A/N: This chapter contains some minor spoilers for my previous fan fic, but nothing readers of my GX series should really be worried about reading. Most of it is stuff that has no major plot relevance. However, if I haven't managed to finish my other fic by the time this one reaches a certain point (near the start of the Fortune Cup), I will have to stop this one and won't be able to continue this story until I get the other one finished, because characters from the previous fic will be appearing and cause major spoilers for my other fic. I will try to avoid a long hiatus in such case. The promised archetype debuts in this chapter, with almost every card the new character Mei uses being made up. The ones shown here aren't the only members of the archetype, but more will be seen in time. On that note I'd like to thank fellow site member Subtle Insanity for help with proofreading ALL the cards' effects. A few became far more polished thanks to that help. Go check out Subtle Insanity's stories okay?

Episode 5: The Fated Destination

"Mei-senpai! Congratulations on your promotion!" someone called my name from behind me. Even with the bustle of students moving between classes in the same hallway, the claps of the person's shoes as she ran towards me were easy to pick out.

I turned to the source of the voice and, sure enough, it was Mitsugi Kanako, an underclassman that had been hanging around me the past few years. Even though we spent a lot of time together, I wouldn't call us friends. She just liked me and made it a point to be really friendly with me. She was a closer friend than any of the other people I was usually around, and knew more about the real me than almost anyone else, but that wasn't saying much.

To an extent she reminded me of how I was when I was little, which isn't that much of a compliment when you consider she's older than the younger me I refer to. Meek, hopeful, honest, and full of hope for the future. We even looked a bit alike, our hair the same black color with a slightly blue hue, and in a simple straight style. Our faces were different only in the fact that my features were more mature due to being older and my father's genes gave me a slightly more rugged look. Age and genetics also made me taller and more filled out, my curves clearly coming from my beautiful mother. It was the small differences in our looks and personalties that made us completely different and made people look at us differently. She was the innocent girl that all the guys wanted because she was cute and kind. I was the ice queen that boys stared at but were intimidated by, and most of the girls secretly hated.

I put on a smile, nothing major but it was a honest one, not like the fake smile I put on for the other people that called themselves my friends, "Kanako-chan, good evening."

She stopped by my side, beaming with admiration, then put on her usual perplexed look when I turned and started walking again without saying anything, the smile leaving my face. The friendly underclassman quickly fell into step behind me, as usual pushing to get me to open up more, "Is that all you have to say, Senpai? Aren't you happy you got promoted to Hero Silver? It means you are one of the best duelists in the entire school." (A/N: Minor spoiler there, Hero Silver is a new school rank founded as a tribute to Jaden Yuki)

"I don't need a special accent on my normal blue jacket and a different color skirt to tell me that."

"Of course not, but still. It's a big honor."

I rolled my eyes, "Pff. What do honors matter in the long run?"

"As usual, you sound just like Kai-sensei."

I turned and glared briefly at her before proceeding down the hall.

She tensed up a little, but kept in step, "Oh sorry, I forgot you and he don't get along very well."

Turning at a bend in the hall and heading towards the duel field I tried to block out the annoyed thoughts running around in my mind. Kanako-chan was a good kid, but she had a tenancy to push my buttons sometimes. A dark part of me wanted to do something terrible and drive her away, but another part of me liked that she was honestly and truly trying to be my friend. It was a rare thing these past few years. Most people either just called themselves my friends to have an influential connection or outright hated me.

Kanako misinterpreted my silence, "Are you okay? I really am sorry."

Looking back, the second year student had an adorable, ashamed look on her face. She was so cute when she was upset with herself that I had to grin, "It's fine, Kanako-chan. I was just thinking about things."

"Oh, nothing bad I hope."

I rolled my eyes, "Geez, stop caring so much already. Just mentioning that geezer won't make me hate you any more than I already do."

She smiled, "Oh, I'm glad."

I had to raise an eyebrow at that. She saw right threw me sometimes, totally ignoring the fact that I'd somewhat said I hated her. Like she knew it wasn't true. The girl was too kind for her own good. She just couldn't leave me alone because she knew I was lonely. One day, someone was going to take advantage of that weakness. Maybe me, I didn't know for sure, "Well, now that I've kept you from crying again, can we stop wasting my time? I have to get ready for a duel."

The meek young girl tensed again, blushing and going a little wide-eyed with embarrassment, "Of course! I'm sorry! I'm making you late."

I turned, rolling my eyes, "Haven't I told you to stop apologizing so much?"

"Right! I'm sor-"

I sighed heavily and turned again, entering the duel field through the automatic doors. My opponent, a male member of Obelisk Blue ranking, was already waiting, so I stepped onto the dueling platform, glancing over to see if my parents were watching. They weren't. Of course they weren't they were teachers, they had things to do during this time. Part of me missed the times when I was younger and they made a point of being at all my duels, but that was years ago... when I was still happy, "Let's get this over with."

"Good luck, Mei-senpai!" Kanoko-chan shouted from the front row as she took a seat.

I fought to ignore her and activated my duel disk at the same time as my opponent. I couldn't afford happiness over something so small. Happiness would distract me. My opponent didn't look very challenging, even the once elite Obelisk uniform held little meaning these days. He seemed too uncomfortable to think straight.

I found out why fairly quickly, "Mei-san! I'm Keigo Watanabe. I've always admired you! If I win and prove my strength, will you go out with me?"

I grinned sadistically, "Sure. But if I win... you have to strip down to your boxers and go confess to Ms. Maria."

He froze up, "What? That-"

"What? You chickening out? I can't date a coward."

Keigo swallowed hard, gathering his courage, "Alright. I agree."

"I'll never forgive you if you back out." I smiled, putting on a fake cute look with a deliberate twisted bent to it. Most of the audience tensed and recoiled in terror. I could hear whispers of 'Oh my god! She's so mean!' and less nice but similar remarks with words in them that rhyme with hitch.

"DUEL!"

Mei: 8000, Keigo: 8000

"Ladies first!" I declared and we both drew our starting five cards. I then drew one more, "Show me your passion for me sweetie... if you can. I summon Harbinger – Life!" as I laid the card onto my duel disk, a hologram of a tall and beautiful female angel appeared on the field. Her golden wings were decorated with topazes and she wore a stunning necklace of leaves, from which dew dripped into the silver goblet she was holding, I followed the summon with a spell, causing a bow to appear in her free hand, "I activate the equip spell Silver Bow and Arrow, which raises her attack and defense to 1100/1100." The angel looked thankful and turned to offer me a drink from her glass, "Doing this activates her effect. You see, whenever I equip a monster on my side of the field I can gain life points equal to Harbinger – Life's defense." Taking a drink from the cup, my life points increased by 1100.

Mei: 9100, Keigo: 8000

Giving back the goblet, I continued, "I'll end with this face down card."

Keigo seemed a little struck by the scene, but quickly snapped out of it and went to work, "My draw. I'll summon Gil Garth in attack mode." the faceless fiend with a wicked blade took to the field with 1800 attack points." I attack your Harbinger – Life!"

As it was cleaved in two by the wicked blade, Life cried out in pain and shattered. I tilted my head back and chuckled softly as the holographic shards showered me and I took damage. Breathing deeply I gazed at my opponent with a slightly drunk look on my face, "That all you got love? That's nothing! I need more if you think you're going out with me. I need to know you can satisfy me."

Keigo swallowed hard, barely hearing the warnings from his friends in the crowd, "Don't fall for her mind games, Kei! That was a solid move!"

I laughed, "I'm not even back down to 8000!"

Mei: 8400, Keigo: 8000

My opponent laid a face down on the field, then activated a spell, "I activate the continuous spell card Heart of the Underdog. During my draw phase, if I draw a normal monster I can reveal it to draw another card. Turn end."

I giggled like a psychotic little girl, "My draw then! Go me!" I didn't need to look long at my hand, "I'll set a monster and then another pwetty wittle face down card! Turn end!"

My foe drew, but I cut him off, "Hey, Darrr-liiing! If you can deal damage to me this turn I promise to let you get to second base, win OR lose! Don't disappoint me 'kay?"

I had him unsettled, unsure of what to feel. I could tell the normal intimation had turned to fear, but also that it kinda turned him on. I loved that look on his face. It was like he wasn't sure whether to run away screaming or get a boner, "I-I reveal the Alien Shocktrooper I just drew to draw another card. Now, I'll use Common Charity! I can draw two cards but then I have to remove a normal monster in my hand from the game. I send away my Dragon Dwelling in a Cave. Now... I'll summon Alien Shocktrooper." A grotesque centaur-like alien came to the field with 1900 attack. He was clearly playing a normal monster deck that utilized brute force. "I'll attack your set monster with... Gil Garth!"

The people in the stands shouted protests, declaring him to be an idiot. I proved them right. "You attacked my Harbinger – Flame!" the monster flipped over revealing an angel wrapped in wings of fire. His proud and powerful frame made his piercing gaze all the more menacing, his defense was already 2000, "I activate my facedown! Quick Draw! Thanks to this I can activate an equip spell from my hand. I give Flame my Sanctuary Shield!" Flame unfurled his wings and grabbed the shield of granite in time to slam it into the attacking Gil Garth and destroy the fiend.

Keigo yelped.

Mei: 8400, Keigo: 7000

"What?" He protested, "That shield only raised Flame's defense points by 300! Why is Gil Garth gone? Why did I take 1000 damage?"

I shook my heard, "You're so silly, Pumpkin! When my Harbinger – Flame is equipped any damage you take when attacking him is doubled! That cute little explosion was just the little ol' effect of my Sanctuary Shield, which destroys your monster if it slams into defense higher than its own attack. How can you say you like me if you know nothing about me? I use this combo a lot. Did you even know my deck was full of monsters that get extra effects when equipped?"

Keigo froze up, not only because he realized I was right, but because he couldn't attack with his other monster. Then, out of nowhere, he became angry all of a sudden, "So this whole thing was just toying with me? You don't even intend to go out with me? You're sick!"

"No, I fully intend to keep my end of the bargain if you win. The problem is this you've yet to show me you can beat me. I can't go out with someone with so little resolve." I put on a cute face and spoke in my cutest voice, "Keigo-kun! Hurry up and win. I want to be a normal girl again. I want someone to love me and hold me and make me forget all the bad memories. Can't you win? Can't you be strong for me, Keigo-kun?"

The poor guy didn't know what to think, "You're toying with me! I'll show you!" holding out a spell card he made a dumb move in anger, "I activate Mystical Space Typhoon and destroy your Sanctuary Shield!"

Harbinger – Flame's defense went back down to 2000, but Keigo's only monster still couldn't attack through it, I cocked my head, "What'd that achieve, Keigo-kun?"

"Shut up! You're driving me insane!"

"Is that the end of your turn, Keiiigo-kun?" I said, stretching out his name.

He grumbled in annoyance, "Turn end!"

"My draw!" I said in an excited tone, "Look! I got another monster! YAY!" I thrust the card into the air happily, continuing the charade of uncharacteristic cuteness, "I summon Harbinger – Messenger!" a scrappy-looking cherub with a mailbag appeared, "Too bad, you don't get to see his effect today! Because I'm gonna synchro summon!"

Keigo stepped back, "Oh, crap. That's a tuner?"

"Yep! So I tune my level 3 Harbinger – Messenger to my level 4 Harbinger – Flame!" the two monsters flew into the air and broke into the standard points of light and rings, I chanted the summon chant in the same cute voice, making the depraved words even more chilling, "Fires of agony, ignite and torment him with suffering! Become the visage of sorrow! Synchro Summon! Burn away hope! Harbinger – Pestilence!" A grim angel clad in the vestments of a ruler appeared carrying a bow, as he came down a card came out of my deck. One that I immediately put into play, a pure white horse that the angel landed astride, "When I synchro summon Harbinger – Pestilence I may special summon Ivory Steed from my hand or deck. Since Ivory Steed is a union monster, I equip him to Pestilence! Now that he's equipped Pestilence has an effect, I pick a random card in your hand, the leftmost, and you must reveal it!"

Keigo held up the card, "It's Dunames Dark Witch."

"Oh too bad. It shares a type with Pestilence! It goes to the grave and you take 500 damage!"

Pestilence fired an arrow that cut through the card and into Keigo's shoulder. The duelist flinched, "Gah!"

"Next, Pestilence attacks your Alien Shocktrooper!"

Mei: 8400, Keigo: 6400

Someone in the audience cried out, "Come on, Keigo! Don't let her get to you! It's weak, that thing only has 2000 attack points!"

I had to laugh at that, hey were forgetting I still had a face down I hadn't used. "Turn end!"

Keigo drew, "It's Curse of Dragon! By revealing it Heart of the Underdog lets me draw one more card." he did so, "It's Cosmo Queen!" My vision focused on that card, following it as he added it to his hand and drew again thanks to the same card effect. He apparently didn't draw another normal monster, since he didn't reveal it and draw again. "I activate Cost Down! All monsters in my hand lose 2 levels, so I can normal summon Curse of Dragon with no tribute. It's got 2000 attack, so you can't get through! Turn end."

Suddenly I was bored, dropping the mind games, as I drew a card, "Oh come on! I was just starting to have fun! Is that really all you can do?" I rolled my eyes, "Well I activate the effect of Pestilence, reveal the card on the right!" I picked the one I'd watched him add to his hand before. I knew the card I was 'randomly' picking.

"Ha! It's Cosmo Queen! A spellcaster, not a fairy!" Keigo was happy until Pestilence shot an arrow that pierced the card and struck Keigo. Dumbstruck that is. The Obelisk couldn't believe it as he took 500 and lost the card, "What? But it's not a fairy!"

I didn't change from my bored expression, "All four Harbinger synchro monsters have two types. Didn't I say 'shares a type'? That phrasing would indicate it has more than one. Pestilence is also a spellcaster."

"You bitch!"

On the sidelines, Kanako-chan spoke up for me, "Watch your mouth! Senpai is a great duelist! Just because you can't understand her behavior doesn't make her a bitch! Someone like you doesn't deserve Senpai! Neither as a date nor a dueling opponent!"

"Calm down you idiot. I'll let my cards speak for me." I put the card I had drawn into play, "I summon Harbinger – Chariot." a battle-ready angel appeared riding in a chariot that had no visible means of locomotion, a familiar bow appearing in his hand and raising his attack and defense to 1900/1800, "When Chariot is summoned, I can equip an equip card in the graveyard or removed from play to him. I picked Silver Bow and Arrow, boosting his attack and defense by 300. Turn end."

Keigo scoffed at the move, "What good does that do? It's weak!"

I smiled at him, "Oh I was just playing around before. I really do want you to win."

He grumbled, rightfully not believing me, and drew a card, "I'll attack your Chariot with Curse of Dragon!"

"Aw, too bad! I activate the trap card Covering Fire! With this, one of my other monsters helps out in the battle, lending its full attack points. So you actually face 3900 attack."

Keigo's jaw nearly hit the floor when his monster was ganged up on and destroyed.

Mei: 8400, Keigo: 4500

"One face down and turn end." The poor guy looked crestfallen, but I could tell he was faking, trying to play me for a fool. That face down was dangerous.

"My draw!" I drew a card and smiled, "Time to see Chariot's really handy effect. I unequip Ivory Steed from Pestilence, then tribute Ivory Steed and Chariot to summon Harbinger – Prosecution! Whenever tributed to summon a Harbinger, Chariot gives all his equipment to that monster!" A towering angel in the robes of a judge appeared holding the Silver Bow and Arrow. For a level 7 monster he was actually pretty weak in attack power, much like Pestilence, Even with the boost he only had 2500 attack, which just so happened to be the perfect amount. "Time to be judged, Keigo, Whenever Prosecution is equipped with an equip card, I can destroy one card on the field. I chose your face down card!"

Keigo went white, "What?!? NO!"

The set Mirror Force was destroyed, leaving the duelist with no defense. I showed no mercy, "Pestilence! Prosecution! Finish this!"

Mei: 8400, Keigo: 0

Keigo collapsed, so I deactivated my disk and walked over, looking down on him, "Oh come on, I never got below 8000 life points. Is that really all you can do? You barely touched me! And that's as close as you'll get to any kind of touching me. Now strip!"

He looked up, forgetting the bet, "Huh?"

"You lost the bet. Now strip!"

"You were serious? I can't do that! Ms. Maria teaches the middle schoolers!" he looked down in shame, "Those little brats are cruel!"

Becca Chalmers, a blonde cheerleader wannabe that called herself my friend (one of those 'for the benefits' types), came over to join in the mocking, "Aw, come on Keigo, you lost so pay up!"

People in the crowd started laughing at the guy, it bugged me. I'd wanted to humiliate the guy for bothering me with that love confession, but seeing it happening was different. In the end I may have acted mean, but I couldn't follow through, "Oh forget it. It's not worth my time."

I walked towards the door, several people falling in step behind me, complimenting me on my ability to play mind games. They were just clingers, not really my friends. I smiled when I was supposed to but they were all hollow smiles, as hollow as theirs. They were only nice to me because my mother was the Chancellor of the school. It seemed like no matter how weird or bitchy I acted, they wouldn't go away. Aside from Kanako-chan, I hadn't had any real friends in years.

I excused myself and headed home. It wasn't the end of the school day yet, but I didn't care. Mom would give me an earful, but she'd get over it. Dad... well Dad had more of a hands-off approach to parenting. He'd sit down with me and talk about it, get my reasons for it, tell me if he thought I was wrong, and forgive me. I'm pretty sure he was stricter before, but when I turned 12 he let me pretty much do what I wanted and tried to be more of an adviser. It may seem weird, but I was a pretty level-headed 12 year old. Supposedly I get it from him.

Regardless, none of that mattered to me as I marched off campus to the house next door. I was too busy with my hate. I hated it all. My parents, my school, my so-called friends, my enemies. I even hated Kanako-chan to an extent. I hated everything about my life. The feeling had not always been there, but one person can only take so much. Unlocking my front door and slamming it shut behind me I stormed up the stairs to my room, my haven. It was the one place I could go and not think about anything I didn't want to. When I got there I looked my door against intrusion and plopped down on my bed. There I was content to stare at my posters of Jack Atlas, listen to my collections of Jack Atlas audio books (Jack Atlas reading "The Old Man and the Sea" was my favorite), and hug my Jack Atlas huggy pillow. (Did I mention I was a Jack Atlas fangirl at the time?)

And I did just that... trying my best to drive my thoughts away from the event that had plagued me for years, the one turning point that had soured my entire life. But I couldn't. The tears still came as I failed to overcome my feelings of loneliness. I ended up pulling the locket I wore close to my heart from under my shirt and opening it, looking at the one picture I had kept of my last true friend. The picture had been taken when we went to a fair that was in town. I was a completely different person then. I was grinning so much in that picture I was surprised the top of my head didn't fall off. She was in the picture with me, the red haired girl I had tried to banish from memory, and the person I cared for more than myself. The thought of him not being around anymore made me tear up, "Koyou. I miss you so much."

Koyou's Perspective

I woke up with a sneeze, soon after seeing Blitz at my bedside. Well sleeping bag side if you want to be specific. They didn't have a bed in the subway, which they had apparently carried me back to. My head still hurt, but it was more of a stiff feeling than a pain.

Blitz tried to lighten the mood, "Ah, you sneezed only once, maybe someone's thinking about you?"

"Maybe." I sat up and rubbed my head, "Where's everyone else?"

Rally popped into the tent, "Here I am! We were taking shifts at your bedside. Why didn't you wake up a bit earlier during my watch?"

I ignored Rally's childlike sense of what was important, "What happened?"

Blitz shrugged, "We were hoping you could tell us. You just collapsed all of a sudden. You've been out for twelve hours straight."

"I think I was trying to remember something, but I don't know what." I sighed. There was something on the edge of my recollection. Something red, something important. It wasn't the same color as the man's hair... what was the connection? I had dots but no lines to connect them and form a picture. "Did you guys see a red-haired guy in a trenchcoat at the race?"

"Should I have been looking for one?"

I shook my head, "Never mind." I shook it off for the time being, and was about to ask where Yusei was, but the man in question stepped into the tent with a mixed expression.

He was happy I was up, but bore bad news, "Good, you're up. I've got some bad news. Danny wheeled in your runner, and everything seemed fine, but after he left I thought I'd tune it up for you."

"Let me guess, he took out everything."

Rally got over his elation at my waking and became angry, "Every single part I sold him he took out. Stubborn jerk."

Yusei dismissed the remark, "I had a spare engine. It's old but it works, so I put that in to replace the stolen one. You'll still need a CPU, which I don't have."

Blitz sighed, "If only we had the right tools, Koyou could fix the broken one, then he could go with you Yusei."

The junk wielder shook his head, "Even if he had a working runner, only one person can get through the pipeline at a time and it's a one shot thing. The next chance won't be for another week."

That was when it occurred to me, "Yusei, I was out 12 hours, isn't that one chance for the week today?"

He nodded.

"I get the feeling you were going to wait."

"I still am."

I shook my head, "Man, I'm fine. Well, fine enough for these guys to handle it. You don't need to stay. I'd hate myself if I held you back. You've been planning this for years right?"

He nodded, and I could tell he was about to cast aside those plans for a friend, but I glared at him.

"I'll never forgive you if you don't go through with your plans."

The man sighed, "Fine. I'll do it. But I swear I'll keep our promise. When you reach the city, we'll meet again."

I stood up and shook my friend's hand, "I know, dummy. Now go get your darn bike ready."

Yusei tried to smile for me, but I could tell he was worried about me. I tried my best to alleviate those concerns by helping him with his bike until the time came. Hours later, we all saw him off. None of us had any idea of what kind of adventure that simple trip to the city would start.

Next Chapter: Invitational

In the next chapter, Koyou discovers another way to get into the city and strives to get his duel runner ready for a surprise tournament. The winner gets an invite to the grand stage. That's right. A one way trip to the city for a chance to participate in the Fortune Cup. The next update will probably not be up as fast as this one, so don't expect it this soon.