Chapter 7: Dance of the Duelists

[NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE…]

Kim leaned against the gymnasium wall and twirled the reddish-pink drink in her hand. It's not that she didn't want to dance, she was a great dancer in her own right. There just wasn't anyone that she wanted to dance with. It was the night of her senior prom and she was talked into coming by her teammates. She much rather have been on a mission, fulfilling her duties as an S-Rank Kaijudo Master. Instead, she was a sapphire wallflower who sat by and watched as her friends danced the night away.

"Care to dance, Kim-chan?" the familiar voice of Robbie Tasogare asked as the boy stepped up. "Got about ten seconds before someone else snatches me from under your nose."

Kim looked at him and smirked. "I'm good, thanks."

Robbie shrugged his shoulders and leaned on the wall next to her. "Have you heard from him?"

She shook her head. "He said he could handle it on his own."

"You know how he is though. He's not one to admit that he needs help. Matter of fact, he's not one to admit anything."

"You're right about that." She took a sip of her punch. "But I know him better than anyone. Kyle will be here."

Robbie nodded. "Well I tried. Guess he's the only one that could pick this flower."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kim suddenly reacted, with her face turning red.

"Exactly how it sounds like." Robbie shrugged. "You two are connected in more ways than one. Whether or not you two will admit to that or not." He turned around and held his arms across. Two girls suddenly latched onto him, eager to dance with him.

"Don't worry Kim-Chan, he'll show. If he truly understands you as you do him, then he knows that there's a beautiful flower awaiting to be picked."

Robbie walked off and joined the other students on the dance floor. Kim took another sip of her drink and thought about Robbie's words. "You couldn't be more right…"

[PRESENT TIME…]

"I summon Prickleback!" Kyle began as he set Nature mana and used it to summon the level 1 Beast Kin.

Prickleback materialized into the battle zone and beat its chest to announce itself.

Kim drew and set water mana on her turn. "I summon Cyber Sprite."

Cyber Sprite materialized into the battle zone on Kim's side, the electrical cackle it made, making prickleback acknowledge the cybernetic creature.

"This is just like Maxi's duel." Kyle noticed. "Does that mean that you're going to try and outsmart me?"

Kim smiled. "What's the point? I can already out-duel you as it is. Your turn by the way."

Kyle smirked and drew. "I can already tell that this is going to be an interesting match." He set Fire mana next and tapped both.

"Let's go, Moonhowler tribe!" Kyle set the second Beast Kin onto the terminal as the brown-furred cat warrior materialized. It twirled the small tree around its body like a bo-staff, ready to take on the Cyber Sprite.

Kim drew and set Darkness mana next. "You summon another attacker, and I counter with a Blocker. I summon Skeeter Swarmer."

Skeeter Swarmer materialized next to Sprite, tying both sides with two creatures a piece.

Kyle drew and set light mana, completing his civilization requirements. "I summon Blinder Beetle."

A silver machine-like bug creature materialized alongside both beast kin,

"Blinder Beetle's Strobe Pulse ability taps one of your creatures. I choose Skeeter Swarmer."

Blinder Beetle's ring-like pincers began to glow in a gold color. It aimed at Skeeter Swarmer and launched both, grabbing the creature and holding it like a prisoner in place. The creature squirmed but to no avail.

"Moonhowler tribe, Break a shield, ike!" Kyle tapped his creature, making Moonhowler tribe lunge forward. It took its tree and launched it towards one of Kim's shields, the weapon zooming past both blockers and decimating one of the shields.

The shield popped into Kim's hand and she added it. "Nothing."

"In that case, I'll end it there." Kyle responded.

Kim drew her next card and placed her 3rd mana down. "I summon Scaradorable of Gloom Hollow."

A purple koala with two curved spiral horns facing downward materialized into the battle zone. It sat peacefully with a bright expression on its face.

"That's how you're gonna push me to my limit? A Koala." Kyle looked on.

"Cute, isn't it?"

"The heck a Koala gonna do for you?"

"Oh don't worry, you'll see. I end my turn."

"There's nothing cute about that creature." Amy said.

"You have the feeling that Kyle's going to run headfirst without thinking, don't you?" Maxi asked her, getting the same sense. To his expectation she nodded.

"Like some stupid Koala's gonna intimidate me." Kyle drew and set mana. "Time to get wild. Prickleback, Evolve into Bronze-Arm Sabertooth!" He set the card on top of it and in response, Prickleback jumped into the air, spinning in a fetal position as the Evo Crystal encircled him. Turning into a white-colored entity, the ball of light broke apart and emerged the four-armed Tiger warrior. It landed and roared at the opposing creatures.

Sprite and Skeeter showed signs of intimidation, but not Scaradorable. It looked at the warrior with the same expression as before.

"Bronze-Arm Sabertooth, Double Break!"

"Scaradorable Block!" Kim tapped the creature in response.

As Sabertooth charged the shields, Scaradorable jumped in front of it. Sabertooth's attack was absorbed by Scaradorable, the former bouncing off the creature. Both it and Kyle were shocked to see the Koala still standing.

"How is Scaradorable still alive? Sabertooth should've destroyed it."

"Adorable Gaze." Kim said. "As long as Scaradorable of Gloom Hollow battles a Level 4 or less creature, neither creature is banished. In other words, until she's gone, that cat of yours isn't making a dent in my shield zone."

"Oh you gotta be kidding me! That over-powered little…"

"You wanted to know what it could do..." Kim reminded.

Kyle recalled his words and turned his head. "Just start your turn."

"Gladly." Kim drew and set mana. "I summon Screeching Scaradorable."

A second leaner, more offense-based Scaradorable materialized alongside the first one. It looked its orange eyes on Moonhowler tribe and screeched towards it. The feline warrior clutched its ears tightly, the excruciating pain causing it to disperse into green data after a few moments.

"Her Sonic Blast ability chooses one of your creatures. If it's a Level 2 or less, its banished, otherwise, it can't block. Told you I was going to push you to your limit. I end my turn."

Kyle grunted and drew. "Card's come just when I need them. I cast Reap and Sow; with this card, I look at the top 2 cards of my deck. I then add one to my hand and the other to my mana zone."

Kyle does just so, taking the top two cards. "I send Root Trap to my mana zone and end my turn."

Kim drew and set mana. "I cast Logos Scan and draw two cards. With my remaining two mana, I summon Cyber Trader."

A small cyber-lord riding on a blue frog-like vehicle materialized with two orbs in its hand, one yellow, and the other purple. It juggled them briefly before the vehicle belched out a third blue colored ball. The trader took notice of it and began to juggle all three. After a few seconds it took the yellow ball and gave it to the frog.

"Cyber Trader's Idea Exchange ability allows me to draw a card from my deck. Afterward, I discard a card from my hand, and I choose, Screeching Scaradorable." She revealed the card and sent it to the grave.

"Kim's really taking control over Kyle." Maxi noted. "She's really not holding back."

"Beautiful isn't it though?" Amy asked him, admiring the duel.

"If you think watching Kyle get controlled is 'beautiful', then I couldn't agree more."

"Almost like they're dancing." Karon stepped in.

"Exactly." Amy replied.

"You two lost me." Maxi said.

"Kim and Kyle's duel is like a dance." Amy began. "They both started out slow, seeing what the other was capable of, before Kim took the initiative and began to dance. Kyle is waiting for her to finish before she allows him to respond to her performance."

"So when is Kim going to allow Kyle to do that?"

"Right now." She nodded.

"Screeching Scaradorable, break his shield, Ike!"

Scaradorable took a deep breath and unleashed its sonic boom. It shattered to bits, but instead of disappearing, it glistened. The card popped into Kyle's hand and he revealed it.

"Shield Blast: Barrage! All of your creatures with power 2000 or less are wiped out."

The shards formed together to re-create a red colored robot with its arms sticking forward from him. From its finger tips, it unleashed a barrage of rockets that incinerated the unsuspecting Cyber Sprite, Scaradorable of Gloom Hollow and Cyber Trader. Kim's reduction of creatures from 5 to 2 was unsuspected, but clever. This was what she was expecting of Kyle, to take a challenge and overcome it. Kyle was ready to show her what he was made of.

Kyle drew and his glove sparked. He threw his other card into mana and tapped all five cards. "I summon Twin-Cannon Maelstrom!"

An orange-colored dragon with red wings and two silver cannons mounted on its back materialized into the Battle Zone alongside its two companion creatures.

"Sabertooth, attack Scaradorable!" Kyle ordered his creature.

"Skeeter Blocks!" Kim instinctively blocked.

Sabertooth lunged forward, pulling its arm back to deliver a powerful deathblow on the Darkness Creature, the ladder bracing for impact. At the last minute, Skeeter Swarmer jumped in front of the attack and exploded almost instantly as the punch came in contact. Sabertooth leaped back and knelt down, the attack tiring it out.

"Blinder Beetle, attack Scaradorable!"

Kim was taken aback. "Why would you… unless!"

"Twin-Cannon Maelstrom, you got it." He smirked. "His Extra Cannon's ability gives all of my other creatures Powerful Attack +2000." He went on to explain. "Which means, that Blinder Beetle can match Scaradorable's 3000 power now."

Blinder Beetle began to glow red as it zoomed down the battle zone towards its target, the Scaradorable unleashing a Sonic Blast back at the beetle. Blinder Beetle's pincers lit up once more, casting the light rights towards the sonic boom. The two attacks collided and after a few moments of struggling, the light rings sliced through the blast, gliding past the Scaradorable. The Sonic Blast however didn't miss its target either, still reaching the beetle and the vibrations interfering with its inner workings. Both creatures dispersed into data as they slowly faded away, leaving Maelstrom and Sabertooth alone.

The crowd of people cheered on, half of the room, going for Kyle, and the other side Kim. Both Kim and Kyle realized the building crowd around them and they both blushed slightly, flattered by the attention.

"Guess we should give them a good show, huh Kim?" Kyle spoke up.

Kim nodded. "Not much of a choice now. My turn to lead now."

Kyle nodded. "Floor's yours."

Kim drew and set mana. "I summon Cyber Sprite."

Cyber Sprite materialized into the battle zone as she set the card down.

"And then… I evolve him into Emperor Axon." Kim revealed the card in her hand that took Kyle by surprise. "You're not the only one who uses Evos Kyle."

"Apparently not…" He replied.

Cyber Sprite grasped the materialized Evo Crystal and began to sprout circuits all over its body. The circuits overtook him, eventually growing into bluish-green plating all over its body. The Creature became a giant Cyber Lord, with green eyes and sharp teeth. On its head was a helmet that filled its mind with data in the form of tubes with green electricity coming in and out. Like a beast, it roared in a static tone.

"Emperor Axon, Double Break!" Kim ordered it.

Axon opened its jaw wide and unleashed a blast of green energy that decimated two shields, leaving Kyle with two remaining. He realized that he needed to get rid of that monster before it did real damage.

Kyle drew and set mana. "Always pull through when I need you to. I summon Hyperspeed Dragon!"

Hyperspeed Dragon materialized into the battle zone, and stared down at Axon.

"That's not good." Kim realized.

"Glad you realize that." Kyle smirked. "Since Maelstrom is an Armored Dragon, Hyperspeed's Slipstream ability gives it Fast Attack. Not only that, but Maelstrom gives it Powerful Attack +2000 too. With all of that said: Hyperspeed, Attack Axon!"

Hyperspeed Dragon roared and began to glow red, from its own ability and Maelstrom's ability as well. Axon roared in defiance and launched a blast towards Hyperspeed, but with its slipstream activated, it vanished before the attack made contact. Axon, shocked that its attack missed, didn't notice the Dragon appearing behind it with its fists extended. Hyperspeed unleashed a barrage of punches that dented Axon fiercely. A blue stream of data rose continuously with each punch until all that was left of Axon was scrapmetal.

"Your turn, Maelstrom, Break her shield, ike!"

Maelstrom's cannons locked on to the target, and two blasts rang out from its cannon, spiraling in the air until they both shot through the shield. Unfortunately to Kyle's shock, they glistened.

"Shield Blast!" Kim said as it popped into her hand. "Terror Pit on Sabertooth!"

The dark hands materialized and unleashed their fury onto the Evo creature as they crushed him into two mana crystals.

"Sabertooth's One with Nature ability sends it to the mana zone when it would be banished." Kyle said, sending both cards to mana.

Kim nodded, acknowledging it.

Kyle drew and looked back at Kim in a way that made Kim question his expression.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

"I'm sorry about this morning. I didn't mean anything I said and if I could I would take it all back. I was an idiot to go against your suggestion and also hurting your feelings. To be honest, if it wasn't for your suggestion in the first place, I wouldn't have made this deck in the first place. If you give me the chance I wanna make it up to you."

Kim didn't expect an apology now, nor something that heartfelt. It took her a minute to process his words. "This… isn't like you."

"Exactly." He replied. "Which is why I want to start over. Axel was right. Amy is leagues better than I am when it comes to being a team leader. But it's not her team. It's mine. Which is why I will push myself to be a worthy leader of Team Victory Drive. And the only way to do that is to fix our relationship."

Kim looked around and saw smirks from a few of the spectators, as well as looking over Kyle's shoulder with Amy giving the thumbs up in response. She was even mouthing off to her "Tell him how you feel" which embarrassed the Darkness duelist.

"Um Kyle…" She said, trying to hide her red face. "Please just finish your turn before you turn our team into a laughing stock."

Kyle raised his eyebrow and looked around at the spectators as well, as they forced themselves to keep quiet. The sappy-ness of Kyle's apology was sweet to the female players, but as for most others, they allowed Kyle to realize his soft side was showing obnoxiously.

"Can't believe I said that out loud…" he murmured. He took a deep breath and shook it off. "Anyway…" He set mana and tapped seven mana. "Hyperspeed Dragon: Evolve into Evo Fury Tatsurion!" He slammed the card onto of Hyperspeed.

The magnitude of the card made it seem like the K-Terminal was shaking as Hyperspeed felt the radiance of the Evo Crystal descend upon him. He spun in the air rapidly, the gem engulfing him in a magnificent blaze of fire that overtook the sky. The blazing tornado finally broke, revealing a larger, muscle-toned Tatsurion. Spikes jutting from its shoulders, and bright red wings extended from its back side, along with longer horns, spiked tail and a more ferocious muzzle

"Still gotta come up with a summoning catchphrase for it." Kyle said.

"Amazing…" Kim said in awe.

"That's not the only thing that's amazing about him. Evo Fury Tatsurion: Triple Break!"

"He's a Triple Breaker?!" Kim said surprised.

"Guess you weren't paying attention when we were going over the card."

Tatsurion roared and spread its wings back, his wings and head igniting in flames. It dove down and shot past the remaining three shields, the sonic boom breaking them.

Three cards popped into her hand, her shocked expression noticeable. But the triple breaking wasn't why she was shocked…

"Maelstrom finish it, Todome—"

"Shield Blast! Stormspark Blast!"

"Stormspark what?!" Kyle stammered. "You don't play light!"

"It's called an 'Ace in the Hole.'" Kim said as Maelstrom tapped against Kyle's will. The light cannon descended upon the field and shot a light beam that contained the creature.

"Go Kim!" Amy cheered on, grabbing Maxi's attention. "You gave that to her, didn't you?"

Amy shrugged her shoulders. "I may have helped out. Teching cards isn't cheating, is it?" Amy said.

"No…" Maxi admitted.

"Besides, at this point, the game is Kyle's. Kim can't come back from this one, it's sealed. All she can do is preform her final dance before the curtain closes. I just gave her the card so she can hold Kyle in place long enough for him to see it for himself."

"I have one more. Shield Blast: Terror Pit! I destroy Evo Fury Tatsurion as well."

The dark hands leapt forward once more, killing the Evolution creature as fast as it appeared.

"What was that about the duel being in Kyle's favor?"

"Well well. Kim really wants Kyle to get the message then." Amy admitted.

"I'm not letting you off that easily." Kim told Kyle, her glove sparking.

Despite being disappointed, Kyle nodded. "Didn't expect you to. I'm glad that you joined our team."

Kim smiled. "So am I. Even if your leadership skills aren't the best." She drew and set mana. "I cast Logos Scan and draw two cards. She drew the two cards and then tapped her remaining mana. "I summon Scaradorable of Gloom Hollow and Cyber Sprite."

The two blockers materialized, saving her from an imminent loss for the time being.

"She's scared…" Karon spoke up.

Maxi and Amy turned to the Kaijudo Master. "What do you mean by that?" Maxi asked in response.

"In the world of Kaijudo Arts, depending on what civilizations you study, your personality could be affected as a result. As A-Ranks, you all have some form of knowledge of the Arts. Such as using the Dueling Gloves as amplifiers for Kaijudo Energy, which in turn would give you the chance to either re-create digital copies of creatures, or if you're really powerful, summon them directly to this world.

"What? You can't really summon creatures into this world. This isn't the TV Show." Maxi said, not buying that part.

Karon raised his eyebrow and nodded. "Sorry about that, I was thinking off topic. At any rate, As a Fire Duelist, Kyle is brash and acts first, thinks later. Combined with his Nature aspect however, it gives him that sense of justice and unity for others around him. Which is the reason why he's dueling as hard as he is now. He doesn't want to lose the bonds that he made.

Kimberly on the other hand… as a Darkness duelist, she's isolating herself. The harder Kyle pushes to reestablish the bond, the greater her wall gets, not wanting to be hurt and betrayed as she has been before. My teammates and I have seen it happen with our teammate Jamie. As a master of both civilizations, she was a hot-headed duelist, who pushed others away from her when betrayed by her team at one point in our history together. If it wasn't for C.J., our Nature Duelist and team leader, we would've never have gotten her back on our team. As a nature duelist, he had that natural sense of justice and unity, and when he became adapt with fire, that only intensified."

"So the way she's been dueling is signals of isolation and fear?" Amy asked. "That's why she's been so defensive at times. Whenever Kyle removed one obstacle, she got rid of her opposition and rebuilt her wall. Despite what she's been saying, she's really trying to stay back from him."

"Exactly my point." Karon nodded. "But if I know my teammates, Kyle isn't going to give up."

Kyle drew his card and flipped it around, the all-too familiar spell that wiped her field out the first time, was staring her in the face once more.

"I cast: Barrage. Twin-Cannon Maelstrom, Todomeda!"

Twin-cannon charged its cannons and unleashed a massive blast that swallowed up both blockers, moving the blast over to Kim's side of the field, ending the duel.

"WINNER: JETBLAZE KNIGHT!"

The crowd roared as Kyle took the win from Kim. He walked over to her and held his gloved hand out. Kim looked at him and stared into his eyes. Despite her feelings about being betrayed again, something about his eyes showed something different; as if he's changed.

"Deal's a deal." He smiled. "Welcome back."

Kim looked down at his hand and slowly grabbed it. "Glad to be back…"

"So wait, let me get this straight." Kyle said as he swallowed a bit of hotdog. "You're a dancer?"

Kim nodded. "Before I took up dueling, I used to Ballroom dance as a kid. My brother and I loved to dance when we were younger, and he got me into doing it. Of course, I leaned other dances as well, just for the fun of it. I know how to Shuffle, breakdance, samba, merengue, you name it, I might know some bit of it."

"What about Ballet?"

"I was the Swan in my first grade play of Swan Lake." She smiled. "Surprising huh? Listening to a darkness duelist talk about the gracefulness of Dance."

Kyle nodded. "It's a lot to take in, but not so surprising. After all, it's you of all people. I can definitely see you doing something like that."

Kim blushed again and stopped.

Kyle turned. "Something the matter?"

"Why do you keep doing that?" She asked. "The constant compliments, it's embarrassing."

"Oh that, it's because… Well…"

"Do you… have a crush on me?" Kim finally asked.

"What? No of course not I…" Kyle stammered. "For a Darkness Duelist, you have a pretty smile."

Not the answer Kim was expecting. "So you do like me then…" she said with a small smile.

"Can we change the subject?" Kyle said, turning redder by the second.

Kim laughed. "Oh that's rich. And sweet I might add."

"Kim, drop it!" Kyle snarled.

"Nope, not gonna happen Lover Boy." She stuck her tongue out at him. "See, you're getting me to smile. I'm sure you're probably jumping for joy now, aren't you?"

"Let me explain!" He exclaimed. "Darkness duelists tend to have cold personalities. But you're the first one I ever met that actually smiles. And it looks good for someone who's supposed to isolate themselves. And, I admit… I've been saying all of those compliments because it makes you happy. And as my friend, I feel that it makes our bond tighter to one another."

Kim smiled. "Wow, that's… just wow."

"Don't tell the others I said that!" Kyle shot.

"As long as you don't tell them that I dance, then we're golden." She replied.

"Deal." Kyle and Kim shook on it.

[NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE…]

Kim looked at the clock across the Gymnasium, it reading 9:50pm. The crowd of people started to die down, until it was only Maxi, Amy, Robbie and a handful of other people.

"Alright people, we got one more dance for you tonight and then we're shutting down. So If you haven't hit the dance floor yet…" he took a quick glance at Kim before redirecting his attention back. "Then I'd suggest you do so now!"

"Guess he's not showing up after all…" She sighed. As she got up from the wall she headed for the doorway. She went in to go push on it, but nearly fell forward as it opened from the other side.

"I…made it…" the heavily breathing voice made out.

Kim looked up and saw Kyle holding onto the door, out of breath.

"Dude, you look a mess." She said.

"Yeah, Axel and I took longer than expected." Kyle said regaining his breathing pattern. "Remind me to never take missions involving Megabugs."

"That's not what I meant." Kim corrected. She fixed his tie, straightened out his jacket and dusted him off. "Much better."

"Um… thanks?" He said unsure of the gesture.

Kim smiled. "You'd be hopeless without me."

Kyle shrugged his shoulders. "What are best friends for?"

"Right; Come on, I've been waiting forever for you to show up and there's one more dance."

"Haha, yeah right. I'm just about as good a dancer as Maxi is with Italian."

"Which is why you have me." Kim grabbed his arm and dragged him forward. "Just follow my lead, alright?"

Kyle rolled his eyes and nodded.

"Great."

The two found themselves on the dance floor, the slow song setting in. as the couples around them slowly moved back and forth, Kyle seemed awkward, trying to copy everyone else.

"Kyle." Kim grabbed his attention. "Remember, just follow my lead. One hand on my waist and then give me your other hand.

Kyle followed her instructions and she rested her free hand on his shoulder.

"Pretend that we're dueling, if that helps. Go slow." She whispered. "Just go back and forth."

Kyle nodded and slowly went back as she went forward and then vice versa. As the two repeated the pattern, they slowly got into the rhythm of things.

"Hey Kyle…?" Kim said after a minute of dancing.

"Yeah?"

She took a deep breath and leaned her head on him. "I'm glad you came back."

Kyle nodded and smiled. "Glad to be back…"