meant to be taken completely seriously, lest the one fighting it will die a painful death."

"As always," The Grafter stumbled into a standing position, the air around him starting to swirl. "You talk too much, Rick! Graft Metamorphosis!"

"Sparkling Sword!" Triple R rushed at Jason, the inner scoop of the blade igniting with a fire golden fountain of sparks.

("I don't have the strength to fight, but its fine.") The winds around him grew stronger and stronger, and then died down to reveal his Burst Fox Graft.

"Fourth of July Slash!" The ninja's blade fell towards the Grafter…

Who reached out and grabbed Triple R's wrists, letting the blade burn straight through the flesh of his shoulder in exchange. "Impact Scalpel!" His feet launched upwards together and caught Triple R on the chin, sending him flying into the ceiling. ("That's it…") His stomach protested and Jason collapsed to the ground, the smoldering blade still cutting into his arm. "If you can stand after that then you've won…" A smile crossed his face weakly. "I'm finished…"

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King sighed and stretched. "I'm officially bored. Anyone care to duel?"

"If we had the room I'd settle the score with you, fishbowl." Flair kicked his feet up against the window and yawned. "Unfortunately that isn't going to happen. So how about you just shut up and let's try to sleep. I'm sure that Alita appreciates having something other than hard ground to rest her head on."

"That's true," Alita closed her tome and put it off to her side, rubbing her eyes out with her hands. "I'm really tired too…"

"You may always rest your head on my manly chest, my angel." King slid in and placed an arm around her shoulder. He then leaned in to kiss her…

And got the taste of leather in his mouth as Flair's sheathed sword was interposed between the two of them, leaving Alita looking a little relieved and King looking pissed off. "You wanna fight, bathrobe?"

"Obviously," The samurai smirked and stood up, straightening the ties of his robe. "I just thought of a good place too. Come on up to the roof of the car, we'll fight there." He pulled the door open and motioned to the opening. "Ladies first."

King opened the window. "Thanks, now I've got to take the hard way." He squeezed himself through it and climbed up towards the top of the train car.

Flair did the same, a smirk on his face. "Alita, I'll try and keep it down for you. However don't expect too much silence at first. I'm sure he's going to moan and whine when he starts losing." Then the door closed, leaving a tired Alita and a snoring Saika alone in the room.

"Why do men have to be like this?" The blond-haired magician asked the sleeping Saika, who answered by rolling off of the luggage shelf and hitting the ground with a thud.

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Jason awoke to a taste in his mouth he had only imagined… ("Steak!") Then his body lunged forwards, snapping at thin air in expectation of the rest of it beyond the morsel on his tongue. He heard a yelp of surprise and someone fell backwards while at the same time the source of the delightful smell hit the ground, and without even bothering to open his eyes he dove for it, taking the thing between his claws and tearing it to shreds.

The person, a girl, who had been surprised, laughed happily. "You've got a real appetite, don't you? I guess you would when I think about the sounds your stomach was making though." Her eyes widened and she gasped in terror as he dove for her steak, snatching it right off the grill. "HEY THAT'S MINE!"

Jason was halfway into the next course of his meal when something tackled him and grabbed the meat in his mouth, trying to take it away. He fought it for all his worth, the two of them rolling around on the ground growling and snarling at each other.

Triple R's eyes opened and he looked around, wondering what the racket was. ("The last thing I remember was that I had brought out Fourth Jubilee.") Then he remembered the ceiling and how it felt pressed into his face. After that it was just darkness. ("Did he really knock me out in one hit? Jason, the human punching bag?")

An image of the long silver-haired Jason flickered in his mind. ("Did I imagine that?") He looked over at the source of the noise and his eyes bugged out of his head at the sight of that same strange-looking Jason and a girl dressed in some kind of Chinese green dress rolling around and fighting over a piece of meat. ("What a surreal scene to wake up to.") "Well I suppose it would make sense, after all…"

The girl finally managed to get her hands onto the ground and pushed off, driving her moccasins into the Grafter's stomach to throw him away from her, sans the meat. "It's mine!"

Jason rolled back a few paces and then came up standing, his tail swinging back and forth and his fangs bared. "Give it!"

"You wanna fight for it?" She jumped up and stamped her foot into the carpet, the extra-long sleeves of her dress falling down to her elbows and revealing her tanned skin. "Bring it on!"

"Impact Cannon!" Jason charged in with both hands in front of him, ready to strike with his strongest attack.

The girl twisted on one heel gracefully, her long braided red hair flowing around her body as she side-stepped his arms and perfectly positioned herself so that her fist was heading in towards his face at a speed similar to the amount he had used. "Ghost-Fire…" Her arm lit up with a white-blue transparent flame at those words, the heat instantly snapping Jason out of his hunger-caused anger as he felt the familiar pain of fire. "…Punch!"

The blow didn't connect with any force, instead her entire arm passed right through Jason like he wasn't there.

("An illusion?") Triple R leaned in a little, as everything had stopped. The girl, after her arm had gone through Jason's head, was now standing a few feet away from him. Jason had stopped completely, his eyes wide and his body stuck in the position it had been when she had hit him. ("It didn't seem to do any damage, and yet this feeling…")

Jason suddenly dropped to his knees, steam rising from his skull. ("That could have killed me. For a few seconds it felt like my brain was wrapped in fire…") He turned numbly to look at her, his tail dangling limply behind him. "Why didn't you win right there? You could have?"

"Because," She smiled slightly and glanced back at him. "First off, killing somebody over a piece of meat is kind of silly. Second, I could tell you were starving terribly so it wasn't your fault you were so desperate to get some food. Thirdly, and this is most important," Her hand reached out and she patted his cheek. "Why would I roast a cute guy of my own race?"

("Her own race?") Triple R just then took in the girl's entire body, and realized that there was a pair of red wolf ears on her head and a red tail coming out of the back of her dress. ("So that's it,") He crossed his legs and regained his composure. "You're a Beastman."

"Yeah, that I am." She rested a fist on her hip and grinned at the ninja, an accent that couldn't be anything other than Scottish in her voice. "Vanora Sabina's the name. I'm surprised though that there'd be a ninja on this train. What's the matter is your giant frog sick or something?"

"Don't make fun of ninjas, you fool!" Triple R leapt to his feet dramatically, pointing up at the sky. "Or else I will make you regret it with my mighty techniques!"

"Oh really?" She stuck her tongue out at him and sat down on a bench. "I doubt it, considering when I came in here you were up to your waist in ceiling." She motioned to the covered-up hole in the ceiling that Jason had made using the ninja. "Or am I mistaken? Was that part of one of your great techniques?"

"Anyway," Jason sat down on a nearby bench and pouted at the fact that he had to make do with such a little meal. "What are you doing here Rick? I already figured you wound up here with Saika, but why are you on this train? Why weren't you protecting her?"

"Because I had no idea where she wound up," The ninja flicked his scarf over his shoulder casually and took a seat as well. "When we arrived here we were separated. I woke up in a country village in this country and have been riding the region transit for the last week, hoping to hear some news from someone about any way to get home."

"That sounds pretty serious…" Jason noticed that Vanora was looking at him still. "And what are you looking at?"

She blushed and looked away. "Sorry, it's just been a while since I've seen another Beastman…it's been kind of lonely and I was glad to have found you collapsed out in the forest."

"I'm a Beastman?" The Grafter looked down at himself and then up at the ceiling, nodding his head. "I see…it all makes sense now."

"NO IT DOESN'T!" Triple R yelled angrily.

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Kyris collapsed into his throne and sighed tiredly. "I've had a really strange day…"

"Why is that sir?" The shadowed voice off to his side asked.

"I went to the fool Karot's place for a bit of excitement, but it apparently got hit by a tornado. Then I run into a stray dog that dents my armor, and to make it worse he even got away." The young Warlord thumbed over at the dent in his chest armor.

"Forgive my asking, sir," The shadowed form looked up slightly. "Why didn't you just deal with the threat there? It is within your power to smite Jason, and he is currently riding on the region transit. We could have you at the next stop for it and you could simply destroy the whole train."

"I could," Kyris mused on that for a moment, but decided against it. "Not yet though. Aenpest is onboard that train, which means that without a doubt Jason will wind up fighting him. I wonder how mister close-range does against the Warlord of Elegance, a man who cannot be harmed physically?"

To be continued…

And so there is another reunion of members of the Freaks Gang. With the arrival of Rick another powerful (sorta-kinda-ish) ally has joined up to Alita's cause…maybe…okay, it's probably not that easy, but regardless, he's there.

Next Chapter: Evil Plot of a Strange, Strange Man; Aenpest's Bizarre Challenge