Let's see how long it takes for me to finish this chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter Two

The Number Hunter

(Asakusa Main Street, afternoon)

Asuka and Yumi walked together talking about their respective decks. "So you inherited yours from your grandfather as well?" Asuka nodded. "He decided that it was better suited for me than any other deck type." The grey-haired girl nodded in agreement. "It is faster than most Deck styles." As they rounded a corner, they spotted a man holding hostages at gunpoint while making demands with the police. As he called out "Where's the money?!", glass shattered above him and a young man in a blue jacket landed in front of him, a Duel Disk attached to his arm.

Looking up at the criminal, the young man spoke. "Your soul is tainted." The man looked at him. "What the hell do you mean by that?!" The blue-garbed Duelist stood up, his right eye turning light blue, and his left eye turning red. The criminal backstepped in surprise. "What the hell...?" The young man replied, "I am the light that disperses darkness in human hearts. I am a Number Hunter, and you hold one of them, specifically Number 17." The criminal's eyes widened. "How...? What are you?"

The young man grinned, and activated his Duel Disk. "Allow me to hunt your Number, to free your soul!" Though surprised by the declaration, the criminal activated his Duel Disk, and stood his ground. "Mind wagering one of your Numbers, then, Number Hunter?" The Hunter grinned in reply. "Sure. I don't expect to lose, either way." Both Yumi and Asuka were shocked by his confidence. The two opponents drew their starting hands, and the Duel began.

(Atsuta: 4000)

(Akiru: 4000)

Atsuta, the criminal, made the first move. "I'll get this started! I Draw!" He grinned at his options. "I'll Summon my Big Jaws to the field!"

(Big Jaws appeared: a level 3 monster with 1800 ATK)

The Number Hunter was unimpressed. "I'm hunting your Number, not some fish." Atsuta spoke up again. "I'm not done! Since I just Summoned a Fish-type monster, I can Summon Shark Stickers from my hand!"

(Shark Stickers appeared: a level 3 monster with 200 ATK)

Yumi spoke up. "Two level four monsters... He can Xyz Summon on his first turn." The criminal spoke up. "I Overlay Big Jaws and Shark Stickers! With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network, to Xyz Summon Number 17: Leviathan Dragon!" As he spoke, the two monsters vanished in streams of blue light before flying into a galaxy portal, which exploded, revealing an orb surrounded by four scythe-like appendages, which transformed into a six-winged blue-scaled dragon, the Number 17 glowing on a horn on the right side of its head, as it let out a roar, two blue light streaks circling around it.

(Number 17: Leviathan Dragon appeared: a Rank 3 Xyz monster with 2000 ATK and 2 Overlay Units)

Asuka's eyes widened. Yumi's mouth dropped in shock. "So this is a Number Card..." Akiru spoke up. "The Number comes." Atsuta continued. "I'll activate my Number's special ability! By using one Overlay Unit, it permanently gains 500 Attack Points!" One of the blue light streaks flew into the dragon's mouth and was eaten, the dragon gaining strength.

(Leviathan Dragon's ATK: 2500)

Atsuta was grinning. "I'll leave it at that!" Asuka was genuinely terrified of the dragon. "It gets stronger with every turn?!" Yumi spoke up. "No. I believe that ability utilizes its Overlay Units, which means he can only activate it one more time." Akiru spoke up. "He won't have another turn. I Draw!" Not even looking at the card he drew, he put it in his hand before choosing another one. "I'll activate the Spell Card Photon Sanctuary! When this Spell is activated, I get to Summon two Photon Tokens!"

(Photon Tokens appear: each with 0 DEF)

Atsuta was confused. "What are those supposed to do?" Akiru held up another card. "Watch. I sacrifice both Tokens!" The two Shinobi watched on. "When I have two monsters with 2000 or more Attack Points, I sacrifice them both to Summon one of my signature cards as a Special Summon!" Putting the card onto his Duel Disk, he then gripped the four-pronged object that appeared next to him. "Avatar of light, come forth!" Throwing the object into the air, he called out, "I Summon the cosmic scourge that vaporizes everything in its path, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!" Three streams of light entered the object as the dragon appeared with a roar.

(Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon appeared: a level 8 monster with 3000 ATK)

Yumi's eyes widened. "That dragon holds great power..." The Hunter continued. "I now Summon my Trident Warrior!"

(Trident Warrior appeared: a level 4 monster with 1800 ATK)

"Once he's Summoned, I get to Summon a level 3 monster from my hand! Say hello to my friend, Shine Knight!"

(Shine Knight appeared: a level 3 monster with 1900 DEF)

(Shine Knight's level: 4)

Asuka spoke up. "Hey! How'd its level go up?!" Facing her, the Hunter explained. "While in Defense Mode, Shine Knight becomes level 4." Asuka backed up. "I'm sorry..." Ignoring the apology as she had done nothing wrong, the young man continued. "I Overlay Trident Warrior and Shine Knight! With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network, to Xyz Summon Starliege Paladynamo!" A swordsman bathed in light appeared, his sword seemingly made of energy.

(Starliege Paladynamo appeared: a Rank 4 Xyz monster with 2000 ATK and 2 Overlay Units)

Atsuta scoffed. "Please. That wimp doesn't stand a chance against my Number!" Akiru answered, "Watch this. I activate his Special Abiltiy! By using both Overlay Units, Leviathan Dragon's abilities are negated, and its Attack Points drop to zero!" The criminal's eyes widened as both Overlay Units were absorbed into the warrior's sword, with Leviathan Dragon groaning as its Attack Points dropped.

(Leviathan Dragon's ATK: 0)

The Number Hunter continued. "Starliege Paladynamo, attack Leviathan Dragon! Cosmic Slash!" The warrior beheaded the dragon, the latter exploding as a result as its owner took damage, grimacing.

(Atsuta: 2000)

The Number Hunter shook his head, unimpressed. "This is actually kind of sad. I'm ending this now. Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, attack him directly! Photon Stream of Destruction!" The dragon pulled its head back before unleashing a stream of pure energy at the opponent, the criminal screaming as he was sent flying back.

(Atsuta: 0)

(Akiru: WIN)

As the criminal started to get up, Akiru reached forward with his right hand. Atsuta growled. "I'm not handing it over, kid!" Akiru replied, "Wasn't asking." His hand became surrounded in a blue aura as the criminal's Number flew out of his hand and into the Hunter's, shocking everyone present. Yumi stared at him in shock. "How did he perform such a feat?" Atsuta's eyes widened before he gripped his head, a dark aura appearing around him before vanishing. Looking around, he started to cry. "What have I done?!"

Both Shinobi looked at where the Hunter had stood, understandably surprised to see that he was gone. Asuka spoke up. "Where'd he go?!" Yumi looked around for a moment, then back at the criminal crying in shame as he was arrested, a thoughtful look on her face. 'These Numbers can corrupt humans... I see why he hunts them, to save others from them.' She and Asuka left the area to tell the others, not noticing the Number Hunter watching them from a fair distance. 'One of you holds a Number, but since you two don't feel corrupted by one, the Number can wait. I have more important targets anyway.'

A/N

Considering that this involves the Numbers, did you really think I wouldn't toss in a Number Hunter? Also, it only took me 40 minutes to write this.