Chapter 3: Яivals
Byakuro's eyes flicked to the door of the shop as it opened, and a boy with light yellow hair and green eyes entered. He wore Hitsue High School's uniform. It had been just two or so minutes since Ginta fainted, and a small crowd was gathering around, but leaving space for the sub-manager to tend to Ginta. Byakuro and Ken were both standing silently against a wall.
The sub-manager noticed the new arrival and without wasting a second called out to the boy, "Daisuke-kun, come over here and give me a hand, a boy suddenly fainted. Quickly!"
"Ok, granduncle Shin, I'm coming," the boy, Daisuke, rushed to the sub-manager Shin's side.
"I thought I say to call be the sub manager while we're at work," said Shin in a pouty voice. Immediately, though, he grew serious again. "More importantly, though, can you look after the shop? I need to take this kid to the hospital."
Daisuke nodded as he took off his jacket and put on the Card Capital (Cat Capital, Byakuro reminded himself with a chuckle) apron. "Sure, take all the time you need, but remember to pay me tomorrow. It's already the end of month."
"Definitely," said Shin before leaving the shop while carrying a fainted Ginta into a van outside the shop. Two of Ginta's friends, who named themselves as Daiki and Kota, joined Shin.
As the van left, Byakuro let out a massive sigh of relief. That was close. He didn't want to be exposed as the vessel of Link Joker just yet; since he had yet to think of a way to spin the people's perception to his advantage, he had to hide it. "What a relief…"
Ken misunderstood Byakuro's meaning, though, and nodded. "Yeah… I can't imagine what caused him to faint." He jabbed Byakuro good-naturedly. "Maybe it was the shock of losing to such a newbie?" He laughed, but Byakuro let out a scoff. Ken would never know how true that was.
The white-haired boy uncrossed his arms. "Right, now that that's taken care of, I think I can have my second match."
He began to walk back onto the floor, but Ken looped his arm around Byakuro's torso and pulled him back. "Whoa, hey there, bud, I know you're pretty high off your first win, but that was pure luck with the triggers, nothing else. I recommend that you buy new cards to improve your deck first before you continue fighting," he said.
Byakuro removed Ken's arm slowly, and closed his eyes in exasperation. "Ok, so I need to buy some cards first. What cards do I need to buy?" he asked.
Ken thought for a moment before answering, "You should go and buy some better grade 1 and grade 2 cards, perfect guards and another boss unit for link joker. You can also buy some triggers if you don't like playing rainbow triggers."
There was something immensely satisfying about Byakuro's response: In a complete monotone, with a dead look in his lidded eyes, he said, "I LIKE the rainbows." Ken laughed. Byakuro hit him lightly. "Shut up. Where can I buy the cards?"
Ken gestured generally to the entire area. "This is a card shop, what do you think?" At Byakuro's unchanging expression, Ken sighed. "You're no fun, you know that?" He pointed at the counter, at the kid who had called Shin his granduncle. "You can go and buy booster packs from Daisuke over there. He's sure to be a huge help, you know. He has a great memory. He knows practically every skill of every card in every set, and most of them he's only ever seen once. Not to mention, he's pretty good with Link Joker strategy, since it's a really popular clan with both veterans and beginners."
That last part caught Byakuro's attention, and he tried to tap into the still-slightly-alien feeling of the active mental link. When he felt his mind open, he mentally grinned with success. "Hey Pid, is Link Joker something that anybody can use?" he asked in his head.
"I apologize, milord, Commander Imaginary Plane Dragon is currently having a meeting with the other commanders regarding the successful creation of a new member. Therefore, I, a Flash Gun Star Vader, Osmium, was sent to be your guide while the meeting is taking place, Lord Byakuro." The voice was soft and smooth, but had a monotonous feel that made Byakuro sound like that Daigo guy.
Byakuro responded, "That's ok. Just answer my question."
"Yes, Lord Byakuro. Each Link Joker card contain a tiny fragment of the Seed that encompasses our existence. They are mass-produced to increase the chance of finding a suitable agent, and as a result, each card is only slightly aware, and can only awaken in the presence of a wielder of the Void. Others are able to tap into our power and synchronize with us, but non have such a strong link to the jokers as yourself, milord. As a result, Link Joker has become a clan that is widely used, which thus weakens the power of the other non-Link Joker units on Cray." Impressively, Osmium didn't pause for breath in the entire explanation.
"Oh! So that is how I was chosen, was it? The seed was just reacting to me, then…" he mused. After a moment of thought, he continued, "One more question, then. Are other Link Joker users able to become agents of Void?"
"No, milord, it is not possible for our master Void to choose another agent," replied Osmium. "While there are many candidates, only one can be our perfect link."
Byakuro nodded and sighed mentally. "That ruined the fun… I thought I'd be able to fight other agents. I'm sure it would've been interesting to have more than one agent…" Then, one more odd thing struck him. "By the way Osmium, why aren't you more happy? Isn't your clan finally able to conquer Earth?" said Byakuro to Osmium. Well, actually it wasn't, if Byakuro was to do anything about it, but Osmium shouldn't know that.
"The concept of happy is foreign to me," replied Osmium. "Link Joker foot soldiers are mass-produced through the corruption of lower life forms and stripped of emotion. I myself am designated as unit Beta Tango One Seven Zero Three Four."
"That's sad, you are almost the same as me…" Byakuro empathized. Then, he realized that the mere fact that he could recognize his sadness set him apart from rank-and-file units. He was akin to a Link Joker unit with emotions, he realized. No wonder he was a good match for Void.
"…Byakuro, you in there, buddy?" Byakuo cut off the mental link out of surprise when he saw Ken's face close up to his, looking questioning.
"There you are, glad to see you're not brain dead… Again. What do you keep zoning out for?" questioned Ken. The irritation in his voice was evident.
"Does it really matter? I'm just trying not to get bored before my next match," he said. "Now, let's buy cards."
Ken nodded as they arrived at the counter. "Hey Daisuke, we got a newbie here!"
Daisuke kept reading his book.
Ken tried again. "Hey, man, my friend wants to buy cards. You know, help you earn your paycheck?"
Daisuke kept reading his book.
Ken's temple throbbed. "Daisuke, seriously, stop it. You know how much I hate it when you do that. Come one, help me out."
Daisuke kept reading his book.
Ken slammed his fists on the counter. "Ok, man, I know you work here, but if you don't listen to me right now, I'll-" said Ken, threat left hanging.
Finally, the worker glanced up from his book, as if noticing them for the first time. "Oh, it's you Ken," said Daisuke, uninterested, "And a new face, Welcome to Cat Capital! What would you like to buy?"
"My friend here wants to buy new cards for his deck," answered Ken for Byakuro, his temper cooling down remarkably fast. "He's new to the game, so he needs all the help he can get!"
"Which set would you like to buy?" inquired Daisuke politely—much more politely than he did to Ken.
Byakuro's eyes flicked between the two of them for a moment, before he decided that Daisuke was doing it on purpose to tick Ken off. Whether it was because they were just close friends teasing, or rivals, or legitimately bitter enemies, he couldn't say. "I was hoping you could recommend which sets I need to buy because Ken said you have a photographic memory," replied Byakuro.
"I only said that he has a great memory, I don't even know what photographic memory is," Ken interjected.
"Photographic memory is a rare ability that some people have, it allows them to easily remember anything they see even if it is just a glimpse. It must be a useful ability in a card game as you can easily know each cards ability thus are able to counter the opponents' strategy," explained Byakuro.
"Yeah, it's very useful but it still has its own drawback," said Daisuke. Byakuro thought he heard a hint of sadness in Daisuke's voice, but his countenance remained so neutral, he supposed he just imagined it. "If you want me to help you recommend cards or sets, it will not come free," said Daisuke to Byakuro.
"No problem, how much money you want?" asked Byakuro while taking out his wallet.
Ken put a hand over his friend's hands. "I know that money is no object to you, Byakuro, but that's not what Daisuke takes as payment for his advice." Byakuro glanced at Daisuke, a raised eyebrow asking for the response. When Daisuke did nothing but smile back, Ken stepped in again. "Before he gives anyone advice, Daisuke has to get fired up with an intense cardfight!"
"That's right," said Daisuke, nodding. "Are you up for the challenge, Byakuro?"
"My blood is boiling," said Byakuro. For once, it was true: the mere mention of a strong opponent made him feel excited. He reached for his deck, but a word from Ken stopped him.
"Sorry to spoil your fun, Byakuro, but with your deck and skill right now, you won't be able to win you a match with this guy." Ken turned to the employee. "Daisuke, let me be your opponent!" He exclaimed, pulling out a red deck case and holding it in front of him.
"I would be glad to have my revenge match right here and now, but Byakuro is the one who will decide," said Daisuke. Byakuro could see the glimmer in Daisuke's eyes, and came to the conclusion that he was Ken's rival.
"I don't mind," said Byakuro, who calmed his excitation. 'I'll be able to learn and analyze both their play style and improve my own,' he thought to himself. Then he continued out loud. "But who will manage the counter if you go and fight Ken, sir?"
Daisuke frowned at the formal address, before he realized his mistake. "Oh, sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I just thought that you being friends with this lug, he'd have told you my name for me." He pointed a thumb at himself. "I'm Taishi Daisuke, but just call me by my given name. About the counter, I'm sure granduncle won't mind me leaving it for a few minutes. Besides," he added, "the Manager here is much more qualified to handle customers than I am."
The Manager yawned and blinked sleepily. "Meow?" It said, and Byakuro raised an eyebrow—again. This was one wacky place, indeed.
"If you say so, Daisuke," replied Byakuro.
The three of them then moved toward a nearby desk. Ken and Daisuke Set up the field to start and drew their hands, and smiled at each other, a competitive glean in each of their eyes. In unison, they shouted, "Stand up, Vanguard!"
"Tinder Spear Dracokid," shouted Ken.
"Seal Dragon, Terrycloth," shouted Daisuke.
"So you are using your Seal Dragon deck, seems fun," said Ken, eyes twinkling.
"And you are still using Perdition, I see," remarked Daisuke.
"Hey guys! Look over there, Kagero's Perdition and Seal Dragon fighting each other, and both players are two of the top guys in the shop!" said a fighter. Almost immediately, a crowd of about 20 people or so gathered at the desk where Daisuke and Ken were fighting.
"Isn't he the part time worker at this shop?" One guy asked.
"I heard he's very strong and made it into the semifinal in the last shop tournament," said another fighter pointing towards Daisuke.
"The one fighting him is Ken, the one who ranked second in that same tournament last week," a third added. "I heard he has just started playing vanguard recently."
"You actually did get second place?" Byakuro inquired. "I thought you were just bluffing."
Ken chuckled at the pseudo-praise, pseudo-insult. "What can I say? Practice makes perfect, and boy did I practice."
"That's what makes you different than our classmates, you rather do something interesting than studying for tests, I'm impressed," said Byakuro.
"Yeah, but I get scolded by my dad a lot. I wish I were as smart as you," Ken replied regretfully.
Daisuke coughed sightly. "So, would you like to go first? You did win our last match," he asked, drawing Ken's attention back to the game.
"Gladly! I draw," said Ken.
Ken's turn: "I ride Embodiment of Perdition, Majid (7000), and I move Tinder Spear Dracokid (5000) to the left column back row."
"Turn End."
Ken-Daisuke
5-hand-5
0/0-damage-0/0
0-drop-0
0-soul-0
Tinder Spear Dracokid, empty-empty, empty
empty, Majid-Terrycloth, empty
empty, empty- empty, empty
Daisuke's turn: "I ride Embodiment of Armor, Bahr (8000). Terrycloth moves to the center back (5000), and I attack with Bahr boosted by Terrycloth (13000 to 7000)," declared Daisuke.
"No guard," said Ken.
"Drive trigger check… Artpique: a draw and power to my vanguard (18000 to 7000)," said Daisuke while adding a card to his hand.
"Damage Check, nothing there," said Ken, disappointed, while putting a Breakdown Dragon in his damage zone.
"Turn End."
Ken-Daisuke
5-hand-7
0/1-damage-0/0
0-drop-0
0-soul-0
Tinder Spear Dracokid, empty-empty, empty
empty, Majid—Bahr, Terrycloth
empty, empty- empty, empty
Ken's turn: "Draw." He smiled. "Now, the real fun begins," said Ken while smiling, "Knight of Perdition, there is nothing to fear, for your hero has arrived to lead the charge! Stand up, Perdition Dragon Knight, Tarayev!" shouted Ken, slamming it down.
Daisuke chuckled slightly. "Always with the grand entrance. But even though your avatar is here, it won't deal me the sixth damage like it did last time." His free hand tightened to an excited fist. "This time," he declared, "I'll win for sure!"
End