"So some Slifer girl dressed up as a boy trespassed into Zane's room and now are going to find her, why?" Alexis nodded as I slipped into my stockings, her eyes firmly glued onto my computer.
"Well, we don't need you but…" I rolled my eyes, "You don't want to leave me alone?" A hue of red crawled up her cheeks, "Yes."
Jesus, girl, best of luck in seducing me. Cuz I am not interested in human beings beyond profit.
"Fine, fine. I am your best friend after all," She snotted, "Yes, yes. Now let's go."
As I clipped my boots on, I stood up. And dragged Alexis out of the room by her arm.
She yelped a little as I pulled her out of the room. Outside stood Zane, his right boot softly tapping on the floor.
When he turned to us he gave a raised brow towards Alexis and then lowered it.
"And why are you here?" I tilted my head, his face neutral as he answered, "To pick her up. But since you two are a package deal…" I rolled my eyes at him.
"Let's just go."
———
——
—
When we reached the Slifer dorms I saw Chumlee and Syrus laying down on the ground and watching something below intently.
A mischievous smile ripped up on my face and I turned to my two companions
I put one hand on my lips and winked at them. And paced ahead.
"He's got a new duelling buddy…" Syrus spoke as I took a knee between them.
"Boo!"
Both of them tried screaming but my hands over their mouth stopped that, "Ag—"
"Mira!" Syrus said as he pulled my palm from his mouth.
"Oh, it's you," Chumlee sighed in relief and rolled back into his observation.
"So, what are you guys doing?" I asked and they pointed down, "Jayden has got a new duelling friend and he is going to replace me with him."
"Ten bucks that you are wrong," I said as I crossed my legs and wedged my head against my arm.
"I will take you up for fifty," Syrus said as he extended his arm but was stopped from shaking on it by Zane, "Don't Syrus she will rob you blind."
I turned to him, "You ruin all my fun," I pouted.
"When your fun involves scamming others, I won't let you either," The blonde proclaimed.
I rolled my eyes so hard that they might have rolled right off my sockets if they could, "So why are we here anyway?"
"Yeah, why are Zane and Alexis here?" Chumlee asked me and I reminded him, "Didn't I ask the same thing?"
"We know Blair was in Zane's room from the security cams but we want to know why," Alexis answered.
"Wait, he was in Zane's room?" Syrus asked.
"She," I said as I looked down and I saw E-Heros serving love maidens, I stood up with exasperation, "Obviously, she is in love with Zane."
"Wait, what?" Zane asked.
I shook my head at the blockhead.
—————————————————————
"So, Jayden vs Bastion?" I repeated the words the chancellor had spoken in a much simpler language to the class.
"Why not us through?" Alexis asked, "We only lost to him in that Boat duel, and that too because we backstabbed each other."
I nodded pretending that I cared, "Yeah that stings a little," Bastion interjected, "While I do agree that they are being a bit unfair here think of it from their perspective, Jayden beat Crowler, he bested the Paradox brothers in a tag duel, he has fought Zane to a near standstill, bested Chazz and bested the two of you in that threeway of yours. All big names. Plus with Zane's glowing recommendation, he was bound to go through."
I eyed him warily, "What about you wiz kid?"
"Me? I have not lost to Jayden. And I still am considered one of the best the school has to offer so if he beats me? It all but solidifies that he is the best duelist in our year."
"True."
—————————————————————
It was a sunny day after Bastion lost to Jayden when the North Academy submarine, no let me correct that the Fucking North Academy brought a flipping attack sub to our docks.
"You are weirdly enthusiastic about military equipment," Alexis said as we overlooked the meet and greet from the cliffside.
"An AK-47 is a man's romance but for a woman like me, I prefer the gentler touch of an M32 rotary grenade launcher," I said to the astonished looks of half my 'friends', Bastion was more surprised than anything, "How do you even know what that is? I thought everything in your mind was about scams and finances."
"Oh please, scamming is a daytime job, I need a hobby too, you know," I replied to Bastion as I caught sight of the North Academy director opening the meeting with a shake together with our Chancellor.
And then Jayden rocked up in the middle, bubbling to know his opponent well…
"So who's my opponent?" Jayden jolted around the two men.
"Right here, Slacker!"
"Wait who said that…Chazz!"
They were all in good spirits.
And then it was all broken off as helicopters descended.
———
——
—
"Not gonna stick around for the duel?" Alexis asked as Chazz summoned [Armed Dragon Lv7].
"Nope, I would have to cheer for the winner. And I told you right? I don't play favourites."
—————————————————————
"Alchemy is a delicate art of combining compounds like fusion monsters in duel monsters," I pulled Alexis down as he did. Having learnt to just go along with nu antics she did not resist, or maybe she liked the touching? From the tiny red on her face? Yes, yes she did.
"Why?" She asked.
"Wait for it…"
Boom, a blast shook the desks as smoke puffed over our desks. The shoot cladding Banner a smoky look. Like burnt toast.
"You knew that would happen?" She said as she moved up, I shrugged, "Read it in a book."
"So why didn't you warn them?" If her eyes were lasers I would be dead.
"Why do you think?" I pulled out a paper towel from my bag and gave it to her and pointed to her unprotected bag that had turned from Khaki green to charcoal black. All in a very anime fashion.
"Also, kids," Banner said as he cleared his glasses, "I almost forgot! I am planning a field trip."
Jayden shot out of his pretend sleep, "To where? Circus? Carnival?"
"Even better! We will be taking a ten-mile hike…"
I turned him out.
Until he called my name, "Mira, if you don't come, I will give you a three-day detention."
I stood up in surprise, "Why me? Everyone gets one day but why do I get three?"
"Because you did not warn me, yes, I heard your talk with Alexis and yes Jayden I know about your fake eyeballs."
You have to be kidding me you shadow-riding bozo!
"Oh shoot!"
———
——
—
"Please Alexis, you have to come with me!" I begged my best friend as I threw myself at her, locking her in a firm embrace on her room's sofa.
"N—! No! Mira! Please!" I started tickling her too, an overwhelming amount of skin contact with the person she was crushing on made her stammer her every word.
You see this bitch was seeing my attention by saying she was not going and giggling every time I pestered her. She was going, I had seen the form filled out on her desk, but why not indulge my toy a little?
I buried my face in her shoulder while in a giggle mania, I locked her arms behind her with mine so she could not resist.
"Come on Alexis," I said, trying to sound firm between bouts of giggles.
"No Mira! Every time I want to do something you dodge it but now that you have to do something, I have to come? Get real," Her tone was full of barely kept-up resistance.
I could topple it all.
"Oh, is 'my' Alexis not going to come with me?" I asked as I put special emphasis on one place.
All her resistance fell dull and she became a stuttering mess, "W-What? What do—what do—please! I will do any—" I cut her off, and tangled her hands in mine, "Alexis, you will come with me right?"
"Ye—Yes! I will," Like a completely domesticated dog she started puffing as I ran my arms through her blond hair.
Oh, love what a great leash it is.
I don't feel anything for you, you know that? But if I can linch your world about me through this collar called love? Especially when you start becoming plot relevant? Oh, you beat your ass, you are mine.
(A/N: I wonder if you hate her yet? Cuz in the next ten chapters you definitely will.)
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"They look all ruined," Jayden commented and I wondered about the no man's land between Empire Cringe and Republic retort before declaring neutrality and choosing republic, "I sometimes question your intelligence Jayden."
"There is nothing there to question Mira," Alexis added with a smirk, I laughed, "Empty like the vacuum of space."
"Alright, children, here are the plans…" I stopped the madman, "Sir, first let's eat our lunch."
Banner smiled, "I don't see why not."
I spread my blanket and Alexis was the first one on it, "So, you cooked something, Alexis?" I said as I took a seat beside her.
She nodded as she took out two folded paper plates, "One for me?" I asked her with an innocent look, "Obviously," She said and I almost hugged her.
"Why does my Pizza smell like pepperoni?" Banner said as opened his bag.
"Pizza!" Jayden said as he turned to the lanky rider.
"Huh? Pizza there is no Pizza here Jayden!"
"No, you have a pizza professor, besides, why do you get pizza when I am stuck with rice balls?" Jayden protested as I just eagerly waited on Alexis who poured some of her chicken soup into a bowl for me while they were distracted.
"Oh please, Jayden! I need this pizza to have the strength to teach you, people," Jayden shot him a glare but sat back down. Only to notice the egg rolls that I was putting my fork into.
"Oh, sweet Jesus, what is that Mira?" Jayden shouted with rice balls in hand.
"Nothing for you Jayden. This is all made by Alexis," I said as if to show her off.
"Wow! Alexis mind sharing some with us?" She shook her head, "Mira, share yours with me okay?" She said while handing over her plate to the three boys.
"Pharo! Fat cat! You were supposed to stay at home, not freeload on me and eat all my pizza!" He said as he tossed the fat cat out.
And then stood us, he gave us a pleading look and begged, "Oh children! Won't you share some of the food with me? Surely in that massive bag, Mira was carrying there was some food," my bag was big, a traveller's actually, but this was for after the fact.
I looked at him before picking up the half-eaten egg roll with a fork and offering it to a rapidly reddening Alexis who despite all that opened her mouth and let me put the roll in.
I showed the scene to Banner deliberately with an impish smile, "All eaten professor."
But no one laughed, "Ehh? What happened?" I asked as Jayden looked embarrassed and shared a look with Banner. Both nodded and said at the same time, "Mira you blockhead."
"What?" I acted completely oblivious, "No wonder," Banner said, and Jayden nodded.
"What's going on guys?" Syrus and Chumlee looked completely lost.
Alexis had a very satisfied smile on her face. As she raised a thermos to her lips.
"Mira, for how smart you are, your skull is made up of hardwood."
"The fuck—" Ground shook as green pillars started emerging into the sky.
"Am I the only one seeing triplets?" Banner said as he pointed towards the sky, three suns. Neat.
"M'lady might be time we start running," Jinzo spoke to me.
"One sec," I picked up the bag and grabbed Alexis' arm. She looked at me weirdly as I took a running stance.
"We need to run!" Jayden shouted and I ran, ran like the wind, dragging Alexis with me. Out of the ruins.
"Wait Mira where are you going!?"
"Where you are not!"
———
——
—
"You knew this was going to happen my lady?" Jinzo said as he sat down next to me and I passed him some lemonade.
Alexis leaned on me and said, "Should have told me."
"I had no clue, okay? But whenever we are with Jayden, this shit always happens," I said as I dipped some crackers into instant coffee and stuffed them down.
"Once again I am awed by your foresight," Jinzo bowed to me and sighed, "Pattern recognition is not foresight."
"So we're gonna save them right?" Alexis asked as she ran her hand over the map I had of the ruins.
"Might as well."
———
——
—
I was low, sticking to the ground as I rounded one guard and ripped a steel wire around his neck with all my strength.
This was the first time I had felt the physical boots that came from having bonded duel spirits. As the wire dug deep enough to rip nerves? I knew it was no joke. The body stopped struggling after the fifteen-second mark and I dragged it next to the edge of the floating island and turned him over to gravity.
I didn't even spare a glance at the bloodied wire, I knew it was going to be a lot redder than that by the end of the day.
I saw another pair by the entrance of what my map described as 'the treasury' but was the litter house.
Slowly I crept over the edges, keeping myself next to the lip of the window that looked inside and pulled my machete. Tossing a chunky stone inside it sent a guard to investigate, "Who's there?" I jumped at the chance and rushed to the distracted guard who was looking at his investigating buddies behind and rammed my machete through his neck, ripping the voice box before he could make a sound. I let it stay lodged in and jumped over his partner and quickly wrapped my wire around his neck. Both down and dumped into the void. Removing most proof, well the blood stayed. I didn't care.
I had killed eight people by now, and the way to the burial ground looked clear.
I walked steadily still, keeping my eye on each corner, as I neared the place I saw the shadows of the guards standing and watching the captives from inside.
I was thankful that most guards were with the keepers otherwise this silent hunt would have turned into a monster vs grave keeper brawl. I could have gone with that but there were hostages involved.
"I summon the [Flame Wingman," When I heard that, I looked up from the corners, and so did the three guards who were about to turn the corner. I ripped my mind away from that and readied myself. Three guards, I needed to be swift. I turned the corner and tossed a throwing knife straight through one's throat, the middle one tried to catch his fallen comrade I deflected a spear with my machete and inserted a kbar into his throat and then when the last one opened his mouth just enough to let out a squeak and found my machete biting deep into his larynx.
When the three fell I took a breath. I checked myself over. No cut, no bruise. My riot gloves smelt of iron though. And my mask was starting to feel wet, from sweet or blood I didn't know. I ripped it out nonetheless and stuffed it in my pocket.
The coffins were in the middle of a dug-up pit, and the three looked like they were going to get a communal burial.
"Safe to remove them?" I asked Jinzo, "Yes my lady, in a shadow duel you can not bet what you do not have, the lives of your friends are not his unless he beat them all in separate games. Besides, no spirits guard those coffins anymore. Those that did? You have already killed."
I found the bandages that they had used to wrap up the three were kept just about the corner and started wrapping the three dead keepers.
It was a sloppy job but from twenty feet high, where they were playing? They won't even notice.
I dragged over the corpses just out of sight of the keeper and took a deep breath. My first target was to get the extreme side guys out. I walked over slowly, making sure not to make a single sound and when I reached the three I whispered, "Not a sound."
I heard the bodies shift to look at me, Syrus, Chumlee and Banner had wide eyes at the sight of me, I pulled out my wiped kbar and started slowly sliding away the bandages. First out was Syrus who instantly tried to move but I stopped him with a gesture. Then I let Banner loose who I didn't even need to tell what to do. The last one Chumlee was an idiot, constantly trying to move and squirrel around. To stop him I had to put my knife at his throat my glare told him all he needed to know, if he moved, he was a dead mother fucker.
When they were all free I gestured to them to slowly rise. Managing to do so with little sound. The shoes had hard soles so I made them remove them. Mine was heavily padded to not make a sound. And so it was that three idiots walked rough ground with bare feet and shoes in hand.
I had initially wanted to sub out the three for the corpses but that was stupid instead I pulled the coffins close in a very patient manner and when they were, moved below the keeper's platform. He could not see me there and started actively jumping for Jayden to notice me. And when he did he froze. I signalled that the boxes were empty and for him to continue, remarkable the guy did not look down once and only looked at me from the corner of his eyes.
I walked to where the rest were, they all had uneasy faces but they all brightened up as they saw me appear.
"So what do we do now?" Banner asked as he pulled out his deck and started going through it, apparently they were being buried with their decks.
Then the buildings started despairing, warping in stone. At least it was just an outgrowth of stone. Nothing had changed.
I pointed to the door and said, "We get out."
"Without Jayden?" Syrus argued and I nodded, "Yes, without him, he can handle himself. More than you three."
"But what about the guards?" I shook my head, "Dead. Let's go."
———
——
—
The valley of stone and rock withered as we reached Alexis and all of her five strongest monsters gathered around her, "You okay?" she asked as I spotted her duel disk with five of its slots fulfilled.
I nodded, "Yeah, looks like Jayden won."
"Then all that killing for nothing?" Cyber blader asked and I shook my head at her, "Look, I don't feel good at all. So let's rock up to the Keeper with an army and go home."
Yeah, she said as she gave me my duel disk, "[Relinquished, [Chaos Emperor, [Black Luster Soldier: Envoy of the Beginning, [Jinzo]." I called out as I placed my cards and they started appearing one by one, "Let's go."
———
——
—
"...You will have to find the other half from the previous one who took it," The keeper said to Jayden as the girl behind him tapped the man to look around.
I stood up on [Chaos]'s head and said, "Just give us Jayden back before [Chaos] shows you exactly why he has the title, [Envoy of the end.]"
"He is free to leave," The man said not caring in the slightest about my threat of destruction, "But collect your other friends first," The man said as he pointed his finger to the coffins and they started to move.
"Empty!?" He jerked back.
"Yeah, I already got them while you were duelling. Jayden start running," He did, jumping down an entire dozen stairs at a time.
"Then my guards?" The man asked me.
"Dead, they were not very good."
"If a little girl can beat them then they better be dead or I would kill themself."
Then hundreds of guards started appearing, all in a phalanx. "Can you kill them all [Chaos]?" He roared at the top of his lungs as if telling me 'Who do you think I am?'
"No! Don't Mira! No need for more bloodshed," Alexis spoke as she pointed to the three suns, they were combing together, "So that's how we get out?" I asked and she nodded. She and the others were already ruining. I pulled back all of my cards inside my deck except [Chaos]. And said, "Breakthrough."
He laughed and ran. Crushing people underneath.
———