Chapter 5: The Other Side of the Coin
The sun slowly rose over the tropical island where the prestigious Duel Academy was situated. A bright yellow glow lit the island and filtered through the windows of a certain Obelisk Blue student's room. The glow grazed across his eyes which began to twinge at the bright light. They slowly opened and a groan escaped his lips as he pushed his head under his pillows for some more sleep. It wouldn't come. He knew it. It was one of those days. As he slid himself out of bed he let out a great yawn and pulled a cigarette out from the bottom drawer of the small desk next to him. He grabbed the box of matches too and lit one quickly. Taking a deep breath of the soothing nicotine. He fell back into his bed as he smoked the death stick. Only his younger sister knew he smoked and while she hated the habit she swore never to tell anyone. She didn't have to. Keep promises to him. After what he did. After finishing the ciggie and throwing it out of the window he got himself dressed and got ready for a quick walk before the day properly started. It was calming. Everything was still asleep. He wouldn't have been surprised if he was the only one awake. As he came deeper into the forest he saw something in the distance. He looked harder. It was a building of some sort. A small dome, very old. With a curious mind set he worked his way over. To his surprise a large dormitory like building was hidden away. It was falling apart and the walls were covered in growth of plants. Windows had bee caved in long ago and what was visible of the once majestic wooden doors had begun to rot. A rather pitiful attempt at security took the form of a chain drawn across the two stone pillars that granted entrance to the ground area with a 'Do Not Enter' print upon it was.
"This must be the abandoned blue dorm." Mumbled Kai.
As he commented on the old decrepit building he saw something unusual. It was just for a second but it was enough to unnerve him. With confused eyes. He took some steps back before turning completely and heading back to his dorm with haste.
"Must have been my imagination." He sighed trying to sound confident.
But why would he imagine a face in the top window crying blood and reaching out to him with a maimed hand?
He met up with Jack later on and the two went about classes as normal, 'picking up' anything that caught their eye. As first break came upon them he and Jack walked out to their spot. Behind the academy where everything was mostly covered the mighty shadow of the building. There were mostly supply sheds here and nothing much else. Jack had busted one open to see what was inside one and found it was empty so they decided to use it as a clubhouse of sorts. At the moment an old tattered mattress, a few chairs and a desk with a CD player was all that was there but they had plans to move some stuff in later on. Jack threw himself onto the mattress as Kai sat in the chair. He threw Jack a cigarette and lit it for him and they both sat in silence for a few seconds as the room began to fill with smoke, Kai lent over and opened a window just as Jack began to talk.
"So." He stated in a voice slightly limited by the stick in his mouth. "What you pick up?"
"You first." Replied Kai.
Jack took his bag off his back and rummaged through removing his store of items he had acquired.
"A few wallets, no cash …a nice pen…oh and some spray for wasp stings." He laid out his small and rather pointless collection.
Kai chuckled. "You're slipping Jack."
"Shut up."
"Whatever happened to the Jack that stole his dads debit card and took out 1000 to get a customized moped?"
Jack growled. "What you got then?"
Kai threw his bag down and zipped it open. "I've only got one thing but it's good."
Jack leaned forward with interest as Kai removed…a PDA.
Kai saw the deflation in Jack but he bit back. "This isn't any PDA Jack. This is Fengs."
He had got it the day before after being called to his dorm heads office. He wanted his photo taken with him for some newspaper and while Kai enjoyed the fame he couldn't resist slipping the thing on his teacher's desk into his pocket.
"This thing jack will let us enter the mainframe of the school." He grinned. "Imagine the damage we can cause. The secrets we can find."
Jack removed his cigarette momentarily. "Sweet. Any DA points on there?"
DA points were the currency on the island. Due to the varied nationalities on the island it made sense set up their own money system. These could be easily exchanged for things offshore form the island and 'purchased' all thanks to Kaiba Corp and some fund transactions. Teachers generally had more funds so this placed them in a very good position.
Kai laughed sharply. "500."
Jack whistled. "I guess you win this time Kai my man."
Kai put a smug face on. "Prince of Games, Thieves and King of Singles." He said in a very confident manner.
Jack gave him a high five and replaced the cigarette into his mouth again. As he did so he checked his watch.
"Better get moving Kai." He commented as he got up and zipped up his bag. "Ask me before you buy anything."
"Oh I will." He said as two left in opposite directions.
Kai had Sports class next so he was in a different area of the school while Jack had DM history in the main classroom area. As Kai entered the super-expensive gym area he heard a familiar and annoying foreign voice.
"Yuki." It growled
"Nekorovich." Snarled Kai back as he turned to see the Russian he had grown to despise. "Why are you here?"
"Mr Wales (Kai's gym teacher) sick today apparently." Explained Nikolai coldly. "So my timetables were changed so our classes are joined today."
"I'm thrilled." Kai narrowed his eyes and the two glared at each other for a short time. It was broke up when an Obelisk student with great reluctance suggested Kai get his kit before the class began. Kai turned and strode off to the locker area to collect his kit leaving Nikolai to go…
"Wherever the hell he wants to fuck with someone." Thought Kai sourly as he pushed the door to the Boys changing area open and turned to his locker which was conveniently next to the door.
He opened the door and pulled out his kit. As he closed the door he heard a voice right next to him.
"Hi." A girl's voice said in a friendly tone.
He turned to his left and saw an Obelisk blue girl slightly older than him and with black hair in a ponytail. Her eyes had a playful quality to them. Inside Kai smirked even though this was a boys changing room.
"Seems pretty cute to me." He thought as she introduced herself.
"I'm Gwendolyn. It's an honour, no a privilege to meet you Yuki-sama." She said surprising kai with her knowledge of Japanese naming.
"An honour to meet you Gwen." He said in a laid back tone.
She smiled at him and the two stood in an awkward silence for a few seconds before Kai broke it.
"Um." He aid uneasily. "I've got to get changed for Gym."
Silence still.
"In here."
Silence.
"Alone." Kai said in a more irritated tone.
"Oh ok. Sorry." Apologised the girl as she walked off.
Before she left she turned around. "By the way you might want to take a different route out of the locker room. That Russia boy and his English friend are going to throw ink at you or something."
Kai blinked. "Urgh...Thanks."
As he finished saying this she walked off leaving him to get changed into his kit. Taking her advice he left through a side entrance and met up with the class. Nekorovich and Harper were late and had disappointed looks on their faces. The gym teacher was a massive man. About 7 foot tall and a 4 foot wide chest. He was white and had a bald head which gave Kai and a few others the image of a fitness freak.
"Ok class." He said in his booming voice that reminded Kai of the Hulk. "We were going to do athletics today but due to the swell of numbers because of my colleague being ill we're going to do something else. I thought maybe a game of football."
The American kids at this point gave a cheer. The teacher frowned.
"Not that football." He corrected them as he leaned over to a basket in the main hall and pulled a white and black circular ball out. "This one."
He heard Harper say 'oh yeah' behind him as kai mulled over the thought of playing soccer. So as they jogged outside onto the sports field and ran round the track warming up and stretching Kai and nikolai began a competition of sorts. Instead of jogging round the track like everyone else they sprinted round as fast as they could attempt to up class themselves from their rival. This left them exhausted mind you so when the time actually came to play soccer they were put up front.
"That'll teach you." Grumbled the gym teacher.
The game was slow and little happened except for the occasional collapse from a bad tackle or a corner. Kai kept himself well for a lot of the game ad actually managed to score. This boosted his pride slightly watching Harper (who was in goal) and Nekorovich mope around. Toward the end of the game Kai managed to get into another good position. He somehow managed to get into another good position. His team-mate in midfield chipped the ball over the heads of his 'assailants'' and toward Kai. The ball was right in front of him and he was in the box.
"If I move quick enough I can score. That'll put the jerks down." He smirked as he twisted round and prepared to kick.
As he spun his leg round he hit something significantly harder than the ball that caught him off guard making him collapse. He heard some concerned groans from other players and the teacher blowing his whistle to end the match. A small circle had gathered round him as he picked himself up. He turned to see what he had hit and laughed hard. Rolling with a bloodied nose on the floor was Adam Harper who has obviously come out to punt the ball out and instead had been rewarded with a boot to the face from Kai.Adam heard him laugh and with anger written on his face leapt at him hitting him straight in the eye hard. Everyone went ooh.Kai stumbled back and held his face with a hand. He was about to strike back when the teacher came into the circle and pushed the two apart.
"Ok it was just an accident boys." He said, obviously not knowing what had transpired.
The two boys glared at each other as the teacher declared the lesson over and they made their way back to the changing rooms.
After getting changed and cleaning his face up (luckily he hadn't a black eye) and replacing his kit into his locker, Kai made his way back to the Obelisk Blue dorm to find Jack. On the way he lit another cigarette and breathed in. Jack had introduced him to the habit and, he'd say it once and he'd say it again, he enjoyed it too much too stop…that and the chicks liked it. As he walked along lost in thought suddenly Adam Harper walked out from behind a tree. He had been waiting for him for some time Kai assumed due to the twigs covering him. His appearance was also altered by the plaster over his nose which look crooked slightly. Kai grinned after removing his cigarette for the time being.
"Alright brit boy?" He asked. "Where is Nikolai then?"
Adam scowled. "He's at the card shop. I thought I'd come get myself some revenge. Mate."
He loaded the duel disk on his arm with his deck.
Kai chuckled. "You challenge me?"
He laughed and then continued. "Well I'll accept but what are you wagering?"
"All our duel points we have." Sneered Adam.
Kai frowned slightly. "I got Fengs PDA on me with all those DA points. No way am I letting this tea sipping limey get them."
"I accept." He eventually answered but betraying now concern as he began smoking again and activated his own duel disk.
K: 4000
A: 4000
Kai drew his sixth card quickly before Adam could and began to plan his method of attack. He nodded at his hand. Not brilliant but ok.
"I'll summon Lost Nobility-Louis (4/1500/1500)." The dark French noble walked forth with an air of class about him as he sneered down at the English boy in front of him.
Adam growled. "Damm frog."
"Viva La France Harper." Chuckled Kai through his cigarette. "I'll set a card and finish up there."
Adam snapped a card off his deck and slipped a monster onto his duel disk.
"I set a monster in defence position and end my turn with a set spell or trap." Explained Adam as the 3 facedown cards materialized before him.
Kai drew his next card and prepared his onslaught. "Summon Lost Nobility-Tal'Set (2/700/700)."
A demonic looking American Indian with a bow in its hand and a quiver on it back strode out, adjusting his headpiece and grinning wickedly.
"Activate Equip spell card Household Name." A grey aura surrounded Louis.
A grey aura surrounded the Indian flexed his arm muscles.
(LNTS 7001100)
"Now I'll activate Cyclone on your set card." Grinned Kai wickedly as he removed his cigarette and blew some smoke out. As he did this it became caught up in the whirlwind of water and wind emanating from the quick play magic card aimed at Adams set card which splintered into thousands of pieces.Kai then pointed at the set monster carelessly and Tal'Set pulled back his arrow and let loose, the flint arrow flew through the air with a whistle and fell down, piecing the monster. A small square box like robot that looked similar to a dog briefly appeared before it was sent to the cemetery.Kai then smirked as Louis charged forth brandishing his blade and slashing wildly before stabbing forward at Adams chest, causing him to collapse to a knee and cough.
K: 4000
A: 2500
"End turn." Stated Kai. "You still want to go through with this Harper?"
Adam pulled himself up with a groan and glared at Kai who just looked back with a whisper of a smirk as he breathed out some smoke. Silently he drew his next card. As he grinned in triumph at the sight of a good card the set card on kais field flipped up.
"Activate Penalty Game!" A card displaying the Dark Invader showed itself and from the shadow behind Adam grew up from the ground the very same monster. "This card has two effects and can only be activated when you have 4 or more cards in your hand, one I'm not interested in this turn and the other is good for me, bad for you. You can't play any spell or traps this turn."
The Englishman frowned as his TARDIS card was rendered useless as the Invader waved his hand over his cards leaving a hologram that made a shadow leer over the spells and traps ominously… along with his turn.
"I have no other monsters!" He thought with widened eyes. "Why can I never get the cards?!"
"Happens to everyone." Came a voice of similar accent in his eye from… nowhere.
Adam whipped round to search for the source of the speaker.Noone. Confusion enveloped him as he contemplated if he could have imagined it. As Kai went to make a smug remark Adam waved him off and set a card, there was little else he COULD do really. Kai drew with a vicious smirk, bloodlust in his eyes.
"I'm after the kill Harper…this Californians a hunter!" He said as he drew his next card.
"You're Japanese." Said Adam blandly.
"Nice for stating the obvious. I live in America. Ever heard of immigration noob?" chuckled the Prince of Games. "You limeys moan about it enough."
"Yea yea, get the F on with it." Barked Adam.
Kai growled angrily and then thought better than to shout back. "I'll just overdo it in the ring. I can beat him with a combined attack from Tal'set and Louis already but I want to really leave some bruises. And I have the perfect method."
"I summon Lost Nobility-Ugan (1/800/700)" declared the Yuki heir as a hairy caveman with a beastly animalistic face thudded out, an animal skull as a crown of sorts perched on its head and a torn pelt upon its frame carrying a spiked club with skulls upon the handle in its out of proportion hands. It let out a cry of aggression at the sight of Adam and punched its chest with the free hand.
"Woah, woah, you can already beat me!" pouted Adam in an angry tone, muffled by his hurt nose.
"I'm not done." Carelessly commented Kai as he activated a spell. "A name can give everyone impressions of who you are, where you come from, the enemies that follow you and the expectations you carry. I know that more than most but it can also give you strength and a reputation to fear. Inherited Name accordingly lets me sacrifice a monster in order to increase another Lost Nobilities attack by that monsters lowest score, doubled. For each turn that passes however I lose the higher score of the sacrificed monster of LP."
Ugan then fell to its bony knees and began to groan in pain. Breathing fast and shallowly. Then as its breathing reached a peak blood spurted from its ears, eyes and mouth along with nostrils until its skin was as white and empty as a sheet.
"Nice." Replied Adam sarcastically as the blood began to travel toward Louis. As it reached his foot it shot up and wrapped itself around Louis in tendrils that appeared like exploding outward veins. Web like patterns of blood staining his clothes through and through. Louis laughed cruelly and heartily as a look of dark knowledge and power enveloped its eyes, the windows of an already broken soul.
(LNL 15002900)
Adam sighed. "This'll hurt, get it over with."
Kai smirked and breathed out with smoke.
"Go on! You get the Duel points!" shouted Adam.
"Maybe I don't want to beat you."
"You wanna kill me."
"Tempting but too messy. No I want you to apologise, on your knees, for insulting me. In return I may let you walk away."
"No way Yuki." Spat Adam.
Kai grinned and smoked in again. "Your choice ATTACK!"
As the two monsters charged however something happened, for a full two seconds the holograms froze and flickered violently before continuing forth. Adam braced himself and to kais delight it wasn't enough as Louis stabbed him violently in the chest and Tal'set plunged two arrows into his back. The shockwaves from the attacks was far greater than normal due to some tinkering. Usually the pain level is basic at best but Kai thought it was best that the nerves should be tested on your opponents. That's why he had fitted a small switch under the arm brace of his duel disk to increase the level by 4 times the normal rate. Handy for annoyances. Ads the holograms faded and Adam lay on the ground dizzy and delirious Kai went over and rummaged through his pockets, he found the PDA and with a feeling of enjoyment transferred all the points to his account.
"Well, if you want me to crush you again feel free to challenge me again some time Harper." Said Kai with venom as he stood up, taking the time to step on his hand to a groan of pain.
As he got back into his room at long last he threw himself onto the bed and let out a contented sigh. It had been an ok day. As soon as he touched the bed with his back however he pulled himself up in quick reaction, he walked over to the balcony and took a good look around. The image imprinted on his brain so vividly it hurt.
"Calm down. It was just an optical illusion." He muttered to himself as he threw himself down again and reached onto the table next to him for his IPOD. There had been nothing there. No figure, no blood and certainly no severed head in its hand.
,
Sorry for the major delay, put it down to stagnation and a bad hand. Anyhow I'm up for constructive criticism and any ideas you have for characters and or cards. Sorry again and I hope you're enjoying the fic.