I take back about that 'how soon' part. Let us get down to the second half of the duel!
Normal dialogue
Life Points/Monster stats
*LOCATION CHANGE/ CHANGE IN P.O.V*
Attacks/Effects
'thoughts'
Language other than Japanese (this is English sub after all)
*OPENING*
Roar out through the high heavens,
(Opening starts with a red silhouette of a monster)
Wrapped in undulating emotion;
(Silhouette changed into a different monster in blue)
The truest of tones can be found here at this very spot…
(Silhouette changed once more into a yellow monster. Scene changed to Samejima's office, the man looking out the window at the sky above)
(Instrumental)
(Camera looks up at the dark sky. Title appears. After several seconds, flames extinguished it, changing the scene)
The trembling signal of pain in my heart,
(Kohaku was practicing some stunts when she sensed something and looked behind her)
Broke through many a night,
(Scene changed to Bella doing some ninja training when she also sensed something and looked at a distance)
As I searched for you – it's enough to drive me insane…
(Scene changed again to Alex running from something before he summoned Freakstar Dragon and rode on his back, flying out of the Abandoned Dorm as it exploded behind them)
Within the elegant, dreamlike sounds that float upon a double-edged warmth,
(Elie, Jacko, Tiffany, Seth, Shou and Hayato looked at a distance, watching their friends facing off against the Shadow Riders)
Entrusted tears roam throughout the sky
(Camera zoomed in to Arkham and a Rider in a black cloak. Kohaku and Kazato stares at them. The unknown rider walks away and Kohaku grabbed the cloak and pulled it off)
The more I seek this radiant melody,
(Scene changed as Judai summoned his Heroes and declared an attack)
All that's projected is more illusions.
(Asuka summoned her monsters and also declared an attack)
But the moment we know as "now" will always be what forms the miracle of tomorrow…
(Scene changed to Ryo and his Cybers, to Misawa and his 'Magnet Warriors', to Manjoume and his dragons, to various other characters and their monsters)
So I want to sing for your sake!
(Scene changed to where the Mythic Demon cards are sealed, the three monster spirits circling around the Spirit Gates)
Let everything be set free
(Darkness and Camula had their monsters battle Judai, Chronos, Ryo and Kazato's monsters)
If you have a dream for the future that you believe
(Another cloaked duelist was dueling against Bella and her ninjas)
Our resounding hearts are unstoppable!
(Misawa and Manjoume battled Tania and Don Zaloog. Alex and Asuka dueled against Abidos III and Titan)
Let's go (together), joining hands (no matter how far)!
(Arkham and the earlier cloaked duelist have a full field of monsters on their side, facing off against Kohaku. Kohaku and her 'Circus Freak' and 'Relic' monsters leapt from floating rock to rock over to them)
I won't ever let go of that smile!
(They all prepared their strongest attack and fired. Scene paused with a close-up image of Kohaku and the earlier cloaked duelist facing off)
Last time, Kohaku entered the cave to find her father and defeat the Shadow Rider who held him hostage. She found her father in the worse condition possible and tried to take him to safety while dueling the Shadow Rider who bested him. It was shocking enough to see the Shadow Rider easily adapting to the Action Duel and using the Action Cards to her advantage in more ways than one, but...
"That Shadow Rider... THAT'S YOUR SISTER!" Kazato shouted.
"Ko-... Koharu?"
Stunned by the revelation, how will Kohaku win the duel now?
*FLASHBACK*
"Monster! That girl's a monster!" a child cried out.
"Someone needs to put that child away for good! For the safety of everyone!" a female adult shouted.
"Stay away from us, creep!" shouted another child.
A little girl stood in front of all those jeers and glares, frightened, as another girl who looked like her stood in front of her protectively.
"Stop it! Leave Koharu alone!" she shouted at them.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
Kohaku: 1500 LP
Koharu: 300 LP
"Koharu... No way. How are you alive?" Kohaku asked her. "I... I saw you die."
"That's right. I did die," Koharu confirmed. "I still remember my death like it was yesterday. I was tied to a post in a plaza. Many people gathered to see a criminal die for what she had done, and a monster at that. Several soldiers stood in front of me with guns ready. And throughout it all, my own family did nothing to stop it."
Kohaku was shocked to hear such lie. "No... That's not true! I tried to stop them! You know that!"
"You did. At least, that's what you made it look like." The 'Circus Freak' duelist and her father grew more confused at those words. "They showed me, dear sister. They showed me everything that really happened that day! Who'd have ever thought? My own sister... went as far as to hire a killer to frame and kill me!"
No words could ever describe how the pair feel at that claim. "H-... Hire a killer? What are you talking about? I would never do that!"
"Still feigning innocence, I see. Well, I suppose I don't blame you for that. After all, you always were seen as the better twin. You were always loved by others, always respected by them, always managed to get along with anyone and everyone. Me? Because of my powers, people feared me without giving me a chance to even speak! And whenever they do, you play the role of the good-big-sister and stop them from picking on me. I thought it was because you cared about your own sister, but as it turns out, you only did it to feel good about yourself."
With every word that came out of her mouth, more confusion grew for Kohaku and Kazato. "That's not true at all... I did it because you're my sister, and I care about you!" Kohaku shouted.
"Save your breath! Continuous Trap, activate! Dragon Vein: Restore!" Koharu activated her remaining set card. "During the End Phase, if a player who is not the turn player took damage while they control a monster, they regain Life Points equal to that amount!" As she said that, the field glowed in a green light, healing Koharu of her Life Points.
Kohaku: 1500 LP
Koharu: 2800 LP
(Dragon Vein: Restore: Continuous Trap: While this face-up card is on the field, during each End Phase, if a non-turn player took damage through battle or card effect while controlling a monster, they regain Life Points equal to the amount. If you do not control a 'Hoshidan Royal' or a 'Nohrian Royal' monster, destroy this card.)
"She regained all the Life Points she lost!" Kazato gasped in shock.
"And now it is my turn. Draw!" Koharu drew her next card.
"Koharu... Please. Let's talk this out," Kohaku pleaded. "I don't know what you're told, but whatever the Shadow Riders told you are nothing but lies! I would never set you up for anything, much less a murder of all things! You know that."
Koharu only grew more annoyed at her sister's insistence. "Shut up! Let me see you deny it even further after this! Magic Card, Royal Dragon's Blood!" She inserted a card straight into her Duel Disk. "This is a special card for Kamui! If there are 'Hoshidan Royal' or 'Nohrian Royal' monsters in the Graveyard that were destroyed by battle, by banishing them, I can unleash her true form!" As she said this, Corrin gripped her head, eyes wide, seemingly in pain, as a dark aura surrounded her. Next thing Kohaku and Kazato knew, her armor became scales, wings grew out of her back, a tail sprouted out from her rear, her hands and feet turned into claws, and her head turned into that of a dragon's. In fact, her whole appearance is a dragon.
Vallian Dragon, Kamui: Level 7/LIGHT/Dragon/2700 ATK/2400 DEF
(Royal Dragon's Blood: Normal Spell: Activate this card only if you control 'Nohrian Royal, Kamui'. If you have 'Hoshidan Royal' and/or 'Nohrian Royal' monsters in your Graveyard that are destroyed by battle, banish those monsters and send 'Nohrian Royal, Kamui' to the Graveyard, then Special Summon 1 'Vallian Dragon, Kamui' from your Extra Deck.)
(Vallian Dragon, Kamui: Fusion Monster: Must be Special Summoned with 'Royal Dragon's Blood' using 'Nohrian Royal, Kamui'. For each 'Hoshidan Royal' monster in your Banished Zone, this monster gains 500 ATK and DEF. For each 'Nohrian Royal' monster in your Banished Zone, this monster can make an additional attack per turn. If you have the same amount of 'Hoshidan Royal' and 'Nohrian Royal' monster in your Banished Zone during this card's summon, for each pair per turn, this card cannot be destroyed by battle or card effect. If you have 4 'Hoshidan Royal' and 4 'Nohrian Royal' monsters in your Banished Zone, this card is unaffected by your opponent's card effects.)
Kohaku was quite frightened at the sight of the monster before her. "What is that thing?" she gasped out.
"Your worst nightmare. Now to see if you will still deny the truth! Kamui's effect! For each 'Hoshidan Royal' monster in my Banished Zone, she gains 500 ATK and DEF! There are two 'Hoshidan Royal' monsters in my Banished Zone, so she gains 1000 ATK and DEF!" As Koharu said this, her monster glowed and roared, as she felt power welling up in her.
Vallian Dragon, Kamui: 2700 + 1000 = 3700 ATK/2400 + 1000 = 3400 DEF
"Next, for every 'Nohrian Royal' monster in my Banished Zone, she gains an additional attack! Sadly, there is only one. But no matter. Now let's battle! Kamui! Start with those pathetic defensive monsters and show her my pain! Draconic Wail!" Kamui breathed out a pair of blue flames in forms of dragons and fired them at Stuntman and Flame Artist, both who were swallowed up by the attack before they got destroyed. Thankfully, as they were in Defense Mode, Kohaku took no damage. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to stop the attack from getting to her, as she brought her arms up to protect herself.
Once the flames hit, she didn't just feel the searing hot pain; she also felt a harsh headache attack her. The pain was so overbearing, more than the fire, as Kohaku clutched her head and tumbled on the floor screaming.
"Gh...! Ah...! AAAAAHHHH!"
"Kohaku!" Kazato cried out in worry, as he rushed over to his daughter side. At least, he attempted to, when Kamui jumped on him and pushed him down. "What the-?! Koharu! Let me go! That's your sister!"
"You saw yourself what that monster did, and yet you still defend her? Guess we truly know who's the family favorite," Koharu said, glaring at her father. "And to think, all that talk about family is nothing but lies."
Kazato looked down in shame when she said that, recalling what he saw during his duel with his evil daughter, like how Kohaku was seeing it.
*KOHAKU'S MINDSCAPE*
Kohaku opened her eyes and found herself in the middle of an alley. "Where... am I?" she asked, getting up. As she took a couple of steps forward, she saw a child walking by, one who was quite familiar to her. "That's... me?" Kohaku followed her younger self down the area.
As she followed herself, she slowly remembered exactly where she was; it was an alley in Dubai. And where her younger self was going? Well...
Kohaku stopped in her tracks as her younger self arrived at a shady-looking door and knocked. The peephole cover side open, and the eyes on the other side looked left and right, before closing. Due to how short Kohaku was back then, it was obvious that the person on the other side thought that it was some kind of prank or something. Young Kohaku knocked again, and the person on the other side looked through the peephole again and saw no one. At least, not one they could see at eye level. Before he could close the peephole again, Young Kohaku knocked once more, this time making the receiver look down in an attempt to see the child. The receiver covered the hole again and this time opened the door.
"If you're lost, kid, just go straight where you came from, take a right and a second left and you'll be out of the alley," the guy said in Arabic.
"Actually, I heard you have some special people here. I'm hoping to meet them," Kohaku requested in the same language.
"Look kid, I don't know who you think you are but-"
"I have money." Young Kohaku removed her bag from her person and took out a jar from within, filled with Arabic coins and bills.
Seeing this, the guy looked around, making sure the kid wasn't followed, before gesturing her in.
*REALITY*
After what felt like an eternity of pain, Kohaku finally returned to reality, gasping, as she tried to relieve herself of her pain.
"That scene look any familiar, sis?" she heard her younger twin ask. Looking up, she saw Koharu glaring down at her. "I may not be as fluent in most languages as you, but I still know enough."
"What are you talking about?" Kohaku asked, still confused as to what she was being accused of.
Koharu clenched her hand in a fist. "Still playing stupid all the way... How cowardly you've become!" She leapt up on some platforms and, with a back flip, snatched another Action Card from the ceiling above. "Action Magic, Wonder Chance! A monster I control can attack again! Destroy Time Space Magician, Kamui! Draconic Wail!" Her dragon charged up for another attack, this one to destroy Kohaku's remaining monster.
"Kohaku! Run!" Time Space Magician shouted.
The duelist didn't need to be told twice, as she ran away from the area to search for an Action Card. She spotted one not far from her and snatched it from the ground. Unfortunately, it wasn't a card that can stop the attack, as Kamui unleashed her flames onto her target.
"Action Magic, Selection of Miracle! With this, Time Space Magician is not destroyed!" Kohaku exclaimed, as her monster was covered in a yellow aura.
"But you will take the damage. And I will savor it. Go!" Koharu shouted, as the flames struck the 'Circus Freak' monster, this time causing an explosion, one powerful enough to blow Kohaku out of the cave.
Back with everyone else, Bella had just defeated Duncan and snapped him out of whatever hold the Shadow Riders had over him. With the gatekeeper down, the rest were going to head for the cave, concerned with the sort of duel the female Ra was having in there, when an explosion occurred. They, with Bella and Ryo helping Duncan, rushed to shore and saw ripples in the water and smoke coming out of the hole, followed by a figure.
"Hey... I know this isn't all you got. Stop holding back... and duel, you damn coward!" Koharu shouted.
"Kohaku?" Alex gasped, getting the girl's attention. "What's with the wardrobe change? And the attitude? That doesn't sound like you at all!"
"Her friends, I see. Looks like this duel will be all the more enjoyable. I get payback and expose her for the monster she truly is right before their very eyes."
Her words brought confusion to the group.
"What are you talking about, Kohaku?" Bella asked.
A splash and a gasp for breath was heard in the water. Everyone turned and were shocked to see Kohaku in the water, as she swam to shore.
Kohaku: 300 LP
Koharu: 2800 LP
"Two Kohakus?!" Manjoume gasped in shock.
"Wait, what's going on here?!" Bella asked.
As Kohaku got out of the water, she panted to catch her breath and rested her body a bit. "That... That Shadow Rider... is Koharu," she answered.
Hearing those words shocked her friends.
"Koharu? You mean the sister who died years ago?" Alex asked.
"That's crazy! The dead can't come back to life!" Misawa exclaimed.
"You're right. Normally we can't," Koharu said. As she revealed a wristband on her right wrist, she added, "However, thanks to the Shadow Riders, they gifted me a Dark Item for me to return from the dead and carry out my revenge."
"'Revenge'? But Kohaku already dealt with Pandora!" Asuka informed. "There shouldn't be a reason for you to continue seeking vengeance!"
Koharu simply scoffed at those words. "Wow, Kohaku. You really played them well. How much did you pay that guy to say that to cover your tracks?"
This brought on more confusion to the bystanders' faces, as they turned to Kohaku.
"Koharu... please. You're not making any sense at all. Those visions, especially. What did you think I did?!" she asked.
"Still playing stupid until I actually say it? Because you know how much it hurts to know, don't you?! You hired those guys to frame me and get me killed!" the Shadow Rider shouted.
Time seemed to have stopped right then and there. Everyone was shocked to hear such an accusation, but none were as shocked as Kohaku. "I... Huh? What are you talking about?!"
"You saw exactly what I mean! That meeting you had with them took place just the day before I was framed for that horrific duel! My Arabic may not be as good as your's, but I still caught bits and pieces of your conversation with them, the deal you made with them on that day! To think the sister who'd protect me from bullies for many years actually framed me for something I didn't do! And even to go as far as to get me killed for it! You must've enjoyed my last moments before I was killed, weren't you?! And I want revenge for that... Revenge for playing with me for a fool this whole time! A swift death will never cut it; I want to see you suffer, more than I had in my life!"
"No... Koharu, that's not true!" Kohaku shouted.
Unfortunately, Koharu wasn't having any of it. "I set one card face-down and end my turn! At this time, Dragon Vein: Restore's effect activates! Since you have a monster on your field, you regain the Life Points you lost! Now make your move, monster!"
"Koharu!" shouted Kazato's voice. The students all turned and noticed the guy weakly walking out of the smoke. "Koharu,... I need you to listen for just a second! I don't know what you think happened, but it's not what it looks like, at all! I assure you of that!"
"Fancy words for a traitor. And I thought family is important to you. Well, you certainly had showed me where I belong there!"
Kohaku: 1500 LP
Koharu: 2800 LP
How could Kohaku start her turn? Her sister, whom she loved so much, accused her of something she never did at all. As she said, she knew exactly what happened on that day, that meeting with that underground gang, but it wasn't at all what Koharu thought. At the same time, though, she knew it was pointless to talk to her now. But... she didn't want to continue to duel. Not like this. Not now she knew her opponent was, not just her sister, but her sister whose heart was not in a right place. However, Kohaku had a feeling Koharu wouldn't let her just quit.
"It's my turn. Draw." She drew her next card. "I... Switch Circus Freak Time Space Magician to Defense Mode and end my turn." As she said this, Time Space Magician flew back to her side and glowed a blue aura.
Seeing this defensive play, her friends grew worried about her. "Going on the defense? That doesn't sound like Kohaku. Not like this," Alex stated.
"Especially not when she doesn't have any other cards on the field," Bella added.
"Still, do you think it's true? About what Kohaku did," Asuka asked.
"Doubt it. She doesn't look remotely like any schemer, especially not for murders or framing people of doing it," Manjoume said.
"Never thought I'd hear Manjoume say it, but he's right," Misawa agreed. "Kohaku is not that kind of person to ever get involved with such deed. Besides, we know how much she cared about her sister, especially during that duel she had with Pandora. There must be a misunderstanding somewhere."
"Either that or the Shadow Riders went as far as to lie to her to gain a valuable member to their group," Ryo guessed. "Either way, with how Kohaku is now..."
"Does it matter?" Duncan asked. "Right now, she's finished. Just look at her; if that move itself said anything, it's that she doesn't have the resolve to continue."
"I'm afraid Duncan is right about that- nya..." Daitokuji agreed.
Meanwhile, Koharu was not at all amused with the lack of moves her sister had done. "That's it? I expected more from a murderer like you. Especially when you had done so well earlier before you realized who I was under the hood."
"Koharu... I don't want to duel you. Not like this," Kohaku tried again.
"Save it. Draw!" Koharu drew her next card. She then leapt up to the small cliff, right above the cave entrance and landed on her feet, picking up an Action Card on the floor. "Action Magic, Victory Topping! A monster on the field gains 600 ATK and a Defense Position monster on my opponent's field changes back to Attack Mode! You should thank me, Kohaku; I'm giving your monster a chance to stand up against Kamui!"
Circus Freak Time Space Magician: 2500 + 600 = 3100 ATK
"Koharu, please! If you can just listen for a minute-!"
"I am done listening!" Koharu shouted. "Kamui! Attack Time Space Magician! Have her hear it all... the pain she had put me through! Draconic Wail!" Kamui fired yet another dose of her flames at Time Space Magician.
"I activate Circus Freak Ventriloquist's effect from my hand!" Kohaku shouted. "By discarding him to the Graveyard, I draw one card and reveal it! One of his two effects activate depending on the card drawn!"
'Please... Give me something!' she mentally pleaded, as she drew a card from her deck. Her eyes widened upon seeing the card she drew, as her sister's monster's attack took down her monster and struck her.
Kohaku: 900 LP
Koharu: 2800 LP
Like before, with it was another searing headache, as she clutched her head in great pain.
"Gah! Ahh... Ahhhhh!"
*KOHAKU'S MINDSCAPE*
In her mind, Kohaku found herself in what seemed to be an underground room, next to her younger self. There, duels were being held... with duelists with psychic powers, quite like Koharu's. Of what Kohaku remembered at the time, this was some kind of training session to help the special duelists control their abilities.
"You the kid?" she heard. Kohaku turned and saw a big, bulky guy approaching, equipped with a duel disk.
"Yeah! I heard you have some special duelists here. Duelists with special powers," her younger self said in Arabic tongue.
The guy raised a brow, as though in amusement. "Your Arabic is not bad, kid. And? To what do I owe the pleasure of having a kid know of this underground business?"
"Well, I actually have a request. Of what I can see, this is the only place that can help. I even have money to pay you."
This made the guy intrigued. "Let's have a chat in my office about the details."
*REALITY*
Her friends grew worried upon seeing Kohaku in pain like she was, especially after she took damage from such an attack.
"Hey! What are you doing to your own sister?!" Alex shouted.
"What am I doing? Isn't it obvious? A monster like her needs proper judgement," Koharu answered so coldly.
"What monster?! Kohaku cares about you!" Bella exclaimed.
"You know now of the crime this person has committed, and yet you still defend her? How gullible can you idiots be?"
"It's not that we're gullible! Kohaku is not the kind of person who would frame you! She defeated the man who caused your death, and almost died doing it!" Misawa said. "If she really didn't care about you as you claim, she would not go that far!"
Rather than believing his words, Koharu scoffed and said, "She really wanted to cover up her tracks that badly, I see. How utterly desperate of her." The Spirit Key Protectors couldn't believe how so little of faith she had in her twin.
Kohaku, done with the new memory she was forced to remember, looked back up at Koharu. "Koharu... That vision... If that is what you saw, it is not what you think," she tried again.
"Still trying to lie your way out of this. Well, I suppose this is fine too. Not exactly you pleading for your life as I had, but that face is just as enjoyable," Koharu said. "I end my turn. Now then, dear sister. How about you actually try to duel as I gift you with even more torture?"
Kohaku gritted her teeth, as she looked down at the card she drew from Ventriloquist's effect; the Field Magic, Circus Show. One look at the card in her hand, and she felt her chance of winning slip through her fingers even more. No... it wasn't the duel that was important to her; but her sister and her trust in her. If she looked at it from the perspective of a normal foreigner who knew little to nothing about Arabic, as well as the timing that meeting took place in, then Kohaku knew... Koharu's lack of trust in her, her anger, her vengeance, they were all reasonable. Indeed, it did look like Kohaku had hired some special killers of some kind to get Koharu framed for something she did not do. Even more so, she never told her twin she was finding people who can help her control her dueling power. But... as much as she wanted to reason with her, she knew Koharu wasn't going to hear her out any longer. And even if she did win the duel, would Koharu be the sister she knew and love again? More than that... if she defeated Koharu, wouldn't she...?
The way she was not at all starting her turn was worrying the audience watching. "What's wrong with Kohaku?" Asuka asked.
"She's taking too long with her turn," Manjoume stated.
"Now that I think about it, didn't she draw a card with Ventriloquist's effect? If she still has it in her hand, then..." Bella trailed off there.
Alex and Ryo both simply watched the duel with strong looks in their eyes.
Back with Kohaku, as soon as she had that horrid thought in mind of what would happen to her younger twin, Kohaku had actually considered doing the one thing most duelists would never ever do; give up. It didn't matter to her if Koharu saw her as a monster, or if Koharu fulfills the Shadow Riders' goal; she failed in saving her sister once before. She wasn't going to make that same mistake again. Even if it meant losing her own life or losing her gate-Key in the process.
"My turn. Draw." Kohaku drew her next card. Once she placed her drawn card in her hand, she reached out to her deck to end this duel once and for all.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, KOHAKU?!" Kazato shouted, diverting all attention to him. "Don't you dare give up! No matter what the circumstance, a performer always finishes his performance! I taught you this!"
"Dad?" Kohaku gasped out in surprise.
"He's right, Kohaku!" Alex followed. "This is not like you! You've been in tougher situations before, tougher duels with tougher opponents! Why aren't you fighting back in this duel?! Where's the Kohaku who always give us amazing performance?! Quit dilly-dallying and duel your usual duel!"
"Your previous duels got you out of situations like this! Not just duel wise, but the aftermath!" Bella added. "If Koharu is not willing to listen to your words, then show her in a duel like you usually do! What are you doing without your usual spunk?!"
"Alex... Bella..." Kohaku's eyes slightly widened at those words, her mind how slowly clear of doubts. They were right. Time Space Magician was right. She did get herself in sticky situations before, and not only did she get out of them, she opened the eyes of her targeted audience. If her sister wasn't willing listen, then a show biz should change that. "You guys are right. No more talk; time to get this show on the road!"
As Kohaku turned, her duel disk summoned out more platforms, stationed as makeshift stairs high above her. She jumped up the steps until she reached the highest point possible. "Hola~! Bonjour~! Hello, everybody~!" she began. "Apologies for the unsightly performance. It is now high time for the real show to begin~!"
"Real show? You don't have even a single card on your field. There's no hope for you!" Koharu shouted.
"In that case, let us change the number of cards, as well as the field itself~! Field Magic, Circus Show, activate!" The moment Kohaku inserted the said card, the beach turned into her signature field.
"Yes, it's Kohaku's home field!" Alex exclaimed.
"With this, she might have the advantage now," Asuka said.
"Now then, I will set one card face-down, and end my turn~!" Kohaku ended, setting her final card down. "Now then~ Try and hit me~!" Kohaku leapt off her platform and on a swing, swinging herself from one swing to another, or to a rope and move herself from that to another or back to a swing.
Koharu clenched her fist at the sight of this. "It's one thing to not duel seriously, but now you're fooling around in this duel? I now tire of your antics! Draw!" She drew her next card. "I activate the Continuous Magic, Family Reinforcements! With this card's effect, if a 'Hoshidan Royal' or 'Nohrian Royal' monster is added to my hand, I can Special Summon the card instead! I now summon Nohrian Royal, Elise!" A little girl with long blonde hair in pigtails in a black dress appeared on the field.
Nohrian Royal, Elise: Level 3/DARK/Spellcaster/1100 ATK/1200 DEF
(Nohrian Royal, Elise: Effect Monster: If a card or effect that increases Life Points activates, inflict the same amount as damage to your opponent. Then target one monster your opponent controls; that target loses ATK equal to the damage inflicted this way.)
(Family Reinforcements: Continuous Magic: Once per turn, if a 'Hoshidan Royal' or a 'Nohrian Royal' monster is added to your hand, you may Special Summon that monster. If your opponent Special Summons a monster from their Extra Deck, you may send this card and 1 'Hoshidan Royal' and 1 'Nohrian Royal' monster to the Graveyard; Special Summon 1 'Hoshidan Royal, Ryoma' and 'Nohrian Royal, Marx' from your Deck.)
"And thanks to Fates Counterpart's effect, I add Hoshidan Royal, Sakura to my hand! And at this time, Family Reinforcements' effect activates! Since Sakura is a 'Hoshidan Royal' monster and added to my hand, I can Special Summon her instead!" Just as she added said card, she slapped it down on her duel disk, and a little girl with short pink hair in white and red priestess clothes appeared on the field.
Hoshidan Royal, Sakura: Level 3/LIGHT/Spellcaster/1200 ATK/1400 DEF
(Hoshidan Royal, Sakura: Effect Monster: Once per turn, for each card on the field, you may gain 100 Life Points. Then target 1 monster on your field; that monster gains ATK equal to the Life Points gained.)
"And now I activate Sakura's effect! Once per turn, for each card on the field, I gain 100 Life Points and a monster on my field gain that amount as ATK! There are two cards on your field and six cards on my own field! That's 800 Life Points and ATK points! And furthermore, Elise's effect activates! If a card or effect that increases Life Points activates, that amount is inflicted to my opponent as damage! Now writhe in pain!" As she said this, Elise fired her magic right at Kohaku.
The girl swung to a swing with an Action Card on it and flipped right onto the seat. Unfortunately, she slipped and started to comically fall, just narrowly avoiding the blast. "Huh? Aaaahhhhhh!"
Kohaku: 100 LP
Koharu: 2800 LP
While her friends were worried for her, Koharu was indifferent. "In that case, with the extra power she gained from Sakura, Kamui will attack you directly! Draconic Wail!" Kamui breathed out another dosage of her flames tight at the falling Kohaku.
Vallian Dragon, Kamui: 3700 + 800 = 4500 ATK
"Kohaku!" Misawa shouted.
"Do something!" Manjoume followed.
Unfortunately, nothing can be done, as the attack struck the girl and created a huge explosion.
"Kohaku!" Alex cried out in worry.
It was silent, as the students and teachers were mortified with the event that had occurred. Koharu simply watched on at her twin's destruction, feeling a bit satisfied with her work. "And that's it. It's over," she said.
A snap was heard, bringing all their attention to the source, as a spotlight lit on one certain duelist. "Hi~! You didn't think I'd go down that easily, did you?"
While all her friends were relieved to see her alive, with Chronos crying out tears of joy, Koharu was just shocked at the development. "What?! How?!" she demanded.
"Action Magic, Big Escape!" Kohaku said, as the said card appeared next to her. "I caught it while falling earlier. Thanks to this, the Battle Phase has ended. And of course, I take no damage from the battle~"
Koharu glared at her twin for the miracle she pulled off. "I end my turn! Don't think this is over!" Like how Kohaku had done, now the Shadow Rider started swinging from and to different ropes, in search for an Action Card.
"Of course not. And now it is my turn! Draw!" Kohaku drew her next card. "Koharu! My words will never reach you as you are now, and that I accept! However, as your sister, I will not stop reaching out to you!"
"What is this? Your last speech before your demise?" the Shadow Rider questioned.
"Far from it. If my words will never reach your ears, if the truth will not reach your eyes, then at the very least, I will give you the best performance in history! From my Graveyard, I activate Early Performance's second effect!" Hearing this surprised everyone, as they never knew the card had a secondary effect in the Graveyard. "By banishing this card and 'Circus Freak' monsters in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon a 'Circus Freak' monster resting in my Graveyard whose Level equals to the combined level of those monsters! With this card, I banish Circus Freak Juggler and Stuntman to Special Summon back the leader of 'Circus Freaks', Circus Freak Time Space Magician!" As she said this, the pair of monsters appeared before her with a large box. They walked in and shut the door. Once it was closed, the box shook as the sound of a brawl occurred from within. Seconds later, the shaking stop, and the door opened to reveal Kohaku's key card from within.
"Even if he did come back, you seem to have forgotten. Even if you destroy my monster, Kamui is leagues higher than your monster. And because of Dragon Vein: Restore, my Life Points will come back."
"I did not forget. That's why, with Time Space Magician's big return, Circus Show's own effect activates~! A Circus Counter now appears on it! Now then, let's have some real fun~!" As Kohaku said this, a trio of bombs suddenly appeared and shot at Koharu's monsters. The bombs exploded into smoke, and the Shadow Rider's monsters were now clothed in performers outfits.
Vallian Dragon, Kamui: 4500 - 200 = 4300 ATK
Hoshidan Royal, Sakura: 1200 - 200 = 1000 ATK
Nohrian Royal, Elise: 1100 - 200 = 900 ATK
Kohaku looked down at the card she drew, a puzzled expression on her face as she brought it to her ear. "Huh? 'I want to join in, too'? All right. From my hand, I summon out Time Space Magician's junior! Circus Freak Destiny!" The child version of Kohaku's key card appeared on the field.
Circus Freak Destiny: Level 2/DARK/Spellcaster/500 ATK/500 DEF
"And with his summon is another Circus Counter~!" A make up kit appeared and dusted Koharu's monsters' faces, making them all look goofy.
Vallian Dragon, Kamui: 4300 - 200 = 4100 ATK
Hoshidan Royal, Sakura: 1000 - 200 = 800 ATK
Nohrian Royal, Elise: 900 - 200 = 700 ATK
"All right! Now if she starts searching for an Action Card..." Bella spoke.
"Kohaku can attack her sister's weakest monster and win!" Manjoume said.
"I wonder about that..." Ryo said in wonder. "That doesn't sound like something she would do."
"And besides, Kohaku is not the only one who is able to use an Action Card," Asuka added.
As they said this, Kohaku leapt from one platform to another, moving to a pillar that had an Action Card on it. "Action Magic, High Dive! A monster on my field gains 1000 ATK! And now, I battle! Time Space Magician! With your newly obtained strength, attack Elise! Time-Spacial-!"
"Like hell I'll let you!" Koharu interrupted, grabbing an Action Card that was in the middle of a floating hoop. "I activate the Action Magic, Illusion Dance! All Attack Position Monsters are changed to Defense Mode this turn!" As she said this, music was suddenly played and all the monsters danced along with the beat. "Game over, sister. Now end your turn so I can end your pitiful life!"
"Huh? But if I do that now, I won't be able to get to the best part," Kohaku said.
"You're still going on about that?!"
"Of course I am! It is time for the Grand Finale! I activate the Continuous Trap! Another Act! Through this card's effect, by removing a Circus Counter on the field and a 'Circus Freak' monster in my Graveyard, I can activate a Magic or a Trap card from either one of our graves~ At the cost of one of the Circus Counter on Circus Show and the removal of Circus Freak Trampoline in my grave, I activate the effect of Acrobalance!"
"If you think Rune Magician will help you, think again! Kamui's DEF still surpasses it!"
"The final star of this show will not be Rune Magician! With Acrobalance's borrowed effect, I fuse Time Space Magician with Destiny! Performer of time and space, traverse back to the past and guide us to the light! FUSION SUMMON! Appear now, majestic performer who sees all! Circus Freak Memoir Magician~!" The two monsters merged together, and brought about a new monster. This monster seemed quite similar to Time Space Magician, only wearing white wizard clothes and had a staff on him.
Circus Freak Memoir Magician: Level 7/LIGHT/Spellcaster/2700 ATK/1000 DEF
"A new 'Circus Freak' monster?" Daitokuji gasped.
"What does that one do- no ne?" Chronos asked.
"I am glad you asked, dear audience~ When Memoir Magician gets Special Summoned, I draw a card for each card that has a Circus Counter! The only card with such counter is Circus Show, which now has two counters again!" As Kohaku said this, she drew her next card. "And for each 'Circus Freak' monster banished, he gains the following effects! Right now there are three monsters! First, with at least one 'Circus Freak' monster banished, he is able to deal piercing damage! And secondly, with at least three 'Circus Freak' monsters banished, he can make multiple attacks on monsters, once per!"
That piece of information brought joy to the bystanders.
"Memoir Magician's ATK is 2700! Elise and Sakura's DEF are 1200 and 1400 respectively!" Manjoume exclaimed.
"If his attack connects, Kohaku will inflict exactly 2800 points of damage and win!" Misawa calculated.
Koharu, however, had other plans. "I activate the Continuous Magic, Family Reinforcements effect! If my opponent Special Summons a monster from their Extra Deck, I send it, a 'Hoshidan Royal' and a 'Nohrian Royal' monster to the Graveyard to Special Summon a certain pair of monsters from my deck to my field! Now come forth, Hoshidan Royal, Ryoma and Nohrian Royal, Marx!" As she said this, her two Spellcaster monsters glowed and changed shape. In Sakura's place was now a samurai with long, spiky brown hair in red and white armor, while in Elise's place was a blonde knight on a black horse, both plated in black armor.
Hoshidan Royal, Ryoma: Level 7/LIGHT/Warrior/2800 - 400 = 2400 ATK/2000 DEF
Nohrian Royal, Marx: Level 7/DARK/Warrior/2800 - 400 = 2400 ATK/2000 DEF
(Hoshidan Royal, Ryoma: Effect Monster: If you control two or more 'Hoshidan' monsters, you may Special Summon this card from your hand. This card cannot be destroyed by battle. Once per turn, if an attack is declared a monster you control except this card, you can negate that attack. If this card battles a monster but didn't destroy it, inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's Level times 200.)
(Nohrian Royal, Marx: Effect Monster: If you control two of more 'Nohrian' monsters, you may Special Summon this card from your hand. This card cannot be destroyed by battle. Once per turn, if an attack is declared on a monster you control except this card, you can negate that attack. If Level 6 or higher monster is Special Summoned, except from the hand, you may banish that monster and inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's Level times 200.)
"You best tread carefully now. Both these two monsters cannot be destroyed by battle and are able to negate an attack that doesn't target them," Koharu said.
"That is just fine," Kohaku said, her smile not leaving her face. "This duel is just getting started after all!"
Those words brought confusion to her opponent's face. "Huh? What are you talking about? Your monster cannot do anything! He can't attack me, much less chip my Life Points away!"
"That's the point. I don't want to attack you. As I said, at the very least, I want to give you a memorable duel. And this turn, is the Grand Finale! I activate the Magic Card, Memoir Parade!" Kohaku inserted her drawn card into her duel disk. Once she placed the card in, the circus suddenly turned dark, a spotlight shining on a float that appeared on the field.
"What the...? What is going on here?!" Koharu demanded.
"Memoir Parade is a card special to Circus Freak Memoir Magician that can only be activated if certain requirements are met. First: the Battle Phase has passed. Second: Memoir Magician is the only monster I control. Third: my Life Points are 1000 or less. Fourth: my opponent controls more monsters than I do. And lastly: at least two of my opponent's monsters level is the same as Memoir Magician!" Hearing the conditions listed shocked Koharu and the audience.
"You... Did you plan this the whole time?!" the Shadow Rider demanded.
"I didn't plan this," Kohaku answered. "After all, no performance is fun if it is planned out exactly as it should. With Memoir Parade's effect, all the monsters will have an enjoyable time!" As she said this, her lone monster jumped and landed on the float, his staff now shrinking down to a conducting baton.
Music was then being played, as the Fusion Monster pointed his staff-turned-baton at Ryoma first, shooting an odd light at him that changed the monster's armor into a white kimono with a red robe over it, and a fan in hand. He guided Ryoma up on the float and guided him to do some graceful, Japanese dancing. Next to come up was Marx, in which Memoir Magician shot another light at and changed his clothes into a white court suit, his horse now gone. Like Ryoma, Memoir Magician also guided him up on the float and danced alongside his ally. Last to be affected was Kamui, in which Memoir Magician turned back into her human form and in her own dancing clothes, as she danced alongside the other two monsters with Memoir's guidance. The longer the monsters danced, the brighter their glow.
"What the...? What did you do to my monsters?!" Koharu shouted.
"Memoir Parade's effect allows me to banish all monsters on the field. And then, 100 damage is inflicted onto my opponent times the banished monsters' total level," Kohaku explained.
"There are four monsters on the field, and all their level are seven each," Asuka counted.
"That makes a total level of 28, and Koharu's Life Points are at 2800," Ryo calculated.
"Meaning Kohaku will be dealing just enough damage to win this duel!" Bella cheered.
Koharu's eyes widened in shock at this turnaround. "No... I refuse to accept this defeat!" She jumped down to the ground and ran in search for an Action Card. However, there was not a single card in sight. "No... I lost?!"
"Open your eyes, Koharu! Through Memoir Parade's effect, all our monsters are banished, and 2800 points of damage all go to you!" As Kohaku shouted that, the four monsters glowed so brightly, their figures were barely seen, as they shot into the air and flew around in magical sparkles, with one of the four lights heading straight for Koharu and struck her.
Kohaku: 100 LP
Koharu: 0000 LP
WINNER: KOHAKU!
*KOHARU'S MINDSCAPE*
Similar to how it was for Kohaku, now it was Koharu who was having a blast from the past, as she found herself in the same hideout young Kohaku was in to make a deal with the people there.
"This again? I already saw it, how my sister betrayed me. I don't need a rewatch," she said.
"That's where you're wrong," came a voice. Koharu turned and saw Memoir Magician standing there.
"This is your doing, isn't it? Send me back now! I don't want to see this again!" she demanded.
"Except if I do, you won't see the truth then." Just as the girl was about to retort to that, Memoir Magician raised a hand to silence her. "Just. Watch. I have 'Memoir' in my name for a reason. You need to see this."
Koharu decided to humor the Duel Monster and watched, as her twin's younger self was being approached by the supposed leader of the group.
"You the kid?" he asked in pure Japanese, much to Koharu's confusion, as she knew he was speaking in Arabic in the memory.
"Yeah! I heard you have some special duelists here. Duelists with special powers," Young Kohaku said, also in Japanese.
"Hang on. They were speaking in Arabic. How are they speaking Japanese?" the Shadow Rider asked.
"I translated their language. So you will know exactly what they were talking about," Memoir Magician answered.
"Your Arabic is not bad, kid. And? To what do I owe the pleasure of having a kid know of this underground business?" the guy asked Young Kohaku.
"Well, I actually have a request. Of what I can see, this is the only place that can help. I even have money to pay you," the kid said.
This made the guy intrigued. "Let's have a chat in my office about the details."
The scene changed to the the guy's office, where the pair sat down at a table and were having some beer for the leader and water for Young Kohaku.
"All right. What's the request?" he asked.
"Well... I was wondering if you can teach my sister how to control her powers. She was born with them and was constantly seen as a monster by those who dueled her. She never meant to hurt anyone; just doesn't know how to control them. No one back home understood, though..." Young Kohaku explained.
The guy raised a brow at this story. "And you came all the way to Dubai for help? Can't say I don't admire your guts, but even though-"
"Oh no. My family travel around, just so we can find someone who can help her. My sister doesn't know that, though. She only thought we're traveling around to see the whole world."
"If your parents are in on this, wouldn't it be better to have them meet with me instead? Like I said, I admire your guts, but the world is a dangerous place, kid. More than people with special dueling powers like your sister and the guys you saw back there."
"I know. I know it's dangerous. But I can't not help my sister however I could! It's hard enough to keep the bullies away from her, but she always blame herself whenever I do help her. I always feel like I'm not doing enough to help her when she does that. If you really can help her, teach her to control her abilities, I will be in your debt! I'll give you all the money I've made in other countries! I'll even work for you if it means helping her! I just... I don't want to see her sad like that again... Please! I'll do anything!"
It was silent in the room, as the guy took another gulp of his beer. "Kid... When you're a girl, you never tell a guy of any age that you'll do anything for anything," he said. "Besides, I'll never hear the end of it from the others if they knew I accept that sort of offer."
Young Kohaku slowly had a hopeful look forming on her face. "So... you'll do it?"
"Bring your family tomorrow, and we'll see about getting your sister handled."
A large smiled formed at those words. "Okay!"
Koharu was shocked as she watched this memory, now in a language she understood. Did she hear that right? Kohaku went to this group... to help her control her powers? Then... Was that framed murder...?
"When you were framed the very next day, it was nothing but a coincidence. Kohaku went back to the hideout and pleaded with the leader to save you in some way," Memoir Magician explained, as he featured another memory in the same office. This time, Young Kohaku was on her knees, crying as she desperately begged the guy to help Koharu in some way.
"Look, kid! Even if I were to do that, the second I break your sister out, she'll be seen as a fugitive! You think this city is harsh against framed murderers? Try seeing what happens if a fugitive escapes with help! Sorry to say it, but your sister is a goner, no matter what."
Young Kohaku looked even more hurt at those words, realizing that there was no way to save her sister. "No... You're lying!" With that shout, she ran out of the room.
Scene changed again to what seemed like a bedroom. Young Kohaku sat on her bed, sadly looking down at a photo of herself with Koharu. Her eyes were red and puffy, with tears leaking out of them.
"This is the night you died. Kohaku blamed herself for not being able to do anything more for you, and had cried for three days straight. Heck, she even gave up on Duel Monsters after that. Especially since it was the reason why you died," Memoir Magician explained, as the child hugged the photo close to her and cried once more.
"She... gave up? Then how did she get back into it?" Koharu asked, purely out of curiosity.
"She was in America. Just years since that day, and several months before she was transferred to Duel Academia."
Scene changed to a park, where Kohaku was just roaming around after practice. From the corner of her eyes, she saw two girls dueling. With how similar their features were, she figured they were sisters. Just as the younger sister was about to play a card, a strong wind came and blew the card out of her hand and high into a tree. This caused the pair to stop their duel and ran to get the card back. Unfortunately, the card was too high up.
"No..." the younger sister whined.
"Hey. Don't worry. The card is not that expensive. I can get you a new one," her older sister said.
"But it won't be the same thing. It's not the first card you got me; that one is."
Not wanting to be one of those people who would look the other way at someone who needs help, Kohaku climbed up the tree and got the card back.
"Wow! Thank you!" the younger sister exclaimed.
"You really saved us there!" the older sister said.
"It was nothing," Kohaku said. "Just be more careful next time."
"Right!" both nodded, as they walked away.
"It was a good thing she came by," the older sister said to her younger one.
"Yeah. But I really wish Duel Monsters can be made real upon summon. Then she didn't need to help us," the younger sister said.
When the girl said that, Kohaku couldn't help but think about what she said. If Duel Monsters could be made real, it certainly would've helped her sister a lot. She then thought back to what happened in Dubai and felt tears welling up. Her mind then went to the hideout with the other special duelists, then to what the boss of that place had said. If what he said was true, and what she saw was real, then there were other duelists out there that were like her sister. She had to do something to help them. And she knew where to start.
"After that, Kohaku had studied up on how holograms worked with her parents, taking a break from the many performances they had done. Once they got the gist of how holograms are made, your mother and sister tried to find out ways to make the holograms look even real enough to be touched, hence the solid-vision. However, as this was in memory of you, a member of their family they could not help, they decided to make the project more meaningful in many ways."
"Which led to Action Duels," Koharu finished in understanding, finally realizing she had her family all wrong. "They... They really cared about me."
"Of course they did. After all, they love you. And they still do," Memoir Magician said. "You hear it, can't you?"
Koharu looked at him in confusion, until she heard someone calling her. Someone crying out her name. "Koharu! Koharu!"
*REALITY*
"Koharu! Please wake up!" Kohaku cried, shaking her sister awake.
Koharu weakly opened her eyes, finding herself in her sister's arms, tears in the older sibling's eyes. "Sis... ter..." she called, her voice hoarse. "I... I'm sorry... I got you... all wrong..."
"Save your strength! You'll be okay!" Kohaku said.
Koharu lightly shook her head, feeling her body getting heavy. "It's fine... I wasn't suppose to be alive anyway..."
"Don't say that. I just got you back! The other Shadow Riders we faced... they all had their happy endings! Asuka's brother is back, Camula has turned over a new leaf, and even though Tanya turned into a tiger, she's still... It's not fair that you have to go!"
Koharu let out a small smile as she weakly raised a hand and caressed her sister's face. "Kohaku... It's okay... Don't cry... Tears never suit you, sis... If anything... I should be the one crying... Instead of coming back... I was blinded by rage... and tried to kill you, mom, and dad..."
"I don't care about that... You can't die on me again! Koharu!" Kohaku cried out, holding her hand.
"That's not possible... The Dark Items... they only work long... until their user loses in a duel. Mine is... running out now," Koharu explained. "Kohaku... Promise me something. Promise me... Action Duels will spread far and wide... I don't want... any other psychic duelists... to end up like me..."
Not willing to speak, Kohaku could only nod her head.
Koharu smiled softly, her vision fading. "I'm really glad... to have such a great sister... and wonderful... parents... Goodbye..." At those last words, Koharu's hand slipped out of Kohaku's, the latter whose eyes widened as she saw her sister's body slowly paling and her dark item disappearing.
"Koharu... Koharu! No! Koharu, wake up! Please, wake up! Koharu! Koharu! Answer me, please!" she cried out. Sadly, the girl gave no response, not even a twitch or a breath. Saddened she had lost her sister the second time, Kohaku held her corpse close to her and cried.
Her father and her friends all watched, feeling sad for her. Some shed tears at such an emotional moment, others looked away.
What none of them realized, though, was a faint glowing of Kohaku's pendant, and Koharu's deck.
*KOHARU'S DECK*
The duel monsters from within gathered around in a dark area, their bodies glowing lightly in their respective attributes.
"Well, that's that," a blonde male in black armor with a book in his hand said. "Looks like it's back to the realm between for us, and wait for a pair of chosen duelists to search for us once more."
"But that can't be!" Kamui shouted. "There has to be something we can do for her!"
"You know there is nothing that can be done now, Kamui-neechan," Takumi told her. "The dead can never come back. Heck, she wasn't suppose to come back. The only reason she did was because of that Dark Item and that old geezer needed her to create cards for the rest of his crew."
"He's right. We can't meddle with the life cycle," Hinoka said.
"Besides, we're just spirits. We can't do anything to help a human," Sakura sadly added.
"That shouldn't mean we should just give up!" Kamui shouted.
"Kamui... It's time like this that we have to let things be, no matter how unhappy it makes us," Camilla told her.
"But..."
"Not entirely true," Marx spoke, getting the monsters' attention.
"He's right. There is a way, actually," Ryoma added, bringing attention to him. "Besides, you all sense it, don't you? A presence similar to a Dark Item, yet different."
"You mean that tingly feeling~" Elise asked.
"Now that you mentioned it, something did feel different, but I thought it was because our greatest enemy is in the same room as us," Takumi said, glaring at the 'Nohrian' monsters.
"All the more reason to consider doing it, right Marx?" Ryoma asked his counterpart.
"Indeed," he nodded.
Their conversation was bringing nothing but confusion to the rest of the spirits.
"What are you guys talking about?" Hinoka asked.
"That feeling we've been sensing... it's the Gatekeeper's Revival Staff," Ryoma answered.
Hearing this shocked the group.
"You mean those stuckup desert people?!" Leon asked. "But I thought that staff was a myth!"
"It's not a myth; it's very much so real. And it comes with a strong price to be used," Marx said. "As Kamui said, there is something we Duel Monster Spirits can do for Koharu. Ever since she found and chose both of us instead of just one like many others had before her, she had created cards that brought us together, just as how Kamui had wished for for so long. Centuries, we saw each other as thorns to our sides, when really, we are not that much different. Koharu had opened our eyes to this truth, and brought us closer as a group. Never had I ever thought I would want to be at peace with Hoshidans, and yet here we are now."
"But what does this have to do with the staff?" Hinoka asked.
"In order for it to be used and successfully revive a single person, Duel Monster Spirits have to be sacrificed," Ryoma explained, to their shock. "If you wish to refuse to do so, then that is fine. We won't go along with this. However, after everything that happened, the Shadow Rider Koharu's story may have ended, but if you ask me, Fiore Koharu's story still continues. This is not where her life ends. Wouldn't you all agree with me?"
"Hang on! You're telling us to sacrifice our lives for a single soul!" Takumi exclaimed.
"I am aware of that. That is why we will have a unanimous vote. If all of us agrees to give up our lives for Koharu to continue living, we will go along with this. Otherwise, as Leon said. We will return to where we come from, and the next time someone picks us, we will be each other's enemies instead of allies. In all honesty, I would rather die here than to fight the people I see as close comrades to the death. Not again."
"I as well, Ryoma," Marx agreed. "And what of all of you? Would you rather give your life up to our last duelist here, or return to how our lives once were?"
*REALITY*
As Kohaku continued to cry out tears for the loss of her twin, her pendant's glow grew brighter, getting her attention, as she reached out for it. "Huh? Why is Saniwa's staff...?" she muttered out in question.
Suddenly, Koharu's deck glowed just as bright, grabbing everyone's attention as the glow spread out all over the younger twin's body. The cards were slowly disappearing, and Kohaku's pendant removed itself and changed back to its normal size, to everyone's shock.
"Huh?!" Bella gasped out.
"Isn't that staff...?!" Asuka spoke, recognizing the item.
Kohaku held the stick in shock, as she looked to it, then to Koharu, and back. While she had no idea what was going on, she knew the staff had to do with it and moved it above her twin's corpse. The glow then got brighter, as the staff transferred it all to Koharu. Once the staff lost its glow, so did Koharu.
Everyone was still, not daring to even breathe at the sight, especially Kohaku. The 'Circus Freak' duelist couldn't help but feel like a miracle was suppose to happen. And it did, in a form on Koharu letting out some coughs. The younger twin opened her eyes and looked at her surroundings.
"I'm... alive?" she asked.
Suddenly she felt her air leave her, as Kohaku pulled her in a tight hug. "You're... you're warm..." she said, tears of joy now forming in her eyes. "You're alive again."
If she didn't know how much her older twin cared for her still, Koharu certainly did now, as tears formed in her eyes and she hugged back. "I'm... really sorry. I'm back."
Witnessing this wonderful miracle before them, Kohaku's friends and teachers cheered in joy, glad that Kohaku still has her sister back. Kazato, like his daughter, was shocked to see his other daughter back from the dead again, and silently cried his own tears in sheer joy.