Vile: Whew... I finally got Chapter 10 done. This last Duel part was tough to conclude.
Yuma: It's good that you managed to finish it, though.
Vile: Yeah. There's only one more chapter after this, but I should have it in sooner than this one was. ...Hopefully.
Shark: Eh, it'll probably come to you easier than this one did.
Vile: Yeah, hopefully. Anyway, disclaimer's on the first page. Enjoy the Duel's ending! The scene you all want (and I know you do) will be next chapter! Enjoy!
39 & 13 means Love
Chapter 10
Mistress Nekomusume glared at Empress Love, hissing loudly. "You witch… how dare you turn him against me?"
Empress Love was completely confused. "How could I turn him against you if this is the first time he's even seen you? You're genuinely crazy!"
Number 90 hissed again. "I'll make you eat those words. Since it's Number against Number, all I have to do is destroy Hope in battle."
"And after that, once I win this Duel…" Cathy began, her eyes fully red from the Number's power. "Both Yuma and Hope… will belong to us." Both Cathy and her Number licked their lips.
Kotori gained a tic mark. She was getting sick of this. "Not a chance, Cat-chan! I'm getting that Number out of your system! Empress Love, attack Mistress Nekomusume!"
"With pleasure!" Love said, just as annoyed as her owner was. Twirling her staff, Empress prepared to fire her magic.
"Trap Card, activate! Half or Nothing!" Cathy interrupted, her facedown flipping up. "With this, I give you two choices: either cut your monsters' Attack Points in half, or stop your Battle Phase right here."
Kotori had only one choice. If she cut her monsters' points, Love would be at 1200 and Hope would be at 1250. Mistress had 1300 Attack Points, which would spell doom for the weakened monsters. "I choose to stop my Battle Phase." Empress growled, lowering her staff. Mistress gave a smug smirk. "I end my turn as well."
"My turn. Draw!" Cathy drew her card. She grinned her cat-like grin. "Hm hm hm hmmm… time to end this. Field Magic Card, activate! Cat World!" After she slapped the card, the area became a grassy land with cat statues everywhere.
"Uh-oh." Yuma said. He remembered this Field Magic. Cathy used it against him during their Duel.
"This is my world, Kotori…" Cathy told her eerily. Various cats that were part of the area began to gather near her. "This world is a cat's paradise, but it has room for only two humans: myself and Yuma. We don't need you here, so we will get rid of you." The cats around her hissed.
Yuma was worried, but then remembered something. "Wait a minute! That monster's not a Cat monster! Cat World can't do anything to it!"
"That is where you are wrong, my dear Yuma." Cathy giggled. "My Mistress is treated as a Cat monster, so she is affected by Cat World, causing her Attack Points to double!" Mistress's tail wagged happily as power began to flow through her. A resonating meow came from her throat.
Number 90: Mistress Nekomusume ATK:2600
"Since she's stronger than either of your monsters, her ability isn't needed! Mistress, attack Emperor Hope!" Mistress' claws extended as she jumped toward Hope.
"I activate Hope's effect! By using one of his Overlay Units, I can negate your attack! But I use one of Love's Overlay Units to power the effect instead!" Love absorbed one of her Overlay Units through her staff, then fired it at Hope, who absorbed through his chest. The male Number then whipped out his Moon Barrier, blocking Mistress's attack and knocking her backwards.
Number 13: Devoted Empress Love: 1 Overlay Unit
Cathy hissed. "It won't last you much longer. I place one card facedown. Turn end."
"My turn. Draw!" Kotori drew her card. "Magic Card, activate! Shining Feathers! This gives any LIGHT or Winged Beast monster 600 Attack Points until the turn's end!" Emperor Hope was showered with glowing feathers.
Number 39: Aspiring Emperor Hope ATK:3100
"Now Hope, attack Empress Nekomusume!" Hope brandished his sword and dashed toward the half-feline monster.
"Heh heh heh heh. Trap Card, activate! Cat's Eye Hypnotism!" Cathy's facedown flipped face-up. "Since I have a Cat monster on the field, I can choose one monster on your field and hypnotize it, allowing me to use its effect at any time. Mistress, have at him!" Mistress's eyes glowed red, then emanated pink rings of energy, which began to affect Hope, making him woozy. "Hope, use an Overlay Unit and negate your own attack!"
Kotori acted fast. "Empress Love, use your last Overlay Unit in place of one of Hope's!" Love quickly absorbed her last yellow Unit and fired it toward Hope's chest, causing him to stop dead in his tracks.
Number 13: Devoted Empress Love: 0 Overlay Units
"Continue to waste Overlay Units, Kotori. You have only 2 left."
Kotori groaned. "I place one card facedown. Turn end."
"My turn. Draw!" Cathy drew her card. "Mistress, attempt another attack against Emperor Hope!" Mistress leapt toward Hope against, her claws lengthened.
"Hope, use your effect again! Moon Barrier!" Hope absorbed one of his own Units this time, and wheeled out his Moon Barrier, blocking Mistress's attack.
Number 39: Aspiring Emperor Hope: 1 Overlay Unit
"Hmm. Time to break this cycle. Magic Card, activate! Space Cyclone! This card blows away one Overlay Unit from anywhere on the field!" A tornado surrounded Hope, sweeping up and destroying his last Overlay Unit.
Number 39: Aspiring Emperor Hope: 0 Overlay Units
"No!" Kotori cried.
Hope suddenly felt weak as he lowered to the ground. His face armor cracked and fell off, revealing his red-eyed human face. "I am out of Overlay Units… I cannot withstand another attack. I am finished if she directs one more attack to me." Love looked at him worriedly.
"I don't think that will happen, my dear." Mistress Nekomusume told him, licking her lips.
Cathy giggled. "She's right. Cat's Eye Hypnotism has another effect! During my second turn after I activate it, I can equip it onto a monster my opponent controls, hypnotizing it into being on my side. So come my next turn, Hope will be where he belongs: alongside my Mistress here." Both of them giggled creepily.
Empress Love gained a tic mark, retracting her mouth guard so they could see her yelling. "Forget you! Hope will never be yours!" She yelled, almost adding 'He's mine, prissy cat!' at the end of her sentence, which would've been embarrassing. She was in love with Hope just as Kotori was with Yuma. 'We really are alike.' She thought, finding it funny. But this was no laughing matter. In one turn, Hope would be under Cathy's control, and they would be finished.
"Now… turn end." Cathy mused.
"My turn… Draw!" Kotori drew her card. She had to do something to keep Hope safe. But what could she do? Love looked back at her with worry. Then she looked down at Love's card, re-reading the text. When she read the last part, her eyes widened. "…That's it."
"Huh?" Yuma wondered.
"What's with her?" Cathy mused.
Kotori smiled. "I activate Empress Love's other special ability! If Hope is on my field without any Overlay Units, I can have Love join with him as an Equip Magic Card!" Love's face brightened up as she clapped her hands, making her staff vanish. Then she herself became an energy stream before coiling around Hope's neck and reforming, her arms wrapped his neck while she floated behind him. Love and Hope blushed at the contact, but they smiled at each other. Hope felt strength pour into him, and he got back to his feet, Love still clinging on.
Cathy hissed. "What is this?"
"When Empress Love is equipped to Emperor Hope, a few things happen. His effects might be negated, but he can't be destroyed in battle at all, Number or not!" Kotori explained.
"Not only that, his control can't switch either, so he's staying right here with me!" Love teased, sticking her tongue out at Number 90, who hissed violently.
"Curse you…" Mistress growled, darkness swirling around her.
"Kotori, this Number possesses darkness only surpassed by Number 96: Black Mist. We must defeat it quickly before the darkness completely consumes your friend!" Astral warned.
"Right! Phantom Eagle in Attack Mode, Shoukan!" This monster was a transparent bird with purple feathers and a ghostly tail instead of feet.
Phantom Eagle: Lv.4 DARK Winged Beast ATK:1800/DEF:0
"Now, due to Phantom Eagle's effect, it can attack you directly! Eagle, attack!" The ghost bird took to the air, swooped around, then went straight through Cathy's back, causing her to hiss.
Cathy LP:2200
"Since Phantom Eagle attacked, its effect activates, which removes it from play." The ghost dissipated before their eyes. "I'll save you, Cat-chan. Turn end!"
"I don't need to be saved… I need to defeat you so I can have Yuma!" The gray-haired girl snapped back. "My turn! Draw!" She drew her card. "I may not be able to destroy Hope, but I can still deal damage. I activate my Mistress's effect, using an Overlay Unit to give her 1200 Attack Points!" Mistress followed her Overlay Unit with her eyes, then caught it with her claws, gaining its power.
Number 90: Mistress Nekomusume ATK:3800
"Next, Magic Card, activate! Persistent Battler!" Mistress gained a determined look. "If the equipped monster does not destroy a monster by battle, it can attack again during the same turn! Now, my Mistress, attack Emperor Hope!" Mistress leapt toward him with her claws, but Love protected an energy field, preventing him from being destroyed. "Again!" Mistress slashed at him again, but the field held. Kotori still took all the damage, and the force flung her backwards.
Kotori LP:800
"Kotori!" Yuma cried.
Kotori slowly got to her feet, panting. One more hit like that, and she was finished. "It's almost over. On my next turn, I'll finish you! Turn end!"
Number 90: Mistress Nekomusume ATK:2600
'It all comes down to this.' Kotori thought as she placed her hand on her Deck. 'If I don't draw the right card, I'll lose the Duel, the Numbers… and Yuma.' She looked back at Yuma with a sad face. Yuma's reaction was different: he sent a look back at her that basically said, "Do NOT give up! You can win this!" Nervous, Kotori decided it was time. "My turn… Draw!" She drew her card and flipped it over, her eyes widening. "…YES!"
"Hungh?" "Hungh?" Cathy and Number 90 wondered.
"Kotori…?" Yuma breathed.
"Cat-chan… it's time to set you free. Magic Card, activate! Magic Twister!" A tornado began blowing over the field. "This card destroys 1 Magic or Trap Card on the field! And I choose… Cat World!"
"No!" Cathy cried. The tornado's wind began to dissipate the area, returning it to the standard Augmented Reality. Number 90 let out a weak meow as her power faded.
Number 90: Mistress Nekomusume ATK:1300
"And that's not all. Since the card destroyed was a Magic Card, one monster on my field gains 1000 Attack Points!" Green energy began to swirl around Hope and Love, powering them up.
Number 39: Aspiring Emperor Hope ATK:3500
"No! This can't be!" Number 90 exclaimed. "I should be the stronger one!"
"You overestimated your own power!" Hope scolded.
"And now you're gonna pay the price!" Love added.
Kotori felt a rush within her, closing her eyes. "So this is how Yuma feels in these situations… fighting to save someone against all odds… The powerful challenging spirit!"
Yuma could see her excitement and grinned. "Say it loud, Kotori!" He called.
Kotori snapped her eyes open. "Kattobingu yo, watashi! Emperor Hope, attack Mistress Nekomusume!" Hope brandished his blade, and Love grabbed hold of it with him. "Hope Blade Slash!" The two Numbers flew toward their target, who tried to defend herself with her arms, but to no avail, as she was sliced straight down the middle, causing her to explode violently.
The force from the attack threw Cathy back. "NOOOOOOO!" She screamed.
Kotori LP:800
Cathy LP:0 – LOSER
Cathy landed on the ground as a buzzer sounded, Kotori's picture with the word WIN appearing. Hope and Love looked at each other lovingly as they and the virtual reality vanished. Kotori felt joy and relief go through her. "Yatta! I won!" She cheered, jumping up and down. Yuma rushed over to her, happy as could be. Kotori jumped into his arms, and he spun her around a few times as they both laughed from excitement.
While they enjoyed their moment, Astral hovered over Cathy. He held out his hand, causing her Number to come out of her body and fly into his hand. "Number 90… Mistress Nekomusume. The result of an affection manipulated into an obsession." He looked at Cathy. "She never knew what was going to happen to her."
Cathy groaned as she slowly got up. She felt horrible at what the Number had made her do. She looked over and saw Yuma and Kotori embracing each other, laughing. Cathy sighed in defeat. 'What was I thinking…? Look at them. They were made for each other. But everything I said… I feel so awful…' The girl began to walk toward them. "Yuma… Kotori…"
The couple released each other and looked at the bespectacled girl. "What is it, Cat-chan?"
Cathy quickly bowed her head. "Gomen-nasai! I'm so sorry!" Tears started to come to her eyes. "I acted like such a jerk… please forgive me!" Her tears began to fall as she lowered her head.
She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she looked up to see that it was Yuma. "Don't worry about it, Cat-chan. It was the Number that made you act that way."
"She's gone now, so everything is fine." Kotori added. "We're not mad at you."
"Y-Y-You're not…?" Cathy stammered. Both of them shook their heads, causing her to smile. She hugged both of her friends. "Arigatou… Doumo arigatou." Yuma and Kotori returned the hug, and they released each other after a few seconds. "I hope you two stay happy together."
"You don't need to worry about that, Cat-chan." Yuma said, grinning his classic grin. "I'm sure you'll find someone, too. Just get the courage to tell him if you find him." He gave her a thumbs-up.
Cathy blushed. "Arigatou, Yuma. I'll find him someday…" She turned around. "And I'll show him that I can Kattobingu with the rest of 'em." She ran off giggling.
"Have at 'em, Cat-chan!" Yuma and Kotori called to her as she ran.
Astral smiled at the scene, and a chuckle escaped his throat. "…No Observation needed for this. It speaks for itself."
Author-Made Cards
Phantom Eagle
Level 4 DARK Winged Beast
ATK:1800/DEF:0
This card can attack your opponent directly. If this card attacks, banish it.
Persistent Battler
Equip Spell Card
If the equipped monster does not destroy a monster by battle, it can attack once again.
Magic Twister
Normal Spell Card
Destroy 1 Spell or Trap Card on the field. If the destroyed card was a Spell Card, one monster you control gains 1000 ATK.
Cat's Eye Hypnotism
Continuous Trap Card
If you control a "Cat" monster, select 1 monster your opponent controls. You can activate that monster's effect at any time. On your second turn after this card was activated, equip this card onto the selected monster and take control of it.
Vile: *sighs* That was tough. But at least there isn't much left.
Kotori: So the next chapter is when-
Vile: *covers her mouth* Yes, Kotori. That will happen next chapter. *removes hand*
Kotori: *blushes madly*
Yuma: *smiles*
Vile: Well, you heard it here, folks. It's almost the end! Keep leaving reviews, and sorry about the chapter delay! See ya later!
Computer Voice: Vile, logging out.