Judgement of the World
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
Beta: By Me.. again...
A/N: How the fuzz did I change Patty's name to 'sally' out of nowhere?! Welp quick update tofix that mistake.
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It was amazing how large and spacious the twins' condo was and how packed it sounded when there was such a relatively small group inside. But that was proving to be the case for Aki as she sat on the couch and watched as the twins interacted with not only Patty, Tenpei and Bob but Asuka, Ryo, Kazushi, and Isao as well. Now that Rua was feeling back to his normal self and the bump had gone down enough Aki had agreed to try to talk to the Spirits to see if they saw anything that day.
Though the truth was that she had been pushing back when they could do this out of it due to the sheer nervousness. She hated this feeling being on her own, personally she would have preferred to have Yusei by her side. However; Asuka and the others couldn't find any answers about what happened to the cards in the decks. And what 'should' have been a private little gathering with just the children somehow ballooned into a larger group.
Not just a larger group, but also the two most important students in the school. It literally meant that she now could redeem herself by having this go off well, or ruin her whole school future. The more she thought on it the more terrified she got given the situation. Though her upbringing kept her sitting on the couch straight back and poised. The butterflies in her stomach was absolutely taking up all the space it could find.
"Why are you so nervous? You weren't like this with the Fairies," Witch of the Black Rose asked as she floated up from Aki's side. And when she saw Aki purse her lips even more, Witch realized she wasn't allowed to speak because of the 'guests'. She turned to look at the group and saw that one guy gazing at her and paused for a moment in confusion. Was someone 'actually' looking at her? That couldn't be right, they had to be looking through her and at Aki.
But why look at Aki with that kind of interest?
It was bad enough that Yusei was all but oozing his interest in Aki, now someone 'else' was looking at her?! Witch just finally got to accepting she was going to have to deal with Aki, unofficially, dating/married to the silent duelist, now 'this'? Was she going to have to lay some ground rules for guys getting close to Aki? It wouldn't be easy since Aki didn't let Witch manifest fully into the human world all the time. So she floated down and sat by Aki while trying to think of good 'hands off buster' messages she could manifest. Time to plan some serious sabotage, Witchy Style!
"Well, I think its pretty obvious, but I've never done this," Asuka began finally taking the unfocused energy of the group and focusing it on her. "So if you could please tell us what would make things easier for you, Izayoi? I realize you're only going to be 'working' with little Rua's deck, will ours get in the way?" She held up her own deck as an example.
"Oh, not really," Aki sounded so uncertain even to her own ears. The moment Asuka had spoken, Aki had recalled how easily the fairies had left Carly's deck while Carly was painting her figurine the night before. There was a sizable good chance that any Spirit might come out and join them and Aki wasn't sure about each deck. Sure the Fairies were harmless, while Yusei's deck varied between laid back or ever at attention. But what about these decks? She had never interacted with them.
"Well I didn't bring mine, just in case," Isao spoke up from his seat which was perpendicular to Aki on the L shaped couch.
Kazushi stood near the large doors that led to the balcony and Ryo stood by Asuka who sat on the other corner of the couch over her shoulder. The bulk of the younger group had swarmed the 'Emperor' and 'Queen' upon their arrival, with only Ruka sitting at Aki's side. For those uninitiated it would have appeared that she was nervous around such attention exclusively.
And while it 'was' true that such important people in the school being in the condo 'did' make her nervous. Ruka was also aware of Aki's uncertainty with her own powers, and Yusei's absence was going to make what Aki was setting out to do that much harder. In fact, she wanted to have Yusei on call just in case, so Aki would have his voice there to listen to. But Aki had nixed that idea herself, since it would look awkward and probably make things worse in the long run. While sadly, Ruka's own health condition stopped her from just doing this herself since she had a solid grasp on their power.
If Aki was viewed as unable to control her powers 'without' Yusei, there was a fear that no one would interact without him present. Yusei wasn't supposed to be a crutch for her after all. More over, because of his marked status there was a limit to the places he could go. Her memories going back to that school official who had tried to rebuff them for allowing someone 'dangerous' like Yusei onto the school grounds.
Not only that, but it would be a positive sign if Aki could pull this off on her own. Something to make Yusei proud of the Rose Duelist, since he was helping her cope with her powers to start with. Or at least he would start when he could actually drive over to Neo Domino. Because she couldn't have him live with her, and while the twins would probably adore the idea of Yusei living with them. Their spare bedroom was the master bedroom and no. The temptation of others to imply stuff was too strong.
Aki nodded at the group and finally took a deep cleansing breath before she finally motioned to Rua, "I need your deck."
Rua got up from Asuka's side and pulled out his deck, handing it over to Aki with all the calm of a kid who knew what to expect. And it made sense because of his closeness to his sister and Aki with her bombastic levels of power. At least to the others, it was because they knew Ruka had the same ability. Though not on Aki's grand scale of power, she was actually the more experienced one of the pair.
And this was certainly an awkward feeling as she sat there, for she felt a strange expectation placed on her to make this a serious event. As though she was supposed to be the role of some wide eyed Gypsy on television. With wild gestures and a voice that ranged from quiet and subtle to loud and boisterous. From some strange place in the back of her mind she felt as though she was expected to put on some type of special show when she summoned a spirit. Even that very word 'summoned' held the connotations of doing something beyond what others could do.
But speaking to Duel Spirits, having them interact with the living world around her, didn't have that feeling of grandeur. She was sitting there readily with her Witch of the Black Rose sitting at her side and no one save Ruka could see the Spirit. Now having spent time with the twins, spending time with Yusei she had gotten to know her deck better than she ever had before.
A deck was a reflection of the heart of the Duelist.
And while the Rose deck that Aki carried was more wild and violent thanks to the years of emotional scars she had to work with. She was in a room filled with people who, mostly, never experienced a Duel Spirit. Their reputations in school was that of being good people and their decks would undoubtedly follow that. So logically there was nothing to be afraid of, since Aki's own deck knew to converse with Witch of the Black Rose. The only 'threat' was Black Rose herself, but even then she seemed not very aggressive when things were calm about her.
"I would like to talk to whoever is considered the speaker of the deck," she finally spoke aloud, and the warmth she felt from Rua's deck intensified pleasantly in her hands. Hoping that in this method it would avoid getting 'all' his Duel Spirits out and about in the room and possibly scaring everyone inexperienced in such things. Also because there was a chance it would end up being someone 'other' than Power Tool. There was something going on with that robotic dragon that she couldn't put her finger on, but still.
"Well, since you were so nice to invite me," a very feminine voice purred out, to the right where Asuka was sitting. Close enough in fact that the duelist started in her seat while red toned female arms reached past her then wrapped around her shoulders in a hug. As the Cyber Blader materialized in the room. Her visor hiding her eyes and most of her expression from the clearly startled Duelist as she bent over to comfortably hug Asuka.
Aki sat there stunned as she desperately tried to figure out how she 'invited' someone clearly 'not' in Rua's deck.
"Well you didn't exactly specify which deck you were talking to," Witch noted casually, taking the momentary silence as an excuse to speak up for herself and make her presence be known. "So welcome to Duel Spirits 101, where you learn what we're like!" She announced to the room in general.
Aki's head dipped down as she struggled to grasp the fact that she had suddenly apparently summoned a LOT more than she meant. Ruka grasped her hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze, a small, but happy, smile on her face as she looked about the room. The Spirits she often saw with her friends appeared and began happily introducing themselves to their duelists. Filling the air with childish squeals of delight as Patty, Tenpei and Bob got to hug and hear their Duel cards.
Ryo was gazing at the shadow of his own Cyber End Dragon that loomed over him. It's size made it feel unrealistic for it to come into full presence. Some distant part of Ryo's mind pointing out that such a manifestation might actually have physical weight. Given that Aki was 'supposed' to be calling for the Power Tool Dragon, it would mean that that the floor might not be able to take the weight of any further dragons. Even so, he could 'feel' it deep down inside that he was looking at the spirit of his Cyber End Dragon and found himself transfixed by the majesty of the Dragon.
While Kazushi stood by the doors ram rod straight in surprise as he was brought face to face with his Queen Dragun Djinn. All four fiery red dragon legs gripped the floor while her wings tucked themselves down to the sides. Her harp was gripped in one hand, her long blond hair was bound up in a pony tail and there was just all this 'heat' from the fiery animal aspects of her. She smirked in confidence and amusement, rearing back a touch to look down at him. Before allowing him to catch his breath by looking away from him.
"Thank you, Big Sister Aki!" The children called out as they began cheerfully dancing about and playing with their Duel Spirit friends.
While a large yellow robotic dragon filled out the space on the floor before Aki though past the couch and tables. Unlike the sleek and dangerous lines of the Cyber End Dragon's shadow that Ryo was all but transfixed by, Power Tool Dragon looked childish. When compared to the memories of the, still, missing fifth Signer Dragon, Power Tool looked like a childs' rendition of that original dragon. In fact, as Aki thought on it, given that the twins were children, it was almost believable that the ages were the reason for the forms. If they 'only' had Power Tool to go by, it would have made sense that the Signer Dragons assigned to children would take on more childish forms.
After all, the missing Signer was wasp like in appearance and could end up scaring a child, so Power Tool was easily the most non threatening appearing dragon there could be. Save they all saw Ancient Fairy Dragon and knew that couldn't be the case. Not with her butterfly themed Draconic appearance. But how could this dragon 'not' be connected to that missing Signer?
Aki shook her head as she tried to get her focus back, since the purpose of this exercise was to try to figure out what happened to make Rua pass out. Which meant finding out what was so special about those particular cards. Yet given the fact that Power Tool itself appeared, and had yet to make even a peep? Something told her she was probably being presented with a roadblock on her search.
"Power Tool? Can you... talk?" Aki asked, her hesitancy over the topic evident as she tilted her head to the side a bit. As though it would help her find the Dragon's mouth under the frame, because there 'was' that piece that looked like it could serve as a mouth.
Maybe. Possibly.
"Power Tool!" And seemingly having forgotten the very reason they were all gathered there, Rua grew excited at the presence of his ace monster and ran up to the dragon. Despite the fact that it was clearly a mechanical dragon with a metal body, Rua gave no concern. Lunging forward and throwing himself at his ace and latching himself cheerfully to the leg of the dragon.
Power Tool arched its neck down so that it could see Rua, its eyes were flashing at an even pace as though it was blinking. But it never opened anything that could have been viewed as a mouth, and instead gave a soft whirling grinding sound. As Rua rushed about its legs, crowing on about how cool Power Tool was, the dragon lifted back up its head and looked at Aki.
"Um Power Tool, why won't you communicate with any of us?" Aki asked, as Asuka, who now had Cyber Blader sitting by her side, seemed to have thought of something.
"Can a dragon speak to us? I mean, aren't they beasts?" She asked which earned her an amused half smile from Cyber Blader.
"Not exactly," the Spirit said with a grin as she wiggled the tips of her feet. "Dragons can understand any language spoken, but only can talk to other dragons. If you want to communicate with a dragon, you got the best source of information from the Rose and from Kazushi over there. Djinn and her kin are half bloods and bridge the languages."
Aki wanted to correct the Spirit, after all, she and the others understood their dragons quite easily, even Carly seemed to understand. But Cyber Blader 'was' a Duel Spirit, and would be considered a better authority than Aki, she would have imagined.
"And the Dragon doesn't want to talk, he's staying in his shell thank you very much." Djinn growled out as she sashayed her way along the floor with her animal lower quarters.
"Shell? Awwww Power Tool don't be in a shell!" Rua argued as he moved back so he was easily in Power Tools' line of sight.
Isao sat with a wide eyed gaze going from one Duel Spirit to another, focusing on the Djinn, to the Power Tool Dragon, the Cyber Blader on his right, and behind him looming above was Cyber End Dragon with Ryo standing between the two. And those four were just the heavy hitters, with the other children running about joyfully with their own Duel Spirits. Even a Kuribon and Witch of the Black Rose were hanging about as casual as though this was normal for them.
"So many spirits... But this 'must' be exhausting, maybe you should send them back?" Isao asked as a small pair of wings suddenly stretched into view on Asuka's right and seemingly introduced itself to her.
"Actually, I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Yoshifumi." Aki replied politely as her Witch was making a comfortable seat for herself on Aki's lap. Meanwhile Kuribon was sitting on Ruka's shoulder with her tail wrapped around the girls' neck for balance.
"Are you sure? This 'is' quite an amount of spirits," Asuka asked, while staring at her Cyber Petite Angel. She reached up hesitantly and after a seeming thought, opened her hands so the little Angel could land. Though 'little' was a bit of a misdirection because it was easily the size of Asuka's head.
"Stop being so nervous girl, we're here for you!" Cyber Blader shook her head at her normally so confident Duelist acting like she was on her first date or something. "Nice place you twins have here I have to say."
"Oh, thank you, Ms..." Ruka began when she realized she didn't know who the Spirit was.
"That's Cyber Blader! The Duel Queen's top Monster!" Rua reported as he began trying to climb 'up' his Dragon.
"Rua get down from there! Power Tool isn't a tree!" Aki scolded as she realized what Rua was doing.
"HA! Sure am! Good eye kid! Though are you watching me or Asuka here?" The Spirit asked with a sly grin. Which earned her an elbow from Asuka for the tease and a poke of the wing from Angel.
Ruka gave a half hearted sigh, when Ryo finally entered into what was a growing conversation between human and Spirit. "I have a question for, not just Power Tool Dragon but a question for all you Spirits, if I may?"
"Sure shoot, Ryo!" Cyber commented as she leaned her head back so she could see Ryo to the best of her ability.
The children were still distracting their Spirits but the rest of the teenagers and the Spirits of those teenagers gave their attention to Ryo. "We wished to speak with the Power Tool Dragon, however given that it can't talk to us, and some of you can. We would like to discuss the possibility of mental trauma from dueling."
"Oooh. Oh yeah, that's right, Sho still is crippled from that match huh?" Cyber acknowledged.
"Cyber! That's impolite!" Asuka scolded in horror at how casual Cyber Blader replied about something 'that' delicate.