Foreword: ...Er...No foreword this time. I would if my computer was cooperating...
Touhou Duel Masters Café
Chapter 19 – Hollow Rivalry (Part1)
"I understand now. Please make yourselves at home and use the two rooms Michael and Jonathan had left. They're large enough o accommodate a few people, so please make yourselves comfortable." Edo told the 6 girls. "We will try to assist in the searching of them tomorrow."
"Thank you." Reimu replied curtly, and led Alice and Remilia to Michael's room while Marisa entered Jonathan's room with Sakuya and Sanae to rest.
It was now late at night, hours after Reimu's company explained their situation to the Constellations.
The moon shone bright white, not a single cloud stopped her from smiling upon the earth.
"Rad." Edo's voice echoed throughout the temple, stopping the Fire duelist in his tracks. "Where do you think you're going at this time of the night?"
"…Just going to have some fun." Rad turned and replied lazily. "Just like usual. It's not like we're in danger or anything."
"Rad." The short-haired boy's voice hardened. "I wish you would take your role seriously. We're going to find out two missing members, and I seriously hope that you can regulate your sleeping cycle and stop being so lazy."
"Nada nada nada." Rad just ignored him and walked towards the doors of the temple. "Go tell that to Subaru and Tsugumi too."
"You…!" Edo started, but Rad was already out of the temple, and the Water duelist let out a defeated sigh. "Subaru, Tsugumi and Rad… They're brilliant duelists… But they just won't take their duties seriously…"
Sora came up to him and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, and Edo relaxed a little from his friend's consolation.
"Hah…Where are those two when you need them?"
"I'm sure we'll find them soon, with the help of these people."
"I hope so…"
Reimu sat on the wide bed, absently chewing a cookie as her friends gathered around for some girl's talk, and an analysis of the current situation.
"…" Not minding what they were saying, she just hugged her legs and stared into space. It was just like and eternal amount of time passing by her as she just sat there, doing nothing.
"…mu… Rei…mu… Reimu!" Marisa's voice snapped her back to reality.
"Huh? Marisa? What's up?" She looked at the ordinary magician, who stared back worriedly.
"You weren't responding just now…thought your soul just left you ze." Marisa told her best friend.
"No… It's nothing." The shrine maiden replied dismissively.
"We know you enough that it's not nothing." Alice said. "You can tell us. We're your friends aren't we?"
Sanae's head bobbed up and down. "Yes, Reimu-san! You can tell us your problems. We'll be sure to hear you out!"
"…I'm scared." Reimu said quietly.
"Huh…?"
"I'm scared…they'll leave us again." Reimu's bangs covered her eyes. "They've just come back…and I don't want to lose them again. Not this time. Now they're gone... And…"
"…" Climbing up on the bed, Marisa clapped her lightly on the back.
"It's all right… I feel the same too. I don't want to lose them again… But you've got us!" She smiled cheerfully. "We'll bring them back, no matter what, right?"
The others nodded in agreement.
"Reimu, I promise you that I will definitely bring them back safely." Alice said as Shanghai waved her hands.
"Heheh… To see Reimu-san show an expression like this… I'll help out too!" Sanae quipped in.
"You have my word, as the owner of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, that I, Remilia Scarlet, will assist in saving the two most important people to you!" Remilia put her hand over her chest, and Sakuya did the same as her mistress.
"Heh, see that Reimu?" Marisa grinned. "We're all in this together!"
"Everyone…" A smile crept onto Reimu's lips. "Thank you."
Pushing through the doors, Rad waddled into the club, walking through the dancing people and various drinks on the table. Humming a tune to himself, he scanned the club, and to his surprise, found a familiar face among the crowd. Smiling, he walked over and clapped Subaru, who was twirling a wine class in his hands, on the back.
"Huh? Oh hey, man." He greeted his friend as he went back to twirling the glass.
"Heh, what's with that bored look? It certainly doesn't seem like you." The redhead said.
"Hah… It's just that having to deal with popularity is tiring…" He smiled at a fan who waved at him. "And…"
He glanced towards the side, and Rad caught a glimpse of Tsugumi drinking and laughing with a few of her own friends. The Fire duelist smiled.
"Ho…" Rad nudged Subaru playfully. "You got a thing for her? I see you've been eyeing her since I joined up with you guys."
"…" Subaru exhaled slowly. "It's a long story."
"I'm all ears." Grabbing a glass of wine from a tray, Rad leaned on the counter to listen.
Refilling his glass, Subaru started to talk.
"It was quite a long time ago… Our family feud thing." He said. "The Geki family and the Shirayama family…"
"Me and my brother were raised to be top duelists, surrounded with praises and fans… I took everything for granted, and I believed myself to be the top duelist of my age. And one day, I met her."
"It was at a tournament, and I was confident I would beat her to prove my family's name. And…It was a humiliating defeat for me." Subaru gritted his teeth. "I will never forget that day…that my family name was shamed." Cracks appeared on the glass, and he downed all of the liquid inside it in one go as Rad whistled.
Letting out a breath, he continued. "From that day, I vowed to defeat her. To take back my family's honor… And to get revenge for that humiliating defeat."
"Man, this whole family feud shit… I just don't understand it." Rad shook his head as he refilled his own and Subaru's glass.
"Of course you don't." The Darkness duelist replied sourly. "My family's different from yours. My family is the best!" His voice grew a little louder. "The Geki shall defeat the Shirayamas one day…and I will make that happen. I swear!"
"Man…Keep you voice down a little." Rad tugged at him as Subaru earned a few side-glances from people nearby.
"Chi… I tell you Rad." His voice turned back to its normal volume. "Our family will bow down to no one. My dad, my mom, Blane, me… Especially not to the Shirayamas…"
Dione and Valzaark were in the same club, enjoying the atmosphere and drinks.
"How is it? Dione, Valzaark?" Tsugumi beamed at them. "I told you this place wasn't bad. It's time you start being more sociable!"
Izabella made no comment as she nibbled on piece of fruit.
"…It's not half bad." Dione said quietly.
Valzaark just nodded his agreement.
"Heh… Never underestimate the Shirayamas and their broad network of communications!" She boasted as she popped a small piece of cake into her mouth.
"…" Dione pointed towards their left. "Is that Subaru and Rad?"
"…That arrogant kid? Hmph, leave him be. I'd rather he not notice us." She chugged down a glass of wine.
"…He seems to be looking this way." Dione said, brushing through her short blue hair.
"Just ignore him." Tsugumi refilled her glass.
"…Geki shall defeat the Shirayamas one day…" That one sentence stung Tsugumi's ears.
"…Heh, you know what, guys?" She smirked. "How about I tell you a little about my family's history?"
"The Shirayamas… The greatest family that could ever exist." The Light duelists started. "The one that will eventually dominate the Gekis completely. That one day I defeated Subaru…It was oh so glorious! I feel like I can forever revel in that day, and remind him over and over again of it."
"We have feuded for decades, and neither family was able to dominate the other, and that day, I proved that Shirayama was better. Geki can never hope to defeat me!" Her voice rose as her cheeks started to turn red.
Dione's glass stopped at her cherry lips, and Valzaark's drink became stuck halfway down his throat.
"…What the fuck did she just say!?" Subaru turned to Tsugumi's direction, fuming. "That bitch…!"
"Oh man, this is gonna be fun…" Rubbing his hands together enthusiastically, Rad cheered him on. "Go on, Subaru, show her what you're worth!"
This earned a hard, accusing stare from Dione, Valzaark and Izabella, but he ignored them.
"I believe in you, Subaru!" He egged him on. "Go!"
"Shirayama Tsugumi…" He walked up to said girl, cheeks red from both anger and alcohol. "Maybe I shall show you my real strength that developed over these years?"
"Heh… The difference between our strength will always be the same, Geki Subaru!" She retorted.
"Cut it out, you two." Valzaark stood between them. "This is not a place for you to be settling personal differences."
"Out of the way, Valzaark!" Subaru growled. "I'll teach this bitch a lesson this time for sure!"
"Oh yeah." Tsugumi jeered. "Let everyone know how much of a loser you are!"
"You…!"
"I said cut it out! Now!" The blue-haired boy found his voice rising like the other two.
"Now, now Valzaark." Rad put a hand on his shoulder and shoved a drink into his hands. "Let's not ruin this moment, shall we? It's not often there's entertainment like this!"
"…" Shrugging off Rad's arm, the dark-skinned duelist turned to face him. "And you'll be taking responsibility for what happens after this?"
"Oh sure!" Rad grinned. "What price is that for some fun?"
"…" Throwing one last glare at him, Valzaark sank back into his chair beside Dione.
"Heheh…"
People were making a circle around the two duelists, some worried, some excited to see the Constellations duel against each other.
"I'll show you how my Darkness works!" Subaru snarled as he brandished his deck.
"I'll vanquish that with my Light!" Tsugumi's fingers touched her card case. "From now on… I'll show you my Perfect Duel!"
The people around murmured among themselves. To win without having a single shield broken by the opponent… That is the Perfect Duel her family has passed on for generations.
"Duema…Start!"
BGM: The Wall that is to be Crossed (Lost Heroes 2 BGM)
"I summon Jasmine and destroy her to boost 1 mana from my deck top." Subaru declared as the Snow Faerie dropped into his graveyard and his deck top went into his mana.
"I cast Aquan Jr.'s Delivery." Tsugumi revealed 3 cards from the top of her deck, and added Death Gate, Rising Sun and Wired to her hand.
"…My turn." Shaking the dizziness from his head, Subaru drew his next card. "I can't summon Jenny with Berlin here… I cast Lifeplan Charger!"
Taking and showing Wolf Tiger Thunder Blade from the top 5 cards of his deck to Tsugumu, Subaru returned the rest of the cards to his deck bottom and put Lifeplan Charger in his mana zone.
"I summon Loud Park." The Dragon Zombie/God Nova OMG appeared on Tsugumi's field. "I mill 3 cards from my deck to my graveyard, and I salvage Big Day Out from my graveyard." She caught the card as it flew from her graveyard to her hand.
"I summon Deathraios!" Subaru summoned the Demon Command. "I destroy him, and you must destroy one of your creatures too!"
"I destroy Loud Park."
"Now she can't link immediately…. Turn End."
"Heh…How foolish of you." Tsugumi smirked. "I summon Summer Sonia, and draw a card with her ability."
"I summon Maxval. Now all my Darkness creatures cost 1 less to summon!" The Grand Devil stood beside Subaru. "I cast Energy Light and draw 2 cards. Turn End."
"My turn, draw." Tsugumi started her turn. "I summon Glastonbury and God Link with Summer Sonia! Summer Sonia lets me draw 1 card, and Glastonbury gives -2000 power to Maxval and destroys him."
"Kuh…" Subaru winced as the God Nova OMG crushed his fellow Grand Devil mercilessly.
"Summer Sonia Glastonbury! Attack his shields!"
The linked God Nova OMGs slashed away one of Subaru's shields.
"My turn! I summon Thunder Blade and destroy Summer Sonia Glastonbury!"
The wolf Demon Command crashed down, slicing apart the two gods as he did, and Glastonbury went into Tsugumi's graveyard.
"This won't change anything! I summon Big Day Out!" Tsugumi summoned the Demon Command. "God Link! Big Day Out destroys Thunder Blade, and I draw a card with Summer Sonia!"
"…!"
"Battle! Summer Sonia Big Day Out! Double Break!"
"…Shield Trigger! Demon Hand! I destroy Summer Sonia Big Day Out!"
"…" Annoyance flickered over Tsugumi's face. "I destroy Summer Sonia."
"My turn! I cast Hyperdimensional Revive Hole and return Maxval to my hand. Then I bring out Black Ganveet to destroy Big Day Out!" The Demon Command rushed out of a portal, trampling down the God Nova OMG. "Then I summon Maxval. Turn End."
"…I summon God Izumo!" A winged child appeared on the Light Duelist's field. "Now you can't cast spells that cost 5 or less." Tsugumi smiled. "Let's see you take this on!"
"…I summon Deathraios and destroy him." Subaru started his turn, and the Demon Command self-destructed.
"I destroy Berlin." Tsugumi replied nonchalantly, and the Hedrian disappeared into light.
"…Turn End."
"Heh…This will seal the game!" Tsugumi drew a card, instantly charging it into her mana zone. "I summon Lollapalooza and freeze Maxval! God Link! I summon Oracle Jewel Omega! Tri-God Link!"
The God Nova OMG, Mecha Del Sol and Oracle all fused together, forming a three part god that shone their holy light upon the field. "God Izumo! Triple Break!"
Firing three beams of light, the last two shields Subaru had shattered.
"Kuh…" He looked at his broken shields. "Dorballom… But God Izumo is tri-linked… He can't leave the field…"
"My turn…I summon Maxval… Turn End."
"Hah! So that's what you're made of? Geki Subaru?" Tsugumi sneered. "You disappoint me. And you've let your whole family down too!"
"…" Subaru's knuckles turned white he clenched his fists.
"I summon Lollapalooza and freeze that last Maxval! Battle! God Izumo, todomeda!" Tsugumi ordered, and with a large beam of light, the God Nova OMG blasted away the Darkness duelist along with his cards.
"Uh…kuh…!" Struggling to get up, Subaru fell back down as the alcohol got to him. "Urgh…"
"Man, you're a mess." Rad chuckled as he helped his friend up and packed up his cards. "Let's get you out of here."
"Urgh…"
"Rad…" Dione frowned at him. "This is all your fault."
"Yeah yeah, I'll apologize after they snap out of this." Tossing Subaru's arm over his shoulder, the two duelists left the club.
"And Tsugumi… Don't you think you're going a little overboard with your insults?" Dione turned to her.
"Meh… He's just getting too annoying for me." Tsugumi sniffed. "And I beat him, after all."
"A duelist should never insult another over another's loss." Valzaark calmly stated.
"Hey! He started it first!" She argued. "What's wrong with defending my own family pride?"
"And trample on another's while you do?" Dione countered.
"I'm different from him!"
"You're not being very persuasive this way."
"…" Leaving the two duelists, Tsugumi turned and stormed away.
"…" Izabella just sighed along with Dione and Valzaark.
"Hang in there mate." Rad patted Subaru's back as the latter was vomiting over a sewer.
"Urgh… I swear… I swear one day…! I will have her taste this humiliation!" He swore under his breath. "I swear…"
"…Hah…"
"…There's only the 5 of you?" Reimu looked at the present Constellations.
"…Subaru is still resting after that duel yesterday." Dione answered. "Tsugumi isn't in a good mood… and Rad of course isn't helping."
"…What duel?" Edo frowned at her.
"…" Sighing Valzaark told all of them about the events in the club yesterday.
"…Wow, those two are totally not cool with each other." Marisa commented.
"And both are very arrogant and prideful too…" Sakuya added.
"…Those two are at it again huh…" Edo massaged his head. "And Rad is just not helpful…I'll have to punish them later on for making such a fuss. Just all of this…I wis those two were here to make things better."
"Sorry, we'll be taking them with us if we find them." Marisa said." They're from our world after all!"
"…" Sora stayed silent at this. "If they are our world's…then we will be the ones receiving them."
"Heh, we'll see!"
Decks:
Subaru: Anacolor Dorballom
Tsugumi: Dromar OMG