A/N: Oops, continuity issues cropped up. Due to the long time between writing chapters 6 and 7 I forgot chapter 6 said (many times) that round 2 was the next day. That will be revised eventually to fit with the time-frame said in chapter 7. I noticed the error in the chapter 7 duel as well, and I will fix that at some point as well. Also I'll be starting work on a spin-off story soon, that serves as a prequel to this story and a bridge between it and my related GX fic. Posting of it will start around the same time as the final round of the invitational tournament is up (in 2-4 chapters, no promises as to when exactly it will be though).

Episode 8: "Round Two: Angelic Acceleration" (Alternate Title: "One Mei Dominate")

"Freshly recruited in to the prestigious Hero Silver rank at the Neo Domino City Duel Academy, the marvelous Mei faces off against a familiar face: Natasha, a career cheerleader seeking to make her own mark in dueling. It's the Ice Queen versus the Firecracker in the first round of the Neo Domino Invitational." The announcer was really pumped up for some reason, as usual he really seemed to enjoy his job, "It's time to duel ladies and gentlemen let's see what these two lovely ladies can do!"

This duel was in the past tense. I was just reviewing the replay of my first round duel even though it was useless. I had a nasty habit of dwelling on the past. Regardless, there was as little harm in it as there was use, so I leaned back in the comfort of one of the school's audio/visual rooms and watched myself take the first turn.

Mei: 8000, vs Natasha: 8000

"My draw. I activate the continuous spell card 'Valhalla, Hall of the Fallen'. Once per turn if I control no monsters I may special summon a fairy type monster from my hand. So I'll lead with my Vairon Vanguard!" A legless mechanical angel that was mostly arms appeared, joined soon after by a golden mechanical cube, "I'll follow with Vairon Cube. Watch and learn precious. I tune my level three Vairon Cube to my level four Vairon Vanguard." the cube split apart and Vanguard floated into the space between the sections, the cube connecting with it and both monsters turning into the usual rings and stars, "Heart of iron, weeding out the wrong. Shield of steel, reinforcing the righteous! Synchro summon! Hold your ground, Vairon DELTA!"

A new angel resembling Vanguard formed, it's wings were huge and sturdy, slamming shut like the pearly gates as it was summoned in defense mode with a sizable 2800 defense. "On that note I end by setting this card." Suddenly a card pooped out of my deck and I added it to my hand, "When Delta is on my field in defense mode, during the end phase I can bring an equip from my deck to my hand. I choose Black Pendant."

The announcer was loving it, "Oh! A powerful protective synchro on the very first turn! Natasha may be hard pressed to get past this wall!"

Natie drew, "Ha! Amateur! I cast Lighting Vortex by discarding one card. Your Delta is dealt with!"

"Trap card: My Body as a Shield. I pay 1500 life to negate the destruction."

The bouncy red-head sighed, "Oh well, you still took damage, so I'll just summon my Vorse Raider and end my turn with a little card face down."

Mei: 6500 vs Natasha: 8000

I drew, "I end my turn with a face down, adding another Black Pendant to my hand."

"That's no fun! Why won't you play with me?" Natasha pouted. The crowd seemed to agree with her, berating me for doing nothing. "I can't get by that big bad monster so I'm gonna bring out Legendary Fiend. He only has 1500 attack now, but he gets 700 attack during my standby, so you can't hide for long!"

I drew, "You bore me. I end my turn and add Axe of Despair to my hand."

The crowd was quickly growing restless, "Come on you stupid girl DO SOMETHING!"

Natasha chuckled and drew, "Legendary Fiend now had 2200 attack, so in few turns you're gonna get it! For now I bring out Archfiend Soldier!"

Lots of high attack monsters... oh well, "I guess I'll destroy you now."

The girl froze, "Wait, what? You're attacking now?"

"Now I summon Sunny Pixie. Now I tune my level 1 Sunny Pixie to my level 7 Vairon Delta. Judgment rains down in a flash of power, smiting the unworthy with divine wrath! Synchro summon! Prosecute, Vairon EPSILON!" Another legless winged mech replaced my shield. Instead of 2800 defense, the bulky armed angel had 2800 attack. "Sunny Pixie raises my life points by 1000 if I use her to summon a light monster!"

Mei: 7500 vs Natasha: 8000

"Now I equip two Black Pendants, the Axe of Despair that I drew, and the Twin Swords of Flashing Light – Tryce I had in my hand already. This adds up to 4300 attack and with the effect of the Twin Swords I'm able to attack you twice."

"All that was just to get all those equips on your real monster?"

I ignored her, "I use Epsilon's effect, sending Black Pendant #1 to the grave to destroy Legendary Fiend. Epsilon loses the 500 attack, but Black Pendant's effect deals 500 damage to you."

"Gah!"

"I attack Vorse Raider with Vairon Epsilon. Dominance Purge!" My monster extended a hand and fired a blast of energy from the palm, blowing the monster away, "Now I attack Archfiend Soldier!"

The poor girl was wracked by a second blast, "Eek!"

Mei: 6500 vs Natasha: 4200

"Next turn, no matter what you summon, I can kill it and get at your life."

"Oh my god! A sudden tactics change leads to a devastating blow! What was once unshakable defense is now overwhelm-"

I flicked off the recording. She hadn't drawn any attack negating traps or destruction spells on her next turn, so my next turn was her last. I wasn't too shocked personally that I'd dominated the first round, it was the round all the weak ones got taken out of the running. It would be better next time. At least that's what I'd told myself. The next round was that evening and would be a turbo duel, arena rules. Speed World could either make or break me depending on my draw. All I needed to draw was synchro material and protection though. After that there was no problem. I wasn't going to let and environment that prohibited a third of my deck from use bother me. I wouldn't lose. I refused to lose to the early round rabble. Only the King was worthy enough to take me.

My mind wandered to thoughts of Jack Atlas taking me in another way, but I quickly shook them out of my head and focused on the task at hand, fanning out my deck on the coffee table in front of me. I then retrieved my side deck, a 15 card stockpile of cards for making minor tweaks to a deck quickly, from another part of my deck box. Some equip spells were taken out, and the number of traps that became equips were increased. Sure, I had a trump card that could deal with Speed World, but I wasn't going to take any added risks if I didn't have to. I needed to get that trump on the field first, so I needed something to hold me until then. I also replaced my continuous spells like Valhalla, since I couldn't use them at all in a turbo duel, which meant I needed a replacement in function for that card. I already had one in the form of Summon Speeder, a non-continuous speed spell that could special summon level 4 or lower monsters from the hand, but kept them from attacking that turn. It couldn't spec summon big monsters, but it filled the speed synchro part well enough.

The doors slid open and I quickly put my deck back together. In walked Satoshi Wataru, grinning like the arrogant ass that he was. To this day I'm not entirely sure how he tracked me down, but the tall, lanky man seemed to think he looked dashing in what ever he wore (even the ludicrous golden riding suit he was sporting at the time). He tried to be covert as he locked the door behind him, but I had already known he was going to do that the moment I saw him. The guy had an annoying habit. One that I hadn't managed to break in the years that I'd known him.

Wataru slid, actually it was more like a slither, into the space next to me on the couch, a hand reaching for the deck I hadn't quite gotten hidden yet, "Oo, a chance to peek at a Hero Silver deck. You expect me to pass this by."

I managed to get it away from him and back into my box, "You're the same rank, if you want to peek at one look at yours."

"I've seen that already."

"Yeah, but looking at that isn't cheating. You were lucky enough to get me as your opponent in the next round remember? Or was that another benefit of being Heitmann's golden boy?"

"You wound me."

I wish.

"Come on. Show me yours and I'll show you mine." one of his arms wrapped around me.

"No thanks."

His other hand went to my knee and started sliding up, "Well, maybe I could take a look at something else for you?"

"You better be careful. Rumor has it I bite."

His hand wandered underneath my skirt, "I like it rough."

Suppressing several malicious urges – including an elaborate one that involved ambushing him once he dropped his guard, beating him senseless, and hurting myself to frame him for attempted rape – I instead merely pulled out the stun gun I'd recently invested in just for him and that other guy in Class 4. He backed off, visibly angry, but in the long run, Wataru should have been thankful. As nice and loveable as my parents both appeared (and genuinely were), if I'd framed him he would have never gotten the chance to prove his innocence. For every bit as nice as my family members were, they were equally wrathful when provoked. To be honest, the only reason I didn't destroy his life with that ploy is because it would have made one or both of my parents end it. As much as I hated them, Wataru wasn't worth destroy their lives too.

Don't look at me like that. It's not like Wataru didn't deserve it. You don't know him like I do. It wasn't the first time he'd made a move or the furthest he'd he'd ever tried to go. Let's forget about stuff like that and move onto more pleasant things.

There was a knocking on the door as Wataru and I were staring each other down. I was probably a bit lucky there, as I could tell he was thinking about trying to get the weapon away from me. He dare not do anything with someone just outside, even if it was only Kanako-chan, "Mei-senpai! Are you in there? The librarian said you were watching your first duel. Can I watch it with you?"

Wataru stood and unlocked the door, storming past her with nothing but a glare. Kanako returned one of her own before turning to me and coming to my side. I made sure to hide the stun gun so she wouldn't know I'd nearly need to use it. She was worried enough, "Senpai, are you okay? Did Wataru get fresh with you again?"

"It's nothing?"

"You should tell your parents! They would kick him out!"

"They'd do something involving kicking alright." I retorted.

Kanako sighed, "Geez, you're far too kind, senpai."

I looked at my underclassman with a raised eyebrow. She'd met me well after I'd become the "Ice Queen", and I had given her no reason to think anything my negative things about me. I was rarely ever nice to her aside from sharing Jack Atlas collectables, yet she saw me in such a positive light. No, looking at her cute little face it was clear that she worshiped the ground I walked on and everything further up. Kanako saw an idealized version of the truth. At least that's what I told myself, even though in truth she was seeing the me I'd forsaken. The dark me she saw through was looking at her then, listening to the friendly chatter that was coming out of her mouth, and wanted to take advantage. In my sorrow I wanted to destroy her innocence, devour her. I wanted to shatter her and her image of me. I was no better than Wataru really. I was a deviant, a predator.

"So, are you watching your duel or not? It was short so maybe you already watched it."

I nodded, trying unsuccessfully to swallow my dark impulses.

She pouted, "Aww. I wanted to see it again. You're duels are always so amazing."

I stood suddenly, swallowing hard again, "T-ten watch it. I'm not stopping you."

I walked past her and out the door, resisting the urge to lock it as Wataru had done and the urge to prey upon the innocent freshman. Not understanding the situation, Kanako watched me leave with a concerned look. I cared, but that's why I was leaving. That's why I cut afternoon classes again and went home to cry. I hated myself more than I hated everything else. I found myself wishing Wataru would follow me like you see in movies and try something. At least that way I would have someone to hurt.

Later that evening...

The clamor in the arena wasn't deafening, but there was enough noises from the runner garages and the crowd to conceal any individual voices I might have heard in the stands. I was pretty sure Kanako-chan had came to watch my duel, and I pretended I didn't wonder if my parents were watching or not. My mom probably wasn't there thanks to her job as chancellor, but she'd watch it on live TV I was certain. Dad was hard to predict, he could just as easily be somewhere in the crowd as he could be of working and waiting for a free moment to watch the recording later. There was no telling.

I walked into the pits and eyed my runner. It was a blue, sporty model that seemed a bit masculine for me. Cutting edge (two years ago) and immaculately cared for it boasted above average mods and options for acceleration and maneuverability, the only two things that counted in closed circuit duels. There was no goal to beat my opponent to, so only hitting that first corner mattered. It was an insight Koyou had put into the runner years ago and it hadn't failed either of us.

I stroked the name painted on the side, "Dual Angel". A play on "duel" and a combined salute to the archetypes we used, Gemini (A/N: known as "dual monsters' in Japan) and my Vairon angels. My hand slid over the frame and onto the leather seat, over it and to the rear seat just behind it. Dwelling on the memories, I sat there in that second seat. I thought about how I used to ride on that seat when Koyou took laps around the course or took me places.

"You should have a frillier riding suit. Maybe conceal those curves a bit." a voice said from behind me. I turned to see my dad leaning on the loading bay door.

"You're too overprotective, Professor Kou." I said, spitefully not calling him my father. I glanced down at the plain black and white, skin-tight suit I was wearing. It didn't match my runner, because the runner wasn't mine.

He frowned, running a hand through his thinning, fading blonde hair, "I'm your father, I have that privilege. By the way, your mother managed to manipulate her schedule enough to be here. We could make you first round, but thanks to that we can both be here today."

"That's nice."

He forced a smile, "We'll even have time for a celebratory night out afterward."

I moved the the front seat of the runner so I could drive it and then put on my helmet, "We can celebrate when I win the whole thing. Why don't you use that extra time to make sure you're there for that?"

Dad was about to say something when the announcer started blaring over the speakers, "Wellllcooome ladieeees and gentlemen to the second round of the Neo Domino Invitational! Today we have Speed World in full effect! Two dominating duelists from Duel Academy's elite have come to show us even more of what they have learned! First up: the Golden Boy Satoshi Wataru!"

The door of my area started opening as Wataru rode from his own pit onto the starting line. Dad stood up straight and smile at me, "Good luck, Mei."

I just turned to face forward as the announcer started announcing me. I revved up my engine and accelerated out as he spoke, "Next: the Ice Queen Mei Kou!"

I was quickly at the starting line and Wataru started trash talking. I ignored him and his gaudy golden runner. All that mattered was that starting signal. I retrieved a spell from a special place on my runner as Wataru did the same, "Speed World, set!"

Spheres of purple came out from our runners and changed the course the same color. When the signal finally went green I shot off the start like a bolt of lightning, taking the first turn easily.

Mei: 4000, vs Wataru: 4000

Speed Counters: 1 – 1

I drew at the start of my turn, "I'll lead off conservatively with a set monster and a face down card. Make your move."

"Ha!" Wataru mocked as he drew a card, (Speed Counters: 2) "How boring! I like duels how I like my women, hot and rough! I summon Axe Dragonute, who's going right after you set monster!"

The immense axe of the draconic warrior came down hard on my monster, as I'd planned, "You destroyed my Shining Angel. His effect triggers, bringing a light monster with 1500 or less attack from my deck to the field in attack mode. I summon Vairon Cube!" The cube-like mechanical tuner appeared in a flash of Shining Angel's feathers.

The announcer loved it, "Ooooh! A defensive start leads to an early synchro summon! Mei pedigree is shining like her slain angel!"

"Humph. Axe Dragonute's effect changes him to defense mode either way, so I'm safe from your synchro's attacks. I set two cards and end my turn!"

I drew (Speed Counters: 3)

Wataru mocked, "I can't belief you brought that deck of yours into Speed World! There are no Speed Equip Spells and Vairon rely on equips! You can't beat me without them!"

I ignored him, "I summon Vairon Soldier. Now, I tune my level three Vairon Cube with my level four Vairon Soldier!" The cube and the legless robotic angel on my field started to combine, "Forgemaster of the heavens fulfill my orders! Strike down the unworthy with a reign of steel! Synchro Summon! Slice 'em up, Vairon SIGMA!" Large mechanical wings on a robotic body resemlbing the Greek letter, arms surrounded by rings that crackled with lighting. His 1800 attack concealed his true power. The power to break the rules.

Again Wataru laughed, "Ha! I can normal summon stronger than that! In fact I already did."

Again I ignored him, "Sigma attacks your Dragonute, activating his effect! When Sigma attacks and is the only monster I control, I can equip him with an equip spell card from my deck!"

"But you can't activate equip spells in Speed World!"

I grinned, "I'm not activating a spell, I'm activating a monster effect! Speed World doesn't affect it! I equip Axe of Despair!" Sigma absorbed the axe from my deck, "Go! Sigma Shocker!"

Both arms of my angel were extended forward and launched a storm of electricity from their many rings, but Wataru had a trap, "I activate Waboku! This turn I take no battle damage and you cannot destroy my monsters in battle!"

A shield of energy appeared around the dragon warrior, protecting it from my strike, "I'll end with another face down card. Turn end."

"My draw!" (Speed Counters: 4), " I remove my four speed counters to activate Speed Spell – Angel Baton. I draw two cards, then discard one." he did so, "Take a look! I discarded The Fabled Cerberrel, so his effect summons him the field!" a multi-headed puppy appeared on the field.

I rolled my eyes, "Got anything original? You stole that move from my dad."

"He shouldn't have taught it to us if he didn't want us using it." the arrogant silver duelist extended a hand, "Here's something he doesn't do. Trap card DNA Surgery! Every monster on the field is treated as dragon-type!"

I looked over my shoulder at him, "Crap, you're going to..."

"Yep! I set a card then summon Lancer Dragonute. I'm tuning my level 2 DRAGON-type The Fabled Cerberrel with my level 4 Axe and Lancer Dragunute! Awaken, tyrant of all that lays before you! Rule over all with infinite flames! Synchro Summon! Trident Dragion!" An overwhelmingly huge, red, three-headed dragon was summoned in a shower of flame, flames that destroyed Wataru's DNA Surgery and set card. "Trident Dragion's effect activates! When I summon him I can destroy uo two other cards I control, if I do he gains an extra attack for each one. Sine he's got 3000 attack, and your Sigma only has 2800, this is more than over!"

The announcer freaked out, "Amazing play after amazing play! These two elites have yet to even graduate their academy yet are capable of such play! Truly they are worthy of being called the cream of their crop! But will it end here, with this terribly powerful trinity of strikes?"

"I attack Sigma with Dragion!"

I calmly triggered my trap, "You should be used to me saying this by now, but 'No Entry!' You're attacking monster is switched to defense mode."

"Dangit! With that you can... Dangit!" he growled, "Turn end!"

"It's my draw now precious." (Speed Counters: 5-1), "I attack with Sigma! Since he's my only monster I equip Big Bang Shot from my deck, boosting its attack to 3300 and letting him pierce your defense!"

The electrical attack tore through his high synchro monster and shattered it on the way to his life points. "GAH!"

Mei: 4000, vs Wataru: 3500

The audience was on their feet, but I didn't care. I was too busy being totally off my rocker, smiling sadistically back at my foe, "You brag too much, you try to show off around me too much! I know your deck you idiot! Just like I thought, the predictably arrogant Satoshi Wataru didn't bother tweaking his strategy at all! You think you're so far above everyone? You're nothing! You don't even deserve to kneel at my feet! I end with a face down card."

"My draw!" Wataru drew, furiously, then flinched as he saw his draw, "I set a monster. Turn end." (Speed Counters: 6-2)

I drew (Speed Counters: 7-3), "I attack your set Golem Dragon with Sigma." It was easy to know the card. If it were anything else the attack would be higher than defense and setting it would be stupid. Wataru didn't exactly use flip effect monsters, Sure enough I called it right, "Since I only control Sigma, I can equip my Twin Swords of Flashing Light – Tryce! Sigma's attack goes back down to 2800, but he can strike twice!" the defending dragon shattered.

Mei: 4000, vs Wataru: 2700

"You've got no face downs and no monsters! THIS IS MORE THAN OVER! On my second attack I equip another Axe of Despair, boosting Sigma's attack to 3800! Feel the maximum pain!" I span my bike around a charged straight at him, hitting the turbo boosters on it for maximum speed, maximum impact, "SIGMA SHOCKER!"

The virtual solid tech magnified as much as I could magnify it, sent the bastard flying off his bike and tumbling across the ground, his bike falling over and spinning along its old trajectory, barely not flying over the protective barrier and into the crowd. I didn't care. I simply rode on, cackling like a lunatic carried away on the rush of violence, fully intending to run over Wataru, despite the repercussions, if he was still on the tracks when I made my way back around. I didn't even realize I was crying until I parked later.

Wataru was lucky for the second time that day, as he managed to get off the track before I attempted murder.

Next Chapter: A Sense of Dread

Set in Stone Preview: Koyou faces off against "Officer Dread" in the second round of the Satellite Cup.

Possible Events: Crow dueling some random guy, Semi-final match-ups announced.

(A/N: Yes, in case you haven't noticed yet, Mei is actually bi-sexual... and mentally unstable, not that the two are related or anything. Also it was kinda offhandedly revealed that Mei and Koyou are siblings, but more on that in future chapters, as well as why Koyou isn't there with them and why Mei hates her parents.)