Vile: Sorry for not posting this last night. It got too late for me, so I went to bed.
Yuma: No sweat, man. So is this the end of the Duel?
Vile: Yep. We can get back to some of the story, even though this isn't the last Duel. The other one will be shorter than this, I can guarantee that.
Akari: At any rate, let's get back to the story so we can see what happens between my bro and Kotori! *starts to gush*
Yuma and Kotori: *blush*
Vile: She has a point with the story, though. Let's get going. Disclaimer's on the first page, viewers. ^.~
39 & 13 means Love
Chapter 7
"It's my turn! Draw!" Shark shouted as he drew his card. He grinned at his card. "Magic Card, activate! Gnashing Fangs!" Aero Shark's teeth became longer, sharper, and more metallic. "This Equip Magic Card gives any Fish-Type monster 800 Attack Points, as well as a bonus: it can destroy any monster by battle, regardless of any effects, like those of the Numbers!"
Aero Shark ATK:2700
"Now, Aero Shark, take out Devoted Empress Love! Big Chomper!" The large mecha charged toward the female monster, teeth bared.
"I activate Hope's special ability again! With an Overlay Unit, your attack is negated!" Yuma called.
"But that's your last Overlay Unit!" Shark realized.
"No it isn't!" Kotori called out. "I activate Devoted Empress Love's special ability! If Aspiring Emperor Hope ever uses his ability, Love can use one of her own Xyz Materials to power his effect instead!" Empress Love absorbed an Overlay Unit into her staff, but then fired it toward Hope, who absorbed it into his chest. Hope then dashed in front of Love, whipping out his Moon Barrier and deflecting the attack before returning to his field. Love winked at him when he returned.
Number 13: Devoted Empress Love: 1 Overlay Unit
"Well, I'll be! Kotori's Number was made to fight alongside Yuma's! Ain't that romantic?" Ryoga mused. Both Yuma and Kotori blushed, but Yuma only slightly. "My hand's useless right now, so, turn end."
"My turn! Draw!" Yuma chirped, drawing his card. He saw his card and gasped, then grinned like a fool. "Sorry, Shark, but you are done! Aspiring Emperor Hope, attack Aero Shark!" Hope brandished his blade and charged forward.
"What's he doing?" Ariel cried.
"I activate Hope's effect again, using an Overlay Unit to negate his own attack!" Yuma then looked at Kotori. "Can you spot me, Kotori?"
"You bet! I activate Empress Love's ability, using her last Overlay Unit to power Hope's effect!" Love absorbed and fired her Overlay Unit, causing Hope to stop dead in his tracks.
Number 13: Devoted Empress Love: 0 Overlay Units
Ryoga observed the scene, noting that it seemed familiar. "No way… You drew it, didn't you, Yuma?"
"That's right, Shark! From my hand, Magic Card, activate! Double Up Chance!" Yuma's Magic Card appeared, powering up Hope. "Since Hope's attack was negated, he can attack again, only this time with double the Attack Points!"
Number 39: Aspiring Emperor Hope ATK:5000
"Oh, man! This is just like the first time I lost!" Shark complained. But then he smiled. "Only this time… it's a true loss. Nice job, Yuma."
Yuma smiled and nodded. "Emperor Hope, take out Aero Shark! Hope Blade Slash!" Hope brandished his blade again, only this time going straight for Aero Shark, slicing it straight down the middle. The slash broke Aero Shark in two, causing it to explode violently, sending Shark flying backwards.
"UWAAAAAAHHHH!" He yelled as he sailed through the air.
"RYOGA!" Ariel shrieked. Ryoga landed on the ground a few feet away, but gave a thumbs-up signaling he was okay.
Ryoga LP:0 – ELIMINATED
"Yatta! Shark is out!" Yuma yelled.
"Way to go, Yuma!" Kotori cheered. Yuma grinned at her, but blushed slightly.
"Ryoga!" Ariel rushed over and knelt down near him to make sure he was all right. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah… I'm fine." Shark said as he sat up. "I've taken worse hits than that. Do me a favor, would ya?"
"What is it?"
Shark stole a kiss on her cheek before saying, "Take 'em out."
Ariel smirked. "With pleasure." She walked back over to the Duel. "That was pretty good, Yuma, but it's time this Duel ended."
"I couldn't agree more!" Yuma called back. "I place a facedown! Turn end!"
"My turn then. Draw!" The blue-haired girl said while drawing her card. She smirked. "First things first! I Overlay my Gishki Chain and Gishki Shellfish!" Both of her monsters turned fully blue before shooting into the air and spiraling around each other. A red spiral portal opened in front of her as the monsters entered. "With these two monsters, I construct the Overlay Network! Xyz Shoukan! Come out, Evigishki Merrowgeist!" This monster was a red-haired female-looking monster with a fish-like bottom body, the top half covered by green feather-like clothing and having green fin-like wings. A staff with the Gishki mirror was in her hand.
Evigishki Merrowgeist: Rank 4 WATER Aqua/Xyz ATK:2100/DEF:1600
"Now, Magic Card, activate! Gishki Mirror's Aid! Now, by removing Gishki Ceremonial Mirror in my Graveyard from play, I can use any Magic Card in any Graveyard!" The mirror appeared behind her, the glass rippling. "And from Shark's Graveyard, I choose Gnashing Fangs, and equip it to Merrowgeist!" Merrowgeist's staff became jagged with the Magic Card's spikes.
Evigishki Merrowgeist ATK:2900
"Now Merrowgeist! Attack Number 39!" Energy charged in the mirror on her staff for an attack.
"I activate Hope's effect, using its Overlay Unit for real this time to negate that attack!" Hope absorbed its Overlay Unit into its chest and whipped out the Moon Barrier, deflecting the energy beam that would've destroyed it.
"You're all out of Overlay Units now, Yuma, which means I can do this! Quick-Play Magic Card, activate! Water Draft! If a WATER monster has its attack negated, then at the cost of 1000 Attack Points, it can move in for a direct attack!" Water began swirling below Merrowgeist.
Evigishki Merrowgeist ATK:1900
"Okay Merrowgeist, this time, attack Kotori directly using the Water Draft's power!" Merrowgeist gathered energy in its staff again, and fired directly at her.
"Kotori, no!" Yuma yelled. The attack hit dead on, sending her sliding backwards.
Kotori LP:700
Kotori panted heavily after recoiling from the attack, but got her words out. "T… Trap Card, activate!"
"What?" Ariel shrieked.
"A Trap?" Yuma wondered.
"Go, Damage Interest!" Kotori's facedown flipped up. "Since I took from a direct attack…" She pointed at Ariel. "You take double the damage I just took!"
"No way!" Shark exclaimed from the sidelines.
"Way to go, Kotori!" Yuma cheered.
Kotori smiled. "Pay up, Ariel!" A red aura emerged from the card, covering Ariel and damaging her Life Points.
Ariel LP:0 – ELIMINATED
A buzzer sounded, showing a picture of Yuma and Kotori with the word WIN on it as the virtual reality around them vanished. Yuma and Kotori then jumped into the air, cheering over their victory.
"Yatta! We did it!" Yuma yelled with glee. Kotori ran to him and engulfed him in a hug. Yuma took it as a victory hug and spun her around a couple times before setting her back down, both of them laughing from joy.
Ariel sunk to the ground, sad that she had lost. Ryoga walked up to her from behind, knelt down, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, don't worry about it. So what if we lost?"
"I just don't like to lose, that's all." Ariel replied. "Losing's a major morale-crusher."
"It can be. But with the right attitude, all losing does is make you stronger so the same thing doesn't happen again." Ariel smiled from Ryoga's words, and he held out a hand and helped her up. The two aquatic Duelists kissed, then turned and saw the other team laughing. "Cute sight, huh?"
"Mm-hmm." The two of them walked up to Yuma and Kotori.
"Nice job, you two." Shark told them.
Yuma and Kotori temporarily forgot they were hugging each other. "Thanks, Shark. Awesome Duel!" He let out his fist, which Shark met in a fistbump. Then Ariel giggled.
"What's so funny?" Kotori asked her.
"You two in love, or is this just a victory thing?" The blue-haired girl laughed. The winning Duelists' eyes widened, and they looked and realized they were still holding each other. Blushing madly, they quickly let go of each other and stepped back. Shark and Ariel were laughing their heads off.
"Sh-Shut up, guys!" Yuma yelled, embarrassed all to heck. Granted, he was enjoying the hug they were sharing.
Astral watched the scene with amusement, but his eyes went to Kotori. "Numbers are supposed to drive their holders to fulfilling what they desire. How is it that she was not possessed?" He wondered.
Kotori thought she heard a voice behind her. She turned around and saw the floating spirit, which startled her. "Eek!"
Yuma stopped his ranting when he heard her. "What is it, Kotori?"
"Wh-Who is that?" She asked, pointing at Astral.
"That's Astra- wait! You can see him?" Yuma asked her. Kotori nodded furiously.
"Apparently she is able to hear me as well. Am I correct?" Kotori nodded again at Astral's inquiry. "This is peculiar. I was unaware that she would be able to see me."
"How is that possible, Astral?" Yuma asked.
"Hmm… maybe it is her Number." Astral believed, and he held out a hand. Kotori struggled slightly, but the Number did not put up a fight, as the card came out of her body and landed in Astral's hand. "Number 13… Devoted Empress Love… this card still perplexes me. It is the only Number that has not possessed their original owner, aside from those owned by the Number Hunter. But what could be the cause?" Shark and Ariel were already leaving, not understanding why they were seemingly taking to nothing.
Yuma was stumped, but had one thought. "Can you still see him, Kotori?"
"Yeah…" Kotori replied, still looking at Astral. Yuma scratched his head in confusion. Then, the card glowed in Astral's hand, and a voice called out.
"You… You are the envoy from the Astral World…" The voice said.
"That voice… it's Empress Love." Kotori said.
Astral nodded. "You are no ordinary Number. You appeared to possess no malicious intent, and you made no effort to possess the one who held you. Explain this anomaly."
"I did not control her because of what you just said." Number 13 said.
"I still do not understand." Astral stated.
Empress Love chuckled. "We Numbers possess those with darkness in their hearts, and amplify it... but some of us are sentient enough to control it. I could not bring myself to take control, so I left my power in her hands."
"But what about her desires?" Yuma chipped in.
"She had but one desire… one that she attempted to show to you during your Duel, young one."
"To me…? What was it?" Yuma was eager to know.
"I cannot tell you, but Kotori herself can. It is something she has wanted to tell you for quite some time." Yuma blinked. The Number then addressed her owner. "Kotori. You gained the courage to tell me what you desire, allowing you to use me in a Duel. Now… you need more courage. Tell him what you have wanted to say for months. I have faith in you." The voice of the Number vanished.
Kotori was blushing madly. The spirit had indirectly revealed her secret. She was at a point of no return. 'I have no choice now… Number 13 is right. It's time Yuma knew… how I really feel.'
Author-Made Cards
Gnashing Fangs
Equip Spell Card
Equip only to a Fish, Aqua, or Sea Serpent-Type monster. It gains 800 ATK and negates any card effects that prevents a monster attacked by the equipped monster from being destroyed by battle.
Gishki Mirror's Aid
Normal Spell Card
Remove 1 "Gishki Ceremonial Mirror" in your Graveyard from play. Select 1 Spell Card in any Graveyard and activate as this card's effect.
Water Draft
Quick-Play Spell Card
If a WATER monster has its attack negated, it can attack again by losing 1000 ATK.
Vile: Sorry, guys! You're gonna have to wait another chapter for the moment you want to see!
Akari: Are you teasing us, Vile?
Vile: If it seems like it, I'm not trying to! This just seemed like a good cut-off spot.
Shark: Besides, more waiting makes seeing the moment that much better. *eats some of his popcorn*
Ariel: Hey, give me some of that! *starts wrestling him for the popcorn*
Yuma, Kotori, Tetsuo, Vile: *laughing*
Vile: Those guys are such clowns sometimes. Leave some reviews, everyone, and I'll get Chapter 8 out soon enough! See ya later!
Computer Voice: Vile, logging out.