Joker opened his eyes first and quietly walking out of his chamber. One thing he was a little glad was that he was besides Kiri's chamber. Not too far if he needed help, but too far from their previous relationship, when he wasn't controlled by Azi Dahaka. The ice monster waited for a while, making absolutely sure that no one was watching. He was mentally preparing himself for putting his plan into action, remember what you have to say and how you have to say it. As the humans said, light, camera and action.

He opened the door and saw Kiri, in his Reaper persona, preparing himself for the morning, "Morning Kiri."

"I am The Reaper now. How many times do I have to tell you?" he got as an answer.

The monster focused on his act, "Still so cold Kiri. So cold that it hurt me," he seriously gazed at his buddy and said, "We have received a mission from Kyoya and we must depart soon."

"What is it?" The boy asked as he adjusted his mask.

"We have to capture Gao. Azi Dahaka is growing a little impatient and the boy is intending to stand in our way. Now is the best time to get him," he answered his buddy.

The Reaper nodded, "Let's depart now. We have to be ready and fight him," he grabbed his deck case and followed his buddy.

Joker mentally chucked, I now need to capture Gao at all cost. So, you would see the value of me, being by your side, no matter what.

Chapter 130: He Who Is Cursed

Gao and Drum were walking together in the city.

"Why are we searching for Troubadour again?" Drum asked.

"I want to know the most I can about Demios. With what Tasuku told us, we must be ready to face him," the boy replied.

Getting knowledge hum? The red dragon thought as he scratched his jaw. He nodded, "Right. We cannot afford to lose this future fight Gao. You know where he could be?"

"He usually plays near the fountain, but not always. Demios might be around to discipline him," the boy answered.

His buddy nodded as they reached the fountain. They heard no music and saw no one around, "He's not here. Guess today wasn't our lucky day."

Gao sighed, "But we have to be ready to face him. When the time comes, we cannot make a single mistake."

"Since the moment we chose to fight Azi Dahaka, we cannot afford one, not anymore," the red dragon agreed.

The air suddenly became colder and the duo looked around, "What-"

"Freeze," Joker said as he landed in front of Gao.

The Reaper landed by his side, deck case in his hand, "Gao. We've meet again."

"What do you want?" the dragon stood in front of his buddy and grunted.

The boy put his hand on his mask and replied, "We came here to ask Gao to come with us, by his own will or," his scythe made of ice appeared, "by force."

"Think you can say that in the open?" Drum asked as he gazed around. No one was there.

The Reaper waited for an answer as Gao activated his buddy skill and called his sword. Drum took his real form, just like Joker.

"I won't join Azi Dahaka Kiri," the boy replied as he readied his sword.

"I am not Kiri anymore," the other boy replied as they flew in the sky.

The four gazed at each other as the tension could be feel between them. Gao tried to see beyond the mask, "No matter what you said. You are and will always be Kiri. You are just being controlled by Azi and I will free you from it," this is our chance to do something.

Drum felt the wind blew on him as he warmed up his drill. The dragon looked in the eyes of the frozen monster and asked, "Joker. Are you just going to accept what Kiri is becoming? You know he is being used by him."

"No matter what he becomes Drum, Kiri is my buddy, and never will I abandon him. That's why, I will defeat you and take Gao. Because I am not someone replaceable!" His sharp blade made a loud sound as the monster charged.

Drum blocked the blade with his drill and countered with a kick, which failed. The continued their assault, while the humans continued gazing at each other's.

"You are wrong Gao Mikado. The Kiri you knew is gone. I am now The Reaper and I only obey Azi Dahaka's order."

The boy looked at his friend and searched for the Dark core. He managed to spot it and knew he had to break it, without hurting his friend. The ice snow seemed to look at him with an animalistic way and it was unnerving. One thing he knew was that Drum must make sure that Joker won't try to intervene. He gazed at his buddy who grinned back, before being kicked in the face. The boy grasped his courage and charged. When his sword collided with the scythe, the boy knew that it won't end up with scratch.

Azi Dahaka was alone in the room, watching the news as he frowned. He noticed that no one was talking about what he feared it might be and felt some relief, why he and Joker went outside and challenging Gao against our will? The three heads reached the same conclusion, "Joker," We don't feel like it was something against us, he remembered noticing the monster of ice, often gazing at his buddy with uncertainty since he was there with Kiri, we'll let it pass this time. It's not something he ploy against our back. We might have Gao with us after the fight.

The dragon lightly chuckled as he closed the television, just in case, he called someone who will make sure that nothing goes south.

Joker tried lacerating Drum, but the dragon kept his distance and blocked any attack coming at him, "You won't get me that easily Joker!"

"Neither are you dragon!" the ice monster replied as he created cold air with his wings and threw it at Drum. The red dragon breathed fire and the cold air didn't pass his scales.

"Sorry, but I am immune to your ice humor," the red dragon grinned.

Joker glared as he yelled, "This fight is not a joke!" he threw an icicle at Drum, who break it with his drill.

"I don't see it as a joke Joker!" the dragon yelled as he activated the thrusters and crossed the distance. He failed to hit the Joker with his drill, but managed to tackle the ice chest with his horns. As he pushed him away, he saw the Joker throwing more icicles at him.

Drum couldn't dodge them when a Blue Dragon shield protected him.

Gao used the spell of the card and put it back on the deck, just before blocked the scythe with his sword at the last second. He gasped when his weapon almost escaped his grasp. It was so close that he would have lost his weapon.

"You dropped your guard Gao," The Reaper whispered before striking again.

Gao reinforce his grasp and blocked the assault of his opponent, before losing altitude voluntarily and taking some distance, to take out his next spell card, "Dragon Crush!"

The hand of a dragon appeared and tried to crush The Reaper's scythe, but the other one used a defensive spell card, "Holy Grail!"

A golden grail appeared and blocked the spell of the Sun Fighter. Gao grunted as he searched for a way to beat The Reaper and destroy the Deck Core. He searched for something, but it was troublesome that Kiri knew many of his tricks, which was why he might be able to counter easily, while it wouldn't be the case for him. As their weapons collided once again, the boy continued thinking. He tried some words, seeing if Kiri might try to fight his way out. He couldn't lose hope, "Kiri! I know who you really are! You are not The Reaper!"

He was hit on the chest and his jacket was damaged while lightly bleeding.

"I am not Kiri anymore Gao," the blue-haired boy replied as he put his scythe on his shoulder, "I suggest we cease this fight now, because Drum won't be able to save you. He is too busy. And I know you realise the difference between us."

Gao frowned, realising that he had to change strategy. Remembering what his brother told him, through his manga, grinned, "Fine Kiri. I won't hold back. I'm sorry if I've upset you. Friends should never hold anything back."

He readied his sword and charge again. When he slashed, he broke his friend defense and punched his face, cracking the mask, that hurt, the boy painfully thought as he shook his hand. He readied his sword and ignored the pain, if I can crack your mask, I can break through you Kiri! Those thought gave his strength as he went to the offensive again.

He continued fighting against the blue-haired boy when he noticed the attacks were coming much faster now. Gao realised that The Reaper also went serious now.

"Gao. I won't hesitate to hurt you to capture you now. It will be only you to blame."

I must find something less predictable, "I would blame myself if I give up!" he pushed his adversary away and gazed at his buddy. He had an idea but hope he would agree.

Meanwhile, Joker noticed his buddy getting hurt. He wanted to help him, but Drum wouldn't let him any opening, so he had to fight and overcome the dragon first.

"Why are you still doing this Joker? This isn't the Kiri you knew!"

"We are buddies Drum! And Buddies must support each other's no matter what! I won't end up like Jackknife!" he yelled before striking violently, pushing the red dragon away.

"A real buddy! If you let him do wrong things, what makes that a real buddy?"

"You don't understand anything!"

The ice monster assault became more vicious and mercilessly when he sliced the arms of the red dragon and caused light hemorrhage from him. Drum activated the thrusters of his drill and took a safe distance, rethinking his strategy once again.

"My weapon isn't useful right now," he grunted, comparing to Joker blade that were much faster, especially now.

He dodged more icicle and countered with a fireball coming out of his mouth. He repeated the attack, but the flame never met the ice. He frowned when he noticed his buddy using a spell to put some distance between him and Kiri. The boy came closer and said, "Drum. We have to take them by surprise."

"I heard you, but I cannot fight well against Joker in this form," the red dragon replied.

"They know of your other's too," Gao said as he took one on his deck, "Except this one."

The dragon saw it and grunted, as he blocked Joker's attack, "That's not a good idea Gao," he replied before pushing Joker away, "But I trust you. We are buddies after all. Do it. I can't let that get me down now!"

"Right!" Gao replied with a smile. He raised his card and said, "Drum! Awake your inner power!"

Drum's armor melted on his body as the color took a much darker tone. It moved on his body and covered different part than in his previous form as he threw his drill in the air, also changing form. The drill turned into a sharp sword that expended by a metallic cord like a whip of black color The thrusters attached on the back of the armor. The armor was now covering his arms, upper chest, crotch and legs while a black mask covered his face.

"With the power of Darkness Dragon World, I am now!". he shook his weapon and returned to the shape of a sword instead of his whip form, "Purgatory Knight Drum!"

When Gao saw his buddy new form, he noticed his scales also took a darker shape.

"As much as it disgusts me to be in this form, for Gao, I will take it!" Drum declared at Joker.

Joker watched this and wasn't sure what would happen now. The sword of the dragon turned into a whip and grabbed him by the waist, before the dragon pulled the frozen monster towards him. The sharp blade of the whip scratched his body, before the dark red dragon hit the face with the handle.

"Not done yet!" Drum grinned as he activated his thrusters and spun to the left. When he was fast enough, he released Joker who flew away.

Drum charged at The Reaper and yelled, "You are us now!"

Gao did the same and crossed the distances, aiming for the Dark Core.

The blue-haired boy prepared himself for the battle, a small grin appearing on his face.

To be continued.

AC: This is the end of this chapter.

Next: The End Of The Curse.