The sea on the way to Academia was… peaceful, somehow. Yuya enjoyed the sea, despite how little they had gone to the beach when he was younger. There was something about the sea breeze… almost sad, almost haunting in the way one could lose themselves in it…
"I thought I would find you here."
He turned to see Yuto. The latter's cape was floating in the wind, and he had a rather sad smile on his face. He shifted to the right, allowing his brother to share the railing with him. They stood there in silence for a while, simply enjoying the breeze. It had been the early afternoon, about three when the exam had finished and results been tallied. Now, after a while on the boat, it was that precious time—not quite the heat of the afternoon or the cold of the night. Just refreshing wind and orange skies.
"How are you feeling?"
"... a little nervous. Guess that's why I came out here instead of socialising down there." He turned to his brother. "You should get to know people, you know."
"Says the one up here." Yuto said teasingly. "You know how many people came to talk to us because they wanted to talk to you? I swear Yuri and Yugo were about to murder some people by the time I left. They'll be joining us up here in a while, by the way."
"You told them?"
"Nah. Despite our… differences, we all know you well enough."
"... do you have a tracker on me?"
"No!" Yuto looked almost offended. "Actually, maybe Yuri does, but I don't. Anyway… enough joking. How are you really feeling?" He wanted to evade, but the look in Yuto's eyes let him know that the conversation had become serious, and that Yuto was genuinely concerned about him. He couldn't really lie when the other was so concerned about him, could he?
"Today… today is kind of confusing. I mean, it's the day he left. It's his birthday, isn't it?"
Yuto's fists clenched around the railing. "Yeah. He left us on this day. April the first. As if it was some kind of cruel April Fools' joke. I knew you would need some time to yourself, but I still wanted to talk to you. Because well…" The words were left unspoken in his mouth. Because they were all suffering from the memories, and Yuto had wanted to confide in him and have him do the same.
"I understand." He closed his eyes. "I was thinking about him, I guess. Why he left us. It's not like he ran off to be a hero or anything, he just ran!" He tried to bring his voice down to its normal volume, realising it had gotten far too loud for comfort. "Why that day? Why would he choose that day? That time? Why—"
Yuto's arms wrapped around him in an embrace. In encouragement.
He wanted to say it. He really, really wanted to say it.
"Why did he leave us? Were we not good enough?"
Yuto's quiet whisper answered him. "I don't know. I really, really don't know. I'm sorry, Yuya. I'm so sorry."
Why sorry? Yuto shouldn't have been the one to be sorry… he remembered bright skies and Maiami City. He hugged Yuto closer.
"I will hold you after your first break-up. Your first hangover. Your first loss. When you have a particularly bad argument with your girlfriend. Because I am your father, and my father held me through all of those things. I will not leave you."
But he wasn't here, not now.
"Hello." Yuri's voice said in that knowing tone. "We have a duel, Yuya."
He felt Yuto move away, and they both let go of each other as Yuto gently wiped his tears away—just as the Kurosaki sisters made their way up to the top of the ship.
Yuzu, Serena, Rin, Ruri.
Yuzu huffed. "Your madman of a brother just dragged us out here for a duel all of a sudden!"
Yugo, on the other hand, looked completely thrilled. "The grinning bastard actually had a good idea! He wanted us to know each other better, since we were going to be friends." Yuya hid his surprise—Yuri wanted to know people better? Could pigs fly? "So he suggested we have two tag duels before we get to the island—me and Yuto against Rin and Ruri, and Yuya and Yuri against Yuzu and Serena!"
He stood up, intending to walk over for the duel; only for Yuto to grab his arm. "You alright?" He whispered.
"I'm fine." He said, giving the other a smile. Yuto moved backwards reluctantly, and Yuya faced his opponents with a bright grin. "Let's have ours be the first duel then! Let's do this!"
Yuzu looked a little less irritated now, and she gave him an excited grin. "A tag duel, huh? No Master Duel, and 4000 life points since we need to do this fast?"
"If that makes you happy." He winked at her. "Let's do this, and have fun while we're duelling! Come on, Yuri!" He grabbed the other boy, yanking him to his side. "3, 2, 1…"
"Duel!"
Yuya Sakaki/Yuri Sakaki: 4000LP
Yuzu Kurosaki/Serena Kurosaki: 4000LP
Yuya smiled. "I'll begin! Ladies and gentlemen!" He took a card from his hand and revealed it. "I activate the Spell card, Pendulum Call! I may discard one card and add two "Magician" cards from my deck to my hand! I will discard Performapal Silver Claw (4*/S5/1800/700/DARK/Beast/Pendulum/Effect) to add Wisdom-Eye Magician (4*/S5/1500/1500/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Pendulum/ Effect) and Timegazer Magician (3*/S8/1200/600/DARK/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect) to my hand."
"Hold on." Yuzu gave him a cheeky smile. "From what I can tell, your strategy focuses a lot on searching, doesn't it? Unfortunately, I can't let you carry on with that, you know. When a card is added to your hand, I can discard Droll and Lock Bird (1*/0/0/WIND/Spellcaster/Effect) from my hand to stop you from adding any more cards to your hand this turn!"
Oh. He glanced at the Wisdom-Eye Magician in his hand. Oh well. "Alright. I set the Scale 1 Odd-Eyes Persona Dragon (5*/S1/1200/2400/DARK/Dragon/Pendulum/Effect) and the Scale 8 Timegazer Magician in the Pendulum Scales! Sway, pendulum that casts the arc of light! With the set Pendulum Scales, I can Pendulum Summon monsters from Level 2 to 7! I will Pendulum Summon! Come, my monster! Oafdragon Magician!" (6*/S2/2100/1400/WIND/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)
His monster appeared, but a bit less solid than before—the Solid Vision was probably weaker without that gigantic projector, although their duel disks still had the basic Solid Vision. He gave his monster a wave, which was returned.
He smiled as well, giving her the wave of a hand. "Over to you, Kurosaki-san."
"Please call me Yuzu." She said with a wink. "Draw! I'll play the Spell, Polymerization! I will fuse the Elegy the Melodious Diva (5*/2000/1200/LIGHT/Fairy/Effect) and the Mozarta the Melodious Maestra (8*/2600/2000/LIGHT/Fairy/Effect) in my hand." A fusion vortex appeared behind her. She clasped her hands together with a confident grin. "Angel's song! Supreme genius! With the guidance of the baton, gather your power! Fusion Summon! Now come here to the stage! Sing the song of victory! Bloom Diva the Melodious Choir!" (6*/1000/2000/LIGHT/Fairy/Fusion/Effect)
Fusion, huh? He exchanged looks with Yuri. He had assumed that there would be less Fusion users than the other Summoning Methods, but that didn't seem to be the case.
"I'll have Bloom Diva attack your Oafdragon Magician!"
What?
Oafdragon Magician easily reflected the other monster's attack with its staff. Yuzu shrugged. "Bloom Diva cannot be destroyed by battle, and I take no damage from battles involving it. Now, at the end of the battle, her effect activates! If she battled a Special Summoned monster, I can deal you damage equal to the difference between their attack. So that's… 1100. Go, Bloom Diva! Reflect Shout!"
The monster waved its arm, shooting out a shockwave that knocked him off his feet, landing a little behind his original position. Yuri's eyes were narrowed as he stared at the monster.
Yuya Sakaki/Yuri Sakaki: 4000 - 1100 = 2900LP
Yuri pulled him up to his feet as Yuzu gave an apologetic smile. "The monster that Bloom Diva battled is then destroyed." Oafdragon Magician vanished. "I set one card and end. Are you alright?"
"He is." Yuri took a step forward. "You'll be dealing with me now. Draw! With the set Pendulum Scales, I can Pendulum Summon monsters from Level 2 to 7. Swing, pendulum! Draw an arc of light across the aether!" He swiped his hand through the air. "Pendulum Summon! Return from the Extra Deck, Oafdragon Magician! Then, from my hand, Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio (4*/1200/800/DARK/Plant/Effect) and Predaplant Spinodionaea!" (4*/1800/0/DARK/Plant/Effect)
Yuya sighed. Honestly, his brother was far too overprotective. Not that he minded it that much though.
"When Ophrys Scorpio is Normal or Special Summoned, once per turn I can discard one monster from my hand to Special Summon a "Predaplant" from my deck. I will discard Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra (5*/800/2300/DARK/Plant/Effect) to Special Summon Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra (3*/1000/1500/DARK/Plant/Effect) from my deck. Darlingtonia Cobra will add Polymerization to my hand. When Special Summoned, Spinodionaea will place a Predator Counter on a monster on your field—Bloom Diva the Melodious Choir." Yuri paused to take a breath. "Did you catch all that? I'm certainly not repeating it. Now, I think it's time we rid ourselves of that pesky diva. This card can be Special Summoned from the hand or the graveyard once per turn by tributing a monster on either side of the field with a Predator Counter. I will tribute Bloom Diva the Melodious Choir to resurrect my Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra."
Bloom Diva vanished from the field as Yuzu looked at where it had been in disbelief. "You got rid of Bloom Diva so easily…"
"I mean," Yuri said, "duh. Of course I would. It's a weak monster that you left in Attack Position on purpose. It's obviously a trap, and I don't mean the kind with the purple border. Now, I'll play the Spell, Polymerization! I will fuse Oafdragon Magician and Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra! The summoning conditions are a Pendulum Monster and a Plant-type monster! Fight all your enemies with your vicious poison! Unleash your hatred and hunger onto our foes—crush the world! Fusion Summon! Level 7! Starving Venemy Dragon!" (7*/S1/2500/2000/DARK/Dragon/Fusion/Pendulum/Effect)
Starving Venemy was an almost skeletal dragon, with bones forming around its chest and a pair of long scarlet wings reaching out behind it. Despite the name, it looked very little like Starving Venom, and much more like some kind of… demon? Demon dragon. Yuya still liked it a lot though, and he watched as the dragon let out its loud roar-laugh. (It would be a bit hard for him to be afraid of it, after seeing it play catch with Yuri; the latter denying it the moment he spotted Yuya. He had thought it was cute, personally, but seeing Yuri's embarrassment, he had never brought it up again.)
Serena Kurosaki frowned. "That's not the dragon you used at the exam."
"Starving Venom is currently taking a nap, so I'm afraid you'll have to make do with my second dragon." He shrugged. "Only have these two though. Now, if you'll excuse me, I will have Starving Venemy Dragon attack you directly. Do it, Starving Venemy! Enmity Spore!"
Yuzu opened her set card. "Trap card, Draining Shield! I negate the attack and gain life equal to the attacking monster's attack!"
Yuzu Kurosaki/Serena Kurosaki: 4000 + 2500 = 6500LP
"Not bad." Yuri acknowledged. "But that leaves you open. Attack directly, Ophrys Scorpio! Spinodionaea!"
Yuzu Kurosaki/Serena Kurosaki: 6500 - 1200 - 1800 = 3500LP
"Since Hydra is in defence position, it can't attack you. So unfortunately, I'll have to mirror you by setting a card and ending my turn."
"Not too shabby yourself either." Serena complimented, stepping forward. "But now it's my turn to face you! Draw!" She grinned at the card. "I'll activate the effect of Lunalight Black Sheep (2*/100/600/DARK/Beast-Warrior/Effect) in my hand. I discard it to add Fusion Substitute, which is treated as "Polymerization", to my hand. Now, I'll Normal Summon Lunalight White Rabbit (2*/800/800/DARK/Beast-Warrior/Effect) and activate its effect. I Special Summon a "Lunalight" from the graveyard in Defence Position! Come back, Lunalight Black Sheep! Now I'll activate the spell card Fusion Substitute! Using monsters I control as materials, I can Fusion Summon! I'll fuse Lunalight Black Sheep and Lunalight White Rabbit!" She gave a confident smirk. "The sheep lurking in the black night! The lively white rabbit illuminated by moonlight! Swarm in a vortex of the moon's gravity and revive with a new power! Fusion Summon! Come forth! Lunalight Cat Dancer!" (7*/2400/2000/DARK/Beast-Warrior/Fusion/Effect)
A graceful dancer with ribbons swirling around her appeared. Despite the air of gracefulness and seemingly lackadaisical attitude of the monster, he could feel something strange behind that. Power… and something feral.
Despite his seeming lack of care towards the duel, he cared a lot. Not exactly about making friends, but about getting to know these two. Know why they would stand up for Yuya. And if a duel reflected one's true character, then…
"I'll set the Scale 5 Lunalight Tiger (3*/S5/1200/800/LIGHT/Beast-Warrior/Pendulum/Effect) in the Pendulum Scale and activate its Pendulum Effect. I Special Summon a "Lunalight" monster from the graveyard with its effects negated, also it cannot attack and it is destroyed at the end of my turn. Return, Lunalight White Rabbit. Now, I will activate the effect of Lunalight Cat Dancer—"
"Stop right there." Yuri said, his smirk growing. Seriously? "I will activate the effect of Starving Venemy Dragon. Once per turn, I negate a monster's effect and copy it. Not only that, but your monster's attack points are reduced by 500. Both of these effects only last until the end of the turn. Finally, you take 500 damage! Do it, Starving Venemy! Powerless Hunger!"
Vines shot out from the ground, forcing Cat Dancer to its knees before Serena winced at the shockwave that was sent towards them. Yuri couldn't stop himself from feeling just a little bit of triumph there—after all, Yuya had been hit with a shockwave too, so it was only fair that he, as Yuya's older brother, returned the pain—or so to speak.
Yuzu Kurosaki/Serena Kurosaki: 3500 - 500 = 3000LP
Serena managed a larger smile. "Good thing it's once per turn. You're not going to be able to stop us! I will complete my Scale with the Scale 1 Lunalight Wolf (6*/S1/2000/1800/DARK/Beast-Warrior/Pendulum/Effect) and I will activate its Pendulum Effect. I may banish materials from my field or graveyard to Fusion Summon once per turn. I will banish Lunalight Black Sheep and Lunalight White Rabbit from my graveyard and field respectively. Swirl in the darkness and become a new power! Fusion Summon! The quiet one who watches over the dancers in the moonlight! Lunalight Cat Songstress!" (7*/S1/2000/1500/DARK/Beast-Warrior/Fusion/Pendulum/Effect)
Fascinating. So this Fusion user was not as much of a one-trick pony as the previous one… Yuri recalled duelling against Masumi Kotsu. How honestly, once he destroyed her ace, she had no way to defeat him. Maybe this would be more interesting.
"When Cat Songstress is summoned, if I control another "Lunalight" Fusion monster, it gains a special effect that I will not tell you yet. I will activate the spell card Luna Light Fragrance. I can special summon a banished "Lunalight" monster to my field. Return, Lunalight White Rabbit. Then, I will activate the second effect of Lunalight Cat Songstress!"
"Really getting me excited to see the first effect here." Yuri said dryly, hearing Yuto suppress a chuckle—and noting how he blushed slightly when the black-haired Kurosaki girl gave a small laugh. Hmm…
"I tribute a "Lunalight" monster I control to give a "Lunalight" Fusion Monster I control the ability to attack all monsters twice per turn, and have those monsters not be destroyed by the battle! I'll give that effect to Cat Dancer," she gave Yuri a glare, "considering that you blocked me from activating it earlier."
"My apologies." He said, giving her a mocking smirk. Of course he had known Cat Dancer's effect, they had seen it while they were at the entrance exams. Devastating, and powerful.
"Grr…! I will activate Lunalight Cat Songstress's first effect." She smirked. "The one you wanted to see, no? I can halve its attack and this turn, it can attack you directly. (Lunalight Cat Songstress: 2000/2 = 1000ATK) Battle Phase! Lunalight Cat Songstress will attack you directly! Melody in the Moonlight!" The monster let out a low purr, before vanishing and striking him in the back. Before he could react, it had teleported back to Serena's side.
Yuya Sakaki/Yuri Sakaki: 2900 - 1000 = 1900LP
"Now go, Cat Dancer! Crush Ophrys Scorpio twice! Full Moon Cresta!"
The dancer quickly wrecked his plant monster. Yuri frowned. That was annoying.
Yuya Sakaki/Yuri Sakaki: 1900 - 700x2 = 500LP
"Now destroy Spinodionaea!"
Yuya Sakaki/Yuri Sakaki: 500 - 100x2 = 300LP
"I end my turn." She smirked. "Well? How was that?"
So proud. Geez… "Passable." He said roughly. "Over to you, Yuya."
Yuya stepped forward. "Draw! With the set Pendulum Scales, I will Pendulum Summon! Return to entertain everyone, Oafdragon Magician! And let's welcome our new performer to the stage! The one, the only Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!" (7*/2500/2000/DARK/Dragon/Pendulum/Effect) The two monsters appeared on the field. Yuzu gave him an encouraging round of applause and he nodded in thanks. "I will activate Starving Venemy Dragon's effect! I will negate Lunalight Cat Songstress's effects, steal them, lower its attack points by 500 and deal you 500 damage! Do it, Starving Venemy! Powerless Hunger!"
Aww, he was saying the exact same thing that Yuri himself had said. So nice.
Yuzu Kurosaki/Serena Kurosaki: 3000 - 500 = 2500LP
"Now, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon will attack Lunalight Cat Songstress! And Odd-Eyes deals double the damage when battling a monster!"
"What?" Serena's eyes widened. "Damn, that's what defeated Chronos…"
"Do it, Odd-Eyes! Spiral Flame Strike! Reaction Force!"
Yuzu Kurosaki/Serena Kurosaki: 2500 - 1000x2 = 500LP
"Starving Venemy will destroy Cat Dancer! Enmity Spore!"
Yuzu Kurosaki/Serena Kurosaki: 500 - 100 = 400LP
"And Oafdragon Magician will finish it!"
The monster walked up to the girls, before giving them a simple bow, and slicing its sword across the air, knocking them back with a simple gust of wind.
Yuzu Kurosaki/Serena Kurosaki: 400 - 2100 = 0LP
Yuya walked up to Yuzu, helping her up. "Thank you for helping with the performance."
Yuzu blushed a little. "No problem."
Oh, was there love in the air after all? Yuri snickered. That made a total of two brothers to tease... and if banana head ended up crushing hard on someone too... yes, this was very good.
"Hey." Serena walked up to him. "That was a good Duel. I hope…" she seemed to struggle on the words. "I hope we can duel again."
"..." He began laughing. "That hurt to say, didn't it? That being said, my brothers are trying to get me to be nicer to other people, and I think it's the same for you." He held out his hand. "Friends?"
"Friends. My sisters want me to be a little more approachable, too." She shook his hand. "Thanks for the duel."
"Now that all that's settled…" Yuto offered a hand to Ruri. "Shall we?"
The second duel was about to begin.
A/N: So yeah, that's chapter 4! I hope the duel was to your liking. Thanks so much for reading! I really appreciate it, and I hope you enjoyed reading too. Not sure when the next chapter will come out, but I'll make time. Promise :) Anyway, this chapter debuted Yuzu and Serena, as well as Starving Venemy Dragon and Lunalight Cat Songstress. I really liked how the Manga gave the male counterparts Pendulum versions of their aces, and therefore, I wanted to give the girls Pendulums too! So Cat Songstress is a Fusion-Pendulum, and SPOILER there will be a Pendulum version of every counterpart's aces minus Yuya for obvious reasons.
Lunalight Cat Songstress (7*/2000/1500/DARK/Beast-Warrior/Fusion/Pendulum/Effect)
(2 "Lunalight" monsters)
Pendulum Effect: Once per turn, you may reduce the damage from a battle to zero.
When this card is Special Summoned, if you control one or more other "Lunalight' Fusion Monsters, or if you have "Lunalight Cat Dancer" in your graveyard or field, this card gains the following effect:
You may halve this monster's attack. If you do so, this turn, it may attack your opponent directly.
You may tribute a "Lunalight" monster you control, then target a "Lunalight" Fusion Monster you control: This turn, it may attack all your opponent's monsters twice, and on the first attack, the monsters are not destroyed.
You may only activate each effect of Lunalight Cat Songstress once per turn.
So yeah! Thanks for reading! The chapter preview is right below this :p
Chapter 5: Winter Winds and Night Song
Yuto and Yugo duel Ruri and Rin. Yuto is distracted, worried about Yuya's reaction to the anniversary of their father's birthday, until something happens that snaps him out of it...
Bye!
-Blaise
Edit: (8/7/19) Added some spaces, centralised life points. Quite the minor edit :3
Edit: (11/10/20) Updated duel formatting, in general fixed a lot of presentation issues.