Touhou Duel Masters Café
Chapter 34 – Silver Key
An uncomfortable silence filled the air between the four in the café, only occasionally broken by the sipping of drinks coming from Nekohana's direction, which was usually stopped abruptly by a stare from Demon Subaru.
"To think that the mighty Shishima would bow down to another. Ironic isn't?" Nekohana put down her mug and jeered at the otherworldy youkai who took on the form of Subaru of his world.
"At least I'm not pretending what I'm not and never will be." Demon Subaru countered. "Youkai turning into human and merging into the human society? That will not happen."
"That's rich, coming from your mouth." The other youkai seethed. "Maybe you'd sound more convincing if you shed that human skin you're in. Oh right…I forgot you can't."
"Oh, I'd be happy to do that after I peel your skin off."
"I will not have useless blood shed in my café." Jonathan straightened his back. "I don't know you, or what happened between you in the past, but I will not tolerate unwanted violence here."
"I don't take orders from humans." Demon glowered at the white haired young man.
"You'll certainly take orders from our, and your future, employer. So maybe you should consider that."
"…" Demon Subaru looked away with an annoyed click of his tongue. "It's even more irritating when you look just like them in my world."
"Deal with it." Jonathan told him. "You look just like Subaru too…but you're something entirely different. Even more evil."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"…Maybe it's time for us to know about what's the deal with the both of you. As future…colleagues, if you may." Michael changed the subject. "The prospective of needless conflict doesn't seem very appealing, after all, if there is anything that can be done to prevent it."
"She can do that." Demon Subaru sat back in his chair uninterestedly, and the two duelists turned their attention to Nekohana, who shifted a little uneasily from the gaze. After showing a conflicted expression, Nekohana took a deep breath, and started to recount their past.
"We lived in a place…another world called Twilight Kingdom. Thousands of years ago. It was a kingdom of youkai." Nekohana explained. "It was once ruled by a king and queen…Akushishi, Koushishi, and then there was their prince…Shishima." She took a glance at Demon Subaru, who was drumming his fingers and looking out the window.
"I was just a commoner. A gardener, with an abusive father." She clutched her arm, as if it was aching even right now. "I was arranged for a marriage…a forced engagement, with a old general. It was huge age difference. I refused, of course. It just led to more beatings and abuse from my father."
"I constantly went to the royal palace gardens and sought refuge there…and one night, I saw Shishima wounded and hurt after a battle…I took him to shelter and nursed him back to health. Despite his cold words, I continued to tend to his wounds, and used my flute magic to enhance his healing abilities."
"….." The two shopkeepers continued to listen.
"After he left, the abusive days continued…and one night my father caught me trying to sneak off. I was about to be beaten again…but Shishima arrived, bringing his royal guard, and said that arranged marriages were not for youkai as they were a human weakenss."
"As if marriage itself wasn't human enough already." Michael commented, and Nekohana nodded, somewhat understandingly, while Demon Subaru grumbled.
"He made me his royal servant, and when my father refused the guards gave him a beating like he always did to me." She continued. "I then started to serve him, tending to his wounds and playing tunes when he requested… And one night, he opens up to me. That the proud youkai have been negatively affected by the human race into backstabbing and that I should trust no one. Shishima confessed that…he needed to hide his weakness out of pride. I promised to keep his secrets and help him whenever he needed…and we shared a kiss under the moonlight." Nekohana's cheeks flushed red, and Michael rolled his eyes, refilling his and Jonathan's cups with hot tea, his friend rapping his knuckles on the table twice in response.
"…Anyways, the general I was engaged to, the queen and my father, they were plotting a betrayal to overthrow the king. The king was to be killed in battle with the angels, and the queen, working in hand with the corrupt military would take over the throne. I tried to warn Shishima...but I was caught by my father and the general, and I was tortured and beaten again."
"And my father was thus mortally wounded in battle...and even went against my warnings to travel to the human world to find a human he was in love with...those disgusting beings." Demon Subaru spat.
"Thus Shishima's hatred for humans reached its peak." Nekohana sighed. "He's furious at them, blaming them for the negative impact on youkai and for his father's death."
"To believe that youkai are proud and righteous...that's almost funny to hear. The only righteous youkai race I've seen are the oni." Michael smirked.
"Shut up, fool. You know nothing about youkai." Demon Subaru glared at the shopkeeper. "Don't compare our proud race with these lowly kinds in your world."
"Oh, I know enough about the youkai in this world. And that you're bowing down to one of the youkai sages in this Gensokyo too, your highness. Maybe it's your kind that is inferior?" The duelist mocked.
"You..."
Jonathan stopped them with a cough, and motioned for Nekohana to continue.
"Shishima then tried to succeed the throne and continue to wage war against the angels and humans... I tried to talk him out of it. That we could escape from everything and become humans, and live our lives in peace and solitude. But his anger towards humans was overwhelming... He slashed one of my arms off and continued to the throne room. As I lay dying...I laid a curse upon him, binding him to human bodies thereafter. His mother had already taken the throne by that point, and claimed that his father had left nothing for him, and, quite mockingly, offered him a place as one of her greatest generals instead."
"...I refused, of course." Demon Subaru continued on for her. "I would rather be a human than to work under my treacherous mother. I ran out...only to be shot in the back by a volley of arrows. I swore to have my revenge and become a god to take what's rightfully mine...and then everything went white. When I came to, I had already reincarnated into a human criminal, committing my first crime. Then for another thousand years... I was bound to criminal bodies...until the last one, which my current form is based on."
"Subaru."
"He was one of the Chosens. Some band of righteous duelists that protected the world." Demon Subaru scoffed. "But I lurked inside him...grew as the darkness started to corrupt his heart...and I was finally able to take control of his body. I gained utmost power to destroy my world and remake it to my liking...but something went wrong. And now I'm stuck here. ...And Nekohana, you should be dead. How are you even walking...as a filthy human?"
"That's none of your business." Nekohana retorted. "You should be more worried about your past and your mistakes coming back to haunt you."
"Haunt me?" Demon Subaru laughed. "I have no regrets. Everything I have done is right. I am god!"
"Yeah, bowing down to another youkai. Maybe you should learn from the Moriya gods and act like them if you're one." Michael took another sip of his tea.
"You..." Demon Subaru started, but then stopped himself as he noticed a gap opening up in front of the cafe door, and Yukari leaned upon it.
"Yukari."
"Quite an interesting world you come from, Shishima. Or rather, Demon Subaru, as you seem to like it." Yukari smiled. "I apologize for my earlier attitude. I was also attending to other urgent matters, you see."
"..." This woman...She's telling me that I'm not even on her top priority list to show her superior status, Demon Subaru thought. "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough to hear your story. You can come out now, girls." Yukari shifted, and Reimu and Marisa climbed out of the gap.
"That's quite the interesting story." Marisa offered jokingly. "Thanks for the tea." She grabbed Jonathan's cup and emptied it in a big gulp, and Reimu welcomed herself to a seat.
"...Your manners, Marisa..." Jonathan sighed, and went to fetch more cups, while Michael went to refill the cup with more tea.
"Anyways, I shall now offer you the details of our contract. Is that alright?"
"Does it look like I have an option?"
"Very good." A small gap opened in front of Demon Subaru, and from it dropped down a scroll of paper.
"..." Inscrolling the paper, Demon Subaru took a quick glance at its contents, and frowned when he could not fully understand them.
"It's a geass. A binding contract, if you will, thanks to Patchouli Knowledge." Yukari explained with a flick of her long golden hair. "You will be under my command from now on. You will not be a shikigami, but you will listen to my orders and do my bidding. Once I am satisfied with your service, and when I have found you a new world, or your old one, I will send you back. Until then, you are to service Gensokyo. Is that clear?"
"...Crystal."
"Good. Now seal the contract with your blood, and just toss it back into the gap."
Biting his thumb, Demon Subaru imprinted his blood at the bottom of the scroll, and tossed it into the gap, which closed immediately after. A short surge of electricty flowed through him, stunning him for a brief moment, as the geass came into effect.
"Very good. I am to warn you if you try to break the contract, there will be quite serious consequences." Yukari continued on nonchalantly, motioning to Reimu and the others.
"I'm not that stupid."
"I hope you aren't. Power is tempting, after all. And now I shall give you your first assignment. An otherworldy job, if you will."
"There has been a disruption between the boundaries of this universe and another lately." Yukari started, munching on a cookie. "I have other matters to attend to, as I've mentioned. I need you, along with Michael and Jonathan to run a scout mission to find out what's happening in that world. And better yet, take care of it."
"Travelling to another world again huh..." Jonathan pondered.
"Reimu and Ran will be helping to maintain the Hakurei border, and of course others would be there to take care of troubles if they arise." The gap youkai continued. "Once you get back, Michael and Jonathan can show you around Gensokyo."
"...Understood." Demon Subaru replied, a little grudgingly.
"Your duel orbs?" Yukari motioned to the small magical items, and Michael gave them to Yukari, who tinkered with them before handing them back. "They should work fine as communication tools even over there."
"Thanks, Yukari." Michael threw one towards Demon Subaru. "Don't break it."
"I...I'm going too." Nekohana offered, and everyone turned their heads towards her. "I...need to make sure he's not getting into trouble and such."
"Very well. But do be informed that you'll be taking care of yourself and I will not be responsible for anything that you encounter."
"I understand."
"Then be prepared. You'll be off in 5 minutes."
"Be careful over there alright?" Reimu told Michael and Jonathan, who both nodded in response.
"We'll take care of ourselves. Don't worry." Michael replied. "We'll be back soon, hopefully."
"Mah, it's them after all. Too bad we won't have their food for a while. Or we could just come in and help ourselves to the food." Marisa stuffed another cookie into her mouth,and Jonathan just shook his head and sighed.
"..." Nekohana took another glance at Demon Subaru, who was trying to figure out how the duel orb worked, and sunk into her own thoughts.
The four stood in front of a gap, the pitch black darkness embedded with numerous eyes staring back at them, and Nekohama squirmed from the stares she got from them.
"Be sure to report back regularly. Ran will be taking most of the calls since I will be busy. Or sleeping." Yukari told them, twirling her fan. "I will be transporting you to the town where the blurring of boundaries is strongest, and you should be able to find out why soon. It's a fairly small town located in North America. Well then, good luck."
With a nod, Michael and Jonathan stepped first into the gap, followed by Demon Subaru, and finally the somewhat hesitant Nekohana.
When they were all gone, the gap closed, and bidding the girls farewell, Yukari disappeared into another one of her gaps.
"...You really think they'd be alright?" Marisa asked her best friend. "I mean...that Demon Subaru guy, or Shishima, whatever he's called. He seems even more evil than that Subaru we encountered on our first loop in that dream..."
"Like he said, he's not stupid enough to break the contract. He might be powerful in his world...but he knows the power difference here." Reimu replied as they walked out of the cafe. "Mah...Like you said, it's them after all. They should be fine."
"Heheh, you're right. We shouldn't worry about it." Marisa laughed. "Well, let's give the Scarlet Devil Mansion a visit."
"Huh...Not that I have much else to do anyway."
"Sasuga Reimu da. Let's go!"
They took off into the blue sky, heading towards the mansion that stood tall beside the Misty Lake.
A gap opened up in a thin alley of a quiet street, dumping the four duelists onto the concrete ground.
"So this is the parallel world." Jonathan looked around, finding them surrounded by the walls of modern buildings. "It's been some time since we've set our eyes on a real modern world."
"Let's hope we're not rusty then." Michael replied, peeking out of the alley to find little presence of humans, aside from a few who were busy looking at their phones while walking along the street. "Looks like it's not too busy for now. Let's take a took around."
The four of them walked along the asphalt pavement, taking notice of the their surroundings, which seemed nothing out of the ordinary for a modern city. As they continued their path, bypassers increased, as with the looks Nekohana was being given due to her attire.
"You know... Maybe you should do something about your clothes." Jonathan suggested, as he realized they were leaving the outskirts of the city and reaching the center. "It's...quite the uncommon attire in the modern world. At least, for someone who looks young and is in America.."
"I don't know...I guess I'll change later on if I can." The girl replied sheepishly, leading to a smirk from Demon Subaru.
"Guess you're not going to be a real human after, seeing as you lack human common sense." In response Nekohana gave him a hard stare, which the youkai shrugged off.
"Alright, let's split up and gather some information." Michael turned to his companions. "Just contact the others if you find anything worthwhile."
Jonathan and Nekohana nodded, while Demon Subaru just started walking off without a word.
"Hey, and don't go murdering people and chaos. We don't need extra trouble." Michael warned him, and the response was a low grunt as Demon Subaru disappeared into the crowd.
"..." Jonathan cleared his throat. "It's been sometime since we've spoken English. Hopefully this works."
"Looks like you're getting rusty after all. But it's all right. I don't suppose Americans expect much English from Asians." Michael laughed a little.
"Yeah yeah. You going to be alright too, Nekohana?" Jonathan turned to the girl in kimono.
"Don't worry. I've picked up a few languages myself. English isn't a problem." Nekohana assured him. "I'll be off too then. Be careful."
The girl then walked off as well, seemingly stopping in front of a fashion store before being swallowed up by the crowd.
"All right, take care partner."
"You too." Bumping fists, the remaining two duelists parted ways.
Michael arrived in front of a closed door in a back alley, engraved with symbol of a key. Looking up, a small diminishing neon sign said "Silver Key". Rubbing his chin, Michael pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The chatter inside the bar was low, and a few customers gave him a brief glance before returning to their drinks and conversation.
Sitting in front of the counter, he leant on the table and ordered a glass of Kahlua Milk.
"I'm new to this town. Sorry about asking, but are there any strange stuff lately? At least, that's what I heard from my guys. Mumbo jumbo and all that." Paying the money with cash he discretely swiped from a passerby earlier, he took the drink and asked the master.
"Not much here you wanna know son. Better keep your nose in your business. Plus...you don't wanna get involved in strange shit." The master, wiping a cup, answered the question, somewhat dismissively.
"Hm." Michael took a sip from his drink as the alcohol ran down his throat. Guess alcohol needs to be an acquired taste after all...
"Hey you." A voice caught Michael's attention. "You new here?"
Turning to its source, Michael found a gruffly man holding a beer jug staring at him. "Yeah, I just moved here."
"You better mind your own business kid. It ain't good for your health if you're poking into unwanted business. I tell you, it ain't worth it."
"...Thanks for the warning pal." Raising his glass at the man, Michael proceeded to finish his drink.
As he walked out of the pub, Michael found himself being confronted by a figure dressed in a large black robe that covered its face with the hood, a silver key etched onto its right chest,
"I see you're new here, son." The figure's low voice bounced off the walls. "What's your business asking around here?"
"...As you can see, I'm new." Michael shrugged. "I need to know more about this town if I'm gonna live here."
"You better stay out of trouble. And mind your own business."
"I'll try. But I can't promise."
"You'll have to."
"...Or else?"
"I'll make you mind your own business." The figure raised its hand, and Michael ducked just in time to avoid having his neck pierced by bolt of lightning that struck the walls, leaving a scorching dent.
"Oioi...That's not a friendly way to greet newcomers." Michael breathed, secretly activating his duel orb to alert the others of his location.
"...I see you aren't some random kid. Very well...let's settle this the traditional way." The robed figure extended his arm, and a duel table rose from ground in front of him.
"Ho... That's some old fashioned shit. So we solve stuff with Duel Masters here too huh. That's good news. Duel pad expand!" Summoning forth the duel pad that expanded in front of him, five shields appeared before each duelist.
"Duel!"
BGM: The Bridge People No Longer Cross (Touhou Project ~Subterranean Animism~ dBu arrange)
"That's some technology you have there." The robed figure charged a mana. "I would love to take that from you."
"If you can that is." Michael charged Bainaradoor into his mana, and summoned Yattareman, the Jokers whose head was shaped after a trumpet and reduced the cost of his Jokers, which was added to his hand on the previous turn with Jojojo Jokers. "Then Gravity Zero. I cast Niyare Get for no cost since I have a colorless creature in the battle zone. I reveal 3 cards from my deck...and add Danganoh, Pali Knights and Senno to my hand. Turn End."
"Jokers... I charge DeadBracchio and cast Faerie Miracle to boost 2 mana. Turn End."
"...I charge DNA Spark. Then I summon another Yattareman. With 1 mana I summon Pali Knights to put Jojojo Jokers from my grave, and summon Senno. Turn End."
"My turn." The robed figure drew a card. "I charge a mana and expand Cyber Dice Vegas. At the end phase I draw a card. Turn End."
"My turn. I charge a mana...and Summon Helcopta to draw 5 cards. Then I summon another Pali Knights to add Niyare Get to my mana. Turn End."
"Hm. My turn. I cast Team Hamkatsu's Explosion Go to destroy all of your creatures with power 3000 or less!"
"Kuh..." Michael watched as every one of his creatures except Senno was sent to his graveyard.
"My turn. ...I charge Memento Guardian Shrine. I summon Golden The Johnny!" The mechanical cowboy Jokers, on his trustworthy stead Silver Bullet, materialized on the battlefield. "I attack with Golden the Johnny, and Attack Chance – Nothing Zero!" Michael revealed the Zero spell in his hand. "I reveal the top 3 cards of my deck...and Golden the Johnny breaks an extra shield for each colorless card revealed!"
"1... Bainaradoor! 2... Senno! 3... Yattareman! Golden the Johnny breaks 3 more shields, and Master Blaster! I send Cyber Dice to the bottom of your deck!" Aiming his revolver at the card, Golden The Johnny blasted the field, warping the battle zone back to its original form as the D2 Field was sent to the figure's deck bottom.
"Master Blaster All Break!" The robed figure's shields all cracked and splintered, and as Michael was about deal the finishing blow, the figure revealed a card in his hand.
"Strike Back – DeadBracchio. I summon him by discarding Faerie Life from my shields."
"Chi...I knew you'd have that."
The 3-headed Jurassic Command Dragon materialized on the robed figure's field, sending Senno to Michael's mana zone with a roar.
"My turn. I summon Romanesk to boost 4 mana to my mana zone. Then I attack Golden the Johnny with my DeadBracchio, and Revolution Change. Puchohenza!" The Revolutionary took DeadBracchio's stead in attacking, and with a volley of arrows sent both Romanesk and Golden the Johnny to their respective owner's mana zone. "Now all your creatures come in tapped. Turn end."
"That's where your carelessness comes in! My turn! I charge a mana, and with 4 I summon Dotsuki Manjiro and send a tapped creature to your deck bottom!" The hand shaped Jokers lunged at the Jurassic Command Dragon, and clutching the creature, sent it to the robed figure's deck bottom. "Tap-in's gone! With my remaining 6 mana I summon Danganoh!"
The heroic looking robot shaped after a shinkansen rushed at Michael's opponent.
"Let's do this, master!"
"Yeah! Direct attack! Dangan Close Impact!"
"Not so fast. Ninja Strike 7 – Orochi. I send Danganoh back to your deck bottom!" The Shinobi muttered a jutsu, entrapping the mecha in a whirlpool and sent it back to Michael's deck.
"Not over yet! I reveal my deck top... Danganoh!" The second copy of Danganoh leapt high into the sky, this time determined to take down his foe. "It's over now!"
"Dangan Sky Impact!"
Landing a solid blow on where the robed figure was standing, the Jokers ended the duel for Michael.
As the smoke cleared and the duel pad dissolved along with the creatures, the robed figure was nowhere to be seen.
"It seems that your strength is quite fathomable. But I've given you a warning. Stay out of our business...and you'll stay safe. Until our plan is complete...that is." The echoing voice of the faded into the air as his presence completely vanished.
"..." Michael stood there, when the approaching footsteps turned his attention towards them, as Jonathan and Nekohana, now in a T-shirt and jeans, came running towards him.
"What happened?" Jonathan inquired.
"Yeah...I think we have something to look for." Michael motioned to the symbol of the silver key on the pub's door. "This symbol... It was on the robe of the man who attacked me."
"Looks like we have some results here too." A voice sounded above, and Demon Subaru landed in front on them as he jumped off the roof ledge of the neighboring building. "I've found the same symbol...where some abnormal energies where gathered. Heh...It was a good meal." He licked his claws looking quite satisfied.
"..." Jonathan almost reprimanded him, but decided not to in the end as to save his breath. "Well... Now that we know what we're looking after... Let's start investigating together."
Decks:
Michael: Jokers (ジョーカーズ）
Robed Figure: 5c Control (5cコントロール）