Rise of the Kitsune Duelist
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh GX or Naruto.
Speaking Normally
Thinking/Duel Spirit talking
Demonic Voice
AN/ Crap! I'e had this on the computer for oer a week! But nooooooo, the site won't let me update. Found a way! For those curious, when opening the page, coming up with error message, in the url replace "property" with "content"!
Chapter 2, Flexing Muscles
"So, these are your comrades…" the young man murmured, flipping card after card.
…E. H. Avian…E.H. Sparkman…E. H. Burstinatrix…E. H. Bubbleman…E. H. Clayman. The most notable cards in Jaden's deck, not counting their fusion forms, and the favorite cousins to the ones in his own deck.
The reason he was talking to himself?
He wasn't.
"Indeed." Standing just behind him, glowing spectrally, was a translucent white figure highlighted by red and blue. The card that had attracted him into this world of games in the first place. The card that had stopped his hand those many months ago.
-Flashback-
"…"
His ears perked up. Had someone just called out to him? That was impossible, but still… Shaking his head he kept on walking.
"…"
There it was again, and this time he knew that he was being called. Stopping, he looked all around him, but saw no one around who was giving him their attention. Most were just walking by, though he did get the occasional glance from a girl or two.
Sometimes he wondered if it had been a curse. All of fifteen years in his world and nothing. Here and all of a sudden he's mister popular.
His eyes caught on something though. An old, yet well-kept hobby shop. It was like the ghostly voice was that of a siren. The door opened with the dull clanking of a cow bell as he pushed through it.
All around the small shop, shelves were stacked high with games and innumerable other boxed activities.
"…"
His wandering eyes locked in place, focusing on the paper box on a shelf on the side wall. Like most of the small boxes around it on the shelf, it held the small wrapped packs of the popular card game he'd heard about. Duel Monsters, was it? This particular box was full of a variety of packs, either older or less popular than the singled out ones still in their original boxes. Reaching into the mass of assorted packs, he shuffled through, taking vague passing glances at the covers. He stopped when he felt something…off…about one pack in particular.
"What?" he wondered.
"…"
Blue eyes widened. The…voice…felt like it was coming from within the pack of cards. Again, impossible. And confusing. Picking up the pack of cards, he gave it a scrutinizing once-over. It didn't seem different, or any more special than the others. So what was this feeling? Like a tingling down his spine…
"Can I help you?" Lifting his attention from the booster at the polite question, he met the good-natured gaze of a short, old man. He was dressed in faded overalls, a salmon colored button down, and a dark bandana covering grey, spiky hair.
Mind made up, he held up the pack. "Yes, sir. I'd like to get this."
Despite occasional, sporadic bouts of senility, the old man was still sharp. "Are you a duelist, by any chance?" he asked while ringing up the purchase.
"Nope. I don't even own any cards," he admitted. "Something inside just told me to get a pack." Okay, it was a partial lie, but, then again, he didn't feel like mentioning that he was hearing voices.
"So then are you just collecting, or might you learn to play the game?" the old man prodded amiably as the younger of the two opened the plastic wrapping. Pulling them out, he thumbed through each one. Their names, pictures, stats, etc.
They just seemed like ordinary bits of paper.
So what-
His hand tingled as it uncovered the next card, the sixth one in. Sensing a presence, he looked over his shoulder.
"Something wrong, sonny?"
He shook his head. "Nah. Just…thought I felt something," he excused. What was up with this card?
Leaning over the glass case, the old man peeked over to see the cards he'd gotten. A regular child that one. "Oh, hey! You got a good one!"
His brow rose in interest. "Really?"
There was an excited glow in the old man's eyes. "Oh yeah! See that? It's a variant, too!" pointing out portions of the depiction.
Solomon was old, not stupid. He had seen just enough of the world to know just how little anyone actually knew. Something had happened when the boy opened the pack of cards.
"On second thought, maybe I will get a few more packs," he mused aloud. The old man was fairly helpful, for the next hour explaining the ins and outs of dueling.
-Flashback End-
It hadn't been much longer when he'd met the spirit of the card. And now, it, he, stood behind him, looking over his shoulder. For the moment, the spirit's head barely cleared the ceiling. Almost entirely a dull white, it had a blocky, shape-driven design. Blue pauldrons adorned the tops of its shoulders. Another blue portion like a cap on its head, and a red gem covering where a sternum was in a human. It was kind of hard to describe in words.
Elemental Hero Terra Firma
The duel spirit had been attracted to his spiritual presence almost immediately upon his arrival into this world. Though more often than not, the earthly hero would say it was because of his heart, which only served to confuse him at times. At first, he'd been wary, and even skeptical, but, over time, he'd gotten used to them. He'd only ever really talked to Terra Firma. The others in the series were embodiments of nature, and while he did get…feelings from the cards at times, he had yet to believe that they were anchors for duel spirits like his Terra Firma card.
Maybe one day he'd meet the duel spirits for those cards.
It was an interesting idea.
"They are not as primal in their attachment to the elements, but they are all noble warriors," Terra Firma amended with a tone of respectful affection.
"Are they anchors?"
Terra Firma shook his head. "No, though I sense life in them, they are not duel spirits, but one day they might become so."
Stacking the cards back together, he set them aside. This had all stemmed from dueling Jaden. He could sense it in Jaden from a mile off. Not just in him, but in his cards. He, they, were special. And he was already fairly certain why.
What is loved…loves.
He loved to duel. Loved his cards. So much that the cards were becoming alive.
"Which just leaves the little furball," Naruto noted.
"Winged Kuriboh. Yes," Terra Firma agreed. It too knew the underlying meaning of a spirit choosing a partner. Like itself and Naruto, the winged monster must have seen something in Jaden.
It would not tell the blonde, not unless he needed to know, but, as for the reason Terra Firma had been drawn to him… The boy was a hero. He all but dressed the part. It radiated from his very soul, resonation bringing Terra Firma's attention.
"I got one word for you, Sarge. "Shower." Try using one. It actually gets you clean!" Syrus snapped angrily.
Hassleberry glared back down at the diminutive Slyfer Red. "Oh, yeah? Well, you talk in your sleep! And what's with the nightlight? Oh, and for your information…I showered last week."
"Well next time stand under the water!" Syrus countered.
Jaden shook his head before grinning back at his arguing buds. "Come on. You gotta chill out." Climbing off his chair, he stepped between them. "If we're all gonna be roommates you guys are gonna have to make some compromises. Now, I think we can settle all this with a group hug."
Hassleberry grumbled. "I don't do hugs."
"Because your stench scares everyone away!" Syrus snarked.
"There you have it, folks. The dweeb…in its natural habitat," Chazz narrated, catching their attention. Almost as one, the trio turned to the doorway, finally noticing Chazz and the camera he had trained on them.
Not seeming offended, Jaden stepped forward with the others. "Forget how to knock? And what's with the camera, Felini?"
Chazz looked down his nose at them. Big surprise there. "I'm pitching my life as a reality show. It's got a great premise." Turning to the side, losing himself to his thoughts, he rattled off his idea. "One talented young duelist…forced to live in a dorm of slackers. Talk about a ratings grabber. It's gonna make me a big star, heheh."
Syrus rolled his eyes. "With a big head!" he retorted, laughing with the others.
Naruto poked his head in before leaning against the door frame. Their voices tended to carry, not that the paper-thin walls didn't help, so he'd heard pretty much all of it. Okay, and maybe his hearing was better than humanly possible, but they didn't know that. "So then…it's fiction?" Chazz scowled.
But Jaden actually seemed to give the idea some thought. "You may be on to something here, Chazz, but…I think your show needs a plot twist."
Chazz looked indignant, not seeming to care the slightest for anyone else's advice. "What could be more interesting than watching me?"
Naruto counted off on his fingers, giving him the Letterman list. "Thumb screws? A root-canal? Reality television in general?"
"Am I interrupting something?" Heads turned to the doorway again, looking past Naruto, to see Alexis standing just in the door. More importantly, she was carrying a bag. The kind you use on trips.
Naruto tipped his head at her. "Hey."
"I think we found our plot twist, guys," Syrus offered.
Hassleberry nodded. "Jaden was right. Your show just got a whole lot better."
"What's up?" Jaden asked, as perpetually perplexed as ever.
Alexis let out a breath. Eyes shining with resolve, she explained. "I left my dorm for good. So, do you guys have room for one more?"
Jaden: "Yes-"
Hassleberry: "Well-"
Chazz: "Hallelujah!"
Syrus: "One more what?"
The Chancellor's office was dark, lit only by a solitary candle.
Bonaparte sneered at Crowler. "So tell me, monsieur. Who's gonna be our next big star? I'm just dying to find out."
Sitting behind the fair-sized desk, Crowler didn't seem bothered at all by the repartee. In fact, he seemed amused. "I'm sensing sarcasm. Trust me. This time my plan's absolutely foolproof!" Reaching into his jacket, he withdrew a small, wallet-sized photo. "This is our ticket to fame: Mr. Syrus Truesdale. Younger brother of Zane Truesdale, Duelist League professional. The press will eat this up." He turned the picture to show Bonaparte. "Do you know why? Because if he wins…we're promoting him to Ra Yellow." Crowler's smile was both gleeful and sinister. "And, thanks to his big brother all eyes will be on our school!"
Bonaparte was thinking along similarly personal lines. "If he gets promoted to Yellow, there'll be one less slacker to contend with. Bringing mua one step closer to bidding the Red dorm adieu. Hahaha!"
Chazz held his arms aloft dramatically, presenting the completed personal dorm room to his unofficial friends. That is, the people he would never officially recognize as his comrades. "I give you…Chez Chazz. The ultimate in dorming elegance."
Jaden was still reeling from the tour. "A spa with a waterfall? Don't you think that's overkill?" he asked, shaking his head.
Oh, we passed overkill somewhere between the bowling alley in the basement…and the three ring circus in the living room!" Syrus scoffed, griping at how unbelievable the "room" was.
Naruto just raised a brow at Chazz, looking at him skeptically. "You've never heard of "roughing it", have you?"
"Hnh! Not if I have anything to say about it," Chazz shot back.
Alexis was in admitted awe. "High ceilings, marble floors…I never thought I'd say this, but…I'm impressed, Chazz. It's awesome! And there's tons of space! So do you think I can crash here?"
Blinking in confusion, Jaden turned away from a kooky looking painting. "But, you were gonna crash in our room." But Chazz was already liking this new option. Finally, he and Alexis were getting closer!
"Zip it! You can't blame her for wanting the best."
"I guess. I mean, if you like high ceilings and hot tubs," Jaden laughed nonchalantly. Well, to him it didn't really matter. He could live without either…and he could also sneak a dip in the hot tub when Chazz wasn't around.
Chazz rolled his eyes at the perpetual idiot. "Let's see: live in luxury, or share a lumpy pillow with a family of roaches?"
It finally occurred to Syrus to ask a fairly pertinent question though. "So why'd you leave your dorm anyway?"
Turning away from her ongoing appraisal of the room, she looked up to where they stood on the raised level behind the sofa. "Well, get this…" reaching into the bag she'd been carrying with her since she'd joined them. After some rummaging, several of them gasped, as she pulled out and unrolled a frilly, red dress.
Jaden: "Huh…"
Hassleberry: "Nice, uh, erm, uniform there, ma'am."
Naruto looked at her shrewdly before smirking. "I always took you for a less frills, more slink kind of personality," he offered playfully.
Alexis scowled. "Oh please. This thing was all Crowler's idea."
Group: "Huh?"
She elucidated. "He actually wanted me to wear this thing…and sing…while I duel. What a joke! Some crazy idea about turning me into a dueling popstar. Can you picture me wearing this?"
"…"
"Guys?"
Chazz was actually giving it some thought, and liking what he was visualizing, his cheeks blushing.
"You're right. I mean…who'd wanna see you wear that thing?" Jaden joked, laughing. Sure, he hadn't mean it to come out like that, but…
"Uh…Thank you?"
Chazz scoffed, rounding on him. "Real smooth."
"Huh?"
"Don't you get it? This isn't just about the dress. It's about Chancellor Crowler," Chazz explained.
"He's gonna wear the dress?" the Slyfer questioned.
Chazz grabbed his skull, as if in pain. "Gah!" Though, whether the pain was from Jaden's thick headedness, or the image of Crowler in a dress, well, let's call it a draw so as to spare potentially painful imagery.
But Alexis was there to help push along what Chazz had been trying to get at. "Now that Crowler's in charge, he's even more dangerous. All he wants to do is further his career. And he's using us! So we have to stop him!"
Jaden's expression hardened. "You're right! We can't let Crowler manipulate us just so he can look good! Who's in?" Not that anyone even had the chance to answer as the door was immediately thrown open. Winded, Bastian threw himself into the room, his eyes frantic.
"Syrus? There you are!" sounding relieved upon spotting the diminutive Slyfer. The motley group of students turned to the door, most recognizing the Ra Yellow.
"Hey. Everything all right?" Jaden asked. He'd never seen the teen so worked up.
Hassleberry leaned over to Syrus. "Who's he?" But Syrus was too confused to answer.
"You were looking for me? What's up?"
Bastian, still gasping for air, managed two simple words. "A duel."
The short Slyfer went rigid.
"A duel? For me? Who am I dueling?"
Giving Bastian the time to catch his breath, they had all taken seats in The Chazz's room's common area, sharing an alcove of couches.
Bastian wasted no time on the small details. "A girl in Obelisk Blue. Her name is Missy. And I hear she duels with a deck of insect monsters."
On the opposite couch, Alexis' brow furrowed. She recognized that name. "Missy? Okay, that girl totally creeps me out. But I've seen her duel, and she's really good."
Chazz looked at Syrus with something almost akin to pity. "Well, congrats. You're Crowler's next victim."
Not that Jaden was as immediately negative about it as everyone else seemed to be. "Wait, Sy. This duel could be your big break!" He broke into a grin. "Yeah! You're gonna win! And prove everyone wrong! They're gonna see the brave Sy!"
Shaking like a leaf, Syrus looked across to him. "Jaden? One question. When you find the brave Syrus, can you do me a favor and let him know the wimpy one is looking for him? Maahaha!" and ran out of the room.
Hassleberry was right on his tail. "Wait! Truesdale!"
"Syrus!" but he was already too far for Bastian's words to reach.
"Where do you think you're going, son? Errg!" Hassleberry cleared steps and was out the door.
"Sy?" Jaden frowned.
"I can't help but feel lucky," Naruto broke in, putting his legs up on the coffee table.
Looking across at him weakly, "How's that?" Bastian asked.
"Well, my skills are so obscure that I'm overlooked," he laughed. "You know what they say about being in the spotlight? The red carpet has teeth." He laughed, personally finding the whole thing hilarious.
Hassleberry was perched on the top bunk, feet hanging down. Just below him, an oddly cocoon shaped bundle of blankets took up most of Syrus' bed. "Come on, soldier. Up and at 'em! You can't hide in there forever."
From within the blanket wrapping, Syrus' muffled voice filtered out. "Of course not. Just for a few days. A week, tops. But don't worry, I've got everything I need in here. Bottled water, a canned ham, Mr. FuzzyBear…"
The dino-dueling enthusiast looked ill. "I am not even gonna ask. Come on!" Having enough, he reached down and grabbed an exposed blanket end and yanked. The roll was thrown off the bed like an unraveling yoyo, soon spitting Syrus out onto the floor on his butt.
"Guh!"
Hassleberry set in to deliver the kind of speech his pappy, the general, would give in this sort of dilemma. "Listen up! Fear is your mortal enemy…and fear needs to be destroyed! Now get up, and fight that fear! Fight that fear!"
"But…I'm afraid to!"
"Then you've already lost the war. Is that what you want? No, you want to win! And not just against this "Missy" girl, but against your own fear. Now what scares you the most, Truesdale?"
"We've gotta locate the source of this fear so we can launch a sneak-attack!"
In his mind, Syrys was already keenly aware of his weakness. "It's Power Bond. The card my brother gave me when we were kids. If I didn't have it in my deck I'd be nothing! In fact, Power Bond is my ticket to the pro-League! So I could be just like Zane someday! But what if I realize I'm not good enough? Huh! Wait! That's my biggest fear! That everyone else will move on and leave me behind!"
They were all on a boat, leaving him behind. Chazz, Jaden, Alexis, Bastian…and even Naruto. "Later, Syrus! We're off to the pro-League!" the leaving Jaden offered.
"Don't leave me! I wanna go with you guys!"
"Sorry, Sy. You're on your own," Jaden offered.
"Hold on! I don't want to be allllooooooooonne!"
"I won't be left behind! I'm gonna fight my fear…but not right now!"
"It all comes down to you, Syrus," Naruto offered before leaving to go the bed. "None of us can force you to go through with the duel. You can choose to walk out on that stage and shape your own destiny…or bow away from this chance, and always wonder what could have been. All it takes to shape your destiny is belief. Belief in yourself."
Naruto smiled down from the stands. Syrus had been a little shaky from the start, and, by a little, he really meant a lot. But towards the end, a spark had lit in the little guy. He seemed to have a personal epiphany. It was always an amazing sight to behold…when someone started to believe in themselves. It was like watching a lamp suddenly come aflame, radiant in a warm glow. "Good for you, Syrus."
Syrus was promoted to Ra Yellow, but he still hung out around the Slyfer Red dorm.
"Hey! What's the deal? You're in my seat!" the small teen roared out.
Hassleberry looked up from his seat in confusion, a shrimp tail hanging from his mouth. "But you moved to the Yellow barracks."
"You can't get rid of me that easy," Syrus retorted. "I'll always be a Slyfer at heart. And I expect my seat to be empty next time!" His eyes filling with a new fire towards the end.
Hassleberry shot up, towering over Syrus who was now grinning in embarrassment. "Since when are you so tough?"
"Since I took your advice, Sarge," Syrus shot back.
Hassleberry's eyes narrowed. "Let's take it outside."
Sitting across from them, Chazz was near his limit. "Zip it! I'm losing my appetite here."
Not one to skip on an opportunity, Jaden leaned over. "Really? Thanks, Chazz!" Snatching up one of his fried shrimp.
"Huh! Hey! Drop that shrimp!"
"Who you callin' a shrimp?" Syrus snapped hotly.
"Hey! One battle at a time, soldier!"
Chazz started to freak out. "I want outta here!"
Having enough of Crowler, Bonaparte, and classes in general for the time being, the now resistant Obelisk student, had come up with a plan. She needed a duel. She needed a fight where she could go all out, and relieve some of the built up tension and aggravation.
And it also served to sate her curiosity when she decided to search out the supposed mystery duelist that had been the topic of choice in gossip for the last few weeks.
Mindy smacked another mosquito. "Ooooh," she whined. "Alexis, can't we go back yet?" Next to her, Jasmine's thoughts weren't too far away from the same idea. It was nearing midnight and still they were out in the woods.
In the small clearing, Alexis stood with her arms crossed. The only light was that of the moon that had managed to make it through the small opening in the trees, and she stood right at its edge. "You guys can go on back if you want, but I want to see if the rumors are true." It had been a long while since she'd had a challenge. And this rumored duelist was just what she needed to stretch her dueling muscles. "I want to see if he's as good as they say…if he even exists." Despite her unwillingness to be Crowler's pawn, and subsequent leaving of the dorm, they had still remained her friends. They were actually friends, despite the occasional thoughts of her as leader, and them her mindless followers.
"Oh, wait. That's why you're here?" The heads of all three young ladies shot around to see…no one. "If I'd known I would have made my presence known earlier." They looked up to find the source of the voice sitting on one of the larger branches of a tree to the side of the clearing.
"Wait. So you were here THE WHOLE TIME?" Mindy screamed before starting to rant. "You could have said something!" Jasmine restrained the girly Obelisk Blue.
The figure slid off the limb and fell to the ground. Landing lightly enough, he stood up and walked forward into the light. "Sorry," he apologized with a shrug as his figure was illuminated. "I just assumed you were here for the same reason I was. Fresh air under the moon on a clear night." He chuckled lightly, the sound resonating through the clearing. He was dressed in dark grey pants, wrapped at the ankles with bandages, a black long-sleeved turtleneck shirt, its fabric clinging tightly to a lean physique. Then, overtop, he wore an open, sleeveless, orange trenchcoat with black flames climbing the hem (sage jacket from manga). His face…was covered…by a blank porcelain kabuki mask. Silvery locks fell in long spikes, shadowing most of the face of the mask, but blue eyes glowed through the darkness regardless.
The trio was thrown.
Mindy was immediately switched from ranting to love struck, her eyes filled with hearts. Jasmine was silent in surprise. And Alexis, her reaction was mixed. He was rather well built, that was obvious, and his voice had such warmth that she had to hold back a shiver.
"So," he began, "I take it you're here to duel?"
Alexis snapped back to reality. "Uh…right!" she declared after a momentary pause. Extending her left arm, the dueldisk lit up and came to life. Nodding, the shadowed duelist brought his own arm forward, showing a publically available model dueldisk. The female Obelisk raised her brow at the dueldisk.
He caught her confused glance, understanding. "Commercially sold dueldisks have their advantages," he said slyly. "Now, shall we?"
Alexis smirked back good-naturedly. "So, what do I call you?" His head cocked to the side. "Let's make a bet," she proposed. "I win, you tell me your name. You win-"
"If it'll motivate you to win, a kiss."
Alexis stiffened at the idea, the slight prospect of loss flittering through her mind. No! She could win! She just had to focus!
"Like Alexis would lose!" spat Jasmine in support of her friend.
Bolstered, Alexis' eyes shone with resolve. "Alright! It's a deal! Now let's duel!"
Alexis: 8000HP
_: 8000HP
Reaching across, she pulled her first card of the duel. "Okay, I'll start things off by summoning Command Knight in defense position, and end my turn with two cards face down!" The monster appeared on the field, two large cards upside down behind him, and leaving her with three cards in her hand. She looked across at her opponent. She knew nothing about him, his deck, or his dueling style. 'I've got to play this carefully… I'll hit him hard and fast, and try to catch him off guard.'
'Interesting opening gambit.' Of course he knew of Command Knight's special ability. Her warrior monsters on the field would get a 400 point boost to their attack as long as he was on the field. And as a result of it being a warrior type, Command Knight's own attack power went from 1200 to 1600. Then there were its high defense capabilities. Behind his mask, his eyes narrowed. This move left her open to adapt to most any move her opponent could make. A smile flickered over his lips. She was clever. He looked over his own hand and grimaced.
Double Summoning
Megamorph
Swords of Revealing Light
Gearfried the Iron Knight – Lv4/1800/1600
Malevolent Nuzzler
Damn, not good. It wasn't a bad hand. Gearfried was a reliable opener with his high attack, and Command Knight's effect was available to him also, raising his monster's attack from 1800 to 2200, yet he felt it was a little too soon to attack. And he couldn't boost the card's strength with Malevolent Nuzzler because of the monster's effect. Doing so would immediately waste the spell card, destroying it and sending it to the graveyard. He drew his opening card. Giving it a quick once over, he grinned.
"I set a facedown, and summon Gearfried the Iron Knight in attack position. Then, I activate a spell card. Cup of Ace!" Inserting it into the slot, the card materialized to his left. "When activated, I toss a coin. Heads: I draw two cards. Tails: You draw two cards."
"Kind of risky."
Somehow, Alexis could just tell he was grinning underneath his mask. "Then let's see who's luckier. Go, Cup of Ace!" A large golden coin appeared in the center of the field, and it soon started flipping end over end. After a quick fall, it displayed its result. Heads. "Hmm, lucky me," the masked man chuckled jovially.
He drew two cards.
Kitsune Knight, Aspect Dark – Lv3/1300/1000
Pot of Greed
Good. Something to get the ball rolling. "I activate Pot of Greed, and draw a further two cards."
Chain Burst
Hayabusa Knight – Lv3/1000/700
This was good. Hayabusa, while being relatively weak made up for it in his ability to attack twice in one turn. A useful ability when properly managed.
"I'll place two more facedowns," thus leaving him with six cards in his hand. On the field was his Gearfried, and three others. Chain Burst, Malevolent Nuzzler, and… "And to end my turn, I activate Swords of Revealing Light!" Swords of, well, light descended from the heavens, surrounding Alexis and her lone monster.
Alexis eyed him coyly. "What? Not even going to attack?" Why didn't he attack? His Gearfried was powerful enough to destroy her monster.
"When the time's right," he answered back in his carefree tone. "For now, I believe it's your turn."
"Thanks." Alexis drew a card, giving her four. "First, I activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your Swords." The minicyclone shot from the materialized card and enveloped his activated spell. It erupted into a shower of pieces. "Now that that's taken care of, I summon Cyber Tutu in attack position." The monster, a pink-haired girl in red and white spandex with a tutu. "And thanks to Command Knight, she gains an extra 400 attack points. But it gets better. Since her attack is still less than that of your monster, she's allowed to attack you directly. Go, Tutu, and take a chunk out of his life points!" she commanded. The ballerina-like monster twirled towards him, and launched a side kicked him.
_: 8000 – 1400 = 6600LP
Alexis' LP: 8000LP
"You know, I expected better than this," she said, sighing exaggeratedly.
"Patience. It's my turn now." His hand went to his deck. Drawing, he felt a shock flow through him. Glancing at the card, he smiled. Not that he needed to look at it. He knew immediately what he'd drawn his connection with the card was so strong. 'Good to see you.'
"I'll summon Hayabusa Knight to the field." Pressing the button on his dueldisk, "And I'll equip him with Malevolent Nuzzler, increasing his attack power from 1000 to 1700. Now I'll attack. Go, Hayabusa Knight! Destroy her Cyber Tutu!" The birdheaded warrior launched at his opponent's monster, swords drawn.
"I activate a trap!"
He smirked behind his mask. "Sure you can afford to? I activate one of my own. Chain Burst!"
Alexis tensed. Chain Burst was a dangerous trap card, both for the opponent and the wielder. Regardless of ownership, if anyone wanted to activate a trap card, they had to pay 1000 life points per trap. But she couldn't let his monsters get a foothold. "Fine, I activate my trap, Sakuretsu Armor!"
Alexis' LP: 8000 – 1000 = 7000LP
Hayabusa blew apart as a result of the trap, and was sent to the grave along with the equip spell. He could have sacrificed 500LP to save the magic card, but it would have returned to the top of his deck preventing a potentially crucial draw. "I'll still attack your monster. Go, Gearfried!" The dark armored monster sliced through Cyber Tutu, the monster exploding.
Alexis' LP: 7000LP – (2200 - 1400) = 6200LP
"I end my turn."
Alexis was a bit shaken. For a moment, she'd thought this guy was all talk, but here she was with less life points than him, if only by a little. Steeling her resolve, "I draw!" She now had four cards in her hand, but her field was completely empty except for her Command Knight. And that monster was a bit of a hindrance as long as he had Gearfried out. Either her monster had to go, or his. "I activate a spell card from my hand, Polymerization, and, from my hand, fuse my Blade Skater and Etoile Cyber to summon an even more powerful monster to the field. Come on out, Cyber Blader!"
Cyber Blader – LV7/2100/800
And its attack gained a boost from Command Knight, rising to 2500.
"I'll also switch my Command Knight from defense to offense. Cyber Blader, attack his Gearfried!" The monster shot across the field, delivering a spinning, slashing kick that shredded his knight.
_: 6600LP – (2500 - 2200) = 6300LP
"And now, Command Knight, attack him directly!"
_: 6300 – 1600 = 4700LP
"I end my turn," she finished smugly.
He had the activated Chain Burst and Gearfried on the field. His forces looked a little lean to him. And in his hand:
Double Summoning
Megamorph
Kitsune Knight, Aspect Dark – Lv3/1300/1000
And his ace in the hole…provided he could get it out on the field.
Regardless, he could use a good draw. His hand flew from his deck.
Call of the Haunted
A plan began to form in the back of his mind.
"Alright, first, I activate the spell card Double Summoning! This turn, I'll be able to normal summon two monsters instead of one. So, from my hand, I summon Kitsune Knight, Aspect Dark!" Slapping the card down, it materialized on the field.
Alexis stared. This was one of the strange monsters that had been rumored to be in his deck. A momentary dulled shimmering and the monster came forth. It was a cloaked, humanoid monster in knight's armor, the helm with a fox-like maw complete with glowing eyes and ears. Behind it, a solitary black and silver tail swayed. Standing proud, its arms were crossed over its broad, cloaked chest.
"Then, I activate a trap!"
"Wait! You don't have any traps on the field!"
Voice filled with playful mirth, "You're right, except for my Chain Burst, I don't have a trap on the field, but I do have one in my hand. And thanks to my Kitsune Knight, Aspect Dark, I can play it directly from my hand!"
Alexis was thrown. What an ability!
"I can only do so once per turn, and it costs me 500 life points, but it's still pretty handy."
_: 4700LP – 500 = 4200LP
"So, I activate Call of the Haunted from my hand to summon Hayabusa Knight from the graveyard to the field."
_: 4200LP – 1000 (Chain Burst) = 3200LP
Hayabusa now stood alongside his Kitsune Knight. "And this is where the tide turns. Feel honored, I don't usually bring this out. I sacrifice my two monsters to summon, from my hand, the mighty…Kyubi, the Nine-Tailed Fox!" A lightning bolt exploded onto the center of his side of the field, blinding all.
Several turns later:
_: 2700LP
Alexis: 0LP
Alexis fell heavily to her knees, completely overwhelmed by the ferocity of her opponent's attacks the last few turns.
"Alexis!" both Jasmine and Mindy cried, rushing to her side, but someone else got to her first.
"Here," and when she looked up, she found the masked duelist with his hand outstretched to her. Cautiously, she took the proffered hand and was pulled easily to her feet. "You did well," he praised.
"I lost," she countered tersely.
"True, but so far you're the only one to actually push me. I could have just as easily lost the duel. Now, as for the bet…"
She tensed, about to protest, but was caught off guard further as he pulled her hand to his masked face, slid the covering upwards, exposing the lower half of his face, and placed a soft kiss on her hand. "A pleasure to duel you." Noticing her perplexed expression as he pulled away. "What? I'm not the kind of jackass who'd take advantage of someone else," he shot defensively, pulling the mask back down over his still unseen face. "Ladies, it's been a pleasure," and turning, he started walking away. Before he got to the edge of the darkness of the trees, "I ask that you keep it to yourselves, but you may call me…Kyubi," and he melted away. Literally fading away.