Five years ago

The waning voice of a young woman whispers, "Kageru. Kageru… Get up. Hurry…"

His collapsed fourteen-year-old figure lies over an open field of dry grass with no other cover but the ember-coated jacket draping the blisters on his back. The intense, moisture-vaporizing heat, and the dense grey of smoldering fumes continue to suffocate his lungs. It is apparent that there is no sanctuary that will deliver him. No one will lift his hope, grant pity, or even torment him in the midst of this suffering. Whatever struggle is for naught. All he can do is await the inevitable end.

But, the woman has other plans. She strains herself to gather every bit of air in her lungs to form his name again, "Kageru…" To have him succumb to such a tragic, meaningless end is a choice that is out of the question. "Kageru!" Miraculously, her voice finally reaches, and the young Hiitan boy opens his eyes to give her some grain of relief.

The young Kageru comes through, dizzily regaining awareness of the surrounding inferno to return her call. "Akane?" He looks to the side only to have his heart under the grip of dread. Dread turns into fear, and fear into denial. The person he seeks is now laying by his side, dying. "No. No. No. NO!"

Twenty-two-year-old Akane's orange hair runs in seared tangles. Littering her once peach complexion are sections of charred skin from third degree burns, and bloody gashes that undoubtedly came from the talons of a large creature. Her breathing is coarse and heavy. Still, she continues to fight on even as every second gradually saps her consciousness away.

Wheezing and panicking with tears, Kageru wastes no time and crawls to his dear sister's side. "H-Hang on!"

Her scarlet orbs meet with her adopted brother's. With a raised, stiffening hand weakly resting over his cheek, she wipes off any tears her minimal strength can manage. Even as her chords can barely so much as utter a word, she still tries for his sake. "Hey there bro … Guess I mis… misplayed pretty… whew… p-pretty bad…" An almost airless chuckle that painfully pierces her insides somehow manages to slip out.

His heart fractures from the frailty of her tone and the heated touch of her charcoal black fingers. "Shut up. You're in no condition to talk." The feigning smiles she tries to mask it with only worsens it. Denial tries to convince him that there is still a chance for her. But, this wishful thinking dissipates quickly. Try as he might to think otherwise, he has no idea what to really do. "W-We need to get out of here right now! Uh… Uhm… Get up! I'll use my shoulder!"

He tries and tries. But, he too with his cuts, and blisters mark that he is hardly in any condition to save anyone. As strong as he is for his age, she does not budge. "Damn it! Sis!" Flames roar and inch them ever closer. Each attempt only continues to sink his hopes, as her open arm slumps like a dead snake each time he attempts to lift it.

"Akane! Come on! We need to go!"

"That's enough…" She moves her arm away, and his pulling finally stops. Her eyes return an expression not unlike that of a mother's concern. "You can't do this," she adds.

The words that he would not accept strangle his very core, "Yes! I can!" And the reservoir of held tears rush out harder, prickling his voice. "I-I can! I can! Don't you go on telling me otherwise! I can lift your skinny ass just fine!"

"Sorry lil champ."

She slogs her other arm to his sight to reveal a strapped duel disk. "S-still have a… game to… fi-fi-finish." As if reflecting her state, the device's screen fizzles repeatedly, barely able to show her dangerously low life points.

"No! No! Don't give me that! We need to-!"

The flames that whisk into divide lower him back into trembling silence. From the blaze emerges two figures ready to decimate what little hope he has left. Under his despair, he takes a long look at the shadowy silhouette of the assailant. He is a long-haired man of Erian appearance no older than his sister. Serving as this very man's executioner is a white dragon with a demonic head, massive talon-lined limbs, and eerie indigo eyes that near petrify Kageru.

"Why?" he asks. "Why Albus?"

Albus answers with a resolute voice, "For the sake of this land and its people... the kindled ones, and any chance of their future must fall here."

He gazes upon the indifferent, Hiitan-like black flames that are Albus's eyes, unable to understand what his words mean, what such importance they hold for him to commit this atrocity. But, he knows whatever answer he gets now will not change anything. Whatever self-dignity remains of him, he readies to surrender it. Whatever way to protect the one person who saved his life, the one he holds so dear above all else.

His scrunched-up face digs into the ground with no other choice left. "Don't do this! Please. Whatever you need, I'll do it. Whatever you want, I'll get it. Just please… Please stop this already!"

But, whatever it amounts to is no more than a few seconds of a diversion. With nothing else, Akane pushes herself to stand. Her lifeless eyes, and crooked posture marks that now came her time.

Kageru looks to her, a bit hopeful, but nevertheless confused. "Akane?" He sees her taking to a hardening fighting stance. Is she going to desperately resort to brute force? What could she possibly do in this hopeless situation?

Then, with whatever remains of her vigor, she turns and strikes her own brother with a powered kick to his side, causing him to tumble not too far, but away enough to spare him from what was coming.

Albus sighs, almost regretting his actions over witnessing her last, yet nevertheless fruitless humane deed. He raises his arm to signal the growling white dragon.

Forced onto the side, Kageru sees the creature begin to charge its golden, fiery breath. He stumbles up, darts madly, and shrieks as hard as his voice can pierce beyond the inferno. "ALBUS! DON'T! STOP!

But, Albus ears are already deafened beyond care. "It's time to end this."

"STOP IT!"

"Forgive me my dear Akane. And farewell."

"STOP IT!"

"Enter Battle Phase." One hand motion, then the command. "Direct attack." The flame launches.

Akane looks to her charging brother with one last smile as the attack consumes her in a flash. The moment is one that seemingly slows between them.

"STOOOOOOP!"

And the moment vanishes to its end.

"No!" The now older Kageru violently rockets up like a revived corpse, sweat dripping if he was just staring into the hollow gaze of Death himself. Anger wells up in his struggle to suppress the memories. He wants to curse, but nothing could come out of his stutter-stricken tongue.

Almost an hour passes. Recovering from this rude awakening, he finds that his unshirted torso is in bandages. The shock from his experience dueling with Adelia still lingers. The stinging pain from the large cut on his mummified arm and the bite on his shoulder bother him especially.

But, none could compare to the nightmarish memories of those five years ago. The fact that he survived that day is a miracle for most, but to him it feels like a life-long punishment. All that came from it were the constant torment of feeling powerless, the lingering void of unanswered questions, and most of all, the continual crushing pain of knowing he will never see his sister again. At the very least, he wants the answers he is owed.

He places a hardening grip over the new bandage masking his face and relishes the fact that he is in a sleeping bag set over his room floor. Meant to be a storage, it is rather small, has no windows, and only houses a couple of his belongings. He isn't much for decorating, but at least makes it a point to have everything be presentable and easy to search through. As long as the bedroom fulfills its sole important purpose, that is all he needs.

Though still uneasy, he acts back on his usual routine. He rolls up the sleeping bag, and rests it just under the desk in the left end corner. He organizes the mess cards littered on it into their respective types before placing them back in tins found next to a second-hand lamp. Afterwards, he picks out a fresh set of clothes from a three-tiered, wooden drawer on the opposite end corner from this same desk. Oddly enough, he finds his phone resting inside. He would check it for messages only to find that it completely out of power. With that, he pulls off his phone charger out of a metal box of electronics next to where his phone was and plugs it in.

From the outside of the walls he hears someone using the showers, figuring it likely to be his roommate Tetsu Karaka preparing for the work day. He decides to wait for his turn.

"Akane…" Thoughts of that tragedy repeatedly sequences in his head, urging him to pick up a picture frame found next to the box on his drawer for solace. It is an old photo of an afternoon birthday gathering, and the one being celebrated is his late sister, who turned sixteen that day. Akane, a few of their friends, their mother, and the other guests line up within the frame, all with joyous expressions and clothes messy from a food fight.

The moment almost never fails to draw out even a somber smile from him. He remembers a time when he undoubtedly could say he belonged. But now, the very person who made it all possible, the one who helped grant him this life is permanently gone. He glances to the two figures who have their faces violently torn out of the photo, taking a long look at the one draped around Akane's arm.

"Albus..." A hateful impulse to snap the frame in two near overcomes him. He puts it back before he does this sure to be regrettable act.

Wanting to take his mind off it all, he pulls out his Flamvell deck from the bag under his desk and sits on the planked floor to meditate over last night instead. But as he did, Castelle's words would echo him back a reminder:

If that antique of a clan proved powerless to even save her, what makes you think you would fare any better?

He wants to deny her words, but it is no question that the so-called Gishki clan is far beyond anything he has faced before. As he awaits the dawn of the new day rising to its peak, he steels himself. With his ordeal being far from over, he needs to prepare. The encounter with Castelle and those mysterious strangers are surely not to be last.

Yu-Gi-Oh! The Termina Saga

Opening Theme: "One Unaffected by Hades" by Get in The Ring

Ending Theme: "Desirable Dream" by Get in The Ring

The Alluring, Thorny Flower

A Caucasian-skinned man in a yellow barista uniform exits the hallway showers to greet Kageru, who just got out his room. "Hey, hey, hey! Someone's alive and kicking!" he yells while blowing over his spiked hair and goatee with a blow dryer.

Kageru greets back with relief, "Tetsu?"

"That's my name. Sound surprised to see your landlord?" He follows the question with a suspicious glare. "Or are trying to skip me out on my rent money, ya damned, lowlife Hiitan?"

The act draws an amused smirk, and he returns his theatrics with a rivaling glare of his own. He then tosses over his enveloped payment. "Happy now? Penny pinching piece of Aussian dirt."

They pause in attempts to keep their composure, only to immediately break into laughter that then turns into an exchange of pats and brotherly hugs.

"You feel better Bud? Got me spooked to death for the past two days."

"You're kidding. Two days?!" His answer from him is a berating nod. Soon after, he felt his intestines rumble.

Tetsu chuckles. "I'll tell you all about it okay? But first, breakfast. You sir especially haven't eaten jack."

The two exit out the hallway double doors and into the main section of the building wittingly named, the Kara Kafé. It is one of few small, family-owned, coffee shops that started their chain from the western Kurogane, Tetsu Karaka's homeland.

Kageru patiently sits, resting his healing arm on the counter while Tetsu prepares the coffee. The chilling breeze from the air conditioner, and smell of roasting coffee beans always manages to put him at ease. The serenity of the pinewood walls decorated with various oil paintings by the owner enhance it especially.

He looks around ceaselessly impressed that Tetsu continues to keep the place dust-free and organized with hardly a flaw even in his absence. Though, his quick glances at the large upper chalkboard menu of drinks and the glass display case of desserts and sandwiches are met with a partially disappointed sigh. There is nothing new in them for him to try out.

Upon preparation, the heated beverages are slid over the table counter in fine china. Instead of sitting over, Tetsu leans and stretches his feet over the counter. "A cup of caramel for me, and good ole mocha for this guy."

"Sweet. Thanks." Kageru takes a moment to take in the intoxicating scent of chocolate, then sips. Though loving the flavor regardless, Tetsu is nonetheless a magician when it comes to mixing the amount that he personally found just right. It only betters with his shared company, being one of his few rare friends with whom he can just unwind away the other burdens of this troublesome world and be more himself.

Settling and stirring his drink with a small bit of concern, Tetsu starts off the conversation, "So… Mind telling me what in the world happened to you?"

"Ugh." The question kicks up the feeling of nausea Kageru was already beginning to have. "To be honest with you, I don't even get half of what went down."

Tetsu shrugs. "I don't open up shop for another hour, so I'm all ears. Whatever you got, lay it on me. I need to know."

He knows he is right. He has every right to hear it. And so, he shares. But, as the more he tries to explain it, the more difficult it was all to believe, much less piece together. The daughter of a legion lord meeting with him in the shadiest district of the city, a deal regarding vague hints of a brewing conflict, mysterious armed assailants, and the surprise skirmish between the two groups that had almost got him killed. Whatever he is taking a step into is no less than a warzone. One thing that he is certain of in the least is that the tech used in creating such realistic monsters is nothing new.

Tetsu's face stiffened with fright. "You're telling me, those new disks stepped up from being brass knuckles and lights, and into literal death machine simulators?!"

He lays his pounding forehead on a palm. "I don't freaking know what to think. But, it's likely that these big shots have been planning to use banned solid vision tech. The same kind that was supposed to be completely wiped from existence. Stupid of me to believe that the AOJ had finally shut that production down years back." He shakes his head before taking another sip.

Finishing up the last of the caramel, Tetsu looks towards the café's see-through glass where small cracks perimeter the entrance doors. He feels that the authorities should hear about it, but he isn't even a witness. There is no chance that anyone would take the word of a Hiitan. It disturbs him to think about what would happen should they even attempt to bring this out. He and Kageru can manage own their own, and the both of them prefer to keep it that way. Who knows what risk, panic, or dangers it would all spark if this got out publicly.

"Man. This is one funky kind of a mess," says Tetsu. "Can't run a business with this kind of headache so early on."

"Warned you. It's complicated." His eyes droop down irritably on his drink. "Precisely why I don't want to get wrapped up with said legions and their sponsors. They all pull this type of shit behind the public's noses, acting like these nations and their lords are getting along. Joke's on us."

"In any case, just try not to get yourself banged up that bad again." He sets the ceramics aside over the sink and begins wiping the counter. "Honestly… You, getting into some brawls is something I unfortunately cannot really help with, nor do I have the free time to parent over. But, I can't go losing a brother. There's only so much we can do to nurse you up. Can't fix you if you're dead."

"I got it. I got it." Kageru glances at his bandages again, seeing that they are skillfully applied. But, aside from knowing a few basic home remedies, Tetsu is far from being considered a medical expert. "By the way. How did I end up back here? And who patched me up exactly?"

Tetsu's cheeks puff out air in thought as he goes to recall the details of that hectic last night. "Well…"

He frantically races towards the abandoned district in his old, brown convertible. The only lead he has is from an unidentified caller who had used Kageru's phone. Littered on his passenger side, the message on his own phone read:

Better get to the old residential district pronto. Your Hiitan buddy isn't looking good, and we can't hold him safely for very long. Toddles!

There is hardly any illumination, but his destination became apparent the further he went. Each of the buildings and fences he passes by gradually became more and more run down, teeming with weeds and other wild plant-life.

As he got near, he suddenly stops to look out his window. A massive cloud of smoke, seemingly from an explosion is spiking across the air from the general area of his destination. It is fair to assume that his friend is likely in trouble. Frightened with that thought in mind, he speeds through.

In a matter of minutes, he arrives. But then, came another concern; Patrol cars are completely blocking all paths to and from the district. Any that come their way are suspects for investigation. He pulls away, hoping that they wouldn't pursue him. Luckily, they didn't, and he proceeds to backpedal towards an unrestricted entrance block.

Still, his options remain slim, and he could only imagine that Kageru probably has it even worse. He tries to call him again for a new plan. There was reception, but no answer. "Damn it all! Come on Bud! Pick up your line!"

Panic ensues as another car wildly swerves in front of him with its lit high beams. "Gah! What gives!?" All he could sense in his blindness is the sound of a loud thump, as if something was rolling out. Before recovering from the blur, the vehicle drives off. "Stupid, DUI punk drivers! I ought to- Huh?!"

Tetsu steps out his vehicle to finally find that the noise actually came from a someone; his best friend, clothes tattered and hurriedly wrapped with only a mix of small bandages that are still bleeding through their covers.

"Kageru!"

He hurries to check for a heartbeat, gladly managing to feel a pulse. He is no doctor, nor medical graduate, but the paleness of his skin, and the critically sized cuts are more than enough for anyone to tell that he needs tending to by a professional, and fast.

But, then another ugly fact reminds him that no hospital within the city would even consider taking the likes of a Hiitan patient in, especially not with the authorities in the scene on such cases certaibly looking for suspects. There is only one person he could trust with such a crucial task and have the best skills to do so. He quickly dials another number. Fortunately, the line picks up in a matter of seconds.

On the other end is a boy his age. "Tetsu? You're calling a little late. What's- ".

"Gai! Sorry, but I have an emergency. Kageru's in bad shape! Cut up! Crap ton of blood! I can wrap him up some more, but I don't know what else to do! I-I think he's caught something serious!"

This sucker punches him with anxiety. "W-what!? O-okay! Okay! Uh. Meet me at your place! Text me the symptoms you can! I Uh… I'll grab the meds I can think off!"

"Hop to it!"

"We got you fixed up by the time it was sunrise, but you seriously looked like a soulless husk at the time. Gai even mentioned that you were poisoned or something."

Kageru's eyes shoot up. "Poisoned?!"

"He caught traces of it. Said that it should've killed you. Apparently though, you have some sort of souped up immune system. So, you only passed out from the loss of blood. I don't know. It's all whacked to me."

Kageru wonders. The events he just went through were fuzzy, but he can still remember the likely cause of the odd substance being from that strange girl who seemed to be allies with Adelia Castelle. "I think I got it. Anyways, I really owe you one." Having finished his beverage, he passes the empty cup to his server's side.

Tetsu speaks again while collecting the rest of the dishes, "Gai spent his first night back after two long years in Miyabi to tend to your reckless behind. If you're owing anyone, it'd be him. He hardly had any sleep since his flight, and still had to put up with a day shift afterwards."

His eyes roll along with his sighing, finding it rather bothersome that the act of returning gratitude needed to be mixed in with a guilt trip. "You really gotta quit nagging me like that. I'll treat you both to something. Happy?"

"Erian seafood buffet?" He nudges him with a smile.

This stirs him sickened over his wallet for a moment. Erian food is almost always a pricey choice for dining best saved for big, planned occasions. But, he knows he could not put a price tag on life, or longtime friends. He is grateful to them after all, so there is technically something to celebrate over. And it may as well be a decent enough excuse to go a bit over his budget.

With that, he finally chooses to bite the bullet, "Whatever. Sure. Been meaning to give it a try anyway."

Tetsu pumps his fist excitedly. "You'll love it. Trust me. Their fried calamari are to die for."

"Yeah. I guess. I could use something good after this crazy ass week."

Tetsu opens the fridge set on his rear, "As things stand though, there isn't much we can really do. We'll talk about it with Gai once he gets time to check on you again. For now, I suggest you take a few days off. About time you started using that saved up PTO anyway." He swiftly pitches over a wrapped breakfast biscuit. The Hiitan's normally quick reflex is still present, despite his wounds. "At least your arms are still good. You can game with us this weekend, right?"

"Oh yeah." He remembers that they would all meet up at the arcade as part of their celebration for their friend's return from the long trip east. "You know I'm always game. Been wanting to kick your ass at F.A. Grand Circuit."

Tetsu laughs. "As if. You haven't beaten me in a single racing game since junior year, and you sure ain't about to do this year."

He cocks an eye over the dare, then gets at his face. "Says the guy who can't even take a round off me at Burning Knucklers."

There is a brief stare down but, they smile at each other as always and follow with an exchange of playful fists to the shoulder.

"You sure you'll be okay?" Kageru asks, "At the least I can handle the dishwasher, and- "

"No. Forget it." His posture and tone shift to that of an overly serious businessman. "Eat and get some shut eye. And no dueling for now. That's an order Mr. Hinodama."

He takes a bite off the sandwich, then acknowledges his bossy friend with a sarcastic tone, "Yes sir. Right away Mr. Karaka sir."

They laugh again.

"But, seriously. Relax Bud. The recent temps I got from around the neighborhood got you covered."

"Alright. Early good night then boss."

Like he reassured, Tetsu goes through the work day with some help. The café is located at the outer suburbs of Doriado City, and it isn't a weekend day, so business wasn't as hectic compared to other inner plazas. He spends the day with handfuls of customers that come every couple of minutes, taking their orders, and pitching in his gratifying smiles.

The social aspect of the job is something he loves. The chance to get to know all sorts of people, and to strike conversations with them as the sort of big brother of the neighborhood. He figures that the best way to approach good service was to be close-knit to guests as much as possible and really build some degree of personal connection that gets them to come back, excited to be here again. This same attitude also applies for the teams of three to four high school part-timers that rotate around the clock to help him do so. Before he knows it, the evening came again.

Ending the fifteen-hour shift at 9PM, Tetsu greets the last thirty people, including his employees, and thanks each of them with mutually shared glee. He got through another day's hard work, earning pretty well and without any problems.

As he was about to close the doors, he notices that there is still an unfinished customer, a young woman around eighteen, sitting relaxed over at the patio. He figures it courteous to let her be for a bit while he gathers whatever leftovers, and dishes still littered around the tables.

A couple of minutes pass and he looks out again. She is still seated in wait, without a hint to leave at any time soon. Now, he is sure something is amiss. The girl undoubtedly has business here. He turns away to avoid eye possible contact in attempt to hide his now serious expression. The dishes he has in hand are set down on the counter, where he would go behind to grab something. Afterwards, he heads out to finally meet with her.

"Pardon me miss." Tetsu greets with a waving smile. "Enjoying your evening?"

Ivy's purple pigtails bounce as she beams a smile back. "Oh! Absolutely!"

He is near bewitched by brightness of her orchid eyes, and soft peachy skin. Her frame sized around 5 ft. is slender and appears delicate, and he is unable to resist a flustered chuckle. "Good. Good."

His obvious attraction is met with a teasing tether of her head, "Would you like to join me, handsome?"

Though now red cheeked with flattery, he refuses. "As much as I'd love to, I gotta close shop unfortunately. If you'd like to swing by again tomorrow…" From his pocket, he pulls out and hands a coupon complemented with a wink.

Ivy giggles, "Thanks, but I'm afraid I'll just be too much of a busy bee that day."

He playfully frowns with disappointment, "That's a shame. Well, you gotta do what you gotta do right?"

"Yep. And so, just to get it out of the way, I was wondering if you could do me a teeny-weeny favor and call out your friend, Mr. Hinodama for me."

He twirls his goatee around, then puffs out a sigh. He would take notice as she began to occupy herself with a ladybug that was crawling up to her platter as he answers, "Afraid I can't do that pretty lady."

"Aw, don't be such a shy guy," she replies, gently easing a finger to coax the insect to cling onto her.

"Sorry, that's just how it is."

Once she takes another savory sip of her drink she hears a click go off just beside her ear. The glee on her expression blanks out for she well-recognizes the sound. Her pupils eyeball to the side to confirm that the Aussian server is now pointing a loaded revolver to her head.

"Is that anyway to treat a customer?" she asks with an eerily relaxed tone.

Tetsu remains calm, but firmly keeps his aim, "Sorry miss. It hurts me to do this to such a rare-looking, fine flower like yourself. Really does." He looks over to ensure that her hands are still on the table, "It's just that I've had to deal with trouble makers before, and well… That hurts my business, you know?"

Ivy chuckles scoffing, "And you think little ole me is here to cause you problems? Why so judgmental?"

"Surely you're not all looks right? Come on. I'm sure a brainy girl like you would figure the obvious answer to that." His trigger finger readies, "You know the old saying: The only people who look for Hiitans are either Hiitans themselves, or people wanting trouble with them."

Her giggle longs until it turns gradually sadistic, "Silly, silly boy. The only one here who seems to be looking for trouble is you."

And in that split second, she slides her hand over the table surface. Tetsu is unable to see, nor react as a dozen, small needles are darted to incapacitate his trigger hand. The gun drops, but not without him also being tripped, and sequentially stomped down by her boot.

He bites his lip. The impacts sting hard, but he still musters to pull them out. However, his other hand would only end up being stomped in place as well.

Ivy looks down on him as if he were a trapped fly, "You stay put like a good boy okay?"

She pulls out her duel disk to signal a que. Shortly after, a number of the Erian guards in their suits arrive in transport to hold her helpless prisoner hostage, "Take him away for a bit. Rest of you, come with me. Time to see if Lia's thick-headed darling is home."

Just as a pair of them take hold of Tetsu however, a flying chair that had been launched from inside the café and shattering its window, knocks one of them out. The other holding the hostage looks to see what happened, only for his nose to meet the receiving end of another flung chair.

Another pair among the guards who witnessed the act then storm the building in retaliation, arming themselves with stun guns. But as they did, there appears to be no one even inside. They take a guess that this someone is likely behind the counter. They are right.

From behind, Kageru leaps up with the register at his side. He quickly tosses over a heated mug of water at one of the suits, spilling and shattering it at their eyes. The other fires a stun gun, which he manages to shield himself from. While his eye-watered burnt victim is agonizing over the burning and shards of broken glass, he pulls out the stun projectile wedged in the struck machine and darts it back at the other shooter's kneecap.

Having had enough, Ivy motions in with the remaining two suits as company. She lifts her mini skirt to pull out a set of needles from a holster strapped around her dark brown leggings. Well-convinced that a physical confrontation is out of the question, she orders that the Aussian hostage be brought in as leverage, "Alright Kageru. You'd best-?"

An ear-piercing battle cry cuts her mid-sentence, as one of them younger guards recklessly charges at the Hiitan. However, the attempt to jump kick him is simply side-stepped, and Kageru knocks him out with a head slam to the wall.

"Idiot," Ivy thought, quickly brandishing her weapons. "Must I do everything?"

Kageru quickly retracts attention to her, pulling the last attacker's unconscious body for cover. He barely avoids the stream of needles that bullet through. His bandaged arm throbs with pain from holding up the body, but this does not hinder the counter that follows near as quick. He forcefully yanks a dozen of the projectiles from the victim's back and returns them. But, she would dodge them just as easily with a calmed step. Luckily, she wasn't the target, and the henchmen handling his friend are next to be put down in her place.

"Ain't that cute. Castelle's little slut thinks she a ninja," he remarks. "Consider us half even."

Ivy stares back intently, "Ooh. You're scary." The sounds of moaning from the beaten guards that follow though draw a dissatisfied breath out of her, "Okay, you overpaid dimwits. Get the other overpaid dimwits that stupidly poked bit of the antidote. I'll handle this cutie."

The word quickly alarms Kageru, "Antidote?"

"Be sure not to let Lia know about this. I'd hate to sit through another boring lecture about her useless expendables."

"The hell do you mean by an antidote?!"

She responds with a joking gasp, "Whoops! Let that slip through rather, early didn't I?"

The fury within his glare spikes further. "Talk! Now!"

"You see, that buddy of yours was so charming, and such a near perfect waiter… Well, minus a bit of roughness on the side of course, that I couldn't resist giving him sample of my 'special kisses'."

The sight of her licking her lips reminds him of their first encounter at the alleyway he passed out in. The graven realization comes quickly as what Tetsu told him earlier plays back:

Said you were poisoned or something. It should've killed you…

"The compound was specially made from my hometown," Ivy explains. "Miyabi has a lot of interesting little critters, and greens to mess around with. Medicine isn't the only thing we Wynnians are talented at you know?"

"Why you!"

The sight of his pent-up animosity makes her all the giddier, "Aww, you jealous? Don't worry. The dose isn't enough to stop his heart so soon. But, then it doesn't matter anyway if he's dead within about an hour."

"Damn bitch!" he snarls, wanting to strangle her.

"Uh, uh, uh!" she follows with a playful finger wiggle before readying another set of needles. "One more tantrum from you, and I'll give him extra. Then, your time limit drops to a mere few minutes." The look of weakened paleness on Tetsu's face is more than enough proof that it is no bluff.

"I will snap every single bone from your diseased self if so much as touch him again!"

Ivy puffs out and shakes her head, "I should've figured you'd be able to burn out the toxin completely. My bargain was only supposed to involve you alone. But, in the end it was Mr. Aussian here who just had make it all so stupid complicated. All I came to do, was give myself a sweet treat. Then, I'd test you after the witnesses cleared up, just as Lia ordered. The pain wasn't supposed to come till afterwards."

"I thought I made it clear to you pricks that I want no part in your fair mistress's team. What do you want from me?"

She shows off her duel disk, "How does a match sound? Win, I give you the antidote, lose, those Flamvell cards get confiscated for better hands. Extra deck included of course. Buuuut, at least you get to watch as Mr. Manager here squeals his last breaths. Fair?"

He scoffs, ready to take it with no other thought, "Funny. Because only one I see squealing their last, is the bitch here who's about to regret crossing me. Let's go!"

The two steps outside to begin the face-off. Ivy tosses over the spare disk her opponent last used against Adelia while she arms hers.

Kageru takes another pondering look at his deck. There is doubt still present, but he even still he knew he was close to beating Aoi's heir last time. Whether It was cut short or not, it didn't matter. He isn't about to allow himself to be beaten by a mere grunt emissary. He couldn't, even more now that his best friend's life is on the line. He had lost Akane when he was weak, unable to fight. Things are different now and he had resolved himself since to ensure that it never happens again. One will fall in this duel, it won't be him this time.

The night winds blow over them. Both disks activate to set their game.

INSTANT TERMINAL ZONE SET. EXPANDING LIMITED BARRIERS. 3.2.1

"DUEL!"

AN: It's been too long, but I'm back with a new fire baby!... Anyways, apologies for the super overdue update. I was in the middle of an update, until well, the laptop it was on, earned a cracked screen. Had to purchase a new, but at least, better one. Since then, I've been doing some overhauls, and doing a LOT more thinking on the ideas and characters. Happy to say it's finally coming along. We got to showcase a bit of Kageru's side, some light-hearted BFF bro stuff, and got Ivy more action, which i was super excited for.

I had to cut off the duel at the end point, since it was pretty beefy as it was. Not to worry. The next chapter shouldn' be too far off. In fact, it's already about halfway done (at least the duel portion is). Other than that, the usual IRL issues come and go, new job, gaming, finals, YGO IRL, and a recent car accident abruptly ending my chance at entering YCS San Diego... *sad face* But hey, that gave me time to write this damn thing... soooo optimism?

As for the update revision for those who have reread the chapters, I decided to merge some, as I figured that some were crammed, and some were too little. The duel in chapter 2 was something i figured would put a bit more detail at what Kageru would be going through to enter the tourney, before he met Castelle. Some admittedly, underdeveloped fluff, like the flashbacks in those older chapters were cut off. They were honestly super rushed on my end, and to expo heavy, so i'll save that stuff for later use. I had a better vision on the one here but let me know what you thought of it of course.

The added opening/ending themes, well, i blame TLA for that idea. What? Don't lie ;) I'm pretty damn sure, some of you who want a full-on anime adaptation of your stories have thought of energy pumping openings, and endings for them, and even imagined how they are sequenced and whatnot... Just me? -_- Oh... ok... But, yes, I've been super in love with the rock style Touhou stuff, (P.S. I've never played Touhou, sorry.) and there are have been plenty from GITR that have been my go to, repeated songs to this day. The opening theme I picked couldn't have been any more perfect, and I can already imagine how an opening would go for the story. It's good stuff.

Want to give a shout out to MoA224 and TLA, as usual, since they've been the most vocal (textual?) with their support, and you peepsters always know I adore your feedback, so major props. I'm looking forward to being more involved with TLA's OC community, now that I can finally get the anxiety of this update off my chest... for the time being... and start giving my own feedback, reading, and having a blast getting know the members.

And lastly, for a Q/A thing... Hmmm. Well, I guess, I'll let you have some guesses on what archetype Ivy will be using. I have a hunch some will figure it out fairly easily, but I'll see. It's basically what inspired me to make her, since I always thought they were pretty neat. Only hint I'm giving, is that they were once a relevant engine. XD

That's all for now. Hope you guys enjoyed. Stay tuned. Happy Turkey Day!

-Last Revised on July 28, 2018-