Vile: I've made it back once more, ready for Chapter 5! I'm honestly surprised none of the others decided to beat me up.

Yuma: Why would we? We saw the script and we know how it ends.

Vile: 0_0 How the heck did you get ahold of the script? *notices Tokunosuke trying to sneak out*

Tokunosuke: *yelps* *rushes out with me on his tail*

Kotori: In Vile's place, I'll say it. Disclaimer's on the first page, any bolded cards belong to him. However, there is a new OC introduced here who belongs to Yin-Yang Yo-Yo, but Vile has his permission to use this character. Enjoy!

Note: Chapter 4 was edited. The Distributor now has two facedowns at the end of his last turn.


Numbershot C13: True Love Shines Through All

Chapter 5

Her scream echoing into the depths of the Field Magic, Kotori lost her will to stay up and fell forward, landing on top of Yuma's lifeless body, her arms still clutching his head. She was inconsolable: The boy she loved was dead… murdered at the hands of a vile man and his fiendish creation. "Yuma… Yuma…" Her voice quivered as she chanted his name in sorrow.

Astral could only look on before averting his eyes in shame. 'I couldn't protect him… I failed…' Then, a bolt of energy went through him, and his body began to static, causing him pain. "AAAAAAGH!"

"The contract… has been disrupted…!" The demonic voice of the Gate boomed.

"AAAAAGH-" Astral's screams fell on deaf ears as his body was encased in a blue egg-shaped force field, similar to when Tokunosuke took possession of Hope and Revise Dragon.

Kotori pulled her head from Yuma's chest to look at his face. Even though his eyes would never open again, it was still the face she loved. "Yuma… All the times we had… Why did they have to end like this…?" Memories flashed into her mind.

*Flashback 1*

A young Yuma of five years walked with his hand held by his mother. Then he heard his mother greeting someone, looking to see a woman with green hair and yellow eyes. Looking at the woman's legs, he noticed another green head of hair quickly duck behind the woman, who apparently noticed. "Come on out, Kotori. It's all right." A young girl, the same age as Yuma with hazel eyes and her mother's green hair shyly peeked out from behind, holding onto her mother.

Yuma smiled slightly and walked over, Kotori slightly hiding herself again. "Your name's… Kotori?"

The girl peeked out again, nodding shyly. "Uh-huh…"

Yuma smiled, holding out a hand. "Hi, Kotori. I'm Yuma!" Kotori slowly reached out a hand, grasping the boy's hand. Yuma laughed happily, and Kotori gave a smile smile and giggle.

"Yuma…" She breathed.

*Flashback 2*

"Be careful, Yuma!" Ten-year-old Kotori told ten-year-old Yuma, who was preparing to jump a small gap, a bridge having collapsed and a river below.

"Don't worry! I can make this jump! Watch me, Kotori!" Yuma chirped, running towards the water. "Kattobingu daze, ore!" Taking one mighty leap, Yuma successfully sailed over the river to the other side. Planting his feet on the ground, he managed to stick the landing. "Yeah!"

"Not too shabby, Yuma!" Ten-year-old Tetsuo told him. Kotori, however, was blushing.

"Wow…" She breathed. That jump was amazing!

Yuma noticed her blush. "Hey Kotori-chan, you all right?"

Kotori blushed even harder when she noticed Yuma right in front of her, looking away quickly. "Y-Y-Yeah… I'm all right." Her heart was beating fast. She began to wonder… was she in love?

*Flashback 3*

Yuma and Kotori slowly moved closer, closing the gap between them and meeting in their first kiss. Fireworks went off in Kotori's head, and she couldn't help but moan. She had known she was in love, and was so happy to know he felt the same.

*End Flashbacks*

"Yuma… you were my first friend… I fell in love with your spirit… you've saved me so many times…" Though his eyes were closed, she looked at them as if she stared right through the lids. She moved her hand through his hair. "…You were… and still are… the most important person in my life…" She moved closer to him. "Daisuki… no, that isn't enough for me…" Tears fell from her. "Aishiteru… Yuma…" Closing her eyes, Kotori planted what she thought would be their last kiss on his lips, her hand resting on the Emperor's Key, unconsciously gripping it, the tears streaming down her face. Knowing he wouldn't return the kiss, she put all her emotions into it, hoping to give them all to Yuma… wherever he was.

All of a sudden, the Emperor's Key glowed brighter than it ever had before. "Nanda…?" The Number Distributor cried. Then, the light became so bright that it became blinding.

*In Kotori's mind*

Kotori's eyes opened, finding herself on a rocky precipice, a thin path in front of her leading away from the precipice. "Wh… Where am I…?" She felt something in her hand and looked down. It was the Emperor's Key. "But… how…?"

"You who holds the Emperor's Key…" A deep voice boomed. Kotori quickly whipped around and came face-to-face with a large demonic-looking gate.

'This must be… the gate Yuma talked about…' Kotori thought.

"Your desire has activated the Key…" The Gate told her. "The previous contract has been threatened… I shall grant you a power you need to attain what you desire…"

"What I desire…" Kotori breathed. There was only one thing she wanted: She wanted Yuma back. "But wouldn't that mean… I'd have to give something up in return…?"

"…Negative. The previous contract was disrupted by such noble sacrifice… and such purity of heart… It cannot go unrewarded. I will grant you the usage of this grand power… For such noble sacrifice… and such pure needs… No debt shall be issued." The Gate told her. "Insert the Key into the lock… and accept the offer!"

That question didn't even need to be asked. Gripping the Emperor's Key, Kotori gained a determined look. "I'll do it!" She rushed forward, leaping into the air. "This is for you, Yuma! Kattobingu yo, watashi!" She thrust the Key into the lock, causing a powerful glow to be emitted. Kotori was sent flying as the gate opened, blinding light covering the area as a blue energy beam was fired out.

*Scene Change*

"…tori… Kotori! Kotori!" Kotori awoke to hear someone calling her name. Her eyes opened, but she saw only blackness. Then, two arms wrapped around her waist. "I never thought I'd see you again, Kotori…"

She recognized the voice now that she could focus. Kotori quickly turned around and was met with a pleasing sight. "Y…Yuma…" Tears filled her eyes again.

"So you made your own deal with the Gate, huh?" Kotori nodded, making Yuma smile. "Good… then that's why I'm here. I'm going to give you the power it gave me… ZEXAL."

"ZEXAL…" Kotori breathed.

"I have faith in you, Kotori… Take the ZEXAL… and make your wish come true…" Yuma then kissed her softly on the lips. Kotori quickly returned the kiss, and both of them felt power go through them as their vision went white.

*Back in the Duel*

The glow of the Key died down some, though it was still very bright. Kotori continued to kiss Yuma, but then, a red aura surrounded Yuma, and a green aura surrounded Kotori. "Eh? What is this?" The Distributor said.

Then, the blue energy beam fired from the Key, shattering the force field around Astral and reforming his body, making him visible to the Distributor to boot. He felt power flow into him. "What… is this power?" Then, he suddenly felt a splitting sensation within him. "AAAAAAAGH!" He yelled in pain. All of a sudden, a pink mass of energy split from his body from the back. Astral panted heavily before looking at the pink mass. Then, the mass began to change form, becoming more humanoid in shape as a glow around it prevented the identity from being discerned. "Nanda…?" Then, the glow around it faded, revealing the figure. It looked a lot like… him, only much different. This being was clearly female, having a curvier body, long pink hair, and a small chest (akin to Kotori's). Then, her eyes slowly opened. While her right eye was the same pink as her body, her left eye had a bright blue iris and white sclera.

"This can't be… Another Astral Spirit?" The Distributor cried.

Astral had a shocked look on his face, still trying to figure out who or what this person was. The female blinked. "You… are Astral, are you not…?" Astral nodded. The female gave a small smile. "I'm glad I found you…" The blue spirit raised an eyebrow. "I'll explain later. But for now…" She glared at the Number Distributor. "Let's make this scoundrel pay."

Kotori finally detached from the kiss, finding the auras around her and Yuma. "N… Nani…?"

"Kotori." The female spirit said, getting her attention.

"W-Who are you?" She asked.

"My name is Mia. Kotori… the ZEXAL power has been transferred to you. You must use its power if you are to have any chance at victory." A pink aura radiated from Mia. "Do you know what to do?"

Kotori flashed back to when Yuma and Astral performed Xyz Change ZEXAL. Her face went determined. "Yes. Let's do it." She looked down at Yuma. "Wait for me, Yuma…" She gently set him down before standing up. "I'm ready, Mia!"

"Let's do it!" The pink spirit said.

The two females locked hands, then both of them shot into the air in a spiral like Overlay Units. Astral gasped. "Th-This is-!"

"With both of our bodies, we construct the Overlay Network!" The two of them shouted. "Xyz Change ZEXAL!" The beacons of light converged impacted into one, causing a bright flash of light.

"Rgh!" The Distributor growled, shielding himself.

The light flash died down, showing a new form having been created. It was still Kotori, but her attire had been radically changed. She was now clad in a gold jumpsuit that had no arms or legs to it, having green armor over her chest. An Extra Deck Holder was at her waist. Her arms were clad in gleaming silver gloves that reached past her elbows, having green ends separated by large cuffs and leaving her shoulders and part of her arms exposed. Her legs were clad in silver leggings that stopped after her knees, leaving her thighs exposed. She was wearing green high-heeled boots over her feet. Over her left arm was her own Duel Disk, being golden with a green top that resembled a feathery wing. Her hair was released from her ribbon, letting it flow freely, but it had become wilder and was now in two layers. The front layer was still her usual green, but the back layer had become a beautiful, gleaming silver. A gold tiara-like object had appeared in front of the front layer, parts of it coming down to her cheeks. Her left eye had become the same blue as Mia's eye. Her right eye was still hazel, but an orange lens came down over it, like her D-Gazer. Her whole body radiated an amethyst-colored aura, akin to the color of her Number's accents.

"Unbelievable… Kotori performed… Xyz Change ZEXAL!" Astral gasped.

Kotori looked over her new form. "Whoa… what happened to me?"

"This is our combined form… just like Yuma and Astral's form." Mia told her. "You have all the same power as they do. And with this power combined with the love that activated it… observe what your power has created!" Kotori's Extra Deck Holder opened, and a card glowed within it, and she grabbed it.

Love was suddenly surrounded by an amethyst aura, feeling power flood her body. "N-Nanda…?" She breathed.

The card Kotori held was blank, but it created a new form: An Xyz Monster. "The result of love and ZEXAL… Kaosu Nanbaazu Juusan (Chaos Number 13)!"

"Kaosu Nanbaazu…" Kotori breathed. Then, another image flashed in her mind: Shining Draw.

"Yes, that will help us." Mia said, apparently having heard her thought. "Now go, Kotori. Let us win and avenge Yuma!"

"Right!" Kotori said. She glared at the Distributor.

The man backed up. "What ARE you?"

"We are the ones who will defeat you!" Kotori and Mia's voices sounded at the same time. The top card of her Deck glowed a light purple. "Waraware no turn!" She placed her hand on the Deck. "Shining… DRAW!" She drew the card, the card itself forming into something new. "Suki Joou Love!" Her Number looked back at her owner. "It's time to avenge both our fallen lovers… And this is the power we need!"

Love realized what she meant and nodded. "Do it, Kotori… For Yuma, and Hope!"

Kotori nodded. "Suki Joou Love, evolve now!" Love let out a yell before converting back into her sealed form.

"N-Nani?" The Distributor yelled.

"CHAOS XYZ CHANGE!" A galaxy portal opened up, and the sealed form (along with its Overlay Units) entered the portal, a burst of light occurring. "Arawareyo! Kaosu Nanbaazu Juusan!" She held the new card into the air. "Ai Joou (Devoted Empress)… TRUE LOVE!"

The number "13" formed and flashed in blue, but suddenly became murky-textured. A new sealed form arose in a starry area, which appeared to be a bright-silver-and-amethyst pentagonal object. The object had two strange black stick-like objects on the edges, two ring-like objects with five points in a star fashion in the center of each side, and two pieces of billowing dark purple cloth attached to it. The two stick-like objects detached from the object and began to orbit it as it changed shape. A torso formed from it, being a bright silver female-fitting shape with amethyst and black accents that was more armored, having an exposed cleavage area and no arms or legs to it. The two pieces of cloth wrapped around the neck area as scarves. Light silver high-heeled boots with black accents that extended past the knees formed from the object, as did light silver armored gauntlets, the gauntlets having purple gems embedded in them. The two rings broke off the object, latching on to the stick-like objects, forming wands of some kind. Then the female form was filled in, filling the armaments, leaving the thighs exposed. The arms gained some kind of purple gloves before filling in the gauntlets, reaching past the elbow and leaving her shoulders exposed. Her helmet formed, having a basis similar to a crown or tiara, being silver and amethyst in color, and it had a hole in the back. Her hazel eyes shone with determination as her mouth guard formed, and from the hole in her helmet, a ponytail of silky lavender hair emerged. The new form grabbed both of the wand-like objects, twirled them around, then attached them to each other by the bottoms, forming a new staff. She twirled the staff around before taking a battle-ready stance, her three yellow Overlay Units circling her.

Chaos Number 13: Devoted Empress True Love: Rank 4 LIGHT Spellcaster/Xyz ATK:2400/DEF:1600 3 Overlay Units

"B-Bakana! Chaos Number… 13?" The Distributor stuttered.

Kotori had her eyes narrowed. "This is a power someone like you could never understand. Numbers have hearts and feelings, like humans! They are capable of loving each other! And when you combine that love with the power of ZEXAL… the result is a power that cannot be stopped! Ai Joou True Love no kouka hatsudo!" True Love quickly swiped one of her Overlay Units with her new staff.

True Love: 2 Overlay Units

"By using one of her Overlay Units… her fallen lover is resurrected!" Love placed her staff on her back and began making hand signs, a spell circle appearing beneath her. Then, she was covered by a massive sphere of yellow light. "Arawareyo… Kaosu Nanbaazu Sanjuukyuu! Kibou Ou… Hope Ray!" The sphere dissipated, showing the female Chaos Number with her arms wrapped around a revived Hope Ray, his arms around her as well, the two Chaos Numbers showing a heartfelt kiss. True Love cried tears of joy as the kiss continued. Finally, the two broke apart.

Chaos Number 39: Aspiring Emperor Hope Ray: Rank 4 LIGHT Warrior/Xyz ATK:2500/DEF:2000 0 Overlay Units

"Hope… you're back." Love said happily, her eyes still teary.

Hope hugged her tighter. "It was all because of you… Arigatou… my Love…" The female Number hugged him tighter.

Kotori smiled. "One couple has been reunited…" Mia said.

"Yes… but now it's our turn." Kotori said, moving over and picking up Yuma. "Yuma… let's win… together." She planted another kiss on his lips, and the two of them were surrounded by a sphere of light.

Astral felt an odd presence from within the sphere. It felt familiar to him, then he gasped. "…Yuma!" Astral quickly dashed forward, entering the sphere. A flash occurred from it.

"What… is this?" The Distributor growled. Then, the sphere began to dissipate from the bottom up. Kotori was now standing up, her arms wrapped around a new figure: Yuma, who had taken his own ZEXAL form. The two of them shared their own passionate kiss, Kotori overjoyed that Yuma had actually been revived. Yuma and Kotori broke apart, staring at each other.

Kotori laid her head on his chest, tears coming down her face. "It worked… You're alive, Yuma!" She cried.

Yuma placed his hand on her head. "Mm-hmm… and this time, I'm not leaving again." He told her, making Kotori hug him tighter.

Then, the voice of the Gate boomed in their heads. "The debt of the contract has been paid. You lost something you cherished… but your noble sacrifice returned it to you. I leave the ZEXAL… in your hands…"

The Distributor's face was full of tic marks. "This is impossible!" He yelled. "I killed you! You should be dead!"

Kotori glared at him. "Don't you listen? When the power of love is combined with the power of ZEXAL… anything can be accomplished!" She moved forward. "I will show you! Arawareyo! Zexal Weapon – Ouroboros Wand!" From the card, a silver snake spun in a circle, a green orb in its mouth. The snake then twisted around until it became a wand, the orb pointing upward. Love grabbed the wand in her left hand. "When Ouroboros Wand is equipped to True Love, she gains 1400 Attack Points!"

True Love ATK:3800

"Ouroboros Wand no kouka hatsudo! Once per turn, I can bring back an Overlay Unit that was attached to one of my Numbers! I retrieve True Love's third Overlay Unit!" Love fired a beam from the wand, causing a portal to open up. The yellow Overlay Unit rose up and began orbiting the female Number again.

True Love: 3 Overlay Units

'Fools. They have no idea that my facedowns will get rid of them the moment they try any type of assault!' The Distributor thought.

"True Love no kouka hatsudo!"

"Nani?"

"True Love's effect can have her equip herself to Kibou Ou Hope Ray!" True Love clapped her hands, changing into a pink mass of energy that swirled around Hope Ray, reforming into the female Number with her arms around his neck. "And when she's equipped to him, her Overlay Units are transferred to Hope Ray!"

True Love: 0 Overlay Units

Hope Ray: 3 Overlay Units

"Bakana!" The Distributor cried.

Yuma stepped forward, wrapping his left arm around Kotori's waist. "This is the end, Number Distributor! Kibou Ou Hope Ray no kouka hatsudo! By using his Overlay Units, he gains 500 Attack Points and drains your monster of 1000 Attack Points for each one!" Hope Ray pulled out his blades, absorbing two of the Units, but the third Unit was absorbed into Love's staff. Photon Number Destroyer suddenly felt its power fade, and it groaned weakly.

Hope Ray ATK:4000 0 Overlay Units

Photon Number Destroyer ATK:300

"And there's more!" Kotori cut in. "While Hope Ray is equipped with True Love, if he attacks, you can't negate his effects, your monster's effects are negated, and you can't activate Magic or Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step!"

The Distributor's eyes widened. "SHIMATA!"

Kotori wrapped her right arm around Yuma's waist, and the two linked their free hands (Kotori having dropped her hand) together, entwining their fingers. "It's over, you vile man." Yuma and Astral's voices said together.

"Prepare to feel… the true power of ZEXAL!" Kotori and Mia's voices said together.

"Kibou Ou Hope Ray!"

"Ai Joou True Love!"

"Attack Photon Number Destroyer!" All four spoke. "Hope-Love Bond…" Yuma and Kotori thrust their linked hands forward. "CHAOS TWIN ASSAULT!" The Chaos Number duo dashed forward, True Love leaping off. Hope Ray slashed Photon Number Destroyer with its each of his blades, effectively slicing all four of the creature's arms from its body. Then, from above, True Love came down with her staff, the two rings on it glowing a harsh purple. With a powerful slash, the black-bodied Fiend was cleaved in two, right down the middle. A final roar of pain came from it as its whole body crumbled and exploded.

"NRAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" The Distributor yelled as the force of the attack sent him flying backwards, eventually slamming into an edge of the grid, sliding down it.

Kotori LP:1000

Distributor LP:0 – LOSER

ZEXAL Kotori's face appeared with the word "WIN" as the buzzer sounded, and the Chaos Zone vanished along with the Augmented Reality. The Distributor had slammed against a tree, his D-Gazer and D-Pad vanishing, her hair returning to normal. Yuma and Kotori closed their eyes, still holding onto each other, as a yellow and purple glow covered them (respectively). When the glow faded, they had returned to their original forms, Astral and Mia floating next to them. Kotori laid her head on Yuma's chest. "We did it…" She breathed.

"No. YOU did it, Kotori." Yuma told her, kissing her head. They heard the Distributor groan as he got to his feet and glared at him. "You still won't quit?"

The Distributor glared at them and growled. "Insolent brats…!" He snapped. Darkness covered his hand. "You win this battle… but the war is not over! I'll make you pay for this… I swear it!" He made a swipe with his darkness-covered hand, causing darkness to swirl around him, covering him. When the darkness faded, he was gone.

Astral just stared forward, even though the Distributor was gone. "His power… it is unlike anything we've seen… So dark… so foreboding…"

Mia placed a hand on his shoulder, getting his attention. "He may be powerful… but we have the ZEXAL power on our side." She told him, making him nod in understanding.

Astral held up Numbers 39 and 13. "And now that we have two Chaos Numbers… Our power has only increased." Mia smiled and nodded, and the two spirits vanished, returning to the Emperor's Key.

Kotori got Yuma's attention with a tight hug. "Yuma… I'm so happy you're back…" She breathed, her eyes in tears.

Yuma smiled at her. "It was all because of you, Kotori-chan. I'll always be here with you." Kotori looked at him, and the couple leaned in.

"Aishiteru..." The both muttered before sharing a light kiss.

Then the two of them fell over, passing out in each other's arms.


Author-Made Cards

Chaos Number 13: Devoted Empress True Love (TCG: Number C13: True Paradise)
Rank 4 LIGHT Spellcaster/Xyz
ATK:2400/DEF:1600
3 Level 4 LIGHT monsters
You cannot Special Summon this card unless you have a "Chaos Number 39: Aspiring Emperor Hope Ray" in your Graveyard. (This line is not in the OCG/TCG effect.) You can also Xyz Summon this card by using 1 "Number 13: Paradise" you control as the Xyz Material. (Xyz Materials attached to that monster also become Xyz Materials of this card.) Once per turn: Detach 1 Xyz Material from this card and target 1 "Chaos Number 39: Aspiring Emperor Hope Ray" in your Graveyard: Special Summon that target. (TCG/OCG: C39 is required to have been destroyed, and the Material detached from C13 is attached to C39) You can equip this card to a face-up "Chaos Number 39: Aspiring Emperor Hope Ray" you control (any Xyz Materials attached to this card are attached to the equipped monster). While a monster is equipped with this card: Its effects cannot be negated, negate the effects of a monster that battles this card, and if the equipped monster attacks, your opponent cannot activate Spell or Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step.

Zexal Weapon - Ouroboros Wand
Level 3 LIGHT Reptile
ATK:1400/DEF:0
You can target 1 face-up "Chaos Number 13: Devoted Empress True Love" you control; equip this card from your hand to that target. It gains 1400 ATK. Once per turn, you can target 1 face-up "Number" monster you control: If any of its Xyz Materials are in the Graveyard: Attach 1 of them to the target. You can only control 1 face-up "ZW - Ouroboros Wand".


Vile: And the Duel is concluded, with the Number Distributor getting the payback he deserved! But he's not out of commission yet.

Tokunosuke: *tied up and struggling* Let me outta these things, Ura!

Vile: Then don't go runnin' off with my scripts!

Hikaya: *drags Tokunosuke away*

Vile: *sighs* Some days I wonder how I manage all these characters. If you guys liked this chapter, leave a review for me, and I'll have the ending soon enough! Also, check out my notice to the admins of the site (especially if you ARE an admin). Oh, and a big "Arigatou" to Yin-Yang, who let me use Mia. She's gonna be a recurring character now! Ja ne!

Computer Voice: Vile, logging out.