The next duel passes without much commotion. In fact, I barely remember what happened at all. It was so one-sided that I decided not to pay attention. Though, a part of me wonders if that was on purpose. Such a gap in skill levels wouldn't have happened on purpose from a man in Godwin's position. I stare at the tower near the centre of the arena, I know Godwin is silently watching us from up there. He must be planning something, organising this tournament out of the blue, congratulating us on our public maintenance, what a load of bull.
"Everybody! There's a sudden turn of events! Godwin has just given a surprise announcement! Are the people who lost in the first round listening? There's going to be a second chance battle!" What is Godwin up to now? The crowd is cheering at the thought of getting more duels for their money. At this, the lights go off in the seating area of the arena.
"I will now announce the matchup of the second chance battle! There will only be one matchup between two random participants! The lucky participants are... Though she lost to Bommer, Godwin recognises that she has skills at only eleven years of age! There's no ceiling to her potential! The dueling angel who came down from the heavens! Miss Ruka!" A spotlight appears a few rows behind us on the girl who dueled first today. Now that I'm focusing on her, I'm sensing an aura off her. My eyes widen. Could this girl be a psychic as well? No, that's not possible. Otherwise, she would have hurt her opponent physically in her duel. She's too young to know how to control her powers. Who is this girl?
Ruka stays unmoving in the spotlight, hesitant to get up. The crowd begins to cheer for Ruka, excited to see her duel again. She resigns, standing up. The spotlight follows her as she walks passed us to the dueling field. Once Ruka is on the dueling field, another spotlight appears.
"The dueling genius Ruka makes her entrance on to the field! The dueling genius Ruka's opponent will be..." A drum roll sounds. "There he is! Nicknamed the Duel Counsellor, it's Professor Frank!" Frank appears in the spotlight and bows to Ruka.
"Nice to meet you, Ruka. Now, let's duel to find your true self hidden deep within your consciousness." Frank's voice is a soft drawl. Something about his voice puts me on edge. I glance at Ruka; she seems just as put off as I am.
"Now it's about to begin!" The MC calls out as the stadium is fully lit again. "Start the second chance battle!"
"Duel!" Ruka and Frank chant simultaneously.
"My turn! I draw." Ruka goes first, which surprises me. I wouldn't have expected someone like her to take initiative. "I summon Sunny Pixie in defence position (DEF:400). I end my turn."
"It's my turn. I draw. I summon Symmetry Rorschach (ATK:1200). I'm sure you know what a Rorschach test is. How you feel determines what this monster looks like. It's a psychological test that reveals your uncertainties, worries and problems. Ruka, what does this monster look like to you? Now answer. What is it?" Subjecting a child to this feels wrong to me. She's too young to address something like that. When I was eleven, my biggest problem was my right arm being broken and having to use my left instead. Well, that and living in the Satellite.
"It's..." Ruka seems terrified.
"Now... Now what is it? Now. What does it look like?" Pushing a child to answering a question like that is disgraceful.
"It looks like... A fairy?" Huh, the monster looks more like a box to me.
"Spiral Mind! This test reveals what you're afraid of deep in your mind. You're afraid of fairies and spirits. Am I wrong?" I'm afraid of boxes? Okay, sure. Or is this some deep symbolic shit?
"That's not true." Ruka tries to defend herself. Though I'm curious why, spirits can be harmful as well as benevolent. Could she be able to see Duel Monster spirits? That's the only way I can justify her reaction. It would also explain her aura and inability to materialise Duel Monsters.
"It'll be fine. In this duel, I'll reveal your fears so that you can be set free." Can someone remind Frank that this child is eleven and that this isn't necessary? "In order to do that, be courageous and go to the other world that's hidden deep within your consciousness. You must travel to the spirit world of Duel Monsters. I know that you can hear the spirit's voices. Then that means the spirit world of Duel Monsters must also exist, right?" I was right. She can communicate with spirits.
"That world exists?" A spirit world? Could such a thing really exist?
"Symmetry Rorschach's monster effect activates. When it destroys your monster, the top card in your deck is turned face up. Peeping Mind!"
"Kuribon!" Ruka announces the card.
"That's a cute spirit card. Can you also hear its voice?" Frank is pushing on creepy now. Ruka turns away from my duel and looks in my general direction. She's not looking at me, but above me. She must have a brother she relies on. The thought makes me wonder if that's what Kaoru and I could have been if I didn't run away back then. It feels me with a sense of melancholy.
"I set two cards and end my turn. It's your turn."
"I draw. Come, Kuribon (ATK:300)!"
"At this moment, I flip over my facedown card! Light to the Depths! You send the top five cards in your deck to your graveyard. We both get to look at the sixth card, and you get to add that card to your hand. If you don't play that card this turn, you take 2000 points of damage." Suddenly, I get a sharp pain in my head. I press my fingertips against my temples. "Now draw the cards at the top of your deck. Slowly. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. What's the sixth card? That's the Field Spell Ancient Forest. All monsters switch to attack position, and neither of us can summon a monster in defence position or switch them to defence position. Monsters that attack are destroyed at the end of the Battle Phase. A world where everything is revealed and fighting is not allowed. Now go to the spirit world of Duel Monsters. It seems you went to the spirit world sealed deep within your consciousness." Something is very wrong. Ruka is completely unresponsive and the pain in my head won't go away.
"I draw. I activate the Continuous Trap Gestalt Trap. This card equips on to the opponent's monster. I equip this card onto Kuribon (ATK:300-0). The equipped monster's effects are negated, and its attack and defence points both become 0. Then from my hand, I equip the Equip Spell Immortal Homeostasis onto Kuribon. The equipped monster cannot be destroyed in battle. During your Standby Phase, if the equipped monster's attack points are different than its original attack points, then you take 300 points of damage. In other words, if Kuribon's attack points remain at 0, you'll take damage every turn. Then I release Symmetry Rorschach. I Advance Summon Ido the Supreme Magical Force (ATK:2200). When Ido is destroyed, it is Special Summoned onto my field during the End Phase of that turn. And as long as I have Ido, I am not allowed to summon other monsters." The crowd starts shouting at Ruka, telling her to do something, making the sharp pain in my temples worse.
"What's wrong, Ruka? She's completely lost concentration!" No, it's not her concentration. It's something else. She resembles how I am when I meditate, but she couldn't be meditating now! The loudness of the MC strikes a chord in me and the pain is pounding, it's almost too much to take. I can feel Shinji putting his hand on my back, making sure I'm okay. I'm not, but I need know what's wrong with Ruka.
"Ido the Supreme Magical Force attacks Kuribon! Violent Egoism!" Ruka's life points drop to 1800. "Due to the effect of Immortal Homeostasis, Kuribon is not destroyed. However, it will taste eternal pain in the world of the undead. Ruka, you have to remember. From pain and fear... Remember what your true mission is! Now..." Ido is destroyed due to Ancient Forest's effect. "When Ido is destroyed, it's Special Summoned during the End Phase of that turn. I end my turn. Now it's your turn."
"I draw." Ruka's voice is empty and distant. I can start to feel stomach churning.
"During this Standby Phase, you take 300 points of damage due to the effect of Immortal Homeostasis." Ruka's life points drop to 1500.
"I summon Sunlight Unicorn. I equip Horn of the Unicorn onto Sunlight Unicorn. (ATK:1800-2500)" Ruka commands Sunlight Unicorn to attack Ido.
"How dare you." Frank snarls as his life points drop to 3700. Sunlight Unicorn is destroyed by Ancient Forest's effect. My head starts spinning. Whatever Frank is doing to Ruka; it's having an effect on me.
"I know that your soul is currently in the spirit world of Duel Monsters. I want you to tell me what kind of world it is." Spirit world? That's what's wrong with Ruka! She is basically meditating, but not of her own free will. That's going to have a really bad effect on her body.
"When Horn of the Unicorn is sent to the graveyard, it returns to the top of the deck. Next, I activate the spell card Emergency Assistance from my hand. I can Special Summon one monster that was destroyed this turn. Sunlight Unicorn resurrects(ATK:1800)." As Sunlight Unicorn appears on the field, I can start to feel sick rising in my throat. I can feel my psychic powers fluctuating, everything is starting to turn slightly orange.
"What? Sunlight Unicorn again?" Frank cries out.
At this, I jump out of my seat and starting running down the stairs. I can feel the acidity of the vomit burning my throat. Someone is running after me, I assume it's Reika, given the sound of their footsteps. I can feel myself shaking as I run, because if I vomit on the floor, they'll kick me out of the stadium since I'm marked. I barely make it into the stall of the bathroom before I vomit. My body is in spasms as I coughed up what's left of my breakfast. In that moment, I really regretted having that coffee. Once I'm finished hacking my innards up and content that no more will come up. I flush the toilet and walk over to the sink, taking off my fingerless gloves. My skin is deathly pale; my light sandy blonde hair barely stands out from the colour of my face. I stop dead in my tracks as I spot a pair of eyes looking directly into mine in the mirror.
"Are you feeling better now?" She sends me a small smile. I try to form words but all I can do is nod slowly. How she's not freaking out right now, I don't know. I splash cold water in my face in the hopes of making myself feel better, my head still hurts like fuck.
"Does my brother know you're here?" That is all I can manage.
"No," that small smile still remains on her face. I realise that's more for me rather than her. "I told him I needed to use the bathroom. Don't worry, I won't tell him." It's been two and a half years since I've last seen Emiko Higashiyama. I'm honestly not sure how to react, I haven't seen her since that accident with my brother.
"Oh, did you get any on your clothes?" Emiko looks worriedly at my outfit. I look down at my front and find I am clean of vomit. I shake my head at her. "Oh good, it would be a shame since that short dress and waistcoat combo is so cute."
"Uh thanks, I made it myself." I shrug my shoulders.
"What do you mean you made it yourself?" She gasps and looks at me wide-eyed.
"Well, I'm a seamstress now, it's kind of my job" I reply nonchalantly. I'm have expecting her to make a comment about me having a job despite my mark.
"Oh wow." A big smile breaks onto her face. "I should get you to make me some cute dresses like that." I chuckle. "Actually, we should probably talk somewhere other than a bathroom that smells like vomit."
"Yes, that's a good idea." I don't think it's a good idea, but right here and now, I'd rather talk to Emiko over Kaoru. We walk out into the lobby and sit down near where I sat with Kenta earlier today.
"How's my brother?" I didn't mean for that to be the first thing out of my mouth, but it pops out the second we sit down.
"He's forgiven you, I want you to know that." She says this in a serious tone, which is unlike her. A part of me wants to believe her, but I haven't quite forgiven myself yet. "He doesn't blame you for what happened. Neither of you knew about your powers. Then, his arm healed really quickly, the doctors in the hospital were all really surprised." I don't answer her. "Well, Kaoru is in his final year of school. He doesn't know what he wants to do yet, so he'll probably be taking a gap year. I'll be finishing the next year. I miss you at school, you know. I mean..." She panics. "I know why you left but I miss all of the fun us three had together." She sighs. I know how she feels; I'm trying not to cry. I didn't need this trip down memory lane today. I know why saying all of this, but I can't forget the guilt I feel.
"Does Kaoru that it's actually me?" I swallow really hard, trying to get rid of the tears threatening to fall, my head stinging.
"Not exactly. He's not sure. He knows it someone who looks like you and could very well be you. The only reason I knew was you was because of your feet. You put a foot up on the seat in front of you to fix your thigh-high socks. Someone that looks like you with big feet, it couldn't be anyone else." I look down at my feet and silently curse them. Emiko notices this and laughs. I chuckle along with her. We caught each other's eyes. I'd forgotten how genuine and happy her eyes look when she laughs. I'm remembering the lunch breaks we spent together with Kaoru in the cafeteria in Duel Academy, despite all of the looks people gave them. I remember those long detentions I spent with Izayoi, not saying a word to each other, thinking back it was probably the closest thing she had to friendship back then.
"Oh look, the duel's just ended." Emiko points to the screen across the foyer. "The duel's ended in a draw." My eyes widen, the pain in my head suddenly lifts. From this, I gather that Ruka must be alright now as well. "We should probably get going then." She stands up, the broad smile she shows me is so calming.
"Wait, you should go first. I don't want Kaoru to see me." I rub the back of my head and stare at the far wall.
"Ah okay." She nods with that same smile. "I'll see you later then." She runs off, then I notice she's wearing high heels and I'm confused as to how I ever thought that she was Reika. Reika wouldn't be caught dead in a pair of high heels, honestly getting her to wear a dress is a challenge. I wait a few minutes before getting up. Izayoi crosses my mind again. I can't imagine how alone she must have been. Being sent to detention every time she dueled, although we never talked much, I hope she knows there are people who aren't afraid of her, or thinks she's a monster.
I stand up and begin walking back up to Reika and Shinji. When I start climbing the stairs, I notice him standing a few rows behind my seats on the stairs. I freeze in my place. This is my first time seeing him in the flesh in four years, my hands start shaking. I clench them into fists to stop them. So many feelings rush back at just the sight of him, and suddenly it's almost like I'm fourteen again.
"Yusei."
A/N: Another headcanon here in this chapter, Aki got sent to detention a lot when she was in Duel Academy because of her powers. This is how Yuuka and Aki know each other, because Yuuka ended up in detention a lot for reasons we'll see later. They're not actually friends, but more acquaintances (hence Yuuka calling her Izayoi).