EPISODE 2- MINATO TAKES ACTION!

'That was so cool!' One of the students, big-boned with spiky blond hair said, congratulating Yumi 'How did you pull off a Synchro summon!? I never manage!'

'When your dragon entered the field, it was so cool!' said another, a girl with pink hair tied in pigtails. 'Can you teach me to be as good as you?'

Yumi sturrered in reply 'I- I- Synchro- Uhm?' she looked over at Minato, whispering 'Minato why?'

Minato nods, as he walks away, leaving Yumi to fend for herself.

…

In a dark alleyway that night, Minato is talking to someone over his Duel Disk. The Image of the person that should've been there, replaced with a "IMAGE NOT AVAIABLE"

'What about the audience?' The voice said, 'Did she react any differently when the audience showed up?'

'I don't think she noticed them, sir.' Minato answered, flashing his glasses in a nervous habit.

The voice sighed. 'You didn't tell her, didn't you? How many times have we gone over this, Minato? We at the Z-Hunters Organization exist to stop evil duelists from ever coming to rise ever again. No matter the cost, friendship or no.'

Minato looked down at the ground 'Of course, sir.'

'Does that end your report?'

'Yes.'

'Good. Do not fail our organization on your next assignment, Minato Muto, or else.' The voice said, as the missing image disappeared.

Minato sighed, walking home.

…

Yumi woke up in her bed, at home, rubbing her eyes. It was a Saturday, meaning that she was to stay at home and help out with her grandmother's tasks.

She got out of bed, immediately getting ready, and headed for the door, only to be greeted by a panicky Grandmother, running around the dinner table placing cups and plates, stopping, as she suddenly stopped to eye Yumi

'Get out!' She yelled, gesturing to the door

'But I- '

'Shut up! My friends are coming over! YOU DO THIS EVERY TIME THEY COME! GO!' She yelled, pointing toward the door, as Yumi rushed to grab a few things from her room, rushing out of the house as the door slammed behind her.

This has happened before. Her Grandmother assumes that the school had still allowed her to stay over at campus, in the higher-grade-dorms, but she hadn't paid; Thus, she hadn't stayed there.

Her smug smile returned as she darted down the street.

…

LATER, AT MINATO'S GRANDFATHER'S CARD SHOP:

'MINATO! COME QUICK!' Yelled his grandpa from downstairs.

Minato immideatly shot up at his grandfather's tone 'COMING!' he yelled, putting on his glasses and dashing out the door…

Only to trip on and fall onto the stairs.

At the bottom, A stubby old man with gray hair and dark eyes helped Minato up 'Are you Okay boy?'

'Yeah, grandpa, I'm fine.' Minato said, picking up his glasses and rubbing his temples. 'It's only the second time this week…'

Minato wandered out of the corridor, and into the part of his house that was a card shop. Just beyond his living room at the back of the house was a glittering and messy pawn shop, littered with cards and board games. On the counter, sat a cardboard box, and a box of card packs on the table. Minato's grandfather flicked a switch and the lights came on.

'The new cards arrived?' Minato asked, eyeing the box, opening the top to observe, box after box of Duel Monsters expansion packs.

'Yes boy,' His grandfather said, pulling out a card pack from the box on the table 'I want ya' to feel this card pack…'

Minato took the card pack from his grandpa, immideatly noticing its weight. 'It's heavy!'

'Exactly!'

'Does this mean it's a fake? Are there rares in there?'

His grandfather's exited smile extended. 'Boy, do you wanna know who I got this here box from?'

Mina to nodded softly, slightly confused.

'This morning, A man in a Black suit walked up to me as I was claiming the shipment of cards, and handed me this box! Told me it had somthin' SPECIAL in it! BOY, THAT MAN WAS WITH KAIBA CORP!'

'KAIBA CORP!?' Minato suddenly jumped up. The Kaiba Corporation had sent them a special card pack! 'Can I open it, Grandpa!?'

'Come to the other side, boy! We'll open it together!'

Minato Leapt over the counter to his grandfather's side, shocking him.

'GAH! Minato, don't do that!' His grandfather put his hand on his chest, as Minato jumped up and down, ecstatic. 'Save the skills for the action duels!'

The grandfather grabbed the bottom of the card pack, with Minato grabbing the top. The shop is suddenly silent.

'One...' They both counts, ready to tear the pack open.

'Two…' The card pack rustles.

'TH- 'suddenly, there is a knock at the door as the two yelped and dropped the card pack in panic.

Minato's grandfather rushed to the door, flipping the closed sign opening it. 'I'm sorry, we're supposed to be open- 'he stopped and eyed Yumi, still in her nightgown, standing at his doorstep. 'Yumi?'

'Yumi's here?' Minato asked, jogging up to the door.

'Hello sir, Hi Minato.' She says, slightly smiling. 'My grandmother's friends are in town again.'

They walked her in and told her of the situation.

'Before we open the card pack, can you lend young Yumi here some proper clothes?' Minato's grandfather said, turning to him.

'Sure,' he answered, rushing upstairs and down again.

Yumi returned later, dressed in Jeans and a Synchro-patterned shirt.

'Alright, kids! Ready?' The Grandfather asks, as they nodded, Minato flashing his glasses.

Minato's grandfather held the card pack and as they all counted to three, he tore it open…

And a hard plastic, metallic-painted card came tumbling out.

'...What?' Minato asks, confused.

His grand father picked up the card, and read its contents aloud:

'CONGRADULATIONS, DUELIST.

YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO ATTEND KAIBA CORP'S MEMORIAL ACTION DUEL TOURAMENT

IN MEMORY OF THE DEATH OF A VERY IMPORTANT ANONYMOUS INDIVIDUAL.

PRESENT THIS CARD TO THE GUARDS OUTSIDE KAIBA CORP. AND THEY WILL UNDERSTAND ITS MEANING.

THE DUEL WILL NOT BE PUBLIC; HOWEVER, THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE A SMALL FRACTION OF MONEY FROM KAIBA CORP.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE

-KAIBA CORP.'

'A TOURNAMENT!?' Minato yelled, just as a customer walked in. He was shushed by his grandfather.

Yumi thought to herself. 'An opportunity to test my skills.'

Yumi and Mina to both reached their hands out.

'Grandpa- '

'Mr. Muto- '

'Please hand me the invite!'

…

The two stared at each other, as Minato's grandpa smiled, pulling out his duel disk from his desk. 'I believe you two know the customs…'

Yumi grabbed the disk, as she and Minato dashed to the back of the shop, through a door on the left, entering the Duel Field Room.

Minato's Grandpa ran out of the house, reaching his head Out of the door 'ACTION DUEL! WE HAVE AN ACTION DUEL IN HERE…!' A good small amount of people rushed into the shop, walking to the same room

In the room, Minato and Yumi prepped their Duel Disks, as the crowd rushed into the control room above.

The elderly man lifted a card. 'I activate the field spell: The Dracovenlord's castle!'

The surroundings inside the room changed, as a massive dark silver castle and moat rose from the ground.

The crown announced:

'Duelists locked in battle!'

'Kicking the earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters!'

'They storm through this field!'

The grandfather joined in, delivering the final line: 'Behold! This is the newest and greatest evolution of Dueling! ACTIONNNNNNNNNN…'

He snapped, Action cards sprinkling over the arena

'DUEL!'

…

(Now go and pretend its commercial break)

…

TURN 1: YUMI: 8000, MINATO: 8000

'My turn!' Minato yells.

'I activate the continuous spell, Pendelumograph! Now you can't target Spellcaster monsters I control!'

A card rises from the ground, featuring an azure pendulum circle.

'Now, I summon my Double Iris Magician!'

From the sky, a red-robed magician with double-coloured eyes lands before them, swinging his gold sword as the aura of Pendulumograph shone on him

That ends my turn, he says, sprinting off around the moat to search for an Action card.

Yumi draws.

'I summon, Crowley, Magistus of Grimoires in attack position!'

Another magician from her deck, with white robes and wielding a grimoire instead of a staff, rose to the field though.

'Now, I enter battle phase!'

Halfway across the moat, Minato manages to catch a card. 'Nice try, but I activate the ACTION TRAP: ATTACK FORCE! My Double Iris Magician's attack boosts itself from 1500 to 2100 I during damage calculation only!'

Crowley fires a flame, invoked from his tome to hand, only for Double Iris Magician to reflect it with his sword, burning Crowley down instead.

'Darn,' Yumi says, smiling. 'You've gotten faster! Then I activate Magistus Virita, summoning Crowley back to the field and end my turn!'

Red strings of flame erupted from where Crowley stood, unravelling to reveal Crowley himself, returned.

Yumi dashes through the moat, into the castle, sending Crowley to guard the entrance.

TURN 3: YUMI: 7700, MINATO:8000

My turn! DRAW!'

'I summon, Performapal Skullcrobat Joker, Attack position, and attack Crowley!'

A clown dressed in purple and white with a big top hat and mask appeared, headbutting Crowley and shattering them both.

'Now, Double Iris! Attack her life points!'

Double Iris dashes up the stairs of the castle at lightning speed, striking Yumi (albeit softly). Minato enters the castle as well, as the viewers from outside observed them through cameras in the castle.

YUMI: 6200

'I end my turn.'

Yumi, now on the second floor of castle, continues running. Minato's magician follows

She draws

'I summon Zoroa, Magistus of flame! And equip him with Aiwass, the spell spirit to summon Crowley back, once again!'

'Here it comes!' Minato thought.

'I TUNE ZOROA WITH CROWLEY!'

Once again, Zoroa and Crowley turn into electric circles, surrounding the entire floor of the castle

'SHINE LIKE BURNING STARS AND BREAK THROUGH EVEN THE DEEPEST DARKNESS!'

A Colossal red man, with runes upon his body, Vahram's wings sprouting from his back with flaming arms emerges, crashing down the castle, Minato and Yumi landing safely.

'LET'S LIGHT EM UP!'

'SYNCHRO SUMMON! LEVE 8, ZOROA, THE MAGISTUS CONFLRANGANT CALAMITY!'

'Using his effect, I equip Aiwass to him, boosting his attack to 4900!'

A massive azure staff appears, Zoroa grasping it.

'NOW ZOROA! FLAMES OF ULTIMATIUM!'

Zoroa braces his hands together, breathing flame onto them as the flame becomes a condensed beam of destruction fired at double iris magician, scarring the ground.

MINATO: 4600

'I end my turn...'

Minato stands up, weary from the tower crash, and draws.

'It's time to show you, my skill!'

He shows two cards in front of Yumi

'I TAKE PERFORMAPAL PENDULUM SORCERER AND HARMONIZING MAGICIAN AND SET THE PENDULUM SCALE!'

He lays them upon his Disk, as two bright blue beams rose, Pendulum Sorcerer and Harmonizing Magician appearing in both, number below them, 2 and 8.

'Here it is,' she thought 'Minato's Pendulum Summoning!'

'MAGICIANS AND PERFORMERS! UNITE UNDER THE SWING OF A PENDULUM AND BRING FORTH A NEW AGE!'

He raises his hand into the air, as beams of light come out of the Pendulum circle, manifesting as monsters.

'PENDULUM SUMMON! COME TO THE FIELD!

- DOUBLE IRIS MAGICIAN!

- PERFORMAPAL SKULLCROBAT JOKER!

- AND FROM THE HAND! DOUBLE IRIS MAGICIAN!

AND DUE TO PENDULUM SORCERER'S EFFECT: JOKER'S ATTACK IS INCREASED BY 1000 INTO 2800!'

He scoops up a rouge action card. 'And, I activate the action card, Single destruction! Since you only control ONLY Zoroa, it allows me to destroy him!'

'All my monsters attack you at once, dropping you to 400 Lp!'

Again, Yumi is hit by their attacks, only slightly dodging, as her life pints go down.

YUMI: 400

'With that, my turn ends.'

Yumi draws 'I set a card in defense, and end my turn.' A card appears, face down on the field.

Yumi eyes the rubble of the castle carefully, until her eyes stumble upon a single action card, under a piece of castle

She dashes, but Minato sees her and does too. Sliding across the ground, he grabs the action card.

With that, the final turn begins

'I DRAW!'

'I ACTIVATE THE ACTION CARD MAD HURRICANE! IT SHUFFLES YOUR FACEDOWN INTO THE DECK!'

'Now. Go! DOUBLE IRIS SLASH!'

Yumi is knocked back by the final attack, Life pints hitting zero as the hologram fades. She rises to her feet, reaching out to shake Minato's hand.

Suddenly, the audience cheers, and Yumi jumps.

'You didn't notice them?' Mina to asks, flashing his glasses

'N-no?' She answers, moving to the door, blocking her face.

Minato had hoped she would've, so he could at least report a little to his boss.

Yumi walks past the audience, whispering to Minato's grandpa 'I'm going out...'

Yumi sat on a bench at the city square, in the sunny day, raising Odd-Eyes Synchron to the sky.

'So, I lost...' She thought. She had originally planned to go to the tournament, only to see if her skills were that of a professional. She didn't really want to participate in something that wouldn't get the public's attention. 'I'm always thinking of becoming like him… but my attitude toward the audience...' Her mind flashed back to Yuya's performance, and how it had uplifted her sad past life, and inspired her to become a duelist. She put the card in her pocket, closing her eyes. 'I promise, Yuya Sakaki, I will become just as good as you one day, then I'll return this to you.'

She opened her eyes, and walked on ahead, searching for duelists on the street looking for a duel

However, a set of Azure eyes spotted her as she left the bench

'Is that….' He says, smiling smugly. He pulls on his tie, signalling his body guards to follow him 'Hey Miss!' He called out to Yumi, as she yelps.

'Y-Yes!?'

The man thinks carefully before speaking. 'I was wondering if you could show me that card you were holding.'

Yumi backs away, shaking her head.

'I see.' He extends his hand, 'I mean you no harm, I just wanted to see. My name's Mirai.'

Yumi shook his hand, eyeing the bodyguards behind him 'My name's y-Yumi. Can I a-ask a question?'

'Sure.'

'Why do you have bodyguards following you?'

Mirai is quiet for a second, pulling back his hand. 'Well, that's because I am an important figure of a very important company. Have you ever heard of Kaiba Corp?'

Yumi straightens. 'Kaiba Corp… the same one as…' She bows slightly. 'Pleasure to meet you- '

'Please, stand up straight.' Mirai eyes Yumi, looking for something out of place, not noticing anything.

'I'm sorry, but I have to leave' He signals his men, as he walks past Yumi. Yumi stares in confusion as the figure walks away.

Suddenly, Minato ran up to her, out of nowhere.

'Yumi! Why are you in city square? What if your grandmother finds you?'

Yumi, in realisation, snaps her fingers. 'Right!'

'C'mon, let's move!' Minato starts running, but Yumi froze.

Her hand had dropped down to her pocket, noticing something amiss. Panicking, Yumi searched her pockets, looking for it, but it wasn't there.

'It's gone.' She said shaking 'Someone stole my Odd Eyes Synchron!'

TO BE CONTINUED

NEXT TIME: EPISODE 3: THE Z-HUNTERS' ORIGINS, AND MIRAI'S AMBITION!